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Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Editorial: Opening the communication lines
IT'S amazing how things turn out so fast especially on the still smoldering coup attempt that had government declaring Proclamation 1017, closing a paper, arresting militant leaders and stirring a hornet's nest among rights groups and the media itself.
Turns out that the little Edsa adventure was nothing more than a "dress rehearsal" by the shadowy coup plotters in an attempt to discern government's response to the possibility of a coup attempt.
At least that's according to the rumors making the rounds of coffee shops in the country. Last Sunday's raid at a local Bayan Muna headquarters in Cagayan de Oro seemed to affirm that rumor though the identities of the culprits have yet to be known.
Whether it had any bearing or not remains to be seen though it is instructive that the Arroyo government announced that it will hold a dialogue with the soldiers including the Oakwood mutineers on a host of issues bugging them such as corruption in the military hierarchy.
In response, the mutineers responded in kind and said they are willing to sit down with Arroyo provided that she explain in full detail whether there was any truth at all to allegations that military officials have participated in the grand plot to steal the elections of 2004.
It doesn't take a genius to figure out that it is one question President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is not prepared to answer outright. And any denial by the President of reports that she cheated in the last elections would be greeted with hostile indifference, or worse boos from troopers who knew better.
Just ask the Marines who shed tears during Colonel Ariel Querubin's farewell speech and you'll get the answer. It would also be hard for President Arroyo to answer the allegations of corruption within the military if her administration failed to uncover earlier the nefarious activities of one Major General Garcia.
Still it would be a useful step by President Arroyo to reach out to the troops and establish stronger ties among the officials especially the young, idealistic officers whose loyalty to her administration was nearly swayed by opposition figures intent on bringing her down even before another impeachment hearing takes place.
(March 8, 2006 issue)
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