Leaders’ summit for unity sought

A newly launched mass movement called on President Arroyo yesterday to initiate the holding of a summit among the country’s top political leaders in order "to forge genuine unity and achieve peace."

Ang Bagong Katipunan said the main agenda of the summit must be centered on the basic issues such as unity among leaders of various political groups, peace and order and economic recovery.

"This will mean calling for all leaders of all political persuasions to cast aside their differences and address whatever problems we have with one clear perspective," Bagong Katipunan national chairman Glicerio Gervero said. "This can be the first genuine step to a more comprehensive understanding to our problems and their solution."

Gervero said the leaders’ summit is likely to achieve more impact and positive results if the current administration would magnanimously extend its hand by inviting former Presidents Corazon Aquino, Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada.

"Time is running out for everyone particularly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States. We Filipinos should now put our act together, set aside our differences and stand united behind a common goal of putting back the country on the right track," Gervero said.

At the same time, Gervero deplored the current state of the Philippine economy and called for major changes in the government’s economic programs and policies.

He said the Philippine economy is in deplorable condition "because we see right before our very eyes that the number of poor people (is) increasing everyday."

In an interview with Global News and Information Services, Gervero said there is a need to "radically and seriously address the complex economic situation now otherwise we will all go down the drain."

"There are now telltale signs of an economic crisis and we have to deal with this, not in the traditional way but with more tangible realities and innovation, always considering that the vast majority of our people are very poor," he said.

Aside from the complexity of the current economic woes, Gervero pointed out the need to address globalization and similar contentious issues, which he said are now the existing realities of contemporary economics.

"We need to work on these issues and work on them fast," he said.

The Bagong Katipunan was launched last Nov. 30 in Barasoain, Bulacan coinciding with the birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio.

It is a multi-sectoral movement composed of organizations and federations of farmers, drivers, youth, religious and women’s groups.

The Bagong Katipunan seeks to foster unity, peace and order, stability, and good governance through strong but peaceful political actions.