PGMA MUST STEP DOWN

Pakistan’s strongman for nine (9) years President Pervez Musharaf resigns to avoid impeachment. In a lengthy address on nationwide television, the former general said “ Charges against me would never stand but that I want to spare the nation from a damaging impeachment battle”

In terms of power, influence and military connection, Musharaf stands tall against a diminutive Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. But the former staunch ally of the United States against terrorism, Musharaf knew the virtue of surrender and had to abandon any plans of perpetuating himself in power in the name of peace and stability.

Mrs. Arroyo is a different breed with size notwithstanding. She was charged for electoral fraud in 2004 and faced impeachment the following year. She survived the first test of her presidency but since then Filipinos started to distrust her as shown in her popularity ratings, as low as negative 38, the lowest of any Philippine President since the time of Emilio Aguinaldo.

Her husband, First Gentleman Mike Arroyo starred in one of the most high-profile ZTE-Broadband scam that forced then Comelec Commissioner Ben Abalos to resign his post. The first family also survived the opposition onslaught, thanks to the rice and oil price crises.

A religious leader once commented that Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was appointed by God and that she will finish her term in 2010. Mrs. Arroyo herself boasted in several occasions that she is appointed by God. Believe it or not, she remains a powerful woman president.

And critics and allies as well are one in saying that even with the latest presidential blunder of entering into an agreement with the rebels in Mindanao, obviously onerous and disadvantageous to the Filipino people in general would survive attacks against her brand of leadership and continue to remain Commander in Chief that cannot seem to engage the rebels with force.

Already the rebels (MILF) in Mindanao have occupied several towns, killed several civilians and soldiers and damaged and looted properties. “CRUSH THE ENEMY” was the order of the Commander in Chief but so far there is no offensive.

There are indications that Mrs. Arroyo is losing her grip on the armed forces, or that she is being hostaged by Malaysia or the Organization of Islamic Conference. But the worst apprehension is that the President is allowing all these fighting in Mindanao to ensure that she stays in power through emergency rule well beyond 2010.

Whatever scenarios one may have in mind against the president, it is clear that Mrs. Arroyo has lost the trust and confidence of the Filipino people including her own allies in Congress.

Musharaf, despite his past as a hardened general and privy to violence and war had to surrender in the name of a more superior noble intention – FOR COUNTRY AND PEOPLE.

We cannot hope Mrs. Arroyo will voluntarily do the same but at least we can tell her now…MRS. PRESIDENT, RESIGN…for country and people.

THE OBAMA VOODOO MACHINE

The so-called Barrack Obama magic is casting its spell among Americans and Filipinos alike much more powerful than a Katrina roll of late. And this is dangerous because it could be very destructive. It first dumped a charismatic Hilary Clinton and probably would swipe out Republican hopeful John McCain if left unmolested.

Do Americans need an inspiring minister who pulpitizes righteousness from the political podium?

Do Americans need a reformist that promises an overhaul of almost all of America’s culture or way of life?

Do Americans need a combination of a white and black gene to save them from the recession?

Americans will cast their votes in two months and the United States of America may never be the same again if the answers to the above questions are answered in the affirmative.

As a voter or sympathizer, would you like a new America? Is there a need to overhaul? Is there a need to reform?

Common guys, let’s probe. Let’s start with foreign policy? Do you want to withdraw American troops from Iraq, Afghanistan, parts of Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Asia? Do you want Uncle Sam to stop meddling in other countries’ affairs? Put it nicely, do you want to confine Uncle Sam in Washington? Do you want to bury the hatchet and forget all about Al Qaida?

Do you want to reform business or America’s economy and save the most powerful nation from economic collapse?

How about the US military, Pentagon, the CIA, the FBI, the Homeland Security Force, do you have any idea on how to deal with these independent fully armed organizations?

