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Friday, August 25, 2006
Wenceslao: Two down, more to go?
By Bong O. Wenceslao
The House of Representatives worked overtime on Aug.23-24, with its session ending with the junking of the impeachment complaint against President Arroyo. That’s two down (the complaint filed against Arroyo last year was also dismissed). But the opposition has vowed to file similar complaints against Arroyo yearly. That’s more to go.
Funny, but when the House committee on justice deliberated over the impeachment complaint last week, Mayon Volcano erupted, attracting people’s attention. The other day, talks on how to contain the oil spill in Guimaras upstaged the debate in the House plenary on the fate of the impeachment complaint.
But then, sequels are not always guaranteed to be bigger hits than the original. Impeachment Show, Part 1 was massive at the tills because the ending was not predictable. There was the danger of Arroyo being toppled down after majority congressmen junked the complaint. Impeachment Show, Part 2 didn’t have that luxury.
There were twists in the story, though. Rep. Clavel Asas-Martinez, one of the stars in last year’s show, didn’t show up in the voting. Maybe she’s thinking about her clan’s political survival in Cebu’s fourth district, where Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia’s forces are making inroads. The Martinezes can’t afford to be with the opposition next year.
That means the positioning has started. Mid-term elections usually favor administration candidates considering the resources President Arroyo has at her disposal. And with the lessons of the impeachment complaint learned, I am sure Malacañang will use that advantage to ensure it will gain control especially of the House and the Senate.
So next year’s political exercise, even though it is largely local (the national positions up for grabs are the slots for senator), will have a presidential face.
I mean, it will be more of a referendum on Arroyo’s ability to complete her six-year term. The opposition getting the voters’ nod will increase Arroyo’s vulnerability to enemy sniping.
For democracy’s sake, I hope that will happen. Frankly, I am wary of the drift of this administration after it survived the scare of the Garci scandal. Political killings. Human rights violations. Increasing use of authoritarian measures against dissent. One effective antidote to that is strengthening the opposition, the responsible kind, I must add.
TEXTREAX. A single parent texted me her lament about the country’s situation and the difficulty she encountered while looking for a job. I can only sympathize with her and the thousands, even millions, of others who share her predicament.
(khanwens@yahoo.com/0915-9228651/my blog: cebuano.wordpress.com)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (August 25, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here.
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