This story was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. V, Special Release, Sept. 7, 2005

Arroyo’s Sleepless Nights Not Over

BY THE GLORIA STEP DOWN MOVEMENT

Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s sleepless nights are not yet over.

Dr. Carol Araullo, chairperson of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), warned Arroyo not to rejoice in her superficial victory over the opposition. “She herself knows she has not won fair and square. How much has she stolen from public funds to bribe the weakest in Congress? What political favors and concessions have she offered to them? Now Arroyo calls that a grand display of political maturity? She is fooling herself.”

Araullo said Arroyo must cower before a broad united front formed against her. “The longer she stays in power, the more she galvanizes the unity of different political forces against her.”

Araullo said Arroyo’s offer of reconciliation is aimed at preserving herself in power than healing the nation’s ‘divisiveness.’    

Dr. Reynaldo Lesaca, convenor of the Gloria Step Down Movement (GSM), “If the constitutional democracy Arroyo has been flaunting of has failed us, other options remain for the broad united front to take. Yesterday is not a glorious day in history as what Arroyo sees it.  The killing of the impeachment spells more unrest rather than tranquility. Arroyo and her allies in Congress have showed the Filipino people the most effective means to oust a president – people power.”

Lesaca said that political and economic instability will continue as long as Arroyo stays in Malacañang. He said oil price increases and the implementation of expanded value-added tax will ignite protests.  

Lesaca said, “Instead of curbing oil prices, Arroyo asks the people to make some sacrifices. Instead of increasing the wage and salary of workers, she has imposed another tax burden. All these favor foreign interests at the expense of the Filipino people. How in the world does she expect stability then?”

Posted by Bulatlat

© 2004 Bulatlat ■  Alipato Publications

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