GMA to meet PCA leaders as part of ‘national healing’

President Arroyo has invited EDSA allies-turned-critics to join her pursuit of "national healing" — a policy she had declared on the first day of her presidency.

The President said yesterday the first anniversary of people power II was a "season of reconciliation," during which she intends to reach out and hold talks with her latest critics, including Finance Secretary Salvador Enriquez Jr. and Linda Montayre — leaders of the People’s Consultative Assembly (PCA).

"When I became president, I said it was a time for healing. That is still what I want to happen in our country. So I am calling to those hurt during these times, let us all talk," she said.

In his strongest criticism ever of the Arroyo administration, Enriquez said the government’s economic policies merely led to more unemployment and public discontent. He warned that the President runs the risk of courting the people’s wrath if she refuses to change her management style.

Montayre, the PCA’s secretary general, also denounced the corruption and ineptness in government, calling on the people to hold protest actions to express their dissatisfaction.

She asked the public to wear black from Jan. 16 to 19 and announced a provincial campaign for the replacement of Mrs. Arroyo. However, the President said many of their complaints can be attributed to misunderstanding and lack of communication.

"I am ready to talk and listen to what reforms they want to prioritize," she said.

Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao clarified that the invitation to Enriquez was not for a one-on-one talk but for a discussion with the entire PCA and other EDSA forces.

"She has extended an invitation to all participants of EDSA II. It will be a reunion of sorts," Tiglao said.

He pointed out that the date and venue for the discussion is still being finalized by the EDSA II organizing committee.

Tiglao also clarified the President was not merely trying to appease the PCA.

He concurred with the views of Sen. Teresa Aquino-Oreta that the President’s EDSA allies are engaging in "tantrum politics" which could topple her administration the same way they had done to that of Estrada.

"I think Senator Oreta was very incisive in using the term. There are those who really go into tantrums when they are not given attention. But the President’s policy is still one of trying to reach out," Tiglao said.

He stressed that the government "will always accept criticism but not wild allegations."

GMA defends record in government

A day after the Catholic Church hit the country’s politicians for the country’s woes, the President defended her record, blaming poverty on predecessors and a global economic slowdown.

"We started our government with a huge budget deficit, and that occurred amid a world economic slowdown, and then there was a terrorist attack," she said.

Mrs. Arroyo said she could not resolve the situation in her first year in office.

Malacañang said that while the statement issued by Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin roundly criticized Philippine politicians for lack of leadership, the comments did not indicate any lack of support for her.

Sin did not name any political leader, but said: "Our current national situation is far from ideal. It needs a lot of improvement. The problem is not only in our leadership, but also in ourselves."

Coup rumors have persisted following reports of a plot to recruit police and military men to join a destabilization campaign against the Arroyo administration.

Various groups that catapulted Mrs. Arroyo to power are also threatening to mount another people’s uprising unless she immediately resolves the graft and corruption problem in the government.

Sin admitted that after a year in office, the President has failed to appropriately address the needs of the poor and the youth, whose disillusionment and impatience brought about the political disturbances.

He said there were persistent rumors of coups and cases of drug trafficking which appeared to involve ranking people in government.

"We have seen one controversy after another taking up space in our dailies," he said. "The people are tired. The unending political controversies are making us more convinced that present politics is indeed dirty."

However, Sin junked calls for another popular uprising to oust the year-old Arroyo administration.

He was a key figure in the 1986 people power movement which led to the ouster of Ferdinand Marcos from the presidency. Mrs. Arroyo came into power a year ago after a people’s revolution backed by the Church and the military forced the ouster of her predecessor Joseph Estrada. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe