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A CALL FOR PERSONAL SACRIFICE Privilege Speech of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, January 16, 2006  Posted: August 6th, 2008 @ 12:57am MR. PRESIDENT, DISTINGUISHED COLLEAGUES OF THIS AUGUST CHAMBER: TODAY, I RISE ON A MATTER OF PERSONAL AND COLLECTIVE PRIVILEGE TO RENEW AND JOIN THE CALL OF EVERY DECENT AND RIGHTEOUS FILIPINO FOR MRS. GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO TO STEP DOWN FROM A POSITION SHE HAD NOT ONLY USURPED, BUT HAVE SO SHAMELESSLY AND WANTONLY ABUSED. MR. PRESIDENT, LAST WEEK, THE PRESTIGIOUS SURVEY ORGANIZATION, THE SOCIAL WEATHER STATIONS OR SWS RELEASED THE RESULTS OF ITS SURVEY CONDUCTED LAST YEAR FROM NOVEMBER 27 TO DECEMBER 4. AMONG OTHERS, THIS RECENT SURVEY REPORTED THAT 54 PERCENT OF OUR PEOPLE WANT MRS. ARROYO TO STEP DOWN AS EARLY AS LAST YEAR. THE REST OF THE RESPONDENTS, IN VARYING DEGREES AND PERCENTAGES, EXPRESSED THEIR SENTIMENTS OF WANTING HER TO LEAVE MALACAÑANG EITHER THIS YEAR OR NEXT YEAR. THIS LATEST SURVEY MERELY CONFIRMS, MR. PRESIDENT, WHAT PREVIOUS SURVEYS, BOTH FROM THE SWS AND OTHER RESPECTABLE SURVEY INSTITUTIONS, HAVE REVEALED IN THE PAST. THIS REFLECTS, MR. PRESIDENT, THE REMARKABLE AND UNPRECEDENTED DISENCHANTMENT AND ALIENATION OF OUR PEOPLE OVER A GOVERNMENT INSTALLED UNDER DUBIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES, AND AGAINST AN ARROGANT PRETENDER TO THE PRESIDENCY WHO DOES NOT POSSESS ANY MORAL AND LEGITIMATE CLAIM TO THAT EXALTED POSITION. ONCE AGAIN, WE ENTER A NEW YEAR IN THE PHILIPPINE POLITICAL HISTORY. YET, MAY I ALSO TAKE TYHIS OPPORTUNITY TO STATE FOR THE RECORD THAT THE FIRST MONTH OF THE YEAR ALSO MARKS THE FIFTH YEAR WHEN THE NATION STOOD IN DUMBFOUNDED SILENCE AS THE PROSECUTORS FROM THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UNCEREMONIOUSLY WALKED OUT OF THE IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS, THEREBY SEALING THE FATE OF AN INNOCENT CHIEF OF STATE. THIS WALK-OUT, IF WE MUST RECALL, AND WE MUST RECALL BECAUSE THIS PROVIDES US A LESSON NOT IN LAW, BUT IN MAKING A CHOICE THAT CONDEMNED OUR COUNTRY UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF AN IMMORAL, ILLEGITIMATE, CORRUPT, DISHONEST AND CRUEL REGIME. WE MUST RECALL THAT DAY OF INFAMY SO WE CAN GATHER AND COLLECT SO AS TO CORRECT THAT MISTAKE, AND BE WARY OF CHOICES BEING PEDDLED TO US BY UNSCURUPULOUS PERSONALITIES TAINTED WITH SELFISH AND SELF-SERVING AGENDA. IT IS PERHAPS IRONIC THAT TODAY WE MARK THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WALKOUT OF THE MEMBERS OF THE PROSECUTION PANEL IN THIS VERY CHAMBER DURING THE ABORTED IMPEACHMENT TRIAL OF PRESIDENT JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA. THIS WALKOUT, IF WE MUST RECALL, AND WE MUST RECALL BECAUSE THIS PROVIDES US A LESSON NOT ONLY IN LAW, HUT IN MAKING A CHOICE THAT CONDEMNED OUR COUNTRY UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF AN IMMORAL, ILLEGITIMATE, CORRUPT, DISHONEST AND CRUEL REGIME. WE MUST RECALL THAT DAY OF INFAMY SO WE CAN GATHER AND COLLECT IN ORDER TO CORRECT THAT MISTAKE, AND HE WARY OF CHOICES BEING PEDDLED TO US BY UNSCRUPULOUS