Both foreign and local watchers of Philippine politics have their eyes fixed on the military establishment of that country. Last week Zosimo Paredes, spokesman of the Philippines' Department of National Defense (DND), hinted at the possibility that the government of President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III might go down the path of declaring a "revolutionary government" to mitigate the risk of instability and threats to "national security".Paredes cited this option as the "more convenient" one because unlike Martial Law, it does not require congressional approval.
On the other hand, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin assured the public today that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) showed "no sign of unrest" within its ranks despite former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo having strong ties within the army. Arroyo was recently placed under arrest following an attempt to leave the country to seek medical treatment abroad. The attempt was foiled by an order from Justice Department Secretary Leila De Lima who defied an order issued by the Supreme Court to suspend a travel ban on Arroyo implemented by De Lima.
De Lima's actions invoked the spectre of constitutional crisis as legal experts cautioned all involved in the various precedents being set by Malacañang in what many see to be a rushed eleventh-hour attempt to make good on campaign promises that are yet to be fulfilled despite more than 500 days already having passed since Aquino's ascent to power in 2010.
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