Presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Encyclopedia
The Presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
spans from January 20, 2001 to June 30, 2010. Her term ended on June 30, 2010, pursuant to the provisions of the 1987 constitution
.
assumed the presidency on January 20, 2001, following the 2nd EDSA revolution that ousted democratically-elected President Joseph Estrada. As she anticipated this event, she told Time International in a November 2000 interview that she planned to look to two predecessors as examples: "I will follow my father's footsteps in doing what is right, and God will take care of the rest. My father is my role model. My living role model is Cory Aquino. I am prepared."
Although her recent predecessors had lived outside Malacañang Palace
, Macapagal-Arroyo opted to return to her girlhood home. The new president faced numerous challenges, including an unstable economy and violent protests launched by Estrada's supporters. She was also accused of providing special treatment to the jailed former president. On May 27, 2001, Islamic militants abducted 20 hostages at a resort in the province
of Palawan
, and Macapagal-Arroyo was thrust into the ongoing battle between the Philippine government and the rebel forces, known as Abu Sayyaf. Several other kidnappings by various criminal gangs followed. Macapagal-Arroyo officially adopted a hardline "no ransom" response to the rebels and launched military operations against them. Her administration was embarrassed, however, when it was revealed that several of the hostages families paid ransom to the kidnappers directly, with some claiming that Philippine military officers received a portion of the funds. The Macapagal-Arroyo administration received another black mark when Mike Arroyo was accused of receiving bribes from a telecommunications company seeking government-approved contracts.
On the economic front, Macapagal-Arroyo developed a blueprint
to lift the Philippines
out of its financial crisis
. In 2002, looking back on her first year as president, she cited the country's economic survival as her greatest achievement, although she remained well aware that much work lay ahead, according to The Power and the Glory. "We have been able to survive, to have a higher growth rate than our neighbors," she said. "I dwell on what must be done. I am a very focused person. I don't focus on laurels, on feeling secure, feeling comfortable. Even on the day I was sworn in as president, I didn't say, 'Wow, I am now president,' I said, 'What should I do now?' "
Despite the obstacles and various charges of impropriety directed at those close to her, Macapagal-Arroyo was elected to a full six-year presidential term in May 2004. She edged out her closest competitor, Filipino actor Fernando Poe Jr., by only one million votes. In her inaugural address, Macapagal-Arroyo vowed to create up to 10 million jobs in the next six years, balance the budget, improve tax collection, provide inexpensive medicine for the poor, and unite the country. "Our nation must embrace a vision of economic opportunity, social cohesion and always an everdemocratic faith," she stated, as quoted in the July 1, 2004, edition of the International Herald Tribune.
Macapagal-Arroyo made international headlines in July after a Filipino driver was kidnapped by militant rebels in war-torn Iraq. In defiance of the United States government's requests, Macapagal-Arroyo honored the rebels' demands to pull all Filipino troops out of the country. Later that month, she called for an end to political in-fighting in her own nation in order to turn the focus to economic recovery. After former president Estrada declared the Philippines a "nation in distress," as reported on CNN.com on July 23, 2004, Macapagal-Arroyo stated in a State of the Nation address, "Let us set aside political bickering and politicking for at least one year." She also used the address to reiterate her pledge to relieve poverty and promote economic growth.
:
Arroyo's ascent to the Philippine presidency in 2001 is mired in controversy as much as the ouster of her predecessor with which it is intertwined. On January 20, 2001, after days of political turmoil and popular revolt, the Supreme Court declared the presidency vacant. The military and the national police had earlier withdrawn their support for Estrada. At noon, Arroyo was sworn in as President of the Philippines by Chief Justice
Hilario Davide, Jr.
Coincidentally, Arroyo assumed office the same day as US President
George W. Bush
.
While the local media and its proponents hailed EDSA II as another peaceful "People Power," international views expressed through foreign media described it as a "conspiracy" to oust Estrada and install Arroyo as president. The New York Times reported that Southeast Asia-based political economist William Overholt called it a "either being called mob rule or mob rule as a cover for a well- planned coup." The International Herald Tribune
reports how the "opportunist coalition of church, business elite and left... orchestrated the 'People Power II movement." On Arroyo's proclamation as President, Former Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew
opined that there is "an assumption of power here which isn't in the constitution."
Weeks later, Estrada filed a lawsuit challenging the legal basis of the Arroyo presidency and insisting he remained the lawful president, though adding he would not try to reclaim his post. The Supreme Court
issued its decision on March 2, 2001, asserting that Estrada had resigned the presidency and relinquished his post. The court unanimously voted to dismiss Estrada's petition, reaffirming the legitimacy of Arroyo's presidency.
On May 1, 2001, a week after Estrada was arrested on charges of plunder, an estimated 3,000,000 protesters sympathetic to Estrada degenerated into violence and attempted to storm the presidential palace
to force Arroyo from office. Four people died, including two policemen, and more than 100 were wounded in clashes between security forces and rioters. After being dispersed the crowd had looted stores and burned cars. Arroyo declared a 'state of rebellion' in Manila
and ordered the arrests of opposition leaders who led the uprising and conspired to topple the government. The state of rebellion was lifted one week later, with Arroyo declaring "the disorder has subsided".
Support for the opposition and Estrada subsequently dwindled after the victory of administration allied candidates in the midterm elections
that was held later that month. Arroyo outlined her vision for the country as "building a strong republic" throughout her tenure. Her agenda consists of building up a strong bureaucracy, lowering crime rates, increasing tax collection, improving economic growth, and intensifying counter-terrorism efforts.
on May 14, 2001 - four months after Arroyo took office. Independent senatorial candidate Noli de Castro
, a former television anchor of TV Patrol of ABS-CBN
was announced as the topnotcher. This is the first synchronized national and local elections held after the ouster of Former President Joseph Estrada
in January due to a military-backed civilian uprising (popularly known as EDSA II). On February 20, 2007, the Supreme Court of the Philippines
ruled that Former Senator Gregorio Honasan lost in the 2001 Philippine elections and lost to Sen. Ralph Recto
but declared constitutional the special election for the remaining three-year term of Teofisto Guingona.
on July 27, 2003. A group of 321 armed soldiers who called themselves "Bagong Katipuneros" led by Army Capt. Gerardo Gambala and Lt.
Antonio Trillanes IV
of the Philippine Navy
took over the Oakwood Premier Ayala Center (now Ascott Makati) serviced apartment tower in Makati City
to show the Filipino people
the alleged corruption of the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration. They also stated that they saw signs suggesting that the President was going to declare martial law
.
bars a president from reelection, it allows for the election of a person who has succeeded as president and has served for not more than four years. In December 2002, Arroyo made the surprise announcement that she would not seek a new term in the Philippine general election, 2004
. Ten months later, however, she reversed her position and declared her intention to seek a direct mandate from the people, saying "there is a higher cause to change society... in a way that nourishes our future".
Arroyo faced a tough election campaign in early 2004 against Estrada friend and popular actor Fernando Poe, Jr.
, senator and former police general Panfilo Lacson
, former senator Raul Roco
, and Christian evangelist Eddie Villanueva
. Her campaign platform centered on a shift to a parliamentary and federal form of government, job creation, universal health insurance, anti-illegal drugs, and anti-terrorism.
Arroyo lagged behind Poe in the polls prior to the campaign season, but her popularity steadily climbed to surpass Poe's. As predicted by pre-election surveys and exit poll
s, she won the election by a margin of over a million votes against her closest rival, Fernando Poe, Jr.
Arroyo took her oath of office on June 30, 2004. In a break with tradition, she chose to first deliver her inaugural address at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila before departing to Cebu City
for her oath taking: the first time a Philippine president had taken the oath of office outside of Luzon
.
plot was uncovered in the Philippines, headed by Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim.
The declaration of Proclamation No. 1017 gave Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo the power to issue warrantless (and until then unconstitutional) arrests and to take over private institutions that run public utilities.
The President, through the Department of Education, suspended classes in elementary and high school levels. In response, colleges and universities suspended classes. By virtue of PP 1017, she declared a State of Emergency
for the whole country in an attempt to quell rebellion as her grip on power began to slip, to stop lawless violence and promote peace and stability. The government's first move after the declaration was to disperse demonstrators, particularly the groups picketing along EDSA. Former Philippine president Corazon Aquino
was among those that protested, along with leftist and extreme right activists. A number of public figures were reported to have been arrested.
After the foiling of the plot and the dispersal of the rallies, PP 1017 continued for a week on threats of military plots (such as the military stand-off of February 26 at Fort Bonifacio headed by Col. Ariel Querubin), violence, illegal rallies and public disturbance.
Six leftist representatives - Satur Ocampo
, Teodoro Casiño
, and Joel Virador
of Bayan Muna
, Liza Maza
of GABRIELA
, and Crispin Beltran
and Rafael Mariano
of Anakpawis
- were charged with rebellion. Crispin Beltran of Anakpawis was arrested on February 25 on charges of inciting to sedition and rebellion. To avoid further arrest, the other five found shelter at the Batasang Pambansa Complex
.
On Saturday, February 25, the office of the Daily Tribune, a newspaper known as a hard-hitting critic of the Arroyo administration, was raided. After the raid, an issuance of Journalism Guideline followed, authored by the government in order to cope with the "present abnormal situation", according to then Chief of Staff Michael Defensor. The move to suppress freedom of the press
against the Daily Tribune was criticized by Reporters Without Borders
.
The decree was lifted on March 3, 2006. However the opposition, lawyers, and concerned citizens filed a complaint in the Supreme Court contesting the constitutionality of PP 1017. The court, on May 4, declared the proclamation constitutional, but said it was illegal to issue warrantless arrests and seize private institutions.
on May 14, 2007. Positions contested included half the seats in the Senate
, which are elected for six-year terms, and all the seats in the House of Representatives
, who were elected for three-year terms. The duly elected legislators of the 2007 elections joined the elected senators of the 2004 elections to comprise the 14th Congress of the Philippines
.
Most representatives won seats by being elected directly, the constituency being a geographical district of about 250,000 voters. There are 220 seats in total for all the legislative districts.
Some representatives were elected under a party-list system. Only parties representing marginalized groups were allowed to run in the party-list election. To gain one seat, a party must win 2% of the vote. No party-list party may have more than 3 seats. After the election, in a controversial decision, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) changed how it allocates the party-list seats. Under the new formula only one party will have the maximum 3 seats. It based its decision on a formula contained in a Supreme Court decision.
Local elections for governor, vice governor, provincial board seats and mayoral, vice mayoral and city/municipal council seats in Metro Manila and the provinces are up for grabs as well.
Arroyo's coalition won 3 senate seats and 123 seats in the house.
on November 29, 2007. Detained Senator Antonio Trillanes IV
, General Lim and other Magdalo (mutineers) officials walked out of their trial and marched through the streets of Makati City
, called for the ouster of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and seized the second floor of The Peninsula Manila
Hotel along Ayala Avenue
. Former Vice-President Teofisto Guingona also joined the march to the hotel.
Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Brigadier Gen. Danilo Lim surrendered to authorities after an armored personnel carrier rammed into the lobby of the hotel. Director Geary Barias declared that the standoff at the Manila Peninsula Hotel is over as Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim along with other junior officers agreed to leave the hotel and surrender to Barias after the 6 hour siege. There was difficulty getting out for a while due to the tear gas that was covering the area where they were hiding.
Days after the mutiny, the Makati City Regional Trial Court dismissed the rebellion charges against all the 14 civilians involved in the siege, and ordered their release.
complaints were filed against President Arroyo although none of the cases reached the required endorsement of 1/3 of the members for transmittal to and trial by the Senate.
On October 13, 2008, the 4th 97-page impeachment
complaint against President Arroyo was filed at the House of Representatives of the Philippines
with the required endorsements by Party list Representatives Satur Ocampo
, Teodoro Casiño
and Liza Maza
. The complaint accuses Arroyo of corruption, extrajudicial killings, torture and illegal arrests. The impeachment further raised the issues on "national broadband network agreement with China, human rights violations, the Northrail project, the Mt. Diwalwal project, fertilizer fund scam
, alleged bribery of members of the House, the swine scam under the Rural Credit Guarantee Corporation, and 2004 electoral fraud." The opposition complainants were Edita Burgos, Iloilo Vice Governor Rolex Suplico, Jose de Venecia III, Harry Roque, Armando Albarillo, a human rights victim, Roneo Clamor, Karapatan
deputy secretary general, Josefina Lichauco, and representatives from civil society - Renato Constantino, Jr., Henri Kahn, Francisco Alcuaz, Rez Cortez, Virgilio Eustaquio, Jose Luis Alcuaz, Leah Navarro, Danilo Ramos, Concepcion Empeño, Elmer Labog, Armando Albarillo, Roneo Clamor, and Bebu Bulchand. The justice committee has 60 days to rule upon the complaint's sufficiency in form and substance. However, the opposition has only 28 House seats.
