President approves truth commission

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has accepted the suggestion of the Catholic Bishops to form a truth commission to look into the allegations that she actually lost in the last elections. This is separate from impeachment case that will be filed against her by opposition lawmakers. We hope that these two developments will put a stop to two things.

First, the clamor for her to step down from office. This is actually an exercise in futility. President Macapagal Arroyo will never step down from office. By doing so, the charges against her will not cease. The only thing her stepping down will accomplish is to weaken her defense against the many charges against her. The second thing that we hope will result in her following the bishops suggestion is that it will put a stop to the rallies for and against her continuation in office. Those rallies cost a lot of money. The demonstrators have to be transported from outside, paid and fed to attend such rallies. The rally against was in Makati. The rally for the President was in Manila. Both had the support of the respective mayors of cities involved. But it is doubtful if they reflected the true sentiments of the residents of either city. We really believe that the money used for such rallies can be put to better use. Why don’t both cities organize a good program to help the children in the streets? Both Manila and Makati have the problem of the squatters who have constructed their make-shift homes along the railroad tracks. It is about time that they were transferred to a place where they and their children can be helped so that they can construct their own homes.

The people who are demanding that the President step down from power are not clear as to who will take over. According to the Constitution, it should be Vice-President Noli de Castro. But there is very strong talk about a transitory government and no one has any inkling as to who or what group will compose said government. There is nothing in the Constitution about a transitory government. We will go from the status quo to a totally unknown si-tuation. We will be creating more problems than we will be solving.

What we need is peace and order and, thank God, so far all rallies pro and con the President have been that. But let us not forget that the only thing required to turn a demonstration into a bloody affair is just one terrorist who will throw a bomb. The way we see it, none of our problems can be solved in the streets. We welcome the truth commission.