‘US backing vibrant democracy’

The ongoing political crisis is democracy in action, and Washington backs democratic processes, a US official declared.

Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Scott Bellard said the US government continues to support the Philippine government, but on a "state-to-state" level.

Bellard made the statement in response to a question the other day on whether the US government still supported Mrs. Arroyo amid the political setbacks facing her administration, the worst crisis of her four-year-old presidency.

Bellard said "our support around the world is for institutions and democratic processes, not individuals per se. It is not a personal relationship that we have with the Philippines. It is a state-to-state relationship."

"What we see is a vibrant democracy operating under the Constitution and the laws of the Philippines. We support democracy in action around the world," he added.

Since the start of the crisis, US Chargé d’Affaires Joseph Mussomeli has maintained that Washington will not support any extra-legal means in changing the government in Manila.

A presidential impeachment, Bellard said, "is an internal matter for the Filipino people to decide."

"Your Constitution provides for scrutiny of public officials. Impeachment is explicitly allowed under your Constitution so whether or not your Congress decides to move forward or not, it is something entirely for the Filipinos to decide according to their constitutional process," he said.

Though Bellard admitted US Embassy officials had met with the political opposition, he said this was a routine meeting along with other political groups.

"US Embassy officials routinely meet with people in a full spectrum of political views so this is a routine thing the diplomats around the world do," Bellard said.

British Ambassador Peter Beckingham likewise had a meeting with opposition leaders, just a few days before Mrs. Arroyo’s officials and economic advisers resigned from her Cabinet.

The opposition, led by House Minority Leader Francis Escudero, attended a meeting with the British ambassador and briefed him on the latest political developments.

Beckingham, however, belied reports that the opposition had asked the British government for support in its call for a change in the administration.

Beckingham said the United Kingdom would not support unconstitutional means to remove Mrs. Arroyo from office even if she faced allegations of electoral cheating.

Reports said the opposition had been "polling" the diplomatic community and conducting briefings on the political situation in the country.

US Chargé d’Affaires Joseph Mussomeli said the American government’s intercession in the country’s political crisis would not be necessary at this time.

Mussomeli, who was confirmed by the US Senate as new ambassador to Cambodia, said the situation in 1986 that led to the EDSA uprising to oust the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos was different from the current political crisis facing Mrs. Arroyo.

While the US intervention in 1986 basically led to a peaceful resolution of the political crisis, Mussomeli did not rule out the possibility that the US would intercede if the present situation gets out of hand.

Mussomeli, however, did not categorically declare that the US still supports Mrs. Arroyo following mounting calls for her to step down.

But he declared the US government would not support any use of force or extra-constitutional means to remove the Arroyo administration.

Various sectors including former President Corazon Aquino and 10 of Mrs. Arroyo’s erstwhile Cabinet members and advisers added to calls for her resignation.

Militants groups hold daily, if sparse, rallies while the political opposition gears up for a bigger battle ahead in initiating an impeachment complaint against the President.

Washington had declared its unequivocal support for Mrs. Arroyo after she succeeded Joseph Estrada who was ousted in a military-backed popular revolt in January 2001 on allegations of corruption.

Mussomeli reiterated that the American government supports the rule of law, not any particular political leader.

According to Mussomeli, it is within Mrs. Arroyo’s authority as President to remove any member of her Cabinet since she appointed them.

But Mussomeli expressed his disappointment over the government’s failure to curb graft and corruption and reform the Armed Forces.

Mussomeli also admitted he met with the key players in the current political scene, including Catholic Church leaders.