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US drops support for GMA
WASHINGTON – Washington has scaled down its “unequivocal” support
for embattled President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as the raging controversy over
the Garci tapes continued to erode her presidency.
American analyst says the US must adopt this new stance because it should stay
neutral in the crisis and not give the appearance of supporting a President whose
credibility and ability to govern have been compromised.
Dana R. Dillon, senior policy analyst at the Asian Studies Center at the Heritage
Foundation, a top conservative think-tank based in Washington DC, says the US
must avoid the appearance of partisanship in the current crisis.
This stance was immediately echoed by Scott Bellard, acting deputy chief of mission,
who said in Manila July 20 that the US government’s support is for institutions
and democratic processes, and not for a person.
This was a departure from the “unequivocal” support for the Arroyo
administration expressed in the early days of the “Hello Garci” tapes
by former charge d’affaires Joseph Mussomeli, whose recent departure left
Bellard as the No. 1 man in the US Embassy.
Washington has yet to name a replacement for Ambassador Francis Ricciardone who
left in May.
Sen. Richard Lugar, chair of the Senate foreign relations committee, has also
called for a constitutional solution to the crisis. He did not openly come out
in support of Arroyo.
Ms. Arroyo desperately needs US support if she is to survive the crisis. In fact,
on July 4th, the President in an unprecedented move stopped over in the US embassy
to participate in the celebration of American independence day.
The continuing crisis in the Philippines is putting in peril US concerns over
the fight against the terrorists in Mindanao and the need to improve the economy
of the country which is going on a tailspin as a result of the Hello Garci tapes.
“Our support around the world is for institutions and democratic processes,
not the individual person. It is not a personal relationship that we have in the
Philippines. It is a state-to-state relationship," Bellard said when asked
about the Bush administration’s support for Arroyo.
Bellard was guest at the launching of the USAID-UK financed micro-hydro program
at the Philippine Plaza hotel.
Arroyo is suffering the worst crisis of her presidency with the political opposition,
powerful business groups and several influential public figures demanding her
resignation over allegations that she cheated her way back to Malaca±ang
in last year’s election. On July 18, Dillon, who said there seems “little
chance” Arroyo will be successfully impeached because of her allies in the
House, came out with a 1,002-word analysis, “Crisis in the Philippines:
What does it mean for the US?"
Dillon said “statements from Washington should be measured expressions of
support for the Philippine people, constitutional processes, and the rule of law
and should avoid any appearance of partisanship."
Dillon urged the Bush administration to help the Philippines in its political
crisis “without crossing boundaries of Philippine sovereignty (because)
Filipinos will view any American involvement in the current political crisis as
meddling."
The White House has often been receptive to Heritage Foundation’s policy
proposals.
Asked if the US believes that Arroyo still has the moral authority to govern,
Bellard said that is for the Filipinos to decide.
“Those choices are up to the people of the Philippines. There were elections
that were held in 2004 and we recognize the government that came from the elections
in May of 2004. That is an internal matter for the Filipino people to decide.
Your Constitution provides for scrutiny of public officials. Impeachment is explicitly
allowed under your Constitution, so whether or not your Congress decides to move
forward or not, it is something entirely for the Filipinos to decide according
to their constitutional process," Bellard said.
Bellard said the US sees in the current political crisis a “vibrant democracy"
operating under the Constitution.
“We support democracy in action around the world... And we very much appreciate
the fact the Philippines like the US has a democracy, a thriving democracy with
a free press. And all the other major freedoms that we cherish and hold dear,
the people of the Philippines also cherish and hold dear," he added.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said Arroyo still enjoys the support
of the US and other foreign governments as he disputed claims that the Dillon
paper calls for the Bush administration to distance itself from the Arroyo government.
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