One-on-one with GMA

I have known the President long enough to be comfortable doing a one-on-one conversation/interview with her last Friday at the Orchid Room in Malacañang, where she gave her views on various economic and political concerns. Following are excerpts of the interview.

On what keeps her resilient: “I’m a person of deep faith, and my father taught me: ‘Do what is right, do your best and let God take care of the rest.’ Being a person of discipline, I’m very focused... on our reform agenda, on the economy, the environment, education… and I think this has given us the resilience we are exhibiting today in the face of the global credit crunch.”

 Regarding concerns that US president-elect Barack Obama’s “introvert” attitude may affect the BPO industry and other businesses in the country: “That remains to be seen. The relationship between our two countries is so deep, it goes beyond individuals. I believe we will have a good relationship with president-elect Obama as we have had with President Bush. In fact during the campaign, he wrote me a letter, which contains his Philippine policy.” (The letter outlines common struggles like terrorism, extremism, and challenges like climate change, food security, poverty reduction, defense reform, among others.)

 On some bishops calling for a “new” administration, and the unclear separation between the Church and the State: “Actually, they clarified they were talking about 2010. They are not government and they shouldn’t be government even according to canon law. However, we recognize that they have a very big role in the lives of the majority of our people, and we work with them on a number of pro-poor initiatives.”

 Regarding the reproductive health bill and the bishops’ use of all sorts of tactics to derail its passage: “During our term, the population growth rate went down to 2.04 percent… prior to my term, the population growth rate was 2.36 percent… and we are very close now to our medium term plan of a 1.95 percent growth rate. In the past, they were stressing artificial birth control and only 50 percent of the people were using it because we are a Catholic country.” 

On Mindanao, which has the highest population growth rate at 5.4 percent, compounded by poverty: “Education is one of the big problems, and the strife. If Mindanao hasn’t developed, it may be because of the 40 years of endless conflict. That’s why we want to end those 40 years of endless conflict.”

 Concerning the junked MoA on Ancestral Domain: “Even before the Supreme Court made a ruling, we already announced that we are not going to sign the MoA, and that we are pursuing a new paradigm for peace which is an authentic dialogue with the people, with the communities… because we want to pursue peace in a way that is transparent and represents the true will of the communities.

“As for the armed groups, we will deal with them within the framework of DDR which is a UN-accepted process: disarmament, demobilization and reintegration. Before we can go back to the peace table in earnest, first we have to bring stability to the region, we have to bring order and we have to trust that the responsible elements of the MILF have regained control.”

 (Mindanao is also a cause for concern with other countries like the US. A few days ago, I met Robert Hannigan in a private meeting at the British Embassy residence of Ambassador Peter Beckingham. Hannigan is top security adviser to UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown; heads Intelligence, Security and Resilience; and worked with former Prime Minister Tony Blair for the successful conclusion of the “Belfast Agreement” which ended the Northern Ireland conflict in 1998. GMA was happy that Hannigan came here to urge for the continuation of peace talks in Mindanao.)

 Are we looking at the peace the UK has achieved with Northern Ireland? “Exactly. When I was in London, former Prime Minister Blair came to see me because he had been very much involved in that, and Hannigan I understand is an expert on DDR, so they’re helping us.”

 On former president Joseph Estrada and if she regrets giving him pardon: “The fact that he was tried and convicted was already a triumph of the rule of law because it showed that nobody is above the law. Why did I pardon him? I believe it was in the best interest of the country… and it’s also a way of moving forward because we should leave that black chapter in our history behind.

 If he runs in 2010, will the administration block him? Well, that’s his call and I have nothing to do with his actions.

On Charter Change, and perceptions that it is an attempt to extend her term: I support the movement for Charter Change towards the parliamentary form… towards federalism… towards amending economic provisions because I believe any or a combination of these will bring about more stability to our country. Definitely it is not for extending my term.

On plans for retirement: “I am not looking at the far future… I am very focused on the here and now. I don’t think in terms of legacy but in terms of what I have to do. My duty is to leave the economy better than when I found it. At the end of the day, hopefully the people will look at the future with more hope and optimism.”

I left the interview convinced that GMA is not going to hold on to power and is set to pass the mantle of leadership to the next president in 2010, just like her friend George Bush will soon be doing.

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