GLORIA DEVILITA

Evil. Lucky Bitch. Duwende. Tsunami. Pandak.

No other woman president in this country has been called by so many derogatory names in public. I do not know if this would hold true for all women presidents globally, but in my book, its certainly Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

It could happen to you…

It was something I never imagined I would do: rise in standing ovation at a speech delivered by (as I write this still) Speaker of the House of Representatives Jose De Venecia.

Tonight, JDV delivered a very impassioned speech that reminded me of the powerful “I accuse…” speech of then Senator Teofisto Guingona. That speech led to the ouster of then President Joseph Estrada.

JDV, in his speech virtually enumerated one deadly sin after another committed by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

He started with telling everyone how he, as kingmaker or perhaps queenmaker, built up Arroyo to where she is right now. He had been, as he said “right by the President’s side” through all political turmoil, one impeachment complaint after another and seen her through.

But now we see a beleaguered JDV. Under attack by the Arroyos after his son, Joey De Venecia chose to speak on the ZTE contract.

And so, despite all he has done for the Arroyos, and as a warning to those about to unseat him he said, “it could happen to you.”

And so he went on to enumerate one anomaly after another– the overpriced ZTE contract, the Transco deal that went to yet another Arroyo ally, and the 2AM proclamation of GMA as president in 2004 questionable election results, to which the House of Representatives under his leadership, was party to.

Honestly calls for moral revolution, for unity seems so well, unbelievable, coming from a politician like JDV. He is, admittedly so, “a sinner” and not the ideal person to lead such a revolution.

Will his speech, like that of VP Guingona, lead to snowballing protests that could oust GMA? Will JDV be consistent with what he has said and reveal more of the anomalies under the Arroyo administration that he had been a party to? That remains to be seen.

And so now for GMA, after JDV’s speech, should do well to remember Erap after the Guingona speech. It could happen to you!