In the first few years of my activist life, I used to shake my head on Renato Constatino Jr thinking he was an unworthy bearer of such a revered name. You see, he used to head the reformist grouplet Sanlakas. He has since seen his former colleagues’ true colors and broke away from them a few years back.
I have written briefly about RC some blogs back. I now see him as worthy of his father’s nationalist legacy.
RC is in the news again. Last Saturday, he dropped in on Speaker de Venecia’s press conference and spoke his mind. He was berated by Cha-cha advocate and columnist Carmen Pedrosa and humiliated by Victor Agustin. Agustin threw water at RC’s face when the latter was being manhandled out of the hotel.
What exactly did RC say to de Venecia and his hated lieutenants that so riled the Cha-cha heap (the collective adjective for a pile of shit)? RC said, “I am completely appalled by your collective gall. You are totally bereft of principles. That’s why you are without shame.” He also said that the politicians are a “disgrace” to the nation.
I do not care to hear what other people have to say about telling the country’s fourth highest official to his face. What I know, after having witnessed how de Venecia, Villafuerte and Lagman mangled provisions of the Charter, is that they deserve it, and more.
Those trapos, Agustin and Pedrosa be damned. I believe RC only articulated what majority of the people feel about them.
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Malacañang is waltzing its way out of the embarrassment it caused for postponing its hosting of the Asean and East Asian summits in Cebu this week. But I think there are other considerations aside from the typhoon that never was—at least in Cebu. Why, even mikee arroyo’s hangin is stronger than “Seniang’s.”
Really, Cebu is not ready for the event. Newspaper reports said that the much-ballyhooed Cebu International Convention Center, the centerpiece of the city’s “coming-out party,” is nowhere near completion. The roof leaks like a sieve and areas outside of it flood at the slightest excuse. According to Lui Tumlos, who had been inside, only briefing rooms and the media center have been completed but the plenary hall is as pretty as a construction site.
Rumors also abound that gloria is really afraid of a “security vacuum” in Manila because of the planned mammoth rallies while the summits are ongoing. Nobody in her pampered and lazy cabinet pointed out to her that the big rally would only happen a day after the closing ceremonies. (Swapang ka kasi sa cha-cha, madame, kaya lalong galit ang mga tao sa iyo.)
I don’t really know how the infamously regionalistic Cebu elite are reacting to this slight. But I would imagine they’d be smarting still.
One thing is sure, though. gloria has again been embarrassed in the international community. But she must me used to it by now, being embarrassed I mean. She has been told to her face by other heads of state that her regime’s human rights record is abominable. Yet she obstinately clings to her immorally acquired presidency.
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By the way, as of yesterday, International Human Rights Day, there have been 797 extrajudicial killings, 192 enforced disappearances, and 47 media deaths since gloria became president. In 2006 alone, there are four killings every week on the average. The number of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances cases solved: 0.
Happy Human Rights Day, madame!
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12-11-2006
