by VERA Files
These were the resounding messages in Wednesday’s media-led indignation rally at the Chino Roces (formerly Mendiola) Bridge held to demand justice for victims of the Nov. 23 massacre in Maguindanao and protest the imposition of martial rule in the province.
Black was the color of the day. Participants from different sectors mostly wore black clothes and arm bands to assail the attacks on the media, rule of law, and accountability.
VERA Files photojournalist Mario Ignacio and trustee Chit Estella share their photos:
Click here (VERA Files).
A portion of the statement by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility:
Unnecessary and Dangerous
“Since 1986, a declaration of martial law has been the clear line no President has ever crossed, even in those moments when the presidency itself has been in peril, as in the term of Corazon Aquino.
“Mrs. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has crossed that line by putting the country under a state of emergency in 2006, and two provinces and a city including a Maguindanao last Novemember. having crossed that line despite the absence of any invasion or threat of rebellion, there is no telling how much farther Mrs. Arroyo will go, claiming to solve the country’s problems but actually adding to them and subjecting the long-suffering people of this country to further torment, as Ferdinand marcos did from 1972 to 1986.
“Mrs. Arroyo is prertending to address a problem her government itself created, while at the same time attempting to enlarge her powers as well as that of the military. Several members of the Ampatuan clan have supposedly been arrested, indicted and scheduled for trial fro the mass murders of Novemember 23. Previous to the declaration, mrs. Arroyo’s government was giving the country the impression that it was on top of the situation, that it was heeding the demand for justice for those slain last November 23, and that the normal legal processes were proceeding as they should.
“There was thus no need for martial law, if we’re to believe the very same argument that has declared it, as well as the evidence of our own senses – except as a recourse that’s part of a design to eventually place selected areas of the country and perhaps the entire country itself under martial rule. It is thus imperative for everyone – ordinary citizens, civil society, the Church, and the media to oppose this declaration as the possible beginning of one more era of repression in a country that has suffered so much for it.”
by
according to an atty:
take note of Discharge from office. an accessory before the fact in criminal case is very difficult to prove because there were many officials who had direct supervisory role like the local government units. It will require another people’s power to remove a president.
asiandelight,
Kung pagbabatayan natin palagi ang sinasabi ng mga henyo sa batas na sila ring bumabaluktot sa matuwid, saan patutungo ang Pilipinas?
Hindi mo ba napapansin na mismong sila na nagpakadalughasa daw sa larangang kanilang ipinangangalandakan ang sanhi at ugat ng hindi pagkakaisa ng sambayanang Pilipino?
Hindi pa ba sapat sa iyo na kung sino ang mga nagmamagaling sa ating gobyerno ay sila ang unang unang sumisira sa sistema?
Hindi sapat ang people power upang tanggalin ang isang abusadong pekeng presidente. Dapat ay ipataw ang pinakamabigat na parusang kamatayan sa pamamagitan ng pagpugot ng ulo o ipahila sa kabayo hanggang malagutan ng hininga at upang masigurong hindi na mabubuhay ay bigtihin pa.
Kulang pa ito kung tutuusin sa libong buhay na nabuwis bunga ng paghihikahos dulot ng kasinungalinan ng isang babaeng halang ang kaluluwa!
Ellen,
I received an invite to a conference by the Intl Federation of Journalists yesterday but sadly couldn’t attend.
The IFJ meet was meant to discuss and present the “findings of the IFL led international mission into the Mindanao massacre which claimed over fifty lives of civilians, including 30 journalists.”
Under the principle that the sovereign cannot commit a wrong, any illegal act made in connection with the discharge of an office is considered a personal illegal act of the official by which he alone should be answerable and not the State.
Correct! That’s why when the dust has settled, it’s almost always the leader and other individuals who find themselves in the dock and face prosecution. As in the case of Tony Blair today (illegal invasion of and war on Iraq.)
Anna,
Iba ang mga Bitoy.
