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