MANILA, 26 February 2006 — Former President Fidel V. Ramos yesterday distanced himself from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s government and warned that her declaration of a state of emergency and the consequent media crackdown and warrantless arrests of critics were similar to the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ martial rule.
“I am just saying (that) it’s Marcosian because of the warrantless arrest and the proclamation itself,” said Ramos, whose withdrawal of support for Marcos in 1986 when he was military vice chief of staff helped hasten the dictator’s downfall.
Ramos gave an impromptu press conference after attending a mass at the EDSA Shrine to commemorate the “people power” revolution that toppled Marcos 20 years ago.
Arroyo issued Proclamation 1017 on Friday noon, hours after the military claimed to have foiled a plot to unseat her on persistent allegations that she cheated in the 2004 election.
She said she needed to place the country under a state of emergency, citing “clear and present danger” that the political opposition, along with extreme elements of the political left and right, were determined to bring down the elected government.
Ramos described Proclamation 1017 as “vague and difficult to understand,” adding that it was probably “pre-cooked” and not even submitted to the Cabinet for review.
He said yesterday’s police raid of the office of the pro-opposition newspaper Daily Tribune and warrantless arrests of some of those calling for Arroyo to step down were even worse than what happened during Marcos’ time. He said Marcos at least declared martial law first before interfering with the operations of media.
Ramos warned that the emergency declaration could hurt the economy and scare away foreign investors.
“We are unduly panicking to the discredit of our credit ratings, the peso fell 52 centavos yesterday. I hope it will not fall anymore but as long as that state of national emergency is there, this place will be avoided by our foreign friends.”
Temporary Measure
Director General Arturo Lomibao of the Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday said the “takeover” of the Daily Tribune newspaper was temporary, but warned that the police could also take over media outlets that “will not contribute to stability.”
Under the emergency powers, the government also banned public protests, setting off clashes between riot policemen and protesters marking the 20th anniversary of the “people power” revolt.
Arroyo was herself installed as president in 2001 when her predecessor Joseph Estrada was ousted by a military-civilian uprising.
Lomibao also justified the arrest of Anakpawis Party-list Representative Crispin Beltran and two retired PNP generals — Ramon Montaño and Rex Piad — for allegedly inciting others to rebel against the government.
Rep. Satur Ocampo of the leftist group Bayan Muna managed to elude arrest.
Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim was relieved from his post as commander of the elite First Scout Ranger Regiment for allegedly trying to convince military chief Gen.Generoso Senga to withdraw support from Arroyo.
Another officer, Marine Col. Ariel Querubin, is being investigated on the same charges.
Lomibao claimed that under General Order number 5 issued in the wake of Proclamation 1017, the PNP has a “clear mandate” to “carry out appropriate action and security measures to prevent an escalation of the situation.”
While the military has crushed a plot to unseat Arroyo on Friday, Lomibao said “some people responsible for it are still out there.”
Playing Favorites
While saying his support for Arroyo was “waning,” Ramos’ statements yesterday showed a total withdrawal of support.
Ramos played a crucial role in standing by Arroyo in July when other allies, including former Cabinet members, had turned against her, calling on Arroyo to resign. But he has also disagreed with her on other issues in recent months.
Asked yesterday if he would support any effort to oust Arroyo, Ramos replied: “I will oppose violence because in the end, it is the poor people who will suffer.”
But he said he was invited to Malacañang Palace on Friday and he declined. “I said I am sorry. Wag na lang (No more),” he said, adding that he didn’t want to be used to prop up an increasingly unpopular administration.
Ramos said it would be an understatement to describe Arroyo as being “stubborn.”
Ramos added that the president’s move of trying to reach out to the military by providing benefits such as allowances and housing was not helping any.
He said the president seemed to be playing favorites, especially in her plan to give 1,600 hectares of land to soldiers. The former leader said the president was widening the gap between her and the landless people and the civilians and the soldiers.
Badge of Honor
Ramos also lamented the arrest of those who called for Arroyo to step down, but added that it would be “a badge of honor to be arrested “under these circumstances.”
He assured that he would help secure the release of Montaño, whom he described as one of his most able generals when he was chief of the defunct Philippine Constabulary and Integrated National Police.
Montaño and Piad were arrested while playing golf in Dasmariñas town in Cavite province, south of Manila, while Congressman Beltran was on his way to a family outing in San Jose del Monte town in Bulacan province, north of the capital.
Lomibao said Beltran also had an outstanding warrant of arrest for inciting to rebellion in 1985. Beltran’s lawyer, Romeo Capulong, claimed that the case was dropped in 1986 after democracy was restored in the country.
Cardinal Rosales
Ramos conferred with former President Corazon Aquino, who also attended the mass at the EDSA Shrine.
Aquino reiterated her statement on Friday that Arroyo’s drift to strongman rule was not the answer to the country’s problems. She said Arroyo needs to step down because she has lost her credibility to govern as a result of her alleged cheating in the election.
Arroyo’s allies in the House of Representatives, using technicalities, defeated attempts by the opposition to impeach her.
Aquino said Arroyo’s recent action further defeated the gains won by the Filipino people in mounting the bloodless People Power Revolution. Aquino was propelled to power in the four-day February 1986 uprising when Marcos was forced to flee as millions of people took to the streets to rally behind Ramos and then Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and a few hundreds soldiers who rebelled against the dictatorship.
“Let’s remember how we all worked hard in order to restore our democracy, and I hope that we can all work together to preserve and strengthen that democracy,” she said.
Aside from Aquino and Ramos, among those who attended the mass were former Vice President Teofisto Guingona, and other opposition leaders.
Manila's archbishop, Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales, said in his homily during the mass that the path to freedom was not easy and that complete freedom would only come “after a long purification process.”
He also lamented that military adventurism had risked the country’s place in the community of nations and resulted in the devaluation of the peso. But he also urged the country’s leaders to put an end to corrupt practices.
‘Go to Court’
Arroyo's aides yesterday challenged critics of the proclamation to go to court.
“Those who feel aggrieved have recourse to the courts, which are open and continue to operate,” Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said yesterday.
“The president vows to limit the exercise of her powers to those that are necessary to contain the threats to national security,” he said. “The objective is to preserve the Constitution, defend the rule of law, prevent violence and disorder.”
Presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor said the emergency declaration was not an overreaction, but rather a preemptive move that prevented possible violence and bloodshed.
“It’s very clear, there was an attempt, somebody was arrested, how can they say we overreacted?” Defensor said, responding to Ramos’ statement.
Arroyo’s political adviser Gabriel Claudio said Proclamation 1017 was in accord with the constitution. “There is no overkill in that. How can it be an overkill when the president has endured and tolerated all the seditious indignity, abuse, and destabilization thrown against her and the state for a long time now?” he added. Claudio said his office has sent Ramos documents explaining the basis and circumstances behind the proclamation.
House of Representatives
Meanwhile, an opposition leader said the House of Representatives should first be furnished copies of warrants of arrest for its lawmakers whose alleged offenses were punishable by an imprisonment of six years or more before they could be arrested.
Minority Floor Leader Francis Escudero said that this was what he, Speaker Jose de Venecia, and other House leaders agreed on in a meeting, hours after the arrest of Representative Beltran. Escudero said the opposition bloc would provide a lawyer for Beltran.
He said that under the Philippine Constitution no arrest could be made on lawmakers, whose cases were punishable by an imprisonment of six years and below, when Congress is in session.
“There has to be a proper procedure so the police could not just strike anywhere and arrest members of the opposition group,” he said. (With reports from Inquirer News Service & Agencies)
