Date: July 20, 2005
Ref: Omeng / (02) 5526731
http://www.nenepimentel.org
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Nene" Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) said today the well-documented revelation of former Senator JohnOsmeña about padding of votes for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in at least 10 regions, including his home-province, Cebu, explains why administration lawmakers dismissed with a plain "noted" all motions of the opposition to examine tampered certificates of canvass, election returns and other election documents during the congressional canvassing of the votes cast in the 2004 presidential election.
Pimentel said Osmeña's finding that Ms. Arroyo's vote count in Cebuwas fraudulently padded in Cebu alone was the most credible confirmation of the opposition's claim that the administration camp fabricated the certificates of canvass and election returns with the connivance of election local government officials to give her an incredible one million vote lead over Fernando Poe, Jr. in the Central Visayan province.
"John has uncovered Cebu's quicksand political pit where Gloria's false claims of victory are fast sinking and from which the more she struggles, the more she sinks," he said.
Pimentel debunked Malacañang's puerile criticism questioning why it is only now that Osmeña, who ran for senator under Arroyo's party in 2004, exposed this election bombshell.
He said that during the congressional canvassing of votes in May-June,2004, John Osmeña and his cousin, Sen. Serge Osmeña, articulated their view that the Cebu votes for Arroyo were "statistically improbable" considering that in 38 municipalities in the province, the President obtained 80 percent of the votes consistently and Mr. Poe got 10 percent of the votes consistently in the same localities.
Moreover, Pimentel said the opposition found out that in several towns, "more votes were recorded than the registered votes. He said had certain election returns in Cebu been opened, it would have been shown that many were prepared by only one hand.
The minority leader said the political turmoil in the country would have been avoided had President Arroyo's legislative allies agreed to make the canvass of votes for president and vice president transparent. "Instead, in their haste to proclaim Gloria and Noli as the winners, Sen. Francis Pangilinan and Iloilo Rep. Raul Gonzales merely 'noted' every objection raised by the opposition during the canvass," Pimentel said.
Pangilinan and Gonzales chaired the Senate and House panel respectively, in the joint congressional canvassing.
Pimentel said the administration legislators even accused him of being obstructionist and delaying the proclamation of Arroyo and De Castro.
"Now the shoe is on the other foot with Secretary Michael Defensor proposing to open the ballot boxes in a desperate attempt to prove the Gloria and Noli won the election. Unfortunately for them, it is too late in the day to do so. Nothing will erase the public perception that the administration cheated the people of their votes. Haste can truly make waste of a nation!" Pimentel said.
"Gloria and Noli should simply resign and save the nation from more discord," Pimentel said.
Thursday, July 21, 2005
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Gloria Arroyo Taksil Sa Mga Manggagawang Pangkalusugan At Sa Masa, Patalsikin Na
Pahayag ng All-UP Workers Union Manila Chapter
Ika-8 ng Hulyo 2005
(This Position of the union was adopted by an expanded Chapter Executive Board Meeting on July 5, 2005 and finalized only today, July 19.)
“Nababagabag ako….” Ito ang mga katagang namutawi mula sa bibig ni Gng Gloria Macapagal Arroyo sa isang makasaysayang gabi ng Hunyo 27, 2005, kung saan inamin niya ang pakikipag-usap sa isang opisyal ng Comelec noong panahon ng 2004 Eleksyon. Ngunit ang pag-aming ito ay kalahati lamang ng katotohanan ng sistematikong pakikipagsabwatan upang impluwensyahan ang eleksyon.
“Hindi ako magre-resign….” Nagresulta ng pagdami ng mga kilos protesta upang malaman pa ang buong katotohanan sa likod nito at nanawagan ng kanyang pagbibitiw. . Ngunit patuloy siyang nagpanggap na kontrolado pa ang sitwasyon at hawak pa niya ang tiwala at kompiyansa ng mamamayan. At nito ngang nakalipas na linggo hinamon pa niya ang kanyang mga kabinete na magsipagbitiw na sa kanilang mga posisyon kung hindi na siya kinikilala ng mga ito.
Ang Pilipinas ay lugmok na sa kahirapan. Ito ay isang katotohanan na walang pasubali at walang kagatol-gatol na sasagutin ng bawat Pilipino ng “oo”. Bago pa man lumabas ang kontrobersyal na “Gloriagate tapes,” talamak na ang korapsyon at katiwalian sa pamahalaan at sumasadsad na ang ekonomiya. Ang mahirap ay patuloy na naghihirap at ang mga tiwaling nakaluklok sa kapangyarihan ay patuloy na nagkakamal ng salapi.
Si Gng. Arroyo ay kapit-tuko sa kanyang posisyon at ni katiting na balak mag-resign sa puwesto ay wala. Nagkasala si Gng Arroyo sa Sambayanan at dapat lang siyang managot. Kapag tayo ay magsawalang kibo sa mga nangyayari ay para na rin nating sinabi na magsawalang kibo na lang tayo sa mga katiwalian at sa lahat ng gumagawa ng kasalanan sa ating lipunan.
Bantad na ang mamamayan sa kahirapan at tayong mga manggagawang pangkalusugan ay hindi naiiba sa ganitong kalagayan. Ang mga benipisyong matagal nang dapat naibigay sa atin ay patuloy na ipinagkakait sa kabila ng legalidad sa likod nito, kagaya ng COLA, libreng pagpapa-ospital at iba pang mga benipisyo. Ang P3000 across-the-board monthly salary increase na matagal na rin nating ipinaglalaban ay nakabinbin pa rin sa Kongreso at ni isang sentimo na pagtaas ng sweldo nating mga kawani ay wala tayong natanggap sa kasalukuyang rehimen.
Ang anumang sandaling pananatili ni Gng Arroyo sa poder ay lalo lamang magsasadlak sa atin sa ibayong kahirapan at mga paglulubid ng kasinungalingan tungkol sa ating ekonomiya.
Hanggang kailan magtitiis at aasa ang mga Pilipino na isang araw ay magbabago ang takbo ng kanilang buhay? Sa kasaysayan ng mga dakilang bansa sa buong mundo, ang mga ordinaryong mamamayan ang siyang nag-uukit ng kanilang kasaysayan tungo sa kadakilaan at kaunlaran. Nasa ating mga kamay kung gayon ang ating kinabukasan. Kung hindi tayo kikilos at gagawa ng aksyon ngayon; sino ang kikilos para sa atin, at kailan pa?
Tayo ay nanawagang patalsikin na si Gng Arroyo sa Malacañang at bumuo ng isang Transition Government na magpapatakbo ng pamahalaan. Isang pamahalaan na mapagkalinga sa mamamayan, hindi ng interes ng dayuhan at iilan; at kumakatawan sa lahat na sektor ng
lipunang Pilipino.
Peke at taksil na Pangulo, bumaba ka na sa puwesto bago mo matikman ang paniningil ng Sambayanan!
Ika-8 ng Hulyo 2005
(This Position of the union was adopted by an expanded Chapter Executive Board Meeting on July 5, 2005 and finalized only today, July 19.)
“Nababagabag ako….” Ito ang mga katagang namutawi mula sa bibig ni Gng Gloria Macapagal Arroyo sa isang makasaysayang gabi ng Hunyo 27, 2005, kung saan inamin niya ang pakikipag-usap sa isang opisyal ng Comelec noong panahon ng 2004 Eleksyon. Ngunit ang pag-aming ito ay kalahati lamang ng katotohanan ng sistematikong pakikipagsabwatan upang impluwensyahan ang eleksyon.
“Hindi ako magre-resign….” Nagresulta ng pagdami ng mga kilos protesta upang malaman pa ang buong katotohanan sa likod nito at nanawagan ng kanyang pagbibitiw. . Ngunit patuloy siyang nagpanggap na kontrolado pa ang sitwasyon at hawak pa niya ang tiwala at kompiyansa ng mamamayan. At nito ngang nakalipas na linggo hinamon pa niya ang kanyang mga kabinete na magsipagbitiw na sa kanilang mga posisyon kung hindi na siya kinikilala ng mga ito.
Ang Pilipinas ay lugmok na sa kahirapan. Ito ay isang katotohanan na walang pasubali at walang kagatol-gatol na sasagutin ng bawat Pilipino ng “oo”. Bago pa man lumabas ang kontrobersyal na “Gloriagate tapes,” talamak na ang korapsyon at katiwalian sa pamahalaan at sumasadsad na ang ekonomiya. Ang mahirap ay patuloy na naghihirap at ang mga tiwaling nakaluklok sa kapangyarihan ay patuloy na nagkakamal ng salapi.
Si Gng. Arroyo ay kapit-tuko sa kanyang posisyon at ni katiting na balak mag-resign sa puwesto ay wala. Nagkasala si Gng Arroyo sa Sambayanan at dapat lang siyang managot. Kapag tayo ay magsawalang kibo sa mga nangyayari ay para na rin nating sinabi na magsawalang kibo na lang tayo sa mga katiwalian at sa lahat ng gumagawa ng kasalanan sa ating lipunan.
Bantad na ang mamamayan sa kahirapan at tayong mga manggagawang pangkalusugan ay hindi naiiba sa ganitong kalagayan. Ang mga benipisyong matagal nang dapat naibigay sa atin ay patuloy na ipinagkakait sa kabila ng legalidad sa likod nito, kagaya ng COLA, libreng pagpapa-ospital at iba pang mga benipisyo. Ang P3000 across-the-board monthly salary increase na matagal na rin nating ipinaglalaban ay nakabinbin pa rin sa Kongreso at ni isang sentimo na pagtaas ng sweldo nating mga kawani ay wala tayong natanggap sa kasalukuyang rehimen.
