Let Manila resign from RP: Cebu City mayor

[BoyL3]

Saturday, July 09, 2005
Let Manila resign from RP: Cebu City mayor

CEBU CITY -- Seven local executives and lawmakers in Cebu decided to stand by President Arroyo Friday, even as calls for her resignation mounted in Manila.

"Let Manila resign from the Philippines. Manila can do whatever they want, but Manila is not the Philippines. It is not to our advantage if the President resigns...We made her the President and we'll make her stay as the President," said Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña.


Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo



Osmeña and another Arroyo ally, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, were both on an official trip to the Netherlands when calls for President Arroyo's resignation were raised, one after the other, Friday.

Former president Corazon Aquino, 10 newly resigned members of the Cabinet, the Makati Business Club and the Liberal Party urged Arroyo to make the "supreme sacrifice" and resign, rather than waiting for impeachment or further destabilization.

Primetime newscasts from the capital reported that President Arroyo was on her way to Cebu last night, but Malacañang officials refused to confirm this as of 10:30 p.m.

By early evening, Sanlakas and the newly formed Gloria Step Down Movement staged separate rallies in Fuente Osmeña and the Capitol grounds to press for President Arroyo's resignation.

Home-bound

But most elected local officials said she deserved to stay.

"Every Cebuano knows that we chose President Arroyo and we urge this handful of unelected officials, including those who now are the noisy minority of unelectable former officials, that they respect this mandate," said Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

Capitol consultant Pablo John Garcia, her brother, said the governor will cut short her study tour sponsored by Water Remind, which was supposed to be until July 13, and will fly back to Cebu Saturday.

"She feels it is important that she is here to stand by the President in this time of crisis," Pablo John said.

Both Osmeña and Garcia said they will not recognize a new administration if the change of government is not in accordance with what the Constitution states.

Cebuanos should be steadfast in prayer and focus on local issues, instead of making statements that contribute to the country's difficulties, said Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama in a separate interview.

"Let's not add to the confusion. Whatever happens, her resignation should be voluntary because she doesn't deserve to have her term end in this manner," Rama told Sun.Star Cebu Friday afternoon.

'Correct'

Cebu's representatives to the Lower House are divided on the call for President Arroyo to resign.

Representatives Eduardo Gullas and Nerissa Soon-Ruiz are firm in urging Arroyo to stay put in Malacañang, but Representative Simeon Kintanar said "the situation has changed substantially... The President will have to consider the appeal to her."

Kintanar, however, did not elaborate, saying only that he thinks "the President will make the correct decision in due time."

Representative Clavel Martinez, meanwhile, merely "observed" that the pressure on the President is "getting stronger." When asked if she will join those who call for Arroyo's resignation, she replied, "I'll think about it."

Gullas pointed out that if an ordinary citizen is afforded due process, there is no reason to deny it "of the duly elected leader of the nation, mainly because of a doctored, spliced and adulterated wiretapped tape, illegally obtained, of a private conversation."

"While we respect the call of the Cabinet secretaries, the Liberal Party, the Makati Business Club and former president Corazon Aquino for PGMA to resign, we also have to respect the decision of the local government executives--governors, city and municipal mayors and the congressmen of the majority coalition in the House of Representatives- for the President to continue to govern," Gullas said in a written statement.

Impeachment

Added Soon-Ruiz: "It was not only Cory or the Makati Business Club or their groups who put Arroyo in position. The Philippines is not Manila or Makati. If opportunists who will create stories and fabricate lies can unseat any President, wa'y kaugmaun ang Pilipinas (the Philippines has no future)," said Soon-Ruiz.

In a separate interview, Cebu City Councilor Hilario Davide III also reiterated his support for President Arroyo, who he said may be cleared of the allegations against her if an impeachment process is started immediately.

"I would have wanted the impeachment to push through because it's the only way for her to defuse the tension that has gripped the country as a result of the Gloriagate tapes. That's her only way out," he said.

Councilor Sylvan Jakosalem, who counts President Arroyo among his wedding sponsors, said, "Illegally obtained materials do not warrant the President's resignation."

'Bad advice'

"I also believe a 'supreme sacrifice' would be for her to continue her presidency despite the calls for her resignation. There's no indication in the tapes that she cheated, and therefore, there is not enough cause for her to give up a duly constituted duty to serve the people in the best way she can till 2010," he said.

Councilor Edgardo Labella, chairman of the council committee on laws, ordinances, public accountability and good governance, said we should follow the constitutional process, which includes filing an impeachment case against the President.

Former governor Pablo Garcia, for his part, said President Arroyo's televised apology last June 27, for an "improper" conversation with an elections official, was the real lapse of judgment.

