Word: aquinos
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Political turmoil is becoming a regular fact of life for Aquino. In the past six weeks, a Cabinet Secretary was assassinated, a general strike paralyzed major cities, and the bloody military uprising late last month came closer to unseating her than four previous attempts. Since that failed revolt, Aquino's leadership has come under severe question. Some 2,000 rebel soldiers remained at large, and bickering was mounting among her political supporters. Last week's mass resignation may have bought Aquino time to reorganize her government and recapture the sense of high expectation that marked her early months...
...Aquino may reinstate most of her Cabinet ministers, but one case will be a problem: Executive Secretary Joker Arroyo. When she asked the Cabinet to resign last November, the move was designed largely to oust a rival, Juan Ponce Enrile, who was then Defense Minister. This time the likely target is a faithful friend of more than 15 years. Arroyo, 61, whose first name derives from his father's fondness for card playing, is easily the most powerful member of the Cabinet. The former human rights lawyer screens Aquino's official papers and correspondence as well as all requests...
...charge that Arroyo has been too protective of the President, blocking access to her, suppressing documents he does not want her to see, and generally insulating her from political and economic realities. His public criticism of the military has alienated the country's top officers, among them such staunch Aquino loyalists as Armed Forces Chief Fidel Ramos. Almost every attempted coup in the past 18 months, including the most recent one, has demanded the ouster of Arroyo as well as that of another outspoken Aquino adviser, Speechwriter Teodoro Locsin. Many military men allege that Arroyo is a Communist, a charge...
...opposition to Arroyo solidified last week, after he appeared before the Philippine Congress to defend the government's performance in quelling the last mutiny. Though he had planned to ask Congress to close ranks behind Aquino, Arroyo instead spent three hours berating the military, the Roman Catholic Church and the business community for failing to support her during the uprising. He compared Ramos' spokesman Colonel Honesto Isleta with Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's propagandist. Arroyo said that three of the country's leading businessmen, all longtime Aquino boosters, are guilty of treason for plotting to have him fired. He also attacked...
...sessions. Palace insiders report that the President witnessed a series of intense backroom shouting matches between Arroyo and Trade and Industry Secretary Jose Concepcion, whose twin brother Raul was among the businessmen the Executive Secretary had accused of treason. As other Cabinet members joined in the melee, a furious Aquino said, "Don't you people have anything else to do except fight and quarrel with each other?" To the officials present she said, "I want all your resignations right now." She then called the emergency session of the full Cabinet. Said U.S. Political Analyst Richard Kessler: "For a long time...