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Saturday, September 10, 2005
Opposition shuns court, to fight on street
MANILA -- Proponents of the amended impeachment complaint against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will no longer question before the Supreme Court the decision of the House of Representatives to dismiss their case and two other complaints.
Harry Roque, volunteer lawyer for the pro-impeachment group, said the opposition congressmen agreed in a meeting in Makati City last Thursday night that they will just give their case to the people.
Sorsogon Representative Francis Escudero, for his part, said the President only has two options left-to resign or answer squarely the allegations against her that she cheated in the 2004 elections to get a fresh six-year mandate.
He said the President should tell the people the truth that "was concealed by her allies in the House," which voted last Tuesday to reject the impeachment complaints.
Roque said they do not doubt the integrity of the High Court but "we come to the conclusion that the legitimacy of the Arroyo presidency should now be addressed by 85 million Filipinos."
More rallies are planned against Arroyo, including a national transport strike.
Jeepney drivers affiliated with Nagkahiusang Drayber sa Sugbo will stay off Cebu City streets from 4 a.m. to noon on Monday, September 12.
On the same day, which remains a regular working day, the country will mark National Day of Prayer to promote peace and unity among Filipinos.
In Proclamation 910, President Arroyo cited the importance of the day in order to attain the national goals.
"It is time to make a reaffirmation of our commitment to this goal, through personal reflection, change in attitudes, and solidarity for the public welfare and the development of our country," she said in the proclamation she signed on September 5.
The allegations against the President have stirred up the nation, including the Catholic bishops, were criticized for "meddling" in issues involving the state.
But Monsignor Hernando Coronel, secretary general and spokesman of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, said they "cannot just shy away from its duty" especially now that the political situation in the country is deteriorating.
Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago earlier said churchmen are not allowed to intervene on political issues involving, citing a statement of Pope Benedict XVI telling bishops to keep away from domestic politics.
Coronel said Santiago must have misinterpreted the statement of the pope because it is clear that the bishops could speak if the current issues affect the people "and in this case, this is not just politics but it also involves the future of Filipinos."
For his part, Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal prefers to leave the decision to the people whether the Archdiocese of Cebu is abusing its institutional power, after making a statement on the House's decision to reject the impeachment cases.
"As what the Archdiocese of Cebu has kept saying, when it involves the body and soul of a person, meaning there is already moral conflict, then the church would really step in. We were merely making a point that the truth should come out," Cebu Archdiocesan media liaison officer Monsignor Achilles said in a separate interview.
The anti-Arroyo protestors vowed to launch a series of rallies to seek the "truth behind Arroyo's alleged cheating in last year's elections and other charges against the President." (LLV/AIV/Sunnex)
(September 10, 2005 issue)
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