We Deserted Trillanes
Posted by aloyloy on November 29, 2007
Blow by blow: Senator Antonio Trillanes walks out of Makati RTC, marches along Makati Ave. He is accompanied by General Lim and the Magdalo soldiers. Former Vice President Teofisto Guingona, former UP President Nemenzo, Bishop Tobias, and Father Robert Reyes join their group. They call for President GMA’s ouster as they hole themselves inside the Manila Peninsula hotel. President GMA calls an emergency cabinet meeting. The PNP sends police in full battle gear, SWAT teams surround the rebels. A warrant of arrest is issued. A tank smashes through the Pen’s front doors. Tear gas is released. Trillanes et al voluntarily exit, they are handcuffed, and are escorted to wherever they are now.
Trillanes was elected in the last senatorial elections by a popular mandate. Suffering from a political campaign that was grossly underfunded (his TV ad barely made it to 10 seconds) and a platform that was attacked left and right by the administration and by other detractors, he still was able to secure the 11th seat, besting quite a number of traditional politicians, including some from the administration ticket. This was no doubt to PGMA’s dismay then; now, Trillanes proves again that he is one of GMA’s worst nightmares.
The Trillanes group called for civil society to rally behind this new call for political upheaval. Where were the people? Where were the 11 million who voted for him and his platform of political and social change? Where were the millions more who preferred the opposition’s candidates in the last elections, in a resounding critique of the Arroyo leadership? And the 45% of the Philippine population dissatisfied with the Arroyo government, where were they? Where are we? Trillanes was alone this time. Who are the deserters now?
thatie said
Oh please!
What support? And why should we back another upstart who is just a wanna be trapo. People who clamor to lead and willing to use shortcuts to get there are not to be trusted.
If they so badly want to change the country, wait for the 2010 elections and they can run for the highest seat. Lets see what they can do. Experience has shown that these kind of would be leaders always fail to measure up and then mutiny again.
PS. Next time General Lim decides to hold another mutiny, sweating on national tv is a big no no.
Ederic said
Pagod na raw ang mga Pilipino.
mdusa said
Hi Aloyloy. Did you read my last comment on your “impeach, impeach…”. I hate to say I told you. But I told you so. Even if people did go and support Trillanes in Makati…GMA will not hesitate to use force to quell any form of rebellion. As you have seen, konting putukan lang/ tear gas, takbuhan na ang lahat, sumuko kaagad, etc…So what does this mean…hindi buo ang kalooban nilang lahat…wala pa ngang natatamaan. I f you really mean what you say…if you truly want to be a Phillippine Hero…You have to be ready to give up your life…kasi karamihan sa mga ito..hindi naman talaga battle tested…unlike Former Defense minister Enrile (fought during the Hukbalahap) and Gen. Ramos…they were really willing to die for the people…( I know because we were in touch with Enrile and Honasan during the Edsa I. tagang bahala na kung mamatay). People deserted Trillanes because he himself is not willing to sacrifice his life…Ikaw, gusto mo bang ipagtanngol kung may pag-asang mamatay ka? ang isang taong hindi rin buo sa loob? Wait for 2010.
mdusa said
by the way, I wouldn’t even hire Trillanes/Lim as a security guards… baka tumakbo na lang yan…Hence I would not think they can be protectors of the constitution nor its people…
Lets assume that they did not surrender…then he would have died and probably became a true Martyr (like what happened to Benigno Aquino)…I think at that point people would then listen and follow his example of ousting GMA…a battle cry like what the reaction to Rizal’s death…hence the battle cry of the Katipuneros. Also, being 45 % dissatisfied with GMA does not mean that this people will resort to breaking the law. Most are just dissatisfied but probably are still able to eat 3x per day, drive cars, watch a movie, etc. So that leaves us with the really poor… and they don’t read internet blogs nor at times able to watch T.V. Most are working poor or the tambays/tamads…both don;t have the time or money to go or live around the Makati area anyways (I saw Trillanes shouting at some people(Tambays) to “sumama na” while he was walking – eh di deadma sila sa sinasabi nya…. Hence poor choice of location (Makati???- prefer Manila or QC), poor choice on the day they did it (I saw that it was raining on the internet), and poor backers Teofisto Geriatric Guigona….Hay….I told you, we need a plan…so far wala pa akong maisip kung sino ang papalit hence I say wait for 2010.
