A right to revolt

Do we have the right to revolt?

Over beer and pizza, the bloggers of Dona Victorina gathered at Carlo's in Metro Walk to discuss (as Rain B. puts it) plans for a national concern that affects the future of my son.

During the long drawn out discussion which touched on many topics, including Danny Lim's statement against Con Ass or Charter Change and his continued incarceration, I pointed out to Trixie Cruz Angeles that the Philippine Constitution actually enshrines our right -- our duty -- to revolt.

I can't cite chapter and verse right now or pull out a transcript of the discussions when the 1987 Constitution was being formulated, but just point to our electoral process as a form of revolting against the current status quo.

But for sure, others may interpret this to mean bearing arms against the government also and they would also be right -- as this actually conforms to the usual idea of a revolution, that of seizing control over the state by force of arms.

Anyway, Trixie described the idea as Jeffersonian and I looked it up right now. Being hungover, I just opened the first google search result and found an interesting passage in www.homeofheroes.com, and to wit, here's something attributed to John Locke:

Locke believed in government to the extent that it was the obligation of government to protect the rights of its citizens to "life, liberty, and property". He further held that there was a "natural law" that was supreme. This latter concept indicated that, when government became corrupt, it was not only the RIGHT of the people to revolt, but their OBLIGATION to free themselves. As Thomas Jefferson penned his Declaration of Independence he quickly established that the Colonies not only had the right to revolt, but that it was almost a fore-ordained obligation to the process of natural law....

And this eventually lead me to look up the American Declaration of Independence and this is something I think is relevant reading at this point.

That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

However, a revolution -- even a successful one -- presents a number of problems and that mainly has to do with who gets control over everything.

Certainly, those displaced by the revolution will try to get back power -- if they are not all killed or rendered incapable of posing a serious challenge. Another problem would be that other revolutions may follow, instigated from within the ranks of those who revolted. Moreover, the problems become increasingly more difficult if the general population does not support the revolt but are merely forced to accept the rule of the revolutionaries after they are cowed into submission by violence or the threat of violence.

Nevertheless, revolts are always a threat any government will face if it isn't responsive to the needs and interests of the people it should be serving.

Anyway, just this morning, Facebook Buddy Izabelle Palanca Enriquez tagged me in a note and I sympathize with it's sentiments:

Ang Hukbong Sandatahan ay instrumento ng taong bayan.
Protektor ito ng mamamayan at ng estado.
Hindi nito obligasyon ang sang-ayunan ang katiwalian ng administrasyon.

Hindi trabaho ng AFP ang mandaya sa eleksyon.
Hindi dapat binibigyan ng premyo ang mga heneral na mahilig magbenta ng serbisyo sa mga politico.

At lalong hindi gawain ng sundalo ang pumatay sa mga aktibista, mga mamamahayag at mga taong walang kasalanan at walang kalaban laban.

The rest of the note goes on to explain that General Danny Lim (I assume) denies that his statement against Con Ass and Chacha was not a call to arms.

Sorry Trixie, I still don't buy this one.

Anyway, to the note, perhaps I would add that:

Hindi trabaho ng sundalo ang makialam sa mga demokratikong proseso at makialam sa politika.

Military backed uprising versus Charter Change and Gloria forever?

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend? I think not. They can just as easily rob me of the freedoms I have fought for and won. They can just as easily be more corrupt "

When Brig. General Danny Lim issued a statement against the railroading of charter change in congress and HINTED at a threat of a military backed uprising, I shuddered.

I shuddered because the statement betrays an undemocratic tendency which may not be compatible with his aspiration to become a member of the Philippine Senate.

STATEMENT

To the Officers and Men of the Armed Forces of the Philippines:

Last Tuesday’s brazen railroading of the Con-Ass Resolution has erased whatever doubts, we have, about GMA’s true intention of holding on to power beyond 2010. This is not the first time she has trampled upon the Constitution we all claim to follow and respect. The EDSA Dos in 2001 was a coup d’etat that we, as an organization, took part in to oust a duly elected president. The 2004 election cheating, as exposed by the ‘Hello Garci’ tapes, was partly an AFP operation masterminded by the former Chief-of-Staff, Gen. Hermogenes Esperon. Countless other offenses have followed since.

GMA is determined and she will keep on ramming through every perceived obstacle there is, until she attains her much-coveted goal.

Now, only the collective will of the people with the support of the AFP can stop her.

I, therefore, call on every officer and enlisted man to follow your conscience and do what is right – PROTECT THE PEOPLE AND THE STATE!

BGEN DANILO D. LIM AFP

I was told that I was seeing things, that I misinterpreted the statement, and it was conjecture to say that General Lim was attempting to signal an uprising.

I bit my lip, despite knowing that the words printed in the e-mail that was sent to me was clearly aimed at rousing the military to take part in what is a CIVILIAN and DEMOCRATIC exercise.

For what purpose? To protect the people? From whom? From what?

I could have passed it off as another one of those publicity hounding statements, but then this was followed by Senator Rodolfo Biazon's statement against Con Ass saying:

"The people's massive response to this could drive that soldier to invoke their constitutionally mandated duty of protecting the people and the state and take actions to provide a resolution to the controversy, " Biazon also warned.

