People vs GMA

People vs GMA

Daily Tribune by Herman Tiu Laurel 01/12/2007

The Edsa III Commission I helped establish in 2001, sponsored a press conference of the Edsa III forces to present its activities for January 2007. The group composed of organizations such as the PMAP, UMDJ, KMLG, NCCV, MARE, ASSALAM, ACTIV, and others read the manifesto 'GMA's Crimes Against the People ' A Litany from 2001, providing a panoramic snapshot of GMA's crimes against the people. It is worthwhile reproducing:
Remember to remember:
Power grab. Not once, but twice; then thrice and more. In a boast captured on video, Gloria Arroyo confessed to the conspiracy with military and police generals to grab power from the duly elected President Joseph E. Estrada. GMA followed this up in 2004 with the most blatant cheating this country has ever seen and exposed in the 'Garci tapes,' a crime she admitted in her notorious 'I am sorry' TV spiel. Now she pursues perpetual power through Con-ass, people's initiative I and II, the looming cheating in 2007 and Charter change without end.
Continuing rape of the Constitution. The 2001 power grab was followed in May by GMA's declaration of a State of Rebellion, a thing that does not exist in the Constitution. Since then, it has been serial rape of the Constitution with the Calibrated Preemptive Response suppressing the people's Right to Freedom of Free Speech and Peaceful Assembly; Executive Order (EO) 464 negating public accountability of Public Officer; and a repeat of 'State of Rebellion' with Presidential Proclamation 1017 that attempted to close down newspapers such as the Tribune. Similarly, in her impeachment cases, GMA directly interfered and bribed congressmen to subvert the processes in 2005 and 2006. Recently, GMA transferred custody of Lance Cpl. Smith to US custody in violation of the Constitution. All these spell doom for our rule of law.
?Stealing and Plunder. Ten days after GMA grabbed power she signed the infamous Impsa deal and received $14-million (P750-million) in kickback divvied up by DoJ Secretary Hernando Perez. This was followed by the Pic Marcelo expos of GMA's telecoms grab worth billions; subsequently media bared GMA's P32-billion Code-NGO PeaCE Bond scam and the 'road to perdition' Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard funds scandal. Following that were the expose on the Jose Pidal accounts, the PCSO and Pagcor scandals, the Judicial Development Fund looting, the multibillion fund diversions of the GSIS, and the fertilizer funds plunder through Joc-Joc Bolante.
Beggaring the Filipino people. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has imposed unprecedented hardship on the people through outrageous power, water and expressway toll rates increases; government services fees (including judicial) increases; rising prices for petroleum products and transport fares; eVAT and rVAT on basic necessities and services, including consumer telecom services; rising prices of food all of which have exponentially escalated in the five-and-a-half years of Gloria's regime have made beggars of the Filipino masses, the middle- classes and professionals, growing numbers of whom are compelled to beg for jobs abroad.
GMA's violent, fascist state. GMA sent a hail of bullets to meet the scores of protesters and killed over a dozen in the march dubbed Edsa III in May of 2001. Since then, hundreds of extra-judicial and summary killings of ordinary citizens, social workers and dissidents have become the hallmark of the GMA regime, identifying the Philippines as among the 'murder' capitals of the world. The terrifying abduction and torture of the Erap 5 leaders, the mounting number of journalists killed, the unrelenting killing of political personalities and crime rate rising out of control. Innocent Filipinos languish in unjust imprisonment, particularly President Joseph Estrada who continues to be detained on trumped-up charges. All these send a chilling effect to all our people.
Blatant liar. How can a nation deal in an honorable, dignified, rational manner with a woman who lies, steals, cheat and kills without compunction. In 2003, for the sake of national conciliation she was asked and she promised: 'I will not run' and then she ran and cheated in 2004; when exposed she said 'I am sorry' and went on to launch the Con-ass, PI and today she has padded the voters registration with at least eight million votes.
Sobra na, tama na! It is time to stop the destruction of the nation. Gloria Arroyo and her henchmen are the cancer in Philippine society. To save the Filipino people, the cancer must be excised????..Oust Gloria, now!??
Having summed up GMA's evils to keep us on track, we continue with the plans for change through our proposed UNO platform started out in our Jan. 8 column:
9) 'Pork barrel' require senators and congressman to obtain the imprimatur of the regional or provincial, city or municipal development council for 'pork barrel' allocations or whatever it will be called, to prevent the arbitrary, personal use of the funds;
10) Corruption ' A 'People Anti-Corruption Commission to replace the GMA-appointed anti-corruption bodies (including the failed Hong Kong anti-corruption czar) composed of representatives from and selected by socio-civic, religious, consumer, sectoral and people's organizations;
11) Environment Revision of the Clean Air Act to remove the ban on 'municipal incinerators' and 'garbage-to-energy' plants to end the national and metropolitan solid waste disposal problem and reducing the cost of energy production.
Email: collator.peedee@yahoo.co.uk