Time is up

Everything has a beginning and an end. Your president should come to terms with the possibility of resigning from office. Resignation is an honorable thing to do rather than stick to a much-maligned office. But GMA will never resign.

As the people would clamor for the president to step down, she would all the more turn blind and deaf to these cries of protest. She would consolidate her power by giving bribes to her minions in the Senate and in the House. She would sow discord among the assembly of Catholic bishops. She would continue her policy of militarization in the countryside. She would paint a scenario that her government is in danger of a communist conspiracy. She would ensure the loyalty of the police and the military by assigning retired officials to government agencies. She would try to influence or even control media to stifle and silence opposition. In doing so, she would earn the fury of the people who will not be satisfied of getting rid of her by violent means. The people would like that heads roll, not just the head of GMA; those who supported the regime would also face their wrath. In short and ironically, she would create the perfect condition for a revolution.

Of course, the latter is an obvious exaggeration although it appeals to those who would like real change to happen, to the left who are still dreaming of Mao’s success in Jiangxi; to the anarchists who are against any form of domination; and to the rightists who would want to install a military junta.

Launching another “People Power” revolution is no revolution at all. The two EDSAs were sad testimonies to their failure of reforming Philippine society. Replacing leadership with another in a rotten system is not enough for as long as the roots of evil, avarice and greed are there, a good president will ultimately succumb to their snares.

Arroyo, however, from the outset, was corrupt. Thus, it is understandable that she did not accept the call of JDV for a moral revolution. That she would allow cheating to happen to ensure her presidency was another sign of her immorality. That she would conspire in 2001 with power-hungry elements to grab the presidency showed how patently ambitious she was in her desire to get Malacañang.

Let her go mad as she clings to her position amid seemingly loyal followers scheming behind her back. Then, Estrada would get his sweet revenge if that plot succeeds. Nevertheless, the people, the masses should be wary and vigilant about personalities who would ride on their sentiments so that, in the end, they will be the ones duped and taken advantage of. If that happens, a repeat of the last EDSA, no one should get the blame but us.

Arroyo’s clock would want to tick beyond 2010. Yet, the people knew that her time is up.

Published in People's Digest Newsweekly, Dagupan City, 11-17 March 2008