Paano na ang Masaker ng EDSA TRES (3)?

KAHIT ANUMAN and politikal na Kulay o Pinanggalingan o Antas ng Buhay, Edukasyon, o Ideolohiya (malalim man o 'mababaw), lahat ho ay may karapatang mag.protesta, marinig ang boses, mag.EDSA, at mabigyang proteksyon ang kanilang Karapatang Pantao. Mabilang ang tinig na sa tunay na demokrasya ay nailalabas sa boto pag eleksyon at hindi mayurakan o mabalewala ang botong iyon.  Hindi mabubuo kailanman ang bayan kung "class" n'yo lamang ang may karapatan at ang iba ay wala. 

Kaya nakakapagtaka, kung hindi man nakakasulasok, kung bakit pilit ibinabaon sa kasaysayan ng bayan ang EDSA 3 "People Power." Labing-isang (11) taon na mula ang madugong pagpatay sa ilang nag-protesta noong EDSA 3 na sumiklab nang arestuhin ang tinanggal nila sa pwesto na si Pangulong Joseph Erap Estrada noong ika-25 ng buwan ng Abril 2001. Limang araw at gabi tumagal ang Ikatlong EDSA, April 26-Mayo 1, 2001. Mas marami pa ngang hindi hamak ang taong nagpunta sa EDSA Shrine bilang pagsuporta kay Erap at sa Saligang-Batas subali't bakit pilit na minemenos ang EDSA 3 at kinalilimutan pa ang mga NAMASAKER dito? Ano, sub-Filipino, sub-human mga nag.EDSA 3 at kayo lang ang may K????.... Kawikaan nga sa KATIPUNAN ni Supremo Andres Bonifacio y de Castro, lahat tayo ay magKAKAPATID, kaya lahat ay may Karapatang Pantao, karapatang mabilang at hindi mayurakan ang boto, karapatang mag.protesta, at karapatang mag.EDSA na hindi ma.masaker....

EDSA TRES (3)...for journalist Herman Tiu-Laurel, is:

...an event that many seem to desire to forget, many seem to want to erase from our the pages of Philippine history. It was a day when the masses of the Filipino people genuinely, the massses of the Filipino people expressed themselves and let their voice be heard. This is not just the laboring class. This is not just the general population. This was what it called itself the "Poor People Power." You still remember that? That was EDSA 3. And so we will not let this month pass and the date May 1 pass without recalling those crucial events that led to the EDSA 3 march-protest and, in fact, some would say "massacre." Do you still remember the blood that was shed on that day? Many people want us to forget but we will not forget.... a dozen or more died without being remembered.

The March & Massacre

The unsuccessful EDSA 3 of May 2001, a real revolution that aimed to rectify the fallacy of the EDSA 2 power grab but which pathetically failed because the elites arrogated unto themselves the exclusive claim to EDSA. Buried in history, its importance was both undermined and misread by the elites and the Left. Hitik sa suporta ng tao ang Ikatatlong EDSA. Walang binatbat ang pangalawa na nais nitong itama. Ayon sa nakasaksi at tumutok pa: "...yung ulo, lumanding na sa J.P. Laurel, yung buntot, naka.curve pa doon sa kanto ng... Aurora-Gilmore-Granada. Ganoong kahaba." 

Subali't hindi naging panangga laban sa pang-iinsulto at masaker ang dami ng "Poor People Power" na ito. Blood was let from the bodies of unnamed, unaccounted for fatal victims of EDSA 3. Lampas isang dekada na subali't wala pa ring katarungan at pilit inililibing sa kasaysayan ng bayan. Ni hindi nga alam kung ilan exactly ang namatay--mga labingdalawa (12) ang minimum na estimate pero marami ang nagsasabing higit pa. WALA kasing imbestigasyon sa masaker. Ganoon na lang. Wala.

Makikita dito sa video na EDSA 3 REVISITED na malinaw na may isang namamaril gamit ang .45 na baril at maraming dugo ang dumanak sa isang pa lamang na lugar na nakuhanan ng camera. May mga snipers pa! Ayon sa paglalahad ni Ronald Lumbao ay sa Sta. Mesa pa lang ay una na silang pinaputukan at doon unang dumanak ang dugo ng EDSA 3. Pagdating ng mga marcher.protesters sa Mendiola, nang nagdarasal sila ay nagpaulan ulit ng baril ang pulis o anu pang elementong kasama nila. It's not clear how many EDSA 3 supporters were exactly killed but I remember Sen. Edgardo Angara lamenting on TV why no investigation was made into the deadly operation. Bakit ganoon? Bakit walang katarungan at pilit bang binubura ang mga pangyayari. Ano yan, pag hindi ninyo tipo, pag hindi class, pag hindi mabango, pag hindi malalim daw ang idelohiya ay bale wala ang mga buhay ng mga pinatay ng estadong nang-agaw ng kapangyarihan walang dayang ibinigay ng karamihan sa taumbayan????


Backgrounder: EDSA 2 Power Grab

Earlier in January of the same year, a conspiracy of political, business, and military elites with connivance of the Catholic Church in general as well as the Left, extra-constitutionally deposed then-sitting President Estrada. They accused him of massive corruption, supposedly taking jueteng kickbacks and then forced into motion the impeachment of Erap. When it became clear that the Senate impeachment court would clear Erap of charges, the prosecution walked out and the conspirators abandoned the legal process. In the words of Chief Justice Cecilia Munoz Palma: 

The 1987 Constitution suffered. This happened when the ongoing impeachment trial of President Joseph Estrada, was unceremoniously disrupted and discontinued, and the issues on hand were brought to the streets. The rule of law was set aside and the rule of force prevailed.

Na ang EDSA 2 na nagpatalsik kay Estrada ay isang masamang kuntsabahan ay malinaw na lumabas makaraan ang samu't saring pag-aaral ng sari-saring mga entities at manunulat. No less than veteran journalist and former dean of University of the Philippines College of Mass Communications Luis Teodoro exposed that. Ayon kay Teodoro: "Gloria Macapagal -Arroyo came to power in 2001 with the help of the US and its local allies in the Church, the military and the business community." Former President Fidel V. Ramos, whom the Erap administration was chasing over the Centennial Expo and PEA-AMARI corruption scandals, is notorious for hating Erap and was found to have actually schemed to prevent the presidency of Estrada.  In 1999, a Senate Blue Ribbon investigation produced the testimony indicating that the people at the Centennial Exposition project were asking contractors for LAKAS campaign contributions because they were "desperate in (sic) coming up with all means and money to prevent Erap from winning in the elections."

Nang taon ding iyon ay lumabas ang mga ulat ni Emil Jurado ng Manila Standard na may nilulutong destabilization na pagkilos laban kay Estrada at gamit ang ilang media o media people dito. Pagkatapos, sa sumunod na taon ay naglabas ang Daily Tribune ng  balitang niluto sa palasyo ng Archbishop ng Manila ang  planong pagpapatalsik kay Erap. According to the 2000 report, "representatives of business groups and Catholic Church leaders as well as representatives of celebrated personalities, came together and met formally early this month to fine tune the plan to "constitutionally" oust President Estrada under "Oplan Excelsis."

Ang mga Kontra-Masa at Nagbulag-bulagan sa Masaker noong EDSA 3

Sinasabing ang kakulangan ng military component ang nagpaiba (at nagpatalo) sa EDSA 3 kung ihahambing sa dalawang naunang EDSA "People Power." Subali't may isa pang mahalagang elemento na kaiba sa EDSA 3-- sa naunang People Power ay HINDI ginamitang ng DAHAS ng nakaupo ang mga nagprotesta samantalang sa EDSA 3 ay walang puso ginamitan ng kamay na bakal, ng nagmasaker na kamay na bakal ang mga nagprotesta. Dito makikita kung sino talaga ang moral, ang kahit papaano ay may pagmamahal sa bayan at/o paggalang sa demokrasya.

Civil Evil Society

Maliban kay Gloria Arroyo, Fidel V. Ramos, Cory C. Aquino, Jaime Cardinal Sin, mga heneral ng militar at kapulisan na sina Larry Mendoza at Angelo Reyes, ang mga Ayala's at iba pang seditious business people, ang evil Civil Society at pati ang Kaliwa ay may sala hindi lamang sa kuntsabahan na patalsikin ang tunay na hinalal na bayan kundi sa Pagpatay o Hindi Paghingi ng katarungan sa mga minasaker noong EDSA 3. The evil civil society people are also murderous in the sense that they looked the other way when Arroyo's government killed unnumbered pro-Erap protesters on May 1, 2001. They put the blame on the protesters and did not seek investigation on the deaths. Insultong umaatikabo pa nga ang pinukol sa masa ng EDSA 3. Pangisi pa ngang sinabi sa TV nitong si Alex Magno, guro sa Departamento ng Kasaysayan ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, na ang 'People Power' daw ng mga masa ay simpleng 'devoid of political power.'

