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THE ARROYO
GOVERNMENT
April 25, 2001: Estrada is arrested and is stripped of immunity from
prosecution and barred from leaving the country. A number of charges
are made against Estrada, including economic plunder which is
punishable by death. He is detained while the courts begin
investigations into the charges. Estrada claims the allegations are
nothing but fabrications and calls for protests.
May 1, 2001: A number of pro-Estrada protestors unsuccessfully attempt
to storm Malacañan Palace in what has become known as EDSA III.
In response to the protestors, Metro Manila is temporarily placed under
a state of rebellion.
May 26, 2001: The Abu Sayyaf resumes kidnapping activities at a tourist
resort near Puerto Princesa City in Palawan.
August 7, 2001: The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signs a
ceasefire agreement.
December 16, 2002: A bill proposing constitutional change to a
parliamentary federal system is filed in the House of Representatives.
December 30, 2002: President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announces she will
not run in the 2004 elections.
July 27, 2003: A group of soldiers from the military take over the
Glorietta complex in Makati City starting the Oakwood mutiny. They
accuse the president of corruption and demand her resignation. The
soldiers rig the area with explosives but later surrender without
conflict bringing the mutiny to a peaceful end.
November 8, 2003: Two armed men, and possibly a third, seized the
control tower at NAIA. They were later killed by elite police teams in
a gun battle. One of the armed men was the nation's former head of the
Air Transport Office. Their motives are thought to be corrupt politics.
May 10, 2004: Synchronised elections for every seat on every level of
government (except for some seats in the Senate due to staggered terms)
are held. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Fernando Poe Jr. are
the main candidates. Accusations are made that Arroyo has used funds
from some government departments to fund her election campaign. In a
small number of towns, Arroyo manages to obtain a highly dubious 100%
of the vote.
June 24, 2004: Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is declared the winner in the
presidential election.
June 30, 2004: Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is inaugurated as president.
June 5, 2005: The presidential spokesman announces the political
opposition are to release an audio tape recording of a wiretap
conversation between President Arroyo and an official from the
Commission on Elections (COMELEC) during the 2005 election.
June 6, 2005: A press conference is held at Malacañan Palace
over the tape recording, which is branded as an illegal wiretap.
June 9, 2005: President Arroyo denies cheating and claims the tapes are
an attempt to unseat her.
June 10, 2005: A former deputy director of the National Bureau of
Investigation (NBI) claims to be the source of the tape and that the
wiretap was provided to him from the military.
June 11, 2005: Mass protests form around the country over the tape
recordings and the accusations that President Arroyo cheated in the
2005 election. Allegedly, the police use force against the protestors.
June 12, 2005: The media is warned that it must not air the contents of
the tape due to anti-wiretapping law. The media argue the right to
freedom of speach.
June 14, 2005: Foreign experts confirm the voices on the tape are
indeed President Arroyo and a COMELEC official.
June 17, 2005: The Arroyo administration is condemned for trying to
suppress and intimidate the media over the tape recordings.
June 18, 2005: It is announced the tape recordings can be aired to the
general public until it is proved to be an illegal wiretap.
June 27, 2005: President Arroyo address the country by a television
broadcast and admits that it is her voice on the tape recordings. She
describes her actions as a lapse in judgement and apologises to the
nation.
July 1, 2005: Fresh protests being over the tape recordings and
Arroyo's resignation is demanded by the protestors.
July 7, 2005: President Arroyo asks for the resignation of her entire
cabinet.
July 8, 2005: Ten officials (including seven from the cabinet) resign
and advise Arroyo to do the same. Corazon Aquino is just one of the
many who call upon Arroyo to resign.
July 25, 2005: The main political opposition file for Arroyo's
impeachment. Arroyo gives her State of the Nation Address and her
intention to push ahead for charter change. The main reason for
amending the 1987 Constitution is to switch to a more effective
federal-parliamentary style government.
September 5 - 6, 2005: After a session lasting almost 24 hours, members
of the House of Representatives (the majority of members are Arroyo
supporters) vote against proceeding with impeachment against Arroyo.
February 24, 2006: On the 20th anniversary of the original EDSA
revolution, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issues Proclamation No.
1017 placing the country under a state of emergency. Arroyo explains
her decision as the result of a crushed coup attempt formed by an
alliance of the communists and right extremists elements within the
Armed Forces of the Philippines. It is thought the renegade members of
the AFP are trying to gain public support. Anti-Arroyo and EDSA Shrine
protestors are dispersed by riot police. Elsewhere, Proclamation No.
1017 is condemned by the press, lawyers, senators and various other
groups. It is compared to the proclamation of martial law under
President Marcos in 1972. Government regulators warn TV networks and
radio stations that under the state of emergency, they may be taken
over by or shut down by the President, especially if the media outlets
are thought to be releasing news that could incite rebellion. Certain
high ranking officers of the AFP thought to be involved in the coup are
stripped of command.
February 25, 2006: Junior army officers recruited as part of the coup
plot surrender. Police raid the printing and editorial offices of The
Daily Tribune newspaper without any search warrant. This is considered
an attack on freedom of speech and the freedom of the press. Arrests
begin ranging from protestors, retired military and police officials
and even a left-wing congress representative. The arrest of five other
left-wing representatives is issued.
February 26, 2006: Arroyo critics continue to speak out against
Proclamation No. 1017, making a comparison of it against martial law.
It is thought Arroyo is using the opportunity to silence opposition to
her regime. The freedom of speech and freedom of the media, democracy,
and what is believed to warrantless arrests are the major issues. A
stand off takes place at Fort Bonifacio between a group of marines and
the AFP after the commander of the marines is either relieved of
command or requests to be relieved of command. Former President Aquino
and a number of representatives, senators and opposition figures arrive
at Fort Bonifacio. By the evening, the stand off is over and resolved.
February 27, 2006: The House of Representatives debate over the issue
of emergency rule which in turn has already been submitted to the
Supreme Court through a number of petitions.
February 28, 2006: The five left-wing representatives turn up in the
House and are eventually put into House custody so as to protect them
from arrest.
March 3, 2006: The state of emergency is lifted by Proclamation No.
1021. However, investigations and arrests continue for those who are
though to be involved in the coup plot, including those who financed
it. The Supreme Court is told it must still make a decision over
Proclamation No. 1017 even though it is no longer in effect.
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