LUCEAT LUX!

Storm Warning

A Stallion Editorial

Posted Friday, 15-Jul-2005 8:01 AM

Storm clouds are looming on the horizon.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is caught up in the very center of the maelstrom engulfing our national politics. Under an escalating barrage of scandals and exposés, the besieged chief executive has been forced to make concession upon concession to the howling winds of the political vortex circling her, from the departure of her incriminated family to a televised apology concerning her lapse of judgment in calling a Comelec official.

With the embarrassing “ Hello Garci ” recording circulating throughout the country and her husband and her son charged with taking kickbacks from the illegal jueteng numbers game, Mrs. Arroyo seemed to be on the verge of a massive political catastrophe.

Another presidential ouster seemed to be in the offing after her approval ratings sank and her political base steadily eroded. Prominent and influential people and several civil society sectors have already called upon Mrs. Arroyo to step down from the presidency, but question is, “Can the country afford to suffer another round of political and economic instability, severe lack of credibility and weakening of the institution of government?”

Any unconstitutional attempt to oust a duly elected President from power, whether through a coup or a fourth retread of People Power, would merely exacerbate an already unstable situation into a farcical retread of past glories. By subverting due process, the balance and order of the present democratic system is disrupted and replaced with convenient anarchy.

To take to the streets again will mean not only to bankrupt the system, but moreover, to sabotage the preconceptions of future generations of leaders into thinking that the system is easily manipulated to serve a personal end. To believe that there is no other option but to employ extralegal means is to tacitly admit that we prefer the rule of the jungle to the rule of law.

If another people power revolt takes place, it won’t be noble anymore; it would be repetitive and slightly comedic in its haplessness.  In a nation where 70% of the population live below the poverty line, another disruption of daily business activities is probably not the best option for economic recovery.  The masses don’t want a new leader as much as they want food on their tables. The best option right now is to offer security and stability of business investments in the country, not to scare them off and send prices soaring up.

The best way to ensure that the democratic process will be preserved and respected for years to come is to allow the president to remain in power until all allegations against her have been proven.  This might mean the country would have to weather a political and economic typhoon, but if all goes well, it would be one that will be over soon.

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