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Saturday, July 09, 2005
Businessmen want Constitution followed
By Aurelia L. Castro
Sun.Star Correspondent
Saying the latest turn of events would impact negatively on the economy, the Cebu business community has declared that it will stand by the Constitution, even after 10 Cabinet secretaries, former president Corazon Aquino and other groups openly called yesterday for President Gloria Arroyo’s resignation.
“It’s a big blow to our economy and the country as a whole,” said Robert Go, president of Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), reacting to the calls for Arroyo to step down.
“We respect the decision of the Cabinet members to resign. But on their call for the President to do the same, we still believe that we should abide by the Constitution and go through the due process of law. CCCI, together with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), still takes the stand to abide by the Constitution,” CCCI’s Go told Sun.Star Cebu.
Carlos Co, PCCI vice president–Visayas, said: “The President’s call for the Cabinet members, who had good performance in their respective offices, to resign will definitely have a negative impact on our economy. And their (Cabinet members) call for the President to resign made the situation worse.”
Former Trade Secretary Cesar Purisima yesterday led nine other Cabinet members in a press conference in Manila announcing their irrevocable resignation and calling on the President to do the same.
The call was made a day after Arroyo asked her entire Cabinet to step down to give her a free hand in reorganizing the executive branch.
Purisima, Education Secretary Florencio Abad, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman, Trade Secretary Juan Santos, Budget Secretary Emilia Boncodin, Agrarian Reform Secretary Rene Villa, Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina, Internal Revenue Chairman Guillermo Parayno Jr., anti-poverty commission Chairperson Imelda Nicolas and peace process adviser Teresita Deles signed the statement read by Purisima.
“The President should be given the chance to decide whether she should resign or not,” CCCI’s Go told Sun.Star Cebu.
“Should she go through an impeachment trial, so be it. We will see… the bottom line is we should abide by the law and give support to whoever is elected,” he said.
Go said they are not considering supporting anyone else yet, in case Arroyo is ousted. “We are not into politics,” he stressed.
He sought a quick resolution of the crisis, saying: “We just hope that the replacement or the next move would be for the better. We hope that this political circus will be over soon so the country can move on. What is happening is not good.”
The PCCI’s Co said the business community would continue to support Arroyo as the duly elected president of the country.
In a statement yesterday, the PCCI asked politicians to uphold the interest of the country.
Agustin Palao, Confederation of Philippine Exporters Foundation (Cebu) Inc. president, echoed the same sentiment of abiding by the Constitution. However, he doesn’t see the due process of law taking place anymore.
“What is happening is beyond the businessmen’s control. It’s already the political forces that rule. And we have no choice but to live with our situation,” he said.
More calls
Later yesterday, the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines joined the Makati Business Club and civil society groups in Manila in calling for the President’s resignation.
Grace Paras, president of the Cebu Bankers Club (CBC), however, said the CBC still continues to believe in letting the rule of law deal with the President and not joining the groups crying for the ouster of the President.
“We dare not touch political issues. But together with the CCCI, we have expressed our support for the President because whatever happens to the economy, it is we in the finance sector that will be affected first,” she said. (with Sunnex)
(July 9, 2005 issue)
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