Secure the Constitutional Rule of Law
and Due Process
BY THE
Philippine Political Science Association
Posted by Bulatlat
We, officers and members of the Philippine
Political Science Association, fully condemn the continuing nationwide
extra-judicial killings of leaders/activists of legal mass organizations,
social development workers, and journalists. We call on the highest
authorities of the land to investigate and put an end to these killings
that have made a mockery of whatever claims the government has as regards
the ascendancy of a constitutional rule of law and due process.
Selective killings can not effectively
address political and ideological differences between government and
dissenting individuals and legal mass organizations. We must respect laws
and legal processes designed to deal with such issues. Even in the arena
of armed conflict, the government and armed combatants are now bound to
respect international humanitarian laws that aim to humanize such
conflict.
If left unchecked at the soonest possible
time, these killings can only lead to a more divided society, heightened
distrust of public authority, and further erode our already weak
institutions. Lest we become victims of this vicious cycle, we call on our
highest public officials to show their determination in addressing both
the immediate and long-term causes of this national crisis. We also call
on the Arroyo administration to reconsider the “all-out war campaign”
against insurgent groups that has proven to be ineffectual in previous
administrations and in solving similar armed conflicts in other nations.
To demonstrate its determination in addressing the problem, the government
should make all regional military commanders and provincial police
superintendents personally accountable for any political killing in their
respective areas.
Maria Ela Atienza
Associate Professor, Department of
Political Science
University of the Philippines-Diliman
Eric Vincent C. Batalla
Associate Professor, Department of
Political Science
De La Salle University-Manila
Rizal G. Buendia
Associate Professor, Department of
Political Science
De La Salle
University-Manila
Edna. E.A. Co
Professor, Department of Political Science
Ateneo de Manila University
Antonio P. Contreras
Dean, College of
Liberal Arts
Full Professor, Department of Political
Science
De La Salle University-Manila
Josefa S. Francisco
Associate Professor
International Studies Department
Miriam College
Ronald D.
Holmes
Assistant Professor, Department of
Political Science
De La Salle University-Manila
Ruth Lusterio Rico
Associate Professor, Department of
Political Science
University of the Philippines-Diliman
Francisco A. Magno
Associate Professor, Department of
Political Science
De La Salle
University-Manila
Amado M. Mendoza Jr.
Associate Professor, Department of
Political Science
University of the Philippines-Diliman
Felipe B.
Miranda
Professor of Comparative Politics
University of the Philippines-Diliman
Temario C. Rivera
Full Professor, Department of Political
Science
International Christian University,
Tokyo, Japan
Malaya C. Ronas
Full Professor, Department of Political
Science
University of the Philippines-Diliman
Eduardo C. Tadem
Associate Professor of Asian Studies
Asian Center, University of the
Philippines-Diliman
Julio C. Teehankee
Chair and Associate
Professor
Department of Political
Science
De La Salle University-Manila
Jorge V. Tigno
Associate Professor, Department of
Political Science
University of the Philippines-Diliman
Released by:
Ronald D. Holmes
President, Philippine Political Science Association
Posted by Bulatlat
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