Statement on GMA's declaration of the state of martial law in Maguindanao

NO TO MARTIAL RULE: END GMA’s WARLORDISM

We strongly condemn Proclamation 1959 that has placed the province of Maguindanao under Martial Rule. We believe that it will not benefit the grieving relatives clamoring for justice nor redress the rights violated by the level of impunity exhibited in the massacre of 57 people in Ampatuan town two weeks ago.

This proclamation aims to “break warlordism” in the province by GMA’s public pursuit of the Ampatuans. The Ampatuans power and prominence precedes them, enabling them to be blanketed by the protection offered by the writ of amparo, while the humble witnesses have yet to be favored by the courts with the same.

The Maguindanao Massacre exhibits the rotten-to-the-core character of Philippine politics where power rests on the monopoly of resource and influence of a small section of the population. It is a system that has bred the likes of the Ampatuan in the South, Singsons in the North and the Josons in Nueva Ecija.

And now the present regime has groomed the Ampatuans into a clan so powerful that is capable of amassing a hundred armed men in broad daylight to kill women, lawyers, journalist and burying the evidence with the use of government equipment.

Public outrage generated by this, ultimately destabilizes the whole ruling system. GMA hopes that in publicly flogging the powerful clan, she can wash away her culpability to the crime.

GMA’s warlordism will only be reinforced, if not, empowered by Proclamation 1959.

She remains to be the biggest warlord in the country, the original ‘untouchable’. Her regime has no concept of public accountability, her record is peppered with scandal and corruption, she has tolerated and encouraged extra-judicial executions and disappearances by rewarding and praising the likes of Jovito Palparan and raised cheating in the national elections to an unprecedented level of brazenness.

We enjoin the people to be vigilant as the illegitimate president GMA is laying the ground work for various scenarios like NO-El and NO-Proc, with the ultimate aim of remaining in power beyond her term.

Lift Proclamation 1959 Now!
Justice to the Maguindanao Massacre Victims!
End GMA’s Warlordism Over the Archipelago!