Post by LATAGAW on Jul 8, 2005 13:07:15 GMT 8
[glow=red,2,300]10 Cabinet members resign, ask Arroyo to do the same
July 08, 2005
Updated 10:43am (Mla time)
Erik de la Cruz Lira Dalangin-Fernandez ldalangin@inq7.net
Inquirer News Service INQ7.net XFN-asia
(4th UPDATE) AT least 10 members of President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo's Cabinet formally resigned Friday and called on the President to do the same.
"With deep concern and firm resolve, after a long period of reflection, debate and consultation, we are hereby submitting our collective irrevocable resignation," Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima told a press conference at the Hyatt Hotel in Pasay City.
"The President can be part of the solution to this crisis by making the supreme sacrifice for God and country to voluntarily relinquish her office and allow her constitutional successor, the vice president, to assume the Presidency," Purisima said, reading from a prepared statement.
Purisima said he and nine other Cabinet officials decided to quit as early as July 5. But he said Arroyo preempted their moves when she asked for their resignation Thursday night in a televised statement.
Aside from Purisima, those who resigned were Florencio Abad of Education, Teresita Quintos Deles, adviser on peace process; Imelda Nicolas of the National Anti-Poverty Commission; Juan Santos of Trade and Industry; Alberto Lina of the Bureau of Customs; Emilia Boncodin of Budget; Corazon Juliano Soliman of Social Welfare; Rene Villa of Agrarian Reform; and Guillermo Parayno, commissioner of the BIR.
But Purisima said, "This preemption would not change our conviction that her decisions as of late were guided mainly by her determination to survive as President. We believe that she will continue to make her decisions according to this norm."
"The longer the President stays in office under a cloud of doubt and mistrust, and with her style of decision-making, the greater the damage on the economy and the more vulnerable the fragile political situation becomes to extremists seeking to undermine our democratic life," Purisima said.
"Given the crisis in the Presidency, this [resignation] is the least disruptive and painful option that can swiftly restore normalcy and eventually bring us to prosperity," they said.
Malacañang said that by 12 noon Friday, all Cabinet secretaries, undersecretaries, and assistant secretaries would be considered resigned.
Press Undersecretary Isabel de Leon said that as of Thursday night Environment Secretary Michael Defensor, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, and Cerge Remonde, group head for government mass media, have tendered their resignations.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye will resign Friday, De Leon said.
Arroyo has been facing mounting calls to resign and an impeachment case has been filed against her in Congress amid allegations that she cheated her way to victory in last year's election. She has denied the allegation.
In a public address Thursday night, Arroyo said she was not going to step down but asked members of her Cabinet to resign to allow her to make a fresh start.
With a report from Michelle V. Remo, Inquirer News Service ©2005 www.inq7.net all rights reserved [/glow]
July 08, 2005
Updated 10:43am (Mla time)
Erik de la Cruz Lira Dalangin-Fernandez ldalangin@inq7.net
Inquirer News Service INQ7.net XFN-asia
(4th UPDATE) AT least 10 members of President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo's Cabinet formally resigned Friday and called on the President to do the same.
"With deep concern and firm resolve, after a long period of reflection, debate and consultation, we are hereby submitting our collective irrevocable resignation," Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima told a press conference at the Hyatt Hotel in Pasay City.
"The President can be part of the solution to this crisis by making the supreme sacrifice for God and country to voluntarily relinquish her office and allow her constitutional successor, the vice president, to assume the Presidency," Purisima said, reading from a prepared statement.
Purisima said he and nine other Cabinet officials decided to quit as early as July 5. But he said Arroyo preempted their moves when she asked for their resignation Thursday night in a televised statement.
Aside from Purisima, those who resigned were Florencio Abad of Education, Teresita Quintos Deles, adviser on peace process; Imelda Nicolas of the National Anti-Poverty Commission; Juan Santos of Trade and Industry; Alberto Lina of the Bureau of Customs; Emilia Boncodin of Budget; Corazon Juliano Soliman of Social Welfare; Rene Villa of Agrarian Reform; and Guillermo Parayno, commissioner of the BIR.
But Purisima said, "This preemption would not change our conviction that her decisions as of late were guided mainly by her determination to survive as President. We believe that she will continue to make her decisions according to this norm."
"The longer the President stays in office under a cloud of doubt and mistrust, and with her style of decision-making, the greater the damage on the economy and the more vulnerable the fragile political situation becomes to extremists seeking to undermine our democratic life," Purisima said.
"Given the crisis in the Presidency, this [resignation] is the least disruptive and painful option that can swiftly restore normalcy and eventually bring us to prosperity," they said.
Malacañang said that by 12 noon Friday, all Cabinet secretaries, undersecretaries, and assistant secretaries would be considered resigned.
Press Undersecretary Isabel de Leon said that as of Thursday night Environment Secretary Michael Defensor, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, and Cerge Remonde, group head for government mass media, have tendered their resignations.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye will resign Friday, De Leon said.
Arroyo has been facing mounting calls to resign and an impeachment case has been filed against her in Congress amid allegations that she cheated her way to victory in last year's election. She has denied the allegation.
In a public address Thursday night, Arroyo said she was not going to step down but asked members of her Cabinet to resign to allow her to make a fresh start.
With a report from Michelle V. Remo, Inquirer News Service ©2005 www.inq7.net all rights reserved [/glow]