Cabinet men warn against civil disobedience campaign

Cabinet officials warned left-leaning groups yesterday against holding civil disobedience campaigns, saying such protest actions could only lead to more economic hardships.

Finance Secretary Jose Pardo and Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado said in separate radio interviews that the leftists’ plan to boycott companies linked to President Estrada’s friends and defer their tax payments could hurt the economy.

A militant farmers’ group, which has been getting the support of the business community in the drive to oust Mr. Estrada, announced the other day that it may conduct a civil disobedience campaign to force the President’s resignation.

Pardo asked businessmen to help the government "insulate" the economy from such partisan politics.

If not, he said the government’s projection of a 3.5 percent economic growth target would be severely affected.

"Our appeal to (businessmen) is if ever they are angry or they have problems, please do not direct these to the economic institution," he said.

Pardo also asked businessmen to wait for the results of the impeachment trial in the Senate instead of joining street protests.

For his part, Mercado said the planned tax boycott will only benefit big business.

Unlike fixed income and wage earners, whose withholding taxes are automatically deducted from their salaries, big businesses "are capable of circumventing the law," he said.

"Hence, the call for the non-payment of taxes will benefit only big business," he said.

Mercado also said that Armed Forces of the Philippines has received an intelligence report about the political opposition’s heavy spending in trying to oust Mr. Estrada.

He said the President’s political enemies have already spent "billions of pesos" in their campaign.

"This report is not surprising because we all know that big amounts of money are needed to mobilize people to join protest actions," he said. "So in many instances we can see that there is an organized campaign to oust Mr. Estrada."

Meanwhile, leftist demonstrators vowed to launch a much bigger protest action on Dec. 7, when the Senate formally starts the impeachment trial.

Crispin Beltran, chairman of the Kilusang Mayo Uno, said they will take a rest before holding the rally.

"The week-long rallies have been tiresome. We have to rest for a while before we launch another mass action," he said.

Satur Ocampo of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said a series of mass actions will start on Monday next week and culminate on Dec. 7. He said they will try to double the number of rallyists.

Last Thursday, about 20,000 demonstrators converged at the foot of the Don Chino Roces Bridge (formerly Mendiola) to pressure Mr. Estrada to resign.

Sanlakas spokeswoman Judy Ann Miranda told a press conference that some of their members will don Santa Claus costumes during the series of rallies and give "special gifts" to "naughty" senators.

For instance, she said their Santa Clauses would give a balimbing to former Senate President Franklin Drilon and two bouncing checks to Senators John Osmeña and Tessie Aquino-Oreta.

The group’s Santa Claus would also give a new amulet to Sen. Ramon Revilla, a pair of zippers to Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago and a one-way plane ticket to China for businessman and presidential friend Lucio Tan.

In other developments yesterday, the Rebolusyonaryong Alyansang Makabansa (RAM) said it will support a "people’s revolt" against Mr. Estrada, but will not join any coup attempts to topple the administration.

"We agreed … that RAM will side with the people and help them in whatever moves they will make against the administration," retired Brig. Gen. Edgardo Abenina told a radio interview.

On rumors that members of the Philippine Military Academy’s Classes 1976 and 1978 will go on indefinite leave as a form of protest against Mr. Estrada, Abenina said he is not surprised.

"They can’t stand the way the President runs the affairs of the state," he said.

He also expressed suspicion over the sudden departure of Philippine National Police chief Director General Panfilo Lacson for the United States.

"Why did he suddenly leave when anytime the people can overthrow the government?" he asked.

"These are the times when he is very much needed by the PNP and the country, especially now when there are reports that there will be a mass leave within the PNP," Abenina said. – Marichu Villanueva, Nestor Etolle, Mayen Jaymalin, Paolo Romero, Charlie Lagasca