Impeachment Monitor

Disinclined Accomplice

2006-07-16T20:51:00.000+08:00

A commentary on the recent Pastoral Letter issued by the CBCP

"The letter’s major flaw rests on the bishops’ faulty outlook which sees all issues and participating parties homogeneously. While it is true that almost all politicians have vested interests (which is to get the maximum exposure to ensure electoral victory or side with the incumbent to benefit from its machinery and resources), the fact remains that the other party, who happened to be the highest official of the land, is being accused of masterminding electoral fraud in 2004. Such an approach tends to highlight the self-indulgent balance-of-power between the administration and the opposition (a perspective which always works for the benefit of the administration) while watering down the real issues in the process. It’s no different to the language used by Malacañang apologists and scriptwriters everyday that Arroyo’s critics are only hungry for power and are out to destabilize the government." READ ON

The CBCP on the 2nd impeachment complaint

2006-07-10T21:29:00.000+08:00

Impeachment Monitor
July 10 dispatch

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) recently issued a pastoral letter on key issues in the country after its three-day 93rd Plenary Assembly in Manila.

While the CBCP said it was "not inclined at the present moment to favor the impeachment process as mean for establishing the truth," the bishops stressed that the "search for the truth" on the allegations of widespread electoral fraud in 2004 must go on.

The bishops also called on the government to restore the public's faith in the electoral process and other democratic institutions by instituting reforms in the electoral system. The CBCP likewise reiterated its opposition to "hasty efforts" being pushed by Malacanang-sponsored groups to change the Constitution. It also denounced the spate of killings perpetrated against journalists and political activists who are known critics of the Arroyo government.

While the CBCP does not favor the impeachment process at this time, more church people coming from different denominations including the Roman Catholic Church signed the second impeachment complaint against Mrs. Arroyo. (more on this story)

Endorse impeachment seminars in schools, CHEd urged

2006-07-04T13:41:00.000+08:00

NEWS RELEASE
June 30, 2006

The Kabataan Party today challenged the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) to endorse the holding of fora about the new impeachment complaint against Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in higher education institutions after the latter agreed to organize Charter change (Cha-cha) seminars in tertiary schools with known Cha-cha advocates.

"If CHEd really wants to enlighten students and educators on national affairs, it should start with issues hounding the Arroyo presidency that fueled the current political and economic crisis," Kabataan Party vice president Carl Marc Ramota said.

"The problems of corruption, gross human rights violations and electoral fraud are issues of paramount importance that directly affect each and every Filipino. These are the realities that students ought to know and understand first, rather than the Cha-cha proposal which deceives the public with reforms while seeking to perpetuate the present ruling clique at its practices," he pointed out.

"In these times when so-called democratic institutions and processes are easily manipulated to conceal the truth, schools are the best alternative venue for discourse and social critique. CHEd should not allow itself to be used as machinery for deceit. As education officials, they should put more emphasis on instilling social awareness, responsibility and involvement among the students rather than blindly following orders from the higher-ups."

Ramota said the Kabataan Party, together with the Youth Demanding Arroyo's Removal (Youth DARE) and the youth impeachment watchdog Impeach Monitor, will also be holding a nationwide school caravan starting this month to promote awareness on the grounds for the new impeachment complaint against Mrs. Arroyo.

Meanwhile, he also warned of possible student unrest should the Arroyo administration and its allies in Congress prematurely kill the second impeachment bid.

"While the Arroyo government insists that we should follow the Constitution and observe the rule of law, it is using its own juridical formulas to bend the law and keep the truth from coming out. Such moves further erode the remaining confidence that the public have on our government and Constitutional processes."

Ramota however clarified that while they support the second impeachment bid, they are not pinning all their hopes on it.

"While we remain optimistic, we are not putting all our hopes on such a process which can be easily controlled and altered. The real decisive step for change is still the people's collective action. The sovereign will of the people takes precedence over any other corruptible process and institution," he stressed.

