Editorial - February 23, 2008 ISSUE

Is Ms. Arroyo Evil?

By ambrosio R. villorente

Albay Governor Joey Salceda accepted there is the “slew of criticisms leveled at Ms. Arroyo” but “the numbers proved that her administration was working hard to improve the economy to uplift the lives of more Filipinos. She maybe a ‘bitch’ but she’s the luckiest bitch around”.

Bitch means “the female of the dog; a woman, a bad tempered, malicious, a promiscuous woman.

On the other hand, according to Rodolfo Lozada, Jr., CHED Commissioner Romulo Neri called Ms. Arroyo “evil” which means “anything morally bad or wrong, anything that causes harm, pain, misery, disaster and others.”

This is terrible imputation coming from Gov. Salceda, her economic adviser. It is hard to imagine for a provincial governor who serves as economic adviser to tell his advisee bad tempered, malicious and promiscuous woman. It is still difficult to understand why a former Director General of NEDA and a current member of the cabinet to call his boss “evil”. If indeed Neri said this of Ms. Arroyo and he really meant it, why continue serving the government as member of her cabinet?

But when asked if he really believes that Ms. Arroyo is evil and that if he really told Lozada that Ms. Arroyo is evil, Neri simply answered “I don’t remember saying it.” He did not categorically deny. This is one reason why DOJ Secretary Raul Gonzales is not satisfied of Neri’s answer. Moreover, Gonzales returned the compliment to the groups critical of the Arroyo administration. Gonzales called them the “evil-civil society.”

Ms. Arroyo is involved on the following: election cheating, Garci tape, JocJoc Bolante Fertilizer scandal and the scandalous NBN deal. What are the scandals Sec. Gonzales point to the civil society to make them evil?

Economic Growth Doesn’t Benefit The Poor

Gov. Salceda believes that even if Ms. Arroyo is a bitch, she is also lucky because her “administration is working hard to improve the economy to uplift the lives of more Filipinos.”

In a socio-economic forum held in the Ateneo de Manila University Campus in Makati City on Wednesday, February 20, the economists said “the benefits of improving economy have yet to trickle down to the poor as many Filipinos remain jobless. The drop of the Philippines’ unemployment rate is artificial in view of the influenced by people leaving the labor force. There is increasing number of Filipinos not interested to work due to the absence of high quality jobs and due to their dependence on remittances sent by family members working abroad.

According to Dr. Cielito Habito, former NEDA Secretary, the country’s labor force is dwindling, the jobs available are low quality and some wait for chance to work abroad. “The country’s surprising economic growth is not sustainable,” pointed out Leonardo Lanzona, economist.

Perhaps, high economic growth is being experience by Ms. Arroyo and her “barkada”. To readily provide Rodolfo Lozada, Jr. P50,000.00 for his “pang gastos-gastos” is a sign of high rapid economic growth. To send P500,000.00 to Rodolfo Lozada, Jr., to Hong Kong is a sterling indication of high economic growth in Malacañang, Manila.

How about the fisherfolks and farmers in the barangays? Well, they are still the “backbone” of the nation. Some have developed more flesh, but most have grown more bones and lesser flesh. They hope to grow more flesh but not deboned.

Snowballing Protest

In view of the disclosure of the scandalous NBN deal first by Mr. Joey de Venecia III and then by Rodolfo Lozada, Jr., protest is increasing everyday against the Arroyo government. The militant BAYAN has scheduled nationwide mass actions on February 25, the 22nd anniversary of the 1986 Edsa revolt which ousted the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos. These rallies, marches and other forms of mass actions will run from Baguio City to Davao City to build up for the interfaith rally on February 29 at Rizal Park, Manila announced Renato Reyes, Jr., Bayan secretary general to call for the resignation of Ms. Arroyo from the presidency.

The interfaith rally will demonstrate to the people how violence is not the answer in changing anything according to Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco. This interfaith rally is jointly planned by the CBCP, Makati Business Club, IBP, BAYAN, Gabriela, Black and White Movement, Concerned Citizens, Jesus Is Lord Movement, Bangon Filipinas, Solidarity Philippines, Muslim Legal Assistance Foundation, La Salle Brothers, United Church of Christ in the Philippines, National Council of Churches in the Philippines, Kubol Pag-asa and Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines.

In Aklan, the Diocese of Kalibo will discuss its action to follow during its meeting on Monday, February 25 as regards the scandalous NBN deal. The priests of the diocese will meet in the Sto. Niño Seminary, Numancia.

With the corruptions taking place everyday in the government allegedly being lead by the First Family, what shall the people do?

According to Lozada, Romulo Neri called Ms. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo “evil”. Neri answered when asked, “did you ever say Ms. Arroyo is evil? He merely answered, “I don’t remember saying that.” He did not categorically deny.

What must the people do? “For evil to triumph, it only needs people to do nothing against it.” Let us do something, prevent corruption, oust evil and the bitch. /MP