FOR now, President Arroyo is safe at home plate, to use a baseball jargon. Last Friday, political watchers thought she would be forced out of office, either by resignation or by people power. None of the two recurring forecasts came about and the President is back in the saddle.

A confluence of events last week appeared to have doomed her presidency. First, 10 members of her Cabinet resigned, avowing a lack of confidence in the administration. Then her staunch ally, former President Corazon Aquino, stunned the country when she called on President Arroyo to step down.

As if on cue, the Liberal Party and Senate President Franklin Drilon made a volte-face, which set off a snide insinuation of a political agenda behind his move. He could be a vice president under a Noli de Castro presidency, or so the detractors say.

But another formidable ally, former President Fidel V. Ramos, came to the besieged President’s rescue instead of seconding Mrs. Aquino’s call, whom he helped install to power in the first people power uprising in 1986.

What actually saved the day for her, though, was the statement of support from the influential Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, which was generally expected to support the resignation movement. Had the bishops openly endorsed Cory Aquino’s call, the President was thought to be as good as a dead duck.

A vociferous faction of bishops and activist priests have earlier called on the President to step aside following revelations that the President tried to rig the 2004 elections and allegations that her husband and son, who have been banished to California, received kickbacks from jueteng.

After the much-awaited CBCP stand was announced, some say with prodding from Malacañang, the resignation voices lost their momentum and steam. But they seemed undaunted by the obstinacy of the President to hang on and it’s expected that they will renew their demands for her resignation.

Since she is implacably committed to staying on, the only option to remove her from office is through impeachment, which is now being winnowed in the House of Representatives.

The administration, of course, prefers this constitutional process rather than resignation or other extra-legal means which include people power. An impeachment court is likely to receive the articles of impeachment alleging breach of public trust through electoral fraud and graft and corruption.

Since both houses of Congress are dominated by members of the ruling administration Lakas Party, the President will likely be acquitted in the ensuing impeachment trial.

For now, the President is the clear winner while Cory, Drilon, Makati Business Circle, et al, are licking their chops.