Thursday, February 28, 2008 Editorial: Nationwide revolt argument
THERE’S this perception that calls for President Arroyo to resign are limited only to some sectors and the political opposition in Metro Manila and are not nationwide.
The beef is that a minority in Luzon is deciding for the people in the country.
But this is not unique, as critics of two successful Edsa people power uprisings love to point to proportion: that even a million people do not constitute the Philippines.
What seems to be different now is that this argument is being played up by Arroyo supporters to counter the protest actions waged mainly in the nation’s capital.
And it seems to have muddled assessment of the Metro Manila-centered protest, especially because this plays into the provinces’ resentment against “Imperial Manila.”
Support
In the “Hello Garci” scandal as well as in the national broadband network (NBN) scam, anti-Arroyo protests are being countered by pledges of support for the President.
The more visible are the leagues of governors, mayors and barangay captains.
While majority of the members of these leagues are Arroyo’s political allies, their being representatives of local government units makes their stance worth noting.
Sentiment
The line that previous people power uprisings were but revolts of a Metro Manila-based minority is however difficult to prove considering the many factors at play then.
That only a small chunk of the country’s population gathered at Edsa in 1986, it does not follow that they were not representing the sentiment of the majority at that time.
Even the smaller number of people (compared with that in Edsa 1) that ousted then president Joseph Estrada in 2001 did get majority support, judging from its success.
Iceberg
Struggles, whether against tyranny or other targets, are like icebergs: only the tip---meaning the more active and daring of the participants---is immediately visible.
And since the forces ranged against President Arroyo have failed so far to launch another Edsa-like people power uprising, the majority sentiment may not be for it as yet.
