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Friday, March 10, 2006
8T join call vs Arroyo
By Roberto L. Bacasong
* Bishop Vicente Navarra renewed his call for everyone to remain vigilant over the affairs of the country
* Councilors Ana Marie Palermo and Lyndon Caña also hurled their own criticisms against the President and expressed their satisfaction over how the government is being run
* Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry's (MBCCI) George Zulueta calls on GMA to work on establishing political stability in the country
ABOUT 8,000 protesters converged at the Bacolod public plaza Wednesday to call for the ouster of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
The church-led prayer rally coincided with Wednesday's celebration of the International Women's Day.
Catholic Bishop Vicente Navarra read his pastoral statement, which called on all Christians to continue at being vigilant and to go on defending and witnessing to the truth.
City Councilor Ana Marie Palermo, chairman of the committee on laws, policies and good government, said the country needs a transparent government as she also expressed her dissatisfaction over how the woman president is running the government.
"The President's administration only has a 30 percent survival rate, primarily because of the people's dislike over her state of governance," she added.
Even if Arroyo has lifted the Proclamation 1017, which placed the entire country under a state of emergency, suppression of the freedom of the press and the members of the opposition are still going on, Palero also said.
Councilor Lyndon Caña, chairman of the committee on ecology and environment, said Arroyo is answerable to the Filipino people.
"She (Arroyo) should stop media repression because the Philippines is a democratic country. The Filipino people do not want violence but we need to have a transparent government," he also said.
Both Caña and Palermo who wore black and red shirts respectively admitted that they are not satisfied with Arroyo's performance.
Meanwhile, George Zulueta, of Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI), said the business sectors are also affected with the massive politicking in the country.
"Arroyo should have social responsibility but it seems that she doesn't have any," Zulueta said.
Zulueta said there is division in the business sector with regards to their stand on Arroyo's state of governance.
"The business sector is challenging Arroyo to put back the political stability in this country," said Zulueta.
For his part, Navarra said Arroyo should assess why the Filipino people want her to step down.
"Our country's present situation is very bad because in the national side the protesters were at odds with the police," said Navarra.
"This is the death of democracy. Arroyo should seriously address this problem," he added.
Although similar protests in Manila were simply coerced and stopped by members of the Philippine National Police, the rally here, which was participated in by members of the laity, academe, working class, non-government organizations and other sectors was peaceful.
Some police personnel were tasked to maintain the traffic flow and not to disrupt the peaceful gathering.
(March 9, 2006 issue)
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