ARROYO CHALLENGED TO VOLUNTEER LEAVE OF ABSENCE March 19, 2004 Opposition senatorial bet Boots Anson-Roa yesterday dared President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to demonstrate statesmanship by giving up her post within the final half of the election campaign period in favor of a non-partisan government caretaker. Anson-Roa aired the challenge as she expressed confidence that the Supreme Court will grant the petition seeking a court directive that would deem Arroyo resigned or on official leave of absence during the election period. Together with Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino party mate Amina Rasul, Anson-Roa filed the court action in a bid to stop the President from misusing government funds, equipment and other resources to bolster her campaign for the presidency. "The President can avoid being the source of national embarrassment in case the High Court rules in our favor, by voluntarily taking a leave of absence and by appointing as her replacement a non-partisan and legal successor," she said. Unfazed by criticisms aired by Arroyo allies against the petition, Anson-Roa said the case is anchored on legal and moral questions against Malacanang's blatant use of government resources and programs to boost the K4 presidential campaign. "We are totally convinced the Supreme Court will act on our petition which has raised valid constitutional questions that are vital in guaranteeing clean and honest elections," she said. A recipient of the prestigious Ten Outstanding Women in the Nation's Service's award, Anson-Roa explained that the High Court petition also sought the issuance of a court order asking Vice President Teofisto Guingona to assume the Office of the Presidency. The petitioners are anticipating fierce opposition from Arroyo supporters against the Guingona proposal but stressed that they will not question the appointment of a non-aligned legal successor. In seeking Arroyo's relief, Anson-Roa and Rasul pointed out that while Arroyo is not disqualified from seeking a fresh mandate as president, the framers of the Constitution had limited the chief executive to a single six-year term to bar her from taking advantage of the vast powers of the presidency to support her a new term.