Llamas-organized Edsa I mob may turn into oust-CJ ‘Plan B’
The preparations for the Edsa I celebration is turning out more than what meets the eye with the huge mobilization that is being required from presidential political adviser Ronald Llamas by President Aquino.
It would not take much to turn the massive crowd expected at the Feb. 25 into what is being bruited about as Malacaņang’s Plan B designed to compel the removal of Chief Justice Renato Corona from the Supreme Court.
Last Feb. 16, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. issued a directive to all government officials and employees to participate in the 26th Anniversary of the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution.
The Palace’s Memorandum Circular 27, likewise, enjoined all units of the national government, including government-owned and controlled corporations, and local governments to extend assistance to organizers of the program and various activities scheduled until Feb. 25.
What makes Llamas’ “mission order” special is that they don’t have to spend a dime on beefing up the crowd on which Aquino’s followers can whip up anti-Corona sentiment.
Deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte however denied the allegation of an anti-Corona mobilization and also belied reports of a clandestine effort to commission the help of local government units to pressure impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona to resign from his post.
Valte, who’s role has been lately relegated to issuing denials for the Palace on nasty issues hounding the Executive, said that the President would disclose things “officially” if and when he feels the public should know something.
Valte, who appears defending some “political operators” of the Palace who are mobilizing heads of local government units to stage anti-Corona rallies, contradicts an earlier query of the Daily Tribune when asked about what’s keeping Llamas busy.
She said in previous press briefings that she isn’t Llamas’ keeper adding that she’s not aware of the presidential political adviser’s activities.
Llamas, who was a militant activist during his younger years, is considered by Aquino as the go-to person whenever the administration requires an “effectively superb operator,” specializing on mobilization of rallies and covert operations that activists referred to as “kadres” do.
Aquino, who has relentlessly assailed Corona despite the ongoing impeachment trial in the Senate, acting as an impeachment court, called on Corona to bare his dollar accounts during a forum with students in Manila but won’t given in to a reciprocal appeal from the chief magistrate to do the same.
Published reports cited what appears to be a leaked information on the supposed anti-Corona rallies which will coincide with the 26th anniversary of the Edsa People Power I Revolution on Feb. 25.
When asked whether he’s considering to slow down on his nasty remarks against the Chief Justice, Aquino was quoted as saying:
“I think I am within my rights to express my opinion especially doon sa (grieve?). I speak for a sizeable number of our people and that s the essence of democracy. Contending ideas should be threshed out in a market place of ideas and those who can convince should be . Sorry, let me rephrase that. A democracy is the majority deciding for everybody and you cannot decide properly if there is no discourse within the contending sides in any issue. So to keep quiet about the whole thing is I think wrong. Time to time I reserve my right to be able to say what I believe should be said to the people,” Aquino said in an ambush interview with reporters who covered his provincial sortie in Baler.
This developed as Malacaņang appears unfazed with the growing number of religious groups and personalities who have made an apparent withdrawal of support to President Aquino. Valte however said Malacaņang will remain open in engaging Catholic bishops on various issues, including land reform.
Prior to the Catholic Bishops’ criticism on what they described as Aquino’s overzealous desire to boot out Corona and put his predecessor behind bars for good, the members of powerful Iglesia ni Cristo have been attending protest rallies in support of the President’s enemies.
“The fact remains we have always been open to coming across on certain issues from whatever sector this comes from,” she said.
Fernan J. Angeles