Under Sections 2 and 3, Article XI, Constitution of the Philippines
, the House of Representatives of the Philippines
has the exclusive power to initiate all cases of impeachment
against, the President
, Vice President
, members of the Supreme Court
, members of the Constitutional Commissions (Commission on Elections
, Commission on Audit), and the Ombudsman
. When a third of its membership has endorsed the impeachment articles, it is then transmitted to the Senate of the Philippines
which tries and decide, as impeachment tribunal, on the impeachment case.
to Joseph Estrada
, supposedly based on the recommendation by the Department of Justice. Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye quoted the signed Order: "In view hereof in pursuant of the authority conferred upon me by the Constitution, I hereby grant Executive clemency to Joseph Ejercito Estrada, convicted by the Sandiganbayan of plunder and imposed a penalty of reclusion perpetua. He is hereby restored to his civil and political rights."
Bunye noted that Estrada committed in his application not to seek public office, and he would be free from his Tanay resthouse on October 26, noon. Accordingly, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales categorically stated in 2008 that an Estrada plan to run for president in the scheduled 2010 elections is unconstitutional. Estrada, however, disagrees, saying that he is eligible to run for president again, based on the legal advice he gets from former Supreme Court Chief Justice Andres Narvasa
.
of Pampanga
. On December 1, 2009, she filed her candidacy under the Lakas-Kampi-CMD
.
Arroyo, a practicing economist, has made the economy the focus of her presidency. Based on official (National Economic and Development Authority) figures, economic growth in terms of gross domestic product
has averaged 5.0% during the Arroyo presidency from 2001 up to the first quarter of 2008. This is higher than in the administration of the previous recent presidents: 3.8% average of Aquino
, 3.7% average of Ramos, and 3.7% average of the Joseph Estrada
administration. The Philippine economy grew at its fastest pace in three decades in 2007, with real GDP growth exceeding 7%. Arroyo's handling of the economy has earned praise from former "friend" and classmate in Georgetown, ex-US President Bill Clinton
, who cited her "tough decisions" that put the Philippine economy back in shape.
Whether the official economic figures are accurate, or how they translate to improving lives of the citizens, however, is debatable. Studies made by the United Nations
(UN) and local survey research firms show worsening, instead of improving, poverty
levels. A comparative 2008 UN report shows that the Philippines lags behind its Asian neighbors, Indonesia
, Thailand
, Vietnam
and China
, in terms of poverty
amelioration. The study reveals that from 2003 up to 2006, the number of poor Filipinos increased by 3.8 million, with poverty
incidence being approximately three times higher in agricultural communities. With regards the problem of hunger
, quarterly studies by the social polling research firm Social Weather Stations
show that the number of Filipino households suffering from hunger
has significantly increased during Arroyo's presidency. Her administration first set the record for hunger
levels in March 2001, and beginning June 2004, broke the record again seven times. December 2008 figures saw the new record high of 23.7%, or approximately 4.3 million households, of Filipino families experiencing involuntary hunger
.
A controversial expanded value added tax
(e-VAT) law, considered the centerpiece of the Arroyo administration's economic reform agenda, was implemented in November 2005, aiming to complement revenue-raising efforts that could plug the country's large budget deficit. The country aims to balance the national budget by 2010. The tax measure boosted confidence in the government's fiscal capacity and helped to strengthen the Philippine peso
, making it East Asia's best performing currency in 2005-06. The peso strengthened by nearly 20% in 2007, making it by far Asia's best performing currency for the year, a fact attributed to a combination of increased remittances from overseas Filipino workers and a strong domestic economy.
Annual inflation
reached the 17-year high of 12.5 percent in August 2008, up from a record low of 2.8 percent registered in 2007. It eased to 8.8 percent in December 2008 as fuel and energy prices went down.
The managing director of the World Bank, Juan Jose Daboub, criticized the administration for not doing enough to curb corruption.
Early in her presidency, Arroyo implemented a controversial policy of holiday economics, adjusting holidays to form longer weekends with the purpose of boosting domestic tourism and allowing Filipinos more time with their families.
In late 2006, the House of Representatives
shelved a plan to revise the constitution through constituent assembly
.
, which apparently declared some sections as unconstitutional.
report expressed concern over the sharp rise in vigilante killings of militant activists and community workers in the Philippines. Task Force Usig, a special police unit tasked to probe reported extra-judicial killings, by state run death squads counts 115 murders and says most of these are the result of an internal purge by communist rebels. Human rights groups put the number as high as 830.
These violations were alleged to have been committed against left-leaning organizations and party-list groups including BAYAN
, Bayan Muna
and Anakpawis
. These organizations accuse the Philippine National Police
and Armed Forces of the Philippines
for the deaths of these political opponents. Arroyo has condemned political killings "in the harshest possible terms" and urged witnesses to come forward.
"The report, which Melo submitted to Arroyo last month, reportedly linked state security forces to the murder of militants and recommended that military officials, notably retired major general Jovito Palparan, be held liable under the principle of command responsibility for killings in their areas of assignment."
General Palparan who retired September 11, 2006 has been appointed by President Arroyo to be part of the Security Council. This has alarmed left-leaning political parties about the potential for human rights violations.
An independent commission was assembled in August 2006 to investigate the killings. Headed by former Supreme Court Justice Jose Melo
, the group known as the Melo Commission concluded that most of the killings were instigated by the Armed Forces of the Philippines
, but found no proof linking the murder of activists to a "national policy" as claimed by the left-wing groups. On the other hand the report "linked state security forces to the murder of militants and recommended that military officials, notably retired major general Jovito Palparan, be held liable under the principle of command responsibility for killings in their areas of assignment." Stricter anti-terror laws have also caused some concern in recent years.
Under Arroyo's government, the Philippines has become second only to Iraq as the world's riskiest place to report the news, with 23 journalists killed since 2003
In her July 23, 2007 State of the Nation Address, Arroyo has set out her agenda for her last three years in office, and called for legislation to deal with a spate of political killings that have brought international criticism to her presidency. She promised to bring peace to the troubled south, and also defended a controversial new anti-terrorism legislation. Arroyo told the joint session of Congress that "I would rather be right than popular." Lawmakers and lawyers, however, were dismayed by the SONA's failure to highlight and address this major hindrance to human rights. Specifically, the Alternative Law Groups (ALG) echoed the lawmakers’ position that Mrs Arroyo failed to take responsibility for the problem.
In 2007, incidences of extrajudicial killings dropped 87%, with the decline attributed to the creation of a special task force to handle the killings.
and its armed wing, the New People's Army
; other communist rebel groups; and their umbrella organization, the National Democratic Front
. The amnesty
will cover the crime of rebellion and all other crimes "in pursuit of political beliefs," but not including crimes against chastity, rape, torture, kidnapping for ransom, use and trafficking of illegal drugs and other crimes for personal ends and violations of international law or convention and protocols "even if alleged to have been committed in pursuit of political beliefs." The National Committee on Social Integration (NCSI) will issue a Certificate of Amnesty to qualified applicants. Implementing rules and regulations are being drafted and the decree will be submitted to the Senate of the Philippines
and the House of Representatives
for their concurrence. The proclamation becomes effective only after Congress has concurred.
. Arroyo was one of the first world leaders who expressed support for the US-led coalition against global terrorism in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks
, and remains one of its closest allies in the war on terror
. Following the US-led invasion of Iraq, in July 2003 the Philippines sent a small humanitarian contingent which included medics and engineers. These troops were recalled in July 2004 in response to the kidnapping of Filipino truck driver Angelo de la Cruz. With the hostage takers demands met, the hostage was released. The force was previously due to leave Iraq the following month. The early pullout drew international condemnation, with the United States protesting against the action, saying giving in to terrorist demands should not be an option.
n and Southeast Asia
n nations, and countries where overseas Filipino workers work and live. In 2007, the Philippines was host to the 12th ASEAN Summit
in Cebu City
.
to ratify a $4 billion (£2 billion) trade deal with Japan
(signed on 2006 with the former Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi
), which would create more than 300,000 jobs (by specifically increasing local exports such as shrimp
to Japan). Japan also promised to hire at least 1,000 Philippine nurses. The opposition-dominated senate objected on the ground that toxic wastes would be sent to the Philippines; the government denied this due to the diplomatic notes which stated that it would not be accepting Japanese waste in exchange for economic concessions.
, an International network of current and former women presidents and prime ministers whose mission is to mobilize the highest-level women leaders globally for collective action on issues of critical importance to women and equitable development.
is a Philippine
political controversy involving accusations that Agriculture Undersecretary
Jocelyn Bolante
diverted P
728 million in fertilizer funds to the 2004 election campaign of President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
.
who is a former deputy director of the country's National Bureau of Investigation
(NBI) claimed to have audio tapes of wiretapped conversations between President Arroyo and an official of the Commission on Elections
. According to Ong, the contents of the tape prove that the 2004 national election was rigged by Arroyo in order to win by around one million votes. On June 27, Arroyo admitted to inappropriately speaking to a Comelec official
, claiming it was a "lapse in judgement", but denied influencing the outcome of the election. Attempts to impeach Arroyo failed later that year.
Two witnesses, Antonio Rasalan and Clinton Colcol, stepped forward in August 2006, claiming involvement in an alleged plot to alter the results for the May 2004 elections. Rasalan claimed that he was fully convinced that the election returns presented at the House of Representatives were manufactured and had replaced the original documents.
Colcol, a tabulator
for the Commission on Elections (Comelec
), said that Arroyo only received 1,445 votes, while Poe received 2,141 in South Upi, Maguindanao during the May 2004 elections.
On January 25, 2008, Pulse Asia
survey
(commissioned by Genuine Opposition
(GO) per former Senator Sergio Osmeña III) stated that 58% percent of Filipinos in Mindanao
believed that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cheated in the Philippine general election, 2004
. 70% also "believed that because of recurring allegations of election fraud, the credibility of the balloting process in Mindanao was at a record low."
is a political affair that centers upon allegations of corruption primarily involving Former Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairman Benjamin Abalos
, First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo regarding the proposed government-managed National Broadband Network (NBN) for the Philippines and the awarding of its construction to the Chinese firm Zhong Xing Telecommunication Equipment Company Limited
(ZTE), a telecommunications and networking equipment provider.
The issue has captivated Filipino politics since it erupted in Philippine media around August 2007, largely through the articles of newspaper columnist Jarius Bondoc of the Philippine Star. It has also taken an interesting turn of events, including the resignation of Abalos as COMELEC chairman, the alleged bribery of congressmen and provincial governors (dubbed as "Bribery in the Palace"), the unseating of Jose de Venecia, Jr.
as House Speaker, and the alleged "kidnapping" of designated National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) consultant-turned-NBN/ZTE witness Rodolfo Noel "Jun" Lozada, Jr
.
to dine with her friends at a lush Le Cirque
restaurant and was highly criticized for her supposed outlandish dinner at Le Cirque with the Philippine delegation during her visit to the United States. President Arroyo and her group reportedly had dinner for the cost of $20,000 or P1,000,000 as reported in the New York Post. This has been linked to corruption and anti-Gloria protests to sprawl anger among the poor, and more people went hungry as a result of rising hunger
, and also, anti-Gloria coup attempts. In September 2009, Typhoon Ondoy became devastative throughout Metro Manila
and Luzon
leaving 464 people dead and resulted to massive flooding and landslides. After Benigno Aquino III
took office on June 30, 2010, he criticized Arroyo and PAGASA
for lack of disaster preparedness and new equipment in the aftermath of Ondoy, Chief Administrator Prisco Nilo
was fired and resigned for having a fool-proof forecast as the typhoon struck the metropolis.
with Sinomach
and other contractors in 2004, to construct a rail line from Caloocan to Clark Special Economic Zone once to be completed in 2010. Many opposition senators and congressmen opposed that the project could cost US$500 million and this has been led to corruption in the Arroyo cabinet and even her, and also a series of cancellations. After it was constructed from 2009-2010,
again, it eventually cancelled in March 2011, no plans and substitute foreign support (Japan
for example) to continue the project.
representing the 2nd District of Pampanga
, making her the second Philippine President - after Jose P. Laurel
- to pursue a lower office after the expiration of their presidency. A petition seeking to disqualify Arroyo from the race was dismissed by the Comelec
for lack of merit, a decision which was later affirmed by the Supreme Court. With little serious competition, she was elected to congress in May 2010 with a landslide victory. After receiving final military honors at the inauguration ceremony of incoming President Benigno Aquino III
, she headed straight to Pampanga for her own oath-taking as congresswoman.
