Arroyo loses another Cabinet minister

[dArKeR]

Another Cabinet member said yesterday he resigned irrevocably as Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo grappled with a political crisis fueled by allegations she rigged last year's closely contested elections.

Silvestre Afable became the 11th Cabinet member to quit during the six-week crisis, leaving his job as Arroyo's communications director without publicly explaining his decision.

But Afable said he would stay on as chief government negotiator in peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, a large Muslim group fighting for an independent Islamic homeland in the southern Philippines.

"I will continue to be chief negotiator but no longer in the Cabinet as communications director," Afable said without elaborating yesterday.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2005/07/18/2003264016

[dArKeR]

1. The Philippines rues its chronic political crisis

If there is one ray of light in the protracted political turmoil besetting the Philippines it is that, thus far, the situation has remained peaceful. Just how tense things have become is reflected in a recent statement of a close adviser to beleaguered President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who told foreign correspondents that we are "one notch short of getting violent."

With both sides mobilizing their supporters for huge demonstrations, even a minor incident could turn into a full blown vicious outburst. Such a violent escalation could, in turn, become the pretext for the military to step in and restore "law and order." This, I hasten to add, is a worst case scenario. The fact that it is hardly debated publicly may indicate that it is not considered a likely development.

One-and-a-half months after audio tapes surfaced allegedly showing Arroyo cheated her way into office, the political crisis in the Philippines has entered a new stage. While in the early weeks of the turmoil the political momentum for the president to resign grew, Arroyo's position was stabilized when the Roman Catholic hierarchy publicly stated it would not join the clamor and the military also refrained from getting involved. Considering the very negative mood earlier, the neutrality of two key players blew new life into the besieged presidency.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2005/07/19/2003264154