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Arroyo should do what's right
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Thu, Mar 06, 2008
The Straits Times
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TH | E growing economy is the one factor that could help Philippine President Gloria Arroyo ride out a storm swirling over corruption disclosures. She has survived impeachment attempts and military rebellion since taking office in 2001, but the kickbacks allegations have been hard to shake off. People power to effect change this time appears less powerful than in 2005, when it prompted 10 Cabinet members to resign. Forcing her out might undermine the economy, which grew 7.3 per cent last year, the highest in 30 years. Inflation has been at its lowest since 1986, averaging 2.5 per cent yearly during her tenure. The peso reached an eight-year high against the US dollar last week. Foreign investment has held up, but may sour if instability worsens. The business community has expressed support for her. She has argued persuasively to have the economy placed above partisanship.
But Mrs Arroyo will have more credibility if she helps Senate and court inquiries get to the bottom of a broadband contract procurement scandal that has implicated her husband. Her name has been dragged in. Her surprise move yesterday to remove an executive order barring officials from testifying at legislative hearings is a step in the right direction. Resorting to dividing her opponents is going against her own exhortation to not put politics above everything else. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines - which reportedly shares in the revenues of state-run lotteries - has not asked for her resignation. But individual bishops, priests and nuns have joined the protests, and more might do so if she persists in ignoring calls to be forthcoming. The Church's ability to lend success to the two previous people power revolts must weigh heavily on her mind. She has also been careful to keep the military on her side. It pledged to uphold the Constitution as thousands of demonstrators marched in Manila last Friday. A senior officer observed that they were not necessarily representative of the country's 90 million people.
However, true leadership should prompt Mrs Arroyo to remain in power not by doing what is politically expedient, but what is right. Leveraging on her economic achievements, she has a chance to strengthen the weak political institutions - executive responsibility, bureaucratic accountability and rule of law. Instead of defaulting to the usual patronage politics, she can choose to rise above the complex web of family and social ties that traditionally has sustained the ruling elite. Such loyalties and obligations trump formal and legal requirements, leading to a culture of impunity and corruption. By being ready to confront wrongdoing openly and impartially, she would help ensure both political stability and economic prosperity.
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