Arroyo seeks greater support<\/p>\n
BAGUIO, Philippines (AFP): Philippine President Gloria Arroyo
\non Saturday handed out more benefits to the military while
\nappealing for greater support amid uncertainty over her
\nprospective choices for defense secretary and military chief of
\nstaff.<\/p>\n
Speaking to active and retired officers at the elite
\nPhilippine Military Academy (PMA) in the northern resort city of
\nBaguio, Arroyo stressed the military's role in the peaceful
\nuprising that toppled her predecessor, Joseph Estrada, on Jan.
\n20.<\/p>\n
Arroyo told officers she saw herself \"as one of the guys\" and
\nstressed that \"I feel confident I can count on you just as I
\ncounted on you in (in the uprising against Estrada) and in the
\ndifficult days afterwards.\"<\/p>\n
She did not elaborate on the \"difficult days afterwards\" but
\nthere were reports of destabilization plots being hatched against
\nher newly-installed government at the time.<\/p>\n
The president also announced a new program with the
\nagriculture department to make staple foods -- rice and sugar --
\navailable at military camp stores at lower prices and to provide
\nassistance to soldiers and their families in agricultural
\nprojects.<\/p>\n
It was the latest of a series of Arroyo's speeches before the
\nmilitary and police whose abandonment of Estrada on Jan. 19, was
\nconsidered the crucial act that finally led to the disgraced
\npresident's ousting.<\/p>\n
In previous speeches, she has also announced hikes in military
\nand police benefits while emphasizing that she will consult with
\nthem on various security issues including her plan to reopen
\npeace talks with communist and Muslim separatist guerrillas.<\/p>\n
Her speech at the PMA came after she announced on Tuesday that
\nshe was letting her military chief of staff, General Angelo Reyes
\nretire in March despite a two-year extension of his term granted
\nby Estrada.<\/p>\n
The announcement of Reyes's retirement came after retired
\ngenerals began questioning the extension and campaigned for his
\nreplacement.<\/p>\n
Reyes had led the military in withdrawing their support for
\nEstrada at the height of massive street demonstrations calling
\nfor Estrada's ousting over a growing corruption crisis.<\/p>\n
The military's withdrawal of support and the resignation of
\nkey cabinet members convinced Estrada to leave the presidential
\npalace, allowing Arroyo to be sworn in as president.<\/p>\n
In her speech, Arroyo acknowledged that Reyes, a former friend
\nof Estrada, had helped turn the tide against the ex-president and
\nstressed that when he swung his support behind her, he did not
\nask anything for himself, including an extension of his term.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/arroyo-seeks-greater-support-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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