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Tuesday, June 28, 2005
'I am sorry': Arroyo
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo finally broke her silence on the reported taped telephone conversation she had with an election official during of canvassing of presidential votes last year and admitted that she did make the call.
"I recognize that making any such call was a lapse in judgment. I am sorry. I also regret taking so long to speak before you on this matter. I take full responsibility for my actions and to you and to all those good citizens who may have had their faith shaken by these events. I want to assure you that I have redoubled my efforts to serve the nation and earn your trust," Arroyo said in a televised address to the nation Monday night.
She expressed remorse for the fact and asked for forgiveness from the people.
"Pinagsisisihan ko ito ng lubos. Pinanagutan ko nang lubusan ang aking mga ginawa at humuhingi ako ng tawad sa inyo (I deeply regret it. I take full responsibility for what I did and I ask for your forgiveness)," she said.
The opposition however was not satisfied with the admission and said there are still a lot of questions that need to be answered.
Sorsogon Representative Francis Escudero said in a television interview that although they can forgive Arroyo, she still has to face the legal consequences for the act.
Arroyo allies lauded the President for her admission and for apologizing for making the call while businessmen said the President's act would finally help clear the air and stabilize the political situation in the country.
Arroyo recalled that congressional canvassing of votes for president and vice president had been slow and she was "anxious to protect" her votes, which prompted her to talk to some people and place calls, including "a Comelec (Commission on Elections) official."
"I was anxious to protect my votes and during that time had conversations with many people, including a Comelec official. My intent was not to influence the outcome of the election, and it did not. As I mentioned, the election had already been decided and the votes counted. And as you remember, the outcome had been predicted by every major public opinion poll, and adjudged free, fair and decisive by international election observers, and our own Namfrel (National Movement for Free Elections)," said Arroyo.
Although she did not name the "Comelec official", it was apparent that she was referring to erstwhile election commissioner Virgilio Garcillano.
Arroyo said she wanted to close the tape scandal chapter and move on in governing the country.
She asked the people to join her in efforts to improve the country's economy as she mentioned her administration's fiscal reform programs.
"I took office with a mandate to carry out a plan for the nation. Since that time, I have focused on making the tough but necessary decisions to make up for years of economic neglect. We passed a comprehensive fiscally responsible national budget; raised new and necessary revenues to reinvest in the people; and implemented new anti-corruption measures that have led to the highest collection of taxes in history," Arroyo said.
"Nothing should stand in the way of this work, or the next phase of my reform agenda, which includes new investments in education and social services with our new revenues; and an expansion of our successful anti-corruption and lifestyle checks," she said.
"That is why I want to close this chapter and move on with the business of governing," she added.
Congressman Escudero said if God can forgive, there is no reason for them not to forgive Arroyo also.
But he stressed that Arroyo must face the consequences of her act. He also said they will study whatever legal action they will take against Arroyo.
With Arroyo's admission, Escudero also said government should now allow the tape to be played in its entirety and let the people judge if she indeed cheated in last year's elections.
Former President Joseph Estrada said in a national television that Arroyo should have asked for forgiveness a long time ago, adding that there was no lapses in judgment on her part because she made the calls to the election official repeatedly.
He criticized Arroyo for taking too long to issue a statement on the tape
Estrada said Arroyo should face the consequences for her action. He said let legal processes begin on the matter.
Environment Secretary Michael Defensor, for his part, said they expect the opposition would not stop although the President acknowledged her mistake.
Defensor, whose services as political spokesman in the 2004 elections have been tapped once again exclusively on the wiretapping issue, insisted that the President had no intent to cheat in last year's elections.
He asked Garcillano to come out and speak on the matter to prove, once and for all, that the government is not keeping him. (JFF)
(June 28, 2005 issue)
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