America, despite its weak or powerful leaders in the past has withstood the test of times and remains the most powerful country in the world today. Good leaders even had to be eliminated because they were a threat to the system; others had to resign because they violated the law and the institution they vowed to uphold; and still others had only abbreviated terms because they did not meet the expectations of the voters. And “institutions” well set in place since time immemorial to save America had played major roles in all these experiences, not to mention the strong character of the liberated American. And due credit should be given to the framers of the American Constitution.

Politicians should be watched as politicians not as reformists, ministers or savior. Pretenders or voodoos have no place in American politics or face the ghost busters.

ILIGAN CITY AND GMA

After Muslim rebels seized several towns and barangays in three provinces in the south, the next move was supposed to occupy Iligan City. Why Iligan? There are two schools of thought:

1) To embarrass the President and 2) teach the Iliganons a lesson for defiance.

Historical notes say, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo grew up in Iligan City. For the city to be overrun by any rebel force is already a nightmare; but how about a city so close to the heart of the Commander in Chief being seized by forces currently talking peace with the president? Boy, only hardened rebels wouldn’t know the repercussion to such an aggression.

Iliganons, on the other hand, have given a big NO NO to the MOA-AD. The strong objection parrarells that of North Cotabato and Zamboanga City. And all three provinces suffered the same wrath of the raging bulls.

So far, we have to credit the President for not getting too personal about her birthplace being threatened by rebels. She has not said a word about it. But governors of the three provinces and the Mayor of Iligan City have openly opposed the signing of the MOA_AD, leading to arming themselves up in defense..

The personal feeling of the Commander in Chief on the threat against Iligan may be irrelevant but thinking animals should have considered that before plunging into viol,ent belligenrency. The same thing should have been done before even offering the MOA-AD for approval. Peace talkers should have consulted and secured the blessings of the local residents and officials before dismembering their territories?

To a large extent, this lapse in judgment caused the MOA-ADs untimely demise. And ressurec ting the dead can only be an act of God.

FLUSH AND FLUSH

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) now wants a cessation of hostilities in Mindanao. Probably, Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, its Chair, now feels the sting of government’s unexpected punitive action against MILF forces who mercilessly killed innocent civilians young and old, looted their belongings, burned their houses and grabbed lands driving away legitimate tenants.

The atrocities perpetrated by the rampaging rebels, (renegade, splintered or legitimate members of the umbrella organization), are absolutely inhuman, barbaric and unthinking. And surely, it was a product of a treacherous mind that has no regard for enduring peace and general welfare.

Calling for cessation of hostilities or ceasefire now should be the least concern of the government and military officials..This is not to say that we put the peace process in the back-burner. No, we must flush out the common criminals, the trouble makers, the rebels, lump them up in a sink and flush them out to kingdom come.

It’s about time the government re-establishes its position of strength. If this government thinks of peace, it must be done not through the instigation of a rebel group but on the basis of equity, justice and Philippine laws.

Neither should the government succumb to international pressures. It is common knowledge in the International Community that Malaysia has a tacit bias for its colleagues in the MILF; but so does Washington’s sudden closeness with the rebels following their dumping of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and Abu Sayaff terrorists. Remember that Washington never branded the MILF rebels as terrorists.

Peace is possible in Mindanao without foreign intervention or manipulation. The non-implementation of the MOA_AD is a clear proof of how too many cooks could spoil the broth.

In the meantime, Philippine Sports has proven inadequate if the Beijing Olympics is the gauge. 5 athletes with a zero gold performance each. The worse part of it is that almost every athlete failed in his first try.

This is not to say that the Philippines just participated this year! No, we’ve been in the Olympics since day one of olympism and that’s over a century ago. Obviously, our current crop- of sports officials are a dismal failure and therefore, they must be flushed out and lumped into a sink and flushed out to kingdom come, too.

This time, there should be no alibis, no justifications necessary. A total revamp must immediately be implemented and all top officials from the Philippine Sports Commission down to the National Sports Organizations (NSO) shall be replaced even if we have to start from square one. The leadership and management of the USA’s “Redeem Team” is worth emulating