PEOPLE WILL FORCE GMA TO QUIT

PRESS RELEASE
February 22, 2006


PEOPLE WILL FORCE GMA TO QUIT, BAYAN MUNA SOLON SAYS

�GMA is correct when she said nothing can make her quit. But the
power of the people will force her to quit!�

This was the reaction of Bayan Muna representative Joel Virador to
the statement delivered by besieged President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in
a forum with members of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the
Philippines (FOCAP).

The militant solon also described the GMA�S speech as strongly
articulated but sorely lacking in reality and credibility.

�The President has sung her own praises. Her speech is filled with
self-belief, arrogance, egotism and insensitivity. She has gone beyond
reality and the truth is the people want her to quit as shown in the
series of surveys and endless mass protests. Mrs. Arroyo has no capability,
moral and political ascendancy, and she doesn�t have the mandate of the
people to rule this country,� Virador said.

He also added that Mrs. Arroyo should be ashamed of herself for lying
anew, this time under the presence of foreign media.

�The President is elected to serve the interest and welfare of the
people and not make tough decisions that curtail their rights and trample
on their interest as seen with the passage of anti-people tax measures
like the e-VAT law. It is a pity that Mrs. Arroyo has to resort with
fabricated talk just to boost her image in front of foreign media. The
worsening economic crisis will continue to fuel unrest. Protests will
continue to hound her false presidency,� Virador said.

In a related development, thousands are expected to pour the streets
on Friday not to celebrate the people power but to reiterate ouster
calls for Mrs. Arroyo.

�It is high-time for the people to unite and oust Mrs. Arroyo from
Malaca�ang. Her time in power has caused more suffering and misery to the
lives of the Filipino people. Poverty, political repression, and
political turmoil have never been this terrible,� Virador said.#