Word: cabinets
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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Seated in the mahogany-paneled state dining room at Malacanang Palace, members of President Corazon Aquino's Cabinet stared at the blank sheets of paper that had been placed before them. "Of course, you all know what this meeting is about," said the President. Most did not, though they may have had a sense of deja vu once she began explaining. Aquino reminded them that ten months earlier she had asked the Cabinet to resign in the turmoil following an + alleged coup plot. Now, in the wake of the most serious coup attempt yet, it was time for another reshuffle...
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...
...provided a dramatic encore in private Malacanang 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...
...Meanwhile, rumors are swirling that Honasan is planning to launch another takeover attempt, this time using tanks under his command. And late last week, Communist guerrillas waged a heated battle with government troops + just 30 miles away from Manila. Aquino is likely to find that keeping Arroyo in the Cabinet could make her life more difficult -- but that dropping him may not make things much easier...