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This is Gerry Albert Corpuz and this is my life and political journey to the world of class struggle and class emancipation

Militants told ex-President Ramos: Get a life

Militants told ex-President Ramos: Get a life
“ God Save the Queen in the mode of Chacha, an indecent proposal”- critics say

Rabid critics of embattled President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Sunday berated former President Fidel V. Ramos over his patented formula of Charter Change to resolve the current political crisis facing the Macapagal-Arroyo administration.

In a press statement, the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), one of the groups calling for the ouster of President Arroyo and outright rejection urged the former President to quit from intervening in the political affairs of the country and stop banking on the issue to revive a past political career.

“ Get a life,” advised Pamalakaya information officer Gerry Albert Corpuz in a press statement. The group’s spokesperson further added: “ The former President is making a career out of passing himself as a kingmaker and premiere star of Charter Change and bogus movement to shift the country’s presidential form of government to parliamentary.”

Ex-President Ramos over the weekend said the continued political bickering in the country has taken a heavier toll on the country than the shift in the form of government through amending the 1987 Constitution.  The former President also said that those who oppose Chacha are doing a great disservice to the country.

But Pamalakaya’s Corpuz said Ramos charter change was a Jurassic political prescription aimed at consolidating the political stronghold of political warlords allied with President Arroyo, perpetuate Ms Arroyo to power until 2010 as the country’s prime minister sharing powers with him and House Speaker Jose de Venecia and allow transnational monopoly clients of Malacañang to ravage the country’s national sovereignty and patrimony.

“ It is like God Save the Queen in the mode of Charter Change. It is an indecent proposal coming from a has-been and indecent politician”, Corpuz said. “ This political escapade of the self-proclaimed kingmaker must be thrown out of the national scene”, the group’s spokesperson added.

Ramos has said that his proposal would be a face-saving way for Ms Arroyo to leave office in the middle of political crisis sparked by scandals of corruption and Gloriagate tape. However, the former President Ramos admitted that it was still unclear whether Ms Arroyo would subscribe to his proposal, although some political analysts observed that Ms Arroyo’s speech in her State of the Nation Address (Sona) opening the debate for Charter Change was all Ramos’ idea on charter change.

The former President said Ms Arroyo currently embroiled in the twin scandal of alleged jueteng payola and Gloriagate tape should be allowed to run for prime minister because for now the Chief Executive although facing widespread demand for her step down remains innocent of any charges until proven otherwise.

“ Former Pres. Ramos has been acting as if he is the de facto President in Malacañang and Ms Arroyo as his running figurehead. The political formula of Mr. Ramos for President Arroyo is totally unacceptable to the 84 million Filipinos”, Corpuz said.

The Pamalakaya spokesperson reminded ex-President Ramos that it not in the collective interest of the Filipino people to see President Arroyo stay in Malacañang either as President or Prime Minister until 2010 and beyond. Pamalakaya said only the transitional council touted to replace the Macapagal-Arroyo administration is in the position to take effect economic and political reforms in the country and not the present occupants in Malacañang. #

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 06:18 | link | comments (1) |

President Arroyo asked: Did the 14 Comelec directors meet in your La Vista home on May 6, 2004?

President Arroyo asked: Did the 14 Comelec directors

meet in your La Vista home on May 6, 2004?

Did they or did not they? 

Staunch critics of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Saturday asked the embattled Chief Executive to honestly answer alleged reports that on May 6, 2004 , 14 regional directors of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) met at the Arroyos’ residence in La Vista subdivision in Quezon City to receive P 2 million each from Lilia Pineda, wife of Pampanga-based jueteng lord Bong Pineda, an alleged supporter of Ms Arroyo in the last May 10 ,2004 elections.

The jueteng payoff was allegedly facilitated by controversial Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano and was witnessed by Ms Arroyo during the clandestine meeting at the Arroyos’ La Vista residence in Quezon City.

“ It is answerable by yes or no. But Ms Arroyo has no option but to tell the truth and nothing but the truth”, said the militant fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) in a press statement.

The group added: “ Of course we don’t want a second serving of I am sorry due to lapse in judgment from Ms Arroyo. We better tell her to go to hell.”

Based on an account given to the Inquirer, Garcillano was there along with the 14 regional directors of the Comelec and was the one allegedly calling the shots when the poll body’s directors met at the Arroyo residence four days before the May 10, 2004 elections.

A source said the Comelec regional directors started arriving at 4 p.m and stayed at 10 p.m where they were treated by Ms Arroyo with “ bacalao and steak” for dinner. The source also said the witness also quoted Ms Arroyo telling election officials “ kayo na ang bahala”  ( I leave it all in your hands).

Presidential Management Staff (PMS) Chief Rigoberto Tiglao said the report was a hogwash adding that the opposition calling for the resignation of President Arroyo was getting  less and less imaginative in pursuing its’ objective to remove the embattled Executive Chief from power.

But Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap asserted that the detailed and vivid description of the May 6, 2004 story was not hogwash or a product of less imaginative mind but a blow-by-blow account of what was really happening inside the Arroyos political waterhole in La Vista.

 “ We don’t think the story about the 14 regional directors of Comelec having a clandestine meeting at the Arroyos’ La Vista hide out was a pulp political fiction. Based on the detailed account and presentation by the source of the news story, we conclude that the story true”, Hicap said.

Pamalakaya urged all the Senate committees in-charge of the jueteng gate investigation to immediately summon the 14 Comelec regional directors next week and compel them to tell the truth before the committees and the public closely monitoring the development on the jueteng payola scandal.

“ Let them face the nation and tell the people exactly what were they doing in La Vista in the afternoon till late evening of May 6, 2004. For their information the Arroyos’ La Vista residence in Quezon City is not an extension branch of the Comelec national office in Intramuros, Manila”, the militant group added. #

 

 

 

 

 

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 02:12 | link | comments |

“ Ultimate garbage”, says Leftist group on ex-UP president book on Chacha

Charter Change for Good Governance
“ Ultimate garbage”, says Leftist group
 on ex-UP president book on Chacha

This was the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), one of the groups calling for the ouster of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo critics described the book “ Charter Change for Good Governance” authored by former University of the Philippines (UP) president Jose Abueva.

“ It’s the ultimate garbage of the millennium. It is not your usual book of knowledge. In form and in substance, the book is a written propaganda material aim at defending the corrupt and fraud-vaulted regime in Malacañang,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

Hicap added: “ The book appears like a Palace-hatched propaganda material that would help the ring leaders of the Macapagal-Arroyo clique to divert public attention from the twin scandal of jueteng payoffs and Gloriagate tape to the recycled political debate on Chacha.”

Abueva, the president’s choice to head the consultative constitutional commission on charter change, who also serve as the chairman of the Citizen’s Movement for Federal Philippines (CMFP) yesterday said President Arroyo could finish her term until 2010 as the prime minister and head of the federal state of the proposed parliamentary form of government.

In his book, the former UP president said Ms Arroyo- who has been elected to a six-year term ending in 2010 as head of the government and head of the state shall serve as the first Prime Minister of the federal government until 2010.  Abueva said Mrs. Arroyo as prime minister will be assisted by Deputy Prime Minister to be elected by the new parliament.

“ The former UP president is either missing the point or he is just performing his role to the hilt as the newest entry in Ms Arroyo’s latest batch of political apologists. To set the record straight the majority of the Filipino people want to Ms Arroyo to step down on or before the end of the year and not to keep her as Prime Minister until 2010,” Hicap said.

The militant leader said the Filipino people seek the resignation or removal of President Arroyo either through voluntary resignation, impeachment and extra-constitutional because Arroyo’s ouster from Malacañang is the first vital element and requirement before desired economic, political and electoral reforms take place.

