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Philippines: Military And Cabinet Abandon Estrada
by Kazi Mahmood
JAKARTA (IslamOnline) - Barely a month after the defeat of Democrats in Thailand, another transformation is about to take place in Southeast Asia. The Philippines is now bracing for possible snap polls and a change in government.
Forces in opposition to Philippine President Joseph Estrada emerged victorious yesterday as three days of massive protests convinced the military leadership and several cabinet Ministers to abandon Estrada.
The rise of a resurgent "People Power" campaign - the first ousting Ferdinand Marcos and bringing Corazon Aquino to power - assembled a huge crowd of several thousand people, blocking main roads and spilling onto adjacent driveways showing their discontent towards Estrada's shattered government.
They also vowed to support the constitutional successor of the embattled president, Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
In a bid to diffuse the crisis and show his ability to control the situation, Estrada announced a retreat from power by announcing snap polls in May, in which he would not be a candidate.
The opposition and people in Manila jointly rejected the snap poll offer, confusing local specialists, observers say.
Protestors urged Estrada to quit immediately for the sake of the nation.
Estrada's nationally televised suggestion for Congress to call snap presidential elections in May drew little sympathy from diverse sectors of the Philippines, who insisted that the only solution to the crisis facing his administration was for him to resign.
"We will not leave Edsa until Estrada leaves the Palace," declared Laguna Governor Jose Lina, echoing Aquino's remarks earlier in the afternoon when she urged the crowd gathered at Edsa Shrine to "come back here tomorrow" and to "please keep coming here as long as Estrada has not stepped down."
Former Speaker of the House of Representative Manuel Villar said he believes that snap elections are a difficult proposition.
"Congress has to approve that, and we don't have the time to go through all that. The best way is for the constitution to be followed, and that is for the Vice President to succeed to the presidency."
"Not snap election, but snap resignation. Step down now, please," said singer-activist Jim Paredes, showing his support for a People Power movement gathered together from a broad spectrum of Filipino society.
Observers in Asia believe that an end to the Estrada era is welcome although stating that he still is very popular among the poor in the Philippines. They believe Estrada's governing style brought the wrath of the rich and powerful in the country that viewed his administration negatively.
However, people gathered at Edsa Shrine at the Ortigas Center, do not possess the same sentiments. To them, the President failed in his duties and did not deliver promises.
The presence of two former presidents of the Philippines, Aquino and Fidel Ramos, as well as current Vice President Arroyo, boosted the opposition and gave people strength to challenge the President.
The military leadership, in a press conference at the Edsa Shrine attended by Aquino and Ramos, acknowledged Arroyo as Estrada's constitutional successor.
AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) head Angelo Reyes stated that the military establishment would stand behind an orderly transfer of power. PNP chief Lacson similarly declared that the police would continue to maintain law and order, despite the huge crowd gatherings.
Arroyo said that "the healing process should now start, now that the armed forces and police and the people are one."
As Estrada seems doomed, the Philippines are entering into a new phase of democratization, an observer told IslamOnline. He added that the week ahead would be crucial on Estrada's future.
He may escape impeachment, but will not escape the wrath of the nation another observer said.
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