Loren scores Palace's 'foul
Tactics' to derail 2010 polls

Senator Loren Legarda today cautioned the government not to resort to "foul tactics meant to derail the 2010 national election" and extend the term of the present administration and its officials.

Loren made the statement in reaction to the "proposal" made by Malacanang's National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales for the establishment of a "transitional government" in lieu of an election allegedly "to help address dysfunctional politics."

"This is alarming - and suspicious," Loren said, referring to Gonzales' reported pronouncement.

"Considering that Gonzales is a top official of the administration, no less than the security adviser of the President, his public utterances cannot but be given weight," Loren averred.

Loren noted that Gonzales - and for that matter Malacanang - "seems to be floating that idea, considering that the prospect for amending the Constitution before the elections appear to be retreating in the face of fierce public opposition."

"Does he have in mind prolonging the power of the present administration by other means?" Loren said.

While the President keeps on denying the administration has something to do with the serious bid of its allies to proceed with charter change, Loren noted her "conspicuous silence" over reports that she wanted to cling on to power even after the election.

"And Mr. Gonzales' "intriguing utterances may indeed be a sort of trial balloon for the administration which is already running out of options in its bid to pursue charter change," Loren explained.

Answering Gonzales's claim that "dysfunctional politics" undermines the democratic process, Loren asked, "how can there be dysfunctional politics, when it is the people in the government who are dysfunctional?"

"I urge the public to be vigilant. There is no reason to postpone the election," she said, adding that "it is going to be a big blow to our democracy and civil rights if that happens."

Loren said that "instead of plotting against the people, the administration must concentrate on pressing problems involving matters of life and death, such as the rising incidence of murders and kidnapping for ransom, the current crisis in Sulu, unemployment, and slowing economic growth."

"Our nation is hurting. There's a growing climate of unease, disgust, disappointment, cynicism - and utter frustration," said Loren. "Our civilian population has become too numbed by all those crushing Malacanang tactics and histrionics," she said.

"Only a strong democracy and not another martial law in a different form can solve our problems," she stressed.