Bishops, Laymen Say No to GMA’s Presidential Run

A recent opinion poll among Church leaders and laymen reveals an overwhelming No to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s bid to run in the coming May 2004 elections. The poll was conducted among bishops, religious sisters, laymen and others by the Promotion on Church People’s Response.

By Bulatlat.com

The Church’s response to a presidential bid by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is an overwhelming “No.”

The Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR) revealed this July 25 based on an opinion poll survey the group conducted recently among some 1,000 bishops, pastors, religious sisters, deaconesses, seminarians and lay members of the Church.

PCPR spokesperson Rev. Fr. Allan Jose Arcebuche, OFM, said PCPR conducted the survey in the wake of speculations that Macapagal-Arroyo will run for president in May 2004 contrary to her own announcement Dec. 30 last year. In her announcement, the president pledged not to run in the May 2004 elections because she prefers spending the rest of her term for the country’s economic recovery.

Responding to the survey question whether they would consider the president running in the next election, 96. 3% answered No and 3.1% Yes. Some 0.6% abstained, Father Arcebuche said.

When asked why, 21% of those who stated No criticized the president’s all-out support to U.S. wars of aggression; 14% scored Macapagal-Arroyo’s failure to address demands of the poor; 3% protested against militarism and human rights violations under her presidency; 32% raised concerns on the peace situation, corruption and other people’s issues. 

Father Arcebuche said: “The results of our opinion poll simply validate that GMA was right on her December 30 pronouncement: She was right to give up her presidential ambitions in 2004 because majority of the people think she failed on her promise to be a good president.”

“We need a president who represents a truly pro-poor government who can stop the dying of many children like the case of the quadruplets whose parents were very poor and couldn’t afford the hospital costs. GMA’s SONA on Monday should be her very last SONA. When she assumed the presidency via People Power, she was challenged to serve the poor and depart from the corrupt, militarist, anti-people and pro-U.S. imperialist policies implemented by her predecessors. But she failed the people and proved to be shamelessly unworthy of the people’s trust,” he said.

Respondents who stated No gave the following comments:

“She pronounced she will not run anymore so she better be true to her words…She must have word of honor…”

“We need a president who upholds peace and justice, not war!

“She is nothing but a puppet and terrorist ally of Bush. If GMA has the support of Bush then let Bush elect her as president, NOT us… GMA beyond 2004 no way!”

“Is she a Filipino?”

“Let’s try another one who is pro-people and authentically pro-poor…She was not faithful to her promise to uplift the plight of the poor…We need someone who has a heart for the poor.”

"She has used her power against the people.”

“She did not really build a republic where the rights of the people are upheld, people were not really given work. She waged all-out war against the Moro people.”

 “We’re not moving towards what she promised the country…”

“She was never worthy ever since.”

Meanwhile, some of those who said Yes gave the following remarks:

“If Lacson is the strongest presidential candidate, I prefer to have GMA.”

“People should choose lesser evil.”

“Give GMA a chance to continue / implement projects for the common good… We have not much choice of other presidential candidates.”

“Yes, if she would address the welfare of the poor.”  Bulatlat.com

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