Local executives expressed their support for President Arroyo and described the latest impeachment complaint against her as “divisive” and “destructive” through advertisements published in at least two major dailies today.

Two leagues of local officials came up with newspaper ads affirming their support for the President through advertisements published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer and the Philippine Star.

The League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) came up with an ad in the Philippine Star expressing their support for President Arroyo and condemning the impeachment complaint filed against her on October 13 by Joey de Venecia, son of former House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Iloilo vice governor Rolex Suplico and law professor Harry Roque.

“The impeachment suit is usually politically motivated, divisive and destructive that attains the common weal of our people,” the LPP said in its advertisement signed by LPP Secretary-General and Eastern Samar governor Ben Evardone, LPP national chair and Camarines Sur governor Luis Raymund Villafuerte and the league’s national president and Misamis Occidental governor Loreto Leo Ocampos.

Incidentally, the came out two days after Evardone was been appointed by Arroyo on Wednesday as a presidential adviser on local government and public affairs.

The organization composed of all the governors in the country describe the impeachment complaint as untimely because it was filed amid the global financial crisis caused by the economic meltdown in the United States and other major economies.

“This critical juncture of the world economy among governments demands the people’s united stand and cooperation especially among the Filipino,” the ad reads. “Instead of dividing the Filipino nation, the people must work together to overcome the financial crisis and turn around the economy to opportunities of growth, development and progress.”

The LPP also urged the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines and other civil society groups not to support the impeachment complaint.

ULAP, too

Meanwhile, the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), the umbrella organizations of all the leagues of local officials also came up with an advertisement in the Philippine Daily Inquirer that carried a similar tune.

“Impeachment at this time would divert the country towards unnecessary exercise when e country needs to focus on curtailing the impact of the pending financial crisis,” the advertisement reads. The advertisement was signed by ULAP secretary general Farah Decano, Mandaluyong City mayor and ULAP president Benhur Abalos and ULAP chair Ocampos.

Local officials have previously shown their support for the President by coming up with paid advertisements on major dailies. During the height of the National Broadband Network deal scandal. The League of Cities of the Philippines, municipal mayors from Mindanao, five governors from the Cordillera Administrative Region were among those who came up with ads affirming their support to Arroyo. (abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak)

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