TWO remaining icons of the 1986 People Power Revolution have opened heavy fire on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in an attempt to stop her political machine from clearing the way for returning her to power after she serves out her term in 2010.

They carried out their attack within the space of eight days. Former president Fidel Ramos launched a blistering attack on Thursday, calling on Ms Arroyo to stop “titillating” the nation by declaring her political intentions beyond 2010.

Ailing former president Corazon Aquino lashed out on June 10 against Ms Arroyo in a political rally in Makati City against House Resolution No. 1109 convening a constituent assembly (Con-ass) to revise the Constitution without the participation of the Senate.

In her strongest statement so far on the campaign of Arroyo’s congressional allies to change the 1987 Constitution, Aquino said: “Here we are again in the midst of the shameful abuses of the powerful to destroy our sacred laws.”

Once again after Edsa I — in which Ramos and Aquino, together with then Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile, led the revolt to overthrow the Ferdinand Marcos dictatorship — the two former presidents find themselves on the same side.

Their realignment signals the reassertion of their residual political clout as Ms Arroyo faces mounting public unrest over mainly corruption charges, less than a year before the next presidential election in May 2010.

Ramos and Aquino backed the Edsa II Revolution that ousted President Joseph Estrada in January 2001 and swept then Vice President Arroyo to Malacañang.

Ramos’ blast at Ms Arroyo’s options extending her term beyond 2010 is especially damaging. He was provoked by recent reports that Ms Arroyo had told some of her close associates that she planned to run for Congress in the second district of Pampanga, her home province, as an option to stay in office after her term.

Ms Arroyo has neither denied nor confirmed these reports, prompting Ramos to warn that her ambiguous plans were creating public confusion.

Ramos said: “With precious time fleeting, PGMA [Arroyo's initials] must now make a clear and positive declaration to our people that she as President will transform herself and the nation, not anymore delude our people … with titillations about Con-ass and her future role as Pampanga representative come July 1, 2010.”

Ms Arroyo has compounded the confusion by washing her hands of the passage of HR 1109, pushed by Speaker Prospero Nograles, who has merely claimed that the measure was meant to open the way for liberalizing the economic provisions of the Constitution.

Critics see in this a ruse to introduce constitutional amendments, not excluding the transformation of the presidential system to the parliamentary system, that would allow the President to run for member of parliament and subsequently for prime minister.

Clamor for good governance

Ramos said: “With 2010 fast approaching, our people are again clamoring for good governance under the rule of law from those we elected to lead us.”

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The statement reveals the fragility of the recently consolidated merger of the two leading parties composing the House majority — Kampi and Lakas CMD.

President Arroyo is the titular head of the merged party and Ramos, founder of Lakas, is chair emeritus of the amalgamated parties.

On May 28, when the two parties were merged, Ramos snubbed its launching and denounced the “undue haste” of its creation and the dictation from above without consultation with party cadres.

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Ramos’ attacks forced the party brokers to a rushed meeting in Ramos’ Alabang home where they patched up their rift over rounds of Hennessy cognac, giving Ramos the sop of chair emeritus.

This papering over was so flimsy that that it cracked when Ramos protested against the ambiguity of the Ms Arroyo’s plans after 2010.

Ramos remains a maverick and is by no means an Arroyo stooge.

As chair emeritus, Ramos knows he is sitting on a fragile structure, ready to splinter from potential disputes between Lakas-CMD and Kampi official party candidates for congressmen, governors and mayors.

The merger is further weakened by the fact that the cadres are uncertain whether Ms Arroyo is running for Congress or whether she is able to push the switch to the parliamentary system.

Ramos still holds the trump card on the political fate of Ms Arroyo after 2010.

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On July 8, 2005, Ramos rescued the Arroyo administration from the edge of collapse when he arrived at the Palace at 5 p.m. Friday, to express his unwavering support.

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The Arroyo administration had stood on the brink of collapse after 10 Cabinet members and senior officials, called the “Hyatt 10,” resigned and withdrew their support in response to the call of Aquino for Arroyo’ resignation. Then, Ramos broke ranks with Aquino, sundering the anti-Marcos 1986 Edsa triumvirate.

Not another rescue

This time, Ms Arroyo cannot expect another Ramos rescue against a new call to resign from Aquino and civil society groups.

Arroyo’s mercenaries cannot guarantee her hold on power. Nograles of Lakas and Rep. Luis Villafuerte of Kampi are at each other’s throat, despite the merger.

Last week, in a step toward further consolidation, Ms Arroyo handpicked Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita as president of Kampi-Lakas CMD.

What if Ms Arroyo declares she would run for Congress from Pampanga? Who will be the inspirational rallying point of this coalition?

This makes Ramos’ call for presidential clarification of her plans crucial.

3 Responses to “2 leaders of Edsa I uprising unite vs Arroyo”

• 1
  Rene Baldomar
  June 23rd, 2009 15:25

  It is tough but the Filipino people should not give up, nor any other person who lives under such oppressive regimes as that under GMA in the Philippines. Change will come, and the internet will be a major player. The revolution can now be published globally in one click.
• 2
  Jake
  June 24th, 2009 09:51

  Pilipinas kilos na! posted by GALORE – June 23, 2009 3:11 am

  Mga kapamilya pagtuunan muna natin ng panahon ang nalalapit na SONA ng Pang-Gulong Gloria. Doon po muna tayo mag-concentrate kung ano ang ating dapat gawin para maipahayag natin ang ating pagtutol sa administrasyong Aray-Ko. Napakasakit isipin na dahil sa pananahimik ng karamihan at sa mga nagpapasarap lang dito sa cyberworld ang mga tongresman ay patuloy na naghahari sa tongress. Kung ayaw ninyong sumama sa mga rally para magpahayag ng pagtutol sa administrasyong Aray-Ko sana naman ay makapag-isip kayo ng paraan kung paano ninyo maipapahayag ang inyong pagtutol na mararamdaman at makikita ng mga taong ating tinututulan. Kung mananatili lang tayo dito para magpahayag ng pagtutol, ang gagawin lang ng mga demonyo ay hindi sila gagamit ng internet. Kahit 100 milyong pa tayong nagpapahayag ng ating pagtutol dito at hindi naman physical nakikita ang mga taong tumutotol, ang lahat ng ating ipinapahayag dito ay mauuwi lang sa wala. Kaya dapat ay makaisip tayo ng mga paraan na siguradong mararamdaman, makikita at makakarating sa kanila. Kailangan nating kumilos, hindi naman tayo mga lumpo. Buti pa iyong iba na kahit naka-wheel chair ay sumasama sa rally para lang maipahayag at maipakita ang kanyang damdamin.
  Pilipinas kilos na… huwag iasa ang inyong pagpapahayag ng di pag-sang-ayon sa administrasyong Aray-Ko sa ibang tao…
• 3
  Lou
  June 27th, 2009 16:24

  Two leaders of the EDSA uprising unite against Gloria Arroyo…plus the rest of the country!! Nunalisa is going down!!

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