barrycade said
I am apalled that the mistake of 11 milllion Filipinos who voted Trillanes to ofice is taking its toll on the whole country. I agree with Trillanes’s sentiments, but I detest the way he acts on it.
aloyloy said
MDUSA: I think its alright that Trillanes backed down, and I don’t think we should take it against him that he feared for his life and for the safety of others in the hotel (the regime was willing to kill them all). It’s a significant step that he was able to voice out concerns and direct attention to his platform; people don’t need to die everytime. The standoff was probably part of a bigger movement, and it certainly adds on to the growing sentiment of distrust with the Arroyo government. Soon the critical mass will be reached and this hotel siege will have much significance.
Barrycade: I’ve seen the comment “We agree with Trillanes’ sentiments but not with his method” a lot of times in the blogosphere. What are the other methods available? Impeachments can only be done once a year (see my impeachment post, where I predicted coups will happen if the Congress refuses to accept more than 1 complaint). What are Trillanes’s options? He is being effectively barred by the Arroyo regime from saying his piece in the Senate, despite being elected with a popular mandate.
mdusa said
Safety of others – yeah right….To voice out their concern/part of bigger movement…2 failed attempts to overthrow the government…maybe the 3rd time is a charm…I have to say again…GMA will not allow it…Whoever it is…they will die. She will not allow to be another Marcos or Erap. Did you see how short the deadline was. It will probably be shorter still. So whoever is up to it…must be ready for the ultimate sacrifice. Let us just say another Philippine Revolution should occur…Who do you think will be president/even interim…who will the Filipinos support? Trillianes? The military? No WAY. Unlike past revolutions, there was Cory and then GMA. Right now GMA opponent in last election is dead. Her Vice president is loyal to her (as well as felt to be inept and has some ethical issues), None of the opposition senators (Even the Senate president won’t have enough support by congress or senate – AWAY AWAY MUNA YAN). So sayang lang. Judging from most blog comments, newspaper and TV reports, I think he even made GMA a little stronger. Trillianes himself weaker. So for now, it has failed to accomplish its theoretical goal. I think in the coming months…more and more will shun his actions.
Trillianes’s option? WAIT. Wait for next year’s impeachment or Wait until 2010. The legal way.
About being a Senator and unable to do his job as a Senator. Well, he was in JAIL when he was elected, it does not give him a free pass out of jail once elected (regardless of popular mandate..its the extent/degree of the crime he commited- . I don’t like GMA. But I will only allow soldiers that are mandated to protect the people if and only if the President was as oppressive like Sadam, Fidel Castro, Marcos etc.I wouldn’t want the military as head of the country either. GMA is nowhere near that, and our country still enjoys freedom (Media,travel, work, rallies, etc) or if they are as stupid as ERAP (Dangerous as well- though probably less likely). Dialogues, Rallies, prayer vigils, elect opposition candidates to various posts, impeachement etc. all in the boundaries of the law. I don’t know how old you were or if you were ever alive during the Martial law years – since I can compare before and now, we are still far from the Marcos era in terms of freedom and human rights violation. Anytime that you have a President who acts tough…some people will perceive it as oppressive. But, truthfully, this is what our country needs..a tough president.(one good quality of GMA).
aloyloy said
Wait? Gen Lim said: “Dissent without action is consent.” (How hypocritical of me to quote this; I also ignored Trillanes’ call to action, and merely watched the events unfold on TV)
melancolia said
just a few remarks:
i am a martial law baby and have witnessed the wrongdoings of the Marcos era. but doesn’t mean the Filipinos have to bear GMA’s exploits. when will you say “tama na sobra na”? do you have to wait till her “sins” blow out of proportion?
by the way, her government is targetting everyone who is not in favour of her regime. there are cases of missing journalists/reporters, “leftists”. the current report of the UN Human Rights Council shows that.
“Over the past six years, there have been many extrajudicial executions of leftist activists in the Philippines. These killings have eliminated civil society leaders, including human rights defenders, trade unionists and land reform advocates, intimidated a vast number of civil society actors, and narrowed the country’s political discourse.”
