Coalition calls for Gloria, Noli resignation, snap polls

BY ASHZEL HACHERO, MALAYA

A COALITION of civil society groups yesterday called for the resignation of President Arroyo and Vice President Noli de Castro and the holding of snap elections 60 days after they step down from office.

The Gloria-Noli Resign Movement said Arroyo and De Castro should resign to spare the country from further turmoil and violence. "Two more years of governance cannot but bring the country to dishonor, destitution and ruin," it said.

In a press conference in Makati, the group also presented a manifesto signed by at least 1,600 individuals including opposition Senators Aquilino Pimentel and Antonio Trillanes IV, two retired Army generals, lawyers, journalists and representatives of civil society groups.

The manifesto followed a series of scandals involving the Arroyo administration, including bribery, corruption, poll fraud, and human rights violations.

"The talk is no longer whether GMA should finish her term in 2010 but rather how to put an end to a graft-ridden and utterly immoral regime that no longer deserves to stay a day longer in office," said Linggoy Alcuaz, assistant coordinator of Oust Gloria Coalition.

Alcuaz said the coalition has discussed whether Arroyo alone should be called on to resign. But he said the coalition said De Castro is perceived to be incapable of running the country.

"Senator Kiko Pangilinan said that this is the ‘only constitutional solution to avert civil war’ and even former President Fidel Ramos himself publicly declared that De Castro is incapable of running the country despite a higher acceptance rating than the President. Noli too, must go, runs the public perception," he said.

He also said Arroyo and De Castro assumed office after an election characterized by massive cheating, as shown in the "Hello Garci" wiretapped recordings.

The group said De Castro was a "beneficiary" of that cheating and is to be considered Arroyo’s "silent partner in crime" because he has not denounced abuses and excesses of the Arroyo government.

Alcuaz said if Arroyo refuses to resign, the only remaining options are removal from office through impeachment or extra-constitutional means like a power grab.

"The point is, this government must go by all means." he said.

Alcuaz admitted getting Arroyo and De Castro to resign is not an easy task. He said only public pressure or the "pangs of moral conscience" will make Arroyo listen to the people.

"History tells us that no dictator or corrupt leader ever surrendered power so easily. We all know that no one is above the law except Gloria," he said.

The group said the impeachment complaint filed at the House was not a feasible means of removing Arroyo.

"Impeachment faces an uphill battle. We all know impeachment is a numbers game," said Argee Guevarra of the All Reform Movement of Lawyers organization.

Guevarra said the group is not targeting a specific number of signatories to the manifesto. The group also does not intend to send the manifesto to Malacañang.

"We are a diverse group of organizations and we all know prior to this there are several individual campaigns working for Arroyo’s ouster…this petition is not an appeal to Arroyo’s conscience but this is meant to awaken people," said Guevarra.

Other signatories were former Sen. Serge Osmeña, retired generals Romeo Dominguez and Raul Urgello, film producers Armida Siguion-Reyna and Bibeth Orteza, Bishop Leo Alconga of the Philippines for Jesus Movement, former ambassador Roy Señeres; lawyer Harry Roque of the University of the Philippines College of Law, former Transportation undersecretary Josefina Lichauco, lawyer Luis Sison of Bangon Pilipinas, Ramon Pedrosa of the Be Not Afraid Movement, Ronald Lumbao of the People’s Movement Against Poverty, Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist Conrado de Quiros, Malaya publisher Jake Macasaet, Malaya chief of reporters Ellen Tordesillas and Malaya news editor Minnie Advincula