The 'people power' dilemma

What happens when people power turns violent?

In this story: 'Die by the sword' Emergency powers Class war Soul-searching RELATED STORIES, SITES

By CNN's Maria Ressa in Manila

MANILA, Philippines -- Filipinos are justifiably proud of the peaceful revolt that toppled a dictator in 1986.

"People Power" ended the 21-year rule of Ferdinand Marcos, returned to Filipinos their civil liberties and began the rebuilding of Asia's rowdiest democracy.

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"People Power" is enshrined in the Philippine Constitution - a tribute to the movement that inspired democracy in other parts of the world.

IN-DEPTH Estrada: Downfall of a president

But what happens when "People Power" is turned against a democratically-elected President?

That's exactly what happened in January this year: when Filipinos lost faith in the impeachment process of President Joseph Estrada, accused of accepting millions of dollars in payoffs and kickbacks.

Hundreds of thousands, most members of the middle class and elite, demonstrated demanding justice. Over the course of four days, Estrada lost his political allies. When the military abandoned him, he was lost.

'Die by the sword'

Arroyo said she was confident the military would continue to back her

The woman they supported: his vice-president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, now the Philippines' 14th president.

However, as analyst Nelson Navarro told CNN: "you live by the sword, you could die by the sword."

One hundred and one days after taking office, another crowd -- tens of thousands strong, most members of the urban poor -- demonstrated again. This time, it was justice for Estrada they wanted, jailed April 25 on a non-bailable corruption charge.

This time, when they marched to the presidential palace, it turned violent. At least four people were killed, more than 100 injured. The crowd turned into a mob, burning and looting vehicles and buildings.

Emergency powers

Thousands of Estrada supporters have been demanding his release from jail

Because she had the support of the Armed Forces, Arroyo did what her predecessor could not: she exercised the first of three emergency powers granted to the President under the Constitution.

Saying there was a 'state of rebellion,' she called out the military and gave the police power to arrest suspects without a warrant.

That conjured a specter from the past: reminding Filipinos of how Marcos used the President's emergency powers in 1972 to declare the martial law that began his 21-year dictatorship.

So the Philippines comes full circle? Not quite -- because President Arroyo lifted her emergency powers less than a week later.

But events have left a bad taste, finally leading many Filipinos to question the democracy they have crafted.

Clearly, a dangerous precedent has been set, and the line drawn is the difference between "people power" and mob rule.

People power in 1986 was clearly a fight between good and evil -- between a dictator and the nation. It was a people demanding their civil liberties.

But in 2001, people power version two was not as clear-cut.

Class war

Portrayed by Arroyo and her supporters as a war against corruption -- a war on moral grounds -- it also weakened the very democratic institutions it had taken the country 15 years to rebuild.

Now the failed people power version three has exposed the fractures in this society, triggering a potential class war.

Even less clear-cut, opposition politicians tried to capitalize on the legitimate grievances of the urban poor.

They are a powerless, voiceless part of this society, and they identify with the underdog image cultivated by Estrada.

When they saw him fingerprinted and jailed, they saw the elite persecuting one of their own.

That got them out on the streets, some claiming they would march on the capital's affluent neighborhoods. But channeling that anger was difficult, and it degenerated into mob rule.

Soul-searching

All this has taken place less than two weeks before crucial elections.

On May 14, Filipinos will elect more than half of the Senate, all the House of Representatives and thousands of local officials.

The elections are also seen as an informal referendum on the government of Mrs. Arroyo, the first major test of her mandate.

As Filipinos go through a period of soul-searching, Arroyo faces a daunting task: to return the power of government back to the civilian leadership rather than the military; and, to restore her people's faith in government.

To do that, she must address widespread poverty and strengthen the government's weak and corrupt institutions.

Only then can the true promise of people power be fulfilled and the threat of mob rule averted.

Philippines lift rebellion decree
May 6, 2001
Estrada arrested
April 25, 2001

Philippine Office of the Press Secretary
Philippines House of Representatives

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