GMA’s Forbes magazine ranking a welcome surprise for Palace

Malacañang said yesterday the inclusion of President Arroyo in the Forbes magazine’s ranking of the world’s most powerful women came as "a pleasant surprise" amid the political crisis besetting her administration.

According to Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye, it was an honor for Mrs. Arroyo to be included in the list and this could be attributed to her achievements and qualities as a leader.

The President was ranked fourth among the world’s 100 most powerful women as published in Forbes magazine last Friday.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice topped the list followed by China’s Vice Premier Wu Yi and Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

"President Arroyo has humbly taken note of this accolade which comes from a very prestigious international magazine. It was a pleasant surprise," Bunye said.

Bunye said Mrs. Arroyo’s inclusion on the Forbes list could be viewed as a recognition of her successes, particularly in driving the country’s economic growth up to 6.1 percent last year, despite the political adversities she faced.

"This was one of the highest growth rates experienced in our history," Bunye said.

However, the magazine noted her power could be short-lived, if she is unable to hurdle impeachment charges and other challenges to her presidency.

Asked how she felt about the prestigious listing, Mrs. Arroyo said during a live television interview Friday evening: "Power should be used to serve the interests of the people."

Bunye added Mrs. Arroyo was grateful to be among the ranks of other women leaders from around the world, whose credentials she praised.

On the other hand, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said Forbes magazine was "out of touch with reality" when it included Mrs. Arroyo in the listing and ranked her the fourth most powerful woman in the world.

Pimentel said the international magazine apparently failed to recognize local surveys which showed a significant number of Filipinos wanted Mrs. Arroyo out of office.

Mrs. Arroyo is currently facing accusations of cheating in last year’s presidential race. An impeachment case looms before her in the House and Senate.

Pimentel has led critics and opposition leaders in calling for her to step down and branding her as an illegitimate president.

"A leader may have all the powers in the world but if she used these powers to rig the 2004 elections and amass tainted fortune at the expense of the people, then she is a usurper if not a tyrant," Pimentel said.

Pimentel maintained "no amount of misplaced compliments from a high-brow foreign magazine can redeem her name or save her leadership.

"It could be music to Gloria’s ears but an insult to long-suffering Filipinos," he said.

Pimentel claimed Mrs. Arroyo can now be considered a "lame-duck president" following the resignation of key members of her Cabinet and the withdrawal of support of her allies in Congress.

He reiterated Mrs. Arroyo would be unable to perform her duties as president in the coming months if the impeachment complaint filed against her is transmitted to the Senate since she would be preoccupied with defending herself.

Oprah Winfrey, the magazine’s most powerful celebrity, was ninth on the list.

Like magic, "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling shot up the list to No. 40 from No. 85 last year following the mid-July release of the latest book in the popular series. Rowling is the top British woman in the poll, ahead of 62nd-ranked Cherie Blair, British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s wife, and Queen Elizabeth II, who ranked 75th.

Among the notables who made the 2004 rankings but disappeared this year include former Indonesian leader Megawati Sukarnoputri and ex-Hewlett-Packard chief Carly Fiorina, illustrating "how fleeting power is," Forbes said. — With Marvin Sy