Protests Mark Philippines President Arroyo's Torrid First Year

by Ma Nguyen Tong

27-1-2002

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo marked her first year in power on January 20, 2002, hounded by protests over the Philippines' ailing economy and her decision to allow US to leand troops ostensibly in efforts to crush Muslim extremist separatists in the country's south as part of the war against terrorism. Most ordinary Filipinos, however,have seen this move as the beginning of the political and economic neocolonisation of the country. Many of the protesters were former allies who helped topple then-president Joseph Estrada from power over alleged corruption, ushering in the second presidency via "people power" revolt in 15 years.

"Only the faces have changed," said protest leader Teodoro Casino. "Every day, the people are finding more reasons to regret giving Arroyo the presidency."

Mrs Arroyo told reporters after attending Mass: "I will dedicate the second year of my term to the workers. They will serve as our inspiration."

She pledged to reduce poverty within 10 years by pursuing open-market economic policies she said would lead to job creation.

Mrs Arroyo visited a sprawling northern Manila squatter colony in the afternoon as about 500 left-wing protesters marched on Manila's Malacanang presidential palace, accusing her of selling out to the US and of being no better than Estrada. Riot police and troops secured the palace and a "people power" shrine where Mrs Arroyo attended the anniversary Mass, which was kept low-key to avoid provoking Estrada's mostly poor followers.

Hundreds of left-wing labourers and activists, carrying Mrs Arroyo's effigy, marched towards the presidential palace, retracing the steps they took in 2001 as Estrada abandoned the seat of power through a back door. Below Mrs Arroyo's effigy, placed on a mock throne emblazoned with a US flag, hung a sign that read "traitor".

But she received encouragement from former president Corazon Aquino.

"I am a fan of President Arroyo. We have many problems but she is doing her best to address them," Mrs Aquino said.

Much of the criticism against Mrs Arroyo centred on the country's appalling poverty - that afflicts 40 per cent of 77 million Filipinos and mainly caused by the stealing of the nation's wealth by the oppressively corrupt economic and political elite of Arroyo is part - delays in Estrada's corruption trial, widespread crime, failure to heal political divisions and her approval of US military involvement in the war against Abu Sayyaf separatists in the south.

The latter has estranged her from the left-of-centre groups that had been a crucial element of her support base. The US has been providing weapons and troops to Filipino troops waging a massive offensive in the 30-year civil war against the Abu Sayyaf, who were holding a US couple and a Filipino nurse hostage on Basilan Island.

The United States claimed group has been linked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda terrorist network, but most Filipinos know this to be not true. Mrs Arroyo also permitted armed US special forces, who are joining what was described as a "joint military exercise", to enter combat zones in the war against the Abu Sayyaf. That drew concerns over violations of the constitution, which forbids foreign troops from engaging in local combat.

Mrs Arroyo also has been dogged by reports of destabilisation plots by opposition groups linked to Estrada. She said on January 20 that attempts to oust her would not succeed. Asked for a message to Estrada's supporters, Mrs Arroyo said: "For the hard-core ones . . . don't waste your effort."

The most serious of those plots took place in May 2001, when thousands of impoverished Estrada followers tried to storm the presidential palace. At least six people were killed in the rioting, which Mrs Arroyo said was a failed power grab.

She said she would celebrate her rise to power by continuing visits to shanty towns, stressing that photographers would be barred. Critics claimed Mrs Arroyo had set her sights on the 2004 presidential election instead of focusing on her country's woes. And after tasting the lucrative fruits of power, why should she not?