Philippines: Why no Coup in Philippines? · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

The blogger at Torn and Frayed in Manila compares the political situation in Philippines with Thailand just before the coup. In Philippines also, the people are increasingly fed up with president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo but the president still continues to hold on to power. One of the factor the blogger thinks is “From the word go, avoiding a military rebellion has been one of Gloria’s main political objectives. She only became president in the first place because the military withdrew support from her predecessor, and by rotating the military leadership, appointing former military men to her government, turning a blind eye to corruption in the forces, and allowing the army a free hand in suppressing leftist groups, she has been able to count on their support.”