GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

BIOGRAPHY

 Maria Gloria MacaragMacapagal Arroyo

 Born on April 5, 1947
 The 14th president of the Philippines
 Countries 2nd female president
 Daughter of former President DiosdadoMacapagal
 A professor of economics

1987

- She entered in the government serving as assistant secretary and undersecretary of the DTI upon the
invitation of President Corazon Aquino.

1992- 1998

- She served as senator, and after that she was elected to the vice presidency under President Joseph
Estrada.

-after Estrada was accused at corruption she resign her cabinet position as secretary at social welfare and
development and joined the growing opposition to the president who faced impeachment.

January 20, 2001

- Arroyo was subsequently sworn into the presidency

-She was elected to a full six-year presidential term in her own right and was sworn in June 30, 2004.

ROAD TO MALACANANG

- GMA was sworn in as Estrada’s successor on the day of his departure. Estrada later challenge the legitimacy
of Arroyo’s Government, claiming he did not resign from office but the Supreme Court twice upheld Arroyo
legitimacy.

April 2001

- Estrada arrested on corruption.

- Thousands his supporters staged an “EDSA III” to overthrow the Arroyo government but the attempt failed
when the protest rallies degraded into violence.

May 2001

- Arroyo’s accession to power was further legitimated by the midterm congressional and local elections when
her coalition won on overwhelming victory.

May 2004

- Macapagal Arroyo was elected president in her own right but the balloting was marred by violence and
irregularities as well as a tedious vote- counting process that was completed a weeks after the election.

EDSA III UPRISING

May 1, 2001

- A week after Estrada was arrested on charges of plunder, on estimated 40,000 protesters sympathetic to
Estrada degenerated into violence and stormed the Presidential palace.

-Arroyo declared a “state of rebellion” in Manila and ordered the arrest of opposition leaders who lead the
uprising and conspired to topple the government. The state of rebellion was lifted one week later with Arroyo
declaring “the disorder has subsided”.

-support for the opposition and Estrada subsequently dwindled after the victory of administration allied
candidates in the midterm elections that was held later that month. Arroyo outlined her version for the country
“BUILDING A STRONG REPUBLIC” throughout her tenure. Her agenda consist of building up a strong
bureaucracy, lowering crimes rates, increasing tax collection, economic growth and intensifying counter-
terrorism effect.

ARROYO ADMINISTRATION DEVELOPMENT

A. Economic Condition Under Arroyo Administration

 She implemented a controversial policy of holiday economics, adjusting holidays to form longer
weekends with the purpose of bossing domestic tourism and allowing Filipinos more time with their
families.
 Economic growth in terms of gross domestic product has average 4.6% during her presidency from
2001 to 2005 this is higher than previous recent presidents when compared to the 3.8% average of
Aquino the 3.7% average of Ramos and the 2.8% average of Estrada.
 Inflation during her time has been the lowest since 1986 averaging 2.5%

 Arroyo handling of the economy has earned praise from observers including former US President Bill
Clinton, who praised Arroyo for making “tough decision” that put the Philippine economy back in shape.

GDP

- Grew by 5.4% in 2006. Marking the 1st time since the 1970’s with three consecutive years of growth
over 5%.
- Historically, Philippine had difficulty sustaining growth at over 5%, GDP increase by 6% in 2004.

Growth in 2006

- Fuelled by increased electronic exports

- Growth in the outsourcing industry
- 20% increase in remittances from overseas workers to $12.8 billion and about 11% of GDP.

EVAT

-November 25

o A controversial expanded value added tax law considered the counter piece of the Arroyo
administration’s economic reform agenda.
o Aiming to complement revenue- raising efforts that could plug the countries large budget deficit.
o The tax measure boosted confidence in the government’s fiscal capacity and helped to strengthen the
Philippine peso.
o East Asia best performing currency in 2005-2006
o The peso strengthened by nearby 20%in 2007.

-Arroyo’s foreign Policy

o Is anchorage on building strong ties with the:

U.S
East Asian
Southern Asia Nations
o And countries where overseas Filipino workers work and live.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

2003

- GMA with George W. Bush during the latter State visit to the Philippine.
- Arroyo was one of the 1st world leaders who expressed support for the US led condition against global
terrorism in the aftermath of the September 11, 2011 attacks and remains one of its closed allies in the
war on terror.

DECISION ON PRESIDENT ESTRADAS PLUNDER CASE

September 12, 2007

 - The Sandiganbayan gave its decision finding Estrada not guilty on his perjury case and guilty of plunder
“beyond reasonable doubt”. He was sentence to reclusion perpetua.

PRESIDING JUSTICE OF SANDIGANBAYAN’S TERISITA DE CASTRO AND 2 OTHER MAGISTRATES

- Unanimously acquitted his son, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, and a lawyer Edward Serapio of plunder.
- The Fallo of the 262- page decision declared the Forfeiture in favour of the government.
o 542, 701 million bank accounts including interest
o 189 million Jose Velarde accounts including interest
o Boracay Mansion in Quezon City.
- Before September 27
o Estrada’s lawyer Estilito Mendoza stated that Estrada will file a motion for reconsideration of
the 262 page Judgement and the appeal the verdict to the high tribunal.

