US says it will oppose any unconstitutional change in RP

[jedi]

US says it will oppose any unconstitutional change in RP

July 08, 2005
Updated 12:28pm (Mla time)

Agence France-Presse INQ7.net

(2ND UPDATE) THE SENIOR US diplomat in the Philippines said Friday his government would oppose any unconstitutional attempt to unseat President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who is besieged with allegations she stole last year's elections.

US embassy Charge d'Affaires Joseph Mussomeli also said in a live television interview that Washington still recognizes Arroyo as the legitimate president of this former US colony in Southeast Asia unless she is unseated through a constitutional process.

However, when asked in the interview over the ABS-CBN News Channel if he could categorically say that the US supports President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Mussomeli replied, “I can categorically say that we support the rule of law."

"Anything that goes beyond the Constitution, the US government will firmly oppose," he said.

He stressed that unacceptable options would include "a military coup, the imposition of martial law [and] people power in the streets."

"Anything that will weaken the institutions that we genuinely believe are the true safeguard for your own liberty and welfare ... we will do our best to oppose any such actions," Mussomeli said.

He said the US would “publicly” and “forcefully denounce” extra-constitutional actions. He also ruled out US military intervention similar to what took place in 1986 when president Ferdinand Marcos was deposed and was advised by the US government to “cut and cut cleanly.” US aircraft brought Marcos to Hawaii.

"We support the rule of law. Within that context, we believe the president is still the president," he added, saying that Arroyo was within her "legal right" to order her entire Cabinet to resign late Thursday.

He said though that his statement "does not mean that we're not disappointed."

"These are very decent people. They are patriots who accepted the position when they could work elsewhere and earn more money," he said.

Arroyo's order to the Cabinet was intended to open the door to a revamp but eight of the cabinet members tendered their irrevocable resignations Friday, saying Arroyo should also step down as she has lost the confidence of the people.

Arroyo has been under increasing pressure to step down on opposition allegations that she cheated to win the May 2004 elections. Arroyo has refused to step down, insisting she has done nothing illegal.

In the past, huge street demonstrations, widely known as "people power," were used to topple the dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 and scandal-tainted president Joseph Estrada in 2001.

Referring to the crisis which has dominated national attention for months, Mussomeli said that the United States, the country's main security ally and trading partner, was mainly disappointed that political squabbles had distracted the national attention from vital reforms.

Mussomeli foresees “more things will happen” in the next few weeks with the Filipinos' “good genius to resolve [the current political crisis] in their own due time.”

US Embassy in the Philippines

With Veronica Uy, INQ7.net

©2005 www.inq7.net all rights reserved

[jedi]

for Gods sake, BUSH, pakialaman mo nalang ang sarili mong bubong... leave this issue

[mbt]

oh, the irony of it... and just how did GMA rise to the presidency again? wasn't this the same thing they said before with Marcos too? he he

and besides, resignation is perfectly constitutional.

[mrpink]

.. the US will support WHOEVER is in power .. it's in their best interest .. so they support GMA now .. when she is gone because she resigned, impeached, removed, died or after 2010 .. they will support whoever comes next ..

[FrankDrebin]

and besides, resignation is perfectly constitutional.

That's the clue US gov't is trying to tell us. :D

Wais!

[RedHorse]

am taking it as, US will let a de Castro presidency

[FrankDrebin]

At least they don't support a Roces presidency. ;)

[jedi]

At least they don't support a Roces presidency. ;)

nakalimutan mo si Rez Cortez, kasi sabi daw ni Susan ang gusto nyang next president eh lalake... si Amay Bisaya wala na kasi sa sirkulasyon eh

[mazdamazda]

for Gods sake, BUSH, pakialaman mo nalang ang sarili mong bubong... leave this issue

I don't think that what was said by their diplomat can be classified as a "pakikialam". Iraq & Afghanistan can be classified as such.

.. the US will support WHOEVER is in power .. it's in their best interest .. so they support GMA now .. when she is gone because she resigned, impeached, removed, died or after 2010 .. they will support whoever comes next ..

Yup... as long as it is not a junta or a dictatorship.

[mrpink]

Yup... as long as it is not a junta or a dictatorship.

.. unless it's something the CIA put up .. ..