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On Davide's Impeachment:
SOLONS URGED: CONSULT THE PEOPLE, HEED THE PEOPLE
October 28, 2003
LOS ANGELES - Following a stand-off in the on-going negotiations in the
impeachment complaint against Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide,
Jr., Lakas-CMD national spokesperson Secretary Heherson T. Alvarez today
called on Lakas members who signed the complaint to withdraw their
signatures pending a community-wide dialogue with their constituents.
The former senator and congressman, who authored the impeachment complaint
against former President Joseph Estrada in 2000, said the swelling public
clamor in key cities nationwide in support of the Chief Justice shows the
overwhelming voice of the people which must be heard, and followed.
"We are calling on lawmakers to delay the transmittal of the impeachment
complaint to the Senate until after Congress returns from session break,
which starts on Oct. 30, to allow political leaders, as representatives
of our people, to go back to their districts, present the evidences as
stated in the complaint, and hear what the public has to say before
acting on the impeachment complaint," he stressed.
Alvarez, who issued the statement in Los Angeles after wildfires delayed
flights there, as he rushed home from New York to join Lakas officials in
mediating in the impeachment complaint, said lawmakers should take it upon
themselves "to avert an impending serious political and economic backlash,
as well as a Constitutional crisis."
"Our people, the community leaders, spiritual leaders, and even Brgy. Captains,
if necessary, must be consulted to know the people's pulse on the issue of
the impeachment case against Chief Justice Davide. Let us bring down the sovereign
authority to our people and draw their message, whatever it may be, and put it
in the decision-making process," he added.
By engaging in community-wide dialogues, those who may have signed the impeachment
complaint based only on the arguments of their peers, he added, may perhaps
reconsider their decision based on party deliberations and national interest lest
the nation may reprove them for "acting too fast and too soon."
"Consult with our people. Debate with our people and communities. Cull the public
pulse before shaping well-grounded, people-inspired policies. Without proper
consultations, congressmen may be risking public opinion that they have recklessly
rendered judgment on a very far reaching and awesome problem that the nation faces,
" Alvarez warned.
People empowerment
By consulting the people, Alvarez said congressmen will be able to practice full
people empowerment and a clear exercise of People Power, which is the bulwark
of a democratic society, as what was done in the impeachment of former President
Joseph Estrada.
Alvarez said that in Estrada's impeachment, congressmen deliberated, hesitated and
consulted with community leaders and constituents before they signed the impeachment
complaint.
And after Congress adjourned for recess, he added, more signatures came on board
after Congress leaders consulted with their people back home.
"Let us do this to make sense of people empowerment. Let us exercise democracy to
its fullest, after that, let us sit down together for consultation,"
Alvarez said.
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