PERSONALITIES TAINTED WITH SELFISH AND SELF-SERVING AGENDA. THAT WALK-OUT WAS PROMPTED BY THE REFUSAL OF THE MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SENATE TO OPEN THE SECOND ENVELOPE OF AN ACCOUNT THAT WAS ALLEGED TO BELONG TO PRESIDENT ESTRADA. THIS ENVELOPE, WHEN OPENED EVENTUALLY BY NO LESS THAN THE SENATE PRESIDENT AT THAT TIME, AND NOW MINORITY FLOOR LEADER, THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMEN FROM CAGAYAN DE ORO, SENATOR AQUILINO PIMENTEL, SHOWED THAT THE ACCOUNT BELONGED NOT TO PRESIDENT ESTRADA BUT TO SOMEONE ELSE. BUT OVER AND ABOVE THIS, THAT WALK-OUT PAVED THE WAY FOR MRS. ARROYO TO ILLEGALLY ASSUME THE PRESIDENCY EVEN IF THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL WAS NOT COMPLETED AND NO CONVICTION AGAINST PRESIDENT ESTRADA MATERIALIZED. BEHIND ALL THE FAÇADE OF LEGAL CONTORTIONS AND TECHNICALITIES THAT INSTALLED MRS. ARROYO TO THE PRESIDENCY, WE KNOW, THIS BOFY KNOWS AND THE FILIPINO PEOPLE KNOWS, THAT WE HAVE WRONGFULLY REMOVED A SITTING PRESIDENT WHO HAS BEEN GIVEN THE BIGGEST MANDATE BY OUR PEOPLE UNDER A FREE, CLEAN, HONEST, AND CREDIBLE ELECTIONS. UNFORTUNATELY WE CANNOT SAY THE SAME THING FOR MRS. ARROYO DURING THE LAST ELECTION OF 2004. THE LATE EMINENT AND RESPECTED JURIST, WHO DIED EARLY THIS YEAR AND TO WHOM WE PAY TRIBUTE TODAY, THE HONORABLE JUSTICE CECILIA MUÑOZ PALMA, HAD BEEN COMPELLED TO ASSAIL THIS BRAZEN AND SHAMEFUL DESECRATION OF THE CONSTITUTION. AGAIN, AS I HAD IN A PREVIOUS PRIVILEGE SPEECH, I QUOTE TO REMIND US OF HER STINGING REBUKE: “THERE WAS ONE BLOW, A TRAGIC ONE, WHICH THE 1987 CONSTITUTION SUFFERED. THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE ON-GOING IMPEACHMENT TRIAL OF PRESIDENT JOSEPH ESTRADA WAS UNCEREMONIOUSLY DISRUPTED AND DISCONTINUED AND THE ISSUES ON HAND WERE BROUGHT TO THE PARLIAMENT OF THE STREETS. THE RULE OF LAW WAS SET ASIDE AND THE RULE OF FORCE PREVAILED…” (END OF QUOTE). TODAY, THIS VOICE FROM THE GRAVE LEAVES US WITH BITTER LESSONS THAT MUST BE LEARNED. SINCE THIS MONTH IS THE FIFTH OBSERVANCE OF THAT EVENT, IT IS HUT APROPOS TO NOTE THAT THE CHIEF OF STATE BEING TRIED AT THAT TIME DID NOT EVEN ATTEMPT NOR DID HE EVER ENTERTAIN THE IDEA OF MANIPULATING NOR INTERVENING WITH ANY OF THE STAGES OF THE IMPEACHMENT PROCESS. PRESIDENT ESTRADA STRONGLY BELIEVED IN THE DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS THAT THE PEOPLE HAD ENTRUSTED TO HIM TO PROTECT THAT HE ALLOWED THE IMPEACHMENT PROCESS TO PROCEED WITH THE AIM IN VIEW OF PROVING HIS INNOCENCE AGAINST THE TRUMPED-UP CHARGES AGAINST HIM. HINDI PO SIYA NAKIALAM SA PROSESO. SA TOTOO LANG PO, PINAGBAWALAN NIYA ANG SINUMAN NA HUWAG MAKIALAM AT HAYAANG UMUSAD ANG PAGLILITIS. THIS IS A STARK CONTRAST TO MRS. ARROYO WHO MOVED HEAVEN AND EARTH THROUGH THE USE OF THE AWESOME POWERS OF THE PRESIDENCY TO NIP IN THE BUD THE IMPEACHMENT COMPLAINT AGAINST HER. THUS THE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FLOODED WITH INNUENDOS, RUMORS AND ACCUSATIONS LODGED AGAINST THE ILLEGAL TENANT OF MALACAÑANG PALACE THAT SHE HAD USED EVERYTHING POSSIBLE IN ORDER FOR HER TO AVOID FACING THE CHARGES FORMALLY IN AN IMPEACHMENT COMPLAINT. BUONG