Tom says LP urged to back Arroyo arrest

A RESOLUTION will reportedly be circulated to the Liberal Party (LP) asking them to support the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) handling of the charges against former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

But Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district wants to read the resolution first before signing it.

“I have not read the resolution that I have been asked to sign. I would certainly love to read it, I’m not a rubber stamp,” he said.

He said while justice should be done in Arroyo’s case, the court’s decision should also be respected.

Osmeña said he received a text message informing about the LP resolution but could not tell from whom the text is coming from.

Osmeña said Cebu wasn’t spared from allegations of cheating done by Arroyo in the 2004 elections and it is up to Cebuanos to disprove them.

“We must remind ourselves to try and clean our name first and challenge those who accused to prove that we have cheated in Cebu. They are asking why Fernando (Poe, Jr.) lost in Cebu? Of course, he lost in Cebu, what can I do?” Osmeña said.

Osmeña said even if Arroyo is a friend, she must answer the accusations leveled against her.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama echoed Osmena’s view, saying the court should also be respected.

“I hope they will handle it in the parlance of the legal and the judicial system and we must also take into considerations all the constitutional provisions,” Rama said.

For her part, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia declined to comment on Arroyo’s arrest on  election sabotage charges.

Provincial Board (PB) member Rimobapil Holganza, a member of the local Lakas-NUCD, said the party has yet to make its position on the issue. Correspondents Edison delos Angeles and Carmel Loise Matus