Of Leadership And Credibility
With deep concern and firm resolve, after a long period of reflection,
debate and consultations, we, the undersigned, are hereby submitting
our collective irrevocable resignation.
As early as Tuesday, July 5, we had already made our decision to
resign. The President preempted our moves. This preemption does not
change our conviction that her decisions as of late are guided mainly
by her determination to survive as President. We believe that she
will continue to make her decisions according to this norm.
By this act, we are not making any judgments on the tapes and "jueteng"
issues. There is a proper forum to resolve those issues consistent
with the rule of law. More pressing and immediate concerns confront
our people today than poisoned politics or infirmities in our Constitution.
At the core of these concerns are the issues of leadership and credibility--the
ability of our President to continue to lead and govern our country
with the trust and confidence of our people.
The longer the President stays in office under a cloud of doubt and
mistrust, and with her style of decision-making, the greater the damage
on the economy and the more vulnerable the fragile political situation
becomes to extremists seeking to undermine our democratic life. In
the end, the poor will suffer the most.
The President can be part of the solution to this crisis by making
the supreme sacrifice for God and country to voluntarily relinquish
her office and allow her constitutional successor, the Vice President,
to assume the Presidency. Resignation is a legitimate constitutional
option for affecting leadership change. Given the crisis in the Presidency,
this is the least disruptive and painful option that can swiftly restore
normalcy and eventually, bring us to prosperity.
We reject violence and anti-constitutional alternatives and call
on our people to do the same. We will reject any attempt to exploit
our resignation to sow intrigue and destabilization. We should all
unite behind our constitutional successor and work together to resume
our struggle for social, political and economic reforms.
The process of reforming society is difficult. It will entail sacrifices
among our already suffering people. It will generate resistance and
conflict among those who may have to give up power and privilege.
We need leadership that can inspire our people to stay the course,
while we confront these challenges. We need leadership with the moral
courage to push on in the face of adversity; leadership that can steer
the nation towards healing and reconciliation.
Even as we take leave from public service, we assure everyone of
our unwavering commitment to continue serving our country, especially
the underprivileged and powerless amidst us.
Cesar Purisima of Finance
Florencio Abad of Education
Teresita Quintos Deles, adviser on peace process
Imelda Nicolas of the National Anti-Poverty Commission
Juan Santos of Trade and Industry
Alberto Lina of the Bureau of Customs
Emilia Boncodin of Budget
Corazon Juliano Soliman of Social Welfare
Rene Villa of Agrarian Reform
Guillermo Parayno, commissioner of the BIR
July 8, 2005
