“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.” Joseph Goebbels
1) “I Will Not Run in 2004 Elections!”
Dec.30 2002:” The woman who once described her presidency as “made in heaven” said Monday, December 30, that God has told her not to seek another term as the Philippines’ President.
Speaking on local radio, 55-year old Gloria Macapagal Arroyo announced she had decided to drop out of the presidential race in 2004. “It is God who puts ideas in my heart,” explained Arroyo.
“In fact, in my attendance at Mass, it felt to me like He was telling me that He chose me to become president because He also knows that when He tells me not to run, then I would not run,” she said.
2) “I Will Run In 2004!”
(October 2003): Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said she will seek a fresh six-year term by running in the presidential elections next May, reneging on her promise last year not to stand for election.
”I will run for president in the May 2004 elections,” Arroyo said in a speech before about 50,000 people in her hometown in the Clark Economic Zone in Angeles City about 83 kilometers northwest of Manila.
”Thus, I have deferred my retirement. I will sacrifice my yearnings for personal quiet and release from presidential strain and anxiety. And I will offer myself to the electorate in 2004,”
” I shall stay married to my country.”
3) “I AM SORRY”
(June 2005): Gloria Arroyo in televised national address said, “I recognize that making any such call was a lapse in judgment. I am sorry. I also regret taking so long to speak before you on this matter. I take full responsibility for my actions and to you and to all those good citizens who may have had their faith shaken by these events. I want to assure you that I have redoubled my efforts to serve the nation and earn your trust.”
4) “I WILL BE TRUE TO THE CONSTITUTION”
(March 2008) : Gloria Arroyo declared, “I will be true to the constitution and to myself who had been mandated to leave the post when my term ends in 2010!”
5)”Going to a constitutional debate is really only going to distract us from what we need to do to survive and meet the challenges of the global uncertainty.”
6)”ConCon is the least divisive way!”
Jan. 16, 2003:”Considering the divisiveness in our country, this issue is bringing about even more divisiveness. Perhaps the constitutional convention will be the least divisive way of bringing about fundamental changes in the political system.”
Maria Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (born April 5, 1947) is a Filipino politician who served as the 14thPresident of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd DistrictPampanga. From Wikipedia
2004 Presidential Election rigging allegations
Allegations of cheating against Arroyo gained momentum one year after the May 2004 elections. In a press conference held on June 10, 2005, Samuel Ong, former deputy director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) claimed to have audio recordings of wiretapped conversations between Arroyo and an official of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). Virgilio Garcillano, a former COMELEC commissioner, would later be identified as the official talking to Arroyo. According to Ong, the recordings allegedly proved that Arroyo ordered the rigging of the national elections for her to win by around one million votes against Poe.
The recordings of Ong became known as the Hello Garci controversy and triggered massive protests against Arroyo. Key members of her cabinet resigned from their respective posts and urged Arroyo to do the same. On June 27, 2005, Arroyo admitted to inappropriately speaking to a COMELEC official, claiming it was a “lapse in judgement”. She, however, denied influencing the outcome of the elections and declared that she won the elections fairly. Arroyo did not resign despite the pressures coming from various sectors of society.
The Hello Garci controversy became the basis of the impeachment case filed against Arroyo in 2005. Attempts to impeach Arroyo failed later that year. Another impeachment case was filed against Arroyo in 2006 but was also defeated at the House of representatives. From Wikipedia