Yellow Media

Kasama dito sa evil Civil Society ang Dilaw na mainstream media. Despite the sacrifice of blood let from the dispersal of Edsa 3, the media generally dismissed the urban revolution of the masses. Such media snootiness (if not heartlessness) against Erap's masa supporters is perhaps best represented by veteran journalist Rowena Carranza's article with a title that says it all: "Excuse me, Please Don't call it People Power III."

Activist and EDSA 3 leader Ronald Lumbao said articulated it well:

Doon nga sila nagkaroon ng galit sapagkat hindi natin makita ang fairness doon sa mga media na talagang nagpakita noong Ikalawang EDSA na iyon na raw ang totoong tinig ng nakakaraming mamamayan sa ilalim ng demokrasya. Kung kaya't parang gusto rin nating silang tanungin: ngayon na nagpapakita rin ng kanyang kapangyarihan at opinyon ang masang mamamayan na naka.tsinelas lamang, ang iba nakahubad nguni't Pilipino pa rin. Iyon bang pagiging makahirap namin ay kasalanan at iyon ba ay hindi na dapat na pakinggan sapagkat kami ay hindi nagkaroon ng balat na maputi, hindi maganda ang aming amoy, at wala kaming magandang damit at hindi kami nakasapatos na maganda at wala kaming kotse.

 
Misguided Left/Leftists

Even the leftist segment of the civil society did not bother to assail the violent dispersal at sa totoo ay kasama pa sila sa tangkang PAGHARANG sa mga EDSA 3 supporters na nag.martsa papuntang Malacanang. Ayon sa kuwento nina Ka Mentong, Larry Alcuaz, at Ronald Lumbao, sa San Beda patagong nagkumpol sina Randy David, Constantino, atbp. (at sina Satur Ocampo base sa sarili nitong ulat). Noong EDSA 2 Power Grab ay kasama sina Ocampo, et al. sa nagmartsa sa Malacanang na may halo pang pananakot sa pamahalaan ni Estrada. Bakit, sila lang ba ang may karapatang magmartsa sa Malacanang? Pag Poor People Power walang K?

Sabihin pa, lumabas na nagpagamit ang mga anti-EDSA 3 na grupo sa San Beda, nagpagamit sa pamahalaang Arroyo, kay Mike Arroyo na nagplanong mag.mobilize ng dating EDSA. Ayon kay Alcuaz, isang instigator ng EDSA 2, kumilos ang mga Arroyo para gamitin sa mobilization na pantapat sa EDSA 3 ang mga maiingay noong EDSA 2.

Sinful Church
 
Malakas na elemento ng EDSA 2 Power Grab na nanginsulto na pro-Erap na masa at, malala pa, ay walang pakialam sa minasaker noong EDSA 3, ay ang Simbahang Katokika dito sa Pilipinas. Sinful Cardinal Sin categorized them as the "great unwashed" not eligible for the holy Latin privilege of "vox populi, vox dei." Ang isang kuwarto mismo sa EDSA Shrine mismo ay ginamit ng mga power grab participants noong EDSA 2 subali't matapos ang EDSA 3 ay pinagbawal na ang pag-rally sa Shrine para hindi na raw maulit ang ginawa noong EDSA 3. Oo nga pala, ang mga eskwelahang nasa ilalim ng impluwensya ng Simnbahan katulad ng Ateneo University ay pinilit ang ang mga mag-aaral nito na pumunta sa EDSA 2 at may mga puwedeng magpatototo niya. Anupaman, ang Ateneo University at iba pang Katoliko raw na paaaralan ay sumigaw ba ng katarungan para sa mga namasaker noong EDSA 3? 


Sino Nga Ba ang Hindi Alam ang Kanilang Ginagawa?

Ang isang madalas gamiting basehan kung bakit OK lang daw maliitin ang EDSA 3 (and by extension, the massacre) ay dahil hindi daw alam ng milyon kataong nagpunta doon ang kanilang ginagawa. Kesyo dahil daw kulang sa pinag-aralan ang karamihan ng nagpunta roon ay mga nagamit lang daw o hindi raw naiintindihan talaga ang isyu. Talaga lang ha?

Those who were gullible enough to join EDSA 2—at least those who were not part of the conspirators who aimed for nothing but power grab—had no idea that the "People Power" 2 power grab was cooked up early enough during Erap’s term--that Ramos' camp expressed plan to use Centennial Expo funds to block Erap's election, that the elites and Cardinal Sin cooked up the Erap-ouster plan Oplan Excelsis, that the imperialist United State at least gave the blessing to coup plot, that the texting messages to go to EDSA was centralized.

Moreover,the gullible mob and fans of EDSA 2 also amazingly buy the storyline that their "People Power" was "bloodless." Hanggang ngayon, marami sa kanila ang hindi alam o hindi matanggap na tinakot ng mga conspirators ang kampo ni Pangulong Erap na dadanak ng dugo at sina D._.M. “whistle-blower” Chavit Singson, First Gentle—g at seditious na mga pinunong militar ay may napakadugong Plan B kung sakaling magmatigas ang nakaupo. Kung ito man ay naging bloodless ito ay dahil nagparaya o/at umalis ng Malacanang si Estrada dahil ang pwersang nagluto ng EDSA 2 ay handang pumatay.

Hindi kaya dahil sa ang karamihan ng taga-EDSA 2 ay middle class ay mas malaki ang consumption nila ng propaganda material ng dilaw na media kung kaya ay mas madali silang napaikot ng mga manggaagaw ng kapangyarihan? Ayon sa Amerikanong linguist, cognitive scientist, pilosopo at aktibista na si Noam Chomsky, ang mga mas mataas ang pinag.aralan ay mas maraming propagandang tinatanggap sa pangkahalatan dahil mas madalas silang magbasa. Chaomsky's 'Manufacturing Consent' theory is essentially saying that (mainstream) media content is structured to restrict the expression of dissenting voices as part of a system of indoctrination under a supposed 'democratic' free press. Nakita ito sa Vietnam War. Sinulat ni Chaomsky:

Even at the peak of opposition to the U.S. war, only a minuscule portion of the intellectuals opposed the war out of principle—on the grounds that aggression is wrong. Most intellectuals came to oppose it well after leading business circles did—on the “pragmatic” grounds that the costs were too high.

Sino nga ba ang talagang estups o napaikot o hindi alam ang kanilang ginagawa? Ang taga-EDSA 3, na karamihan ay masang Pilipino/a, na nagtatanggol lang ng tunay at walang daya nilang inihalal at ayaw lumabas ng mga prosesong nakasaad sa Saligang Batas, nga ba? O ang taga EDSA 2 na inabandona ang impeachment process at nagluklok ng  sinasabing “Most Corrupt President in Philippine History,” na nagumpisa ng ‘culture of impunity at nagbigay sa Pilipino ng isa sa pinakamataas na electric power rates sa buong mundo?


The Forgotten, Unnamed Poor People Power Martyrs

EDSA 3, the more genuine People Power, not schemed by powerful conspirators only out to grab power. EDSA 3, the People Power that was more massive--in terms of EDSA street coverage and Filipinos amassed--that tried to undo the sacrilege of the pretender People Power, but was not allowed to. Nagprotesta sa EDSA 3 ang milyong Pilipino, na may suporta ng mas higit pa labas ng nasabing kalsada, dahil hindi sila natuwa na tinanggal si Erap hindi sa pamamagitan ng prosesong legal, ng impeachment court na kanilang inabandona, kundi sa pamamagitan ng kuntsabahan (ng mga political elites, Simbahan, business elites at mukhang pati Kalbong Agila) at paggamit sa hindi dapat nakikialam na militar. Ayon kay Lumbao:  

Kaya noong siya [Pangulong Erap] ay inaresto, nagalit ang mga mahihirap na nagdepensa ng matagal na panahon...  Nakita natin iyong mga pangyayari sa Middle East ngayon, unang-unang nagpakita ng kapangyarihan ang mga mahihihirap na talagang kung sino ang dapat na nakakarami ay siyang pakinggan sa lipunan. Nguni't parang hindi ganoon ang pangyayari dito sa ating bansa. Kaya pinilit nilang inaresto si Pangulong Erap dahil ito ang tanging hustipikasyon para siya maalis. At noong hindi na mapiligan ng masang mamamayan, ng masang mahihirap ang galit, doon nga lumabas na ang EDSA 3.

