Saturday, February 23, 2008 Don’t let 'good' economy cloud facts: Luz
THE economy may be doing well, but it should not be enough reason to tolerate any lies of the administration, a prominent businessman and civic leader said.
“The economy from a macro picture is doing alright. But we also know that if we dig deeper into the economic data, there are also more poor people than we have seen in the past. Normally, if the economy is growing, poverty will also decrease,” Guillermo Luz, former executive director of the Makati Business Club, said in a forum at the University of San Carlos Thursday night.
“People are still leaving the country for work opportunities abroad. If the economy is really strong, at least access of opportunities for people should be available here,” Luz also said.
Whether the current administration stays until 2010 or not, the businessman believes that the government should let its people speak and release documents regarding the botched US$329-million national broadband deal.
“At this stage, it is just about getting the facts that people are entitled to and the government is responsible for giving the facts because it has the documents and the people,” said Luz.
“It is not a political issue, not even an economic issue; it is a moral and ethical issue,” said Luz.
At City Hall, despite mounting calls for President Arroyo’s resignation, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he will stick it out with her for the sake of the city’s progress.
Facts, please
Osmeña said yesterday that he still has confidence in Arroyo and that he will not initiate or join protest activities against her, amid allegations of corruption.
“I’m pro-Gloria, why would I join the call for her ouster? So they can put Erap back in? I still support her because it’s good for us here. It does not matter to me what goes on in Manila as long as it does not affect us,” he told a news conference yesterday.
Luz, for his part, lamented the refusal of former socioeconomic planning secretary Romulo Neri to reveal more about what he knows of the deal.
“We have to recognize that this is just one case and the general feeling is that there are many other cases. Until we get to the facts, we may never be able to put a stop to the corruption,” Luz stated.
Local chapters of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) joined Manila universities in a noise barrage last night, to signify disgust over alleged bribery in the ZTE deal and to show support for whistleblower Rodolfo Lozada Jr.
“Let them hear the awakening of a nation,” said lawyer Gloria Estenzo-Ramos of IBP.
Signature
Osmeña, who has been pushing for transparency and has been fighting corruption at City Hall, said his stand on the issues against Arroyo does not run counter to his principles, especially where transparency and corruption are concerned.
“There is no contradiction at all where my principles are concerned. As long as there is no prima facie evidence, then we will give her the benefit of the doubt,” said the mayor.
“You have to realize that when she’s no longer President, all those in Manila will not help us, they’ll destroy us,” said Osmeña.
He also does not find anything wrong with the signature campaign that the church-based movement, Dilaab, is spearheading.
Dilaab is calling for the truth about the NBN deal.
“If they want to find out the truth, it’s fine, there’s nothing wrong with that. I would even sign that. But if it’s construed as something anti-Arroyo, of course I will not sign it,” Osmeña said. JGA/LCR
