MANILA: Foreign Secretary Blas Ople yesterday urged foreign governments and investors to ignore the political tumult that followed a failed military rebellion in the Philippines, insisting President Gloria Arroyo maintains a firm grip on power.
The political squabbling – which has knocked down both the local currency and share prices – should be seen in the context of parties jockeying for position ahead of the presidential election on May 10 next year, Ople wrote in the Manila Bulletin daily.