Ang EDSA 3 ay ang pagkilos na naglayong sanang itama ang kriminal na EDSA 2 Power Grab, ang extra.constitutional de 'stupid mob' na pang.aagaw ng lehitimong kapangyarihang mula sa malinis na boto ng taumbayan na binigay kay Pangulong Joseph Ejercito Estrada noong Halalan ng 1998. Nabigla ang taga-EDSA 2 sa pinakitang lakas ng pwersa ng EDSA 3. Sinubukang tapatang subali't hindi kinaya. Hinamak, ininsulto, walang raw "K," sabi ng mga pa-class, pa-intellectual, pa-powerful na power grabbers at hunghang na mga sumunod sa kanila noong EDSA 2. 

Higit sa panghahamak, ang iniluklok ng "peaceful" daw na EDSA 2, si Gloria Arroyo, ay ginamitan ng dahas ang walang kalaban-labang mga dukha na sumugod sa Malacanang--isang pagkilos na ginawa din naman ng  ng kampo nila noong Enero 2001. Ilan nga ba ang pinatay noong EDSA 3? Labindalawa o higit na higit pa? Sino-sino sila? Paano inilibing at saan? Alam ba ng mga pamilya nila? Baka tinakot pa ang mga pamilya ng mga biktima. Kasalanan ba nilang pinatay sila ng mga dmnyong pwersang nanaig noong EDSA 2? Ganoon na lang? Mga sub-humans, sub-Pilipino/a ba silang hindi na dapat bigyang katarungan? Kahit body count man lang, hindi n'yo ba kayang ibigay????





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Partial TRANSCRIPT of the Video "GNN/HTL EDSA 3 REVISITED" (URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJ5QyUj0reI)

HERMAN TIU-LAUREL: "Let me paraphrase the oft-quoted saying that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat its mistakes. Recently we had May 1st, Labor Day. But there was another very significant event on that day ten years ago in our history... an event that many seem to desire to forget, many seem to want to erase from our the pages of Philippine history. It was a day when the masses of the Filipino people genuinely, the massses of the Filipino people expressed themselves and let their voice be heard. This is not just the laboring class. This is not just the general population. This is what it called itself the "Poor People Power." Do you still remember that? That was EDSA 3.

"And so we will not let this month pass and the date May 1 pass without recalling those crucial events that led to the EDSA 3 march-protest and, in fact, some would say "massacre." Do you still remember the blood that was shed on that day? Many people want us to forget but we will not forget.... a dozen or more died without being remembered."

DOCUMENTARY: President Erap Estrada Arrest, April 25, 2001... thousands of police in attendance outraged Filipinos who witnessed the spectacle converged at the EDSA Shrine in an unprecedented mass action. Yet against all consideration for their human rights, the hundreds of thousands of innocent Filipinos... parted this action were mercilessly and violently dispersed (EDSA 3, May 1, 2001 - camera zooms on ).

HTL: ...that was a one-minute clip but you could already sense, what I sensed I think as I was watching it in retrospect, the, the reality of the blood and the gruesome violence that was used against the poor who were unarmed, maybe(?) at worse, they had stones because they were compelled to pick up stones to fight back. But you saw the countless guns that barked (?) on that day. At sa totoo lang, hindi natin alam kung ilan ang talagang nasawi doon... Mayo 1 nagmartsa tungo sa Malacanang....

RONALD LIMBAO: Una, ang pinanggalingan naman talaga noon ay ang panggigipit nila kay Pangulong Estrada at iyong, ah, pagsasamasama ng naghaharing-uri, ng Simbahan at ng mayayaman para patalsikin si Pangulong Erap Estrada. Nakikita namin na yung kuntsabahan ay talagang isinagawa upang agawan ang masang mamamayan na naghalal kay Pangulong Erap ng kapangyarihan... na siyang may taglay at tangan noong si Pangulong Erap ang nanalo. Kung kaya't sa aming paniniwala, hindi nila inaasunto si Pangulong Erap o inaakusahan kung siya man ay may kasalanan o wala. Ang gusto lang talaga nila ay maalis si Pangulong Erap sapagkat hindi nila inaasahan na magkakaroon ng ganoong penomenon na ang mga mahihirap ay hindi na nila kayang madiktahan sa political process o sa, sa electoral process dito sa ating lipunan. Nagulat siguro sila at namangha na meron palang kapangyarihang ganoon ang mga mahihirap.

Kaya noong siya [Pangulong Erap] ay inaresto, nagalit ang mga mahihirap na nagdepensa ng matagal na panahon. Natatandaan mo siguro Ka Mentong [na] bago pa man nagkaroon sila ng EDSA 2 doon ay nagkaroon na ng pagdedepensa ang mga mamamayan. Nakita natin iyong mga pangyayari sa Middle East ngayon, unang-unang nagpakita ng kapangyarihan ang mga mahihihirap na talagang kung sino ang dapat na nakakarami ay siyang pakinggan sa lipunan. Nguni't parang hindi ganoon ang pangyayari dito sa ating bansa. Kaya pinilit nilang inaresto si Pangulong Erap dahil ito ang tanging hustipikasyon para siya maalis. At noong hindi na mapiligan ng masang mamamayan, ng masang mahihirap ang galit, doon nga lumabas na ang EDSA 3.

Limang araw kami doon sa EDSA [nagsimula sa Abril 25/26]. Limang araw na nandodoon kami. Nakita naman siguro ng lahat sa pamamagitan ng tanging media na nag.cover noon, na iyong bilang noon ay mas mahigit pa kumpara doon sa EDSA 2. Ang ikinagagalit ng mga tao noong panahon na iyon, kung kaya lumabas nang husto ang sobrang galit ay yung tanging nag.co.cover na media ay tinutukan pa ng tangke... ang Net 25, iyon ang nagbunsod ng matinding galit.

HTL: Ilang APC (Armore Personal Carrier) ang dumating doon? ...Eh yung mga malalaking media naman, ABS-CBN, GMA-7, ano naman ang reaksyon ng masa? Kasi importante rin iyon...

RL: Doon nga sila nagkaroon ng galit sapagkat hindi natin makita ang fairness doon sa mga media na talagang nagpakita noong Ikalawang EDSA na iyon na raw ang totoong tinig ng nakakaraming mamamayan sa ilalim ng demokrasya. Kung kaya't parang gusto rin nating silang tanungin: ngayon na nagpapakita rin ng kanyang kapangyarihan at opinyon ang masang mamamayan na naka.tsinelas lamang, ang iba nakahubad nguni't Pilipino pa rin. Iyon bang pagiging makahirap namin ay kasalanan at iyon ba ay hindi na dapat na pakinggan sapagkat kami ay hindi nagkaroon ng balat na maputi, hindi maganda ang aming amoy, at wala kaming magandang damit at hindi kami nakasapatos na maganda at wala kaming kotse.

HTL: Ronald, naalala ko, ewan ko kung ikaw... when I was in touch with you, hindi pa naman tayo masyadong magkakilala noon... sino kaya ang tine.text ko o tinatawagan ko na sabi ko 'bakit pa tayo mag.ma.martsa sa Malacanang, panalo na tayo, tagumpay na tayo dahil mas marami nga kaysa EDSA 2,' I don't think you were the one I was in touch with, ano? Hindi ko na maalala, but anyway, that was my reaction kasi, ah, nandoon ako noong unang araw, sabi ko hindi ito magtagagal so tawag ako sa bahay, pagka medyo mag.disperse na uuwi na ako. Eh nakatatlong araw na ako doon, palaki ng palaki pa eh. Noong panglimang araw, sabi ko panalo na ito, tapos na ito. Wala nang argumento yung EDSA 2. Tapos yun, nabalitaan ko na sa radyo, umuwi ako sandali, na nagma.martsa na, ang dami daw, patungong Malacanang... Anyway, what happened there?

