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Monday, June 27, 2005
Arroyo to address nation on issue of ‘vital concern’
MANILA (Updated, 3:20 p.m.) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will address the nation at 7 p.m. Monday on an issue of “vital concern,” her spokesman said, setting off speculation that she would break her silence on politically explosive allegations that she rigged last year’s elections.
A lawyer critical to President Arroyo filed an impeachment complaint against her before the House of Representatives for “betrayal of public trust” and a “truth commission” is being formed by the civil society groups, who have helped install the President in 2001, to investigate the alleged wiretapped tapes linking her to poll fraud.
Palace Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said Arroyo's announcement would be broadcast on television at 7 p.m. and urged the public to tune in, but didn't elaborate.
The allegations against Arroyo center on audio recordings in which a woman who sounds like Arroyo is heard discussing with an election commissioner ways to secure a million-vote margin in the May 2004 ballot.
Bunye earlier said the recordings were altered, adding they could be part of an opposition-backed plot to oust her. Congress began investigating the recordings last week.
Arroyo, however, has refused to state whether the voice on the tape is hers and said she would deal with the scandal when political bickering has died down.
A lawyer critical of the government, Oliver Lozano, filed an impeachment complaint against Arroyo at the House of Representatives on Monday, accusing her of violating the Constitution by cheating in the elections, and of betraying the public's trust.
Lozano cited as evidence the audio recordings and added that Arroyo's "silence is admission." He called her a "bogus president."
The prospects for the complaint were difficult to ascertain. At least one member of the 236-member Congress has to endorse the complaint if it is to be considered for discussion.
Lawmakers have been debating whether the recordings, reportedly illegal wiretaps by military intelligence agents, could be used in legal proceedings.
Meanwhile, the civil society groups that supported Arroyo in the 2001 uprising will form a “truth commission” that will look into the alleged wiretapped conversation linking Mrs. Arroyo to poll cheating.
The group met Monday morning and discusses the possible creation of a body that will possibly be composed to retired justices and other legal and technical experts to investigate election fraud allegations against the President.
Former executive secretary Renato de Villa assured that the proposed truth commission that will look into the alleged wiretapped phone conversations of the President will be devoid of any political color.
De Villa interviewed over ABS-CBN said the group pushing for the creation of the commission wants neutral parties and anyone involved in politics will be shut out.
He admits that the state of the commission now will depend on the statements of the President at 7 p.m. Monday when she addresses the nation.
The allegations against the President have set off widespread calls, including among top businessmen and politicians allied to the president, for her to directly address the accusations. Opposition and left-wing groups have demanded her resignation.
The scandal erupted early this month as Arroyo was grappling with daunting problems, including rising oil prices, a huge budget deficit and security issues that have forced her to take unpopular steps like new taxes. Her popularity rating has plunged to a record low.
Arroyo also has been buffeted by accusations that her son and brother-in-law, both members of Congress, pocketed huge illegal gambling payoffs. The two have strongly denied the allegations.
Opposition groups have staged almost daily demonstrations against Arroyo, but they haven't matched the huge "people power" protests that led to the downfalls of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 and Arroyo's predecessor, former President Joseph Estrada, in 2001.(AP/Sunnex)
(June 27, 2005 issue)
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