STATEMENT
by Representative Florencio B. Abad (Lone District, Batanes), 17 October 2000

"I join the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, the National Council of Churches of the Philippines, His Eminence Jaime Cardinal Sin, former President Corazon C. Aquino and the various sectors of our society in calling for the resignation of President Joseph Ejercito Estrada.

Over the past few days, I have agonized over this decision. It is not an easy one to make. In the end, the ultimate question we all have to ask ourselves is: "Is President Estrada still fit to lead and govern our country?" As I listened to the sentiment of our people and as I searched deep into my conscience, the answer that repeatedly comes to mind is, unfortunately, an unequivocal, "NO!"

In the view of our financial and business community, what has initially been a fundamentally sound economy is now seriously in danger of long-term impairment because of the persistent and worsening problems of poor and weak governance. No matter how hard our economic managers try, no fiscal or monetary way out to what is essentially a political problem is possible. With the crisis escalating, soon it will have to be a choice between the economy and the president. And in my view, the choice is clear.

On another plain, the moral leadership of this country has also spoken loud and clear: "President Estrada has lost his moral authority to govern". In a period of crisis and uncertainty, the function of leadership is to reassure and inspire people to rise beyond their fears and helplessness and unite for the survival of the nation. But when the leader himself is the very source of despair and disunity, and the trust and confidence that the people reposed upon him have been seriously eroded, the only honorable option is for the leader to step down and allow the country to start anew.

For this reason, I appeal to the sense of patriotism of President Estrada and his avowed concern for the welfare of our people, especially the poor, to resign and allow his constitutional successor to take over. His refusal to heed this mounting call will only lead, I am afraid, to further social instability and economic collapse, the effects of which we may have to bear long after this crisis is resolved."

sgd. Cong. Florencio Abad