4/F UP Manila Student Center, Padre Faura cor. Ma. Orosa Sts.

,
Ermita, Manila 0900 Tel. +63 2 525-8459 E-mail: uscmanila@gmail.com
Academic Year 2005-2006

USC Manila Resolution No. 0506 - 005

A RESOLUTION FORWARDING THE SENTIMENTS OF UP MANILA STUDENTS ON THE

GLORIAGATE ALLEGATIONS, CALLING FOR SYSTEMIC POLITICAL CHANGE THROUGH
LAWFUL MEANS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES, ADOPTED ON 12 JULY 2005.

Introduced by: Councilor Donn Mc Angelo T. Valdez

With reference to USC Manila Resolution Nos. 0506-003, 0506-004,

Ctte Report No. 1 of the National Unity and Sectoral Solidarity Committee,
minutes of the 1st League of College Councils General Assembly last 14 June 2005, and
minutes of the 1st All Leaders’ Conference General Assembly last 22 June 2005.

Discussed and Approved by the General Assembly on 12 July 2005.

WHEREAS, on 1 July 2005, the University Student Council UP Manila passed and adopted USC Manila
Resolution No. 0506-004 which seeks to forward the sentiments of the UP Manila students regarding the
Gloriagate allegations;

WHEREAS, since the passage and adoption of said resolution, there have been recent developments
regarding the matter, to wit, the resignation of certain Cabinet officials, political realignment in Congress,
calls for the incumbent President's resignation or impeachment, credit downgrades experienced by the
country, among others;

WHEREAS, these alarming developments concerning political stability in our nation have nothing but
detrimental effects on the already ill status of healthcare and education in our country, effectively
sidetracking development measures and the public’s attention in favor of political immaturity;

WHEREAS, there arise observations that more than the personalities involved in the current political
scandals, there is a need to change the current political set-up;

WHEREAS, there exists varied remedies within the bounds of the Philippine Constitution of 1987 that
provide for such changes without the need to resort to extra-constitutional means;

WHEREAS, it is in the interest of the University Student Council UP Manila, being the highest governing
body of the approximately 5,000 students enrolled in the country’s premiere Health Sciences Center, to
forward the sentiments of its constituents on the Gloriagate Allegations in the interest of advocating for
national unity and sectoral solidarity, after genuine democratic consultation;

NOW, THEREFORE, be it RESOLVED, as it is hereby RESOLVED by the UNIVERSITY STUDENT

COUNCIL UP MANILA GENERAL ASSEMBLY in regular session, to FORWARD the following
sentiments of UP Manila students on the Gloriagate Allegations:

Change the System!

The USC UP Manila sees the current political situation as a manifestation of our rotten political culture,
the weakening of credibility of our state institutions and its key players, the desire of individuals and
interest groups to hold on or to grab power and the apathy towards the people's agenda. There is a need
 4/F UP Manila Student Center, Padre Faura cor. Ma. Orosa Sts.,
Ermita, Manila 0900 Tel. +63 2 525-8459 E-mail: uscmanila@gmail.com
Academic Year 2005-2006

to change the current political system to one that allows less of the political bickering and deadlocks that
we see now and more of responsiveness to the needs of the people.

This change however must be achieved without violence and bloodshed and should be consistent with
the rule of law and our democratic way of life. Our constitution provides sufficient mechanisms for the
systemic overhaul we envision.

We the USC UP Manila believe that changes in the current political set-up attained through
Constitutional means are the solution. And these changes we propose to achieve through the following:

1. The removal of the incumbent President and Vice President from their offices through resignation
or impeachment:

The president admitted that she conversed with a Comelec official, ostensibly to protect her votes;
this act constitutes a violation of her oath of office and is therefore sufficient ground for her removal
from office. She has distorted democratic processes and violated the sanctity of the ballot. She has
betrayed the public trust.

We are calling on Ms. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to take responsibility for her actions, as she herself
professed to do so in her public address, by voluntary resignation.

We are urging our constituents to exercise their rights of free speech, expression and assembly in
calling for Ms Arroyo's resignation.

Resignation is a voluntary act, and it is unlikely that the incumbent President shall do so,
notwithstanding the public awareness of the need for her to face the consequences of her actions, and
recent events that have shown a general erosion of the public's confidence in her integrity and
credibility to govern effectively.

The recourse for her recalcitrance is impeachment. We are calling on all Members of the House of
Representatives and the Senate to transcend their partisan interests for the sake of truth, justice and
accountability; the former, by facilitating at the soonest possible time the Articles of Impeachment,
the latter, by ensuring a trial that seeks and defends not the letter, but the spirit of the law.

The president's own admission makes the ascendancy of the incumbent Vice President, her
Constitutional successor, possibly tainted with electoral fraud. The Presidential Electoral Tribunal
still has to make a ruling regarding the validity of Mr. Noli de Castro's electoral victory. The
succession of a man whose electoral victory is still shrouded in the clouds of doubt shall be inimical
to the Presidency and shall exacerbate the volatility of the situation. We are calling on Mr. Noli de
Castro to resign.

2. Hold a presidential and vice-presidential election that shall serve as transitional leaders.

With the resignation of the incumbent President and Vice President, the Senate President serves as
acting President, as provided for by the Constitution. The Congress shall call at the earliest possible
time, elections for the presidency and vice presidency. The winners of the said elections shall serve as
transitional leaders as they call for a Constitutional Convention.
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Ermita, Manila 0900 Tel. +63 2 525-8459 E-mail: uscmanila@gmail.com
Academic Year 2005-2006

3. Call for a Constitutional Convention to provide for a Charter that provides for a political system
that is truly responsive to the needs of the people.

The newly elected President and Vice President should then call for a Constitutional convention that
shall draft a new Charter that provides for efficient and democratic system of government amenable
to the majority. The Congress shall ensure the participation of genuine representatives of sectors of
our society, especially the marginalized ones. A transitory provision in the draft Charter shall
mandate for the elected president and vice president to serve only until the mechanisms for electing a
new government in whatever form has been instituted.

RESOLVED FURTHER, that the PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER be DIRECTED to disseminate this
resolution widely, and to furnish copies of it to pertinent authorities on the matter;

RESOLVED FINALLY, that the TREASURER be DIRECTED to appropriate funds in the amount of One
thousand five hundred pesos Philippine Currency (PHP 1,500.00) from the USC Funds for the
reproduction of information materials by the Public Information Officer in coordination with the
Committee on National Unity and Sectoral Solidarity.

PASSED and ADOPTED at the USC Manila Office this 12th day of July, 2005.

The General Assembly

Certification:

I HEREBY CERTIFY that pursuant to the Constitution and By-Laws of the USC Manila, this Resolution numbered 0506-004 was
given due course in the General Assembly of the USC Manila and arrived at and approved in a meeting with quorum by a majority vote of the
General Assembly, the details of which are in the Minutes of the Meeting dated 12 July 2005.

(SGD.) MARIELLE FELIZE T. FLORES

Councilor and Secretary

Noted:

(SGD.)ALBERT FRANCIS E. DOMINGO

Chairperson