Backgrounder: Excerpt from a news article on the issue
Deceiving "Apology" Proves GMA Can No Longer Govern
Posted on June 28, 2005 - 6:43pm :: Editorial
Nicanor Perlas
27 June 2005
In recent weeks, a supposedly unauthorized wiretap rocked the nation by recording a scandalous conversation between a woman and an official of the Comelec or Commission on Elections. The tapes revealed that the woman, who sounded like Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the President of the Philippines, was conspiring to bring about fraudulent election results with a commissioner of the Comelec. The Philippine Constitution mandates the Comelec to uphold clean and honest elections.
For weeks, "President" Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) refused to comment on whether she was the woman on the tape. She maintained stoic silence. Meanwhile, the protests grew louder, bigger, and more organized. Then, suddenly, last night, PGMA appeared on nationwide television and radio. She finally admitted that she was the female voice in the wiretap recordings. She also apologized for her "lapse of judgment" in calling a Comelec official under questionable circumstances. She did not, however, admit any guilt and called on the nation to forgive and join her in rebuilding the nation.
27 June 2005
In recent weeks, a supposedly unauthorized wiretap rocked the nation by recording a scandalous conversation between a woman and an official of the Comelec or Commission on Elections. The tapes revealed that the woman, who sounded like Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the President of the Philippines, was conspiring to bring about fraudulent election results with a commissioner of the Comelec. The Philippine Constitution mandates the Comelec to uphold clean and honest elections.
For weeks, "President" Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) refused to comment on whether she was the woman on the tape. She maintained stoic silence. Meanwhile, the protests grew louder, bigger, and more organized. Then, suddenly, last night, PGMA appeared on nationwide television and radio. She finally admitted that she was the female voice in the wiretap recordings. She also apologized for her "lapse of judgment" in calling a Comelec official under questionable circumstances. She did not, however, admit any guilt and called on the nation to forgive and join her in rebuilding the nation.
Analysis Table
Statement by President of the Republic of the Philippines on the issue of rigging the 2004 National Elections The following is a transcript of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's statement on the issue of the tape recordings that allegedly proved her link to electoral fraud, published by Sunstar Network Online and taken from the Office of the Press Secretary website, June 27, 2005. *Key words and phrases highlighted | Rewording of key words and phrases Coding Stated Assumption = SA Stated Conclusion = SC Unstated Assumption=UA Unstated Conclusion =UC Unstated Suggestion =US | Comments |
Mga Minamahal kong Kababayan, (My beloved fellow citizens) | [UA] Business-as-usual | Her usual address to the audience in her speeches |
The Initial Denial | ||
For the last several weeks, the issue of the tape recordings has spun out of control. | [UA] That the issue is blown out of proportion; and therefore has become an issue; That the issue has become more uncontrollable than what was hoped otherwise; People’s reactions are becoming out of control. [UC] The issue of the taped recordings has put me in an unfair public trial rather than through the legal process due me. | It took three weeks for the President to come out in the open and speak about the issue, which suggests that there was a considerable period for her (and her advisers) to weigh her options, one to speak out or not, and two, what to say to the people. The denial of the gravity of the issue |
Tonight, I want to set the record straight. | [SC] This issue against me must stop immediately. [UA] There is no credence to this issue. [US] If it does not stop, I will need to take actions against people who are making mountains out of a mole hill. | Portraying a no-nonsense stance |
You deserve an explanation; from me, because you are the people I was elected to serve. | [SA] You have the right to question being citizens of a democratic country. [SA] I, too, have to abide by the Constitution. [UA] I have the duty to strengthen, not weaken the institutions of the nation [UC] Coming out to speak is the right thing to do. | Affirming her mandate as duly elected president |
As you recall, the election canvassing process was unnecessarily slow even after the election results were already in and the votes had been counted. | [UC] For some reasons, this election has not been the same as there was an inherent flaw in the election process this year unlike previous elections. [US] There must have been something or somebody out there that has caused this irregularity. | ‘As you recall’ used here as though the proceeding statement is common knowledge Building up her justification to take action against the “unusually” slow election canvassing process |
