OFWs launch petition for Arroyo's resignation
An alliance of migrant workers groups based in the Middle East has launched a signature campaign for the immediate resignation of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo over what its leaders consider as ‘mountain of crimes’ under her administration.
Migrante-ME initiated the petition, citing widespread corruption and bribery, gross human rights violations, election fraud, artificial economic development, and the neglect of migrant workers as reasons for Arroyo’s moral bankruptcy.
“With her mountain of crimes against the Filipino people, GMA – and her lackeys in Malacañang and Philippine posts abroad– must step down. Else, the Filipino people and the migrant workers will be the ones to show her government the way out," the group said in the petition.
Migrante-ME said that corruption has reached the top positions in government.
“The multi-million dollar expose on the National Broadband Network [NBN] deal involving GMA and her husband has shown that corruption in the government continues to brew up to the top executive office," said Migrante-ME in a statement.
Arroyo’s husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, is in hot water after whistleblower Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr testified at the Senate the first gentleman’s involvement in the allegedly anomalous Zhong Xing Telecommunication Equipment (ZTE) Corp contract for the NBN project.
The ZTE contract involves $329.48 million. It was canceled last September following the expose of businessman Jose "Joey" de Venecia III that resigned Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos brokered the deal, with the blessings of the President's husband.
Migrante-ME also noted the alleged bribery of Malacañang on government officials as revealed by Pampanga Governor Fr. Ed Panlilio at the height of the second impeachment process last year against the President.
The group also blasted the government’s inaction on the worsening extrajudicial killings among militant leaders and vocal critics of government.
Migrante explained that “of the more than 886 cases of extrajudicial killings and more than 170 cases of enforced disappearances, not a single conviction has been made."
“Worse, majority of the cases have not even managed to get into courts because of the government’s failure to investigate on the cases. With the counterinsurgency program Oplan Bantay Laya II and the Human Security Act of 2007 in place, human rights violations will remain unabated and will even get worse," the group added.
President Arroyo’s legitimacy was also questioned by Migrante-ME because of the unsatisfactory resolution of the alleged wiretapped conversations between Mrs. Arroyo and then Comelec commissioner Virgilio Garcillano about manipulating the results of the 2004 elections.
“While the 'Hello, Garci' scandal has not yet been satisfactorily resolved, electoral fraud, especially of the administration camp, has again smeared the elections in order to ensure an administration majority in the Philippine Congress to quash future moves for GMA’s impeachment," the petition further said.
Artificial development, neglect of OFWs
Aside from the political controversies hounding the Arroyo administration, the militant group also said the government failed to alleviate the economy and address the concerns of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
Migrante-ME cited the Arroyo administration’s inability to provide jobs despite the claim of a vibrant economy manifested by the stronger Philippine peso against the dollar.
“With lots of embellishments, the GMA government has touted the so-called recovery of the economy as shown, according to them, by the continued strengthening of the Philippine peso," said the group.
“However, such a 'development' remains an illusion to majority of the people as prices (continue to) soar, wages remain depressed and job scarcity is still widespread," it added.
Meanwhile, the implementation of the new policy on direct-hiring, the neglect of stranded Filipinos in Jeddah and the ineptitude of government officials concerned with OFW affairs in the Middle East, have not escaped the group’s scrutiny.
“Many Filipino migrant workers die, suffer from abuses, incarcerated or have been given the death penalty," the group claimed.
“While forever branding Filipino migrant workers as heroes, migrant workers are always hard pressed to get government officials abroad to assist them in their situation," the group cited.
The petition was signed by John L.C. Monterona, Migrante-ME regional coordinator; Mario Ben, Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan-Migrante-Riyadh secretary general; Andrew M. Ociones, Migrante-Kingdom of Saudi Arabia chairman; and, Roberto Pajarito, Migrante-Jeddah chairman.
