And now a word from someone who had been there...done that...
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will do everything to accomplish what Ferdinand Marcos did as president: declare Martial Law and stay in power.
This is how feisty and controversial lawyer Atty. Homobono Adaza views the agenda from Malacañang."It's very clear, Gloria wants to stay in power for as long as she lives but I tell you what? She will fail miserably because she's no Marcos. Marcos is brilliant. She's simply greedy and doesn't even have a clear vision for the country."
One of those jailed during Martial Law, Adaza said, Marcos did everything within the law because he knew the law. Marcos was ahead of his game plan according to Adaza because he said, "when there was no law to justify his acts and decisions, Marcos created the laws to legitimize everything."
President Arroyo in comparison according to Adaza, "operates outside the law".
But while Adaza is saying that he sees a failure in the administration's attempt to stay in power, there are clear indicators that the president and her allies will declare Martial Law. Adaza pointed to three indicators which he said directly comes from the president:
1. She does not care about any opposition.
2. She believes the people will not stand up and revolt.
3. She has very low regard for the political opposition in general and knew the fact that she can divide them and even "buy" the loyalty of some.
But while Adaza sees a possibility that the president may actually passed the stage of declaring Martial Law, he expressed confidence that "it will not last."
The reason: the president doesn't have full control of the military.
"Gloria is probably the least popular among the presidents especially among the ranks of the military. But she succeeded in staying in power by corrupting a few not so good men in the military, men blinded not by loyalty to her but loyalty to what she has to offer them in exchange for their cooperation," Adaza said.
If Adaza comes across as someone who seemed to knew the pulse of the military like the palm of his hand, that is because he does. His colorful career as lawyer is marked with many years representing military officers involved in coup attempts starting from 1987 up to present. As a journalist, this is how I came to know him---Bono!
Not only did Adaza represent rebel military officers, past and present.
In fact he was even accused of plotting a coup himself together with a group of retired officers from the Philippine Army, Marines and the Philippine National Police.
Just last year, Adaza along with retired Colonels Oscarlito Mapalo,Ernie Amboy, Cesar dela Peña and police superintendent Rafael Cardeño were arrested and charged with "plot to commit coup d' etat." All names charged with Adaza were associated with attempts to topple the government, from Aquino to Arroyo. The case against them, not yet resolved in court.
Is there a coup in the air? Of course who would announce it? None! But for a seasoned "coup-associated-personality" like Adaza, he sees no movement this time, even when he says there exists very valid reasons for the military to make a stand and defend the Filipino people, as mandated by the Constitution, he insists.
"There's no movement. Take my word. You know why? Because right now, there's no determined force within the active service to lead any armed uprising or take-over through a Constitutional Coup. There's no leader."
If and when a revolution starts, Adaza said, it will have to start not from the military but from the civilian sector.
"The challenge is for a civilian leader to emerge amongst the Filipino people. Someone who has a vision and with unquestionable integrity. We want change? Let's find that man or woman. Let's find the courage from among our people," Adaza stressed.
COURAGE--a very strong word.
CHANGE--that's an even bigger word.
But dwarfing these words is the word PEOPLE.
Let us qualify the word and make it more powerful: THE FILIPINO PEOPLE.
The Filipino people want change and with courage, the Filipino can! (end)
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