Arroyo Did It Again!

Gabriela Women's Party Congresswoman Luz Ilagan (seated, middle) poses with supporters during the launching of the Babae Laban sa Katiwalian (Babala) on Tuesday, March 04, 2008 in Davao City in southern Philippines. They are also calling for the resignation of President Gloria Arroyo over corruption scandal in her administration. (Photo by Keith Bacongco / AKP Images)

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 04, 2008) – Filipino leader Gloria Arroyo on Tuesday again promised to step down after her term ends in 2010.

Arroyo, hounded by allegations of poll fraud and accusations of corruptions and scandals involving her family, also said several years back that she will not seek election in 2004, but ran against more popular movie actor Fernando Poe Jr. who died of aneurysm while campaigning.

“Until that day, I will continue to push for reforms so I can hand over a strong nation to the next leader,” she said.

She made the announcement before signing into law the Civil Aviation Authority Act (CAAA) of the Philippines of 2008 in at Malacanang. “I will be true to the Constitution and to myself who has been mandated to leave the post when my term ends in 2010,” she said.

Arroyo assured her audience that included Vice President Noli de Castro, legislators and the diplomatic community, that “in the Philippines, there is and there shall continue to be due process, rule of law, and utmost respect for the Constitution. This is my pledge to you as your President and commander-in-chief.”

She added that she agrees with her critics that the law and the country should be above politics and personal popularity.

She pointed out that she would “adhere to the law because this was what every elected official has promised to do even if my critics refuse to understand and give political color to it.”

“That is why we uphold the principle of due process in investigating and adjudicating criminal allegations against any citizen, whatever the political cost. No one’s rights must be sacrificed just to spare government from the ire of protesters and the fire of politicians,” the President said.

After the CAAA signing ceremonies, a Cabinet meeting was held at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room to discuss the International Law of the Sea and the Philippine claim over resource areas within the country’s territory, including the Spratley group of islands.

“Through this claim, we shall advance the rights and interests of our nation in harnessing these rich resources,” Arroyo said.

Opposition politicians and civil society and religious groups are demanding that Arroyo resign because of corruption scandals involving the flawed and overpriced national broadband network deal with China’s ZTE Corp. Arroyo cancelled the project five months later after the Senate launched a series of investigation over the allegations. (Mindanao Examiner)