What’s a battered President to do? - GOTCHA By Jarius Bondoc

His spokesman says Joseph Estrada is in a fighting mood. Maybe he is, going by his daily pronouncements that Chavit Singson’s jueteng exposé is but a plot of ex-Presidents Cory Aquino and Fidel Ramos and Cardinal Jaime Sin and the political opposition to destabilize his reign.

But First Lady Loi Ejercito moans that her husband is battered by successive exposés of high living and million-peso mahjong stakes. She might know better. And that’s probably why Estrada to this day hasn’t refuted a single accusation apart from claiming "my conscience is clear."

Who wouldn’t feel battered? Slowly but surely, conscience is knocking more and more of his Congress allies to impeach him. Those who have chosen to steadfastly defend him are only antagonizing more people against the administration with their crude legal antics. Local officials from his LAMP party are distancing themselves from him, wary that their reelection bids would be compromised if the impeachment case drags till May 2001. They’re worried that even if they win, voters will suspect they did so only through fraud. Cabinet economic managers are under pressure from businessmen to resign to make Estrada do likewise. They’re trying to push economic reforms in a vain effort to restore investor confidence in the administration, but businessmen are telling them it’s too late in the day for that.

Meanwhile, street protests are growing. Organizers began with five cities last Wednesday. Today, they vow to mobilize bigger numbers in 20 provinces. Every Wednesday thereafter, they intend to lead more rallies patterned after anti-Marcos protests after Ninoy Aquino’s assassination, all leading up to a general strike on the eve of Bonifacio Day.

The protests combine previously opposing forces: militant workers with capitalists, moderates with conservatives, leftists with former military coup leaders, small opposition parties with defectors from ruling LAMP. Even erstwhile apolitical students and neutral civic leaders are signing petitions for Estrada to resign.

The issues of impeachment and resignation have joined. Those who wish that patriotic sense would spark Estrada to step down are banking on impeachment pressures for him to see the light. On the other hand, movers for impeachment are confident that any mangling of the constitutional process by partisan and legal maneuvers would only incite louder public outcries for resignation.

Even the call for a snap election, seen initially as a sly LAMP tactic to divert public attention away from Jueteng-gate, turned into a trap. Under the Constitution, such election can push through only if Estrada resigns along with Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Once Estrada resigns, fence-sitting partymates would jump onto the impeachment bandwagon. Even the rider of Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Raul Roco – that Estrada should run only for the unexpired portion of his term – doesn’t wash. Past and present election officials say the Constitution is clear on presidential tenure: six years or nothing; once resigned, forever resigned; no reelection.

Estrada’s own political offensive fell flat on its face. For three days last week, he gave away government land rights to urban squatters. The doles only served to highlight his lifestyle with that of the poor he claims to be fighting for. A new exposé contrasted the billion-peso market value of his mistresses’ many mansions with his declared net worth of a few million pesos. And his former mass housing chief Karina David pointed out the long, near-impossible process of converting the land rights into actual ownership titles, what with the surveying and parcelling work that needs to be done, not to mention the cost of building a house during inflationary times.

So what’s a battered President to do? Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora swears The Boss "will never ever resign" because the Constitution mandates him to finish his term. Rep. Joker Arroyo, seeing more than mere stubbornness, warns that the PNP has drawn up an operation plan for a state of emergency – with no sanction at that from the defense-military establishment. PNP chief Panfilo Lacson admonishes Arroyo against joking about serious matters like suspension of the writ of habeas corpus. But it doesn’t help Lacson’s denials any that there are plots to unseat Senate President Franklin Drilon and Speaker Manny Villar, men who under the Constitution are to determine whether such a state of emergency exists or not.

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INTERACTION. A. Hedriana, go.com: Indeed Erap is using all resources to get out of his rut (Gotcha, 21 Oct. 2000). We should pull together to stop him.

Ruby Villaruz, Vancouver: Reading all the disgusting news about Erap and his administration, I am glad my family is enjoying Canada’s quality of life. But we’re praying for RP.

Joey Legarda, Makati: There is complete breakdown of values and morals in society today. The "Erap factor" has institutionalized patronage politics.

Ayen Mendoza, edsamail.com: During the Senate hearings, Enrile wanted Singson to answer only yes or no, but when asked by a reporter if he thinks Erap is innocent, he couldn’t give a plain yes or no.

Cornelius Cruz, Toronto: I agree with reader Danny Gimolatan that it’s the electorate’s fault Erap became President (Interaction, 21 Oct. 2000). But I also have countless friends and kin who are against corruption and bad government. And I pray for them.

André de la Cruz, yahoo.com: Hang around with shady characters, and you’ll attract trouble like shit attracts flies (Gotcha, 18 Oct. 2000). Look at Erap.

W.R.A., edsamail.com: Public officials aren’t paid well. Erap didn’t make a pile from movies. So how can he afford a luxurious lifestyle, betting millions of pesos in mahjong and building many houses?

E.C. Ibazeta, pworld.net: The mere fact that she took money from Singson means Tessie Oreta knew it came from jueteng (Gotcha, 16 Oct. 2000). Now she’s filing perjury charges against him?

Thank you, Lillian Bandonil, D.B. Batulao, Michael Cadelina, Vic de Gorostiza, Sandy Reyes, Danny Petilla, Corazon Cali, Jimmy Rovero, Victor Sumagaysay, Angel Balauitan, A. Wilson, Antonio Cagalawan, Danilo Magalang, Roland Simbulan, Raffy Oriel, Jet Nera, Marlowe Camella, Narciso Ner, Rowena Silva, Lorenzo Lopez, Clemente Aganon, Andres del Pilar, Archie Tacla, Guring999, Manolo Montes, William Tang, Paciano Fernandez, Art Leon.

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