HOCUS-POCUS

Dear fellow UP law students... I am completely lost in the wilderness. Can someone please explain to me what's happening?!? Today, General Miranda asked to be relieved from his position as Commandant of the Philippine Marines for, as of the time of this writing, unexplained reasons. He was forthwith replaced by Brigade General Allaga. As is expected, all hell broke loose. Opportunists immediately seized the situation: (1) Col. Querubin calls the media to state on nationwide television that Gen. Miranda's request to be relieved is by virtue of the latter's desire to join those who oppose GMA's administration. Querubin likens his (Miranda's) situation to that of General Danny Lim formerly of the Scout Rangers who was placed under the custody of the Chief-of-Staff (Gen. Senga), for wanting to join the rally last friday and for breaking the military chain-of-command; and (2) Randy David (a regent of the University of the Philippines), arrested last friday allegedly pursuant to Proclamation No. 1017 after trying to negotiate with the police to allow him and the other rallyists in Santolan to peaceably disperse but was nonetheless released by virtue of the fiscal's determination that evidence against him was insufficient to try him for the crime of inciting to sedition, may have now given that fiscal sufficient evidence to warrant his trial for the same felony by going to U.P. and urging the student's therein to rally and call for the nullification of Proclamation No. 1017 and the stepping down of GMA from the presidency.

I totally disagree with Proclamation No. 1017. I totally disagree with the prohibition of rallies, etc. which effectively curtails the citizen's fundamental rights of peaceable assembly and free speech. But now I am confused as to whether or not agree to what had just transpired. Are we that desperate so as to fuss about Gen. Miranda's relief request? Does the same merit classes being called-off again this Monday? Maybe. Maybe not.

I guess... desperate times call for desperate measures.

My father, an activist during the Marcos regime who fought alongside the likes of Edgar Jopson (until EDJOP joined the communist movement), made me think twice about this whole affair. Three things he pointed out: (1) The presence of the Left. Why in the world do they want to celebrate the first People Power when they weren't even there way back 1986? Why weren't they there, you ask? Because they thought it was going to be a flop. They never believed in a bloodless revolt. It's hard to imagine them changing that belief now specially when you're getting text messages left and right as I am at the moment warning civilians to keep away from cell sites and government buildings because a series of bombings may happen starting midnight tonight allegedly as part of the plan to change the corrupt system of the government. My dad never forgave Cory Aquino for freeing Joma Sison. Yes, her administration was "too" anti-Marcos to the point of ludicrousness (which made me think, what good did Cory's administration do to our country aside from deposing an aging and incompetent dictator?); (2) Bitter political and personal foes joining the fray and fighting alongside one another (ex. Cory and the Marcoses [including those known to be associated with the late, former dictator]); (3) The overall cast of characters. When we deposed of a liquor-glugging, womanizing, gambler of a president, we hated the guts of some of the people on his side who now take the lead role and whom we now, whether we like it or not, side with in our opposition of GMA's actions.

Hmmm...