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Despite my eagerness to wait and see as to how the current administration will conduct itself in the following weeks, it is becoming clear, that President Arroyo will not back down on the issue of Charter Change.

Yesterday, Bro. Mike Velarde called on Gloria to restore credibility to her government and to not pursue a change on the form of government. In short make her administration better, and don’t push for Charter Change.

But in response to this call from Mike Velarde, the President apparently will not heed the advice of her spiritual adviser. According to Secretary Bunye, “We thank Brother Mike (Velarde) for his good intentions but we don’t quite agree with his characterizations”. This is of course a nice and polite way of saying, none of your business!

Bunye continues, “The national count is far from over but at the congressional and local levels, there seems to be a resounding vote for political stability, auguring well for a strong economy.” Again, trying to save face and focus their attention on the local elections which in many cases didn’t go well for them at all.

But that’s not the best part, the statement goes on to say,

On the matter of cha-cha (Charter Change), President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s advocacy is still there. But she will leave it to our institutions and to the people to determine the “when” and “how.”

And there you have it folks, President Arroyo is all too eager to put focus on the local elections, building up her constituents, and amassing enough support to charge ahead with Charter Change. She’s not at all waving any white flag, but is ready to fight the battle of her life.

Stop for a moment in reading this. And let me emphasize the importance of those two words — When and How.

This statement should be If and How.

But while she sticks with her plans to change the charter, she is also spinning the Public Relations machine in full gear and calling on the new set of Senators to move forward and put political differences aside.

Which way is it Madam President, either you start following the will of the people, or you stay on course.

Incidentally, Manuel has posted an interesting article written by Tony Abaya. Manuel goes on to say,

Going back to Abaya… Let me point out that Abaya expresses what I think is an emerging consensus among people who aren’t fans of the President: to grant her a reprieve, but a highly conditional one.

And then puts forward the significance of Randy David’s Sunday column, which laid down three conditions for “moving on”:

1. accept the results of the election;
2. cleanse the Comelec so there will be clean polls in 2010;
3. the President shut make it explicit that her political career ends in 2010.

To which I contended,

I agree with Randy David’s point of view, but it should be extended to reforms not only in the COMELEC but other departments as well. Then let’s add to Randy’s column and file charges afterwards.

In the likely scenario in which she doesn’t change her attitude and actions towards changing the form of government, and if she doesn’t move for reforms in the military, COMELEC, and other defunct departments, then by all means, let’s move ahead with impeachment..

So, in the coming weeks, the actions of The President will be important as to how we should proceed…

But in that brief lapse of judgment, in which I actually believed that President Arroyo would do all of this, I came back to reality in a minute or so, and realized the truth of this current Administration.

That this Administration moves in a most calculated way with the goal of political survival, and that means control even after 2010.

Let’s not be so naive anymore. This is not going to be a tea party, or Sunday Brunch in which we can make compromises. President Arroyo will not back down. In her own words, it’s just a matter of “When” and “How”.

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