'let's move on' again - it ain't over yet

Lawyers say Arroyo not yet off the hook



Article posted March 3, 2006, 3:41 pm

Despite the lifting of Proclamation 1017 on Friday, 17 law groups under the coalition Alternative Law Groups Inc (ALG) said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is not yet off the hook.

“The lifting of Proclamation 1017 does not erase the violations of constitutional rights that were committed in the short period of its implementation. The repression of civil liberties has been done and could be repeated," said lawyer Marlon Manuel, ALG spokesperson.

Manuel said to stop Malacaňang’s monopoly of power, the Supreme Court should set the rule by declaring the proclamation unconstitutional so that civil liberties would be protected and abuses of governmental power disallowed.

ALG lawyers said their fight against “repressive policies" has to continue and the people must remain vigilant.

“Monopoly of power has no place in a democracy. Allowing power-hungry leaders to revive our past could be every Filipino’s worst nightmare," Manuel said. “Let us not give away to an abusive leader the freedom that we fought for and achieved for the last 20 years.

He said the people must remember that the birth of the 1987 Constitution is a glaring reaction to a brand of despotism spanning enormous proportions.

Lawyer Arlene Bag-ao, ALG council chairperson said, the people should discern that the lifting of Proclamation 1017 would not necessarily stop Malacaňang from instituting “clever manipulations" to prevent the people from airing their grievances.

“There is still E.O. 464 which continues to suppress people’s rights to information. Still, the country is being afflicted by a national malady," Bag-ao said.

She said Philippine democracy is still on a trial ironically by a leader who should have been the number one protector of civil liberties.

The ALG also reported that Mrs. Arroyo’s misapplication of proclamation 1017 violated at least three articles and seven sections of the 1987 Constitution.-GMANews.TV

Comments

  1. Jeneen GarciaMarch 3, 2006 at 1:52 AM

    and what good does it do if the proclamation is lifted, but she still orders warrantless arrests and censorship of the media (which comes in many forms...)? as usual, she was just pressured to take back her illegal proclamation by the US government, and her allies who are starting to get worried because of the spreading protests =P

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