"THE DANGER IS IF THIS HAPPENS, FOR THE THIRD TIME, THE SOLDIERS MAY NOT ANYMORE BE WILLING TO GIVE BACK POWER TO CIVILIAN AUTHORITY."

"HR 1109 could very well be our constitutional equivalent of 9-11, an attack against out Constitution"

The biggest threat to our democracy are not communist or muslim rebels.

The biggest threat to our democracy are POLITICIZED MILITARY OFFICIALS who, on the face of it, are offering to save us from a corrupt regime but whose real objective is to seize power.

I cannot trust people whose actions or plans will deprive me of my democratic rights, for whatever purpose.

So, if you dear reader want to protect our democracy, make sure you don't support MILITARY OFFICIALS whose aim is to subvert and overthrow our DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES.

Constitutional Change and talks of an uprising

On the face of it, House Resolution 1109 and the threat of railroading Constitutional amendments seems like a big deal right now.

It ain't.

With all the politicians and political personalities throwing their two cents worth about CONs and ASSes foisting a ploy for forming a Constituent Assembly (Con Ass) that dilutes ( or more properly, negates) the participation of the Senate, you'd think that things are coming to a dramatic stand off that might tip over into an uprising.

It won't.

Despite appearances, all the protest demonstrations and talks of uprisings are only being used to create a stage upon which politicians and certain personalities can play to the crowd.

Riding on the issue of charter change for publicity is the name of the game. And this being what it is, I now point to the winning ploys.

Yesterday, Brigadier General Danny Lim issued a statement denouncing moves for charter change and QUITE DISTURBINGLY ended that statement by hinting at an uprising.

GMA is determined and she will keep on ramming through every perceived obstacle there is, until she attains her much-coveted goal.

Now, only the collective will of the people with the support of the AFP can stop her.

I, therefore, call on every officer and enlisted man to follow your conscience and do what is right – PROTECT THE PEOPLE AND THE STATE!

Of course, one could defend the General by saying he was not in any way referring to an uprising. But then, it would look really ODD.

Why would it be necessary to call on the "collective will of the people WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE AFP" to stop something which is still very much within the bounds of a perfectly legal CIVILIAN process?

Perhaps this would only be necessary if we had something like the Tiannamen Square massacre and that is something that may not happen. Or will it happen?

I sure hope that someone won't issue a statement to the effect that holding rallies against Charter Change will be bombed or attacked with tanks by ALLEGEDLY and CONVENIENTLY Pro-GMA, Pro-Cha-cha agents.

This would be laying the predicate for something even more sinister than perpetuating Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's eternal rule. I'd hate to think that another attempt to install a military junta is afoot.

Call me corny, but I think General Lim, much admired as he is by myself and my wife's family (being Lims themselves), would be better served if his statements regarding charter change showed an understanding of the legislative processes involved and offered an insight into how charter change should be pursued or stopped through a CIVILIAN PROCESS.

He should start sloughing of the image of being a rebel soldier and show that he CAN actually participate in a democratic process.

Anyway, I may be interpreting the phrase "collective will of the people with the support of the AFP" as an uprising because this is what happened during EDSA 1 and Gloria's usurpation of the Presidency with the support of key military officials.

Another personality who has actually uttered the word uprising or people power is Father Joaquin Bernas. Here's an excerpt from the Inquirer:

...Father Joaquin Bernas, Dean Emeritus of Ateneo Law School and a delegate to the 1987 constitutional convention, reiterated that it was a “fatal mistake” on the part of the House of Representatives if it continued to push for Charter amendments without the Senate.

On Tuesday night, House Resolution 1109 was passed, calling for a constituent assembly even without the approval of the Senate, voting as a co-equal body.

“If ever the justices of the Supreme Court intended to operate in the gang rape of Constitution, the alternative might be another People Power like the 1986 (revolt),” said Bernas in a forum in Ateneo de Manila University.

Father Bernas, people power isn't the only OTHER alternative. Come on and come off it, Padre.

People can do a number of things if the Supreme Court sides with the lower house of Congress on House Resolution 1109. This can include doing nothing, watching a movie, dancing the hokey-pokey, and eating shawarma.

Uprisings are dramatic and romantic, but, pardon my french, look at where the fuck it took us!

Anyway, instead of uprisings, I'd rather go for more novel and certainly more entertaining methods of registering my protest.

I might just:

Wear a garland of garlic, just as Mar Roxas suggests. Glistening with the aura of a Presidential survey frontrunner, Roxas wore a garland of garlic around his neck to symbolize his rejection of Charter Change moves while delivering a privilege speech. He explained that the garland of garlic was commonly used to ward off Aswangs (vampiric creatures of Filipino lore) and referred to the the lower house legislators who voted for Con Ass as ConAsswangs.

Join Brother Eddie Villanueva's massive rally against charter change. And while I'm there, I might as well get prayed over.

Join Toots Ople's Facebook Eye Ball against Charter Change. And maybe even meet a couple of hot FB chicks.

Or, oh well, just enjoy the bedweather.