Erap, coalition insist on transition government, caretaker council

Never say die.

Deposed President Joseph Estrada exhorted Filipinos yesterday to support his calls for a "transition government" that would take over President Arroyo’s leadership, which he claimed was "in a state of paralysis" and incapable of governing a nation in crisis.

Delivering his own "true" state of the nation address (SONA) yesterday, Estrada cited the current national crisis and pressed for the immediate resignation of Mrs. Arroyo with a subsequent establishment of a "transition government."

"Taimtim akong nananawagan ngayon sa ating mga kababayan na sama-sama natin isigaw kay Gng. Arroyo na bumaba na siya sa posisyon na inangkin niya at ibalik niya ang kapangyarihan sa taong-bayan. Ito lamang ang magbibigay sa atin ng katahimikan (I earnestly call upon our countrymen to call out with one voice for Mrs. Arroyo to step down from the office she usurped, and return the power to our people. This is the only way to bring about national order)," Estrada said in his self-styled SONA aired over GMA-7 radio station dzBB.

"Nananawagan din ako sa inyo na itaguyod natin ang isang transition government na kakatawan sa iba’t-ibang sektor ng lipunan at magsisilbi nang tapat at marangal (I also call upon our people to support a transition government which would be composed of various sectors of the society and serve with trust and honor)," he exhorted.

"Sa dami ng problemang kinakaharap ng ating bayan, hindi kakayanin ng isang tao lamang ang pamumuno ng isang watak-watak na bansa (With so many problems faced by our country, this could not be handled by just one person with so much disunity in our midst)," the ousted leader said.

He, however, did not elaborate nor did he indicate whether he sought to head the proposed "transition government," who its members would be, or how it would operate.

Meanwhile, a newly formed anti-Arroyo coalition insisted on a caretaker council to address the persistent political turmoil sparked by charges of election fraud against the President.

In a press conference yesterday, the Unity for Truth and Justice (UTJ) said a simple succession by Vice President Noli de Castro in the event that Mrs. Arroyo is impeached — as constitutionally mandated — will not solve the country’s many problems.

"The problem is the system itself. Nothing will happen if De Castro will merely succeed. It should be a caretaker council," said Ed de la Torre, president of the La Liga Policy Institute and among the conveners of the UTJ.

"We welcome all measures including the filing of an impeachment (complaint) and the (formation of the) truth commission that, if properly organized, can contribute (to resolving the crisis). It is important that we try everything. This is a multi-dimensional crisis," De la Torre said.

According to the group’s proposal, the caretaker council to run the country would consist of individuals holding fixed terms.

The caretaker council would provide the specific and necessary changes in the government including the revamp of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and preparation for the holding of a "new" election.

While Estrada earlier renounced any desire to regain his aborted presidency, he did not rule out a possible comeback, "if there is clamor for the people" for him to return to power.

The popular former actor still faces trial for plunder in the government’s anti-graft court.

Estrada’s 10-minute taped message was broadcast a few hours before the President delivered her SONA at around 4 p.m. at the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City.

Estrada’s taped message had clearly been spirited out of his rest house detention in Tanay, Rizal where he has been incarcerated while undergoing trial before the Sandiganbayan.

The UTJ, meanwhile, acknowledged that the impeachment trial against Mrs. Arroyo would raise public awareness on the issues.

Dela Torre said the impeachment trial could be an effective tool to educate the public, as it would create greater public interest in the issues hounding the Arroyo presidency.

Retired Col. Gerry Cunanan, convener of the Christian Nationalist Union (CNU), an ally of UTJ, expressed concern that the impeachment case could lead nowhere.

Cunanan doubted whether an impeachment trial — resolved either for or against the President — would bring about the necessary changes and improvements needed in the country.

Dela Torre admitted that UTJ’s proposal — no matter how noble — might be suspected of being a plot to further certain personal ambitions. Thus, he stressed that clear limitations on the responsibility and privileges of the council’s representatives would be set.

Among the limitations, De la Torre noted, would be the barring of a council representative from appointing anybody to any government position or running for election.

"The caretaker council would serve as watcher, a steward. It would be important for the watcher to be trusted," he said.

‘State of paralysis’

In his taped message, Estrada lashed out anew at Mrs. Arroyo whom he said had no right to deliver a SONA because she "stole" the votes of the Filipino people in last year’s May presidential elections from his late friend actor Fernando Poe Jr., who died without seeing through his electoral protest.

"The national leadership is in a state of paralysis because of serious doubts on its legitimacy and capacity to govern," Estrada said.

Estrada presented to the Filipinos his proposed "transition government" as Congress officially resumed its regular sessions yesterday to tackle the impeachment complaint filed against Mrs. Arroyo who has rejected calls for her to step down.

An expanded impeachment complaint was filed yesterday by opposition congressmen, many of them identified with Estrada at the House of Representatives. The impeachment charges include election fraud and cheating, betrayal of public trust, direct bribery and other graft allegations against the President.

The deposed president sought to assuage the nation that there were already mechanisms that could install his envisioned "transition government" to save the country from the possible chaos of a post-Arroyo administration.

"We must be prepared now for our future and be united behind a single blueprint for a viable Philippines which has been prepared already by several of our countrymen," Estrada said.

Reviving his previous charges, Estrada blasted Mrs. Arroyo for her alleged power grab that unseated him from office during the EDSA II people’s revolt in January 2001 and kept him in detention for graft and plunder charges.

This was not the first time Estrada had issued taped messages to the Filipino people even while under detention and supposedly under court orders restricting him from communicating with the media.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez twitted Estrada yesterday for abusing the humanitarian policy of the Arroyo administration in attacking the government despite its lenient policy towards him.

The former president has been allowed to stay at his personal rest house instead of at a government detention facility, and has been granted medical and personal furloughs in the past.

Estrada’s taped message was also broadcast at anti-Arroyo rallies yesterday attended by loyalists and supporters of the ousted leader.

He noted the true state of the nation under the Arroyo administration of more than four years is a nation plunged into more than P5 trillion in debt.