Critics suspect ‘quid pro quo’ in Arroyo-Obama meet

MANILA, Philippines - Will it be a quid pro quo between presidents? Administration critics suspect that the June 30 meeting in Washington D.C. between the two state leaders will involve an exchange deal: term extension for Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the resumption of the operations of the US military bases on Philippine soil for Barack Obama. Makati City Jejomar Binay, president of the United Opposition, believes that in order for Mrs. Arroyo to seal the deal, she will try to get Obama’s support for the overhaul of the Philippines’ 1987 Constitution. Binay said that through Charter change (Cha-cha), the form of government would shift from presidential to parliamentary system thereby allowing Mrs. Arroyo to run for Congress and later reign as prime minister. He said Cha-cha could also lead to the lifting of the constitutional ban on the presence of US military bases in the country, a move that favors the reported renewed interest of the US to set up military facilities in the Philippines. “The 1987 Constitution expressly prohibits foreign military bases in the country. But with Arroyo allies intent on amending the Constitution, the ban can be amended to allow the US to again open military bases in the Philippines," Binay said in a statement on Monday. "In exchange, the administration may seek US support for Mrs. Arroyo’s plan to amend the Charter and shift to a parliamentary form of government," he added. The main political concern of the US is for the Philippine elections to push through in 2010, according to Binay. But the mayor said that while Mrs. Arroyo had assured the US that polls would be conducted, “she did not say that it will be under a presidential form." Left-leaning organization Bagong Alyansang Makabayan believes it will be “ironic" if Obama will forge ties with the likes of Mrs. Arroyo. “Obama should be reminded of his own inauguration speech, where he said that those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent are on the wrong side of history. He will be meeting with Arroyo, a president known for corruption and human rights abuses in her own country," Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes said in a statement. Malacañang had dismissed claims that Mrs. Arroyo would seek US backing on her bid to stay in power beyond 2010. Press Secretary Cerge Remonde also brushed aside reports that in her meeting with Obama, Mrs. Arroyo would make a pitch for declaring emergency rule. “Intriga 'yan ... Walang katotohanan at walang basehan 'yan [It’s just intrigue. There is no truth and no basis to that claim]," Remonde said in an earlier interview over dzXL radio. Poverty alleviation, economic resiliency, good government, climate change, and international terrorism, are among the issues that Mrs. Arroyo will discuss with Obama, according to Remonde. - GMANews.TV