Ex-UP head calls for 'revolutionary gov't'

Dr. Francisco Nemenzo has been a nationalist and a revolutionary since before I was born. when I entered the University of the Philippines, he was one of the leading lights in the socialist movement in the Philippines. He and his ideas helped shape my worldview. So I am presenting his prescription for solving the present Philippine political crisis as reported by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

A REVOLUTIONARY government like the one that installed Corazon Aquino as president in 1986 is what Filipinos should now bat for, instead of just the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The radical suggestion was aired yesterday by Francisco "Dodong" Nemenzo, a former president of the University of the Philippines. He said the objective was to "start from the beginning" because a regime change would not be enough to bring about genuine reforms.

"We have to reduce the power of the elite. Only then can democracy have a chance to flourish in this country," Nemenzo said at a press conference held at the university's Quezon City campus, wherein disgruntled sectors of the UP community demanded Ms Arroyo's "resignation, impeachment or ouster."

and also

Nemenzo said a snap election would be useless because the elite would still control the government.

"What we really need [to do] is call for a provisional revolutionary government," he said in Filipino.

Asked to explain, Nemenzo said the people had lost their trust in government institutions, such as the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Even if the President was impeached, he said, those who would take part in the political exercise had "very low credibility."

The only recourse left to the people is to take "extra-constitutional means" of wresting power, Nemenzo said.

It will then be up to the people to decide who should lead them, he said, adding: "In popular upheavals, it is the least expected person who turns out to be the leader."