Arroyo fearing political storm

ASEAN Summit postponement due to ConAss crisis; Arroyo now even more politically vulnerable

Cebu City - The militant labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) today said that the postponement of the 12th ASEAN Summit is due to the political crisis brought by the Arroyo government's ConAss and not tropical storm Seniang. "Arroyo further exposed her political vulnerability to the public, her critics and the international community," said KMU Chairperson Elmer Labog.

"Malacanang fears of big protests here in Cebu and Manila against the ASEAN Summit and ConAss. Similar protests against the state-sponsored political killings are replicated all over the country. Arroyo's leadership is now on the verge of a political breakdown."

"We are calling all sectors and political forces to unite and act together to build the 'final push' of protests that will capsize
Arroyo's sinking political ship. Even long time Arroyo allies in the Senate including Lito Lapid and Bong Revilla disputed the
administration's move to convene the ConAss. The political balance is now tilted against Arroyo," Labog said.

"Jose De Venecia and other Malacanang lackeys in Congress are doing everything they can to shield Arroyo from the wave of criticisms and protests from all sectors, including broad activities called by the Catholic Church on December 15."

He said that despite the ASEAN's postponement, protests led by workers will continue to escalate nationwide. "All the more, we will direct our actions against Arroyo's deliberate attempts to amend the Constitution through ConAss and other forms."

The labor leader said workers will join the big protests next week against the ConAss in Manila and major urban centers nationwide. "Charter Change through any form will not benefit the majority of Filipinos. Chacha is exclusively for the benefit of Arroyo's political survival and economic interests of local and foreign big businesses and the U.S. government."

Labog said they will pursue with the planned actions in Cebu. "We are preparing for the nationally-coordinated Human Rights Day rallies tomorrow. As Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, we hold Arroyo responsible for almost 800 cases of political killings. Hundreds of activists remain missing and thousands continue to experience political harassment and repression due to the government's militarization campaign patterned after the US government war on terror."

The labor group said that with the current developments, no one will answer Arroyo's SOS calls nor JDV's plea to save the government from another People Power. "This call will only stir more actions from social sectors and anti-Arroyo forces.