President Arroyo is in New York for a United Nations-sponsored interfaith dialogue, the latest chapter in the world body’s long running advocacy of promoting the tolerance of ethno-religious differences to promote peace.

Some will recall that even former Speaker Jose De Venecia at the height of his influence several years back also mouthed the need for interfaith dialogue.

So Mrs. Arroyo’s swing through New York may be properly justified.

Defensively, Malacanang is saying that Mrs. Arroyo is making a stop in Chicago, Ilinois not to take another chance at getting a photo-opp with president-elect Barack Obama but to meet with members of the Filipino community.

Obama was unable to take Arroyo’s congratulatory phone call and also had no time to meet the Philippine leader when she was last in New York for the start of the UN General Assembly meeting.

Still there are wagging tongues asking why Mrs. Arroyo is out of the country just as Joc Joc Bolante is set to face the Senate and amid the persistent talk of a new plot to bring doiwn her government.

A clear indication of that danger is the appearance of a web site purportedly authored by rebellious soldiers with the site prominently featuring the call of 5 ranking Catholic bishops for “radical reforms against massive corruption,”

Pundits are juxtaposing this angle with last Friday’s surprise midnight mass in Malacanang where churchmen, politicians, and civic leaders supporting Mrs. Arroyo where in attendance.

Is the ground shifting from under the embattled leader or will she, like before, be able to stare down the threat which her security people are closely watching.?

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