A Forum on the Constitutional and Legal Issues Surrounding the “GloriaGate” Tapes

June 28, 2005

The UP Law Center’s Institute on Human Rights will hold a forum on the Constitutional and Legal Issues Surrounding the “GloriaGate” Tapes.  Portions of the tape will be played and subjected to legal analysis.  The forum is scheduled on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m, at Malcolm Hall, UP College of Law, UP Diliman Campus.

The Politics of Apology

I said I wouldn’t do this but I can’t help it.  By apologizing to the nation, PGMA is adopting the strategy of her fellow Georgetown Alum, Bill Clinton, who has, on more than one occasion, saved himself politically by making profuse apologies.

The first time was when he lost his first re-election bid as Arkansas Governor.  His apology allowed him to regain the Governorship with media calling him “the Comeback Kid.”  Several apologies later, he’s  now referred to as “Slick Willie.” 

But for the apology to work, PGMA must, like Clinton, make an unqualified apology — not the guarded one she made last night.  She must admit what she did and then say sorry.  No further excuses, no calls for unity, no lists of her accomplishments.  Just “sorry” will do, thank you.

More importantly, she must say sorry to everybody and in every opportunity for the next two (2) weeks or so.  In every public appearance from here on, she will begin by repeating the apology.  She should say it in every dialect — complete with all the
lambing she can muster.
There’s also something to be said for appearing contrite and humbled by the mistake.  After all, she’s asking for forgiveness.  She should tone down the cockiness a few notches and hang her head a little lower. 

Some tears would be nice once in a while but not too much.  Maybe the Presidential Adviser on Entertainment can bring in a film director to make sure it’s just right.  A few drops of Eye-Mo and you’re all set.

I’m dead serious.  People will want to forgive her if she appears truly sorry for what she’s done.  If she appears humbled by the experience, people will see that she’s just as frail as the rest of us.  And we all need forgiveness once in a while, right?

Pagpasensiyahan niyo na. ‘Di po sinasadya.  Nagkamali ako.  Sana pagbigyan niyo ako. Sorry. Sori. Sori.

PGMA’s Statement: No Legal Implication

GMA has issued a statement on the GloriaGate tapes admitting that she was the person whose conversation with Comelec Commissioner Garcillano was illegally wiretapped.  I will leave our countless politicians and columnists (and occasional bloggers) to the task of unraveling the political impact of her admission.  That’s far too complicated for me and I would think that this time, her move is deliberate and mindful of the political risks involved. 

I’m more interested in the more boring aspects of the legal implications of her admission which, I’m surprised to find, are none. (more…)