Friday, February 10, 2006
Cebu prelate calls on gov't leaders 'to make personal sacrifices'
CEBU Archbishop Ricardo Vidal has urged everyone, particularly those from government, to make personal sacrifices for the sake of the country.
Vidal made the call during a breakfast celebration at the Wack-Wack Country Club in Mandaluyong City marking his 75th birthday, which was attended by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Supreme Court Chief Justice Artemio Pangbiban, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, former chief justice and presidential adviser for electoral reforms Hilario Davide Jr. and Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) chairman Camilo Sabio, among others.
Vidal said the "personal sacrifices" are necessary to unite the country which is his sole wish for his birthday.
"I would like however to express one wish for you my dear honorable officials in government. It is said that one is entitled to make a wish on one's birthday, and it will most probably come true to, depending on how many good ears are listening. I suppose there are many good and powerful ears listening this morning and one old man is certainly entitled to have his wish come true," he said.
"My wish is the same as every Filipino's wish: that we can finally move on as nation, attain peace and prosperity, live in unity and cooperation with each other and enjoy the fruits of development. One lifetime is not enough to make all dreams come true but as long as we make one small step everyday to make personal sacrifices, our nation's destiny may yet be forged before our time is up," he added.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita welcomed Vidal's message of "magkaisa tayo as people (let us be united as one people)" which he said is needed by the country now, particularly after reports that there new efforts to bring down the administration.
Ermita said such reports include the filing of a resolution in the two houses of Congress asking Arroyo and Vice President Noli De Castro to step down.
The resolution would include the installing of Senate President Franklin Drilon as acting president who would call for an election in the next six months.
He said the resolution is likely to be based on Article 7, Section 8 of the 1987 Constitution, which states "in case of death, permanent disability, removal from office or resignation of the president, the Vice President shall become the president to serve the unexpired term. In case of death, permanent disability, removal from office or resignation of both the President and the Vice President, the President of the Senate or in the case of his inability, the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall then act as President until the President or Vice President shall have been elected and qualified."
"The Congress, shall by law, provide who shall serve in case in case of death, permanent disability, or resignation of the acting President. He shall serve until the President or the Vice President shall have been elected and qualified and be subject to same restrictions of powers and disqualifications as the acting President," the provision further states.
Ermita said they have heard of the plan and are merely anticipating how Arroyo's critics would explain such moves.
He also shrugged of the call of former President Corazon Aquino for Arroyo to step down and her call for a snap election, dismissing it as old news.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said a snap election may only drive the economic gains of the country to the ground, set back the economy and further increase poverty. (JMR/Sunnex)
(February 10, 2006 issue)
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