|
Monday, July 11, 2005
Nalzaro: Military intervention: a key factor
By Bobby Nalzaro
IT WAS fortunate for the Arroyo Government that majority of the people in Metro Manila did not take the bait of the political opposition and other anti-Arroyo groups to go to Edsa last Friday, following the resignation of the 10 Cabinet members and the calls of various sectors, including former president Corazon Aquino, for Arroyo to resign. Thus, another Edsa People Power was averted.
Last Friday’s political event could have been the final blow to the Arroyo Government had the opposition been able to gather enough crowd at Edsa and had the military intervened. If that scenario happened, President Arroyo could have been finished and she would now be history, as described by opposition Sen. Aquilino ‘Nene’ Pimentel.
But she survived and still holds on to power. Last Friday’s political turmoil could have been the right opportunity for the opposition and other anti-Arroyo factions to force the chief executive to step down. But they failed to gather enough people and convince the military to intervene. Why? Maybe the majority of the people in Metro Manila are not convinced on the issues being hurled against Arroyo and they still believe and trust her.
The other factor why the people got discouraged into supporting another People Power is the lack of direction of Arroyo’s detractors. What do they have planned if she did step down or resign? Some say they would abide by and follow the constitutional process on the rule of succession and that Vice President Noli De Castro will be her legitimate successor.
But de Castro is unacceptable to some sectors, undermining his capability to govern. They want him also to resign as he was a beneficiary of the electoral fraud committed by Arroyo in last year’s election. Erap loyalists want him back while the FJP camp want Susan Roces. The extreme left and its allies want a revolutionary government while others propose a civilian-military junta. Which is which?
Maybe people think that we won’t be going to the right direction if Arroyo resigns. They would rather have her, despite the serious allegations against her—the Gloriagate scandal and jueteng payola leveled against her—than support these various anti-Arroyo factions with different personal and political agenda.
Based on two historical Edsas, which forced two Presidents to abandon Malacañang, we need the active and honest-to-goodness participation of the “common tao”—not just a thousand but millions—to troop again to Edsa. And these people should be willing to face death not the “hakot or bayaran” crowd. And the key factor that will force any President to step down is military intervention.
I know that the military nowadays is just adopting a wait-and-see attitude. Its action will largely depend on the people and on how big the public outcry is for Arroyo to resign. Resignation is a judgment call of the President. We cannot force her if she won’t. That is her discretion. Forcing her to step down through People Power is another thing. If the opposition cannot satisfy these two major factors—the big crowd and military withdrawing its support from the duly constituted government—then they should forget their desire to force Arroyo from power.
(Bobby@sunstar.com.ph / 09193181404)
(July 11, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
