Press Release
January 21, 2006
PIMENTEL REITERATES FORMULA TO AVOID A VIOLENT MEANS OF CHANGING PRESIDENCY
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) today
rejected the use of force or violence to change the countrys
highest political leadership in the wake of an alleged plot of rebel
soldiers to stage another coup, supposedly uncovered by the
intelligence community.
Pimentel said extra-constitutional means such as a military coup
should be avoided because of the danger that it will bring about
dictatorial rule that could turn the country into another banana
republic.
There may be a factual basis for the apprehension about a military
uprising. But let us not use force or violence, because of the
disastrous consequences it would cause for the country. If we want
to change our national leaders, let us do it through peaceful
means, he said.
Citing Malacañang
s own warning that a military coup would be
bloody, the minority leader said a violent upheaval can be averted
if President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, along with Vice President Noli
de Castro, will heed public clamor to resign to pave the way for a
snap election.
He said the President must have felt very much worried over the
escape of four Magdalo junior officers from their detention center
in Fort Bonifacio, Makati City since this indicated they could not
have pulled a jailbreak without support from within the military
establishment.
According to Pimentel, it was impossible for the four junior
officers, all participants in the July, 2003 Oakwood mutiny, to
escape from the high-security detention center in the premier
military camp without the connivance and assistance of the military
officers and men assigned to guard them.
In other words, Gloria has every reason to be bothered because
while some generals may be supporting her, the junior officers are
not and many of them want her ousted, he said.
Pimentel said that while the people generally abhor the use of
force, the President is inviting this kind of reaction by her
adamant stand to cling to her office despite the fact that she does
not anymore enjoy the support of the majority of the populace.
Should Arroyo and De Castro resign now, he said a snap election can
be held in April and a new president and vice president can be
installed into office in May.
During the interval, Pimentel said Senate President Franklin Drilon
will assume the post as acting president in accordance with
constitutional order of succession. The acting presidents main task
will be to call and supervise a snap election 45 days from the date
the vacancy in the presidency occurred. |