A
Statement of the University Council of the University of the Philippines
Diliman
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has no basis to continue in office.
On 13 July 2005, at the height of the Garci Scandal, the University Council
(UC) of the University of the Philippines Diliman—called on President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo to resign immediately. She did not resign.
The UC observed that all her acts are "a direct assault on nearly all the
values we hold sacred in the academe."
Since then, there has been an unprecedented number of extrajudicial killings
and enforced disappearances – which includes two U.P. students, Karen Empeno
and Sherlyn Cadapan.
Corruption in the highest places continues unabated and remains unaddressed.
Institutions which were created by the Constitution or the law to safeguard
accountability have either been ineffective or rendered ineffective.
Official government response to requests for information on matters of
public concern has been to thwart the truth either by the invocation of
Executive Privilege or by threats issued to the working media. The exercise
of basic freedoms has been met with repressive measures such the Calibrated
Pre-emptive Response (CPR) and Presidential Proclamation 1017. This
criminal regime resorts to kidnapping and massive bribery to prevent the
truth from coming out.
Despite GMA's insistence that she does not tolerate corruption, she has been
forced by public pressure to admit that she knew about the kickbacks long
before the Senate investigations on the NBN-ZTE deal. As a result, she has
entrapped herself in a web of lies.
When GMA is caught lying, she either stonewalls or orders an investigation
which churns out prefabricated results. These actions are in stark contrast
with two objectives which are cherished by the University – getting at the
truth and forging a democratic society. Both of these are obviously anathema
to GMA.
Public Office
is a public trust. All public officials are accountable to the people at all
times.
This is one of the core principles enshrined in our Constitution. The
President's previous silence on the anomalous NBN-ZTE deal and her belated
admission of prior knowledge violate this core principle. This is only the
latest of her violations.
As an academic community we know that the truth cannot be found in Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo.
In UP's Centennial year, the faculty continues to uphold its tradition of
being one with our people. We commit ourselves to the struggle to build a
progressive society and a responsible and accountable government which
subscribes to the principle that sovereignty resides in the people and all
governmental authority emanates from them.
But first, GMA must go!
The statement was unanimously approved by the UP Diliman University
Council. 27 February 2008
