aloocan Bishop Deogracias
Iñiguez has a wicked sense of humor. During the celebration of Bonifacio Day on
Sunday he called on Gloria Arroyo to sign a pledge that she would not seek an
extension of her stay in power after 2010. By so doing, she would ease the
palpable tension being generated by the renewed campaign her allies in the House
to amend the 1987 Constitution.
The good bishop, however, had a quick caveat over his own
suggestion. He said that even if Gloria signed such a document with her blood,
the act would be meaningless if she lacked sincerity.
And that cuts right into the heart of the problem. On Dec.
30, 2002, Gloria vowed at the monument of Jose Rizal in Baguio City she would
not run in 2004 after realizing she was the cause of divisiveness that was
threatening to pull the nation apart. But she did turn her back to her pledge
and went to wage the dirtiest presidential campaign the country has ever seen.
She raided the treasury to bankroll her campaign. The P728
million fertilizer scam orchestrated by then agriculture undersecretary "Joc Joc"
Bolante was just the tip of the iceberg in that widespread buying of votes using
taxpayers’ money. And when vote-buying was not enough to offset the popularity
of opposition candidate Fernando Poe Jr., Option B was activated. Former
election commissioner Virgiliano Garcillano, with the help of some generals,
falsified election returns to make it appear Gloria won by at least one million
votes.
Gloria is a demonstrated liar and thief. Still, it is an
article of faith of the Church that no sinner is beyond salvation. The sinner
only has to confess his transgressions and sincerely atone for them to be
restored to a state of grace. Bishop Iñiguez is not even asking Gloria to
confess her sins. All he wants is a vow not to stay a day more beyond what is
vouchsafed her by the Constitution.
The word from Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita yesterday
was that Gloria has no intention of accepting Iñiguez’ challenge. Not because
she intends to hang on to power, according to Ermita, but because she has
repeatedly said she will go when her time comes.
Ermita is talking through his hat. We have not come across
any definitive statement from Arroyo that she will go at noon of Dec. 30, 2010.
What Gloria has repeatedly said is that she will abide by the Constitution.
And that is precisely what her House allies are doing now:
Seeking to amend the Constitution so she can become prime minister following a
shift to a parliamentary system.
