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Leyte solon urges support for GMA

MAASIN CITY (4 July 2005) -- Rather than call for the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, we should instead support her, according to Southern Leyte Lone District Rep. Roger "Oging" Mercado.

This was the solon’s solid remark when asked about his reaction on the public apology made by the President on June 27 regarding the so-called "Gloriagate" controversy.

In a live, long distance phone interview over radio station DYDM on July 1 with anchorman Zaldy Olita, Cong. Mercado admired the President for her courage in admitting the voice in the tape was hers.

"Sakto kadtong iyang gibuhat nga iyang gi-akseptar ug akong gi-suportahan siya, dili nato siya pa-resign-non" (What she did was right and I support her for that, we will not let her resign), Cong. Mercado said.

He added: "Atong suportahan ug tabangan, mao nga I-ampo nato siya, ug hinaut unta kanang iyang mga programa nga gisugdan iyang ipadayon. Ug hinaut untang mohimo siya’g mga lakang karong panahona aron gyod pag-pakita sa mga tawo nga siya naningkamot ug aron makita ang mga accomplishment." (Let us support and help, so we pray for her. I hope the programs she started can be pushed through. And I hope she would initiate moves this time to show the people she was trying her best and to show accomplishments.)

The Southern Leyteno lawmaker himself offered an apology to the people of the province for not being able to personally attend the 45th provincial founding anniversary on July 1, saying his presence in Congress was badly needed as the Congressional inquiry on the wire-tapping issue was still in progress.

Mercado’s wife, Luz, read a prepared message in his behalf during the anniversary program.

The national dailies reported that Congress finally listened to the tapes well into the night of June 30. In the July 1 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Cong. Mercado was quoted as saying: "The tape will be opened and heard by our people. But these tapes that we are going to hear are not pure; they are adulterated, tampered, filled with corrections and splicings."

He also insisted that "the President did not cheat in last year’s polls." (PIA Southern Leyte)

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