It was at the corner of these two avenues, Epifanio de los Santos, or
EDSA and Ortigas Avenue and seven years ago this Sunday when a over
half a million Filipino’s rallied to threw out of office a President
– who was later convicted for ‘plunder’ but later at EDSA Dos, was
the four-day popular revolution which peacefully overthrew Philippine
President Joseph Estrada from on January 20, 2001.  – and it where his
then Vice President Gloria Arroyo took her oath as President.

At nearly the same spot two decades earlier another revolt with ten
times the numbers gathered to restore democracy putting themselves
between a loyalist forces and military rebel in the original ‘People
Power’ revolt that ended ’strongman rule’ in the Philippines.

Yet, nearly seven years from the day, there are no streamers, no
banners, nothing to mark the event other than a small protest led by
leftist groups Friday night, who lit candles and called anew for
change, The protestors were outnumbered by police and grumbling
commuters trying to make their way home. Mostly unnoticed they were
barred from staging any event and moved on.

Seven Years on few remember why:

It began months before, on October 4, 2000. Ilocos Sur Governor Luis
“Chavit” Singson, a longtime friend of President Joseph Estrada, went
public with accusations that Estrada, his family and friends received
millions of pesos from operations of the illegal numbers game,
“Jueteng”, allegations that eventually led to his conviction in 2007 .

The next day, the then Philippine Senate Minority Leader Teofisto
Guingona Jr., and later Vice President of Arroyo, accused Estrada of
receiving P220 million in alleged “jueteng” funds from Governor
Singson from November 1998 to August 2000, Guingona also alleged
Estrada took “P70 million on excise tax on cigarettes intended for
Singson’s province of Ilocos Sur.

The issue was discussed before the Philippine Senate’s ‘Blue Ribbon’
investigative Committee and the Senates Committee on Justice which
held a joint investigation. At the same time at the House of
Representatives a launched a parallel investigation, lower house
members impeached then President Estrada.

Outside of Government civil society groups and the Catholic Church led
a call for Estrada’s resignation pro-democracy prelate the late Manila
Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, led the Catholic Bishops Conference of
the Philippines, while support came from former Presidents Corazon
Aquino and Fidel Ramos, and Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who
in protest resigned her cabinet post of Secretary of the Department of
Social Welfare and Services joined the move to back those opposed to
Estrada.

In the days and weeks that followed, under pressure from civil society
groups and the church as well as influential political figures led to
resignations from the Estrada’s cabinet and eventually even close
economic advisers, and allies in congress defected the ruling
colation.

By November the House of Representatives then Speaker Manuel Villar,
now Senate President, in a bold move while reading the roll of
congressmen in session transmitted to the “Articles of Impeachment,”
even though only signed by a minority of 115 representatives, to the
Senate it was final and Estrada ad been impeached.

A impeachment trial formally opened on November 20, twenty-one
senators became judges, and then Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario
Davide, Jr. presided. A nationally televised trial began on December
7th,.2000

Part 2, Thank you Cardinal Sin, Thank you EDSA Shrine

Sin, DD, Archbishop Emeritus of Manila, Voice of EDSA and Father of EDSA Shrine. For EDSA Shriners all over the globe to watch the video of

This homily was delivered by His Excellency, Most Rev. Socrates B. Villegas, DD, Bishop of Balanga and 1st Rector of the EDSA Shrine. On the occasion of the 79th birth anniversary of +His Eminence, Jaime L. Cardinal Sin, DD, Archbishop Emeritus of Manila, Voice of EDSA and Father of EDSA Shrine.For EDSA Shriners all over the globe to watch the video of this homily. With permission from H.E. Most Rev. Soc B. Villegas, DD.Thank you

 

Broadcast live on television it became the highest rating show on
Philippine Television, From Governor Singson’s diuscussion of
delivering cash to Estrada home, to Clarissa Ocampo, a senior vice
president of a bank, testified she was, ” One foot away from Estrada
when he signed the name “Jose Velarde” – the alleged name under which
illicit funds were laundered – also presented were documents a half
billion peso investment agreement with the bank also was disclosed.

The details of the alleged transaction were along with the identity of
the owner of the Jose Veralde account were held in an envelope. That
by January 17, 2001, the impeachment trial of President Estrada moved
to the investigation of an infamous envelope containing evidence that
his accusers alleged then “proved acts of political corruption by
Estrada.” — later examination of the envelope after the revolt found
there was noting conclusive inside — but Anti-Estrada groups say that
supporters had alertered its contents.

Chiz Escudero on impeachment, environment and EDSA dos

ANC debate…Chiz Escudero impeachment environment EDSA dos

11 Senators allied Estrada blocked the evidence. A conflict between
the “Senator judges”, and prosecution and defense deepened, As 10
senators in favor of examining the evidence,  By this point, Aquilino
Pimentel, Jr. resigned as Senate President leading a walked out of the
impeachment proceedings together with the 9 opposition Senators and 11
prosecutors in the Estrada impeachment trial. Went to EDSA and Ortigas
where crowds had already gathered. Cardinal Jaime Sin led Catholic
Bishops in a public mass and civil society groups and opposition to
Estrada moved to the Ortigas Center area where the opponents to
Estrada announced they would not leave chapel and the Shrine built to
the honor the Virgin Mary until Estrada resigned.

