Print

Mail

wiki links

Opposition urges Philippine leader to `do a Thaksin'

"I envy our Thai comrades. I hope Arroyo, too, will heed the writings on the wall."

Teodoro Casino, left-wing member of the House of Representatives

The Thai prime minister's decision to resign sparked new calls yesterday by envious Philippine opposition groups for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to quit over vote-rigging allegations, saying she risks destroying the country.

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, in a stunning turnabout following his recent election victory, announced on Tuesday he would step down in the face of a mounting opposition campaign seeking his ouster over allegations of corruption and abuse of power.

"I envy our Thai comrades," left-wing Representative Teodoro Casino said. "I hope Arroyo, too, will heed the writings on the wall."

While Thai opposition groups took just a few months to pressure Thaksin from power, Casino said Arroyo has tenaciously clung to power, despite continuous street protests that started in June last year when allegations of her corruption and that she rigged the 2004 presidential elections surfaced.

"While Thaksin showed he has a heart, Arroyo will cling to power at all costs, even if our institutions, the congress, judiciary, executive get destroyed in the process," Casino said.

Renato Reyes, the secretary-general of the large left-wing group Bayan, said that Arroyo, unlike Thaksin, may be afraid of landing in jail if she relinquishes power because so many criminal allegations and political enemies have surfaced against her.

"To everyone who thinks Gloria would `do a Thaksin' soon, they might end up disappointed," Reyes said.

"Self-sacrifice doesn't rank very high among the values of this president," Reyes said.

Estrada weighs in

During a break in his corruption trial yesterday, former president Joseph Estrada said Arroyo, facing a similar crisis that forced out Thaksin, also should give up.

"If you're not loved and trusted, it's so hard for you to govern," the ex-film star said.

Arroyo's chief political adviser, Gabriel Claudio, rejected the comparison, saying conditions in Thailand and the Philippines were different.

He cited the local opposition's failure to stir up a major upheaval against Arroyo.

While street protests against Arroyo have been persistent, they have been just a fraction of the size of the massive crowds in the army-backed "people power" uprisings that ousted late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 and Estrada in 2001.

The president has denied any wrongdoing.

Holding on

She survived three impeachment bids last September when her allies in the House of Representatives blocked a potentially disastrous investigation into allegations including an alleged conspiracy to rig the 2004 polls involving Arroyo, a former elections commissioner and military officials.

She also declared a state of emergency to quell an alleged coup plot in February by disgruntled troops seeking to replace her with a civilian-led transition council and launched a crackdown on protests and the opposition linked to the failed coup.

Yet Arroyo has tried to project an air of normalcy amid the months-long political impasse.

Celebrating her 59th birthday yesterday, she distributed toys and gifts in a Manila orphanage then flew to her home province north of the capital to hear Mass and celebrate her birthday with family and friends.

"Thank you for helping me celebrate my birthday," she told the orphans.

"When you grow up, I hope you'll have jobs, but before that I hope you'll have good education and health," she said.
This story has been viewed 1358 times.