TAPANG IPINAHAYAG SA MADLA NI GINANG ARROYO NA WALA SIYANG KASALANAN NGUNIT GINAWA NIYA ANG LAHAT UPANG MAKAIWAS SIYANG MANAGOT AT HUMARAP NANG PORMAL SA TAO SA ILALIM NG PROSESO NG IMPEACHMENT AND BARELY HAS THE NEW YEAR SET INTO PLACE WHEN WE AGAIN HEAR OF TALKS OF A PREMATURE FILING OF A NEW IMPEACHMENT COMPLAINT SIMILAR TO THE DEFECTIVE COMPLAINT THAT WAS FILED LAST YEAR WHICH WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN DECAPITATING THE PROCESS BEFORE IT HAS EVEN BEGUN. BAGONG TAON NAPO, GINANG ARROYO. UULITIN MO PA BA ANG MGA GINAWA MONG KAPALPAKAN NOONG MGA NAKARAANG TAON? AMID ALL THESE SURVEYS, AMID ALL THIS CLAMOR, AMID ALL THIS ANGER, MRS. ARROYO CONTINUES TO RULE AND TO REIGN, SO CALLOUSLY AND SO INDIFFERENT TO THE VOICES OF OUR PEOPLE WHOM SHE HAS NOT ONLY INSULTED, MOCKED AND DECEIVED, HUT HAS IMPOVERISHED AND CONDEMNED TO WRETCHED LIVES OF DEPRIVATION, DESPAIR AND HOPELESSNESS. JUST LAST WEEK TOO, ANOTHER RESPECTABLE SURVEY ORGANIZATION, THE IBON FOUNDATION, RELEASED YET ANOTHER ANALYSIS, SAYING THAT THE ECONOMY IS IN A BAD STATE, IN SPITE OF THE REBOUND OF THE PESO. THE ANALYSIS CONTENDED THAT “THERE ARE OMINOUS SIGNS THAT 2006 WILL EVEN BE WORSE FOR OUR PEOPLE.” AND WE MUST AGREE WITH THIS BECAUSE THE SIGNS ARE ALL THERE. WE CAN SEE IT IN OUR HOMES AND IN OUR STREETS. NAKIKITA AT NADARAMA ITO SA MGA KALSADA, SA MGA ESKINITA, SA MGA BANGKETA, SA MGA NAYON AI MGA BUKID AT SA KARAGATAN NG KAHIRAPAN NA KINASASADLAKAN NG ATING MGA KAPWA PILIPINO NGAYON. WE CAN SEE THE SPECTER OF POVERTY, OF HUNGER, OF ALIENATION, OF CRIMINALITY IN THE SOCIETY THAT WE NOW INHABIT. WE SEE THIS IN THE FACES OF NAMELESS AND FACELESS MENDICANTS, STREET CHILDREN, HOMELESS VAGRANTS, JOBLESS LABORERS, HUNGRY FARMERS AND FISHERFOLK, AND SO MANY OTHERS IN THE URBAN SLUMS AND THE IMPOVERISHED COUNTRYSIDES. THESE ARE UNFORTUNATELY HIDDEN FROM THE VIEW OF THAT ILLEGAL MALACAÑANG TENANT, NOW SO COMFORTABLY AND SNUGLY ENTRENCHED BEHIND ELECTRIC FENCES AND BARRICADES OF CONTAINER VANS. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS REGIME CAN PERFORM ANY MIRACULOUS RESPONSE OR REMEDIES TO THE POVERTY, TO THE HOPELESSNESS AND TO THE UNCERTAINTY THAT NOW GRIP THIS COUNTRY. CHEAP NOODLES AND SIMILAR GIMMICKS ARE BUT COSMETICS THAT DO NOT ALTER THE FACT THAT OUT PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING, ARE SYSTEMATICALLY AND HABITUALLY DEPRIVED OF THE DECENT LIFE AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE BEEN PROMISING THEM FOR DECADES. UNFORTUNATELY, MRS. ARROYO IS NOW PREOCCUPIED WITH KEEPING HER HOLD IN POWER, AND IN ANSWERING AND DEFENDING HERSELF FROM ONE SCANDAL AFTER ANOTHER. HINDI NA PO NATIN MABILANG ANG ISKANDALO, ANG NGA NAKAWAN, ANG MGA KATIWALIAN NA NABULGAR SA PAMAHALAAN NI MRS. ARROYO. AT WALA NI ISA MAN NA NASAGOT AT NAIPALIWANAG, MULA SA IMPSA SCAM, SA NAPAKAMAHAL NA DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL BOULEVARD, SA FERTILIZER SCAM, SA PHILHEALTH SCAM, SA GARCI TAPES, SA MARAMING ANOMALYA SA PAMAHALAAN AT WALA MAN LANG MATINO AT KAPANI-PANIWALANG PAGSISIWALAT ANG NAISAGAWA. THE ONSET OF THE NEW YEAR DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE PEOPLE HAVE FORGOTTEN. