Who’s destabilizing who?

Allies of Speaker Martin Romualdez have been busy explaining why Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Davao Congressman Isidro Ungab were stripped of their deputy speaker positions. Then they did the media rounds justifying their counter offensive against former president Rodrigo Duterte for attacking Congress. If that is the case, why were the same congressmen silent when Mayors for Good Governance openly talked about corruption in government, including Congress?

In case no one has noticed, all the attacks and offensive moves in this current political conflict have been initiated by the majority coalition led by Speaker Martin Romualdez. It was Congress that made an issue of the confidential funds, it was members of Congress that claimed that PGMA was organizing a coup plot on the Speakership, and it was Romualdez who crowed about their power over the purse and confidential funds.

All this time, Congresswoman Gloria Arroyo has repeatedly denied any such plot while Vice President Sara Duterte has chosen to peaceably and gracefully move away from the divisive issue of CIF. For his part, former president Digong Duterte has made it clear that his comments about Congress are as a result of the disrespectful manner that the house treated his daughter, the Vice President.

The sweeping offensive of the Romualdez camp against the Duterte’s, Arroyo etc., is what analysts refer to as First Blood, while others call it a panic move that may cost Martin Romualdez more than he bargained for. Most people now believe Martin Romualdez is no longer defending his position as Speaker but is aimed at becoming the next president of the Philippines.

The premature offensive against rivals will now force him to gain more power and get greater control of public funds, government offices, politicians both national and local as well as private sector support to keep his momentum for the long haul. In the mercenary world of Philippine politics, all that means billions of pesos, constantly checking on double dealing politicians, as well as creating and maintaining popularity among voters while selling himself as the investor’s choice.

But life and politics are not that simple. Romualdez’s path to the throne in the Palace will also be dependent on the accomplishments and longevity of his cousin, President Bongbong Marcos. If PBBM turns out to be a disappointment or ultimately unpopular, being the President’s cousin could end up sinking Martin Romualdez.

Let’s also not forget that PBBM does stay healthy and finishes his full term. Anyone who saw PBBM’s photos during the 10th year anniversary of the Yolanda tragedy must have seen how tired and frail looking the President seemed that I honestly felt bad and concerned for PBBM. God forbid that PBBM ever gets seriously ill and incapacitated, Vice President Sara could end up assuming the presidency and utterly ruin all plans others have for the presidency.

Looking at the messy possibilities, I am reminded of a lesson in the Bible, Luke 14: 28-32 – “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it. Lest, after he has laid the foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying this man began to build and was not able to finish.

“Or what king going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for conditions of peace.”

Olive branch anyone?

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The highest officials of the military and the police recently sang the same song concerning their retired seniors talking about politics and destabilization. The timing was uncanny because in that very same week, members of Congress were all out attacking the Duterte camp and their allies. The question is, who was the Concert Maestro?

The general public, who has gotten used to rumors and fakes news related to destabilization, correctly ignored what the high-ranking military and police officials tried to sell, but I for one can’t let this matter pass without comment. In the first place, all this talk about “destabilization” started because of the belly-aching of MUPs and officials who did not want to contribute a single centavo to their retirement fund like all civil servants do.

MUPs and their officials grumbled to the media, in chat groups, on Viber, etc. Then those who were up for promotion from lieutenant colonels to generals started complaining about the pile up and delays on promotions, especially those who wanted to beat their cut-off date or retirement date. All the talk and chatter got so bad that DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos intervened with Malacañang, while PBBM found himself hosting multiple promotion ceremonies in the Palace.

According to a colonel I spoke with, Malacañang was so accommodating and clearly trying to please the officials that the usual limit on number of family members allowed to join the ceremony had been lifted. After that, everything was back to normal until the AFP chief and the chief PNP sang their “Destabilization” duet. In the first place, if there were real talks and serious threats, the standard operating procedure is to first verify, confirm and contain the matter and not make public speeches about it.

Because we already have serious issues of concern involving the Chinese Coast Guard, we don’t need high ranking officials chit-chatting about something that could affect our political order, market confidence as well as peace and order. The current AFP and PNP leadership have both been doing a good job at the helm, but speculative talk about destabilization does no one any good.

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