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Saturday, July 02, 2005
Editorial: CD fallout
THE fallout that is the CD scandal had begun to claim its casualties and among the first to go were the President's husband, First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, and reportedly their eldest son, Pampanga Representative Mikey Arroyo, who earlier took a forced indefinite leave from the House.
Though there are the usual cop-outs like Representative Iggy Arroyo, who if one was to be critical about it, had a lot more excess baggage than the First Couple's eldest son for having been tagged as "Jose Pidal" and also being linked to the jueteng controversy. Despite all these he still refuses to leave his post for reasons that he was "elected by the people."
If that CD conversation had been complete it wouldn't be a surprise to find his voice somewhere recorded as well. But then all we get is recorded portions and suffice it to say that Iggy will also feel the heat of this political bonfire.
But the list of casualties doesn't end there. On Thursday, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap reportedly resigned from the Cabinet and also expected to join him are such Mike Arroyo men as Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz and an airport official.
Even Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales, who had been a staunch defender of Arroyo, would be let go and Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye had also been targeted though he had yet to confirm this. The question remains as to who would replace them though it's to be expected that the Palace has a long list of prospective.
Likely this would consist of some representatives from the so-called civil society who were among those in the forefront demanding her resignation from office. If this Cabinet re-shuffling is intended to build temporary alliances then the President should tread carefully.
What President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo should be wary and even ignore outright is the proposal by some groups with an agenda to form a so-called "transition council" that would be comprised with some of their own. We already have enough trouble with this government and a setup like this would create further confusion.
This idea was taken straight from a similar proposal made by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF). And even this group is demanding the resumption of peace talks.
In any case these changes would hardly appease the political opposition as reflected in the recent tirades issued by Ms. Susan Roces, the widow of the late presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. And there are perhaps few other persons whom the Filipino public readily sympathizes with than her.
That's why one can feel and readily empathize with Roces as she lashed out at the administration for being hypocrite and arrogant. To her credit though she didn't call for outright anarchy but instead vowed to support any moves to cause the president to resign.
At this point the opposition is ready to undertake any and all extra-legal efforts to unseat the President. That's why President Arroyo should move and move fast to restore public confidence in her administration. The Cabinet revamp may be a step in that direction.
(July 2, 2005 issue)
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