Arroyo instituted policies and measures geared towards economic stability and building a strong republic. As an economist, she laid the groundwork for a robust economy that weathered the global financial meltdown of 2008.
Arroyo's ascent to the Philippine presidency in 2001 resulted from the ouster of her predecessor Joseph Estrada through a peaceful uprising dubbed as Power Power II. On January 20, 2001, 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 The military and the national police had earlier withdrawn their support for Estrada.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 JusticeHilario Davide, Jr.[4] Coincidentally, Arroyo assumed office the same day as US PresidentGeorge W. Bush.
Join me therefore as we begin to tear down the walls that divide. Let us build an edifice of peace, progress, and economic stability.
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 "either... mob rule or mob rule as a cover for a well- planned coup."[6] The International Herald Tribune reports that the "opportunist coalition of church, business elite and left... orchestrated the 'People Power II movement."[7]
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.[8] The Supreme Court issued its decision on March 2, 2001, asserting that Estrada had resigned the presidency and relinquished his post.[4] The court unanimously voted to dismiss Estrada's petition, reaffirming the legitimacy of Arroyo's presidency.[4]
On May 1, 2001, a week after Estrada was arrested on charges of plunder, an estimated 3,000,000[9] protesters sympathetic to Estrada degenerated into violence and attempted to storm the presidential palace to force Arroyo from office.[10] Four people died, including two policemen, and more than 100 were wounded in clashes between security forces and rioters.[10][11] After being dispersed the crowd had looted stores and burned cars.[10] 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.[10] The state of rebellion was lifted one week later, with Arroyo declaring "the disorder has subsided".[11]
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.
The 2001 legislative elections and local elections were held in the Philippines 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, also a guest candidate of opposition coalition was announced as the topnotcher. The administration's coalition gained the majority.
The Oakwood mutiny occurred on July 27, 2003, when a group of 321 armed soldiers who called themselves "Bagong Katipuneros"[12] 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 to show the Filipino people the alleged corruption of the Arroyo administration. The group also stated that they saw signs suggesting that Arroyo was going to declare martial law.
Although the Philippine 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.[13] In December 2002, Arroyo made the surprise announcement that she would not seek a new term in the 2004 Philippine general election.[14] 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".[15]
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.[14]
Arroyo lagged behind Poe in the polls prior to the campaign season, but her popularity steadily climbed to surpass Poe's.[16] As predicted by pre-election surveys and exit polls, she won the election by a margin of over a million votes against her closest rival, Fernando Poe, Jr.[17]
Second term (2004-2010)
Inauguration
Arroyo taking her Oath of Office in Cebu City on June 30, 2004.
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.[14]
The declaration of Proclamation No. 1017 (PP 1017) gave Arroyo the power to issue warrantless (and until then unconstitutional) arrests and to take over private institutions that run public utilities.
Arroyo, 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.
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.[18]
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.
Legislative and local elections were held in the Philippines 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. Arroyo's coalition won three senate seats and 123 seats in the house.[citation needed]
Trillanes and Lim surrendered to authorities after an armored personnel carrier rammed into the lobby of the hotel.[19] Director Geary Barias declared that the standoff at the Manila Peninsula Hotel was over as Trillanes, Lim, and other junior officers agreed to leave the hotel and surrender to Barias after the 6 hour siege.[20] 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 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, impeachment complaints were filed against 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 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.[21][22][23][24][25]
Estrada pardon
On October 25, 2007, supposedly based on the recommendation by the Department of Justice (DOJ), Arroyo granted a pardon to Joseph Estrada, who was convicted by the Sandiganbayan of plunder and imposed a penalty of reclusion perpetua. Press Secretary Ignacio 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.[26][27][28] Accordingly, DOJ 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.[29]
In response to the massacre of 57 people in Ampatuan town, Arroyo placed Maguindanao under a state of martial law under Proclamation No. 1959. 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. Her proclamation constituted the first declaration of martial law in the Philippines since 1972, when then-president Ferdinand Marcosimposed military rule over the entire country.[30][31]
Arroyo with US President George W. Bush and other state leaders at the 2004 APEC Trade SummitArroyo gestures her arms in a meeting to her cabinet and business leaders during a roundtable discussion on "Increasing Export Investments" at the Kalayaan Briefing Room in Malacañang Palace
Arroyo, a practicing economist, 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.[34] 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%[35] 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%.[36] 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.[37]
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.[38] 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.[39]
A controversial expanded value added tax (e-VAT) law, considered the centerpiece of the Arroyo administration's economic reform agenda,[40] 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.[41] 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.[42]
