Estrada: I won’t resign

Reconcile, or else?

Amid rumors that he’s stepping down or declaring a state of emergency, an embattled President Estrada announced last night that the only way he would leave his office is through the constitutional process of impeachment.

"I will not resign. I will answer all the charges point by point at the proper time. Let the impeachment process take its due course," the President said in an address awaited by the nation the whole day and finally telecast at 9 last night.

In his address titled "Towards Common Ground," he offered the hand of reconciliation to estranged Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the united opposition which she heads.

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HIGHLIGHTS OF ESTRADA’S ADDRESS:

• The gov’t will undertake sweeping reforms.

• Five or six houses linked to the President may be forfeited in favor of the government if warranted.

• Estrada relatives will divest themselves of board memberships in fund-raising institutions.

• Telecommunications frequencies will be allocated through public bidding.

• Open-skies policy will be pursued, even if it hurts presidential friend and PAL owner Lucio Tan.

• EO 59, feared to create a monopoly in port services, is revoked.

• Duty-free shops used for smuggling will be closed.

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At the same time, however, the President trotted out the top brass of the military and national police, who warned ominously that they "will not allow any party or person to walk over our Constitution," and will "deal accordingly" with those who stir up or support extraconstitutional methods of political change.

After the holidays, the President is convening the National Security Council (NSC), which includes Arroyo, former presidents Corazon Aquino and Fidel Ramos as well as opposition leaders and police and military officials.

Arroyo and her opposition partymates in the House of Representatives, however, turned down the invitation to the NSC.

The President’s address was followed by Armed Forces chief Gen. Angelo Reyes with the AFP brass behind him, then by top officials of the Philippine National Police led by Director General Panfilo Lacson, who swore to "stop any attempt" to undermine the Constitution.

Both the military and police said the nation should await the results of the constitutional process of impeachment. They vowed to safeguard freedom and democracy and maintain peace and order.

Sen. Raul Roco, who earlier in the day filed a Senate resolution seeking the President’s resignation, pointed out that resignation is also part of constitutional processes, and that peaceful assembly to press for the Chief Executive’s ouster is also a right guaranteed by the Charter.

"I take this opportunity to extend to Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo the hand of reconciliation, to work together again in the interest of the nation," the President said. "Tonight, I extend my hand to all of you, to seek your cooperation in halting further damage to the economy and in finding a common ground."

Arroyo, however, said earlier yesterday that the economy can be saved only if Mr. Estrada resigns immediately. "I don’t think he will survive. If he survives it, the economy will not," she said, adding Cabinet members should convince the President to step down.

In his televised address, the President announced the following:

• He will step down as chairman of the Economic Coordinating Council to give way to Arroyo and give her a free hand in straightening out the economy.

• Based on recommendations of the NSC, the President will undertake "sweeping reforms in government," with Interior Secretary Alfredo Lim as the implementor.

• Lim will investigate the "legitimacy" of the acquisition and ownership of five or six houses linked to the President, "with the view of causing their forfeiture in favor of the State if the evidence so warrants."

• The President "asked" his relatives to divest themselves of board memberships and other interests in all fund-raising groups including foundations and other non-profit organizations, "to stop any speculations of fund diversion, conflicts of interest or undue influence."

• He promised to "subordinate" his family’s interests to the nation’s.

• He assured the integrity of the mid-term elections in May next year.

To overcome public perceptions of cronyism, the President also announced the following:

• All telecommunications frequencies will be allocated only through public bidding.

• Executive Order 59, which certain quarters believe will create a monopoly in port services, was revoked.

• The open-skies policy will be pursued on a "country-by-country" basis. This is expected to hurt Philippine Airlines, owned by the President’s friend Lucio Tan.

• Duty-free shops and outlets suspected as being used for smuggling will be closed and smugglers "dealt with most severely."

While acknowledging that the political crisis has contributed to the peso’s fall and economic slowdown, the President said the damage to the economy is "self-inflicted."

"It’s time to find a common ground and unite. That time is now," he said.

Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora said yesterday that aside from former presidents Fidel Ramos and Corazon Aquino, other members of the NSC include the Vice President, congressional leaders, Cabinet officials, and top brass of the military and the police.

"We cannot address the issue of confidence just through economic solutions. We also need political solutions because these are as important," Zamora said.

"If they ask if we are ready to talk to the opposition — any time, we are ready," Zamora said. "Certainly, (we need) more consultations even with the opposition. It is very clear we have been lacking in that aspect."

But Quezon City Rep. Michael Defensor said the united opposition will only entertain talks with the administration if it is about transfer of power.

"We are not about to give Estrada a free tutorial on how to save himself," he said.

Arroyo told a breakfast forum yesterday that she would not be attending the meeting because, "I don’t think it will help."

At the same time she instructed the minority bloc in Congress to boycott the NSC meting.

Defensor said the NSC meeting would only be a "monologue" by Malacañang officials to insist that the end of the crisis is premised on the retention of Mr. Estrada in power.

"Any solution to the crisis is predicated on the departure of Estrada from office. He is not part of the solution, he is the problem," he said.

Zamora said the President approved his recommendation to convene the NSC due to the currency crisis which has seen the peso dive to 51 to the dollar as the united opposition demanded that Mr. Estrada resign due to corruption allegations.

Last March, the President also convened the NSC at the height of the Muslim secessionist problem and a series of kidnappings by a terrorist band in Mindanao.

And last Friday, Zamora formally recommended to Mr. Estrada that he convene the NSC due to the worsening economic and political situation following the jueteng payola accusations by Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis Singson.

The President earlier expressed willingness to meet Aquino and Ramos who have both called for his resignation.

Asked Friday if he was willing to hold a dialogue with his predecessors, Mr. Estrada replied: "So far I have no plans yet. I might, if the need arises of course. I’m willing to listen to them. But not through radio and newspaper."

‘Resignation out of the question’

But Zamora said resignation was out of the question. "He (Mr. Estrada) will not resign. He will wait for the impeachment process that has already started at the House of Representatives; he has asked that the impeachment process be speeded up."

In convening the NSC, Zamora explained, the President would be able to talk with leaders of the country both from the administration and the opposition to reach a consensus on what measures government can implement to return normalcy to the country.

"It is very clear that it is not only the economy that has become problematic. If this is prolonged, even the security of the nation will be at stake," Zamora pointed out.

Zamora disclosed that in preparation for Friday’s meeting at the Palace, he has already coordinated with National Security Adviser Alexander Aguirre, whose office serves as the secretariat to the NSC.

The Executive Secretary admitted that the Estrada administration has neglected consultations with the opposition as can be gleaned from the political turmoil in the country as a result of the jueteng allegations fallout.

Defensor, however, said House Minority Leader Feliciano Belmonte Jr. (Lakas, Quezon City), who is a member of the NSC, will also skip the meeting as he believes that "no workable solution to the present national crisis will ever emerge out of the NSC."

"It is useless to confer with an administration which still thinks it is popular and which has not even showed a sign of remorse," Defensor said, adding Mr. Estrada’s resignation has become non-negotiable.

He said sending a representative would mean helping "the enemy" to come up with a plan that would prolong the country’s misery.

Arroyo for her part doubted if Mr. Estrada would survive this latest crisis, and asked the "reputable members of the Cabinet" to do the economy a favor by convincing the President to resign.

"If anybody can do that, it’s his reputable members of the Cabinet. His economic managers won’t go hungry if they leave the Cabinet," she said.

She said she is looking forward to "a regime of transparency and a level laying field." She also said she will pick former senator Alberto Romulo to head the Department of Finance, and that she would introduce "a new politics based on dialogue."

In Iloilo, Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdamaeo said the current economic crisis is due to the crisis in the national leadership.

The prelate spoke before some 3,000 people at a prayer rally calling for the non-violent ouster of President Estrada. – With reports from Leo Solinap, AFP