Ermita: Arroyo sees no revival of political noise

MANILA, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo expects that moves to oust her will no longer regain momentum after the Holy Week, according to Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita. Ermita said Mrs Arroyo, who would visit Hong Kong after the Holy Week, was even expecting that the political situation would stabilize in the coming days. "The President knows the whole situation. She is very confident things somehow will continue to stabilize. Whatever effort at trying to do otherwise will not be as intense as during the past two weeks, especially Feb. 29 and last Friday," Ermita said. He was referring to the inter-faith rallies that were organized by Church groups, and activist organizations, which called for truth and accountability on the allegedly anomalous $329.48-million national broadband network project that was bagged by China's Zhong Xing Telecommunications Equipment (ZTE) Corp, allegedly through the intervention of Benjamin Abalos Sr, former chairman of the Commission on Elections. Participants to said rallies called for Mrs Arroyo's resignation, following allegations that her husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo influenced the deal's outcome, allegedly telling NBN's losing proponent, Jose "Joey" de Venecia III to back off from the project. Ermita noted that with the Holy Week, Filipinos were expected to make the tradition of peace and reconciliation prevail. "I can only say let's hope this thing will continue especially after everyone realize there is need for us to band together," he said. In her Easter message, Mrs Arroyo urged Filipinos to "pray that all of us can draw from Easter the lessons that encourage us to work for the resurgence of an economically, politically and morally stronger Philippines." "On this feast of the Resurrection, I remain bullish on our country, optimistic about our future and deeply committed to being a force for good," she said. - GMANews.TV