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PGMA’s Statement on the Various Calls for Her Resignation

July 9, 2005

Mga minamahal kong kababayan.

This is a democracy that’s held together by the Constitution and the rule of law. The Philippines has fallen into a dangerous pattern where the answer to every crisis is to subvert due process rather than work within the system. This must stop.

I was duly elected to uphold the Constitution and ensure that the institutions of the nation were strengthened, not weakened. With all due respect to former president Aquino and others, I say that their actions caused deep and grievous harm to the nation because they undermine our democratic principles and the very foundation of our Constitution. Once again, we’re subverting the rule of law and perpetuating a system that’s broken and will remain broken until fundamental reforms are put in place.

As former president Aquino is well aware, the President is charged by the nation to defend our hard-won democracy at all costs. To those who’ve forgotten this, I say, take your grievances to Congress where I’m very willing to submit to due process as called for by our Constitution. (more…)

Posted by JJ Disini at 6:47 am | permalink | Add comment

Statement of Former President Corazon Aquino

ONCE again, I must involve myself in what I hope and prayed to be spared from, after devoting the best years of my life in the service of our country and at a price that included the highest
 
anyone can pay. But duty to one’s country in a critical time cannot be shirked. It is my difficult duty now to ask for a supreme sacrifice to be made.

I will not judge the lapse of judgment that the President had the humility to confess but I cannot escape the conclusion that is plain for all to see: the country cannot continue in its present tumultuous state; good and effective government has become an impossible undertaking.

Without this sacrifice, our country faces only a future of danger to its freedom and progress. That sacrifice must be made by the President as soon as possible. I told her this personally when we met last night.

At this juncture only two constitutional paths remain open for the peaceful and democratic resolution of the present crisis crippling the government and endangering the nation. (more…)

Posted by JJ Disini at 6:43 am | permalink | Add comment

Of Leadership And Credibility

WITH deep concern and firm resolve, after a long period of reflection, debate and consultations, we, the undersigned, are hereby submitting our collective irrevocable resignation.

As early as Tuesday, July 5, we had already made our decision to resign. The President preempted our moves. This preemption does not change our conviction that her decisions as of late are guided mainly by her determination to survive as President. We believe that she will continue to make her decisions according to this norm.

By this act, we are not making any judgments on the tapes and “jueteng” issues. There is a proper forum to resolve those issues consistent with the rule of law. More pressing and immediate concerns confront our people today than poisoned politics or infirmities in our Constitution. At the core of these concerns are the issues of leadership and credibility–the ability of our President to continue to lead and govern our country with the trust and confidence of our people. (more…)

Posted by JJ Disini at 6:38 am | permalink | Add comment

Statement of the Jose P. Laurel Constitutional Law Society

We, the members of the Jose P. Laurel Constitutional Law Society, as citizens and students of the U.P. College of Law, in the exercise of our freedom of speech, hereby affirm our duty to participate in public deliberation of matters affecting the nation, and collectively express our opinion on the present controversy involving President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Last week, the President, in response to repeated calls for her to explain her side on the Gloriagate tapes, issued a public statement apologizing for what she believes was a lapse in judgment in calling a COMELEC official in order to protect her votes.

We cannot accept such an empty apology. (more…)

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