Ang anumang sandaling pananatili ni Gng Arroyo sa poder ay lalo lamang magsasadlak sa atin sa ibayong kahirapan at mga paglulubid ng kasinungalingan tungkol sa ating ekonomiya.
Hanggang kailan magtitiis at aasa ang mga Pilipino na isang araw ay magbabago ang takbo ng kanilang buhay? Sa kasaysayan ng mga dakilang bansa sa buong mundo, ang mga ordinaryong mamamayan ang siyang nag-uukit ng kanilang kasaysayan tungo sa kadakilaan at kaunlaran. Nasa ating mga kamay kung gayon ang ating kinabukasan. Kung hindi tayo kikilos at gagawa ng aksyon ngayon; sino ang kikilos para sa atin, at kailan pa?
Tayo ay nanawagang patalsikin na si Gng Arroyo sa Malacañang at bumuo ng isang Transition Government na magpapatakbo ng pamahalaan. Isang pamahalaan na mapagkalinga sa mamamayan, hindi ng interes ng dayuhan at iilan; at kumakatawan sa lahat na sektor ng
lipunang Pilipino.
Peke at taksil na Pangulo, bumaba ka na sa puwesto bago mo matikman ang paniningil ng Sambayanan!
Resignations to Mount as SONA of Excuses, Apologies and Empty Promises Near; Truth Commission, Impeachment To Strengthen Basis for GMA’s Removal
Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran
News Release July 19, 2005
House of Representatives, South Wing Rm 602
931-6615 Ina Alleco R. Silverio, Chief of Staff
Email: paggawa@edsamail.com.ph, anakpawis2003@yahoo.com
Cellphone number 09213907362
Visit geocities.com/ap_news
Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today said that the resignation of two more officials from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s cabinet was proof-positive that the presidency was crumbling. He said that for all the brave talk and strong front being put up by Pres. Arroyo and her various spokespersons such as presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio, the fact remains that the Pres. Arroyo’s credibility is severely damaged and is already beyond salvaging.
“Pres. Arroyo had no inkling that half her cabinet officials were going to abandon her, and now the remaining stragglers are also leaving,” he said, referring to the recent resignation of Vicky Garchitorena, Corazon Guidote and Silvestre Afable. “Before long, she will be left with a skeleton of a government, regardless of how swiftly she tries to replace the officials who resigned as a result of disgust and disillusionment. After all, who want to be associated with a corrupt presidency?”
He said that Arroyo administration hangers-on such as DOLE secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas and Justice secretary Raul Gonzales were already among the most notorious officials, and while their respective resignations were not expected, he said that that the two still have a chance to redeem themselves and can begin so by turning in their papers.
The veteran labor leader turned lawmaker said that Pres. Arroyo was hanging on to the presidency by the skin of her teeth. “The countdown to her State of the Nation Address (SONA) is nearing, and so is the showdown between political forces demanding her resignation, impeachment or ouster, and those who are blindly loyal to her corrupt presidency. Never again will Pres. Arroyo be able to say that she has the Filipino people’s trust and confidence, and all her succeeding speeches and declarations will always be treated with distrust and disdain. She has no moral or legal right to continue as president.”
Beltran said that GMA’s SONA will most likely be yet another series of excuses, apologies, and empty promises. “This will be her last SONA. No one is expecting her to last until the end of the year, especially when the impeachment process begins and more of her crimes and lies against the Filipino people are exposed. The true SONA will be delivered in the streets where hundreds of thousands of Filipinos will be demanding her removal from office.”
Truth Commission, Impeachment process
Beltran said that he was not wholly against the recommendation of some quarters for the establishment of a truth commission as a parallel move to the massive street protests and the impeachment process now being begun in Congress. He said that so long as the truth commission was handled by impartial individuals and groups whose main objectives are to ferret out the truth as to the deeds of the Arroyo presidency and the genuine political and economic situation faced by majority of Filipinos, the truth commission should prove to be valuable venue for the further exposure of the corruption of the administration.
“All these steps being taken – the impeachment process, the truth commission, and most importantly the rallies and mobilizations all over the country – they serve to be important venues for debate and awakening of public awareness, involvement and concern. No matter how hard the Arroyo administration and the executive tries to explain away the accusations and charges of corruption and failure of governance, the truth will still come out. More and more Filipinos are getting involved in the process of exposing the ugliness of Philippine politics and the corruption of the economic and political system in place. Inevitably, there will be major political upheaval and Pres. Arroyo will be forced out of office,” he said.#
News Release July 19, 2005
House of Representatives, South Wing Rm 602
931-6615 Ina Alleco R. Silverio, Chief of Staff
Email: paggawa@edsamail.com.ph, anakpawis2003@yahoo.com
Cellphone number 09213907362
Visit geocities.com/ap_news
Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today said that the resignation of two more officials from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s cabinet was proof-positive that the presidency was crumbling. He said that for all the brave talk and strong front being put up by Pres. Arroyo and her various spokespersons such as presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio, the fact remains that the Pres. Arroyo’s credibility is severely damaged and is already beyond salvaging.
