GMA urges Filipinos to use lessons from EDSA I, II to combat problems

President Arroyo urged the people yesterday to draw inspiration from the two popular uprisings that ousted two unpopular presidents as the country combats economic problems and separatist and communist insurgencies.

Speaking at the flag-raising ceremony at the EDSA Shrine in Mandaluyong City ushering in day-long celebrations commemorating the historic people power revolts of 1986 and 2001, the President said the problems confronting the country are "many and diverse."

"But the unity that was established in EDSA I and reinforced in EDSA II will help us protect and sustain the gains that we have made as a nation," she said.

The President said the revolts gave the world a "noble example" of how a peaceful uprising could be a "potent weapon against oppression and injustice."

Mrs. Arroyo was catapulted to power last month at the climax of the so-called people power II that unseated Joseph Estrada who was accused of illegally enriching himself in office through massive bribery, graft and corruption and plunder of the economy.

She called on the people to use the goodwill generated by the two uprisings to "heal the wounds of division," citing Muslim and communist insurgents who continued to wage their political and military struggles against the government.

Mrs. Arroyo said she needed the people’s help to turn around the economy and ensure good governance, saying "the fight is not yet over."

The Chief Executive inherited an administration and economy in disarray, a bloated budget deficit, widespread corruption and a military being rocked by infighting.

She also faces a legal challenge by her predecessor, who claimed she usurped power through mob rule.

The Supreme Court is expected to rule next month on the petitions filed by Estrada questioning the legitimacy of the Arroyo administration.

Estrada, who vacated Malacañang on Jan. 20 at the height of EDSA II, insisted that he remained the duly elected president and that Mrs. Arroyo was merely serving in an acting capacity.

"Questions about Arroyo’s presidency have dampened the momentum of her rise to power, and prevented her from jump-starting the economic recovery," The Associated Press noted.

The peso and the capital market have reacted negatively to the legal challenges to the Arroyo leadership.

At yesterday’s affair, Mrs. Arroyo also hailed former Presidents Corazon Aquino and Fidel Ramos, along with Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, for leading people power I that toppled the Marcos dictatorship.

She said the three leaders should inspire the people "to now look beyond and unite in sustaining the fruits that we have harvested from those two great people power movements."

"Our victory at EDSA II gave us a new lease in reclaiming our nation’s destiny to a new opportunity of governance that would reflect the will of the people," Mrs. Arroyo said.

The three presidents jointly released yellow balloons carrying a streamer that read "Cry of the nation — change and justice."

Mrs. Arroyo also lit a "flame of freedom" with a torch while a helicopter dropped confetti on the crowd.

Ramos, Aquino and Sin led a long list of people power awardees for their respective roles in the historic uprising of 1986, as well as prosecutors and key witnesses in the abbreviated impeachment trial of Estada, and the 10 senators who voted for the opening of a second envelope containing records of Estrada’s secret bank accounts.

For his part, Ramos enjoined the people to continue the fight for democracy, "but without disregarding the battle for economic recovery."

"The next battle is in the field of economic competition with our neighbors in Southeast Asia. Let us not rest on our laurels and (let us) strengthen our democracy in the 21st century," Ramos said.

In citing the leaders of the 1986 revolt, Mrs. Arroyo markedly left out Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, a key player of the uprising that forced out Marcos.

Enrile and Sen. Gregorio Honasan, his chief security aide during the 1986 revolt, were no-shows at yesterday’s affair.

People power I began when hundreds of thousands of Filipinos gathered at Camps Aguinaldo and Crame in Quezon City to protect Ramos and then Defense Minister Enrile who withdrew their support from Marcos.

The uprising forced Marcos to flee to Hawaii on Feb. 25 where he died three years later. His wife, Imelda, returned in 1990 and made two unsuccessful runs at the presidency.

The uprising last month was sparked by the prosecutors’ walkout of an impeachment trial of Estrada after pro-administration senators blocked their efforts to introduce as evidence damning documents on his huge bank account with the Equitable-PCI Bank.

The 63-year-old former movie star was facing charges of bribery, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution.

Sin urges people to help arrest corruption

Sin called on the people to help stamp out corruption in government and shed off a life of profligacy and vice.

The prelate also urged the Filipinos not to sell their votes to corrupt candidates.

"We lose the spirit of sacrifice when we choose to get the bag of goodies in exchange for our votes at election," Sin said in his homily at a Mass at the EDSA Shrine.

Reacting to Mrs. Arroyo’s pledge that healing and reforms would underpin her administration, Sin said "there could be no healing without sacrifice, no building without hard work."

"Sacrifice is the key to healing. It is the door that opens to newness and freshness," the prelate said.

He indicated that people power II overthrew a president known for midnight drinking and gambling, womanizing and partying.

"Let us not return to such kind of lifestyle as a nation," Sin said.

He also said the spirit of sacrifice is lost when people bribe revenue agents to pay less taxes, or when students cheat in exams.

Meanwhile, the business community led by the influential Makati Business Club (MBC) vowed full support for the Arroyo administration’s fight against poverty, commitment for political reforms and the preservation of moral integrity in the bureaucracy.

The pledge was made during the first sectoral conference sponsored by the People’s Power Commission (PPC) held at the De La Salle University in Greenhills, San Juan.

PPC chairwoman Teresita Baltazar said the 13 sectors that participated in the conference submitted their respective manifestos of support for the Arroyo administration.

Militant groups warn vs EDSA III

Militant groups, among them the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) and Bayan Muna, warned the Arroyo administration against a possible outbreak of people power III if former President Estrada and his cohorts were not properly prosecuted for their misdeeds.

KMU chairman Crispin Beltran also assailed Mrs. Arroyo for praising the military officials and politicians for their role in the popular revolts while ignoring the people who put their lives on the line to oust two unwanted presidents.

"She has been so eager to gratify the military and the politicians, but she has yet to do (something) concrete for the people," Beltran rued.

He pointed out that Arroyo was installed at Malacañang because of the people’s vigilance and sacrifices.

Beltran also scored the government for being too soft on Estrada.

"Now Estrada is still on a rampage. He is even fielding candidates for the May 14 elections," the labor leader said.

Bayan Muna president Satur Ocampo said Estrada and his allies should have been jailed to prevent them from sowing terror and evading prosecution.

"This new government must institute genuine reforms. The people have been expecting them and it’s about time for these expectations to be fulfilled," Ocampo added.

The party-list group Sanlakas and the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino also aired the same sentiment, saying the two revolts have failed the people.

Sanlakas national president Wilson Fortaleza said there may be a need for people power III for a "total cleansing" of the government.-- Paolo Romero, Sandy Araneta, Sheila Crisostomo, Jose Rodel Clapano