Will JDV be Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's Chavit Singson?

As history has shown us, Chavit Singson was instrumental to the downfall of former President Joseph Estrada. Will history repeat itself as Congressman Joe De Venecia (JDV) decided to burn bridges with long time ally President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

JDV already started and accused PGMA of bribery to block impeachment bids last year. Although such an incident has been widely speculated since the first impeachment attempt, it sounds more serious when it comes from a former staunch supporter. JDV claimed that he lost his House Speakership status upon his direct refusal of PGMA's request to endorse a weak impeachment complaint.

JDV is also seen as a vital witness having first-hand account on some of the major discussions about issues surrounding the PGMA. Even if this does not prosper via impeachment, it will not stop anyone from suing her after she steps down in 2010. Perhaps this is also the reason why means are being explored to extend her term, one way or another by allies.

In addition to the ZTE scandal, the Fertilizer Fund Scam is haunting PGMA as she got accused to as the brains behind it. The same goes as well to the plan tagged, "Oplan Bantay Laya", where 601 political dissidents were reported to be tortured while some are missing as of this time.

Whethere there'll be more congressmen switching sides to JDV remains to be seen. The clout and political influence of the PGMA administration has been one of the most powerful and untouchable to date.

Distractions to keep PGMA in power

As aptly said by Arbet, there are lot of things happening that seem to serve as camouflage to distract Filipinos on the various issues at hand. As much as we all see it, we are also into this situation that we have to go on with our lives, day-by-day, surviving from one induced crisis to another.

Handling allies

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is surely busy this week with so many concerns to note of that includes:

• Feelers are going around for the President to consider a Senator Richard Gordon and Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia administrative bet for 2010 elections. I think Gordon's temper is far more worst compared to PGMA.
• The President was also pissed off when former representative Romeo Jalosjos was released without the knowledge of authorities and ordered an investigation on the matter. I wonder whose head will roll for that lack of initiative to take action on the matter.
  

On the positive side, the President gave a warm welcome to 220 travelers who arrived recently from Bahrain to Manila, a lot of them are OFWs. She also greeted Pampanga governor Eddie Panlilio during a pre-Christmas mass.

GMA orders probe on military links to political killings

President Arroyo ordered yesterday an investigation into allegations that the military was behind the deaths of political and human rights activists. After receiving the report of a fact-finding body tasked to look into the killings, Mrs. Arroyo said in a statement: "I deplore the killings, be they from left or right, against journalists or activists. We have a sorry history in our nation of political violence." (Philstar)

Crisis PR for PGMA

GMA wants friendlier press relations in 2007. After a year of testy relations with the media, including members of the Malacañang press corps, President Arroyo hinted on Friday of a charm offensive for the New Year. (Manila Times)