Will Mrs. Arroyo end up like Mussolini?
A PROFESSOR of mine who is considered an authority in Taxation predicted nearly a year ago in our class that 
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her husband might also suffer the fate of Italian fascist Benito Mussolini and her mistress if her administration continued to push for Constitutional reform. My professor was simply reacting to the annoying and disgraceful attempts of Mrs. Arroyo and her bribed allies in Congress in trying to change, or desecrate, the Philippine Constitution to establish a parliamentary government.
Known for his cool jokes, my professor, who purportedly loves sabong (cockfight), agogo or club houses and Ginebra San Miguel (a local gin), told our class that considering the profiles of the possible candidates for the 2010 presidential elections, the now declining power and influence of the stubborn (and spoiled) diminutive president would not be enough to quell a possible coup or political chaos that would fall upon her should she insist on her ambition to become the first prime minister after dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
To back his claim, my professor described the possible presidential contenders, which include Senators Mar Roxas and Manny Villar. He said that these politicians who are both billionaires and who can no longer wait for their turn to be the next chief executive of the land would use everything in their power and wealth to oust the incumbent president whom most people in this country believed she stole the presidency.
“What’s the use of their billions?” he asked. But then he gave his own answer that if Mrs. Arroyo refused to go down, there is no iota of doubt that these billionaire-politicians and other aspirants would plot her “bloody” or “non-bloody” expulsion by hook or by crook.
“Atat na atat na sila. Nanginginig na sila sa galit at gusto na nilang maging presidente (They can no longer wait. They’re now shaking in anger because they all root for the presidency)!” he said. He even said in jest Mar Roxas could shell out half-a-billion peso to fund people’s revolt, while Manny Villar could shoulder the other half to cement their plan to oust the president, along with her bribed political and non-political cohorts.
Now here’s my professor’s joke.
Once the incumbent president is ousted, this Ambitious Politician now orders and bribes General Mukhang-Pera to arrest Mrs. Arrovo, her husband and other members of her family. The bribed General will bring with him 100 fully armed soldiers who are experts in guerilla warfare. On board ten armored cars, General Mukhang Pera and his men go to their next destination—the residence of a Trial Court Judge to secure a warrant of arrest. Of course, the trial court judge cannot say “No” to a group of zombie-looking fully armed military men. He then hastily signs the arrest warrant which states that there is a probable cause to arrest Mrs. Arrovo and her husband.
Now General Mukhang-Pera and his excited men who are all under the influence of Red Horse head for the family home of the Arroyos in a swarming exclusive subdivision in Metro Manila. The ex-First Gentleman, Nike Arrovo, is not in the house. The houseboy tells one soldier that probably Mr. Arrovo is now on his way to Las Vegas. [Well, I don’t know why it’s Las Vegas and not Hawaii] Finally General Mukhang-Pera finds Mrs. Arrovo in her bedroom, holding a rosary and praying. The General, who believes it is time for him to shine, informs Mrs. Arrovo that she is under arrest blah-blah-blah.
To make the story short, Mrs. Arrovo is arrested and she is now being delivered to an unknown destination. While inside an armored vehicle, General Mukhang-Pera asks her a question: “Where do you want to be deported Mrs. President, Cubao or Lubao?” (Cubao is the main district of Quezon City while Lubao is the hometown of Mrs. Arrovo’s father, former president Biosdavod Macapakal.)
But before she gives her answer the General instructs the driver to stop the car nearby a hardware store. The puzzled driver asks, “Sir, why?”
“You’re going to buy a chicken wire,” orders the General.
The driver scratches his head and asks again, “Sir, why?”
Annoyed the General looks at the bewildered driver and then points at the subject of the arrest. “Can’t you see? We need to buy a chicken wire to make sure she won’t escape!”
My personal footnote to this political joke.
While writing this piece, I’m reading an article on New York Time’s online edition titled “Honduran President Ousted in a coup.” Honduras President Manuel Zelaya was arrested by the country’s military for violating the constitution. Like Mrs. Arroyo, Mr. Zelaya was pushing for constitutional reforms in his country to suit his political ambitions. What hits me is this statement of the Honduran Supreme Court, saying the military had acted to defend the law against “those who had publicly spoken out and acted against the Constitution’s provisions.”
It ’s a perfect writing. Thank you.
This was a really great read, I am very glad I came across your site.
Some very interesting points raised here, which has got me thinking!
Good to see that people still know what they are talking about. So much BS around these days!