SONA to settle issue about Arroyo’s ‘plans in office’ – Palace exec
Will she declare martial law or call for a state of emergency? Will she really step down after her term ends? President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s ninth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27 will once and for all settle talks about her perpetuation in power, according to Press Secretary Cerge Remonde.
"We hope finally after the SONA, all these issues about declaring martial law (or) state of emergency would be laid to rest," Remonde told reporters on Friday, adding that Mrs. Arroyo’s SONA would change impressions that "she has not adequately addressed the problems of the country or that she has questionable designs or plans in office."
Earlier this week, President Arroyo’s former defense secretary Avelino Cruz claimed that the 2010 elections might not push through because of the President’s alleged plan to stay in power beyond the end of her term next year.
Avelino’s claim have bolstered the suspicion of Mrs. Arroyo’s critics that the administration is "creating" situations for the President to justify calling for a state of emergency or declaring martial law.
Critics also believe that Mrs. Arroyo will seek a congressional post representing her home province of Pampanga.
Her critics likewise surmise that while the administration insists that there will be elections, the polls would happen under a parliamentary form of government where Mrs. Arroyo would be elected as prime minister.
Mrs. Arroyo’s allies in Congress have been pushing for Charter change that could pave the way for the abolition of the presidential system of government. Speaker Prospero Nograles said on Friday that the House of Representative would resume tackling moves for a constituent assembly two weeks after Mrs. Arroyo’s SONA.
Ignore Marxist critics
But Remonde on Friday defended the President and reiterated that "there will be elections in 2010."
He said Mrs. Arroyo’s SONA "will be a very historic" one that "should not be missed by anyone who cares for his or her country."
"The President will tell the SONA against the backdrop of the global crisis. (She) will report to our nation what has been done to achieve economic resiliency," he said.
Remonde also advised the public to give weight to the statements of Mrs. Arroyo’s supporters. He said people should ignore the views of the President's “Marxist" critics who do nothing but criticize all presidents.
Remonde claims Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and businessman Manuel Pangilinan’s views about Mrs. Arroyo are more trustworthy than those of her "ideologue" critics.
"I think these people are more credible than the people who will be rallying to the streets who have rallied against all presidents from Marcos to Estrada. These people especially ideologues will never stop to call for the downfall of any administration unless its Marxist," Remonde said.
Enrile earlier said that Mrs. Arroyo had "done better" than her predecessors especially in sustaining the growth of the Philippine economy. Pangilinan echoed Enrile’s statement saying that "history should be kinder, and gentler" to the President.
Poverty, plunder
But left-leaning organizations led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan claim that "poverty, plunder, persecution, and pandering" sum up the state of the nation under Mrs. Arroyo’s nine years in office.
Bayan claims that under Mrs. Arroyo’s watch, the number of poor Filipinos grew from 23.8 million in 2003 to 27.6 million in 2009.
Prices of basic goods also went up, according to the group. Prices of liquefied petroleum gas went up from P192 in January 2001 to P472 per 11-kiogram tank in June 2009. Prices of rice also increased from P17 in 2001 to P30 a kilo in July 2009.
Bayan also enumerated corruption issues that have hounded the Arroyo administration. These are the:
"We hope finally after the SONA, all these issues about declaring martial law (or) state of emergency would be laid to rest," Remonde told reporters on Friday, adding that Mrs. Arroyo’s SONA would change impressions that "she has not adequately addressed the problems of the country or that she has questionable designs or plans in office."
Earlier this week, President Arroyo’s former defense secretary Avelino Cruz claimed that the 2010 elections might not push through because of the President’s alleged plan to stay in power beyond the end of her term next year.
Avelino’s claim have bolstered the suspicion of Mrs. Arroyo’s critics that the administration is "creating" situations for the President to justify calling for a state of emergency or declaring martial law.
Critics also believe that Mrs. Arroyo will seek a congressional post representing her home province of Pampanga.
Her critics likewise surmise that while the administration insists that there will be elections, the polls would happen under a parliamentary form of government where Mrs. Arroyo would be elected as prime minister.
Mrs. Arroyo’s allies in Congress have been pushing for Charter change that could pave the way for the abolition of the presidential system of government. Speaker Prospero Nograles said on Friday that the House of Representative would resume tackling moves for a constituent assembly two weeks after Mrs. Arroyo’s SONA.
Ignore Marxist critics
But Remonde on Friday defended the President and reiterated that "there will be elections in 2010."
He said Mrs. Arroyo’s SONA "will be a very historic" one that "should not be missed by anyone who cares for his or her country."
"The President will tell the SONA against the backdrop of the global crisis. (She) will report to our nation what has been done to achieve economic resiliency," he said.
Remonde also advised the public to give weight to the statements of Mrs. Arroyo’s supporters. He said people should ignore the views of the President's “Marxist" critics who do nothing but criticize all presidents.
Remonde claims Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and businessman Manuel Pangilinan’s views about Mrs. Arroyo are more trustworthy than those of her "ideologue" critics.
"I think these people are more credible than the people who will be rallying to the streets who have rallied against all presidents from Marcos to Estrada. These people especially ideologues will never stop to call for the downfall of any administration unless its Marxist," Remonde said.
Enrile earlier said that Mrs. Arroyo had "done better" than her predecessors especially in sustaining the growth of the Philippine economy. Pangilinan echoed Enrile’s statement saying that "history should be kinder, and gentler" to the President.
Poverty, plunder
But left-leaning organizations led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan claim that "poverty, plunder, persecution, and pandering" sum up the state of the nation under Mrs. Arroyo’s nine years in office.
Bayan claims that under Mrs. Arroyo’s watch, the number of poor Filipinos grew from 23.8 million in 2003 to 27.6 million in 2009.
Prices of basic goods also went up, according to the group. Prices of liquefied petroleum gas went up from P192 in January 2001 to P472 per 11-kiogram tank in June 2009. Prices of rice also increased from P17 in 2001 to P30 a kilo in July 2009.
Bayan also enumerated corruption issues that have hounded the Arroyo administration. These are the:
- 2001 alleged bribery for IMPSA deal ($2 million);
- 2003 Piatco mess ($20 million);
- 2004 Northrail mess ($50 million);
- 2004 Mega Pacific deal (P500 million);
- 2004 Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard mess (P600 million);
- 2004 fertilizer scam (P728 million);
- 2005 alleged jueteng payoffs (P500,000 to P1 million a month);
- 2007 cash handouts to local officials to thwart impeachment (P160 million);
- 2007 NBN-ZTE broadband network deal ($329.48 million);
- 2008 Euro Generals (P6.9 billion);
- 2009 Balikatan fund mess (P43.7 million); and
- 2009 World Bank-funded road projects ($33 million).
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