 “ Abueva, the new town crier of Malacañang and Ms Arroyo’s inner circle is trumpeting something that is Jurassic as the rotten leadership of Macapagal-Arroyo. His illogical and immoral crusade for Arroyo’s prime ministership will not merit the support of the people,” Hicap added.

The former UP president said he gave Ms Arroyo a copy his book two or three weeks ago. Yesterday, Bukidnon Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri, a staunch ally of President Arroyo distributed 50 copies of the book during the launching Movement for Federal Philippines at the Batasan Pambansa Complex in Quezon City.

Abueva said he intends to sell 300 copies to House Speaker Jose de Venecia and 100 copies to Senate President Franklin Drilon.  In his book, the ex-UP president said the consultative commission on Charter Change shall be comprised of at least 40 experts who would prepare a package of reform of proposals.

According to Abueva’s book, the President will appoint members of the commission in July or August 2005. By January next year, Congress should call either the Constitutional Convention or Constituent Assembly for the charter change deliberation.

 In March 2006, the President should recommend the commission’s proposals and by September 30, 2006, the convention or the constituent assembly should have completed its work on Charter Change.  The new charter will be submitted to a plebiscite on January 2007, four months ahead of the scheduled May 2007 elections.  #

 

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 03:42 | link | comments |

Leftist group hits actor Aga Mulach for mouthing bad words against anti-GMA rallies

Leftist group hits actor Aga Mulach for
mouthing bad words against anti-GMA rallies

“ Good actor, but politically immature and closet pro-GMA apologist”,  says Pamalakaya information chief

“ One of the finest actors in Philippine cinema, but politically immature and a closet pro-GMA apologist”, says Gerry Albert Corpuz, information chief of the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on movie and TV personality Aga Mulach when he read a recent interview conducted by Ms Nini Valera of the Philippine Daily Inquirer with the actor, saying that the multi-awarded actor had enough with protests against the government.

Pamalakaya’s Corpuz said Mulach’s coming-out party against anti-government rallies symbolizes the actor’s political immaturity and political submission to the illegitimate, immoral, anti-people and bogus rule of President Arroyo who is currently embroiled in the twin scandal involving jueteng payola payoffs and the Gloriagate tape.

“ He is a good actor, but he is poor student of history, lacks political sense and perennial victim of  the Macapagal-Arroyo black propaganda gang in Malacañang”, he added.

Last Monday, while watching President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) during a press conference, Mulach, speaking in Filipino bared that he was saddened by the turn of events in the country. He said before he left London, there were already rallies in the streets. “ When will this end? Nakakasawa na,” the actor said.

The actor now married to former Bb. Pilipinas Universe Charlene Gonzales during the press conference after his two week stint in the British capital together with the cast of his sitcom Ok Fine Whatever aired at ABS-CBN 2 said,” It has been like this for as long as I can recall. My God! It’s now 2005. Please stop this. We’re not getting any younger. That’s why I got irritated with the people holding rallies. It’s as if they have nothing to do. They can no longer fool us by saying they represent the masses. They are just a few thousands on the streets compared with the millions who just want to go on their lives.”

Mulach further said that rallies were destroying the country where his kids were born and raised. The actor said before he had usually no strong political opinions, but now he is aware that the country is on a downward spin.

But Pamalakaya’s Corpuz, a self-confessed fan of Mulach who admired the actor for his A-1 performances in Mario J. de los Reyes youth oriented movie Bagets 1, Miguelito:  Ang Batang Rebelde directed by the late Lino Brocka and Sana Maulit Muli  directed by Olivia Lamasan for Star Cinema, said that Mulach this time turned in a very dismal performance for asking the broad anti-Gloria movement to stop anti-GMA rallies because the people want to get on with their lives.

“ It is so arrogant of this actor to tell the people what they must do with their lives”, he said.  “ Why not castigate Ms Arroyo for destroying the lives of 84 million Filipinos  and for stealing their the people’s mandate in last year’s elections? Why took the offensive against the people’s will at the behest and interest of the ruling Macapagal-Arroyo syndicate in Malacañang?,” Corpuz said.

 “ To set the record straight, the people want to get on with their lives starting with their movement to remove Ms Arroyo from power”, the group’s information chief added. #

 

 

 

 

 

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 03:40 | link | comments (4) |

“ God Save the Queen in the mode of Chacha, an indecent proposal”- critics say

Leftist group assails FVR pitch for Gloria to run as prime minister

“ God Save the Queen in the mode of Chacha, an indecent proposal”- critics say

 

Rabid critics of embattled President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Thursday berated one of its’ staunch allies former President Fidel V. Ramos over the latter’s proposal to allow Ms Arroyo to run for prime minister under the new parliamentary system which he and the president had suggested as viable option to resolve the current political crisis.

In a press statement, the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), one of the groups calling for the ouster of President Arroyo dismissed the proposal as “ illusory, highly inflammatory and grossly detestable”.

“ It is like God Save the Queen in the mode of Charter Change. It is an indecent proposal coming from a has-been and indecent politician”, said Pamalakaya information officer Gerry Albert Corpuz. “ This political escapade of the self-proclaimed kingmaker must be thrown out of the national scene”, the group’s spokesperson added.

In a press conference shortly after his arrival in Kuala Lumpur, Ramos reiterated his position that a shift from presidential to parliamentary would be the best solution to resolve the ongoing political crisis in the country. 

Ramos has said that his proposal would be a face-saving way for Ms Arroyo to leave office in the middle of political crisis sparked by scandals of corruption and Gloriagate tape. However, the former President Ramos admitted that it was still unclear whether Ms Arroyo would subscribe to his proposal, although some political analysts observed that Ms Arroyo’s speech in her State of the Nation Address (Sona) opening the debate for Charter Change was all Ramos’ idea on charter change.

The former President said Ms Arroyo currently embroiled in the twin scandal of alleged jueteng payola and Gloriagate tape should be allowed to run for prime minister because for now the Chief Executive although facing widespread demand for her step down remains innocent of any charges until proven otherwise.

“ Former Pres. Ramos has been acting as if he is the de facto President in Malacañang and Ms Arroyo as his running figurehead. The political formula of Mr. Ramos for President Arroyo is totally unacceptable to  84 million Filipinos”, Corpuz said.

The Pamalakaya spokesperson reminded ex-President Ramos that it not in the collective interest of the Filipino people to see President Arroyo stay in Malacañang either as President or Prime Minister until 2005 and beyond.

“ Pres. Arroyo is a deadman walking waiting for her final death with the political deathbed. The great majority are working hard to expel her and Vice-President Noli de Castro and they would not subscribe to any move that would cannibalize the already mangled 18-year old charter for the sake of the Arroyo-de Castro tandem”, Corpuz stressed.

Pamalakaya said only the transitional council touted to replace the Macapagal-Arroyo administration is in the position to take effect economic and political reforms in the country and not the present occupants in Malacañang. #

 

 

 

 

 

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 10:12 | link | comments |

Pamalakaya eyes Palace beat reporters ‘ boycott of Arroyo media briefings

 

Leftist group sees de facto repression of press

freedom in Palace over disappointing treatment of reporters

Pamalakaya eyes Palace beat reporters ‘ boycott
 of Arroyo media briefings

The left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Thursday urged members of Malacañang Press Corps and the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) to boycott the next press conference of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo after the disappointing treatment they received from Malacañang in connection with Mrs. Arroyo’s first press conference after weeks making herself scarce with members of the press.

In a press statement, Pamalakaya information officer Gerry Albert Corpuz said Palace-based reporters and members of the international press should boycott the coverage of President Arroyo’s next media briefings inside the Palace to teach the fake president a lesson she won’t forget in her entire political career as a cheating politician.

