JDV has no moral ascendancy to lead street protests - solon

MANILA, Philippines - No self-respecting Filipino will march behind Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia when the former House speaker takes his fight against the Arroyo administration to the streets, a lawmaker said Thursday. In a statement, Palawan Rep. Abraham Kahlil Mitra said de Venecia is "far from being the epitome of virtue when it comes to good governance" so he will not able to muster the numbers similar to an EDSA uprising. "For JDV to become a poster boy for good government is like Bin Laden winning the Nobel peace prize or the respected Ramon Revilla Sr serving as a spokesman for the two-child policy," Mitra said. Mitra said he doubts if De Venecia will be able to attract followers in the streets and urged cause-oriented groups to not allow the former House speaker join their ranks. "Street parliamentarians of the olden days Chino Roces, Lorenzo Tañada and Jose Diokno will be turning in their graves if the one standing at the vanguard of the movement they once led is one who personifies the very wrong ideals they fought against during Martial Law," said Mitra. "It will be an environmental crime if Ayala avenue will shower confetti on a man who in all aspects represents the exact opposite of the person immortalized in a monument on that street - Ninoy Aquino," he added. De Venecia on Wednesday said he will take battle against the Arroyo administration to the streets “if necessary.” He made the statement after the House justice committee junked the fourth impeachment complaint against President Arroyo, of which he was among the endorsers. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV