Candidates of the ruling Lakas-CMD who will be running in next year’s local elections will adopt an anti-Arroyo impeachment and pro-Charter change stance as part of their political platform.
This was revealed yesterday by House Majority Leader Prospero Nograles as he challenged groups pursuing the impeachment case against President Arroyo to wait until after the results of next year’s polls to determine whether or not Filipinos support their complaint.
Nograles said since even the opposition agrees that the impeachment is a losing proposition because it lacks the support of 78 congressmen, it would be best for the impeachment backers to make the attempt next year because the subject will be an election issue in 2007.
"Since we all agree that this is a numbers game, the only way to do this is not this year because they do not have the number. If they believe that the impeachment of the President is supported by the majority, then it is expected that more pro-impeachment congressmen and senators will be elected to office in 2007," the Davao City lawmaker told reporters during the Usaping Balita Media Forum in Quezon City.
Negros Oriental Rep. Jacinto Paras agreed that next year’s elections will be the best gauge whether or not majority of Filipinos agree to the opposition’s bid to unseat Mrs. Arroyo.
Paras recently resigned as a member of the House minority, saying that he has lost faith with the impeachment process because it is now being used by its backers as part of propaganda that would propel their political ambitions.
Paras was among the opposition lawmakers who openly supported last year’s bid to impeach Mrs. Arroyo.
Both Nograles and Paras agreed that the number of impeachment backers this year has been enormously reduced despite the participation of more anti-Arroyo groups as complainants.
"I know the President is guilty of committing many shenanigans, but who will replace her? Who among those leading the opposition can say he is qualified and he has a clean conscience," Paras asked.
Nograles said LakasCMD will adopt a platform of continuity of Mrs. Arroyo as leader of the country until her term of office expires in 2010. He added that if the Charter change move fails to succeed this year, the same stand will be part of the ruling party’s platform of government in the 2007 polls.
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