Wave of Pro-Arroyo ads appear on eve of Friday's planned rally

MANILA, Philippines - A wave of paid advertisements supporting President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo while criticizing her political opponents appeared on Metro Manila newspapers Thursday, on the eve of a rally for truth in Manila scheduled on Friday. "We believe that the good of the people will be best served by the President's staying on at the helm of government until she finishes her term in 2010 focused like a laser beam on the stability and economic growth that she hopes to heave as her legacy to the Filipino people," the Concerned Assumption Women in Support of Truth and Stability said in an ad. The group also said people "must not be swayed by the media frenzy that is fueled by a deliberate and unrelenting barrage of 'revelations' that may ultimately fail the test of judicial admissibility due to lack of hard evidence." "We must refuse to be manipulated by vested political interests and by those who stand to gain from chaos... Truth cannot be found in the streets with demands that result in social stability. We must uphold the rule of law and the interest of our nation above politics and personal agenda. We believe that the demand for good governance goes hand in hand with the practice of good citizenship which includes, among others, respect for the rule of law and for the rights of all," the group said. Also, the group called for "efforts to discern between genuine calls for reform and attempts to advance self-interests that derail our country's development." The group also said investigations on corruption of any form must be comprehensive and transparent, and all those who are accountable must be made to face the full force of the law, even as it took a dig at the ongoing Senate investigation into the $329.48-million ZTE broadband network mess. "Those who have used the Senate investigations as venue to rush a condemnation of the Arroyo government in the court of public opinion, gaining free political mileage in the process, must be exposed and held accountable," the group said. Interestingly, Assumption alumnae joined the "cry for truth and accountability" last March 5 where they expressed support for ZTE witness Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr. They particularly questioned the "intimidation, abduction and threats" to Lozada and his family, like the threats to other concerned citizens who dare speak out against government. Also, they questioned the disappearances of witnesses, whistle-blowers and journalists who courageously speak the painful truth. Also on Thursday another pro-Arroyo ad was placed on newspapers. The ad was placed by the Metro Manila Mayors League led by Quezon City mayor and Arroyo ally Feliciano Belmonte Jr. The ad, based on a resolution dated February 22, said the Senate investigation into the NBN deal "will lead to more divisiveness and chaos" and that "majority of our people are tired of all these political bickering and they want our political leaders to unite and work towards sustaining the economic gains we are now experiencing." But only nine mayors of Metro Manila's 17 mayors signed the ad, including Belmonte. Most of those who signed are allied with Lakas and President Arroyo's Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi). These included Benjamin Abalos Jr (Mandaluyong City, Lakas-CMD), Ma. Lourdes Fernando (Marikina City, Lakas-CMD/Kabayani), Florencio Bernabe Jr (Parañaque City, Lakas-CMD), Sigfrido Tinga (Taguig City, Lakas-CMD), Sherwin Gatchalian (Valenzuela City, NPC), Wenceslao Trinidad (Pasay City, Kampi/LDP), Canuto Oreta (Malabon City, Lakas-CMD), and Enrico Echeverri (Caloocan City, Lakas-CMD). Not on the list were Alfredo Lim (Manila), Jose Victor Ejercito (San Juan), Jaime Cruz Medina (Pateros), Jejomar Binay (Makati), Robert Eusebio (Pasig City), Tobias Tiangco (Navotas City), Aldrin San Pedro (Muntinlupa City), and Vergel Aguilar (Las Piñas City) Eusebio is a member of Kampi. Two separate paid ads also appeared from the towns of Dipaculao and Dilasag in Aurora province. - GMANews.TV