GMA urged to resign to save her bets for Senate – Malaya 11.24.3006

SEN. Panfilo Lacson yesterday said President Arroyo should step down to spare her would-be senatorial candidates from a rout in the May 2007 elections.

"I have one unsolicited advice to Mrs. Arroyo that could possibly make her candidates win in the coming midterm elections. It may even make history more forgiving and kinder to her: Step down. Otherwise, her candidates will certainly face a debacle at the polls and she will go down in history as the most hated president this country ever had," he said.

Lacson placed second in the latest survey of Pulse Asia of senatorial choices. He recently announced, however, he is running for mayor of Manila.

Lacson said Arroyo has felt the "one-two punch" of low trust rating and low approval rating in recent surveys.

A Pulse Asia survey conducted from October to November showed Arroyo’s net approval rating dropping to minus 23 in November (25 percent approve vs. 48 percent disapprove) from minus 18 last July (26 percent approve vs. 44 percent disapprove).

The survey also showed that opposition members continued to dominate the senatorial race in the May 2007, with 19 from the opposition leading 64 possible candidates.

Lacson said Arroyo, "instead of engaging in finger-pointing against media for her low trust ratings," should try some self-reflection instead.

Arroyo has said government’s achievements are not being highlighted in media.

Lacson said Arroyo has only herself to blame because she has refused to face issues against her and even tried to suppress the truth.

"In the minds of the people, no amount of excuses can diffuse the wrongdoings they have been linked to," he said.

Arroyo’s problems, he said, stemmed from cheating in the 2004 presidential elections.

Worse, he said, she tried to suppress the truth by coming out with measures like calibrated preemptive response to protest rallies, and Executive Order 464 which barred officials from testifying in congressional investigations without presidential clearance. The CPR and EO 464 have been struck down by the Supreme Court.

"There are so many anomalies. But they will then blame the media. They should try to look at themselves," he said.

Lacson said if Arroyo will not change her attitude, she will go down in history as the most disliked president ever.

"That will be her destiny unless she faces the truth about the issues of cheating in the election. She should face them squarely instead of resorting to squid tactics and fooling the people," he said.

The latest Pulse Asia survey showed former Sen. Loren Legarda, who ran for vice president in May 2004, in the first place.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan was in third place followed by Senate President Manuel Villar. Rounding up the Top 12 were Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, former Sen. Vicente Sotto III, Sen. Ralph Recto, ABS-CBN newscaster Korina Sanchez, lawyer Aquilino Pimentel III, former Sen. Gregorio Honasan who is now in detention, San Juan Mayor Jose Victor Ejercito-Estrada, and, Sen. Edgardo Angara.

‘DO HOMEWORK’

Former President Fidel Ramos, chairman of the administration party Lakas-NUCD, said surveys made way before the election are a good barometer of the sentiment of the voting populace.

Administration allies at the House have expressed confidence about winning next year as they said they have the political machinery and support from local politicians.

"Surveys are just surveys and obviously those in the administration should play catch-up, and instead of announcing how strong they are, they should instead do a little homework," Ramos said.

Asked what the administration should do to reverse its standing in surveys, Ramos said government should focus on good governance and start going down to local organizations to drum up support.

"Going down to the grassroots means they could determine the level of support," he said.

Instead of politicking, he said, the administration should do well to spend its time and resources on uplifting the lives of Filipinos.

He said during his term, he pursued programs on economic development despite criticisms. As a result, he said, he gained the support of even the skeptics.

Aside from programs that directly impact on economy, the administration should prioritize legislation on improving government services, he said.

POPULARITY CONTEST

House majority leader Prospero Nograles said it is better for the administration "to lose in surveys and win the elections rather than the other way around."

"This is an election, is it not? It’s not like we’re looking for `Philippine Idol’ voters... Let’s elect those who are qualified and not those who are just popular. It’s the Republic of the Senate and not the movie theaters or a lunch time TV show," he said.

Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said the popularity of opposition senatorial candidates is likely to spill over to local and congressional positions.

"This maybe is a reason why they (the administration) want to put up a unity ticket… They fear that many opposition personalities would be elected as congressmen and so that would correspondingly increase the possibility or probability even of Gloria being impeached by the new Congress," he said.

With the administration plunging in the surveys, "associating with Gloria is a kiss of death," he also said.

UNITY TICKET A PLOY

Pimentel described as "ridiculous" the idea of a "unity ticket" broached by the Arroyo administration.

"It is not possible for us (opposition) to fall for it for the simple reason that we will just provide the administration with a horse to ride on," he said.

He said the proposal is a "ploy" in anticipation of a possible impeachment move against Arroyo by the next Congress.

With the administration failing to come up with its own senatorial slate in next year’s midterm elections, 2007 would be "the year of the opposition," he said.

This time, he said, Arroyo’s impeachment is likely to happen.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, president of the United Opposition, rejected the proposed unity ticket.

"They know that being identified with Mrs. Arroyo is like a kiss of death. Given a fair and honest election, we are in a strong position to clinch the Senate and a sizable number of local seats," he said.

The opposition’s concern, he said is the formation of a unified opposition senatorial ticket and providing assistance to candidates at the local level.

Binay also said he would rather run against the administration’s "proxy" for the mayoral contest in the city.

Binay placed 21st in the Pulse Asia survey of possible senatorial bets.

Government is reportedly fielding Sen. Lito Lapid, who ran under the administration ticket, against Binay in next year’s elections.

"The 2007 election in Makati is really a Binay-Arroyo fight. The Arroyos did not succeed in getting me out of office through a suspension, so they will definitely use their resources for their local candidate," he said.

Binay was ordered suspended by Malacañang last month based on allegations he hired "ghost employes" at the city hall. The appeals court has issued a temporary restraining order against his suspension.

He said he expects the administration to provide all resources to his rival just to oust him. - Dennis Gadil, Ashzel Hachero, Wendell Vigilia and JP Lopez