It was President’s Day around here and I am convinced that Gloria Macapagal Arroyo must finally explain to the Filipino people her part in the $135 million overprice scheme. She needs to explain if this was in partial payment to the head vote counter Abalos for past services rendered.

I’m sure there are not too many Filipinos left who continue to think that our government is clean. We have long ago resigned ourselves to the grim reality that we deserve our leaders and the preeminent part they play in the widespread corruption that is tearing our country apart. Moving out of the Philippines was all most of us could do who could not accept this cruel reality.

But Arroyo must now talk. We have reached a point when silence will no longer do. This isn’t just another crisis to be weathered with fear and money. If she is as corrupt as everyone thinks she is, then she has to resign. Vice President De Castro takes over, no matter what advantages he stands to gain in preparation for the 2010 elections.

Whether in the form of a trial or thru a fact finding commission totally devoid of politicians, we need to give her the chance to speak and recount in detail her involvement in the many scandals that have plagued her administration. All glory is fleeting, we all die. GMA must realize that it is never too late to come out clean. She can’t hang on to power indefinitely, her relatives and allies will all eventually fall. Sooner or later, she will be tried and for our nation to rise, justice will have to be served. Gloria Arroyo will face the full force of the law. And if she is found guilty of unpardonable crimes like depriving children from acquiring basic education, basic healthcare, basic nutrition, basic sanitation because funds were diverted to greedy criminals then she can expect no pardon.