Nene renews call on GMA, Noli to resign

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. renewed his call yesterday for President Arroyo and Vice President Noli de Castro to step down and let Senate President Franklin Drilon take over prior to the calling of a national election.

"President Arroyo has lost total credibility. People will no longer believe her and her only option is to resign," Pimentel told the UP Alliance Working for Arroyo’s Removal during a forum at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.

Pimentel quipped that he even would be willing to hold the microphone for the transitional leader.

It will be recalled that Pimentel, then Senate president, was the one who held the microphone for Mrs. Arroyo when she took her oath of office following the ouster of President Joseph Estrada in 2001 due to a military-backed people’s uprising.

According to Pimentel, Filipinos no longer believe Mrs. Arroyo’s words or promises, to the point that they switch stations once they hear the President speak on radio or television.

The Senate minority leader, however, strongly opposed the plan of some groups, particularly the Coalition for National Salvation (CNS) headed by retired general Fortunato Abat, to set up a junta as a transitional government. — Perseus Echeminada