Word: aquinos
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When the cries of "Cory! Cory! Cory!" filled the streets of Manila last February, it seemed that Corazon Aquino could do no wrong. Her shy smile, the staccato rhythm of her speeches and her cheerful yellow dresses inspired hope and goodwill not only in the Philippines but around the world. Last week, however, a different response erupted in the capital's streets, where a crowd of 20,000 demonstrators cried, "Down with Cory...
More surprising still, the crowd was egged on by none other than Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile, the onetime ally and crony of Ferdinand Marcos whose decision to turn on the former President assured Aquino's peaceful takeover. In recent weeks Enrile's criticisms of Aquino have become more ominous. Three days after Enrile led the chanting anti-Aquino crowd, he was joined in his attacks by Vice President Salvador Laurel, who sided with Enrile against the President in a Cabinet dispute over when the next presidential election should be held. With Enrile headed toward open revolt and Laurel fast...
Officials in Manila and Washington responded with varying degrees of alarm. Despite a large pro-Aquino rally at midweek and the President's calm assurances that she does "not feel threatened by Minister Enrile," some prophesied Enrile's dismissal, others his resignation. There were predictions that Enrile would try to wring concessions from Aquino that would render the President a figurehead. Some officials even heard the faint rumbles of a coup. All agreed, however, that Aquino was facing the toughest political challenge since she assumed office...
...mounting concern was evident in Washington, where officials hastened to quash any hopes Enrile might entertain of U.S. backing in his apparent bid for power. "U.S. support for President Aquino's government is complete and unequivocal," said State Department Spokesman Charles Redman. Another Administration official dismissed suggestions that Enrile might be the next President. "Enrile is just not a plausible successor," he snapped. "He's tainted by two decades of serving Marcos...
Certainly, Enrile took belligerence to new heights when he addressed last week's rally. Ostensibly an anti-Communism meeting, it was the first time that Enrile aligned himself with Marcos supporters, who have been holding rallies almost weekly. During his speech, Enrile hinted that the Aquino government was tainted by corruption. Filipinos, he said, need a government that is "stable, honest and clean." Although just five days before, Enrile and Aquino had seemed to agree not to criticize each other publicly, the Defense Minister tore into the President for her conciliatory approach to the Philippines' Communist insurgents. Earlier, he demanded...