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Press Secretary Cerge M. Remonde's Opening Statement |
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Briefing Room, New Executive Bldg., Malacañang, |
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11 December 2009 |
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Ladies and Gentlemen of the Malacañang Press Corps. Good Afternoon! THE OTHER NIGHT, the House of Representatives and the Senate started the joint session to vote jointly on Proclamation No. 1959, issued by the President on December 4, 2009 to quell a rebellion by placing Maguindanao under martial law and suspending the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in that province. We remain confident that Congress, after hearing the President’s Panel, will uphold the prerogative—in fact, the duty and responsibility -- of the President to employ all means available to her under the Constitution and the law to quell armed rebellion and suppress lawless violence. You heard the government presentation on the series of events that led to the proclamation: the massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao, including our colleagues in the media; the use by the suspects of the so-called civilian volunteer organization or CVOs and/or other armed groups to frustrate attempts of law enforcement agencies to arrest them; the refusal of local government units to discharge their duties and responsibilities; and, worst of all, the failure of judges to report to their courtrooms, thereby making it impossible for prosecutors to secure warrants of arrest, search, and seizure. Clearly, these were extraordinary problems that called for extraordinary solutions. And these are problems that persist up to this day. UNFORTUNATELY, a vocal minority in the combined chambers of Congress have joined agitators outside the Batasang Pambansa Complex, in condemnation of the President. The crisis in Maguindanao, for them, has become fresh fodder for their political agenda. Are they now shedding copious tears in sympathy with Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., others in the clan, and some 160 individuals who have been arrested or are about to be arrested for planning or for participating in the gruesome massacre? It is understandable that the Ampatuan clan should petition the Supreme Court to declare the Maguindanao martial law unconstitutional. Their awesome power to defy lawful authority is slipping away, and their ability to evade criminal responsibility is in jeopardy. But what are we to make of the politicians who have taken the side of this powerful family? They do not say it out loud, but a Supreme Court decision favorable to their cause could nullify the arrest of the suspects and may render the evidence against them inadmissible. In their petition with the Supreme Court, these honorable Gentlemen cite as ground the danger of human rights abuses. But the police and the soldiers are running only after those who are suspected of having participated in the massacre that amounted to an unprecedented abuse of the rights of the victims. So, are they now so concerned about the welfare and well-being of the suspects in this gruesome crime? Actually, the minority need not fret about the human rights of the suspects. The government is taking care that the rights of all, including the suspected perpetrators of the massacre, are protected and upheld with equally firm resolve. In fact, there is not a single example of abuse committed either by the police or soldiers in the implementation of martial law, as Rep. Teddy Boy Locsin noted at the continuation of the joint session last night. Under the prevailing circumstances in Maguindanao, I sincerely BELIEVE Congress and the Supreme Court will uphold the right of the president to declare martial law. In the meantime, we will not be diverted from the course we must take. Even as we speak here, our brave soldiers and policemen are methodically restoring order to the troubled province. As a result of Proclamation No. 1959, the principal suspects in the massacre have been taken into custody and their cohorts are being hunted down. The civilian volunteer organizations, which were turned by the Ampatuans into a private army, have been dismantled. Or at the very least, disarmed, with their weaponry and armored vehicles confiscated. Our search and seizure operations of illegal firearms continues without let up. As of today, the haul included another 24 rifles confiscated from 24 people, hundreds of ammunitions and magazines, a military-type sports truck hummer, a Toyota Land Cruiser, a Chevrolet Suburban a GMC luxury truck, two Toyota Hi-Lux pickup trucks, a Ford 150, an Isuzu D-Max, A Toyota Hi-Ace van and two military trucks. Yesterday, a composite team recovered from the compound of Andal Ampatuan Sr. in Shariff Aguak 50 high-powered machineguns, three caliber 30 light machineguns, one cal. 45 pistol, six barrels of cal. 50 HMG high-powered machineguns and assorted ammunitions. Later in the day, 23 renegade CVO members in Rajah Buayan surrendered and turned in their weapons. They are now being processed for possible filing of appropriate cases against them. As of December 10, a total of 1,013 firearms including Crew-Served weapons, along with 581,000 rounds of ammunition and C4 explosives, have been confiscated or surrendered to authorities. The whole nation remains shocked and outraged by the Maguindanao massacre. Until justice is done for the victims, we will bear the pain and the shame of this tragic episode in our nation’s history. In the meantime, having recapped our progress in the police front, let me close the week on a positive note. Let me share with you a statement from our DFA, announcing that on December 10, 2009, the Philippines was unanimously re-selected Compact eligible for FY 2010 by the Millenium Challenge Corporation’s (MCC) Board of Directors chaired by U.S. Department of State Secretary Hillary Clinton. “The reselection reaffirms both MCC’s confidence in the Philippines’ high capacity as development partner and the Philippine Government’s highest level of political commitment to good governance,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo said in his announcement yesterday. This is the third time that the Philippines was endorsed as Compact eligible, allowing the country to qualify for a large scale-grant for FY 2010 under MCC’s Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) program. Secretary of State and MCC Board Chair Hillary Clinton, during her visit to Manila last 12 November 2009, promised to help us on this matter, and obviously delivered. The country’s Compact proposal for 2010-2014, which is in the final stages of development, focuses on three (3) high-impact projects - Secondary National Roads Development (SNRD); Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) and Integrated Revenue Information System (IRIS). The MCC will provide a pre-Compact assistance worth $5.57 million to help the Philippines complete beneficiary analysis, engineering designs, and environmental and social impact assessments for the Compact proposal. On that positive note, I am now ready to take your questions. Thank you. |
