The Arroyo administration thrives on destabilization. When a new destabilizing situation occurs, it mechanically implements adoptive measures, re-adjusts its actions, even moves backward and strikes when the situation cools. This is the tried and tested formula against destabilization by a regime which, itself, has been the beneficiary of a political poison fruit.
This explains why presidential son Mikey Arroyo called for a press conference to assuage public outrage against their cha-cha initiatives. This explains why the palace allowed Joc-Joc to go to the Senate and fool the senators. This explains why there’s no palace gag order for DA directors to testify on the fertilizer fund issue and there’s no order for anybody to publicly neutralize known oppositors of the Arroyo regime.
The palace game plan is very simple–deprive its enemies of their “defining moment”. In politics, a “defining moment” is described as an “emotionally charged” situation that would rouse the people to take action and transform the perception of people about the present regime from “partially trust-worthy” to ” capricious, greedy and using its powers to deprive people of justice.” The present hearings have the potential of transforming positive perceptions to negative and even reactive ones.
This explains Palace spokesperson’s Anthony Golez “tantrum” diatribe against the minority at the House impeachment hearings, for a walkout is actually a powerful communication tool that could re-ignite passions against the present dispensation. That’s why the palace is constantly monitoring and managing the information environment to prevent the rise of dissent against the present dispensation.
In the present situation, Malacanang tries to pooh-pooh the revelations of former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. It tries to manage the information environment by fielding its crisis communication lieutenants, fanning themselves out among various publications to at least control the flow of poisoned news against Gloria. The goal is simple–insulate Gloria at all costs against accusations by the Opposition. There may be a grain of truth behind Joe’s revelations but these are being obfuscated by news on term extensions and the like. Joe may be allowed to hug the headlines but up to a certain point. Gloria is being isolated from the controversies while her husband, Big Mike, operates silently behind the bamboo shades.
Both Gloria and her enemies want to control one element–time. For Gloria’s camp, a day is equivalent to a year more of stay. The more they stay the bolo of those who want to hack her head, the better. For those who oppose her, time is at the essence. The need to create a “defining moment” at a precise time is the order of the day. And will they be able to get their “defining moment, ” is a big question.
Yesterday’s walkout has the potential of igniting passions. News about proposals to extend Gloria’s term has the big chance of convincing people to act. Everybody is waiting for the first one to stand up and act. That first act should immediately be a show of force. This should be something similar to a walkout of young officers. Or, this could potentially be something of an institutional action where idealistic generals walk out of their Commander-in-Chief. Then the people will follow.
The present politico-social atmosphere can be likened to a tightly sealed room filled with liquified petroleum gas. Everybody’s there, holding their breaths and waiting for someone to just light a match to end everyone’s agony.
One last observation—this intra-elite struggle will be won by the group who holds the following: cash, ideology, strong political will, civilian and military support. Oh, I forgot one more thing–whoever among the contending elites is hungrier and more desirous to leave a legacy, he or she will snatch the crown from an increasingly weakening power. However, whoever this person or group is, they must do a Strike and Awe tactic and should rout Gloria and her husband’s forces down to the ground. Unlike Erap, Gloria is actually easier to defeat because no one will go to her succor after her downfall. No one is crazy enough to die for someone who already stole billions of pesos and already destabilized this country so much. No foolish one.
I remember what Manolo Quezon wrote today–that the palace believes in feng shui. I’m a practitioner also of the secret arts of the Chinese and I take my I Ching seriously. And you know what? Even the heavens have lost trust on Gloria.
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[...] Pass legal scrutiny and challenges and avoid confrontation being taken to the streets, or be close enough to an election so that, in case of failure, its proponents then risk some sort [...]
[...] Pass legal scrutiny and challenges and avoid confrontation being taken to the streets, or be close enough to an election so that, in case of failure, its proponents then risk some sort [...]