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Sunday, June 26, 2005
Party-list group defends Cebu legislator
CEBU CITY -- She may be persona non grata in Cebu, but it appears she's not alone in her doubts.
Bayan Muna-Cebu is behind Representative Clavel Asas-Martinez (Cebu, 4th district) in seeking the truth about the results of last year's elections in the province.
"We are supporting Representative Martinez in her call to seek the truth (about the results of last year's elections), not only in the national level but down to the lowest position," Bayan Muna secretary general Arman Perez said Saturday of the group's official stand.
When sought for comment on Martinez's being declared persona non grata, Perez said: "Those who are withholding the truth should be called persona non grata and not those seeking truth and justice."
Cebuano political and business leaders signed a manifesto declaring the fourth district representative persona non grata, after she assailed the credibility of last year's elections in Cebu.
Perez believes Cebuanos are definitely not cheats "but the political leaders can manipulate election results, like what President Arroyo did by calling (Comelec Commissioner Virgilio) Garcillano."
Perez said he respects the opinion of those who criticized Martinez, but for Bayan Muna, Martinez has all the right to speak out in order to find the truth.
Bayan Muna Representative Teddy Casiño has challenged President Arroyo to answer charges of electoral cheating and to come clean on the wiretapped tapes.
"If the contents of the voice recordings will be proven true, Mrs. Arroyo may be found liable for culpable violation of the Constitution, because she exerted undue influence on the work of Comelec and the outcome of presidential elections," Casiño has said. "That's an impeachable offense."
In Cebu, Perez clarified that Bayan Muna, a party-list group, is not supporting any party or any individual, but only those who are out to seek the truth on the election results.
The Martinezes had been linked to Bayan Muna after Clavel's son, Bogo Mayor Celestino "Tining" Martinez III, admitted that his town has an agreement with Bayan Muna to deliver education and other basic services to the northern municipality.
Alliance
Tining was also previously accused of supporting the National Democratic Front by giving P4,500 during last year's election period.
Bayan Muna is described by the military as a legal front for communist insurgents.
But Tining had explained that there was nothing wrong with his agreement with Bayan Muna, a legitimate party-list group currently represented by three members of the House of Representatives.
Congresswoman Martinez, on national television, said she has a copy of the controversial tapes.
She said one of the voices talking to Garcillano in that tape was that of Winston Garcia, president of the Government Service Insurance System and brother of Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.
Regrets?
Martinez also questioned the integrity and credibility of the votes that President Arroyo got in Cebu, and said she "regretted" campaigning for Arroyo in last year's election.
Because of her statements, political leaders allied with the administration signed the manifesto against Martinez. They will give a copy of the manifesto to President Arroyo tomorrow.
Governor Garcia, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Robert Go, Provincial Board members, mayors, vice mayors and some councilors also urged the House of Representatives to "take strong and decisive action" against Martinez. (MBG of Sun.Star Cebu/Sunnex)
(June 26, 2005 issue)
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