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

 © 2006 Bulatlat ■  Alipato Publications

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