Courage, Truth and Justice
17 October 2000 - Our nation is in the
grip of a major political and moral crisis. The accusations
of the President’s involvement in illegal gambling
are only the latest in the series of scandals and allegations
that have seriously undermined the confidence of local
and foreign investors in the government’s ability
to lead and to manage the economy.
Taken together, all these scandals, in
addition to the strong public perception of the resurgence
of cronyism, corruption and moral decay, constitute
a crisis of leadership and governance that have taken
its toll on the economy. The exchange rate is under
extreme pressure; the stock market is being battered;
bank portfolios are deteriorating; non-performing assets
are increasing; and there is real danger of capital
flight.
The economy cannot rebound under conditions
of uncertainty and the growing perception of wrongdoing
in the highest circles of government. Any legal and
constitutional process must, therefore, be undertaken
with all possible speed to spare the country form a
further downward economic spiral from which we may not
be able to rise quickly enough to prevent a serious
debacle. Any further deterioration of the economy can
only lead to more suffering by millions of Filipinos
due to increased unemployment, price spirals, business
closures, and other adverse economic consequences.
THEREFORE,
- We call on all members of Congress
to rise above party lines and personal interests,
and expedite the constitutional process and resolve
this serious issue at the shortest possible time.
- We call on the President and the other
members of the Executive Branch of Government to carefully
analyze what they must do in the best interest of
our country and our people. Quick action is imperative
to save our economy. They must decide what action
to take in order to make way for sweeping reforms
that will reinstitute public ethics; upgrade governance
to the highest levels of public service; and root
out corruption, cronyism, and incompetence at all
levels of national and local government.
- We call on the Armed Forces and the
Philippine National Police to uphold their sworn duty
to protect the Constitution and to respect the processes
mandated by law.
- We call on every concerned Filipino
to express their sentiments freely, peacefully, and
democratically. Your future is on the line as well.
Indeed, this is the time for each of us – businessmen
and women, government officials, church leaders, students,
members of civil society, indeed every Filipino –
to study the situation, to think deeply, and to act
as our conscience dictates.
This is a time for all Filipinos to be
men and women of courage, of truth, and of justice.
Let us hold true to our moral compass, confident that
if we do what is right, our nation by God’s grace
will emerge from this crisis stronger than ever.
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