Technicalities and legal frivolities will not stop impeachment efforts

Labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) today joined Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and other groups in a protest in front of the Batasang Pambansa Complex this morning to pressure legislators to hasten the proceedings for Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's impeachment.

KMU Secretary General Joel Maglunsod said that the eigh impeachment complaints filed against Arroyo are all valid and asserted that pro-Arroyo legislators and the courts must not use the alibi of double jeopardy or res judicata to dismiss these complaints and buy more time for Arroyo. "Pro-impeachment lawyers already reviewed the arguments espoused by pro-Arroyo solons and found that the case presented by Arroyo's gofers in the Congress and Senatre are without legal and constitutional basis."

"Now is not the time to talk about technicalities and legal frivolities. The moral and social bases for Arroyo's impeachment or ouster remain irrefutable. The fact that more and more poor and average Filipinos and some section of the elite want Arroyo out from Malacanang cannot be denied nor covered with rubbish legal arguments.

Arroyo must go as soon as possible.

The labor leader said they are exhausting all means possible to remove Arroyo as President. "In her five year term since 2001, all she brought to the Filipino people were disasters and tragedy."

Maglunsod cited the worsening poverty experienced by the country's population as a major and indisputable reason why Arroyo must go.

"Not even the government's economic growth hype can save Arroyo's face from the public's fury. The unrestrained increase in prices of petroleum and LPG already consumed the measly wage adjustments approved by the regional wage boards. Now after 5 years of strenuous efforts from the labor sector, the Congress wants to forestall the P125 wage hike bill. Nationwide incidence of poverty and hunger are steadily rising. Based on surveys, self-rated poverty increased to 59% by the end of June from 55% in the previous year. Much more people are enduring poverty, unemployment and hunger," Maglunsod concluded.