This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com).
Vol. VI, No. 21, July 6, 2006
On meeting
with NDF leaders
BY EMILY VITAL Senator Maria
Consuelo ‘Jamby’ Madrigal said she did not violate any law when she met
with leaders of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP)
in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Madrigal talked with NDFP
Spokesperson Luis Jalandoni and Political Consultant Jose Maria Sison. She
signed a communiqué calling for the resumption of peace talks. In a press conference held
at Quezon City, Thursday, Madrigal said, “I am a Senator of the Filipino people
and not of Mrs. Arroyo.” “I only have the interest of the people in mind when I
spoke to and held a dialogue with members of the NDFP. Madrigal also visited the
United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) in
Geneva, Switzerland. She said that the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of
Expression Ambeyi Ligabo expressed serious concern on the worsening human rights
situation in the Philippines. A video of the meeting was
presented to the media. Meanwhile, Bayan Muna
Representative Satur Ocampo said there is nothing wrong with Madrigal’s meeting
with NDFP leaders. Ocampo said that even before Madrigal, some members of
Congress also met with Jalandoni and Sison to discuss the possibility of the
resumption of peace talks. Ocampo asked, “Why did the
Arroyo government abandon the peace talks? Are you in favor of peace or are you
for war?” Ocampo said that the
all-out war policy is the total reverse of the 9th point in Arroyo’s
10-point priority agenda, which is the completion of peace process. Bulatlat © 2006 Bulatlat
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I Did Not Violate Any Law -
Jamby
Posted 1:27 p.m. July 6, 2006