EDSA is Dead, Long Live EDSA
Para sa ating mga Pilipino….philippines edsa uno dos people
Text Swarming Revolt:

During the 1986 EDSA revolt, most of the events were on radio –
government controlled television and phone service was limited, but by
January 2001 the Philippines had one of the most advanced cellular
phone systems in the world at the time. And Filipino’s texted more
than anyone else on the planet – they still do – for 2007 60 million
cell phone subscribers sent 1.68 billion text messages.

So when the senators left for EDSA, a swarm of messages was sent out
by those in opposition with one request. “Come to EDSA,” and pass this
text on to your friends.
Within a hours the crowds grew. From ten thousand to fifty to nearly a
million some say.
Conservative estimates are at least a half a million people filled the
streets and areas near the Shrine.

By the 19th of January 2001, The Philippine National Police and the
Armed Forces of the Philippines withdraw their support for Estrada,
Police and soldiers joined the crowds at the EDSA Shrine. The move is
allowed under the Philippine constitution written after the 1986 EDSA
revolt which allows the Military to “Act on the behalf of the People”
when there is a call for it and it is deemed In the ‘best interest’ of
the nation.

Estrada fails to Appease ‘People Power’

Estrada went on national television for the first time to address
those protesting saying he would not resign. He called for the
impeachment trial to continue, stressing ” that only a guilty verdict
can remove him from office.” Mayors and Governors loyal to Estrada
flocked to the Presidential Palace promising to support him. Estrada
even offered ’snap presidential elections along with local,
congressional seats to be held on May 14, 2001. Estrada would stay on
as a caretaker but he would not run in this snap election. He said he
did not want the cycle of people power to subvert democratically
elected governments warning of future consequences of ‘mob rule’.

Estrada got his answer on the 20th at noon, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
took her oath of office in the presence of civil society, the
military, senators, and the front of the little chapel at EDSA, she
become the 14th president of the Philippines. Estrada then said he was
still President he had not resigned, and said then he had, “strong
serious doubts about the legality and constitutionality of her
proclamation as president”,  he however agreed to leave the
presidential palace to allow the healing the nation.” He was placed
under house arrest and eventually was convicted of many of the charges
brought up at his ‘interrupted’ impeachment trial. However Estrada,
was pardoned by his successor Arroyo less than a month after the
landmark conviction – the first for a Philippine President.

Estrada to this day says the Philippine Supreme Court’s proclaiming
legal President Arroyo entry into the presidency, and his “Eviction
from the Palace as the day when democracy in the Philippines died.” To
Estrada, the January 20th EDSA II marked,
“The death of democracy—and should not– must not be celebrated,”
Estrada, was the first Philippine President to be impeached,
convicted, and also the first President Pardoned in the interest of
“healing the nations wounds” as President Arroyo has said.

Estrada, was democratically elected to the presidency by the highest
margin of victory of any Philippine President and is still hugely
popular. While the ‘popular’ revolt changed leaders – critics have
said — due process the impeachment trial in the Senate did not
produce a clear result. While he was convicted he was removed a
extra-constitutional coop with the final change only coming through
the armed forces, “withdrawing its support.” Which analysts say has
led to several attempts since then the most recent less than three
months ago and new plots that provide fears of more similar revolts to
come.
While the Estrada ouster was legal as the Philippine Supreme Court
ruled “the welfare of the people is the supreme law,” the risks
continue that no Philippine President can ever really be too secure in
their mandate as the ‘ghosts of EDSA’s past reminds them people power
can happen anytime.”

While critics have claimed that EDSA II was a political coup conducted
by backers of Arroyo and calculated amidst allegations of a elaborate
plot funded by rich and powerful groups who were uncomfortable with
Estrada’s policies and lifestyle most did see the peaceful revolt as
commentator Paul Rodrigo told western journalists in 2001, “People
Power is not a club to be wielded by the elite or by any faction. It
is a mysterious, unpredictable outpouring of collective energy that
seems to arrive when we most need it” .
Amidst allegations of new plots and possible attempts versus Arroyo’s
government being closely watched by security forces and popular
opinion polls showing low levels of satisfaction Government is not
holding any event to commemorate the second People Power uprising.

Arroyo: No Celebration for EDSA II

Philippine President Arroyo is set to leave for the world economic
forum in Davos, Switzerland her spokesman stressing there’s nothing on
the President’s agenda marking the day she became ‘the President by
people power.’  Arroyo has her hands full, in the Philippines surveys
have shown her unpopular, public perception of allegations of
corruption has been critical.  Issues crowd her over extra-judicial
killings, a crackdown on media, and even as the economy is growing at
one of highest rates in Asia issues continue to hound her
administration and official family.

Overseas both the US Congress and UN have raised human rights
concerns, some blamed on the military counter-insurgency and
counter-terrorism efforts. On the heels of this a US based think tank
“Freedom House,” a Heritage foundation organization,  last Wednesday
called the Philippines less than “totally free” to a only “partially
free” due to the Estrada pardon and political killings and scandals
involving Arroyo’s family and allies that have many overlooking the
huge gains the Philippine economy has taken during her Administration.
“The President is the one whose decided not to celebrate the day she
was sworn in to office the first time its her way of trying to heal
old wounds and move forward. She is the President she won her election
and mandate and while there are  critics and even attempts against her
she has proven to be a strong and fair leader.” Sec. Cerge Remunde
said on government television.