Fabricated Threats and Payoffs

The government is deploying roughly 14,000 policemen to guard the Batasang Pambansa on Arroyo’s State-of-the-Nation address (SONA) on July 24.

This is said to be the biggest police deployment for SONA in history (which is not surprising at all). The government has been implementing the same measures (though not as big as this obviously) around Malacañang everyday since the Hello Graci controversy broke out last year. From time to time, we see the Presidential palace transform into a virtual fortress, much like the Camp Big Falcon in Voltes V covered with a force field, but in this case, truncheon-wielding, blood-thirsty anti-riot cops and fire trucks serve as buffers to anyone who dares to set foot at the Palace doorsteps in Mendiola.

The discovery of the Magdalo’s supposed plan to bomb the Batasan on Arroyo’s SONA and take lawmakers hostage prompted the heightened security. But anyone who has been inside the Batasan or outside protesting during a SONA would say that such plot is way too far-fetched. Not unless, of course, it is orchestrated by sitting military and police officials (who will be supervising the security measures before and during the SONA).

The Arroyo government is once again creating a climate of fear and panic to discourage people from joining the SONA protests, to divert the people’s attention from the issues hounding the Arroyo and her failed promises, and justify possible violent dispersals.

On the other hand, the government could use this issue to implicate Arroyo’s foes, particularly opposition leaders and party list lawmakers, as well as civil society and militant groups on plots to “destabilize” the government, similar to events during and after the declaration of Presidential Proclamation 1017 on February 24.

The regime could likewise use this fabricated threat to justify its all-out war campaign against insurgents (in connection to the ‘Left-Right conspiracy’ in February 24 and possibly, in this new Batasan bombing script they just released) and push for the immediate passage of the antiterrorism bill (which the government can use to finally tag the CPP-NPA-NDF as terrorist organizations and so with individuals and organizations critical of the government).

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There’s no doubt that Tarlac Rep. Jesli Lapus has the credentials to qualify as the next DepEd chief, but the idea of having another politician to head the Education department simply makes things worse for a sector which badly needs a strong, principled leadership.

Malacañang is obviously using cabinet posts, such as the DepEd chief, as a payoff for the administration's most trusted lapdogs.

Lapus sponsored the Arroyo’s VAT law, the effects of which we continue to bear in everyday transactions.

Furthermore, that there are other career officials within the DepEd that are equally-qualified and have long and actual experience of running the department. Though personally, I am not for Fe Hidalgo because she was too weak to stand up for what she believed was right when Arroyo scolded her (and we know the rest of the story).

What DepEd needs is a gutsy educator who has the experience, the determination to assert a higher budget for education and an independent mind which will not compromise education policies for business or political interests.

"What we need is a reputable person who can stand up even against the President to defend the interest of the sector. And more importantly, we need someone in the department who believes that the classroom shortage is more than 70,000.