NEDA deputy chief resigns over trial fiasco

A senior economic planner of the government resigned yesterday amid growing outrage over President Estrada’s virtual acquittal by the Senate impeachment court.

The Senate voted to suppress potentially damaging evidence against President Estrada in the impeachment trial Tuesday.

Ruperto Alonzo, deputy secretary general of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), tendered his resignation effective Jan. 22 after serving for two years.

NEDA Director General Felipe Medalla said Alonzo’s staff walked out briefly in sympathy after he resigned.

"I respect his choice. He is an honorable, honest and competent person," Medalla said.

He noted that Alonzo had indicated his plans of quitting four weeks ago, but recent events "accelerated" it. He stressed that he will not follow suit.

"I am not resigning with him. Whether I like it or not, my resignation will have an impact and I don’t want to cause more uncertainty in the market. We have to think of the good of the country," he said.

Despite repeated attempts, The STAR failed to get a comment from Alonzo who is widely believed to be returning to teaching at the University of the Philippines economics department where he used to work.

Meanwhile, 22 of the 25 commissioners of the EDSA People Power Commission also resigned yesterday, citing lack of confidence in the Chief Executive.

In a press conference, Vicky Gachitorena, one of those who resigned, said they have officially joined the call for the President to step down.

"We urged President Estrada to consider resignation for having lost the moral ascendancy to unite a nation roiled by division and threatened by economic collapse," Gachitorena said, reading from the resignation letter signed by all 22 commissioners.

The EDSA People Power Commission was created by the President himself in 1998 shortly after his election. Its task is to coordinate the annual celebration of the peaceful revolt that toppled the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.

Gachitorena added that as an initial move to force Mr. Estrada to resign, they would urge the boycott of so-called "crony products" or those being manufactured by known cronies of the President.

"We will boycott Lucio Tan’s cigarettes and beer and Danding Cojuangco’s San Miguel," she said. "President Estrada should resign if he doesn’t want to be ousted in a shameful way."

STAR columnist Teodoro Benigno, who is one of the commissioners who quit, said the present situation is more serious compared to that of 1986. And he warned that another people power revolution would be more costly this time.

"The situation is more serious. The people power is an avalanche and a historic force. Our economy is going to bleed. If the peso rate to the dollar goes up to 60, this country will go to the dogs. He (Mr. Estrada) has to resign," he said. – Des Ferriols, Jose Rodel Clapano, Non Alquitran