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Sunday, November 13, 2005
Citizens' congress to furnish UN result of 'trial' vs Arroyo
MANILA -- The Citizens' Congress for Truth and Accountability (CCTA) will furnish influential international organizations like the United Nations (UN) of their report on the accusations against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
CCTA presidium chairman, former vice president Teofisto Guingona, said in the weekly "Kapihan sa Sulo" Saturday their group wants to inform the world of the anomalies involving the Arroyo administration.
Guingona also said they have not decided yet whether they will give copies of their report to governments of various countries.
Aside from the UN, the CCTA will also submit a report to Amnesty International.
Guingona believes that by doing so, President Arroyo cannot ignore their report as she will be given 15 days to reply on the accusations contained there.
"Malacañang can't ignore it very long, because it will be known to the world, wherein she sought the help of these international communities during the presidential campaign," Guingona added.
Internal problem
He clarified the CCTA did not seek international intervention in their issues against the President "because this issue should be resolved by Filipinos alone."
The CCTA began hearing the charges against Arroyo last week by holding a "trial" last Tuesday and Wednesday at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.
Hearings will continue on the same days this week at the University of Makati in Makati City.
The CCTA first heard last week the electoral fraud charge made against Arroyo.
With regards to the description by Arroyo of the CCTA as a "kangaroo court," the former vice president said it is not so and just like the media, the CCTA's proceedings are meant to report to the public the allegations against Arroyo.
"This is simple expression of grievances. We want to ferret out the truth and not to try the President in public," Guingona added.
Guingona denied the CCTA committed sedition by holding the hearings as he explained the main purpose of the hearings is to hear the evidence on the alleged anomalies involving Arroyo.
"What we are doing is exercising our rights as free men of the nation. We are not guilty of sedition," Guingona said, reacting to the threat of the Palace and its officials to charge them with sedition.
The former vice president criticized President Arroyo for her tirade against the media as he defended the local press.
Guingona said in the weekly "Kapihan sa Sulo" forum that the media's function is to inform the public of what is happening in government and that it is the government and not the press that should be blamed for the negative image of the President.
"She and her men are the ones creating all these woes and conflicts. I deplore such an attack against the Fourth Estate," Guingona said.
Arroyo earlier criticized the media for allowing itself to be used in destabilization attempts by the opposition and for reporting the bad news more than the good ones. (JPM/Sunnex)
(November 13, 2005 issue)
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