November 23, 2000, BusinessWorld, Cause of crisis, economists say, is not economic, by Yasmin Lee G. Arpon,

November 23, 2000, BusinessWorld, Cause of crisis, economists say, is not economic, by Yasmin Lee G. Arpon, 

Crossing academic affiliations, economists from the University of the Philippines (UP), Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU), De La Salle University (DLSU) and the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) again appealed to fellow economists in the Estrada government to stop allowing themselves to be used as "apologists" of the Estrada presidency. 

At the same time, three major business in Cebu City (central Visayas) reiterated their call for the resignation of President Estrada "to restore decency and competent leadership in the Office of the President." In Davao City (southern Mindanao), Estrada critics say the impeachment proceedings offer no solution to the current crisis in the country. 

The economists -- led by UP economics professor and former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and National Economic and Development Authority director-general Solita C. Monsod, AdMU economics professors Fernando T. Aldaba and Leonardo A. Lanzona, Jr.; UA&P associate dean Emilio T. Antonio, Jr.; and former Philippine Institute for Development Studies and DLSU professor Ponciano S. Intal,/ Jr. -- said the members of President Estrada's economic team should resign at the soonest time. 

In a statement, the group, which calls itself as "Concerned Filipino Economists," said the "talents" and "expertise" of Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Felipe M. Medalla, Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno, National Treasurer Leonor M. Briones and Finance Secretary Jose T. Pardo "only serve to prolong" Mr. Estrada's stay in power. "Do not compromise your integrity with the stain of Mr. Estrada's decrepitude," they said. 

"Given the political impasse, we entreat the government's economic managers to tell Mr. Estrada the real score: that the root cause of the crisis is not economic, but the moral turpitude of the occupant of the highest office in the land, and that the state of the economy merely reflects the Filipino people's revocation of Mr. Estrada's mandate," they added. They also denounced Mr. Estrada's lack of delicadeza despite serious allegations that he received hundreds of millions in payoffs from illegal gambling operations and acquired multi-million-peso mansions through his associates. 

"We denounce in the strongest possible terms the obdurate refusal of Mr. Estrada to vacate his office despite the preponderance of evidence of his moral unfitness to discharge his functions and the countless calls for his  resignation," the economists said. "Everyday that the political crisis persists, the economy bleeds. Ironically, the most vulnerable to and the hardest hit by the economic shocks are the poor whose interests Mr. Estrada claims to uphold and promote," they added. 

Mr. Aldaba, director of the Ateneo Center for Economic Research and Development, told BusinessWorld the group plans to hold dialogues with Mr. Medalla and the other economic managers in a bid to convince them to step down. He said their primary target is Mr. Medalla, a former dean of the UP School of Economics, whom they expected to be the first one to resign from the Cabinet after Ilocos Sur (northern Luzon) Gov. Luis "Chavit" C. Singson came out with his allegations. 

On the other hand, a BusinessWorld source, requesting anonymity, said members of the UP School of Economics have already spoken with Mr. Medalla, but apparently failed to convince him to give up his post. "The group told him how the faculty feels about these political developments; it was more of an opportunity for his colleagues to dialogue with him about the pros and cons of recent events on the economy," the source said. 

When asked how Mr. Medalla reacted to their sentiments, the source said, "Well, he listened. But obviously, he is still there." For his part, Mr. Aldaba said his group hopes to increase the pressure on the economic managers by seeking audience with them. "We just wonder how they are able to continue serving such a government. Because even if they are there, nothing seems to be happening, the situation is not improving. If indeed the economy will collapse (because of their resignation), it cannot be attributed to them," he said. 

ANGUISH

In Cebu City (central Visayas), the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) and Cebu Business Club expressed their "anguish that justice and truth will never be served in our present political system." 

In a manifesto, the three business groups noted that the impeachment trial against the President largely depends on "the interplay of the senators' political loyalties and their conscience, which, as we know, vary in different degrees." "We seriously doubt whether many of them (senators) can differentiate right from wrong," they stated. "The eyes of the world are upon us as we continue to make ourselves the laughing stock in the community of nations, with the help of President Estrada," they added. 

The three business groups also scored the Estrada administration for allegedly diverting the attention of the people from the charges against the President through prayer rallies to show he still has the support of the masses; "the sheer madness of inciting the poor to hate the rich;" and pinning the blame on big businesses, the Catholic Church and the political opposition. 

"The popularity of President Estrada with the masses is not the issue. The issue is this: President Estrada, according to the bill of impeachment, is accused of graft and corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution, resulting in the continuing political crisis that will precipitate the economic ruin of our country," the manifesto stated. 

Members of the three groups noted that while the administration wants the people to believe the impeachment process will restore moral order as well as business and consumer confidence, efforts have also been made to delay the transmittal of the articles of impeachment from the Lower House to the Senate. 

"This early, some senators are already saying that President Estrada will be acquitted because of the sheer number of his supporters in the Senate. We know the political colors of the senators and a number of them received financial and other kinds of favors from President Estrada. We also observed their behaviors and inclinations during the Blue Ribbon committee hearings," they said. 

"How can we form a respectable opinion of these senators?" Copies of the manifesto were sent to the Senate, the Makati Business Club, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and the 11 prosecutors from House of Representatives. Last month, the same three groups issued a statement of concern and appealed for an early resolution to the crisis. 

Late last month, CCCI published an open letter urging the President to resign. The chamber said an impeachment trial will prove neither Mr. Estrada's innocence nor guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Over in Davao City, anti-Estrada groups do not find the impeachment proceedings as an immediate solution to the country's current crisis. "We cannot wait for the result of the impeachment proceedings. The Senate's action must work hand in hand with civil society actions," said Irene Santiago of the Mindanao Council of Women Leaders. 

All major players in the Erap Resign Movement in Mindanao will convene the Kongreso sa Kamindanawan (Congress of Mindanao) on Dec. 2. Ms. Santiago said this will bring together church groups, civil society organizations, the public sector and political parties and groups from all over the island to air the Mindanao voice and perspective. 

"We will escalate public pressure on the Senate. This time, we will make our voice even louder and clearer for the Senate to hear. They must listen to the cry of the public," she said. At the Kongreso, the group will agree on three key demands for the first 100 days of a post-Erap presidency. Ms. Santiago said Kusog Mindanao might discuss its proposed agenda with the rest of the group, but it doesn't mean these will be the entire group's demand. 

Kusog Mindanao is batting for the demilitarization and rehabilitation of Mindanao, and representation in national bodies, among other demands. Ms. Santiago said a vigorous Mindanao-wide program of action to remove the President will be initiated. "We have a lot of concerns, but our priority now is the removal of the President. We will be working hard on it," she said. The Kongreso will also feature Mindanao's tribunal against the President and the Mindanao people's verdict on the cases against him. Former President Corazon C. Aquino will be the keynote speaker, while former House Speaker Manuel B. Villar, Jr. will deliver the closing remarks. -- with Marites S. Villamor in Cebu and Melanie G. Oliver in Davao