Pulse Asia: Glo Out

Arroyo ouster 'best scenario,' most Manilans say in poll

Joel Francis Guinto
INQ7.net

ALMOST half of Metro Manila residents believe that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's resignation or impeachment is the "best scenario" that will resolve the political crisis in the country, according to an independent survey released Tuesday.

The Pulse Asia Inc. survey from July 2-8 shows that of the 300 respondents in Metro Manila, only 16 percent think that it will be best for the country if Arroyo will finish her term until 2010, compared to 41 percent who want her to resign or be impeached to give way to snap elections.

This is in contrast to a Pulse Asia nationwide survey in June when only 28 percent of the respondents said Arroyo should either resign or be impeached to allow Vice President Noli de Castro to take over while 22 percent wanted the President to finish her term.

The July study also showed that only 15 percent of Metro Manila residents believed De Castro's assumption to power is best for the country while another 10 percent said Arroyo should be replaced with a "junta" or caretaker government before a new election would be held.

Meanwhile, 10 percent said Arroyo should be removed either by constitutional or extra-constitutional means.

Only six percent favor a shorter term for Arroyo and Charter change, which seeks a shift to a parliamentary form of government from the present presidential system, the same July survey in Metro Manila said.

When asked about the "most destructive" way out of the political standoff, 24 percent of the Metro Manila respondents said the intervention of a foreign government; 18 percent, a coup d'etat; 17 percent, Arroyo's stay in power until her term ends; 14 percent, after Arroyo's resignation or impeachment; 14 percent, a police and military takeover; and 11 percent, De Castro's assumption to the presidency.

Senator Panfilo Lacson is the "best person to lead the country now," according to 36 percent of Metro Manila residents in the July 2-8 survey.

De Castro is in second with 15 percent. Former president Joseph Estrada is third, with 8 percent; followed by actress Susan Roces and Arroyo, with 7 percent each; Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide and former president Fidel Ramos with 4 percent each; evangelist Brother Eddie Villanueva, with 3 percent; and Senator Rodolfo Biazon, 2 percent.

Meanwhile, 25 percent of the respondents ranked Arroyo first among those who were "not acceptable to lead the nation."

Behind Arroyo among the leaders whom the Metro Manila respondents do not find acceptable are former defense secretary Fortunato Abat, with 17 percent; De Castro, 12 percent; Davide, 11 percent; Estrada, 9 percent; Roces, 6 percent; Lacson, 5 percent; Biazon, 4 percent; Villanueva and Ramos, 2 percent each, the survey said.

Pulse Asia's July survey was conducted after Arroyo's public apology for her "lapse in judgement" when she called an elections officer during the 2004 canvassing. It had a margin of error of +/-6 percent and a confidence level of 95 percent.

In the Pulse Asia nationwide survey in June, De Castro topped the list of best alternatives to Arroyo, with 30 percent; followed by Estrada, 19 percent; and Lacson, 19 percent.

Arroyo also topped the list of unacceptable leaders in the nationwide June survey with 42 percent; followed by Ramos, 39 percent; and Villanueva, 31 percent.

But despite the worsening political crisis, Metro Manila residents remained in high spirits, according to the July survey.

Only 17 percent said they agreed with the statement "The country is hopeless," compared with 22 percent in March.

Those who said martial law was "necessary" to solve the political crisis slipped to 18 percent in July from 21 percent in March.

A similar Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey released last week showed that 62 percent of Metro Manila residents believed Arroyo should resign or be impeached.

Gloria Lost By 700,000 Votes?

Ex-senator Osmeña bares poll fraud in 2004

Juliet Labog-Javellana
Inquirer News Service

FORMER senator John Osmeña declared on Tuesday that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo lost to the late Fernando Poe Jr. by 700,000 votes in the 2004 national election.

Osmeña, citing the reports made by his study group, also refuted claims by Arroyo's camp that she received 1.1 million votes more than Poe in Cebu.

Osmeña said in a press conference in Westin Philippine Plaza Hotel that Arroyo only led by 621,000 votes against Poe in Cebu.

