Disaster (Un)Preparedness

Disaster (Un)Preparedness
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Display of Callousness, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her entourage engaged in a display of callousness when they paid exorbitant amounts for dinners in Washington DC and New York City recently, during Arroyo’s state visit to the US last month. (By Flon Faurillo)

A Study in Contrasts, The sea of humanity that accompanied former President Cory Aquino on her journey to her final resting place attests to her popularity – something she was able to earn because though she had her own faults as a leader, in the end she stood by the people in their fight against tyranny. (By Flon Faurillo)

Still Playing the Deadly Game, Retired military general Jovito Palparan may have shed off his Army uniform and donned the barong of Congressmen. But he still has maintained his military mindset – accusing activists of being communists, which, during his days in the military, meant being a target for abduction, torture, and extrajudicial killing. (By Flon Faurillo)

Rhetoric and Reality, Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is expected to deliver a glowing State of the Nation Address enumerating the achievements of her administration, stressing on economic growth figures (By Flon Faurillo)

Emergency Rule? The recent bombings and the impending Cabinet reshuffle, which would put former generals in strategic positions, have led some to believe that the Arroyo government is preparing to declare another state of national emergency or martial law. (By Flon Faurillo)

Martial Law? The recent bombing at the Office of the Ombudsman and the discovery of two unexploded bombs at the compound of the Department of Agriculture and the One Burgundy Plaza along Katipunan Avenue raise once again the specter of martial law. (By Flon Faurillo)

Hiding the Truth, The Arroyo government is claiming credit for purportedly shielding the economy from the world economic crisis. But its claims are so far from the truth. The people are already feeling the crunch and even the statistics of the government point to a downward spin in the economy. (By Flon Faurillo)
(By Flon Faurillo)

Stopping Cha-Cha, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo seems determined to ram the charter change train through despite all opposition, but she will likely change her position when the number of protesters rises to a certain point. (By Flon Faurillo)

Derailing the Cha-Cha Train. After the railroading of House Resolution 1109, the charter change (cha-cha) train is now on track, and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo must be jumping with joy at the idea that there is now no obstacle to her staying in power beyond 2010. Arroyo, however, should not be too sure of victory: she and her minions may have put one over the opposition in Congress but she cannot underestimate the power of an enraged public, which may yet derail the Cha-cha train. (By Flon Faurillo)
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