“Pres. Arroyo had no inkling that half her cabinet officials were going to abandon her, and now the remaining stragglers are also leaving,” he said, referring to the recent resignation of Vicky Garchitorena, Corazon Guidote and Silvestre Afable. “Before long, she will be left with a skeleton of a government, regardless of how swiftly she tries to replace the officials who resigned as a result of disgust and disillusionment. After all, who want to be associated with a corrupt presidency?”
He said that Arroyo administration hangers-on such as DOLE secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas and Justice secretary Raul Gonzales were already among the most notorious officials, and while their respective resignations were not expected, he said that that the two still have a chance to redeem themselves and can begin so by turning in their papers.
The veteran labor leader turned lawmaker said that Pres. Arroyo was hanging on to the presidency by the skin of her teeth. “The countdown to her State of the Nation Address (SONA) is nearing, and so is the showdown between political forces demanding her resignation, impeachment or ouster, and those who are blindly loyal to her corrupt presidency. Never again will Pres. Arroyo be able to say that she has the Filipino people’s trust and confidence, and all her succeeding speeches and declarations will always be treated with distrust and disdain. She has no moral or legal right to continue as president.”
Beltran said that GMA’s SONA will most likely be yet another series of excuses, apologies, and empty promises. “This will be her last SONA. No one is expecting her to last until the end of the year, especially when the impeachment process begins and more of her crimes and lies against the Filipino people are exposed. The true SONA will be delivered in the streets where hundreds of thousands of Filipinos will be demanding her removal from office.”
Truth Commission, Impeachment process
Beltran said that he was not wholly against the recommendation of some quarters for the establishment of a truth commission as a parallel move to the massive street protests and the impeachment process now being begun in Congress. He said that so long as the truth commission was handled by impartial individuals and groups whose main objectives are to ferret out the truth as to the deeds of the Arroyo presidency and the genuine political and economic situation faced by majority of Filipinos, the truth commission should prove to be valuable venue for the further exposure of the corruption of the administration.
“All these steps being taken – the impeachment process, the truth commission, and most importantly the rallies and mobilizations all over the country – they serve to be important venues for debate and awakening of public awareness, involvement and concern. No matter how hard the Arroyo administration and the executive tries to explain away the accusations and charges of corruption and failure of governance, the truth will still come out. More and more Filipinos are getting involved in the process of exposing the ugliness of Philippine politics and the corruption of the economic and political system in place. Inevitably, there will be major political upheaval and Pres. Arroyo will be forced out of office,” he said.#
Sunday, July 17, 2005
Prolongation of Arroyo Regime Aggravates Crisis of the Ruling System
By Prof. Jose Maria Sison
NDFP Chief Political Consultant
July 17, 2005
As in counting votes, Gloria M. Arroyo and her subalterns engage in dagdag bawas (add-subtract) in counting rallyists. They claim that the anti-Arroyorally of 30,000 people on July 8 was only 3,000 to10,000 and that of 70,000 to 80,000 on July 13 was only 9,000 to 15,000 although some pro-Arroyo journalists concede that it was 40,000 or even 50,000. The July 13 rally in Makati was even more impressive if we consider that the police and military of the regime blocked many of the rallyists coming from Central and Southern Luzon.
The officials, police and press operatives of the Arroyo regime go to extremes in belittling the anti-Arroyo mass actions as well as in exaggerating the number of rallyists on July 16 at Rizal Park. The pro-Arroyo organizers of the rally press ganged local government employees, teachers and students and deceived them that they were attending a prayer rally.The police gave absurdly high estimates of the crowd, ranging from 125,000 to 250,000. Two major pro-Arroyo newspapers also estimated the crowd at 120,000 and125,000. The seemingly more modest but arithmetically confused propagandists of Arroyo claim less than100,000 but boast that the pro-Arroyo rallyists were"twice" the peak of 80,000 rallyists on July 13. The same press drumbeaters of Arroyo during the 2004 electional campaign and vote count are still serving her faithfully.
The mass movement for the ouster or resignation ofArroyo has grown in size, scope and intensity in the national capital region and in the provinces since June. Every new peak in the mass actions are preceded by localized build up mass actions by various mass organizations of the national democratic movement. But her subalterns in the media keep on harping that the people suffer from protest fatigue and that mass actions are failing to attract enough people to topple the regime.
Subsequently, they spread the brazen lie that the broad united front and the broad masses of the people are giving up on mass actions and are submitting themselves exclusively to proceedings in Congress or a "truth commission". Arroyo and her sycophants daydream and boast in pro-Arroyo print and electronic media that they could bring the people's outrage to a venue in order to squelch it.
The regime is terrified that the broad united front would soon be able to muster at least 500,000 at some focal point in the national capital region, expose the inability of Arroyo to govern and encourage the military and police forces to withdraw their support from her. At the same time, the regime is jittery about the fact that the oppositionists in the House of Representatives are now close to gathering 79 signatures for the Senate to try her for high crimes and for Noli de Castro to start opposing her.