“ The media should teach her a lesson. What she did yesterday was an open declaration of war against members of the press and a sinister attempt to curtail press freedom in its subtle, undeclared and de facto form”, Corpuz said.

“ President Arroyo and members of Malacañang’s dirty tricks department want to pressure media and force them to quit from reporting unsavory and further damaging news to the bogus presidency. This could be the reason why Mrs. Arroyo had this trial balloon yesterday”, Corpuz further said.

Members of Palace press corps were reportedly disappointed that only a few of them were allowed to ask questions at yesterday’s press conference, their first with President Arroyo after two months of making herself unavailable to Palace beat reporters.

The ten reporters who were called to ask questions to President Arroyo came from the government-run NBN-4 and Radyo ng Bayan,  radio stations dzRH, dzMM  and Bombo Radyo, Pilipino Star, Remate and broadsheets Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin and Manila Standard.

Pamalakaya said NBN-4 and Radyo ng Bayan are state-owned media corporations, owners of  Philippine Star and Pilipino Star are identified supporters of President Arroyo, while Remate, a daily tabloid is owned by Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr., a staunch ally of President Arroyo.

The Palace reporters complained that only 10 of them, mostly from government-owned media outlets were allowed to raise questions, which were previously screened and approved by Malacañang. They said questions about Hello Garci tapes, jueteng payoffs and the planned impeachment case against Mrs. Arroyo were not allowed to be asked during the President’s press conference.

On the same day, FOCAP reporters were also prevented from attending the president’s press conference because it was an exclusive media affair with the Malacañang-based reporters. Yesterday’s media happening inside Malacañang triggered complaints from members of national and foreign media.

“ What is supposed to be a no-holds bar tête-à-tête with Mrs. Arroyo turned into another political side trip with Mrs. Arroyo in accordance with the public relations campaign of President Arroyo for political makeover”, Corpuz said. #

 

 

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 10:10 | link | comments (1) |

Pamalakaya hits TUCP for backing Charter Change

Pamalakaya hits TUCP for backing Charter Change

“Yellow union betrays class interest in favor of class enemy”- Critics

The leftist fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), a staunch ally of the leftist labor alliance Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) on Wednesday assailed the moderate Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) for endorsing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s move to amend the 1987 Constitution through Charter Change.

The TUCP, a perennial rival of the militant KMU on Monday issued a press statement backing President Arroyo’s call the change the political system by changing the charter through Constituent Assembly. The group’s chair Alex Aguilar hoped that the discussion on Chacha would proceed hand-in-hand with programs seeking to improve the lives of the poor, particularly the working class.

Aguilar said the current political system results in many gridlocks in decision-making, breeds patronage politics and corruption in the government.  The TUCP labor leader said Chacha is the best way to introduce economic and political reforms.

But Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said TUCP was merely helping Mrs. Arroyo to repackage the recycled Charter Change to divert the public attention away from the twin scandal of jueteng payoffs and Gloriagate tapes and the widespread demand for President Arroyo to step down from Malacañang.

“ This Malacañang-backed labor group which was mentioned in the Hello Garci tape as one of the favored party list groups of Mrs. Arroyo is exploiting old political jargons like economic and political reforms not to uplift the lives of poor workers but to deodorize Mrs. Arroyo’s Chacha to help the cheating President escape the call of the times for her step down”, Hicap asserted.

The militant leader dismissed the TUCP call for workers to support Mrs. Arroyo’s Chacha as betrayal of workers’ interest in favor of class enemy. “ What do you expect from an opportunist labor group like TUCP? Nothing but politics of opportunism,” Hicap said, saying the TUCP is a labor organization established to defend every ruling syndicate in Malacañang and act as fulltime apologist of status quo.

Aside from diverting the issues hounding the presidency, Pamalakaya said President Arroyo opened the debate for Charter Change to convince the US government that she is still the Washington’s most reliable puppet in the country among the present batch of pretenders to the presidential throne.

“ Mrs. Arroyo endorsed Chacha to tell her American master that she is capable to rule and execute Washington’s premier project in the country, which is Chacha. The TUCP for its part, merely certified Arroyo’s claim to fame that she is still the undisputed US puppet at this point in time by endorsing the GMA’s game plan on Chacha”, Pamalakaya said.

The militant group said it is public knowledge that the US government is the main political power behind past and present moves to amend the 1987 Constitution to make it friendlier and accommodating to US economic, military and political interests in the country.

Pamalakaya said the US had been very obsessed to change the 18 year old charter since 1997, when it was introduced to the national scene by former President Fidel V. Ramos. The militant group said President Arroyo and her shenanigans in the TUCP are conspiring to get off the hook the embattled Chief Executive currently embroiled in the jueteng payola scandal and Gloriagate tape.

“ Please allow us to remind White House, Malacañang and the Gloria’s old –schooled boys in the TUCP that Mrs. Arroyo’s ouster from power is non-negotiable and that the Filipino people are ready to strike anytime to re-stage another popular uprising in the tradition of People Power 1 and People 2 to unseat a criminal, anti-people and puppet president”, the group said.  #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 05:00 | link | comments (6) |

GMA swindles CBCP, critics say

Charter Change should convince bishops of Arroyo’s cruel intentions

GMA swindles CBCP, critics say

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo swindled 120 Roman Catholic Bishops of the influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) when she endorsed the debate on Charter Change during her State of the Nation Address (Sona) last Monday.

The assessment was presented today by the leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) a day after Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales and Lingayen Archbishop Oscar Cruz expressed deep reservations to President Arroyo’s planned to amend the 18-year old charter through Constituent Assembly.

“ The CBCP in its July 10 statement were asking President Arroyo to tell the truth and take responsibility and accountability to the alleged crimes of corruption and election fraud being charged against her person and presidency. The bishopsn did not ask her to dance the Chacha. Obviously, she swindled the bishops”, said Pamalakaya information officer Gerry Albert Corpuz in a press statement.

Archbishop Rosales said compared Chacha to building a new house without driving away the old inhabitants. “ Your are improving the house but not the character of the people”, the influential Catholic leader said.

Archbishop Cruz of Lingayen, Pangasinan described the President’s move to change the 1987 Constitution as a squid tactic meant to divert public attention from mounting calls for Mrs. Arroyo to step down.  “ Such tactic is too shallow to be taken seriously”, Cruz said, adding that the President cannot appear in public that the problem is in the system of government and not her.

 Bro. Manuel de Leon, superior of the Marist Brothers of the Philippines said those who defend the president are the very ones who undermine the credibility and authority of Office of the President.

“ This open and brazen display of cruel intentions among Mrs. Arroyo and her cohorts in Malacañang should convince the 120 bishops of CBCP to say enough of Gloria and it is time for her to step down. This blatant assault on CBCP’s gospel for truth, transparency and accountability by Mrs. Arroyo merits the church people’s defiance against Gloria”, Corpuz said.

The group’s spokesperson said Malacañang took the CBCP leadership to a roller coaster ride and well-staged political roadshow when President Arroyo promised the bishop that she would face the consequences of talking to an election official during the May 10, 2004 presidential elections.

Pamalakaya’s Corpuz predicted that the move of President Arroyo to amend the 1987 Constitution for her own political survival and escape her accountabilities to the people might push the CBCP to declare ‘holy war’ against her illegitimate, bogus and anti-people presidency.

