Administration senator calls Arroyo 'a stubborn President'

Pro-administration lawmaker Sen. Richard Gordon on Saturday described President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as “a stubborn President" who has refused to work with the legislature and also disregarded civil liberties. Gordon said Mrs. Arroyo was a “stubborn President" who has tried, but miserably failed, “to appear strong and supreme by refusing to work together with the legislature and disregarding respect for the civil liberties of the people." Gordon made the remarks after recent key Supreme Court rulings that rebuked Mrs. Arroyo on a series of edicts that she issued. The Supreme Court ruled as partly unconstitutional Executive Order 464, which required the President’s approval before officials can appear in legislative inquiries, and also nullified the calibrated preemptive response (CPR) policy against street protesters. The high court also upheld Proclamation 1017 but declared illegal the warrantless arrests and raids made during the week-long state of national emergency. The senator said the Supreme Court decisions made it apparent that the President had committed a series of mistakes. “Either the President is ill-advised or she is not listening well to her advisers," Gorden said. He pointed out that tourism, business, the economy, and the people have all suffered because of the political crisis created by President Arroyo. “Instead of doing infirmed executive initiatives and actions and paying no heed to the legislature, the President should divert her efforts towards meaningful reforms in governance by getting the legislature to work with her to move our country forward," Gordon said: He said the President needs the legislature as her executive power is limited to implementing laws enacted by the legislature." On its latest ruling on Proclamation 1017, Gordon praised the Supreme Court for showing integrity and independence in fulfilling its duty to uphold the Constitution. “The Supreme Court has not failed the people, notwithstanding the fact that a majority of the Justices sitting there right now were appointed by the incumbent President. They are an enlightened batch of Justices who have displayed utmost integrity in their decisions. They have shown credibility as defenders of freedom and the Constitution," he said. “The Constitution does not allow our nation to be subjected to a one-man (or woman) rule, which we have seen from the latest Supreme Court pronouncements," Gordon said. “The people should realize the importance of the principle of separation of powers, as well as checks and balances in government, as provided in the Constitution – the very Constitution that some individuals are trying to amend or revise based on vested interests and personal agenda," he added.-GMANews.Tv