Martial Law in Maguindanao: MADRIGAL jamby says:

Martial Law in Maguindanao

Now, therefore I, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and by law, do hereby proclaim as follows:

Sec. 1: There is hereby declared a state of martial law in the province of Maguindanao except for the identified areas of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front as referred to in the implementing operational guidelines of the GRP-MILF agreement on the General Cessation of Hostilities.

Sec. 2: The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall likewise be suspended in the aforesaid area for the duration of the state of martial law.

Done in the City of Manila this 4th day of December in the Year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Nine.

(Originally Signed)

Gloria M. Arroyo

By the President:

(Originally Signed)

Eduardo Ermita
Executive Secretary

Congress in Joint Session

House Speaker Prospero C. Nograles and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile jointly preside over the historic opening of the joint session of Congress at the Batasan Pambansa solely convened to tackle Presidential Proclamation No. 1959 declaring Martial Law in the province of Maguindanao, following the gruesome and brutal killing of more than 50 people including more than a dozen members of the media. The ongoing joint session will vote on whether to concur or revoke the presidential edict. Shown are Senators and Congressmen listening intently during plenary proceedings of Congress which converted itself into a "committee of the whole" to allow members of the President's Cabinet, led by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera, and DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno, to explain and answer all queries raised in plenary to justify the presidential proclamation.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

MADRIGAL jamby says:

PGMA's report to Congress is nothing but an account of the massacre without any direct or indirect evidence of rebellion. What is strange is that there has long been lawless violence in Maguindanao and the Ampatuans have been allowed to rule with impunity by this very same administration.

Ngayon ay nag-iba na ang tugtugin ng Malacanang. Ang nangyari rito ay bunsod ng lumalang gulo ng dalawang warlord clans kung saan ang isang angkan ay mas malapit sa kusina. Bakit kailangang parusahan ang ibang mga mamamayan na walang kinalaman?

This is a sham. Ito ay isang malaking sarsuwela na nagpapatunay lamang na 'di seryoso si Ginang Arroyo na parusahan ang kanyang minamanok na pamilya Ampatuan.

It is a sad day indeed for the Filipino people when a human rights violation is perpetrated by the government to cover up the massacre of innocent victims. By declaring martial law in Maguindanao, PGMA can now effectively curtail the human rights of many people who have nothing to do with these unspeakable murders.

By restricting the human rights of all Maguindanaoans, PGMA may be covering up the unsavoury truth that continues to emerge. Is this another evil scheme to hide telling evidence of electoral fraud?

The imposition of martial law is but a demented diversionary tactic adopted by the Arroyo administration to show that the President is in control but which may eventually lead to the exoneration of her political allies as the heinous crimes of multiple murder and rebellion are difficult to prove under our criminal statutes. Only an evil mind covering up the sins of a political lackey can come up with this. Clearly, she is pushing the envelope too far.

I now ask: Why declare martial law after the fact? Is this merely a subterfuge to eventually free the Ampatuans? Abangan!

Martial Law in Maguindanao