“ As far as we know, the CBCP will not tolerate Mrs. Arroyo’s dirty politics and campaign of lies and deception just to cling to power. One day, the 120 bishops of the CBCP would enter to the political and moral arena again to tell the people of this 84 million Filipinos and to the whole world that President Arroyo must go”, he added. #

 

 

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 04:58 | link | comments (1) |

VP de Castro called a political starlet

VP de Castro called a political starlet

Militants told Noli: “ We are asking you to step down not for impact but because you are Arroyo’s close partner in crime” 

 

The leftist fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Tuesday berated Vice-President Noli de Castro for saying that those protesting in the streets calling too for his resignation were doing it for the sake of political impact.

 

“ Thick face. He is nothing but a political starlet who conspired with the criminal and cheating president of the Republic to assume the vice-presidency in equally fraudulent mean like what Mrs. Arroyo did to clinch the presidency in last year’s elections”, said Pamalakaya information officer Gerry Albert Corpuz in a press statement.

 

When informed about that the 80,000 people protesting in President’s State of the Nation Address yesterday were also demanding for his resignation, de Castro said this was expected from the radical opposition. “ Siyempre kailangan nilang sabihin iyon para may dating  (They have to say this so there’s impact}”, VP de Castro said.

 

“ What impact VP de Castro is talking about? This political animal is as desperate and as arrogant like Mrs. Arroyo. We are not asking for impact, what we are saying is that he too should step down because he is a close partner in crime of the cheating president and he stole his victory too in the last May 10, 2004 elections, period, period, period”, Corpuz said.

 

The Vice-President yesterday said his decision to stay with embattled President Arroyo currently embroiled in the twin scandal of jueteng payola and Gloriagate tapes was meant to save the country from further chaos and not to ensure the survival of Mrs. Arroyo.

 

Speaking before reporters just before the start of Sona and before the joint session of Congress, VP de Castro said he was willing to face the consequence of his decision to maintain political alliance with President Arroyo.

 

Pamalakaya’s Corpuz said the militant and progressive bloc and the opposition camp were demanding for the establishment of a transition council to replace the Arroyo-de Castro tandem in Malacañang. He said the transition council should be composed of representatives from the broad anti-Arroyo movement including designated representatives of sectoral and multi-sectoral alliances, which are instrumental in ousting the president and the vice-president from Malacañang.

 

“ Instead of remolding himself into a genuine public servant, VP de Castro preferred to stick with the inner circle of the ruling criminal gang in Malacañang. With that statement, it is end of the road for Noli. Definitely he will not be part of the transition council touted to replace Mrs. Arroyo and her clique”, the group’s spokesperson added.

 

While VP de Castro was not entertained to be part of the transition council, Pamalakaya was supporting the view of Utrecht-based National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace panel chief Luis Jalandoni that party list Rep. Satur Ocampo of Bayan Muna would qualify as member of the proposed transition council highly regarded in the broad anti-Arroyo movement as replacement to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.  “ People who put premium on the necessity of peace based on justice and uphold at all times the collective interest of the marginalized Filipinos would not entertain second thoughts of endorsing Rep. Ocampo to the transition council”, the group said.

 

The Pamalakaya leader said other possible nominees from the ranks of militant and progressive groups include labor leader and Anakpawis party list Rep. Crispin Beltran and colleague party list Rep. Rafael Mariano, concurrent chair of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and other patriotic and pro-people personalities. #

 

 

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 01:37 | link | comments (3) |

Leftist group urges party list solon to name politicians behind P 5 million bribe against GMA impeach rap

 

Leftist group urges party list solon to name politicians behind
P 5 million bribe against GMA impeach rap

 

The left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Saturday asked party list congressman Eulogio Magsaysay of the Alliance of Volunteer Educators (AVE) to name four people identified with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, whom he identified in the alleged attempt to bribe him in exchange for withdrawing his support to an impeachment complaint against the embattled Chief Executive.

 

In a press statement, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said Rep. Magsaysay is constitutionally and morally bound to disclose the names of Palace agents tasked to carry out the plan to bribe pro-impeachment solons in exchange for monetary rewards from the administration.

 

“ In the name of public interest and for the sake of millions of taxpaying people in this country, we appeal to Rep. Magsaysay to tell the people the high-paying syndicate commissioned by Malacañang to execute the game plan involving graft and corruption and outright malversation of state funds just to assure Palace that the impeachment rap won’t prosper”, Hicap added.

 

“ If Palace wants 200 congressmen to spoil the impeachment rap, it would spend at least P 1 B in taxpayers money just to get Mrs. Arroyo out of the impeachment line. If this is not a grand mockery of truth and justice, then what is it? A charity work? Give us break”, Hicap added.

 

The party list solon bared last Friday that people from Malacañang offered him 200,000 cash down payment and an additional P 300,000 during the course of impeachment process. Magsaysay said not less than 450,000 worth of projects would be given to him if he withdraws his support to the impeachment rap against President Arroyo.

 

He said two of the four people who offered him bribe money came from the House of Representatives. Pamalakaya’s Hicap theorized that the two lawmakers are certified political operators of the ruling administration party in the lower chamber of Congress and could probably be stalwarts of the ruling party in the House.

 

“We don’t want to be engaged in an endless guessing game. But what is certain is that pro-Arroyo solons controlling the House of Payola are moving heaven and earth to frustrate the impeachment move against Mrs. Arroyo. This political situation further gives premium on the necessity of people power to drive President Arroyo out of Malacañang”, Hicap added.

 

Pamalakaya commended Rep. Magsaysay for coming out in the open and disclosing to the public the evil plan of the Macapagal-Arroyo presidency to bribe pro-impeachment solons at the Lower House. The militant group also dared the four lawmakers who were also offered tempting bribes of Malacañang to come out in the open and spill the beans like what Rep. Magsaysay did last Friday.

 

According to the party list lawmaker, Malacañang also offered bribes amounting to P 5 million worth of cash and projects to four other congressmen from the ruling Lakas-CMD and Liberal Party. But Magsaysay said he would only reveal the names of those who made the offer only if they criticized him in the public.

 

The revelation also elicited strong reaction from anti-Arroyo lawmakers and pro-impeachment solons at the Lower House.  Rep. Allan Peter Cayetano, House Deputy Minority Floor Leader accused Malacañang of employing dirty tactics to kill the impeachment complaint against the President. #

 

 

 

 

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 04:12 | link | comments |

Militants pressed House of JdV to declare GMA lawyer’s formal answer to

Militants pressed House of JdV to declare GMA lawyer’s formal answer to original impeachment complaint null and void

 

A group calling for the ouster of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and at the same time supportive of the planned impeachment case against her on Saturday urged the House leadership to cross party lines and invalidate the formal answer to the original impeachment complaint filed by one of Arroyo lawyers.

 

In a press statement, the leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) challenged the leadership of House Speaker Jose de Venecia  to quash the formal answer filed by Arroyo lawyer Atty. Pedro Ferrer to the impeachment complaint filed by Atty. Oliver Lozano.

 

“ The House of JdV should prove to the people that is not part of the Palace-led conspiracy to bastardize and sabotage the constitutional process concerning the impeachment process. At this early, the Filipino people put to task Speaker de Venecia to knock down the game plan of Malacañang and allow the pro-impeachment party to file a supplemental and more stronger impeachment complaint against Mrs. Arroyo”, said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.

 

An opposition solon said Ferrer’s wife, Elenita Bulaong Ferrer was a classmate of First Gentleman Atty. Jose Miguel “ Mike” Arroyo at the Ateneo de Manila University and head of the presidential husband’s legal aid program. On Tuesday, Ferrer filed with House Secretary General Roberto Nazareno a document titled, "Answer Ex Abundante Ad Cautelam."

 

‘Ferrer said that the document-which denies in general terms Lozano's charges against Ms Arroyo consisting of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution and corruption-was signed by Ms Arroyo in his presence in Malaca¤ang Monday.

