IMPEACHMENT TRIAL VS ESTRADA PROCEEDS: The House prosecution panel
yesterday scored its first major victory in its bid to oust President
Estrada, setting the stage for his historic impeachment trial at the
Senate.
Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., presiding officer of the impeachment
court, threw out for lack of merit a defense motion to quash the Articles
of Impeachment and scheduled the start of the trial on Dec. 7.
Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said the trial could be finished by
the end of December.
None of the 21 senators, sitting as jurors in Impeachment Case No.
001-2000, challenged the decision at the end of the two-hour orderly court
session.
Former Chief Justice Andres Narvasa, head of the defense team, said he was
"disappointed" but added Davide's ruling was "not entirely unexpected."
Narvasa's team on Friday filed the motion to quash the charges, contending
the House of Representatives failed to follow constitutional procedures in
approving the Articles of Impeachment and sending these to the Senate.
Narvasa said his panel would submit by Dec. 1 its answer to the charges of
bribery, corruption, betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the
Constitution filed against the President.
Former President Corazon Aquino also expressed satisfaction at how the
court session turned out.
Estelito Mendoza, one of the President's lawyers, spent 29 minutes
presenting his oral arguments before the impeachment court, while Makati
Rep. Joker Arroyo, one of the House prosecutors, took 22 minutes to rebut.
Mendoza argued that the House justice committee violated the Constitution
by approving the impeachment charges without a finding of probable cause.
In addition, he said the 77 congressmen signed the impeachment complaint on
the basis of belief not facts.
Worse, Mendoza contended, no vote was taken or deliberations made by the
full House on the "unverified complaint."
He pointed out it was not the House but only Speaker Manuel Villar who
transmitted the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate during the lower
chamber's stormy session on Nov. 13.
The Articles of Impeachment, therefore, is flawed and the Senate has not
acquired jurisdiction to try the impeachment case, according to Mendoza.
In his rebuttal, Arroyo said the Senate sitting as an impeachment court had
no choice but try the case, arguing the House had complied with
constitutional procedures.
He pointed out that the Supreme Court had long abandoned the strict
requirement that complainants had to have personal knowledge in verifying a
complaint.
It was enough, he added, that the congressmen signed the complaint after
swearing that the charges were "true and correct to his knowledge and
belief based on records."
Otherwise, he said, the impeachable offense must be committed within sight
and hearing of at least one–third of the House members.
Arroyo also pointed out that the impeachment complaint was signed not by 73
lawmakers as required by the Constitution but by more than 100 congressmen.
Faced with this fact, Speaker Villar had no choice but to follow the
Constitution and transmit the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate, he
said.
The Senate, according to Arroyo, could not overrule the House because the
two are co-equal bodies under the constitutional principles of "separation
of powers" and "check and balance."
Arroyo pointed out even newly installed Speaker Arnulfo Fuentebella, who
replaced Villar, did not question the proceedings. Inquirer, 11/29/2000
KIDS IN FOREFRONT OF RALLIES TODAY: Children will lead protesters in
reciting the pledge "Panatang Makabayan" and singing the anthem "Lupang
Hinirang" in place of the planned "Sanduguan (blood compact)" during
rallies today and tomorrow on Ayala Avenue in Makati City and Mendiola and
Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila.
In renewing the vows of allegiance to the motherland, the protesters will
appeal to the Filipinos' "sense of patriotism" in demanding President
Estrada's resignation, said Angel Tatlonghari, production manager of the
rallies.
The rallies will be led by the Kongreso ng Mamamayang Pilipino (Kompil II),
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Trade Union Congress of the Philippines,
Kangkong Brigade, Makati Business Club, August 21 Movement and delegations
from various provinces.
Film director Behn Cervantes, who was jailed along with his late colleague
Lino Brocka during the Marcos dictatorship, is in charge of the overall
direction.
Meanwhile, protest actions continued yesterday in various parts of the
country.
At the Don Chino Roces Bridge near Malacanang, some 30 members of the
Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) staged a mock pro-Estrada rally, a spoof of past
demonstrations expressing support for the embattled President.
At the state-run Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Sta. Mesa,
Manila, thousands of students, faculty and administrative officials staged
a walkout at 10 a.m.
About 100 students then proceeded to the Chino Roces Bridge and joined
other protesters from other universities.
They were to hold an overnight vigil-concert dubbed "Pamorningan sa
Mendiola Part II."
In Bacolod City, about 85 percent of public transport was paralyzed on the
first day of the two-day strike launched by militant jeepney drivers.
The PUP walkout, according to spokesperson Glyziel Gotiangco, was meant to
show the discontent of the various sectors in the university.
Members of the Sanlakas and Bukluran ng Manggawang Pilipino (BMP) also held
small rallies in front of shopping malls in Bacolod.
In Iloilo, two coalitions were formed to add fuel to the fiery clamor for
the President's resignation.
Some 300 gathered at the Jubilee Hall of St. Clement's Church to join the
launching of the Women! chapter in Iloilo.
Labor groups also formed a broad alliance to press for a change in national
leadership.
The Labor Alliance for the Immediate Dismissal of Estrada from Office
(Laid-Off) is composed of the KMU, Federation of Free Workers (FFW), TUCP
and Panay Labor Alliance.
Maan Hontiveros, Noel Trinidad and Pinky Marquez will lead a dozen others
in trying to make the Makati and Manila rallies lively all the way to
midnight tomorrow.
At 11 a.m. today on Ayala, businessmen and residents of posh villages in
Makati and Alabang will welcome the marchers who took part in the "Lakbayan
ng Mamamayan" from various regions and provinces in a symbolic salubungan
(meeting).
After a short program, the assembly will proceed to Mendiola, where protest
leaders will apprise the public on the present economic and political
situation.
Two-hour rallies to be led by Sanlakas, BMP and Kapatiran ng mga Pangulo ng
Unyon sa Pilipinas will also be held tomorrow at 17 points in Metro Manila
and three other areas in Rizal, Cavite and Laguna.
Tomorrow at 6 p.m., candles will be lit in various parts of Mindanao under
the auspices of the Mindanao Institute of Journalism.
The activity is the Mindanao media's contribution to the celebration of the
Mindanao Week of Peace, which starts tomorrow and ends on Dec. 6.
The National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace, social
action arm of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP),
has launched a 13-day, nationwide rally-awareness campaign for Mr.
Estrada's resignation.
Militant fisherfolk yesterday said the deployment of thousands of policemen
and soldiers in Metro Manila in anticipation of the weeklong protest
actions had put the entire capital region under martial law.
Pamalakaya vice chair Lamberto Cabrera said the deployment was "a chilling
indication" that the President and Philippine National Police Director
General Panfilo Lacson would use force against legitimate protests.
Inquirer, 11/292000
SIN RENEWS CALL FOR ESTRADA TO QUIT: Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin
renewed his call to his flock yesterday to press on with the campaign for
the ouster of President Estrada, whom he said has become one of the
country's "biggest problems."
Sin made the call as anti-Estrada protests enter the second day of weeklong
mass actions across the country.
"The nation is bleeding. Let us not allow the nation to bleed to death. The
President is not the only problem. He is one of our biggest problems. But
let us not forget that we are all guilty of the crime of complacency,
indifference and apathy," Sin said in a statement.
Sin also reminded protesters to keep the demonstrations and rallies
peaceful, and respect the law. "Even if the problem is getting worse with
every passing day we must not even think of resorting to violent means or
to engage in a hate campaign for anybody," he said.
Malacanang earlier warned protesters that while the constitutional right of
freedom of speech and peaceful assembly would be respected, "illegal acts"
such as barricading streets or making seditious statements would be dealt
with severely.
Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora said security forces have been
monitoring the anti-Estrada speeches. Malacanang reportedly had ordered
television and radio stations not to erase tapes of anti-Estrada rallies.
Yesterday, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)
criticized the alleged order, saying it smacked of the martial law tactics
of the Ferdinand Marcos dictatorship that ended in 1986 after a peaceful
popular uprising.
"God forbid! Such things as the Malacanang order reminds us of the Marcos
era and make us a country of paranoids," said Cotabato Archbishop Orlando
Quevedo, president of the CBCP. "Criticisms against Mr. Estrada are not
criticisms against the entire government and the state."
Quevedo said the order "would effectively instill fear and nervousness,
inhibit participation in peaceful and legal demonstrations." Phi. Star,
11/28/2000
NEW GROUP OF RETIRED GENERALS JOINS CALL FOR ESTRADA'S RESIGNATION: Former
Army chief retired Lt. Gen. Fortunato Abat said yesterday a group of
retired military and police generals, headed by former Constabulary chief
Gen. Ramon Montano, has joined him in calling for the immediate resignation
of President Estrada.
Abat said the Business Industry and Retired Cavaliers Inc. (BIRCI) has
passed a re-solution demanding that Mr. Estrada step down.
"We are for peaceful movement, to express the sovereign will of the
people," Abat said. "Even if you are retired, you have to be relevant. We
continue to desire a better country, a better quality of life and we still
have a big influence."
Abat said National Security Adviser Alexander Aguirre was present when they
drafted the resolution, the objective of which is to make a stand on issues
affecting national interest.
In the manifesto read over radio by Abat, BIRCI members said "the country
has been thrown into political and economic turmoil" because of the
accusations of Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson that the President had
received hundreds of millions of pesos in payoffs from jueteng operators.
"Whereas in the view of the above charges, he (President Estrada) has lost
the moral ascendancy to govern our country, and for the good of the country
and the people, he should step down from the presidency at the earliest
time," Abat quoted the manifesto.
"The President can save the country from divisiveness and possible collapse
by voluntarily resigning from his position, an act of self-sacrifice and
the highest form of statesmanship," the manifesto added.
Abat said BIRCI does not oppose impeachment as a means of removing Mr.
Estrada from office, although resignation is one of four modes provided in
the Constitution for the presidency to be vacated.
"But the impeachment process has doubts as to its outcome serving the best
interest of our country and people," Abat quoted the manifesto.
Abat said BIRCI is comprised of mostly generals and flag officers of the
Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police, who are graduates of the
Philippine Military Academy.
Abat, who served as defense secretary under the Ramos administration,
earlier issued a manifesto urging "comrades-in-arms in the present
dispensation" to help the President "realize the virtue" of stepping down
from the presidency. Phil. Star, 11/25/2000
PNP INTENSIFIES WATCH ON GMA: The Philippine National Police (PNP) is now
making use of its vast intelligence resources to intensify its monitoring
of Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's activities.
Through the Office of the Directorate for Intelligence, PNP chief Director
General Panfilo Lacson ordered all police intelligence units yesterday to
keep a close watch on the Vice President, who has been meeting with various
opposition and cause-oriented groups in her recent visits to the provinces.
PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome, however, denied that
police personnel were keeping tabs on Arroyo.
The intensified surveillance operations include taking note of the
following:
-- Place/venue/location of activities during the Vice President's visits.
-- Identities of organizations meeting her.
-- Estimate on the number of participants.
-- Duration of the visits.
-- Names of facilitators of the events, including photographs of the
participants.
-- Other pertinent information and data.
The order, which requires all field units to submit a regular report,
failed to explain the purpose of the surveillance operation.
National Security Adviser Alexander Aguirre earlier admitted that
Malacanang would be closely monitoring anti-administration rallies and
demonstrations.
Aguirre also said he ordered the photographing of the rallies for possible
identification of dubious individuals who may simply be riding on the
current issues for their own political motives.
Meanwhile, Macapagal-Arroyo's camp said the Vice President had no plans of
meeting with leaders of the communist National Democratic Front (NDF).
Lawyer Rene Corona, Arroyo's chief of staff, said the Vice President will
stick to peaceful and constitutional means in seeking the ouster of
President Estrada.
He denied reports that the Vice President is slated to meet with NDF
leaders next week.
In a related development, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the
Philippines (CBCP) said yesterday it may withdraw its support for Arroyo if
she, too, fails to perform well for the country
"Supporting the call for President Estrada's resignation does not mean an
endorsement for the Vice President. If ever she does assume the presidency,
it is merely recognition of the constitutional line of succession," the
CBCP National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace (NASSA) said
in its "Erap Resign" primer.
NASA said the country needs a president who can chart a vision or
articulate a clear platform while having the integrity to implement them
without delay.
"In the event that she (Arroyo) also proves unfit to govern, we will not
hesitate to call for her removal from office," NASSA said. Phil. Star,
11/25/2000
WEEK-LONG PROTESTS VS ESTRADA START: From big business to religious groups
to leftists, protesters of various political stripes and causes are
launching today the biggest and longest series of protests yet against
President Estrada as the countdown to his historic impeachment trial
continues.
Dubbed as "Isang Linggong Protesta" or Week-long Protest, the nationwide
"civil disobedience" campaign is reminiscent of the twilight years of the
Ferdinand Marcos dictatorship that ended in 1986.
Malacanang has declared a state of alert in all government agencies,
including police and military units nationwide, in anticipation of the
massive protest rallies.
Security has been tightened at oil depots in Manila, the offices of the
country's "Big 3" oil companies (Caltex, Petron and Shell), commercial
centers and government installations, Aglipay said.
Today's protests, dubbed the "National Day of Paralysis," will kick off the
week-long anti-Estrada campaign with a nationwide transport strike,
walkouts and work stoppages.
Militant factory workers are to walk out of their jobs. Students will march
off from their classrooms. Employees are also expected to leave their
offices.
Hundreds of thousands of protesters from all walks of life, religious
beliefs, political leanings, and various causes will troop to the Chino
Roces Bridge (formerly Mendiola) near Malacanang where scores of riot
police and soldiers will be awaiting them. But aside from the usual street
demonstrations, marches and political speeches, the protesters have decided
to be more creative and colorful this time.
Among the protests lined up this week is a mini-car racing contest, dubbed
"Let's Go Against Erap," at the Quezon Memorial Circle to be staged by
militant activists from the League of Filipino Students.
Militant farmers from the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas will hold a
"rice festival" at the nearby Department of Agriculture where they will
display varieties of local and foreign rice.
On Wednesday, Makati City's businessmen and socialites will prepare a ritzy
welcome for at least 10,000 farmers, fishermen and other rural folk who
will come from the provinces. Dubbed the "People Power Lunch," the
protesters will be feted to a lunch of pork and chicken adobo.
The protests are aimed to press President Estrada to resign ahead of his
historic impeachment trial that will begin on Dec. 7. Phil. Star,
11/27/2000
PROSECUTORS TO BLOCK QUASH BID: The prosecution in the impeachment trial of
President Estrada is scheduled to file today its opposition to the motion
of defense lawyers asking the Senate to throw out the case.
House Minority Leader Feliciano Belmonte Jr., prosecution manager, said
yesterday the President's lawyers cannot question the procedure the House
followed in transmitting the articles of impeachment to the Senate last
Nov. 13.
He said the defense also cannot question the impeachment complaint as it
was signed by more than the minimum one-third of all House members
prescribed under the Charter.
Rep. Joker Arroyo, a member of the prosecution team, said it is debatable
whether the Senate, as an impeachment court, can entertain a motion to
dismiss the charge the House has leveled against the President.
He said the smaller chamber cannot review the work of the larger chamber,
which has exclusive jurisdiction over complaints against impeachment
officials, he said.
What the Senate should do is just focus on its work as mandated by the
Constitution – which is to "proceed with the President's trial forthwith,"
Arroyo stressed.
He added that as of yesterday afternoon, the prosecution was still
discussing its opposition to the motion to quash the impeachment complaint.
Another prosecutor, Rep. Raul Gonzalez, said Senate President Aquilino
Pimentel Jr. erred in proclaiming that if senators grant the motion to
quash, "that will be the end of the impeachment case."
He cited Section 5 of Rule 117 of the Rules in Criminal Procedure which
provides that "if the motion to quash is sustained by the court, the court
may order that another information be filed," while Section 6 clearly
states that "an order sustaining the motion to quash is not a bar to
another prosecution for the same offense."
However, Gonzalez said if the motion is granted, the Senate would return
the articles of impeachment to the House.
Since the larger chamber is now controlled by pro-Estrada congressmen,
"only God knows how long will it take for the House to endorse the
impeachment articles back to the Senate, notwithstanding the fact that more
than one-third of the members have signed verified endorsement," he said.
Phil. Star, 11/27/2000
PALACE DECLARES `STATE OF ALERT': Malacanang has declared a "state of
alert" with today's onset of weeklong strikes, rallies and marches in Metro
Manila and key cities of the country by multi-sectoral groups demanding the
ouster of President Estrada.
Press Undersecretary Antonio Seva said the order was given to police and
other law-enforcement authorities to stem reported threats by communist
rebels and other "elements (that) may try to take advantage" of the
situation.
Militant groups were, however, undaunted as they lambasted "Estrada
loyalists" for instilling "a climate of fear and hate" to suppress the
protests.
The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan urged the people to "let their voices be
heard," instead of being affected by the "Red-scare tactic," by joining the
"peaceful" mass actions dubbed "Isang Linggong Protesta, Pabilisin ang
Pagpapatalsik kay Estrada."
Also starting today, the military goes on full alert to back up the
Philippine National Police in maintaining peace and order.
Seva said the alert status was imposed to forestall chaos that may be
planned by "dubious characters, organizations and groups."
But he added that the order was part of the "usual preparations" made by
the government whenever there are large gatherings of people. "It is normal
for the state to take precautions," he said.
The press undersecretary said the reports of communist infiltration in
Metro Manila were true, pointing out that these did not come from
Malacanang but from the police and military intelligence units, along with
local governments in Luzon.
Ordered to be on alert were police and local government officials,
prosecutors, crowd-control personnel and traffic enforcers.
In Metro Manila, the military will mobilize its four civil disturbance
control (CDC) battalions--one each from Camp Aguinaldo and the Army, Navy
and Air Force services.
The Navy CDC unit has been deployed at Malacanang upon the request of the
Presidential Security Group. PSG officers are also asking for another
battalion to counter a purported plan by the protesters to surround the
Palace.
The Department of Public Works and Highways was tasked to field towing
trucks to clear away vehicles and other obstructions that may be placed by
the marchers to block the streets.
The military officer who is privy to the security preparations, said the
Cabinet Cluster E, which is in charge of national security, had instructed
that there will be no mass arrests or efforts to prevent protesters in the
provinces from entering Metro Manila.
The officer cited intelligence reports that cargo trucks will be used to
blockade the North Expressway and boundaries of Rizal province and Metro
Manila.
Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado said that when "massive" disorder breaks
out, the Cabinet Cluster E would assess the situation to determine if
military intervention was needed.
Rally organizers have expressed fears that the government was setting the
stage for a crackdown based on military claims that communist rebels will
be staging attacks during the weeklong protests.
On Friday, military intelligence officials said a man caught in the Palace
grounds with two bottles of homemade explosives was a member of the New
People's Army on a suicide mission.
Communist leaders have disowned the suspect, saying the incident was made
up by the police and the military. Mercado said fears of a crackdown raised
by protest leaders were "mere speculations and creative scenarios."
Inquirer, 11/27/2000
ARROYO PRESSES ALTERNATIVE AGENDA: CLARK FIELD, Pampanga - Vice President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo vowed yesterday to continue discussing with her
allies "an alternative national agenda" in the event President Estrada
resigns or is convicted in a Senate trial.
She also asked the public to understand her position, and not look at her
as a "power-hungry official eager to assume the presidency."
Arroyo explained that as the highest elected opposition leader, she has no
choice but to exercise her leadership.
Cutting short her trip to Mindanao to speak before a top-level conference
of the Kapisanan ng mga Brod-kasters ng Pilipinas (KBP) at the Holiday Inn
here, Arroyo said it was her duty at this time of uncertainty to discuss
the agenda, even in the face of criticism from various sectors.
The Vice President noted that when she initially chose to be silent amid
the mounting calls for the President's resignation, "I was accused of being
too coy and inscrutable by those who wanted to know my concrete plans and
intentions."
"But when I did propose the core outline of an alternative national agenda,
they began accusing me of being too shrill and precipitate," Arroyo said.
She said there is a need to pursue good governance based on three pillars,
namely: a social-moral foundation to guide the leadership, a philosophy of
transparency in government action, and an ethic of effective implementation
throughout the bureaucracy.
The Vice President likewise identified the four components of her national
agenda, namely: the economic philosophy of free enterprise, social and
sectoral bias to guard a thriving economic development plan, a modernized
agricultural sector founded on social equity, and improved moral standards
in government and society.
She explained that in the process of pursuing free enterprise and
world-class Internet capabilities, the government should still focus on the
main battle to eliminate the inequity and poverty within society.
She pointed out, however, that without modernized agriculture, "we will
never win the struggle against poverty in the countryside."
The Vice President expressed concern over an apparent Malacañang witch hunt
against members of the media that are perceived to be critical to the
Estrada administration.
"I am alarmed by the news of a draft memo from the National
Telecommunications Commission requiring all television and radio stations
to preserve tapes of public events such as (pro-resignation) rallies,"
Arroyo told officers of the KBP. "I am aware and deeply concerned by the
pressure on Philippine media to bring its most critical voices into line
and limit or pervert its functions."
The Vice President denounced the witch-hunt, and asked broadcasters "to
resist the blandishments of untruth." Phil. Star, 11/24/2000
POLL: ALL NATIONAL LEADERS LOSING PUBLIC TRUST: People in Metro Manila are
fast losing trust in the country's political leaders, and a recent survey
showed the downtrend has broken the record of pessimism that prevailed
after the assassination of former Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. in 1983.
The grim picture was presented to reporters yesterday by Dr. Felipe
Miranda, president of Pulse Asia, when he released portions of a Nov. 7
survey during a press forum at the Ciudad Fernandina restaurant in
Intramuros, Manila.
Without giving the exact figures, Miranda said the previous record of
pessimism among Filipinos was registered in April 1984, a year after Aquino
was shot dead on the airport tarmac.
Miranda said this occurred two years before people in Metro Manila rallied
against then dictator Ferdinand Marcos along a stretch of highway between
Camps Aguinaldo and Crame in what came to be known as the 1986 EDSA people
power revolt.
Medalla said the pessimism among people in Metro Manila started sometime
between July and October this year after Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit"
Singson accused President Estrada of receiving payoffs from jueteng
operators.
Medalla said the survey shows that the "trust ratings" of the President
dropped to 35 percent from 42 percent on Oct. 17-28; while that of Vice
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo plunged to 27 percent from 49 percent
during the same period.
"President Estrada and the two former presidents (Corazon Aquino and Fidel
Ramos) lost seven points in their trust ratings," he said. "Between two
recent Pulse Asia surveys, (Ulat ng Bayan of Oct. 7-30, 2000 and Project
Rubicon of Nov. 7, 2000 ) virtually all of the selected leader
personalities significantly depreciated in their levels of public trust,
with Vice President Arroyo losing most (22 points), followed by (Manila
Archbishop Jaime) Cardinal Sin (12 points)."
Medalla said Aquino's "trust ratings" fell to 31 percent in Nov. 7 from 38
percent on Oct. 17 -28; that of Ramos dropped to 29 percent from 36
percent; that of Sin dropped to 30 percent from 42 percent; and the rating
of Singson remained at 16 percent.
"Very low, eroded public trust ratings for the most prominent political and
religious personalities indicate the public's great skepticism," he said.
"President Estrada, currently best-rated of six selected personalities
(Aquino, Ramos, Arroyo, Sin, and Singson), barely gains the trust of one in
three respondents. All six personalities are distrusted by at least 38
percent of the people participating in the survey."
Medalla told reporters yesterday Mr. Estrada must do something significant
in the next 25 days to regain public confidence in his administration.
Medalla said 59 percent of respondents said the Chief Executive must stay
on even as he tries to change his character and behavior in the shortest
time possible.
"Only one in 10 respondents would have the President stay on without
effecting any change in himself," he said. "Close to one in three (30
percent) says that President Estrada should resign soonest if the best
interest of the country is to be served."
Medalla said the President continues to be supported by at least half of
those belonging to the largely class D (51 percent) as well as the poorest
class E (53 percent).
On the other hand, Medalla said disapproval is encountered by the Chief
Executive from those in the better-off class ABC (50 percent) and the much
smaller subset of class AB (54 percent).
"College graduates (43 percent ) and government employees (56 percent) also
register much disapproval," he said.
Dr. Romeo Manlapaz of Pulse Asia told The STAR yesterday their third
quarter survey, which was conducted between Oct. 16 and 30 this year,
indicated a rate of fall of 0.027 per day as compared to the 0.573 rate of
fall per survey quarter.
"If you compare the rate of fall in October 2000 with the rate of fall in
May 1999 when Erap first fell from grace, the rate of fall now is more than
four times the rate of fall before," he said.
Manlapaz said he had come up with an analysis, "Erap in Pulse Asia
2000-10," and a paper, "The Movie in Erap's Mind," which he had presented
at the Balay Kalinaw at the University of the Philippines in Diliman,
Quezon City.
"The results are devastating," he said. Manlapaz said Iglesia ni Cristo
members or the third sub-population, who comprise the "command votes" are
now ambivalent towards the President; while the Muslims in Mindanao or the
fourth sub-population no longer want to vote for Mr. Estrada.
Manlapaz said 47 percent of respondents in Pulse Asia's survey last March
and 42 percent of those polled in December last year have vowed to reject
President Estrada in another election. Phil. Star, 11/23/2000
JOKER PLAYS DOWN MOTION TO DISMISS:Not to worry, the 11-man team of
prosecutors said of the plan of President Estrada's defense team to move
today for the outright dismissal of the impeachment case filed by the House
of Representatives.
"I don't think it will prosper," said Rep. Joker Arroyo, one of the House
prosecutors, who dismissed the motion as a ploy to buy more time for the
defense lawyers.
Arroyo said the planned motion was "standard practice" among lawyers having
difficulties presenting their defense.
Lawyer Estelito Mendoza, a member of the defense team, said an application
to throw out the case based on technicalities would be filed in the Senate
today, ahead of the President's answer to the Articles of Impeachment.
Asked if the impeachment case could be dismissed even before the scheduled
start of the historic Senate trial on Dec. 7, Mendoza said: "Yes, it's
possible, especially if it (the impeachment complaint) is baseless."
Arroyo, however, said the rules of impeachment recently approved by the
Senate did not have a provision allowing the defense to file a motion to
dismiss the charges.
He said the Senate could not question the "exclusive" mandate of the House
to initiate impeachment because both chambers were co-equal branches under
the Constitution.
Arroyo said the President's lawyers wanted to file the motion "because they
are in the process of consolidating their defense and hoping that in the
meantime the tide will be turned in their favor."
Arroyo said the Senate, when it officially convened this week as a
tribunal, was bound by the Constitution to proceed with the historic trial
without delay.
Former Solicitor General Frank Chavez said the filing of the motion to
dismiss was made possible by the "deficient and vague" Senate rules of
impeachment.
Chavez, one of the private lawyers assisting the prosecution, urged the
Senate to draw up supplemental rules before the start of the trial.
But former Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman brushed aside the planned motion to
dismiss, saying its filing would be tantamount to asking the senators to
act both as prosecutors and judges.
"This dual role violates the clear mandate of the Constitution that
designates the House as the prosecutor that solely determines the
sufficiency in form and substance of the impeachment complaint and the
Senate as the sole judge in the impeachment trial. The dichotomy is
categorical," Lagman said in a press statement.
Lagman, a private lawyer assisting the 11-man prosecution panel, said the
defense motion was aimed at allowing Mr. Estrada to "escape conviction by
time forfeit."
He said the Senate must finish the trial before the start of the campaign
period in January for the 2001 senatorial and congressional elections.
Congressmen and senators serving prosecutors or jurors must resign upon the
filing of their certificates of candidacy.
A lawyer helping House prosecutors said Thursday that a large amount of
evidence had been gathered against the President, particularly on charges
of bribery and corruption.
"The evidence on those two cases are strong," said Eduardo de los Reyes, a
corporate lawyer who has volunteered to help the prosecution panel in the
Senate trial.
So much evidence has been gathered against Mr. Estrada that "if we threw in
all the evidence, the people might be confused," he said.
De los Reyes said Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson, a former gambling
and drinking buddy of Mr. Estrada's, would be presented as the
prosecution's star witness.
But he said there would be other witnesses whose trial appearance would
surprise the public. Inquirer, 11/24/2000
MEDICS: ERAP OUSTER WILL CURE RP PROBLEMS: If Manila Archbishop Jaime
Cardinal Sin thinks President Estrada's resignation would be good for the
beleaguered leader's soul, militant doctors said his ouster from Malacañang
would be best for the entire body politic.
Members of Code Red (Resign Erap Dali!), a coalition of militant doctors,
were unanimous in giving this prescription to "cure" the country's ills.
Code Red members on Wednesday morning rallied in front of the Capitol
Medical Center in Quezon City to press for President Estrada's removal from
office.
Joseph Carrabeo of Code Red said their diagnosis of the President showed
that his continued mismanagement of the country and his misbehavior made
him unfit to continue in office.
About 50 medical practitioners from Quezon City hospitals like Saint Luke's
and the National Kidney Center joined Corrabeo in the rally. They carried
streamers, placards and banners calling for the President's ouster.
They also tied white balloons to vehicles in their motorcade to the Quirino
Grandstand at the Rizal Park Wednesday afternoon.
At the grandstand, they met other doctors from other Metro Manila hospitals
like the Makati Medical Center, Manila Doctors Hospital, Lourdes Hospital,
Jose Reyes Memorial Hospital, Tondo Hospital, Philippine Children's Medical
Center, UST Hospital and Philippine General Hospital.
From the grandstand, the doctors proceeded to the Senate, where they
delivered symbolic booster shots for Mr. Estrada and eight
pro-administration senators. Inquirer, 11/24/2000
CABINET MEN SEE 60% CHANCE OF ESTRADA ACQUITTAL: A Cabinet member close to
President Estrada said yesterday that officials in the administration
believe there is a "60 percent" chance that the Chief Executive would be
acquitted in the impeachment trial.
However, they are concerned about the possibility of a public outcry in
case of a not-guilty verdict.
The Cabinet member, who asked not to be identified, said the administration
is now making preparations to ensure stability after the trial. He did not
elaborate.
Constitutional expert Fr. Joaquin Bernas, one of the framers of the
Constitution, also indicated that an acquittal may not quell nationwide
protests against Mr. Estrada.
He noted that the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos was declared winner of
the fraud-marred snap election in 1986 by the Batasang Pambansa. Phil.
Star, 11/24/2000
SHADOWY AFP GROUP WANTS ESTRADA TO QUIT: There's a shadowy group of retired
military and police officers who have joined the call for President
Estrada's resignation.
Calling themselves "Reveille" (which means wake-up call in French), members
of a group claiming to be comprised of retired military and police officers
are circulating a manifesto in Camp Aguinaldo, urging active officers of
the Armed Forces to force Mr. Estrada to step down.
The manifesto is addressed to Armed Forces chief Gen. Angelo Reyes and
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Panfilo Lacson.
"Help us in our quest for President Estrada to resign!" read the manifesto.
"Help us restore decency in the Presidency. The Presidency is not a
reformatory school. Help us restore our respected place in the community of
nations. Help us regain our declining economy which we have considerably
lost."
Members of "Reveille" called on soldiers and policemen to "allow the
people's voice to prevail," and to remain neutral and not to allow the
administration to use them in the present political crisis.
In another development, Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado has asked Justice
Secretary Artemio Tuquero to investigate and possibly prosecute retired Lt.
Gen. Fortunato Abat after he called on other active military officers to
force the President to resign.
Abat has rejected Mr. Estrada's request that he shut up and vowed to
continue expressing his views on issues which he believes are of national
concern.
"As much as ordinary citizens have the right to publicly express their
views, we the retired generals also have this right to do the same," he
said.
Abat was a former commander of the Army, and he was secretary of national
defense under the administration of former President Fidel Ramos, who is
also a retired general.
Mercado said he had asked for the justice secretary's opinion on the
"appropriate action that could be taken" against the people behind the
manifesto.
"More particularly, we would like to request the DOJ to look into the
criminal statutes that may have been violated by the persons responsible
for this manifesto," he said.
Mercado told Tuquero that he had been holding dialogues with military
officers and enlisted personnel in connection with the political crisis
gripping the country.
"I have repeatedly enjoined the men and women of the AFP to respect the
Constitution and leave the politicking to politicians," he said.
Mercado said the Armed Forces leadership has already declared its
commitment to the Constitution and to respect the outcome of the
impeachment trial of President Estrada.
At Camp Crame, the chief of the PNP Community Relations Group (CRG) has
refused to obey an order of Lacson relieving him of his command.
Chief Superintendent Steven Cudal said yesterday "some ranking PNP
officials are capitalizing" on what he described as "trumped-up charges"
against him, which are pending at the Sandiganbayan.
"I cannot accept this relief order," he said. " I will fight for my right.
This is a complete denial of due process. I will ask the intervention of
the court. I am lawyer and I know my law."
Lacson named Senior Superintendent Nelson Estares yesterday as
officer-in-charge of the CRG, the unit which handles the PNP's public
relations.
On another front, the chairman of the Association of Generals and Flag
Officers (AGFO) cautioned Malacañang yesterday against belittling the
influence of retired generals on military officers in the active service.
Retired Brig. Gen. Ernesto Gidaya, AGFO chairman, said he was
superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy from 1972 to 1976. Phil.
Star, 11/24/2000
SENATE SUMMONS ESTRADA: Senators ordered President Estrada yesterday to
answer charges of corruption and bribery after taking oaths as jurors in
the first-ever impeachment trial of a Philippine president.
The senators, clad in black togas as members of an impeachment court,
passed a resolution ordering the 63-year-old former movie star to "answer
the impeachment charges within a non-extendable period of 10 days."
Chief Justice Hilario Davide, sitting as chairman of the tribunal of 22
senators, ordered the Senate sergeant-at-arms to "immediately" serve the
summons on Mr. Estrada.
The President, through Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora, received the
summons at 5:45 p.m. yesterday. "I will give this to the President who will
be meeting tonight with his lawyers," Zamora said.
Twenty-one of the 22 senators, looking grave and somber, individually swore
before Davide and on a copy of the Bible to "do impartial justice according
to the Constitution and laws."
Sen. Robert Barbers was absent to attend to his ailing wife, who is in the
United States.
Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said the senators would pursue "our
painful duty" by conducting daily hearings until they reach a verdict.
He said the President had been charged with committing "serious offenses"
but reminded the tribunal that evidence was required to find him guilty.
Pimentel also said that the tribunal "will not allow itself to become a
kangaroo court."
"Neither will the Senate be rushed into acquitting the President without
serious consideration of the evidence that will be presented by the
impeachment prosecutors of the House," he said.
The panel of prosecutors led by House Minority Leader Feliciano Belmonte
Jr. made a symbolic presentation of the Articles of Impeachment to
Pimentel, before the oath-taking ceremonies.
Security was also extremely tight, and plainclothesmen watched for
left-wing activists who might disrupt proceedings.
Anybody in attendance creating a ruckus would be arrested by the Senate
sergeant-at-arms, Pimentel said.
He also rejected a proposal to transfer the venue of the trial to the more
spacious Philippine International Convention Center. Pimentel, however,
agreed to reconsider the choice of PTV-4 as the lone television station
accredited to broadcast live all proceedings in the impeachment court.
The reconsideration came after Sen. Raul Roco questioned the choice as he
voiced fears that the director of the state-run television station might
provide slants to the coverage.
To expedite the hearings, Makati Rep. Joker Arroyo proposed yesterday that
the Senate decide on a particular case first before proceeding to the next
impeachment complaint.
Pimentel has expressed favor to Arroyo's proposal. But he said that the
plan should be first discussed by the impeachment court in consultation
with the defense and prosecution panels.
Roco, on the other hand, doubted whether this would be in accordance with
Senate rules on impeachment.
Meanwhile, Paranaque Rep. Roilo Golez accused Malacanang of conditioning
the minds of the people on the possibility of military rule.
Golez, a former ruling party member who now belongs to the House minority,
said the latest in the Palace efforts to raise the specter of a military
takeover is the warning of Sen. John Osmena.
Osmena, a close friend of President Estrada, warned the people over the
weekend that if they don't accept a verdict of acquittal in the impeachment
trial, the Armed Forces could intervene and rule the country.
Golez, a former Navy officer, said Osmena's statement "is very
irresponsible and very unfair to the military who are being portrayed as
monsters instead of protectors." Phil. Star, 11/21/2000
TATAD BOLTS LAMP: A senator allied with President Estrada quit the ruling
coalition yesterday to deflect allegations that he had already decided to
vote to acquit the Chief Executive in his impeachment trial.
The resignation of Senate Majority Leader Francisco Tatad from the Lapian
ng Masang Pilipino (LAMP) leaves the President with seven political
partymates in the Senate. The country's 22 senators, who were sworn in as
impeachment jurors yesterday, will start hearing the corruption case
against Mr. Estrada on Dec. 7.
Hours before taking his oath, Tatad held a press conference to renounce his
ties with the ruling coalition "to become an impartial judge in the trial."
He said he was hurt by suggestions he would take the President's side no
matter what emerged at the trial.
Prosecutors from the House of Representatives need to convince at least 16
senators that Mr. Estrada is guilty of allegations of bribery, corruption
and betrayal of public trust as well as violating the Constitution to
succeed in ousting him from office. If at least seven senators take the
President's side, he would be exonerated and allowed to serve out his
six-year term to June 2004.
Tatad said he wanted to disassociate himself from the eight senators who
have been perceived to represent the core group that will vote in favor of
an acquittal.
Tatad reiterated that he has not prejudged the case.
Tatad is the seventh senator to bolt the ruling coalition, joining Franklin
Drilon, Rodolfo Biazon, Anna Dominique Coseteng, Robert Jaworski, Ramon
Revilla and Ramon Magsaysay Jr.
The President's remaining allies in the chamber are Blas Ople, Miriam
Defensor-Santiago, Juan Ponce Enrile, Vicente Sotto III, John Osmena,
Teresa Aquino-Oreta and Gregorio Honasan. Phil. Star, 11/21/2000
RETIRED GENERALS ASK ESTRADA TO RESIGN: A large group of retired generals
and other military officers yesterday urged active members of the Armed
Forces to "assist" President Estrada in performing the "heroic act" of
voluntary resignation.
The group said that the President's resignation would be in the interest of
and for national stability, and that the impeachment process would not
solve the current crisis.
"(We) most respectfully request the President to take a most noble and
heroic act of resigning at the earliest opportunity," the group said in a
two-page manifesto dated Nov. 17.
Ambassador Fortunato Abat, chair of the council of leaders of the
Federation of Retired Commissioned and Enlisted Soldiers (Forces), signed
the manifesto in behalf of the group.
Only on Tuesday, a group calling itself "Concerned Senior Officers of the
AFP" took out a full-page ad in the Inquirer airing grievances over, among
others, the alleged unfair promotion of two brigadier generals.
The ad, which took the form of an "open letter" to the President, expressed
"alarm at what appears to be an attempt to assert control over the AFP by
unseen hands blindly loyal to this administration."
"We can no longer keep silent . . . We will not allow the AFP to be used as
an instrument of repression against the people," apparently referring to
the nationwide Estrada-resign mass actions and Malacanang's veiled warnings
to protesters.
The military is now investigating the source of the ad. AFP Chief of Staff
Gen. Angelo Reyes said he was not ruling out the involvement of the
opposition.
Reyes and Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado sat together at a press
conference yesterday to dispute the contents of the ad.
The retired officers' group said it wanted Mr. Estrada to resign because he
had "lost the moral and constitutional authority to govern."
It reminded the President that the Constitution allows the armed services
to invoke Section 3, Article 11 that states: "The (AFP) is the protector of
the people and the State. Its goal is to secure the sovereignty of the
State and the integrity of the national territory."
To "avoid compelling and impelling" the AFP from invoking this
constitutional provision, Mr. Estrada must resign now, the group said.
Retired Gen. Luis Villareal, a member of the group, could not give the
exact figure of its membership. But he said it was "a lot, because it
encompasses many organizations."
The President yesterday denied playing favorites in the promotion of
generals in the military.
The ad questioned the promotions of Brigadier Generals Rodolfo Diaz and
Jake Malajacan, chief of the Presidential Security Group and senior
military assistant to Mercado, respectively.
It said the promotions bypassed hundreds of officers in the "seniority
lineal list." It also criticized the appearance of Reyes and the AFP top
brass on television immediately after Mr. Estrada's announcement that he
would not resign even in the face of the "Juetengate" scandal that
triggered his impeachment.
But Reyes said he had "no reason to conclude that these are real grievances
from real officers."
Asked if the opposition was behind it, he said: "We are looking into that."
Reyes said the AFP would consult with lawyers if legal action could be
taken against those behind the ad.
Sen. Gregorio Honasan downplayed the ad, saying he could not believe that a
group of battalion and brigade commanders could afford its cost. Inquirer,
11/22/2000
MARCOS LOYALISTS DUMPING PRESIDENT ESTRADA: Ten days after he visited the
Marcoses' bailiwick in the North, President Estrada lost yesterday the
support of Marcos loyalists nationwide who said they felt they were being
insulted by the Chief Executive.
"We are pulling out our support for President Estrada," said Cherry
Cobarrubias, president of the Marcos Loyalist Foundation National
Headquarters and spokeswoman for former First Lady Imelda Marcos. The
foundation counts some 3.8 million loyalists nationwide.
