Did we do the right thing? I think we did. Today the Philippines removed an incompetent, corrupt, bumbling President whose only redeeming trait was a witty charm with which to deceive the poor, swayable masses. Already, investors are regaining confidence in our country now that we have an experienced economist and politician in power.

Hopefully we’ll soon see an influx of income and investment to boost our economy and start providing jobs and opportunities for the poor who were deceived by Erap’s popularity.

Hopefully the average Filipino has learned enough politics from the impeachment process and People Power II to be able to properly vote on issues and values rather than popularity and empty promises.

Hopefully this will set an example for future politicians to uphold a standard of intelligence and morality, rather than pander to the lowest common denominator.

Hopefully justice will be served to those whose greed and corruption were so far beyond bounds that they failed to consider the welfare of the people and the nation.

We did the right thing. Let’s hope we CONTINUE to do the right thing, even after the crowds have dispersed and the euphoria has settled. Mabuhay po ang Pilipinas, salamat sa Diyos.

Well, looks like it’s over.

I’ve just returned from EDSA, where I witnessed a grand historical event: the swearing into office of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the EDSA Shrine, to the cheers of a huge crowd of Filipino rallyists.

Erap Estrada, deserted by the public majority, the military, his cabinet, and his political supporters, mustered up what little dignity he had remaining and left Malacañang Palace peacefully this afternoon, headed for his residence in North Greenhills, San Juan. His condition is a formal resignation effective only on Wednesday, until which time he will remain President; and he questions the legitimacy of GMA’s oath of office. These matters, however, are “moot and academic” to most of the government and to the public. The legal basis: The Supreme Court has declared the Presidency vacant and administered the constitutional succesor’s oath of office. Legally, GMA is now the President of the Republic, though she has conceded to a smooth, graceful transition. By Wednesday, hopefully without any additional interference, all doubts will be laid to rest as to who heads the Philippine government.

Erap says he does not plan to leave the country, despite the assurance that justice will be served to him. He may face prosecution on the same charges of corruption, bribery, and plunder.

The crowds are dispersing, the turmoil is dying down, and the economy is picking up; but there’s still a lot of doubt in the air. Gloria is not a popular choice for the presidency, and political dissension and polarization still haunt the people. She will now have to get to work, appointing Cabinet members, selecting a Vice-President, and making good on her promises to clean up Philippine politics and defeat poverty.

But Erap has been ousted, peacefully and without widespread bloodshed or a military uprising. In that, the People Power Revolution of 2001 was successful. Today the Philippines welcomes this new millenium with a much better outlook on the future than it had two weeks ago.

Praise God. He has delivered us, and given us hope. Praise God.

Opposing rallyists have met at Mendiola, and fighting has broken out, despite intervention by anti-riot police. A few shots were fired, several stones thrown, and a few people injured in scattered clashes. A pro-Erap rallyist was just interviewed on the radio; he was beaten up by his own fellow pro-Erap activists, who thought he was anti-Erap because of his black headband.

Five Air Force jets are lifting off now, in a “persuasion flight” to drive home the message to Malacañang and the pro-Erap faction that the military supports VP Gloria, and not President Estrada.

A lonely night at the Palace: Erap’s last hours in Malacañang. Apparently his family is still with him, and he is still asking for five more days.

Whether he resigns or not, VP Gloria will be sworn in at noon today. The march to Malacañang is on.

The march to Malacañang is underway. The remaining supporters still with Erap say they are having a hard time talking to him. I suspect Estrada may have drunk himself to incoherence.

If he still refuses to quit, Veep Gloria will take the oath of office, as the military and the majority no longer recognize Erap as their lawful President.

A few scattered pro-Erap loyalists (about 50-100, mostly hoodlums from unsavory sectors of society) are still roaming Mendiola with sticks and lead pipes. They had better leave; crowds of thousands are about to converge on Mendiola, headed for Malacañang.

Negotiations failed to convince Estrada to officially resign. He has instead asked for 5 days to “think about it,” and is now closeted up in the Palace with the few supporters he has left. Three business days — enough time to cash a check?

The march on the Palace may be delayed, but that has not stopped some groups from beginning the march independently. Riot police have been recalled, but iron railings, barbed wire, and stubbornly noisy pro-Erap supporters still remain in the area.

The US Embassy has withdrawn support for Estrada. One of his most infamous supporters, Ernesto Maceda, is on terminal leave.

Good morning, I just woke up to check the news. It’s almost over. A panel is negotiating terms for Erap’s resignation, and opposition leaders have given him a deadline to resign: 6 am, or they march on Malacañang. He has virtually no political supporters left; just four people in the Palace, and a few hundred left of the thousands who gathered earlier in Mendiola.

The U.S. claims they will not offer asylum. Other reports say that Erap will flee to Australia, and that his entire family has already left, since the Philippines has no extradition treaty with them.

Rumors have it that Erap is still holed up in Malacañang because he is drinking himself drunk in his depression.

A lot happened in the three hours it took me to get home through all the traffic. The defection of Erap’s allies is practically complete: the military and the national police have withdrawn their support, and his cabinet members are resigning. The rally at Edsa has swollen to near-epic proportions. Erap has called for snap elections, but the opposition has rejected it.

I just heard on the radio that Erap and his family (families?) have been evacuated from Malacañang in three APC’s.

Our constitutional successor is VP Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The full story of today’s momentous events is currently on the front page of Inquirer.net, under the headline People Power Overcomes.

This pro-Erap rally is a siege on Makati by political forces trying to instigate a class war in the heart of the Central Business District. They are planning to march on Forbes Park.

So much for peace. Erap wants a war, he’ll get one. Angelo Reyes, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, has defected to the opposition.

Fighting has broken out between pro-Erap and anti-Erap rallyists on Ayala Avenue. As anti-Erap groups gathered at Buendia and De la Rosa and started heading towards Ayala, Pro-Erap rallyists threw stones and threatened them. There’s a lot of shouting outside right now, and live TV coverage shows scattered fighting, as people throw stones and whatever else they can get their hands on. Scary.

Reports from Inquirer/24h and ABS-CBNnews.com.