RL: Noong gabi na iyon, nagkaroon ng pagpupulong ang political opposition kasama ako. At noong panahon na iyon, dinedesisyonan nila na itigil na ang protesta at pumunta na lamang sa eleksyon... sabi nga nila, wala naman daw suporta ang militar kung kaya't hayaan na lamang na ang eleksyon ang mag.resolba at magtapos ng isyu. Kaya lang, noong bumaba na ako, iyong haba ng nilakad ko mula doon sa building na pinanggalingan ko hanggang doon sa makapasok ako ulit sa stage, ang sabi sa akin ng mga tao: "Ka Ronald, pagka umalis pa tayo dito, hindi na kami maniniwala sa inyo. Kaya noong panahon na iyon, nakita ko na kung hindi magkakaroon ng tuldok ang ginawa noong panahon na iyon, matatalo pa siguro iyung political opposition during that time. Kinausap ko si Senator Enrile, 'Senator,' sabi ko 'baka po makaapekto pa po sa kampanya natin kapag hindi po kami gumawa ng desisyon.'

HTL: Dahil magkakaroon na ng eleksyon na noong taon na iyon, 2001, hindi ba? Senatorial [kampanya ng senatorial noong panahon na iyon within two weeks].

RL: Kaya nagpulong ang lahat ng leaders kung ano ang gagawin hanggang napagdesisyunan na tumulak papuntang Malacanang sapagka't iyon na rin naman talaga ang kagustuhan ng mga tao. Kasi para bang lumabas na pinahiya lamang kami, na nandoon ang masang mahihirap nang matagal na panahon, para bang tinakpan lang nila ang mukha nila, mata nila ng ganito [nagmustra ng takip-mata/mukha], at parang wala lang nangyari. So kung ang ibig sabihin, ang sinasabi nila ang demokrasya daw ay nakita doon sa, ang direct democracy ay nakita sa EDSA 1 at EDSA 2, ngayong [EDSA 3] ginawa ito ng mga mahihirap ay bakit hindi rin ito kilalanin kagaya ng pagkilala doon sa EDSA 1 at EDSA 2.

HTL: OK and last question before I go to Linggoy, iyong insidente na sa akin mahalaga, ah, sabi yung mga aktibista ng EDSA 2 ay nangharang pa sa martsa ninyo. Ikaw ba ay nandoon at nakita mo mismo? Sina Randy David, ah si Constantino ba daw kasama at ilan sa mga iyan, sa may San Beda raw.

RL: Noong paglapag namin, ng Mendiola, ay mayroon.... mga pulis na nagsabi sa amin. Sa totoo, iyong nagbukas mismo ng harang ay mga pulis na rin. Iyong pulis, nandodoon ako sa harapan, iyung pulis na rin mismo ang nagsabi sa akin: "Ronald, hindi namin kayo maaring papasukin pero para naman hindi kami mapahiya ay dumire-diretso na lang kayo, i.overpower n'yo na lang kami." I couldn't remember the name of that police...

HTL: and don't, hehe, he might get into trouble.

RL: And so, ang, pagkatapos na lumapag kami roon, sila na rin ang nagsabi na "Ka Ronald, sabihan mo na lang mga tao mo na huwag nang pakialaman ang mga nandoon sa San Beda na nagtatago." Sinabi nga niya kung sino-sino ang mga pangalan. Nag.announce naman ako sa microphone na kung meron mang kalaban doon, igalang na lang, hayaan na lamang....

Kaya lang, noong pinaputukan kami nang nag.open fire sila doon medyo... Ang unang putok doon sa may malapit sa PUP, iyon ang unang dugo ng EDSA [3]. Pagkatapos noong pagpasok namin...

HTL: PUP, so malayo pa sa Mendiola iyon. PUP nandoon pa sa Sta. Mesa... meroon nang unang putukan, ha?

RL: ...OO, doon ang putok, doon ang unang dugo, doon tinamaan. Pag baba namin doon sa may malapit na sa may papasok nang 7-11, binira na naman kami doon. Yung nakita ninyo [sa video clip] ah, .45 [caliber gun], naka.45 na pumuputok, doon iyon sa may lugar na iyon. Pumuputok siya. In fact, iyon, ang alam ko iyon ang tumestigo doon sa kaso ko na ang sinasabi niya ay inagawan daw siya ng baril at hindi naman daw siya pumuputok...

HTL: Eh siya nga ang nakahawak sa baril...

RL: Pagkatapos noon, pagbaba doon sa, naka, naka-landing na kami ng Mendiola, nagkakagulo doon sa may San Beda--iyon ang tinatanong mo sa akin--pero hindi na namin iyon inintindi. Ang ginawa, ang unang ginawa ko roon, doon pagkalapag na pagkalapag namin ay mamuno ng dasal. Hindi pa man natatapos ang dasal ko, binira na naman kami ng sunod-sunod na putok. Pagkatapos, binira na naman kami ng sunod.sunod na, na tear gas.

HTL: Ah, OK, bago tayo matapos sa ating unang bahagi, si Linggoy, anong recollection mo naman? Doon sa EDSA 2, instigador ka, with exclamation point and so on. And then noong EDSA 3, anong, ah... noong unang araw o unang gabi o pangalawang gabi, nag.text ako kay Linggoy dahil malapit kami, sabi ko bakit wala ka dito? Nandito talaga ang masang Pilipino. Akala ko para sa masa tayo. Iyon ang tinext ko kay Linggoy. Naalala mo yun? (Linggoy: "Oo."). Oh, anyway, magkuwento ka na doon from there...

LINGGOY ALCUAZ: Anyway, ganito, iyung punto ng tinatanong mo, iyung mga nasa San Beda, ito ang background noon. Ang backgrouond noon, before April 25 kung kailan inaresto si Pangulong Erap, nakipagpulong ako kay Marie xxx na anak ni Peping xxx. Ang sabi ko, nararamdaman ko, aarestuhin na si Erap. So dapat meron tayong contingency plan, so ang contingency plan namin, the moment na maaresto si Erap, that same night, magmi.meetng kami. Saan? Sa EDSA Shrine, kasi mayroong kuwarto roon, doon nag.mi.meeting noong EDSA 2. Unfortunately, noong inaresto si Erap, yung crowds ng Erap supporters na nandoon sa Club Filipino Ave., pumunta ng EDSA Shrine. So nag.meeting na lang kami, but not that night, the following day, doon po sa UP Parish, kay Fr. Robert Reyes.

Ok, so ganito ang nangyari: kami ni Marie ang nagsimula ng meeting. So somewhere in the middle, hinayjack ng ibang evil society at ganito ang nangyari. Iyon pala, may bumubulong, galing yata kay Mike Arroyo, ang gusto nila ay gamitin kaming panangga. So ang gusto nila, dahil meron nang Erap supporters sa [EDSA] Shrine, na iyung mga dating Edsa Dos, yung mga COMPHILDO, etc., i.mobilize din sa Malacanang. OK, pero sa meeting proper, na.defeat ang suggestion na iyon dahil sabi, eh yung pagharang, trabaho ng pulis iyon, hindi natin trabaho. Ang ginawa nila, minaniobra, pag.adjourn ng meeting, tinawag ulit yung meeting at minanipula na magkaroon ng mobilization doon sa Mendiola. Pero this is already Saturday afternoon.

Nguni't napakaliit ng mobilization, nagka.ano.ano,... mag.assemble sa NPC, etc., hindi gumanda iyong gusto ni FG [First Gentleman Mike Arroyo] na panangga, OK? Ah, by Sunday, ang rumors ay yung political opposition--ibig sabihin sina Senator Enrile--magpapakita ng solid mukha doon po sa EDSA at magkakaroon ng military-civilian component. Pero hindi po natuloy iyon noong Sunday.

HTL: OK, well, we have one minute before we take our break. Ah, your latest column on Opinyon is "EDSA 3 Ten Years Ago"... What's the gist of this column of yours?

LA: Hindi, ito po ang kuwento ko from my side. Kung ano ang nakikita ko. Basically, ang pinaka-importante ganito: No. 1, sa bilang ng tao, mas marami noong EDSA 3 kaysa EDSA 2; Pangalawa, pagdating sa lawak ng area, mas malawak kaysa noong EDSA 2; Pangatlo, kasi ako tinitingnan ko rin ang parking, ano, obviously, yung EDSA 2, medyo maraming middle class, mas maraming upper class, samantalang yung EDSA 3 ay talagang karamihan ay masa; OK, ngayon, finally, noong gabi noong April 30, in fact nasa Manila Peninsula kami, ang tumawag sa akin yung kapatid ko. Kasi ako kilala ko, ang kapatid ko hindi ko kamukha, siya ang pumapasok sa... yung gusto mong gawin ko, siya ang representative ko, nandoon siya, OK. Linggoy... huwag na kayong magpuyat, yung mga tao dito they don't look like puwede silang sumugod sa Malacanang. A few minutes later, siya naman umuwi na, a few minutes later nabalitaan namin na kumikilos na yung crowd sa EDSA Shrine patungong, hindi pa maliwanag. Kasi meroong papuntang Veterans, may pupuntang Ortigas, may Shaw Blvd. bago nagkaroon ng ano... Ngayon, yung kapatid ko saka ako, sinundan namin by, by car, yung martsa, ako sa kanan, siya sa kaliwa hanggang doon sa Sta. Mesa. And from there, I turned back. Ngayon, yung ulo, lumanding na sa J.P. Laurel, yung buntot, naka.curve pa doon sa kanto ng Gilmore at, sorry, Aurora-Gilmore-Granada. Ganoong kahaba.