 

Pamalakaya said President Arroyo was not duly notified by Congress to answer the impeachment complaint against her, therefore, the filing of formal answer to the original complaint is not allowed at this point in time.

 

“ The sinister objective of the early filing of formal answer to the complaint is spoil or sabotage the pro-impeachment party’s plan to beef up the impeachment case against Mrs. Arroyo both in form and in substance”, the group stressed.

 

However, Pamalakaya said the political maneuver of Arroyo’s party courtesy of the formal answer filed by Atty. Ferrer further exposed the bankruptcy of the ruling Macapagal-Arroyo camp both in Malacañang and in the House of Representatives.

 

“ This grand mockery of justice and campaign of constitutional bastardization will further agitate the people to take the streets and storm President Arroyo with the well-tested and proven formula of People Power to remove a criminal, cheating and anti-people regime in Malacañang”, the group said.

 

Militant groups calling for the ouster of President Arroyo are all set to stage their own People’s State of the Nation Address as a counter Sona to the president’s scheduled on Monday.  Pamalakaya said the militant contingent headed by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) is expected to lead a crowd of not less than 100,000 at the Ever Gotesco Mall along Commonwealth Road in Quezon City.

The group will declare a national fish holiday on Monday in 43 provinces and 9 regions nationwide to allow its members to join anti-GMA rallies across the country.  Some 50,000 members of Pamalakaya will take a one-day leave of absence from their fish capture activities on Monday.  #

owever,

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 04:10 | link | comments |

CBCP should reject Palace-led Truth Commission

CBCP should reject Palace-led Truth Commission

Saying that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s proposal to form Palace-backed Truth Commission to investigate allegations that the Chief Executive stole last year’s election as a counter-point proposal to bishops proposal to form an independent commission and process the impeachment case to cover up the truth, leaders of the militant group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) urged the influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines to reject and denounce the move of Malacañang Palace.

“ The CBCP leadership should reject Arroyo’s blatant attack to cover up the truth by forming her own Truth Commission expected to exonerate her in the process and save her from impeachment and possible ouster through another popular uprising”, Pamalakaya stressed in a press statement.

Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said President Arroyo openly insulted and defied the CBCP call for the formation of an independent truth body when President Arroyo announced yesterday that Malacañang was planning to set up its own commission in response to the demand of CBCP bishops to establish a Truth Commission that would pave the way for the probe and subsequent impeachment of Mrs. Arroyo on allegations of election fraud.

“ The CBCP bishops were taken to high roller coaster rides by the Macapagal-Arroyo ruling clique when the President through her press secretary and spokesperson declared on Tuesday that the she was willing to be investigated by the same body which she intends to create to find the truth”, Hicap said.

Hicap added: “ It is horrible and blasphemous. Mrs. Arroyo’s truth commission would act as the prober, the judge and the executioner. Where is justice in this world under this incorrigible set up?  May heaven curse the President for making the Filipino people appear like political idiots and non-thinking political animals in this country”.

The militant leader said with the latest move of Malacañang, the CBCP must now openly endorsed calls for President Arroyo to step down or kick out through another exercise of People Power.  “ It is now time for CBCP to openly call for the resignation and removal of Mrs. Arroyo following this latest political escapade of the cheating president in Malacañang”, Hicap added.

President Arroyo in an open letter to CBCP said she would form a commission to inquire into allegations that she stole last year's election but insisted she was right in refusing to resign. The Chief Executive currently embroiled in twin scandals of jueteng payoffs and Gloriagate tapes suggesting fraud in the last May 10, 2004 elections assured bishops that her commission would get to the bottom of the charges.

While agreeing to the CBCP statement saying that bishops are not politicians, Hicap said bishops are politically obliged to speak against matters that affect the lives of the people and destroy the moral, cultural, social and political fiber of every human being, especially now that Mrs. Arroyo is on the move to escape justice through the ‘bogus truth commission”, which she would form.

“ Mrs. Arroyo and her regime are both immoral, repressive and brutal and operate the affairs of the state like a syndicate or a governing mafia. We believe the CBCP and the bishops are tasked by history and by faith to perform the gospel according to the interest of the people”, Hicap added. #

 

 

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 01:45 | link | comments |

Ermita says Secretary Gonzales will stay as DoJ chief

Ermita says Secretary Gonzales will stay as DoJ chief

“It is terrible, but it is fine”- Leftist group

As far as leaders of the left-wing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) are concerned, controversial secretary Raul Gonzales continued stay as chief of the Department of Justice (DoJ) will contribute to the growing clamor for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to step down.

Barrowing a famous quote from China’s late communist leader Mao-Tse-Tung, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said keeping Secretary Gonzales at the helm of the justice department will make more “ political enemies” for the embattled President accused of stealing the people’s mandate in last year’s presidential elections.

“ It is terrible but it is fine”, Hicap quoted Mao in asserting that Secretary Gonzales grand display of political arrogance like Mrs. Arroyo would further fuel social unrest that would pave the way for the forced resignation or ouster of the unwanted and undesirable regime in Malacañang.

Pamalakaya’s Hicap issued the statement after Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita on Tuesday assured that Secretary Gonzales will stay at chief of the justice department despite offensive remarks he made against actress and popular TV host Kris Aquino.

“ Mr. Gonzales is the male version of President Arroyo in terms of political arrogance and high-bred egotism. They deserved each other’s company and they deserved to be kicked out from public office”, the militant leader added.

Hicap said Secretary Gonzales’ clones in the Macapagal-Arroyo government include Environment and Natural Resources secretary Mike Defensor, Presidential Management Staff (PMS) chief Rigoberto Tiglao and Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye.

“ The presence of this extra-ordinary hooligans in the camp of President Arroyo is always a welcome development in the national struggle of the people to junk the Macapagal-Arroyo presidency and have it replace by a transition council”, Hicap added.

At yesterday’s press briefing in Malacañang, Ermita told Palace reporters that Malacañang would not sack Gonzales for the derogatory statements he made against former President Corazon Aquino and daughter Kris last week.

Secretary Ermita said President Arroyo had not said anything about letting go of Secretary Gonzales.  While, Secretary Gonzales had tendered his resignation last week, Malacañang had yet to act on his resignation and continue to do his job as the justice chief despite widespread calls for him to step down along with President Arroyo and Vice-President Noli de Castro.

“ Everytime Sec. Gonzales speaks in behalf of the cheating President, he further angers the people and affirms public opinion against his boss in Malacañang and against himself”, Pamalakaya added.

 President Arroyo called up the young Aquino and apologized for Gonzalez's unsolicited advice to her mother who the justice secretary said should mind her daughter instead of meddling in the affairs of the nation. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 01:43 | link | comments |

Papal Nuncio told: Let bishops express their political gospel on Gloria

 

Papal Nuncio told: Let bishops express their political gospel on Gloria

 

Leaders of the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Monday appealed to Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Antonio Franco to allow bishops of the influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) express their thoughts on the current political turmoil facing the country.

 

“ In the name of the people’s moral crusade for truth and justice, we ask the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines to let the bishops speak and if necessary join the political activism to remove an unchristian and anti-people regime of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo”, said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.

 

While agreeing to the CBCP statement saying that bishops are not politicians, the leftist leader said bishops are politically obliged to speak against matters that affect the lives of the people and destroy the moral, cultural, social and political fiber of every human being.

 

“ Mrs. Arroyo and her regime are both immoral, repressive and brutal and operate the affairs of the state like a syndicate or a governing mafia. We believe the CBCP and the bishops are tasked by history and by faith to perform the gospel according to the interest of the people”, Hicap added.

 

The militant leader said the CBCP and the bishops should not take a neutral stand on the issue of President Arroyo currently embroiled in the jueteng scandal and the Gloriagate tapes. He said it is politically, morally and religiously imperative for the bishops and the church leaders to take a definite, decisive and pro-people stand on the issue.

