tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384619824759174360.post2250883290212117515..comments2023-02-28T13:13:57.443+08:00Comments on SMORGASBORD OF RANDOM THOUGHTS: PHILIPPINE DEMOCRACY AN ILLUSIONCHERYL L. DAYTEChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01922694531597991639noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384619824759174360.post-51213554871134828772008-12-21T08:28:00.000+08:002008-12-21T08:28:00.000+08:00COMMENTS posted on PerryScope (http://perryscope.o...COMMENTS posted on PerryScope (http://perryscope.org/?p=672) which posted the article:<BR/><BR/>From MARLOWE CAMELLO 09 Dec 2008 at 7:30 p<BR/><BR/> Reasons why Philippine democracy is an illusion:<BR/><BR/> 1. There is no rule of law. It is ruled by a few and headed<BR/> by the president;<BR/><BR/> 2. We Filipinos in the Philippines do not know the reason<BR/> behind government corruption. We know government graft<BR/> is the cause of wide spread poverty in the Philippines<BR/> but we do not know the cause “behind the cause” of<BR/> government corruption.<BR/><BR/> To both reasons for illusory Philippine democracy, there is ONE<BR/> FUNDAMENTAL CAUSE and that is Government Monopoly of<BR/> Justice. This monopoly is the very means to protect powerful<BR/> government grafters. The basic solution is implementation of<BR/> Article II, Section 1 of the Philippine Constitution through the<BR/> adoption of the Grand Jury and Trial Jury systems, the means<BR/> by which the common and private citizens are enabled to decide<BR/> in justice as an exercise of their sovereign power and authority.<BR/><BR/> The Grand Jury is the means by which the common people<BR/> are able to SECRETLY investigate and indict in court serious<BR/> crime offenders such as money launderers, plunder and extortion<BR/> by powerful public officials over entrepreneurs and merchants.<BR/> The Grand Jury shall shield government prosecutors from the<BR/> dictates of powerful government characters like the president,<BR/> senators, congressmen, as well as by provincial, city, and<BR/> municipal executive officials who are backed by their private<BR/> armies. Grand jury members shall serve anonymously which<BR/> shall be given their respective security identity code names<BR/> for use in performing their jobs so that they cannot be<BR/> identified and subjected to harassments by powerful corrupt<BR/> elements of Philippine Society.<BR/><BR/> The Trial Jury is the device by which the common people, under<BR/> the supervision of a presiding judge, are able to INDEPENDENTLY<BR/> to deliberate and render verdict of accused serious crime<BR/> offenders to send them to jail. Like the shield for prosecutors,<BR/> the jurors shall serve likewise as shield against the influence<BR/> and intrusion of powerful public officials over the functions of<BR/> judges and justice officials inasmuch as the people - not the<BR/> judges - will become the deciding authority in justice.<BR/><BR/> In the U.S., the judiciary is the most powerful branch of the<BR/> government than the legislature and executive officials. In the<BR/> Philippines, it is the opposite. The judiciary is the weakest<BR/> of the 3 government branches because its official acts does<BR/> not come from the direct supportive decision of the people in<BR/> justice.<BR/><BR/> The rule of law in the United States is “dictated” and controlled<BR/> by the people through jury systems. In the Philippines, the<BR/> rule of the few is dictated by the presidency and its cohorts.<BR/><BR/> Being private citizens, they are not afraid to render a verdict<BR/> against any accused high government official because their<BR/> livelihood or employment with private enterpreneurs is not<BR/> under the control and sabotage by any government official.<BR/><BR/> This writer has drafted a proposed “People’s Jury Initiative”<BR/> wherein a grand jury is empowered to indict the president<BR/> for serious crimes and obstruction of justice. It is found in<BR/> Article III, Section 28, of the proposed law. By email at<BR/> mcamello299@gmail.com to this writer, the reader of this<BR/> article may request for a copy of the proposed initiative.<BR/> It also provides a statutory basic trial jury instruction which<BR/> will require the presiding judge to read and issue to the<BR/> jurors without deviation. Violation of this rule by the presiding<BR/> judge to favor or discriminate a party to a case will be liable<BR/> for secret investigation and indictment by a grand jury.<BR/> <BR/>From JOSE SAMILIN on 09 Dec 2008 at 4:38 p<BR/><BR/> The Filipino Nation’s reaction on 800 plus extrajudicial killings is charcterized by Ms. Daytec as political immaturity because the people are not free to exercise based on democracy. This is true, but the irony is our political leaders are of the best intelligence and great dynamism in many issues of the country and they even belong to elite of great debaters. But what we do not know much is it seems that they were all banded and cohorts of the Arroyo administration in the monopoly of power.