Hyatt 10 resignation

July 8, 2005: During the height of the Hello Garci controversy, eight cabinet members and two bureau heads tendered their irrevocable resignation and called on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to follow suit.

The group, now known as the Hyatt 10, announced their resignation in a press conference at the Hyatt Hotel in Pasay City.

The Hyatt 10 was composed of Department of Education Sec. Florencio Abad, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles, National Anti-Poverty Commission Sec. Imelda Nicolas, Department of Trade and Industry Sec. Juan Santos, Department of Budget and Management Sec. Emilia Boncodin, Department of Finance Sec. Cesar Purisima, Department of Social Welfare and Development Sec. Dinky Soliman, Department of Land Reform Sec. Rene Villa, Bureau of Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina, and Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Guillermo Parayno.

In a statement, the Hyatt 10 said they were not making any judgments on the Hello Garci and jueteng controversies as the the law provides a proper forum to resolve those issues. Instead, they focused on Arroyo's leadership and credibility.

"The President can be part of the solution to this crisis by making the supreme sacrifice for God and country to voluntarily relinquish her office and allow her constitutional successor, the Vice President, to assume the Presidency. Resignation is a legitimate constitutional option for effecting leadership change. Given the crisis in the Presidency, this is the least disruptive and painful option that can swiftly restore normalcy and eventually bring us to prosperity," they said.