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A former government consultant testified in the Senate last month that the project was overpriced by more than US$100 million since kickbacks were given to prominent allies of the government including the husband of the president. This revelation revived the campaign of opposition groups which are demanding the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
A people power movement is developing. This is bad news for the beleaguered Arroyo government since people power uprisings have been successful in removing unpopular presidents.
In the Philippine context, people power refers to the spontaneous and organized non-violent gathering of a million people in the streets to demand the removal of the president. In 1986, the first people power revolt toppled the Marcos dictatorship. In 2001, the second people power led to the unseating of then President Joseph Estrada.
Almost everybody is talking about the need for another power power to force the resignation of Arroyo. It seems to be the only option left since Congress is reluctant to allow an impeachment case and Arroyo has many times rejected appeals for her resignation. She has also turned down the proposal for a snap election to resolve the political crisis.
Arroyo is extremely isolated today. Only the political dynasties from the provinces and the military hierarchy are steadfastly supporting the president. Many civic organizations, religious groups, business clubs and other middle-class forces are already voicing their rejection of the "morally-bankrupt" Arroyo regime.
Arroyo is quickly losing public support because of rampant corruption in government, human rights abuses committed by police and military forces, worsening poverty, electoral fraud, and deteriorating quality of living in the countryside. A recent survey showed that three out of four Metro Manila residents do not trust Arroyo as a leader.
The powerful Catholic Church has issued a pastoral statement which denounced corruption at all levels of government. The bishops advised the faithful to conduct "communal actions" and develop a "new brand of people power" to improve governance in the country.
The response of the people over the past few weeks was overwhelming. Indeed, political groups were disappointed since the bishops did not openly ask for the resignation of Arroyo. But this did not prevent groups and individuals from organizing activities which challenge the legitimacy and moral credibility of the Arroyo government.
Elite schools have been conducting prayer assemblies, noise barrages, candle lighting ceremonies and other protest activities in campuses to promote accountability of public officials involved in corruption. Students have been joining their teachers and school administrators in denouncing the moral decay in the country's national leadership.
Online petitions calling for the resignation of Arroyo are proliferating. Video clips exposing the criminal liability of the First Family are popular in the internet. Filipinos are abandoning their favourite entertainment noontime shows in order to watch the live TV coverage of the ongoing Senate probe on the corruption scandal.
Every week, street protests are organized by opposition groups. People who seldom or never joined rallies are participating in today's protest marches. There will be another large gathering of anti-Arroyo groups in the next few days.
Indeed, people power is unfolding in the Philippines today. But this does not necessarily mean that Arroyo will soon be removed from power. Arroyo relies heavily on the support of the police and military. Although there are dissident soldiers, Arroyo commands the loyalty of almost all generals.
Analysts insist that without military support, people power will not succeed. This assertion is partly true. The military has always supported people power movements when a critical mass has already been achieved. About half a million people are needed to gather in the streets, which can inspire patriotic military officers to withdraw support for Arroyo.
This condition has yet to be fulfilled by the anti-Arroyo movement. It is not military support which is more crucial today. Public participation in street rallies should be the more pressing concern of the opposition.
It is clear that Arroyo will continue to remain president in the next few months. It is a challenge for the opposition groups on how to maintain the momentum of the campaign. The public should be assured that the alternative to Arroyo is a better one.
Political forces should resolve their differences and present an acceptable alternative to the status quo. This seems to be an impossible task given the extent of disunity among political groups but somehow there must be a consensus on who or what should replace Arroyo at the helm of the government.
So far, rallies have failed to unseat Arroyo, but this is not discouraging at all. The people power movement needs to gather more steam. Grassroots organizing is continuing. A public information campaign has been launched. Political groups are conducting dialogues regarding the post-Arroyo scenario. This will not be a happy and quiet year for the Arroyo family and their cohorts.
People power is the tried and tested weapon of Filipinos against tyrants and corrupt leaders. Analysts claim that people power leads to the weakening of political institutions. But people power promotes genuine democracy since the public learns how to participate in the changing of inept and despotic governments.
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(Mong Palatino is a Filipino youth activist, news editor of Yehey!, a Philippine-based web portal and Global Voices correspondent. He can be reached at mongpalatino@gmail.com and his Web site is www.mongpalatino.motime.com. ©copyright Mong Palatino.)