©2005 www.inq7.net all rights reserved

Arangkada for July 20, 2005

 

GLORIA GINAPOS

 

Kon mangita mog klarong ebidensiya nga ginapos na si Presidente Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo sa iyang padayong pagduma sa nasud bisan sa sibaw nga awhag sa iyang resignasyon, di na kinahanglang motan-aw sa layo: Ang pagpabilin sa katungdanan sa Sugbuanong si Winston Garcia isip presidente ug general manager sa Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) maoy di malalis nga pruyba.

Ubos sa pagduma ni Garcia, ang GSIS gideklarar sa respondents sa usa ka nasudnong survey nga gihimo sa Social Weather Station (SWS) nga maoy labing kurakot nga ahensiya sa gobyerno. Sa labing unang higayon sa kasaysayan, naapsan sa GSIS ang gikaintapang kurakot nga mga ahensiya sama sa Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Internal Revenue ug Department of Public Works and Highways.

-o0o-

Wa magkuwang ang nagkalainlaing sektor sa pagtawag sa atensiyon ni Presidente Arroyo sa ilang nakit-ang mga eskandalo ni Garcia, nga nagsugod sa pagtiyabaw sa pobreng mga sakop sa GSIS batok sa iyang pagwaldas sa minilyon ka pesos pagpalit sa painting ni Juan Luna nga way bisan gamayng labot sa iyang ahensiya. Ang labing sibaw mao ang awhag sa iyang kaugalingong mga kawani sa GSIS kinsa nangisog pagprotesta aron pagbisto sa ilang gitumbok nga mga pangabuso ni Garcia sa iyang gahom.

Pero giisnab silang tanan ni Presidente Arroyo. Kinsa niinsistir nga dako ug konkreto ang kita sa GSIS ubos sa liderato ni Garcia. Samtang ang mga kaatbang ni Garcia way laing gitanyag gawas sa pagarpar.

-o0o-

Wa magkuwang ang mga ebidensiya sa giingong mga anomaliya ni Garcia sa GSIS. Si kanhi budget secretary Emilia Boncodin nibisto nga gisupak ni Garcia ang sugo ni Presidente Arroyo sa paglaslas sa dagkong suholan ug mga benepisyo sa mga opisyal sa mga korporasyon sa gobyerno. Giibanan man tuod ang iyang suweldo pero gibutang ra sab sa iyang personal bank account.

Dihang nabisto nga gawas sa pagpatrabaho ni Garcia sa iyang kaugalingong igsoon sa GSIS gihatagan pa gyod niya og makalilisang nga suholan ug mga benepisyo, naabtan pa si Presidente Arroyo og pipila ka buwan una nakaako sa pagtaktak sa laing abusadong sakop sa Pamilyang Garcia.

-o0o-

Daghan nang mas dagkong opisyal nga nangahas pagbaraw ni Garcia. Pero si Garcia ang kanunayng gipalabi sa presidente. Si kanhi finance secretary Isidro Camacho napugos pagbiya sa gabinete human gibasura sa Malakanyang ang iyang mga rekomendasyon pagtul-id sa gikuwestiyong pagduma ni Garcia sa GSIS.

Ang labing uwahing biktima sa kahawod ni Garcia maong mga sakop sa gabinete nga gipangulohan nilang kanhi finance secretary Cesar Purisima ug Boncodin nga nidemanda sab sa pagpalagpot ni Garcia. Natangtang silang tanan pero si Garcia nagpabilin.

Kon di kahilabot si Presidente Arroyo kang Garcia, unsa man intawoy iyang mahimo batok sa mas dagkong peste sa iyang administrasyon? [30]  leo_lastimosa@abs-cbn.com

Inquirer Editorial

Editorial : Period of waiting

THE UNITED Opposition is urging President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to resign. Sixty-two percent of Metro Manila residents believe she should quit. Former President Corazon Aquino also wants her to resign. The "Hyatt 10" is urging her to quit. Many business, professional, religious and academic groups say she should step down. The President has said, however, that she is not resigning.

