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Thursday, March 18, 2004
2 KNP bets sue Arroyo over fund misuse
By Benjamin B. Pulta
MANILA -- Two opposition senatorial candidates have asked the Supreme Court (SC) to stop President Arroyo from what they described as "widespread and naked use of government resources" to bankroll Arroyo's campaign.
In a 28-page petition, former National Youth Commission (NYC) chairman Amina Rasul-Bernardo and actress Ma. Elisa "Boots" Anson-Roa, who are both running for senators under the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) banner, said Arroyo should "be considered resigned" from her position and that Vice President Teofisto Guingona be allowed to take over the reins of government.
Malacaņang quickly shrugged off as "pure harassment and without legal basis" the petition filed seeking a court order enjoining the President to take a leave of absence while campaigning for the May 10 presidential elections.
Petitioners
The petitioners, through their lawyers, also asked the SC to hold oral arguments on their case.
They asked the SC to prohibit the Commission on Audit (COA) from passing in audit any disbursement of public funds ordered by Arroyo and that National Treasurer Mina Figueroa be prohibited from paying or releasing salaries, allowances, emoluments, expenditures and disbursements to which a validly sitting president is entitled and/or authorized to spend or order to be spent.
"The entire nation looks helplessly as the Arroyo administration (allegedly) raids the public treasury, ruthlessly and relentlessly; the PCSO and Philhealth funds, the GSIS funds, the OCW (Overseas Contract Workers) funds, the appropriation funds of various government offices such as the DPWH," the two candidates said, referring to cards bearing Arroyo's photograph.
Power
"You name it, nothing will be spared for Gloria's victory in the May 10 polls, no matter how sordid and squalid this victory," they added.
Bernardo and Roa said Arroyo should "be declared and considered resigned and thereby prohibited from continuing to exercise the powers and prerogatives of the presidency" and that she should transmit to the Speaker of the House and the Senate President a written notice of her incapacity to exercise the duties and functions of her office."
No basis
In a press briefing at the Palace, presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said the case filed Wednesday with the Supreme Court by Rasul and Roa has "no legal basis" and is meant only to harass the President.
Bunye said they expect more suits of such nature from the opposition, but Ms. Arroyo will continue to perform her official functions even as she pursues her quest for a full six-year term.
The opposition senatorial candidates also said a president who makes a reelection bid, if eligible, should considered as resigned, or at least be considered as being on leave, by force of law or automatically from the time he/she files his/her certificate of candidacy during the campaign period.
Only such a rule can prevent an incumbent president, who is running for reelection, from abusing and corrupting the vast powers of the presidency, especially over the government's manpower, treasury and resources, they said.
In the same briefing, Bunye admitted that he and representatives from the other political parties had a meeting at the Commission on Election (Comelec) where they signed a memorandum of understanding on the details and mechanics of a proposed debate on April 13.
Bunye told reporters that he informed the debate organizer, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), and the Comelec that the President would participate in the debate if her top contender movie actor Fernando Poe Jr. would also take part.
"The purpose of the debate is to compare programs. So if you can't compare your program with the program of the other top contender, then the purpose of the debate will not be served," Bunye explained. (BBP with JMR,PNA)
(March 18, 2004 issue)
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