Cobarrubias said the Marcos loyalists would ask Mrs. Marcos as well as her
children Ilocos Norte Gov. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Ilocos Norte
Rep. Imee Marcos to withdraw their support for Mr. Estrada.
The Marcos family is backing the President in his battle in the Senate,
where impeachment charges had been filed. His trial starts on Dec. 7.
During a rally in Batac, Ilocos Norte 10 days ago, Mrs. Marcos said Mr.
Estrada should be given his day in court and his side must be heard.
Cobarrubias said they will ask the Senate to speed up the impeachment
hearings so that "the political and economic crises would end."
More than five million Marcos loyalists had supported the presidential bid
of Mr. Estrada in 1998. Phil. Star, 11/22/2000
NEW YEAR, NEW PRESIDENT – PROSECUTORS: Prosecutors in the unprecedented
impeachment case against President Estrada said yesterday they hoped to
unseat him soon after New Year's Day to give the country a fresh start from
a crippling corruption scandal.
A Senate trial is tentatively set to start on Dec. 7.
Prosecution team leader and House Deputy Minority Leader Sergio Apostol
said they expect to present all their witnesses within three weeks. New
witnesses have surfaced and have volunteered to testify against the
President in connection with the jueteng scandal.
Apostol said between four and five prosecution witnesses would take the
witness stand on each article of impeachment and prosecutors should rest
their case "within December."
The lawmaker said jurors should reach a verdict by January unless the
defense throws up legal obstacles. The President's lawyers could raise
questions of law and go to the Supreme Court to obtain rulings at every
opportunity, he added.
Chief Justice Hilario Davide, in his first act as presiding officer at the
trial, on Monday ordered Mr. Estrada to answer within 10 days the articles
of impeachment filed by the House last week.
Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora said presidential lawyers may answer the
charges earlier than the required period.
Apostol said yesterday he talked to two of the five new witnesses Monday
night at the Quezon City residence of Singson. Apostol said the new
witnesses are all known to the Ilocos Sur governor, and are involved in
jueteng.
The congressman added that Singson has handed over evidence to prosecutors
for use in the impeachment trial. He refused to elaborate, saying only they
are actual evidence, not justaffidavits he had previously released.
Phil. Star, 11/22/2000
ESTRADA ON `GOD SAVE THE KING' PLAN: IT'S NOT OUR SCRIPT: President Estrada
threw out yesterday the allegations of former President Fidel Ramos that
Malacanang had drawn up a public relations plan known as "God Save the
King" to prop up the image of the Chief Executive.
In Nueva Ecija, Mr. Estrada cautioned his audience, which included
provincial Gov. Tomas Joson, against disinformation being spread by the
political opposition and anti-Estrada groups who are doing everything to
force him to step down.
On the other hand, Press Secretary Ricardo Puno said yesterday the supposed
"God Save the King" project is part of the disinformation efforts of
anti-Estrada groups.
However, Puno said Cheryl Gimenea, personal secretary of Mr. Estrada, must
explain why she was identified as the one circulating copies of the alleged
plan in Cebu last Nov. 1.
There has never been such a plan. I personally will not agree with any kind
of plan like that."
Ramos told reporters last Monday the alleged "God Save the King" public
relations project intended to link him and Maj. Gen. Jose Almonte, his
former national security adviser, to a plot to kill Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis
"Chavit" Singson, who had precipitated the present political crisis when he
accused Mr. Estrada of receiving hundreds of millions of pesos in bribes
from jueteng operators.
Ramos said the plan called for:
-- Payments to editors and columnists in newspapers to counter negative
publicity.
-- Orchestrated announcements of support from businessmen and politicians.
-- Presentation of the corruption charges as a "class war" conspiracy of
the elite against the popular Estrada.
-- Use of delaying tactics to stall the impeachment trial in the hope that
the public loses interest.
Ramos said the 20-point crisis-management program, dated Oct. 12, 2000, was
allegedly designed to avert "a real risk that congressional support will be
lost thus making impeachment a real possibility." Phil. Star, 11/22/2000
PANEL CHOOSES BELMONTE AS CHIEF PROSECUTOR: House Minority Leader Feliciano
Belmonte was appointed yesterday head of the 11-member panel that will
prosecute President Estrada in the Senate impeachment trial on charges of
bribery, graft, betrayal of public trust, and culpable violations of the
Constitution.
Belmonte was named the lead manager, or chief prosecutor, by the House
panel during a meeting at the Ateneo de Manila University campus in Quezon
City.
During the meeting, the House managers also discussed their strategy with
volunteer lawyers and representatives of civic groups that signed, together
with 115 legislators, the impeachment complaint against Mr. Estrada.
Leyte Rep. Sergio Apostol was assigned to present evidence on Ilocos Sur
Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson's allegations that the President pocketed
millions in protection money from "jueteng" lords.
Agusan del Norte Rep. Roan Libarios and Ilocos Sur Rep. Salacnib Baterina
will assist Apostol in prosecuting the bribery case.
Makati Rep. Joker Arroyo was designated lead counsel in the tobacco tax
kickback case that involves Singson's allegation that the President
received P130 million representing Ilocos Sur's share of the tobacco excise
taxes.
Misamis Oriental Rep. Oscar Moreno was assigned to help Arroyo in
prosecuting the corruption case that also involves the President's alleged
unexplained wealth and grand mansions.
Iloilo Rep. Raul Gonzales, backed by Cebu Rep. Clavel Martinez and Pampanga
Rep. Oscar Rodriguez, will present evidence that the President betrayed the
public trust.
The case involves allegations that the President unduly intervened on
behalf of a crony in the Securities and Exchange Commission's investigation
of the BW stock manipulation scandal.
Also falling under the case are allegations that Mr. Estrada appointed a
cousin, Celia de Castro, as a presidential assistant, as well as instances
of conflict of interest.
Quezon Rep. Wigberto Tanada, assisted by Samar Rep. Antonio Nachura, will
handle the case involving Mr. Estrada's alleged violations of the
Constitution.
These would include his assignment of seized luxury cars to certain high
officials and his appointment of officials to multiple government
positions.
Former Solicitor General Francisco Chavez, a member of the anti-Estrada
alliance called Kompil 2, said his group would ask the Senate to do away
with a rule allowing a majority of senators to overrule Chief Justice
Hilario Davide on questions of procedures and evidence.
"How can these senators overrule the Chief Justice when many of them are
not lawyers and they don't understand the law," Chavez said.
Chavez said the President should also be required by the Senate to appear
and testify personally. Inquirer, 11/20/2000
SUMMONS SERVED ON ERAP TODAY: In A ceremony to be attended by more than 200
government officials and watched on television by millions across the
nation, the Senate formally opens today the impeachment trial of President
Estrada, the first not only in the 102-year history of the Philippine
Republic but also in Asia.
This afternoon, the 22 senators will take their oath as impartial jurors
who will try the President.
Also today, the Senate sergeant-at-arms will deliver to Malacanang an
official summons ordering the President to respond to the charges of
bribery, graft and corruption, violation of the Constitution and betrayal
of public trust.
At the end of what is seen to be a tumultuous trial, the Senate will
pronounce Mr. Estrada either guilty or not guilty of the four charges.
At 2 p.m. today, in its session hall at the Government Service Insurance
System (GSIS) headquarters on Roxas Boulevard, the Senate will constitute
itself into an impeachment court.
Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. will also take his oath as presiding
officer of the trial.
At the beginning of the session, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr.
will declare the impeachment trial of the President open, followed by a
prayer to be led by Senate President Pro Tempore Blas Ople.
The 11 prosecutors, who were chosen from among the members of the House of
Representatives, will be presented to the impeachment court.
One of the prosecutors will proclaim to the court that they are ready to
present the articles of impeachment against Mr. Estrada.
The sergeant-at-arms will ask all present to keep silent under pain of
imprisonment while the prosecutors are exhibiting the articles of
impeachment.
Toward the end of the proceedings, the senators will approve a resolution
providing for the issuance to Mr. Estrada of summons, the legal instrument
commanding him to stand trial before the Senate as provided for in the
Constitution.
The summons directs the President to answer "within a non-extendible period
of 10 days from receipt thereof" the charges against him. It also directs
him to appear before the Senate at 2 p.m. on a date to be fixed later.
The actual trial of the President is expected to begin on Dec. 7, when he
and the prosecution shall have filed their responses to the verified
impeachment complaint.
The prosecution has five days to respond to the President's plea.
As Senate President, Pimentel will welcome Davide to the chamber.
The Chief Justice will take his oath. Pimentel, who was elected new Senate
President last Monday, will yield his chair to Davide.
The impeachment court will be asked to approve the resolution for the
issuance of summons to the President. After the resolution is approved,
the court shall adjourn until the actual trial on Dec. 7.
From the first day of the actual trial, the Senate, sitting as an
impeachment court, shall conduct daily hearings until a verdict is
rendered.
The trial will be conducted five days a week, from Monday to Friday, at 2
p.m. to 7 p.m. The court is expected to adjourn for the Christmas break on
Dec. 23. It will resume on Dec. 26 and adjourn anew on Dec. 29.
Pimentel earlier said he was still hoping the trial could be over within
that month, but other senators said it could take months.
Three weeks before the trial's expected opening, skepticism about the
impartiality of the Senate has engulfed the nation.
A two-thirds vote of the 22-member Senate, or at least 15, is needed to
convict Mr. Estrada. To survive, he needs eight votes, which correspond to
the number of senators in his political coalition.
There are concerns that Mr. Estrada's allies in the Senate could tilt the
vote for acquittal.
The concern mounted after Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, an Estrada
supporter, said it was possible the President would beat the charges.
Inquirer, 11/20/2000
MILITANT GROUPS TO SING CAROLS TO WOO SENATORS: A curious version of
"Twelve Days of Christmas" is one of several anti-Estrada carols that
militant groups plan to sing outside the Senate today as legislators take
their historic oath as jurors in an unprecedented impeachment trial.
The groups also plan to send each of the 22 senators Christmas cards
reading: "Please, Mr./Ms Senator, all we want for Christmas is Estrada's
impeachment. For a merry Christmas and a happy New Year, impeach Erap!"
Unlike traditional carolers, the protesters will not sing for a few
centavos or a bag of goodies. They will serenade the senators to "decide in
the best interest of the Filipino people," said Crispin Beltran, head of
the labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno.
Starting today, the demonstrators, led by the KMU and the multisectoral
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), will march regularly in front of the
Senate building to guard against moves to impede the impeachment
proceedings, Beltran said.
A much bigger assembly of militant groups is expected when the impeachment
trial starts in early December, said Bayan secretary general Teddy Casino.
Another general strike at the end of November promises to be "much bigger,
stronger, and more powerful" than the Nov. 14 National Day of Protest, said
Casiño yesterday.
In San Fernando City in Pampanga, former Speaker Manuel Villar is expected
to lead a rally today calling for the President to resign.
In Lingayen, farmers paused during harvesting and mothers left their
laundry to greet an anti-Estrada motorcade that wove through central and
western Pangasinan on Saturday.
Chants of "Erap Resign" reverberated as the motorcade passed through
barangays and stopped briefly at town centers to distribute leaflets on
alleged graft and corruption in the Estrada administration.
The protesters themselves were surprised at the response of villagers, who
cheered and shouted, "Bankrupt na ang Pilipinas" and "Erap Resign."
Inquirer, 11/20/2000
BISHOPS BACK CALL FOR CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE AGAINST GOVERNMENT: The Catholic
Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) will support the civil
disobedience campaign to be launched by critics of the Estrada
administration on Nov. 27.
"Yes, we shall support all peaceful and legal means, including resignation
if necessary," said CBCP president Archbishop Orlando Quevedo in an
interview regarding the Church's stand on civil disobedience. Quevedo also
said they would support all forms of protest including the "welgang bayan"
(people's strike) as long as these protests "remain peaceful and legal."
A broad alliance of civil society groups plan to stage next Monday a
"National Day of Paralysis" to press for Mr. Estrada's immediate
resignation. On that day, transport and business will grind to a halt,
farmers will walk out of their farms, and a flea market will be set up on
EDSA.
Quevedo reminded the Estrada administration not to suppress the rights of
the people, particularly their freedom of expression.
Meanwhile, the Vatican will ignore allegations by the pro-Estrada camp that
Sin is interfering in the affairs of the State, the CBCP said. "The Pope
will have a very good laugh," Quevedo said, noting that Pope John Paul II
himself has courageously criticized the government of Poland - from where
he hails - and instigating people power there through the Solidarity
workers' union.
The Philippine Catholic Church has been in the frontline of administration
critics, focusing in particular on Mr. Estrada's reported fondness for
wine, women and gambling.
Quevedo stressed that on the contrary, the Church has never violated the
constitutional provision mandating the separation of Church and State.
Phil. Star, 11/20/2000
CORY URGES MAN-TO-MAN GUARDING OF SENATORS: The battle has shifted to the
Senate, and forces pressing for the removal from office of President
Estrada are girding up for the new arena.
Former President Corazon Aquino called yesterday for virtual man-to-man
guarding of the country's 22 senators to ensure that they do not succumb to
"attempts to subvert" the impeachment trial of the President.
"Maybe each of us could even adopt a senator, and pray for him and write to
him to urge him to act according to his conscience," Aquino said in a
dialogue with business leaders at the Hotel InterContinental in Makati
City.
During the dialogue, leaders of the Makati business community also said
that if the economy continues to founder, they would press for the
President's resignation "even if he was acquitted in a fair and true
trial."
"The true verdict of Mr. Estrada's innocence will come from the market. The
market is a very realistic jury. If the economy continues to deteriorate
regardless of his exoneration, then Mr. Estrada should consider making the
supreme sacrifice," Makati Business Club president Ricardo Romulo, son of
the late statesman Carlos P. Romulo, said.
He said the country's political stability is hinged on the "public's
perception" of the trial, which begins on Dec. 7.
Mrs. Aquino, who called for the dialogue primarily to discuss ways to
mitigate the impact of the political crisis on the poor, said people power
at the Senate will help ensure that senators keep their independence and
integrity.
Among those in the lunch were such pillars of the business community as the
Ayala group's Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Ramon del Rosario Sr. and his
son Ramon del Rosario Jr., Christian Monsod, Joey Cuisia, Jose Concepcion
Jr., Oscar Reyes, Jesus Tambunting, Howard Dee, Bienvenido Tan, Doris
Magsaysay Ho and Romulo.
Also present was former Speaker Manuel Villar, introduced by Zobel de Ayala
as the "man of the hour."
Zobel, who hosted the dialogue, warned that if the prevailing political
crisis is not resolved, "the repercussions will spread to society at large,
taking their toll on jobs, incomes and public services."
He urged business leaders "to discover ways and means to mitigate the
social impact of the present crisis." Former Commission on Elections
chairman Christian Monsod exhorted business leaders to make a vow that
despite the hard times the employers face, they will not resort to mass
layoffs.
Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Miguel Varela said
most businesses are likely to be able to make that vow even at the expense
of smaller profit margins, except for firms which have already been taken
over by their creditor banks.
Aquino said business leaders should work to ensure that "our post-Estrada
scenario... be an improvement over our post-Marcos behavior." Phil. Star,
11/18/2000
PULSE ASIA: ESTRADA WITH 22% PERFORMANCE RATING; GMA WITH 51%: The jueteng
bribery scandal has apparently pulled down President Estrada's popularity
as his net performance rating dipped to 22 percent last month compared to
27 percent last July, according to results of the latest survey by Pulse
Asia Inc.
Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's performance rating also slid to 51
percent from a high of 74 percent in July, the same survey showed. Pulse
Asia's poll was conducted between Oct. 17 to 30. Arroyo announced her
resignation from the Estrada Cabinet on Oct. 12. About 13 days later, she
asked the President to resign, too.
Before Sen. Franklin Drilon was ousted as Senate chief, his net performance
rating went up from 11 percent in July to 14 percent in October. The same
was true for Las Pinas Rep. Manuel Villar Jr., whose net performance rating
climbed from 13 percent in July to 16 percent in October.
Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide's rating also rose from 18
percent in July to 22 percent in October. Phil. Star, 11/18/2000
VP RECEIVES `PEOPLE'S AGENDA': Leaders of various sectors of society
forwarded yesterday to Vice President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo a 20-point
People's Agenda which contains a list of the ''must do'' measures for a new
administration in the event President Estrada is removed by impeachment or
resigns voluntarily.
In receiving the People's Agenda during a people's dialogue at the St.
Theresa's College in Quezon City yesterday, the vice president vowed that
she would push this in a parliamentary struggle as long as the ideologies
are non-extremist and if the motivation is for the good of society.
She assured them that the agenda would be discussed and dissected I her
continuing dialogue with various sectors as part of the united opposition's
plan to integrate wide inputs into the alternative national agenda.
Those who endorsed the People's Agenda to the vice president include Bayan
Muna President Satur Ocampo, Bayan Secretary-general Teodoro Casino, Dr.
Reynaldo Lesaca Jr. of Bayan Muna, Alliance of Concerned Teachers
Chairwoman Carol Almeda, Bayan Chairman Rafael Mariano, Kilusang Mayo Uno
Chairman Crispin Beltran, Karapatan Secretary-general Marie Hilao-Enriquez,
Nathaniel Santiago of Bayan Muna, and Gabriela's Emmi de Jesus.
The vice president said she would also call for a review of the cases of
some 208 political detainees and the possibility of granting amnesty to all
insurgents.
The People's Agenda includes holding President Estrada criminally and
civilly liable for offenses against the people; pursuing the fight against
graft and corruption in government and the prosecution of perceived
cronies, the indemnification of all victims of human rights violations
during the Marcos regime; removal from the service of police and military
leaders for human rights violations; enforcement of the anti-foreign bases
and nuclear-free provisions of the Constitution; abrogation of the World
Trade Organization treaty, repeal of the automatic appropriation for debt
service, and a stop to all fuel price and tuition fee increases.
Macapagal Arroyo said she would give priority to the delivery of basic
social services such as education, health care, mass housing, potable
water, electricity and roads to the people.
She said in the place of an all-out war in the Mindanao, she would
implement peace and development strategies under a Marshall Plan for Moslem
Mindanao.
House committee on justice chairman Pacifico Fajardo yesterday said his
committee will hold its first hearing on the impeachment complaint filed
against Vice President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo this Monday.
In a press statement, Fajardo said he will be sending out the notice of
hearing to his members either today or tomorrow, following the referral by
the plenary of the impeachment complaint to his committee last night.
However, the justice committee chairman said he is still studying whether
he will inhibit himself from the proceedings considering that he is
distantly related to the vice president.
If he chooses to inhibit himself, the chore of presiding over the
proceedings will be passed on to either Rep. Neptali Gonzalez III or to the
other senior vice Chairman Rep. Oscar Rodriguez.
Despite assurances that the new majority controlling the house will limit
its revamp to committee chairmanships, minority congressmen, including
Fajardo, expect changes to be announced in the coming days.
Minority congressmen cited the removal of former House accounts committee
Chairman Eleandro Madrona in favor of new chairman Amadeo Perez last night.
Fajardo pledged that the committee will give its speedy evaluation of the
impeachment complaint filed by cause-oriented lawyer Oliver Lozano and
endorsed by Rep. Prospero Pichay who said this would give the vice
president - a venue to clear her name.
In his complaint, Lozano accused the vice president of violations of the
Constitution and her oath of office arising from her alleged
destabilization program versus the government of President Estrada.
Speaker Arnulfo Fuentebella, said yesterday he will give the House justice
committee a free hand in the disposition of the impeachment complaint
against Vice President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo referred to it by the
plenary.
In a statement, Fuentebella said he has not communicated with justice
committee Chairman Pacifico M. Fajardo on his committee's course of action
regarding the impeachment complaint filed against the Vice President by
lawyer Oliver Lozano and endorsed by Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay.
Mla. Bulletin, 11/17/2000
PROSECUTORS TO CALL ESTRADA MISTRESSES: The mistresses of President
Estrada-"from 02 to 08"-will be summoned to testify at his impeachment
trial. This was disclosed yesterday by Rep. Mike Defensor, who is helping
the 11 prosecutors from the House of Representatives prepare for the
President's trial at the Senate.
"They will be called. I think so. From 02 to 08," Defensor said at the
Newsmakers' Forum at the Century Park Sheraton Hotel in Manila, referring
to the code names of Mr. Estrada's mistresses.
At the same forum, Rep. Nereus Acosta said the women's testimony would also
be "part of what the prosecution would be looking into (to build their
case)." Acosta added that the trial promised to be "10 times" more gripping
than the popular Mexican telenovela "Rosalinda."
The Senate convenes as an impeachment court on Monday, but Mr. Estrada's
actual trial will start on Dec. 7, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr.
said yesterday.
Chief Justice Hilario Davide will take his oath as presiding officer on
Monday at 2 p.m., after which he will administer the oath to the
senator-jurors.