I was anxious to protect my votes and during that time had conversations with many people, including a COMELEC official. | [SC] It is a very human reaction to be concerned about the process. [UA] There is something to be anxious about. [UC] If I were really conspiring, I would not have talked to many people but just talk to the COMELEC official alone. | ‘protect my votes’, as if the votes are under threat Confirms that the conversation or conversations with an unnamed election official took place, indirectly admits that it was her voice in the wiretapped audio calling the election official but does not admit rigging the vote |
My intent was not to influence the outcome of the election, and it did not. | [UA] The intent is an essential element to my action. [UC] Yes, I did talk to an election official. [US] But my intentions were pure. [SC] My talking to an election official did not influence the outcome of the election. | Admits to an act of impropriety (making a personal call to an election official during election time which is prohibited under election laws and is, in fact, under Philippine Laws, constitutes mala prohibita, meaning those things prohibited by law regardless of intent or outcome) |
As I mentioned, the election had already been decided and the votes counted. | [UA] Therefore, my act of calling the election official could not have influenced the result of the election in my favor. | The veracity of this statement is challenged. The question here is when exactly did the call take place, before or after the votes have been counted and the election decided? |
And as you remember, the outcome had been predicted by every major public opinion poll, and adjudged free, fair and decisive by international election observers, and our own Namfrel. | [UA] I could not have in any way influenced the results of the election amidst all these monitoring mechanism and institutions. | Using public opinion polling as a symbol of people’s free exercise of choice that precedes/predicts her as the winner Alluding to international election observers and the National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), an independent election body, to bring in an image of clean and honest elections |
The Apology That Was Not Quite So | ||
That said, let me tell you how I personally feel, I recognize that making any such call was a lapse in judgment. | [UA] I, too, am, human, even if I am the President. [UC] I have no bad intentions whatsoever. [US] Because I have no bad intentions, I could not have done something wrong. | ‘personally feel’ denoting the capacity for emotion, an attempt to establish emotional connection Reducing her act to a simple lapse of judgment as defense of good faith But still her action should have been punishable by virtue of being mala prohibita |
I'm sorry. | The brevity of those two words makes the apology come out as laconic yet it also saves her from stating what exactly she was apologizing for. Here, she sounds more like asking an apology only for the lapse in judgment | |
I also regret taking so long to speak before you on this matter. | [UC] I had no other option but to speak. [US] But here I am saying sorry and this is already a feat so whatever I am going to say will have to be good and true. | Upon advice from or having been forced to come out and speak by the political advisers |
I take full responsibility for my actions and to you and to all those good citizens who may have had their faith shaken by these events. | [UA] That she is not irresponsible [UA] There are also bad citizens who do not think of the welfare of the country. [UC] Her credibility has been marred. [US] Damage has been done. | Taking full responsibility as an act of decency and honor to clear one’s name Directed to followers (good citizens), not oppositions (bad citizens) ‘faith’ as rhetoric for her supporters’ loyalty/trust She is well aware that she cannot afford to lose the trust of her supporters |
I want to assure you that I have redoubled my efforts to serve the nation and earn your trust. | [UA] That she is fearful that people are starting to mistrust her [UC] She is trying to earn back their trust. | She enjoys very little public support already so she has to work doubly hard to get it. |
Nagagambala ako. I have been disturbed. | [SC] I am disturbed by the issue. | Speaking in the national language to ring on the patriotic bell and emphasize her sincerity |
Maliwanag na may kakulangan sa wastong pagpapasya ang nangyaring pagtawag sa telepono. It is clear that there was a lapse in judgment in the telephone incident. | Reiterating the lesser offense—lapse in judgment | |
//pinagsisisihan ko ito ng lubos.// I regret this very much. | Reiterating her apology to the lesser offense | |
Pinana'gutan ko nang lubusan ang aking mga ginawa at humuhingi ako ng tawad sa inyo, sa lahat ng mga butihing mamamayan na nabawasan ng tiwala dahil sa mga pangyayaring ito. I take full responsibility for my actions and to you and to all those good citizens who may have had their faith shaken by these events. | Reiterating what for her is a laudable act of taking responsibility and again reaching out to her supporters | |