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.[43]
The managing director of the World Bank, Juan Jose Daboub, criticized the administration for not doing enough to curb corruption.[44][45]
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.[46]
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.[47] 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".[48]
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. Arroyo issued Executive Order No. 464 (EO 464), which prohibited government officials under the executive department from appearing in congressional inquiries without Arroyo's prior consent.[50][additional citation(s) needed] These measures were challenged before the Supreme Court, which declared some sections as unconstitutional.[51] After a meeting with Catholic bishops and government lawyers, Arroyo revoked EO 464 in March 2008.[52]
Human rights
A May 2006 Amnesty International report expressed concern over the sharp rise in vigilante killings of militant activists and community workers in the Philippines.[53] 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.[54] 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.[55][56][57][58]
An independent commission was assembled by Arroyo 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."[54] Palparan, who retired on September 11, 2006, has been appointed by Arroyo to be part of the Security Council; this has alarmed left-leaning political parties about the potential for human rights violations.[59][additional citation(s) needed]
Under Arroyo's presidency, the Philippines in 2006 became second only to Iraq as the world's riskiest place to report the news, with 46 journalists killed.[60][better source needed]
In her 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."[61] 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.[62]
In 2007, incidences[spelling?] of extrajudicial killings dropped 87%, with the decline attributed to the creation of a special task force to handle the killings.[63]
On September 5, 2007, Arroyo signed Amnesty Proclamation 1377 for members of the Communist Party of the Philippines 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".[64]
The Arroyo administration has forged a strong relationship with the United States. 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.[65] 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.[65] With the hostage takers demands met, the hostage was released.[65] The force was previously due to leave Iraq the following month.[65] 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.[65]
On August 21, 2007, Arroyo's administration asked the Senate of the Philippines to ratify a $4 billion (£2 billion) trade deal with Japan (signed on 2006 with then-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.[68]
Council of Women World Leaders
Arroyo is a member of the Council of Women World Leaders, 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.[69]
In the middle of 2005, Samuel Ong, a former deputy director of the country's National Bureau of Investigation, claimed to have audio tapes of wiretapped conversations between 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, said that Arroyo only received 1,445 votes, while Fernando Poe Jr. received 2,141 in South Upi, Maguindanao during the May 2004 elections.[73][74]
On January 25, 2008, Pulse Asiasurvey (commissioned by Genuine Opposition per former Senator Sergio Osmeña III) stated that 58% percent of Filipinos in Mindanao believed that Arroyo cheated in the 2004 Philippine general election. 70% also "believed that because of recurring allegations of election fraud, the credibility of the balloting process in Mindanao was at a record low."[75]
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.[citation needed]
Controversial dinner party
In late July 2009, Arroyo went to New York City to dine with her friends at a lush Le Cirque restaurant and was highly criticized for her supposed outlandish dinner there with the Philippine delegation during her visit to the United States. Arroyo and her group reportedly dined for the cost of $20,000 or ₱1,000,000 as reported in the New York Post (a few days before Corazon Aquinodied).[citation needed]
Northrail controversy
The Northrail project was surrounded by a controversy since 1997. In 2004, Arroyo signed a Memorandum of agreement with Sinomach and other contractors to construct a rail line from Caloocan to Clark Special Economic Zone to be completed in 2010. Many opposition senators and congressmen opposed, arguing that the project could cost US$500 million; this has led to corruption in the Arroyo cabinet and a series of cancellations.[citation needed] After the rail line was constructed from 2009 to 2010, it was eventually cancelled again in March 2011, with no plans and foreign support to continue the project.[citation needed]
End of presidency
Arroyo in a ceremonial handshake with president-elect Benigno Aquino III at the Malacanang Palace on June 30, 2010.
In November 2009, Arroyo formally declared her intention to run for a seat in the House of Representatives 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.[76] 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.[77] With little serious competition, she was elected to congress in May 2010 with a landslide victory.[78] 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.[79]
Arrest
Arroyo was arrested on November 18, 2011, after a Pasay court issued a warrant of arrest against her. This followed the filing of a complaint for electoral sabotage by COMELEC. The arrest warrant was served at St. Luke's Medical Center, Taguig where Arroyo had been confined. This and others resulted to corruption charges including her husband Mike and son Mikey. She was acquitted and released in 2016.[80][81]
^Laurel, Herman T (February 22, 2006). "Small setback..." The Daily Tribune. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved August 10, 2007.
^"Article 7: Executive Department". The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines. The Official Website of the Republic of the Philippines. Archived from the original on May 18, 2007. Retrieved June 4, 2007.
^ abcMalaya, J. Eduardo; Malaya, Jonathan E. (2004). ...So Help Us God: The Presidents of the Philippines and Their Inaugural Addresses. Pasig: Anvil Publishing. pp. 301–303. ISBN978-971-27-1487-0.
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