Arroyo's Pardon for Erap's Crimes Prove She Should Be Next in Ousting-- BAYAN USA
News Release
October 26, 2007
Reference: Berna Ellorin, Secretary-General, BAYAN USA, email: secgen@bayanusa.org
Arroyo's Pardon for Erap's Crimes Prove She Should Be Next in Ousting-- BAYAN USA
The US Chapter of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, or BAYAN USA, a national Filipino-American alliance with over 12 member organizatons, indicated that Arroyo's recent pardon of former Philippine President Joseph "Erap" Estrada is the height of her administration's condonement and practice of corruption, bribery, and disastrous economic policies, qualities that eventually kicked Erap's administration out of Malacanang.
"For an educated economist, she is making stupid decisions that go against the grain of what the Filipino people have worked hard for," states BAYAN USA Chair Chito Quijano. "Perhaps she is already forgetting that she stood among the thousands flocking out of the Malacanang gates back in 2001 to oust her former boss after his crimes were exposed to the nation. How can she grant him pardon, when the Filipino people have not?"
While the Arroyo herself and First Gentleman Mike Arroyo have been the recent targets of corruption accusations for their direct roles in the ZTE-NBN Broadband scandals, at least 196 public officials such as Pampanga Governor 'Among Ed' Panlilio are coming forward with the Arroyo government's attempt to bribe them out of supporting her impeachment case. She is also proving to be a "mini-Erap" in scope with her own plunder of Malacanang's charity funds for critical social services as reported by the Commission on Audit (COA).
"She may be attempting to gain more allies onto her corner, but she won't succeed in doing so," Quijano added.
The alliance expressed its disgust over Arroyo's attempt to set a new standard of "public acceptance of plunder and corruption", which are the qualities Erap exuthed before his demise.
The alliance also indicated Arroyo's pardon of an former ousted president proves she must face the same fate.
"It's presidents like Erap and Arroyo that substantiate the world branding of the Philippines as one of the most corrupt governments in the world. From afar, Filipino-Americans are disgusted and shamed," Quijano ended.
