OZAMIZ CITY: CRITICS of of the Arroyo administration should abide by the rule of law, thus cautioned the group of provincial governors.
In an email sent by the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) to the PANGUIL BAY MONITOR, Thursday, the governors said, “Manila is not the [whole] Philippines.”
Such statement was a declaration that hinted to President Gloria Arroyo during a press briefing held by the LPP at Malacañang after some of the governors paid a visit to Arroyo and expressed their full support to her.
“Ang Maynila po ay hindi Pilipinas. Kami sa probinsiya ay nandito para ipakita ang suporta namin kay presidente. Ang gobyernong ito ang nararamdaman ng mga probinsiyano duon sa amin hindi katulad sa Maynila na napakagulo at kanya-kanyang interes ang naririnig natin,” Gov. Miguel Rene Dominguez of Sarangani said.
Dominguez statement means that the provinces are silent in the resignation calls against Arroyo because “they are contented with the president.”
The governor’s statement might also come short of saying that whatsoever happens in the country’s seat of power, Arroyo can always choose to rule the country elsewhere, away from Manila and from her dissenters and the opposition.
Dominguez said if ever the clamor for Arroyo’s resignation comes to full blow, Arroyo can always “transfer Malacañang in Sarangani.”
“We would like to remind everybody that Manila is not the Philippines. Kami po sa aming lalawigan, handang-handa to host Malacañang kung ayaw ninyo kay Presidente Arroyo dito sa Manila,” he said.
Dominguez likewise called on the public, the senators and other opposition groups to visit Sarangani and the provinces and “make an assessment of the situation outside Metro Manila.”
The governor added that its time Manila takes a look at the improvements going on in the countryside as a spinoff of the economic gains achieved under the Arroyo administration.
“We invite each and everyone of you lalong-lalo sa mga senador na halos hindi umiikot, hindi umaalis sa Kamaynilaan. Pumunta naman sana sa ibang lugar, sa mga probinsiya sa Mindanao to get the sense of progress, to get the sense of optimism na fully evident iyong development sa mga probinsiya,” he urged.
Quirino Gov. Dakila Carlo Cua, for his part, said that congressmen and senators who are elected by the majority of Filipinos created the laws of the land and these laws should be respected.
“Itong mga batas na ito ay hindi ginawa ni Pangulong Arroyo sana po ay irespeto ang due process. Hangga’t hindi pa napatunayan na guilty, respetuhin muna natin ang tao,” Cua said.
He added that the president has not interfered with any legal proceedings whether in the Senate, Congress or the courts.
“I believe personally that the President is not interfering in any legal proceedings in any Senate investigation and this should give credit to her for being impartial and for her objectivity.”
To the opposition, he said, “Let us all be professionals. We demand our administration officials, cabinet members, governors and even the President to be one.”
For Ocampos, LPP national president, moves calling for Arroyo to step down would not hold water since “not everybody is dissatisfied with the president.”
In a gathering last Feb. 25, dubbed as “Provincial Forum on Advancing Democracy and Economic Growth,” the governor voiced out the theme, “Sobrang pamulitika makadaot sa ekonomiya.”
To the opposition, Ocampos called them “crooks” who “are fighting against [the government] and the president to the detriment of the country [and for their] plans in 2010.”
“Ang pagpalambo sa ekonomiya dili sama sa sili nga inig puga mohalang dayon. It takes time. Everything must be in place first,” he said.
He revealed that if the opposition will take over Malacañang, all the governors would declare themselves as independent.
“Civil war will then happen. Dili nato gusto ni nga mahitabo. Filipino against his fellow Filipino, brother against brother. That is why we are doing this to enlighten the people. Let us not be agitated or emotional. Let us discuss the issues objectively. We can debate 24 hours a day but we must never destroy our country.”
“We as leaders will not do anything that will harm you,” he added.
After the briefing in Malacañang, Arroyo led the governors in a unity walk, flanked by LPP national chairman, Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Raymund Villafuerte and Ocampos. MICHAEL MEDINA