Arroyo resignation sought anew over ZTE cover up, Lozada abduction

News Release
February 7, 2008


The umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan today slammed the “blatant conspiracy to cover up the truth about the ZTE broadband scandal through the abduction of witness Jun Lozada.”

The group staged an “emergency protest action” in front of the Senate to express support for Lozada and the senators investigating the ZTE deal.

“We are witnessing one of the most outrageous attempts of the Arroyo regime to cover up the truth about its corruption. Malacañang ang the Philippine National Police conspired to abduct Lozada and silence him by making him sign manufactured documents. This is another low point for an already discredited administration,” said Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr.

“The people are becoming more and more outraged with the desperate cover-up tactics employed by the Palace. That Malacañang is part of this cover up is basis enough to call for the resignation of the president,” Reyes added.

Bayan is also calling for the resignation of PNP Chief Gen. Avelino Razon and the head of the Police Security and Protection Office because of their involvement in the cover up.

“They gave the public and the Senate the run around. They are clearly part of the cover up. They should be ashamed to stay in office a minute longer,” Reyes said.

Bayan said that Jun Lozada’s statements implicating First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and former Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos in the bribe-tainted ZTE deal should bolster calls to make Gloria Macapagal Arroyo accountable.

“There is very strong basis to impeach Mrs. Arroyo given all these new facts. These things happened right under her nose and she did nothing to stop them. The important thing now is to sustain public pressure on the administration and provide support for Lozada and others who can testify against the regime,” Reyes said.

“Even Romulo Neri should consider changing his position of silence and speak out,” the Bayan leader added.

Black Friday protest set

Various anti-Arroyo groups are set to hold a “Black Friday” protest caravan tomorrow, February 8, to protest what they called “gross corruption and abuse of power” under the Arroyo regime. Issues to be taken up include the ZTE scam, the abduction of Lozada and the term extension of AFP chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon.
The protest action comes a day before the 56th birthday of Esperon who was given a 3-month term extension by President Arroyo. ###