This early, the Supreme Court should have a contingency plan on how to resolve without much delay issues that might be raised before it in connection with the candidacies of Erap and GMA should the two file their certificates of candidacy.

Without such a plan, the probability of the 2010 elections being derailed will be extremely high which in turn may raise the probability of an EDSA III.

This blogger agrees with former Commissioner Christian S. Monsod, the Dean of the UP College of Law, Atty. Marvic M.V.F. Leonen and Atty. Romulo B. Macalintal that former president Joseph Ejercito Estrada is not eligible to run for president in the May, 2010 elections.

Our Constitution is crystal clear on this matter; it states in Article VII, Sec. 4. :

.......... The President shall not be eligible for any re-election. No person who has succeeded as President and has served as such for more than four years shall be qualified for election to the same office at any time.

In a game of chess a player must always look out for traps. It is no different in the game of politics; anyone aspiring for an elective office should be constantly alert for traps.

This blogger is greatly amused by the fact that advisers of GMA are apparently pushing her into a trap.

If GMA is not careful, she will fall into a political trap the effect of which is irreversible.

This trap is so well-camouflaged that recognizing it for what it is is extremely difficult. The nature of this trap likewise makes it tremendously dangerous. It is like a hydra.

Sen. Chiz Escudero shocked the nation this morning with his announcement at Club Filipino that he has resigned from the NPC, his political party for eleven years. His reason – political independence – is so far the noblest and most patriotic sentiments this blogger has ever heard in the Philippine political arena in quite a long, long time! He believes that anyone who aspires for the highest position in the country should not be shackled by partisan interests if he intends to introduce vital changes in the way this country is run. He says as a free man he can now breathe more easily.

GMA can do a lot of good for the country if she listens to former national treasurer Leonor Briones.

Please read what Ms. Briones says in the following article which this blogger pasted from Newsbreak Online:

‘P50-B reconstruction bonds risky for next President’

Written by Carmela Fonbuena
Thursday, 22 October 2009

National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales is at it again. He thinks the Filipino people are stupid and can be easily duped. Earlier this month, he was mouthing things about “iron fist” governance; now he wants a transition government, saying that the 2010 election will not be credible unless the COMELEC is headed by somebody like Christian Monsod. He is also trying to peddle the idea that a new constitution drafted by the transition council will be best for the country, implying that the motivation behind his proposal is his undying love for this country!

GMA and her cabinet, particularly her national security adviser, Norberto Gonzales, should stop toying with the idea of an emergency rule or martial law or governing with an “iron fist” if there is an iota of patriotism left in their hearts. If they still love their country, they should focus instead on the conduct of a free, clean, and orderly elections in May of 2010.

This blogger believes that the members of the House of Representatives who voted for Resolution No. 1109 committed an opprobrious, dangerous, and unforgivable act by deliberately misreading the provisions on amendments to or revision of the Philippine Constitution.

With a little more refinement, the blueprint for a more stable global financial system will be ready for posting by this blogger. However, as he has said in his previous posts, the US and the Philippines will act jointly to introduce these changes in their respective territories. Together they will show the international community that a First World country and a Third World country can effectively join hands to introduce reforms in the global financial system that are worth emulating by the rest of the world.

Good tidings for the world! Pres. Barack Obama is on the right track in his efforts to get a handle on what is wrong with the global financial system. His latest pronouncements bear this out:

Obama Says U.S. Can’t Afford ‘Bubble-and-Bust’ Cycles

March 12 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama warned a group of chief executive officers that the U.S. can’t continue with “endless cycles of bubble and bust” and must build a new foundation for future economic growth.