Filipino Leaders in LA Call for the Ouster of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

 Los Angeles, California -- On July 24th, the evening of Philippine President Arroyo's State of the Nation Address, BAYAN USA - Southern California, Habi Arts and Anakbayan Los Angeles held a "Gloriagate" Community Forum at a local Filipino restaurant. Rep. Satur Ocampo of Bayan Muna took time out before his Congressional Assembly to join the forum from the Philippines through a phone patch and provided the latest updates on the Gloriagate scandal while fielding questions from the audience.  Panelists Chito Quijano (vice-chairperson, BAYAN-USA), Kuusela Hilo (Coordinator, Anakbayan LA), Erik Macatuno (Union Organizer, California Nurses Association) and Fr. Art Balagat (President, US Filipino Catholic Ministry) spoke on the growing demands of the Filipino people for President Arroyo's ouster.

After the members of the panel spoke, more than 35 Filipino and non-Filipino leaders from the community asked questions and shared their views of the current political situation in the Philippines.

Why Oust?

The main topic of the discussion revolved around why Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) should be ousted. Through a PowerPoint presentation, Quijano pointed to the failing economy, worsening political repression and the infamous Garci tapes as the top reasons why Filipinos are demanding her removal. "94% of government revenues goes to debt payments," Quijano stated, "an outrageous amount for any country!" Hilo added "Since taking office, thousands of human rights violations were filed against the military under GMA's administration." From Jan. 21, 2001 to June 30, 2005, Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of Peoples Rights) has documented 4,207 cases of human rights violations affecting 232,795 individuals or 24,299 families in 237 communities. These included 102 victims of frustrated murders and 130 victims of involuntary disappearances.

 The Transition Council

Another hot issue is the takeover of a transition council after GMA is removed from office. This is being pushed by the leading groups calling for the ouster.

"I think BAYAN is correct to call for a transition government," Macatuno said. "I am opposed to a military junta taking over. It has been tried before and it didn't work," he added.

 "The Transition Council is way, way better than keeping the lying, cheating and stealing Arroyo government," said Bayan Muna Rep. Satur C. Ocampo.

He stressed that "the defenders of the status quo cannot lay claim that the Arroyo government and even the constitutional setup it has undermined are the highest form of government we could have. When the prevailing system fails, the people have the supreme right to set up their own government in a manner and form they see fit."

Ocampo said that the council would have four major characteristics, all better than the present dispensation. "It shall be a coalition-type of government with equitable representation from basic sectors; a civilian government that will reject all attempts to install military rule; a transitional lifespan ending with the holding of special elections; and with a program of basic social, economic and political reforms."

"The most important aspect of the council is its reform agenda that would be a product of consultations among basic sectors of workers and farmers, professionals and the middle class and patriotic businesspersons as well as interested parties and civic groups," said Ocampo.

US Intervention is Obvious

Quoting a whopping 1,776% increase in US military aid to the Philippines, Hilo called for both Filipinos and non-Filipinos in the US to join the calls for a complete sweep of the GMA administration. "Instead of serving the people's needs, our taxpayer dollars are funding Arroyo's corrupt regime," stated Hilo.

A member of the audience asked Rep. Ocampo a question on the intervention of the US and try to frustrate or destabilize the transition council.

"There is no question that the US is already trying to intervene," replied Ocampo, "The important thing is for us to get our people in there, to get the representatives from the different sectors in the transition council."

Oust Campaign to Continue in the US

As a part of one of the major campaigns of BAYAN USA, the Community Forum in Los Angeles was held at the same time as other actions and activities are going on in New York, Seattle and San Francisco. These coordinated events were held just a few hours before GMA's State of the Nation Address in the Philippines and are part of a series of actions calling for GMA's ouster.

Fr. Art Balagat encouraged the leaders of the Filipino community to increase their organizing efforts to encourage their compatriots to be active in the community and send a strong message to the Arroyo government to resign or face the people’s will to oust her from office.

"We will not stop in our efforts to fight against the corrupt, heartless and murderous Arroyo regime. We will not stop until the illegitimate President Arroyo gets ousted by the Filipino people," said Quijano.

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