‘RP may become next Argentina’

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. warned yesterday that the Philippines might suffer Argentina’s fate if President Arroyo fails to stop the economic downturn and the worsening law and order problem.

Speaking at the weekly "Balitaan" at the Rembrandt Hotel in Quezon City, Pimentel said the condition of the Philippines is "more serious" than Argentina’s because apart from the economic crisis, the government is facing a two-pronged rebellion from the New People’s Army and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

"The problem of Argentina is only economic but in the Philippines its economic plus insurgents on two fronts," he said. "Economic problem in Argentina has caused the Argentinean presidency."

But Pimentel assured Mrs. Arroyo of "critical collaboration" to seek solutions for the country’s economic problems once he "retakes" the Senate presidency when Congress resumes session next week.

Pimentel said the fate of Argentina — which had tethered in anarchy — might befall the Philippines if Mrs. Arroyo fails to prevent the law and order problem from getting out of control.

"Although there is still no street violence in the country, if President Arroyo would not address the law and order and other brewing political problems in the country, it’s likely that the Philippines will soon become the Argentina of Asia," he said.

Pimentel said one example is the case of jailed former governor Nur Misuari of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, who could be the "flashpoint" of anti-government protests if he is returned to the country to face trial for rebellion.

"If Misuari will be back in the country, he will become the rallying point of anti-government forces," he said.

However, Pimentel said Misuari is not actually the problem but the the failure of the government to deliver basic services to the masses, especially the people in Mindanao.

"Misuari is only the tip of the problem," he said. "And the government is not addressing the real and serious problem, which is poverty and law and order."

Pimentel said the government might succeed in having Misuari convicted after trial in a competent court and imprison him, but that the economic and political problems, particularly in Mindanao, would remain.

"The government can jail or kill Misuari a thousand times but more Misuaris will rise to continue the fight," he said.

Pimentel said "a new Senate leadership" under him would fully support Mrs. Arroyo on issues that would benefit the Filipino people, but that they would not allow themselves to be used to cover anomalies in government.

"We will never allow ourselves to be gagged from denoucning any wrongdoing in government," he said.

Pimentel said once he becomes Senate president again, he will push for the enactment into law of bills that seek electoral reforms, including the passage of a bill that would allow overseas Filipinos to vote in national elections.

"We want to assure (the people) that there will be no more election fraud, particularly dagdag-bawas," he said.

Pimentel said he would also work to reform the country’s budgetary system to require the executive department to submit a budget proposal every end of the year as opposed to the present policy in which Congress makes the policy and the executive becomes the implementing arm.

"Bureaucracy is now dictating the policy making-body," he said.

The national budget should be part of the year-long agenda of Congress and must be deliberated on in the early part of the year to avoid "cramming," and to allow members of Congress to scrutinize it, he added.