A jolog solution to Arroyo's astute "investment" in the Philippine Supreme Court

I don't really give a rat's arse who is "unconstitutional" nor who is the Righteous One or the Evil One in this whole small-minded drama being spun around this whole "Truth Commission" failure-to-launch fiasco. What I do see is an amusing contest of wits, political acumen, and foresight. So far, the party leading the race as far as this set of contest criteria is concerned is quite clear. Former President, now House Representative, Gloria Arroyo has remained consistent to the winning form she's exhibited over the last ten years -- that of a tenacious and savvy politician; a stark contrast to the bumbling comedy-of-errors that is the Second Aquino Admiistration.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima herself tipped her hat to Arroyo's savvy noting how this "wise institutional investment of the past regime" worked so well against what presumably was her boss's "executive actions to correct injustices and abuses of the past regime and to punish the perpetrators". All debatable bullshit of course. But this is the Philippines, where mere hearsay trumps facts and mere perceptions guide judgements on a routine basis.

Despite the "popularity" and a self-attributed moral high ground enjoyed by the "prayerful" and "humble" Malacanang of President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, it is quite clear who the better institutional navigator is. Hardly surprising because Aquino is Ocho Ocho "Revolution" (read: anti-institutional initiative) embodied while Arroyo is, well, simply being the Gloria Arroyo who got 2 million-odd idiots to ocho-ocho her into power back in the year 2000, win a "legitimate" election in 2004, and survive an albeit disorganised and fragmented effort to dislodge her from power since. You can see in this quick stocktake that Aquino's skill set is but a mere subset of the expertise Arroyo applied over her tenure as the country's President. A little boy trying to fill grown-up shoes is how Noynoy comes across to us today.

This fixation on an adolescent approach to politics is epitomised in Ellen Tordesilla's quaint recommendation articulated in Jolog Central on what the hapless Filipino's next steps are:

The High Court’s decision on the Truth Commission should impel the people to make known their displeasure over their betrayal of the people’s trust in the law. People should mark their name: Renato Corona, Lucas Bersamin, Arturo Brion, Teresita de Castro, Mariano del Castillo, Jose Mendoza, Diosdado Peralta, Jose Perez, Presbitero Velasco, and Martin Villarama.

Maybe it’s high time to stage People Power against the degradation of the Supreme Court. When you meet any one of the 10 justices outside the court, make known your anger. Tell it to their faces. Boo them. Make them uncomfortable. Throw rotten tomatoes or eggs at them.

People should also support justices who keep us from losing our faith in the rule of law in this country: Antonio Carpio, Conchita Carpio-Morales, Roberto Abad, Antonio Nachura, Maria Lourdes Sereno.

True to form indeed: a jolog solution for a jolog situation.