KMU to Arroyo: Don’t make Neri a sacrificial lamb, face charges

Labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno criticized the Palace order suspending Social Security System chief Romulo Neri over the Ombudsman’s ruling in the $329-million NBN-ZTE broadband mess, saying Gloria Arroyo should not make Neri a sacrificial lamb to shield herself from prosecution and public condemnation.

KMU said the ruling, which cleared the First Couple from the broadband deal, has again exposed to the people the “rule of the Arroyos” in the country, rather than the “rule of law.”

“Malacañang knows that it cannot easily extricate itself out of the NBN-ZTE mess, that’s why it had to appear that it is sacrificing Neri to the ‘rule of law’,” said KMU Chairperson Elmer “Bong” Labog.

“At the same time, by charging Neri, even though he refused the bribe, Malacañang is sending a warning to Neri: more charges await you should you decide to stand for the truth on the issue,” he added.

Labog said the First Couple should not be happy with the Ombudman’s ruling, saying “that the first couple is involved as mastermind in the NBN-ZTE anomaly has been a foregone conclusion for the Filipino workers and people.”

“That the Ombudsman should clear the first couple in the case shows that this office is not apolitical, that it is partisan to the core, that it serves the interests of the Arroyos, and that it is willing to sacrifice the rule of law to the altar of Mrs. Arroyo’s political self-preservation as president,” said Labog.

KMU challenged Neri to spill the beans on the controversy and provide the evidence that will help ensure that the Arroyosland in jail.

“We hope that this time around, Neri will cast aside his spineless and cowardly position on the issue and say the truth. Will he go down in history as someone who remained loyal to Mrs. Arroyo despite all of these? How much crap from this regime can he take?” Labog said. 

Labog said the Arroyos should brace for more storms of protest even as Mrs. Arroyo’s term is set to expire next year.
“Just a few months before it term ends, the Arroyo regime is still being hounded by scandals, old and new. That is to be expected: It is reaping what it has sown.

“Mrs. Arroyo will also be hounded by the Filipino workers and people’s determined opposition, until she steps down – in 2010 or beyond. This fact must be giving her nightmares, as it warns of the cases she will have to face up to in the near future,” Labog said. ###