How is power played?

Power, particularly political power, is an interesting subject of study. How does President Arroyo use power in comparison with other Philippine presidents?

She's astute. But it's still too early to tell. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. But, I repeat, it's too early to tell. She is still navigating the uncharted seas of power and as Sohrab would tell Rustum in our high school literature, we are all atop the huge wave of fate, whether to heave us to land or to throw us out into the sea, "Only the events will teach us in its hour."

How does GMA compare with other presidents, FM, Cory, FVR, Erap, in using power? And with earlier presidents, Manuel Quezon, Sergio Osmeña, Sr., Manuel Roxas, Elpidio Quirino, Carlos Garcia and her own father Diosdado Macapagal?

* * *

There is no point comparing GMA with other Presidents because except Marcos, they did not use presidential power to the limit.

Her own father, Diosdado Macapagal, when he was losing to Marcos in 1965, was advised to exert effort to influence the result of the election and even not to concede. Diosdado Macapagal put his foot down. No, let the people's decision prevail, he said.

And he refused to use government facilities and funds for his reelection.

Aquino and Ramos once declared some state of emergency but did not curtail press freedom. Only Marcos and GMA declared Martial Law and on the part of GMA, what appeared to be something short of the term, Martial Law.

* * *

Among Presidents, Quezon was good in using power. He rode roughshod over Sergio Osmeña, Sr. and Juan Sumulong his arch critic before World War II.

But after he beat them, he won them to his side and even got Osmeña to be his vice-president.

He also knew how to spot potential leaders when he saw a young upstart, the eloquent, brilliant, bar topnotcher 26-year old Capiz Governor Manuel Roxas. He told him to run for Congerss for he would make him House Speaker.

In the north he developed Elpidio Quirino, Quintin Paredes, and Camilo Osias. But Quezon was a strong man, short of a dictator.

* * *

Osmeña was not an assertive leader, satisfied with just playing second fiddle. In the presidential election of 1946, he did not campaign, just relying on his good name and good record while Roxas criss-crossed the country gathering votes. Osmeña lost heavily to a more colorful Capiceño Manoling Roxas.

Had Roxas stayed long, he died two years after, how would he fare? He would have been a strong president. He was a good student of Quezon and believed in power.

He refused Luis Taruc a seat in Congress, even if Taruc won in the 1946 Congressional election in Pampanga.

This forced Taruc to run to the mountain and organize the Huk movement that created trouble as a rebel until Ramon Magsaysay captured him.

A special power player is FVR. He is suave and smart and flexible. As a top military man, he knows when to attack and when to retreat, a compleat fighter.

His term was known for terrible corruption, the IPP scandal, the centennial expo scam, the PEA-Amari deal, and many others. But FVR knew how to handle them and was astute enough that the accusing fingers stopped after pointing at his subordinates. Poor Joy Laurel! He bore the blame and met an early death.

FVR knew how to cover his tracks.

* * *

Cory Aquino was naïve. And so with Estrada. They did not know how to use power. Their subordinates were more adept.

Estrada was never accused of using government funds. But he was caught with his finger being dipped in the jueteng cookie jar. And did not know how to get out of it.

The best to compare GMA with is FM. Both declared Martial Law or with GMA, a semblance of it. GMA is smarter. She lifted it on time while FM had it till the end. And FM overstayed. I am afraid GMA might overstay too.

GMA also knows how to choose her enemies. My Brit friend Neil texted me "Tribune is too small to be bullied. Conrado de Quiros, even the banal Banal, on occasion Randy David, are more vituperative than Niñez. But PDI is big." I texted back, "GMA knows how to fight somebody her size."

Marcos took on the powerful Manila Times and Free Press right away. He should have whipped the puppies to scare the dogs, like what GMA did with Tribune.

* * *

Power, said Mao Tze Tung, grows out of the barrel of a gun. And in earlier times, powerful countries used gunboat diplomacy. This was sending their Navy, train their guns at the palace, and negotiate.

In modern times, George Bush and Tony Blair sent their Marines to invade Iraq and capture Saddam, using naked power.

There should have been more refinement. And I hope GMA would have learned that too. What now after 1017? It is very interesting to watch developments. My hope is GMA survives it.*

back to top