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SANLAKAS National Office:
150 K-6th St.
Brgy. East Kamias
Quezon City, Philippines
Tel.: (632) 433-8377
(632)
Fax: (632) 426-2422
E-mail: [email protected]
THE ACCUSED CAN NOT LEAD THE INVESTIGATION
July 30, 2003
Mr. Speaker --
The day before the opening of the third session of Congress, the entire nation was gripped by the drama of 70 junior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), leading 226 of the best-trained soldiers of the land, and calling for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, her secretary of defense, her PNP chief, and her military intelligence chief to step down. The accusations made by the junior officers were grave and serious -- (a) complicity of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration in the sale of arms and ammunition to various rebel groups, including the Abu Sayyaf Group; (b) role of the highest defense and military officials of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration in masterminding the Davao airport and wharf bombings; and (c) the plan of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration to declare martial law in August of this year. The gravity of these accusations, however, was somehow lost in the frenetic quest of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration to quell the mutiny as fast as it could, to the point of imposing a deadline when force and violence would be unleashed, and placing the entire country under a "state of rebellion", which continues even as we speak. In the end, it was not so much the threat of force that made the mutinous young officers to stand down, as their compassion upon hearing the pleas of parents, loved ones, and mistahs. Today, three (3) days after the mutinous junior officers and the soldiers under their command agreed to return to barracks, the paroxysm of bloodletting has begun. Navy Lieutenant Antonio Trillanes, the audacious albeit brilliant leader of the mutiny, has been delivered to the custody of the Intelligence Service of the AFP (ISAFP), the office headed no less than the very officer he charged with masterminding the Davao bombings. Like having delivered sheep to slaughter, Navy Lieutenant Trillanes is now held incommunicado --in violation of his constitutional rights-- at the ISAFP detention center. Further, President Macapagal-Arroyo announced the creation of a Presidential Commission to investigate the events of July 27, including the root causes thereof, which presumably includes the grave and serious accusations made by the junior officers against her government. Mr. Speaker, Distinguished colleagues, Two (2) years ago, the people ousted an elected President for alleged offenses which pale in comparison, in terms of gravity as crimes against the people, to the accusations brought by the young officers before the feet of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration. For if these accusations are true, then President Macapagal-Arroyo, who was not elected to the office she now holds, has no moral right to stay in that office one more day. To win the good graces of the United States under the administration of President George W. Bush, the term "terrorism" has been made the catch-word of the Macapagal-Arroyo government. To be viewed as the most valiant fighter of "terrorism" in her own country and this side of the world is indeed a prize so coveted by the Macapagal-Arroyo government that it has become more than willing to tag its own people as "terrorists". But if it turns out to be true that the highest defense and military officials masterminded the bombing of the Davao airport and wharf, killing scores of innocent civilians; if it turns out to be true that the government has some complicity in the selling of ammunitions to rebel groups, including the Abu Sayyaf Group, which kills and maims the soldiers of the Republic; if it turns out to be true that the Macapagal-Arroyo administration is planning to declare martial law --which is one step away from the declaration of a "state of rebellion"-- this August; then it turns the tables and brings the nation to ask -- who is the real "terrorist"? Mr. Speaker : That is the reason why the fact-finding and investigation of the grave accusations by the mutinous junior officers must be made by a truly independent commission, not one beholden to the powers who are themselves to be made the subject of the investigation. Thus, that independent commission must emanate from Congress. The House and the Senate must take the initiative in the creation of the independent commission, composed of respected citizens with no links to Malacanang, tasked to conduct the sole and exclusive fact-finding and investigation of the charges made against the Macapagal-Arroyo administration. The place to start with the investigation is with the junior officers themselves -- the vital and material witnesses. It is, therefore, necessary and urgent to obtain custody of Navy Lieutenant Trillanes and his fellow officers who may have personal knowledge and information on the charges of (a) complicity of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration in the sale of ammunition to various rebel groups, including the Abu Sayyaf Group; (b) role of the highest defense and military officials of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration in masterminding the Davao airport and wharf bombings; and (c) the plan of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration to declare martial law in August of this year. The critical information that they have to substantiate these charges could spell the difference in the political life of this country. The accused can not lead the investigation. The Macapagal-Arroyo administration stands charged. It is now up to Congress to uncover the truth behind the serious accusations of the junior officers, and this is a historic responsibility we can not shirk from.
October 8, 2003
Maliliit na Manininda ng Kamaynilaan: Dapat bang Kamuhian o Dapat Tulungan?
August 25, 2003
A Question of Integrity, A Matter of Sovereignty
August 12, 2003
The People have the Right to know the Truth about the Accusations
The Accused can not Lead the Investigation
Copyright © 2003 SANLAKAS All Rights Reserved
