Sunday, October 23, 2005

NR1024:Who's afraid of Lomibao or Malacanang?

From the Office of Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran
News Release October 23, 2005

Rallyists, leaders of militant groups not afraid of Lomibao and the PNP; Malacanang's call for reconciliation fake

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran said that the Philippine National Police (PNP) can go ahead and file charges against the leaders of the militant and progressive groups that led the massive anti-Aroyo rallies last Friday, and the groups will go ahead and file counter charges against the PNP leadership and the various elements of the PNP who are responsible for the various injuries sustained by rally participants not only in last Friday's demostration, but in previous protest actions as well.

PNP chief Director General Arturo Lomibao said the charges would be filed on top of charges of physical injuries raised by the Manila Police District (MPD) against the leaders and organizers of last Friday’s rally .

"The PNP has some gall saying that the violence was caused by the protestors when in truth it's the police who start every skirmish and increase the physical tension in the rallies because. Rally participants are always unarmed, while the police are always geared and prepared for battle - as of they're going to war," he said. "Sino tinatakot ni Lomibao? Who is he for political activists to fear? He's just a thug in uniform doing Macapagal-Arroyo's dirty work."

"The PNP's mindless obedience to Malacanang and the corrupt and illegitimate president is most unfortunate. The likes Lomibao only confirm the long-standing view that that most Filipino police elements are mindless robots who don't possess the slightest respect for civilian authority, much less for civil and human rights."

Beltran said that for every policeman or woman hurt during skirmishes, there are 15 to 20 civilians more seriously hurt. "There's no contest -- the police have helments, shields and truncheons, and they have firetrucks at their command. Protestors have nothing but their political stand and their outrage against this increasingly fascist government. The fact that the PNP continues to implement a mongrel and unconstitutional policy such as the calibrated preempted response policy against rallies is already grounds to file charges against the PNP and its officials and members," he said.

Beltran appealed to the members of the PNP to stand against the CPR and quite their posts instead of allowing themselves to be instruments of the Macapagal-Arroyo admnistration's attacks against civil and democratic rights.

In the meantime, Beltran scoffed at the call of Malacanang for principled reconciliation with her critics and the oppisition. "What principles do Mrs. Arroyo and her spokespersons have? There's no reconciling with this shamelessly corrupt and power-greedy administration and its illegitimate executive. Macapagal-Arroyo has been caught lying, her cheating has been exposed, and yet she still calls has the temerity to call herself the country's rightful president.This is an all-out political war against Macapagal-Arroyo, and the only way to end it is to have her removed from office and punished for her crimes against the Filipino people. Malacanang is fooling itself if it thinks there's still a way to recover its lost credibility and heal the rift between the corrupt executive and Filipinos," he concluded.#

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