NEWS RELEASE
March 22, 2000

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan today said that Presidential Chief of Staff Aprodicio Laquian was fired this morning “for telling the truth about the President’s incompetence.”

“It seems that the biggest crime in Malacanang nowadays is telling the truth. Everyone on President Estrada’s team who has dared to be honest and truthful eventually gets kicked out and humiliated,” said Bayan Secretary General Teodoro A. Casiño.

“Mr. Laquian is like the boy who cried ‘the emperor has no clothes.’ He is the latest victim in Pres. Estrada’s snakepit. But he should not worry because he is in good company,” added Casiño.

Casiño said that based on Mr. Laquian’s testimony, “it is not surprising that the government is running around like a drunken idiot.”

Meanwhile, Bayan dared Congress to start impeachment proceedings against Mr. Estrada, saying Mr. Laquian’s revelations about the style of work in Malacañang may be enough to start an investigation about the President’s incompetence.

“Mr. Laquian’s candid remarks before the MOPC forum confirms what many Congressmen already know about Pres. Estrada’s drunken ‘midnight cabinet.’ At the minimum, a Congressional investigation is in order. At the maximum, impeachment proceedings against Mr. Estrada should begin at once,” said Casiño.

Bayan also warned against Malacañang’s attempt to muddle the issues raised by Mr. Laquian by questioning his apparent breach of protocol. “The issue here is not Mr. Laquian but the President himself, whether he is competent to lead our country or not.” ####