Preserving our democratic institutions

It is just as well that PGMA stood her ground and stuck to her post at the height of the most serious challenge to her rule last week. In fact she should have done what she did even if the CBCP joined the clamor for her resignation, and with or without the Ramos factor. Some may look at it as a manifestation of an inordinate desire to cling to power or of being deaf and oblivious to the overwhelming calls for her to quit and make the supreme sacrifice. But the decision to sacrifice for our country’s sake is hers and hers alone to make. Any external pressure or force employed in arriving at that decision is contrary to the rule of law. If she succumbed to the mounting demand and quit her post, then her resignation is not valid and constitutional. So in refusing to quit PGMA is actually upholding in the same fashion, that "rule of law" zealously espoused by those asking for her head. For all we know, this idea of quitting has already crossed the mind and heart of PGMA. But because of the incessant calls for her to step down, she realizes that doing so would only bring more chaos and instability to our country. Uneasy will the crown lie on the head of anyone succeeding her under such coercive circumstances.

But just as the calls for her resignation should stop, so should appeals for her to remain in power be discontinued. This battle of manifestos, pro or con, are indicative of a power struggle that can only lead to a well founded belief that the "spoils" will again be divided and debts repaid once the dirty political dusts have settled. Besides, these manifestations of support are always perceived as staged managed or come from those with dubious motives. They will just deepen the wounds of division plaguing our country now because of too much partisan politics. PGMA should be left alone by both sides and allowed to make her decision guided by her own conscience. Let’s just give her the benefit of the doubt that deep in her heart and foremost in her mind is our country’s best interest not hers, as she weighs the limited legal options available to her in solving this crisis.

The CBCP might have really dampened the momentum of the oust Gloria movement and gave her some breathing spell. This is the best time for her to rebuild the eroded credibility and to regain the lost trust in her capability to lead and govern this country. But so far, the reactions and moves of her minions are quite disturbing. They should stop bad mouthing and retaliating against cabinet members and other officials who resigned irrevocably then called on her to also resign. The benefit of doubt should likewise be given to them. Their actions should be accepted as done in good faith with best interest of the country in mind. What they did to her may be hard to swallow but loyalty is sometimes better manifested by absolute candor even if it hurts. PGMA should rather be more wary of a cabinet member who keeps on intimidating and threatening to file cases against witnesses and whistle blowers and personally maligning those who are not for her; particularly erstwhile allies who are now leading figures in the resign movement. His moves may be misconstrued as attempts to stifle dissent and hide the truth. She should likewise caution her partisans not to use inflammatory language and go into "counter offensive" like conducting surveillance in anti-government rallies and organizing counterpart rallies with bigger crowds. These are all counter-productive as they are divisive. They lead to nothing but more strife and bitter recriminations.

Of course the anti-government rallies and the clamor for her resignation are likewise counter-productive and detrimental to our people. But they will persist for as long as the crisis is not adequately defused. Aside from completing the total cabinet revamp, PGMA should therefore concentrate and properly address the "apology without accountability" aspect of the CBCP pastoral letter which mainly pertains to the search for the truth on the audio tapes implicating her in an attempt to fix the results of the last election as well as the involvement of her family in the jueteng payola. PGMA must see to it that there is a fair and expeditious process in arriving at a satisfactory and convincing conclusion to these raging issues that brought us into this crisis.

Otherwise, she might find herself staring at the same exit taken by the late US President Nixon.

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