Saturday, October 18, 2008 Roperos: 'Sins' of Gloria By Godofredo M. Roperos Politics Also
WHATEVER happens to the impeachment complaint filed before the House last Monday, the fact remains that while President Arroyo may deserve to face it, the filing still appears ill-timed and unpopular. Consequently, those behind the complaint may not get the needed public support.
In any case, the stand of Sen. Loren Legarda on the matter is sound. During her visit here, she said that the impeachment move would only cause further problems in the country as it would divert the focus of our national leaders away from the economic problems we face as a result of the global economic downturn. Besides, 2010 is only around the corner.
To rock the congressional boat at this point at a time when we need the focus of our national leaders over the troubled global economy is decidedly unsound, if not masochistic.
While the global problem may not have gravely affected the Asian nations and their partners—China, Japan, and South Korea--yet there is every reason to be cautious. The global economic slowdown has not yet been securely contained.
President Arroyo did announce the other day the setting up of a regional fund to help the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) that may suffer liquidity problems. She said that officials of Asean and their trading partners had met in Washington, and agreed to set up such regional fund.
While GMA said the World Bank would help with a $10-billion pledge to the fund and the latter denied it, the setting up of the fund is still a sound move. But what could be a more serious “sin” of the President was the Supreme Court decision against the agreement “to grant minority Muslims expanded autonomy.”
It may be recalled that the High Court earlier stopped the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement in Malaysia. The failure of the signing of the MOA to push through enraged some MILF commanders and they went on a killing rampage in North Cotabato. Angered, GMA scrapped entirely the “Malaysian-brokered” peace accord.
The Supreme Court declared the agreement “as unconstitutional because the proposed Muslim homeland would eventually lead to its independence” that would violate the Philippines “physical and territorial integrity.”
The decision further pointed out that “the government also violated the Constitution by failing to consult the people in drafting the accord” on top of the fact that a furtive negotiation was undertaken. Officials cannot violate it, and later validate the moves by amending it.
