AKBAYAN Party today denounced anew GMA’s [Philippine President Gloria Arroyo-Macapagal] declaration of a State of National Emergency, saying that the draconian measures that the government imposed yesterday completely exposed the despotic inclinations of the ruling regime. “Yesterday’s events were the last of the jigsaw pieces that revealed in full GMA’s intention to rule the country through a dictatorship. What she has done is an insult not only to the millions of Filipinos who risked their lives to peacefully dismantle the Marcos dictatorship, but also to a world that was moved and inspired by the strength of our love for democracy and freedom. The dark days of Martial Law have been resurrected and they will haunt us as long as President GMA is in power and as long as systemic changes and democratic reforms are not in place,” AKBAYAN Rep. Mayong Aguja said. “Just so she could evade the truth behind the ‘Hello Garci’ controversy, the President is willing to destroy the already shaky democratic structures of the country.”

Meanwhile, AKBAYAN Rep. Etta Rosales expressed fears that the imposition of the State of National Emergency would pave the way for crackdown on democratic anti-government forces. “All the elements of a repressive regime are already in place. There are orders to gag the media, quell dissent in the streets in the name of public order, arrest political figures or conduct raids without warrant. It is in this environment of fear and sense of impunity on the part of the President that massive human rights violations usually occur,” Rep. Rosales added.

AKBAYAN President Ronald Llamas, who was arrested along with UP Prof. Randy David in yesterday’s protest rally to commemorate the People Power I anniversary, dared Malacanang to pursue the same path that Marcos has taken to continue his stay in power. “President GMA should have learned from history that repression is the breeding ground of People Power. She would suffer the same fate as Marcos. By insulting the ideals of People Power I, she has actually stoked the rage and the moral indignation of the people. Madam President, we are not afraid,” Llamas said.

According to Llamas, AKBAYAN would file counter charges against the policemen that arrested leaders of Laban ng Masa. He also said that the group would question the legality of the declaration of State of National Emergency in the Supreme Court.

For her part, AKBAYAN Rep. Risa Hontiveros called on the Filipinos to remain vigilant and ready to protect the people’s democratic gains. “Let us continue to struggle for democracy and freedom in the country. However, we must consciously be steadfast in establishing deeper reforms to widen our democratic space and give meaningful voice to the people in the institutions of governance,” Rep. Hontiveros said.

Other than the cases against the policemen who arrested Llamas and Prof. David and the filing of a case in the SC against GMA’s draconian policies, the solon said that AKBAYAN legislators would also question House Speaker Jose de Venecia’s declarations and actions when Malacanang was under red alert. “His call to all congressmen and congresswomen to declare support to what he believes is the duly constituted government is a rejection of the ideals of EDSA [the People Power uprising that ousted the Marcos dictatorship in 1986], which promote an independent and representative legislature. In his eagerness to succeed President GMA through a GMA-backed charter change, he compromised the integrity of Congress as an institution of representation and democracy,” Rep. Hontiveros said.

 

 

AKBAYAN is a Philippine political party committed to participatory democracy and participatory socialism. This statement was issued on Feb. 25, 2006.

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