KIKO: PALACE USING 'DIVIDE AND RULE' TACTIC TO WEAKEN
ANTI-GMA FORCES
"Nation needs New Force to advance the welfare of the public!"

Senate Majority Leader Kiko Pangilinan today accused the Palace of further sowing divisiveness and disunity in the country by "using the 'divide and rule' tactic to split the forces critical of the Arroyo administration and to weaken the opposition."

"The Arroyo administration will exploit the situation as they realize that personal ambitions and self-serving interests of a number of key personalities in the opposition will prevent them from uniting. This was seen in the Senate Presidency race and this will continue to rear its ugly head to the delight of the Arroyo government," Kiko explained.

Members of the political opposition have started to suspect that former President Joseph Estrada may have already been co-opted by Malacanang after he refused to join calls for the resignation of his benefactor, President Arroyo.

On the other hand, even some of Malacanang's allies have voiced concern over the granting of pardon to a convicted plunderer, saying that it was obviously done to ensure the President's political longevity amid a string of corruption-related scandals leading to renewed calls for her resignation or removal.

"The offer of posts and the decision to pardon Erap are all part of the Arroyo administration's ploy to coopt the forces critical of Malacanang and to bring these groups and individuals to their side. It is a divide and rule tactic to keep the anti-GMA forces at bay, to weaken and prevent the galvanizing of forces opposed to the administration from taking place. It is a shrewd and ingenious strategy that will work with some of those in the opposition who will be willing to pursue selfish political ambitions at the expense of a united front against the administration. It is time to begin to redraw the political lines not so much as between Pro-GMA or Pro Erap forces or between administration or opposition, but between forces representing 'politics as usual' and forces that represent the politics of performance, principles and conviction," said Kiko.

Echoing the sentiments of civil society groups who are still roiling over the Palace's decision to grant Estrada exclusive clemency even in the absence of a public consultation, Kiko said the current situation calls not for the opposition or the administration's brand of leadership but a "true alternative."

"The public clamors for a new force with leaders who are principled and who truly care for the nation's welfare. The challenge to our political leaders is to denounce trapo leadership and politics as usual," he said.

"The time calls for a new brand of leadership. The silent majority is weary of putting either the opposition under former President Estrada or the administration under President Arroyo in power. The public is looking for a true alternative. The challenge to our political leaders is to push for genuine alternatives to move this country forward," Kiko ended.