FSGO: Growing dissent in gov't betrays Arroyo unity walk

(Updated 12:25) MANILA, Philippines - Former Civil Service Commission chief Karina David on Tuesday said many government officials are already thinking of coming out and telling the truth on irregularities in government. In a press conference of former senior government officials (FSGOs), David said this reality betrays the "unity walk" staged by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her Cabinet secretaries last February 19 in Malacañang. "Alam namin na marami nang nag-iisip, nababagabag ang konsyensya kung sila ay mananatili o quietly or loudly na lilisanin ang administrasyon," David said, adding that their group does not need to do a unity walk since the coming together of FSGOs is already a statement. "This is the first time in history all FSGOs come together with the same call," David noted. Before retiring from her post earlier this year, David exposed the prevalence of the “palakasan" system in the present administration, evidenced by President Arroyo's penchant for appointing retired military and police officials to key posts. This, as she called on Arroyo to remove ineligible appointed officials. For her part, former Social Welfare and Development Sec. Corazon "Dinky" Soliman shared David's view, saying many in government do not share what the President and other officials are thinking. She said these officials are just trying to gather up courage to speak up on irregularities in the administration. "You see few people walking. The unity walk is just like a smoke and mirror. They want as to believe that by are walking together, they are united and strong. I can tell you, we know for a fact some of those who are walking with them do not share the thinking nor the strategy but maybe is taking some time to gather the courage and the strength to say 'enough'," Soliman said. In the press conference, the group said it has divided former officials into clusters to review the present laws and make recommendations on how to improve governance in various fields. The group said former National Economic and Development Authority director general Cielito Habito will lead the group's economic cluster which will tackle concerns in finance, trade and industry, and the Central Bank. The social development cluster will be headed by former Education Sec. Edilberto de Jesus Jr and will tackle issues on education, health and social welfare. Other clusters are the: agriculture and agrarian reform, political reform and foreign relations. David said the members of the clusters have already met. In fact, the economic cluster will soon issue an assessment on the economic gains being flaunted by the administration. She added that the clusters will draft short-, medium-, and long-term solutions to concerns in these fields. In the press conference, David said the FSGO as a group does not prioritize calls for the President's resignation. "Hindi yan ang priority ng FSGO at this point. Palagi tayo nag-u-unite sa kung sino ang kalaban pero hindi tayo nag-u-unite kung saan tayo patungo," she said. David noted that the purpose of the group is to rebuild and strengthen the democratic institution. However, individually, some members of the group are calling for President Arroyo's ouster. In a statement released earlier in the day, 61 FSGOs called on President Arroyo to undertake the following steps to substantiate her anti-corruption claims: • Order former Socio-Economic Sec. Romulo Neri to resume his testimony before the Senate investigation without any restrictions or limitations; • Order the release and delivery to the Senate of all public records pertaining to the NBN-ZTE deal, starting with the minutes of the NEDA Board meetings on the project; • Suspend DOTC Sec. Leandro Mendoza and Asst. Sec. Lorenzo Formoso, the department being the lead for this project; • Suspend DENR Sec. Jose “Lito" Atienza, PNP chief Dir. Gen. Avelino Razon Jr, Deputy Exec. Sec Manuel Gaite, Deputy NAIA chief Angel Atutubo, Senior Supt. Paul Mascarinas and all those involved in the alleged attempt to prevent ZTE witness Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr from testifying; and • Order a halt on any further attempts by the DOJ, DENR, NBI and BIR to harass Lozada and those who are testifying in congressional investigations on corruption charges. - Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV