Are the branches merging?

As if we are all not too confused already over the state of our government, like, is there still separation of powers? Can the executive, legislative and judicial branches meddle in each other's actions and decisions, and how overpowering is the authority of the president despite such delineation? One can only sympathize with students who are taking up political science courses these days. They may not be able to decipher such signals in governance as they see them.

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Why, for instance, can the presidential chief of staff offer suggestions and hints of possible concessions to someone who is accused, detained, and standing trial for a crime as serious as plunder? That is what people wondered about when former congressman, former Environment secretary, former Spice Boy, Mike Defensor, now one of Malacañang's most influential insiders, appeared to be tipping former President Estrada that he may not have to be "detained" in his own vacation house for long.

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The prosecutor of the SandiganBayan handling the Erap case is naturally peeved. Are they part of the legislative, or are they under the executive branch? Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio has reason to be miffed, but obviously has nobody trying to back him up or placate him. The Supreme Court itself has not said anything about the pronouncements of Mike Defensor. Not even when he tried to back-track and apparently made matters worse.

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Then we have our very own President coming out and judging, well, actually, just blaming the television company, ABS-CBN for the deadly stampede of fans that had resulted in the trampling to death of scores of people, women, mostly, and injuries to hundreds. I thought the Justice Department was the one investigating that, through the National Bureau of Investigation? Maybe these agencies have already tipped her on their conclusions, that's why she has condemned the company.

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I wonder what the apologetic explanations of the Palace executive secretary, former military general Eduardo Ermita, will accomplish. Ermita was all over the media yesterday saying that when his boss said that the ULTRA tragedy was due to the "kakulangan at pagpabaya ("deficiencies and negligence)" of the organizers, she did not mean to offend anyone. Not only that, he also praised ABS-CBN's Gabby Lopez quite profusely for the way the management is responding to the incident. All we need now is for GMA herself to say after Ermita's declarations: Amen.

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But one can't blamed GMA for trying to be here, there and everywhere these days. Anyway she doesn't have to stay in the palace, there aren't any champions or visiting heads of state to welcome there now. Maybe when boxer Brian Viloria beats that Mexican foe of his, and comes to RP, then she will have to receive him, too. Even if he is no longer a Filipino citizen, he will still have a lot of value for those photo sessions, you know.

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No wonder, too, that one of her destinations the other day was the home for the deaf children. They not only give her flowers and sing her favorite songs for her, they also do not complain, criticize or ask for jobs and other favors from her. If she really wants a longer respite, she should also visit the dumb, and then the blind. The exercise will be more refreshing than going to the provinces or checking at military camps, where one can never tell what the people there have in mind.

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Now it's an overkill again. After what seemed like a paralyzed reaction to the discovery of a virtual illegal drugs mall in Pasig, civil and police officials have starting reacting and have been firing policemen, agents, relieving their head, and even dismantling the hang-out of addicts and pushers. It makes good media footage, but what had really blinded the eyes of authorities to what was going on there all these months? Just a hypothetical question. No answers necessary, between you and me.*

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