Umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) today scoffed at Palace statements that there is a clamor for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to run for Congress in her home province of Pampanga.
“That’s a bit of a stretch. It’s as if the Palace spokesmen are from another planet, oblivious of the political realities here. People would rather clamor for another typhoon than clamor for Mrs. Arroyo to run for office again,” said Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr.
“It’s really ridiculous for Malacanang spin-doctors to say that there is a clamor for Mrs. Arroyo to run and at the same time downplay the reaction of the President, saying that she’s hardly titillated by the news. The script is too obvious. Mrs. Arroyo is hardly a reluctant congressman wannabe, given her frequent trips to Pamapanga,” Reyes said.
Mrs. Arroyo has suffered record low approval ratings over the past three years. The recent corruption scandals, economic crisis and government’s inadequate response to calamites have further eroded whatever little public approval is left, if any, says the militant group.
Bayan believes Mrs. Arroyo has not given up on her bid to buy protection once she loses her Presidential immunity on June 30, 2010.
“This crude way of conditioning people to accept GMA’s bid to stay in public office carries serious implications. It shows that Mrs. Arroyo is going to do everything to buy herself some immunity or protection from suit once she is no longer president. Seeking a congressional seat appears to be the main tact in evading accountability for her misdeeds during her presidency,” Reyes said.
“Gloria in Congress means no accountability for her record of corruption, electoral fraud, human rights abuses and sell-out of national interests. For this reason, we should really reject her congressional bid,” he added.
Bayan had warned that Mrs. Arroyo will do everything to avoid the fate suffered by Peru’s former president Alberto Fujimori who was extradited from Japan, stood trial in Peru and was only recently convicted of human rights abuses and corruption. ###
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from www.bayan.ph
