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CNN Sunday Morning

Philippines Struck With Election-Related Violence

Aired May 13, 2001 - 10:16   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Election-related violence was reported this weekend in the Philippines as the campaign comes to a close and voters prepare to go to the polls tomorrow.

We have a look from our person in Manilla, CNN's Maria Ressa.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARIA RESSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo says she's lost 20 pounds since she took office last January on the crest of mass protests, led largely by the middle class and elite, which deposed her predecessor Joseph Estrada.

Although he claims he is still president, Mr. Estrada was arrested April 25 on corruption charges, sparking days of protests from tens of thousands of his supporters, most members of the urban ward.

It ended in the worst violence in the capital in 15 years.

Now, elections on Monday for more than 17,000 posts will give Filipino their first chance to react to these events.

They can either choose the opposition candidates, backed by Mr. Estrada, or vote for the candidates supported by Mrs. Arroyo. Largely seen as a referendum on their government, Mrs. Arroyo says she took an added risk because she believes in the growing maturity of the Filipino voter.

GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, PRESIDENT, PHILIPPINES: They are beginning to understand issues, but I think this is the first time that we really tried to campaign on the basic issues, rather than patronize.

RESSA: In the past, vote buying, intimidation and entertainment were key elements in winning elections here.

But politicians in Mr. Estrada's camp say they have their own issues, like Senator Gregorio Honasan one of 11 opposition leaders ordered arrested without a warrant for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government.

GREGORIO HONASAN, PHILIPPINE SENATOR: People understand the issues and we are leaving the decision up to them. They understand the issues very well. The issue is democracy. The issue is the rule of law. The issue is due process.

RESSA: Mrs. Arroyo blames opposition politicians like him for manipulating the legitimate grievances of the poor.

(on camera): As campaigns end Saturday, all polls show Mrs. Arroyo's candidates are leading in the crucial race for the senate. That is where the proxy war between two presidents with supporters separated by distinct class lines will be fought on Monday.

Maria Ressa, CNN, Manilla.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, there's a lot at stake in this week's Philippine election, and to get more insight, we're joined by Balbina Hwang. She is policy analyst at the Asian Study Center at the Heritage Foundation in Washington. Good morning, Balbina, good to see you.

BALBINA HWANG, HERITAGE FOUNDATION: Good morning. Thank you for having me.

PHILLIPS: Absolutely. Will you put this in a -- we were all talking about this this morning, and we're amazed by just the number of people that have turned out, and also the issues at hand, of the economy, the budget and even Muslim separatists groups. You don't, you know, visualize even subjects like a Muslim separatist group when you're thinking about this when you're not very close.

HWANG: That's right.

PHILLIPS: Bring it home to us.

HWANG: Well, in addition to Muslim separatist groups, there are also the Communist rebels. What's interesting here is that the national election is really very, very critical for the Philippines, essentially because it is going to be a referendum and a test of legitimacy for the Arroyo administration.

But, as was noted in the previous report, there is also some 17,000 seats up, nationally, at the domestic and regional levels. So, it's really two different arenas here.

PHILLIPS: Well, let's divide them up then. Why don't you first talk about the legitimacy of Arroyo's government. I mean, we're talking about a country that has been scathed by corruption and violence. And why is it so important to prove this legitimacy?

HWANG: Well, let me just first say that the violence that is erupting over the elections, unfortunately, is sort of standard for Philippine elections. We see that year to year.

Now, granted, this year there has been a little bit more violence that we might have hoped to see. But, again, that's unfortunately standard for Philippine politics. What is crucial here is, because Arroyo came into power essentially extra-constitutionally, the senate, senators, that she is supporting, or that support her, must come into office is she is to get her agenda passed in the upcoming years.

PHILLIPS: Now, investors are also watching this election. I think this is sort of an interesting twist.

HWANG: That's right. Essentially, what's critical about this election is, at the practical level, which I just discussed, and also the symbolic level. The symbolic level really is to show to the world that in the Philippines the rule of law still prevails, that it is a working democracy, and that Arroyo does in fact have legitimacy as the leader.

PHILLIPS: Well, can this happen? It all sounds so positive, but yet we see things about fixing the ballot boxes and the death threats and, you know, you see so much of the opposite.

HWANG: Right. Well again, unfortunately, as we saw in the previous report, patronage is a part of the standard political election process in the Philippines. But I think that the opinion polls have, up until yesterday, shown that in fact Arroyo's supports most likely will gain those seats. And then I think it will be a smooth, you know, transition to her power. And I think everything will most likely work out.

PHILLIPS: Balbina Hwang. We'll be following the election. Thanks so much for your insight this morning.

HWANG: Thank you very much.

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