The Arroyo regime has a definite objective inconsistently belittling and mocking at the mass actions of the people outraged by electoral fraud, corruption, puppetry and human rights violations and in trying to frighten the people with the malicious claim that communists and Muslims are out to disrupt the mass actions. The rabid loyalists of the regime in the military and police forces are in fact preparing for the violent suppression of the mass actions.
They anticipate that the anti-Arroyo marches and rallies on July 25 on the occasion of the state of the nation address (SONA) will be larger than previous ones. Thus, they are now planning to block and assault the prospective rallyists. But the various forces inthe broad united front are now alerted and are adopting the measures to frustrate the regime. Patriotic military and police officers have assured them that they will openly make a stand and act against the regime if its loyalists unleash violence against the rallying people.
The Arroyo regime would throw itself post haste into the abyss if it used violence against the people. It does not have the resources that were still available to Marcos when he imposed a fascist dictatorship on the country. The suppression of legal and peaceful but militant mass actions would give justification to a wide range of militant actions for proving the inability of the regime to govern in the urban areas. Such actions would encourage the rapid spread of tactical offensives against the local police forces in the rural areas, as in Nepal from 1996 onwards.
The prolongation of the Arroyo regime by any means is nothing but an aggravation of the socio-economic and political crisis of the ruling system of big compradors and landlords. However, even if impeachment proceedings would induce Arroyo to resign and enable De Castro to replace Arroyo, he would not be able to last long in power. He would dig his own political grave by following the same Arroyo policies dictated by the US and the IMF, World Bank and WTO. The people would reject him as one complicit in electoral fraud, corruption and other high crimes of the Arroyo regime.
The broad masses of the people would not be satisfied with the replacement of one reactionary president by another through whatever method. They want ultimately to overthrow the rotten ruling system of big compradors and landlords and to establish a truly new democratic system of the working people and the middle social strata. They wish to bring about a newPhilippines that is independent, democratic, just, progressive, prosperous and peace-loving. They want to liberate themselves from the clutches of imperialism and reaction.###
Saturday, July 16, 2005
"Malacanang Turns to Desperate Measures with the Staging of Mock-up Pro-Administration Rallies Today; Rice, Money Awaits GMA's Hakot Crowd" - KMU"
KILUSANG MAYO UNO(May First Labor Center)
TAGAPAMANDILA NG TUNAY NA UNYONISMO
No. 63 Narra St. Bgy. Claro, Proj. 3 Quezon City
Telefax 421-0768, 421-0986
kilusangmayouno@gmail.com
NEWS RELEASE
July 16, 2005
Everything about Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is fake and fabricated, including the pro-administration peace and unity rallies today at the Quirino Grandstand. It does not reflect the genuine sentiments and demands of the majority of Filipinos calling for Arroyo's resignation.
However Mrs. Arroyo tries to feign public support by mobilizing local government units (LGUs), students of AMA Computer Schools and Bro. Mike Velarde's El Shaddai members, the hard truth remains – Filipinos want Arroyo out of Malacanang ASAP," said KMU Chairperson Elmer Labog.
Labog lambasted Malacanang for its biased position towards the holding of rallies and demonstrations.
"After the successful people's rally at Ayala last July 13, Mrs. Arroyo said she will enforce the rule of law against those who want unrest in the streets. Obviously, she's referring to anti-Arroyo political forces and the mounting rallies nationwide demanding for her immediate resignation. She has no right to dismiss and belittle the people's growing clamor against her leadership. She is widely despised and unwanted because of her dishonesty, greed for power, involvement in corruption and many other brutal ways towards the people."
"While anti-riot police and other authorities are quick to block and disperse anti-Arroyo protests, the government is fully supporting pro-administration activities like the Rally for Peace and Unity today at Luneta. For the past weeks, the government disseminated taurpauline streamers with slogans like "Trabaho hindi gulo, Itigil ang destabilisasyon, sibilyang pagod, militar susugod among other slogans that aim to discredit the legitimate mounting protests against Arroyo," the labor leader said."
NCRPO Chief Vidal Querol went as far as saying that not too many people are attending anti-Arroyo rallies with his incredible and dumb crowd estimates. Some quarters from Malacanang brand 'Resign GMA' rallies as hakot or bayad (paid) rallies, but in fact, reliable information from pro-GMA ranks revealed that Malacanang, through local government officials loyal to Arroyo, shelled out millions of pesos only to convince many people to join the rallies at Luneta today.
In communities in Sampaloc, Manila, barangay captains are paid P2,000 and a sack of rice, barangay kagawads are given payment for jeepney rentals and a sack of rice while every person who will join the rally will receive P100, free lunch and snacks and free transportation."
