The Philippine government yesterday warned President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's rivals that attempts to use a "people power" revolt to try to grab power would be met with "the full force of the law."
Final official results from Monday's election will take weeks, and a "quick count" by an officially sanctioned election watchdog group won't be ready for several days.
Arroyo was leading action film star Fernando Poe Jr. in the quick count by a little more than 2 percentage points as of midday yesterday. An independent exit poll by a credible agency has predicted she will win by 9 percentage points.
The president has invited her opponents to join in a government of national unity and reconciliation, but Poe has said he believes he won the election and his party threatened massive street protests to force Arroyo from power if necessary.
Poe's camp has alleged widespread election irregularities, and he has urged his backers to "remain firm in our belief in the truth that victory is ours."
In a statement yesterday, presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said, "Any attempt to destabilize the government will be a blatant travesty of the Filipino people's will as expressed during the May 10 elections. We discourage those disgruntled politicians and their allies from any sinister plans, which will be met with the full force of law."
The Philippine military has also warned against any violence or massive protests, saying troops would use "necessary force" to maintain order if losing parties try to stir up trouble.
In a live interview with ABS-CBN TV from the presidential palace on Friday, Arroyo called the elections "an opportunity for change," and said she needed a six-year mandate to complete economic and political reforms she began when she succeeded President Joseph Estrada after he was ousted in a 2001 "people power" revolt.
Still bitter at Arroyo, Estrada supports his friend, Poe, and warned from military detention of another "people power" uprising if the government cheats in the elections.
Arroyo refused to talk about the allegations from the opposition and civic groups of vote tampering and irregularities, or any election-related issues. But she did warn the opposition not to cross the line, saying, "They can protest verbally" and within the law.
She also extended a hand to her rivals, saying she wanted to form a "government of national unity and reconciliation, and it would be good if my opponents would join me."
Arroyo said she would work on "institutional reforms" and changing the country's culture of corruption while increasing the speed of privatization of public utilities and keeping the budget deficit down.
Earlier, Arroyo called her first post-election Cabinet meeting. Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo, in her absence, asked members to submit resignations to give Arroyo a free hand to reorganize the government.
If Arroyo beats Poe and three other candidates, she will have a public mandate to run the country for the first time.
BEYOND WASHINGTON: Although historically the US has been the partner of choice for military exercises, Jakarta has been trying to diversify its partners, an analyst said Indonesia’s first joint military drills with Russia this week signal that new Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto would seek a bigger role for Jakarta on the world stage as part of a significant foreign policy shift, analysts said. Indonesia has long maintained a neutral foreign policy and refuses to take sides in the Russia-Ukraine conflict or US-China rivalry, but Prabowo has called for stronger ties with Moscow despite Western pressure on Jakarta. “It is part of a broader agenda to elevate ties with whomever it may be, regardless of their geopolitical bloc, as long as there is a benefit for Indonesia,” said Pieter
‘SHARP COMPETITION’: Australia is to partner with US-based Lockheed Martin to make guided multiple launch rocket systems, an Australian defense official said Australia is to ramp up missile manufacturing under a plan unveiled yesterday by a top defense official, who said bolstering weapons stockpiles would help keep would-be foes at bay. Australian Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said the nation would establish a homegrown industry to produce long-range guided missiles and other much-needed munitions. “Why do we need more missiles? Strategic competition between the United States and China is a primary feature of Australia’s security environment,” Conroy said in a speech. “That competition is at its sharpest in our region, the Indo-Pacific.” Australia is to partner with US-based weapons giant Lockheed Martin to make
TIGHT CAMPAIGN: Although Harris got a boost from an Iowa poll, neither candidate had a margin greater than three points in any of the US’ seven battleground states US Vice President Kamala Harris made a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live (SNL) in the final days before the election, as she and former US president and Republican presidential nominees make a frantic last push to win over voters in a historically close campaign. The first lines Harris spoke as she sat across from Maya Rudolph, their outfits identical, was drowned out by cheers from the audience. “It is nice to see you Kamala,” Harris told Rudolph with a broad grin she kept throughout the sketch. “And I’m just here to remind you, you got this.” In sync, the two said supporters
Pets are not forgotten during Mexico’s Day of the Dead celebrations, when even Fido and Tiger get a place at the altars Mexican families set up to honor their deceased loved ones, complete with flowers, candles and photographs. Although the human dead usually get their favorite food or drink placed on altars, the nature of pet food can make things a little different. The holiday has roots in Mexican pre-Hispanic customs, as does the reverence for animals. The small, hairless dogs that Mexicans kept before the Spanish conquest were believed to help guide their owners to the afterlife, and were sometimes given
RSS