In an attempt to pass off deceit as the gospel truth, the Arroyo administration presented a “documentary” called Sabwatan sa Kataksilan (Alliance in Treachery) last April 10. The “documentary” purports to show the reasons why the government declared a “State of National Emergency” via Proclamation 1017 during this year's EDSA celebrations.

So why did this regime declare a “state of national emergency” – as if people demonstrating in the streets constitutes an emergency – and then proceeded to use the alleged emergency as an excuse to clamp down on democratic freedoms?

According to the government spin-cum-documentary, there was a coup being hatched and rebels werepoised to launch destabilization actions during the EDSA celebrations. Among this coup's alleged leaders were Brig. General Danilo Lim, commander of the Scout Regiment of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and “Nikki,” supposedly former Sen. Gregorio Honasan.

These two, in alliance with the Communists and other Leftist groups, will then seize power in a coup that will overthrow the government on May 1. Or so the pseudo-documentary says.

The government even showed an interview with Capt. Gerardo Gambala, one of the leaders of the Magdalo that mounted the Oakwood mutiny. In the video, Gambala acknowledged his “mistake” in participating in the 2003 mutiny and called upon his fellow soldiers to not make the same folly.

Not to judge Capt. Gambala's motives, but he was among the Magdalo leaders who signed a manifesto of support for Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Perfect timing, since by that time Arroyo was being besieged by calls to step down. (She still is.)

So, no disrespect to Capt. Gambala but it seems to me that the only sabwatan sa kataksilan going on here is between Gambala and the Arroyo regime.

I could understand the government's position.

If I were an illegitimate president who cheated my way to power and am now facing numerous calls to step down, I just might churn out an ill-directed documentary like this one.

But that does not make it right.

All the government has as proof against Honasan and Lim are a bunch of documents allegedly seized by the AFP from Lt. Lawrence San Juan when he was arrested in Batangas. These papers, dubbed "Oplan Hackle" by the AFP, supposedly outline the alliance of the Leftist groups and the Magdalo soldiers.

The key words here, of course, are allegedly and supposedly. All we have is the government's word that what they say is true. No court, no outside panel, no impartial observer has reviewed the Hackle documents and said that they are what the government says they are.

And for that, Lim and Honasan have been subjected to unsubstantiated allegations on national TV.

This is not to say that there is no plot to oust this regime. God knows we need one.

But Gloria Arroyo and her cabals have cried wolf far too many times for the people to believe her now. And even if this cry has an accompanying video presentation, it still is not credible in the eyes of the people.

To paraphrase an old Bush joke: “How can you tell if Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is lying? Her lips move.”