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A
GREAT divide separated-like that of doves and hawks, the multi-sectoral
group of Boholanos that met Friday to highlight its stand
in the on-going NBN-ZTE controversy.
At
the end of the meeting, it was clear that the voice of moderation
prevailed upon those who strongly called for the resignation
of Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the wake of her involvement
of the broadband deal.
The
convenors' position echoed that of the Catholic Bishops Conference
of the Phils. own pastoral statement which stopped short of
calling for GMA's resignation. The bishops only called for
discernment and sobriety in the wake of the raging controversy
over the broadband transaction.
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The
moderates were bannered by the Integrated Bar of the
Phils., Bohol chapter along with the business and political
sectors while the hawks were made up of militant organizations.
A
document entitled A Multi-Sectoral Manifesto of Boholanos
for Truth.
Accountability,
and Reform were circulated and signed by over 40 convenors
who attended the meeting.
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At
the same time, the multi-sectoral group of Boholanos also
rallied behind the NBN-ZTE star witness, Rodolfo Noel Lozada
Jr. in exposing corruption in the scrapped national broadband
deal.
The group collectively called Boholanos for Truth, Accountability,
and Reform signed a manifesto to inform the public of their
appeal to then NEDA secretary and now CHED Chairman Romulo
Neri to also come out in the open and tell the truth like
what Lozada has done.
The
manifesto signed Friday stated that they "recognize,
appreciate, and support the courageous act of Lozada in exposing
what he knows about the NBN-ZTE controversy and other corrupt
practices".
The
group explained that they decided to form a multi-sectoral
movement in response to the current crisis in the country
based on the expose of Lozada.
"This
initiative stems from our individual discernment and commitment
to get involved in the quest for truth, transparency, accountability,
and reform in all the three major aspects of social life,
namely, in governance, business, and civil society,"
the manifesto stated.
The
group also called on Neri to be courageous enough to also
tell the people all that he knew about the controversial NBN-ZTE
broadband deal.
"We
acknowledge Secretary Romulo Neri to be a Boholano by ancestry
and one of our own kind; and as such, we expect him to be
courageous and truthful as expected of the sons of Francisco
Dagohoy, the Boholano hero who led the longest revolt in our
country's history," the group stated in the manifesto.
Through
the manifesto, the group strongly appeal to Neri's Boholano
spirit "to stand up for truth and live out the ideals
of a genuine and decent Boholano by telling the whole country
all that he knows about corruption in our government."
By
doing so, Neri could help liberate the people "from this
quagmire of falsehood and decadence," according to the
group.
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