. The arrest warrant was served at a St. Luke's Medical Center
at Taguig where Arroyo had been confined. This and others resulted to corruption charges including her, ex-First Gentleman Mike Arroyo
and her son Mikey
.
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Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
spans from January 20, 2001 to June 30, 2010. Her term ended on June 30, 2010, pursuant to the provisions of the 1987 constitution
Constitution of the Philippines
The Constitution of the Philippines is the supreme law of the Philippines.The Constitution currently in effect was enacted in 1987, during the administration of President Corazon Aquino, and is popularly known as the "1987 Constitution"...
.
Overview
Gloria Macapagal-ArroyoGloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
assumed the presidency on January 20, 2001, following the 2nd EDSA revolution that ousted democratically-elected President Joseph Estrada. As she anticipated this event, she told Time International in a November 2000 interview that she planned to look to two predecessors as examples: "I will follow my father's footsteps in doing what is right, and God will take care of the rest. My father is my role model. My living role model is Cory Aquino. I am prepared."
Although her recent predecessors had lived outside Malacañang Palace
Malacañang Palace
The Malacañan Palace, commonly known simply as Malacañang, is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the Philippines. Located at 1000 J. P. Laurel Street, San Miguel, Manila, the house was built in 1750 in Spanish Colonial style. It has been the residence of every...
, Macapagal-Arroyo opted to return to her girlhood home. The new president faced numerous challenges, including an unstable economy and violent protests launched by Estrada's supporters. She was also accused of providing special treatment to the jailed former president. On May 27, 2001, Islamic militants abducted 20 hostages at a resort in the province
Province
A province is a territorial unit, almost always an administrative division, within a country or state.-Etymology:The English word "province" is attested since about 1330 and derives from the 13th-century Old French "province," which itself comes from the Latin word "provincia," which referred to...
of Palawan
Palawan
Palawan is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region or Region 4. Its capital is Puerto Princesa City, and it is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of jurisdiction. The islands of Palawan stretch from Mindoro in the northeast to Borneo in the...
, and Macapagal-Arroyo was thrust into the ongoing battle between the Philippine government and the rebel forces, known as Abu Sayyaf. Several other kidnappings by various criminal gangs followed. Macapagal-Arroyo officially adopted a hardline "no ransom" response to the rebels and launched military operations against them. Her administration was embarrassed, however, when it was revealed that several of the hostages families paid ransom to the kidnappers directly, with some claiming that Philippine military officers received a portion of the funds. The Macapagal-Arroyo administration received another black mark when Mike Arroyo was accused of receiving bribes from a telecommunications company seeking government-approved contracts.
On the economic front, Macapagal-Arroyo developed a blueprint
Blueprint
A blueprint is a type of paper-based reproduction usually of a technical drawing, documenting an architecture or an engineering design. More generally, the term "blueprint" has come to be used to refer to any detailed plan....
to lift the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
out of its financial crisis
Financial crisis
The term financial crisis is applied broadly to a variety of situations in which some financial institutions or assets suddenly lose a large part of their value. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, many financial crises were associated with banking panics, and many recessions coincided with these...
. In 2002, looking back on her first year as president, she cited the country's economic survival as her greatest achievement, although she remained well aware that much work lay ahead, according to The Power and the Glory. "We have been able to survive, to have a higher growth rate than our neighbors," she said. "I dwell on what must be done. I am a very focused person. I don't focus on laurels, on feeling secure, feeling comfortable. Even on the day I was sworn in as president, I didn't say, 'Wow, I am now president,' I said, 'What should I do now?' "
Despite the obstacles and various charges of impropriety directed at those close to her, Macapagal-Arroyo was elected to a full six-year presidential term in May 2004. She edged out her closest competitor, Filipino actor Fernando Poe Jr., by only one million votes. In her inaugural address, Macapagal-Arroyo vowed to create up to 10 million jobs in the next six years, balance the budget, improve tax collection, provide inexpensive medicine for the poor, and unite the country. "Our nation must embrace a vision of economic opportunity, social cohesion and always an everdemocratic faith," she stated, as quoted in the July 1, 2004, edition of the International Herald Tribune.
Macapagal-Arroyo made international headlines in July after a Filipino driver was kidnapped by militant rebels in war-torn Iraq. In defiance of the United States government's requests, Macapagal-Arroyo honored the rebels' demands to pull all Filipino troops out of the country. Later that month, she called for an end to political in-fighting in her own nation in order to turn the focus to economic recovery. After former president Estrada declared the Philippines a "nation in distress," as reported on CNN.com on July 23, 2004, Macapagal-Arroyo stated in a State of the Nation address, "Let us set aside political bickering and politicking for at least one year." She also used the address to reiterate her pledge to relieve poverty and promote economic growth.
Administration and Cabinet
| Title | Name | Term |
|---|---|---|
| President Head of State Head of Government |
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga... |
2001–2010 |
| Vice President | Teofisto Guingona | 2001–2004 |
| Noli de Castro Noli de Castro Manuel Leuterio de Castro, Jr. , better known as Noli de Castro or "Kabayan" Noli de Castro, was Vice President of the Philippines .... |
2004–2010 | |
| Agrarian Reform Secretary | Hernani Braganza | 2001–2003 |
| Rene C. Villa | 2003–2005 | |
| Nasser C. Pangandaman | 2005–2010 | |
| Agriculture Secretary | Domingo F. Panganiban | January - February 2001 |
| Leonardo Q. Montemayor | 2001–2002 | |
| Luis Lorenzo | 2002–2004 | |
| Arthur Yap Arthur Yap (politician) Arthur C. Yap is a Filipino politician. He is a Member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, representing the 3rd District of Bohol... |
2004–2005, 2006–2010 | |
| Domingo F. Panganiban | 2005–2006 | |
| Budget and Management Secretary | Emilia T. Boncodin | 2001–2005 |
| Romulo Neri Romulo Neri Romulo Neri is a Filipino politician and former Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority , acting secretary of Department of Budget and Management , chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education and President of Social Security System under former President Gloria... |
2005–2006 | |
| Rolando Andaya | 2006–2010 | |
| Education Secretary | Raul Roco Raul Roco Raul Sagarbarria Roco was a political figure in the Philippines. He was the standard-bearer of Aksyon Demokratiko, which he founded in 1997 as a vehicle for his presidential bids in 1998 and 2004. He was a former senator and the Secretary of the Department of Education under the presidency of... |
2001–2003 |
| Edilberto de Jesus | 2003–2004 | |
| Florencio Abad | 2004–2005 | |
| Fe Hidalgo (acting) | 2005–2006 | |
| Jesli Lapus | 2006–2010 | |
| Mona Valisno | 2010–2010 | |
| Energy Secretary | Jose Isidro Camacho Jose Isidro Camacho Jose Isidro N. "Lito" Camacho is the current Managing Director and Vice Chairman of Credit Suisse Asia Pacific and Chairman of the Board of Sun Life of Canada , Inc.... |
Jan. 2001-June 2001 |
| Vincent Perez | 2001–2004 | |
| Raphael P. M. Lotilla | 2004–2007 | |
| Angelo Reyes Angelo Reyes Angelo Tomas Reyes was the Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff from 2000 to 2001 under President Joseph Estrada... |
2007–2010 | |
| Environment and Natural Resources Secretary | Heherson Alvarez | 2001–2003 |
| Elisa Gozun | 2003–2004 | |
| Mike Defensor Mike Defensor Michael "Mike" Tan Defensor is a Filipino politician.He finished elementary, Bachelor of Arts in History, and Masters in Public Administration at the University of the Philippines. He finished his secondary education at Miles McKinley High School, Ohio, USA... |
2004–2006 | |
| Angelo Reyes Angelo Reyes Angelo Tomas Reyes was the Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff from 2000 to 2001 under President Joseph Estrada... |
2006–2007 | |
| Lito Atienza Lito Atienza Jose Livioko Atienza, Jr. , commonly known by his nickname Lito Atienza, is the former city mayor of Manila and former secretary of the Department of Environment and Resources. He stepped down as mayor of Manila on June 30, 2007, after serving a three-year three-term limit for local government... |
2007–2010 | |
| Finance Secretary | Alberto Romulo Alberto Romulo Alberto Gatmaitan Rómulo is a politician in the Philippines. He served as Foreign Secretary before and during the beginning of the administration of President Benigno Aquino III.... |
2001 |
| Jose Isidro Camacho Jose Isidro Camacho Jose Isidro N. "Lito" Camacho is the current Managing Director and Vice Chairman of Credit Suisse Asia Pacific and Chairman of the Board of Sun Life of Canada , Inc.... |
2001–2003 | |
| Juanita Amatong Juanita Amatong Juanita Amatong is a member of the Monetary Board of the Philippines, a policy-making body of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas , and former Secretary of Finance in the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration. Amatong has been in government service since 1971 starting as Senior Financial Analyst... |
2003–2005 | |
| Margarito Teves Margarito Teves Margarito "Gary" B. Teves was the secretary of the Department of Finance of the Philippines. He was appointed to the position in July 2005 by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, following a mass resignation of her economic team.... |
2005–2010 | |
| Foreign Affairs Secretary | Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (acting) | Jan.2001-Feb.2001, 2002 |
| Teofisto Guingona | 2001–2002 | |
| Blas Ople Blas Ople Blas Fajardo Ople was a Filipino journalist and politician who held several high-ranking positions in the executive and legislative branches of the Philippine government, including as Senate President from 1999 to 2000, and as Secretary of Foreign Affairs from 2002 until his death... |
2002–2003 | |
| Delia Albert Delia Albert Delia Domingo Albert is a career diplomat and was the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines from December 22, 2003 until August 18, 2004.-Career:... |
2003–2004 | |
| Alberto Romulo Alberto Romulo Alberto Gatmaitan Rómulo is a politician in the Philippines. He served as Foreign Secretary before and during the beginning of the administration of President Benigno Aquino III.... |
2004–2010 | |
| Health Secretary | Dr. Manuel Dayrit | 2001–2004 |
| Francisco Duque Francisco Duque Francisco Duque, III, Philippine Secretary of Health, was born on February 13, 1957 in Manila. He started as director at the University of Pangasinan from 1989–1999; then as Medical Director at the Doctor's Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in Veterans Village, Parañaque City from 1996–1999, among others... , III |
2004–2009 | |
| Esperanza Cabral Esperanza Cabral Esperanza A. Icasas Cabral was the Secretary of the Department of Health in the Philippines. She took office in January 2010 replacing Dr. Francisco Duque after his appointment as head of the Civil Service Commission. Before her appointment as Secretary of Health, she was previously the Secretary... |
2009–2010 | |
| Interior and Local Government Secretary | Joey Lina | 2001–2004 |
| Angelo Reyes Angelo Reyes Angelo Tomas Reyes was the Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff from 2000 to 2001 under President Joseph Estrada... |
2004–2006 | |
| Ronaldo Puno Ronaldo Puno Ronaldo V. Puno is a campaign manager in Philippine politics. He supported the presidential bids of eventual winners Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada, and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.... |
2006–2010 | |
| Justice Secretary | Hernando Perez | 2001–2003 |
| Simeon Datumanong Simeon Datumanong Simeon Datumanong is a Filipino-Muslim politician who held different government positions and currently serves as a Representative of the lone district of Maguindanao in the House of Representatives of the Philippines... |
2003 | |
| Merceditas N. Gutierrez | 2003–2004 | |
| Raul M. Gonzalez Raul M. Gonzalez Raúl Maravilla González, was the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and was the Former Secretary of Justice of the Philippines. He was replaced by Agnes Devanadera in 2009 from the orders of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.-External links:****... |
2004–2009 | |
| Agnes Devanadera Agnes Devanadera Agnes VST Devanadera , is the 41st and first woman Philippine Solicitor General or Attorney General duly appointed on February 22, 2007 by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo... |
2009–2010 | |
| Alberto Agra Alberto Agra Alberto Agra was the acting Justice secretary of the Republic of the Philippines. He was succeeded by Leila De Lima.-Justice Secretary:His term was widely criticized for dropping charges against influential government officials.... |
2010 | |
| Labor and Employment Secretary | Patricia Sto. Tomas | |
| National Defense Secretary | Orly Mercado Orly Mercado Orlando Sanchez Mercado , also known as Orly Mercado, is a politician from the Philippines. Mercado was a senator for three terms and the head and anchor the popular radio program Radyo Patrol of ABS-CBN from 1969 to 1971... |
