Cory bucks transition gov’t, pushes signature campaign vs GMA

Former President Corazon Aquino rejected Friday night the transitional government proposed by groups calling for President Arroyo’s resignation.

"What they (the anti-Arroyo groups) want is a transitional government. I am not in favor of that... I want for us to follow the Constitution. I am for the constitutional process," Aquino said in an ambush interview minutes before the start of the 2nd Inter-Faith Prayer Gathering held at the La Salle Greenhills school in San Juan Friday night.

However, Aquino said she and other anti-Arroyo groups, including the Bukluran Para sa Katotohanan (Coalition for Truth), will still continue their efforts to uncover the truth behind allegations of electoral fraud against Mrs. Arroyo.

"I will go to different schools, different churches and get people to pray together for the country," she said.

Aquino said she and members of Bukluran plan to launch a signature campaign to demand the President’s resignation.

"Somebody suggested to me that perhaps we ask one question first to GMA. Where is Garci?" Aquino said, referring to erstwhile elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano.

Opposition leaders said Garcillano reportedly left the country in mid-June to evade a congressional inquiry into an audio tape recording of an allegedly wiretapped conversation between him and Mrs. Arroyo about fixing the results of last year’s presidential election.

In late June, Mrs. Arroyo publicly apologized for her "lapse in judgment" in calling an election official to protect her vote during the canvassing period just after the May 10 elections last year. She did not name the official.

The audiotape recording also included a voice similar to that of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo talking to a man variously addressed as "Gary" or "Garci," widely believed to be Garcillano.

Aquino lauded Bukluran for recognizing the efforts of congressmen who supported the impeachment process. She also thanked God for bringing the people together as they gave recognition to the congressmen "who have courageously fought for our quest for truth."

"Perhaps none of us here can gauge the severity of the lapse of judgment for which the President (Arroyo) had said she was sorry on June 27. We had hoped that the matter could have been determined if the truth were allowed to surface. Unfortunately the main constitutional avenue by which to determine the truth has been closed by a legislative majority," Aquino said.

The House of Representatives upheld its justice committee’s decision to junk all three impeachment complaints against Mrs. Arroyo. The first petition was declared valid but dismissed because it was insufficient in form and substance, while the two other complaints were declared illegal since only one complaint can be filed against a single official in one year.

Aquino said Congress seemed to value legal issues and technicalities over higher moral concerns and the national interest.

Though there has been talk regarding offers of reconciliation from the Arroyo administration, Aquino said she believes reconciliation "must be based on justice and founded on mutual trust and respect. I hope our non-violent and peaceful protest is not seen as disruptive, but rather as a fundamental step to save our country now and in the future."

She added that members of the "Hyatt 10" — the group of Cabinet officials and advisers that resigned en masse last July 8 and called on Mrs. Arroyo to follow suit — will reach out to the people and explain the current political situation.

"Congressmen will also tell constituents the events that led to the suppression of the impeachment," she said.

Bukluran spokesman Bro. Armin Luistro said they paid tribute to the congressmen who kept their word and voted to support the impeachment proceedings against Mrs. Arroyo.

Lusitro said Bukluran members admire these congressmen for their principled vote since their actions served as a vindication of the rule of law.

"You have finished the course. You have kept the faith," he said.

Luistro also said the Bukluran should condemn those who initially supported the impeachment, but subsequently withdrew their support.

"They have proven themselves false friends of the people. They have demonstrated themselves traitors to the cause. Others failed to deliver on their promise, and by so doing, failed the people," he said.

Luistro said the House of Representatives, by junking the impeachment complaints, are "perpetuating a presidency that promotes divisiveness, self-interest, naked ambition and the suppression of the truth."

About a thousand participants attended the prayer gathering. Aside from Aquino and Luistro, those at the gathering included the pro-impeachment congressmen and their families, former presidential adviser on peace process Teresita Deles, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, former social welfare secretary Corazon Soliman, former defense secretary Renato de Villa, members of militant groups, anti-Arroyo activists and school representatives.