Abat: Let me take over

The revolution is patiently waiting in its offices at the crossroads of EDSA and Quezon Avenue.

Retired general Fortunato Abat announced yesterday he had set up the national headquarters of the Coalition for National Solidarity (CNS) on the third floor of Quedsa Plaza building. He said it would be the control center for his movement to ease out the Arroyo administration and set up a revolutionary government.

"I am taking over," Abat told reporters at the office blessing. "I would like to provide the leadership. I may be used as a symbol towards a new era of change and national salvation."

Though the masses have yet to converge at his office, Abat claimed his group had enlisted more than 100 organizations nationwide and was set to conduct a series of actions that would lead to a military junta to take over from the Arroyo administration.

With this warning in mind, the retired general once again called for President Arroyo to peacefully step down from office.

Abat was joined by retired colonel Jerry Cunanan, Fr. Joe Dizon who officiated the blessing, Datu Norodin Lucman and several leaders of non-government organizations supporting their cause.

Dizon, however, clarified that he was not part of the group but was there only to preside over the blessing of the new office.

Abat said once Mrs. Arroyo steps down his group will abolish the Constitution and set up a revolutionary government that will initiate the "cleansing" of the Filipino nation.

"Our timetable is to have a transition period of one year to cleanse the Filipino nation," he said.

When asked how they planned to take over the presidency, Abat said they would conduct a series of activities including mass information drives which he believed would be sufficient to pressure Mrs. Arroyo into resigning.

Abat at the same time denied that his move was part of destabilization efforts, claiming instead "it is Malacañang that is destabilizing the country."

He also discounted the possibility of a bloody takeover because the CNS will be "exhausting all peaceful efforts to take over the right of the national government."

Though in these uncertain times it is hard to tell the real "coups" from the "cuckoos," Abat denied that his movement was a coup attempt. "We are not recruiting soldiers to join because they are professionals and there is no need to talk to them," he said.

For what it’s worth, the headquarters of the CNS movement was once used as the campaign offices of Vice President Noli de Castro during the 2004 national elections.