January–February 2001 |
| Angelo Reyes Angelo Reyes Angelo Tomas Reyes was the Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff from 2000 to 2001 under President Joseph Estrada... |
2001–2003 | |
| Eduardo Ermita Eduardo Ermita Eduardo R. Ermita, was the Executive Secretary of the Philippines, and spokesperson for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was born on July 13, 1935 in Balayan, Batangas. Ermita took his Defense Resource Management Course at Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, California, U.S.A... |
2003–2004 | |
| National Economic and Development Authority | Romulo Neri | 2001–2005 |
| Augusto Santos | 2005–2006 | |
| Romulo Neri | 2006–2008 | |
| Ralph Recto Ralph Recto Ralph Gonzalez Recto is a Filipino politician. Recto served as a member of the House of Representatives representing the 4th District of Batangas from 1992 to 2001. He was then elected to the Senate, serving from 2001 to 2007. In 2007, Recto run for reelection and lost because, as many analysts... |
2008–2009 | |
| Public Works and Highways Secretary | Simeon Datumanong Simeon Datumanong Simeon Datumanong is a Filipino-Muslim politician who held different government positions and currently serves as a Representative of the lone district of Maguindanao in the House of Representatives of the Philippines... |
2001–2003 |
| Bayani Fernando Bayani Fernando Bayani Flores Fernando is the former Chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority .He has announced his intention to run for President of the Philippines in the 2010 election. However, after talks with Richard Gordon, he agreed to slide as Vice President for Gordon's newly-established... |
2003 | |
| Florante Soriquez | 2003–2005 | |
| Hermogenes E. Ebdane, Jr. Hermogenes E. Ebdane, Jr. Hermogenes Edejer Ebdane, Jr. is a Filipino politician and retired General. He is the Current Governor of Zambales. He was the Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways from 4 July 2007-2010, his second appointment to the post.He was a member of the Philippine Military Academy class... . |
2005–2007, 2007–2010 | |
| Manuel M. Bonoan | February - June 2007 | |
| Science and Technology Secretary | Estrella Alabastro | 2001–2010 |
| Social Welfare and Development Secretary | Corazon Soliman Corazon Soliman Corazon "Dinky" Juliano Soliman is the current secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in the Philippines, appointed by President Benigno Aquino III on June 30, 2010. She once held the position under former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo but later resigned in 2005 as a... |
2001–2005 |
| Tourism Secretary | Richard Gordon Richard Gordon (politician) Richard "Dick" Juico Gordon is a Filipino politician and broadcaster who currently serves as the chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross.... |
2001–2004 |
| |Roberto Pagdanganan Roberto Pagdanganan Roberto M. Pagdanganan is a Filipino politician.-Personal life:Robert Pagdanganan was born to former councilor Juan T. Pagdanganan, Jr. and Mrs. Rosalina Mamangon Pagdanganan. He is brother of former Calumpit, Bulacan mayor Ramon Pagdanganan... |
2004 | |
| Joseph Ace Durano Joseph Ace Durano Joseph Hotchkiss Durano , popularly known as Ace Durano, was one of the youngest to be elected representative to the 11th congress... |
2004–2010 | |
| Transportation and Communications Secretary | Pantaleon Alvarez | 2001–2003 |
| Trade and Industry Secretary | Mar Roxas Mar Roxas Manuel "Mar" Araneta Roxas II is a former Senator of the Philippines. He is the son of former Senator Gerry Roxas, and the grandson of former President Manuel Roxas and industrialist J. Amado Araneta.... |
2001–2004 |
Other cabinet-level and high posts
- Executive Secretary
- Renato de VillaRenato de VillaRenato "Rene" de Villa is a political figure in the Philippines and founder of the rightist political party Partido ng Demokratikong Reporma-Lapiang Manggagawa.-Biography:...
(2001) - Renato CoronaRenato CoronaRenato C. Corona is the incumbent Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. He was appointed to the Court on April 9, 2002 by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo...
(acting) (2001) - Alberto RomuloAlberto RomuloAlberto Gatmaitan Rómulo is a politician in the Philippines. He served as Foreign Secretary before and during the beginning of the administration of President Benigno Aquino III....
(2001–2004) - Eduardo ErmitaEduardo ErmitaEduardo R. Ermita, was the Executive Secretary of the Philippines, and spokesperson for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was born on July 13, 1935 in Balayan, Batangas. Ermita took his Defense Resource Management Course at Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, California, U.S.A...
(2004–2010) - Leandro MendozaLeandro MendozaLeandro Ramos Mendoza, was the Philippine Executive Secretary, was born on March 24, 1946 in San Juan, Batangas.He finished his Bachelor of Science degree at the Philippine Military Academy; his Master of Arts in Public Management at the University of the Philippines - Visayas, Cebu City; and...
(2010)
- Renato de Villa
- National Security Adviser
- Roilo Golez (2001–2004)
- Norberto Gonzalez (2004–2010)
- Press Secretary
- Silvestre Afable (April - July 2002)
- Milton Alingod (2003)
- Hernani Braganza (2003–2004)
- Ignacio Bunye (2004–2008)
- Presidential Spokesman
- Rigoberto Tiglao (2001–2002)
- Ignacio Bunye (2002–2008)
- Presidential Chief of Staff
- Rigoberto Tiglao (2002–2004)
- Michael Defensor (2006–2007)
- Joey Salceda (2007)
- Presidential Management Staff
- Rigoberto Tiglao (2004–2006)
- Arthur Yap (2006)
- Cerge Remonde (2006–2010)
- Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman
- Benjamin AbalosBenjamin AbalosBenjamin S. Abalos, Sr. is a politician and is a former chairman of the Philippine Commission on Election. He was also a MMDA Chairman and Mandaluyong City Mayor. He is the father of current Mandaluyong City mayor Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos, Jr..-Early life:Benjamin Abalos was born into a poor...
(2001–2002) - Bayani FernandoBayani FernandoBayani Flores Fernando is the former Chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority .He has announced his intention to run for President of the Philippines in the 2010 election. However, after talks with Richard Gordon, he agreed to slide as Vice President for Gordon's newly-established...
(2002–2009) - Oscar InocentesOscar InocentesOscar Inocentes is the eighth chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority of the Republic of the Philippines.-References:*...
(2009–2010)
- Benjamin Abalos
Supreme Court Appointments
Arroyo nominated the following to the Supreme Court of the PhilippinesSupreme Court of the Philippines
The Supreme Court of the Philippines is the Philippines' highest judicial court, as well as the court of last resort. The court consists of 14 Associate Justices and 1 Chief Justice...
:
- Artemio PanganibanArtemio PanganibanArtemio V. Panganiban , "The Renaissance Jurist of the 21st Century" was the 21st Supreme Court Chief Justice of the Philippines.-Early life and education:...
- Chief Justice, 2005 (an associate justice since 1995) - Reynato PunoReynato PunoReynato Puno y Serrano was the 22nd Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. Appointed on December 8, 2006 by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, he was the 22nd person to serve as Chief Justice...
- Chief Justice, 2006 (an associate justice since 1993) - Renato C. Corona - Chief Justice, 2010 (an associate justice since 2002)
- Antonio T. Carpio - 2001
- Conchita Carpio-MoralesConchita Carpio-MoralesConchita Carpio-Morales is the newly appointed and current Ombudsman of the Philippines. She was previously an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines....
- 2002 - Presbitero J. Velasco, Jr. - 2006
- Antonio Eduardo B. Nachura - 2007
- Teresita Leonardo-de Castro - 2007
- Arturo D. Brion - 2008
- Diosdado M. Peralta - 2009
- Lucas P. Bersamin - 2009
- Mariano C. del Castillo - 2009
- Roberto A. AbadRoberto A. AbadJustice Roberto A. Abad is a lawyer and judge currently serving as Philippine Supreme Court Associate Justice.-Law career:Abad was a Dean's Lister at the Ateneo de Manila University, where he earned his law degree. He first engaged in private practice at the Jose W...
- 2009 - Martin S. Villarama, Jr. - 2009
- Jose P. Perez - 2009
- Jose C. MendozaJose C. MendozaJose Catral Mendoza is the 168th magistrate of the Supreme Court of the Philippines.- Legal career :A political science graduate of the University of the Philippines, Jose Mendoza took up his law studies in the San Beda College of Law where he led the establishment of...
- 2010
Succession
- Main articles: EDSA II and EDSA IIIEDSA IIIEDSA III was a protest sparked by the arrest in April 2001 of newly deposed President Joseph Estrada of the Philippines. The protest was held for seven days in a major highway in Metropolitan Manila, the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue or EDSA, which eventually culminated in an attempt to storm the...
Arroyo's ascent to the Philippine presidency in 2001 is mired in controversy as much as the ouster of her predecessor with which it is intertwined. On January 20, 2001, after days of political turmoil and popular revolt, the Supreme Court declared the presidency vacant. The military and the national police had earlier withdrawn their support for Estrada. At noon, Arroyo was sworn in as President of the Philippines by Chief Justice
Chief Justice of the Philippines
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines presides over the Supreme Court of the Philippines and is the highest judicial officer of the government of the Philippines...
Hilario Davide, Jr.
Hilario Davide, Jr.
Hilario Gelbolingo Davide, Jr, GCSS is a former Ambassador/Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the United Nations in New York City....
Coincidentally, Arroyo assumed office the same day as US President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
.
While the local media and its proponents hailed EDSA II as another peaceful "People Power," international views expressed through foreign media described it as a "conspiracy" to oust Estrada and install Arroyo as president. The New York Times reported that Southeast Asia-based political economist William Overholt called it a "either being called mob rule or mob rule as a cover for a well- planned coup." The International Herald Tribune
International Herald Tribune
The International Herald Tribune is a widely read English language international newspaper. It combines the resources of its own correspondents with those of The New York Times and is printed at 38 sites throughout the world, for sale in more than 160 countries and territories...
reports how the "opportunist coalition of church, business elite and left... orchestrated the 'People Power II movement." On Arroyo's proclamation as President, Former Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew
Lee Kuan Yew
Lee Kuan Yew, GCMG, CH is a Singaporean statesman. He was the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, governing for three decades...
opined that there is "an assumption of power here which isn't in the constitution."
Weeks later, Estrada filed a lawsuit challenging the legal basis of the Arroyo presidency and insisting he remained the lawful president, though adding he would not try to reclaim his post. The Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the Philippines
The Supreme Court of the Philippines is the Philippines' highest judicial court, as well as the court of last resort. The court consists of 14 Associate Justices and 1 Chief Justice...
issued its decision on March 2, 2001, asserting that Estrada had resigned the presidency and relinquished his post. The court unanimously voted to dismiss Estrada's petition, reaffirming the legitimacy of Arroyo's presidency.
On May 1, 2001, a week after Estrada was arrested on charges of plunder, an estimated 3,000,000 protesters sympathetic to Estrada degenerated into violence and attempted to storm the presidential palace
Malacañang Palace
The Malacañan Palace, commonly known simply as Malacañang, is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the Philippines. Located at 1000 J. P. Laurel Street, San Miguel, Manila, the house was built in 1750 in Spanish Colonial style. It has been the residence of every...
to force Arroyo from office. Four people died, including two policemen, and more than 100 were wounded in clashes between security forces and rioters. After being dispersed the crowd had looted stores and burned cars. Arroyo declared a 'state of rebellion' in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
and ordered the arrests of opposition leaders who led the uprising and conspired to topple the government. The state of rebellion was lifted one week later, with Arroyo declaring "the disorder has subsided".
Support for the opposition and Estrada subsequently dwindled after the victory of administration allied candidates in the midterm elections
Philippine general election, 2001
The senatorial election was held in the Philippines on May 14, 2001. Independent candidate Noli de Castro, a former television anchor of TV Patrol of ABS-CBN was announced as the topnotcher...
that was held later that month. Arroyo outlined her vision for the country as "building a strong republic" throughout her tenure. Her agenda consists of building up a strong bureaucracy, lowering crime rates, increasing tax collection, improving economic growth, and intensifying counter-terrorism efforts.
2001 Midterm Elections
The 2001 legislative elections and local elections were held in the PhilippinesPhilippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
on May 14, 2001 - four months after Arroyo took office. Independent senatorial candidate Noli de Castro
Noli de Castro
Manuel Leuterio de Castro, Jr. , better known as Noli de Castro or "Kabayan" Noli de Castro, was Vice President of the Philippines ....