Pimentel said the impeachment summons would be issued to Mr. Estrada also
on Monday-an announcement that drew protest from Sen. Raul Roco.
Mr. Estrada is known to maintain a number of mistresses with whom he has
children. Some of them have been identified as former starlets Guia Gomez
and Laarni Enriquez, Joy Melendrez and, lately, Philippine Airlines
stewardess Rowena Lopez.
He is alleged to have built mansions for some of the women.
Pimentel yesterday submitted to Davide a copy of the 11-page Rules of
Impeachment drafted by the Senate.
He said Davide "expressed satisfaction over the rules we formulated and
hoped that the trial can be done expeditiously."
Pimentel was also supposed to send a notice to the House that the Senate
was ready to begin the impeachment trial.
In Brunei, the President said he was ready to defend himself on charges of
bribery, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust and culpable
violation of the Constitution.
But he said his personal appearance at the trial depended on the advice of
his lawyers led by former Chief Justice Andres Narvasa.
Asked about the prospect of continuing protest rallies coinciding with the
impeachment trial, he reiterated: "No amount of rallies will make me
resign. But I'm appealing to the Senate to speed up the trial because it
might take its toll on the economy."
On reports that about 100 lawyers had volunteered to assist the prosecution
panel, Mr. Estrada said: "No problem, even if they're 1,000. It's not a
matter of how many they are but of the evidence."
If the summons were served on Monday, the President has 10 calendar days,
or up to Dec. 1, to file his answer to the charges.
The prosecution has five days, or up to Dec. 6, to respond.
"So technically, the trial can take place on Dec. 7," Pimentel said.
But Roco accused him of delaying the unprecedented trial by not issuing the
summons yesterday.
Roco said Pimentel promised senators on the floor shortly before the
impeachment rules were approved that the summons would be issued promptly
on Thursday. Afterward, Roco said, citing the Constitution, the trial
shall "forthwith proceed."
"The Constitution says 'immediately.' If you need an operation immediately
and you do it seven days later, you will be dead," he said, adding that the
trial should start by Dec. 4.
Roco said the Senate leadership had cited the absence of rules to justify
its refusal to deliver the summons to the President immediately after the
articles of impeachment were received in the Senate Monday night. The rules
were approved Wednesday night.
Pimentel denied that there was a deliberate effort to delay the process.
Monday will be marked by an oath-taking ceremony to formally constitute the
Senate into an impeachment court.
Pimentel will first administer the oath to Davide as presiding officer.
Davide will then individually administer the oath to Pimentel and the 21
other senators.
Pimentel said the 11 congressmen designated by the House as prosecutors or
"managers" of the impeachment case would be present. These prosecutors will
formally present the charges against the President, after which they will
be escorted to their designated seats. Pimentel said he would then sign the
summons to be served on Mr. Estrada by Senate sergeant-at-arms Leonardo
Lopez.
Both Roco and Pimentel said the Senate could not compel Mr. Estrada to
appear personally. They said he could make a written testimony or through a
video hook-up from Malacanang.
Roco said that if the prosecution took two weeks to present its witnesses
and evidence, Mr. Estrada's own testimony and evidence could be presented
by January.
Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago said the trial could last until the May
election and beyond because of a new rule not found in the rules of the US
Senate.
Rule 25 says: "If a senator wishes to put a question to a witness, he/she
shall do so within two minutes." "There's a time limit of two minutes, but
there is no limit as to frequency," Santiago said in a statement.
"A senator can ask as many questions as he wants for every witness, for
every point in the course of the testimony that the senator thinks is
relevant," she said.
Santiago pointed out, as did Sen. John Osmena, that this meant 44 minutes
for every single issue given the number of senators.
She said that apart from the two minutes allowed per senator, the rules
allowed lawyers on both sides to debate whether the witness should answer
the question. Inquirer, 11/17/2000
'LAST QUARTER STORM': Three hundred brokers walked off the trading floor,
joining a nationwide strike for the first time in the history of the
Philippine Stock Exchange. Businessmen in suits left their offices;
workers, their factories; students, their classrooms.
Stretching its tendrils across Metro Manila, the "parliament of the
streets" emerged once again yesterday to demand President Estrada's
resignation, emboldened by his impeachment by the House of Representatives
the day before.
"This is the beginning of the Last-Quarter Storm," declared Satur Ocampo, a
veteran of the First-Quarter Storm, the broad movement that fought against
the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in the early 1970s.
But the Last-Quarter Storm was an unusual alliance of leftist and
conservative groups, labor leaders locked arm-in-arm with congressmen,
professionals in designer clothes, urban poor, bosses and their workers,
students with cell phones, hard-core activists and local politicians,
Christian clergy and Muslims in traditional dress.
There were pet owners in Makati, factory workers from Manila, gays and
lesbians in costume and squatters in old clothes among the demonstrators
who came out in force to declare President Estrada "the biggest loser."
Wearing peach ribbons and arm bands to stress their approval of the word
"impeach," throngs rallied in several areas, then marched to Mendiola and
converged in a crowd that reached tens of thousands.
The hero of the day, Rep. Manuel Villar, whose last historic bang of the
gavel as Speaker sent the President's impeachment case to the Senate,
joined other opposition leaders on a makeshift stage at the Welcome Rotunda
in Quezon City.
"The fight at the House of Representatives has been won. Now we are ready
to join you in the streets for our last fight at the Senate," Quezon City
Rep. Michael Defensor, one of the three congressmen who filed the
impeachment complaint, told a roaring crowd that jammed the intersection of
C.M. Recto Avenue and Legarda yesterday.
At the historic Mendiola Bridge in Manila, the strange mix of demonstrators
crowded the area as early as 3 p.m. to ensure that their clamor reached
nearby Malacanang.
Many planned to make a night of it and threw a "pamorningan street party
and concert" expected to last way into the night.
"These mass actions only show that if the parliament will not impeach Mr.
Estrada, the parliament of the streets will," said Bayan president
Nathaniel Santiago.
But the protesters never got near Malacanang. The road to the Palace was
barricaded with steel fences, police buses, and a phalanx of anti-riot
police, under orders to exercise maximum tolerance. Closer to the Palace,
barbed wire blocked the entrance to Arlegui Street and more police waited.
Unable to reach the Palace, the marchers had to be satisfied with setting
up a makeshift stage on two ten-wheeler trucks, which served as a makeshift
stage for a protest concert.
The only report of violence came earlier in the day from the Ninoy Aquino
International Airport, where police attempted to stop a protest by
Philippine Airlines employees, causing a brief scuffle.
On Ayala Avenue, a mishmash of white-collar workers from the backrooms and
offices of Makati, and blue-collar laborers from factories in Manila spoke
with one voice: "Erap resign now!"
Around 20,000 protesters crowded the intersection of Ayala Avenue and Paseo
de Roxas.
In Caloocan City, at least 5,000 protesters converged at the Monumento
Circle. "The people have scored a point against tyranny and corruption" in
impeaching Mr. Estrada, said labor leader Crispin Beltran of Kilusang Mayo
Uno.
Sen. Teofisto Guingona drew roars of approval when he promised protesters
that he would fight for President Estrada's impeachment in the Senate.
Police estimates placed the Mendiola crowd at 18,000 people, but rally
organizers said there were at least 65,000 protesters who occupied the
entire stretch of Recto Avenue, Legarda Street, Morayta and Plaza Avelino
near the Nagtahan Bridge.
The INQUIRER estimated a turnout of 80,000 people along the length of
Mendiola (from Legarda to Jose P. Laurel) and Claro M. Recto (from Rizal
Avenue to Legarda).
At Liwasang Bonifacio, protestors chanted "Erap resign, Erap resign" at a
rally spearheaded by the Estrada Resign! Movement and Welga ng Mamamayan
(People's Protest).
The Concerned Artists of the Philippines, along with gays and lesbians,
came in colorful costumes to match colorful effigies of President Estrada
and his cronies. They later set the effigies on fire at Mendiola.
At 4 p.m., the Liwasan protestors proceeded to Mendiola after a four-hour
program. As they reached Mendiola, the tail of the rally was still at the
Liwasan.
To make room for the protestors from Liwasan, those at Mendiola moved down
Legarda Street.
The combined contingents stretched the length of both Claro M. Recto and
Legarda Streets.
Spouses Dick and Kate Gordon came with Volunteers for a New Philippines in
22 buses and 12 vans. The Spice Boys of Congress--Braganza, Defensor, Ace
Barbers, Rolando Andaya Jr. and Miguel Zubiri--led "Old Spice" congressmen
like Representatives Sergio Apostol and Roilo Golez.
Guingona and former Constitutional Convention delegate Wilfrido Villacorta
delivered scathing speeches during the rally at Liwasan.
The Mendiola rally witnessed the rare gathering of members of the
conservative Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) and the
militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) in a mass action.
As early as 3 p.m., the TUCP, Akbayan and other conservative labor groups
staged a rally at Mendiola under the sweltering mid-afternoon heat.
Around 4:30 p.m., a huge group led by Bayan that had marched from the
Liwasang Bonifacio arrived, and the TUCP group moved to a nearby corner.
The Bayan group arrived with congressmen locked in arms with labor leaders.
Both TUCP and Bayan spoke as one in demanding the President's resignation.
In Makati, Sanlakas and organized militant groups mobilized the bulk of the
crowd, but many of the protesters were Makati office workers and their
bosses. Others were well-heeled residents, many wearing white to symbolize
their call for a corruption-free government.
Police estimates put the number of demonstrators at 10,000 but the INQUIRER
estimated that there could have been as many as 20,000 people.
The sky was overcast at 1 p.m. as the program kicked off, but it failed to
either dampen the carnival atmosphere or give the office workers an excuse
to leave.
Confetti rained and chants of "Erap resign now!" thundered across the
historic intersection, as the crowd blew whistles and gave the thumbs down
sign.
When a light shower fell around 4 p.m., the demonstrators simply opened
umbrellas and stayed. The rally broke up just before 5 p.m. Many of the
protestors said they would head for the large rally in Mendiola.
Students from the University Belt and Taft Avenue in Manila, Quezon City
and nearby cities walked out of their classes at about 11 a.m. to support
the National Day of Protest.
In Quezon City, more than 1,500 students, teachers, and school employees
from the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University and
Miriam College walked out of their classrooms in the morning.
Other schools that staged walk-outs included the San Beda College, College
of the Holy Spirit, Centro Escolar University, University of the East, Far
Eastern University, St. Scholastica's College, UP Manila, University of
Santo Tomas, De La Salle University and the Polytechnic University of the
Philippines.
The others joined the multi-sectoral rally at the Liwasang Bonifacio in
Manila before marching to Mendiola as well.
Later in the evening, the young protesters were treated to a free concert
featuring some of the country's top alternative bands.
The Rotunda contingent that participated in yesterday's "welga ng
mamamayan" also included moderate labor groups, the religious, farmers'
organizations, opposition politicians and NGOs.
The INQUIRER received reports that police forces blocked opposition
demonstrators on their way to Manila from Southern Luzon on the South
Superhighway.
Victor Briz, president of the Bukluran ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas, also
said that workers from Southern Luzon on their way to join the protests in
Manila were also blocked by police at the Binan and Southwoods exit of the
South Superhighway. Inquirer, 11/15/2000
ONE CLEAR CRY: ERAP RESIGN!: Cries of "Erap resign!" resounded yesterday
all over the country, with tens of thousands spilling into the streets in
Luzon, transport paralyzed in two provinces in the Visayas, and protesters
in Mindanao launching a "piso-piso" campaign to lure President Estrada into
stepping down.
In asking residents of Cagayan de Oro City to each donate a peso,
businessman Calvin Genotiva, a former vice president of the Mindanao
Development Bank, said: "This is for Erap's pabaon so he won't feel bad
about resigning now."
In Northern and Central Luzon, members of religious groups, students and
activists took to the streets.
At least 3,000 protesters marched through downtown Baguio City. They
converged at the People's Park and later performed a Bontoc war dance
against an effigy of Mr. Estrada that they put to the torch.
At least 3,500 people from Abra, La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte
converged in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.
In Dagupan City, Pangasinan, priests and officials of the Diocese of
Lingayen-Dagupan joined students, workers and other religious groups in a
noise barrage.
In Isabela, at least 1,000 residents gathered in Ilagan town.
In Nueva Vizcaya, at least 2,000 elementary and high school students of the
St. Louis School in Solano town were sent home yesterday afternoon in
support of the nationwide protests.
In Pampanga, classes were suspended in all levels in universities, colleges
and primary and secondary schools in Angeles City and the towns of
Mabalacat and San Fernando because of the transport strike.
At least 95 percent of the jeepney drivers stopped plying their routes in
Angeles. At least 11 groups of tricycle drivers joined the strike.
About 5,000 members of the Bukluran Ding Magobra Pampanga (BDMP) and
Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU)--all workers of some 30 big companies like San
Miguel Brewery, Coca-Cola and Cosmos bottling plants in San
Fernando--joined the people's strike, said Ton David of the BDMP.
Production was also affected in factories at the Clark Special Economic
Zone (CSEZ), including big firms like Yokohama Tires and Kita Garments
Corp.
Classes in all levels were suspended in Tarlac and Zambales.
However, Bayan-Central Luzon said in a statement that contrary to police
claims, the region was "at a virtual standstill" because of the welga.
In Bulacan, some 6,000 members of multi-sectoral groups joined the
protests. Seventy percent of the transport system in the province was
paralyzed.
In Tarlac, despite the rains, more than 1,000 turned out for the
Erap-resign rally.
Bayan and the Resign Estrada Sigaw ng Tarlac (REST) led the protesters, who
belonged to more than 20 groups.
Transport was partially paralyzed in Tarlac City and nearby towns.
Tarlac Mayor Gelacio Manalang ordered the suspension of classes in
elementary and high schools.
In Nueva Ecija, more than 300 farmers and members of the Catholic Church
and Bayan joined the protest actions.
In the Visayas, militant drivers crippled public transport in Cebu and
Iloilo while several firms in these areas as well as in Bacolod City closed
down.
More than 50,000 attended separate march-rallies in the cities of Bacolod
(32,000), Cebu (7,000), Iloilo (10,000), Roxas (4,000), Dumaguete (1,500),
Tacloban (800), and Tagbilaran (700).
Business went on in large shopping malls. But 90 member-firms of the Iloilo
Business Club closed shop.
IBC members also trooped to the Rotary Amphitheater on Bonifacio Drive to
join about 10,000 protesters.
Drivers' groups said about 95 percent of public transport in Metro Cebu had
been crippled by 1 p.m.
In Cebu City, about 95 percent in Barangay Mabolo and some southern towns
crippled transport.
The Associated Labor Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines
(ALU-TUCP) said about 80 percent of port operations in Cebu was affected by
the strike, which was lifted at 5 p.m.
At 2 p.m., Bayan and Sanlakas held separate rallies in Cebu.
About 5,000 members of Bayan and affiliate groups converged on Leon Kilat
Street. About 2,000 attended the Sanlakas rally on Colon Street some 500
meters away.
In Bacolod, about 30,000 persons gathered at the public plaza for a rally
attended by Isabela Rep. Heherson Alvarez.
Supt. Amado Marquez, Bacolod police chief, said about 10 percent of the
companies there shut down. But in Aklan, public transport was normal as
drivers ignored calls from the Estrada Resign Movement (ERM) to go on
strike.
Many nongovernment organizations in Aklan have joined the call for Mr.
Estrada's resignation but failed to muster numbers.
In Tacloban City, the rains failed to dampen the spirits of about 800
persons who attended separate rallies.
In Dumaguete City, about 1,500 people from different sectors marched around
the city and then assembled at the Quezon Park.
In Capiz, about 4,000 attended the march-rally led by the Estrada Resign
Movement (ERM) at the Roxas City bandstand.
The four biggest schools in Capiz suspended classes.
In Tagbilaran City, about 700 persons mostly from Bayan held a rally at the
Agora Square.
In Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental Vice Gov. Loreto Leo Ocampos told a
rally crowd of at least 1,000 that Mr. Estrada had replaced Commander Robot
of the Abu Sayyaf as the country's "No. 1 hostage-taker."
In Matanao town, police held two truckloads of people on their way to
attend the rally led by the Resign Estrada Movement (Remove), according to
convenor Antonio Navidad.
In Iligan City, some 200 Estrada supporters jeered some 300 protesters at
the rally held at the city public plaza.
In Davao City, it was not business as usual. Mindanao Business Council
chair Joji Ilagan-Bian said only 20 percent of business establishments
closed in the morning, but this number rose to 60 percent as the day wore
on.
But some 70 percent of public jeepneys continued plying their routes.
Alvin Luque, secretary general of Bayan-Davao City, reported what seemed
like an orchestrated campaign over radio stations that there would be no
transport strike.
At Plaza Magsaysay in Dipolog City, at least 1,000 protesters said Mr.
Estrada had "`failed God, so resign now."
In Koronadal City, South Cotabato Gov. Hilario de Pedro joined the
protesters. All gas stations in the city were closed.
In Cagayan de Oro City, about 3,000 protesters cheered as Msgr. Rey
Monsanto, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Cagayan, addressed Mr.
Estrada:
In General Santos City, some 1,000 people joined a march-rally led by Bayan
and ERM.
But transport and business operations were not crippled.
Both private and public schools suspended classes.
In Cotabato City, the Notre Dame Education Association, a group of
Church-run elementary, high schools and colleges in South-Central Mindanao,
suspended classes.
In Kidapawan City, a multi-sectoral crowd of about 1,000 gathered at the
city plaza.
In Pagadian City, a 35-year-old Subanen and her neighbors in the
hinterlands of Dumingag in Zamboanga del Sur traveled several kilometers
passing the rugged terrain of Mt. Paraya just to attend a rally at the
junction of Pajares and Rizal Avenue.
In Butuan City, some 6,000 residents including students and teachers joined
the Erap-resign rally.
In Mati, Davao Oriental, farmers from various towns led an interfaith
prayer rally. Inquirer, 11/15/2000
100 LAWYERS TO ASSIST HOUSE IMPEACH PANEL: Some 100 lawyers from top law
firms in Makati have offered to pool their resources to provide the 11
prosecutors the "best and strongest case" against President Estrada during
the impeachment trial.
Leyte Rep. Sergio Apostol, one of the prosecutors, yesterday disclosed in a
news conference at the National Press Club that the lawyers would serve
"pro bono (free of charge)."
Apostol said the lawyers, mostly graduates of Ateneo de Manila University
and the University of the Philippines, would come from big law firms such
as the Abello, Concepcion, Regala and Cruz (Accra) law offices and the
Ponce Enrile, Reyes and Manalastas law firm.
Apostol said the 100 lawyers would form part of the four teams that would
concentrate on each of the Articles of Impeachment against Mr. Estrada.
The Articles of Impeachment submitted to the Senate on Monday count
bribery, graft and corrupt practices, betrayal of public trust and culpable
violation of the Constitution as the President's alleged offenses.
Iloilo City Rep. Raul Gonzales, also member of the prosecuting team, said
four giant law firms had not only offered their lawyers but also their
research staff to assist the 11 prosecutors.
Gonzales said the law firms' offer was an indication "of the mood of the
legal community" amid the leadership crisis facing Mr. Estrada.
The minority group in the House will decide this afternoon whether to
accept the offer of the four law firms.
President Estrada has named former Chief Justice Andres Narvasa, former
Solicitor General Estelito Mendoza and former Deputy Speaker Raul Daza as
his defense lawyers.
Apostol said they would present 20 witnesses or five witnesses for each
article of impeachment. But Singson will be the prosecution's principal
witness.
But the President has a ''strong'' legal defense and is assured of ''full
opportunity'' to present his side and evidence that may lead to a long
impeachment process, according to Malacanang.
Press Secretary Ricardo Puno Jr. said it was possible that the senators,
who had acted and uttered statements that tended to show that the President
was already guilty of having received jueteng money and tobacco tax
kickbacks, could either be disqualified or be asked to inhibit themselves.
The House of Representatives has yet to provide funding for the 11-member
panel.
In Baguio City, lawyer Pablito Sanidad, lead counsel of Singson, told a
crowd of protesters not to rely on Congress in ousting the President, after
Malacanang seized control of both the Senate and House of Representatives
on Monday. Inquirer, 11/15/2000
IMPEACHED: With a bang of the House Speaker's gavel, President Estrada
yesterday became the first Philippine President to be impeached.
The Articles of Impeachment will be forwarded to the Senate for a trial to
decide whether the President should be removed from office on corruption
charges.
Speaker Manuel Villar swiftly moved to impeach the President after leading
a prayer as several hundreds of pro-and anti-Estrada demonstrators
protested outside the Batasang Pambansa Building.
Without missing a beat, Villar read an order for the House
secretary-general "to immediately transmit to the Senate the Impeachment
complaint constituting the articles of Impeachment" before banging the
gavel to cut off any further debate.
