FVR calls on Filipinos to live EDSA spirit; Church kicks off ‘communal activities’

Former President Fidel V. Ramos on Friday called on political leaders and the media to focus on the things that would benefit the people and not just on the controversies that emanated from the supposedly overpriced national broadband network (NBN) deal. Mr. Ramos made the remarks at the Libingan ng mga Bayani where he attended the opening ceremonies of EDSA (Epifanio delos Santos Ave.) I People Power Commemoration Week from Feb. 22 to 25. The opening ceremonies included a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Monday marks the 22nd anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution which ousted President Ferdinand E. Marcos after the military withdrew its support for Mr. Marcos and backed the mass actions of pro-democracy forces led by Corazon C. Aquino. Civil society and militant groups are preparing to launch a massive protest rally in commemoration of the said event. The synchronized tying of white ribbons, candle-lightning, masses and forums were held in several parts of Metro Manila yesterday to signal the start of what the Church called series of "communal activities" set to formally begin on Monday coinciding with the 22nd anniversary of the EDSA I People Power revolt. Former Philippine ambassador to the Vatican and head of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), Henrietta de Villa said, "The idea behind the activities is to further inform the public of issues involved in the revelations made at the past Senate hearings," where former president of the Philippine Forest Corp. Rodolfo Noel "Jun" I. Lozada, Jr. disclosed alleged multi-million dollar kickbacks in a scrapped ZTE-NBN telecommunications deal. Mr. Ramos, who was one of the main players at the first people Power revolt, said, "This [opening ceremonies] is not the proper place to discuss politics. We are honoring the heroes and our ancestors who sacrificed their lives so the next generation of Filipinos, especially the youth, would have freedom and democracy," he said. "There are important things not being given proper attention by our leaders and the media like the economy, education, livelihood of old soldiers and veterans. We must look into these things and not just the ZTE Corp. broadband issue. I hope they listen to what I say." The $329-million NBN deal with China’s ZTE Corp. was cancelled by the government last year following allegations that it was overpriced and corruption-laden. The controversy recently escalated when former Philippine Forest Corp. President and information technology expert Rodolfo "Jun" I. Lozada, Jr. claimed that former Commission on Elections Benjamin S. Abalos, Sr. would have recieved a $130 million commission once a loan agreement with ZTE was sealed. The opposition has said the controversies could spark mass actions that could lead to the ouster of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, but Malacanang said this will not happen since the people are already tired of political noise and instability. Corruption remains But Mr. Ramos admitted that corruption is eating into the gains of the 1986 EDSA Revolution, the military-backed revolt that ousted the 20-year regime of Ferdinand E. Marcos. He said that even though Filipinos united against Mr. Marcos’s dictatorial regime, corrupt and greedy leaders still abound. "There are new tyrannies in the form of self-serving leaders, immoderately greedy autocrats, and cliques of corrupt officials that we must still confront. History might yet call us to come together again — to offer our lives and fortunes on the altar of our ideals. There are oligarchies, dynasties, opportunists we are yet to banish from our political and economic life," Mr. Ramos said. "The spirit of EDSA compels our unswerving opposition to injustice, greed, corruption and apathy. Its most dramatic moments have passed, but there remain many decision and actions by leaders and ordinary citizens on which depend the ultimate shape of the Philippine future." He called on leaders to remain faithful to the spirit of EDSA by curbing corruption, cronyism, poverty and injustice. Loyal military In a related development, Army Chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano expressed confidence that the military will remain loyal to the President and the chain of command. The statement came amid speculation that some soldiers are disappointed with the Arroyo administration due to allegations of corruption. "We have not received any grievance about the situation. Nobody seems to be giving attention to the noise in Metro Manila. We are confident the army soldier will remain true to his oath, follow the chain of command and remain constitutional and professional," he told reporters in Taguig. "I think the Filipino people would rather have an AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) that is apolitical and insulated from partisan politics and just remains focused on its job." This was emphasized by Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes C. Esperon, Jr. in an ambush interview during the wreath-laying ceremony at Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City who said that it is not in their scope of duty to intervene in matters concerning political issues. "Our function is to give protection to democratic space and democratic institutions. It is up to the courts, the Senate, the Ombudsman, to indict people. We cannot do their jobs for them," Mr. Esperon said. Meanwhile, known allies of the Arroyo administration downplayed chances of another People Power Revolution in light of the political issues facing the country. "If the people are fed up with reports of corruption in the government, I am sure that they are more fed up with the never-ending resignation calls," Presidential Management Staff Dir. Gen. Serge Remonde said in an ambush interview during the wreath laying. Mr. Remonde added that the resignation calls are just a well-orchestrated campaign to bring down the government by groups who have their own personal motives. "There are people in the religious sector using the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) name when it is so obvious that the CBCP has no formal stand on political issues, and these people are trying to stretch the meaning of communal action into a call for a People Power Revolution, when that is not the meaning of communal action. The National Union of Students in the Philippines, which is composed of leftist student council leaders, want a Marxist-Communist president. These groups of people have their own agenda and motives, which may not really be concern for country," he said. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said he does not see the current political situation developing into another People Power. "Rallies in protest of the president due to issues in the Senate arose earlier, but they did not develop into a manner people thought it will develop. Also, the number of people calling for the ouster of the president is not enough for the emergence of another People Power Revolution," he said. 'Communal activities' As early as 8 a.m. Friday, the White Ribbon Movement and the Alliance for Truth and Justice led the synchronized tying of white ribbons along the stretch of Taft Ave. It was followed by candle lightning in the afternoon at around 5 p.m. A nationwide noise barrage was to be held simultaneously in front of the De La Salle University along Taft Ave.; the University of Life Track and Recreation Arena (ULTRA) in Pasig City; in front of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila; in front of Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) in Quezon City; Araneta Ave. in Quezon City; and Binondo in Manila. The noise barrage dubbed "Busina para sa Katotohanan (Honk Your Horns for the Truth)," was organized by the PPCRV and the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP) backed by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). Sister Mary John Mananzan of the AMRSP said the nationwide noise barrage was intended to drum up support for Mr. Lozada and "to show the government that the people can no longer remain silent in the corruption rampant in the current administration." "It’s about time people in the government listen to a nation that has already awakened," Sr. Mananzan said in an interview posted on the CBCP Website A forum where Mr. Lozada delivered a speech before estimated 1,000 law students from different universities was held 2 p.m. at the Ateneo. A mass was celebrated at UST at 5 p.m. At the same time, students marched at the around University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman, QC to stage a program they dubbed "ASARan" or Advocacy for Sustained Accountability and Reform. According to reports, about 200 law students from UP, UST, ADMU and University of the East gathered at the lobby of Malcom Hall in the UP Academic Oval where they lit candles, prayed and reenacted the declaration of the Independence Day in Kawit, Cavite. According to the press statement of the united law students, the reenactment aimed to show that the youth want "independence from lies and will continue to search for the truth." The students also stated that "the corruption in the government is a clear disrespect of the law, which we can no longer ignore." Meanwhile, another protest against the administration was held in Marikina City. The rally dubbed "Martsa ng Manggagawa Laban sa Katiwalian (March of Workers Against Corruption)" was led by the labor party Partido ng Mangagawa, where labor groups from major companies in Marikina marched and voiced out their sentiments about the ZTE-NBN anomaly. — with Jhoanna Frances S. Valdez, Elizabeth T. Marcelo, BusinessWorld