MANILA, Philippines — Struggling through her first days in power, President Gloria Arroyo is suffering loud condemnation for appointing disgraced politicians and too many military men, while turning her back on the moral-minded public who cheered her to victory.

"If she does not watch out, (Mrs. Arroyo) may yet become the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of Philippine politics," lamented the respected Philippine Daily Inquirer.

At a glum meeting of top businessmen, artists and young professionals who had helped bring Mrs. Arroyo to power, film director Joey Reyes said, "We are alarmed that the system has just assumed a different form, but the same ugly face."

The group, which includes the influential Makati Business Club, issued a statement which said in part: "Tell us it isn't true, dear president.

"We see the specter of old traditional politics slithering around you, striking fear into our hearts, shaking our budding confidence and dampening the joy of victory" added the group which calls itself, "Pagbabago@Pilipinas," or "Renewal at the Philippines."

At the opposite end of the political spectrum, Wilson Fortaleza, leader of the militant leftist organization Sanlakas, said Malacanang Palace had been liberated from ousted president Joseph Erap's allegedly corrupt grasp, only to be snatched by Mrs. Arroyo's claws.

"With the crocodile booted out from Malacanang, the vulture enters the palace," the Sanlakas leader said.

"Erap's ouster is the people's will, but Gloria Arroyo is not the people's choice.

"With the solid backing of the elite, the military and the United States, she is poised to pursue the vicious policy of globalization that is a scourge to the working people that neither trust nor approve of her," Fortaleza added.

Manila Bulletin columnist Willie Ng said ex-president Fidel Ramos — who was formerly a defense secretary and armed forces chief of staff — had "installed a clutch of loyal minions in the good positions" throughout Mrs. Arroyo's new government.

Ng said Ramos's manipulations were to be "expected," because without his military connections "the bloodless coup might never have happened."

The military's desertion of Mr. Estrada's presidency had been hailed by students, politicians, the media, the Catholic church, business leaders and others.

President George W. Bush and many world leaders also welcomed Mrs. Arroyo's presidency after the US embassy described the military's withdrawal from the elected Mr. Estrada as "constitutional."

But since her Jan. 20 inauguration, Mrs. Arroyo has rewarded a slew of unpopular politicians and controversial military officials with juicy cabinet posts while ignoring younger, liberal groups who helped oust Mr. Estrada.

"It would look like we are being run by a military junta and not by a civilian government," said commentator Neal Cruz.

"The president appears to be in awe of the military," complained Philippine Star columnist Teordoro C. Benigno.

"Get scared of the people, Madame President, not the generals," Benigno added.

Jarius Bondoc, another columnist, said perhaps the generals "think Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is a wimp.

"And so they wave fists at her face, shove appointment papers for her to sign, or try to rattle her with coup rumors," Bondoc said.

Mrs. Arroyo went to the military's Camp Aguinaldo for a 21-gun salute on Saturday (Jan. 27) and thanked Chief of Staff Gen. Angelo Reyes and others for helping to elevate her from the vice presidency.

Mrs. Arroyo praised them for toppling the former elected president, and told the military, "you turned the tide for the masses and resolved the turmoil when you withdrew support from a chaotic government and thus, once again, preserved the integrity of our republic and the ideals of our democracy."

Critics complain that after successfully deserting Mr. Estrada, who was commander in chief, the military can now squeeze concessions from Mrs. Arroyo, while promising not to repeat its mutiny.

"This shows how brittle the democracy of our republic is, and to sever the chain of command at the very neck of that chain is a very serious matter that will haunt the country for a long time," said former senator Juan Ponce Enrile, who supported Mr. Estrada and the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Senator and former general Rodolfo Biazon warned, "I do hope that the presidency of President Arroyo is not a presidency under the gun."

In most of her other public appearances, a smiling Mrs. Arroyo has voiced sweet-sounding, motherly concern about "healing" the nation.

In absurd displays of affection, Filipino journalists repeatedly congratulate her while conducting interviews, and splash messages thanking her for replacing Mr. Estrada.

"What is your favorite color?" one "nervous" television reporter asked.

Blushing, Mrs. Arroyo replied, "No particular color, but they say I look good in red. Do I?"

She also revealed her height — four foot, 11 inches — and said the last time she cried was "a few weeks ago, during the struggle, because things were so difficult."

But when she appointed new National Security Adviser Lisandro Abadia, the move immediately caused Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado to quit over allegations that the unpopular Abadia was corrupt during his tenure as armed forces chief of staff.

"Mr. Abadia was recommended for indictment by the senate" for involvement in a military retirement benefits scam, said Senator Aquilino Pimentel.

Abadia is an ally of former defense secretary Renato de Villa, who Mrs. Arroyo appointed as her executive secretary, also to the chagrin of many.

Mrs. Arroyo's naming of Leoandro Mendoza as Philippine National Police chief attracted complaints from anti-crime groups that Mendoza was "coddling criminals."

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Richard S. Ehrlich has a Master's Degree in Journalism from Columbia University, and is the co-author of the classic book of epistolary history, "HELLO MY BIG BIG HONEY!" -- Love Letters to Bangkok Bar Girls and Their Revealing Interviews.

Richard S. Ehrlich's Asia news, non-fiction book, plus hundreds of photographs are available at his website http://www.oocities.org/asia_correspondent