Friday, July 01, 2005
Ex-President Aquino rejects people power
MANILA -- Take it from Corazon Aquino: Now is not the time for another "people power" uprising.
The former president warned the opposition against using unconstitutional means to oust President Arroyo, as "stepping outside the Constitution now will only expose us to greater danger."
Lawyers in Cebu City are thinking along the same line.
In a 9-6 vote, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Cebu City chapter asked the President to give way to the legal processes for the creation of a new national leadership, which "could regain our national pride and dignity."
Militant groups in Cebu and Manila took to the streets Thursday to press for the President's resignation, following her admission that she made improper calls to a Commission on Elections (Comelec) official during the canvassing of votes last year.
The tape of the wiretapped conversations was played Thursday night in an open session in Congress. Five House committees looking into the controversy gave the go-signal: 36 for, four against and four abstentions.
With her leadership under attack, President Arroyo thanked Aquino for appealing for the rule of law.
Aquino said any political change should be within the bounds of the 1987 Constitution.
Widows
In a televised speech, Aquino said she called up Susan Roces, widow of Arroyo's closest rival, Wednesday night and praised her for the "sincerity of her convictions."
An angry Roces has asked Arroyo to resign immediately, following her admission and apology for the "lapse in judgment" that allegedly suggested electoral fraud.
"I made it clear (to Roces) that I will always stand by the Constitution. I believe that the Constitution contains all the ways by which one may safely effect even the most difficult political changes," Aquino said.
"There is no need to step outside it. To step outside the Constitution will only expose us to greater danger than the injustice we want to correct," she said.
Aquino herself assumed the presidency in 1986 as part of a revolutionary government during the first Edsa uprising, which ended the 20-year rule of Ferdinand Marcos.
For others
But she said people power has succeeded "only if it is for others."
"It was so in 1986 when those who led the revolution led from the front. It was so in 2001. But people power for one's self will never succeed," she said.
"When I opted for participation in the 1984 election under Marcos, I was criticized as being naīve. The victories of the opposition, notwithstanding a rigged election, gave the friends of freedom the true measure of strength and an unwavering confidence to go on to the snap election and the Edsa people power revolution," Aquino recalled.
It was the first time that Aquino spoke on the current political crisis, admitting that she had also been "pressured to speak up."
"I, too, have been pressured to speak up. Excuse me, but I had a good reason to keep my peace until I was ready," Aquino said. "I was praying, praying for light, for myself, for our country."
Aquino announced that there will be a mass at the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City at 5:30 p.m. Friday to pray for the nation.
'Gloriagate'
Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal also appealed to the faithful and leaders to just pray for the nation at this time of political turmoil.
Local leaders and the business community in Cebu have stood firmly behind President Arroyo, but the IBP Cebu City chapter has taken a different position.
The lawyers said the President, after "giving tacit approval to the commission of electoral fraud just to win the presidency" by calling a Comelec official, has breached her oath of office, committed a blatant and gross violation of the Constitution, and betrayal of public trust, which are all impeachable offenses.
They also asked for the continued investigation of the "Gloriagate tapes" to uncover the truth as to the extent of the electoral fraud.
IBP Cebu City chapter president Alex D. Tolentino, Michelle Geraldine G. Mendez, Wilbert U. Dumon, Kit S. Enriquez, Allan C. Ouano, Bethuel V. Tanupan, Gloria Lastimosa-Dalawampu, former IBP president Democrito C. Barcenas and Annabel G. Pulvera signed the resolution.
Those who did not sign were Maribelle Adelfa A. Navarro, Aurora A. Econg, Juanito C. Neumeran, Pedro Leslie Salva and Nestor P. Nuez.
Voices
Copies of the resolution were sent to Malacaņang, Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, IBP National President and Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Simeon Dumdum Jr.
The Alliance of Concerned Youth also asked the President to quit. The group cited Arroyo's failure to deliver on promises outlined in her 10-point agenda, which include improving the quality of education.
Sanlakas, Akbayan and other cause-oriented groups also marched in downtown Cebu City to join the national day of protest against the Arroyo government.
Like Aquino, Akbayan Cebu secretary general Alvin Dizon said the change in government should be done within the constitutional framework.
Arroyo can also count on the Lapu-Lapu City Council, which passed, on mass motion Thursday, a resolution giving "unqualified" support for the President. (Sun.Star Cebu/Sunnex)
Click here for a chronology of the crisis.
Click here for the transcript of Arroyo's confession.
(July 1, 2005 issue)
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