MANILA, 6 October 2003 — Opposition politicians yesterday called President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo “a liar” for breaking a public pledge not to run in next year’s presidential elections, and predicted she would be trounced by Filipino voters who value word of honor.
Arroyo ended months of intense speculation Saturday when she announced before a large crowd in her northern home province of Pampanga that she was deferring her Dec. 30 pledge to retire from politics when her term ends on June 30.
“It’s bad to lie. We should set an example to our people, especially to children,” said Rep. Carlos Padilla, an opposition leader in the House of Representatives. “If you want to violate your word, you can always offer 1,001 reasons.”
Arroyo’s announcement is expected to set off intense political infighting in this impoverished Southeast Asian nation known for its rowdy politics. It has also raised concerns of possible delays in government-proposed legislation — including the approval of next year’s national budget — because of closer scrutiny by opposition legislators.
Sen. Edgardo Angara, president of the opposition LDP party, said Arroyo fooled Filipinos with “a masquerade, a charade,” and predicted she would lose in the May elections. A party member, Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, said her changed decision would turn off a lot of Filipinos, who value honesty.
Former Sen. Raul Roco, who has emerged as a strong presidential contender in popularity surveys, said Arroyo’s credibility would suffer. He urged Filipinos to guard against Arroyo’s possible use of government resources and funds in early campaigning.
“Does she deserve the people’s trust after showing she has no word of honor?,” asked opposition Rep. Gilbert Remulla of Cavite province.
Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said Arroyo expected such attacks, but put more weight on the country’s welfare when she decided to run.
“I changed my mind because there is a higher cause to change society in a way that it flourishes our future,” Arroyo said Saturday. The political neophyte said she’d gained experience necessary for reforms, citing her administration’s accomplishments in fighting drug and crime syndicates, poverty and high-level graft, as well as seeking peace with Muslim and communist rebels.
Political and financial market analysts gave mixed reactions.
Malaysia ambassador to Manila Mohamed Taufik said that if Arroyo won a second term “there will be consistency in approach for the peace talks” with the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
“I think it is good that this decision has finally been made. It would quickly eliminate the guess work,” said Guillermo Luz, executive director of the influential Makati Business Club, adding Arroyo’s announcement gives Filipinos more time to weigh their electoral choices. “It’s her prerogative, it’s allowed by the constitution, but at the end of the day, the people will be the ones to make their choice. She’s standing for elections, she’s not automatically extending her term.”
If Arroyo wins, businessmen would expect “regular, consistent performance” from her, he said.
Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) president Donald Dee said the move could stabilize financial markets.
“This is already expected. She just made it official. We welcome the announcement,” he said.
Others were less optimistic.
“This now opens the way to mudslinging, more exposes and scandals against her which would affect the market, depending on the gravity,” said Jose Emmanuel Hilado, president of ACI Philippines, a group of foreign exchange dealers.
“Politics is going to be really dirty in the next few months,” said Joseph Roxas, president of Eagle Equities.
A government statement said a “random survey” conducted immediately after the announcement showed that many believe that Arroyo “needs more time to serve” to complete her reforms.
“The president must be given time to accomplish her job,” the statement quoted cigarette vendor Lina Sumoy of the southern city of General Santos as saying. “She’s doing well.”
Analysts were divided on whether Arroyo’s political fate was doomed or not.
Mahar Mangahas, head of the private research firm, Social Weather Stations, said the public had already discounted the fact that Arroyo would change her mind.
“The important thing now is for her to show that she can implement the reforms she promised,” he noted.
Harry Roque, a law professor, warned that many Filipinos might not be able to accept why Arroyo did not keep her word despite the president’s explanation. “Word of honor is very important to the Filipino culture,” he said. “Many are sad and even mad that she did not keep her word, and she has to address that.”
The constitution allows presidents to serve only one term. But Arroyo, elected vice president in 1998, can seek her own six-year term because she took power when President Joseph Estrada was forced to resign amid massive anti-corruption protests she helped lead on Jan. 20, 2001.
Arroyo, a 56-year-old US-educated economist valued by Washington for her staunch backing of its global war on terror, surprised the nation when she said in December she would not run, expecting that would ease the crippling political divisiveness in the country and allow her to focus on reforms and solving the country’s problems.
But political and security problems have dogged her administration.
In July, she faced down a failed mutiny by about 300 soldiers who accused her government and the military of corruption. She said the short-lived uprising was part of a larger coup conspiracy.
Arroyo has also been hurt by corruption charges against her husband, lawyer Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, and troubled by reports of continuing restiveness in the military, and what she called intense politicking by the opposition.
The daughter of late President Diosdado Macapagal, Arroyo has taken a beating in recent surveys, with one independent poll in September showing her popularity plunging to its lowest level.
