Truce instead of honeymoon

Spurned by the opposition on appeals for a honeymoon period, Malacañang yesterday called for a "ceasefire" in political hostilities after President Arroyo and Vice President-elect Noli de Castro take their oaths of office on June 30.

"In unity and reconciliation, the first step is to lower political temperature. Let’s have some sort of ceasefire in the exchange of words that might hurt each other’s feelings," Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said.

He said the media became receptive of the Palace request for a "honeymoon period" for Mrs. Arroyo but some from the opposition continued to turn it down.

Bunye said Malacañang was receiving mixed signals from the opposition, particularly those whom they expected to be hardliners.

He said some of them are giving "different statements" on their appeal for a break.

"We are hoping for the best," Bunye said. "What is important is everybody must be patient. We will let time be an instrument for reconciliation."

Although Bunye did not specifically name an opposition figure, he apparently alluded to Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr., who expressed his willingness yesterday to support the programs of Mrs. Arroyo, but only if it will benefit the people in general.

Pimentel earlier took up the cudgels for Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) standard-bearer Fernando Poe Jr. during the congressional canvass and went to the extent of filing a petition before the Supreme Court questioning the legality of the tabulation process after Congress had adjourned sine die.

The petition was dismissed by the high court last week, citing the absence of any constitutional basis.

"But we believe that many of the opposition leaders, at heart, also desire unity and reconciliation, perhaps, they are only waiting for time, everybody must be patient and let us just let time be an instrument to have reconciliation at a later time," Bunye said.

Bunye cited independent presidential candidate Sen. Panfilo Lacson, a bitter critic of the administration, who had already conceded the fight. Lacson’s supporters led by Makati City Rep. Agapito "Butz" Aquino have already expressed support for the new term of Mrs. Arroyo.

"The calls made by Senator Lacson were unsolicited, that’s why we’re happy because we did not ask for it nor requested it," Bunye said.

"This was a voluntary gesture on the part of Senator Lacson, so I think it’s unfair to both President and Senator Lacson in raising these alleged ‘deals’ struck by them," he said.

Bunye, however, refused to elaborate on the progress of the ongoing talks between Mrs. Arroyo and with three other presidential candidates in the proposed government of national unity.

"The details of these if you would allow, let’s keep it first a private matter between the administration and the parties involved. So whatever communications taking place, let’s leave it to them, if there are any developments, then we will just make the proper announcements," he said.

Bunye stressed the appeal for a break in political hostilities or a "honeymoon" period for the President in the first few days of her new term is just proper.

He explained the honeymoon period is accorded to every new administration.

Since Mrs. Arroyo was given a new mandate of six years, Bunye said "it is not too much to make a request to the media as well as to the opposition for this (honeymoon period).

Bunye said the request for a honeymoon break is reasonable enough to enable Mrs. Arroyo get a good head start in the first few weeks of her term.

Even if the opposition rejects the plea for a honeymoon period, Bunye said a ceasefire from political bickering would suffice.

Hours after her proclamation by Congress Thursday, some members of the opposition spurned Mrs. Arroyo’s gesture of reconciliation.

Outgoing Sen. Vicente Sotto III, an ally of defeated of opposition front-runner Fernando Poe Jr., said "one of the reasons there will be no honeymoon is because GMA’s mandate will always be doubtful."

Pimentel earlier said his colleagues are not disposed to accept Mrs. Arroyo’s offer of reconciliation because "her word cannot be relied upon."

For his part, Sen. Edgardo Angara said reconciliation may be fine gesture but "hollow" in the administration’s context.

Mrs. Arroyo made the magnanimous offer minutes after the joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives proclaimed her before dawn Thursday at the Batasan complex in Quezon City.

Opposition lawmakers left the House session hall before the President’s allies could proclaim her.

‘Not That Simple’

Bunye also renewed the appeals of Mrs. Arroyo for the opposition "to stay within norms of democracy and civility" for the sake of the nation.

"We believe in democratically charged governance on the basis of justice and principle. We believe the opposition as a whole is sincere in its fight to improve the lives of the people," he said.

Bunye said Malacañang welcomes the reported plans of the opposition to file an electoral protest before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET).

Despite having ruled out Poe’s conceding defeat to Mrs. Arroyo, outgoing Sen. Vicente Sotto III said the KNP is "seriously thinking" lodging a formal complaint before the PET to contest the proclamation of Mrs. Arroyo.

Sotto earlier told The STAR their case is now being studied by "friends of FPJ who are legal luminaries."

"I think if the reports are true, I think that’s the best alternative. Everything is within the law and their KNP objective to know what really happened in the last elections would be given due course, and everything is within the law and within the Constitution," Bunye said.

Bunye told a separate interview with Radio Mindanao Network yesterday that the accusations of fraud and cheating against the administration by the KNP would now be properly ventilated before the PET.

He also noted the repeated bids by opposition lawmakers to open the election returns during the 17 days of canvassing in Congress but were voted out by their colleagues in the administration, repeatedly pointing out the PET is the proper forum for such issues.

"Here at the PET, their (KNP) desire to look into what really happened and this will involve the opening of the election returns, will finally take place. This is provided for in our laws and if followed, would be good for all," Bunye said.

On the other hand, Lito Anzures, a member of the KNP executive committee, said the filing of an electoral protest before the PET may be perceived as "sourgraping."

"Some may say we just cannot accept defeat. But we were not defeated because we were cheated," Anzures told The STAR in Filipino.

Anzures, spokesman for Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay who is a ranking member of the KNP executive committee, said the mayor is not inclined to advise Poe to file the election protest before the PET.

"The mayor and I spoke about it last night (Friday) and we’re not inclined to suggest the electoral protest as an option for FPJ," he said.

Anzures said Binay, being a lawyer, recognized the hassles of filing the protest the PET saying "it’s not that simple." Binay pointed out it would take years and a lot of financial resources to sustain the case, according to Anzures.

Still, if the matter would be put to a vote by the KNP, Anzures said Binay would adhere to the collective consensus of the group. He said the KNP could decide next week whether to file the complaint before the PET.

Poe’s campaign spokesman, re-elected Sorsogon Rep. Francis Escudero, earlier said in a text message to The STAR that the movie actor has yet to decide whether to file a protest.

Anzures also told an earlier interview that while the KNP believes nothing will come out of Poe’s electoral protest before the PET, at least it will put on record the allegations of massive cheating committed by the administration to make it appear President Arroyo was the winner.

"There are some members of the KNP, not only Senator Sotto, who would rather (see to it) that a protest be filed. It is for the sake of the record books. Ten or even 50 years from now, people will know there was massive electoral fraud," Anzures said.

On the other hand, Bunye warned against reported plans by the KNP to form a "tactical alliance" of anti-Arroyo groups and Poe supporters to stage mass actions to highlight their accusations of fraud and massive cheating.

"We call upon the leaders of the opposition, whatever plans they are making, let’s keep everything within the democratic process, everything within the law. We know their complaints would be heard provided they observe the process," Bunye said.

Bunye warned that the government is prepared to put down any illegal activity to keep law and order.