Political Conflicts After Aquino

When President Corazon Aquino came to power in 1986, many people in the Philippines felt great optimism about the future and believed that the country had entered a new and better era. The Aquino administration did manage some impressive accomplishments. Aquino and her backers held the country together during some difficult times, set in place a democratically elected government, and made possible the orderly transition of power. The communist insurgents, who seemed to be on the road to power during the period of the Marcos government, were largely brought into the mainstream of Philippine society. The country demonstrated its sovereignty by closing U. S. military bases against American wishes. Nevertheless, domestic political conflict and corruption continued to plague the nation.

During the 1998 presidential election, voters elected Joseph Estrada, a former action-movie hero who appealed to the masses and accused the country's elite of having looted the country. Before he was even elected, however, Estrada began bringing allies of former president Marcos into his circle of advisers. In 1999, Estrada attempted to amend the constitution and was opposed in public demonstrations by former president Aquino and by Cardinal Jaime Sin, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines.

During the following year, President Estrada was charged with receiving millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks. These accusations were followed by demonstrations against the president and counterdemonstrations against him throughout the country. His opponents included former presidents Aquino and Ramos and even his own vice president, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The Senate began trying him in December, 2000, and at the beginning of January, 2001, the army announced that it would not support him and Estrada fled the presidential palace.

After Estrada left the presidential palace, Vice President Arroyo was sworn in. However, Estrada later claimed that he was still president. After he was placed under arrest on April 25,2001, demonstrations and riots broke out and President Arroyo declared a state of emergency for several days.