THE SUMILAO FARMERS MARCH

- December 3, 2007
o 55 farmers of the Higaonon tribe from Sumilao, Bukidnon arrived in Metro Manila 2 months
after their March through 13 provinces from Manila to ask the government to stop the
conversion of land they are claiming into a hog farm.
o The farmers petitioned the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to issue a cease and desist
order (CDO) on the contested 144 hectare property in Baranga Village San Vicente Sumilao
which San Miguel Food Inc. converted into a hog farm.
o The Supreme Court of the Philippines had earlier dismissed the farmers rights lack of legal
standing farmer Tuminhay stated that “our titles where cancelled because Norberto
Quisumbing was allowed to convert his land on condition that he would implement a 5 years
development plan since he did not implement the plan it is only proper that DAR renew the
CARP process and give us back our titles.

- December 17, 2007

o GMA revoked the conversion order on the disputed 144 hectares lot in Sumilao, Bukidnon
resulting to the return of the land ownership to the 55 members of the Higaonon tribe farmers
who marched 1700 kilometres for 2 months from Mindanao to Manila.
o The order, signed by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita reads” wherefore premises
considered and as recommended by DAR, the petition for cancellation and/or revocation of the
convention order covering 144 hectares of land is hereby granted” SMF as landowners must
be paid the current value of the property before the land can be distributed to the farmers.

B. Socio- cultural Aspects

Human rights violation
- May 2006
o Amnesty International report expressed concern over the sharp in vigilante killings of militant
activists and community workers in the Philippine Task Force Usig a special police unit task
probe reported extra judicial killings by state run death squads’ counts 115 murders and says
most of these are the result of an internal purge by communist rebels.
o These violations were alleged to have been committed against left- leaving organizations and
party list groups including:
BAYAN
BAYAN MUNA
ANAK PAWIS
 These organizations accuse the PNP and Armed Forces of the Philippines for the death of the political
opponents.

SUPREME COURT JUSTICE JOSE MELO

- Submitted to Arroyo reported linked state security forces to the murder of militants and recommended
that military officials notably retired Major General Jovilito Palparan be held liable under the principle of
command responsibility for killings in their areas of assignment.
 GENERAL PALPARAN

- Retired on September 11, 2006

- Appointed by GMA to be part of the Security Council that has alarmed left leaning political parties about
the potential for human rights violation.

AUGUST 2006

- Independent commission was assembled to investigate the killings headed by former Supreme Court
Justice Jose Melo. The group known as the Melo Commission conclude that most of the killings were
assigned by the Armed Forces of the Philippines but found no proof linking the murder of activist to a
“national policy” as claimed by the left wing grouped.
- On the other hand the report “linked state security forces to the murder of militants and recommended
that military official notably Palparan, be held liable under the principle of command responsibility for
killings in their areas of assignment.

2003

- Under Arroyo’s Government, the Philippines have become second only to Iraq as the World’s riskiest
place to report the news.
- 23 journalists were killed.

JULY 23, 2007

- State of the Nation Address, Arroyo has set out her agenda for her last 3 years in the office and called
for legislation to deal with a state of political killings that have brought international criticism to her
presidency.
- She promised to bring peace to the troubled south and also defended a controversial new anti-terrorism
legislation.

2007

- Incidents of extrajudicial killings dropped 87% with the decline attributed to the creation of a special
task force to handle the killings.

CRITICISM AND PUBLIC PERCEPTION

October 20-31

- According to a survey conducted by Pulse Asia A popularity of a Filipinos at 42% beating former
President and strongman Ferdinand Marcos by 7%.
- Social Weather Stations survey were found Arroyo’s net satisfaction rating at – 16 (32% satisfied minus
48% dissatisfied)
- Considering Arroyo “THE MOST CORRUPT PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE PHILIPPINES”

September 5, 2007

- GMA signed Amnesty Proclamation 1377 for members of Communist Party of the Philippines and its
armed wing. The New People’s Army, other communist rebel groups and their umbrella organization.
The National Democratic Font.
- The Amnesty will cover the crime of rebellion and “all other crimes in pursuit of political beliefs”.
C. Educational Under Arroyo’s Development Administration

Education Reform

- GMA stressed the efforts concerning various aspects of the schooling system these are the:
Lessening the textbook backlog
Constructing more school buildings
Restoring English as medium f instruction
Implementing BEC
Improving teacher welfare
Sparing public school teachers from the “vagaries of politics”
Mainstreaming distance learning
 Launching the internet- based education program
Set- up training centres under TESDA or the technical Educational and skills Development
Authority.
 The problem is rooted in the continuing deterioration of the countries educational system which is made
worse by the deregulation and privatization policies of the Macapagal-Arroyo Administration.