The opposition is now considering impeaching her. But even if it pushes through, the impeachment court will take a long time to reach a resolution, unless something like Edsa People Power II happens. So it seems that Ms Arroyo will be with us for some time yet. And while the question of whether she should stay in office remains unresolved, political and economic instability is likely to continue.

In an effort to make Ms Arroyo more acceptable to the people, her advisers are planning a makeover to project her as a friendlier, gentler president. This is a cosmetic move, and we doubt if it will earn her points. It would be better if she did something that would greatly benefit the country in the interim. The first priority should be the economy, which has taken a heavy beating the past five weeks. The President has taken the first step by appointing replacements for the members of her economic team who resigned recently. We hope that the new appointees would attend immediately to the serious economic problems of the country.

An early resolution of the constitutional challenge to the expanded value-added tax law by the Supreme Court could help promote stability on the economic front. Then new Internal Revenue Commissioner Jose Mario Buñag will have to ensure the strict enforcement of the expanded value-added tax and continue the aggressive collection of taxes begun by his predecessor, Guillermo Parayno. The government needs a lot of funds, and it needs them now.

Under the Constitution the President cannot fire the commissioners of the Commission on Elections (Comelec). But she could enlist the help of civil society and the political parties in exerting pressure on the election commissioners to tender their resignation. The commissioners should realize that the Comelec is one of the most discredited government agencies today. A reform of the electoral process has to begin with the cleansing of the Comelec.

If a mass resignation of the Comelec commissioners can be obtained, the President should avoid packing it with disreputable characters and "dependable" political allies. She should consider appointing to the Comelec people of the caliber of its former chairs, Christian Monsod and Haydee Yorac. The nation will be grateful if she can clean up the Augean stable that is the Comelec. The cleanup could be the start of wide-ranging reforms in the electoral system.

It is not just the electoral system that needs changing. The political system also needs to be changed to promote national stability. Since Edsa People Power I in 1986, the nation has gone through many periods of political instability. Now may be an auspicious time to change the system, from presidential to parliamentary. A parliamentary system makes it possible to quickly change an administration once its leader loses the confidence of his or her parliamentary peers and the people. Then there would be no need for future Edsa People Power uprisings.

Reports the day after Ms Arroyo survived the most serious challenge to her presidency said that because of his support, former President Fidel V. Ramos would now have his way in his efforts to move the nation from the presidential to the parliamentary system. Under Ramos' timetable, Congress would convene as a constituent assembly to propose changes in the Constitution. Civil society and the opposition are expected to oppose the idea of convening a constituent assembly because Congress is another discredited institution.

It would be better to call a constitutional convention. It may be more expensive, but the election of delegates to the convention may see the emergence of young, new leaders who could bring new perspectives and new ideas to the task of crafting the fundamental law. The body politic also needs a shot of fresh blood to invigorate and renew itself.

In this expectedly long period of waiting, the President could serve the national interest if she would put the economic house in order, help bring about electoral reforms, beginning with a change in the Comelec, and start the ball rolling for a change from the presidential to the parliamentary system.

De Quiros' Column

There's The Rub : President, pauper

Conrado de Quiros dequiros@info.com.ph
Inquirer News Service

I REMEMBER writing a column ages ago about the differences between rich and poor. I remember vaguely only parts of it, which went something like this:

If you're rich, you're eccentric; if you're poor, you're loony. If you're rich, you're a man of the world; if you're poor, you're a degenerate. If you're rich, you're an imbiber of spirits; if you're poor, you're a drunk. If you're rich, you're indulgent; if you're poor, you're a slob. If you're rich, you're shrewd; if you're poor, you're a crook. If you're rich, you profit; if you're poor, you steal. If you're rich, you love women; if you're poor, you're a lecher. If you're rich, you are incontinent; if you're poor, you're full of vices. If you're rich, you're full of pipe dreams; if you're poor, you're full of s--t. If you're rich, you stray from the narrow path; if you're poor, you commit a crime. If you're rich, you're pardoned; if you're poor, you're hanged.

