BEING the only President, so far, known for revamping her cabinet several times and appointing generals to government key positions, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has again strengthened her hold on to power as the Supreme Court ruled that she can appoint a new Chief Justice to replace Reynato Puno who retires on May 17.

A University of the Philippines professor said a military takeover is one of two possible scenarios that may happen in case of a failure of elections or a failure of proclamation of a new president by noon of June 30.

Another possible situation is that Arroyo will act as holdover president pending the proclamation of a new one.

In these two situations, the Chief Justice would play a big role because the constitutionality of the two acts would eventually be brought to the Supreme Court (SC) for clarification.

It will be the Chief Justice who will decide when to convene the SC en banc and set the tone for the discussion of the 15 Justices, whom Arroyo had all appointed.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Speaker Prospero Nograles’s terms will also end on June 30. So these two key positions will be vacant, making a military takeover a near possibility.

Thus, this administration could not blame the Filipino people for suspecting her motives as her actions are dubious.

Adding to the fears of the Filipino people of Arroyo’s plant cling to power is her appointing of her former military aide and loyal supporter, Gen. Delfin Bangit as chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

She also appointed Bangit's other classmates in the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1978, which adopted her as honorary member, to top positions in the AFP like new Philippine Army chief, Lt. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu and National Capital Region Command chief Rear Adm. Feliciano Angue.

This development puts in question the independence of the judiciary and military from Arroyo’s hold.

The SC decision is also a dangerous precedent on interpreting the Constitution with many lawyers feeling that the “fundamental cannons of interpretation” of the Constitution was violated.

Arroyo could have just extended Puno’s stay until a new President is proclaimed. But she did not. What then is her motive for doing such? Certainly it’s not for the good and benefit of the country and the Filipino people.