"She was getting the wrong advice from the people who want to control the President. She should serve out her full term because she has committed no impeachable offense," the former governor said. (JPM/MBG/LCR/GAC/RHM of Sun.Star Cebu/Sunnex)

[meany112]

VIVA mga BAY!

[mazdamazda]

Manila shouldn't decide for the rest of the Philippines.

[EL Chicane]

Manila shouldn't decide for the rest of the Philippines.

Isama mo na rin yung Makati, 'pre. Lungga ni Binay yun eh. Actually, Makati at San Juan lang naman ang maiinit.

[mazdamazda]

Isama mo na rin yung Makati, 'pre. Lungga ni Binay yun eh. Actually, Makati at San Juan lang naman ang maiinit.

Manila = Metro Manila...

[ian_rex]

nakakalungkot ang mga nangyayari.

politics in any form is absolutely dirty...

ang nakakatawa pa nito me mga ilang politiko pa na humihirit na ibalik sa pwesto si Erap! on the basis that 'inagawan' daw siya (Erap) ng pwesto. di ba alam nito magaling na politikong ito na tapos na ang term ni Erap at ipagpalagay na lang natin na nandaya man si GMA, ang term ni Erap eh, tapos pa rin. nakakagalit din kasi itong politikong ito, di ba inakusahan din ang plunder?!

[EL Chicane]

ang nakakatawa pa nito me mga ilang politiko pa na humihirit na ibalik sa pwesto si Erap! on the basis that 'inagawan' daw siya (Erap) ng pwesto. di ba alam nito magaling na politikong ito na tapos na ang term ni Erap at ipagpalagay na lang natin na nandaya man si GMA, ang term ni Erap eh, tapos pa rin. nakakagalit din kasi itong politikong ito, di ba inakusahan din ang plunder?!

Smells like Jinggoy Unggoy to me. I thought monkeys are supposed to be as intelligent as humans? I'm dead cat wrong after all.

[truckman]

eh lalo naman sa amin sa mindanao... pag nag kagulo eh hihiwalay na daw sa pilipinas para maging mindanao republic na.

[kaloi]

eh lalo naman sa amin sa mindanao... pag nag kagulo eh hihiwalay na daw sa pilipinas para maging mindanao republic na.

Cebu as a soveriegn state will be a good idea. we don't have to listen to those power grabbing selfish opposition donkeys anymore.

[EL Chicane]

Buwagin na kaya natin ang Pilipinas? Tulad nung ginawa ni Chang-Kai Shek sa Taiwan, humiwalay na sa China. Pahirapan na ngayon sa pag-unify ulit. Breakaway na rin ang Pampanga, tapos Republic of Ilocandia naman sa mga Marcos. Ibigay mo na rin kay Ka Roger yung bundok ng Sierra Madre.

[stinkaboy]

solid pa ren visayas kay GMA.

[altec]

bumped into a distinguished practicing lawyer of cebu at the airport. Sabi niya, some party list representative approached the lapu lapu city mayor asking him to join the anti pgma stand. Ang sagot daw ng mayor: I have to watch out for the 40,000 jobs located around the several export processing zones in mactan. The integrators can easily pack up and go because of all the issues of the Philippines. You think by joining you will guarantee jobs for the 40,000 workers I am responsible for? Get out and do your thing outside of my area.

Manila based politicians don't know how to understand Cebu's attitude. Because Cebu is pro business. Cebu knows the only way to alleviate the poor is to provide jobs, no matter what it takes. If it is a sub par work with a sub par pay, that is still better than no work, and no pay. Eventually, investors will notice the good business climate and will put in their money. This brings up the quality of investment, higher skill level, and higher pay (relatively speaking to the standard of living, which is cheaper than Manila). More people have work, more money goes around Cebu. More money, more spending power. More spenders, more business. And the cycle continues.

In Manila? Strike! Rally! Resign, resign! Scandals. Traffic. Pollution. The only good thing that Manila can claim is the diversified night life.

[GasJunkie]

bumped into a distinguished practicing lawyer of cebu at the airport. Sabi niya, some party list representative approached the lapu lapu city mayor asking him to join the anti pgma stand. Ang sagot daw ng mayor: I have to watch out for the 40,000 jobs located around the several export processing zones in mactan. The integrators can easily pack up and go because of all the issues of the Philippines. You think by joining you will guarantee jobs for the 40,000 workers I am responsible for? Get out and do your thing outside of my area.

