Philippines President Corazon Aquino refuses to reside at the palace of deposed ruler Ferdinand Marcos, Aquino has refused to wear another, ill- fitting Marcos trapping.
She assumed temporary legislative powers and abolished the National Assembly, which had been controlled by members of Marcos` party and had recognized Marcos as the winner of the Feb. 7 presidential election.
Members of the KBL protested, of course, saying that the provisional ``freedom`` constitution Aquino signed the same day did nothing more than set up a dictatorship.
Indeed, history has shown that such concentration of power is the pathway to dictatorship. And for this reason, Aquino`s new government rests precariously on her promise to appoint a public constitutional commission and present a permanent constitution to the people within three months. Election of a new parliament would follow within a year.
While few would doubt her sincerity, the fundamental changes Aquino envisions will not be easy to achieve.
Any delay in Aquino`s schedule would be dangerous, allowing her sizable opposition to grow in strength and add confusion to the nation`s mounting problems with Communist rebels and labor strikes at U.S. military installations.
The revolution will not be over until the institutions of new government are put into place through free elections and with Aquino`s continuing promise of individual rights and freedom. The transition from dictatorship to democracy continues in the Philippines.