At least 10 different groups led by the United Opposition (Uno) convened at the Metro Club in Makati City yesterday to declare yet again that the opposition is united in its efforts to unseat an "illegitimate president."
However, none of them mentioned Roces — the widow of actor and defeated presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. — even though she had been a focal point for voicing opposition claims that Poe was cheated in the 2004 elections.
Uno president Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay said they have yet to reveal their choice and would take it one step at a time.
Binay said Roces was still among those they were considering to head the transition government. However, he dodged direct questions on why opposition groups were no longer shouting the actress’ name.
Former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr., who attended the gathering, read a statement enumerating the declarations of the new anti-Arroyo confederation.
"We deplore the breakdown of justice in our society, not just in our judicial courts but in Congress, the Commission on Elections, and in many other institutions that are supposed to be vanguards of democracy and equality," he said.
"We condemn the increasing transformation of our nation into a police state and the growing number of human rights violations and the disregard for the rule of law," Guingona added.
He said the opposition protests what he described as the "unrestrained, organized and centralized system of corruption" in the government.
They also declared support for "genuine reformists in the military" but did not directly name any leaders of the mutinous Magdalo group, particularly Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon and Navy Lt. Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes IV, who have also called for "change."
UNO, along with the groups Filipinos for Peace, Justice and Progress Movement (FPJPM), Sanlakas, Laban ng Masa, Gloria Step Down Movement, Bangon Pilipinas, Black & White Movement and Bayan Muna, said they would make more disclosures soon.
Meanwhile, former Army general Fortunato Abat asked the court yesterday to dismiss the charges of inciting to sedition filed against him by government prosecutors.
However, Abat said the charges would not stop him from heading a transition government if President Arroyo agrees to step down.
"The proposal (for a transition government) is still going on," he said. "The case would not stop me from doing this."
Abat’s lawyer, Homobono Adaza, has filed three motions — one to dismiss the case for violation of due process and the equal protection clause of the Constitution, another to quash the information, and the last to determine the existence of probable cause.
Adaza’s motions prompted San Juan Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 57 Judge Marianito Santos to move the arraignment of the case to Apr. 4.
"We seriously contend that the facts charged do not constitute the offense of inciting to sedition and the averments in the information, if true, contain legal excuse or justification, hence under Section 3 (a) of Rule 117 of the Rules (of Court), the above entitled case should be dismissed," Abat’s motion read.
Abat was arrested by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group last December at Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan, where he established his "transition government."
Adaza said the Club Filipino incident wherein Abat reportedly made seditious remarks "involves a very peaceful press conference attended by the tri-media."
"No violence, not even (with) words," Adaza said.
Santos said the prosecution and defense panels should give their respective comments on the three motions so Abat’s arraignment would push through on Apr. 4.
On the other hand, pro-administration Reps. Douglas Cagas of Davao del Sur and Exequiel Javier of Antique said the opposition prayer movement Silent Majority misrepresented the "true voice of the people" because the movement is actually composed of the same core group of opposition members working for an unconstitutional power grab.
They said the members of the Silent Majority are the same personalities behind the Black & White Movement, Citizens’ Congress for Truth and Accountability, and Bukluran Para sa Katotohanan, among other groups.
"They just created a new name to deceive the people and misrepresent the true voice of the millions of God-fearing and peace-loving Filipinos who just want to take part in nation-building and take advantage of the current economic gains," Cagas said.
Pointing out that he sees the same faces from the opposition among those comprising the Silent Majority, Cagas said "it is obvious they have no other supporters and followers. They should stop masquerading as a new movement because their membership shows they are a recycled group."
Javier said the "real silent majority" are those "who have not joined the protest moves against the President because of their continuing faith and trust in her leadership." — Michael Punongbayan, Non Alquitran