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Saturday, January 21, 2006
Arroyo aides, justice chief warn of coup try
MANILA -- Incoming Presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor warned Friday that any attempt to grab power at this time would turn violent, bloody, and more damaging to the country.
Defensor, at the weekly Newsstand Forum at Ambassador Hotel in Manila, said the escaped mutineers probably don't understand the meaning of resorting to a "revolution" and should instead think twice before asking the people to join them or even joining any group out to overthrow the government.
He predicted that any uprising would not just be a simple withdrawal of support, like what happened in Edsa 1 and Edsa 2 when then Corazon Aquino and then Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo were catapulted to the presidency.
National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales revealed there is a possible joining of forces between the escaped junior military officers who were jailed for mutiny and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA).
The alliance between the mutineers and the leftist group was confirmed Friday by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales.
Citing an intelligence report, Gonzales said, an operation plan is being hatched by a group of junior officers and the NPA to launch an attack anytime this week onwards in a bid to topple the Arroyo administration.
Defensor said government is prepared to face them and those planning to resort to violence to oust the government.
He said there is continued assessment of the situation and proper attention is given to the reported plans to grab power.
He added that they are aware that, aside from the group of escaped mutineers, there has been an "unholy alliance" among members of the opposition, the Aquino camp, and other former allies of the President.
Defensor said at present it is still an informal alliance as they are all out for the same goal, to remove the President from office, but even if they formalize the alliance, Malacañang would not be able to do anything but just respect it.
He said there is nothing wrong if they would join forces as long as they continue to abide by the law, adding that the government recognizes and respects them and their views.
"It just so happens that there are differences in positions, in belief, and political stands," he said.
Defensor said there might be "negative feelings against the President" but they have yet to see any alternative to replace her.
"It has not reached the threshold that people would be willing to come out to say for the sake of the country the President should step down and they have not seen any alternative coming from the opposition to replace the President and that is deep in the minds of the people," Defensor said.
He added that a big segment of the Filipinos would even come out and say that until the time comes that there are others who can finally lead the country "let's give the President a chance."
Defensor said the important thing is to allow the President to do her job and address the country's problems.
He said the drop in the President and the administration's satisfaction and trust ratings in surveys is not entirely due to the political bickering and controversies hounding her, from the "Hello Garci" scandal to the "jueteng-gate" controversy, but was mainly due to the rising prices of oil and basic commodities.
But he stressed that Arroyo and the Cabinet remains focused on their job, adding that the administration has gotten used to "forces that want to bring her (Arroyo) down" and that the escape of some jailed junior military officers and their call to topple the President should not cause "jitters."
Defensor revealed that while the escape prompted the President to cancel her visit to the Bicol Region last Wednesday, it was mostly due to the meetings and assessments being conducted as a result of the escape.
He added that the trip to Batangas City Thursday was cancelled due to threat of the CPP-NPA, particularly after the rebel group's recent attack on the Batangas City provincial jail where they effect, the escape of their suspected comrades.
Defensor said the Arroyo government is not afraid of the Oakwood mutineers that first launched its attempt to overthrow the administration on July 27, 2003.
He said the President's provincial schedules have resumed.
Arroyo, during the inspection of housing projects in Cabuyao in Laguna, said she is not allowing herself or her government to be affected or hampered by the political noises.
The President said she continues to work and wants to show the public that the government continues to function despite attacks against her administration.
Arroyo also said her government continues to deliver its promises on providing affordable housing and medicine.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, for his part, reiterated that the people are already sick and tired of the political turmoil, especially those perceived as driven by self-interest.
"This is why they are losing faith in people power. We believe the people are more interested in having a clear direction for the nation rather than the reckless gambles at power. The President has a clear economic and political roadmap and that is what will carry us through a better future," added Bunye, who is also presidential spokesman.
A recent Pulse Asia survey showed that 42 percent of Filipinos no longer favor any of the "People Power" revolt that ousted or attempted to oust the country's president.
Of those who favored people power, 36 percent are for the February 1986 People Power, 10 percent are for the January 2001 People Power, and eight percent for the attempted May 2001 People Power.
Fifty-eight percent of Filipinos, however, said they are willing to support protest actions against Arroyo if proven that she cheated in the 2004 elections and 22 percent said they would join such actions.
Arroyo celebrated the People Power II revolt that helped put her in power in January 2001 vice then President Joseph Estrada by holding a pulong bayan with Vice President Noli de Castro in Laguna where they discussed the government's housing and half-priced medicine programs. (JMR/Sunnex)
(January 21, 2006 issue)
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