Military
junta if elections fail
By JEFFREY SALONGA
Malacañang Correspondent
MANILA - Malacañang yesterday said
military junta or takeover would be implemented if there would
be a failure of elections in May.
This was Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Charito
Planas’ answer when asked if the elections would fail
and would not be resolved until June 30, the day that President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and other high ranking elective officials
would step down.
Planas said a military takeover is one of
the options provided for by the Constitution. She stressed
that Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile also agrees to such
a scenario.
She explained that military junta has been
adapted by other countries in Southeast Asia in the past.
“Maaring ang military ang mag–takeover,
maari ‘yan. Maari as military juntas have taken over
in several countries, especially in Southeast Asia…it
could be. Even Senator Enrile mentioned that it could be,”
Planas said.
She, however, did not mention if such a scenario
is one of the options being considered by Arroyo herself.
When pressed if Arroyo is willing to be an
Acting President on a hold-over capacity if a failure of elections
occurs, Planas said, “Hindi ang Presidente ang magsasabi
‘hoy, gusto ko pang manatili dito. Hindi siya. Ang situwasyon
ang magdidikta at ang Saligang Batas.”
After uttering this, Planas immediately stressed
that Arroyo has no plan to extend her term.
“She (Arroyo) will definitely step down from the presidency
on June 30 as mandated by the Constitution,” she said.
Planas also assured that a failure of elections
is a remote possibility since full manual polls could be adapted
if the automated polls fails./PN
|