Manila based politicians don't know how to understand Cebu's attitude. Because Cebu is pro business. Cebu knows the only way to alleviate the poor is to provide jobs, no matter what it takes. If it is a sub par work with a sub par pay, that is still better than no work, and no pay. Eventually, investors will notice the good business climate and will put in their money. This brings up the quality of investment, higher skill level, and higher pay (relatively speaking to the standard of living, which is cheaper than Manila). More people have work, more money goes around Cebu. More money, more spending power. More spenders, more business. And the cycle continues.

In Manila? Strike! Rally! Resign, resign! Scandals. Traffic. Pollution. The only good thing that Manila can claim is the diversified night life.

Maybe the party list member asked the wrong osmena?

Our regionalism at its finest. I could careless what happenned to the next province, we only want a share of the gain not the problem.

[altec]

Maybe the party list member asked the wrong osmena?

Our regionalism at its finest. I could careless what happenned to the next province, we only want a share of the gain not the problem.

The Lapu mayor is in no way related to Cebu City's tom osmena. He didn't mean that they don't care what happens to other regions with the reply of take your act somewhere else. What he meant is that ayaw nila yung disruptive acts that destroy the essence of providing jobs to its constituents. In fact, Cebu generally doesn't support the kind of politicking that happens in Manila because it doesn't help the country, short, medium, and long term. Every change the opposition demands, when they get it, doesn't make things better, because all the opposition do is demand changes but never has a counter proposal. In effect, solution na tamad, na panggugulo lang. When Cebu people will entertain any changes that may affect Cebuanos, they expect it to be better thought out than the way it is done in Manila.

Oust GMA? Ok, then what? Wala eh. Sabi daw, kasi ayaw nila sa kanya. Ok, then what? Wala naman prinopose na iba. E di ba gago lang yang klaseng tao, puro disruption lang ang gusto?

Sinabi pala din kung sino yung party list na yan. Di ko lang minention dito. Huwag na, magaling mag file ng libel ang pinoy.

[GasJunkie]

The Lapu mayor is in no way related to Cebu City's tom osmena. He didn't mean that they don't care what happens to other regions with the reply of take your act somewhere else. What he meant is that ayaw nila yung disruptive acts that destroy the essence of providing jobs to its constituents. In fact, Cebu generally doesn't support the kind of politicking that happens in Manila because it doesn't help the country, short, medium, and long term. Every change the opposition demands, when they get it, doesn't make things better, because all the opposition do is demand changes but never has a counter proposal. In effect, solution na tamad, na panggugulo lang. When Cebu people will entertain any changes that may affect Cebuanos, they expect it to be better thought out than the way it is done in Manila.

Oust GMA? Ok, then what? Wala eh. Sabi daw, kasi ayaw nila sa kanya. Ok, then what? Wala naman prinopose na iba. E di ba gago lang yang klaseng tao, puro disruption lang ang gusto?

Sinabi pala din kung sino yung party list na yan. Di ko lang minention dito. Huwag na, magaling mag file ng libel ang pinoy.

I understand what your mayor did was right. Only was pointing out cebu like manila does not speak with one voice.

Have friends here in vancouver who are cebuanos believe me the divide is big.

All politicians to me are POS it saddens me how many people will fight or argue based on the politician they patronize.

[altec]

I understand what your mayor did was right. Only was pointing out cebu like manila does not speak with one voice.

Have friends here in vancouver who are cebuanos believe me the divide is big.

All politicians to me are POS it saddens me how many people will fight or argue based on the politician they patronize.

M not from lapu lapu, don't even remember the name of that mayor, though the lawyer mentioned the name. Yes, the Cebuanos I know have their own personal choices. But they also understand they need to see the bigger picture. They are the same as the rest of the Philippines, IMO. And they want political stability. But the bottom line is to feed their family. I've been to different parts of the Philippines. Iba talaga ang control ng mga mayors and the cebu business community. They don't want to be bothered about all of these, because its non productive.

[66bunny]

I can't agree more.

Halo-halo kasi dito sa Manila. May bisaya, may waray, may ilocano, etc.-etc. Kaya di magkasundo.

Remember Spain's colonization, local tribes from different areas where pitted against each other? It's a tactic Spaniards used since it will save their "own" soldiers in the end.

Let the Filipinos kill each other.

400 years later and we're still...

[oldblue]

tribalism

[OTO]

Indeed Imperial Manila shouldnt decide. Look at PP1, Imperial Manila and the Sin made a bad situation even worse. Sure we have our freedoms back but the poor have become poorer & the rich became poorer too. Only the corrupt & wicked benefit from this era of "freedom" where in we have to make up feel good stories to get us through the day.

Sorry but being politically correct sucks alot. I thought it was cool before but people who cant say it as it is only contribute to the problem of denial.

[oldblue]

Imperial Manila?