, a former television anchor of TV Patrol of ABS-CBN
ABS-CBN
ABS–CBN Corporation is a Philippine-based media conglomerate. It is the Philippines' largest media and entertainment conglomerate. The corporation was the merger of Alto Broadcasting System which at that time owned by James Lindenberg and Antonio Quirino, and the Chronicle Broadcasting Network ...
was announced as the topnotcher. This is the first synchronized national and local elections held after the ouster of Former President Joseph Estrada
Joseph Estrada
Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada was the 13th President of the Philippines, serving from 1998 until 2001. Estrada was the first person in the Post-EDSA era to be elected both to the presidency and vice-presidency.Estrada gained popularity as a film actor, playing the lead role in over 100 films in...
in January due to a military-backed civilian uprising (popularly known as EDSA II). On February 20, 2007, the Supreme Court of the Philippines
Supreme Court of the Philippines
The Supreme Court of the Philippines is the Philippines' highest judicial court, as well as the court of last resort. The court consists of 14 Associate Justices and 1 Chief Justice...
ruled that Former Senator Gregorio Honasan lost in the 2001 Philippine elections and lost to Sen. Ralph Recto
Ralph Recto
Ralph Gonzalez Recto is a Filipino politician. Recto served as a member of the House of Representatives representing the 4th District of Batangas from 1992 to 2001. He was then elected to the Senate, serving from 2001 to 2007. In 2007, Recto run for reelection and lost because, as many analysts...
but declared constitutional the special election for the remaining three-year term of Teofisto Guingona.
Oakwood mutiny
The Oakwood mutiny occurred in the PhilippinesPhilippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
on July 27, 2003. A group of 321 armed soldiers who called themselves "Bagong Katipuneros" led by Army Capt. Gerardo Gambala and Lt.
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
Antonio Trillanes IV
Antonio Trillanes IV
Antonio "Sonny" Fuentes Trillanes IV is a former Navy Lieutenant Senior Grade and concurrently serving as a senator of the Philippines since 2007....
of the Philippine Navy
Philippine Navy
The Philippine Navy is the naval arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines . Its official name in Filipino is Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas, literally, "Sea Force of the Philippines"....
took over the Oakwood Premier Ayala Center (now Ascott Makati) serviced apartment tower in Makati City
Makati City
The City of Makati is one of the 17 cities that make up Metro Manila, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. Makati is the financial center of the Philippines and one of the major financial, commercial and economic hubs in Asia...
to show the Filipino people
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
the alleged corruption of the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration. They also stated that they saw signs suggesting that the President was going to declare martial law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
.
2004 Presidential Election
Although the Philippine ConstitutionConstitution of the Philippines
The Constitution of the Philippines is the supreme law of the Philippines.The Constitution currently in effect was enacted in 1987, during the administration of President Corazon Aquino, and is popularly known as the "1987 Constitution"...
bars a president from reelection, it allows for the election of a person who has succeeded as president and has served for not more than four years. In December 2002, Arroyo made the surprise announcement that she would not seek a new term in the Philippine general election, 2004
Philippine general election, 2004
The senatorial election was held in the Philippines on May 10, 2004. The major coalitions that participated are the Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan composed of parties that support the candidacy of president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino ,...
. Ten months later, however, she reversed her position and declared her intention to seek a direct mandate from the people, saying "there is a higher cause to change society... in a way that nourishes our future".
Arroyo faced a tough election campaign in early 2004 against Estrada friend and popular actor Fernando Poe, Jr.
Fernando Poe, Jr.
Ronald Allan Poe y Kelley , better known as Fernando Poe, Jr. and colloquially known as FPJ and Da King, was a Filipino actor and cultural icon. From the 1950s, Poe played steadfast film heroes who fight for the common man, which won him respect and admiration...
, senator and former police general Panfilo Lacson
Panfilo Lacson
Panfilo "Ping" Morena Lacson, Sr. is a Filipino politician. He was Director-General of the Philippine National Police from 1999 to 2001 and has been a member of the Philippine Senate since 2001.-Early life and education:...
, former senator Raul Roco
Raul Roco
Raul Sagarbarria Roco was a political figure in the Philippines. He was the standard-bearer of Aksyon Demokratiko, which he founded in 1997 as a vehicle for his presidential bids in 1998 and 2004. He was a former senator and the Secretary of the Department of Education under the presidency of...
, and Christian evangelist Eddie Villanueva
Eddie Villanueva
Eduardo C. Villanueva , known as Bro. Eddie Villanueva, is a religious and political leader in the Philippines and a presidential candidate in the 2010 Philippine election as standard bearer of the Bangon Pilipinas Party...
. Her campaign platform centered on a shift to a parliamentary and federal form of government, job creation, universal health insurance, anti-illegal drugs, and anti-terrorism.
Arroyo lagged behind Poe in the polls prior to the campaign season, but her popularity steadily climbed to surpass Poe's. As predicted by pre-election surveys and exit poll
Exit poll
An election exit poll is a poll of voters taken immediately after they have exited the polling stations. Unlike an opinion poll, which asks whom the voter plans to vote for or some similar formulation, an exit poll asks whom the voter actually voted for. A similar poll conducted before actual...
s, she won the election by a margin of over a million votes against her closest rival, Fernando Poe, Jr.
Inauguration
Cebu City
The City of Cebu is the capital city of Cebu and is the second largest city in the Philippines, the second most significant metropolitan centre in the Philippines and known as the oldest settlement established by the Spaniards in the country.The city is located on the eastern shore of Cebu and was...
for her oath taking: the first time a Philippine president had taken the oath of office outside of Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
.
State of Emergency
On Friday, February 24, 2006, an alleged coup d'étatCoup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
plot was uncovered in the Philippines, headed by Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim.
The declaration of Proclamation No. 1017 gave Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo the power to issue warrantless (and until then unconstitutional) arrests and to take over private institutions that run public utilities.
The President, through the Department of Education, suspended classes in elementary and high school levels. In response, colleges and universities suspended classes. By virtue of PP 1017, she declared a State of Emergency
State of emergency
A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend some normal functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, alert citizens to change their normal behaviours, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a rationale...
for the whole country in an attempt to quell rebellion as her grip on power began to slip, to stop lawless violence and promote peace and stability. The government's first move after the declaration was to disperse demonstrators, particularly the groups picketing along EDSA. Former Philippine president Corazon Aquino
Corazon Aquino
Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino was the 11th President of the Philippines and the first woman to hold that office in Philippine history. She is best remembered for leading the 1986 People Power Revolution, which toppled Ferdinand Marcos and restored democracy in the Philippines...
was among those that protested, along with leftist and extreme right activists. A number of public figures were reported to have been arrested.
After the foiling of the plot and the dispersal of the rallies, PP 1017 continued for a week on threats of military plots (such as the military stand-off of February 26 at Fort Bonifacio headed by Col. Ariel Querubin), violence, illegal rallies and public disturbance.
Six leftist representatives - Satur Ocampo
Satur Ocampo
Saturnino Cunanan Ocampo is a former Filipino partylist representative, journalist, and writer. As party president and first nominee, he led the partylist group Bayan Muna in three successful elections. He was a member of the House of Representatives, and Deputy Minority Leader in the 14th...
, Teodoro Casiño
Teodoro Casiño
Teodoro A. Casiño is a Filipino partylist representative, writer and journalist. He is a member of the House of Representatives for Bayan Muna in the 14th Congress of the Philippines.-Early Biography:...
, and Joel Virador
Joel Virador
Joel G. Virador was a Filipino partylist representative for Bayan Muna in the 13th Congress of the Philippines. He is currently the party's Executive Vice President....
of Bayan Muna
Bayan Muna
Bayan Muna is a leftist political party in the Philippines.The motto of the party is "New Politics, the Politics of Change", against "traditional, elitist, pro-imperialist politics". Its platform includes the advocation of a government that progressively supports the working class, with meaningful...
, Liza Maza
Liza Maza
Liza Maza is a Filipino activist and development worker. She represents the Gabriela Women's Party in the 13th Congress of the Philippines....
of GABRIELA
GABRIELA
GABRIELA is a leftist Filipino organization that advocates for women's issues.It is a nationwide network of grassroots organizations, institutions, and programs that address issues such as human rights, poverty, globalization, militarism, violence, health, sex trafficking, censorship and other...
, and Crispin Beltran
Crispin Beltran
Crispin 'Ka Bel' Beltran was a Filipino politician and a labor leader. A staunch critic of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, his imprisonment in 2006 and 2007 on disputed charges of rebellion and sedition drew international attention...
and Rafael Mariano
Rafael Mariano
Rafael Marques Mariano is a Brazilian footballer born in Brazil who currently plays for Omiya Ardija of J. League.He gained Turkish citizenship while he plays for Manisaspor. He currently has the chance of playing for the Turkey national football team if he is selected by the manager, following in...
of Anakpawis
Anakpawis
Anakpawis is a party-list in the Philippines. The party-list is the electoral wing of the radical trade union movement Kilusang Mayo Uno.In the 2004 elections for the House of Representatives the party-list obtained 538,396 votes and two seats...
- were charged with rebellion. Crispin Beltran of Anakpawis was arrested on February 25 on charges of inciting to sedition and rebellion. To avoid further arrest, the other five found shelter at the Batasang Pambansa Complex
Batasang Pambansa Complex
The Batasang Pambansa Complex is the headquarters of the House of Representatives of the Philippines. It is located at Batasan Road, Batasan Hills, Quezon City....
.
On Saturday, February 25, the office of the Daily Tribune, a newspaper known as a hard-hitting critic of the Arroyo administration, was raided. After the raid, an issuance of Journalism Guideline followed, authored by the government in order to cope with the "present abnormal situation", according to then Chief of Staff Michael Defensor. The move to suppress freedom of the press
Freedom of the press
Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the freedom of communication and expression through vehicles including various electronic media and published materials...
against the Daily Tribune was criticized by Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders is a France-based international non-governmental organization that advocates freedom of the press. It was founded in 1985, by Robert Ménard, Rony Brauman and the journalist Jean-Claude Guillebaud. Jean-François Julliard has served as Secretary General since 2008...
.
The decree was lifted on March 3, 2006. However the opposition, lawyers, and concerned citizens filed a complaint in the Supreme Court contesting the constitutionality of PP 1017. The court, on May 4, declared the proclamation constitutional, but said it was illegal to issue warrantless arrests and seize private institutions.
2007 Midterm Elections
Legislative and local elections were held in the PhilippinesPhilippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
on May 14, 2007. Positions contested included half the seats in the Senate
Senate of the Philippines
The Senate of the Philippines is the upper chamber of the bicameral legislature of the Philippines, the Congress of the Philippines...
, which are elected for six-year terms, and all the seats in the House of Representatives
House of Representatives of the Philippines
The House of Representatives of the Philippines is the lower chamber of the...
, who were elected for three-year terms. The duly elected legislators of the 2007 elections joined the elected senators of the 2004 elections to comprise the 14th Congress of the Philippines
14th Congress of the Philippines
The Fourteenth Congress of the Philippines was the national legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives...
.
Most representatives won seats by being elected directly, the constituency being a geographical district of about 250,000 voters. There are 220 seats in total for all the legislative districts.
Some representatives were elected under a party-list system. Only parties representing marginalized groups were allowed to run in the party-list election. To gain one seat, a party must win 2% of the vote. No party-list party may have more than 3 seats. After the election, in a controversial decision, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) changed how it allocates the party-list seats. Under the new formula only one party will have the maximum 3 seats. It based its decision on a formula contained in a Supreme Court decision.
Local elections for governor, vice governor, provincial board seats and mayoral, vice mayoral and city/municipal council seats in Metro Manila and the provinces are up for grabs as well.
Arroyo's coalition won 3 senate seats and 123 seats in the house.
The Manila Peninsula Rebellion
The Peninsula Manila Rebellion was a rebellion in the PhilippinesPhilippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
on November 29, 2007. Detained Senator Antonio Trillanes IV
Antonio Trillanes IV
Antonio "Sonny" Fuentes Trillanes IV is a former Navy Lieutenant Senior Grade and concurrently serving as a senator of the Philippines since 2007....
, General Lim and other Magdalo (mutineers) officials walked out of their trial and marched through the streets of Makati City
Makati City
The City of Makati is one of the 17 cities that make up Metro Manila, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. Makati is the financial center of the Philippines and one of the major financial, commercial and economic hubs in Asia...
