RP Consulate backs Estrada

Amid moves to impeach Philippine President Joseph Estrada and mounting calls for him to resign, his administration’s extension in the Northern Marianas stands pat on the president’s firmness to remain in office.

The Philippine Consulate, in a statement sent to the media, assured yesterday the CNMI Filipino community that constitutional and legal processes are being followed in the case involving the president and his accuser, Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson.

The Philippine leader has been accused by his former ally and friend, Mr. Singson, of receiving some P500 million in illegal gambling payoffs and tobacco excise tax kickbacks.

The Consulate underscored the president welcomes all legal processes, including impeachment proceedings, in order to clear his name.

The agency further expressed firm support to stand by Mr. Estrada’s admission that he is “innocent of the claims invented by his accuser and that corresponding charges made against Mr. Singson will be made at the appropriate time.”

Despite the worsening Philippine economy as a result of what could be the country’s most celebrated political scandal, the administration contends that “political stability in the country continues to be strong with peace and order prevailing in Metropolitan Manila and major urban areas.”

This, despite occasional demonstrations where the government claims to have “exercised more than maximum tolerance and that all peaceful marches are accorded due courtesy and respect.”

“The government is functioning fully and services delivered in time and with dispatch as the bureaucracy fully supports the Presidency,” the official statement said.

In defense of persistent attacks to the ailing economy, the Philippine government was also quick to note that economic indicators remain largely positive as it reportedly performed well for during the first semester of the year with GNP and GDP growing by an average of 4.0 percent and 3.9 percent, respectively.

These accomplishments, the administration added, is due to the strong showing of the agriculture, services, and manufacturing sectors of the economy.

“The Philippines continues to maintain healthy trade relations with its major trading partners. For the first half of the year, merchandise exports grew by 11.5 percent from the same period last year to US $2.28 billion. Finally, inflation remains manageable at 4.2 percent and is expected to hover between 6 to 7 percent for the year,” the Manila government reported.

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines as well as the national police force said they will remain loyal to the Philippine Constitution and the commander in chief while the majority of the members of the Senate and the House of Representatives support the president, particularly on how to address the corruption charges put forth by the Ilocos Sur governor, the statement said.