Hyatt 10 Reiterates Call for GMA’s Resignation
Calling the declaration of the state of
emergency as a state of panic crafted to intimidate and cow the nation
already reeling from poverty. Former cabinet secretaries collectively
called the Hyatt 10 said that “The only way for this country to move
forward is for Arroyo to make the supreme sacrifice by resigning.”
BY JHONG DE LA CRUZ
Bulatlat
Vicente “Enteng”
Romano III of the Black and White Movement labeled the Arroyo
government’s Proclamation 1017 as part of an “unholy trinity”.
“We condemn the
unholy trinity of Malacañang’s actions against our hard-earned freedom,”
he said, identifying the policy of calibrated preemptive response,
Executive Order 464, and Proclamation No. 1017 as the three faces of a
regime that fears the people.
He said that the
state of emergency is actually a state of panic, crafted to intimidate
and cow the nation already reeling from poverty.
1017 or 1081?
The group likened
the declaration of the state of emergency to former President Ferdinand
Marcos’ declaration of martial law.
Archie Guevarra,
convenor of Laban ng Masa (Fight of the Masses), said that Proclamation
1017 of President Arroyo is the same as Proclamation 1081 of former
President Marcos in disguise. “Martial law is now enforced,” he said
urging the people, to resist, defy and face the situation with courage.
Former cabinet
members collectively called the Hyatt 10, which includes former
Education Secretary Butch Abad, former Social Welfare Secretary Dinky
Soliman, and former presidential adviser on the peace process, Teresita
Deles, said in a statement that they have seen their worst fears come to
pass. They warned that the president will try to ensure her political
survival at all costs.
They said that,
“The latest proclamation is the biggest blow to our democracy and
further exposes Arroyo's desire to hold on to power. It has a chilling
effect on the people's exercise of their basic rights. On the 20th
anniversary of people power 1, where we ended the rule of a repressive
dictator, we now face a government, which brought us back to where we
were two decades ago,” they said.
Against the
principles and values of people power
Guillermo Luz,
executive director of the Makati Business Club said, “Just a few weeks
ago, we celebrated the 5th anniversary of People Power II,
which brought this administration to power. But it has in fact gone
against the principles and values of people power.” He added that civil
libertarians should pursue the search for truth regarding the
allegations that continue to hound the government.
Asked if they fear
being arrested by police, Abad said, “Bakit kami aarestuhin wala naman
kaming kasalanan. Kami
ay nandito upang panindigan ang ating karapatan, at upang ilahad ang
katotohanan tungkol sa mga nangyayari sa ating pamahalaan.Hindi kami
titigil. Kung dahil diyan kami ay
huhulihin bahala na sila. Hindi kami titigil, kami ay maninindigan.”(Why
should we be arrested, we have done nothing wrong. We are here to assert
our rights and to expose the truth about what is happening in our
government. We will not stop. If because of this we will be arrested it
is up to them. We will not stop asserting our rights.)
Abuse of power
Seventeen groups of
lawyers under the coalition Alternative Law Groups (ALG) Inc, is set to
petition the Supreme Court Monday to question proclamation 1017.
“The President
could not just go on a hunting spree and suppress the people's
democratic rights based on an illegal and toothless proclamation, which
does not give her extra powers, in order to create fear and quell
legitimate protests,” said Atty Marlon Manuel, ALG spokesperson.
Manuel noted Arroyo
is abusing her presidential power by her wrong interpretation of section
17 of article 12. “The president cannot invoke Sect 17 as this only
refers to a takeover of public utilities by the state in times of
national emergency. She is not the state herself, as this could only be
exercised pursuant to a law enacted by Congress,” he said.
Soliman said the
proclamation is not the answer to coup plots. “We have many good
soldiers...and they have a legitimate cause against corruption inside
the military and in the government,” she said.
Asked if opposition
groups are encouraging the people to conduct a civil disobedience
campaign, Soliman replied in the affirmative.
“The only way for
this country to move forward is for Arroyo to make the supreme sacrifice
by resigning,” she said. Bulatlat
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