No wonder she doesn’t cancel her European trip. better to forget the crises at home and might as well have fun, right?
i agree that there is no Filipino political figure in sight right now but there are proofs that she cheated. my question is, how could one trust GMA to lead this country?
I fervently agree that Trillanes is right, that is demanding the ouster of GMA and her cohorts, but to do this again in a useless kind of way, isn’t right.
in the first place, the people should not vote for him and Trillanes must know that. freaks, how could he serve the people when he’s supposed to be in jail?
that’s one thing the lawmakers should repeal. that is the right of anyone who is in jail to run for any public office.
Lalon said
Wait.. if they want GMA out then who should fill her post? Is there anyone who’s actually better and could unite this country? I’m definitely not a dog of the administration but unless the opposition has a “concrete” and “sufficient” plan of what’s next after GMA’s ouster then I’d sit down and listen to them.
I don’t believe that Trillanes actually have the heart to die for this country. All he had done is talk… and not walk.
MDUSA said
Well, I suspect GMA didn’t cancel her trip not because to forget her problems (wouldn’t you, if there is a risk of a takeover), no she wants to show the world that the Philippine Gov’t (her presidency) is stable and the rebellion was trivial (see it from a view if she stayed, the economic repercussions/ stocks etc. and support by other presidents).
Well, in regards on “waiting until her sins are blown out of proportion” I may concede this to you Melancolia because your opinion sounds logical…however…I think deep within me I am happy that Leftist are eliminated, some civil society leaders scared etc. – I know its sounds bad. Very bad of me. But aside from being a martial law baby, I have first seen how these leftists work…in our province of Bicol (NPA)( I have met a few of them as well)…They said they exist to counter the abuses of the military…but I see them as corrupt (same as these so called civil society leaders (maybe you have seen that they have big houses once they are elected, or some shot by their own breatheren, they force even the poor farmers to give them their livestock saying “tulong lang sa kanila”, they cause distabilization in our province that few brave investors (who pay a large monthly fee for protection to the NPA) would go to. I have to say that some military men/ officers are as well abusers…but viewing the lesser evil…I would go to the military since they still have to answer to the rule of law and their superiors. Sorry, but its just how my opinion was formed because of these abuses. You may have come from a different view. – Like I said, the Philippines needs a tough president like Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore…why? because our problems cannot be fixed by a weak president (magagaling tayong umabuso). Look at the kidnappings, the robberies ( we were robbed at gunpoint once).- similar to Singapore before the arrival of Lee. Sorry again if I may have a different view, and rather harsh opinion…kaso sawa na ako sa systema at disciplina nang maga kapwang Pinoy. Sooner or later, you guys will be part of a crime/or relative…then you will see where I come from.
We need a replacement…a plan…analogy…”Puro tayo reklamo…kaso wala naman tayong magandang maisip na lutas sa problema” –
No PLAN, it will fail just like the impeachment, like this rebellion. Hindi pa ba kayo nagsasawa sa failure? I have to admit I have no idea as well, hence I would rather wait for 2010/ or if somebody deemed right for the job prior to that.
”
“Dissent without action is consent.” – like Melancholia, and Barrycade…it depends on how the “action” is undertaken before support can be given….plano muna bago action diba?
benj said
You deserted him. I didn’t vote for him.
leviathanwars said
I disagree Aloy. Trillanes’ 11M vote was not an affirmation of his GMA-ouster agenda. It was the product of a lack of choices, the tendency for people to favor the rebel, and the pity of the media. His election is in fact a demonstration of the failure of democracy.
aloyloy said
Aids: Lack of choices – There were in fact prominent GMA-backed politicians that Trillanes trumped in the last elections. They would have been easy choices had the electorate decided to support the Arroyo regime’s candidates. Favoring the rebel – I think that’s just a spin to “hating the administration.” Pity of the media – Assuming the media is biased in this way, I think it only highlights dissatisfaction with the government.
leviathanwars said
None of your rebuttals support the fact that the public didn’t support Trillanes during his time of greatest need. The vote that got him elected doesn’t reflect anything at all except name recall and media coverage.