Political turmoil once again rocked the Philippines after the nation’s senate was hit by leadership changes orchestrated by the administration’s allies in the upper chamber. Senate President Manny Villar was ousted yesterday by no less than 14 of his colleagues headed by one of the staunch supporters of President Gloria Arroyo.
The senate coup was suspected to be the handiwork of the administration to prolong its continued stay in power beyond 2010. The no-el or no election scenario is once again making people nervous especially now that the senate has its new leader in the person of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, the former martial law henchman of the former dictator Marcos.
The new senate president is a veteran and knows how to play the game of dirty politics. He is one of the grand old man of Philippine politics who help the country remain in the cellar of economic, political and social injustice and degradation.
The Philippines is bracing yet another version of dirty politics with the same players of politicos who are ready to do everything to derail the democratic processes by subverting the constitutional provision of free election. The power-hungry allies of the administration can now move on to their next plan of action to endorse CHA-CHA or charter change so as to perpetuate themselves in power.
And the new senate leadership will play a big role in this new political upheaval. They won’t stop until all their plans realized before the 2010 general elections come.
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