The beleaguered president, fresh from a victory at the legislature where the House majority trashed impeachment moves against her has now taken the war footing. And she is fighting back, sniping at her opponents, warning them not to abuse democracy by taking their case against her through the daily street protests.

Uttering her most aggressive words since a fiasco broke out over her conversations with a poll official at last year’s elections, the President was not mincing any words. She had warned in strongest terms that she would be using all legal measures, including force, against the opposition who have been at the forefront of the rallies – massive or otherwise.
The daily demonstrations have painted nothing but a picture of added political instability in the country.
Her opponents are browbeating another “people power” – those huge people uprising in the streets that had toppled two presidents in previous years – but Arroyo is unfazed.

She is now matching threat with threat. She is ready to match every rally with the rule of law.

Is democracy at stake here?

Probably, at first glance. But maybe not.

While the people’s rallies ballyhooed by the opposition has not really taken place as yet, many Filipinos would know by now that indeed too much of a dose of democracy may not really be helpful. Those so-called “people power” uprising in the streets may have toppled two presidents, Marcos (in 1986) and Estrada (in 2001), but to date the Philippines is struggling to lift its economy and battle widespread poverty. Democracy had won its case in two street uprisings but hardly did it do any wonder for the country’s economy.
The daily often noisy rallies over the past month have only brought the Philippines to new lows especially in attracting much-needed foreign investments to revive its commerce and industries sector.

Democratic institutions in the Philippines are very much in place and fully functioning. Arroyo had been given a clean bill by an elected legislature and people have to abide by this institution. Sense and discipline must pervade over emotions and political bickering if indeed Filipinos wanted their country to take off.

Arroyo faces a tough task ahead but the rest of the country should not be remiss in taking tough responsibilities too.
Invoking democracy comes with responsibilities. Democracy is more than a matter of parading in the streets. It goes deeper than that. It means order too.