Poe: Have we forgotten Arroyo’s ‘sins’?
Update
Have people forgotten the alleged “sins” committed during the term of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo?
Senator Grace Poe wasted no time on Tuesday to remind people of the alleged anomalies that happened during Arroyo’s term as president.
Arroyo, who has been accused of benefitting from alleged massive cheating in the 2004 elections, was installed as new Speaker of the House of Representatives on Monday, hours before President Rodrigo Duterte delivered his third State of the Nation Address (Sona).
Arroyo had defeated Poe’s father, the late actor Fernando Poe Jr., in the 2004 elections.
The mention of her father’s name during a television interview brought back memories to Poe.
“Nabanggit mo dahil nakaroon ng dayaan noong eleksyon ng 2004, hindi lang yun, huwag nang balikan yun. Balikan na lang atin yung iba pang anomalyang nangyari noong administrasyon nya (Arroyo),” she said.
(You mentioned that there was cheating in the 2004 elections; let’s not bring that back. Let’s just look at the anomalies during her administration)
“Tandaan nga ninyo yung mga nangyari nun? Mga payola, yung mga kurakot. Yung mga bagay na pinaglaban natin para maalis sa gobyerno. Balikan nga natin kung ano ang halaga ng piso ng mga panahon na yun, P56 sa bawat dolyar. Tandaan nga natin ang presyo ng gasolina ng mga panahon na yun?”
(Let’s not forget what happened then. The payoffs, the corruption–the things that we wanted the government to get rid of. Remember the value of peso during that time, P56 per dollar? How much was the price of gasoline during that time?)
“Tandaan natin yung mga binibigyan ng payola, pati yung mga pari. Ganyan ba ang gusto nating maging ehemplo ulit ngayon?”
(Don’t forget the people who received payola, even priests. Is that what we want now?)
Poe said she would not stop reminding the people and President Rodrigo Duterte of his promise to get rid the government of corrupt officials.
However, if the proposed shift to parliamentary form of government succeeds, the senator reiterated her warning that Arroyo could become prime minister.
“Kung ang agenda ng parliamentary system na tinutulak nila ay matuloy, magiging kapantay ng ating pangulo ang kapangyarihan ng isang prime minister at kung ang prime minister na dyan ay si Gloria Arroyo, sya na ang mamumuno sa atin ulit?” she asked.
(If the agenda of the parliament system that they want pushes through, the power of the prime minister will be similar to that of the President and id the prime minister is Gloria Arroyo, she will be our leader again?)
“Kung ok sa inyo yan, kayo naman ang may kapangyarian e di ba?”
(If that’s ok with you, the power is with you anyway.)
Poe though warned that under a parliamentary form, the powers would be left to Congress to be headed by the prime minister.
Unlike now, she said, all legislation would have to get the approval of the Senate.
“Kung iisang house na lang yan, wala ng Senado, mas madaling magkaroon ng lutuan,” Poe added.
(If there was only one house, without the Senate, it would be easier to cheat.) /vvp/ac
