Today’s editorial of the Philippine Daily Inquirer unmasks Sen. Francis Escudero:
Referring to the present dispensation and his political plans, (Sen. Francis) Escudero has said, “We have already suffered and sacrificed for seven years, what is two years?” This is a cunning statement, at once reinforcing his opposition credentials while paving the way to give the present suspects a free pass should they relinquish power.
He laid the predicate for this some weeks back when he said: “GMA [President Arroyo] is not running in 2010, and it would be unfair to the people if presidential candidates should still use her as an issue. Any candidate who runs on an anti-GMA platform is insulting the intelligence of the people. The people will vote for a presidential candidate because of what he or she intends to do if victorious, not because he or she is against GMA.”
This is taking the high road to enable the highwaymen to escape. It ignores the demand of the studentry in recent months both for accountability and for democratic processes to function. It is being said, however, in such a seductive way as to disguise not just political pragmatism, but opportunism. Escudero has been making these statements in the context of administration coalition overtures to his party, the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), and talk of administration support for an NPC presidential and vice-presidential slate on which Escudero might possibly star.
So young—and so out of touch?
Following is the full article:
Earlier, an explosion of idealism took place among students. There was talk that this development astounded and worried the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo so much that marching orders were given to destroy the personality thought to have sparked it: Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr., the whistleblower on the national broadband network (NBN) deal with ZTE Corp. By the time classes resumed, he was supposed to be reduced to being a has-been, and with that, the political problem of student activism would be buried.
We are all used to the powers-that-be thinking in such terms, and it has to be said that there is little evidence to show that tactically speaking, the administration is wrong in its approach. Here its critics and main opponents have been sidelined, and it has managed to present the illusion that it is here to stay.
In recent weeks, students have been reported to be engaging in walkouts from their classes to protest everything, from insufficient budgets for education to high inflation and the many other ills plaguing society. These events, however, are stunts, and they lack what the authorities fear most: the impression that these represent a growing tide that can no longer be reversed.
These stunts are taking place for a reason, and it has less to do with the return of students to their classes and more with the State of the Nation Address on Monday. Previously formed student organizations are trying to prove they have clout, that they have followers, and that they haven’t given up the fight. And yet, what they are doing is a far cry from the noise barrages and protest actions that saw the students outnumbering practically every other sector publicly manifesting dissatisfaction with the status quo. The truth is that the ranks of the concerned youth have been decimated by economic reality. Too many have had to stop going to school, for one thing, and too many have found their idealism tempered, yet again, by disillusionment with their elders.
Earlier this year, the youth, of whom their elders had already been despairing, proved themselves capable of righteous indignation and concerted action. Their rising to the occasion, however, wasn’t accompanied by their elders setting aside petty differences and ambition. And so, out of sight and out of the politicians’ minds, the youth have taken to biding their time, nursing their wounds, and planning for what they hope will be better days under better leaders.
With 2010—and beyond—dancing before their eyes, politicians have taken to courting the youth. No one has been better at it than Sen. Francis Escudero, who has in many ways presented himself as the incarnation of what Barack Obama has called “the audacity of hope.” But it must be asked if its Philippine version isn’t the exact opposite, for we are troubled by the mixed messages Escudero has been sending out.
Referring to the present dispensation and his political plans, Escudero has said, “We have already suffered and sacrificed for seven years, what is two years?” This is a cunning statement, at once reinforcing his opposition credentials while paving the way to give the present suspects a free pass should they relinquish power.
He laid the predicate for this some weeks back when he said: “GMA [President Arroyo] is not running in 2010, and it would be unfair to the people if presidential candidates should still use her as an issue. Any candidate who runs on an anti-GMA platform is insulting the intelligence of the people. The people will vote for a presidential candidate because of what he or she intends to do if victorious, not because he or she is against GMA.”
This is taking the high road to enable the highwaymen to escape. It ignores the demand of the studentry in recent months both for accountability and for democratic processes to function. It is being said, however, in such a seductive way as to disguise not just political pragmatism, but opportunism. Escudero has been making these statements in the context of administration coalition overtures to his party, the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), and talk of administration support for an NPC presidential and vice-presidential slate on which Escudero might possibly star.
So young—and so out of touch?
Chiz is new in politics even if he’s a former Congressman before becoming Senator. His statement shows he’s just playing safe. What if GMA remains beyond 2010? His wedding godmother wouldn’t be so hard on him. Any politician belonging to Danding’s NPC is not a true opposition. GMA has already made arrangement with Danding and Lucio Tan, the country’s two business tycoons. Their business empires shall be protected between now and 2010…and even beyond.
The statement of Senator Escudero is very revealing.It shows the state of the opposition in this country,
The country is in deep economic/political trouble but Gloria Arroyo remains scot free to do as she pleases.No wonder she is bold enough to mount another charter change move as a last-ditch effort to cling to power beyond her term in 2010.
Gloria’s 5 Fatal Mistakes
1) Announcing her decision not to run in the elections of 2004.
2) Reversing her decision not to run in the elections of 2004
3)Calling an election official during the canvassing of votes of the 2004 Presidential elections.
4) Her hasty pardon of ex-President Joseph Estrada who was convicted of plunder.
5) Her order to Romulo Neri to invoke “Executive Privilege”during the Senate investigations on the ZTE deal.
What will be Gloria Arroyo’s sixth and most fatal mistake?
Don’t be surprised if we hear this Escudero joining the ranks of crooks like former Erap friends, Sotto and Oreta. Bulok din pala! I wonder if this is true to all graduates of these parochial schools manned by the hypocrites who brag about being princes of Christ but actually serve the devil!!!