, called for the ouster of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and seized the second floor of The Peninsula Manila
The Peninsula Manila
The Peninsula Manila , is a 5-star hotel in the Philippines. It is located on the corner of Ayala Avenue and Makati Avenue in the central business district of Makati City, wherein it is now a landmark because of its majestic fountain and falls in Metro Manila. It is located also in Barangay Urdaneta...
Hotel along Ayala Avenue
Ayala Avenue
Ayala Avenue is an avenue in Makati City in the Philippines. It is one of the busiest thoroughfares in Metro Manila, crossing through the heart of Makati's central business district. Because of the many businesses located on the avenue, Ayala Avenue is aptly nicknamed the Wall Street of the...
. Former Vice-President Teofisto Guingona also joined the march to the hotel.
Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Brigadier Gen. Danilo Lim surrendered to authorities after an armored personnel carrier rammed into the lobby of the hotel. Director Geary Barias declared that the standoff at the Manila Peninsula Hotel is over as Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim along with other junior officers agreed to leave the hotel and surrender to Barias after the 6 hour siege. There was difficulty getting out for a while due to the tear gas that was covering the area where they were hiding.
Days after the mutiny, the Makati City Regional Trial Court dismissed the rebellion charges against all the 14 civilians involved in the siege, and ordered their release.
Impeachment complaints
In 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, impeachmentImpeachment
Impeachment is a formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which, depending on the country, may include the removal of that official from office as well as other punishment....
complaints were filed against President Arroyo although none of the cases reached the required endorsement of 1/3 of the members for transmittal to and trial by the Senate.
On October 13, 2008, the 4th 97-page impeachment
Impeachment
Impeachment is a formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which, depending on the country, may include the removal of that official from office as well as other punishment....
complaint against President Arroyo was filed at the House of Representatives of the Philippines
House of Representatives of the Philippines
The House of Representatives of the Philippines is the lower chamber of the...
with the required endorsements by Party list Representatives Satur Ocampo
Satur Ocampo
Saturnino Cunanan Ocampo is a former Filipino partylist representative, journalist, and writer. As party president and first nominee, he led the partylist group Bayan Muna in three successful elections. He was a member of the House of Representatives, and Deputy Minority Leader in the 14th...
, Teodoro Casiño
Teodoro Casiño
Teodoro A. Casiño is a Filipino partylist representative, writer and journalist. He is a member of the House of Representatives for Bayan Muna in the 14th Congress of the Philippines.-Early Biography:...
and Liza Maza
Liza Maza
Liza Maza is a Filipino activist and development worker. She represents the Gabriela Women's Party in the 13th Congress of the Philippines....
. The complaint accuses Arroyo of corruption, extrajudicial killings, torture and illegal arrests. The impeachment further raised the issues on "national broadband network agreement with China, human rights violations, the Northrail project, the Mt. Diwalwal project, fertilizer fund scam
Fertilizer Fund Scam
The Fertilizer Fund Scam is a Philippine political controversy involving accusations that Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante diverted P728 million in fertilizer funds to the 2004 election campaign of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.-Details:...
, alleged bribery of members of the House, the swine scam under the Rural Credit Guarantee Corporation, and 2004 electoral fraud." The opposition complainants were Edita Burgos, Iloilo Vice Governor Rolex Suplico, Jose de Venecia III, Harry Roque, Armando Albarillo, a human rights victim, Roneo Clamor, Karapatan
Karapatan
Karapatan, which translates as rights, is a human rights non-governmental organization in the Philippines. The full name of the group is KARAPATAN: Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights.-History:...
deputy secretary general, Josefina Lichauco, and representatives from civil society - Renato Constantino, Jr., Henri Kahn, Francisco Alcuaz, Rez Cortez, Virgilio Eustaquio, Jose Luis Alcuaz, Leah Navarro, Danilo Ramos, Concepcion Empeño, Elmer Labog, Armando Albarillo, Roneo Clamor, and Bebu Bulchand. The justice committee has 60 days to rule upon the complaint's sufficiency in form and substance. However, the opposition has only 28 House seats.
Under Sections 2 and 3, Article XI, Constitution of the Philippines
Constitution of the Philippines
The Constitution of the Philippines is the supreme law of the Philippines.The Constitution currently in effect was enacted in 1987, during the administration of President Corazon Aquino, and is popularly known as the "1987 Constitution"...
, the House of Representatives of the Philippines
House of Representatives of the Philippines
The House of Representatives of the Philippines is the lower chamber of the...
has the exclusive power to initiate all cases of impeachment
Impeachment
Impeachment is a formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which, depending on the country, may include the removal of that official from office as well as other punishment....
against, the President
President of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
, Vice President
Vice President of the Philippines
-Description:The Vice-President is the first in the Philippine line of succession, assuming the Presidency upon the death, resignation, or removal by impeachment and subsequent conviction of the incumbent. The position was abolished by Martial Law in 1972, and was not included in the original text...
, members of the Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the Philippines
The Supreme Court of the Philippines is the Philippines' highest judicial court, as well as the court of last resort. The court consists of 14 Associate Justices and 1 Chief Justice...
, members of the Constitutional Commissions (Commission on Elections
Commission on Elections (Philippines)
The Commission on Elections, or COMELEC, is one of the three constitutional commissions of the Philippines. Its principal role is to enforce all laws and regulations relative to the conduct of elections, initiatives, referendums, and recalls....
, Commission on Audit), and the Ombudsman
Philippine Ombudsman
The Ombudsman of the Philippines is an ombudsman responsible for investigating and prosecuting Philippine government officials accused of crimes....
. When a third of its membership has endorsed the impeachment articles, it is then transmitted to the Senate of the Philippines
Senate of the Philippines
The Senate of the Philippines is the upper chamber of the bicameral legislature of the Philippines, the Congress of the Philippines...
which tries and decide, as impeachment tribunal, on the impeachment case.
Estrada pardon
On October 25, 2007, Arroyo granted a pardonPardon
Clemency means the forgiveness of a crime or the cancellation of the penalty associated with it. It is a general concept that encompasses several related procedures: pardoning, commutation, remission and reprieves...
to Joseph Estrada
Joseph Estrada
Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada was the 13th President of the Philippines, serving from 1998 until 2001. Estrada was the first person in the Post-EDSA era to be elected both to the presidency and vice-presidency.Estrada gained popularity as a film actor, playing the lead role in over 100 films in...
, supposedly based on the recommendation by the Department of Justice. Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye quoted the signed Order: "In view hereof in pursuant of the authority conferred upon me by the Constitution, I hereby grant Executive clemency to Joseph Ejercito Estrada, convicted by the Sandiganbayan of plunder and imposed a penalty of reclusion perpetua. He is hereby restored to his civil and political rights."
Bunye noted that Estrada committed in his application not to seek public office, and he would be free from his Tanay resthouse on October 26, noon. Accordingly, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales categorically stated in 2008 that an Estrada plan to run for president in the scheduled 2010 elections is unconstitutional. Estrada, however, disagrees, saying that he is eligible to run for president again, based on the legal advice he gets from former Supreme Court Chief Justice Andres Narvasa
Andres Narvasa
Andres dela Rosa Narvasa was the Chief Justice of the Philippines from December 1, 1991 to November 30, 1998.He served as Chairman of the Preparatory Commission for Constitutional Reform, a special agency tasked to look into potentially positive modifications in the Philippine Constitution, from...
.
Martial Law
In the wake of the massacre of 57 people in Ampatuan town, President Arroyo placed Maguindanao under a state of martial law, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita announced on the morning of December 5, 2009. In so doing, Malacañang has suspended the writ of habeas corpus in the province except "for certain areas," enabling the military to make arrests without court intervention. This constitutes the first declaration of martial law in the Philippines since 1972, when then-president Ferdinand Marcos imposed military rule over the entire country.Congressional bid in Pampanga
On November 30, 2009, after much speculation, President Arroyo announced on the Philippine Broadcasting Service her congressional bid for the second districtLegislative districts of Pampanga
The Legislative Districts of Pampanga, namely the first, second, third and fourth districts, are the current representations of the Province of Pampanga and the independent city of Angeles in the Philippine House of Representatives....
of Pampanga
Pampanga
Pampanga is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Pampanga is bordered by the provinces of Bataan and Zambales to the west, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija to the north, and Bulacan to the southeast...
. On December 1, 2009, she filed her candidacy under the Lakas-Kampi-CMD
Lakas-Kampi-CMD
Lakas Kampi CMD is a center-right political party in the Philippines and the current minority party in the country. Its ideology is heavily influenced by Christian and Islamic democracy...
.
Economy
Gross domestic product
Gross domestic product refers to the market value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a given period. GDP per capita is often considered an indicator of a country's standard of living....
has averaged 5.0% during the Arroyo presidency from 2001 up to the first quarter of 2008. This is higher than in the administration of the previous recent presidents: 3.8% average of Aquino
Corazon Aquino
Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino was the 11th President of the Philippines and the first woman to hold that office in Philippine history. She is best remembered for leading the 1986 People Power Revolution, which toppled Ferdinand Marcos and restored democracy in the Philippines...
, 3.7% average of Ramos, and 3.7% average of the Joseph Estrada
Joseph Estrada
Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada was the 13th President of the Philippines, serving from 1998 until 2001. Estrada was the first person in the Post-EDSA era to be elected both to the presidency and vice-presidency.Estrada gained popularity as a film actor, playing the lead role in over 100 films in...
administration. The Philippine economy grew at its fastest pace in three decades in 2007, with real GDP growth exceeding 7%. Arroyo's handling of the economy has earned praise from former "friend" and classmate in Georgetown, ex-US President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
, who cited her "tough decisions" that put the Philippine economy back in shape.
Whether the official economic figures are accurate, or how they translate to improving lives of the citizens, however, is debatable. Studies made by the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
(UN) and local survey research firms show worsening, instead of improving, poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
levels. A comparative 2008 UN report shows that the Philippines lags behind its Asian neighbors, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
and China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, in terms of poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
amelioration. The study reveals that from 2003 up to 2006, the number of poor Filipinos increased by 3.8 million, with poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
incidence being approximately three times higher in agricultural communities. With regards the problem of hunger
Hunger
Hunger is the most commonly used term to describe the social condition of people who frequently experience the physical sensation of desiring food.-Malnutrition, famine, starvation:...
, quarterly studies by the social polling research firm Social Weather Stations
Social Weather Stations
The Social Weather Stations or SWS is a public opinion polling body in the Philippines. It is a private, independent, non-partisan, non-profit scientific institute in the Philippines which conducts social surveys and does survey-based social science research and other educational activities, using...
show that the number of Filipino households suffering from hunger
Hunger
Hunger is the most commonly used term to describe the social condition of people who frequently experience the physical sensation of desiring food.-Malnutrition, famine, starvation:...
has significantly increased during Arroyo's presidency. Her administration first set the record for hunger
Hunger
Hunger is the most commonly used term to describe the social condition of people who frequently experience the physical sensation of desiring food.-Malnutrition, famine, starvation:...
levels in March 2001, and beginning June 2004, broke the record again seven times. December 2008 figures saw the new record high of 23.7%, or approximately 4.3 million households, of Filipino families experiencing involuntary hunger
Hunger
Hunger is the most commonly used term to describe the social condition of people who frequently experience the physical sensation of desiring food.-Malnutrition, famine, starvation:...
.
A controversial expanded value added tax
Value added tax
A value added tax or value-added tax is a form of consumption tax. From the perspective of the buyer, it is a tax on the purchase price. From that of the seller, it is a tax only on the "value added" to a product, material or service, from an accounting point of view, by this stage of its...
(e-VAT) law, considered the centerpiece of the Arroyo administration's economic reform agenda, was implemented in November 2005, aiming to complement revenue-raising efforts that could plug the country's large budget deficit. The country aims to balance the national budget by 2010. The tax measure boosted confidence in the government's fiscal capacity and helped to strengthen the Philippine peso
Philippine peso
The peso is the currency of the Philippines. It is subdivided into 100 centavos . Before 1967, the language used on the banknotes and coins was English and so "peso" was the name used...
, making it East Asia's best performing currency in 2005-06. The peso strengthened by nearly 20% in 2007, making it by far Asia's best performing currency for the year, a fact attributed to a combination of increased remittances from overseas Filipino workers and a strong domestic economy.
Annual inflation
Inflation
In economics, inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy over a period of time.When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services. Consequently, inflation also reflects an erosion in the purchasing power of money – a...
reached the 17-year high of 12.5 percent in August 2008, up from a record low of 2.8 percent registered in 2007. It eased to 8.8 percent in December 2008 as fuel and energy prices went down.