"After putting the entire nation into deeper poverty with the weekly oil price hikes, low wages, unjust taxes and other anti-poor economic policies, Gloria is now using the poor people for her own advantage. We cannot blame those who are still blinded by her deceitful ways. Despite this, we are assured that protests aimed at unseating Arroyo will continue and intensify in the coming days. We are directing our sights to a bigger people's mobilization on July 25 as Gloria delivers her last State of the Nation Address," Labog concluded. ###
TAGAPAMANDILA NG TUNAY NA UNYONISMO
No. 63 Narra St. Bgy. Claro, Proj. 3 Quezon City
Telefax 421-0768, 421-0986
kilusangmayouno@gmail.com
NEWS RELEASE
July 16, 2005
Everything about Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is fake and fabricated, including the pro-administration peace and unity rallies today at the Quirino Grandstand. It does not reflect the genuine sentiments and demands of the majority of Filipinos calling for Arroyo's resignation.
However Mrs. Arroyo tries to feign public support by mobilizing local government units (LGUs), students of AMA Computer Schools and Bro. Mike Velarde's El Shaddai members, the hard truth remains – Filipinos want Arroyo out of Malacanang ASAP," said KMU Chairperson Elmer Labog.
Labog lambasted Malacanang for its biased position towards the holding of rallies and demonstrations.
"After the successful people's rally at Ayala last July 13, Mrs. Arroyo said she will enforce the rule of law against those who want unrest in the streets. Obviously, she's referring to anti-Arroyo political forces and the mounting rallies nationwide demanding for her immediate resignation. She has no right to dismiss and belittle the people's growing clamor against her leadership. She is widely despised and unwanted because of her dishonesty, greed for power, involvement in corruption and many other brutal ways towards the people."
"While anti-riot police and other authorities are quick to block and disperse anti-Arroyo protests, the government is fully supporting pro-administration activities like the Rally for Peace and Unity today at Luneta. For the past weeks, the government disseminated taurpauline streamers with slogans like "Trabaho hindi gulo, Itigil ang destabilisasyon, sibilyang pagod, militar susugod among other slogans that aim to discredit the legitimate mounting protests against Arroyo," the labor leader said."
NCRPO Chief Vidal Querol went as far as saying that not too many people are attending anti-Arroyo rallies with his incredible and dumb crowd estimates. Some quarters from Malacanang brand 'Resign GMA' rallies as hakot or bayad (paid) rallies, but in fact, reliable information from pro-GMA ranks revealed that Malacanang, through local government officials loyal to Arroyo, shelled out millions of pesos only to convince many people to join the rallies at Luneta today.
In communities in Sampaloc, Manila, barangay captains are paid P2,000 and a sack of rice, barangay kagawads are given payment for jeepney rentals and a sack of rice while every person who will join the rally will receive P100, free lunch and snacks and free transportation."
"After putting the entire nation into deeper poverty with the weekly oil price hikes, low wages, unjust taxes and other anti-poor economic policies, Gloria is now using the poor people for her own advantage. We cannot blame those who are still blinded by her deceitful ways. Despite this, we are assured that protests aimed at unseating Arroyo will continue and intensify in the coming days. We are directing our sights to a bigger people's mobilization on July 25 as Gloria delivers her last State of the Nation Address," Labog concluded. ###
Iisang Paninidigan, Sama-samang Paglaban
Hindi malulunasan ang kasalukuyang krisis pampulitika at pang-ekonomya ng bansa habang nananatili sa puwesto si Gloria Arroyo. Higit na nararapat na pagkaisahin ang buong sambayanan at patuloy na palakasin at palawakin panawagang kagyat na pagbaba sa pwesto ni Gloria Arroyo.
Sa pagdausdos na approval rating ni GMA at umiigting na pagkadiskontento ng mamamayan sa pamamalakad ng pamahalaan, sunod-sunod na nanawagan sa pagbibitiw ni Arroyo ang iba't ibang grupo. Tampok dito ang panawagan ng mga nagbitiw na miyembro ng gabinete at ng dating Pangulong Corazon Aquino. Patuloy na lumalaki ang bilang ng mga dumadalo sa mga kilos-protesta na nananawagan ng pagbaba ni GMA. Gayong matagal nang naninindigan at kumikilos ang mga Iskolar ng Bayan, marapat lamang na ang UP bilang pamantasan ng mamamayan ay tumindig at kumilos.
Kahapon ng umaga, pagkatapos ng matinding talakayan at diskusyon ay nakapagdesisyon na ang kaguruan na manawagan ng kagyat na pagbibitiw ni GMA. Nagkakaisa na ang tinig ng lahat ng sektor ng UP sa panawagang dapat umalis na si Arroyo sa Malacañang. Ayon sa University Council Statement: "We cannot afford to be led any further by a dishonest president who has shown no qualms about using the awesome powers of her office for purely personal interests."
