Three Against One: The Battle Of The Presidents
If anyone has been wondering as to the political strength of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, one need only to look at the actions of her three predecessors to garner a brief look as to the wall she has backed herself into. These past few days, we have seen former President Cory Aquino attend masses with whistleblower Jun Lozada. Former President Joseph Estrada chose to issue statements against Arroyo, calling the military to withdraw from the President, and questioning once again her legitimacy. But the best of them all, in my opinion, has to be Former President Fidel V. Ramos, who chose to make a veiled criticism of Arroyo, which almost seemed like a drive-by shooting, only it was in speech form, Arroyo was not pleased.
Fidel Ramos, The Swipe Heard Round The Philippines
On Friday, at the Libingan Ng Mga Bayani, during the opening ceremony for The EDSA 1 celebrations, Former President Fidel V. Ramos surprised many with his speech on the EDSA 1 revolution. President Gloria was present during the speech and was not amused.
“Around the world, The Philippines included, there are new tyrannies in the form of self-serving leaders, immoderately greedy autocrats, and cliques of corrupt officials that we must still confront. History might yet call us to come together again — to offer our lives and fortunes on the altar of our civic ideals. There are oligarchies, dynasties, opportunists we are yet to banish from our political and economic life,”
Was this a jab being thrown at Arroyo, using “immoderately greedy” seems to be a twist from the phrase of the month “moderate the greed”? In this aspect, Ramos could have used “very greedy” or simply just “greedy”. As to why he chose the specific phrase of “immoderately greedy”, it really doesn’t take a genius to figure it out.
Ramos is definitely up to date with current events. The entire paragraph itself, can elude to two key statements coming from Romulo Neri. One is the alleged moderate the greed, and the other is from his meeting with Lacson and Madrigal concering how corruption is rampant in the Philippines and how oligarchies play a major role.
Whether or not Ramos was channeling Neri and the NBN deal with this speech, it’s for interpretation. His spokesman issued a press statement on Monday saying that the speech did not single out Arroyo nor did it call on people to participate in mass rallies against the government. But Ramos is famous for these kinds of statements, he’s a politician, but he’s been criticized because of his support for Gloria Arroyo, and it may be only right in his mind to show to the rest of The Philippines, that he still feels the pulse of the people. If the tide turns, at least he’s starting to hedge his bets no matter how late it is in the game.
Ramos also said that, “the spirit of EDSA compels our unswerving opposition to injustice, greed, corruption and apathy. Its most dramatic moments have passed, but there remain many decision and actions by leaders and ordinary citizens on which depend the ultimate shape of the Philippine future.”
In the end, I liked the speech, and I agree with the sentiments, no matter how veiled some parts were.
Joseph Estrada Calls for Arroyo Resignation
Now, the statements made by former President Joseph Estrada is quite funny. Because if we think about it, these are the same statement that were being made of him before his eventual ouster and disgraceful exit from Malacañang. He is calling on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to resign because the Filipino people have lost their trust in her. Estrada said, “There is no more other option for her but to follow the Constitution and resign”. But this is the same guy who, in the same position, would not step down, and even tried to call for a snap election in the last hours of his Presidency.
What a hypocrite. But, still, he has a point doesn’t he?
She should resign, if the trust of the people isn’t there. Estrada further explained that an impeachment attempt would be futile because congress would only block it. This is why he is sticking with his resign call for Gloria.
So, what was Malacañang’s response? They are now having the DOJ look into the statements being made by Estrada, and pondering the thought of sedition charges. According to the Administration’s lackey’s, Estrada has been pardoned, his civic and politial freedoms have been restored, BUT it is limited in not making these type of statements. So, which is it, freedom or no freedom?
Cory Aquino, The Prayer Warrior
And last, but not least, we have our very holy Former President Cory Aquino. Cory Aquino, always being consistent, has chosen not to celebrate the commemoration of EDSA 1 with President Arroyo, but instead chose to attend mass as she usually does, but this time with jun Lozada in tow.
These days, it seems as if, Cory and Jun are going Church hopping, attending mass wherever they can.
Disappointed by President Gloria Arroyo, Cory has distanced herself with the president from the
Arroyo A No Show In EDSA
With all the opposition against her, no wonder President Arroyo didn’t attend the EDSA celebrations with Noli De Castro, Fidel V. Ramos, cabinet members, and other leaders.
Here’s my take on that move:
Gloria is a politician through and through. If she had gone to the EDSA celebrations, she would have been fed to the wolves, and been on the defensive. She would have had to stand there, knowing that the very thing that she was honoring could be the very thing that topples her own government. That certainly is not something worth celebrating at all. So she went on the offensive, chose un-EDSA grounds at Caloocan and Cavite, attacked the opposition, tried to look good for the public and the poverty-stricken masses, and made sure she made her voice loud and clear.
Now, could she have made these attacks, at a more solemn EDSA celebration?
Good move Gloria, if it weren’t so obvious that this move was a two-parter. Get away from the EDSA limelight, and then attack with politically focused speeches.
tags: cory aquino, edsa, erap estrada, fidel v ramos, fvr, gloria macapagal arroyo, joseph erap estrada, philippine presidents
