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Monday, February 25, 2008
De Venecia, Erap call for Arroyo's resignation (5:13 p.m.)
MANILA -- Ousted House Speaker Jose de Venecia joined the calls for the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo following numerous issues of corruption hounding the government.
"I already called for her resignation. She should step down or face the divisive and painful impeachment," de Venecia said.
He said the President has wasted the opportunity to redeem her administration by starting to cleanse it through a top-to-bottom revamp and holding accountable those responsible for the "bribery and corruption" in her government amid the controversy surrounding the botched US$329 million national broadband network (NBN) deal with China's ZTE Corp.
According to the Pangasinan congressman, the President might have to face another impeachment attempt once the one-year ban on filing lapses on September if she clings to her position.
On the night of his ouster as Speaker last February 4, de Venecia recited a litany of accusations of graft and corruption against the President, saying he also has personal knowledge of the massive electoral fraud in the 2004 elections.
He did not immediately call for the President's resignation and instead repeatedly urged her to awaken and lead the country towards moral recovery by taking drastic actions against graft and corruption.
Last Tuesday, de Venecia announced that he would file a resolution for an investigation into the "Hello Garci" controversy which happened four years ago and became the subject of the yearly impeachment complaints against the President which have all been methodically dismissed by the House under his leadership.
In a separate interview, former President Joseph Estrada also calls for Arroyo to step down saying the people no longer trust her administration.
Estrada said the rallies and protests held by the civil society groups and anti-Arroyo should be intensified and persist until Arroyo realizes the need for her resignation.
He also cited series of approval rating polls which according to him shows that more and more people doubt the administration.
He believes that Arroyo is an "illegitimate president" as she grabbed the presidency from Estrada during the 2001 People Power revolt. (WV/Sunnex) |
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