Kalikasan Peoples Network for the Environment
26 Matulungin St. Central District, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines

14 February 2008

Environmentalists urge GMA's top honcho Lito Atienza:

Come clean on ZTE scandal!

Environment Secretary Lito Atienza should quit as a top honcho for the dirty Arroyo administration and finally come clean about the filthy ZTE scandal right now.

Green group Kalikasan People's Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE) issued this challenge to the Environment Secretary today, following Atienza's blunt rejection of calls from the Makati Business Club (MBC) to resign.

"Secretary Atienza should not throw away the truth of Lozada's testimony into the garbage can when Atienza in fact could learn a precious lesson or two from his colleague. Lozada has chosen to stand by the truth and integrity on the issue of the ZTE deal, even if it would cost him his respected post as an environment official in government. Does Secretary Atienza have the guts, the principle and the discernment to do the same?" Clemente Bautista Jr., Kalikasan PNE's National Coordinator said in a statement.

Lozada previously testified that Atienza had warned him against appearing before the Senate to tell what he knoew about the ZTE controversy, where former Commission on Elections chair Benjamin Abalos Sr and President Arroyo's husband, Jose Miguel are implicated.

"It is no surprise that Atienza is doing all to protect President Arroyo and her spouse from being implicated in the ZTE scandal: after all, he has been staunchly pro-administration from the very start. But there are limits to loyalty, limits that should be defined by what is right and what is wrong," Bautista said.

"Secretary Atienza should stop reusing and recycling the Palace's lies and denials about the Arroyos accountability in the ZTE scandal. He will only end up in the dustbins and trash cans of history if he continues to support a filthy and toxic administration such as that of Arroyo," Bautista said.

"The ZTE scandal is also, in a way, an unfolding tale of two environment officials: one who chose to defy the powers-that-be for the love of truth and of country, and one who continues to cover up for the misdeeds, denials and excesses of his superiors," Bautista said.

Kalikasan People's Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE) is a network of non-government organizations (NGOs), grassroots organizations, and environmental advocates.

For more information, please contact:
Mr. Clemente Bautista Jr., National Coordinator, Kalikasan PNE
Phone: +63922.844.9787;  Fax : 924-8756 . 
Email: kalikasan.pne@gmail.com   Website: www.kalikasan.org