As the nation remembers the people's uprising of EDSA II, the people is reminded of the seven years under the yoke of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's repressive and corrupt rule. The health sector under Rx Gloria Out Now! (Rx GO Now!) joins the broad masses of the people in shouting "Enough! Seven years of Gloria is enough!".
The last seven years under Mrs. Arroyo is characterized by seven deadly sins she has committed against the Filipino people. These are the sins for which she should be made accountable, sins for which her rule should end.
Corruption. The litany of corrupt multi-billion dollar and multi-million peso deals that have enriched Mrs. Arroyo and associates include the ZTE-National Broadband Network deal ($329B), Bolante fertilizer scam (P728M), IMPSA Hydroelectric Power Plant kickbacks ($14M), and overpricing of the Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard (P536M). On top of these is the P200,000-500,000 "cash gifts" doled out to congressmen and governors.
Electoral fraud. Not content with stealing presidency through widespread cheating in the 2004 elections, Gloria conspired with the COMELEC and repeated their act in the 2007 elections to ensure that pro-administration candidates win at the local and national levels.
Extra-judicial killings and desaperecidos. The families of more than 888 victims of summary and extra-judicial executions and 184 enforced disappearances, including Jonas Burgos and UP students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan, continue to cry out for justice. Yet Mrs. Arroyo coddles the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP), both of which remain in a state of denial regarding their responsibility.
Political violence and repression. Gloria Arroyo and her Department of (In)justice continue to file trumped-up charges against known critics of the administration. Labeling political enemies as "terrorists" and "destabilizers" have been the norm and have been used to justify the militarization of urban poor communities.
Human rights violations. Measures that violate basic human right are characteristic of Mrs. Arroyo's rule, including the DOJ memo that threatens media practitioners, the push for the National ID system, and the proposed resurrection of the Anti-Subversion Law.
Poverty. While oil prices skyrocket, wages remain way below what is necessary for daily living. Thus, abject poverty has worsened, affecting 70% of the population. Basic social services, such as health services, are lacking even if taxes are being raised and collected allegedly for these services.
Betrayal of national interests and patrimony. Mrs. Arroyo has entered into onerous agreements that are largely detrimental to the nation, such as the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) and the China-Philippines Economic Agreement. US troops continue to conduct military exercises in the country despite reports of abuses.
The sins of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo are symptomatic of a morally bankrupt leadership. This tyranny and treachery must end. If Mrs. Arroyo recognizes the historic and political significance of EDSA II, then she must submit to the will of the people: Gloria OUT Now! ###
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