Palace: Airport takeover in RP unlikely
By Joel Guinto
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 15:45:00 11/26/2008
Filed Under: Protest, airport security, Government
MANILA, Philippines -- The chances of anti-government protesters taking over a major airport in the Philippines, similar to what happened in Thailand, is "very remote," Malacañang said Wednesday.
"That is a very remote scenario. Thailand's condition is different from us," deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez said.
Asked why he thought such a scenario unlikely, Golez said: "Because our people have reached a high degree of political maturity, whereby our people respect due process and the rule of law."
Thousands of protesters stormed Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport Tuesday, disrupting operations and stranding around 3,000 travelers, as part of efforts to get Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat's government to resign.
The Thai premier is set to return home after attending the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Summit in Lima, Peru with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Somchai's government is accused of being a front for ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Like Thaksin and Somchai, Arroyo has weathered numerous waves of street protests since 2005.
Aside from massive corruption, Arroyo is also accused of cheating her way to a fresh six-year term in the 2004 elections, and for pushing constitutional amendments, supposedly to extend her stay in power beyond the end of her term in 2010.
Arroyo is set to return to the country later this week after attending the APEC summit and going to Colombia for an official visit.
On Wednesday, the President's allies in the House of Representatives justice committee voted to dismiss the latest impeachment complaint against her due to insufficiency in substance.
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