From the Office of Rep. Crispin Beltran

South Wing Room 602 House of Representatives

Constitution Hills 1126 Quezon City, Philippines

Reference: Rep.Crispin Beltran (+63)9278711080

Ina Alleco R. Silverio, chief of staff  931.6615, 09195065269

 

 News Release   Friday, January 12, 2007

 

Malacanang using Jimenez against Estrada and the opposition;Palace support for Erap's release suspect

                                                                                                

 Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran  today said that Malacanang's 180 degree turn and support for moves for the release of ex-president Joseph Estrada was suspicious, and that the timing is highly suspect.

 

"It's impossible to not suspect that an agreement has been forged between former Manila Rep. Mark Jimenez and Malacanang, and that the sole intention is to unite against Estrada and undermine the opposition who still considers the former president as its head," he said. "Mr. Jimenez is now heaping all blame on Mr. Estrada while Malacanang is projecting magnanimity by saying that it supports the release of  the latter. Clearly, Malacanang is up to something, and we can bet that it has something to do with the upcoming elections where the Estrada-led opposition is strongly in the running for victory."

 

Beltran said that Malacanang is using Jimenez against Estrada, and by extension, against the opposition. "The Macapagal-Arroyo camp is using Jimenez to   launch attacks against Estrada, but it doesn't seem to have any effect because the latter is already under incarceration, for one; and for another, all this finger-pointing is not doing the Macapagal-Arroyo any good. More accusations against Estrada does not automatically benefit the Macapagal-Arroyo camp; in fact, it all the more exposes how desperate and insecure Macapagal-Arroyo and her handlers are about their political footing. They're highly insecure about the remaining power and influence of the ex-president."

 

"We hope that Mr. Jimenez would not allow himself to be used by Malacanang in the furtherance of Macapagal-Arroyo's political ambitions. Jimenez' seeming sincerity in wanting to start over with a clean slate and serving the country should not be wasted in joining forces with Macapagal-Arroyo and supporting her."

 

Beltran said that there were reports that   Jimenez asked Macapagal-Arroyo to drop former secretary Hernando Perez in a quid pro quo agreement. "Perez was the sacrificial lamb. Macapagal-Arroyo and her handlers were all too willing to sacrifice the former justice secretary in exchange for Jimenez' support, possibly for the May midterm polls," he said.

 

The activist lawmaker said that Malacanang through secretary Mike Defensor is now floating the possibility of Estrada's release as a means to neutralize the opposition. "But this is bait no one should bite, much less ex-president Estrada and members of the opposition. The timing is highly suspect. Most likely, Malacanang is throwing this bone of a possibility of release for the ex-president as a means to divert the opposition's attention and divide their ranks. The main objective is always to weaken the opposition."

 

"No one should fall for this trap. Malacanang has no moral credibility to call for unity with the opposition or with any of its political critics. None of the charges and accusations that have been floated against the incumbent illegitimate president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo have been settled; and under her leadership, the country's economy and political stability has gone from bad to worse and steadily more so," he said.#