HTL: We'll have to take our break but we'll have more, including the documentary, after this break... We are trying to compress a decade of history in just a little less than an hour. So bear with us, ah, we've showed the documentary clip on what happened during the march of EDSA 3 towards Malacanang, the gory details, and now, we're going to show the backgrouond that led to that EDSA 3... let's roll the documentary... beginning with the impeachment at the Senate and leading to the EDSA 3.

Documentary: ...that incriminating evidence was contained in the second envelope which was at the center of controversy of the trial. When the majority of the senator.judges voted to exclude the second envelope--correctly because it was not part of the formal complaint--"the No votes have it" [Chief Justice Hilario Davide speaks and pouts]... the prosecution... loses [much of Senate crowd walks out]. That was the signal for the conspiracy to close its ranks and marshall all its resources in the military, the church, business and media, to clinch the ouster.

It did so. And to avoid violence and..., he [President Estrada] quietly moved out of Malacanang [video shows Estrada and family waving farewell to supporters]. But he never once suggested that he intended to resign.

[in an interview, Davide speaks:] "I'll proceed to EDSA to administer the oath on the Vice-President as acting President... as acting President"

[Gloria Macapagal Arroyo oathtaking at EDSA Ave. reads:] I accept the privilege and responsibility to act as President... to act as President."

In the ensuing confusion, the conspiracy swore Gloria Arroyo into office against all tenets of the [1987] Constitution. The Constitution provides that the sitting President can be replaced only if he 1. resigns; 2. dies; 3. is incapacitated; or 4. is [successfully] impeached. Not one of these four conditions existed when the leader of the masses was uncemoniusly ousted.

Later in the (Feb. 21, 2001, Manila Peninsula) dinner hosted by her co-conspirators in the Council for Philippine Affairs or COPA, Arroyo paid tribute to those who helped make the power grab possible. Arroyo: "Maybe I should tell my version of some of the untold stories especially with regard to the military. And now that it can be told, I thing I should mention who they are. That group that I was meeting with since January was made up of General Larry Mendoza and Col. C.P. Garcia and retired Gen. Rios [applause] Art Carillo and he’s right there, [applause] Gen. Espinosa, whom everybody knows is my dear friend [applause] and ‘Spine’ is there, too, Gen. Braganza and actually ‘Boysie’ is another friend of mine….” [Video shows a newspaper headline that reads: GMA admists meeting military, defends Left."]

Leading luminaries in the international community condemned the ouster. Among others, Supreme Court Justice Cecilia Munoz Palma (Chairman, 1987 Constitutional Commission) said: The 1987 Constitution suffered. This happened when the ongoing impeachment trial of President Joseph Estrada, was unceremoniously disrupted and discontinued, and the issues on hand were brought to the streets. The rule of law was set aside and the rule of force prevailed."

Writing for the International Herald Tribune, Philip Bowring said: "Far from being a victory for democracy that is being claimed by leaders of the Anti-Estrada Movement such as Jaime Cardinal Sin, the evolution of [the Edsa 2] events have been a defeat for due process."

An Asiaweek editorial read: Again, therefore, whatever curious legal construction anyone may now attempt to put on the ouster of Estrada, he was ousted by a military coup, with the connivance of the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church and major business groups. One loser among the coup makers will be the Archbishop of Manila, Jaime Cardinal Sin, and his church."

Even the highly respected Lee Kuan Yew, interviewed by The Straits Times (January 26, 2001) weighed in with his thoughts: "The change of power in the Philippines was no boost for democracy because it was done outside the constitution…"

It has been confirmed that sin disobeyed the Vatican. (Video shows a newspaper headline that reads: "Sin oposed Vatican order, pushed Edsa II." Barely a month after the sealed second envelope was opned before the public on national television, revealing the owner of the controversial bank account to be businessman Jaime Dichaves and not the persecuted leader. (Video shows Malaya headline: "2nd envelope confirms Dichaves' 'Velarde' claim."

The conspiracy next resorted to blackmail and bribes in attempts to block an Estrada return and secure Arroyo's legitimacy. (Video shows newspaper news clip entitled "Erap free to leave RP, says DOJ). A Malacanang emissary in the person of Justice Secretary Hernando Perez offered first, a graceful exit in exchange for a signed resignation letter (Video shows Estrada clip where he says: "I will not resign." and a newspaper clip entitled "'Erap did not concede presidencel'"). And second, at a later date, a quiet back door exit with assurances... (Video shows a communication with the following highlighted: Perez asserted the government would no longer openly assist in the departure of the President but it would quietly do so. And like the first option, permission from the President to take out from the country such assets as he possessed or owned that were not under any claim of the government.") END OF VIDEO DOCU CLIP

HTL: And that back door exit that was offered to Erap, he was offered to take along everything, whatever he wants so long as he goes on exile. Erap refused that also and stayed to face the charges. Ah, we have to compress in the next 15 minutes all that we have to say about this. So I would... fast forward to... what are the lessons of history? After 2004, ah, Ronald Lumbao of Edsa 3, Linggoy Alcuaz of Edsa 2 got together in a new struggle against, now, the Gloria Macapagal regime.

AL: We'll try to have Edsa 4, 5, 6, Ok, that will never succeed... One lesson, on which side, the rebels or the status quo?

HTL: Both sides. As a nation, anong natutunan natin dito?

LA: ...hindi, praktikal ako eh. Sa status quo, yung gobyernong nakaupo, iyong incumbent, ang moral lesson, bago lumaki yung rally eh i.disperse mo na. Kasi ganoon po ang nangyari eh. Si Pangulong Erap, noong EDSA 2, hindi niya ginalaw yung rally noong... when it was small enough to disperse. Iyong EDSA 3, marahil kaya hindi na.disperse ay nasorpresa ang pamahalaan noong administrasyon ni Gloria nung yung mga supporter ni Erap na nandoon sa San Juan nang naaresto siya, tumuloy ng EDSA. Dahil ang akala nila, yung EDSA ay simbolismo iyon ng EDSA I, EDSA II. So they never expected na iyong mga supporters ni Erap doon pupunta... akala nila, sa Crame pupunta.

HTL: Ako before I go to... I'll bring out a few lessons. One, yung nagpapakita ng people power sa lansangan, napakahirap sabihin na iyon ang boses ng buong bansa kasi ang daming mga lugar at ang daming tao sa isang bansa at hindi magkakasya lahat kahit sa buong kahabaan ng EDSA, no? Second, napakahalaga ng media. And dapat talaga mabanggit iyan. So there are many more but with those two, I think two essentials are covered. So I now go to Ronald, anong lessons sa iyo?

RL: Siguro ang pinakamahalagang leksyon, na siya rin sigurong pinagmulan ng sobrang malaking problema sa korapsyon ay yung kapangyarihan ng militar na magdesisyun kung ang isa bang EDSA ay mananalo o hindi? Nakita natin iyan noong panahon ng EDSA 1 at panahon ng EDSA 2. Noong EDSA 3, eh talagang walang nagdesisyon na sumama. Naiintindihan natin ang dating Angie Reyes sapagkat eh wala pa siya halos na isang buwan doon sa puwesto ay... ibig sabihin, wala pa siyang pakinabang doon sa kanyang posisyon. Pero nakita natin pagkatapos dahil siya ang kinapitan ng husto ni Gng. Arroyo para manatili sila sa poder at hindi pansinin ang tinig ng taumbayan noong EDSA 3, nakita na lumabis naman ang pagmamalabis ng mga heneral na ginamit ni GMA para manatili siya sa poder ng kapangyarihan.

