one is enough

In my Evidence class, one of the cases assigned was Estrada vs Desierto. It was such a long case, and probably the only case I have personal knowledge of. It’s factual background was President Erap’s impeachment proceeding, although the issues delved into matters after that.

I realized that at my age, I have witnessed TWO impeachment proceedings in the country already (and I want no more). I wonder how the world sees us from the outside. Are we the people united fighting “tyrants”? Or are we fools who fancy mob rule?

I regularly watched Erap’s impeachment, amazed by the brilliance of both sides. Oftentimes, we in the university talk about it, often with spiteful remarks against the administration. Our rage, my rage, was the summation of our youth, the Philippine Collegian and the UP environment, and the incessant media reporting obviously pointing how bad a president Erap was (especially when they compared Erap’s favorite, the expensive Petrus wine, and the number of houses the government could have built for the poor).

When the senator-judges voted 11-10 against opening the second envelope (supposedly it would reveal that Erap has a billion-peso account under the name Jose Velarde), in a matter of minutes, I heard drum pounding and people rallying in Katipunan. I joined them. The next day, I also joined the march to EDSA.

I still think that Erap isn’t a good president. Although now, looking back, I am not so sure anymore whether I was right that time thinking that the only way was for Erap to step down, and forcing him to step down, Metro Manila did so. This time, I also do not like Corona as a chief justice, and I have no empathy for him. However, the things I am seeing now are the grandstanding, the politicking, and the wasting of time and money. I think the past Congresses are the worst batches of Congress, devoting their time to nonsense inquiries (Katrina Halili’s sex video, really??) instead of making useful laws (like healthcare carts or comprehensive oil laws, etc.).

I wish Corona had not been nominated chief justice, but I am afraid of all the serious implications of this impeachment proceeding in our country now. I am pretty sure that this doubtful stabiliy of our systems and the divided attention of the government and the courts (mostly preoccupied by the proceeding) would do us no good. We’ve all seen where the last unifinished impeachment proceeding brought us.

P.S.

Also, why is the prosecution making a fool of themselves? They are already the laughing stock of people who know the law. Some people watch the impeachment proceedings, one, to see the brilliance of the defense, and two, to see the bloopers of the prosecution. Why bring in the whole county into this impeachment when you yourselves are not yet prepared?