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Thursday, March 02, 2006
Arroyo allies split on when to lift proclamation
MANILA -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the justice and defense departments and police on Wednesday to submit reports on the status of destabilization efforts against her administration within three days so she can decide whether to lift the state of national emergency order she issued last week.
Arroyo, in a nationwide televised address, said she wants to lift the state of emergency "as soon as possible."
She asked Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. to report on the destabilization efforts, Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz Jr. on military control, and National Police Chief Arturo Lomibao on the domestic peace and order situation.
"I will lift the state of emergency when I am satisfied that each official can assure me that we have control of the situation. The government acted to insure the domestic safety of the republic and will lift the state of emergency as soon as these criteria are met. I expect significant progress in the coming days on these issues," she said.
She assured that her government is determined to get back to strengthening the economy, eliminating poverty, and focusing on the people's business.
Arroyo thanked the public and the financial market for their "calm and reasoned response" to Proclamation 1017, which she claimed was necessary to "defend our democracy against a conspiracy of communist rebels, some misguided elements of the military, and some political opportunists."
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said "the specter of creeping Martial Law is a fiction, and the images of normalcy in everyday life for the average Filipino are clear as day."
Gonzalez, meanwhile, said he is not keen on already proposing the lifting of Proclamation 1017, saying there could still be imminent danger to the nation's security situation.
Gonzalez cited "loose ends" in ongoing investigations, particularly with the alleged involvement of former Tarlac congressman Jose "Peping" Cojuangco and Consultative People's Assembly (Copa) leader Pastor "Boy" Saycon in the foiled coup attempt last February 4.
He earlier ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to probe Time magazine's report of a coup plot allegedly hatched at Cojuangco's house last week.
"The present laws, even in the absence of Proclamation 1017, may be used to prosecute individuals for rebellion or inciting to sedition," he said.
Gonzalez was among the Cabinet officials tasked by President Arroyo to submit a report within 72 hours to determine if the lifting of the controversial proclamation is warranted under present circumstances.
Economic managers have called on the President to lift already Proclamation 1017, saying the volatile political situation has ebbed while continued implementation of the presidential directive has caused grave damage to the business sector.
But Gonzalez said it appears that normalcy has not been attained yet since he said Senator Joker Arroyo has predicted yet another uprising next week.
"Kung si Joker ang gagawa ng (If Joker makes the) proclamation, he would even abolish Congress and the Supreme Court, like what they did in 1986," he said, referring to the People Power Revolt that catapulted Corazon Aquino into power.
As Aquino's executive secretary, Senator Arroyo issued Proclamation 1 on March 25, 1986, which ordered all government officials to submit their "courtesy" resignations beginning with the members of the Supreme Court (SC).
"The very Constitution was abolished. There is nothing more draconian when compared to what happened before under Cory and Joker," Gonzalez said.
He said Malacañang has not bothered to seek the concurrence of Congress in issuing the Proclamation because "we don't think Congress, especially the Senate, will support us."
Gonzalez pointed out that even the SC has not seen the need for a temporary restraining order on Proclamation 1017 and General Order 5.
He said it is up to the high court to decide on whether it should proceed with the resolution of the issues raised against the proclamation in the event that Malacañang withdraws the decree over the weekend.
"It will be up to them (justices) to decide whether the suits are already moot and academic," he said.
Following an en banc session Tuesday, Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban announced the setting of oral arguments on March 7 to hear the four consolidated petitions against Proclamation 1017.
The SC also gave the respondent government five days to submit its comment on issues raised by petitioners Professor Randy David and company, the Alternative Law Groups (ALG), The Daily Tribune and its publisher Niñez Cacho-Olivares, and former senator Loren Legarda, in claiming the proclamation is unconstitutional and is a "de facto Martial Law."
Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz and Caloocan City Bishop Deogracia Iniguez said Proclamation 1017 should be lifted already.
Cruz said Arroyo should have not issued Proclamation 1017 because it would project a bad image of her administration. "It should not have been made in the first place. Now that it's there, she has to lift it because of the people's ire," Cruz said.
Iniguez, for his part, also demanded for the immediate lifting of Proclamation 1017 because of the growing opposition by the people.
He added that the proclamation is also paving the way for abuses against the persons critical of the government. (JMR/ECV/MSN/Sunnex)
(March 2, 2006 issue)
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