Malinaw sa kanilang pahayag na kinikilala nilang hindi lehitimo ang pagiging pangulo ni GMA at tahasang paglabag sa kapasyahan ng mamamayan ang pag-upo nito sa puwesto. Kinilala din sa pahayag ang paggamit ni GMA sa puwesto nito para sa pagsusulong ng sariling interes. Hinding-hindi mapamumunuan ni GMA sa ganitong kalagayan ang bansa sa pag-ahon nito mula sa krisis pang-ekonomiya na kinakaharap nito ngayon.
Ngayong mayroon nang isang matibay na paninindigan at pingkakaisahan ang buong Unibersidad, nararapat lamang na buong lakas itong kumilos upang maalis si Arroyo sa Malacañang. Ito ang pananagutan ng bawat isang kabahagi ng unibersidad, ang paglingkuran ang sambayanan. Mahalaga ang pagkakaisa ng buong komunidad ng UP upang maabot ang higit na tagumpay. Muli tayong tinatawagan ng mamamayan na makiisa sa kanilang hangaring pagbabago.
Sa kabila ng sunod-sunod na mga pahayag at papatinding pagkilos ng mamamayan laban kay GMA, patuloy pa ring nagmamatigas si Gloria na manatili sa puwesto. Nakakabahala ang pahayag ni Arroyo na "I will defend democracy at all cost" na maaring mauwi sa pandarahas o maging sa pagdedeklara ng Martil Law upang supilin ang mga lehitimong panawagan ng mamamayan.
Pinatunayan ng kasaysayan na tanging sa sama-samang pagkilos lamang natin makakamit ang pagbaba ng isang pangulo, at pagsulong ng makabuluhang pagbabago. Sa mga panahon tulad ngayon, ang mga Iskolar at Guro ng Bayan ay nararapat na maging aktibong bahagi ng pagpapalakas ng kilusang-protesta upang pababain si Gloria.
Mula sa mayaman nating karanasan, natutunan natin na ang ating mga panawagan ay hindi mapagtatagumpayan sa simpleng pagpapalit na lamang ng mukha o pangalan ng may kapangyarihan. Kinakailangan na magkaroon ng mga batayang reporma patungo sa makabuluhang pagbabago na matagal ng hinihingi ng sambayanang Pilipino.
Kinakailangang magsagawa ng reporma sa pulitika at ekonomiya na magbibigay ng kaginhawaan sa mga mamamayan. Marapat na magkisa ang UP upang pangalagaan ang civilian supremacy at, higit sa lahat, ang interes ng sambayanan, at hindi ang mga personal na hangarin o ang interes ng dayuhan. Ito lamang ang nararapat at hinihinging pagbabago ng ating panahon.
Gloria alis d'yan, galit na ang mamamayan!
Dumalo sa University Convocation sa July 22.
Sumama sa SONA sa July 25.
Univerity Student Council (Diliman)
Sa pagdausdos na approval rating ni GMA at umiigting na pagkadiskontento ng mamamayan sa pamamalakad ng pamahalaan, sunod-sunod na nanawagan sa pagbibitiw ni Arroyo ang iba't ibang grupo. Tampok dito ang panawagan ng mga nagbitiw na miyembro ng gabinete at ng dating Pangulong Corazon Aquino. Patuloy na lumalaki ang bilang ng mga dumadalo sa mga kilos-protesta na nananawagan ng pagbaba ni GMA. Gayong matagal nang naninindigan at kumikilos ang mga Iskolar ng Bayan, marapat lamang na ang UP bilang pamantasan ng mamamayan ay tumindig at kumilos.
Kahapon ng umaga, pagkatapos ng matinding talakayan at diskusyon ay nakapagdesisyon na ang kaguruan na manawagan ng kagyat na pagbibitiw ni GMA. Nagkakaisa na ang tinig ng lahat ng sektor ng UP sa panawagang dapat umalis na si Arroyo sa Malacañang. Ayon sa University Council Statement: "We cannot afford to be led any further by a dishonest president who has shown no qualms about using the awesome powers of her office for purely personal interests."
Malinaw sa kanilang pahayag na kinikilala nilang hindi lehitimo ang pagiging pangulo ni GMA at tahasang paglabag sa kapasyahan ng mamamayan ang pag-upo nito sa puwesto. Kinilala din sa pahayag ang paggamit ni GMA sa puwesto nito para sa pagsusulong ng sariling interes. Hinding-hindi mapamumunuan ni GMA sa ganitong kalagayan ang bansa sa pag-ahon nito mula sa krisis pang-ekonomiya na kinakaharap nito ngayon.
Ngayong mayroon nang isang matibay na paninindigan at pingkakaisahan ang buong Unibersidad, nararapat lamang na buong lakas itong kumilos upang maalis si Arroyo sa Malacañang. Ito ang pananagutan ng bawat isang kabahagi ng unibersidad, ang paglingkuran ang sambayanan. Mahalaga ang pagkakaisa ng buong komunidad ng UP upang maabot ang higit na tagumpay. Muli tayong tinatawagan ng mamamayan na makiisa sa kanilang hangaring pagbabago.
