Saturday, June 3, 2023
manilastandard.net
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Others
    • Pets
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Technology
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • MS ON THE ROAD
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Others
    • Pets
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Technology
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • MS ON THE ROAD
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
manilastandard.net
No Result
View All Result
Home Opinion Columns Duty Calls by Florencio Fianza

Toppling governments

Florencio FianzabyFlorencio Fianza
January 12, 2017, 12:01 am
in Duty Calls by Florencio Fianza
Reading Time: 4 mins read
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Email

Is there really a homegrown plot to topple President Rodrigo Duterte? The only open intelligence available to the public is the so-called LeniLeaks which does not really tell us much. Quite frankly, it is hard to say.

If there such an effort, how easy would it be for a leader with 83-percent approval rating to be ousted? A coup is not a walk in the park and those planning it must be prepared to pay with their lives if they fail. Maybe what the LeniLeaks is telling us is the beginning of an effort to topple the Duterte administration. One problem of the would-be plotters is the lack of a forceful leader. It is difficult to see how VP Robredo with 63-percent approval rating could lead in the ouster of President Duterte.

To be fair to the Vice President, she has denied any participation in any plot. One would think that the era of the coups is long gone. But sadly, we still see it happening occasionally. Coups and other forms of toppling governments are different in every country. Our neighbor Thailand follows the traditional military coup where the military would simply topple the government regardless of whetherit enjoys the support of the voting public. This is what happened there in their last two coups. The governments of Thaksin Shinawatra and his sister were toppled even if their governments were popular. Now, Thailand is ruled by the Thai Army.

Pakistan also practices the traditional military coup and the Pakistani Army wields so much influence over the country even if the government is civilian. It has been said that the Pakistani Army is the only army in the world that owns a country.

Just recently, a faction of the Turkish army attempted a coup but failed, resulting in a massive retaliation by President Tayyip Erdogan.

African countries follow a somewhat different model. There, junior officers can take over a country. In the recent incident in the Ivory Coast, the military engaged in a mutiny because they were not getting paid on time. This resulted in the temporary detention of the Defense Minister.

In our country, we have seen two governments toppled in a relatively peaceful fashion. It is now called all over the world as People Power Revolution. The model developed here is the need for the military and the civilian factions wanting to topple the government to come to a tactical alliance for the single purpose of removing the government. This was what happened to the Marcos and Estrada governments.

In the Marcos model, the military faction that led the uprising, had to be supported by civilians to make the takeover successful. The military could not have done it alone. In the Estrada case, it was the civilians that needed the military in order to make the takeover successful.

In this current alleged plot to topple the Duterte government, nothing is clear at all. As we have seen in our past two experiences, the extra-legal overthrow of governments by only one faction cannot succeed. There is a need to forget ideological differences to come together for a common purpose. There is no sign that this is even happening now. If there is, it is perhaps just starting to germinate. And looking at the alleged participants, it is a bunch that does not inspire confidence. Loida Nicolas Lewis, the alleged Fil-Am financier who lives in New York, is likely out of touch with the realities of the hardships of living in this country.

The alleged beneficiary, in case the Duterte government is toppled, is VP Robredo. She is so politically inexperienced that it is hard seeing her able to take over a government in a crisis situation—let alone lead it.

Of course, given time, she may be able, but right now, it is hard to see that happening. Besides, the actual beneficiary of any successful takeover would be former President Aquino and his cohorts. Some officials in the Duterte government are probably right, in saying that there is no need to investigate the alleged plot and that there is no law violated when someone dreams.

Also, the support President Duterte enjoys from the police and military is rock solid and there is no sign of it softening. This may have been the reason why former President Ramos remarked that there is no impending coup d’ etat. What we have, he said jokingly, is a “coup be ta” which elicited a roar of laughter from his audience.

In the case of the Marcos ouster, it took many years before the attempt was launched. In the case of President Estrada, it took a much shorter time because the spark needed was there and the timing was also right and before long President Estrada was out of office.

Assuming that there really is such an effort to topple President Duterte and following the lessons of the last two successful extra-legal overthrow of the existing political power, there really should be more solid evidence apparent on the ground instead of just the so-called LeniLeaks. There should be a faction of the military and police working behind scenes but there is none. As they say, where there is smoke, there is fire.

Since there is no smoke being detected, does it mean that there is no plot? Not necessarily. As the old Chinese proverb tells us, a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. Prudence also dictate that it is always helpful to be wise and careful.

Tags: Florencio FianzaLeniLeaksOuster plotPresident Rodrigo DuterteToppling governmentsVice President Leni Robredo
ADVERTISEMENT
Florencio Fianza

Florencio Fianza

Related Posts

What ails the LTO?

byFlorencio Fianza
June 1, 2023, 12:00 am
0
8
Money matters

"All this, however, will be impossible to achieve if the DOTr and LTO do not each other see eye to...

