UNO lawmakers reject proposed posts in Cabinet

Malacaňang’s renewed proposal to appoint members of the opposition in the Cabinet which the Executive department claimed would forge a government of national unity and form the so-called reconciliation Cabinet was rejected by the leaders of the United Opposition (UNO) in the House of Representatives on Wednesday. House senior deputy minority floor leader and Iloilo Rep. Rolex Suplico and Bayan Muna Rep. Joel Virador said the offer was a recycle of past Palace propaganda which started during the stint of former House minority floor leader and Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Carlos “Caloy" Padilla in the 12th the Congress. The propaganda was aimed at muzzling the opposition to submit to the Malacaňang’s whims. “Matagal ng gimik ito. The government of national unity ay panahon pa ni Caloy Padilla as minority leader. The main concession is to muzzle the opposition in exchange for Cabinet positions, to that, I say no," Suplico said in reaction to the offer made by executive secretary Eduardo Ermita. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is yet to appoint the permanent secretaries of the Departments of Education and Agriculture. It was reported that Malacaňang is eying Senator Edgardo Angara, president of Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino and head of the party’s another faction, as the next education secretary to replace former secretary Florencio Abad who resigned along with the members of the so-called Hyatt 10 at the height of the “Hello Garci!" scandal. For his part, Virador believes the country’s problems cannot be solved by a mere appointment of the members of the opposition in the Cabinet. Virador pointed to anti-people’s policies of Arroyo such as the implementation of the controversial 12 % reformed value added tax (RVAT) as the culprit behind the political crisis, as well as economic turmoil in the country. “Hindi solusyon ang Cabinet position sa kasalukuyang krisis sa ekonomiya at pulitika. Mali ang economic policies ng administration. Halimbawa ang RVAT. Dagdag pa dito ang Chief Executive na numero unong problema at nagiging sanhi ng kasalukuyang political crisis," Virador said. But Arroyo allies headed by Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante and Tarlac Rep. Jesli Lapus asked the opposition to shun politics and instead consider the offer that could bring national unity. However, Abante admitted the opposition might only junk the offer saying the group is more interested in toppling the President from power. “That would be a nice move, but will there be takers from the real opposition? If they accept, will they toe the line?" Abante said. Lapus, chair the House committee on ways and means and a member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition supporting Arroyo, said: “That’s in line with the earlier proposals for a unity government." -GMANEWS.TV