Snap polls pressed

By Thea Alberto, INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Vice President Noli de Castro should resign and a snap election be called in 60 days, incumbent political, former military, and media personalities declared in a manifesto they released Wednesday.

Among those who signed were Senate Minority Floor Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr.; Senator Antonio Trillanes IV; Former senator Serge Osmeña, Lieutenant General Romeo Dominguez, former chief of the Northern Luzon Command of the Armed Forces; Renato Constantino Jr; film producers Armida Siguion-Reyna and Bibeth Orteza; Bishop Leo Alconga of the Philippines for Jesus Movement; former ambassador Roy Señeres; columnists Conrado de Quiros (Philippine Daily Inquirer), Ellen Tordesillas (Malaya); and lawyer Harry Roque of the University of the Philippines-College of Law.

The group said a snap elections was the most viable option to “re-establish democracy.”
The manifesto was issued following a series of scandals involving the administration, which include allegations of bribery, corruption, poll fraud, and human rights violations, among others.

The manifesto also called on the public to sign an online petition at www.petitiononline.com/snap08.

The manifesto stated that although the Chief Justice could lead a “caretaker government” should Arroyo and De Castro leave their posts, it would still be “a patently erroneous” option.
"The most logical and historically possible option is the call for GMA [Arroyo’s initials] and Noli De Castro to resign...[because] it passes the test of constitutionality," according to the manifesto.
"The most logical and historically possible option is the call for GMA [Arroyo’s initial] and Noli De Castro to resign...[because] it passes the test of constitutionality," according to the manifesto.
In a press conference at the Manila Polo Club, Makati City, the groups behind the manifesto also said the current impeachment complaint filed at the House of Representatives was not a feasible way to remove Arroyo from the presidency.

"We recognize any and all efforts to oust the present administration but, based on our frank assessment, impeachment faces an uphill battle. We all know impeachment is a numbers game," said Argee Guevarra of the All Reform Movement of Lawyers organization, adding that the current complaint was a weak one.

And while the petition seeks many signatories, the group clarified they do not have a target number and that they do not intend to submit the manifesto the Office of the President or Office of the Vice-president.

"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.

Most of the convenors are known allies of former president Joseph Estrada who said he had no hand in the petition. Among them are Rez Cortez, head of the National Council of Concerned Volunteers; Jose “Linggoy” Alcuaz, assistant director of the Oust Gloria Coalition, and Ver Eustaquio of the Union of the Masses for Democracy and Justice..
Since Estrada was granted executive clemency last October 25, he has backed away from calls for Arroyo’s ouster.

Eustaquio said he was confident Estrada will always side with the masses, even if he has distanced himself from calls for Arroyo's resignation."We are not speaking in behalf of Erap [Estrada’s nickname] but when Erap said his fight against poverty has to continue, we knew he would never leave us, he would never leave the masses," Eustaquio said.