US embassy cable - 05MANILA2993

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 002993 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/PMBS, INR/EAP 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PINS, PINR, RP 
SUBJECT: ARROYO CLEANING HOUSE AS OPPONENTS STILL DENOUNCE 
 
REF: A. OPS CENTER - MANILA 06/29/05 TELECON 
 
     B. MANILA 2887 
     C. MANILA 2840 
     D. MANILA 2815 
     E. 04 MANILA 2231 
 
Classified By: Political Officer Timothy L. Cipullo for 
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) Summary:  According to President Arroyo, husband Jose 
Miguel "Mike" Arroyo has now "volunteered to go abroad." 
Susan Roces, the widow of former presidential candidate 
Fernando Poe Jr., called for Arroyo's immediate resignation, 
while privately indicating through an intermediary that she 
did not plan to lead a political opposition movement or 
encourage "people power."  Representative Roilo Golez, 
Arroyo's former National Security Adviser, also called for 
Arroyo's resignation as he quit her coalition partner party. 
Arroyo continues to staunch the bleeding from recent scandals 
and she appears increasingly likely to weather this storm. 
End Summary. 
 
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Bye, Bye, Hubby 
--------------- 
 
2.  (SBU) In a televised June 29 speech before business 
leaders, President Arroyo announced that husband Jose Miguel 
"Mike" Arroyo -- who has been accused of profiting from 
illegal gambling -- had "volunteered to go abroad," but did 
not provide further details regarding his specific plans or 
destination.  Arroyo expressed hope that this step would 
dispel long-standing allegations that the First Gentleman and 
his contacts had undue influence over certain government 
agencies.  The visibly exhausted Arroyo said that "I am 
grateful to my husband for his sacrifice; my family will miss 
him terribly."  She made no mention of the possible 
resignations of son Representative Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo 
or brother-in law Representative Jose Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo. 
Iggy Arroyo announced June 28 that he has no plans to do so. 
(Note: Acting Pol/C is scheduled to meet with Mikey Arroyo on 
June 30. end note) 
 
3.  (U) The rest of Arroyo's ten minute address highlighted 
her administration's economic reform plans.  Arroyo said her 
husband's exit would help her demonstrate that "nothing can 
stop my administration from implementing phase two of my 
reform program," which would include increased investments in 
necessary public services.  Arroyo warned the audience of the 
need to fortify the GRP's economic policies in order to 
confront difficult external economic challenges, in 
particular the rising price of oil. 
 
----------------------- 
Roces Steps up, sort of 
----------------------- 
 
4.  (U) Also on June 29, FPJ widow Susan Roces called for 
Arroyo's immediate resignation at a press conference.  Roces 
accused Arroyo of having "stolen the Presidency not once, but 
twice."  She added that Arroyo was "arrogant," had destroyed 
the people's trust and, thus, had no right to lead.  Roces 
said the opposition had plans to change the government, but 
said she could not reveal details yet.  When questioned 
whether she would ask Filipinos to take to the streets to 
protest against Arroyo, Roces responded, "You start it and I 
will finish it," borrowing a popular movie line from her late 
husband. 
 
5.  (C) In a subsequent meeting with A/DCM, former 
Sandiganbayan Justice and COMELEC chairman (under President 
Estrada) Harriet Demetriou -- who is also personal legal 
counsel to Susan Roces -- clarified that Roces did not intend 
to head any political opposition movement or to support or 
even condone any new "people power movement," which Demetriou 
said Roces saw as potentially disastrous to the Philippines. 
She indicated that she and Roces intended instead to focus 
their energies on reform of the electoral process, especially 
COMELEC itself, and heighten public attention to the need for 
"moral leadership."  A/DCM underlined U.S. support for 
transparency, accountability, and the rule of law, and 
emphasized that the USG would not support any extralegal 
attempts to change the government.  Roces has accepted the 
invitation to Embassy's July 4 reception, and Demetriou 
confirmed that Roces will attend. 
 
------------------------ 
Turning on the President 
------------------------ 
 
6.  (C) Representative Roilo Golez, Arroyo's National 
Security Adviser 2001-04, publicly demanded on June 28 that 
Arroyo resign due to "Gloria-gate" and told the media that 
"the President is now in an untenable position (and) she 
cannot any longer lead and govern.  Her image and the 
country's image are in pathetic state..."  On June 29, during 
the ongoing House hearings into the tapes controversy, Golez 
then publicly announced his resignation from the KAMPI Party, 
which is closely allied with the President.  Golez proceeded 
to recuse himself from the hearings and announced his 
resignation as Chairman of the National Defense Committee. 
Senate President Franklin Drilon -- a key GMA ally -- 
separately urged the President to show she is "serious in 
taking steps to restore the people's trust in her" or risk 
losing his own support. 
 
7.  (SBU) An impeachment motion against Arroyo over the tapes 
sponsored by a private citizen has now gained a sponsor in 
the House, as required by the rules.  Representative Rodante 
Marcoleta of the small Alagad party announced that he thought 
the petition deserved a hearing.  Marcoleta is believed to be 
the only member in the House belonging to the Iglesia ni 
Cristo (INC), an influential religious denomination (ref E), 
which supported Arroyo's election bid in 2004. 
 
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Comment 
------- 
 
8.  (C) As with her announcement on June 27 apologizing for 
improper discussions with an election official, Arroyo's 
remarks regarding her husband are a bid to staunch the 
bleeding from recent scandals.  Mike Arroyo has always been a 
very controversial figure and his departure from the country 
could help earn Arroyo some breathing space.  The momentum of 
attacks against her appear to have slowed, although Golez's 
defection is a surprise blow.  Golez's reported unpopularity 
with many House colleagues may limit the impact of this move. 
 Once again, Susan Roces deliberately avoided taking up a 
call to the streets and dampened the hopes of the opposition 
for a powerful rallying force against the President, whom she 
clearly nonetheless detests.  Embassy has quietly encouraged 
many members of the media and civil society to focus on 
institutional and systemic reforms, especially on the 
electoral process, rather than seeking extralegal measures. 
Roces' interest in such measures could help coalesce support 
for such needed reform, although not in time for the August 8 
elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. 
 
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MUSSOMELI