Stunned pro-administration lawmakers, who were geared up for a heated
debate, were unable to stop Villar. An attempt by Rep. Harlin Abayon to
question Villar's action was drowned by cheers from people in the gallery.
"It's official now that the Impeachment rap is with the Senate," Villar
said. "It's now up to the Senate to start the trial. We have indicted the
President."
In the Impeachment complaint, the President is accused of bribery, graft
and corrupt practices, betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of
the Constitution.
The Senate received the Articles of Impeachment last night.
Newly elected Senate President Aquilino Pimentel said the Impeachment trial
could be finished before Dec. 31 if the trial begins on Dec. 1.
Pimentel said the whole month of November could be used in approving the
Impeachment trial rules.
He said the Senate will discuss the proposed Impeachment trial rules today.
After reading the order to transmit the Impeachment complaint to the
Senate, Villar adjourned the session at 4:10 p.m., less than 10 minutes
after the session started.
"It's a great heroic act that Manny Villar did," said Vice President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo, leader of the United Opposition that has called on Mr.
Estrada's to step down.
Militant groups also praised Villar and other legislators who signed the
Impeachment complaint.
"Finally, Congress stood for what is right and good for the country. We are
glad that at this juncture, the representatives were able to rise above
their selfish interests and listened to the people's clamor to remove . . .
(the) President from power," the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said in a
statement.
Opposition congressmen prayed and lit candles near a Philippine flag before
walking into the House chamber. They wore peach-colored ribbons on their
shirts signifying their struggle to "impeach" Mr. Estrada.
No vote was held by the full House on an Impeachment declaration, although
one had been expected.
Villar said no vote was necessary because more than the required one-third
of the House's members had signed a petition endorsing the President's
Impeachment.
A total of 77 representatives of the 218-member House signed the
Impeachment complaint, or more than the 73 signatures needed to bring the
articles of Impeachment to the Senate.
Asked why there was no vote, he said that they already had 77 verified
signatures. "It's not necessary and it was just a notification," he said
during the break. But a total of 115 legislators said they supported the
Impeachment complaint.
Opposition Rep. Heherson Alvarez, a sponsor of the Impeachment complaint,
said a vote on an Impeachment resolution would have delayed the process.
"What's important is we have notified the Senate that President Estrada is
impeached," he said. "The only thing lacking is the trial and judgment for
him."
Rep. Rosenda Ann Ocampo said administration lawmakers were apparently
overwhelmed by the very emotional response of the people in the gallery who
cheered, stood and clapped as Villar read his endorsement speech.
She said her colleagues probably had second thoughts about questioning
Villar's move "when you have a crowd like this ready for blood."
But other administration lawmakers warned Villar that the Impeachment
complaint he transmitted to the Senate could be questioned because he did
not follow the rules of the House.
Congressman Abayon of Samar, sensing that Villar was no longer reading a
prayer but was actually endorsing the Impeachment complaint, attempted to
question the Speaker but was loudly booed by people in the gallery.
Members of nongovernment organizations, which gathered at the gallery, also
began chanting "Erap Resign," effectively drowning Villar's voice as he
read a speech endorsing the complaint to the Senate.
Prior to the session, Rep. Anthony Dequina said Villar had a talk with
lawmakers opposing his leadership, apparently to strike a deal with them
not to call for his ouster before the Impeachment complaint is approved on
the floor.
Dequina said Villar had asked that he be allowed to preside during the
singing of the national anthem and to read the prayer.
Dequina said Villar offered that bargain because he had learned that
lawmakers calling for his ouster were to present another resolution showing
him that majority of the House members no longer supported him.
Asked if his move was valid, Villar said: "We follow the Constitution. The
Constitution is the highest law of the land."
Administration lawmakers planned to replace Villar with Rep. Arnulfo
Fuentebella had they succeeded in calling for a reorganization of the House
following the approval of the Impeachment complaint.
In Davao City, Carlos Isagani Zarate, vice president of the Integrated Bar
of the Philippines (IBP)-Davao City, said Villar and other anti-Estrada
lawmakers did the wise and correct move.
Alvin Luque, Bayan-Davao City secretary general, hailed Villar and the
anti-Estrada legislators as "heroes."
Joji Ilagan-Bian, chair of the Mindanao Business Council (MBC), said the
business community fully supported what Villar did. Inquirer, 11/14/2000
DRILON, VILLAR OUT; PIMENTEL, FUENTEBELLA IN: Thirteen senators, mostly
belonging to the administration, yesterday booted out Sen. Franklin Drilon
as Senate President 10 days after he resigned from the ruling Lapian ng
Masang Pilipino (LAMP) coalition and called for the resignation of
President Estrada.
The 13 senators voted to install Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr., chair of the
Senate blue ribbon committee investigating the "jueteng" payola, to replace
Drilon, who held the third highest position in the land for seven months.
Pimentel, the 19th Senate President, will hold the distinction of being the
Senate head when a sitting President is facing an Impeachment trial for the
first time in the country's history.
Some observers wondered if the voting would be the same during the
Impeachment trial.
In the House of Representatives, pro-administration congressmen succeeded
in replacing Speaker Manny Villar, who, like Drilon, bolted LAMP and
supported the Impeachment of Mr. Estrada.
Elected the new Speaker was Rep. Arnulfo Fuentebella of Camarines Sur.
Last night the House session turned rowdy as pro-administration
representatives lost their composure with their continued inability to
control the proceedings and effect the election of a new Speaker.
San Juan Rep. Jose Mari Gonzales lost his cool and punched the House
sergeant-at-arms Bayani Fabic, in the face.
Akbayan Rep. Loretta Ann Rosales called for the ouster of Gonzales.
Witnesses said Gonzales tried to snatch the House mace when Deputy Speaker
Alfredo Abueg, after the nominations and approval of the 11-member panel of
prosecutors, declared the session suspended.
Gonzales was prevented from taking the mace and Fabic approached him. It
was then that Gonzales punched Fabic, a retired Army general.
Others quickly rushed to prevent a melee from erupting. It was then that
some congressmen turned their attention to the gallery who had howled when
the incident happened.
Some congressmen told those in the gallery to stop the heckling while
others directed the House sergeant-at-arms to have those in audience who
howl and applaud arrested.
It was also at this time that the anti-Villar group pointed out that the
rowdy session could be traced to an ineffective Speaker. During the break,
Deputy Speaker Daisy Fuentes took the podium and approved a motion to
declare the post of the Speaker vacant.
This sparked another round of debates with pro-Villar legislators
questioning why she took over when Abueg was still there.
The session then took another break. After the break, the nominations to
the prosecution panel were approved while the motion to declare all
positions vacant was rejected.
In his speech, Pimentel vowed to lead the Senate in the Impeachment trial
"in a manner that will be fair and just to all concerned seeking only one
objective: that the truth will come out of the Impeachment trial that
shall, hopefully, put to rest the emotional conflict and the disturbing
dissension that are being fueled by the accusations of presidential
corruption and misconduct."
The senators decided in a caucus to nominate Sen. Miriam Santiago as the
next chair of the Senate blue ribbon committee.
Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile was nominated justice committee chair, replacing
Sen. Renato Cayetano.
The two committees are jointly investigating the jueteng payola.
Sources in Malacanang said the Pimentel accession to the Senate presidency
was part of an over-all plan to ease him out of the blue ribbon committee
in charge of the jueteng hearings.
Santiago is known for her critical grilling of Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis
"Chavit" Singson during the Senate hearings on the jueteng controversy.
He revealed that Pimentel had two more witnesses who would corroborate the
transfer of the P200-million excise tax on tobacco from Ilocos Sur to
Manila. The President allegedly pocketed the money.
Drilon's staunch ally, Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, would likewise be punished.
The senators wanted to give the Senate defense and housing committees,
which he chairs, to Sen. Gregorio Honasan and Sen. Robert Jaworski
respectively.
An administration senator alleged that Sen. Vicente Sotto III "spoke to
Pimentel last (Sunday) night and asked if he would be supportive of
you-know-who (the President) and he (Pimentel) said yes."
Pimentel, however, said before he was elected yesterday that he was
accepting the nomination only if there were no deals from the camps of Mr.
Estrada and Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Another administration senator, who asked not to be named, said that the
majority senators had not decided between Pimentel and Tatad until former
Sen. Ernesto Maceda intervened in behalf of the President.
Maceda reportedly met with some senators at the President's private
residence on Polk Street in Greenhills, San Juan.
The source said Maceda told Coseteng that "the candidate of the group is
Nene because Kit is no longer in the running."
Tatad supposedly "blew his top" and angrily called the President by phone.
Tatad reportedly asked the President why he "brought Maceda in" when he
said he would not intervene in Senate affairs.
The source said Tatad had threatened to withdraw from the coalition but was
"prevailed upon."
An opposition senator, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said that
before the 13 senators held a caucus they had not chosen between Pimentel
and Tatad.
Those who voted for Pimentel were Senators Teresa Aquino-Oreta, Anna
Dominique Coseteng, Miriam Defensor Santiago, Juan Ponce Enrile, Robert
Jaworski, John Osmena, Sergio Osmena III, Ramon Revilla, Vicente Sotto III,
Senate President Pro Tempore Blas Ople, Tatad and Pimentel himself.
They were the same ones who held the caucus at noon. Only Sergio Osmena III
belongs to the opposition. Coseteng, Jaworski and Revilla have bolted the
LAMP and described themselves as independents. Coseteng held a joint press
conference with Drilon and Biazon when they resigned from the coalition on
Nov. 3.
Six senators voted for Senate Minority Leader Teofisto Guingona Jr., whom
Drilon nominated for the Senate presidency.
They were Renato Cayetano, Juan Flavier, Loren Legarda-Leviste all of whom
belong to the opposition party Lakas-NUCD; and opposition Senators Ramon
Magsaysay Jr. of Liberal Party and Raul Roco of Aksyon Demokratiko.
The election took place less than two hours after 13 senators agreed in a
caucus to vote for Pimentel. Pimentel took his oath before Ople and assumed
the Senate helm without fanfare.
True to his words, Enrile made a motion to declare all Senate positions
vacant to pave the way for the election.
Enrile said the election was necessary to determine who were in the
majority and in the minority.
Guingona, Biazon, Cayetano and Legarda, who said the reorganization should
take a backseat to the Impeachment process, passionately opposed Enrile's
motion.
Guingona said there was neither great hurry nor compelling reason to
reorganize the Senate leadership, because the Senate's greater mandate was
to tackle the Impeachment trial.
Tatad asked for a vote on Enrile's motion. Twelve senators voted to declare
the positions vacant and seven voted no. Inquirer, 11/14/2000
SIN SUPPORTS NATIONWIDE STRIKE TODAY: The nationwide people's strike to
demand that President Estrada step down pushes through today with the full
support of Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin and the business, labor and
student sectors.
The welga ng mamamayan is expected to cripple the operations of some of the
country's major industries as well as transportation in at least 12 cities
and provinces.
Crispin Beltran, chair of the militant labor alliance Kilusang Mayo Uno,
said the strike would be mounted in 42 provinces and 25 cities nationwide,
and could "paralyze 85 percent of the economy."
But he said today's strike, though extensive, would just be the start of a
series of work stoppages to be mounted by KMU and the Bagong Alyansang
Makabayan (Bayan) "until President Estrada bows out."
In Manila, protesters will mass at the Liwasang Bonifacio at 12:30 p.m. and
then march to Mendiola at 4 p.m. for a program and ecumenical prayers.
Parallel rallies and mass actions will be held on Ayala Avenue by Sanlakas
and the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino and elsewhere in Metro Manila.
Beltran said that among those expected to stop work today were groups of
workers of the RFM Corp., San Miguel Corp. and Comfoods Inc.
Members of Courage, an organization of government employees, will stage a
walkout.
Some employees of the Philippine Airlines will hold a rally in front of the
Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2, which is exclusively used by
PAL, to protest the management's alleged anti-labor policies before
proceeding to Liwasang Bonifacio.
Students from various universities, including UP, UST and Mr. Estrada's
alma mater Ateneo de Manila, as well as members of the Alliance of
Concerned Teachers, will boycott classes today, Beltran said.
Jun Luna, deputy secretary general of the militant fisherfolk group
Pamalakaya, said: "The time has come to give Estrada the same intense
popular uprising that kicked (former dictator Ferdinand) Marcos out of
Malacanang. (The) people's strike marks the beginning of Estrada's end."
Reacting to reports (not in the Inquirer) that it would not join the welga,
the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide
(Piston) said "drivers' groups nationwide are joining the people's strike
through transport strikes, caravans and rallies."
"No doubt about it, we are also for Estrada's ouster. So we're joining the
strike," said Piston chair Medardo Roda.
Roda said today's transport strike would continue indefinitely until the
current political crisis is resolved.
He said that while Piston drivers in Metro Manila would continue plying
their routes today to ferry protesters to the various rally sites, mainly
Liwasang Bonifacio, they would join other Piston members nationwide
starting Wednesday.
"By the 15th (of November), all our members will be staying off the
streets. We will first observe the political developments before we go
back," he said.
Roda said the transport strike would be held in support of the planned
vigil that the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas is set to start today in
the vicinity of Malacanang.
He said he was confident that Piston would be able to paralyze starting
today the transport sector in the Bicol region, Laguna, Batangas,
Occidental Mindoro, Panay Island, Cebu, the Negros provinces and the major
cities of Davao, Cotabato, and Cagayan de Oro in Mindanao.
He added that bus and truck drivers were also expected to join the strike
in the following days.
But Romy Maranan, head of the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers
Associations of the Philippines (Fejodap), said his group was not joining
today's strike.
In Pampanga, Filomeno Salenga, president of the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga
Drivers sa Angeles (Pasada), advised commuters to stay home as
member-drivers would stop plying their routes from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. today.
He said the Federation of Transport Associations and Cooperatives in
Angeles and other groups operating outside the city would also join the
strike.
The 37 groups comprising the Coalition for the Ouster of Estrada (CORE)
appealed to all workers and businessmen to join the nationwide strike.
Classes at all levels in Angeles and nearby towns will be suspended.
In Nueva Ecija, 25 convenors of the local Estrada Resign Movement called on
those seeking the President's resignation or ouster to close their business
establishments and schools today and to hold noise barrages, light candles
and pray.
In Tarlac City, the local chapter of the Resign Erap Movement said about
3,000 tricycle and jeepney drivers would join the strike.
In Isabela, at least 5,000 Church, non-government organization workers and
residents are expected to troop to the Andres Bonifacio monument in
Barangay Baligatan in the capital town of Ilagan for a prayer rally.
Fr. Gregorio Uanan, Diocese of Ilagan chancellor, said: "Prayers will make
our nation rise again from this economic crisis. We will also pray that
President Estrada be enlightened and immediately resign for the good of the
country," he said.
In Tuguegarao City, the Cagayan Action for the Resignation of Erap (CARE)
will hold a protest rally.
In Pangasinan, a multi-sectoral Church-led group will hold a noise barrage
in downtown Dagupan City.
In Baguio City, the Erap Resign Movement will mobilize 1,500 people in a
protest march.
Among those expected to join the rally are members of Couples for Christ,
Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Free Legal Assistance Group,
Integrated Bar of the Philippines, the Muslim community, and local
officials, real estate developers and students.
The movement was organized by the Tongtongan Ti Umili, Cordillera Peoples
Alliance, Gays and Lesbians for the Immediate Tsugi of Erap (Galit-Erap)
and the Regional Ecumenical Council of Churches in the Cordillera.
In Albay, the Social Action Center of the Diocese of Legazpi is expected to
lead at least 5,000 protesters at the Erap Resign-Albay rally today at the
Penaranda Park.
Other multi-sectoral rallies will be held in the provinces of Camarines
Sur, Camarines Norte and Sorsogon and the cities of Legazpi, Naga and
Iriga.
Police are on red alert in the cities of Cebu, Iloilo, Dumaguete, Tacloban
and Bacolod.
Organizers in Iloilo assured the police of a peaceful protest action that
includes a transport strike and a march rally, which about 10,000 are
expected to join.
Iloilo Business Club chair Herminio Maravilla said some of its members were
planning to close shop to allow their workers to join the protests.
In Cebu City, Supt. Ronald Roderos, city police chief, ordered all 11
police precinct and special unit commanders to monitor the protest
activities.
Port and land transport is expected to be crippled as three major transport
groups in Cebu are joining the strike. Arrastre operations in the Cebu
port will stop starting at 5 a.m. today, said Ferdinand Jumapao of the
Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines in Cebu.
At 10 a.m., port workers affiliated with the ALU-TUCP will hold a prayer
rally at the port area.
Sabino Dapat, president of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
earlier said the business sector would support the protest action.
In Dumaguete City, about 60 policemen and traffic enforcers were deployed
in major city streets and at the Quezon Park where members of the People's
Alliance for the Removal of Erap will hold a rally at 3 p.m.
Ronald Ian Evidente, Bayan secretary general in Negros Oriental, said the
five major transport groups in the province would stage a caravan and a
noise barrage in major streets at 8 a.m.
In Bacolod City, Supt. Geary Barias, Negros Occidental police chief, put
his men on stand-by in anticipation of two expected massive rallies in the
afternoon--one by Bayan and the No Erap Movement at the Bacolod public
plaza, and the other by Sanlakas and BMP at the Fountain of Justice.
Kabankalan Bishop Vicente Navarra, papal administrator of the Diocese of
Bacolod, said seven churches there would hold prayer vigils for peace and
harmony.
In Tacloban City, about 700 members of the Resign Estrada! Movement,
composed of 20 sectoral groups, will start their march rally at the old bus
terminal and will converge at the Rizal Park.
Close to 1,000 members of the 17-group Sanghiran Sang Katawhan Sa
Sinirangan Bisaya will march around Tacloban in the morning and converge at
the RTR Plaza.
The Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry has issued a circular
urging all its 300 members to close shop in support of the nationwide
strike.
But businessmen in Cagayan de Oro City dissuaded workers from stopping work
in Misamis Oriental. Oliver Plaza, ALU-TUCP vice president in Northern
Mindanao, said there would be a partial work stoppage in Cagayan de Oro
and Misamis Oriental. Plaza said the workers would instead join Bayan
members in a rally at 1p.m.
In Misamis Occidental, Gov. Ernie Clarete and Vice Gov. Loreto Leo Ocampos
are expected to reiterate the call for Mr. Estrada's resignation during a
rally at the OsRox Park in Ozamiz City.
A team from the Mindanawans' Action to Remove Erap (Mare) will go around
the city at 6 a.m. to ask residents to join the protests. At 7 a.m.,
members of the Erap Resign Movement (ERM-Misamis Occidental) will stage a
march-rally until noon.
Some 500 students of the Immaculate Conception College will lead a torch
parade around the city at 6 p.m. A prayer rally will follow in front of the
Ozamiz Catholic Cathedral.
In Marawi City, the Supreme Council of Ulama of the Bangsamoro Nation urged
Filipino Muslims to join all mass actions against Mr. Estrada, including
the nationwide Welga today.
In General Santos City, Rev. Avelino Sichon, Bayan spokesperson and member
of the secretariat of the ERM, said more than 5,000 people were expected to
attend the march-rally at 2:30 p.m.
In Digos City, Bishop Generoso Camina urged the people to join the strike
in an open letter. A rally organized by the Resign Estrada Movement
(Remove) will start at 1 p.m.
In Kidapawan City, the Erap Resign Now! said it would mobilize thousands of
people for a prayer and march–rally.
In Zamboanga City, police authorities vowed to provide full security for
all mass actions for or against Mr. Estrada. Inquirer, 11/14/2000
STOCK MARKET FOUNDERS AS ESTRADA HANGS ON: After a strong performance last
week, local stocks yesterday resumed trading in the red as the market
realized that the process of unseating President Estrada might take longer
than originally expected.
Unlike the historic bull run seen the previous Monday amid the breakout of
key solons and technocrats to the opposition party, the main-share
Philippine Stock Exchange composite index dropped by 2.22 percent or 33.01
points to 1,455.94 yesterday.
This developed as the administration successfully displayed its ability to
match and even exceed oppositionist mass actions during a pro-Estrada
prayer rally in Luneta on Saturday.
Vickers Ballas Securities (Phils) assistant director for sales Enrique Sta.
Ana said there was a false perception last week that the Impeachment
process against the President would be easy.
Eagle Securities president Joseph Roxas said the investors who embarked on
an aggressive bargain-hunting last week to bet on Mr. Estrada's ouster very
soon did not continue their heavy buying this week.
Yesterday's drop was thus also seen as a correction to last week's hefty
15.62 percent rise in the PHISIX.
Likewise adding to the uncertainties to the market was the nationwide
strike supported by big business groups scheduled today, which the market
knew had the potential to grind the economy to a halt.
