Why president Arroyo cannot resign

Coaxed by previous exhortations, I viewed on television the mass action that took place in Makati City last Friday. They called it the inter-faith rally. Projected to be the convergence of different religious groups, for which reason it was labeled as inter-faith, the activity was supposed to be political in character rather than a religious undertaking. Prior announcements made by the purported organizers claimed that rally was aimed to express the people’s indignation on the corrupt practices of the administration of Her Excellency, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. So, I surmised that the size of the crowd would somehow indicate the extent of the people’s anger.

True enough, I could see representatives, if not leaders, of some identifiable religious denominations locking arms with one another. It was a sight to behold when people of diverse doctrine of faith share a common podium and come up with a united direction. But, actually, it was not purely inter-faith. While the core group appeared to be religious, there were politicians, businessmen, young professionals, students and the so-called urban poor in the midst. Other sectors were likewise represented. All the more, the view became more touching.

Of the politicians, Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay was there. His presence was quite understandable because he was supposed to carry the responsible burden of keeping his city, the financial center of the country, unaffected by political turmoil. That Gen. Geary Barias, if he were to be believed, said that Mayor Binay assured police authorities that they would peacefully break up after 8 in the evening, was immaterial to the issue of the mayor’s presence. Also, there were two former presidents in the persons of Corazon Cojuangco Aquino and Joseph Ejercito Estrada, who for a fleeting moment tried to rekindle the magic of their fading mass appeal.

Many of those who were interviewed claimed that the president of the republic violated their trust and confidence. Such words as the president’s losing moral ascendancy permeated. Ex-president Aquino was most emphatic in echoing their demand by asking President Arroyo to resign. Others were more indirect, therefore, vague in asking for the truth to prevail.

There are, thus, two points to think about. It was quite that they were one in agreeing to hold a demonstration against the present administration.Moved by their declarations of distrust on the president and angered by the revelations of Mr. Rodolfo Lozada Jr., on the alleged corrupt practices of the regime, they forged a common front.

Unfortunately, their pronouncements revealed the disunity of their group. On one hand, a sizeable part of the increasing crowd clearly wanted President Arroyo to step down from Malacañang. Resign Gloria was emblazoned on their placards! To them, the question on the legitimacy of the election of the president not having been closed, the added report of such massive acts of graft corruption as the ZTE deal showed should prove the last reason for her to vacate the post.

However, there were those who were unsure of what they wanted. Indecisive that they were, they would simply wait for a later development, presumably the building of the critical mass, before committing to the same clamor. In truth, they were playing the safe card.

This disunity of purpose among the critics of the administration is the anchor upon which Pres. Arroyo would display the kind of sterner stuff she is apparently made of. Now and then, she gives concessions, like her “I’m sorry” for the lapse of judgment following the revelation of the “Hello Garci Tape”, if only to take the pressure off, but surely, she is not going to resign. Why should she? As long as the country is not one in such a clamor for her to leave Malacañang, it is a tacit permission for her to continue doing what she is doing. If it should include acts as the abortive ZTE deal, there is no one to be faulted but our incapability to make a stand.