 

“ As far as the Filipino people are concerned, Mrs. Arroyo does not deserve any second chance. The bogus and anti-people president is guilty, unrepentant and appeared all-out in defying even the Church’s gospel for truth, peace and justice”, Hicap asserted.

 

Hicap made the appeal after Bishop Antonio Tobias of Novaliches revealed to a national broadsheet that he had received a telephone call from Franco on July 4 while he was attending an assembly of the Kilusang Makabansang Ekonomiya (KME) to remind him that as bishop, he should not be involved in political activities.

 

“ The present situation merits the active involvement of the Church in the people’s quest to remove a regime of greed, corruption, fraud and brutality. Perhaps, the Papal Nuncio would be better advised to encourage the bishops to participate in upholding the sovereign will of the people and the national gospel for a regime change and for pro-people government”, Hicap asserted.

 

Tobias said Franco was “ kind and fatherly” during the five to 10 minute conversation. The Novaliches prelate said the Vatican envoy also invited him to the Nunciature, presumably to discuss the bishop’s activities in the KME, a group of businessmen and economists calling for the resignation of Mrs. Arroyo and changes in the government economic policies.

 

Some quarters said that Franco’s position was a direct plea from Pope Benedict XVI urging priests to stay away from politics. Even before the July 10 statement issued by the CBCP reminding of the papal prescription, the Vatican had been quietly calling the attention of Filipino Catholic bishops asking them not to drag the Church hierarchy to politics because bishops are not politicians. #

 

 

 

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 04:01 | link | comments |

“ Tiglao, Gonzales, Ermita and Defensor defended Gloria

The Political Stooges of Mrs. Arroyo

“ Tiglao, Gonzales, Ermita and Defensor defended Gloria

because they don’t have career if GMA is ousted”, says militant group

 

Leaders of the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) have an explanation why Presidential Management Staff chief Rigoberto Tiglao, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Environment and Natural Resources secretary Michael Defensor are standing with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo amid mounting calls asking for her resignation.

 

“ They don’t have any career to claim and talk about in case Mrs. Arroyo is booted out of Malacañang. That is why they are performing to the hilt as political stooges of the cheating president”, says Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.

 

“ Tiglao, Ermita, Gonzales and Defensor are first-rate political hooligans who see no future in the post Arroyo period that is why they are extremely behaving that way acting like warriors with no cause for the criminal presidency”, Hicap added.

 

Pamalakaya’s Hicap also said the four Arroyo officials also acted like they were partners in crime of President Arroyo over a number of serious allegations against the Chief Executive like massive poll fraud and high crimes of corruption.

 

The leftist leader issued the statement after the four officials told the public that President Arroyo won’t give up to mounting pressures for her resign and ridiculed the giant rally staged by the broad anti-Arroyo movement that includes the opposition camp, civil society groups and anti-GMA personalities.

 

Tiglao and Sec. Defensor reiterated the president’s position that she should not resign even if there were demonstrations in the streets and prominent figures asking her to quit her post. The PMS chief belittled the rally as made up of communist rubble-rousers and losers from the opposition.

 

Executive Secretary Ermita supported the proposal of Justice Secretary Gonzales to file sedition charges against individuals spearheading the anti-Arroyo rallies in Ayala and other parts of the country.

 

But Pamalakaya said the move was meant to undermine the parliament of the streets, scare people from joining mass demonstrations and saturate black propaganda to make it appear that people are not in the favor of launching another popular uprising against Mrs. Arroyo this time.

 

“ Tiglao and company want a defining moment for themselves as the ‘Fantastic Four’ of Mrs. Arroyo. These  pro-Arroyo political animals as graphically desperate as President Arroyo to cling to power”, Hicap added.

 

Pamalakaya said once the transition government takes over the ousted regime of President Arroyo they would ask the transition council to prosecute Tiglao, Ermita, Defensor and Gonzales along with their principal Mrs. Arroyo and the president’s husband Atty. Mike Arroyo and son Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo.

 

“ We cannot serve justice to the people if these political shenanigans are allowed to stage their own walk-in-the park escape from justice”, the militant group said.  “ They should join Mrs. Arroyo behind bars to prove that there is justice in this world”, Pamalakaya added.

 

Anti-Arroyo groups said the next big anti-Arroyo rally would be on July 25, the State of the Nation Address of Mrs. Arroyo. The leftist group predicted that the anti-Arroyo mass actions on July 25 would be bigger in terms of numbers, scope and political impact. “ The Ayala rally was enough to send chills down Malacañang people’s spines. The July 25 political showdown is something Arroyo and her league of extraordinary hooligans should watch for”, Pamalakaya said. # 

 

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 02:42 | link | comments |

Farm strikes, fish holidays in 64 provinces, 15 regions on July 13

 

Farm strikes, fish holidays in 64 provinces, 15 regions on July 13

“ Rural revolt” geared to press GMA ouster

 

Short of calling a civil disobedience, organizers of the Rural Movement for the Ouster of Gloria or Remove Gloria on Tuesday called all its provincial and regional chapters nationwide to stage a nationally coordinated farm strike and fish holiday on July 13 to press the ouster of embattled President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from Malacañang.

 

In a prepared speech, Remove Gloria convenor and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) secretary general Danilo Ramos said not less than 50,000 farmers, all KMP members in 62 provinces and 15 regions across the country will not attend their farms to join the nationally coordinated anti-GMA rallies tomorrow.

 

However, Remove Gloria convenors said they would not impose food blockades, adding that farmers, fisherfolk and the rest of the rural producers in the countryside would only take a one-day leave of absence from production to enable their members and supporters to join the nationally coordinated July 13 anti-Arroyo mass actions.

 

“ The voices from the grassroots are telling Mrs. Arroyo to step down. They want the establishment of the transition council as replacement to the anti-people, brutal, puppet and cheating regime of Gloria”, Ramos said.

 

Under the transition council, representatives of the anti-Arroyo movement, patriotic forces and cause-oriented groups, which all played important roles in the ouster or removal of President Arroyo and her entire administration would constitute the council tasked to implement sweeping economic and political reforms, including reversals of all anti-Arroyo laws, programs and policies.

 

The transition council would also prepare the country in the elections of the new government three to six months after the fall of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration or during the post-Arroyo era.

 

Echoing the same call, Fernando Hicap, co-convenor of Remove Gloria and chair of the leftist fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said his group had called for a nationally coordinated “ fish holidays” in 43 provinces and in the regions of Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Negros and Panay islands, Central Visayas and Far South Mindanao in response to President Arroyo’s flat refusal to yield the presidency to the proposed transition council.

 

The leftist leader said at least 20,000 members of Pamalakaya are expected to participate in the July 13 national day of protest. Hicap said members of Pamalakaya, KMP, Amihan national federation of peasant women, agrarian reform advocacy group National Network of Agrarian Reform Advocates (Nnara), Angat Ahon Magsasaka, Kalampag-Southern Tagalog and Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA), the biggest agricultural workers group in the country are expected to join tomorrow’s rally at Ayala in Makati City.

 

“ The rural revolt is geared to press Mrs. Arroyo to step down and pave the way for the takeover of the interim council. No amount of political black propaganda and sheer display of state terrorism could stop the country people from demanding the removal of Arroyo from Malacañang”, Hicap stressed.

 

Not amenable to constitutional succession

 

KMP’s Ramos said rural-based organizations and agrarian reform advocates comprising Remove Gloria coalition were not amenable to constitutional succession as a way to replace President Arroyo and to Vice President Noli de Castro as the immediate beneficiary of succession.

