Last-minute decisions installing pro-Gloria governors show: Gloria still has an evil plan -- KMU

It may be less than 100 days before the May 10 elections, but President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo still has an evil plan to prolong herself in power, Kilusang Mayo Uno said today. The labor center said this is shown by the recent decisions made by the Commission on Elections that install pro-Gloria governors in three provinces. 

On Thursday, the Comelec Second Division decided that Lilia Pineda, a close ally of President Arroyo and wife of a rumored jueteng lord in Pampanga, is the duly-elected governor of the province -- thus unseating present governor Eddie "Among Ed" Panlilio. This follows the Comelec's decisions installing close Arroyo allies as governors of Bulacan and Isabela provinces.

"Something's definitely cooking. Why would people want to be governors for just three months? To vindicate themselves? The Pinedas do not seem to be people with a sense of honor or principle. Their ascent to power may be part of an evil plan for the coming elections," said Elmer "Bong" Labog, KMU chairperson.

"Knowing Mrs. Arroyo, it's possible that these people are being put in power to implement massive cheating in favor of the administration's candidates, especially Gibo Teodoro. Or they may be important for the 'no-election' or 'no-proclamation' plus martial law scenarios that political analysts, such as former Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban, are talking about," added Labog. 

The labor leader was referring to the analysis that former CJ Panganiban discussed in his columns in a broadsheet. Panganiban said the wholesale or selective failure of the automated elections system or AES may be used by the present administration to hold on to power.

"The signs aren't reassuring. Why would Gloria want his closest allies to be in power just a few months before the election? Perhaps she is compensating for absence of her close ally, Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. of Maguindanao. The results of the coming elections are expected to be a stinging rebuke of her anti-people, anti-worker and repressive administration," said Labog. 

KMU said that it is in the interest of Mrs. Arroyo to stay in power beyond the Constitutionally-mandated end of her term in 30 June 2010. 

"Everybody knows what Gloria wants at this point: avoid being held responsible for her numerous and murderous crimes against the Filipino workers and people. Perhaps she also wants to protect the wealth and properties that her family has illegally amassed during their nightmarish nine-year reign in the country," concluded Labog. #