Hindi sila kunsintidor at lalong hindi sila pabor sa ginawang hakbang ni Blair na masabi lamang na kaibigan ng pinakamakapangyarihang tao (daw) sa buong mundo dahil pangulo ng Estados Unidos ay pikit mata at walang konsultasyong umayon at nagpadala ng mga sundalo sa paglusob sa Iraq.
Sa Pinas iba ang sitwasyon. Dahil bumabaha ng salapi sa bawat kapalpakan ni goyang ay okey lamang sa ating mararangal na heneral, mambabatas at gabinete at itinuturing na karangalan ng bansa ng mga tuta at tangang tagasuporta ng PINAKAPALPAK NA GANID na naging pinuno ng bansa.
Ambassador’s wife completes charity walk for Manila kids
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/12/10/09/ambassador%E2%80%99s-wife-completes-charity-walk-manila-kids
Habang ang mapagkawanggawang mga dayuhan ay nag-iisip ng paraan kung paano matutulungan ang mga nagdarahop nating kababayan, ang ating temporary permanent president ay walang ginagawa kundi ang huthutin ang kaban at ipamudmod sa kanyang mga buwayang galamay.
Putanginang ‘yan!
I read about that too Magno… I will say this for the very first time: Nakakahiya!
Sa Pinas iba ang sitwasyon. Dahil bumabaha ng salapi sa bawat kapalpakan ni goyang ay okey lamang sa ating mararangal na heneral, mambabatas at gabinete at itinuturing na karangalan ng bansa ng mga tuta at tangang tagasuporta ng PINAKAPALPAK NA GANID na naging pinuno ng bansa.
Magno, eh kung mag kudeta na lang kaya tayo — and then kung saksepul tayo, hang natin from the highest lampost ang mga walanghiya? 🙂
Anna,
Maiisip ding gawin ‘yan ng natitirang marangal nating sundalong nakatalaga sa PSG.
Malay natin, maaaring merong ilang impit ang pagmumura dahil sa kahayupan ng binabantayan nilang pamilya.
Ano sa palagay mo, Colonel Jonas Sumagaysay?
Magno,
Maiisip ding gawin ‘yan ng natitirang marangal nating sundalong nakatalaga sa PSG.
Ang kailangan sa PSG ay isang middle ranking officer… the guy who wants to do that must have access to “big artillery” — kung alam lang niya how to operate the missiles na nasa Malacanang, puwede pa.
The thing is the officer who will lead the revolt in Malacanang must be prepared to fight it out to the finish.
Problem niyan is I’m 99.99% sure that agree ang mga sundalo sa martial law. So a revolt in Malacanang is virtually inexistent in those terms and will be a touch and go situation at best.
Despite their little number, something like 1,500 or so including those in “technical positions” (don’t know if this number has changed), the PSG has a history of being the “most professional” of the armed branch of the AFP.
They will fight for their “president” to the finish if given the command. So, am not really banking on the PSG to topple Gloria.
(If ever the AFP wants to topple Gloria, the first branch of armed service they must neutralise is the PSG, otherwise, no dice.)
Ok, trabaho muna ako… ciao, folks!
I have never felt as invisible as a citizen of the Philippines as I do with GMA. She not only does not give a damn what we think. She does not even bother to pretend! She joyfully flaunts her violation of the Constitution she promised to protect…through misinterpretation, she claims it is not illegal. Also, she and her family hides behind “show the proof” on any accusation of corruption….C’mon! There will never be a document signed by them that shows they accepted payments with the particulars stating “to corrupt local officials for the period covering Jan to Mar 2009″! There are, however, the changes in SALN. They are screwing us over and they have their press secretaries mouthing nonsense. As helpless as I feel, I will have no greater joy should the members of the press ask hard and irreverent questions to force them to cut the bullshit….and I will watch how they squirm, the way Mikey did when Solita Monsod interviewed him about his SALN. Since they have shown us, the citizens, how utterly they disrespect us, they deserve the same!