Arroyo: Market reforms to be derailed if wrong candidate elected

President Arroyo warned yesterday that market opening reforms in the Philippines risked being derailed if the electorate voted for the wrong candidate in May’s presidential election.

The President, speaking at an annual reception for foreign diplomats at Malacañang, portrayed herself as the impoverished Southeast Asian nation’s best bet for the future.

"Here in the Philippines, 2004 is shaping up to be a year fraught with both challenge and opportunity. Our resolve to stay the course of reform and reconciliation will be put to the test," Mrs. Arroyo said.

"The Philippines is caught between the claims of its feudal past and the imperatives of the global future. We must complete the revolution that our forbears began more than a century ago and take the mission to uplift the life of every Filipino to the global stage," she said.

Four months before the May 10 elections, Mrs. Arroyo is lagging behind in surveys which are being topped by movie icon Fernando Poe Jr., a hugely popular political novice and high school dropout who is backed by deposed President Joseph Estrada and allies of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

"During the short time that I have been president, I have been fighting on behalf of our people and nation to make us strong, secure and respected," Mrs. Arroyo said.

"I have been fighting to improve the image, respect and clout of the Philippines abroad in order to aid our quality of life here at home," she added. "No longer is the Philippines an isolated nation from the modern world."

The President also took the opportunity at yesterday’s gathering to formally thank the diplomatic community and heads of different international organizations for supporting the Philippines’ campaign for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

Papal Nuncio Antonio Franco, representing the Vatican and dean of the diplomatic corps, spoke in behalf of the diplomatic community and reaffirmed support to the President and the Filipino nation. — AFP, Marichu Villanueva