BY ASHZEL HACHERO

NEARLY three years after she called for President Arroyo’s resignation, former president Corazon Aquino yesterday said resignation is the "least disruptive solution to give way to a credible government that can lead by example."

"That is why the most noble way out of the moral crisis would be for the President to resign… This critical time calls for a strong moral leadership, which clearly she is no longer in a position to provide," Aquino said at the 2nd general membership meeting of the Makati Business Club at the Manila Intercontinental Hotel.

Aquino first called for Arroyo’s resignation in 2005 amid the scandal generated by the "Hello Garci" wiretapped recordings between Arroyo and former elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano.

Arroyo is accused of manipulating the elections to ensure her victory. In the "Hello Garci" recordings, Arroyo was heard asking Garcillano about a lead of one million votes over Fernando Poe Jr., her closest rival in the 2004 presidential elections.

"Our guiding light should not be an obsession to evict the President," Aquino said. "But in an environment where abuse of power closes all doors of legitimate redress, sadly we are too often pushed to the brink."

On who would take over if Arroyo resigns, Aquino said Vice President Noli de Castro because the constitutional succession should be followed.

Asked about former President Joseph Estrada who has reportedly offered himself to be the "caretaker" president, Aquino said: "We have to abide with what the Constitution says and if there’s anyone who could take the place of the president, it has to be the vice president and not Estrada."

Aquino asked members of the business community and the public to attend the "Mass for Truth" series of rallies for Rodolfo Noel "Jun" Lozada, Senate witness in alleged anomalies in government’s national broadband network project.

Lozada’s revelations, including alleged payoffs, triggered renewed calls for Arroyo’s ouster.

A "Mass for Truth," led by Aquino and Lozada, was offered Monday at the Redemptorist Church in Baclaran in commemoration of the 22nd anniversary of Edsa 1 that ousted the Marcos regime and installed Aquino to the presidency.

During the Mass, Aquino expressed her support for Lozada and the search for truth and justice amidst the current crisis, particularly the allegations of continuing graft and corruption in the Arroyo administration.

"Twenty-two years after Edsa 1, how can we tolerate a president of doubtful legitimacy who can brazenly stonewall the search for truth and who can routinely intimidate dissenters, journalists, businessmen and ordinary citizens with impunity?" she said.

The Management Association of the Philippines asked Arroyo and other government officials to rise above their personal interests.

It urged Romulo Neri, acting chairman of the Commission on Higher Education and head of the National Economic Development Authority when the broadband project was being negotiated, to speak up.

WRITING ON THE WALL

The Church-based group Solidarity Philippines reiterated its call for urged Arroyo to resign, saying the people have spoken as shown in Monday’s mass actions.

"Arroyo must realize by now that for her own good and that of the nation, she must do the ultimate sacrifice by voluntarily leaving Malacañang for good. She should read the writing on the wall… and resign now," said Fr. Joe Dizon.

Dizon called on the public to maintain the momentum being gained by the continuous religious gatherings, masses, rallies and protests in a bid to drive away the "evil" occupying Malacañang.

"We will make sure to sustain more communal actions to push Arroyo out of the presidency the soonest," he said. "We believe that the end is near."

EVIDENCE VS ALLEGATIONS

Malacañang urged former presidents, particularly Aquino and Estrada, to be more careful in their statements, including resignation calls, as their followers tend to believe what they say and follow what they do.

Resignation will not necessarily lead to the truth, said deputy presidential spokeswoman Lorelei Fajardo.

She said Aquino, who was the subject of similar resignation calls during her presidency, should understand the need for evidence instead of reacting to mere allegations.

"With due respect to the former president, she herself was many times called for to resign during her term. In fact, there were nine coup attempts to remove her, and all borne of alleged corruption. The former president stood her ground on the basis of the need to have evidence before she considers any calls for her own resignation," Fajardo said. – With Gerard Naval and Jocelyn Montemayor