Former Cabinet members won't join anti-GMA rally

By Ronilo L. Pamonag

The 10 Cabinet members who resigned two weeks ago and called for the resignation of President Arroyo will not participate in the July 25 protest action that would coincide with the chief executive's State of the Nation Address.

“We will not be joining the rally,” former Department of Social Welfare and Development Sec. Corazon ‘Dinky' Soliman told reporters here yesterday, referring to her and the other Cabinet members who resigned, as she expressed support for the President's plan to create a ‘Truth commission' that would look into allegations of vote rigging during the 2004 elections.

Soliman graced a gathering of civil society groups and non-government organizations yesterday at the city campus of the University of the Philippines in the Visayas.

During a press conference last July 8, shortly after they resigned, Soliman, Secretaries Cesar Purisima of Finance, Florencio Abad of Education, Juan Santos of Trade, Rene Villa of Land Reform, peace negotiator Teresita Deles, Guillermo Parayno of Internal Revenue, Alberto Lina of Customs, Emilia Boncodin of Budget and Management, and Imelda Micolas of the National Anti-Poverty Commission called on Mrs. Arroyo to step down as she no longer had the credibility to govern the country.

Soliman reiterated however her call for Arroyo to resign and for the observance of constitutional processes.

Although she has said that she will not join the July 25 protest, Soliman said that she is coordinating with groups also calling on Arroyo's resignation.

“I continue to hope and pray that she (Arroyo) resigns,” Soliman stressed.

In a related development, she voiced her approval for the creation of a truth commission.

“I will support all processes to bring out the truth so that the public may know,” Soliman explained. She commented further that the creation of a truth commission and the impeachment complaint now pending at the House of Representatives are “all contributory in bringing out the real situation.”

Soliman added though that members of the truth commission must be of ‘integrity and probity.'