There is not much to admire about this tiny lady temporarily residing at Malacañang—legal or otherwise, depending on which side one is identified with. It seems she did not inherit much genes from her illustrious yet humble father. She is a spoiled brat. Moreover, the taming of this shrew via matrimony is unfortunately, in the wrong stable. In that place, it seems money counts more than anything else.

That is why during the last presidential election, having voted for a fellow Bikolano instead of her is not something to regret about, even if the choice was second to the last, vote-wise. A clear conscience is enough consolation.

Be that as it may, the call for President Arroyo’s resignation on account alone of the so called “Gloriatape” is not only ill-timed and uncalled for, aside from the fact that it is replete with stinking partisanship and hidden vested interests agenda. That’s the trouble with this country. Too many want to be president. Too few wish to serve.

Those demanding for PGMA’s resignation-former President Cory Aquino included, ought to look beyond her stepping down, sans due process. True, the option with a color of constitutionality, is for Vice President Noli De Castro to fill the vacuum. That is not that simple, though. Emboldened by their success through mob rule, those with ulterior motives will continue with the parliament of the street until they eventually succeed in grabbing power.

Note that those in the so called opposition have different directions. Everybody wants to lead. Nobody wants to follow. No one seems to admit that they also have feet made of clay. Instead, they want to project an image of being immaculate, fountains of wisdom and springs of lofty ideas, superficially.

Even those urging Susan Roces to lead the nation ala Cory do not see the clear distinction between the two. Cory Aquino is a widow of a martyr, Ninoy Aquino, who was assassinated because of his campaign for justice, freedom and democracy. In plain, he was killed. Susan is a widow of Fernando Poe, Jr., who died of an illness-who knows, perhaps because of unhealthful or excesses in his lifestyle.

This is not to say that PGMA should be let off the hook for her “ lapse in judgment.” She should realize that power on one hand and accountability on the other, are directly proportional. The higher the position, the bigger the accountability.

Due process, however, must be religiously observed. We cannot continue pretending that over the past several years we have lived a normal political life, using people power as a vehicle for changing government officials. Somehow it leaves something in bad taste. It connotes instability and lack of political maturity.
Lest there be misinterpretations, the most ideal way out of this political crisis is indeed for Gloria to simply quit. It is not that simple though. We have to look beyond that eventuality. PGMA is not that all and be all in our survival as a nation. She is just part of the problem. Those noisily demanding for her removal are themselves part of the problem. That is why there should be a more workable way out of this mess. These precipitate calls for the President’s stepping down might not only bring us from the frying pan into the fire or even to damnation itself.
The constitutionally-mandated means of resolving the controversy-impeachment, may not also be very effective, as it would even further polarize the already very divided nation. Given the antics of our senators and representatives who bark out more accusations than sensible questions, who criticize more than offer solutions, there is nothing much heartwarming to expect from all such deliberations. They already have drawn partisan lines. Instead of helping in the healing process, our legislators and other traditional political leaders further inflict more telling injuries on our ailing political system.

The concept that imperial Metro Manila’s stand on burning issues regarding governance is representative of the national sentiment is already old and discredited. It is as of now hogwash. In fact, the metropolis is a place for two extremes. One group is for those who find the provinces too small for their capabilities. The other is for those who are liabilities in the rural areas. Ordinary people who truly represent the nation’s level of civilization just continue their daily toil. They are the true builders of the nation. They do not consider politics a way of life, twenty four hours a day. They simply want to live peacefully and orderly.

That is why a more practicable and workable way has to be devised. After all, it has long been said that politics is the art of the possible.

On this score, the idea brought out by former President Fidel Ramos to resort to a shift to a parliamentary form of government from presidential form deserves a more serious consideration. It may not be a perfect way out, but at least it is doable, with least damage to our governmental institutions and with less risk to a possible bloodbath.

Not that quick, though. Speaker Joe de Venecia’s insertion of a quickie is in bad taste. Not having succeeded in all his previous attempts to amend the fundamental law of the land via conversion of Congress into a constituent assembly, he is back at it again, in his usual, characteristic fashion of an opportunist. Just because the nation is now hostage to the fear of chaos and confusion, he wants the people to swallow a bitter pill he has been offering before. He wants the legislators to railroad the new constitution.

In a sense, De Venecia’s idea is a form of blackmail. Just because the Filipino people fear violent conflicts, it does not follow that our political leaders could ram into their mouths whatever political compromises crafted. Yes, ways and means must be resorted to in order for PGMA to have a graceful exit, if only to avoid the tragic scene of filipinos killing fellow filipinos. Safeguards, however, must also be considered to prevent a disgraceful entry of a railroaded constitutional amendment, designed by an elite few, without the electorate’s specific mandate. Absent that, suspicions cannot be avoided that this present political crisis must have been a handiwork of those bent to impose a not well ventilated and studied constitutional shift.