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BY William B. Depasupil and
Maricel Cruz, Reporters
A senior member of the
influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on
Tuesday questioned President Arroyo’s sincerity in inviting the
country’s bishops to a summit on clean elections.
Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz of
Lingayen-Dagupan dubbed the President’s invitation as a “praise
release,” and urged Malacañang to come up with more credible
propaganda.
Cruz issued his reaction as
opposition lawmakers laughed off administration colleagues’
challenge for them to cooperate with the proposed four-party summit.
House Minority Leader Francis
Escudero, speaking to reporters before filing his certificate of
candidacy, said the President left out the opposition from her
invitation.
The omission, he said, indicated
the President’s real intention “to do some damage control.”
Mrs. Arroyo on Monday called for
the CBCP and private poll watchdogs to sit down with the Commission
on Elections (Comelec) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to
draft measures for clean polls in May.
Mrs. Arroyo’s announcement
followed a CBCP warning that the government has only one more chance
to return people’s faith in the electoral process. Bishops also
urged the formation of a grassroots movement to guard against
electoral fraud.
Drama
“Naku po! Ano na namang palabas
yan? [What kind of drama is that?]” Cruz exclaimed in an interview
with The Manila Times. The prelate said the administration’s
intentions would always be suspect as long as doubts over the
results of the last presidential polls remain.
“The one suspected of cheating
now shouting for honest elections?” Cruz pointed out, referring to
the controversial “Hello, Garci” tape scandal.
The tape, allegedly between
former Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano and the President,
and other officials, implied Malacañang interference on the conduct
of the polls to ensure a safe margin over the late actor-politician
Fernando Poe Jr.
The controversial tape sparked a
series of street demonstrations and protests, including resignations
from members of the Cabinet that nearly toppled the Arroyo
administration.
Pro-administration lawmakers on
Tuesday morning challenged the opposition to attend the summit and
contribute to a sensible and realistic plan against poll fraud.
“The summit is the chance for
all interest groups to come together and form an action plan or
safety nets against cheating, dirty politicking and other forms of
poll maneuverings,” Reps. Douglas Cagas of Davao del Sur, House
contingent head to the electoral tribunal, said.
“There should be a national
team effort to protect the votes, secure the electorate from the
guns, goons and gold of politicians, and the teachers from
harassment,” he added.
Amnesia
But Cruz’s remarks were echoed
by party-list Rep. Crispin Beltran of Anakpawis, who likened the
Palace’s call for clean and honest elections to a “convicted
thief turning poster boy for home security measures.”
“Mrs. Arroyo and her handlers
must think that most Filipinos have amnesia, that they’ve
forgotten how she manipulated the results of the May 2004
presidential elections with the help of Garcillano. No one has
forgotten the ‘Hello, Garci’ scandal no matter how much Malacañang
insists that the issue is already dead and buried,” Beltran, a
political detainee, pointed out.
“The stench remains, and it
clings to President Arroyo like second skin. Her calling for
unity and for clean elections is laughable. How can we trust
the main mastermind of one the biggest electoral fraud scandals in
recent Philippine history?” he added.
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