Good Riddance

It would seem grossly unfair to assert that nothing good came out of the last nine years of Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo's regime. As she steps down-and we cannot but repeat how thankful we are about that-on June 30, we nonetheless say "good riddance."

Good riddance to a regime which, excepting that of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos, held on to Malacañang longer than anyone else's. We were tempted to simply state "held on to power longer than anyone else," however, that would have been untrue. Like many local officials, Naga City's multi-awarded mayor, Jesse Robredo held on his position for nearly two decades; Luis Villafuerte Sr., hung on to  Camarines Sur's governorship a little bit longer than Robredo. We were also tempted to say "the presidency" but that would have been equally untrue as the massive fraud in the 2004 Presidential Elections (evinced by the "Hello Garci" tapes and Mrs. Arroyo's own admission of calling erstwhile Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano) cast very serious doubts on her legitimacy to occupy Malacañang.

Good riddance to Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo who lied to her teeth when she declared in Rizal Day 2002 that she would not run for the presidency; to her regime which lied about and tried to cover-up-among many others-the Php 728 Million "fertilizer scam" and the infamous $329 Million NBN-ZTE deal. Hence, good riddance too to the most corrupt regime (Marcos had 20 years to Arroyo's nine) whose greed knew no bounds and whose lack of even delicadeza regarding its corruption is astoundingly appalling.

Good riddance to the Arroyo regime which saw (or perhaps turned a blind eye) the murders of numerous youth and peasant leaders, and journalists, the apogee of which is perhaps the so-called Ampatuan Massacre. Good riddance to a regime in which its critics from the media, especially those far from Manila, had to brave the very distinct possibility of disappearing and being tortured, of being killed.

As June 30 nears, we breathe a sigh of relief and bid good riddance to nine years of the Arroyo regime; to nine years of deceit, plunder, and murder.