July 20, 2007

- The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) come up with a very good paper which unfortunately has
unnoticed by Arroyo government and even the media entitled “The Arroyo years: Towards a lost
decade for education!” issued by Secretary , Gen. Ms. France Castro.
- (ACT) came up with indicators, based on data from the (Deped) to show that Macapagal-Arroyo
administration has failed miserably in its obligation to provide access to universal quality education
such as:
Declining enrolment
Reduced completion rates
Dramatic increase in the number of drop outs and out of school children.

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

- Act showed a slowing down in growth in enrolment in basic education in 1995- 2002 from 1.98% to
0.97%.
- The more children are not able to attend school and not only that the drop rate is also increasing.

2003

- 66 out of 100 grade 1 student from elementary.

2006

- Only 56 are able to complete elementary school

2001

- 70 out of every 100 year high school students complete their four years in high school.
- Philippines ranked 1st in Science and 42nd in Mathematics from 45 countries by the trends in
International Math and Science survey.

SHORTAGE IN CLASSROOM AND TEACHERS

June 2006

- Shortage in classrooms, seats, textbooks and teachers has worsened.

- The result was over crowded classrooms exceeding 60 students per class, the ideal is 25, a severe
shortage in learning materials and underpaid teachers and on environment not conductive to learning
and not to mention the lack of teacher training.

DECREASING BUDGET IN EDUCATION

- According to the congressional budget and planning office the average annual growth rate of the
Deped’s budget in real terms from 2001- 2006 has been negative 3.5%
- The decrease in budget allocation also affects access to basic and secondary education.
- Public school are not given budgets for maintenance. Operating and other expenses such as repairs
and purchases of the furniture, fixtures and equipment and even in paying for the salaries and
maintenance personnel. Thus being shouldered by parents in the form of fees and donations.

D. Arroyo Administration Challenges

Hello Garci Controversy

2005
- Samuel Ong who is a former deputy director of the country’s National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)
claimed to have audio tapes of wiretapped conversations between President Arroyo and an official of
the Commission on Elections.
 - According to Ong the contents of the tape prove that the 2004 national elections were rigged by Arroyo
in order to win by around one million votes.

June 27
- Arroyo admitted to inappropriately speaking to a COMELEC official claiming it was a “lapse in
judgement” denied influencing the outcome of the election.

Antonio Rasalan and Clinton Colcol

- Stepped forward on 2006 claiming involvement in an alleged plot to alter the results from May 2004
elections.
- Rasalan claimed that he was fully commenced that the election returns presented at the House of
Representatives were

PROCLAMATION NO. 1017 (State of Emergency)

February 24, 2006

- An alleged coup d’ etat plot was uncovered in the Philippines headed by Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim. The
declaration of Proclamation No. 1017 gave Gloria Macapagal Arroyo the power to issue warrantless
arrest and to take over private institutions that run public utilities.

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 464 and CALIBRATED PREEMPTIVE RESPONSE

September 2005

- Arroyo issued an executive order starting that demonstrations without permits would be pre-emptively
stopped. Then members of the military testified in Congressional hearings that they were defying a
director order not to testify about their knowledge of the election scandal.

THE MANILA PENINSULA SEIGE

November 29, 2007

- The Manila Peninsula Rebellion was a rebellion in the Philippines.

- Detained Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, General Lim and other Magdalo officials walked out of their trial
and marched through the streets of Makati City called for the ouster of President Gloria, and seized the
2nd floor of the Peninsula Manila Hotel along Ayala Avenue.
- Antonio Trillanes IV and Brigadier General Danilo Lim surrendered to authorities after an armored
personnel carrier rammed into the lobby of the hotel.

Director Geary Barias

- Declared that the standoff at the Manila Peninsula Hotel is over as Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Brig.
Gen Danilo Lim along with other junior officers agreed to leave the hotel and surrender to Barias after
the 6 hour siege.
- Days after the muting, the Makati City Regional Trial Court dismissed the rebellion charges against all
the 14 civilians involved in the siege and ordered their release.

NATIONAL BROADBAND NETWORK SCANDAL

- Political affairs that centers upon allegations of corruption primarily involving former Commission on
Elections (COMELEC) Chairman Benjamin Abalos, First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and President Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo regarding the proposed government managed (NBN) for the Philippines and the
awarding of its construction to the Chinese firm Zhong Xing telecommunication Equipment Company
Limited (ZTE) a telecommunication and networking equipment provider.

August 2007

- Issue has captured Filipino politics since it erupted in Philippine media.

- It has also taken an interesting turn of events, including the recognition of Abalos as Comelec
Chairman, the alleged bribery of Congressman and Provincial Governors, the unseating of Jose de
Venecia Jr. a House Speaker and the alleged “kidnapping” of designated National Economic and
Development Authority (NEDA) consultant – turned- NBN/ZTE witness Rodulfo Noel “Jun” Lozada Jr.