Ibig kong tiyakin sa inyo na lalo pa akong magsisikap upang maglingkod sa bayan at matamo ang inyong tiwala. I want to assure you that I have redoubled my efforts to serve the nation and earn your trust. | [US] Give me another chance to prove myself. | Reiterating her intention to gain back people’s trust. |
The Diversion Stunt | ||
I took office with a mandate to carry out a plan for the nation. | ‘office’ denoting the presidency ‘plan for the nation’ denoting policies, programs, projects Reiterating her legitimacy | |
Since that time, I have focused on making the tough but necessary decisions to make up for years of economic neglect. | Rewording I have focused on getting our economy moving so our people will have a better quality of life. | Highlighting her strength in dealing with the formidable problems she inherited from past leadership |
We passed a comprehensive fiscally responsible national budget; raised new and necessary revenues to reinvest in the people; and implemented new anti-corruption measures that have led to the highest collection of taxes in history. | [SC] I have done a lot for to uplift the country’s economy. | As if painting a rosy picture for the country’s economy and what-not could erase the wrongs that she did |
Nothing should stand in the way of this work, or the next phase of my reform agenda, which includes new investments in education and social services with our new revenues; and an expansion of our successful anti-corruption and lifestyle checks. | [SC] I have a better plan for this country and I am keen on pursuing this no matter what. [US] Let us focus on a common enemy—corruption and a common cause --- better social services and economic growth | Portraying a tough stance Veering away from the present political to the economic issue |
Standing Ground | ||
That is why I want to close this chapter and move on with the business of governing. | Rewording The election results speak for the choice of the people. Now that the elections are over, let us go beyond politicking and focus on the economy. Let us work together for our country’s future. [US] Forgive me and forget about the scandal | Standing her ground that the issue was of no matter and letting it rest |
I ask each and every one of you to join hands with me in a show of unity, to help forge One Philippines, where everyone is equal under the law, and where everyone has the opportunity to use their God-given talents to make a better life. | [UA] I have explained myself. [UC] Unity is bliss. [US] Let bygones be bygones. | ‘forge’ suggesting a powerful melding of forces “One Philippines”, a populist language suggesting unity, forgetting their recent animosities and power struggles; attempting to convince her followers to stay united behind her ‘everyone equal under the law and opportunity to use God-given talents’ rouses utopian imagery |
Our nation is strong and getting stronger. | [UA] Under her present leadership, there is stability. [US] Work with me to maintain this stability. | Portraying hope and positive future for the country and the use of nation (instead of country) is rhetorical suggesting a united people |
The progress is steady and I ask you to walk with me on this journey to rebuild our great nation. | [SA] There is progress at the moment. | Calling for unity ‘Walk with me’ as both her and the people shall work together to achieve the goal ‘Journey’ as a metaphor for long process Alluding to a “glorious past” – a nation that once had been great using it as a symbol of where the country is heading/going back to if people just support her |
I remain your humble servant and promise you that I will fulfill my constitutional oath of office to serve the people to the best of my ability. | [SA] I am still your President. [UC & US] To my enemies and frenemies, sorry to disappoint you but I’m not stepping down, nor allow anyone to unseat me. | Repetition of mandate/legitimacy ‘humble servant’ denoting willingness to follow the people’s will ‘promise you that I will fulfill my constitutional oath of office to serve the people to the best of my ability’ makes for a precarious statement as many times, she has been accused of not keeping to her promises as when she once ‘promised’ the Filipino people that she will no longer run for re-election |
| God Bless the Philippines. | [US] That my mandate could also be divinely ordained | Calling on to providential intervention as appeal to religious sentiments |
Synthesis Table
I PROPOSE THAT [CLAIM] | GIVEN THAT [GROUNDS] | AND THE [WARRANTS] PRINCIPLES THAT | UNLESS [REBUTTAL] (for example) |
The Initial Denial I am not guilty of any charge of electoral fraud | My calling an election official by a presidential candidate during election period does not necessarily link me to vote rigging. I have no power to influence election returns after the votes have been counted. | There are independent monitoring mechanisms/institutions that could check and dissuade any attempt to do so | Admits to an act of impropriety, in this case, a personal call to an election official during election time which is prohibited under election laws and is in fact under Philippine Laws, constitutes mala prohibita, meaning those things prohibited by law regardless of intent or outcome |
