Press Statement

29 June 2005

Representatives of people’s organizations and individual advocates have gathered today, 29 June 2005, to launch a new broad, united progressive coalition for the ouster of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. She has been a catastrophic failure in solving the problems of poverty and hunger! Her administration surpasses the venality of the Marcos dictatorship. And the “Hello Garci” tapes confirm our worst suspicion
That GMA herself orchestrated the cheating in the last elections.

But we also dread the succession of Vice President Noli de Castro. Like GMA, he is a beneficiary of massive fraud.

Snap elections will not ease the nation’s agony. The vote-buying and cheating machines of the traditional politicians are intact. Holding snap elections now will only put in power another set of scoundrels who represent the same elite. For elections to be truly democratic, it must be preceded by fundamental social reforms. The elite’s monopoly of power should be clipped and new structures should be created to give the masses a meaningful role in shaping the future of our country.

We call for a revolutionary government unencumbered by the legal and institutional constraints that preserve the system of elite rule. The Philippines needs a government with the strength and political will to implement fundamental social reforms. Such a government alone is capable of executing a transition from elite rule to genuine democracy.

We emphasize the need for public custody of our common resources such as land and water. We demand the repudiation of all illegitimate debts and relief to workers and all other vulnerable sectors of society. We support the aspirations of our Muslim brothers and sisters for the right to self-determination. We value the need for gender equality and the promotion of women’s rights. We also recognize the need to ensure the people’s
Access to basic services and the protection of their rights.

The crisis triggered by the jueteng scandal and the “Hello Garci” tapes not only exposes the corruption of the current occupant of Malacañang, but also the utter bankruptcy of the system of elite rule.

MAMAMAYAN, MAGKAISA!
[People, Unite !]

Wakasan ang Rehimeng Arroyo! Wakasan ang Elitistang Paghahari!
[Put an end to the Arroyo regime ! Put an end to the elite rule !]

Itayo ang Transitional Revolutionary Government!
[Establish a Transtional Revolutionary Government !]