Palace: Arroyo to ignore criticisms, to focus on work

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will ignore criticisms from critics who to continue to doubt that she will step down from power on June 30, and will focus on her work instead, Malacañang said on Tuesday. Deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar said Mrs. Arroyo, who turned 63 Monday, will spend her few months in power focusing on her presidential duties. "Single-minded ang focus niya sa kanyang gawain bilang pangulo (Her focus is on her work as president)," Olivar said in an interview on dwIZ radio Tuesday. He said that those who continue to doubt Mrs. Arroyo will step down on June 30 were just trying to gain media mileage. "Gumagawa ng issue ang mga yan para mapansin, para marinig, para may masabi. So if they're going to do that, kung sila papansinin natin at sila ba paniniwalaan natin, yan naman ang karapatan din (They are trying to be noticed, to get media mileage. If they are going to do that, it is also our right to believe them or ignore them)," he said. On Monday, militant workers said their birthday wish for Mrs. Arroyo is a prison term starting June 30. “If Arroyo refuses to grant the people’s wish for prison term and pursues her devious schemes, then she must brace for a citizen’s arrest. She can run but she cannot hide from the wrath of Filipinos," said labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) chairman Elmer Labog. The KMU and other militant groups marched Mendiola Bridge last Monday to call on Mrs. Arroyo to step down after June 30, and to warn her against plotting to stay in power. Militants accused Mrs. Arroyo of involvement in extra-judicial killings during her nine-and-a-half years in power. Labog also urged the JBC not to give Mrs. Arroyo a chance to appoint the next Chief Justice, a move seen by workers and people as paving the way for her continued hold on power and for her immunity from prosecution. On the other hand, the JBC has deferred the submission of list of nominees for the Chief Justice post until the Supreme Court decides on the issue with finality. [See: JBC defers submission of list of nominees for Chief Justice post] — LBG, GMANews.TV