NEWS STORY
Students seek clarification on impeachment (Inquirer)

The Pope on the Role of Church and State

2006-07-04T13:30:00.000+08:00

By Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)

...the CBCP respects Bishop Iñiguez personal option and will not go with the suggestion of Malacañang to sanction him because he also agrees with CBCP statements on Politics and Moral Values. READ ON

Student leaders file impeachment complaint vs GMA

2006-07-04T13:11:00.000+08:00

NEWS RELEASE
June 29, 2006

Student leaders file impeachment complaint vs GMA
Reelectionist solons warned

Another impeachment complaint was filed this morning against Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, this time coming from the students.

Led by the Youth Demanding Arroyo's Removal (YOUTH DARE), the Kabataan Party and the University of the Philippines (UP) Student Councils in Diliman and Manila, dozens of student and youth leaders from different schools and national youth formations filed an impeachment complaint similar to what civil society and people's organizations filed on Monday and former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr. submitted on Tuesday at the House.

They were joined by representatives from student councils and campus publications from the Ateneo De Manila University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, University of the East, St. Paul's College and Eulogio Amang Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology, among others.

Today's complainants also included the UP Manila and Mapua students who 'heckled' Mrs. Arroyo in her recent visit to the Philippine General Hospital.

"As future leaders and responsible citizens of this nation, it is every young Filipinos moral obligation to set the bar for public servants and strive for a better Philippines for the generations to come. Getting rid of a corrupt, despotic and illegitimate president is the first step to ensure country and the youth's bright future," YOUTH DARE spokesman and Kabataan Party president Raymond Palatino said.

"The youth have every reason to call for Arroyo's removal. She has long-ago failed the
youth, the decisive force which catapulted her into power, by discounting the Youth Agenda presented to her by youth leaders upon her assumption of office. Her presidency is marked by unabated tuition hikes, annual budget cuts in state schools, public schools operating in decrepit condition, campus repression and murder of student leaders critical of her administration. She is the biggest hindrance and threat to our country's progress and the youth's future," he pointed out.

Meanwhile, Palatino said YOUTH DARE and the Kabataan Party have also launched the Impeachment Monitor or I-Monitor which will serve as its campaign design for the impeachment process.

"Our aim is to promote awareness among the youth on the impeachment complaint and gather the biggest support and further broaden the youth opposition against President Arroyo. We want to foster vigilance among the youth and participation in the impeachment process."

"The new impeachment complaint, not Arroyo's Charter change, will be the topic of discussions in schools," he said

Palatino also warned lawmakers who will conspire with the Arroyo administration to kill the new impeachment complaint.

"We will closely monitor every development in the impeachment process. We will make sure that the students and youth will remember the names of those who are for truth and justice and those who chose to be the enemy of democracy," he added, saying the I-Monitor will place monitoring sheets in campuses bearing the names of legislators who have already signed or turned down the complaint.

"This should serve as a warning to those seeking reelection," he said.

NEWS STORIES:

Youth join Impeachment Bid (Malaya)
4th impeachment complaint lodged vs. Arroyo (SunStar)
Students file 4th impeach case; ex-VP warns of civil disobedience (Tribune)

Binay's daughter leads youths in filing 4th impeach case (Bulletin)

CBCP: Bishop’s impeach bid conforms with pastoral statement (Inquirer)
Gonzalez, Malacañang assail series of impeachment moves (Times)Binay's daughter leads in filing of 4th impeachment case (Star)

Youth impeachment watchdog launched

2006-07-04T12:55:00.000+08:00

iMonitor or Impeachment Monitor is Youth Demanding Arroyo's Removal's (YOUTH DARE) campaign design on the impeachment complaint filed against Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

iMonitor has three major objectives:

1. To promote awareness among the youth on the new impeachment complaint;
2. To gather the biggest support from the youth for the impeachment case and further broaden the youth's opposition against Mrs. Arroyo;
3. To foster the vigilance and participation in the impeachment process among the youth.

iMonitor activities include:
- setting up of iMonitor centers/booths in schools, communities and other areas;
- release of news bulletins and news letters
- attendance in impeachment hearings (class field trips in Congress)
- trooping in Congress / lobbying
- other forms of lobbying using text messaging, blogs, e-mails and snail mail to convince undecided lawmakers to support the impeachment
- fora/symposia/alternative classes in schools andcommunities

You can contact us at 0922-3570410 (Raymond) or 0919-4138288 (Carl).
You can also e-mail us at youthdare@gmail.com

Be informed.
Be aware.
Monitor the impeachment.