|
Sunday, June 27, 2004
Palace snubs ouster attempts
By Benjamin B. Pulta
THE Palace on Saturday downplayed reports of a grand alliance of opposition groups coalescing to oust GMA from office.
It insisted that the opposition should file a protest before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET).
The PET is largely composed of members of the Supreme Court where seven magistrates (out of 14) are appointees of Arroyo.
"This is the only legal recourse for a losing presidential candidate who feels he has been cheated," Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said. "This would enable Mr. Poe, as his Congress allies had insisted, to find out the truth."
Bunye also made veiled threats against alleged destabilization attempts on the administration perceived by the palace.
"We would discourage any activity outside the law because we know that we need law and order. We should maintain the snowballing confidence of the business and the international community in our country following the proclamation of the President," Bunye pointed out.
Bunye conceded that "the isolated cases of irregularities took place only at the local level" during the last elections.
The palace spokesman cited Rep. Agapito "Butz" Aquino, a close ally of Sen. Panfilo Lacson, for graciously accepting the people's mandate.
During the Congress' voting on the national board of canvassers' report, Aquino declared; "We fought, we lost, we concede." His remarks drew applause from the gallery.
He also cited Makati City Rep. Teodoro "Teddy Boy" Locsin Jr. who said that unlike his friends in the opposition, he believes that President Arroyo has won the elections.
Meantime, President Arroyo has finally decided to focus on her six-point pro-poor program and the budget deficit as she starts her term.
"We have a lot of problems and our society is divided. So, it is important that we now unite to solve the country's problems once and for all" the President said.
These are to triple the amount of loans for lending to small and medium enterprises, to create one million jobs a year, to deliver clean water to the people, to provide electricity to 1,500 barangays a year, to construct new school buildings across the country and provide scholarship to poor families, and to cut the cost of common medicines by half.
(June 27, 2004 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
