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Sunday, September 11, 2005
Cabaero: Recalling July 8
By Nini B. Cabaero
Beyond 30
THE death last week of the three complaints for impeachment against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo brings to mind her statements made on that eventful day of July 8.
The day the impeachment move was killed was a “glorious” day for Arroyo, according to her allies. The day she faced, one after the other, the calls for her resignation last July 8 was the darkest in her political life.
It was last July 8 when Filipinos woke up to a mass resignation by members of her Cabinet. These resigned officials held a drama-filled press conference where they announced their decision to sever ties and to join the call for Arroyo to resign. This was followed by more calls for Arroyo’s removal from Malacañang issued by school and business leaders and former President Corazon Aquino. The day ended with Arroyo declaring she would remain in her post.
And she did. She continues to keep her post while those who called for her ouster tried, and failed, to set the constitutional process for impeachment in action.
Arroyo said last July 8 that, “With all due respect to former President Corazon Aquino and others, I say that their actions call deep and grievous harm to the nation because they undermine our democratic principles and the very foundation of our Constitution.” She asked them to go to Congress instead, as she vowed she would submit herself to due process as set forth in the Constitution.
Impeachment was one process enshrined in the Constitution but, whether it was designed by Arroyo or not, her allies did not allow due process to push beyond the House of Representatives.
One economist expressed accurately the sentiment of many. Peter Wallace, according to a news report, said the impeachment proceeding would have put the country’s economy back on track, at least for a while, as it would appease all quarters in the political spectrum and the business community. Wallace added an impeachment trial was the only way to resolve all the issues that cast doubts on Arroyo’s legitimacy as president.
Those who allowed Arroyo last July 8 to go on as their leader were not necessarily against the impeachment process. Nor were they necessarily in favor of Arroyo. They were against her removal from office through means outside of those provided in the Constitution. They wanted to grant her due process.
This did not mean they agreed with the statements and actions of Arroyo, especially over accusations of electoral fraud and corruption. Many believed the impeachment trial would have been the proper venue for all these political instability to be threshed out in a fair and logical manner.
With the death of the impeachment complaints, Filipinos are denied that proper venue.
(ninicab@sunstar.com.ph)
(September 11, 2005 issue)
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