Opposition supportive of reforms — GMA

Despite occasional severe criticisms, President Arroyo said yesterday the political opposition has been largely supportive of the legislative reforms she has been vigorously pushing in Congress.

The President issued the statement in an open forum at the annual gathering of "Singles for Christ" held in Dumaguete City where she aired her weekly radio program "May Gloria ang Bukas Mo."

"As far as I’m concerned, there were some very important support that the opposition has given me," Mrs. Arroyo said.

She said although she is hurt by baseless accusations, the opposition delivers when there is a vital measure to be passed by Congress.

"So their being opposition is okay by me," the President said.

She particularly cited the passage by Congress of the Power Sector Reform Law and the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2002.

She also lauded the bipartisan support given her leadership in terms of speedy confirmation of Ambassador to the US Alberto del Rosario whose designation came after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on Washington and New York City.

The President recalled that opposition Sen. Blas Ople suggested the holding of an economic summit to review the government’s economic plans and policies in the aftermath of the terror attacks in the US that shook the world economy and left thousands of people dead or missing.

Giving due recognition to Ople’s recommendation, Mrs. Arroyo said she convened the multisectoral National Socio-Economic Summit last December where a covenant was forged to push the country’s economic recovery program.

Mrs. Arroyo also hailed opposition senators for upholding the Constitution and the rule of law amid coup rumors that swept the country last month while she was about to mark her first year at Malacañang.

"While the various forces which had plans to topple the government before the Jan. 20 anniversary of EDSA II, the opposition in the Senate said they will not join such attempts because their attitude is ‘see you in 2004’," Mrs. Arroyo said.

She noted the positive response given by the opposition senators, especially Sen. Edgardo Angara, to the majority’s proposal for a political summit.

"I said that political summit was a good idea. So I told Speaker (Jose) De Venecia to go ahead with it."

"They are now planning to have this political summit of all parties this May," Mrs. Arroyo said. – Marichu Villanueva