Philippines: The Political Landslide Threat

Coup rumors in the Philippines have abounded in the run-up to the Feb. 25 20th anniversary of the "people power" movement. Despite tightened security, numerous explosions have rocked the Philippines, most recently a Feb. 20 blast outside the presidential palace in Manila. The government has urged people not to be alarmed, instead focusing on a Feb. 17 landslide that devastated a village on the island of Leyte. A mishandled response to the Leyte disaster, however, could bolster unrest preceding the people power anniversary, perhaps even leading to a political landslide.