The fire this time - FROM A DISTANCE by Carmen N. Pedrosa

Dilemma between impeachment and resignation. As events unravel with Filipinos determined to driveforce out Erap out of Malacanang Palace, we are confronted with a dilemma. The economy is in such a precarious situation that it is generally agreed that the more sensible course of action is to persuade Erap to resign so that we can return to normalcy as soon as possible. At the same time, there is anxiety that resignation, being the quick and relatively painless solution, might get in the way of the more important, long term political process of impeachment. The fear is that we might place inordinate importance on Erap’s resignation and look to it as the instant solution to the problems of the country. If that happens then weíre back to square one. As in EDSA 1 we rejoiced too soon with the departure of Marcos, thinking that is all we have to do to put the country in the right direction. We gave up the reforming zeal of the revolution, peaceful though it may have been at the time, because we did not have the boldness or courage to endure the difficulties of real reforms. We must be careful that in our hurry to return to normalcy, we will fail once again to pursue not only the accountability of government officials but also badly needed reforms. We must be on guard in the next few days and weeks that we do not lose this second chance. Unfortunately the pursuit of truth and justice in this case is not limited to Erap but to both government and civic society. We must question the structure of governance, we must question our values, we must question how we have discharged our duties as citizens. We can go on and on. The effort at reform will not end with Erapís removal from office although that is the necessary starting point. At EDSA 1986 we let off the Marcoses too easily. We were eager to count the numbers on our side we forgave Marcos cronies and allies and wondered why in the days that followed it was as if there never had been a revolution. If we are not careful the same thing may happen once again.

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While we welcome allies, we must distinguish between sincere reformists and the merely opportunist. As a lawyer reminded me, the impeachment process, if it were to be thorough will ferret out facts not just about Erap and his culpability for violating the Constitution but it should also reveal a few things about a host of personalities that make up the Establishment, some of whom have now come up as his accusers. It would also put the present set-up of government under a harsh light so we can focus on its defects. If the impeachment proceedings were to be properly conducted it should serve as a national catharsis. Going through the fire now means confronting some unpleasant things about ourselves that we would rather avoid.

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Why impeachment is superior to resignation. Impeachment is superior to resignation because it requires the participation of both the Congress and the Senate, as representatives of the people. It is a singular opportunity for political education and will reinforce our capability as citizens in a democratic republic. The mere fact that citizens will take an active part by monitoring the hearings, their representatives will be on guard mindful that their constituents are watching them. It will serve a more effective warning against future erring officials. Indeed, getting representatives in Congress to cross party lines to support the impeachment is already a significant step forward towards more modern governance. As I watched the younger opposition congressmen articulate their position during the first hearing on the Singson expose in Congress, it was clear that the dynamics between watchful citizens and conscientious representatives in Congress was working and democratic representative government had a bright future in the Philippnes. For that reason alone, putting our representative democracy in the right direction, impeachment is superior to resignation. Let us sustain this as a new beginning for representative democracy. I like to believe that it was the thousands of little bonfires, of citizens egging and nudging their congressmen that finally made them relent and cross party lines to join the vote for impeachment as their constituents demanded.

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From a Bucaram column to impeachement. My own campaign against an actor unfit to be President began earlier through a column I wrote on November 9, last year. It is now known as the Bucaram column entitled This Column is not about President Joseph Ejercito Estrada. Bucaram was a comedian who became President of Ecuador on the slogan, "Primero Los Pobres" (First the Poor) but was later impeached after less than a year in office. As soon as he was elected President, it became clear that his priorities were not for the poor but on his personal interest. This Bucaram column was followed by many more columns on the theme that if Erap is president, the blame should not be on him but on us for voting for him. We may have made a mistake but that mistake need not be final. Our constitution gives us a way out, withdrawal of that mandate through impeachment. To the many who wrote or called or e-mailed to congratulate me for the single-mindedness of those columns, I am putting these together into a compendium under the tentative title, "How to be a sovereign citizen".

My e-mail address is: [email protected]