MANILA –Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s presidency, which received a series of crippling blows from former close allies the other day, did not get the expected coup de grace from the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines yesterday (July 9).

That final blow, reportedly also a call for President Arroyo to resign, did not come as the powerful assembly of the country’s bishops could not agree on the wordings of the statement.

And while no statement came from Mrs. Arroyo, she did receive support from various quarters that indicated that her forced removal from office would be met with political maneuvers that would threaten the very existence of the Republic of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Vice President Noli de Castro has reportedly been meeting with leaders from the administration and the opposition in preparation for his expected assumption of the presidency.

While not withdrawing his support for the President, de Castro’s latest statement for Mrs. Arroyo to “do what is good for the country” has been interpreted as his way of asking her to sacrifice her position to end the crisis.

The Arroyo administration’s expected demise was brought about by the resignation of six Cabinet secretaries and three other Cabinet-level officials without portfolio; the call of the Liberal Party as well as former President Corazon Aquino for her to resign; and a similar call from the Makati Business Club for the President to quit in favor of de Castro.

The exodus of her supporters was widely believed to be the beginning of the end, but  Mrs. Arroyo also received backing from equally powerful allies.

The overwhelming majority of the House of Representatives reiterated their backing of her regime; Liberal Party members and officials disowned the statement of party leaders; former President Fidel Ramos offered a solution whereby a change to parliamentary form of government would allow her a graceful exit; and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry said Mrs. Arroyo should ignore calls for her to resign.

More importantly, the majority of governors from the Visayas solidified their plan to form an independent republic if Mrs. Arroyo is forced to resign. Ditto with the majority of governors of the Bicol region. Governors for both regions issued statements saying they were dead serious in their plan.

This comes as the proponents of a Mindanao Republic likewise refused to recognize a non-Constitutionally mandated post-Arroyo government.

The Ilocos region aired a similar threat weeks ago, and the President’s support in her bailiwick of Central Luzon cannot be underestimated.

Finally, in a nationwide radio address, Armed Forces chief Gen. Efren Abu said the military would have no part of a government that was installed in defiance of the Constitution.

COMMENT: The Philippines is in such a tenuous and fragile situation that the political leaders based in Metro Manila may not be taking seriously enough. The calls to form independent republics in four regions, with the possibility of a fifth, could mean a pyrrhic victory for the anti-Arroyo forces. Metro Manila could be isolated, and even the majority of its mayors could refuse to recognize whatever new government proclaims itself as replacing President Arroyo.

The opposition is treading on very dangerous ground. An Edsa-style revolt to remove Mrs. Arroyo can only be interpreted by the world community that the Philippines has ceased to be a viable democracy, and is heading towards mob rule. This next one is one Edsa too many, even if they are trying to use Ayala Avenue as a substitute.

The only way to remove her is by impeachment. While this may be a long process, it is the only one that is clearly defined in the Constitution as the means of removing an incumbent president.