<BR/><BR/> We have many ongoing projects to solved the problem but the truth is they only mitigate. Unless we were able to put in reality of the people to freely exercise their soveriegn power and that all government authority emanates from them as granted by the Constitution under Article II, Section 1 which is fully rationalized by Marlowe Camello in his above commentary, the Democracy in the Philippines will remain to be illusory.<BR/><BR/> Protest at EDSA is not the solution. The state of poverty among our people is so fragile, and if they do not work for a day the whole family will suffer much starvation. We have a very effective solution to start with as proposed by Marlowe Camello, the adoption of the grand jury and trial jury for the Philippine justice system. The Congress is ineffective to take this proposal because certainly they will lost their ducks laying golden eggs. Through Peoples Initiatives we will expect a good result.<BR/><BR/>From PAUL DALDE posted by Perry Diaz on 10 Dec 2008 at 9:44 p<BR/><BR/> It is not that democracy is an illusion but rather the government headed by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who is illegally usurping the Presidency. As a result every elected officials, appointed including the Judiciary are supporting this illegal occupier. The supreme court is composed mostly of dishonorable people who are ready to defend her, any case that threatened her Presidency is crushed from Congress and in the blue ribbon committee of Senate. All attempts rendered ineffective, all road blocks are erected to insure safety of Gloria’s Presidency, government men are even trying to extend the term of Gloria for life.<BR/><BR/> Filipino people lack the courage of Thailand, Korea, Japan and other Asian, and others people in the world who are determined to stand against corruption, excesses and tyranny of the few who are connected and the government that pretend to function as legal. The fact is the above only follow The People’s Power invented by Filipinos, they are gone now, remained only in the pages books and during time of memorial.<BR/><BR/>Paul Dalde<BR/>Care Taker OFW Solidarity Movement<BR/>Steering Committee<BR/>http://www.freewebs.com/ofwsolidarityCHERYL L. DAYTEChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01922694531597991639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384619824759174360.post-73004341233224834622008-12-21T08:24:00.000+08:002008-12-21T08:24:00.000+08:00Lisa, yes we have shameless state-sponsored, syste...Lisa, yes we have shameless state-sponsored, systematic moronization of the Filipino nation.And this moronization is accomplished through state-sponsored hungry. People are too hungry to think of concerns other than food on their tables.In that sense, hunger is also a form of political repression, because it is a roadblock to meaningful popular participation. And without popular participation, there is no democracy.<BR/><BR/>Thanks, Lisa, for visiting.CHERYL L. DAYTEChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01922694531597991639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384619824759174360.post-10961839602485545532008-12-21T00:37:00.000+08:002008-12-21T00:37:00.000+08:00Hello Ms. Chyt.I so agree with you. We are not onl...Hello Ms. Chyt.<BR/><BR/>I so agree with you. We are not only immature, we as a people have been rendered benumbed, even cynical so that a lot of our countrymen are now apathetic. <BR/><BR/>Sadly, the ugly face of totalitarianism is visible to the rest of the world except for many of us Filipinos still deluding ourselves into believing that is our collective will is being followed.<BR/><BR/>This is the Marcos legacy to the Philippines, perpetuated by all those who came after him. Like Butch Dalisay says, what we have now is a shameless state-sponsored, systematic moronization of the Filipino.<BR/><BR/>But thank God for those like you who recognize the cancer that still afflicts our society and is willing to stand up and fight for what is right. Bravo!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384619824759174360.post-64777574009377469152008-12-13T08:18:00.000+08:002008-12-13T08:18:00.000+08:00TruBlue,yes,Mng Ellis is my cousin. My Dad and her...TruBlue,yes,Mng Ellis is my cousin. My Dad and hers are brothers.<BR/><BR/>We are waiting for her body. We were told that it will arrive Tuesday or Wednesday next week.<BR/><BR/>Thanks, TruBlue.CHERYL L. DAYTEChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01922694531597991639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384619824759174360.post-19728346214701602142008-12-12T01:15:00.000+08:002008-12-12T01:15:00.000+08:00Off topic Chyt: Received an email from my friends...Off topic Chyt: Received an email from my friends in Seattle, Washington informing me of Melicia Daytec Pekas's passing. Both her and husband are believed from my father's hometown of Payew, Besao. Reckon also Melicia is your relative. She will<BR/>be brought home to the Philipines by her husband Rafael sometime next week. My sincere condolences to the families concerned.