The Apology That Was Not Quite So I’m sorry | I committed a lapse in judgment. It took me so long to answer regarding this matter. I take full responsibility for my action. | A lapse in judgment is permissible Such a matter require careful thinking and thus needs more time; Bringing in the option to speak or not to speak Coming out speaks of responsibility | But as President of a country one should not be allowed any lapse in judgment, that is, being caught having a lapse in judgment Time is of the essence—buying time to ponder on the best strategy to use in handling the issue Admit to guilt of a lapse in judgment only |
The Diversion Stunt I have the mandate to be President and I have done my job by far. | I have been duly elected under constitutional laws. With my leadership, I have brought economic growth to the country. | Election is equivalent to legitimacy—being placed in a correct position and carrying out its functions correctly Economic growth redounds to a better quality of life for the people. | Elections are not a reliable indicator of legitimacy —mandate or vote of confidence Non sequitur—economic growth does not always lead to a better quality of life |
Standing Ground I will continue to serve as President of this country, as mandated, with your support. | With your continuous support for my leadership, the nation is getting stronger. | Issues like this (political bickering) undermine a country’s stability | Public opinion polling says she enjoys very little public support. |
Comprehensive Analysis
The President’s statement over the wiretapped conversations issue allegedly linking her to electoral fraud sent mixed messages to the public which raised more questions than answers. I attempt to unpack her speech following this plot: The Initial Denial, The Apology That Was Not Quite So, The Diversion Stunt (outlining her achievements), and Standing Ground.
The Initial Denial
She starts out with a business-as-usual stance in addressing her people although the video showed her grim expression all throughout her speech. There is an attempt to deny the gravity of the issue by saying that the issue has been spun out of control, suggesting that it was supposedly a non-issue; at the same time interspersing at the beginning the assumption that she has been duly elected as President of the Philippines and thus has mandate which she emphatically repeats in her speech. However, she did not explicitly admit to being the voice in the wiretapped conversations yet hinted that she did talk to an election official. She also went on to paint an immaculate picture of Philippine elections by alluding to the presence of independent mechanisms and institutions (polling body and local and international poll watch agencies) that insure the sanctity of the ballot thereby arguing that no person, not even the President, could in any way influence election returns. This constitutes a refusal to see reality that acts (e.g. padding and shaving of votes, occasional slaughter of teachers with ballot boxes) or attempts to distort or alter election results by tampering with the returns in certain areas is commonplace, hence, elections are not a reliable indicator of a fresh mandate or a vote of confidence.
The Apology that was not quite so
But then, forced to come out as the clamor for her to speak increased (after a considerably long period of contemplation as to which options are best for her interest), she gambles into giving a circumspect yet vague apology. She prepares for the “big apology” by laying the personal justification of being anxious to “protect her votes” which came out almost like a paranoia of sorts and is in fact a contradiction to what she has earlier hinted at --- a free, fair, and honest elections, hence an atmosphere that should not cause anxiety. When she finally explicitly expressed “I’m sorry”, one is led to wonder at its ambiguity, for she manages to follow it up with the most innocent defense which is lapse in judgment. She therefore was saying that her fault was just calling the election official and thus dodges from a more serious charge that is, conspiring with an election official to rig the election returns. This is tantamount to pleading for a lesser offense since the act of calling an election official in such a context already constitutes an offense, an act mala prohibita, therefore punishable by law, even if one is President. This stance utterly suggests her low regard for the entire Filipino people; that the Filipino people will take her word hook, line and sinker and thus dismiss it as a harmless conversation. She even reverts to the national language sometime in her speech which I see as an appeal to the nationalist/patriotic sentiment and also an attempt to display sincerity especially targeted towards the Filipino who does not so much speak English.
