GMA to opposition: Send your brightest to unity gov’t

President Arroyo reiterated yesterday her invitation for the opposition to "send their best and brightest" men and women as she forms her government of national unity, or GNU as she calls it.

The President, however, did not get into specifics like whether nominees of her political opponents will be appointed to a post as high as the Cabinet, which she is currently reorganizing under her new administration.

Mrs. Arroyo repeated her calls for unity and reconciliation, particularly with the camp of her closest rival, actor Fernando Poe Jr., despite the opposition’s plan to challenge her proclamation before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET).

The President stressed there is a need for both sides "to share responsibility" for the nation to move forward.

The President first presented her plans to put up her "government of national unity" during the campaign period, calling on the opposition to send their honest representatives to serve in government.

"Together, we must share responsibility for the welfare of the people," the President said, as she administered the mass oath taking of newly elected local officials in Bohol led by re-elected Gov. Erico Aumentado.

"We reach out for reconciliation at the level of political leaders and at the level of the people and constituencies," she said at the event held at the cultural center of Tagbilaran City.

Mrs. Arroyo, who had her inauguration in Cebu last Wednesday, flew to Bohol yesterday for the next round of thanksgiving visits of the provinces which gave her big winning margins in the May 10 vote. It was in Cebu that she received the largest number of votes and propelled her win over closest challenger, Poe.

"I thank the people of Bohol for giving me the fourth highest support in our country in the last election," she said.

In her brief remarks before the Boholano officials, the President impressed upon them that she intends to pursue her GNU with opposition groups, especially Poe’s camp, even if her unity initiatives are repeatedly spurned.

"That is why it is best that a partnership with the opposition must not only be forged in rhetoric," the President pointed out.

Refusing to concede defeat, Poe and his running mate, former senator Loren Legarda, maintained the administration took away from them their victories.

Lawyers for the defeated tandem had earlier asked the Senate for copies of the election returns and certificates of canvass from 23 provinces contested during the congressional canvassing.

The President’s election lawyer, Romulo Makalintal, said this move goes to show that Poe’s camp lacked evidence to substantiate their accusations of electoral fraud.

The opposition lawyers argued the President and De Castro should be considered "presumptive winners" until the prescription period for filing an electoral protest lapses.

Under the law, losing candidates should file their electoral protest within 30 days after the proclamation of the winners by Congress. Poe and Legarda have 24 days left before the prescription period expires.

While in Tagbilaran City, Mrs. Arroyo joined the "Te Deum" mass at St. Joseph the Worker Cathedral that was celebrated for her by Bishop Leopoldo Tumulak. He is chairman of the Bohol local peace forum, a local government initiative to explore avenues in reaching out to insurgents in the province.

In her statement at the end of the Mass, the President reassured Tumulak that she would heed the advice he gave in his homily for her to be the "shepherd" of the Filipino people.