GMA to serve remainder of term — Bunye

President Arroyo would serve the remainder of her term despite calls for her to resign over alleged massive electoral fraud in last year’s elections, Malacañang said yesterday.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said Mrs. Arroyo’s opponents will have to wait until the next election in 2010 if they want to take power.

"All those who want to run for president will have to wait for the next presidential election," he said.

Bunye described as "absurd" calls for Mrs. Arroyo’s resignation over allegations that she cheated Fernando Poe Jr. in the 2004 presidential elections.

"She won fair and square," he said in a statement as he brushed off opposition calls for a "snap election" to choose Mrs. Arroyo’s successor.

Mrs. Arroyo believes in the rule of law, Bunye said.

On the other hand, Secretary Gabriel Claudio, presidential adviser on political affairs, said in a telephone interview that an impeachment complaint against Mrs. Arroyo before the House of Representatives is "the preferred route" to resolve the allegations of electoral fraud against her.

"It’s inappropriate for us to predict what will happen in such a scenario," he said.

"But if opponents of the President were to take this route, I’d say at least it’s constitutional and according to the rules of a democratic society.

"You can also expect the President’s allies to assert and prove legally that she has committed no impeachable offense and has not betrayed the public trust."

However, Press Undersecretary Cerge Remonde said an impeachment complaint against Mrs. Arroyo would not prosper since the purported recordings of telephone conversations between her and former election commissioner Virgilio Garcillano cannot be admitted as evidence.

"The tape, genuine or not, is inadmissible as evidence and all are propaganda," he said. "We must go on with our lives."

Meanwhile, Environment Secretary Michael Defensor, one of Mrs. Arroyo’s campaign managers in the elections, said an impeachment complaint would not be able to hurdle the requirement of whether it is sufficient in form and substance.

"The subject of the alleged wiretapped conversations and alleged electoral fraud is a sensitive and critical subject that should not be left to an open and freewheeling public hearing," he said.

"At least the rules of evidence would prevail, if ever an impeachment complaint would be filed."

But Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. has warned his colleagues in the opposition against falling into the trap set up by Malacañang and its allies in Congress to save Mrs. Arroyo.

"The administration is now baiting the opposition to file an impeachment case against President Arroyo under the pretext of upholding the constitutional due process knowing it has the numbers in the House of Representatives to thwart this move from square one," he said.

Pimentel said an impeachment proceeding is a highly divisive and very problematic exercise as shown in the aborted impeachment trial of ousted President Joseph Estrada.

"If an impeachment (complaint) against Mrs. Arroyo will not be satisfactorily resolved or end up in stalemate, the nation will again be plunged into a constitutional crisis which we can ill-afford because of its potentially disastrous consequences," he said.

On the other hand, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago said people "salivating" for the presidency should quench their thirst for power in a manner allowed by law and civilized society.

"Ang dami nila na gustong maging presidente (There are many of them who want to be president)," she said.

"Kung gusto nila, magkampanya sila, ilathala and kanilang resumé para ma-compare ng mga tao, magtalumpati sila. Ang gusto nila short-cut na sila ang maging presidente. (If they want, they could campaign, publish their resumés so the people can make a comparison, they can make a speech. They want a shortcut to the presidency).

"Ang Saligang Batas ang hari ng publiko, ang siyang mamimili ng presidente, ang sistema ng pagkuha ng presidente (The Constitution, will pick the president, the system to choose the president)."

Santiago said calling for Mrs. Arroyo’s resignation on account of two controversies based on shallow grounds without solid evidence would destroy democratic institutions and the rule of law.

"I have always stood since time immemorial for the rule of law, sundin natin lahat ang Saligang Batas. Gusto nilang maging presidente, magkampanya sila (let us all follow the Constitution. They want to become president, they wage a campaign)."

Politicians, who are in a hurry to become president, are capitalizing on the public confusion to advance their interests, Santiago said.

Meanwhile, Vice President Noli de Castro, said that now is the time for the administration to resolve the country’s problem on poverty in light of controversies hounding Mrs. Arroyo.

"While there are lot of loose political talk going around, we cannot afford to lose focus and be confused for it will only derail the nation’s efforts to face the real problem of poverty, particularly those concerned with housing," he said.

De Castro is also Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council chairman. — Paolo Romero, Christina Mendez, Jose Rodel Clapano, AFP