HTL: Dadagdag ko lang sa sinabi ninyong dalawa ito tapos dagdagan n'yo nang dalawa. Yung sinabi ni Ceclia Munoz Palma, the rule of force took over and the rule of law was set aside. Iyon ang nangyari sa EDSA 2, hindi ba? Na ang EDSA 3 nagprostesta subali't nang umasa sila na ang batas, yung batas iiral, hindi na nangyari at ang militar nga--yung sinasabi mo ngayon--ang nangibabaw....

____

MULI, NARITO PO ANG URL ng VIDEO na "GNN/HTL EDSA 3 REVISITED": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJ5QyUj0reI

********






Mga Dagdag Batis:

 Carranza, Rowena. "Excuse me, Please Don't call it People Power III." Bulatlat. http://www.bulatlat.com/archive1/011excuse_me.htm


Chaomsky, Noam. Propaganda, American-style. http://www.zpub.com/un/chomsky.html

Key points in "Manufacturing Consent" a video about Noam Chomsky and American democracy. http://hope.journ.wwu.edu/tpilgrim/j190/Chomsky.summary.html

Florentino-Hofilena and Ian Sayson. Centennial Expo: Convenient Cover for Election Fundraising. (1999, June 14-16). Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. http://www.pcij.org/stories/1999/expo.html

Rodis, Rodel. Estrada’s motive. Inquirer Global Nation. 09/24/2009. http://globalnation.inquirer.net/columns/columns/view/20090924-226724/Estradas-motive

Teodoro, Luis. The stake in our hearts. 13 Feb. 2009. http://www.luisteodoro.com/the-stake-in-our-hearts/

Cacho-Olivares. "Oust Estrada plot bared: Business, Church group behind 'Oplan Excelsis' "The Daily Tribune. 30 Oct. 2000. Originally posted in . Republished in http://www.network54.com/Forum/5345/viewall-page-213. Reposted further in Look Back: 'Oplan Excelsis' plot to oust then-RP President Joseph Estrada hatched in 2000. http://jesusabernardo.newsvine.com/_news/2009/10/10/3369444-look-back-oplan-excelsis-plot-to-oust-then-rp-president-joseph-estrada-hatched-in-2000?commentId=10000280


The Stupidity of the EDSA 2 “People Power” Gullibles Relived. http://jesusabernardo.newsvine.com/_news/2008/01/22/1246701-the-stupidity-of-the-edsa-2-people-power-gullibles-relived

The conspiracy of Edsa 2: how Gloria Arroyo managed not to let President Joseph Estrada finish his term. http://jesusabernardo.newsvine.com/_news/2008/02/25/1324358-the-conspiracy-of-edsa-2-how-gloria-arroyo-managed-not-to-let-president-joseph-estrada-finish-his-term


Photo credits:

Power Grab/EDSA 3 Documentary c/o GNN

BBC.com

Erap's renewed bid for the Presidency: Can he overcome the media bias?

Defamed and deposed former Philippine President Joseph Ejercito "Erap" Estrada recently announced his bid to seek anew the country's top elective post. Predominantly "masa" (lower classes) supporters numbering around 10,000, as based on police estimates, flocked to the Plaza Amado Hernandez in the capital's urban poor area of Tondo for the nomination of Estrada and his running-mate in the Pwersa ng Masa and PDP-Laban coalition, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay.



Erap had long indicated his desire to obtain vindication against his ouster in January 2001, done via a veiled conspiracy described by the New York Times as "the opportunist coalition of church, business elite and left [with] former presidents Cory Aquino and Fidel Ramos actively [encouraging] the military to take sides against a properly elected president."


Hurdles Aplenty

Standing against Estrada's "Pagbabalik" are a bevy of daunting forces and hurdles that seem reminiscent of the resolve of the old conspirators behind "Oplan Excelsis," the Erap ouster plan reported in October 2000 by the Daily Tribune's Ninez Cacho-Olivares. One of the hurdles he has to overcome before reaching the goal of historical redemption is the formidable mainstream media, which has been instrumental in his demonization--no matter the presence of the continuing Filipino support for him as reflected in periodic survey studies. The rather unwarranted bastos tone of the interview GMA-7 anchor Mel Tiangco gave him during the evening news right after the nomination rally should tell him to prepare well for the demonization component of Part II of the anti-Estrada movement.

The seeming train of orchestrated events targeting his 2010 candidacy began this year with the April 2009 revival of the BW Resources case against supposed Estrada crony Dante Tan, which was already dismissed in 2007. Dacer-Corbito case witness and former PAOCTF agent Cesar Mancao was brought home from the United States, although they were less successful with Glen Dumlao who eventually chose to stick to his claim that he was only tortured to implicate Lacson and Estrada in the murder case.

Then around the same time, former Senate minority floor leader Nene Pimentel and former Sen. Jovito Salonga asked Erap not to run anymore in 2010 as they took turns giving their dissuading opinions that the Supreme Court wouldn't allow him to run anyway. When Erap did not listen, Salonga then appealed to the Filipino people to "respect" the Supreme Court decision, as if he's certain of what the ruling will be. Lacson came next, who asked that Erap "unite" the opposition by giving way to the candidacy of neophyte senator Noynoy Aquino. Lacson then made threats and as the ex-President refused to retreat from the race, took the Senate floor twice to try to deliver some 'bombshell' expose in order to "save the Philippines from Joseph Ejercito alias Joseph Estrada."


Media's Treatment of Estrada

Lacson's privilege speeches did not exactly turn out to be explosive--either because the statements were rehash charges or were belied by other Estrada cabinet officials. One particular point, however, caused some stir with help from the media. Lacson claimed that Estrada used "strong arm tactics" to force businessman Alfredo Yuchengco to sell his shares in the Philippine Long Distance Telecommunications back in 1998. In what appeared to be a coordinated development, the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) soon ran a banner story that backs up Lacson's claims. The letter on which the story was based turned out to be unsigned.

Earlier, the PDI also towed Lacson's line when its Sept. 10 headline made it appear that Erap's refusal to give way to presidential hopeful Noynoy Aquino, the neophyte senatorial son of former President Corazon Aquino, served to 'bust' opposition unity. Daily Tribune's Cacho-Olivares had described Noynoy Aquino as the presidential candidate of the Inquirer and broadcast news entity ABS-CBN.

PDI has a seeming history of disfavor, if not animosity, towards Estrada, as seen in its almost regular description of the former President as "convicted plunderer." This, without implying in any way the questionable verdict of the special Sandiganbayan court justices, almost of whom were subsequently promoted to the Supreme Court (one is pending).

Reliable reports paint a 'kangaroo court' picture of Estrada's conviction: some two months before the verdict was handed down, veteran journalist Ellen Tordesillas had reported that religious leaders Mike Velarde and Cardinal Vidal were told by Arroyo "that she wanted the Estrada trial to end in a conviction" and the decision will be released "anytime soon," respectively. The Inquirer blames Estrada for the loss of its revenues in 1999 following the pullout by certain businessmen of their advertisements in the newspaper following a series of hard-hitting articles.


For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV


Badgering Erap

Back to the rather dissuading, if not humiliating, interview conducted by GMA-7's Tiangco with Estrada. Following is a transcript of the "24 Oras" October 21, 2009 news clip entitled "Interview with Joseph Estrada":

Mike Enriquez: Magandang gabi po Mr. President. Si Mike Enriquez po ito at Mel Tiangco.

Ex-President Joseph Estrada: Magandang gabi sa iyo din kaibigang Mike.

Enriquez: Mayroon pong mga nagsasabi na hindi daw po kayo pinapayagan ng Konstitusyon na tumakbo ulit sa pagka-Pangulo. Ano pong masasabi ninyo diyan Mr. President.

Estrada: Wala. Na-konsulta na natin iyan sa mga retired justices ng Supreme Court at mga dean ng UP law school. Sila ay... masusi nilang pinag-aralan iyan at nagkaisa sila na qualified na qualified daw akong tumakbo bilang Pangulo.

Enriquez: ok, Mr. President. Ang payo nila sa inyo hindi nyo rin nilabag iyong kondisyon noong pagpapatawad na binigay sa inyo ni, o iyong tinatawag na pardon na binigay sa inyo ni Pangulong Arroyo na hindi na kayo kakandidato sa anumang posisyon na tinatawag na elective, Mr. President.

Estrada: Wala pong nakalagay dun sa dispositive portion ng pardon. Yun pong nakalagay po doon: "restoring all civil and political rights." Ang ibig pong sabihin noon, kung pwede akong bumoto, pwede rin akong butohin.

