| Yearend Report |
| An alternative in the United Opposition |
| Jennee Grace U. Rubrico | January 2, 2001 |
After Ms. Arroyo's resignation as Social Welfare and Development secretary last Oct. 12 after Mr. Estrada was tagged by former friend Ilocos Sur governor Luis "Chavit" Singson to big-time illegal gambling payoffs, anti-Estrada organizations, which began early this year with the short-lived Exclamation Point Movement, took a more active role in reviving the street parliament - last seen during days before the ouster of the late strongman Ferdinand E. Marcos.
Between October and November, civic, nongovernmental and multisectoral organizations, as well as erstwhile political rivals, who all believed Mr. Estrada "lost his moral ascendancy to govern," form a stronger political opposition.
Their common goal: to oust the President, who has been impeached by the House of Representatives on charges of bribery, graft and corruption, cronyism, and culpable violation of the Constitution, and install Ms. Arroyo in his place.
With the help of Manila Archbishop Jaime L. Cardinal Sin, businessmen and former presidents Corazon C. Aquino and Fidel V. Ramos, the opposition organized perhaps some of the biggest anti-administration rallies to pressure Mr. Estrada to resign.
First, the united opposition formed a loose coalition of political parties which endorsed Ms. Arroyo's leadership.
Another group - Kongreso ng Mamamayang Pilipino (Kompil) II - is an umbrella grouping composed of more than 60 organizations moderate forces. It claims to be a more and organized version of Kompil I, which started the People Power Revolution that led to the ouster of Mr. Marcos in 1986.
Meanwhile, the third organization is composed of activist group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and its affiliate organizations such the College Editors Guild of the Philippines, the Anakbayan.
Both Kompil II and Bayan also recognize Ms. Arroyo as the Constitutional successor. The three groups seek Mr. Estrada's removal either by impeachment or resignation.
For this year, the opposition vowed a "more aggressive, more creative and different" kind of protest movements.
In a telephone interview with BusinessWorld, Bayan secretary-general Teodoro Casino said if Mr. Estrada is acquitted in the impeachment trial, the administration should expect more rallies and mobilizations.
"An acquittal is unacceptable to the people because the people no longer have confidence in the Estrada administration. An acquittal will not help stabilize the economy."
He said the first quarter will determine the tone of protest movements for the rest of the year as "critical turning points" will unfold.
"The first quarter, maybe up to the middle of February, will be a major turning point because of the impeachment decision and because of more exposes regarding (Mr.) Estrada's anomalies. This is really the critical period. This means that after New Year's day, we will be back on the streets."
For their part, Kompil II convenor Robert Reyes, S. J., said they will have a "different kind of protest movement, which will be more creative, more aggressive and which will have a different presentation."
He said Kompil II needs to be more creative as former activists who are now part of the administration, can easily predict the opposition's next moves.
"We need to review our moves because we see that our friends in the Cabinet can easily read our minds because they were once with us. Now, we will have to sit down and be more sophisticated than these paid higher links."
The "new moves" may include measures which the administration may perceive to be unconstitutional.
Bayan, for instance, will go to the extent of implementing work stoppages. Mr. Casino said businessmen know that if Mr. Estrada is not pressured to resign, the economy will be paralyzed for the next four years. "Better to sacrifice now than to be paralyzed for four years."
For Kompil II, civil disobedience is an option. "We (Kompil II) are all committed to active nonviolence- If extra-Constitution means the parliament of the streets, that's the one we have to strengthen now. Civil disobedience is not unconstitutional. Like, should we pay taxes if we know that these are going to the pockets of politicians?" Mr. Reyes said.
"It is only the spiel of the government that civil disobedience is illegal because the government will use laws to protect its corrupt practices, " he added.
The groups have also vowed not to help the Estrada administration in any way.
"We have burned our bridges long ago. We will not help the government, not under his administration. Besides, the problem will not be solved if he remains in power," Mr. Casino said.
In an interview with BusinessWorld, Kompil II convenor and Mindanao War Victims head Datu Haj Ansari D. Alonto said helping Mr. Estrada would be "an exercise in futility."
Mr. Reyes said if the economy continues to collapse, Mr. Estrada has no one to blame but himself.
This is a view shared by Ms. Arroyo.
Speaking for the united opposition, Ms. Macapagal-Arroyo said in a response sent by facsimile to BusinessWorld, mass rallies are consequences, rather than causes, of the political and economic crises.
"Mass rallies- are mere reactions to the economic slowdown and hardships induced by bad governance. What we have is clearly a political problem that requires a political solution. To invigorate the economy, we must replace the present bad governance with a good one."
Ms. Arroyo said the united opposition will "heed the people's voice" as regards the next moves in case Mr. Estrada is acquitted.
And if Mr. Estrada is convicted, Ms. Arroyo said she is ready to take over the presidency.
"I have assumed the vice-presidency with the frame of mind that I would be acting as a spare tire to the President. In this regard, I have always been ready to take over from President Estrada."
She said her administration will ensure free enterprise, a sectoral bias for the poor, modernize the agricultural sector through social equity, and adopt high moral standards in government.
She said a list has been drawn up for vital positions in her Cabinet. "Suffice it to say that they would be recruited on the basis of competence, track record and moral integrity."
As for returning stability, Ms. Arroyo said the government must first regain the people's trust through effective governance.
"This (new) governance is clearly different from the kind of government which we now have and which have lost civil and business confidence due to serious charges of corruption, cronyism, and immorality. Good governance is based on transparency, a sound moral foundation and an ethic of effective implementation."
There should also be a "clear signal of a level playing field," a "stable, competent, and capable political leadership," and "full partnership in governance between elected officials and leaders of various sectors of society."
Ms. Arroyo said power sharing, or giving key positions to politicians belonging to the incumbent administration party, is also an option, but only after it is determined, "through careful study and consultations, what arrangement can provide for a most effective government."
Most importantly, Ms. Arroyo said her program of governance will have as its core a national agenda based on "active consultations and interactions with the different sectors of society."
For Kompil II and Bayan, both have expressed willingness to work with Ms. Arroyo, and have even submitted to her their respective agenda.
Mr. Alonto of Kompil II said, "We will help the next administration. We will give our assistance even if they do not need us, we will still tell them what is right and what is wrong."
Though more cautious, Bayan has said it is "open" to working with Ms. Arroyo. "Right now, we have touched base with the united opposition for a post-Erap agenda, and we are hoping to work together on some reforms, which we have presented in the 20-point agenda. This, in a sense, will stabilize the economy," Mr. Casino said.
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