Arroyo calls for end to political bickering

After her twin "victories" at the House of Representatives and the Supreme Court, President Arroyo called again yesterday for an end to the "political war" and to allow her administration to carry out necessary political and economic reforms.

The President is pushing for a change in the form of government by amending the Constitution through a constituent assembly. She is also batting for economic reforms, particularly through the implementation of the expanded value-added tax (EVAT) law.

"Today, we commemorate the end of a war and the unity and solidarity that came thereafter, a unity and solidarity that is now endangered by a degenerated political system," Mrs. Arroyo said during rites marking the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Philippines from Japanese Imperial Army with the surrender of then general Tomoyuki Yamashita.

The rites were held in Kiangan Central Elementary School in Kiangan, Ifugao province, where Yamashita had surrendered. Mrs. Arroyo was wearing a vibrantly colored lama and ampuyyo, a blouse and skirt traditionally worn by Ifugao women.

"The folly of war is very much like the scourge of a degenerated political system. It stains the people with hunger and anguish. We must reform this political system if we will be true to the sacrifices of those that perished in bringing about the end of the Second World War," the President said.

This was the first time the President spoke in public since the House of Representatives committee on justice threw out the impeachment complaints against her on Wednesday and the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the EVAT law on Thursday.

"We must bring about a system where political warfare — yes, there may be — but where political warfare does not drag down the war against poverty and terror," the President said.

"And so, on this day, as we celebrate the end of a war and the beginning of a unity in the region, the Asia Pacific region and in the world, I once again call for unity within our country," she added. "I make this call to friends and foes alike."

Mrs. Arroyo lamented that the country was commemorating the end of a war while it was locked in an unending political conflict.

"We recall that day today, even as, sadly, we still live in two Philippines: the Philippines that is poised for takeoff and the Philippines whose takeoff is being dragged down by international terrorism and a degenerated political system," she said.

The President said the government leaders must declare war against poverty and the looming oil crisis, not against each other.

She paid tribute to war veterans present and to the allies of the Philippines such as Japan, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and others for their role in the country’s economic and political security.

Ambassadors and representatives from the diplomatic corps were present during the rites. Among them were Japanese Ambassador Ryuichiro Yamazaki, US Chargé d’ Affaires Darryl Johnson, and Australian Ambassador Anthony John Hely.

"Just like them, let us put the country’s welfare above all of us. The times do not call for us to offer our lives unlike before. These times call for unity. I hope we will all be united for the sake of the sacrifices made by the veterans and other heroes of the Second World War and the future generation," Mrs. Arroyo said.

"We must go on building bridges across the seas with our allies and our former enemies, now our major allies in economic development. But we must also build bridges within the nation as we forge one Philippines — one Philippines that is stable and respected in the world," she added.

The President said it would be good to have peace and unity within the Philippines as she leaves for New York to preside over the United Nations Security Council as "chief peacemaker of the world."

"We have a major challenge that we must all be united against, not just in the Philippines but in the region and in the world, and that is the specter of economic dislocation from the steepest oil price increase in history," she said.

Yamazaki said his country was committed to promote peace and development in the world after Japan’s military aggression in the 1940s. He said Japan would be the Philippines’ major trading and investment partner as well as the prime official development assistance donor.

During the celebration, Yamazaki said present partnerships with the US, Philippines and other allies as well as shared values of peace, democracy and respect for human rights made it possible for the countries to overcome past differences and build enduring bonds of friendship and cooperation.

He said Japan had acknowledged the "unbearable damage" and suffering caused to the people of the Philippines and several other Asian countries such as China and Korea.

Yamazaki reiterated the statements made by Japanese leaders expressing "feelings of deep remorse and heartfelt apology for all the victims of the war."

He said Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi had repeated Tokyo’s determination "not to allow the lessons of that horrible war to erode and to contribute to the peace and prosperity of the world without ever waging a war."