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS WIPING THE SLATE CLEAN AS FAR AS POLITICAL PERFORMANCE IS CONCERNED - MORE SO FOR AN ILLEGITIMATE PRESIDENT. WE CAN BE SUE THAT THERE ARE MORE TO COME, FOR SCANDALS HAVE BECOME THE TRADEMARK OF MRS. ARROYO’S GOVERNMENT. AND IN BETWEEN, OUR PEOPLE SUFFER AND THEY LOSE HOPE. OUR ECONOMY REMAINS WEAK, AND BASIC NEEDS CONTINUE TO HE UNMET, WHILE CRIMINALITY AND CORRUPTION STEADILY RISE. WE MUST NOW PUT A CLOSURE TO THE GARCI SCANDAL AND THE COUNTLESS AND NUMEROUS SCANDALS WE HAVE SEEN AFTER FIVE YEARS OF THIS REGIME. AND THE ONLY WAY TO PUT A CLOSURE TO THAT SHAMELESS AND NAKED ABUSE OF POWER AND AUTHORITY IS FOR MRS. ARROYO TO IMMEDIATELY STEP DOWN IN ANSWER TO THE PEOPLE’S DEMAND. IKAW NAMAN ANG MAGSAKRIPISYO, GINANG ARROYO, SAPAGKAT MATAGAL NANG HIRAP ANG BAYAN. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! MRS. ARROYO HAS LIED, STOLEN AND CHEATED FAR TOO LONG. IN ORDER FOR THIS COUNTRY TO SURVIVE WELL INTO THE NEXT CENTURY OR EVEN INTO NEXT YEAR, THE PRETENDER TO POWER HAS TO GO. THIS IS NOT A NOVEL SENTIMENT. I AM MERELY ECHOING THE INCREASING CLAMOR OF OUR PEOPLE FOR MRS. ARROYO TO CUT SHORT HER TERM. THIS SENTIMENT WAS MANIFESTED WAY BACK THROUGH THE DEFECTIONS FROM HER VERY OWN OFFICIAL FAMILY. IT BEGAN WITH THE HYATT 10 AND WAS FOLLOWED WITH SEVERAL RESIGNATIONS BY MEMBERS OF HER CABINET AND OTHER HIGH RANKING OFFICIALS. SOME LEFT BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT STOMACH ANYMORE THE INSIDIOUS MANNER IN WHICH THE COUNTRY IS BEING GOVERNED. MANHID BA SI GINANG ARROYO? 0 TALAGANG MAKAPAL LANG AT WALA NG HIYA SA TAO? EVEN MRS. ARROYO’S STAUNCHEST ALLY, FVR - ALSO A DUBIOUS PRESIDENT BECAUSE HE CHEATED SEN. MIRIAM DEFENSOR SANTIAGO - IS DEMANDING THAT SHE CUT SHORT HER TERM BY 2007. MRS. ARROYO MUST STEP DOWN TO MAKE A PERSONAL SACRIFICE THAT MAY SAVE OUR COUNTRY AND OUR PEOPLE AND PREVENT WHAT MAY BE AN UNNECESSARY BLOODSHED REGARDLESS OF WHOSE BLOOD WILL BE SPILLED. PAGOD NA PAGOD NA POA NG TAO SA BALUKTOT AT BULOK NA PAGPAPATAKBO NG PAMAHALAAN NI GINANG ARROYO. OUR FELLOW FILIPINOS HAVE GROWN TIRED AND EXASPERATED AT THE DECEPTION, THE LIES, AND INSIDIOUS MACHINATIONS EMANATING FROM THE PRETENDER WITHIN THE PALACE. THE LONGER SHE STAYS IN POWER, THE MORE DELETERIOUS IT WOULD BE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC IDEALS THAT OUR FOREFATHERS HAVE BUILT AND NOURISHED FOR US AND FOR FUTURE FILIPINOS. I SAY THAT MRS. ARROYO SHOULD STEP DOWN NOW IN ORDER TO GIVE THE COUNTRY A FIGHTING CHANCE TO RECOVER FROM THE DAMAGE SHE HAS INFLICTED ON THE PEOPLE. SHE MUST CUT SHORT HER TERM NOW IN ORDER FOR TRUE STATESMEN AND LEADERS TO COME TOGETHER AND HEAL THE DIVISIVENESS THAT MRS. ARROYO HAS FOISTED UPON THE POPULACE JUST SO SHE COULD STAY IN POWER. THIS BUMBLE REPRESENTATION ENDS THIS SPEECH WITH THE ARDENT HOPE THAT MRS. ARROYO WOULD SEE THE LIGHT AND SMELL THE STINK THAT SHE HAD DUMPED UPON THE PEOPLE. - - 0 - - |
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Copyright © 2008 Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
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