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People Power has played an important role in Philippine politics, helping to depose dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 and toppling Joseph Estrada in 2001.
The "hotel coup" was never in this category. It had neither the people nor the power, either moral or physical. For President Gloria Arroyo this was a case of history repeating itself. The abortive coup was the third she has experienced in her six-year reign, a period in which a number of allegations of corruption have been levelled against her husband, who was accused of taking kickbacks, leading to a senate inquiry that helped erode Arroyo's credibility and saw her popularity rating dip. It was only one of many allegations that has spurred discontent in the army's ranks.
But Arroyo is not a Marcos or even an Estrada and she remains secure because she manages to retain the support of the senior army generals. In part that may be due to the fact that many previous coup plotters were pardoned, which is also the reason that history has repeated itself on the streets of Manila. But the army must realise that whatever the current political atmosphere, it has no business toppling governments.
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