Imee warns of military rule if GMA falls

The Philippines faces the "frightening" prospect of military rule if President Arroyo falls from power because the opposition lacks a figure to fill the void, the daughter of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos said yesterday.

"The foreboding is not good and it is possible there will be real trouble and imminent violence," said Ilocos Norte Rep. Imee Marcos, whose father ruled until 1986.

Acting against a "tactical alliance" between right-wing and communist forces to overthrow her and "create an unconstitutional regime," Mrs. Arroyo declared a national emergency on Friday — the eve of the 20th anniversary of a bloodless military-backed popular revolt that ended the 20-year Marcos dictatorship.

The President relieved three officers from elite security units of their command, arrested an opposition congressman and raided a newspaper which has been critical of the government.

"I’m assuming more of a media crackdown. I’m assuming that there will be more arrests, perhaps in Congress this afternoon when sessions resume," Marcos told the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines.

The young Marcos was a prominent leader of an opposition campaign to demand Mrs. Arroyo’s resignation over allegations that the incumbent stole the May 2004 presidential election.

She said a peaceful resolution of the political crisis was becoming more unlikely.

Mrs. Arroyo has rejected the cheating allegations as well as the opposition’s call for her and Vice President Noli de Castro to step down to pave the way for fresh elections. She survived an impeachment complaint in the House of Representatives in September.

"Someone has said that the administration is weakened, but that the opposition is stupid," Marcos said.

"Filipino loyalties (are) personal, and we can’t seem to come out with that person to lead the opposition," she said. Until the opposition can find that person, "people will not come out to join the (anti-Arroyo) rallies," she said. "That’s the long and short of it."

While this situation could open the way for a military takeover, Marcos said the Armed Forces were split and, consequently, a military-led government was unlikely to survive for long.

Marcos said the opposition forces were against extra-constitutional efforts, including "military adventurism," to replace Mrs. Arroyo, but a growing segment of the population was becoming "discouraged and desperate" and that "the military has suddenly become an acceptable option."

This, she said, "is frightening to hear." — AFP