Erap camp pooh-poohs ‘clamor’ for Arroyo Congress bid

10/31/2009

The camp of former President Joseph Estrada yesterday scoffed at the alleged “clamor” for President Arroyo to seek a congressional seat in her home province, saying “Malacañang is most likely day-dreaming or is living in a world of make-believe.”

The Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) noted that the Palace pronouncement is clearly “self-serving.”

“There is clearly no public clamor for Arroyo to run for any public office. Not even for Congress. It is a cheap attempt to lay the basis for Arroyo’s congressional bid. Amusingly, even the Deputy spokesman (Lorelei Fajardo) herself has not personally seen said public clamor, in spite of the fact that she has personally accompanied Arroyo on the latter’s numerous trips to Pampanga,” it said in a statement.

It stressed that in Estrada’s various sorties around the country through the “Lakbay Pasasalamat,” the United Opposition-PMP standard-bearer for the May 2010 presidential elections saw an “undeniable, universal distaste for Arroyo and her governance.”

“Malacañang’s pronouncement also highlights another possible attempt to change the Philippine Constitution to ensure Arroyo’s hold in power. What would then prevent the new Congress from railroading a change in the form of government and installing Arroyo as its head?” the PMP said.

“Worse, she can campaign for Congress while she is still the sitting president, and having at her disposal the vast resources of government,” it noted.

Militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), for its part, said Arroyo’s plan to run for Congress under the guise of public clamor only highlights her insensitivity to the wants and needs of the Filipino people.

“This plan of hers clearly does not inspire hope,” Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes stressed.

“Arroyo has suffered record low approval ratings over the past three years. The recent corruption scandals, economic crisis and government’s inadequate response to calamites have further eroded whatever little public approval is left, if any,” the militant group added.

Reyes said it believes Arroyo has not given up on her bid to buy protection once she loses her presidential immunity on June 30, 2010.

“This crude way of conditioning people to accept Arroyo’s bid to stay in public office carries serious implications. It shows that she is going to do everything to buy herself some immunity or protection from suit once she is no longer President. Seeking a congressional seat appears to be the main tact in evading accountability for her misdeeds during her presidency,” he added.

“Arroyo in Congress means no accountability for her record of corruption, electoral fraud, human rights abuses and sell-out of national interests. For this reason, we should really reject her congressional bid,” he added.

Bayan had warned that Arroyo will do everything to avoid the fate suffered by Peru’s former President Alberto Fujimori who was extradited from Japan, stood trial in Peru and was only recently convicted of human rights abuses and corruption.

Fajardo on Thursday said there is a clamor for the President to run as representative of Pampanga’s 2nd district.

“Yes, there is a clamor for her to run especially in Lubao,” she added, referring to Arroyo’s hometown.

Arroyo again made her presence felt in her home province yesterday, motoring to five other barangays to inspect her past projects.

From Barangay Sta. Filomena, where she attended the climate change meeting and the “Common Tao Day” celebration at the Guagua East Central School, her convoy went to Barangay Sta. Rafael for an inspection of the requested barangay road improvement project, then to the Guagua Municipal Market road in Barangay Sto. Nino for an inspection of the ongoing construction of the P20-million road.

The President also inspected the requested barangay road improvement of Barangay San Nicolas I and then the P110-million barangay interior pathway in Barangay San Juan Bautista.

Her last stop was the inspection of the requested reinforced concrete deck gilder bridge connecting barangay Lambac to Barangya Ebus. Gerry Baldo with PNA

Congress. It is a cheap attempt to lay the basis for Arroyo’s congressional bid. Amusingly, even the Deputy spokesman (Lorelei Fajardo) herself has not personally seen said public clamor, in spite of the fact that she has personally accompanied Arroyo on the latter’s numerous trips to Pampanga,” it said in a statement.

It stressed that in Estrada’s various sorties around the country through the “Lakbay Pasasalamat,” the United Opposition-PMP standard-bearer for the May 2010 presidential elections saw an “undeniable, universal distaste for Arroyo and her governance.”

“Malacañang’s pronouncement also highlights another possible attempt to change the Philippine Constitution to ensure Arroyo’s hold in power. What would then prevent the new Congress from railroading a change in the form of government and installing Arroyo as its head?” the PMP said.

“Worse, she can campaign for Congress while she is still the sitting president, and having at her disposal the vast resources of government,” it noted.

Militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), for its part, said Arroyo’s plan to run for Congress under the guise of public clamor only highlights her insensitivity to the wants and needs of the Filipino people.

“This plan of hers clearly does not inspire hope,” Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes stressed.

“Arroyo has suffered record low approval ratings over the past three years. The recent corruption scandals, economic crisis and government’s inadequate response to calamites have further eroded whatever little public approval is left, if any,” the militant group added.

Reyes said it believes Arroyo has not given up on her bid to buy protection once she loses her presidential immunity on June 30, 2010.

“This crude way of conditioning people to accept Arroyo’s bid to stay in public office carries serious implications. It shows that she is going to do everything to buy herself some immunity or protection from suit once she is no longer President. Seeking a congressional seat appears to be the main tact in evading accountability for her misdeeds during her presidency,” he added.

“Arroyo in Congress means no accountability for her record of corruption, electoral fraud, human rights abuses and sell-out of national interests. For this reason, we should really reject her congressional bid,” he added.

Bayan had warned that Arroyo will do everything to avoid the fate suffered by Peru’s former President Alberto Fujimori who was extradited from Japan, stood trial in Peru and was only recently convicted of human rights abuses and corruption.

Fajardo on Thursday said there is a clamor for the President to run as representative of Pampanga’s 2nd district.

“Yes, there is a clamor for her to run especially in Lubao,” she added, referring to Arroyo’s hometown.

Arroyo again made her presence felt in her home province yesterday, motoring to five other barangays to inspect her past projects.

From Barangay Sta. Filomena, where she attended the climate change meeting and the “Common Tao Day” celebration at the Guagua East Central School, her convoy went to Barangay Sta. Rafael for an inspection of the requested barangay road improvement project, then to the Guagua Municipal Market road in Barangay Sto. Nino for an inspection of the ongoing construction of the P20-million road.

The President also inspected the requested barangay road improvement of Barangay San Nicolas I and then the P110-million barangay interior pathway in Barangay San Juan Bautista.

Her last stop was the inspection of the requested reinforced concrete deck gilder bridge connecting barangay Lambac to Barangya Ebus.

Gerry Baldo with PNA

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