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Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Editorial: Retaliation anew
THE national government is in retaliation mode after recently winning the impeachment case before the not-so-hallowed halls of Congress--not so hallowed anymore after the shameless moro-moro that is the impeachment proceedings--by announcing the so-called "calibrated response" against mass rallies.
Why there is a need for this response begs an answer especially in light of the demonstrations in commemoration of the 33rd anniversary of the declaration of martial law in which media outlets claimed only a fraction of the pre-impeachment crisis numbers attended.
Seen in this light the national government shouldn't have to worry too much about the rallies being staged calling for the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. If they're so confident of support why quash the rallies?
If anything the Arroyo administration should let them be and point anew to their numbers. As of now President Arroyo is taking no chances and is, along with her allies, not even displaying the sort of celebratory mood at least not in public--with the exception of course of the lawmakers' visit to the US and their front row seats to the Manny Pacquiao match.
So there really is no need for extra-cautionary approaches like the "calibrated response" because they have the numbers and the money to buy support. That's what it all boiled down to; they can and will maintain support through the same old dirty political tricks employed by their predecessors.
The President remains unsatisfied however and reasons that the calibrated response is needed to quell the rallies, which she claimed had threatened to destabilize her regime and the economic climate in the country.
The heavy handed approach is said to be supported by the Big Business community, most of which are multinationals nervous over the fate of their investments but whose majority of the profits are being shipped elsewhere, not here.
The calibrated response serves only as insurance for the Arroyo administration because even with the apathetic response by the public the Filipinos or most of them anyway still question the credibility, the legality and legitimacy of this government.
Thus, this policy makes no sense and amid assurances that it won't bring back martial law its adoption as government policy nevertheless gives government yet another weapon to quash legitimate protests and thus gives them further excuse to step out of line and throw its weight around with the nasty intention to intimidate Filipinos to unquestioning submission.
It may not be martial law but it's close enough to be mistaken as one. But it won't be long before the Arroyo administration makes yet another misstep and they would be feasted anew, a sitting target by the political opposition.
(September 27, 2005 issue)
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