The Diversion Stunt
While reiterating her claim to legitimacy, she attempts a diversionary tactic, veering away from the issue, by enumerating her administration’s milestones particularly economic “successes”. She drives home the point that economic growth concerns are more important and that political bickering only hinders the economic milestones that she has brought about. By painting a rosy picture of the economy, she makes a shot towards deflecting focus from her wrongdoing to her achievements and whisks a common enemy of the people, that is, corruption.
Standing Ground
Forgive and forget is her rallying point as she ends her speech. She has laid her assumption that what she has done was wrong yet permissible. Given her apology (albeit dubious) she concludes by calling the people to continue supporting her. Here then, she embarks on rhetorics with the use of “One Philippines” (one that has not really permeated common parlance so much that it seems so out of the blue). She believes her incessant claim of progress warrants her call for people’s support and even resorts to alluding to a “glorious past” with the words ‘rebuild our nation’ (although it is difficult to imagine which progressive past she is referring to here). Though her use of “humble servant” decries humility by her litany of achievements which, as yet, have not been substantiated, this more importantly ties to the issue of her legitimacy in office. She imposes herself by virtue of that perceived mandate, indirectly stating that she has no plans of stepping down at that instance, and even commits her mandate to the allusion of divine ordination by ending her speech with a call for providential intervention.
Text Source
 |
| Transcript of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's statement on the issue of the tape recordings Mga Minamahal kong Kababayan, For the last several weeks, the issue of the tape recordings has spun out of control. Tonight, I want to set the record straight. You deserve an explanation; from me, because you are the people I was elected to serve. As you recall, the election canvassing process was unnecessarily slow even after the election results were already in and the votes had been counted. I was anxious to protect my votes and during that time had conversations with many people, including a Comelec official. My intent was not to influence the outcome of the election, and it did not. As I mentioned, the election had already been decided and the votes counted. And as you remember, the outcome had been predicted by every major public opinion poll, and adjudged free, fair and decisive by international election observers, and our own Namfrel. That said, let me tell you how I personally feel, I recognize that making any such call was a lapse in judgment. I'm sorry. I also regret taking so long to speak before you on this matter. I take full responsibility for my actions and to you and to all those good citizens who may have had their faith shaken by these events. I want to assure you that I have redoubled my efforts to serve the nation and earn your trust. Nagagambala ako. Maliwanag na may kakulangan sa wastong pagpapasya ang nangyaring pagtawag sa telepono.//pinagsisisihan ko ito ng lubos.// Pinana'gutan ko nang lubusan ang aking mga ginawa at humuhingi ako ng tawad sa inyo, sa lahat ng mga butihing mamamayan na nabawasan ng tiwala dahil sa mga pangyayaring ito. Ibig kong tiyakin sa inyo na lalo pa akong magsisikap upang maglingkod sa bayan at matamo ang inyong tiwala. I took office with a mandate to carry out a plan for the nation. Since that time, I have focused on making the tough but necessary decisions to make up for years of economic neglect. We passed a comprehensive fiscally responsible national budget; raised new and necessary revenues to reinvest in the people; and implemented new anti-corruption measures that have led to the highest collection of taxes in history. Nothing should stand in the way of this work, or the next phase of my reform agenda, which includes new investments in education and social services with our new revenues; and an expansion of our successful anti-corruption and lifestyle checks. That is why I want to close this chapter and move on with the business of governing. I ask each and every one of you to join hands with me in a show of unity, to help forge One Philippines, where everyone is equal under the law, and where everyone has the opportunity to use their God-given talents to make a better life. Our nation is strong and getting stronger. The progress is steady and I ask you to walk with me on this journey to rebuild our great nation. I remain your humble servant and promise you that I will fulfill my constitutional oath of office to serve the people to the best of my ability. God Bless the Philippines. (Taken from the Office of the Press Secretary website, June 27, 2005) |
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