MERGED: All About Gloria Arroyo - Past, Present, Future

[tolstoi]

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nyahahah...mingaw lagi..nag expect ko nga naay mag-rally...asa naman tong day of mourning kunuhay sa mga destabilizers

[tolstoi]

Volatile brew of scandals lacks spark, so far

MANILA—President Arroyo is facing coup rumors yet again, while dealing with a volatile brew of opposition-fed scandals that so far have lacked the spark to set off massive anti-government protests.

The catalysts for the revolutions that ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 and Arroyo’s predecessor, Joseph Estrada, in 2001 were masses of people.

But while people clearly are unhappy today—-the most recent poll said 59 percent of the respondents were dissatisfied with Arroyo’s performance—-they don’t appear to be disgruntled enough to hit the streets, on the scale of the anti-Estrada rallies.

Arroyo has been hit recently with a barrage of body shots—-accusations that she fixed last year’s presidential election and that her family has taken bribes from illegal gambling lords—-at a time when the economy is suffering from higher oil prices and awaits the pain of a value-added tax.

Charm offensive

Arroyo has been on a charm offensive, granting a number of media interviews in which she generally has come off as confident and in control, focused on starting “Phase 2” of her economic reform program, while dismissing the constant coup rumors as a “very sad part of Philippine politics.”

“I will not allow those seeking to topple me to succeed, and I will not allow them to undermine or weaken my ability to govern,” Arroyo, who has five years left in her six-year term, said in a radio interview Thursday.

But things are serious enough for police to go on red alert and officials to warn of destabilization plots and attempts to recruit troops and police for a takeover try.

The military chief of staff, the heads of the major military branches, the police chief and key congressional leaders have all made sojourns to the presidential palace since last Sunday to publicly state their support for Arroyo.

All of their backing is needed in a country with a recent history of political instability, military intervention into politics and nearly constant coup rumors.

The military-supported People Power revolution that ousted Marcos was widely hailed as a victory for democracy and became a catalyst for other populist overthrows around the world.

Similar praise for the ouster of Estrada was mixed with concerns that “people power” was getting out of hand by setting the bar too low to oust a popularly elected president.

Less than four months later, six people died as a group of poor Estrada backers unsuccessfully tried to storm the presidential palace.

In July 2003, a group of soldiers took over the Oakwood residential tower and shopping mall in Makati, only to give up quickly when masses of people they apparently expected to support them failed to materialize.

Arroyo said both instances were coup attempts, and she has steadfastly shrugged off persistent coup rumors since then.

Ironically, one of the issues plaguing her has been the allegations that her relatives took bribes from operators of the illegal numbers game jueteng. Nearly identical accusations led to Estrada’s downfall.

Still in custody during his protracted trial on the capital offense of economic plunder, Estrada made a plea Friday for people to hit the streets against Arroyo.

The outcry has been relatively small so far.

At least 12 people were injured, including four officers, when up to 3,000 leftist protesters clashed with police during an anti-Arroyo protest Friday.

That was a far cry from the hundreds of thousands who turned out against Marcos and Estrada.

The stock market seems to think the worst could be over, rallying to finish 2.1 percent higher Friday, after falling 7.4 percent over the past three sessions amid concerns over political stability.

Still, trading was light with at least one more hurdle to clear, and the peso continued its recent slide to a four-month low.

Police and the military have warned that unauthorized rallies will not be allowed as people turn out today for the Independence Day celebrations. (AP)

[tolstoi]

Volatile brew of scandals lacks spark, so far

MANILA—President Arroyo is facing coup rumors yet again, while dealing with a volatile brew of opposition-fed scandals that so far have lacked the spark to set off massive anti-government protests.

The catalysts for the revolutions that ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 and Arroyo’s predecessor, Joseph Estrada, in 2001 were masses of people.

But while people clearly are unhappy today—-the most recent poll said 59 percent of the respondents were dissatisfied with Arroyo’s performance—-they don’t appear to be disgruntled enough to hit the streets, on the scale of the anti-Estrada rallies.

Arroyo has been hit recently with a barrage of body shots—-accusations that she fixed last year’s presidential election and that her family has taken bribes from illegal gambling lords—-at a time when the economy is suffering from higher oil prices and awaits the pain of a value-added tax.

Charm offensive

Arroyo has been on a charm offensive, granting a number of media interviews in which she generally has come off as confident and in control, focused on starting “Phase 2” of her economic reform program, while dismissing the constant coup rumors as a “very sad part of Philippine politics.”

“I will not allow those seeking to topple me to succeed, and I will not allow them to undermine or weaken my ability to govern,” Arroyo, who has five years left in her six-year term, said in a radio interview Thursday.

But things are serious enough for police to go on red alert and officials to warn of destabilization plots and attempts to recruit troops and police for a takeover try.

The military chief of staff, the heads of the major military branches, the police chief and key congressional leaders have all made sojourns to the presidential palace since last Sunday to publicly state their support for Arroyo.

All of their backing is needed in a country with a recent history of political instability, military intervention into politics and nearly constant coup rumors.

The military-supported People Power revolution that ousted Marcos was widely hailed as a victory for democracy and became a catalyst for other populist overthrows around the world.

Similar praise for the ouster of Estrada was mixed with concerns that “people power” was getting out of hand by setting the bar too low to oust a popularly elected president.

