Leftists vow to keep close tabs on incoming Aquino administration

A group of militant leftists have vowed to keep close tabs on the incoming administration of presidential front-runner Sen. Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III. The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), which has party-list representation at the House of Representatives, also urged the Filipino people to remain vigilant, the group said in a statement on its website. "We call on the people to actively advance the struggle for meaningful reforms as a new government takes over. We call on the people to actively advance the fight for justice and change," it said in the same statement. It also joined Filipinos in expressing hope that the new government will be a departure from the failed one of outgoing President and incoming Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. But it added Aquino and his vice president Jejomar Binay will now be faced with the many problems that the outgoing regime will leave behind. These include corrupted institutions, human rights abuses, chronic unemployment, worsening poverty, landlessness, high taxes and a justice system that the people no longer trust. The new administration can take many positive steps during its first 100 days in office, the group said. "The arduous task of reversing and undoing the many failed policies of the Arroyo regime must begin as soon as possible. Many positive steps can be taken within the first 100 days of the next administration," it said. Bayan said it hopes the next administration will adhere to its campaign promise of taking the “daang matuwid (straight path)." It particularly cited the need for closure in many outstanding issues such as the 2004 election fraud, the ZTE-NBN deal and various cases of corruption. Also, it cited the need to address human rights abuses committed by the outgoing regime and the rape of national sovereignty through unequal agreements like the Visiting Forces Agreement. Bayan reiterated as well its call to Aquino to prosecute Mrs. Arroyo once her term ends. "We look forward to June 30, the day Arroyo's presidential immunity expires," it added. - RJAB Jr./LBG, GMANews.TV