Malacanang is happy. See statement of Bunye below.
Influential Philippine Roman Catholic bishops slammed endemic government corruption Tuesday but stopped short of urging President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to resign.
The statement by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, issued after a 10-hour emergency meeting, was a small victory for Mrs Arroyo’s efforts to serve out the last two years of her term amid widespread calls for her to step down.
Following are two first-person-accounts of last Thursday’s standoff. One is mine and the other is by Azhel Hachero, Malaya’s reporter covering Makati.
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GMA news report on trip to Bicutan
By Ellen Tordesillas
Thursday morning, the Makati City hall premises were swarming with military personnel. Aside from the usual security escorts of the Magdalo officers, there were those from Camp Capinpin in Tanay who brought down Brig. Gen. Danny Lim, who was to testify on the agreement forged between Malacañang’s representatives and the Oakwood mutineers in July 2003.
(Photo by Philip Duquitan of Malaya)
I just came from the very exciting press con of House Speaker Jose de Venecia at Dusit Hotel where they tried to present their face-saving alternative: Constitutional Convention.
Instead, activist Renato Constantino,Jr. slammed to their faces.
RC, in an all black attire, stole the show when after JDV read his prepared statement, he stood up and told the congressmen to their faces:
“I would like to say to you all (that) I am completely appalled by your collective gall. You’re totally bereft of principle that’s why you’re without shame,” .
Photos of rally at Makati this afternoon. The rally was staged without a permit. It was peaceful and lasted for about three hours.
Former UP President Dodong Nemenzo, former Vice President Teofisto Guingona, Jimmy Regalario, Amina Razul, former Senate President Ernie Maceda, and Roy Señeres.
Last Friday, former AFP Chief of Staff Fortunato Abat and former Budget Secretary Salvador Enriquez held a press conference at the Café Roma in Manila Hotel. The two are the primemovers of the Christian Nationalist Union which calls for the ouster of Gloria Arroyo and the setting up of a new government to be run by a council.
In past interviews, Abat had been quoted as advocating the establishment of a junta.
Last Friday, Abat denied ever having advocated for a junta.
Enriquez , on the other hand, used a new term for the alternative they were offering:constitutional protective option.
The day before, Inquirer came out with a story on the U.S. Embassy report linking former President Ramos, former National Security Adviser Jose Almonte,Abat and Enriquez to a plot to oust Arroyo.
Abat denied working with Ramos saying that the last time they talked was in 2001 during Edsa II. Enriquez answer was more intriguing: “I do not know that there is such a plan.” So, could there be a plan he doesn’t know?
What was surprising was Abat’s criticism of protest actions against Arroyo. He said “when rallies are dispersed, they convey defeat. They are symbols of defeat. They strengthen GMA.”
Enriquez, made a revealing remark: “Had GMA fell earlier ( when there is no ready alternative yet) who would benefit?
Those remarks reveal the closeness of their position with FVR who has also shunned joining rallies and who said that he supports GMA because “there is no alternative.”
Abat and Enriquez said they had just come from Washington D.C. where they met officials (they decline to reveal the identities of people they met) who told them that House Speaker Jose de Venecia had also been there lobbying for support for his Cha-Cha.
Talking with Abat and Enriquez strengthens my suspicion that they are part of FVR’s network. They shake GMA to compel her to depend on FVR. But it seems they have met their match in GMA who is as wily and as unprincipled as their principal.
Last Oct. 24, 2005, I wrote in Malaya about FVR’s agenda:
I find the justification of former President Ramos of his support for Gloria Arroyo unprincipled.
In a speech before three major business groups last week, former President Ramos explained his support for Gloria Arroyo: “If I have been supportive of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, it is only secondary and incidental since there is no other better alternative right now.”
The problem with Ramos is that he wants to be the alternative.