Prosecute Gloria!

Prosecuting Gloria should be an Aquino priority

Everything that the impeachment process failed to do, likely presidential winner Benigno Aquino III should strive to do. The prosecution of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo should be a priority. This was the challenged aired by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan to the next administration.

Everything from corruption, election fraud, gross human rights violations and the sell-out of national interests should be swiftly investigated and appropriate charges filed. Mr. Aquino should make true his word that a special commission will be created to look into the charges against Mrs. Arroyo, said Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr.

Gloria Arroyo will try to use the Lower House to gain some political leverage against those who want to make her accountable. She will use her newly acquired position as Representative of the 2nd district of Pampanga to ward off cases against her. She is also hoping she will find relief from the Supreme Court, majority of which are her appointees, Reyes said.

Bayan again cited the recent case of former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori who was jailed after facing charges of corruption and human rights abuses. He was meted out a 25 year sentence for human right violations committed during his regime.

Bayan also challenged former members of the Arroyo cabinet who will be serving under the next administration to first make a full accounting of their role in the Arroyo cabinet before accepting any position.

Members of the Arroyo cabinet who will be appointed to the next administration must first reveal to the public what they know of the shenanigans of the previous regime. They should tell all and help make their former boss accountable, Reyes said.

At least one former Arroyo cabinet official, former DSWD secretary Dinky Soliman, is expected to assume the same position in an Aquino cabinet. Other Arroyo officials are expected to be re-appointed to various positions.

We should learn from the experience with the former dictator Marcos. Failure to successfully prosecute plunderers will eventually allow them to make a political comeback. Thats whats happening now, Reyes said.

Bayan said that human rights violations should be looked into and justice achieved for the victims.

The issue of human rights does not seem to be among the issues that will be looked into by the special commission that Mr. Aquino will form. We hope this changes and that prosecuting rights violators like Gen. Palparan and Norberto Gonzales will also be on the next administrations agenda, Reyes said.

We hope political prisoners like the Morong 43 will also see freedom during the next administration, he added. #

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News & Politics

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• prosecute
• gloria macapagal arroyo
• noynoy aquino