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SV INT Filipino Liberal Party President Geraldo Roxas and Chairman of ad hoc committee of National Party, Jose P. Laurel, seated in podium in Club filipino, San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines.
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CU Chairman Laurel speaking in English
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SV PAN Guests seated.
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SV & CU President Roxas speaking in English with guests listening and applauding at end of speech. (3 SHOTS)
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LAUREL:"I have waited there long enough. The gentleman is from Japan, the Japanese stayed here only running this country as a dictator for eight years now. I am sorry. I apologise to the people (INDISTINCT) if I have waited, but it was because I was hopping that with all, with the qualities of leadership that Macros had, with all his intelligence, his brilliance, I was hoping that he would be able to solve the problems of the nation, and they were mainly socio-economic."



ROXAS:"As to how we hope to achieve these objectives, let me say that this is the beginning. Today is the beginning, as speaker Laurel has stated easier, we intend to pursue every avenue, every means that we may achieve these objectives. We feel -- I do not know if I speak for myself alone, but I believe that I speak for a great majority of those in the opposition -- that this may very well be the last effort for a peaceful solution for this problem. If this effort on our part should fail, then I believe that resolution to this problem would rest in the rhinos of out problem."





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Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: In the Philippines, 72 leading members of the opposition parties have signed what they call "a national covenant for freedom". They united in a bid to bring to an end eight years of material law imposed by President Ferdinand Macros. the opposition leaders cited corruption, intimidation, torture and coercion as features of President Macros' rule and proclaimed a five-point programmed aimed at outing the President, breaking down material law and promoting free elections. The opposition parties were forced underground eight years ago, when their introduction of martial law took away their authorization to operate openly. On Friday (29 August) President of the Opposition Liberal Partly, Gerald Roxas, and the Chairman of the ad hoc committee of the National Party, Jose Laurel, explained what their covenant for freedom is about.

SYNOPSIS: Chairman Laurel said he had waited long enough and now was the time for action.

President Roxas insisted that the opposition's united stand to bring about free electrons was the first chance for a peaceful transfer of power.