Now you see,
now you don't

Atras avante. That's the thing to describe the sleight of mouth trick by the Department of Interior and Local Government officials regarding the people's initiative. First, there was a categorical denial that the agency had anything to do with it. Then, confirmation from local government officials that DILG had something to do with it. But again the persistent denial.

Later a Sigaw Ng Bayan leader defended that even the President Gloria Macapagal-Arrroyo may rightly come out batting for Constitutional change. In short, as argued to strongly, everyone, be he in government or the private sector, may actively participate in the political exercise. At least, define his/her stand on the issue of Cha-cha.

Now, Daisy Real, the provincial Commission on Elections chief of Negros Occidental named DILG Undersecretary Ma. Joy Maredith Madayag as the one who had approached her for the provincial voters' list for the people's initiative.

Madayag, however, denied that she was asking for it for the people's initiative but for the barangay assemblies on March 25.

A play of words, since the said assemblies had taken up the people's initiative on that date.

In short, the voters' list was required to validate the signatures of the voters who had signed the manifesto of support for Cha-cha.

Real added that one DILG official had a verbal tussle with an election assistant who had apparently declined the request for the COMELEC to bear the expense of photocopying the list because the poll body did not have budgetary provisions for the expense.

Now, the issue of people's initiative seems to have captured the people's imagination, diverting popular attention from the opposition efforts to further erode GMA's position and demanding that she resign.

That's also the other side of the present issue. Despite the fact that Congress had ratified GMA's election, the opposition still can't seem to let it go. So they keep stoking the fire by coming up from time to time with evidence that GMA stole the elections. The latest was the testimony by a consultant hired by the opposition to prove that she really cheated. Of course, only a handful seem to have remembered that the said consultant was hired by the opposition, Senator Aquilino Pimentel.

Naturally, what else did he have to prove except that she really did do it. Or, by inference it was done through a combination between former Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano and GMA.

So, even assuming that he did his homework right what do you do next? The Presidential Electoral Tribunal had already dismissed the poll protest filed by the late Fernando Poe Jr. and later taken up by Susan Roces, the widow. Unfortunately, the PET deemed otherwise.

With that situation obtaining, what is the alternative forum or venue for the proof? As already intimated by the poll surveys, the alternatives had more or less been narrowed down to forcible ejection - through people power or through a military coup.

Unfortunately, hardly a substantial number of people, despite the survey findings, actually join people power moves. So, the thesis now is only a military takeover is the solution to the problem of GMA's getting out.

Now, that's the danger point. Some opposition leaders continue their pursuit of GMA's ejectment from Malacañang. A very dangerous mindset.

It is dangerous because it has become an obsession for some. What they can't achieve constitutionally, they want to do extra-constitutionally. Now, you wonder why the administration is that jittery? There is no alternative but to force her out.

Watch for local politicians to emulate this time Thailand. They may try to launch here another protest such as that which dislodge of Thaksin Shinawatra.

But, perhaps, it's time for us to sit back and ask God to help us with the gift of discernment to find out what exactly it is He wants us to do to solve our problem. God often has some surprising solutions.

***

GMA yesterday celebrated her 59th birthday. That's one year short of joining the ranks of senior citizens.

I can only wish her the best of everything God can give. Especially the needed wisdom in stewarding the country forward and being able to unite the people behind the State.

Ad multos annos, Madame Gloria.

***

Very few Negrenses are aware that Southern Negros Occidental has been attracting a lot more foreigners than had been imagined. But Hinobaan and Sipalay have their share of foreign visitors attracted by the still relatively under-developed tourist areas.

I have heard to many foreigners having bought beach properties in the area. Especially Sipalay. I have been receiving a lot of invitations there. Many of my friends have development projects there.*

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