There's a variation on that to be found in the spectacle of the last few years of this country. In lieu of rich and poor though, president and pauper more properly fit the bill.

But let's begin with vice president first and reverse the order of presentation:

If you're a pauper, you're craven; if you're a vice president, you're cautious. If you're a pauper, you hide under the bed; if you're a vice president, you adopt a wait-and-see attitude. If you're a pauper and you join a fight when it's safe, you're an opportunist. If you're a vice president and you join a fight when it's safe, you have perfect timing. If you're a pauper, you admit to being a coward. If you're a vice president, you point to a dead pope as your strength. If you're a pauper and you run away from a fight, you become a leper. If you're a vice president and you run away from a fight, you become president.

If you're a pauper and you promise on the grave of your mother not to beat up your wife again, you're a reformed ass. If you're a president and you promise on the grave of Jose Rizal not to beat up your country again, you're a reformed hero. If you're a pauper and you decide to beat up your wife anyway after seven months, you're an incorrigible thug. If you're a president and you decide to beat up your country anyway after seven months, you're a corrigible savior. If you're a pauper and you turn your back on your word, you're a goddamn liar. If you're a president and you turn your back on your word, you're enlightened by God. If you're a pauper and you beat up your wife again, her brothers beat you up in turn, or hack you to pieces. If you're a president and you beat up your country again, your supporters drumbeat your virtues and your PR hacks do a hack job on the public. If you're a pauper, you lie, you die. If you're a president, you lie, you live.

If you're a pauper, your wife hears you saying, "Hello, Grace," you will be angry and act innocent. If you're a president, your country hears you saying, "Hello, Garci," you will be angry and act innocent. If you're a pauper and your wife hears you plotting to cheat with Grace, you will say she is an eavesdropper and order her to mind the kitchen. If you're a president and your people hear you plotting to cheat with Garci, you will say they are eavesdroppers and order them to mind their business. If you're a pauper and your wife finds you in bed with Grace, you will demand to know what's wrong with it since you were just out to protect her breasts. If you're a president and your country finds you in cahoots with Garci, you will demand to know what's wrong with it since you were just out to protect your votes.

If you're a pauper and your wife catches you two-timing her, you will not sleep well at night for fear of what might happen to your crowning glory. If you're a president and your country catches you two-timing it, you will not sleep well at night for fear of what might happen to your crown.

If you're a pauper and you're caught cheating your wife, you send yourself into mournful exile. If you're a president and you're caught cheating your country, you send your husband into cheerful exile. If you're a pauper and your wife and her (male) kin order you to leave the house at once, you sigh, "I will not resist." If you're a president and your enemies and former friends order you to leave the palace at once, you swear, "I will not resign." If you're a pauper and your family doesn't like you, you "hakot" [haul] your belongings. If you're a president and your country doesn't like you, you "hakot" a crowd. If you're a pauper and have nobody left to turn to, you tell your troubles to the cigar-chomping occupant of a tree named Kapre. If you're a president and have nobody left to turn to, you tell your troubles to the cigar-chomping occupant of a doghouse named Tabako.

If you're a pauper and you keep coveting things, you are called greedy. If you're a president and you keep coveting things, you are called an economist. If you're a pauper and you keep stealing things, you are called a thief. If you're a president and you keep stealing things, you are called hardworking. If you're a pauper and you usurp somebody else's job, you are called a scab. If you're a president and you usurp somebody else's office, you are called a snob. If you're a pauper and you've committed a crime, you are turned over to the uniformed face-wreckers. If you're a president and you've committed a crime, you are made over by the coat-and-tied image-makers.

If you're a pauper and you show no pride, you are called "kapalmuks" [thick-faced]. If you're a president and show no shame, you are called resolute. If you're a pauper and cling like Epoxy to what isn't yours, you are called "kapit-tuko.". If you're a president and cling like Mighty Bond to what isn't yours, you are called ... (Fill in the blank).