Read more

Resurrecting the Philippine Constabulary

byFlorencio Fianza
May 25, 2023, 12:05 am
0
8
Money matters

"The other issue to resolve is will a resurrected PC go back as part of the AFP or will it...

Read more

The military pension debate

byFlorencio Fianza
May 18, 2023, 12:10 am
0
8
Money matters

"It would do well for Secretary Diokno to look up the incentives, benefits and other remunerations of other countries in...

Read more

General Acorda’s advice

byFlorencio Fianza
May 11, 2023, 12:05 am
0
8
Money matters

The Philippine National Police is now 31 years old. Before the PNP, we had the PC/INP with Philippine Constabulary as...

Read more

Mitigating global warming and climate change

byFlorencio Fianza
May 4, 2023, 12:05 am
0
8
Money matters

"In the end, doing the right thing is what is needed not like what one official who funded a flood...

Read more

EDCA and beyond

byFlorencio Fianza
April 27, 2023, 12:05 am
0
8
Money matters

"There is no question that EDCA caught the Chinese by surprise and did not expect the developments to move so...

Read more

Print Edition

View More

Recent Posts

  • Experts warn bird flu virus changing rapidly in largest ever outbreak
  • Erdogan to be sworn in for third term as Turkish president
  • Chile says recent mass seabird death not due to avian flu
  • US says talks with China ‘essential’ to curb chance of conflict
  • One dead, two missing in Japan after heavy rain
  • Trump, rivals asked for loyalty pledge ahead of 2024 debates
  • Colombia president’s allies exit over nanny wiretap scandal
  • Djokovic blasts ‘disrespectful’ French Open fans

Advertisement

Latest News

Trump, rivals asked for loyalty pledge ahead of 2024 debates

byAFP
June 3, 2023, 10:00 am
0
8
Trump, rivals asked for loyalty pledge ahead of 2024 debates

The Republican Party is planning to hold its first US presidential primary debate on August 23, organizers said Friday, announcing...

Read more

Colombia president’s allies exit over nanny wiretap scandal

byAFP
June 3, 2023, 9:30 am
0
8
Colombia president’s allies exit over nanny wiretap scandal

Two close allies of Colombian President Gustavo Petro stepped down Friday after prosecutors announced the pair would be called to...

Read more

Djokovic blasts ‘disrespectful’ French Open fans

byAFP
June 3, 2023, 8:30 am
0
8
Djokovic returns to Monte Carlo as Alcaraz waits to pounce

Novak Djokovic blasted French Open fans as "disrespectful" after he defeated Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in a tense third round clash...

Read more

Ecuador’s president says won’t seek reelection in snap vote

byAFP
June 3, 2023, 8:00 am
0
8
Ecuador to cut fuel prices that sparked demonstrations

Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso said Friday he would not seek another term in snap elections called for August after he...

Read more

UN official calls out Security Council for inaction on NKorea

byAFP
June 3, 2023, 7:30 am
0
8
UN validates record Arctic temperature

A senior United Nations official on Friday took the Security Council to task over its failure to hold North Korea...

Read more

Advertisement

ADVERTISEMENT
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube

ABOUT US

Manila Standard

Manila Standard website (manilastandard.net), launched in August 2002, extends the newspaper’s reach beyond its traditional readers and makes its brand of Philippine news and opinion available to a much wider and geographically diverse readership here and overseas.

Digital Edition

In tone and content, the online edition mirrors the editorial thrust of the newspaper. While hewing to the traditional precepts of fairness and objectivity, MS believes the news of the day need not be staid, overly long or dry. Stories are succinct, readable and written in a lively style that has become a hallmark of the newspaper.

Download – Today’s Paper

Search

No Result
View All Result

6th Floor Universal Re Bldg., 106 Paseo De Roxas cor. Perea Street, Legaspi Village, 1226 Makati City Philippines

Trunklines: 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Pop.Life
    • Newsmakers
    • Hangouts
    • A-Pop
    • Post Its
    • Performances
    • Malls & Bazaars
    • Hobbies & Collections
  • Technology
    • Gadgets
    • Computers
    • Business
    • Tech Plus
  • MS ON THE ROAD
    • Sedan
    • SUV
    • Truck
    • Bike
    • Accessories
    • Motoring Plus
    • Commuter’s Corner
  • Home & Design
    • Residential
    • Commercial
    • Construction
    • Interior
  • Spotlight
  • Gallery
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • Events
    • Seminars
    • Exhibits
    • Community
  • Biyahero
    • Travel Features
    • Travel Reels
    • Travel Logs
  • Pets
  • Advertise with Us

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Install Manila Standard Web App

Install App