GMA: Let’s end divisiveness

Ahead of a crucial week of flagging opposition attempts to impeach her, President Arroyo called for an end to divisiveness and urged the people to help search for "an acceptable formula" that would reconcile bickering factions and unite the country.

The President made the renewed call for national unity and reconciliation during the prayer rally of the El Shaddai group led by spiritual leader Bro. Mike Velarde late Saturday, minutes before her deposed predecessor addressed the same crowd.

"As Bro. Mike said, let’s look for a formula that works and is acceptable so that we would all be united as soon as possible," Mrs. Arroyo told the El Shaddai prayer rally at Manila’s Rizal Park.

"As President of the Philippines, I’m ready to take steps and call on my enemies for us to unite so that our politics would not deteriorate and so that our economy would progress," she said.

Mrs. Arroyo said the El Shaddai movement was formed out of the tense political atmosphere and worsening economy in 1984.

She said Velarde, who celebrated his 66th birthday last Saturday, had sought to unite his flock to uplift their economic condition and strengthen their faith in God.

Mrs. Arroyo said adverse politics set back the economy and earned for the nation a reputation of being unstable, citing the two EDSA revolutions and several coup attempts to unseat incumbent presidents.

All of these historic events changed the government but only left the people more divided, she said.

As part of his birthday wish, Velarde made an effort to broker reconciliation talks between Mrs. Arroyo and ousted Preisdent Joseph Estrada.

The two leaders agreed to attend the gathering but not at the same time. The former president attended the prayer rally just after midnight Saturday, hours after Mrs. Arroyo called for a reconciliation with her political enemies.

Velarde offered to act as mediator between Mrs. Arroyo and Estrada, saying it was time to end political division and the crisis that is tearing the country apart.

Telling the crowd of his reply to reporters on why both were not able to meet, Velarde said: "What I told them (journalists) is that if there is Erap, there is Gloria."

"We should listen to the Lord’s call, to the call of Bro. Mike, the call of peace and reconciliation," Mrs. Arroyo told the crowd.

The President said Velarde could be the divine instrument in finding the acceptable formula for all parties involved in the reconciliation process.

"Now he (Velarde) is a gift from God as a prophet of reconciliation. I know that he will be one of God’s instruments for us to unite," Mrs. Arroyo said.

According to the President, she had prayed for the fulfillment of Velarde’s birthday wishes, "most especially his wish for national unity."

Malacañang said Mrs. Arroyo has always been willing to reconcile with her critics and detractors, including Estrada, but it must be done without justice being sacrificed.

Estrada, however, said it is "not timely," to reconcile with Mrs. Arroyo in the light of the pending plunder case filed against him before the Sandiganbayan.

Estrada had denied reports that he had asked Mrs. Arroyo, through her emissary Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Michael Defensor, to allow him "recognizance" or court-approved guarantor to vouch for him in his appeal to post bail for his plunder case.

While unaware of the reported talks between Estrada and Defensor, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said there is nothing wrong with such efforts.

Presidential Management Staff head Rigoberto Tiglao added Mrs. Arroyo had assigned one Cabinet member for each of the 10 points in her agenda with Defensor in the task of reconciling with various alienated sectors in the process of change of government.

Ermita, however, downplayed Estrada’s reported rejection of reconciliation overtures. He stressed Mrs. Arroyo’s sincerity in unity efforts but without sacrificing the rule of law.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said Mrs. Arroyo is pushing for reconciliation to allow the government and the people to work together to face the country’s worsening economic problems minus the distractions from political bickering.

"As much as possible, the President wants to concentrate on governance and the economy," Bunye said.

With the efforts to reconcile the two political leaders, Senate President Franklin Drilon said Malacañang should not use the justice department as a tool to grant concessions to Estrada over his plunder trial.

He said the justice department remains the last bastion of democracy and it should not be subverted to the will of Malacañang in extending reconciliation with the former president.

"President Erap is in the custody of the Sandiganbayan. Any action on President Estrada should be made with the approval of the court," Drilon said.

Door Still Open

Velarde said he would continue to work for the reconciliation of the two political leaders despite his failure to have them both present on stage at the same time last Saturday.

"Magtatagpo din siguro sila very soon," he said. "Mas masaya sana ako kung ... natuloy, tapos na sana ang ating suliranin at siyempre tapos na rin ang aking problema," Velarde told reporters after seeing off Mrs. Arroyo.

The El Shaddai leader said talks for reconciliation are still a big possibility for both Mrs. Arroyo and Estrada.

Velarde said he would still discuss his "formula" for reconciliation with the two sides and pray for its success. The formula includes his support to initiatives to rewrite the Constitution.

"We should come together to fix our Constitution, set aside politics first for the sake of the country," he said.

Velarde said he is supporting the President’s proposal for Charter change.

He said the political leaders must sacrifice their personal interests and agree to come together at this crucial time in history to work for the common good.

"We will appeal to them to study and consider our proposal for reconciliation. I am giving them the freedom to decide based on their own opinions and feelings," Velarde said. "It is now the time to embrace each other."

Mrs. Arroyo said she is one with Velarde in uniting the country.

"I am willing to take necessary steps to reach out to my opponents. We should unite so politics will not destroy our economy poised for takeoff," she said.

Among those who joined the President during the El Shaddai prayer rally were Vice President Noli de Castro, Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte, Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, Sen. Mar Roxas and Government Media Group head Cerge Remonde.

The opposition led by Estrada came in after the President’s entourage had left the prayer rally.

Among those from the opposition who attended the rally were Sen. Loi Ejercito; Estrada’s sons Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, San Juan Mayor Jose Victor "JV" Ejercito and Jude Estrada; former senator Loren Legarda, Sorsogon representative and House Minority Leader Francis Escudero, Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay and Ilocos Norte Rep. Imee Marcos.

The opposition leaders said they attended the prayer rally as part of their tradition to greet Velarde on his birthday.

They said reconciliation must only come with truth, justice and accountability.

The opposition has accused the President of cheating in last year’s elections which formed the basis of the impeachment complaint against her before Congress.

Opposition lawmakers are gearing up for the second week of pushing for the impeachment complaint.

Mrs. Arroyo, on the other hand, has used her formidable political machinery to shore up support and fend off a steady stream of fresh allegations by the opposition against her.

The President faces the dilemma of whether to quash the impeachment attempt or risk public anger which could trigger another popular revolt that may succeed in ousting her. - With Aurea Calica, Evelyn Macairan, Christina Mendez