“Just like what Pope Francis prayed, let’s all be pilgrims of hope”
TODAY, the eve of the New Year, it would be of great interest to know what to expect for 2025.
There is, of course, the May mid-term elections. And, hopefully, the elections next year will be fair, peaceful and orderly. Just like what Pope Francis prayed, let’s all be pilgrims of hope.
What’s of great interest to all should be the Senate race, which will be dominated by candidates who could be elected not because they deserve it, but only because they are popular.
Sadly, the Senate race has become a popularity contest where people in the entertainment world are most likely to be elected, including people in broadcast, game shows and movies.
My gulay, even in local elections, the criterion is no longer what is best for the people, but who are members of a political dynasty, who will have to give back to them in return for their votes simply because of poverty, in the wake of high prices and jobs.
In particular, we expect for the coming year the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte. Since it takes one-third of the members of the House of Representatives to vote for the elevation of the articles of impeachment to the Senate, and considering that the impeachment is both legal and mostly political, the impeachment of Sara by the Senate is a done deal.
The most telling grounds for the impeachment of the VP are the findings of the Quad Committee of the House that recipients to millions of pesos of the confidential funds of Sara have been found to be fictitious, without birth certificates, marriage certificates, much less death certificates.
Santa Banana, that’s pure and simple plunder that constitutes betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution and graft and corruption! It would be very difficult for the VP to wiggle herself out of the crime of plunder.
Following no less than three impeachment cases against the Vice President, if the House will adapt the Villar-type of impeachment that was used against former President Erap Estrada when Speaker Manny Villar simply elevated Erap’s impeachment cases to the Senate after getting one-third of the support of the House, Erap’s articles of impeachment were simply submitted to the Senate, after which the Senate voted for the impeachment of Erap for plunder.
As I said, impeachment is both legal and largely political.
Other problems the country must face next year, like in 2024 , are high prices, especially for those earning minimum wages. That’s a real problem because high prices are dictated by many factors, not only inflation, but many other factors like wars , which are beyond our control.
Another interesting case which will dominate the newspaper headlines is the charge against former President Rodrigo Duterte for alleged violation of international law.
The pending case of Duterte with the International Criminal Court is for crimes against humanity.
An arrest warrant against Duterte and those involved in the brutal and bloody war against illegal drugs during the six-year term of Duterte likely will be issued .
The arrest warrant against Duterte could involve reelectionist Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and many others.
The ICC does not have jurisdiction in the Philippines, but it would be done by the Interpol, which has a working arrangement with the Department of Justice. In fact, the former President was already summoned by the DOJ. Just how this case against Duetrte will proceed is something to watch.
There is of course the continuing aggression of China at the West Philippine Sea, which is the most challenging issue for President Marcos Jr. insofar as the issue of foreign affairs is concerned.
I cannot speculate what will happen this coming year, but for sure,,as far as China is concerned, it will continue its claim of territorial jurisdiction of the Panatag Shoal, where the World War II ship Sierra Madre is grounded and the Scarborough Shoal at Bajo de Masinloc off Zambales to the detriment of Filipino fisherfolk whose livelihoods are affected.
The problem here is the United States under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty may get involved, and we all know that the Philippines is just a pawn in the big issue of power between China and the US.
In fact. China already warned the Philippines against the acquisition of midrange Typhon missiles from the US.
I would say that 2025 is a more challenging year for Marcos Jr. than 2024.