New wave of newspaper ads calls for 'sobriety'

MANILA, Philippines - One week after the Supreme Court upheld executive privilege for former socio-economic planning secretary Romulo Neri, a new wave of newspaper ads on Monday called for "sobriety" amid rallies and Senate investigations on the $329.48-million ZTE mess. The Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI), which placed the ads on several Metro Manila-based newspapers, said sobriety and prudence should rule for the sake of the economy. "A pity if in our rashness to clean up a mess in the kitchen we end up burning down the house; if in our earnestness to find the truth and establish guilt we imperil through injudiciousness the gains in our economy that we have worked so hard and sacrificed so much for to achieve. To preclude risks on the economy, perhaps as soon as it's practicable the issues being examined both in the Senate and in parliaments of the streets should be brought to the courts for final adjudication and closure," it said in a statement signed by chairman Meneleo Carlos Jr and president Jesus Arranza. FPI said that while it is 100 percent for stamping out corruption, particularly against smuggling, people should be "dispassionate and calm, judicious and circumspect." This way, it said, "our judgment would not be clouded ... our vision would be clearer and we'll see the door and not bang against the wall." FPI's ad came a day after Malacañang said it will not allow its Cabinet members to testify at Senate investigations without publication of rules and procedures especially in the Senate. The group said the economy had "never been stronger and healthier," as shown by the 7.3 percent growth of gross domestic product and a Gross National Product increase of 7.8 percent. With the peso riding high and inflation in check, it added, "the economy is doing just fine." On the other hand, the group said it saw "nothing wrong with rallies and vociferous expressions of personal sentiments about the issue of the day." "We respect and support unreservedly the authority of the Senate to conduct investigations and aid of legislation. This too is a mandate enshrined in the Constitution," it added. "We plead though that in seeking truth and reform, sobriety, prudence and judiciousness should rule. For the sake of our other vital interest, the economy," it said. - GMANews.TV