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By Atty. Emmanuel Q. Fernando, Lawyer and
Manila Times columnist
What is the state of the nation’s political
life? As President Gloria Arroyo nears the end of her presidency,
speculations abound as to how she will spend her last two years in
office.
To my mind, three motivations, not necessarily
compatible with each other and not all of which are beneficial to
the nation, guide her.
If she chooses rightly, she may be remembered
with fondness by the nation, despite her past misdeeds; however, if
she once again decides contrary to the nation’s interests, God
bless her soul as she will most certainly be charged with plunder
and corruption the moment she steps out of office.
The first motivation concerns her legacy to the
Filipino people. There is no doubt that she dearly wants to be
remembered well, and this may be enough for her to institute tough,
beneficial and necessary policies for the nation’s welfare.
The second is to ensure a new administration
sympathetic to her. She most definitely knows that if the opposition
ends up in power, criminal Sandiganbayan cases for corruption and
plunder will be filed left and right against her. There is thus a
need to ensure the victory of a presidential candidate who will
protect her interests.
This is precisely why I do not have high hopes
about Comelec reform. A new administration loyal and beholden to her
is more important than an accurate vote. Right at this point
therefore, the conflict between ensuring an honest vote or a
friendly new administration surfaces.
The third motivation involves the amassing of
wealth. She needs a war chest to prepare her for when she is no
longer in power and her enemies are out to get her.
Moreover, there are the children to look after.
The family must not lose their political power base and that means
money to finance their election into office and the continuation of
their domination of local politics.
There is much Mrs. Arroyo can do as President;
however, her hands are tied. She will avoid a life in prison at all
costs. Thus, no matter how high in her scale of values the welfare
of the Filipino people is, I fear she will always choose her own
survival above everything else.
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