BY AUBREY MAKILAN
Posted 5 p.m. June 22, 2006
Lead complainants,
among them, National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera, show
reporters signed copies of the new impeachment raps.
PHOTOS BY AUBREY MAKILAN
More than a
thousand individuals representing more than a hundred militant groups,
under the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan or New Patriotic Alliance)
network, will sign the new impeachment complaint against President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, said Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes
during the formal launching of the complaint at Club Filipino in
Greenhills, June 22.
As of press time,
over 300 individuals and organizations have signed the 11-page
complaint, also called as the “Citizens’ Impeachment Case,” said Leah
Navarro, one of the lead complainants.
Private
complainants were briefed by lawyers Harry Roque and Vicky Aveña on the
complaint and the legal consequences of signing.
Among the
personalities who signed the complaint were National Artist for
Literature awardee Bienvenido Lumbera, Col. Guillermo Cunanan (Ret.) of
Philippine Military Academy class ’66, and Nini Quezon-Avanceña,
daughter of former president Manuel L. Quezon.
Also present were
sectoral representatives like Dr. Reynaldo Lesaca, Jr. for health
workers; lawyer Nasser Marahomsalic for the Moro people, and Maria
Isabel Artojo for the youth.
Families and
victims of human rights violations also signed the complaint. Arman
Albarillo, whose parents were killed in April 2002 allegedly by
government soldiers, and Ofelia Beltran, daughter of detained Anakpawis
Rep. Crispin Beltran, said that the success of the impeachment case
would give them the justice that they, as well as other victims and
their families, have longed for.
Killings and other
rights violations are categorized under one of the main charges, crimes
against humanity. The other two main charges are the exercise of
dictatorial powers and graft and corruption.
Despite not yet
certain of being able to gather the signatures of 79 congressmen to
impeach the president and transmit the complaint to the Senate for
trial, the complainants and lawyers are more optimistic this time.
“This time around,
it is the people who are charging GMA,” said Roque.
The lead
complainants also called on the Filipino people to urge their respective
congressmen to endorse the complaint.
“If we fall short
of the required number of signatures,” Aveña said, “another Edsa people
power is possible.”
“There might be a
third,” she said.
Meanwhile, Lumbera
clarified that the still relatively small number of people joining
protest actions does not signify that the people do not want change.
“Marahil
napapagod (lamang ang mga tao) o dumadalang ang rali pero hindi ibig
sabihin nito na ayaw na ng mga tao ng pagbabago,”
(Perhaps the people are still tired or
that the rallies are far in between but this does not mean that the
people do not want change.) he said.
Lumbera also said
that compared to last year, the people will have more opportunities at
participating in the resolution of the crisis confronting the country.
“Narito na
ngayon ang pagkakataon para mapalitan ang pagkabigo ng pag-asa,”
(The opportunity to overcome the frustrations and failed hopes of the
past are here now.) he said referring to previous failed attempts to
oust the president.
On June 25, the
private complainants and other pro-impeachment individuals and groups
will hold a vigil to ensure that their complaint will be the first
version to be filed at the office of the Secretary General of the House
of Representatives the next day, June 26, when
the one-year ban on the filing of another impeachment complaint against
the president expires. Bulatlat
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