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384619824759174360.post-91682707571096086592008-12-10T20:34:00.000+08:002008-12-10T20:34:00.000+08:00COMMENT received via Facebook:MYRNA H. BUENDIA at ...COMMENT received via Facebook:<BR/><BR/>MYRNA H. BUENDIA at 1:03pm December 10<BR/><BR/>Nakakainggit ang mga Thai.<BR/><BR/>In 1986, when we ousted marcos, everyone looked up to us. Everwhere I went - in conferences in Europe and Asia, my foreign friends expressed their great admiration for the Filipino people. Ngayon? Ewan ko lang, nakakahiya, we are condoning a dictatorship. How can we keep silent over almost one thousand ... Read Morepeople abducted and killed by this administration? The silent majority acknowledges that Gloria Arroyo is corrupt, that she cheated in the elections, that she is a liar, that she's bent on extending her term, etc. but still they remain silent. Are we a nation of cowards? Or are most people so hungry that they've lost the will to take their destiny into their hands? The middle class people are not hungry, are they? Or are they too comfortable kaya ayaw na nilang makialam? Wala ba tayong lakas? Tigreng papel lang yan, kaya natin yan. We are a great nation! Or aren't we? Maybe I'll just go abroad and change my citizenship (joke lang).CHERYL L. DAYTEChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01922694531597991639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384619824759174360.post-39452712949863327962008-12-10T08:42:00.000+08:002008-12-10T08:42:00.000+08:00To Anonymous:"It is not so much that political dis...To Anonymous:<BR/><BR/>"It is not so much that political discourse thrives in a democracy...but democracy cannot thrive without political discourse."<BR/><BR/>This is very succint. And yes, we dared cut the chains. That is why in the early part of the article I said I am able to write not because of democracy but notwithstanding its absence.<BR/><BR/>To: Jepoy,<BR/><BR/>Keep dropping by. I hope you are not only entertained.I hope I am making sense. See you in class.<BR/><BR/>To Philip and Darlene,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the comments. More power to the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines awardees. May we continue to regard our education as an education of purpose and for societal transformation. <BR/><BR/>I promise to attend the reunion.<BR/>See you.CHERYL L. DAYTEChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01922694531597991639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384619824759174360.post-50905234373236186942008-12-10T08:35:00.000+08:002008-12-10T08:35:00.000+08:00COMMENTS received via email:From PHILIP WEN A. BOM...COMMENTS received via email:<BR/><BR/>From PHILIP WEN A. BOMBITA, R.N.<BR/><BR/>I wholeheartedly agree with the analysis, Ate Cheryl. Personally, I hate Gonzales in an objective manner in fairness to him. But with his illogical thoughts, I find it hard to believe that he was not admitted to the psychiatric hospital. Kidding aside, that is the reality that all of us Filipinos are experiencing. Not just human rights violation per se but denial of our constitutional, statutory, and mandatory rights. Our republic is old, but we as a nation are so immature. Kudos to the thought of your message and to you. I was once again refueled. Greetings from The Outstanding Students of the Philippines Alumni Community - Region VI! More power to your column.<BR/><BR/>From DARLENE TAN:<BR/><BR/>Hi Chyt,<BR/><BR/>I think we kinda have the same views... :)<BR/><BR/>See you on the 14th, venue is now RFM rooftop.<BR/><BR/>God Bless.CHERYL L. DAYTEChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01922694531597991639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384619824759174360.post-62613702517247655242008-12-09T23:59:00.000+08:002008-12-09T23:59:00.000+08:00Ma'am Chyt, how you write is how you deliver your ...Ma'am Chyt, how you write is how you deliver your lectures in class. You are always entertaining to listen to. I am learning a lot from this site.<BR/><BR/>Jepoy<BR/>5-6PM<BR/>TThSAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384619824759174360.post-29863977623330782522008-12-09T20:00:00.000+08:002008-12-09T20:00:00.000+08:00it is not so much that political discourse thrives...it is not so much that political discourse thrives in a democracy..but democracy can not thrive without political discourse...hereabouts,people get to speak their minds not so much from Arroyo's guarantee of our freedom of speech but because we have dared to cut our chains to be able to speak...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com