The People’s Initiative? Or the Trapos’ Initiative

The die is finally cast. The congress express train bound for ignominy rolled off over the weekend. The excited congressmen led by Speaker Jose de Venecia have no doubt the noblest plans for a country that they described today as hopelessly mired in endless political conflicts owing to the cursed presidential system.

But sadly their actions belie their true intentions.

First of all, it has become apparent to our people that our congressmen under the baton of President Gloria Arroyo, are hell bent on shifting to a parliamentary system at all costs. On one hand, there is the move to convene a Constituent Assembly, and if that doesn’t work, there will be the People’s Initiative they think that can still get it done.

One can only begin to begin to wonder why such a fixation or obsession with the parliamentary system at a time when the Arroyo government continues to trumpet the gains of her administration, specifically that the economy is robust and the Philippine currency is the now the strongest. She is telling us in no unmistakable terms that under her leadership, the presidential system is working.

So, why this mad rush to change the system?

Alas, it is not the economy, stupid. It’s really all about making today’s political families keep their hold to political power and everything that makes it’s the most lucrative business in the country, forever. It’s about keeping the culture of political patronage and corruption firmly in place to ensure their political reign in the next 10 decades, at the very least.

Yet, in all recent public surveys, the public has consistently indicated it is vigorously opposed to a change in the system.  But for obvious reasons, Mrs. Arroyo and her minions insist that there is an overwhelming sentiment for a change. They say they will even prove this with a People’s initiative. Well, there’s the rub.

So bizarre as it may seem, we will see a People’s Initiative initiated not by our people but by incumbent traditional politicians who will apply all means to get the numbers prescribed by the Constitution. This early, media are already privy to plans of congressmen, governors and mayors (out of   their pork barrel funds) to pay signature solicitors a P20 incentive for every signature submitted.

For P20 a piece for the People’s Initiative, our incumbent trapos believe they can get what they want -a generous and corrupt prime minister who will keep the pipeline to the people’s money open and accessible, and there’s nothing that  ordinary Filipinos can do about it.

Beware, the Constitution and the future of our country is being bought for P20 through the Trapos’ Initiative!

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