Bulatlat - The Philippines's alternative weekly newsmagazine

This story was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. VI, No. 4, February 26 - March 4, 2006

Hyatt 10 Reiterates Call for GMA’s Resignation

Calling the declaration of the state of emergency as a state of panic crafted to intimidate and cow the nation already reeling from poverty. Former cabinet secretaries collectively called the Hyatt 10 said that “The only way for this country to move forward is for Arroyo to make the supreme sacrifice by resigning.”

BY JHONG DE LA CRUZ
Bulatlat

Vicente “Enteng” Romano III of the Black and White Movement labeled the Arroyo government’s Proclamation 1017 as part of an “unholy trinity”.

“We condemn the unholy trinity of Malacañang’s actions against our hard-earned freedom,” he said, identifying the policy of calibrated preemptive response, Executive Order 464, and Proclamation No. 1017 as the three faces of a regime that fears the people.

He said that the state of emergency is actually a state of panic, crafted to intimidate and cow the nation already reeling from poverty.

1017 or 1081?

The group likened the declaration of the state of emergency to former President Ferdinand Marcos’ declaration of martial law.

Archie Guevarra, convenor of Laban ng Masa (Fight of the Masses), said that Proclamation 1017 of President Arroyo is the same as Proclamation 1081 of former President Marcos in disguise. “Martial law is now enforced,” he said urging the people, to resist, defy and face the situation with courage.

Former cabinet members collectively called the Hyatt 10, which includes former Education Secretary Butch Abad, former Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman, and former presidential adviser on the peace process, Teresita Deles, said in a statement that they have seen their worst fears come to pass. They warned that the president will try to ensure her political survival at all costs.

They said that, “The latest proclamation is the biggest blow to our democracy and further exposes Arroyo's desire to hold on to power. It has a chilling effect on the people's exercise of their basic rights. On the 20^th anniversary of people power 1, where we ended the rule of a repressive dictator, we now face a government, which brought us back to where we were two decades ago,” they said.

Against the principles and values of people power

Guillermo Luz, executive director of the Makati Business Club said, “Just a few weeks ago, we celebrated the 5^th anniversary of People Power II, which brought this administration to power. But it has in fact gone against the principles and values of people power.” He added that civil libertarians should pursue the search for truth regarding the allegations that continue to hound the government.

Asked if they fear being arrested by police, Abad said, “Bakit kami aarestuhin wala naman kaming kasalanan. Kami ay nandito upang panindigan ang ating karapatan, at upang ilahad ang katotohanan tungkol sa mga nangyayari sa ating pamahalaan.Hindi kami titigil. Kung dahil diyan kami ay huhulihin bahala na sila. Hindi kami titigil, kami ay maninindigan.”(Why should we be arrested, we have done nothing wrong. We are here to assert our rights and to expose the truth about what is happening in our government. We will not stop. If because of this we will be arrested it is up to them. We will not stop asserting our rights.)

Abuse of power

Seventeen groups of lawyers under the coalition Alternative Law Groups (ALG) Inc, is set to petition the Supreme Court Monday to question proclamation 1017.

“The President could not just go on a hunting spree and suppress the people's democratic rights based on an illegal and toothless proclamation, which does not give her extra powers, in order to create fear and quell legitimate protests,” said Atty Marlon Manuel, ALG spokesperson.

Manuel noted Arroyo is abusing her presidential power by her wrong interpretation of section 17 of article 12. “The president cannot invoke Sect 17 as this only refers to a takeover of public utilities by the state in times of national emergency. She is not the state herself, as this could only be exercised pursuant to a law enacted by Congress,” he said.

Soliman said the proclamation is not the answer to coup plots. “We have many good soldiers...and they have a legitimate cause against corruption inside the military and in the government,” she said.

Asked if opposition groups are encouraging the people to conduct a civil disobedience campaign, Soliman replied in the affirmative.

“The only way for this country to move forward is for Arroyo to make the supreme sacrifice by resigning,” she said. Bulatlat

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