PHILIPPINE
PRESIDENTIAL
POLITICS
GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO
Going out with her head held high
or her chin up
At today's inauguration in Manila, it was out with the daughter of one president, in with the son of another. It was the death of his mother, Corazon Aquino, last year, that was said to have opened the way for Benigno Aquino III ("Noynoy"), to win the election last month; Gloria Macapagal Arroyo followed in the footsteps of her father, Diosdado Macapagal.
Aquino the son begins well, as Macapagal Arroyo the daughter did. But when she stepped down as president today and took up a seat in the Congress, some thought she hoped to use that position as a shield against possible prosecution for corruption. Among those who have charged Arroyo with corruption (and election-rigging) is the new president, whose economics professor she once was. Stay tuned.