 

 “ To set the record straight, we reject the rule of concession and its’ immediate beneficiary VP de Castro as the constitutional successor of President Arroyo. The Vice President was an accomplice to the syndicated move of the ruling mafia headed by the husband and wife team of Mr. and Mrs. Arroyo that rigged last year’s elections in the name of Arroyo-de Castro tandem”, he added.

 

Pamalakaya said VP de Castro was also accused of stealing the people’s mandate in the May 2004 elections as proven by the electoral protest filed by defeated vice-president candidate Sen. Loren Legarda before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.

 

“ How can you entrust the fate of the country and the future of our people to a protégé of the Lopez group of companies and to a political charlatan who until now is employing the politics of opportunism on the issue of Mrs. Arroyo’s grand robbery of peoples’ mandate, puppetry and extreme brutality? “, the militant group asked.

 

People’s Caravan

 

About 10,000 farmers, fisherfolk, agricultural workers, urban poor and laborers from Bicol Region down to Central Luzon are expected to arrive at the National Capital Region (NCR) early evening today to participate in tomorrow’s big rally in Ayala.

 

Remove Gloria, KMP and Pamalakaya said there would be a Solidarity Lunch Against Poverty, Repression, Fraud and for Arroyo’s Ouster at the Gabriela Silang Monument in Ayala Avenue where members of middle forces and professional groups would join the rural activists in their first anti-Gloria lunch date in Ayala. 

 

The groups said not less than 50,000 anti-Arroyo activists from leftist groups, civil society organizations, supporters of the united opposition, church, professional and academic institutions would assemble in the Ninoy Aquino monument in Paseo de Roxas for the biggest anti-Arroyo rally since the Gloriagate scandal broke out.  #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 04:10 | link | comments |

Left downplays FVR factor

 

Left downplays FVR factor

“ A desperate exercise of political masturbation”- GMA critics 

 

“ A desperate exercise of political masturbation either to clinch remaining political favors from a politically and clinically dead regime or for grand publicity stint”.

 

This was the reaction of the leftist fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on the so-called Ramos factor, which some pro-administration senators from the ruling Lakas-NUCD party described as a defining moment to save the Macapagal-Arroyo administration from a tragic end.

 

“ If it is not a desperate exercise of political masturbation, then what it is? The Voice of God? Give us a break”, said Pamalakaya information officer Gerry Albert Corpuz said in a press a statement.

 

Former President Fidel Ramos vowed on Friday night appeared in Malacañang last Friday to show support to the embattled President Arroyo embroiled in jueteng scandal and the Gloriagate tapes.

 

Mrs. Arroyo outlined immediate reforms her administration would implement in the next three months. The embattled President asked her cabinet members to render their resignations, saying that the new set of cabinet officials would have free hand in deciding their programs and policies, while she would focus on fundamental aspects of governance.

 

President Arroyo also said she would reach out to other political parties for the proposed federal form of government and other reforms in the current system of government. The President also said the world embraced Edsa  1 and tolerated Edsa 2 but would not forgive the Filipino people in taking another Edsa for a regime change.

 

“ Mrs. Arroyo’s ouster from power is non-negotiable. This is what we want to Mr. Ramos.  If another Edsa is needed to kick her out of Malacañang let it be because it is the sovereign will and the collective interest of the people. This criminal, repressive, puppet and corrupt president has no right to represent the Filipino people, much more represent 84 million Filipinos before the international community”, Pamalakaya’s Corpuz added.

 

Pamalakaya said Mr. Ramos’s latest political escapade will not halt the roaring rampage of mass actions calling for the President to step down. The group said the latest political gimmick of ex-President Ramos would further foment social unrest that would culminate into another popular uprising in the tradition of People Power 1 and People Power 2.

 

“ Ramos and his cabal of political operators are trying to downplay if not undermine the growing movement for Gloria step down. They were all wrong. The momentum is now on the side of the people and there’s no stopping them from winning the war against the illegitimate and unwanted regime”, the militant group added.

 

Pamalakaya said as concrete response to President Arroyo’s political stubbornness and gross display of arrogance, a bigger action will be held on July 13 at Ayala in Makati City.  The militant group said the July 13 anti-GMA rally in Ayala and other parts of the country will serve a political statement to Mr. Ramos to quit from playing like an opportunist politician and self-proclaimed king maker in local politics.

 

“ The National Capital Region and all political centers across the archipelago would be weekly saturated with warm bodies of thousands of protesters to demand the resignation or ouster of Mrs. Arroyo- the most wanted political animal and criminal in the country”, the group said.

 

“ Who knows by the time Mr. Ramos arrives in Manila from his Bangkok trip, we have already a transition council in place”, Pamalakaya added.  #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 05:14 | link | comments |

Militants ready farm strikes, fish holidays on July 13

Militants ready farm strikes, fish holidays on July 13

 

Leaders of the leftist fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Sunday said their group and its’ ally the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) are set to declare a nationally coordinated farm strike and fish holiday on July 13 to demand the ouster of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the establishment of transition council as counter point demand to the rule of succession floated by other segments of the society.

 

In a press statement, Fernando Hicap, chair of Pamalakaya and of the convenors of the rural-based alliance Rural Movement for the Ouster of Gloria (Remove Gloria) said starting July 12 farmers and fisherfolk will set their working places in protest mode posting anti-Arroyo streamers and placards in farm and fishing areas and along highways and secondary roads in the countryside.

 

Hicap said on July 13, thousands of farmers, fisherfolk, agricultural workers and peasant women will take a leave of absence from their rural work to join the nationally coordinated protest called by Bagong on Alyansang Makabayan in the national capital region and other major cities and urban centers nationwide.

 

“ Call it an expression of class revolt against Gloria and her regime of greed, brutality, puppetry and corruption. We want to strike a political statement on July 13 and that we want Mrs. Arroyo out and we want the transition council to come in as replacement”, the militant leader said.

 

Hicap added: The transition council is above par, politically correct and morally upright than VP Noli de Castro’s brokered ascendancy to the presidency. We will push for the transition council and this is non-negotiable”.

 

Hicap said Pamalakaya will issue a national directive today to its 43 provincial chapters and 5 regional affiliates in Southern Tagalog, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas and Negros Island calling all its members to kick off massive propaganda campaign at the local levels and launch fish holiday or no fish campaign on July 13 to enable fisherfolk to join the anti-Arroyo rallies across the archipelago. 

 

Remove Gloria convenor and KMP Secretary General Danilo Ramos said his group and its affiliate chapters in 59 provinces will take time out from their farming activities on July 13 to join the protest with other anti-Arroyo forces.

 

Ramos said peasant activists from the provinces of Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog and Bicol regions will lead delegations of anti-GMA rural activists on July 13 to Manila to confront Mrs. Arroyo of her crimes against the Filipino peasantry like massive landlessness, state terrorism and political repression.

 

“ We are gearing for a political showdown with the criminal gang of Mrs. Arroyo and frustrate their machinations to score a giant upset against the people’s sovereign will and collective interest to remove Gloria and install the transition council”, Ramos asserted.

 

The farm strike and fish holiday campaign gained the support of other rural-based organizations headed by Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA), the biggest agricultural workers union in the country, Amihan- National Federation of Peasant Women, Tanggol Magsasaka, National Network of Agrarian Reform Advocates (Nnara), Sentro Para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo, livestock and poultry associations and small irrigators organizations across the country. #

 

 

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 05:12 | link | comments |

Leftist group spurns Speaker de Venecia prediction

Leftist group spurns Speaker de Venecia prediction

 that Gloria will recover in 90 days

“ Politically implausible, mathematically improbable”

 

The political and mathematical probability of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s recovery from the twin issues of jueteng and the Gloriagate scandal is far-fetched.