The PSE, for its part, said the exchange would remain officially open today
and that it was up to individual member-brokers to decide whether to join
the nationwide boycott or not.
At the trading floor yesterday, however, papers were being circulated
urging brokers and dealers to boycott trading at least from 11:30 to 11:45
a.m. today in support of calls for Mr. Estrada's resignation. Inquirer,
11/14/2000
ESTRADA ADMITS AIDE GOT P200 MILLION FROM CHAVIT: For the first time since
the jueteng scandal broke out, President Estrada admitted yesterday that
one of his aides received P200 million skimmed from tobacco taxes and
delivered by his estranged friend, Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson.
The President asserted, however, that he never touched the money which his
aide, lawyer Edward Serapio, deposited in a bank ostensibly for a Muslim
youth foundation. Mr. Estrada said this will be used as evidence to clear
his name in his impending impeachment trial.
Serapio now serves as legal counsel of the President's family.
Singson has accused Mr. Estrada of pocketing more than P400 million in
bribes from big-time jueteng operators over a period of 21 months. He also
said the President asked for the P200 million as a commission from tobacco
taxes in exchange for the release of funds for Ilocos Sur.
The President explained that when Singson tried to give the P200 million to
him as a bribe from the jueteng operators, "I would not touch it because
since I was mayor, I would not touch (illegal gambling) money, more so now
that I am president."
"I said I will not accept that. The money accumulated and he (Singson)
deposited it in several places. I learned about it only lately," he said.
Mr. Estrada said Singson insisted on delivering the money and asked
controversial accountant Yolando Ricaforte to deliver it to Serapio, who
was then undersecretary for political affairs.
The President denied earlier having personally known Ricaforte.
He said Singson then arranged to have the money deposited in the account of
a "Muslim youth scholarship fund."
"That money is intact in the bank. None of it has been touched," Mr.
Estrada said.
Critics of the President insisted, however, that the Muslim youth
scholarship foundation was a front used by the Chief Executive to cover up
payoffs.
The President pointed out that the money would be used as evidence to clear
his name of Singson's charges in the forthcoming impeachment trial.
He reiterated his claim of innocence, adding he would not resign despite a
growing clamor for him to relinquish his post.
Mr. Estrada claimed he did not immediately react to Singson's allegations
on the advice of his lawyers, but added he is now ready with his defense
and will personally appear at the impeachment proceedings.
He branded as "lies and disinformation" allegations by Sen. Ramon Magsaysay
Jr. that Malacanang has allotted P1 billion to influence senators into
voting down his impeachment.
The President also laughed off reports that his aides were trying to
negotiate a graceful exit for him. "I will make my graceful exit in 2004"
when his term ends, he said.
Meanwhile, the united opposition was reportedly wooing some ranking police
officials to join their movement to oust Mr. Estrada.
Reliable sources in the intelligence community said these officers held a
caucus recently to discuss the possibility of supporting the political
opposition's attempts to unseat the President. Phil. Star, 11/10/2000
A MILLION RALLY FOR ERAP: The efforts of the Estrada administration to
produce a show of force for yesterday's ecumenical prayer rally proved to
be hugely successful, with over a million people thronging the vicinity of
the Rizal Park.
Chief Supt. Avelino Razon, director of the Western Police District and who
took charge of security and order, estimated the crowd at 1.2 million at
about 5:15 p.m. Agence France Presse said the people numbered more than a
million.
The crowd--the bulk of which was bused from various points of the
metropolis and from as far as Cagayan Valley, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija and
Olongapo City--was clearly intended to be the message, with President
Estrada and other speakers delivering, not speeches reflecting the
political crisis, but prayers for "peace and unity."
In his prayer at the climax of the rally, Mr. Estrada offered his
presidency to God and beseeched Him to "show us Your mercy both as a people
and as a nation."
The President had earlier insisted that the event had no political motive,
but critics said it was his administration's answer to the massive
Estrada-resign rally on Nov. 4 at the Edsa Shrine.
Rally participants were allegedly paid sums ranging from P500 to P300 and
lured by promises of land titles. Earlier, government officials issued
memorandums to their personnel enjoining them to attend.
But Press Secretary Ricardo Puno told reporters at the rally site that
Malacanang "did not oblige people to come here."
The President arrived at the site by helicopter.
Perhaps to emphasize that the affair was a prayer activity, Cabinet members
took care to seat themselves way behind Mr. Estrada and allowed religious
leaders to take their places beside him.
The President and First Lady Loi Ejercito were flanked by Bro. Mike Velarde
of El Shaddai and Bro. Isaias Samson Jr. of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC),
who represented the two biggest and most influential religious groups
supporting the Estrada administration.
Fr. James Reuter, who, rally organizers had said, was to have delivered a
testimonial to the President, was not present.
Organizers also earlier said that the Philippine Independent Church would
participate, but the PIC denied this.
Fr. Larry Faraon, representing the Catholic Church, went against the stand
of the Manila Archdiocese and the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the
Philippines as he led the prayer for "productive interaction between the
Church and the government."
Faraon replaced fellow Dominican Fr. Sonny Ramirez in leading the prayer.
El Shaddai's Velarde, Mr. Estrada's spiritual adviser, and the INC's Samson
prayed for an end to divisions among the people so that there could be a
dialogue for the country's good.
Frank Rola, a leader of the Jesus Miracle Crusade (JMC), said: "For the
respectable President of our country, President Joseph Ejercito Estrada,
give him strength and physical health. Guide him . . . for the progress of
our country, especially in his resolve to uplift the condition of majority
of our people."
The JMC had one of the largest contingents, coming in third in number after
the El Shaddai and the INC.
The event may have been held to mark the "National Day for Prayer and
Fasting," but many of the participants were observed feasting on food and
drink and engaged in card games.
Caloocan Councilor Edgar Erice said he had received a complaint that a
resident, supposedly an El Shaddai member, was given P10,000 yesterday
morning by a barangay captain to mobilize people to attend the rally.
A group of Marcos loyalists who claimed to have spent Friday night at the
rally site walked out before the President arrived when they noted that
they were not among the groups acknowledged.
Journalists covering the rally were told to register with organizers in a
function room at the Westin Philippine Plaza.
After listing down the reporters' names and distributing access tags, the
organizers gave them heart-shaped chocolate cakes that bore the phrase
"peace and unity" written in icing.
Reporters were also invited to partake of pancit canton, fresh lumpia and
ensaymada before they were sent off in air-conditioned vans to the rally
site.
On Ortigas Avenue, police observed three buses loading people supposedly
bound for the rally site.
"It's obviously hakot, most probably by (Rizal) Gov. (Casimiro) Ynares
because he has been vocal about his support for Erap," said a rookie cop.
The INQUIRER witnessed other "hakot" activities in Pasig City and Payatas,
Quezon City.
A tricycle driver said they were offered P300 each to attend. "But even if
they did not offer P300, many drivers will still go because the President
promised them land titles," he said. Inquirer, 11/12/2000
ESTRADA FOES PLAN `BIGGEST EVER' RALLY: Militant groups demanding President
Estrada's ouster are girding for "the biggest mass action ever" on Tuesday
after yesterday's prayer rally at the Luneta drew over a million
participants in a show of support for the beleaguered Chief Executive.
Group leaders said next week's Welgang Bayan (nationwide strike) is
expected to cripple, if not paralyze, the industrial and commercial
sectors, government offices, schools and transportation in key areas
throughout the country.
The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas said it plans "to surround the Palace"
by bringing in thousands of farm workers from Luzon to block entry points
to Malacanang, the presidential residence.
Elsewhere, the KMP pledged to deploy a literally ragged infantry of farm
workers in street demonstrations in its "55 regional and provincial
chapters," according to the group's secretary general, Danilo Ramos.
The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan announced its schedule of rallies, classroom
walkouts, work stoppages and jeepney drivers' strikes in at least 27
provinces.
"Let us flood the streets in huge numbers in a peaceful, democratic and
militant show of unity and strength. Let us take a day-off from industry
and commerce, offices, schools and our homes," said Bayan chair Rafael
Mariano.
The labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno predicted that the strike will be felt
strongest in the province of Pampanga and in Caloocan City whose leaders,
Gov. Lito Lapid and Mayor Rey Malonzo, respectively, have been estranged
from the President despite their being former fellow-actors.
Courage, the mother union of the government's 1.3 million employees, said
its member organizations have confirmed that "mass leaves" would occur in
practically all branches of government.
Courage officials led by spokesperson Ferdie Gaite yesterday launched RAGE
or "Rise All Government Employees Against Estrada," whose membership cuts
across the executive department, the judiciary, both chambers of Congress,
town and city governments and state-owned firms like the National Power
Corp. and government financial institutions.
The student group Anakbayan will hold vigils on the eve of the welga at UP
Diliman, UP Manila, the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and
Adamson University.
The United Church of Christ in the Philippines announced it is suspending
classes in the schools it operates nationwide in support of the strike. In
Metro Manila, UCCP runs the Philippine Christian University.
Land transportation services and port operations in Metro Cebu and Bacolod
and Iloilo cities are expected to grind to a halt on Nov. 14 and the next
three days.
The country's biggest labor union, the Cebu-based Associated Labor
Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, was confident total work
stoppage will be achieved not just at Cebu ports, but in other ports in the
country.
Democrito Mendoza, TUCP president, said they are eyeing an 80 percent
paralyzation of port operations in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu and the
cities of Cagayan, Davao, Zamboanga, Dumaguete, Tacloban, Iloilo and
Ozamis.
Mendoza said at least six furniture companies and one cement factory in
Cebu, the Apo Cement Corp. in Naga town, would be joining Tuesday's strike.
Two big transportation companies in the Visayas and Mindanao, the Ceres Bus
Liner and Bachelor Express, will suspend their operations during the day,
Mendoza said.
Students at the University of San Carlos, University of the Philippines
Cebu Campus, University of Cebu, Southwestern University and St. Theresa's
College in Cebu City are expected to walk out of their classes on Tuesday.
Protest organizers in Bacolod and Iloilo have encouraged school
administrators, students and teachers and the business sector to join the
protest action.
Protest rallies calling for the President's resignation have also been
scheduled in the cities of Dumaguete and Tacloban.
In Davao City, the multi-sectoral Estrada Resign Movement will put the
President on "trial" in a "people's court" at the Freedom Park during a
march and rally on Monday.
The ERM will also picket local branches of "crony-owned" banks such as the
United Coconut Planters Bank, Allied Bank, the Philippine National Bank and
the Equitable-PCI Bank.
Even as President Estrada read a prayer to the mammoth rally at the Luneta
yesterday, he was sentenced to death by Marawi City residents in Mindanao
for his "war crimes" against the Bangsamoro people.
Some 500 protesters kicked and punched a 15-foot effigy of Mr. Estrada at a
rally on Quezon Avenue, Banggolo, in downtown Marawi City yesterday.
Dr. Bashary Abdullatiph, of the Lanao del Sur Medical Society, said
President Estrada even had the gall to use Muslim youths as "scapegoats" in
the "jueteng" controversy.
"Muslims would never accept money from gambling," Abdullatiph said,
referring to the President's claim that jueteng money from Ilocos Sur Gov.
Luis "Chavit" Singson found its way into the Muslim Youth Foundation.
"How dare Estrada say he helped Muslims youths. Thousands of Muslim
children have stopped going to school because of his all-out war policy,"
said Baicon Cayongcat-Macaraya, chair of the Bangsamoro Youth Assembly.
In Cebu, "Barug Sugbo" (Stand up Cebu!) became the battle cry at the prayer
rally at Fuente Osmena.
Chanting "Erap resign now, Sugbo barug," some 10,000 Cebuanos sang, yelled
and listened to multi-sectoral leaders who enumerated the ills of the
Estrada administration. Inquirer, 11/12/2000
IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS WILL BE SWIFT – PIMENTEL: Senate blue ribbon
committee chair Aquilino Pimentel said yesterday that the impeachment
proceedings against President Estrada could be finished by yearend.
He added that senators tasked by the Constitution to preside over the trial
did not need to be satisfied that the President was guilty "beyond
reasonable doubt" to convict him, but did not say if this contributed to a
swift proceeding.
"If we start by Dec. 1, I think we can finish it in one month," Pimentel
told reporters at the weekly press forum at the Sulo Hotel in Quezon City.
He said the Senate would conduct hearings six days a week, taking a recess
only on Sundays to hasten the process.
Pimentel is also proposing that the time allotted for each senator to ask
questions should be shortened.
The President might not even be compelled to attend the hearings. His
lawyers could represent him, Pimentel said.
Pimentel said the Senate would be divided into several committees to tackle
each of the articles of impeachment transmitted by the House of
Representatives.
He said that the opposition had nothing to fear about the committees'
"killing" the articles of impeachment at their level. "They would only
accept the articles. Their powers are limited." Inquirer, 11/12/2000
OUSTER A PLOY TO DERAIL IMPEACHMENT CASE – VILLAR: Pro-administration
congressmen are seeking to unseat Manny Villar as Speaker of the House to
delay and imperil impeachment proceedings against President Estrada.
This was the statement yesterday of Villar, who is facing ouster as House
leader after he signed the impeachment complaint filed at the House against
the President.
However, administration congressmen reiterated their support for the
impeachment complaint and described as "unfortunate" statements made by
Minority Floorleader Feliciano Belmonte, who claimed they were out to delay
or "dilute the seriousness" of the impeachment complaint.
Rep. Arnulfo Fuentebella said congressmen of the ruling coalition have
committed to the public that the planned selection of a new Speaker will
not in any way impede the impeachment proceedings.
Rep. Eduardo Veloso, meanwhile, appealed to opposition congressmen to
refrain from issuing statements that might influence the judgement of the
Senate whose members will serve as jurors in the impeachment trial.
Veloso said the opposition will be "very well represented in the 11-man
House prosecution panel.
Villar said that aside from trying to delay the proceedings, the
administration is also seeking to take over the House leadership so it can
choose the 11-man House panel that will prosecute the impeachment case
during the trial at the Senate.
The names are endorsed by the House leadership and approved by the entire
Chamber.
Villar said any plot to oust him is bound to fail as he is confident of the
majority support of his colleagues. "Our group is solid and we are
determined to expedite proceedings so the truth may come out," he said. He
estimates that "way above one half" of his colleagues remain supportive of
him.
House members assailed moves to change the present House leadership,
stressing that impeachment proceedings must be the priority over leadership
intramural. Inquirer, 11/12/2000
ANTI-ERAP RALLIES SET IN 41 PROVINCES: With the mammoth anti-Estrada
prayer-rally at the Edsa Shrine last Saturday apparently failing to elicit
the expected reaction from Malacanang, protesters have set various rallies
and other mass actions for next week to further pressure President Estrada
into resigning.
Militant groups have scheduled an anti-Estrada rally at the Liwasang
Bonifacio in Manila and in 41 provinces on Nov. 14.
Rafael Mariano, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan head, yesterday said multi-
sectoral groups in at least 41 provinces had already confirmed their
participation in next Tuesday’s rally-cum-strike.
In Davao City, moderate, militant, church groups and the "united
opposition" in Mindanao have mapped up plans to hold an island-wide
"people's congress" similar to the Kongreso ng Mamamayang Pilipino
II, (Kompil II) in Quezon City to coincide with Vice President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo's consultative assembly to be held in the city on
Saturday.
The "Mindanao Kompil," is expected to come up with a draft of coordinated
plans to sustain the island-wide campaign for the President's resignation
and a Mindanao agenda for the first 100 days of the next administration.
Related to this, Mindanaoans in Metro Manila will issue today a "Mindanao
Declaration" which seeks the island's representation in the Cabinet and
judiciary.
Irene Santiago, one of the planners of the Mindanao Kompil, said efforts
of various forces in the island must be unified to send a stronger message
to the President that a big number of Mindanao constituents wanted him
ousted.
According to Santiago, Mindanao-based organizations joining anti-Estrada
mass actions are pressing for greater representation of Mindanao
constituents in the Cabinet and want the next administration to pursue
peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front without
pre-conditions.
Santiago said the groups had also agreed on the need to "demilitarize"
various parts of Mindanao and to have evacuees affected by armed conflict
immediately returned to their homelands.
Macapagal is expected to join the Mindanao Kompil when she visits Davao
City to hold consultations with various organizations.
Inquirer, 11/07/2000
BIGGEST BUSINESS GROUP JUNKS ERAP: The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (PCCI), the country's biggest business organization, has turned
its back on President Estrada and joined 12 other business groups in
calling for his resignation.
In a marathon meeting yesterday, which one participant described as "very
heated," 10 of PCCI's 15-member board voted for Mr. Estrada's resignation.
Thirteen representatives of 17 regional chambers nationwide also pushed
for the President’s resignation.
The PCCI is the recognized voice of Philippine business with 1,200
individual members, 115 industry associations, 107 local chambers, and
22,000 individual corporations.
The Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Associations (Creba),
which had been closely identified with the President, also joined calls
for his resignation.
As if these were not enough, three Philippine representatives to the
Asia-Pacific Economic Conference (Apec) Business Advisory Council (ABAC)
resigned their posts.
They were Roberto Romulo, Benigno Ricafort, and Jose Luis I. Yulo Jr.
Officials of PCCI, a staunch supporter of President since 1998,
overwhelmingly voted for the resignation of the President as a quick
solution to the political and economic crisis gripping the nation.
Another business group, the Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI)
will meet tomorrow to discuss the results of a survey among its members
whether to seek the President’s resignation.
PCCI vice president Donald Dee said that should Mr. Estrada refuse to
resign, the PCCI would push for an expeditious, transparent and fair
impeachment process.
We are not small or big business, we are Philippine business," said PCCI
board director Yulo.
The PCCI resolution is significant because the group represents a wider
spectrum of the business community with 85 percent of its members
classified as small and medium enterprises.
In contrast, the top 1,000 companies dominate the Makati Business Club
(MBC), Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) and Financial
Executives Institute of the Philippines (Finex), which last week called
on the President to step down.
The PCCI's position is a major drawback for the President considering that
the PCCI had been one of its staunchest supporters since he came to
office. In a previous resolution, the PCCI merely called for a
constitutional process to resolve the corruption scandal involving Mr.
Estrada during the conclusion of its annual Philippine Business Conference
on the day that Vice President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo tendered her
resignation from the Cabinet.
Since then, members of the PCCI clamored for a firmer stand to save the
economy from collapse. Inquirer, 11/07/2000
DILANGALEN TACTICS FAIL TO STOP IMPEACH RAPS: The debate was long, loud
and heated yesterday at the House, but in the end members of the committee
on justice unanimously agreed to recommend President Estrada's impeachment
to the plenary body when session resumes on Monday.
No one--not even Maguindanao Rep. Didagen Dilangalen, the most vocal in
opposing the impeachment case--objected when acting committee chair
Pampanga Rep. Oscar Rodriguez moved to approve a resolution endorsing the
verified complaint and the accompanying resolution of endorsement that
had been signed by 77 congressmen.
Committee members promised to give in to Dilangalen’s demand for a
report detailing yesterday's proceedings, which would be attached to the
main document.
Those for impeachment claimed to have collected 99 signatures. But those
against said only 77 signatures appeared on copies of the verified
impeachment complaint presented to them yesterday afternoon.
Rodriguez said that when the House conducts a formal vote to elevate the
impeachment complaint to the Senate on Monday, this would be a mere
formality as more than one-third of the members--the number required by
the Constitution--had signed it.
"We cannot override the one-third (of the House membership) that has
already signed the complaint. The Constitution guarantees that
protection," Rep. Joker Arroyo said.
Rodriguez said the vote "will just be like a vote on third reading."
Dilangalen, however, said the decision to impeach the President could
still be referred back to the House committee on justice because of more
"technicalities."
Asked to assess the chance of the second point occurring, he said:
"There's always a chance for everything, but as to the probability,
we're not really very sure. It all depends on the thinking of congressmen
next week."
Dilangalen also pointed out that the final resolution that was approved
at the end of the three-hour hearing should include the approval of a
committee report.
Yesterday's development means that the justice committee is spared from
voting to determine whether the impeachment complaint is sufficient in
form and substance, a process that could be lengthy if the committee chair
entertains questions from filibustering lawmakers.
Once the verified impeachment complaint is elevated to the Senate, it will
be referred to as the Articles of Impeachment.
The congressmen who signed the impeachment petition have charged
President Estrada with bribery, graft, betrayal of public trust and
culpable violation of the Constitution.
The more important vote on Monday, Rodriguez pointed out, would be the
choice of the 11 congressmen to serve as prosecutors when the President
undergoes trial in the Senate.
During the debate, pro-administration congressmen tried to have the
complaint dismissed when a motion to have it declared as sufficient in
form was proposed.
Insisting that they wanted the rules and the Constitution followed, they
tried several times to have the complaint dismissed.
They argued that the vote against having the complaint declared
sufficient in form meant that it was insufficient and thus must be
dismissed.
