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Sunday, March 16, 2008
Palace downplays bishop-youth provincial rally blitz
MANILA -- Malacañang downplayed the plan of Catholic bishops and youth groups to take their rallies for truth to the provinces, claiming it is a sign they are losing support in Metro Manila.
Deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez Jr. said people are getting tired of rallies because the accusers in the aborted US$329-million national broadband network (NBN) deal with China's ZTE Corp. are turning out to be not so clean.
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"Perhaps they could not get the sympathy of Metro Manila, whose residents have learned that their claims are baseless rumors," Golez said.
He said people are becoming politically mature as shown by the peaceful dispersal of participants at the Liwasang Bonifacio rally for truth in Manila Friday night.
Golez said even NBN star witness Rodolfo Lozada Jr. is losing steam, claiming that few people went to hear him speak in Bacolod City.
Lozada had received a warm welcome in Iloilo City last Friday, belying Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez's claim that Lozada will not be welcomed there.
Golez went to Bacolod City a few days ahead of Lozada, but refuted claims he was there to discourage attendance at Lozada's speaking engagements.
"I am sad that TV and radio did not play up his visit in Bacolod where only few cared to listen to him," Golez said. "The tale is dwindling and people are seeing his inconsistencies."
On the other hand, Golez said Malacañang is supporting the pastoral letter of Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales and Metro Manila bishops for truth.
"The government and the people are looking for the truth but the truth can be arrived at only through the courts," he said. (JMR/Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (March 16, 2008 issue)
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