Sa kabila ng sunod-sunod na mga pahayag at papatinding pagkilos ng mamamayan laban kay GMA, patuloy pa ring nagmamatigas si Gloria na manatili sa puwesto. Nakakabahala ang pahayag ni Arroyo na "I will defend democracy at all cost" na maaring mauwi sa pandarahas o maging sa pagdedeklara ng Martil Law upang supilin ang mga lehitimong panawagan ng mamamayan.
Pinatunayan ng kasaysayan na tanging sa sama-samang pagkilos lamang natin makakamit ang pagbaba ng isang pangulo, at pagsulong ng makabuluhang pagbabago. Sa mga panahon tulad ngayon, ang mga Iskolar at Guro ng Bayan ay nararapat na maging aktibong bahagi ng pagpapalakas ng kilusang-protesta upang pababain si Gloria.
Mula sa mayaman nating karanasan, natutunan natin na ang ating mga panawagan ay hindi mapagtatagumpayan sa simpleng pagpapalit na lamang ng mukha o pangalan ng may kapangyarihan. Kinakailangan na magkaroon ng mga batayang reporma patungo sa makabuluhang pagbabago na matagal ng hinihingi ng sambayanang Pilipino.
Kinakailangang magsagawa ng reporma sa pulitika at ekonomiya na magbibigay ng kaginhawaan sa mga mamamayan. Marapat na magkisa ang UP upang pangalagaan ang civilian supremacy at, higit sa lahat, ang interes ng sambayanan, at hindi ang mga personal na hangarin o ang interes ng dayuhan. Ito lamang ang nararapat at hinihinging pagbabago ng ating panahon.
Gloria alis d'yan, galit na ang mamamayan!
Dumalo sa University Convocation sa July 22.
Sumama sa SONA sa July 25.
Univerity Student Council (Diliman)
Friday, July 15, 2005
FOREIGN CREDITORS OR THE PEOPLE? ARROYO’S DILEMMA GROWS BY THE DAY
MEDIA RELEASE
IBON Foundation, Inc.,
3/F SCC Bldg 4427 Interior Old Sta Mesa, Manila, Philippines
Tel. (632) 713-2729, 713-2737 E-mail: media@ibon.orgJuly 14, 2005
The Finance Department’s knee-jerk reaction to the recent outlook downgrade imposed on the country by Fitch and Standard and Poor’s exposed the serious dilemma that President Arroyo and her economic managers face, according to independent think-tank IBON Foundation.
To assure foreign creditors that the government is determined to pursue fiscal reforms, assistant Finance Secretary Gil Beltran said that they may revive the proposal to impose a tax on text messaging. But the political situation does not allow for such ‘bitter pills’ as the demand for Arroyo’s resignation intensifies by the day.
Economic mismanagement plus the political crisis have brought Arroyo to a tight spot. With an economic program that heavily relies on foreign debt and capital, Arroyo pursued fiscal reforms designed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), ignored calls for a substantial wage hike, allowed oil pump prices to soar, etc.
Arroyo now wants to slow down with these policies, and may even entertain to reverse them, amid mass protests for her ouster, but this would displease foreign creditors and investors.
This dilemma shows that the Arroyo administration is no longer viable. She has long lost public support due to her anti-people policies and mismanagement of the economic and fiscal crises. Now indicators show that she is also losing the trust of foreign creditors and investors due to her handling of the political crisis.
The President may weather the present storm but it will never last as long the contradictions between her economic policies and the Filipino people’s interest remain. (end)
IBON Foundation, Inc.,
3/F SCC Bldg 4427 Interior Old Sta Mesa, Manila, Philippines
Tel. (632) 713-2729, 713-2737 E-mail: media@ibon.orgJuly 14, 2005
The Finance Department’s knee-jerk reaction to the recent outlook downgrade imposed on the country by Fitch and Standard and Poor’s exposed the serious dilemma that President Arroyo and her economic managers face, according to independent think-tank IBON Foundation.
To assure foreign creditors that the government is determined to pursue fiscal reforms, assistant Finance Secretary Gil Beltran said that they may revive the proposal to impose a tax on text messaging. But the political situation does not allow for such ‘bitter pills’ as the demand for Arroyo’s resignation intensifies by the day.
Economic mismanagement plus the political crisis have brought Arroyo to a tight spot. With an economic program that heavily relies on foreign debt and capital, Arroyo pursued fiscal reforms designed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), ignored calls for a substantial wage hike, allowed oil pump prices to soar, etc.
Arroyo now wants to slow down with these policies, and may even entertain to reverse them, amid mass protests for her ouster, but this would displease foreign creditors and investors.
This dilemma shows that the Arroyo administration is no longer viable. She has long lost public support due to her anti-people policies and mismanagement of the economic and fiscal crises. Now indicators show that she is also losing the trust of foreign creditors and investors due to her handling of the political crisis.
The President may weather the present storm but it will never last as long the contradictions between her economic policies and the Filipino people’s interest remain. (end)
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