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Thursday, July 01, 2004
Speak out: Arroyo and Mendoza
By Paterno coming munez
Seldom in the field of human endeavor can a protagonist decisively influence the life of another in two instances that are distinctly separate although considered one in the context of ambition.
The two protagonists are President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and lawyer Estelito Mendoza.
Consider that instance when the second envelope containing supplemental evidences against then president Joseph Estrada was presented to the impeachment court trying him for plunder.
Mendoza, in a caucus, spoke and unleashed his legal prowess that decisively convinced 11 members of the impeachment tribunal to deny the opening of the envelope.
This fatal miscalculation led to Edsa II that elevated Arroyo to the presidency when the Supreme Court interpreted the abandonment of Malacanang by Estrada as his resignation.
The second instance was when President Arroyo broke her promise not to run for president. The opposition, headed by the Senatorial triumvirate of Edgardo Angara, Tito Sotto and Tessie Oreta chose the severely inarticulate Fernando Poe, Jr. to run against her, telling him that his handicaps would be overcome by his popularity.
Alas, the predictions were wrong. But I`m getting ahead of my story.
When Da King finally decided to run for president, Arroyo’s political strategists plotted to throw in the first obstacle on FPJ: his citizenship.
Together with another brilliant lawyer, Mendoza convinced the Supreme Court to allow FPJ to run. Mendoza’s scintillating victory in the Supreme Court turned into FPJ’s debacle in the polls.
In sum, Mendoza allowed Arroyo to become president twice. Arroyo’s supporters have a lot to thank him for this.
Politicians as gentlemen
Engr. Eddie Nebreja
Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
I admire Sen. Ping Lacson for accepting defeat in the recently concluded election. However late, it was still a gentlemanly act.
Unlike most of the defeated candidates who claimed that they were cheated, it was noble of him and the other candidate, Raul Roco, to accept defeat.
Both of them are indeed politician and gentlemen.
Keep up the good deed, Senator Lacson. You will have your time if you are destined to become president of the Philippines.
And warm congratulations to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Vice President Noli de Castro.
(July 1, 2004 issue)
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