How GMA will cling to power

Friday, 05 February 2010 08:46 PM Megan Flores

The people need to wake up to the obvious schemes of the current administration to perpetuate itself in power. Time and again, through the past nine years under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA), we were exposed to some of the most incredible transgressions – political, economic, social, you name it – and yet, through sheer chutzpah she’s been able to wrangle her way out of them. If we allow ourselves to get distracted by the colorful flurry of the election season, we might turn around afterwards to find the same diminutive President very much alive and, well, kicking on the face of democracy.

Her latest charm offensive with the media is part of her efforts to not just mend fences with the press in the remaining months of her presidency; it is a last-ditch effort to save her image and advertise her achievements for posterity. But many sectors rightfully believe it is already too late, so much damage has been done. No matter what she does, she won’t be able to prevent herself from going down in history as one of the most corrupt and long hated leaders of our country.

Nevertheless, being brilliantly manipulative, her plan to run for Congress in her hometown Pampanga can be her way to escape prosecution, and eventually be the House speaker where she can ram through Charter Change. She may very well succeed, if the recent petition made by Akbayan Representative Risa Hontiveros to the Supreme Court to bar Arroyo from running will be denied.

Inquirer columnist Conrado de Quiros aptly describes her level of corruption: “a greed so clasping, grasping, and clutching that nothing is too low for her to stoop down to.” And yes, this includes not just her run for Congress, but her desire to continue her governance indefinitely. Let’s all keep in mind that this is the same GMA who vowed “I will not run” in the 2004 elections, an act of brazen lying that has since been the policy of her administration in addressing her numerous sins.

“As she has done in the past, she can use the entire resources and machinery of the State to influence the result of the elections or to give herself undue advantage,” Hontiveros warned.

Those who are not blinded by GMA’s charms see what really goes on behind the massive government-funded public relations efforts touting her achievements. They see what really goes on behind her appointment of officials with tenures extending beyond June 30, 2010, as if she hasn’t had enough of how nepotism can turn tragically ugly that way it did in her relationship with the Ampatuans of Maguindanao.

And let us see as well the things that the Comelec is doing. There are only three months to go before the May 10 polls but still the automated election system and its tests are marked by delays and failure. Comelec Chair Jose Melo has acknowledged the possibility that “there will be areas in the country that will have no Precint Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines and the elections there will be counted manually.” Chances are, these areas will be GMA-friendly no doubt. If the critical period set by the Comelec passes without perfecting the automated elections process, it’s another proof that this administration will do its best to railroad democracy and stay in power at all cost. It’s time for the people to not just see, but act.

Modern mom to four kids, Megan takes pride and finds joy in being a stay-at-home mom. She is a graduate of Communication Arts with a post-grad degree in Bachelor of Laws, but has put her career in government service temporarily on hold to personally take care of her growing children. Megan blogs at Over A Cup of Coffee.