One million signatures won’t change Noy stand on Nora

MANILA, Philippines - Even one million signatures cannot change the decision of President Aquino not to proclaim actress-singer Nora Aunor as national artist, Malacañang said yesterday.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the government would just have to follow what was stated in the law, or Proclamation No. 1000 in naming National Artists.

He issued the statement after Aunor’s fans and members of academe launched on Tuesday an initiative to gather a million signatures to urge Aquino to declare the film superstar a National Artist.

Aquino rejected Aunor’s nomination because of her illegal drug use case in the United States.

Coloma said that it would be best for those pushing for the one million signatures to visit the law because the government would have to follow it like everyone else.

He also said there should be no more issue with the word “conviction” used by the President to describe the illegal drug use case of Aunor because she pleaded guilty to the felony of possession of 7.7 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride with pipe and paraphernalia.

The United States and the Philippines just happen to have different processes.

“If this involved a Filipino citizen and the same act happened within the country, what can be used as basis is Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. And according (to the law), possession of more than five grams and less than 10 grams of a prohibited drug involves a penalty of a fine of P400,000 to P500,000 and imprisonment from 20 years and one day to life imprisonment,” he explained.

“So that’s how it is, so we can appreciate how serious it was if it happened in the Philippines,” he added.

Coloma reiterated that Aquino considered national interest in deciding whether Aunor should be National Artist.

NCCA: Signature drive ‘significant’

But the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) has maintained that the signature drive for Aunor to become a National Artist should not be ignored.

The signature drive is “significant because it is a show of force, and in a democratic society numbers count. So one million signatures is certainly nothing to ignore,” said NCCA legal counsel Trixie Cruz-Angeles.

Angeles also clarified that the NCCA is not part of the signature drive.

“We have not received any notice or request to support it and if the NCCA would do that officially, then the board has to issue a resolution. Right now, we do not have a resolution,” she said.

The NCCA board has also not given any orders prohibiting or allowing its personnel to sign the petition, she added.

PDEA supports Noy’s decision

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), meanwhile, expressed support for Aquino’s decision not to confer the National Artist Award on Aunor because of her use of illegal drugs.

PDEA Director General Undersecretary Arturo Cacdac Jr. said there is a need for greater professionalism and responsibility for persons who are under constant public scrutiny and are looked up to as role models.

“That is why they should take it upon themselves not to be hooked on or involved in illegal drugs, or anything else for that matter, because it sends a wrong impression to their followers,” he said.

Cacdac also maintained that there can be no compromises in addressing the drug problem.

“Illegal drugs are never right and it should remain that way…Without fail, illegal drugs are not good for anyone. It has no place in anyone’s life, whether you are a commoner or a public figure. With drugs, you always end up a loser,” he added. – With Evelyn Macairan, Reinir Padua