Joseph Estrada sa 2010

All the fortunate individuals who were elected presidents of our great republic discharged their functions using different "styles," if you will. Some were more liberal than others. A number of them pointed to the development and modernization of certain sectors as the topmost priority of their administrations. Despite these differences, all these past chief executives had one thing in common: they all worked within the time frame dictated by what is termed the constitutional clock. The constitutional clock is an invisible but ever-present aspect of the Philippine presidency. Under the 1987 Philippine Constitution, each elected chief executive will serve for a maximum of six (6) years from the time he (or she) assumes office until he hands over the reins of the presidency to his elected successor. Re-election is forbidden, which is why with the constitutional clock running inexorably, it is vital that one's presidency is used wisely and always with the welfare of the greater number in mind. Pinili kong pag-usapan ang constitutional clock bunga ng mga pinakahuling mga pangyayari sa ating bayan. Sa ngayon ay labis-labis na ang hinanakit ng taumbayan sa pamahalaang Arroyo bunga na rin ng mga hayagang paglabag ng mga opisyal nito sa ating mga batas. Sangkot ang ilang miyembro ng pamilya Arroyo sa isyu ng jueteng. May lumabas na "GMA-Garci" tapes na nagpapatunay sa pagbabaluktot ng ating mga batas ukol sa halalan. Idagdag pa diyan ang pagkalugmok ng ating ekonomiya at ang matinding hirap ng buhay sa ngayon at hindi kataka-takang maubusan na ng pasensiya ang milyun-milyon nating mga kababayan. In truth, there was never any doubt as to what my administration's priority was: the upliftment of the Philippine masses. It was time to put serious effort into addressing their needs such as food security, housing, opportunities for livelihood and education. Iba't ibang proyekto at programa na ang aking inilunsad at pinalalakas upang mabigyang katuparan ang kanilang mga pangangailangan. Subali't bunga ng kasuwapangan ng kinikilalang jueteng at smuggling lord ng Pilipinas, sa pakikipagtulungan ng mga grupong sakim sa kapangyarihan at salapi at mga indibidwal na Gahaman Maupo Agad (GMA), nanakawan ako ng mandato at naantala ang pagpapatupad ng mga programang akin ng binanggit. Here is where the importance of our subject matter comes in: at the precise moment when the coup d'etat succeeded, the constitutional clock on my presidency stopped ticking. It remains unmoving to this day because the government that replaced mine was illegal despite a ruling issued by the highest court in the country legitimizing its existence. None of the prerequisites needed to legitimize a change in presidents was present: death, permanent disability, resignation, and impeachment. These are the only acceptable reasons as enshrined in our constitution. If none of these prerequisites were present at the time of the change in government, then there was no vacancy in the Office of the President. It is understandable that apologists for the Arroyo government always go back to the Supreme Court ruling to underscore the legitimacy of the administration they work for. But bring the subject back to what the constitution says, and they will either fall deathly silent or hem and haw. That is because no one can argue against the constitution. What is written in it, what it dictates, is the law. The fool who attempts to bend it to serve his (her) political interests will surely reap the whirlwind. And while the constitutional clock on my presidency is at a standstill, another clock counts down the seconds in our people's unending saga of grief and hardship. It is the clock that measures the people's collective frustration and anger. It is invisible but it is there, and it is rapidly ticking away to the point of no return. God save our country.

ERAP sa 2010 Ang Pagbabalik!

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