Dramas and crises

I just got a hilarious e-mail. One picture shows former president Gloria Arroyo in her now famous photo, in a wheelchair at the NAIA-1, wearing her brace that stabilizes her cervical spine, or her neck for those who are medical terminology challenged. Another shows Hannibal Lecter of the "Silence of the Lambs" in his famous restraining apparatus, with the caption below that reads "compare and behold." I thought that was funny. The sender should have included or replaced Lecter's photo with that of Garland Greene in "Con Air"! Steve Buscemi always makes my day!

 But for sure the Arroyo camp isn't laughing at what transpired at the NAIA-1 last Tuesday evening. With the Supreme Court coming out with its decision granting a TRO to Mike Arroyo with regards to the watch list order imposed on them by the DOJ, they immediately sought to leave the country in what could only be described as utmost haste. They booked five outgoing flights to Singapore, with Germany and Spain as the other destinations. That alone raised so many questions.

 Then there was the entrance. To my knowledge, the Arroyo party was allowed to use the VIP ramp to enter the terminal, so as to avoid the waiting press gathering at the terminal. But they decided to use the front entrance, for everyone to see how they were treating a former president, a sick, brace-dependent, wheelchair borne senior citizen, who was not being given any courtesy at all. Well, I don't think it worked. See, the thing with former president Arroyo, she just isn't popular. As simple as that.

 But just like Gandalf confronting the Balrog, they were told that they could not pass. Direct orders from the DOJ handed down to the Bureau of Immigration stated that the Arroyo party not be allowed to leave the country. And after threats and counter-threats have been made, and it became clear that they were not going to be allowed to board the aircraft, which had already left anyway, they decided to retreat back to St. Lukes Hospital in Taguig. A stress-filled night indeed for the former president! Now, the battle shifts between the Palace and the Supreme Court. It is obvious that the TRO issued by the high court was not followed by the DOJ, for whatever legal reasons they are now presenting. The words 'constitutional crisis' now becomes the new catch phrase!

 Both sides do have valid bones to pick. The oral arguments on the validity of the watch list order have yet to be heard, and the Supreme Court is the highest court of the land, and a co-equal branch of government. What good are decisions made by the highest court in the land - most of whom are Arroyo appointees - if they are only going to be ignored by the executive branch? Yes, a constitutional crisis may occur, all because of the Arroyos!

 One thing I will agree on is, cases should have been filed against the Arroyos a long time ago! Doing so would have prevented the scripted drama that unfolded last Tuesday at the world's most hated airport! And one thing is for certain, the Arroyos sure do want to leave in a hurry! That alone raises so many questions, and eyebrows!

I can't wait for a public castration to take place!