’Detained’ solons want Arroyo’s clear statement on plight
Maila Ager
INQ7.net, Mar. 03, 04:04pm.
UNCERTAIN of their fate, five lawmakers holed up at the House of Representatives since Monday demanded a “categorical statement” from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo whether their pending warrantless arrests or rebellion charges would be lifted following the lifting of the state of national emergency.
“If it’s true that the situation is back to normal, she [Arroyo] should not only lift proclamation 1017 but she should also declare that demonstrations are now allowed, especially at [the] EDSA shrine,” Bayan Muna Representative Teodoro Casiño told a press conference Friday.
“She should also declare that we couldn’t be arrested without a warrant, as well as the 51 others charged with rebellion. She should also order the release of one of our colleagues,” he said, referring to Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran who was brought to the hospital on Thursday due to hypertension.
Anakpawis Representative Rafael Mariano noted that the President did not make any categorical statement that warrantless arrests, media muzzling, and the “no permit-no rally” policy would also disappear, along with the lifting of the emergency declaration.
“She was aware of our condition here in the House and Beltran’s but made no clear and categorical statement about us,” Mariano lamented.
Gabriela Party-list Representative Liza Maza said the “climate of state terror” remained if the government would continue with the warrantless arrests and crackdown on progressive groups and activists.
Casiño, Mariano and Maza, along with Bayan Muna Representatives Satur Ocampo and Joel Virador, were under the “protective custody” of the House until after the preliminary investigation of their case had been completed.
Their movements have been confined within the compound of the House. Ocampo said they expected no significant changes in their condition even after the lifting of the state of emergency.
“I think the President had no other option but to lift it because of the damage it [had] caused to the country politically and economically,” he said.
Proof of the government’s continued crackdown on left-leaning groups was the alleged harassment by the police and military on their staff, the lawmakers said.
Virador disclosed that three of their staff had been harassed and followed by policemen. Ocampo and Casiño confirmed this.
Virador demanded an accounting of the security forces manning the House to ensure their safety.
Arroyo lifts state of emergency
Lira D. Fernandez
INQ7.net, AP, Mar. 03, 11:53am
(UPDATE) AFTER being assured by her advisers that the coup threat has eased, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo lifted the state of emergency exactly a week after she issued the controversial declaration to quell a military attempt to overthrow her government.
She made the announcement in a speech aired on government television and radio.
Arroyo said the conspiracy to topple her administration had been crushed and that the situation had returned to normal.
She appealed to the political opposition to stop destroying the gains made by the country.
Arroyo declared the emergency last Friday to quash a coup plot allegedly involving disgruntled soldiers, communist rebels and civilian backers.
On Thursday, the defense, justice, and police chiefs said they would recommend lifting the decree because the situation was normalizing.
Opposition and civil activists have warned that political freedoms were being eroded.
Authorities have filed criminal charges against over 50 opposition members, military personnel, and others for trying to overthrow the President. They include five left-wing lawmakers who sought refuge at the House of Representatives and refused to be interviewed by police.
Civil libertarians, lawyers, businessmen, and media groups have expressed concerns over a string of warrantless arrests, a ban on rallies, and a raid on a critical newspaper.
5 party-list solons unable to leave House amid arrest threat
Maila Ager
INQ7.net, Mar. 02, 05:18pm
THE FIVE party-list lawmakers who had been under the custody of the House of Representatives since Monday tried but failed to leave the House, as elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group prepared to arrest them once they stepped out, according to one of the “detained” legislators.
Bayan Muna Representative Saturn Ocampo told a press conference Thursday that he and his colleagues Joel Virador, and Teodoro Casiño, Liza Maza, and Rafael Mariano, had planned to leave the House to attend to a series of engagements related to their duties as lawmakers.
Casiño said they received many invitations to speak in various fora like the gathering of lawyers on Friday, led by members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, while Maza said she was invited to join the Women’s Day celebration.
“We realized that today is Thursday and congressmen were going to their districts to attend to their constituents. So we decided to also go out because if we don’t move here until Sunday, it’s like we’re in prison,” Ocampo said.
“It was made clear last night that we are not arrested and detained so we can go out. It is our right to go out,” he said.
He said he informed Speaker Jose de Venecia, Minority Floor Leader Francis Escudero, and the House security about their decision and none of them objected.
De Venecia though advised them to consult House Sergeant at Arms Bayani Fabic about their security once they leave the vicinity, Ocampo said.
But Ocampo said they were told by Fabic that they could not leave because the House security, including the police assigned to secure the House, were limited to only within the compound.
“He [Fabic] said they could not give us security and escorts. In short, he said we might get arrested when we go out,” he said.
When he reported this to De Venecia, Ocampo said the Speaker decided to leave it up to them to decide whether to proceed with their plans but warned them about the risk of being arrested.
“Clearly, there had been a misunderstanding about the coverage of the protective custody provided to us by the House leadership,” Ocampo said.
“For us, the protective custody is not only confined in the House but we are also covered by this protection from arrest, especially from a warantless arrest,” he pointed out.
Ocampo said they would seek clarification from the plenary on Monday and also to request that they be given protection even outside the halls of Congress. Maza and Casiño said they were so frustrated because they were being prevented to attend the needs of their constituents.
“Of course I am frustrated and mad. We condemn this kind of political persecution. They are really targeting us and our parties because they know that we’re effective critics of this administration,” Maza said.