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Shortened term not a solution

The proposal of former president Fidel V. Ramos, Speaker Jose de Venecia, and Bro. Mike Velarde to shorten the term of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to three years (until 2007) instead of serving the full six years (until 2010) as a means to address the growing political turmoil and worsening economic crisis is a brilliant tactic to deviate from the issue of electoral fraud to legitimize the continued stay of GMA in Malacañang, and to divide the opposition who have been calling for GMA’s resignation.

At first glance, the proposal seems to be a “win-win” solution to the political crisis, the middle ground. For some of the anti-GMA groups, this is indeed a viable option as GMA will eventually “step down” in 2007, thus, preempting the growth of anti-GMA forces and lessen mass actions near the historic Mendiola Bridge. On GMA’s part, she will be assured that her three years in Malacañang will be relatively peaceful simply because the opposition will be divided. And so, political stability will slowly creep in.

On the other hand, accepting the proposal is tantamount to acknowledging that GMA won the 2004 elections fair and square, and therefore, she is the legitimate president. The issue of electoral fraud as evident in the Garci tapes and the testimonies of Ret. Gen. Francisco Gudani and Lt. Col. Alexander Balutan will remain a mystery, and eventually, become a myth through time.

The accusation of electoral fraud is a grave offense and is not simply a violation of a law which the Filipino can “forgive” and later on “forget”. The implication is bigger because it is tantamount to stepping on the right of the people to choose the leaders of the government, and is clearly a manipulation of the supreme will of the people. Furthermore, government funds, more precisely the people’s money, have allegedly been used in committing the electoral fraud. And so, it is just proper that GMA and her cohorts clear the air on the allegations, and if guilty be given the appropriate punishments.

Lastly, the political turmoil that besets the country is not because of certain groups trying to grab political power but because of the selfish desire of GMA to cling to power. Instead of addressing the accusation of electoral fraud, GMA has been evading the issue and has used her position and influence to suppress the truth. Also, GMA’s response to the growing discontent of the people like the infamous calibrated preemptive response that is making the political situation more volatile. #

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