 

This was the assertion of the militant group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) refuting an early statement issued by House Speaker Jose de Venecia that President Arroyo would soon recover completely within the next 90 days.

 

“ The 90-day period is politically implausible and mathematically improbable”, said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement. “ It is the end of the road for Mrs. Arroyo and Speaker de Venecia must accept the fate of her boss in Malacañang”, he added.

 

“ Gloria is on her way out. Those who are saying that Mrs. Arroyo can weather this current tide of political turbulence rocking her administration are either certified political charlatans or false prophets and have no sense of history”, Hicap asserted.

 

Pamalakaya said Speaker de Venecia is misreading the unfolding events to paint a different picture of the political situation to salvage presidency whose mandate is being questioned and condemned by people from all walks of life in the parliament of the streets, in the halls of legal institutions and in the court of public opinion.

 

“ Speaker de Venecia wants to apply his patented rainbow politics, tin cup diplomacy and politics over a glass of champagne to save the ruling syndicate in Malacañang. This won’t work for the illegitimate, corrupt and brutal administration of Mrs. Arroyo”, the militant group added.

 

Pamalakaya said House Speaker de Venecia’s own political career will suffer if he insists in keeping Mrs. Arroyo in Malacañang despite the roaring rampage of mass protest and widespread public opinion condemning President Arroyo for grave crimes against the people, including but not limited to the Gloriagate and jueteng scandal.

 

Speaker de Venecia, a strong ally of President Arroyo said the embattled Chief Executive made strong initiatives, very difficult and emotionally wrenching decision to cleanse her ranks. However, the Speaker said he would endorse the impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Oliver Lozano against President Arroyo when Congress convenes on July 25. #

 

 

 

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 09:52 | link | comments (1) |

Militants appeal to Assumption schools to disown Gloria

 

Leftist group appeals to CEAP schools to let students join anti-GMA rallies

 Militants appeal to Assumption schools to disown Gloria

 

Leftist militants on Monday asked administrators and educators of two Assumption schools attended by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to state a political and moral statement disowning Mrs. Arroyo and lead other Catholic schools in urging the embattled Chief Executive currently embroiled in the Gloriagate scandal to step down from Malacañang.

 

In a press statement, the leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas asked officials and members of the Assumption Convent and Assumption College to issue a separate or joint statement denouncing the national crimes of President Arroyo.

 

“ In the name of truth, justice and good governance, we appeal to the officials of both Assumption schools to issue a declaration condemning Mrs. Arroyo’s grave crimes against the Filipino people”, said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap.

 

Hicap said Mrs.Arroyo was a big letdown for both schools. He said the President betrayed the Assumption’s legacy for patriotism, good governance and high moral standard. The militant leader said the President did not only cheat her election victory in the last May 10, 2004 elections but also engaged in big crimes of corruption and widespread violations of the 1987 Constitution and basic human rights and civil liberties of the people.

 

“ The academic communities of Assumption are highly called by the court of public opinion to make a categorical political statement disowning Mrs. Arroyo for running this country like mafia republic. This is the tall order of the day for the Assumption people”, he added.

 

President Arroyo went to high school at the Assumption Convent and graduated from Assumption College, a member of the Catholic Educators Association of the Philippines (CEAP), which in 2000, issued a statement, calling for the resignation of deposed President Joseph Estrada, who was facing an impeachment trial over charges of collecting payoffs from jueteng operators.

 

“ Mrs. Arroyo should be disowned for breaking the Assumption’s passion and commitment for truth, justice and peace. Gloria is really a big disappointment to the academic communities of Assumption Convent and Assumption College, nothing more, nothing less”, he added. 

 

Pamalakaya also urged CEAP, which commands 100 catholic school members nationwide to allow members of their faculties and students to join the anti-Arroyo rallies scheduled this month leading to the State of the Nation Address of Mrs. Arroyo on July 25. The group said CEAP schools could also launch school-based mass actions and activities calling for the resignation of Mrs. Arroyo.

 

“ The gospel of truth must prevail over the gospel of fraud and deception. Given this rallying point and political and moral message, we appeal to the CEAP family of catholic schools to contribute for the speedy delivery of truth and justice by making their presence felt in all anti-GMA rallies”, the militant group added.

 

The La Salle schools, which are members of CEAP have already called on Mrs. Arroyo to quit. On Thursday, CEAP schools are set to convene at the De La Salle University in Taft Avenue in Manila to decide its’ stand on the issue. #

 

 

 

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 09:51 | link | comments |

Ban Cory from CBCP consultations, bishops urge

Former president Aquino not invited to join next People Power

 Ban Cory from CBCP consultations, bishops urge

 

Leftist militants on Sunday asked organizers of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) consultations on the Gloriagate scandal to ban former President Corazon Aquino from attending any of the scheduled meetings including the prelates plenary meeting next week.

 

“ Mrs. Aquino should be banned if not discouraged from attending the CBCP-led activities that seek to ferret out the truth”, the militant fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said in a press statement.

 

The former President is set to attend the CBCP assembly on Wednesday next week at the University of Sto. Tomas in Manila but Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said it would be inappropriate to invite someone who is largely perceived by the public as “ de facto spokesperson of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo”.

 

 “ There is no demand from the people for former President Corazon Aquino to speak up on the Gloriagate scandal. She is categorically classified by public opinion as an apologist of Mrs. Arroyo and Malacañang. Nobody is inviting her join the next staging of another popular uprising touted to oust the illegitimate president”, Hicap asserted.

 

Peachy Yamsuan, communications officer of the Manila archdiocese said a series of church consultations will be held to set the moral tone on the controversy adding that it was not going to be easy for the Roman Catholic to come up with a unified position on the Gloriagate scandal.

 

The Catholic Educators Association of the Philippines (CEAP) which commands 100 catholic school members nationwide will also stage a parallel consultation on the same day regarding the controversy implicating Mrs. Arroyo, Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano and some military and police generals to massive electoral fraud in last year’s presidential polls.

 

Pamalakaya’s Hicap cautioned the CBCP about the implications of having Mrs. Aquino in any of the church consultative assemblies, saying her presence would not help church people ferret out the truth.

The militant group, one of the cause-oriented organizations calling for the removal of Mrs. Arroyo from Malacañang said Mrs. Aquino is the political emissary of Malacañang and one of the close disciples of ruling Macapagal-Arroyo mafia.

 

“ We are in the year 2005. Not 1986. Gone are the days of the Cory magic and given the intensity of her political flirtation with the regime, nobody would expect the former president to defect to the side of truth, justice and good governance”, the leftist leader added.

 

Hicap accused Mrs. Aquino of endorsing the public the “ gospel of People Power fatigue” to frustrate if not downplay the growing clamor for President Arroyo to step down.

 

“Is Mrs. Aquino doing it in defense of the 1987 Constitution or in the name of her political collaboration with the ruling Macapagal-Arroyo syndicate?” Pamalakaya said.  The group said ex-President Aquino is putting more weight to her “political alliance with the Arroyo camp” rather than pursue the case against Arroyo who did not only steal the presidency but also violated the 1987 Constitution in many occasions".

 

Mrs. Aquino said there was no need to step outside the 1987 Constitution, adding that the exercise of another popular uprising will only expose the country to greater danger rather than correct the injustice the people want to correct. The former President said she was pressured to speak up on the current political crisis. Aquino herself assumed the presidency in 1986 as part of a revolutionary government during the first EDSA uprising, which ended the 20-year rule of Ferdinand Marcos. But the former president that the People Power being called by anti-Arroyo forces would only serve the interest of few people. She said people power for one's self would never succeed. #

 

 

 

 

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 00:35 | link | comments (2) |

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