The managing director of the World Bank, Juan Jose Daboub, criticized the administration for not doing enough to curb corruption.
Early in her presidency, Arroyo implemented a controversial policy of holiday economics, adjusting holidays to form longer weekends with the purpose of boosting domestic tourism and allowing Filipinos more time with their families.
Charter change
In 2005, Arroyo initiated a movement for an overhaul of the constitution to transform the present presidential-bicameral republic into a federal parliamentary-unicameral form of government. At her 2005 State of the Nation Address, she claimed "The system clearly needs fundamental change, and the sooner the better. It's time to start the great debate on Charter Change".In late 2006, the House of Representatives
House of Representatives of the Philippines
The House of Representatives of the Philippines is the lower chamber of the...
shelved a plan to revise the constitution through constituent assembly
Constituent assembly
A constituent assembly is a body composed for the purpose of drafting or adopting a constitution...
.
Executive Order No. 464 and calibrated preemptive response
In late September 2005, Arroyo issued an executive order stating that demonstrations without permits would be pre-emptively stopped. Then members of the military testified in Congressional hearings that they were defying a direct order not to testify about their knowledge of the election scandal. There is the issuance of Executive Order No. 464 forbidding government officials under the executive department from appearing in congressional inquiries without President Arroyo's prior consent. These measures were challenged before the Supreme CourtSupreme Court of the Philippines
The Supreme Court of the Philippines is the Philippines' highest judicial court, as well as the court of last resort. The court consists of 14 Associate Justices and 1 Chief Justice...
, which apparently declared some sections as unconstitutional.
Human rights
A May 2006 Amnesty InternationalAmnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
report expressed concern over the sharp rise in vigilante killings of militant activists and community workers in the Philippines. Task Force Usig, a special police unit tasked to probe reported extra-judicial killings, by state run death squads counts 115 murders and says most of these are the result of an internal purge by communist rebels. Human rights groups put the number as high as 830.
These violations were alleged to have been committed against left-leaning organizations and party-list groups including BAYAN
BAYAN
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan or Bayan is a leftist political coalition in the Philippines. Bayan is associated with political parties Alliance of Concerned Teachers, Anakpawis, Bayan Muna, Gabriela Women's party, and Kabataan...
, Bayan Muna
Bayan Muna
Bayan Muna is a leftist political party in the Philippines.The motto of the party is "New Politics, the Politics of Change", against "traditional, elitist, pro-imperialist politics". Its platform includes the advocation of a government that progressively supports the working class, with meaningful...
and Anakpawis
Anakpawis
Anakpawis is a party-list in the Philippines. The party-list is the electoral wing of the radical trade union movement Kilusang Mayo Uno.In the 2004 elections for the House of Representatives the party-list obtained 538,396 votes and two seats...
. These organizations accuse the Philippine National Police
Philippine National Police
The Philippine National Police is the national police force of the Republic of the Philippines. It is both a national and a local police force in that it does provides all law enforcement services throughout the Philippines...
and Armed Forces of the Philippines
Armed Forces of the Philippines
The Armed Forces of the Philippines is composed of the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force...
for the deaths of these political opponents. Arroyo has condemned political killings "in the harshest possible terms" and urged witnesses to come forward.
"The report, which Melo submitted to Arroyo last month, reportedly linked state security forces to the murder of militants and recommended that military officials, notably retired major general Jovito Palparan, be held liable under the principle of command responsibility for killings in their areas of assignment."
General Palparan who retired September 11, 2006 has been appointed by President Arroyo to be part of the Security Council. This has alarmed left-leaning political parties about the potential for human rights violations.
An independent commission was assembled in August 2006 to investigate the killings. Headed by former Supreme Court Justice Jose Melo
Jose Melo
Jose Armando R. Melo is a Filipino lawyer and jurist who served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines from 1992 to 2002. He is a former Chairman of the Commission on Elections , and was succeeded by election lawyer Sixto Brillantes.-Early life and education:Melo was born...
, the group known as the Melo Commission concluded that most of the killings were instigated by the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Armed Forces of the Philippines
The Armed Forces of the Philippines is composed of the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force...
, but found no proof linking the murder of activists to a "national policy" as claimed by the left-wing groups. On the other hand the report "linked state security forces to the murder of militants and recommended that military officials, notably retired major general Jovito Palparan, be held liable under the principle of command responsibility for killings in their areas of assignment." Stricter anti-terror laws have also caused some concern in recent years.
Under Arroyo's government, the Philippines has become second only to Iraq as the world's riskiest place to report the news, with 23 journalists killed since 2003
In her July 23, 2007 State of the Nation Address, Arroyo has set out her agenda for her last three years in office, and called for legislation to deal with a spate of political killings that have brought international criticism to her presidency. She promised to bring peace to the troubled south, and also defended a controversial new anti-terrorism legislation. Arroyo told the joint session of Congress that "I would rather be right than popular." Lawmakers and lawyers, however, were dismayed by the SONA's failure to highlight and address this major hindrance to human rights. Specifically, the Alternative Law Groups (ALG) echoed the lawmakers’ position that Mrs Arroyo failed to take responsibility for the problem.
In 2007, incidences of extrajudicial killings dropped 87%, with the decline attributed to the creation of a special task force to handle the killings.
Amnesty proclamation
On September 5, 2007, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Amnesty Proclamation 1377 for members of the Communist Party of the PhilippinesCommunist Party of the Philippines
The Communist Party of the Philippines is a leading communist party in the Philippines. It remains an underground political organization since its founding on December 26, 1968 and has been operating in clandestine manner since its founding...
and its armed wing, the New People's Army
New People's Army
The New People's Army is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines. It was formed on March 29, 1969. The Maoist NPA conducts its armed guerrilla struggle based on the strategical line of 'protracted people's war'.The NPA exacts so called "revolutionary taxes" from business owners...
; other communist rebel groups; and their umbrella organization, the National Democratic Front
National Democratic Front (Philippines)
National Democratic Front is a coalition of far left leaning political parties, churches , agricultural unions, trade unions, and other related groups in the Philippines...
. The amnesty
Amnesty
Amnesty is a legislative or executive act by which a state restores those who may have been guilty of an offense against it to the positions of innocent people, without changing the laws defining the offense. It includes more than pardon, in as much as it obliterates all legal remembrance of the...
will cover the crime of rebellion and all other crimes "in pursuit of political beliefs," but not including crimes against chastity, rape, torture, kidnapping for ransom, use and trafficking of illegal drugs and other crimes for personal ends and violations of international law or convention and protocols "even if alleged to have been committed in pursuit of political beliefs." The National Committee on Social Integration (NCSI) will issue a Certificate of Amnesty to qualified applicants. Implementing rules and regulations are being drafted and the decree will be submitted to the Senate of the Philippines
Senate of the Philippines
The Senate of the Philippines is the upper chamber of the bicameral legislature of the Philippines, the Congress of the Philippines...
and the House of Representatives
House of Representatives of the Philippines
The House of Representatives of the Philippines is the lower chamber of the...
for their concurrence. The proclamation becomes effective only after Congress has concurred.
Iraq War
The Arroyo administration has forged a strong relationship with the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Arroyo was one of the first world leaders who expressed support for the US-led coalition against global terrorism in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
, and remains one of its closest allies in the war on terror
War on Terror
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
. Following the US-led invasion of Iraq, in July 2003 the Philippines sent a small humanitarian contingent which included medics and engineers. These troops were recalled in July 2004 in response to the kidnapping of Filipino truck driver Angelo de la Cruz. With the hostage takers demands met, the hostage was released. The force was previously due to leave Iraq the following month. The early pullout drew international condemnation, with the United States protesting against the action, saying giving in to terrorist demands should not be an option.
ASEAN Summit
Arroyo's foreign policy is anchored on building strong ties with the United States, East AsiaEast Asia
East Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms...
n and Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
n nations, and countries where overseas Filipino workers work and live. In 2007, the Philippines was host to the 12th ASEAN Summit
ASEAN Summit
The ASEAN Summit is an annual meeting held by the member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in relation to economic, and cultural development of Southeast Asian countries....
in Cebu City
Cebu City
The City of Cebu is the capital city of Cebu and is the second largest city in the Philippines, the second most significant metropolitan centre in the Philippines and known as the oldest settlement established by the Spaniards in the country.The city is located on the eastern shore of Cebu and was...
.
Philippines-Japan Trade Deal
On August 21, 2007, Arroyo's administration asked the Senate of the PhilippinesSenate of the Philippines
The Senate of the Philippines is the upper chamber of the bicameral legislature of the Philippines, the Congress of the Philippines...
to ratify a $4 billion (£2 billion) trade deal with Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
(signed on 2006 with the former Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi
Junichiro Koizumi
is a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 2001 to 2006. He retired from politics when his term in parliament ended.Widely seen as a maverick leader of the Liberal Democratic Party , he became known as an economic reformer, focusing on Japan's government debt and the...
), which would create more than 300,000 jobs (by specifically increasing local exports such as shrimp
Shrimp
Shrimp are swimming, decapod crustaceans classified in the infraorder Caridea, found widely around the world in both fresh and salt water. Adult shrimp are filter feeding benthic animals living close to the bottom. They can live in schools and can swim rapidly backwards. Shrimp are an important...
to Japan). Japan also promised to hire at least 1,000 Philippine nurses. The opposition-dominated senate objected on the ground that toxic wastes would be sent to the Philippines; the government denied this due to the diplomatic notes which stated that it would not be accepting Japanese waste in exchange for economic concessions.
Council of Women World Leaders
In keeping with this international mission, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a member of the Council of Women World LeadersCouncil of Women World Leaders
The Council of Women World Leaders is a network of current and former women prime ministers and presidents established in 1996 by Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, President of Iceland and first woman in the world to be democratically elected president, and Laura Liswood, Secretary General...
, an International network of current and former women presidents and prime ministers whose mission is to mobilize the highest-level women leaders globally for collective action on issues of critical importance to women and equitable development.
Pardons
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo granted pardon the following:- Former President Joseph EstradaJoseph EstradaJoseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada was the 13th President of the Philippines, serving from 1998 until 2001. Estrada was the first person in the Post-EDSA era to be elected both to the presidency and vice-presidency.Estrada gained popularity as a film actor, playing the lead role in over 100 films in...
(2007) - convicted of plunder - Pablo Martínez (2007) - convicted for being involved in the Assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.Assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.The assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr., former Philippine Senator, took place on Sunday, August 21, 1983, at the tarmac of Manila International Airport...
- Claudio Teehankee, Jr. (2008) - convicted of murderMurderMurder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
- Rogelio Moreno (2009) - convicted for being involved in the Assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.Assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.The assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr., former Philippine Senator, took place on Sunday, August 21, 1983, at the tarmac of Manila International Airport...
- Rubén Aquino (2009) - convicted for being involved in the Assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.Assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.The assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr., former Philippine Senator, took place on Sunday, August 21, 1983, at the tarmac of Manila International Airport...
- Arnulfo Artates (2009) - convicted for being involved in the Assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.Assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.The assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr., former Philippine Senator, took place on Sunday, August 21, 1983, at the tarmac of Manila International Airport...
- Romeo Bautista (2009) - convicted for being involved in the Assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.Assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.The assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr., former Philippine Senator, took place on Sunday, August 21, 1983, at the tarmac of Manila International Airport...
- Jesús Castro (2009) - convicted for being involved in the Assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.Assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.The assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr., former Philippine Senator, took place on Sunday, August 21, 1983, at the tarmac of Manila International Airport...
- Arnulfo De Mesa (2009) - convicted for being involved in the Assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.Assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.The assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr., former Philippine Senator, took place on Sunday, August 21, 1983, at the tarmac of Manila International Airport...
- Rodolfo Desolong (2009) - convicted for being involved in the Assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.Assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.The assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr., former Philippine Senator, took place on Sunday, August 21, 1983, at the tarmac of Manila International Airport...
- Claro Lat (2009) - convicted for being involved in the Assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.Assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.The assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr., former Philippine Senator, took place on Sunday, August 21, 1983, at the tarmac of Manila International Airport...
- Ernesto Mateo (2009) - convicted for being involved in the Assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.Assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.The assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr., former Philippine Senator, took place on Sunday, August 21, 1983, at the tarmac of Manila International Airport...
- Filomeno Miranda (2009) - convicted for being involved in the Assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.Assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.The assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr., former Philippine Senator, took place on Sunday, August 21, 1983, at the tarmac of Manila International Airport...