Less than four months later, six people died as a group of poor Estrada backers unsuccessfully tried to storm the presidential palace.

In July 2003, a group of soldiers took over the Oakwood residential tower and shopping mall in Makati, only to give up quickly when masses of people they apparently expected to support them failed to materialize.

Arroyo said both instances were coup attempts, and she has steadfastly shrugged off persistent coup rumors since then.

Ironically, one of the issues plaguing her has been the allegations that her relatives took bribes from operators of the illegal numbers game jueteng. Nearly identical accusations led to Estrada’s downfall.

Still in custody during his protracted trial on the capital offense of economic plunder, Estrada made a plea Friday for people to hit the streets against Arroyo.

The outcry has been relatively small so far.

At least 12 people were injured, including four officers, when up to 3,000 leftist protesters clashed with police during an anti-Arroyo protest Friday.

That was a far cry from the hundreds of thousands who turned out against Marcos and Estrada.

The stock market seems to think the worst could be over, rallying to finish 2.1 percent higher Friday, after falling 7.4 percent over the past three sessions amid concerns over political stability.

Still, trading was light with at least one more hurdle to clear, and the peso continued its recent slide to a four-month low.

Police and the military have warned that unauthorized rallies will not be allowed as people turn out today for the Independence Day celebrations. (AP)

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb...rk.so.far.html

[dawn runner]

nyahahah...mingaw lagi..nag expect ko nga naay mag-rally...asa naman tong day of mourning kunuhay sa mga destabilizers

Unsay mingaw? Pulis perting daghana. Pulis bisan asa kapuliki ug bantay. GMA tago sa Malakanyag. Tago sa iyang lungga murag ilaga. Wa mag ingon karun independence day ra ang rally. Mag anam anam na. To-o kag undangan na si GMA ug batikos.

Kang GMA program ganina maoy gilangaw. Pugos ug cheer para sa Presidente pero ang mga tawo wa gyud madala. Bay kung naa ka manila unya maminaw ka sa radio basin mabungol ka. KULATA KAAYU imong Presidente sa batikos sa text ug sa caller. Ako na lay malo-oy sa imo idol. Sagdi lang na sunstar kay kang Garcia man na. No wonder.

Permanentehon na bay. kalampagin ang iyang konsyensya. Dapat kanaug na siya. SAKPAN IYA PANIKAS. Klaro sa tibook kalibutan.

Iyang mga ka alyado mi distancia na.

Di siya angay mag hulat. Hala, labani pag ayo ang baga ug nawong nimo nga Presidente.

[P-Chan]

WALAY AYO SI GLORYA SINCE IYA GI TAKE OVER GIKAN NI ERAP... mas better man tingali toh ang kay erap na administration..

[dawn runner]

Tinood na P Chan. Maayu pa to si Erap. Daug gyud to klaro labay sa tinunga iya labaw ni De Venecia. Mao gyud toy klaro nga daug,way trampas, way tikas.

[tolstoi]

bai dawnrunner..gai kuno ko name sa pulitiko nga wala nanikas pag election??..to tell u bai left and ryt ako dawat ug sobre last election [FPJ, LACSON and GMA camp]..gidawat nako coz kabalo ko dat was taxpayer's money..maayo nalang ba mabalik ako gibayran na tax ...bitaw my point is, since they are all CORRUPT why not just support the current administration para mo move forward sad ta bah..our economy is very much affected of this foolishness..murag urong-sulong...laban-bawi..

lets just say na she cheated in luzon [who's not?..]..but we all knew/the cebuanos knew that GMA had an overwhelming vote against FPJ last election, so bisan ma oust pa cya sa manila pwede pa gihapon cya mag office diri sa CEBU..remember naa gitukod Malakanyan in visayas

[FK]

I think Garcillano should be investigated... must kadaghan na man tingali ni niya gibuhat.

sad thing is mahibaw-an ra jud d i ang pagpanikas sa illegal sab nga pamaagi.

maau tingali noh nga i-legalize ning wiretapping sa mga kandidato para ma minus-minusan ang pagpanikas. Or at least mag lisud-lisud sila himo2x og code.

but for me... mag lisud sila og pagpalagpot ni GMA, kay majority kaalyado niya sa congress... nya walay drama nga makapa-aghat sa mga taw para mag EDSA2x na sab and lastly mostly ang mga class A and B maoy kasagaran ni boto ni Gloria.

Now do you think Gloria indeed cheated base on the tape conversation?

[SPRINGFIELD_XD_40]

WALAY AYO SI GLORYA SINCE IYA GI TAKE OVER GIKAN NI ERAP... mas better man tingali toh ang kay erap na administration..

TINGALI ??

[SPRINGFIELD_XD_40]

Tinood na P Chan. Maayu pa to si Erap. Daug gyud to klaro labay sa tinunga iya labaw ni De Venecia. Mao gyud toy klaro nga daug,way trampas, way tikas.

The moment you buy VOTES bisan PISO ra na .... PAGPANIKAS na siya . You are telling me na KLARO daog si ERAP kay wala siya manikas and walay trampas ?? Hehehe ... sa TAGALOG pa dong ug ni Ka Pedro ... HOY GISING !!

Aw ibutang ta lang to na wala nanikas si ERAP ug daog siya .... PROUD ka na presidente niom si ERAP ? Hehehe .... kung unsa ang LEADER mao pod ang iyang gi LEAD hahahahaha