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All this talk about an impending destabilization move has begun to
backfire on its peddlers. Rather than alert Filipinos to yet another
coup attempt, the “destab” yarn purveyors have only succeeded in
making themselves look ridiculous—and President Arroyo look bad.
Common is the belief that the destabilization
warnings are nothing more than a lame excuse to prolong the tour of
duty of Gen. Hermogenes Esperon as chief of staff of the Armed
Forces of the Philippines.
Yet, Esperon himself has debunked the
“destab” scare in media interviews. No such bid could ever
succeed, he avowed. Therefore, further talk of yet another coup
attempt can only make the general look like, well, a liar.
There are good reasons for the public’s
skepticism in the face of panicky alarums raised by the
President’s inner circle of advisers.
First, it was only last November when the last
coup attempt was nipped in the bud. The likeliest “destab”
leaders, Sen. Antonio Trillanes and Big. Gen. Danilo Lim, are still
licking their self-inflicted wounds from their pre-Yuletide
fiasco—and are safely behind bars.
Second, the only other charismatic rightwing
firebrand people can think of, Sen. Gregorio Honasan, has renounced
extra-constitutional options and is attending to his legislative
duties.
Whoever thought of peddling the “detab” tale
was working from a badly written script. For instance, parading
ex-soldiers before the media as coup plotters merely confirmed
suspicions that the exercise was stage-managed.
Come on, do those retired enlisted men really
look like they could mount a golpe de estado that only Esperon can
crush?
Presidential prerogative
The “destab” charade notwithstanding, the
President can extend Esperon’s term without having to justify it.
That is her prerogative. Her detractors can be expected to raise a
howl, but they cannot stop her from doing so.
Its purveyors should realize that their
“destab” yarn could do the country much harm—and even the
President’s economic gains could end up as collateral damage.
If an extension of Esperon’s term is what the
President desires, then let her announce it. Period. No excuses, no
justification needed. No bombs have to be exploded. No hapless
ex-army rangers need to be “perp-walked.”
On the other hand, delicadeza requires that
Esperon—who is due to retire next month—demur graciously. He has
already done his share in professionalizing the military. He is
leaving behind an AFP that is winning the insurgency war.
Esperon should quit while he is ahead. By
retiring, he would underscore the strength of the AFP whose capacity
for healthy regeneration would be confirmed through the regular
turnover of command.
If Esperon stays, however, it would give the
dangerous impression that the AFP cannot stand without him.
Generals should never regard themselves
indispensable. Such officers are a threat to the military and,
ultimately, to democracy.
Network war
Like many in the news trade, I have friends in
both ABS-CBN and GMA 7. I wish none of them ill, which is why I am
deeply saddened as the country’s two biggest networks insist on
engaging in a scandalous exchange of recrimination.
By any reckoning, the network war has obviously
failed to gain popular sympathy for either of the two
belligerents—but ABS-CBN and GMA 7 continue to go at it.
ABS-CBN has trotted before its cameras witnesses
who allege that GMA 7 manipulated TV ratings collated by AGB Nielsen
in Bacolod and other cities.
In retaliation, GMA 7’s counteroffensive
includes libel suits against ABS-CBN executives and talents. It also
accuses ABS-CBN of engaging in promotional activities the South. GMA
7 cited an AGB Nielsen report that ABS-CBN contacted metered homes
during their promotional activities, which was precisely what the
Lopez-owned network accused its rival of doing.
GMA 7 said: “Based on the audit findings of
AGB Nielsen, ABS-CBN’s promotional activities included offering
P300 cash monthly as well as groceries in exchange for loyal viewing
of ABS-CBN shows.”
GMA 7 added: “The AGB report … only shows
how ABS-CBN has been attempting to confuse the public through the
airing of false and distorted statements which aims to portray ABS-CBN
as an innocent victim of the alleged rating manipulation.”
I am not too sure that the flurry of charges and
counter-charges would ultimately affect both networks’ ranking in
the race for ratings or their bottom line.
What is certain, however, is that all the energy
and resources ABS-CBN and GMA 7 are expending in this silly conflict
could have been better directed toward more creative, entertaining
and informative purposes.
Enough already, guys, and get back to work.
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