By Carlito Pablo

Leftist groups in the Filipino--Canadian community across Canada have called on Prime Minister Paul Martin to withdraw his government's support from embattled Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who is facing impeachment charges for alleged high crimes like rigging the 2004 elections.

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"We hope that Canada can support measures, such as the proposed transitional council, that can lay the foundation for genuine development and a just and lasting peace in the Philippines," the petitioners told Martin.

A copy of the same letter, which appealed to Canada's "ideals of human rights, democracy and social justice," was also sent via email to Foreign Minister Pierre Pettigrew.

President Arroyo is being confronted by mounting calls for her resignation due to allegations that she fixed the results of the May 10, 2004 elections to defeat popular challenger, now deceased former actor Fernando Poe Jr.

The political crisis has been spurred by revelations of supposed wiretapped conversations between the President and Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano of the Commission on Elections, purportedly indicating that she was manipulating the outcome of the polls.

President Arroyo has rejected calls for her resignation. Hours before she delivered her State of the Nation Address last July 25, an impeachment complaint was lodged against her before the House of Representatives by a bloc of 42 lawmakers.

The impeachment complaint accused her of, among others, rigging the elections and receiving payoffs from "jueteng," an illegal numbers game.

It didn't help that a former employee of the Office of the President had come out recently to claim that Mrs. Arroyo was president during an alleged bribery of officials of the Commission on Elections to ensure her victory in the May 2004 elections.

The witness, Michaelangelo Zuce, also stated that the money was distributed by the Lilia Pineda, wife of Rodolfo Pineda who is said to be the biggest "jueteng" operator in the Philippines. The Pinedas hail from President Arroyo's home town of Lubao in the province of Pampanga.

Ottawa promptly responded to the petition through an email dated July 18 by Executive Correspondence Office M. Bredeson.

But the response merely acknowledged receipt of the petition on behalf of Martin.

"You may be assured that your comments have been carefully noted," Bredeson said.

"I am certain that the Honourable Pierre Pettigrew, Minister of Foreign Affairs, to whom you indicate your message has already been forwarded, will also have appreciated being made aware of your views," Bredeson added.

The letter urging Martin to support calls for Arroyo's resignation was sent via email by Siklab (Advance the Rights and Welfare of Overseas Filipino Workers), Filipino Nurses Support Group, Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance, and the Philippine Women Centre of BC, all based in Vancouver.

Also signing the petition from Toronto were the Philippine Network for Justice and Peace, Philippine Women Centre of Ontario, Filipino Canadian Youth Alliance-Toronto, and the Filipino Workers' Support Committee.

The letter was likewise signed by the Pilipinong Migrante sa Canada (Filipino Migrants in Canada) in Ottawa; and the Pinay Montreal (Filipino Women Montreal) and Kabataang Montreal (Filipino Youth Montreal).

Also a signatory to the petition was the National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada.

Ottawa's response was silent on the petitioners' call seeking to enlist Martin's "help in rebuilding democracy and genuine peace in the Philippines."

The petitioners had noted that Canada has "important and strategic economic interests in the country (Philippines)."

"Arroyo can no longer ensure this stability," they said of the ties between the Philippines and Canada.

Mrs. Arroyo made an official visit to Canada in early 2002 as part of her three-nation trip that included the United States and the United Kingdom. Martin was then Minister of Finance in the government of then Prime Minister Jean Chretien.

Philippine government records show that as of 2000, Canada was the 19th largest trading partner of the Philippines with bilateral trade totalling US$545.63 million.

The Philippines is in the top 10 list of recipient countries of Canadian foreign aid.