Eye Opener
By Rodolfo P. Gumabong

Mike Arroyo's exile abroad not a prelude to GMA resigning?

Is Mike Arroyo's and children's sudden departure abroad Wednesday night already a prelude to Pres. Gloria Arroyo's stepping down the presidency and joining her husband and family to seek asylum in the U.S.?

The first gentleman's departure Wednesday evening was covered live by both television and radio networks and GMA spoke sadly on the departure of her husband and children as if to gain sympathy from the Filipino people.

We hope the reported exile of the first gentleman and his two children to the U.S. to avoid additional controversy to the President will not really be a preparation for GMA to follow him whenever the situation in the country gets worse and unstoppable.

Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was woman enough to apologize her conversation with a a Comelec official as to the May 2004 presidential election and a mother as well to admit her “lapse of judgement.” Her coming out in the open on the controversial “Gloriagate” has eased tension among the Filipino people who for over three weeks have been in a quandary as to what the President will do in the midst of widespread protests in Metro Manila's demonstration areas. The business community seems to admire the courage of GMA in making her public apology but the opposition remains critical and unforgiving in spite of the president's public apology. Threats of criminal liability, impeachment, and forcing the President to step down remain a volatile issue. The President has manifested that she will not resign as she was duly elected by the majority vote of the Filipinos in the May 2004 presidential election and that the Supreme Court had reportedly affirmed her victory by dismissing the electoral protest of the late FPJ.

The days to come are events to watch as to what will be the after-effect of GMA's public apology. The army, PNP, and the pro-GMA supporters are ready to stand by her on any eventuality. The evangelical Christians and the pro-Catholic admirers of Pres. Arroyo are fervently praying for peace in the Philippines. Lord God spare our nation from destruction as there are still millions of faithful followers in this country over a few corrupt and dishonest people, private and public alike.