My Wit's End

Proclamation 1959 scored

12/06/2009 at 6:08 am | Posted in 1 | Leave a comment

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Militant sectoral organizations, legal pundits and a coalition of journalists have tagged President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Proclamation 1959 as “overkill” and unnecessary.

President Arroyo had declared the entire province of Maguindanao in a state of martial law over the weekend where two hours after military forces arrested its governor Andal Ampatuan Sr, 2:00 am, Saturday, December 5.

In a text message, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Misamis Oriental-Cagayan de Oro Chapter President Atty. Dale Mordeno said the declaration of martial rule effectively suspends the writ amparo granted to the Ampatuans recently.

“The declaration of martial law in Maguindanao has the effect of suspending the writ of amparo…the remedy when the writ can only proceed once the martial law is lifted or declared improper by the Supreme Court,” said Mordeno, yesterday.

Protest Action

The militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan—Northern Mindanao (BAYAN-NMR) and other allied organizations staged a protest action, demanding the lifting of martial rule, late in the afternoon yesterday.

It was later followed with a noise barrage in front of Cagayan de Oro City Hall.

In a phone interview, yesterday, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Northern Mindanao (BAYAN-NMR) Deputy Secretary General Kristin Lim finds Arroyo’s declaration an unnecessary show of force and only serves to cover up Arroyo’s role in the perpetuation of warlords in the country.

“The strong clamor for justice for the victims has pushed Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the wall. It is ironic that Arroyo has not severed its ties with the Ampatuans and had even given special treatment to allies who are potential state witnesses to how she cheated in the 2004 and 2007 elections,” said Lim.

BAYAN-NMR challenges President Arroyo to step down from power if “she is truly sincere in her efforts in pursuing justice for the victims of extrajudicial killings and human rights violations not only in Maguindanao but the rest of the country.

“Together with the Ampatuans, she must confront the charges of the many crimes against human rights being the general of warlords and human rights violators,” said Lim.

Ghost of the past

Senatorial aspirant, Bukidnon 2nd District Rep. Teofisto “TG” Guingona III said the declaration would not solve the Ampatuan Massacre and had further fueled suspicion on Arroyo’s real intentions.

“Justice must be served for the victims of the brutal Ampatuan Massacre. However, the declaration of martial law and the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus in Maguindanao is not the solution,” said Guingona in an emailed statement.

He expressed fear that the Palace might use the situation in Maguindanao to establish a “creeping” martial law.

“Mrs. Arroyo has already proven her lust for staying in power. What is to stop her from recreating disorder, violence and chaos in other places and exploiting the sense of helplessness of civilians to set the stage for the imposition of martial law all over the country,” asked Guingona.

In an emailed statement yesterday, the November 23 Movement—a coalition of media groups and organizations seeking full accountability and swift justice to the slain journalists and victims of the Ampatuan Massacre—opposes the imposition of martial law in Maguindanao.

“We absolutely oppose the imposition of martial law in Maguindanao and, prospectively, anywhere else in the country,” part of their statement reads.

“We believe that, with the severe restrictions on freedoms it imposes, on the one hand, and the wide latitude of police, military, and official powers it allows, on the other, martial law will only compound the troubles it has been precisely intended to deal with,” the statement continues.

The movement’s statement added that under normal powers, “a decisive, strong-willed, and well-intentioned leadership,” would be enough to bring the perpetrators of the Ampatuan Massacre to justice.

“History offers clear, powerful, and painful enough lessons in the deceptive promises of martial law: It has been used for repression, instead of justice,” November 23 Movement further stated.

Its members are Philippine Press Institute (PPI), Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists (FFFJ), National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), Center for Community Journalism and Development (CCJD) and Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR).

It also includes Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), Philippine Human Rights Reporting Project (PHRPP), VERA Files, Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) and College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP).

The movement’s news outlet-members are Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI), Business World, PInoy Weekly and Davao Today.