Enriquez: Opo, Mr. President. Isang tanong na lang po ako bago po si Mel Tiangco. Bukod po kay Mayor Jejomar Binay na katambal ninyo sa pagiging kandidato sa pagiging bise-presidente, mayroon ding senatorial line up na, na buo na?

Estrada: Ah, hindi pa. Siguro mayroon na kaming walo hanggang sampu.

Enriquez: Ok, Mr. President. Salamat po. Eto po si Mel Tiangco.

Tiangco: "Sir, hindi maganda ang karanasan ninyo sa Malacanang, bakit gusto n'yo pang bumalik doon?

Estrada: Ano?

Tiangco: Bakit ho gusto nyo pang bumalik sa Malacanang, eh kayo na rin ang nagkwekwento kanina na napakapangit ng experience nyo … minsang kayo ay Pangulo ng ating bansa.

Estrada: Napakapangit dahil nagsabwatan sila at ako ay napilitang bumaba. Ang katotohanan nga ay si dating Pangulong Cory Aquino ang nagssisisi kung bakit sumali siya sa EDSA 2. At ako naman ay, iyong mga programa ko para sa kapakanan ng mga mahihirap ay hindi ko nagawa kaya gusto kong ipagpatuloy.

Tiangco: Palagi ninyong nababanggit na kayo ay inosente, hindi totoo ang ang mga pinaratang sa inyo. Eh bakit po tumagal ng anim na taon Sir. Anim na taon kayong nilitis sir, di ba?

Estrada: Anim na taon nga at anim na buwan. Wala silang napatunayan na nagnakaw ako kahit na isang kusing sa kaban ng bayan. Ang totoo nga niyan ay nagtayo ng Task Force ang DOJ--lahat ng kontrata na naaprobahan sa aking administrayon ay hinimay. Himay nila at wala silang nakita na isa mang kontrata na may halong anumalya, sa ano mang kontrata.

Tiangco: Eh bakit po pardon ang naibigay sa inyo

Estrada: Ha?

Tiangco: Bakit po pardon?

Estrada: Ewan ko sa kanila?

Tiangco: Hindi po kaya sabi ng ilang diyan ay kaya nais nyo lang tumakbong muli ay para daw balikan iyong mga nagpatalsik sa inyo?

Estrada: Alam mo Mel, sa aking anim na taong ako ay nakakulong ay nalapit tayo sa panginoon. at laging pinaaalala sa akin ng panginoon iyong Lord's Prayer. Iyong ama namin. iyon mga nagkasala sa iyo ay dapat mo ring patatawarin : "Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sins against us." Kaya iyan po ang malapit na malapit na parang laging pinararamdam sa atin ng ating panginoon.

Tiangco: Maraming maraming salamat po sa oras na binigay ninyo sa 24 oras. Magandang gabi po.

Estrada: Salamat, salamat Mel.

While both interviewee and interviewer remained 'polite' all throughout, vexation and put down were arguably detectable at some points in the tones of their voices or body languages.

On the point of the six-month trial and pardon, respectively, Tiangco was obviously implying that Erap was convicted and was therefore guilty of some crime and not innocent as claimed. In a politely veiled manner, the news anchor was arguing against the former President's statements.

Estrada was taken aback--as in he seemed to have been on the way to turning his back and concluding the interview were it not for another question hurled at him. Those who understand the political nature of Estrada's arrest and legal cases are aware that as far as government funds and contracts are concerned, the former President comes off clean.

The ousted leader obviously couldn't answer the "why pardon" question because to do so would be to claim that Teresita de Castro, Diosdado Peralta, and Francisco Villaruz Jr were kangaroo court justices, which would imply an ungentlemanly or unethical undermining of the pardon he accepted.

Tiangco very well knew what she was driving at because she's a veteran journalist who began with Channel 4 way back the Martial Law days. Established press figures like her are, in fact, well ahead of the news. By badgering Erap with such questions, is she saying that she is unaware of reports of Vidal/Velarde's knowledge of Arroyo's manipulation of the Plunder verdict? Is she saying that she does not even suspect the kangaroo court character of the Special Division of Sandiganbayan, with its two justices being subsequently promoted to Supreme Court positions (Villaruz is in the shortlist of SC nominees)? As news anchor and official of GMA-7, it can safely be assumed that her news objectivity, or lack of it, is representative of the network's own position.


'Star Struck' Interview of Noynoy

It is easier to see through the slant in Tiangco's interview if it is compared with the interview conducted with Sen. Noynoy Aquino, along with Sen. Mar Roxas, on September 21, 2009 right after the Liberal Party stalwarts formally announced their tandem for the 2010 presidential elections in Club Filipino.

Following are the questions thrown at Noynoy , by Pia Arcangel and Raffy Tima based on my transcript of the "QTV: Live interview with Mar Roxas and Noynoy Aquino":


For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

__: Kay Senador Aquino naman ho, ngayon kasado na ho ang tambalang Aquino-Roxas para sa 2010, ano sa tingin ninyo ang pagbabagong dadalhin ng inyong tandem sa election race, ika nga.

__: Hindi rin ho kayo nahirapan na kumbinsihin si Senador Roxas na maging running mate nyo, dahil sabi nga ninyo matagal na ho kayong magkaibigan ni Senador Roxas.

__: Sa tingin ninyo Senador Aquino iyong pagkakaibigan o iyong friendship malaking tulong po ito sa inyong pangangampanya at inyong pagtakbo?

__: Senador Aquino, may nakatakda po kayong pagpupulong kay dating Pangulong Estrada, di po ba? Ano po kaya ang paguusapan dito at anong changes kaya ang mangyayari kapagka nagusap kayo ni dating Pangulong Estrada.

__: Senador, may pagkakataon pa po ba kayong magkaisa ang oposisyon. Kung di man ho magkaisa sa iisang kandidato ay malimitahan yung mga kandidatong oposisyon

__: Sen. Mar Roxas at Sen. Aquino, mapunta naman tayo sa medyo live na isyu. Eh kumusta naman po ang paghahanda sa inyong kasal, Senador Mar? Kung nagkataon eh parehong single ang pupunta sa palasyo.

__: So next year na po si Senador Aquino.

__: Senador, mukha hong nag-eenjoy kayo sa inyong, well, friendship. At ito nga, sabi ninyo, malaking bentahe ito sa inyong pangangampanya at sa kagustuhan ninyon suportahan kayo, lalo na ng mga kabataan.

__: Senador Aquino, bukod po kay dating Pangulong Estrada, may mga balak pa po ba kayong kausapin?

__: Gaanong kalaking factor ho ngayon ang suporta ng inyong mga pamilya dito sa inyong ginawang desisyon ngayon?

Watching the Tiangco portion of the "24 Oras" interview with Erap made me cringe both from disapproval at the rather callously inappropriate line of questioning and from the discomfort of watching Erap slide from proclamation "high" into interrogation put down. Imagine the subject were not Erap but another comebacking politician who just concluded his proclamation rally--how would it sound for a news anchor to hammer on why the former public official had to run again? Wouldn't that be considered bastos by any decent journalistic standards?

Contrast the badgering Erap got with the kids' glove treatment the network gave Noynoy. Same interview format for the two presidentiables right after after their respective formal declaration of intent to run in 2010: two interviewers--female and male who hurled questions one after the other. While GMA-7 subjected ex-President Estrada to an interrogation-style interview, Sen. Aquino was accorded brattish tweetums TV time.

Is it by sheer "luck" that Noynoy was asked rather 'beautiful' questions in the tradition of "Star Struck": about his "friendship" with, and how he wooed his VP bet; and "family support" behind the decision to run? Or is it by the network's deliberate design?

Of course, the sets of interviewers were different--veterans for Erap and a little less for Noynoy--but is that an excuse for a pronounced journalistic slant? The interview with Sen. Aquino was conducted by children's program "Art Angel" host Pia Arcangel and Raffy Tima, who might be a commended news producer but is still very "soft" in interview work. It was reported by QTV, which is a television network owned by GMA Network, Inc., with the video published at the GMA News website. If the interview was not deliberately designed to be pro-Noynoy, shouldn't the network have assigned the task to the politically sharper hosts such as Tiangco and Enriquez or others?


What GMA-7 should have asked Noynoy

If the network that describes itself as "Walang Kinikilingan..." were genuinely even half as fair and non-prejudicial, it would have been as polite and tweetums in its interview with Estrada as it was with Noynoy. After all, it's hardly politically correct to turn an interview of a former leaders ousted by a conspiracy into a prosecution-style interrogation on the very occasion of the proclamation of his political comeback. Actually, such a badgering interview bordering on humiliation--given the context of the occasion--is politically incorrect regardless of who the interviewee is.

