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News Release
February 5, 2008
Protests mark aftermath of speakership row, Bayan warns of more sinister
Arroyo agenda after de Venecia ouster
The umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan today protested what it
described as “shameless and self-serving maneuvers by Malacanang to
tighten its control over Congress.” In a protest action held at the
Mabuhay Rotonda in Quezon City, Bayan warned that the ouster of Rep. Jose
de Venecia from the speakership may be a prelude to worse things to come.
“The Arroyo mafia will not stop with just replacing Jose de Venecia. They
intend to quash any and all attempts to uncover corruption scandals. Rep.
de Venecia must now make true his vow to expose the corruption and
rottenness of the Arroyo regime. The Arroyo mafia must be made
accountable. That's the only way JDV can redeem himself politically,” said
Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr.
“Our nation is now being run like by a crime syndicate that has corrupted
all public institutions. The only real gain that the people can have from
the political slugfest in Congress is if this results into more
anti-Arroyo forces in the Lower House,” Reyes said.
Bayan said that protests against corruption will be “inevitable” given the
simmering political crisis.
“Surely, the Arroyo regime will come out much weaker from this crisis. The
Arroyo coalition is crumbling. Shockwaves were felt in Malacanang after de
Venecia's speech,” Reyes said.
Warnings of charter change
The militant group is also alarmed about news that the de Venecia ouster
is a prelude to the railroading of charter change.
“The Arroyo mafia's agenda is to stay in power way beyond what the
Constitution provides. There have been many warnings that the de Venecia
ouster is just a prelude to the real plan of charter change. with the
Lower House more Palace-friendly than before, expect cha-cha moves to
escalate in the coming weeks,” Reyes said.
“The only way out of the current political crisis is for Gloria to step
down. She is at the center of all the controversy. Her presidency
continues to shake all public institutions. Her drive to stay in power is
always the main consideration in national policy-making,” Reyes added.
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February 5, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Reference:
Sarah Katrina Maramag
Vice-chairperson/Media Officer, 09193486790
Eleanor de Guzman
Chairperson, 09282555423
Like father (and mother), like sons
Youth group on Arroyo brothers: So young yet so corrupt
Youth group Anakbayan today criticized brothers Mikey and Dato Arroyo for
their 'Mafia-like operations and maneuverings' at the House of
Representatives.
The Arroyo brothers are said to be the ones who clandestinely brokered
last night's 'showdown' at the House of Representatives, resulting in
Speaker Jose de Venecia's (JDV's) ouster.
Anakbayan chairperson Eleanor de Guzman condemned reports of massive
bribery, amounting from P500,000 to P1 million allegedly per solon who
agreed to vote against JDV.
Solons who attended last weekend's 'final meeting' at the brothers' home
in La Vista were also reportedly seen with suspicious 'brown paper bags'.
"They can deny all they want but no one would believe that they did not
have anything to do with last night's brouhaha. One need only see one of
Mikey's sleazy B-movies to see what an ugly character he has," said de
Guzman.
Talks of moves to oust JDV first sprung from Mikey's resignation from the
Lakas-CMD party last week.
"The Brothers Arroyo, like their parents, are fickle-minded and cannot be
trusted. All their moves would only be for their political survival. Their
cohorts in KAMPI should be warned. So young yet so corrupt, kanino pa ba
sila magmamana?" said de Guzman.
More than an inter-family rift
Furthermore, de Guzman stressed that the Arroyo clan's 'act of vendetta'
against JDV was more than a matter of JDV's son Joey having hurt FG Mike
in light of his ZTE expose.
"This political development should not be downplayed as a mere
inter-family rift, or even a split between trapos."
De Guzman added, "More than anything else, last night further exposed
Arroyo's desperation to stay in power despite the unresolved cases of
bribery and corruption that both de Venecias appear geared to pursue."
"We challenge JDV to consummate his act of repentance, to expose all and
side with the people," said de Guzman.
Anakbayan joined other people's organizations in a protest rally held at
Welcome Rotonda this afternoon to condemn Arroyo's maneuvers to further
manipulate the Lower House and the Arroyo's clan's unresolved cases of
bribery and corruption. ###
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Student Christian Movement of
the Philippines
NCCP Compound, 879 EDSA Quezon City
Mobile Number: 09289526973 E-mail: scmp.infomedia@yahoo.com
News Release
February 5, 2008
De Venecia was Arroyo's "sacrificial lamb" – SCMP
Christian students of the Student Christian Movement of the Philippines (SCMP)
called former House Speaker Jose de Venecia "Arroyo's sacrificial lamb,"
when the House of Representatives voted in favor Davao Rep. Prospero
Nograles as new Speaker.
"The sudden change in the House Speakership is an obvious maneuver by the
First Family to put the blame on de Venecia amidst the many issues of
bribery and corruption against them," Biyaya Quizon, SCMP chairperson
said.
Quizon also said that removing the President's "most reliable ally in the
House" is a sign of Arroyo's crumbling presidency.
"Because of its unbeaten record of corruption and bribery, the Arroyo
administration is becoming too desperate to make sure that everybody is on
their side of the fence. It willingly let go of De Venecia, perhaps he
knows too much," she pointed out.
Brothers Mikey and Dato Arroyo
are said to be the ones who brokered the deal to congressmen to vote
against de Venecia.
"Obviously, we have a family of crooks as First Family," the SCMP
chairperson said.
Arroyo the "biggest sinner"
"If De Venecia claimed that all congressmen are sinners, we say Arroyo is
the biggest sinner in our country right now," Quizon said.
The group also said De Venecia should "do what he has to do" even after
his removal as House speaker.
"We challenge De Venecia to start his so-called moral revolution in
Congress, and expose everything that he knows about election fraud,
bribery and corruption committed by the First Family. Right now, he should
first be accountable to the people, not to Arroyo," Quizon said.
The Christian youth group joined different youth and people's
organizations in a noise barrage against bribery and corruption this
afternoon. ###
Reference: Ma. Cristina Guevarra, secretary general and information
officer, 09186106275
Biyaya Quizon, chairperson, 09289526973
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Download: Youth group warns against
curtailment of peaceful anti-Arroyo protests
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NEWS RELEASE
06 February 2008
Reference: Lana Linaban, Deputy Secretary General, 371-2302/0917-8299895
GABRIELA WARNS OF RABID DOGS IN THE HOUSE
"PGMA's rabid lapdogs are dominating the House of Representatives and
we should all beware. It is not a simple rivalry between two ruling
factions; it is part of the President's maneuverings to arrest her
crumbling support in the House." This was according to Lana Linaban,
deputy secretary general of GABRIELA National Alliance of Women.
Linaban also said that it is not coincidental that House Speaker Jose
Devenecia was ousted at a time when the Senate resumed its
investigation of the anomalous ZTE Broadband deal.
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"It is within the character of
Mrs. Arroyo to use all her resources
and machinery, to commit the most blatant of treachery and the
dirtiest of tricks, to ensure her continuing power whenever it is
threatened," said Linaban.
"This time she used her own sons to ensure a Congress leadership that
will shield Arroyo from being tried for her crimes and corruption
especially now with the mile-long exposé of JDV, a former staunch ally
of PGMA," said Linaban.
"What is also worrisome is how proposed legislations that are
high-priority for the people, such as the repeal of RVAT, can be
buried under the debris of this high-profile politicking in the House
and in the long run how the rabid Arroyo dogs in the House will simply
chew it all up," Linaban added. ###
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