PIMENTEL AGREES THAT SNAP ELECTION
BETTER THAN IMPEACHMENT

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Nene Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) today said he supports the proposal of Taguig-Pateros Rep. Allan Peter Cayetano that the impeachment case against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would no longer be pursued if she agrees to a snap presidential election.

Pimentel said both the administration and the opposition should seriously consider Cayetanos proposal as a way out of the political turmoil hounding the nation due to unresolved doubts about the legitimacy of the Arroyo presidency and the scandals that have rocked her government.

A snap election is the most expedient way out of the problem of Gloria especially now that the vague pastoral letter of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines seems to imply that impeachment is not the solution, he said.

According to Pimentel, a snap election will provide the answer as to who will succeed President Arroyo. Also, he said the CBCPs doubt as to who will provide the leadership of the nation will be solved by such political exercise.

As I have time and again said, it does not matter who will win the snap election whether it is the candidate of the administration or the opposition or of an independent group, he said.

What is important, Pimentel said, is that the people are given the chance to render a verdict on the legitimacy of the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo presidency.

She has stolen the 2004 presidential election. She should not be allowed to benefit from it and continue as president as if it is the normal thing to do, he said.

She should be made to account for it now before it is too late. Befuddling the matter on her right to stay in power creates tensions in the body politic that are bound to break into violent spasms that would not be good for the people.