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Filipino orgs in HK study impeachment case vs. GMA

BAGUIO CITY ( Aug. 22) — More than 200 leaders of 65 Filipino organizations in Hong Kong gathered on August 21, in the Leader’s Kapihan sponsored by the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-HK) discussed the impeachment process against Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, currently underway in the House of Representatives.

“For Filipinos who came in droves today, there is no other way for Mrs. Arroyo but to step down. Be it in the impeachment process or in the more powerful parliament of the streets, Filipino overseas shall be there to do our part,” said Dolores Balladares, UNIFIL-HK chairperson.

UNIFIL-HK said that as important stakeholders in the ongoing political crisis in the country, Filipinos overseas must be made aware of the ways with which, they could contribute in the various efforts to oust GMA, including impeachment.

“We deserve to know and we deserve to do our part,” Balladars said

“We commend the representatives in the House who worked tirelessly to shed light to the rigged 2004 elections despite the tactics employed by the GMA camp to railroad the process,” Balladares added.

UNIFIL-HK invited Cong. Allan Peter Cayetano of the lone district of Taguig-Pateros and spokesperson of the impeachment team in the Lower House to share to the OFWs the case that impeachment congressmen have put up against Arroyo.

“OFWs were disgusted by the glaring evidence of cheating that impeachment congressmen have gathered. Our resolve to see GMA’s ouster through the end was further strengthened by the now known fact that GMA robbed the 2004 elections long before it even started,” Balladares declared.

Among the facts that were shown and drew angry reactions form the audience, said Balladares, were the production of extra election returns and other documents by the COMELEC, the fabricated election results from the ‘Byron Hotel’, the authentication of the tape and GMA’s voice on it, and the evidence of massive cheating and fraud in GMA bailiwicks.

Cayetano emphasized the search for truth in the charges of massive election fraud. The forum participants readily agreed.

“Arroyo has stooped so low just so she could win. It’s the height of shamelessness that she can still face the public while worming her way out of this scandal,” Balladares added.

Cayetano reported the various ways that the GMA camp has been railroading the impeachment process most evident of which are the efforts of GMA, Mike Defensor and their cohorts to muddle the issue.

He said that the administration’s line of giving GMA her ‘day in court’ does not hold water for impeachment is a political process and not a criminal nor civil case that has to be brought to courts. He clarified that the House of Representatives just processes the merits of the impeachment charge that will then be sent to the Senate for hearing.

Meanwhile, Connie Bragas-Regalado, chairperson of Migrante International lauded the efforts of migrant workers to contribute to the swelling ranks of Filipinos demanding GMA’s ouster and the establishment of a transitional governing council.

“We salute the HK OFWs in the Overseas Filipino Unite to Remove the Arroyo Government (OUTRAGE-HK) for initiating activities that aim to gather support to keep the impeachment case ongoing such as your initiative to write to your respective district representatives and HK-wide signature campaign. We salute the migrant workers who tirelessly marched throughout the streets of different cities around the world to oust GMA,” Regalado stated.

Finally, Cayetano also congratulated Filipinos overseas for their active participation in the campaign to remove GMA from Malacañang. He encouraged the OFWs to urge their families back home to do the same.

“We commit ourselves at ousting the fake, corrupt, fascist and puppet Arroyo government. We shall do no less,” Balladares concluded. # via NORDIS

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