The action was equally heated outside the gates of the Batasan
Complex.
Some 200 members of the pro-administration Samahang Nagkakaisa sa
Palupa (Sanapa), an urban poor group from Quezon City barangays, clashed
with more than 100 of their fellow poor, who were members of militant
groups Bayan, Kilusang Mayo Uno and Kilusan ng Magbubukid ng Pilipinas,
and supporters of opposition politicians.
Placards were ripped, stones and coins were thrown, and insults were
hurled. But police arrived in time to prevent injuries.If the impeachment
case is elevated to the Senate, Mr. Estrada's fate will depend on the
support of eight senators.
He needs eight of the 22 senators to get an acquittal. But 15 senators are
necessary for a conviction.
Five senators have bolted the ruling coalition LAMP, and left it with nine
out of 14 members.The nine are Senate President Pro Tempore Blas Ople,
Majority Leader Francisco Tatad, Senators Vicente Sotto III, Miriam
Defensor-Santiago, Teresa Aquino-Oreta, John Osmena, Juan Ponce Enrile,
Gregorio Honasan and Aquilino Pimentel Jr.
But "not all are hard-line supporters of the President)," said one of
them, who asked not to be named.
At least three of the nine--whom the source named as Enrile, his protégé
Honasan and Pimentel--are said to be "soft" in terms of loyalty to the
President.
The source said Enrile and Honasan "vote together, and JPE cannot cross
over to (former President) Cory (Aquino)," referring to the rift between
two of the key players in the 1986 Edsa revolt.
"Pimentel is soft because you cannot tell where he will go. He is very
interesting and he could play a pivotal role (in the impeachment trial),"
the source said, adding:
There are now 11 opposition senators, excluding Robert Jaworski and his
father-in-law Ramon Revilla, who junked the coalition but chose to be
"independent."
That makes them the "new Senate majority," according to John Osmena, who
volunteered to quit two committees he is chairing to pave the way for a
reorganization in the chamber.
They are Minority Leader Teofisto Guingona Jr., Loren Legarda, Renato
Cayetano, Robert Barbers and Juan Flavier--all of Lakas; Raul Roco of
Aksyon Demokratiko; and Ramon Magsaysay Jr. and Sergio Osmena III--both
of the Liberal Party.
Senate President Franklin Drilon and Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, both of LAMP,
and Sen. Anna Dominique Coseteng of the Nationalist People's Coalition
have allied with the opposition.
Even while the House has yet to approve the articles of impeachment, the
Senate is preparing the rules of the trial. If and when, all the senators
will sit as judges or jurors in the trial at which Chief Justice Hilario
Davide Jr. will preside.
Santiago expects the trial to last for at least six months. She said that
the earliest the Senate could start the impeachment trial would be Nov.
20, and that the chamber could use up its first session week starting on
Nov. 13 to finalize the rules.
Santiago, chair of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments,
said that aside from the rules taken from the US Congress, the Philippine
Senate could adopt the old impeachment rules dating back to the time of
President Elpidio Quirino.
Or, she said, the Senate could come up with its own.
Roco denied Representative Arroyo's statement that the Senate had no
impeachment rules.
Citing Rule 50 of the Senate Rules of Procedure Governing Inquiries in
Aid of Legislation, Roco said that "if there is no rule applicable to a
specific case, the precedents of the legislative department shall be
resorted to, and, as supplement, the rules contained in Jefferson's
Manual, Riddick's Precedents and Practices, and Hind's Precedents."
The last three are impeachment rules of the US Senate.
But Drilon ordered the Senate secretariat headed by lawyer Oscar Yabes to
draft the rules and submit a report to him in 24 hours.
Drilon said the proposed rules would be submitted to the whole chamber for
adoption on Monday. He said that the adoption of the rules of the US
Congress would speed up the Senate's preparations for an impeachment
trial, and that the senators might introduce amendments to suit the local
situation. Inquirer, 11/07/2000
FVR ATTENDS NSC MEET TO LECTURE ESTRADA: After firing his "senior adviser"
Fidel Ramos, President Estrada was forced to listen to a lecture yesterday
from his predecessor. And the President had to express gratitude for Ramos'
presence.
Ramos was the only opposition member who attended the National Security
Council meeting at Malacanang yesterday. The President had sought a
"common ground" with his critics, but former President Corazon Aquino
and Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo snubbed the NSC meeting.
In a speech, Ramos urged President Estrada to reform himself and fire
his cronies or else resign to end the political crisis that has hurt the
economy.
Ramos said Mr. Estrada squandered the gains made during the previous
administration, making the Philippines once again the "sick man" of
Asia.
Instead of working to improve the economy, Ramos said Mr. Estrada "went
on a massive binge of fault-finding, 'scapegoating'and people-bashing"
as well as spurned offers of help.
Ramos urged Mr. Estrada to "reform himself" by shunning an extravagant
lifestyle, giving a detailed response of allegations of corruption and
cronyism in his government and of accusations he took millions of pesos
in bribes from illegal gambling bosses.
Ramos also called on Mr. Estrada to fire cronies awarded plum government
posts, return to negotiations with Muslim separatist rebels in Mindanao,
and finally to resign "to preserve your legacy and posterity."
The President had opened the meeting with a call for reconciliation.
He said the advisory council's first task was to "seek counsel and
direction and form a consensus on how to address these difficulties."
But Ramos said the meeting was "too late" and should have been called
even before the gambling scandal broke out last month.
He said the meeting "should have been done even before your first State-of-
the-Nation Address and regularly thereafter." Yesterday's NSC meeting was
the second in Mr. Estrada’s 28-month-old administration.
After the meeting, National Security Adviser Alexander Aguirre told a
press briefing that the NSC will prepare a complete staff work on Ramos'
suggestions.
Among these include a short-term and strategic economic program,
including how to address the expanding budget deficit "to reverse the
looming economic collapse and to move us back to the path of steady
recovery." Phil. Star, 11/07/2000
ANGARA, LDP TO STAY WITH ESTRADA, LAMP COALITION: The biggest political
party belonging to President Estrada's ruling coalition voted yesterday
to stay within the alliance despite calls from some party leaders for
Mr. Estrada to resign over a gambling payoff scandal.
Agriculture Secretary Edgardo Angara, head of the Laban ng Demokratikong
Pilipino, has also decided to remain in the Cabinet, an LDP statement
said.
However, the LDP's union with the Estrada coalition would be
"conditional," Sen. Rodolfo Biazon said.
He refused to give details until the LDP drafts an official communiqué
to the Chief Executive stating the party's official stand. The decision
to stick out with Mr. Estrada's ruling Lapian ng Masang Pilipino (LAMP)
party was reached during a meeting of about 60 LDP leaders at the
residence of Avelino Cruz in Dasmarinas Village, Makati City.
In that meeting, a reform committee composed of select LDP leaders was
tasked to draft an agenda that they will submit to the President for
immediate action.
Angara, in a statement, reiterated that he would remain with the Cabinet.
He also said that the constitutional process of impeaching the President
should be allowed so that "all issues can be properly deliberated upon
and for both sides heard." Makati Rep. Agapito "Butz" Aquino seconded
Angara, saying "we ought to avoid patronage politics and respect
institutional processes."
The LDP has agreed to respect the decision of Senate President Franklin
Drilon and Biazon to leave LAMP while remaining with LDP. Biazon said he
and Drilon were standing by their decision to demand Mr. Estrada's
resignation. Phil. Star, 11/07/2000
CABINET MEN VOW TO STICK WITH ESTRADA: All the President's men are still in.
Twenty-two out of 25 Cabinet secretaries forged yesterday a common stand
to stick it out with embattled President Estrada. In a two-page manifesto
of support, the Cabinet secretaries said their decision to stand by
President Estrada will change only if he is impeached.
Meanwhile, President Estrada denied reports that he has dispatched
emissaries to negotiate with the political opposition for his graceful
exit.
Tourism Secretary Gemma Cruz-Araneta and Energy Secretary Mario Tiaoqui
were reportedly out of town and failed to sign the manifesto.
Press Secretary Ricardo Puno Jr. said the manifesto was unanimously
adopted following yesterday's meeting of the National Security Council
(NSC) at Malacanang.
This developed as Malacanang vehemently denied reports that Finance
Secretary Jose Pardo has initiated talks with former President Corazon
Aquino to provide a graceful exit for Mr. Estrada.
Law professors of the state-run University of the Philippines urged Mr.
Estrada to step down, saying the "continued bleeding of the economy and
renewed threats of political strife" require the swifter option of
resignation.
In a manifesto, the 28 full-time professors and lecturers led by Dean
Raul Pangalangan, said although they recognize the fact that outside of
impeachment, there is no constitutional device to compel Mr. Estrada to
resign, he should relinquish his post to spare the country from further
division and anguish.
The manifesto came on the heels of a statement by the school's law
students denouncing moves by allies of the ruling party at the House
of Representatives to block the impeachment proceedings.
For its part, the National Federation of Student Councils (NFSC) hit
back at the President for saying participants in the anti-Estrada
Nov. 4 rally at the EDSA Shrine were paid by Makati-based business
groups.
NFSC spokesman Wilson Fortaleza branded Mr. Estrada's accusation as
"ridiculous," saying the President must be referring to pro-Erap
rallyists. Phil. Star, 11/07/2000
PINOYS DON'T WANT ESTRADA TO QUIT - SWS: Despite the growing opposition to
President Estrada, most Filipinos still don't want him to step down,
apparently because they are unsure if charges that he received millions of
pesos in bribes from illegal gambling operators are true.
A special survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations Inc. (SWS) said
the public does not want President Estrada to vacate office either by
resignation, leave of absence, military coup, people power or snap
election.
The SWS survey, conducted Oct. 26 to 30, covered 1,200 voting-age
Filipinos nationwide. The poll was commissioned by the Manila Standard
newspaper which decided to share the report with other media outlets "as
a public service."
The SWS said the decision to either prejudge the charges aired by Ilocos
Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson that the President received the jueteng
payoffs, or to abstain from doing so, was a key factor affecting public
opinion about the President’s fate.
There also seemed to be little enthusiasm about Vice President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo taking over the reins of government from an embattled
Mr. Estrada, with only 25 percent saying she would make a better
president, 14 percent predicting she would be worse, and 58 percent
believing there would be no difference between the two leaders.
The survey showed that 50 percent were unsure if Singson's charges were
true or not, 20 percent believed the accusations were true, while 16
percent said they learned about the issue only upon the SWS interview.
In the A,B and C or middle to upper classes of society which Mr. Estrada
often refers to as the elite out to topple his leadership, 45 percent said
they were unsure about the truth of Singson's allegations, while 35
percent appeared to have already concluded that they were true.
Geographically, 30 percent of the respondents in Metro Manila felt sure
that the charges were true, as compared to 21 percent, 20 percent and 13
percent in the rest of Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao, respectively.
On the same question, 50 percent of Metro Manilans said they were unsure
if they were true or not, as against 57 percent, 33 percent and 53
percent from Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao, respectively, whereas 13
percent of Metro Manila felt sure that the accusations were fabricated,
and seven percent not even aware of the issue.
On calls for Mr. Estrada's resignation, the survey showed only 29 percent
agreed with it, whereas 44 percent said he should stay put, and 26
percent were still undecided.
One-half of those who were unsure if Singson was lying were opposed to
resignation, meaning they wanted to give Mr. Estrada the benefit of the
doubt.
Quite understandably, 64 percent of those who have judged the jueteng
allegations to be true favored resignation, whereas 66 percent who felt
sure that Singson was lying said Mr. Estrada should not relinquish his
post.
On the proposal that Mr. Estrada should take a leave of absence as a
compromise solution to the scandal, only 33 percent agreed, 44 percent
disagreed and 23 percent were undecided.
Forty-five percent of those who have not formed judgment on the bribery
charges were opposed to the suggestion that the President take a leave
of absence, while 51 percent of those who have prejudged it said he heed
the proposal, and 62 percent of the non-believers were opposed to the
idea.
An overwhelming majority of 85 percent in the three categories of the
respondents roundly rejected a military coup as a mode of change of
leadership. Fifty-one percent opined that the military remained loyal
to their Commander-in-Chief, 17 percent believed otherwise, while the
rest have no opinion.
Seventy-four percent of those who believed the charges said "no" to a
coup, and 91 percent of those unbelieving also said "no."
The survey also indicated that most Filipinos (66 percent) were opposed
to the use of people power to oust Mr. Estrada even as 55 percent of
those who believed Singson favored it, but opposed by 88 percent of those
who did not believe the governor.
A majority or 59 percent of the electorate were opposed to amending the
Constitution to pave the way for a snap election. Phil. Star, 11/06/2000
ESTRADA RESIGN CALLS REVERBERATE ACROSS NATION: From north to south and
across the breadth of the country, concerned citizens yesterday gathered
at their local churches and plazas to add their voices to the call for
the President to resign.
While the original call by Church leaders had been for protesters to
rally between 1 and 4 p.m., in unison with the display of people power at
the Edsa Shrine, some of the gatherings nationwide started as early as
dawn while others began after 4 p.m.
Despite intermittent rains spawned by typhoon "Seniang," thousands joined
prayer-rallies in Baguio City, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino.
Thousands more from Bulacan and Pampanga were at the main rally at Edsa.
In Nueva Vizcaya, some 1,000 parishioners linked arms with priests and
nuns in calling for Mr. Estrada to step down at the St. Dominic Cathedral
in Bayombong town.
In Baguio City, 300 people, mostly members of religious and militant
groups in the Cordilleras, marched down Session Road to the Baguio
Cathedral, site of the city's own version of the 1986 Edsa Revolt.
In Pampanga, Gov. Lito Lapid said, " He has to resign. The people are
demanding it. If he won't listen, then it's up to God to take care of him."
Lapid, long estranged politically and personally from the President who
was a fellow actor, joined the rally at the Edsa Shrine, bringing with
him 14 Lakas mayors from Pampanga and some 3,000 supporters.
Some 200 members of the Northern Luzon chapter of the Philippine Chamber
of Commerce also joined the Edsa rally.
In Nueva Ecija, the diocese of San Jose City joined the call of the
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines for the President
to resign.
In Bulacan, 5,000 members of political, religious and business groups
joined the rally at Edsa.
In San Pablo, Laguna, thousands of the faithful packed churches in
response to the call of Bishop Francisco C. San Diego.
In Victoria, Laguna, about 200 persons held a peaceful rally.
Calls for the President's resignation also rang out in the Visayan cities
of Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo, Dumaguete and Tacloban.
In Cebu, however, the Catholic Church led by Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal
Vidal avoided calling for the President’s resignation.
Instead, churches in Cebu were filled with parishioners who heeded Vidal's
call for a "prayer for the nation" and for God "to enlighten our leaders
and change their hearts."
Only about 100 members of militant groups led by Bayan rallied in the
streets to demand the President's resignation.
In Iloilo City, Jaro Bishop Angel Lagdameo, who has called for the
President's resignation, also opted for an indoor prayer rally, starting
at 7 p.m. to midnight, at the Jaro Cathedral.
In Bacolod City, some 8,000 people mostly from Church-based groups came
to the rally at the city's public plaza.
In Tacloban City, an effigy of the President was stoned and burned by
about 100 protesters demanding his resignation.
In Pagadian City, about 2,500 people joined yesterday's rally calling for
the President to step down.
In Cagayan de Oro, some 3,000 residents prayed the rosary while marching
around the city at dawn yesterday.
In Cotabato City, 1,000 people held a four-hour march prayer-rally led
by Msgr. Antonio Pueyo, archdiocesan vicar general.
In Davao City, members of the militant Anakbayan and Gabriela trooped to
the Gaisano Mall where they collected signatures asking Mr. Estrada to
resign.
In General Santos City, a multi-sectoral group, Koalisyon Para sa
Karapatang Pantao (KKP), led a prayer vigil calling for President
Estrada's resignation, impeachment or ouster. Inquirer, 11/05/2000
`TAKE FINAL BOW NOW': "The Presidency is not good for you. It is a
temptation for you, an occasion of sin. Resignation will be good for your
soul," Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin told President Estrada
yesterday in a scathing speech that drew cheers, howls and thunderous
chants of "Erap resign!" from tens of thousands gathered at the Edsa
Shrine in Mandaluyong.
In his most stinging rebuke of the President yet, the vocal archbishop
took potshot after potshot at Mr. Estrada, making an attack by former
President Corazon Aquino, who spoke afterward, seem tame by comparison.
"Mr. President, you are the problem. You are the cause of our suffering,"
Aquino said at the largest anti-Estrada rally so far, addressing a sea
of people clogging the highways and overpasses near the Edsa Shrine.
Sin, for his part, told Mr. Estrada to "shake the dust from your feet
and leave."
A long-time critic of the President, the cardinal warned that if Mr.
Estrada did not step down now, he would be forced to step down later,
facing "great embarrassment, humiliation and ignominy."
Aquino said she was praying that Mr. Estrada would have the humility to
make "the most momentous decision of his life," meaning resignation.
She appealed to his sense of duty, saying that economic recovery and the
healing of political divisions could only begin once he stepped down.
While the color yellow symbolized the 1986 revolt, many demonstrators
yesterday wore white, representing their demand for a corruption-free
government.
The scene-stealer was a huge Akbayan banner that screamed in big bold,
black letters "Goodbye Erap!" Five climbers steadied by ropes dropped
from the Edsa-Pasig flyover and slowly unfurled the banner, while the
crowd went wild.
Crowd estimates ranged from 30,000 to 100,000. Basing its estimate on
crowd density and land area as seen from aerial shots, the Inquirer
estimated that 80,000 to 100,000 demonstrators showed up at the rally.
Certainly, it was the biggest assembly against the President since Ilocos
Sur Gov. Luis Singson first publicly accused him of pocketing "jueteng"
payoffs, sparking the worst political crisis of the Estrada administration.
People from all walks of life and of various political and religious
beliefs gathered to pray for the President’s resignation and the
"resurrection" of the nation.
Saying that the economy and government could only be held "hostage by the
arduous though necessary process" of impeachment, Aquino urged the
President to resign immediately.
She called on the military and police to "be one with us as you were on
Edsa and protect your people from those who would use you for their own
selfish ends."
The four-hour "prayer rally," dubbed "Pray for the country, safeguard the
truth" was both solemn and festive, marked both by religious activities
and political speeches. Inquirer, 11/05/2000
IMPEACHMENT IMMINENT, LAWMAKERS SAY: Saying that they can muster signatures
equivalent to about 70 percent of the members of the House after the huge
prayer-rally at Edsa yesterday, opposition lawmakers are confident that
the move to impeach President Estrada would be unstoppable.
At the same time, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. yesterday said the impeachment
trial of the President could be completed within one month from the
transmittal of the articles of impeachment to the Senate.
Quezon City Rep. Michael Defensor disclosed yesterday that 85 congressmen
had actually signed the verified impeachment complaint and that 20 to 30
others had vowed to join the bandwagon when they returned to Manila from
their districts next week.
Abanse! Pinay party-list Rep. Patricia Sarenas warned her colleagues to
watch out for the "Eraptors"or the "Erap Protectors in the House" whom
she said planned to delay or kill the impeachment processes through a
technicality.
Sarenas said the Eraptors were planning to exploit the House rule, which
required the signature of 73 lawmakers in the impeachment complaints
before it was automatically elevated to the Senate for trial.
Without the 73 signatures, Sarenas said, the impeachment complaint would
still have to pass through the House justice committee, which could run
the petition through the time-consuming process of evaluating and
drafting its recommendation on the matter.
However, Makati Rep. Joker Arroyo noted yesterday that there was already
an overwhelming number of congressmen supporting impeachment even in the
House justice committee.
Defensor said it was also possible that tomorrow's meeting of opposition
lawmakers could come up with the names of the 11 congressmen who would
serve as prosecutors when the President was tried at the Senate.
Arroyo is reported to be leading the list of candidates being considered
for appointment as prosecutors.
Also yesterday, Pimentel, chair of the Senate blue ribbon committee,
told the Kusog Mindanaw forum at the Royal Mandaya Hotel in Davao City,
"From all indications, we can finish our work in a month"s time. I
suppose this will not take us beyond this year."
Pimentel, however, admitted, that the Senate had not yet fashioned rules
regarding an impeachment trial.
But he said to speed up the process, it was likely the Senate would adopt
the rules on impeachment the US Senate followed during the impeachment
trial of President Clinton on the Monica Lewinsky sex scandal last year.
Pimentel said it appeared that the US Senate set aside all of its other
businesses in order to concentrate on the impeachment hearings, which
were done daily, from Monday to Saturday.
Pimentel said based on informal sensing of alignments in the Senate,
President Estrada had around 10 "as of yesterday (Friday) senators
inclined to defend him".
He added, "But the number is dwindling".
