After the "People's Court", what next?
November 19, 2005 | 12:00am
Hoping perhaps for a "déjàvu" of his "I accuse" Senate privilege speech that ushered in then Pres. Erap's waterloo, Tito Guingona Jr. - after his failed demo debut with three recalcitrant bishops - launched his "People's Court". This mock trial against his erstwhile boss - he having wangled a posting to China - was Guingona's last hurrah to play "hero", instead of bowing out in graceful retirement.
To offset the inevitable referential nuance as a "kangaroo court", its organizers re-christened it as Citizens' Congress for Truth and Accountability (CCTA). Whatever, a tiger in sheep's disguise is still a tiger.
Coming on the wake of failed repeated thrusts for GMA to step down as first option, followed by the aborted impeachment which resulted in riotous street demos that also failed, and then, by the Senate "inquisitions" on jueteng and an impeachment rehash, the CCTA served as the opposition/leftists' desperate last card to burn and oust GMA.
Of course, the ultimate aim of CCTA is to crucify GMA, albeit its organizers euphemistically skirt around the true intent, and pretending as a forum of truth and justice, venue to present evidence, etc., not a forum to pronounce guilt of GMA.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and DOJ Secretary Raul Gonzales made no bones in downgrading the CCTA, as they were monitoring the proceedings for possible violations of the law. Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago also belittled it as "media gimmick" and an indirect contempt of the Supreme Court where Atty. Oliver Lozano's petition for review on certiorari over his dismissed impeachment complaint is still pending. Also for resolution is Atty. Lozano's petition to cite Guingona for contempt for organizing the CCTA. Realistically though, one hardly gives a Chinaman's chance that the SC would grant it.
Even GMA foe, Senator Ping Lacson, opined that the CCTA could be seditious, aside from saying: "Let's face it. This is a propaganda show by the parties involved".
In fairness to the CCTA though, other than the rehashed inadmissible "Hello Garci" evidence and other replayed allegations, one's attention was drawn to Frank Chavez' exposé on the election campaign misuse of the agriculture funds. GMA allegedly misused P407M of the agri-funds listing 105 congressmen as beneficiaries, including some opposition congressmen who have angrily denounced it and denied taking a part in the scam, and another P265M for LGU executives.
This alleged plunder could be a major cause of action for impeachment - no need of anything more - a year after the aborted one. All it needs meantime is opposition patience and, at the same time, they'll be doing good for the country to settle peacefully as of now.
What really is the CCTA up to? Are Guingona, et al. - Escudero, Cayetano, Plaza, and the UP radicals - that hard-nosed naïve as to expect GMA to step down after being found "guilty" - though they insist not to make such verdict - by the CCTA presidium?
No, the CCTA high fliers expect no such miracle What they're still hoping for desperately is a scenario that their moot court sitting in mock trial - as people's court - can inspire and exhort, or inflame enough riotous outrage to revive a third "people power" revolution.
Perhaps, the likes of the recent street chaos in Paris and across France lasting for more than two weeks uncontrolled anarchy, leaving thousands of upturned and burned cars and scores of business stores, buildings, etc. charred?
To offset the inevitable referential nuance as a "kangaroo court", its organizers re-christened it as Citizens' Congress for Truth and Accountability (CCTA). Whatever, a tiger in sheep's disguise is still a tiger.
Coming on the wake of failed repeated thrusts for GMA to step down as first option, followed by the aborted impeachment which resulted in riotous street demos that also failed, and then, by the Senate "inquisitions" on jueteng and an impeachment rehash, the CCTA served as the opposition/leftists' desperate last card to burn and oust GMA.
Of course, the ultimate aim of CCTA is to crucify GMA, albeit its organizers euphemistically skirt around the true intent, and pretending as a forum of truth and justice, venue to present evidence, etc., not a forum to pronounce guilt of GMA.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and DOJ Secretary Raul Gonzales made no bones in downgrading the CCTA, as they were monitoring the proceedings for possible violations of the law. Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago also belittled it as "media gimmick" and an indirect contempt of the Supreme Court where Atty. Oliver Lozano's petition for review on certiorari over his dismissed impeachment complaint is still pending. Also for resolution is Atty. Lozano's petition to cite Guingona for contempt for organizing the CCTA. Realistically though, one hardly gives a Chinaman's chance that the SC would grant it.
Even GMA foe, Senator Ping Lacson, opined that the CCTA could be seditious, aside from saying: "Let's face it. This is a propaganda show by the parties involved".
In fairness to the CCTA though, other than the rehashed inadmissible "Hello Garci" evidence and other replayed allegations, one's attention was drawn to Frank Chavez' exposé on the election campaign misuse of the agriculture funds. GMA allegedly misused P407M of the agri-funds listing 105 congressmen as beneficiaries, including some opposition congressmen who have angrily denounced it and denied taking a part in the scam, and another P265M for LGU executives.
This alleged plunder could be a major cause of action for impeachment - no need of anything more - a year after the aborted one. All it needs meantime is opposition patience and, at the same time, they'll be doing good for the country to settle peacefully as of now.
What really is the CCTA up to? Are Guingona, et al. - Escudero, Cayetano, Plaza, and the UP radicals - that hard-nosed naïve as to expect GMA to step down after being found "guilty" - though they insist not to make such verdict - by the CCTA presidium?
No, the CCTA high fliers expect no such miracle What they're still hoping for desperately is a scenario that their moot court sitting in mock trial - as people's court - can inspire and exhort, or inflame enough riotous outrage to revive a third "people power" revolution.
Perhaps, the likes of the recent street chaos in Paris and across France lasting for more than two weeks uncontrolled anarchy, leaving thousands of upturned and burned cars and scores of business stores, buildings, etc. charred?
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