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Sunday, August 31, 2003
FM says political tumult symptom of ‘exuberant democracy’ (10:30 pm)
MANILA -- Foreign Secretary Blas Ople on Sunday urged foreign governments and investors to ignore the political tumult that followed a failed military rebellion in the country, insisting President Gloria Arroyo maintains a firm grip on power.
The political squabbling -- which has knocked down both the local currency and share prices -- should be seen in the context of parties jockeying for position ahead of the May 10, 2004 presidential election, Ople wrote in the Manila Bulletin daily.
After quashing a short-lived mutiny by a small band of military officers July 27 without incident, the government has been hit by the resignation of Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes and corruption allegations against Arroyo's husband Jose Miguel Arroyo.
Elements of the Philippine opposition last week launched a drive to demand Arroyo's resignation to force a snap presidential election.
"The notion of a political ceasefire, implying a forced silence on the issues gripping the country, is probably not conceivable at this stage," Ople said, downplaying Arroyo's public appeal for a stop to politicking.
"One reason for this is that the opposition is under the false illusion that the Arroyo administration is so weakened that all it needs to be toppled is a swift coup d grace that can be inflicted on the floor of Congress and a massive rally in the streets.
"Then there is the belief in some government circles that leaders of the opposition can be decimated by linking them to the (July 27) mutiny and the bigger coup attempts purported to follow from it."
Ople chastized the press for failing to put the situation in its proper context, which has resulted in investment flight.
He said the Manila envoy of a key Philippine ally told him last week that "all foreign embassies in the Philippines had the problem of putting the events as reported by local media in their proper context.
"Foreign investors have to be reassured that the Philippines is not about to collapse, that the economic fundamentals remain sound, that the government of President Gloria Arroyo is essentially and fundamentally stable," Ople said. AFP
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