Philippine political leaders have refuted a highly critical editorial published in the New York Times which suggests President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is leading the country away from democracy and back to the authoritarianism of the Marcos era. The editorial, titled “Dark Days for Philippine Democracy”, was widely condemned by government figures following its publication on April 5.
Lauro Baja Jr, the Philippines’ ambassador to the United Nations, stated in a letter to the Times the following day that the publication needed to take a second look at the Philippines and added the editorial “must have been written through a glass darkly.”
“In no way has [Mrs Macapagal-Arroyo] ‘completely lost touch’ with the ideas that inspired the 1986 People Power movement,” he said. Mr Baja further lambasted the editorial’s criticism of the Philippines’ economics, stressing the country eminence in software-design development, business-process outsourcing and call centers.
“Just examine seriously the following example of positive indicators as a result of her reforms: the Philippine peso has been a currency of strength for a number of weeks now; the growth rate is rising; and the Philippine stocks are the best performing in the region,” he said. He further urged the newspaper “to look dispassionately at the economic, social and political programs President Macapagal-Arroyo has been pursuing for the people” while referring to the president as a “professional economist” and an “earnest reformer”.
The ambassador also rebutted the editorial’s allegations of press censorship by the administration. Although the Times did not specifically criticize emergency rule, it denounced Malacanang’s attempts to “muzzle the press” with new laws as well as a “journalistic watch list”. Mr Baja retorted that Filipinos “continued to enjoy basic human rights and freedom” after and even during the week-long state of emergency, stating the president’s decision “averted a possible violent overthrow of the government by an unholy alliance of communists, leftists and radical elements of the military who would have thrown the country into chaos and civil war.”
“The press and civil society continue to be one of the most free and vibrant sectors of our society, “ he said. “Credit-rating agencies have improved their assessment of the Philippine economic outlook and conditions for rapid economic expansion and the momentum for growth are at hand as a result of the President’s economic and social programs.”
Mr Baja finally invited the New York Times staff to visit the Philippines “and breathe the air of freedom in a democracy that is thriving in our fertile grounds. The forecast is far more sunny days ahead.”
Ignacio Bunye, the president’s press secretary, said the only threat to democracy comes from those who fail to respect the constitution. In a press statement issued a day after the editorial’s publication, Mr Bunye said last February’s state of emergency was in response to elements who chose to risk the country’s economic progress to suit their own political ends. He further added Mrs Macapagal-Arroyo was committed to combating terrorism across the archipelago.
“In the battlefield with support for military action against armed terrorists, at the negotiating table with those who now want to wage peace, and on the economic front where she is seeking to bring a better quality of life to those who have been affected by the scourge of terrorism. There has been much progress on this front during the President’s term and as the President has stated, there will be more to come,” Mr Bunye said, adding the country’s press could attest to journalistic freedom in the country.
“We have a press that is far too active and aggressive to allow any institution to stifle their reporting. The President is committed to maintaining that press freedom,” he said. “Unfortunately … the Times editorial is testimony to the fact that the opposition’s irresponsible political efforts are impacting international perceptions and overshadowing the great news being generated on the economic front.”
But while Mr Bunye lambasted the “opposition’s irresponsible political efforts” for painting a downbeat picture of the Philippines, opposition figures cautioned that the article was “a wake-up call that Gloria could not afford to ignore.”
The Senate president, Franklin Drilon, said the editorial reflected the international community’s unhappiness at the Macapagal-Arroyo administration, particularly after recent allegations that it stole the 2004 presidential election.
“The unresolved issues must be addressed squarely. This will continue to erode on the ability of the president to govern, until the issue is addressed properly. It’s an indication that the situation in the Philippines has attracted international attention,” Mr Drilon said.
“It’s significant that the repressive measures adopted in the past couple of months, which is the subject of the editorial. It only indicates the displeasure around the world on what has been happening in our country today in terms of the danger signals to our democratic institutions,” he added.
Joel Villanueva, a representative from Citizens Battle Against Corruption, censured both Mrs Macapagal-Arroyo as well as the press secretary for passing blame onto opposition destabilizers.
“Even those who are outside (the Philippines) observing can smell the stench and GMA can no longer hide and disguise the rot of corruption in her government,” he said. Roilo Golez, a representative from Paranaque City, said the administration needed to acknowledge the difficulties the country faces rather than blame the opposition.
“Instead of blaming the opposition, they should heed the New York Times editorial. It could be reflective of Washington officialdom’s sentiment. Influential newspapers such as New York Times and the Washington Post are known to be at times conduits of the White House or the State’s policy line,” Mr Golez said.
The National Union of Journalists in the Philippines meanwhile said Malacanang acted “guilty and insecure” after reading the editorial. The union’s chairman, Jose Torres, said many Filipinos were unaware of the article but the administration went out of its way to defend the president.
The 349-word editorial in the New York Times described a president who had “completely lost touch with the ideals that inspired that 1986 “people power” movement.” It bemoaned the curtailing of press freedom in the country while slowly bringing back corruption, vote-rigging and authoritarianism to the country in a move reminiscent of the Marcos era.
The editorial further mentioned last year’s impeachment attempt over the alleged ballot-rigging as well as allegations that her husband accepted bribes from gamblers. The article concluded by stating that US President George Bush regarded Mrs Macapagal-Arroyo as a vital ally in the war against terrorism.
“He now needs to warn her that by undermining a hard-won democracy, she is making her country far more vulnerable to terrorist pressures,” the story concluded.
