People Power again emerged victorious, with three days of massive demonstrations prodding the country’s military and police to break away yesterday from President Arroyo, and to declare their support for the constitutional successor, Vice-President Noli de Castro.
As in 1986, it is People Power which installs a new government today.
Arroyo was swiftly isolated yesterday, with at least eleven Cabinet members and many other government officials resigning their posts and joining People Power II. The opposition rejected Arroyo’s last-ditch offer for a snap presidential elections in May, and gave her a 6 a.m. deadline today to resign or face the full force of People Power II when at least a hundred thousand people march from the EDSA Shrine and surround Malacanang.
Yesterday was nearly a replay of the 1986 EDSA revolt that ousted the strongman Ferdinand Marcos. Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz, Jr. whom many had believed would stick by the president to the end, and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief Hermogenes Esperon at 4 p.m. yesterday emerged to join the over 100,000 demonstrators at the "EDSA Shrine" calling for the ouster of Arroyo.
The military top brass, in a press conference attended by People Power I leaders, former presidents Corazon Aquino and Fidel Ramos, and former president Joseph Estrada acknowledged de Castro as Arroyo’s successor. AFP head Esperon emphasized that the military establishment will stand behind an orderly transfer of power. Philippine National Police chief Oscar Calderon similarly declared that the police will continue to maintain law and order.
Vice President de Castro said that "the healing process should now start, now that the armed forces and police and the people are one."
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| Vice President Noli de Castro |
As in 1986, it is People Power which installs a new government today.
Arroyo was swiftly isolated yesterday, with at least eleven Cabinet members and many other government officials resigning their posts and joining People Power II. The opposition rejected Arroyo’s last-ditch offer for a snap presidential elections in May, and gave her a 6 a.m. deadline today to resign or face the full force of People Power II when at least a hundred thousand people march from the EDSA Shrine and surround Malacanang.
Yesterday was nearly a replay of the 1986 EDSA revolt that ousted the strongman Ferdinand Marcos. Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz, Jr. whom many had believed would stick by the president to the end, and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief Hermogenes Esperon at 4 p.m. yesterday emerged to join the over 100,000 demonstrators at the "EDSA Shrine" calling for the ouster of Arroyo.
The military top brass, in a press conference attended by People Power I leaders, former presidents Corazon Aquino and Fidel Ramos, and former president Joseph Estrada acknowledged de Castro as Arroyo’s successor. AFP head Esperon emphasized that the military establishment will stand behind an orderly transfer of power. Philippine National Police chief Oscar Calderon similarly declared that the police will continue to maintain law and order.
Vice President de Castro said that "the healing process should now start, now that the armed forces and police and the people are one."
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