Nhel Morona, Migrante-United Arab Emirates, secretary general; Jhon De Jesus Migrante-Qatar coordinator; and Gil Lebria, Migrante-Kuwait secretary general, have also signed the petition. - Mark J. Ubalde, GMANews.TV
Migrante-ME initiated the petition, citing widespread corruption and bribery, gross human rights violations, election fraud, artificial economic development, and the neglect of migrant workers as reasons for Arroyo’s moral bankruptcy.
“With her mountain of crimes against the Filipino people, GMA – and her lackeys in Malacañang and Philippine posts abroad– must step down. Else, the Filipino people and the migrant workers will be the ones to show her government the way out," the group said in the petition.
Migrante-ME said that corruption has reached the top positions in government.
“The multi-million dollar expose on the National Broadband Network [NBN] deal involving GMA and her husband has shown that corruption in the government continues to brew up to the top executive office," said Migrante-ME in a statement.
Arroyo’s husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, is in hot water after whistleblower Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr testified at the Senate the first gentleman’s involvement in the allegedly anomalous Zhong Xing Telecommunication Equipment (ZTE) Corp contract for the NBN project.
The ZTE contract involves $329.48 million. It was canceled last September following the expose of businessman Jose "Joey" de Venecia III that resigned Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos brokered the deal, with the blessings of the President's husband.
Migrante-ME also noted the alleged bribery of Malacañang on government officials as revealed by Pampanga Governor Fr. Ed Panlilio at the height of the second impeachment process last year against the President.
The group also blasted the government’s inaction on the worsening extrajudicial killings among militant leaders and vocal critics of government.
Migrante explained that “of the more than 886 cases of extrajudicial killings and more than 170 cases of enforced disappearances, not a single conviction has been made."
“Worse, majority of the cases have not even managed to get into courts because of the government’s failure to investigate on the cases. With the counterinsurgency program Oplan Bantay Laya II and the Human Security Act of 2007 in place, human rights violations will remain unabated and will even get worse," the group added.
President Arroyo’s legitimacy was also questioned by Migrante-ME because of the unsatisfactory resolution of the alleged wiretapped conversations between Mrs. Arroyo and then Comelec commissioner Virgilio Garcillano about manipulating the results of the 2004 elections.
“While the 'Hello, Garci' scandal has not yet been satisfactorily resolved, electoral fraud, especially of the administration camp, has again smeared the elections in order to ensure an administration majority in the Philippine Congress to quash future moves for GMA’s impeachment," the petition further said.
Artificial development, neglect of OFWs
Aside from the political controversies hounding the Arroyo administration, the militant group also said the government failed to alleviate the economy and address the concerns of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
Migrante-ME cited the Arroyo administration’s inability to provide jobs despite the claim of a vibrant economy manifested by the stronger Philippine peso against the dollar.
“With lots of embellishments, the GMA government has touted the so-called recovery of the economy as shown, according to them, by the continued strengthening of the Philippine peso," said the group.
“However, such a 'development' remains an illusion to majority of the people as prices (continue to) soar, wages remain depressed and job scarcity is still widespread," it added.
Meanwhile, the implementation of the new policy on direct-hiring, the neglect of stranded Filipinos in Jeddah and the ineptitude of government officials concerned with OFW affairs in the Middle East, have not escaped the group’s scrutiny.
“Many Filipino migrant workers die, suffer from abuses, incarcerated or have been given the death penalty," the group claimed.
“While forever branding Filipino migrant workers as heroes, migrant workers are always hard pressed to get government officials abroad to assist them in their situation," the group cited.
The petition was signed by John L.C. Monterona, Migrante-ME regional coordinator; Mario Ben, Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan-Migrante-Riyadh secretary general; Andrew M. Ociones, Migrante-Kingdom of Saudi Arabia chairman; and, Roberto Pajarito, Migrante-Jeddah chairman.
Nhel Morona, Migrante-United Arab Emirates, secretary general; Jhon De Jesus Migrante-Qatar coordinator; and Gil Lebria, Migrante-Kuwait secretary general, have also signed the petition. - Mark J. Ubalde, GMANews.TV
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