Tordesillas: FVR's support for Arroyo unprincipled

I find the justification of former President Ramos of his support for Gloria Arroyo unprincipled.

In a speech before three major business groups last week, former President Ramos explained his support for Gloria Arroyo: "If I have been supportive of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, it is only secondary and incidental since there is no other better alternative right now."

The problem with Ramos is that he wants to be the alternative.

Ramos’ problem is that Arroyo does not want to be out of power to protect herself for the crimes she has committed. And he is not acceptable to the opposition.

That is why Ramos is pushing for charter change. He has said it time and again that he is not interested to be prime minister under a parliamentary form of government but nobody believes him. People put more weight to his body language than his words.

Last July 7, the day before he came to Arroyo’s rescue while her decent allies were abandoning her, Ramos presented before a Rotary Club meeting a "graceful exit" for Arroyo. He proposed the establishment "as soon as possible" of a High Commission composed of seven respected leaders to examine constitutional, judicial, economic and social reforms.

Simultaneous to the High Commission, Congress should transform themselves into a Constituent Assembly to study major amendments to the Constitution.

In Ramos timetable, by Nov. 1 (which is next week), the Con Ass should be able to come up with major amendments particularly a shift to parliamentary system of government. By Dec. 1, the High Commission should be ready to submit its recommendations to the Con Ass. By Jan. 1, 2006, a new Constitution should be ready to be submitted to a plebiscite to be held 45 days after or not later than Feb. 14, 2006. By March 1, the new Constitution should be in place.

Elections would be scheduled on May 15 and there should be a new leader by June 30, 2006.

Arroyo was aware of this when she welcomed Ramos with open arms in Malacañang on July 8. In fact, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, who is identified with Ramos, said that Arroyo was considering the proposal.

Aside from the fact that FVR’s timetable is already outdated, Malacañang is now singing a different tune. More than a week ago, Rep. Ronaldo Puno, president of Arroyo’s Kampi, questioned House Speaker Jose De Venecia’s eagerness to include in the agenda of the proposed Con Ass the abbreviation of Arroyo’s term. They succeeded in including in the proposed amendments that "the incumbent shall serve as prime minister and concurrently as President under the new Constitution until her term expires on June 30, 2010."

Still, Puno is making intelligible noise about the Committee report 1065 recommending the convening of Congress into Con Ass being unclear about post-2010. Does he want assurance that Arroyo is not barred from remaining in power beyond 2010?

But one thing is clear: GMA has put one over FVR. That must have pricked his wily pride. That’s why he is again making slight jabs while saying that he is still supporting her.

I said FVR support of Arroyo is unprincipled because he wants us to forget the basic issue that Arroyo is an illegitimate occupant of Malacañang. She didn’t win the 2004 elections. Therefore, she has no right to be president even for a minute. Add to that are the many crimes that she has committed to cover up the illegitimacy of her presidency.

To give Arroyo a graceful exit is to tell the world that in the Philippines, crime pays.

From Ellen Tordesillas.

I agree. Here's what I think of FVR's scheme.