Dapat kay Chiz, pagkatapos ng term niya, mangamote na lang siya!
Kawawang bansa!
23 July 2008
Ahhh…. that’s the life being a member or the NPC. These NPC men, you cannot really tell what color they are in? Sad to say, Sen. Escudero bacme instant idol of the youth. However, with his statement if I may quote ” Escudero has said, “We have already suffered and sacrificed for seven years, what is two years”. Does he mean, for us to rot in hell for two more years? Does this mean that he just used he’s being an “opposition” to win a senate seat? Does he mean, that people just forget what gloria did? forget that people are getting hungrier every year, forget that she cheated her way to the presidency, etc…
I don’t know what to say anymore.
GMA Sona Sing Along 2008
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http://edericeder.com/gma-sona-sing-along-2008/
Chiz, so young and so far out!
Talaga, namumuhi ako kay Chiz. Buti na lang at wala siya sa listahan ko! A, mas lalong ewan ka Chiz!
Tama ka, Chi, ang sarap murahin. Kundi nga lang ipinangako nang hindi magmumura ng PINm mumurahin ko ang mokong na iyang ng maraming PIN. Taragis nanloko pang Opposition kuno siya. Why complain still, dalawang taon na lang daw. Gago ba siya? What we’re talking here is this criminal should not be allowed to go scotfree. In fact, he and his fellow Opposition should not have stopped in pushing for this midget to go to jail for breaking the laws of the land. Cheating in an election and stealing votes in fact are serious crimes. May plundering pa, etc. etc. Hind ba niya iyan naiintindihan?
Abogado ba iyan o abogago? Just because the Supreme Court judges would not prosecute their benefactor, it does not mean Gloria Dorobo is guiltless. Unbelievable talaga!
So young and so intellectually corrupt already!
BTW, iyon palang si Mike Defensor may lawsuit laban kay JLo ng perjury. Gago din ano? Sabi ni JLo, he was being bribed by Defensor na inamin naman ng mokong na binibigyan niya ng pera si JLo ng half a million pesos pero hindi daw iyong bribe kundi regalo. Gago ba siya? Hindi naman nanghihingi ng pera si JLo, bakit niya bibigyan ng half a million pesos? Halata na ang mokong pero malakas pa rin ang loob na magsampa ng kaso. Pag iyan nanalo sa korte ng Pilipinas, bilib na ako na gago ang mga hukom doon! Kawawang bansa! At kawawang mga pilipino na wala nang hustisya.
Iyon ngang nanay ni Jonas Burgos magsasampa ng appeal kasi iyong mga gago sa hukuman nila, hindi pinansin ang petition niya for habeas corpus. Golly, saan ka nakakita ng bansang iyong mismong mga alagad ng batas ang nangingidnap? Only in the Philippines!!!
So young and already a trapo.
Sen. Chiz Escudeo belongs to mongrel majority in the Philippine Senate. What do we expect? He tends to defend her ninang Gloria in times of political crisis. Walang panindigan. Askal siya!
Mongrel in the Philippines, they are referred to as “Askal” which is short for “Asong Kalye”, literally meaning street dog. Wikipedia
alam ba niya ang ibig sabihin ng “to sacrifice” and “to suffer”…naranasan ba niya ang magtiis at magsacrificio? wari ko sa theory lang..sa mga nabasa niya..
Sayang si Chiz. Lumabas ang tunay na pagkatao. Oportunista pala.
Sana tama ang paniniwala ko na marunong nang bumoto ngayon ang mga Pinoy.
Napakaswerte naman ng mga Lopez, kalahati yata ng mga presidentiables and vice-presidentiables, dating “empleyado” nila!
Escudero, Cayetano, De Castro, Roxas, Ate Vi, Revilla, Pangilinan…sino pa ba?
Loren Legarda too…
Akala ko tunay si Chiz kasi iyong lolo maganda ang record sa mga beterano ng guerra. Para rin palang katulad ni McCain. At least, si McCain, may record as POW. Pero itong si Chiz, akala mo diamante, puwit ng baso pala! Sayang ang taong iyan. Wala palang yagbols!
I knew there was something strange with this character, his aura is akin to the young Skywalker as he was slowly turned to the dark side of the force…at the onset, he appears as the perfect prophesied chosen one (even speaks like it)…only to show his dark side as the movie progresses…
The first time I saw Chiz pic here at Ellenville, I thought …oi guapo and young, but somethings are missing. He does not have the IT” and intellectual honesty of Trillanes. Saka ang ‘lambot’ ng dating sa akin ng kanyang personalidad. This current line of him, “We have already suffered and sacrificed for seven years, what is two years?” pictured the real him. Chiz Escudero is empty, as empty as his ninang Gloria’s heart!
Senator Sonny Trillanes said: Ang mayayaman ay makakapaghintay, ang mahihirap ay hindi. Read mo ba Chiz?!
Puro pera ang nasa utak. Anong mali diyan kong maka kain lang, pasarap ang tulog, may bahay at makadamit nang maganda at maka biaye-biaye sa paligid. Mabuti nga iyong Pinas maraming magandang tanawin. Kami dito sa Amerika walang driver, walang utusan, iyong sinasabing “Kosinero ni Marcos iyang luto, iyang ubos” kami iyon. Taga Amerika. Iyon ang dapat ituro sa bawat isa sa atin. Mayroon ako no-ong pinakamayaman na kamaganak, biro mong nong namatay ay walang dala na pira sa libingan. Iyan si Arroy, wala din dalhin sa lupa iyan.