Home > Op-ed | To bottom

GMA dancing the exit tango with FVR

The call for the resignation of Pres. Gloria Arroyo is gaining support from different sectors of our society. From the en masse resignations of her Cabinet Secretaries, business, church, and non-government organizations have added their voice for GMAs resignation.

These political developments tilted to the side of the anti-GMA. Desperate on the situation, GMA now opens her arms to individuals or groups that will support her hold of the presidency. She welcomed ex-Pres. Fidel Ramos, who now runs her “political affairs” as president, despite his reputation as not only militarists but also rapid pro-foreign capitalists.

Allegedly to save her hold of the presidency, GMA adopted FVR slogan of charter change as a solution to the crises enveloping the nation due to her mismanagement and not simply “lapse in judgment.” Together with her alipores and loyalists like Mike Defensor, they chorused on the Charter change (CHA-CHA) and the shift from presidential to parliamentary form of government. For a while, the FVR charter change and parliamentary system would stay to create confusion among the people while she politically strengthen whatever machineries she may salvaged. It will serve as a breathing space for her. But CHA-CHA or the parliamentary system will slowly uncover the reality that it is a palliative solution.

*****

It may be recalled that FVR pushed CHA-CHA during his term as president. His main reasons: the free entry of foreign investors to exploit our natural resources, to remove the term limit for politicians including the single presidential term. The CHA-CHA move was anchored to his being an agent of foreign investors, where business must be fully opened for the entry of these investors. He tried all, including surreptitious move, but the united citizenry opposed his plan. Anti-CHA-CHA oppositions were mostly done in the parliament of the streets. FVR finally gave-up his plan.

Presently, FVR joins GMA dancing the tango for her not to resign. I view it as a minus factor for her. She might be holding tough with her position at the moment but toeing the CHA-CHA line is suicide. Her hold to the presidency will finally loosen until her resignation. There is a strong sentiment against any charter change.

The GMA-FVR conduit seduces the citizenry to accept the parliamentary system as the solution to the crises. But assuming that the parliamentary system of government is adopted, it will not solve the systemic economic crisis. If the political power and its economic base were still monopolized by the privileged classes, it would still breed oppression because inequalities exist. Policies favoring foreign interests worsened these inequalities or oppression. These policies have been religiously implemented by FVR then by GMA at the expense of the peoples’ interests.

In short, devolution of political and economic power from the ruling class to the masses should be realized instead. The state structure where the rights are exercised by the ruling elite to further their stay in power must changed. In fact, when GMA is ousted from her position the next administration should adopt programs and policies that address these inequalities.

The nature of the political parties – where political turncoatism is the rule rather than the exception – would make the parliamentary (or even the presidential) bound to fail.

*****

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) had a position that failed to address the division of our country. It is in fact a position favorable to GMA, interpreted as an act condoning her commission of the infractions of the laws and the constitution, which she, as president, should always uphold before her interests. The moral issue of her infractions is set aside and GMAs scripted “I am sorry” appearance seems to satisfy the CBCP instead.

The processes by the CBCPs coming-up with their position are likened to that of the government where decisions are crafted above and implemented below. This is an elitist style where it failed to consider the opinions of its Christian flock. Better that they had shut up instead and invoke that the issue is political. I would in fact bow my head had they stick to shut up as an observance of the separation of the church and the state. #

Home > Op-ed | Back to top