A two-thirds majority, or 15 Senate votes, will be sufficient to remove
President Estrada from office. Inquirer, 11/05/2000
HOUSE REVAMP LOOMS AS NEW BLOC EMERGES: CEBU CITY--New leaders and a new
majority bloc are expected to emerge in the House of Representatives in
the wake of the resignation of Speaker Manuel Villar and 45 other
congressmen from the ruling Lapian ng Masang Pilipino.
"The united opposition now has the numbers to unseat Villar and nominate
Quezon City Rep. Feliciano Belmonte to replace him," according to
Bohol Rep. Ernesto Herrera. However, Vice President Gloria Macapagal-
Arroyo said she would tap Belmonte as her executive secretary once she
takes over as president, in case President Estrada resigns or is impeached.
Herrera said the united opposition will call for the election of a new
speaker and majority floor leader when the House resumes its session on
Nov. 13.
"The minority in the House is now the majority. It is proper to have a
reorganization in the leadership, especially with the resignation of
(Cebu Rep.) Eduardo Gullas as majority floor leader", he said.
Herrera revealed that the 27 congressmen belonging to the Laban ng
Demokratikong Pilipino under Agriculture Secretary Edgardo Angara are set
to join the united opposition.
He said the united opposition had yet to agree on its candidate for
majority floor leader but they have agreed on Belmonte as their nominee
for the speakership.
Herrera said he was confident the united opposition would be able to take
over the leadership of the House, as evidenced by the growing number of
congressmen who have signed the impeachment complaint against the
President and those who resigned from the LAMP coalition.
House deputy speaker for Mindanao Rep. Daisy Avance-Fuentes, however,
said she had lost her respect for Villar and the lawmakers who resigned
from LAMP, as some allies of the President in Mindanao vowed to stick it
out with the embattled Chief Executive.
Fuentes and two other Nationalist People’s Coalition members said
separately that they would "not abandon the ship because it is not
sinking and never will".
Maguindanao Rep. Didagen Dilangalen, convinced that the President is
innocent of the charges leveled against him, said he would stick it out
with Mr. Estrada. Inquirer, 11/05/2000
ESTRADA WON'T LAST LONG, POLLS SAY: Half of the respondents to a new
online poll of the Inquirer.net believe that President Estrada will not
last the month.
And top analysts from stock brokerages and banks polled by Inquirer said
they believed the Estrada presidency would not last long enough to see
the congressional elections in May.
The Inquirer.net poll results were unusual compared to the previous
Inquirer online surveys.
In the previous surveys, the responses were overwhelmingly anti-Estrada.
In the Oct. 13 poll, for example, 86 percent said the President should
resign. In the Oct. 21 survey, 78 percent of the respondents believed that
the situation would improve if Mr. Estrada resigned and Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo assumed the presidency.
Curiously, in the new survey which asked, "Do you think Estrada will last
the month", only 50 percent of the respondents replied "No", while the
other 50 percent said "Yes".
The poll was posted at 7 p.m. Friday. As of 6:30 p.m. yesterday,
Inquirer.net received 11,796 responses.
Like other online polls, the Inquirer survey does not claim to be
scientific. They reflect only the opinions of site visitors who have
chosen to participate.
In the other poll, 10 analysts unanimously predicted Mr. Estrada would not
be able to hold on to power and that it was only a matter of time before
his fragile presidency collapsed.
The poll respondents said he could stay in office two months at most.
They unanimously hoped that a new political leadership would be in place
by the end of the year.
A president of a brokerage house said the President would have no option
but to resign now that he was losing the numbers game.
As an impeachment resolution is now as good as approved in the House and
needs only four more supporters in the Senate, analysts said the President
would find it more honorable to quit his post once he lost the numbers
game in the Senate as well.
If the President lasts until the May elections, which the analysts said
was unlikely, the congressional elections might turn bloody as he is
expected to use every resource at his disposal to overhaul the current
composition, especially in the House, to get a more favorable vote on the
impeachment petition.
AB Capital Securities head of research Russel Ong, who was not a
respondent in the survey, echoed the general market sentiment when he said
the $64-million question was how the current political turmoil would end.
Inquirer, 11/05/2000
NO AMOUNT OF RALLIES CAN MAKE ME RESIGN -ESTRADA: Defying intensifying calls
for his resignation, President Estrada reiterated yesterday his determination
to hold on to his post, saying he would rather wait for the impeachment case
against him to be completed.
"For all those rallying, just wait for whatever will happen in Congress.
You don't need to rally. We have to follow constitutional process," the
President said in reaction to yesterday' meant to press for his ouster.
Amid chants of "Erap, Erap," Mr. Estrada handed out relief goods
transported by four Army trucks to indigent residents in Angono town in
Rizal.
Earlier yesterday, the President vowed to block attempts to oust him, and
called on the people to be wary of efforts by the political opposition "to
cause trouble."
Alluding to the alliance between some business groups and anti-Estrada
camps, the President assailed "the forces that want to destroy the good
working relationship between the administration and the private sector."
Mr. Estrada said the government's capability to serve the people depends
on the cooperation it will get from the private sector and other members
of society.
He also pledged to react to the current political crisis by instituting
further reforms meant to improve the delivery of basic services to the
people.
Mr. Estrada made no direct reference to the desertion from the ruling
Lapian ng Masang Pilipino (LAMP) of Senate President Franklin Drilon and
Senators Anna Dominique Coseteng and Rodolfo Biazon, and some 50 pro-
administration congressmen led by Speaker Manuel Villar himself.
Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel Roxas II and five business leaders
acting as his economic advisers, as well as Presidential Adviser on
Political Affairs Angelito Banayo also handed in their resignations
amid the worsening scandal over the jueteng bribery scandal.
Mr. Estrada said he respected the decision of those who deserted him in
his hour of great need. "We respect their feelings and their ideas.
Perhaps, later on, we can prove to them that we are right after all,"
he said.
On the same occasion, the President announced that he would push through
his plan to convene the National Security Council tomorrow at Malacanang
to tackle the economic and political problems besetting the country.
He also said he was amenable to the holding of snap elections or a
referendum to reaffirm his mandate. Phil. Star, 11/05/2000
ESTRADA'S FINANCIAL ADVISERS VOW THEY WON'T JUMP SHIP: They're standing by
their man. The economic managers of President Estrada vowed yesterday to
remain in their respective posts and just do their job of keeping the
country's economy afloat amid a whirling political and economic crisis.
Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Socio-Economic Planning Secretary
Felipe Medalla, and Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma assured the
President during his weekly radio/TV program that they remain steadfast in
their posts.
Conspicuously absent during the show was Finance Secretary Jose Pardo, who
reportedly had a previous engagement. Speaking on behalf of Mr.
Estrada's economic managers, who like their boss have also been under
pressure to resign, Medalla said their job now is to continue keeping an
atmosphere of transparency and accountability in government.
Pardo, another of the President's economic managers, has admitted Cabinet
members have been under tremendous "pressure" from family, kin, friends
and other groups to similarly quit.
The resignation of Roxas came on the heels of the resignation of Mr.
Estrada's senior economic advisers.
But the President clarified that former Central Bank Gov. Gabriel Singson,
former Prime Minister Cesar Virata, former Sen. Vicente Paterno, and
businessmen Washington Sycip and Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala need not
resign because they had no formal appointment papers.
Diokno, on the other hand, said the best measure to restore economic and
political stability in the country is to allow the constitutional process
to run its course, referring to impeachment proceedings against the Chief
Executive. Phil. Star, 11/05/2000
IMPEACHMENT CERTAIN AS ESTRADA LOSES HOUSE: VILLAR, 45 SOLONS BOLT LAMP:
Now he's left with only a few allies in the House of Representatives,
where the impeachment complaint against him is pending.
Embattled President Estrada lost control yesterday of the chamber
traditionally seen as supportive of Malacanang, with the resignation of
Speaker Manuel Villar Jr. and 45 other congressmen from the ruling
coalition.
Villar and his colleagues signed the impeachment petition in the presence
of opposition congressmen led by Minority Leader Feliciano Belmonte Jr.
(Lakas, Quezon City).
With the resignation of the Speaker and his group from Mr. Estrada's
ruling Lapian ng Masang Pilipino (LAMP) coalition, a new opposition-led
majority coalition emerged in the House.
Villar said he and his colleagues decided to endorse the impeachment
petition against their former LAMP boss to expedite the impeachment
process.
Villar said with the fast-tracking of the impeachment process, the
President, who now faces the inevitability of a Senate trial, will soon
have the forum and the opportunity to answer the charges leveled against
him by opposition congressmen and people's organizations in the
impeachment petition.
The opposition was clearly elated by the turn of events.
Belmonte, who led an initial batch of 42 congressmen who signed the
complaint, said he did not expect such a swift development.
He said the new majority coalition has also gained control of the
committee. Belmonte predicted that within the week of the resumption of
the session of Congress on Nov. 13, the complaint will be sent to the
Senate for trial.
Villar admitted having talked to Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
a few days before he and his group decided to bolt lamp. He had hoped to
be on the administration's senatorial slate in May but now have to run
with the opposition. Some congressmen said he will be in Arroyo's
senatorial ticket.
Villar brought with him the entire House Leadership to the ranks of
impeachment petitioners. Deputy Speakers Alfredo Abueg (for Luzon) and
Erico Aumentado (for Visayas) and Majority Leader Eduardo Gullas were
among the members of his group. Phil. Star, 11/04/2000
DON'T SCARE US, FOES TELL ESTRADA: "Don't scare us."--
This was the reaction of Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the
appearance on television of the police and military top brass after
Pres. Estrada offered a hand of reconciliation to his critics on Monday
night.
"If you offer a hand of reconciliation, you don't do it with soldiers
next to you," Macapagal yesterday told reporters.
Flanked by other military and police officials, Gen. Angelo Reyes, Armed
Forces chief of staff, and Director General Panfilo Lacson, Philippine
National Police chief, warned the people against resorting to
unconstitutional exercises to force the President to resign.
Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said the scene reminded him of former
President Ferdinand Marcos and his Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen.
Fabian Ver talking about bombing the people gathered at Edsa in 1986.
"The message of course, was that if you, guys, do not behave, you
will get the full brunt of the might of our soldiers and policemen.
The same message was used by Marcos moments before he fell," said
Pimentel, who belongs to the ruling Lapian ng Masang Pilipino coalition.
But Malacanang said the televised messages of Reyes and Lacson were
meant to frighten people.
Press Secretary Ricardo Puno Jr. said Reyes and Lacson only tried to
assure the people that martial rule would not be declared.
Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon Jr. said the appearance of the
military and police officials was aimed at showing that they were
under control of the situation and that they were upholding the
Constitution.
Other senators said the appearance of the Armed Forces was meant to
frighten the people calling on Mr. Estrada to resign.
Sen. Renato Cayetano said the TV images conveyed a veiled threat to
suppress the basic freedoms of Mr. Estrada's critics.
Sen. Gregorio Honasan, a former Army officer who launched several
coup attempts against former President Corazon Aquino, said the
images were "not reassuring."
In the House of Representatives, Rep. Ernesto Herrera likened the
appearance of the police and military generals to "a cocked gun hidden
"How can the message of reconciliation become believable when it is
followed by graphic images of generals, trying to look stern, but
looking more awkward and embarrassed in their unseemly TV appearance?"
Paranaque Rep. Roilo Golez said.
Six congressmen, dubbed the Spice Boys, noted that the President was
telling the people to "eat the carrots that I am offering or face the
wrath of the men with sticks" when he showed Lacson and Reyes on TV.
Former Defense Secretary Renato de Villa reminded the Estrada
administration that it was a "civilian government."
He said the President's media handlers should be fired as they had
placed the uniformed services in "bad light."
De Villa said it was not only the presence of the top police and
military brass that was troubling. He said Mr. Estrada's vow not to
resign at the end of his speech was also disturbing.
Opposition senators said the President's public address on Monday came
too late.
"It's not acceptable. It's too late. Resign, I've been saying that since
April," Sen. Teofisto Guingona said. Guingona said the President appeared
to be repentant and indicated that the controversial mansions were indeed
his.
He and Cayetano said they supported Macapagal's call to boycott the
National Security Council meeting. The House of Representatives is set to
start impeachment proceedings filed by opposition leaders against the
President.
Sen. Loren Legarda said the President's statements were a "sign of
weakness" and a "mea culpa" admission to charges leveled against him.
Inquirer, 11/01/2000
JOKER: ESTRADA IS FINISHED: Pres. Estrada is "finished" regardless of his
response to the outcome of calls for his resignation or impeachment,
according to independent Rep. Joker Arroyo.
Arroyo, one of Mr. Estrada's political backers in the 1998 elections,
yesterday said "a clear verdict of conviction in the impeachment trial
will be the most satisfying constitutional settlement of this crisis."
"The overriding feel is that the accusations against the President have
so irreparably damaged the Estrada administration," said the three-term
Makati City legislator.
"So damaged that the President can no longer carry out the solemn oath
he took to faithfully and conscientiously fulfill his duties as
president, preserve and defend the Constitution, execute its laws and
do justice to every man," Arroyo said.
Arroyo described as "very serious" Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit"
Singson's charge that some P400 million in jueteng protection money
found its way to the President.
But the congressman said Singson's other disclosure--that another
P130 million in tobacco subsidies were pocketed by Mr. Estrada, First
Lady Luisa "Loi" Ejercito and their son, San Juan Mayor Jinggoy
Estrada--was "even more serious because it involves public funds and
may have, on closer examination, a paper trail."
Congress is the "only constitutional body that can remove the President
via the mechanism of impeachment."
However, Arroyo said, "the public does not have faith in the capacity
and the independence of the House of Representatives to conduct an
honest and credible impeachment hearing."
"Thus, the slightest indication that the House or its committee on
justice is favoring President Estrada through delays, technicalities
and partial rulings would be the last nail on the coffin of the Estrada
presidency," he said.
Arroyo believes "the public disgust over a stage-managed zarzuela in
the justice committee will drive them to the streets to join the outcry
for the President's resignation."
At the House, "almost 25 percent of the House membership has joined the
impeachment initiative. Members of the majority party have broken ranks
and joined the minority," he said.
According to Arroyo, "this does not bode well for President Estrada.
Other members have pledged to sign when they come back after the
(congressional recess). If the signatories reach 73 and most likely
it will, the proceedings in the House will be abbreviated and the
impeachment complaint will go straight to the Senate for the trial of
the President."
The 22-member Senate has the exclusive power to try the impeachment
case against the President.
Fifteen senators or two-thirds of the chamber can remove the President.
Less than that--even a majority of 12--cannot unseat Mr. Estrada.
But Arroyo said "even if only a majority in the Senate vote for the
President's conviction, he will be damaged."
The Senate, if it finds Mr. Estrada guilty, cannot impose any penalty
other than removal from Malacanang and disqualification from public
office. Inquirer, 11/01/2000
PESO PLUNGES TO 51.95 BEFORE CLOSING AT 51: Pres. Estrada's promise of
economic reforms in the face of the "Juetengate" scandal yesterday
failed to stir a positive reaction from the financial markets.
The peso plunged to a new all-time low of 51.95 to the dollar in
early trade. But intervention by the central bank and late profit
taking by some banks allowed the peso to close at 51 to the dollar,
dealers said.
The peso, the world's worst performing currency, averaged 51.68 on a
turnover of $28.50 million. The local currency finished at 50.48 to
the dollar on Monday.
Bargain hunting on blue chips pushed the 30-company Philippine Stock
Exchange Index up, but only by 0.2 percent to 1,287.85 points.
Decliners led gainers 29 to 27 while 50 issues were unchanged.
Analysts and traders said the business community was hardly impressed
by Mr. Estrada's announcement on Monday night that he was seeking a
dialogue with the opposition and offering Vice President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo a key role in pursuing economic reforms. Macapagal
rejected the offer.
Gonzalo Bongolan, assistant vice president for research at PCCI
Securities, said the TV footage showing top military and police
officers vowing to defend the Constitution spoiled the President's
speech.
Miguel Varela, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and
Industry, welcomed "the President's admission of lapses in governance
and his desire to make amends and reform."
But Varela said in a press statement that the people were demanding
"more thorough, bold and decisive moves, regardless of who gets hurt
in the process."
Traders said it was the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas that propped up
the peso. The central bank must have accounted for 30 percent of the
$28.50 million sold on the spot market.
"I think it was a combination of intervention and profit-taking," a
trader with a foreign bank said, adding the peso might test the 51.95
level in the coming session with the bias still for a weaker peso.
BSP Governor Rafael Buenaventura denied the central bank intervened in
the market, but he conceded that a solution must be found fast to the
most serious crisis gripping the Estrada administration.
Analysts said the economy should be able to muddle through Christmas
with relatively limited fallout from the slump in the peso and higher
interest rates.
But if those problems linked to the political crisis engulfing the
President continued, companies would likely be forced to scale back
output and lay off staff by early next year, according to analysts.
The crisis would have some impact this year, but the economy would
likely move on sheer momentum through the fourth quarter, according to
Makati Business Club executive director Guillermo Luz.
"The full impact's about 3-6 months out . . . I would say we are about
midway through that period. I think that in the first quarter, we will
begin to see a lot more problems surface," Luz said.
Inquirer, 11/01/2000
CORY ON REFORMS: TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE: Former President Corazon Aquino
said yesterday that President Estrada's move to institute sweeping
reforms in government was "too little and too late."
Mrs. Aquino and Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said they will
not attend the National Security Council (NSC) meeting at Malacanang
next week, where Mr. Estrada hopes to "discuss the overall national
security situation" with them.
In a statement, Mrs. Aquino said her attendance in that meeting
"would only mislead people into thinking that the problem is other
than what it is: the imperative resignation as the swiftest solution
to the crisis of the Republic, the worst since 1983."
On the other hand, former President Fidel Ramos will attend the NSC
meeting, Press Secretary Ricardo Puno Jr. said.
Mr. Estrada promised to reform his government and offered a key
economic post to Arroyo, but insisted he would not resign over a
corruption scandal that has battered business confidence in the
country.
The President also offered to give up any of five or six homes which
news reports have accused him of obtaining improperly for himself or
his mistresses, if there is proof of wrongdoing.
And to appease his political opponents, he said he will order his
relatives to divest themselves of board memberships in fund-raising
institutions, open-skies policy will be pursued and duty-free shops
used for smuggling will be closed.
But Mrs. Aquino said all of these reforms are "too little and too
late."
Asked why she felt that way, her spokeswoman Deedee Siytangco said,
"because the reforms should have been part of his program of government
from the very start."
"Mr. Estrada's reforms are just a knee-jerk reaction to the prevailing
crisis. Reforms are not the issue now; the issue is the culpability of
the President, the people's loss of confidence in good governance,"
she said. Phil. Star, 11/01/2000
RAMOS GIVES ESTRADA UNTIL CHRISTMAS: Former President Fidel Ramos is
willing to give President Estrada a chance to implement reforms, but
said that if there are no credible changes by mid-December, the Chief
Executive should step down.
"To me, the core of the problem is the leadership of the country.
Therein lies the crux of the problem and, therefore, therein lies the
solution to the problem. Just as simple as that," Ramos told a
television talk show that same night after listening to Mr. Estrada's
address.
"I'm saying that the President must reform himself for the good of the
people in order to promote our national interest, which included
reviving the economy. But if he cannot reform himself, well, for the
good of the people and the national interest he must resign,"
he said.
Ramos, chairman emeritus of the opposition Lakas-NUCD party now headed
by Arroyo, made it clear that he was expressing his own opinion and
not that of the party's.
Mr. Estrada must "get rid of all the cronies" and prosecute them if
necessary, Ramos said.
Secondly, the President must implement an "honest-to-goodness" program
to ease the widespread wrenching poverty in the country, Ramos said.
Lastly, Mr. Estrada must seek peace with Muslim rebels and map out a
development program for Mindanao.
Ramos reiterated his stand allowing Mr. Estrada to be given due process
to answer the corruption allegations against him through the impeachment
proceedings, despite the ruling LAMP coalition's majority in the Senate
and House of Representatives.
Seeing the impeachment complaint as doomed to fail, the political
opposition and anti-Estrada activists believe that only massive
protests would bring Mr. Estrada down.
While agreeing that the crisis must be resolved soon, Ramos cautioned
against resorting to a coup or martial law as a quick fix to the
current political crisis and vowed to resist them.
However, Ramos appeared to doubt Mr. Estrada's sincerity. "The
indicators of his sincerity must be made now because I was listening
to the broadcast (Mr. Estrada's address) this evening, there was no
tone of - I would not call it apology - but an expression of
contrition," he noted.
Although he favors impeachment - as opposed to immediate resignation
demanded by his partymates - Ramos said the massive clamor for Mr.
Estrada's resignation must continue without let up "to build up
pressure on him, to deliver as President."
Phil. Star, 11/01/2000
