AQUINO GOVT UN-PEACEABLE, SAYS CPP: NO NPA CEASEFIRE ON EASTER!
[PHOTO- The Cross is alighted in front of the Colosseum prior Pope Benedict XVI arrives to lead the Way of the Cross (Via Crucis) on Good Friday on April 22, 2011 in Rome. Getty Images 1 day ago]
MANILA, APRIL 25, 2011 (STAR) By Rhodina Villanueva - The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has declared there would be no ceasefire on Easter Sunday and accused the Aquino administration of exhibiting "unpeaceable attitudes and actions" in the peace talks.
The CPP made the declaration for the New People's Army (NPA) to continue the offensive as Easter Sunday marks the 38th founding anniversary of the National Democratic Front (NDF), the political arm of the communist movement negotiating peace with the government.
"The CPP is not keen on issuing an Easter Sunday ceasefire declaration as the Aquino government continues to show itself as unpeaceable with the continued detention of key NDF negotiators covered by the immunity agreement as well as hundreds of other political prisoners," the CPP said in a statement.
The CPP accused the Aquino administration of renewing a campaign of extrajudicial killings.
The CPP also accused the government of general lack of interest in addressing the socio-economic and political roots of the armed conflict.
"It refuses to heed the demand to put an end to cutbacks in social spending which have resulted in upwardly spiraling costs of services, putting them beyond the reach of ordinary Filipinos. It also refuses to address the widespread clamor to abrogate the Oil Deregulation Law which has allowed foreign oil companies to jack up prices at will in their drive for maximum profit," the CPP said.
The communists also accused the government's chief negotiator Alexander Padilla of dishing out "provocative and unstatesmanly statements that disparage the revolutionary movement."
"He continues to disappoint peace advocates who knew him as a human rights lawyer as he now conducts himself more and more like a spokesman of the AFP," the CPP said.
The CPP said the NDF will continue to engage the Philippine government in peace negotiations "as an additional avenue to push forward the agenda of the national democratic revolution." – With Charlie Lagasca
'Aquino on legal ground in seeking Merci ouster'BY WENDELL VIGILIA
(MALAYA) AS far as House committee on justice chair Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. is concerned, President Aquino did not violate the Constitution by actively campaigning for the removal of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.
"Impeachment is a political act. The President has the right to be heard on this issue just like the ordinary citizens since impeachment is really the power of the people," he said.
Citizens Battle Against Corruption (Cibac) Rep. Sherwin Tugna, spokesman for the 11-man prosecution team in the Gutierrez impeachment trial, said that as a Filipino citizen, "it is well within the right of PNoy to fully express his opinion."
"That forms part of a basic constitutional right of an individual to freedom of expression. His act is legal," he said.
House minority leader Edcel Lagman, an ally of Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo, had warned President Aquino against committing a culpable violation of the Constitution which is a ground for impeachment.
He said the President must desist from culpable violation of the Constitution in his merciless penchant to oust the Ombudsman.
"The President has no constitutional role in impeachment proceedings. In fact, under Section 19 of Article VII the President is expressly prohibited from granting reprieves, commutations and pardons in cases of impeachment," he said.
The 11-man House prosecution team led by Tupas said they are prepared for the impeachment trial in the Senate which is expected to begin on May 9.
Tupas and justice panel vice chair Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas will handle the P728 million fertilizer fund scam.
Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares and deputy speaker Lorenzo Tañada III of Quezon are in charge of the Euro Generals scandal while Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga and Valenzuela Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo will cover the P1.3 billion Mega Pacific automation contract anomaly.
Akbayan Rep. Arlene Bag-ao and Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali were assigned two articles of impeachment, the death of Navy Ensign Philip Pestaño and the $329-million NBN-ZTE broadband deal.
Marikina City Rep. Miro Quimbo will be assisted by Fariñas in prosecuting Gutierrez for the dismal conviction rate of the Office of the Ombudsman.
Northern Samar Rep. Raul Daza has yet to receive an assignment as he is still in the United States.
EARLIER NEWS REPORT FROM THE TRIBUNE
Palace not to observe political ceasefire on Holy Week By Aytch S. de la Cruz and Gerry Baldo 04/20/2011
Malacañang is not about to observe a political ceasefire this season of Lent as one of President Aquino's spokesmen yesterday implied that it's impossible for the current leadership to stop blaming former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo for all the hardships being encountered by her successor in running the affairs of government.
Deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte conveyed that it's just a natural behavior on the part of Aquino and his officials to render guilt on the Arroyo administration for all the difficulties they encounter in trying to address the pressing problems of the country.
"They were the ones that came here before us. We were not the ones in power before June 30. So whoever did that [landmines] would really be the one getting the blame. We cannot avoid it… You cannot blame on someone who hasn't done anything yet. Of course, if you are the one who was there previously, it's your responsibility," Valte told Arroyo's camp.
Valte's tirades came when sought for her comments on the President's behalf with regard to the latest statement issued by Arroyo's spokesperson, Elena Bautista-Horn, urging Aquino to "start acting like a president" beginning with his presentation of an economic roadmap.
The Palace official said that while she respects Bautista-Horn's opinions, she would like to take exception on her criticisms vis-à-vis the Aquino administration's failure to keep the prices of fuel low in the country.
Valte, in a pathetic bid to dispute Bautista-Horn's analysis, went back to their default defense pointing out that the prices of fuel and other petroleum products are governed by external market forces which are way beyond the Aquino administration's control.
As regards to the rising indices of hunger, poverty, corruption, unemployment, and corruption in the country, Valte opted to echo the statement of her superior, Edwin Lacierda, who virtually told the former President to just shut up because her term is over.
"As expected, of course, they will say that. But, again, like what Secretary Lacierda has mentioned the other day, the term of the former President has long ended. They might as well allow President Aquino to do his job and what needs to be done," Valte said.
Valte, nonetheless, was quoted somewhat implying that they would appreciate it if Arroyo or any veteran public official for that matter would offer unsolicited advice for Aquino to help him find solutions to the current problems challenging his administration.
"We can't do anything if they would offer us unsolicited advice. It's the right of every person [to express his opinion]… We are not 'pikon' (temperamental). We are not taking [their criticisms] personally, everything is just business," Valte said.
The recent tirades by former President Arroyo against incumbent President Aquino is part of a plan to divert public attention from the tax evasion case against Ang Galing Pinoy Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo and the impeachment trial of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.
According to the lawmakers, the current administration is not to blame for the current economic woes but the previous Arroyo administration.
"It is the GMA regime's culture of large-scale corruption that causes the economic miseries of the Filipino people and the nation's ill-preparedness to confront crises. Sino ba ang nagnakaw sa fertilizer at NFA rice? Sino ba ang walang ginawa para kalingain ang mga kababayan nating OFW. Sino ba ang nagsasamantala sa industriya ng langis, kuryente atbp.? Bakit naman si P-Noy agad ang pagbibintangan ni GMA sa mga problema ng bansa, eh siya ang may kagagawan ng karamihan dahil sa sobrang kalabisan!," San Juan Rep. Joseph Victor Ejercito said yesterday.
Ejercito, reacting to statement made by Elena Bautista Horn, President Arroyo's spokesperson, stressed that it was Mrs. Arroyo who left the country with so many problems.
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Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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