- Former Congressman Romeo Jalosjos (2009) - convicted of rape
Fertilizer Fund Scam
The Fertilizer Fund ScamFertilizer Fund Scam
The Fertilizer Fund Scam is a Philippine political controversy involving accusations that Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante diverted P728 million in fertilizer funds to the 2004 election campaign of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.-Details:...
is a Philippine
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
political controversy involving accusations that Agriculture Undersecretary
Department of Agriculture (Philippines)
The Philippines' Department of Agriculture , abbreviated as DA, is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for boosting the income of farmers as well as reducing the incidence of poverty in the rural sector, as stipulated inthe Government's Medium Term Philippine...
Jocelyn Bolante
Jocelyn Bolante
Jocelyn "Jocjoc" Bolante is a Filipino politician who formerly served as an Undersecretary of the Department of Agriculture of the Philippines. He was implicated by the Philippine Senate to the ongoing investigation related to corruption concerning fertilizer funding while serving as a government...
diverted P
Philippine peso
The peso is the currency of the Philippines. It is subdivided into 100 centavos . Before 1967, the language used on the banknotes and coins was English and so "peso" was the name used...
728 million in fertilizer funds to the 2004 election campaign of President
President of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
.
Hello Garci Controversy
In the middle of 2005, Samuel OngSamuel Ong
Samuel Ong was a former deputy director of the National Bureau of Investigation of the Philippines and is a whistleblower, declaring that the 2004 national elections was rigged, starting an electoral crisis....
who is a former deputy director of the country's National Bureau of Investigation
National Bureau of Investigation
The National Bureau of Investigation , is an agency of the Philippine government under the Department of Justice, responsible for handling and solving major high profile cases that are in the interest of the nation.-Organization and Jurisdiction:The NBI is a government entity that is civilian in...
(NBI) claimed to have audio tapes of wiretapped conversations between President Arroyo and an official of the Commission on Elections
Commission on Elections (Philippines)
The Commission on Elections, or COMELEC, is one of the three constitutional commissions of the Philippines. Its principal role is to enforce all laws and regulations relative to the conduct of elections, initiatives, referendums, and recalls....
. According to Ong, the contents of the tape prove that the 2004 national election was rigged by Arroyo in order to win by around one million votes. On June 27, Arroyo admitted to inappropriately speaking to a Comelec official
Virgilio Garcillano
Virgilio Olivar Garcillano also known as Garci, is a former official of the Philippine Commission on Elections who allegedly was involved in Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's alleged electoral fraud in the Hello Garci scandal....
, claiming it was a "lapse in judgement", but denied influencing the outcome of the election. Attempts to impeach Arroyo failed later that year.
Two witnesses, Antonio Rasalan and Clinton Colcol, stepped forward in August 2006, claiming involvement in an alleged plot to alter the results for the May 2004 elections. Rasalan claimed that he was fully convinced that the election returns presented at the House of Representatives were manufactured and had replaced the original documents.
Colcol, a tabulator
Tabulator
Not to be confused with Tabulating machine.The Tabulator is a generic data browser and editor. Using outline and table modes, it provides a way to browse RDF/Linked Data on the web. RDF is the standard for inter-application data exchange....
for the Commission on Elections (Comelec
COMELEC
COMELEC may refer to:* Commission on Elections * Comité Maghrébin de l’Electricité...
), said that Arroyo only received 1,445 votes, while Poe received 2,141 in South Upi, Maguindanao during the May 2004 elections.
On January 25, 2008, Pulse Asia
Pulse Asia
Pulse Asia, Inc. is a public opinion polling body in the Philippines. It was launched by professional academics recognized as experts in their respective fields of study. It monitors salient socio-economic, political and cultural issues in the minds of the Filipino public.-Profile:According to its...
survey
Statistical survey
Survey methodology is the field that studies surveys, that is, the sample of individuals from a population with a view towards making statistical inferences about the population using the sample. Polls about public opinion, such as political beliefs, are reported in the news media in democracies....
(commissioned by Genuine Opposition
Genuine Opposition
Genuine Opposition is the umbrella political coalition of the parties' senatorial line-up for the 2007 Philippine midterm elections, which is in opposition to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo...
(GO) per former Senator Sergio Osmeña III) stated that 58% percent of Filipinos in Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
believed that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cheated in the Philippine general election, 2004
Philippine general election, 2004
The senatorial election was held in the Philippines on May 10, 2004. The major coalitions that participated are the Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan composed of parties that support the candidacy of president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino ,...
. 70% also "believed that because of recurring allegations of election fraud, the credibility of the balloting process in Mindanao was at a record low."
National Broadband Network Scandal
The Philippine National Broadband Network controversyPhilippine National Broadband Network controversy
The Philippine National Broadband Network controversy involved allegations of corruption in the awarding of a US$329 million construction contract to Chinese telecommunications firm ZTE for the proposed government-managed National Broadband Network .The contract with ZTE was signed on April 20,...
is a political affair that centers upon allegations of corruption primarily involving Former Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairman Benjamin Abalos
Benjamin Abalos
Benjamin S. Abalos, Sr. is a politician and is a former chairman of the Philippine Commission on Election. He was also a MMDA Chairman and Mandaluyong City Mayor. He is the father of current Mandaluyong City mayor Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos, Jr..-Early life:Benjamin Abalos was born into a poor...
, First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo regarding the proposed government-managed National Broadband Network (NBN) for the Philippines and the awarding of its construction to the Chinese firm Zhong Xing Telecommunication Equipment Company Limited
ZTE
ZTE Corporation formerly Zhongxing Telecommunication Equipment Corporation is a Chinese multinational telecommunications equipment and systems company headquartered in Shenzhen, China...
(ZTE), a telecommunications and networking equipment provider.
The issue has captivated Filipino politics since it erupted in Philippine media around August 2007, largely through the articles of newspaper columnist Jarius Bondoc of the Philippine Star. It has also taken an interesting turn of events, including the resignation of Abalos as COMELEC chairman, the alleged bribery of congressmen and provincial governors (dubbed as "Bribery in the Palace"), the unseating of Jose de Venecia, Jr.
Jose de Venecia, Jr.
Jose Claveria de Venecia, Jr. also known as JDV or Joe De V is a former Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, serving from 1992 to 1998 and from 2001 to 2008. As Speaker, he was the fourth highest ranking official of the Philippines. He was the former president of the...
as House Speaker, and the alleged "kidnapping" of designated National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) consultant-turned-NBN/ZTE witness Rodolfo Noel "Jun" Lozada, Jr
Rodolfo Noel Lozada
Rodolfo Noel I. Lozada, Jr., CEO of the Philippine Forest Corporation, surfaced at the La Salle Greenhills campus early morning today and implicated former Commission on Elections chair Benjamin Abalos Sr and First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo in the anomalous ZTE deal.Lozada is an electronics and...
.
Controversial Dinner party and Ondoy
Again, a serious blow marked an another controversy in the Philippines. In July 2009, Arroyo went to New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to dine with her friends at a lush Le Cirque
Le Cirque
Le Cirque is a French restaurant in Manhattan owned and operated by Sirio Maccioni. It first opened at the Mayfair Hotel in 1974. It closed and reopened as Le Cirque 2000 at the Palace Hotel in 1997. The latest installation of Le Cirque opened in 2006 in the Bloomberg Tower building at One Beacon...
restaurant and was highly criticized for her supposed outlandish dinner at Le Cirque with the Philippine delegation during her visit to the United States. President Arroyo and her group reportedly had dinner for the cost of $20,000 or P1,000,000 as reported in the New York Post. This has been linked to corruption and anti-Gloria protests to sprawl anger among the poor, and more people went hungry as a result of rising hunger
Hunger
Hunger is the most commonly used term to describe the social condition of people who frequently experience the physical sensation of desiring food.-Malnutrition, famine, starvation:...
, and also, anti-Gloria coup attempts. In September 2009, Typhoon Ondoy became devastative throughout Metro Manila
Metro Manila
Metropolitan Manila , the National Capital Region , or simply Metro Manila, is the metropolitan region encompassing the City of Manila and its surrounding areas in the Philippines...
and Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
leaving 464 people dead and resulted to massive flooding and landslides. After Benigno Aquino III
Benigno Aquino III
Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III , also known as Noynoy Aquino or PNoy, is a Filipino politician who has been the 15th and current President of the Philippines since June 2010....
took office on June 30, 2010, he criticized Arroyo and PAGASA
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration is a Philippine national institution dedicated to provide flood and typhoon warnings, public weather forecasts and advisories, meteorological, astronomical, climatological, and other specialized information and...
for lack of disaster preparedness and new equipment in the aftermath of Ondoy, Chief Administrator Prisco Nilo
Prisco Nilo
Prisco Duarte Nilo is a Filipino meteorologist. He is the former administrator of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration ....
was fired and resigned for having a fool-proof forecast as the typhoon struck the metropolis.
Northrail Controversy
The Northrail project is being surrounded by a controversy since 1997, Arroyo signed a Memorandum of agreementMemorandum of Agreement
A memorandum of agreement or cooperative agreement is a document written between parties to cooperatively work together on an agreed upon project or meet an agreed objective. The purpose of an MOA is to have a written understanding of the agreement between parties.An MOA is a good tool to use for...
with Sinomach
Sinomach
China National Machinery Industry Corp is the largest machinery manufacturer in China.In March 2011, the company acquired McCormick France SAS, a French manufacturer of tractors, as part of strategy for entering the European tractor market....
and other contractors in 2004, to construct a rail line from Caloocan to Clark Special Economic Zone once to be completed in 2010. Many opposition senators and congressmen opposed that the project could cost US$500 million and this has been led to corruption in the Arroyo cabinet and even her, and also a series of cancellations. After it was constructed from 2009-2010,
again, it eventually cancelled in March 2011, no plans and substitute foreign support (Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
for example) to continue the project.
End of Presidency
In November 2009, Arroyo formally declared her intention to run for a seat in the House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives of the Philippines
The House of Representatives of the Philippines is the lower chamber of the...
representing the 2nd District of Pampanga
Pampanga
Pampanga is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Pampanga is bordered by the provinces of Bataan and Zambales to the west, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija to the north, and Bulacan to the southeast...
, making her the second Philippine President - after Jose P. Laurel
Jose P. Laurel
José Paciano Laurel y García was the president of the Republic of the Philippines, a Japanese-sponsored administration during World War II, from 1943 to 1945...
- to pursue a lower office after the expiration of their presidency. A petition seeking to disqualify Arroyo from the race was dismissed by the Comelec
Commission on Elections (Philippines)
The Commission on Elections, or COMELEC, is one of the three constitutional commissions of the Philippines. Its principal role is to enforce all laws and regulations relative to the conduct of elections, initiatives, referendums, and recalls....
for lack of merit, a decision which was later affirmed by the Supreme Court. With little serious competition, she was elected to congress in May 2010 with a landslide victory. After receiving final military honors at the inauguration ceremony of incoming President Benigno Aquino III
Benigno Aquino III
Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III , also known as Noynoy Aquino or PNoy, is a Filipino politician who has been the 15th and current President of the Philippines since June 2010....
, she headed straight to Pampanga for her own oath-taking as congresswoman.
Arrest
Arroyo was arrested on November 18, 2011 after a Pasay court issued a warrant of arrest against her, following the filing of a complaint for electoral sabotage by the Commission on ElectionsCommission on Elections (Philippines)
The Commission on Elections, or COMELEC, is one of the three constitutional commissions of the Philippines. Its principal role is to enforce all laws and regulations relative to the conduct of elections, initiatives, referendums, and recalls....
. The arrest warrant was served at a St. Luke's Medical Center
St. Luke's medical center
St. Luke's Medical Center is a Tertiary referral hospital located in Quezon City and Taguig City, Philippines. It has a bed capacity of 660. It is the first in the Philippines and second in Asia to be accredited by the USA-based Joint Commission International , one of the leading international...
at Taguig where Arroyo had been confined. This and others resulted to corruption charges including her, ex-First Gentleman Mike Arroyo
Jose Miguel Arroyo
Jose Miguel "Mike" Tuason Arroyo is a former First Gentleman of the Philippines. He is the husband of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the former President of the Philippines and the current Congresswoman of Pampanga 2nd District....
and her son Mikey
Mikey Arroyo
Juan Miguel Macapagal Arroyo, known as Mikey Arroyo is a Filipino actor and the representative of the party-list group Ang Galing Pinoy. He was the former congressman from second district of Pampanga from 2004 to 2010...
.
External links
- Office of the President of the Philippines
- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo official website
- Reporter's Notebook: Ang Palasyo Reporter's Notebook Special, 12/04/2007
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