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Noynoy faces acid test of increased debt, stalled talks
abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 06/15/2010 4:44 PM | Updated as of 06/15/2010 4:44 PM
MANILA, Philippines - Increased public debt, stalled peace negotiations
and lingering doubts about his electoral win are just some of the
challenges being faced by President-elect Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino,
according to the founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
In an interview with Roselle Valerio of Liberation International, CPP
founder Jose Maria Sison said Aquino will need to solve various problems
left behind by his predecessor, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, as
well as new challenges being faced by the country. Among the problems
left behind by the Arroyo presidency are: a P4.5 trillion debt, scuttled
peace negotiations with CPP-New People's Army and lack of genuine
land reform for farmers.
Sison said the first acid test for Aquino is fulfilling his campaign promise
to hold President Arroyo accountable "for crimes of corruption and human
rights violations." He noted that Aquino would be branded a liar and a
deceiver if he fails to make Arroyo pay for her crimes after promising to
do so if he is elected.
He said restarting peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the
Philippines, the CPP-NPA's political arm, will also be an important test for
Aquino. He noted, however, that there is still "no sign that Aquino is
serious in pursuing peace negotiations with the NDFP."
"It remains to be seen whether his regime is willing to comply with The
Hague Joint Declaration and other major agreements. Teresita Deles
(Aquino's peace process adviser) used to be Gloria M. Arroyo's presidential
adviser on the peace process. The GRP-NDFP peace negotiations
would not move forward if she would recycle the same positions
and tactics used during the time of Arroyo," he said.
Sison said Aquino is expected to release political prisoners just like his
mother, then President Cory Aquino, in 1986. He said the release of
political prisoners will help improve the atmosphere for realizing justice
for the victims of human rights violations and for resuming the peace
talks.
The CPP founder, meanwhile, warned that Aquino's close ties with
the United States could lead to an increase in human rights violations
against activists and revolutionary forces. He said the 2004 Hacienda
Luisita massacre, which saw the killing of 12 farmers during a protest
rally in 2004, could be a preview of what the incoming administration
is capable of doing.
Sison: Pre-programming helped Aquino win
The rebel leader, meanwhile, maintained that there was rigging of
the country's first automated elections.
Sison said an informant told him that Aquino's sister, Pinky Aquino
Abellada, and President Arroyo conspired to pre-program thousands
of precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines to ensure Aquino's
electoral win. Abellada and the President's spokesmen have denied
Sison's allegations.
Sison said it was still possible that Aquino won the presidential
election but not by the 5-million vote margin reflected in the
final results of the Commission on Elections tally. He said Aquino's
closest contender, former president Joseph Estrada, had to
overcome his previous conviction for the crime of plunder.
Nacionalista Party bet Manny Villar, who received the backing of
leftist groups, placed third in the presidential race.
"It is possible that Noynoy Aquino won even without the
pre-programming. Estrada also attacked Arroyo but had far
less campaign funds and had to overcome a previous criminal
conviction for plunder. Villar had huge funding but he did not
attack Arroyo and made himself vulnerable to the Villarroyo
line of attack. But it was the pre-programming that gave Aquino
unbelieveable leads over Estrada and Villar," Sison said.
He added: "There was overkill in reducing the votes for Estrada
and there was more of such in the case of Villar and his vice
presidential teammate. The latter two fell abruptly within the
last month of the campaign as if they had committed a heinous
crime. The programmers decided to give Aquino an incredibly
large lead over Estrada and Villar supposedly to discourage protests.
The pre-programmers were careless to make Estrada run second to
Aquino even in San Juan, Rizal."
Sison said he does not regret saying that Villar was a better candidate
than Aquino for president. He said he backed Villar after the latter
accepted Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza as guest candidates in the
Nacionalista Party senatorial slate.
He added, however, that he regretted that Villar also accepted
Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. in the NP senatorial slate
and that he refused to criticize President Arroyo.
"Any alliance carries risks. That's why progressive forces need to
maintain their independence and initiative," he said.
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