One more chance

Let me first remember with affection and prayers the 101st birthday of the late Bacolod Bishop Antonio Y. Fortich. There will be a Mass at five this afternoon and the unveiling and blessing of the marker at the Cathedral commemorating the visit of St. John Paul II here in 1980. This is a fitting tribute for the late Bishop who convinced the late Holy Father to visit Bacolod. This is a feat we may never see again in our lifetime.

There is movement in circles surrounding President Benigno Aquino to give him another chance to make his reform programs work. Several scenarios are being presented but hardly mentioned is the amendment of the Constitution for term extension.

Indeed there is no time to change the Constitution although with Aquino’s control of a pliant and corrupted Congress, he can push the amendment at will. He has asked for over P500 billion in the new budget as his pork barrel and members of the Congress would be inclined to approve and share in the looting of the public treasury.

But will the people acceded to perpetuation in office? I have serious doubts but then many voters in their poverty could not care less whoever sits in Malacañang. Their lives have not improved despite all the praises and plaudits given the Philippines as the fastest growing economy second only to China. Truly wealth is created with the speed of the bullet train but the only ones on board are the already overly rich businessmen and well-placed politicians and functionaries in the Aquino government.

There was a time when the question was how Aquino would be remembered. He was then at the height of his popularity. He was painted as a fighter against corruption and some bootlickers are even lobbying to make him the first Filipino to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

But Aquino probably is unaware of the ancient dictum that remains as valid today as it was in the days of Rome: Sic transit gloria mundi. Indeed, the glory of this world passes.

Our Hiligaynon is more down to earth: wala sang naga bato sa kalibutan. Literally it means nothing turns to stone here on earth but the wisdom is that nobody and nothing is permanent.

The only solution for Aquino is to create the situation that would justify the declaration of martial law. He made a mistake however, in jailing Juan Ponce Enrile who staged his own ambush to give Ferdinand Marcos the legal basis for the imposition of martial law. His subservient armed forces will surely accommodate Aquino.

The militants in this country can also readily provide him with a reason. The demonstrations during the SONA last month indicate that a bloody confrontation between police and militants can be had at any time and give Aquino a justification for martial law.

But in this scenario, will the people of the Philippines allow Aquino to turn back the hand of time to save his future? I have serious doubts the people will acquiesce to any effort at giving Aquino another chance to govern this nation with incompetent hands and massive raid of the national treasury.

The decision of the Supreme Court that Aquino’s use of public money is unconstitutional will not be reversed unless great pressure is imposed by Aquino as to prostitute or demolish the Court. I believe the Court will stand against him.

Aquino and his ilk have just about two years in office and then the accounting. Will he pass? I think that he knows that he cannot since the Court has already pronounced him guilty of violating the Constitution.

Thus his problem is how to survive after he leaves office. Will he not end up like Gloria Arroyo, or worse?

I doubt the people will give him another chance to stay in office and I believe he knows that. So he needs a successor to spare him from the ignominy of landing in jail to enjoy his cigaret and computer games.

Will Vice President Jejomar Binay demand an accounting from him? Aquino is cementing his relationships with Binay who is leading in the poll surveys. There is even a move to adopt Binay into Aquino’s Liberal Party. One Manila columnist describes that move as Binay coming out of the Cathedral and into a whorehouse.

If Binay accepts he can lose the presidency. People will think he will spare Aquino from responsibility and will not accept that. The people will demand accounting of the billions Aquino squandered to feed his ego.*

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