SENATOR Joker Arroyo can only shake his head in disappointment over what Justice Sec. Leila de Lima just did to the Supreme Court.

With people in Malacañang who believe that they are the only ones  who think right and thus have the authority to disobey the highest court in the land, I too felt a sense of hopelessness because it won’t be long before they think they are above the law and have absolute authority over every Filipino.

Filipino means not just a former president. It pertains to you and me, our family, our loved ones that include our precious children. 

As the good senator puts it more accurately, “its martial law all over again.” Nothing can be a more hopeless situation than that.

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Reports say Malacañang is pressuring the Commission on Elections to come up with a resolution that there is probable cause to file election sabotage charges against former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

According to sources, Malacañang is forcing the commissioners to sign the resolution immediately even though they have not yet read it. The order was so urgent that Comelec Chairman Sixto Brilliantes was reportedly forced to report for work despite being scheduled for hospital confinement due to an ailment.

The move obviously aims to make Malacañang comply with what everybody was telling it to do  since President Benigno Aquino III took over the Palace more than a year ago: File cases against Arroyo!

The moment  a case is filed against Arroyo, a court can issue a hold departure order against the former president  and legally bar her from leaving the country.

But why still need a hold departure order from a court when, as proven recently, a cabinet member can defy a Supreme Court temporary restraining order and simply call airport and immigration officials to stop somebody from going abroad?

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Rep. Rodel Batocabe of AKO Bicol Partylist  warned of the ‘chilling effects’ of De Lima’s defiance of the Supreme Court to the country’s justice system and balance of power among the three co-equal branches  of government.

With the highest court damaged and the House of Representatives controlled by Malacañang, the executive department stands as the only remaining power. This supports the possibility of having an authoritarian government as feared by Sen. Arroyo.

In this scenario, Batocabe says the media, otherwise known as the ‘Fourth Estate’,  must assume the very crucial role as the last ‘equalizer’ against  Malacañang.

Aquino is not a fan of media as proven by his resentment over journalists who criticize him. In fact, when asked what his Christmas wish would be, Aquino said: “I hope the criticisms would stop.”

As a mediaman, the President’s wish sends shivers down my spine.

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Before, the government hoarded millions of public funds for fear that they will just go to the wrong hands. It kept the people’s money until the economy weakened.

Unrelenting calls for  Malacañang to spend forced the Department of Budget and Management to release P1.72 billion to perk up the economy.

It made many poor families further starve before Aquino listened.

Earlier, the administration had no plans to strike back at Moro Islamic Liberation Front after the secessionist group killed more than 19 soldiers in Mindanao.

Strong demand for the government to retaliate pushed Malacañang to fight back in the guise of “All- Out Justice.”

It took threats of a coup d ‘etat for Malacañang to arrive at that decision.

Malacañang has been prodded to file charges against Arroyo as early as Aquino assumed the presidency.

Until now, no cases have filed been filed in court by the DOJ against Arroyo.

The palace is said to be working on the electoral sabotage charges against Arroyo in haste following the showdown between the DOJ and the SC.

It’s taking a constitutional crisis before cases against Arroyo are filed in court.

What more does it take before Aquino shifts to high gear and lead our nation correctly?

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