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Arroyo Cabinet members told: Spill beans on ex-boss before joining Noynoy


Arroyo Cabinet members planning to join the official family of President-apparent Sen. Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III should spill the beans on their former boss' abuses, a militant group said Wednesday. The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) stressed the need to have Mrs. Arroyo investigated and charged for various misdeeds during her nine-year reign. “It is not surprising that former Arroyo officials will be seeking new appointments under the Aquino administration, especially after their involvement in the Aquino campaign. Some of them appear to be determined to get back their previous posts. These former Arroyo officials however should first make a full accounting of their role in the previous regime. They should at least be willing to testify against the outgoing president," said Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr., in an article on the Bayan website (www.bayan.ph). However, Reyes did not name names. He also urged Aquino to make disclosure a requirement for former Arroyo officials who will serve under his administration. "If they are to follow the so-called ‘daang matuwid (straight path),' then former Arroyo officials should cooperate with any probe that seeks to hold Mrs. Arroyo accountable. They should be required to reveal all they know," he added. Former Arroyo officials who joined the campaign for Aquino include members of the so-called Hyatt 10 and Albay Governor and former presidential economic adviser Jose Salceda. On the other hand, former Arroyo Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman has been tapped to reassume her old post. “It would be a bad start for the incoming administration if it simply carries over former Arroyo officials without even the expectation that they cooperate in making their former boss accountable. It seems only fair and just that the new administration that claims to adhere to the 'daang matuwid' should demand accountability from all its appointees. Pubic interest should be given more premium than executive privilege," Reyes said. Bayan said Aquino’s term will be measured in part by how it deals with the outgoing president. It said Mrs. Arroyo is expected to entrench herself and her allies in Congress to gain leverage against any probe into her past acts. Mrs. Arroyo has reportedly met with the members of the ruling party who won in the last elections, it added. “The Peruvian example of convicting former President Alberto Fujimori should be studied by the incoming administration. Fujimori was meted out a 25-year sentence for gross human rights violations and a 7 ½-sentence for embezzlement," Reyes said. “The next regime should be wary of how Mrs. Arroyo will consolidate her political power inside the Lower House," he added. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV

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