Who are "WE"?

One must hand it to Daily Tribune editor Ninez Cacho Olivares. Even after her office was raided by overzealous policemen, she went on with her usual vitriolic style of writing about the administration. She was neither arrested, nor dragged out of her editorial office, but uniformed men were posted there, obviously to instill in her and her staff the fear of Malacañang's wrath. I hear, though, that she didn't even blink, and the cops said that she greeted them everytime she came to her office. Obviously she recognized that the men were only obeying orders

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That was last week, but this time I hear that the government has already filed charges for "inciting to sedition" against her and two of her columnists and it may not be long before arrest warrants are issued against them. Despite that, I saw a copy of the Tribune yesterday and it is still full of pre-Proclamation 1017 stuff. Even if Malacañang has already complained that such writings "hurt other people's feelings", she still had this editorial entitled "Fear of truth" (and not fear of coup?) and even published a letter to the editor talking about a "malevolent administration" and a "dwendeng itim in Malacañang". Oh Ninez. Do you harbor a death wish?

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Well, maybe the Tribune editor knows that she may soon be arrested and held in a place where she cannot write editorials and livid columns, so she's making the most of her free time. She must also know that this time is being allowed her to go on twining the rope to hang herself. It could also be that she is enjoying the attention she is now getting from media groups worldwide. As for making things worse, there is a saying which she might be adopting, the one that says "In for a penny, in for a pound".

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By the way, I can hardly wait to see those two documentaries that Malacañang is reported to be releasing soon for public consumption. The docus are supposed to give the justifications for Proclamation No.1017. I was told the documentaries are entitled Sister Act I and Sister Act II and some of the "stars" in them are Police Chief Arturo Lomibao and Presidential Chief of Staff Mike Defensor. What will be the reaction of Whoopi Goldberg? But there's something that media should be aware of and that is the role of the men who are getting more and more powerful around the President. In one of Saturday's dailies, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez was quoted as saying about P-1017: "When we decided to impose it we knew the legalities". And he also reportedly said: "We could always reimpose it when the necessity arises". Who are "WE"

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One interesting note in Saturday's papers was the mention that one of the three alleged big financiers of the alleged coup plotters was a businessman from Cebu. Cebu? Isn't that the Land of Promise for this administration? In fact that is were a standby Malacañang has been set up. How could there be anyone there who is against the incumbent president? Especially a businessman? Really, the bishops have reason to keep on emphasizing the "Truth" warnings against "falsehoods", in their latest statements.

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Speaking about bishops, I was happy to read in the papers yesterday that Bishop Antonio Ledesma of Ipil had been named to head the diocese of Cagayan de Oro. I do not know Bishop Ledesma personally, but when he was in Bacolod for some speaking engagements a few weeks ago, I attended a mass he said at the Lupit Church and I must say that I was mush impressed by his homily. He not only drove home his message very clearly, he also limited himself to, perhaps 15 minutes or even less only. But his words stuck longer than any from those very lengthy sermons that make congregations sleepy. I think Bishop Ledesma is one who studies and prepares his homilies, that is why he does not have to grope and meander. Cagayan de Oro is lucky to have him for their shepherd.

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Meanwhile, the Philippines will soon welcome a new representative from Rome to take the place of Papal Nuncio Antonio Franco, for whom farewell receptions have already been given. The United States Embassy is also getting a new Ambassador to the Philippines. Maybe we will see a fulfillment of the Bible verse that says: "Behold, I make all things new"?*

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