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Monday, July 24, 2006
Speakout: Why we shall boycott Gloria's Sona
WHEN Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo delivers her State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday afternoon, we the "Batasan 6" will not be there. We will boycott her speech in protest of her regime's campaign of political persecution against her critics and all-out war against the people.
We will not be attending Monday's opening session as well. At 9 a.m. on Monday, we will appear before Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Elmo Alameda to confront the Arroyo regime's fabricated rebellion charges against us. In the case of Anakpawis party-list Representative Crispin B. Beltran, he remains a victim of arbitrary detention since February 25 when he was illegally arrested.
Our failure to attend the opening session in the morning will be a stark reminder that despite the trappings of representative democracy, duly elected members of Congress are being unfairly and maliciously persecuted for opposing Mrs. Arroyo's illegitimate regime. The President, Executive Secretary, National Security Adviser and Justice Secretary have all united to prejudge our guilt and authorized the filing of trumped-up charges, attempted to arrest us without warrant, and also attempted to railroad and short-circuit the judicial process to throw us in jail. This is undeniable proof that the Arroyo government has resorted to fascist methods in its desperation to hide the truth, silence its critics and cling to power.
It is but natural therefore that another impeachment complaint signed by hundreds upon hundreds of citizens will be filed before the secretary-general of the House on that same day. That will be an indubitable slap on Arroyo's face and a reminder that the people will not be cowed into silence and inaction.
We will boycott Mrs. Arroyo's Sona also to underscore her role as Commander-in-Chief of the death squads who have extra-judicially killed more than 700 critics, dissenters, activists and suspected sympathizers of her opponents. These political killings are a diabolical measure meant to scare the broad movement seeking her ouster and the entire people, and to tighten her grip on power.
We will boycott Mrs. Arroyo's Sona because we believe she has lost all moral ascendancy to govern. Her lust for power has led her to destroy almost all institutions through massive electoral fraud, corruption, bribery, black propaganda, political persecution and terrorism. In fact, she has declared an all-out war not so much on the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People's Army but on the broad movement that seeks her ouster in order to undertake genuine reforms.
We will boycott Mrs. Arroyo's Sona because we also expect more insidious lies from her and her speechwriters who specialize in double-talk and deception. The people know better, and they will be in the streets on Monday, delivering their own version of the Sona. We will be with them.
House Deputy Minority Leader Satur C. Ocampo
Bayan Muna party-list Representative Joel G. Virador
Bayan Muna party-list Representative Teddy A. Casiño
Gabriela Women's party-list Representative Liza L. Maza
Anakpawis party-list Representative Rafael V. Mariano
Anakpawis party-list Representative Crispin B. Beltran
(July 24, 2006 issue)
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