Leaders OK 5 Summit Principles; Call for a Ceasefire by All Groups to Create Atmosphere for Meaningful Dialogue

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Byline: MARIO B. CASAYURAN

Congress leaders agreed yesterday on five basic principles that will govern the coming summit of political leaders to be presided over by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on a still unspecified day and in a yet unknown place.

One of the principles agreed upon was their appeal "to all groups for a ceasefire in political attacks to create an atmosphere for a meaningful dialogue."

This was announced after a two-hour breakfast meeting at the Manila Hotel by Senate President Franklin M. Drilon, House Speaker Jose de Venecia, and Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo.

Only Sen. John H. Osmena was present to represent the political opposition. The two other opposition members - Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III and Sen. Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr., a former Senate president - were absent because of previous engagements.

The summit, said Drilon, can be held when Congress goes on a three-week recess, starting Sept. 13.

President Arroyo had accepted Drilon's suggestion that the country's leaders hold a summit as the country is suffering from confusion and political mudslinging following the short-lived July 27 Oakwood mutiny in Makati City.

Drilon made the suggestion in place of a call by opposition Sen. Teresa Aquino Oreta for President Arroyo to call for a snap election because the President has allegedly lost her moral ascendancy to rule the country.

The four other principles are:

1. The summit, earlier proposed by …