Then again, the "Kapuso" network is a proud member of the Fourth Estate tasked to serve as watchdog that ferrets out the truth and is exempted, perhaps, from the dictates of political correctness. Still, the network should have been as tough-talking and callously inquisitive in its interview with Noynoy. It would have been a lot more real and unbiased had GMA-7 asked presidentiable Noynoy questions that hewed somewhat to the following:

Host: Magandang umaga ho, Senador Aquino. Hindi po ba't humingi ng tawad ang inyong ina na si yumaong Pangulong Corazon sa kanyang naging bahagi sa pagpapatalksik kay dating Pangulong Estrada, eh bakit ho tumatakbo kaya ngayon?

Host: Hindi ho ba dapat suportahan n'yo na lang ang kandidatura ni Pangulong Erap bilang paggalang sa naging posisyon ng inyong ina?

Host: Napabalita po noon na kinausap ng inyong ina si Erap upang ipasok kayo sa line-up ng oposisyon noong 2007 elections, hindi po ba? Kinonsidera nyo ho ba ang bagay na ito sa desisyon ninyong tumakbo bilang pangulo at lumaban sa mga ibang kandidato kabilang na si dating Pangulong Estrada?

Host: Ang sabi ho ng ilan ay itinakwil ni yumaong Pangulong Aquino ang EDSA 2 nang humingi siya ng tawag kay dating Pangulong Estrada. Ano ho ang inyong posisyon? Itinatakwil nyo rin ho ba ang pangyayaring iyon sa kasaysayan ng ating bayan?

Host: Senador Aquino, bakit ho sa Club Filipino kayo nag-deklara ng inyong kahandaan tumakbo sa pagka-Pangulo sa susunod na halalan? Ginagaya ho ba natin ang nangyaring proklamasyon bilang Pangulo ng inyong ina noong 1986?

Host: Noon hong 1985 o 1986, tinanggap lamang ng inyong ina ang hamon na kumandidato laban kay Marcos nang naiprisinta na sa kanya ang isang milyong pirma na nagu-udyok sa kanyang tumakbo. Kayo ho ba ay tumatakbo dahil nakatanggap na din kayo ng kaparehong bilang ng pirma ng mga taong nais kayong lumahok sa halalan sa pagka-Pangulo sa 2010?

Host: Sinasabi ho ng ilang kritiko na hindi ho naging lubos na matagumpay and Reporma sa Lupa sa panahon ni Dating Pangulong Aquino. Ano hong ba ang gagawin ninyo tungkol sa isyung ito sakaling manalo kayo bilang Pangulo? Ano ho ang plano ninyo at ng inyong mga kamag-anak sa Hacienda Luisita?

Host: Senador Noynoy, meron pong nagsasabing hindi naman daw ho talagang maganda ang inyong legislative performance. Ano ho kaya ang magagawa ninyo bilang Pangulo sakaling mahalalal kayo?

Host: Huling tanong na laman po. Buo na ho ba ang inyong senatorial line-up?

Overcoming the Media Bias

In fairness to GMA-7, it is not the only network that has exhibited a critical tendency against Estrada. Back in 2001, it joined ABS-CBN in the demonization of the former President and the corollary celebration of the "People Power II" coup by covering the 4-day uprising practically 24/7 and running their respective 'Edsa 2 victory' video clips soon after Erap's ouster. It should be mentioned, however, that GMA-7 ran their celebratory EDSA 2 video days, if not weeks, longer than did ABS-CBN (I well took mental note of that).

Both networks can be said to be guilty of condescending treatment of the pro-Erap EDSA 3, giving it minimal coverage. It was only non-mainstream Net 25, owned by Iglesia ni Cristo," which covered "People Power 3" full time.

In other words, hindi nag-iisa ang GMA-7 in having a history of either belittling political actions of the masses or simply being biased against Estrada. Veteran journalist Rowena Carranza wrote snootily about EDSA 3, with the title saying it all: "Excuse me, Please Don't call it People Power III.' Carranza, of the print media, along with the PDI, is not alone in the tendency to negatively portray either the former President or his supporters, or both.

The TV, radio, and mainstream print media, along with the blogosphere, are littered with anti-Erap content, whether or not veiled in pretenses of objectivity. Cacho-Olivares of the Daily Tribune, a fiery but hardly mainstream media entity, laments the resurgence of the demonization of Erap in time with his renewed bid for the presidency:

"With the Erap magic still glowing, as shown by the crowd of thousands that went to Tondo to witness Erap Estrada's official declaration to run for the presidency, there went the usual elite civil socialites, once again demonizing him, and even saying that Estrada has a poor track record and a bad Cabinet.

One truly wonders where they get their facts, because official records show that Estrada certainly did a better job as President than their anointed has."

In explaining the political longevity of Arroyo despite huge problems in corruption and hunger, nationalist economist and political analyst Alejandro Lichauco writes that despite obvious support of the majority of Filipinos, Erap is faced with the problem of his inability to get a considerable segment of the upper and middle classes to his side, which includes the opinion makers, along with the intellectuals and revolutionary leaders. Alejandro continues: "While that class is numerically insignificant, it holds the levers of political power."

It is clear that the media is not the only hurdle for the ousted President. Military support--not necessarily in terms of loyalty to him but to the majority of the Filipinos--is perhaps even more important. Granting that the nation is able to maintain some democratic space for 'press freedom,' however, the opinion maker that is the media remains an important tool that would make or break Joseph Ejercito Estrada's "final, final performance."

__________

References

Bowring, Philip. Filipino Democracy Needs Stronger Institutions. New York Times. 22 January 2001. http://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/22/opinion/22iht-edbow.t_3.html

Cabacungan Jr., Gil and Norman Bordadora. "Estrada busts opposition’s hopes of unity." Inquirer. net. 10 September 2009. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20090910-224481/Estrada-busts-oppositions-hopes-of-unity

Cacho-Olivares, Ninez. "Demonizing Erap Again." The Daily Tribune. 23 October 2009. http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20091023com2.html

Cacho-Olivares, Ninez. "Oust Estrada plot bared: Business, Church group behind 'Oplan Excelsis' ". The Daily Tribune. 30 Oct. 2000. Originally posted in . Republished in http://www.network54.com/Forum/5345/viewall-page-213. Newsvine. http://jesusabernardo.polls.newsvine.com/_news/2009/10/10/3369444-look-back-oplan-excelsis-plot-to-oust-then-rp-president-joseph-estrada-hatched-in-2000

"Estrada bullied me, says Yuchengco." Inquirer.net. 16 September 2009. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20090916-225393/Estrada-bullied-me-says-Yuchengco

"Estrada sues PDI, Yuchengco for libel." The Daily Tribune. 18 September 2009. http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20090918hed1.html

"Excuse me, Please Don't call it People Power III." Bulatlat. http://www.bulatlat.com/archive1/011excuse_me.htm

"Interview with Joseph Estrada." GMA-7. 21 Oct. 2009. http://www.gmanews.tv/video/49649/interview-with-joseph-estrada

Kapunan, Rod. "Delicadeza, dead and forgotten word." The Daily Tribune. 08 December 2007. http://www.classicposters.com/commentary/20071208com3.html

Lacson spills beans on Estrada. VERA Files. 14 September 2009. http://www.verafiles.org/index.php/focus/341-lacson-spills-beans-on-estrada

Lichauco, Alejandro. "GMA Regime Endures Despite Hunger, Corruption." The Daily Tribune. 22 May 2008. http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20080522com3.html

"Mancao lawyer, Erap Cabinet clear Estrada on Lacson raps." The Daily Tribune. http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20090916hed2.html

Now Official! Ex-President Joseph Erap Estrada Will Run For Re-Election In 2010. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2kSwQPj8FE&feature=related

QTV: Live interview with Mar Roxas and Noynoy Aquino. 21 September 2000. GMA News TV. http://www.gmanews.tv/largevideo/related/48020/qtv-live-interview-with-mar-roxas-and-noynoy-aquino

Tordesillas, Ellen. Velarde, Vidal Know About Guilty Verdict In Estrada Trial. Ellen Tordesillas Blog. 5 July 2009. http://www.ellentordesillas.com/?p=1352

Zamore, Fe. "Remembrance of things past: Erap did it, too." Inquirer.net. 15 August 2009. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20090815-220371/Remembrance-of-things-past-Erap-did-it-too