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Monday, October 03, 2005
Advocates voice sympathy for embattled gov't adviser
By Lizanilla J. Amarga
A GROUP voiced their sympathies to what happened to National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales when the powerful Blue Ribbon Committee did not withdraw their declaration of citing the cabinet member for contempt.
Christian-Muslim for Peace in Mindanao chairperson Ma. Yashmin Bernales, in a statement to Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro Sunday, said they would like to sympathize with what happened to Gonzales.
Bernales said Gonzales is under medication at the Philippine Heart Center he still remains under the jurisdiction of the Senate's Sergeant-of-Arms.
"And according to the Senators Gonzales continues to be in such jurisdiction until they wont be able to squeeze out from him the necessary information they needed with regards to the junked deal between the government and the Venable LLP," said Bernales.
"The members of the Blue Ribbon Committee notwithstanding their positions being a co-equal body considering the separation of powers of the executive and the legislative body tried to embarrassed Gonzales in front of the TV cameras and the Filipino people," Bernales added.
Their group believes that Gonzales did his best to answer the questions hurled by the opposition.
"Gonzales said that he is open to give details of the contract to the Senate in the next scheduled hearing but he requested that to give him an ample time to verify the details and he will present it in an executive session," Bernales said adding that sensitive matters might be discussed not for the consumption of the viewing public.
Bernales said these Senators should know that in the details of the junked contract it is not only concern with gathering funds for the charter change.
"But the said deal also includes the agreement between the government and the US to provide military hardware for the Armed Forces of the Philippines and an additional equipment for the Philippine National Police," she said.
Bernales said Gonzales also needed to inform the individuals and some private donors included in the contract.
This because he wanted to warn them that their names might be dragged in public by the opposition in the middle of the judgments made by the critics of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
"Even when Gonzales is still in the hands of the Senate, the allies of the former President Joseph Estrada in the Congress looks like bloodthirsty waiting to invite Gonzales in the Question Hour as if they are ready to devour Gonzales and squeeze him with the needed information that they obviously want to used in their political interest not in aid of legislation," Bernales said.
Bernales said even now that the "ball is not in their possession, these opposition congressmen have been throwing criticisms left and right to put fire on the issue".
Bernales said it is now "true and clear" that the opposition had a different motive with regards to the issue.
"It is not to bring light to the truth and moreover not to uplift the lives of the people but just to used the said issue as their bullet to fire against the administration. Appearing in the senate inquiry could be hazardous to your health and for the country as well, said Bernales".
(October 3, 2005 issue)
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