Political stability: Who wins?

As we write this column, the first day of mammoth rallies-scheduled to last three days in several parts of the National Capital Region and across the country-had just ended. The public listened to fiery speakers in huge assemblies. During this time, I received several messages asking how I felt about these developments. Many also wondered if the country would remain in a state of political stability.

- DR. JUN YNARES

Our view is that our country remains "politically stable" and large public gatherings where people express discontent and indignation actually contribute to that sense of stability. The huge assemblies, spearheaded by the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), have been described by the Philippine National Police as "generally peaceful." Moreover, the leadership of the INC had made it clear that the rallies are in no way intended to be a call for the downfall of the legitimate constitutional government. They also made it clear that they do not support actions that create "instability," including calls for snap elections and a coup.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) made a similar stance as its leadership warned against unscrupulous parties who would "exploit" the recent developments in the unfolding flood-control projects controversies.

In sum, the larger mass actions that took place in the past few days are not meant to "destabilize" the country. From where we stand, they contribute to the stability of our sociopolitical life.

Let me explain.

"Political stability" refers to the ability of the government to sustain its functions without disruption. There are factors that contribute to that sense of stability. Among them are the state of the people's rights and freedom, the rule of law, and what political scientists call "creative tension."