Inquirer: Turning back the clock
Kabataan Partylist President Raymond Palatino was quoted by the Inquirer in this editorial.
EDITORIAL
Inquirer
Last updated 00:03am (Mla time) 03/13/2007
http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/editorial/view_article.php?article_id=54396
The Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration and its military arm appear determined to cripple the leftist party-list groups to prevent them from winning in the coming elections. That is the immediate objective. The long-range objective, it seems, is to make the leftist party-groups so powerless that they cannot mount any significant opposition to the administration.
This tactic emerged early during the first Arroyo administration. From the time Ms Arroyo assumed the presidency in January 2001, 834 militants have been killed, victims of extrajudicial killing. That is by the militants’ own count. The Inquirer count places the total at 274. But whichever is the correct count, the killings are unacceptable in a civilized society that values human life and under an administration that has abolished judicial or court-imposed executions. Many of the victims in extrajudicial killings were members of leftist party-list groups, like Bayan Muna, Gabriela and Anakpawis.
The courts are also being used to immobilize the leftist party-list groups. About a year ago, Rep. Crispin Beltran of Anakpawis was arrested and jailed on suspicion of plotting to oust President Arroyo together with rebel soldiers, communist guerrillas and other lawmakers. Recently, Rep. Satur Ocampo of Bayan Muna was ordered arrested by a Southern Leyte court on charges of multiple murder allegedly committed 22 years ago. Ocampo asks how he could have committed the murders when he was under detention at that time, during the Ferdinand Marcos dictatorship. He also said that the law provides for the prescription of a charge of murder after 20 years.
More than a week ago, armed soldiers were reported prowling the streets of Barangay Commonwealth in Quezon City day and night, striking fear in the hearts of residents. Residents said the soldiers were seeking out members of militant party-list groups. Twenty-six other poor barangays were reportedly being patrolled by soldiers. Actually this has been going on since November and December, but it came to the attention of the media only recently.
Administration and military spokesperson gave varying explanations for the military presence. After objections were expressed in the media, the military ordered the soldiers to leave their long firearms behind and carry only hand guns. But the militarization of the barangays where party-list groups pursue their advocacies continues.
The Army has “invaded” not only poor “barangay” [neighborhood districts] but also universities in Metro Manila. Raymond Palatino, president of the Kabataan party-list group, said that the deployment of troops in schools is intended to instill fear and intimidate student councils, publications and organizations that are critical of the administration and support progressive party-list groups and organizations.
Last Tuesday, the military was reported to be actively campaigning against leftist party-list groups. And recently, three supposed widows of ex-NPA members, wearing dark glasses and bandannas as hoods appeared before the Commission on Elections to seek the disqualification of Bayan Muna, Anakpawis and Gabriela. It is not surprising that Bayan Muna, Anakpawis and Gabriela are being targeted for “special treatment.” A recent survey by the poll group Social Weather Stations showed that they are the three leading party-list groups.
A reform-minded Constitutional Commission in 1987 introduced the concept of the party-list into the Constitution. The rationale was to give representation to poor, marginalized and disadvantaged sectors in the House of Representatives which is largely made up of members of the economic, political and social elite. In the past 20 years, the party-list system has worked fairly well, and the party-list groups have pushed through progressive pieces of legislation such as the law prohibiting the imposition of the death penalty, the law appropriating P500 million for a standby fund for the repatriation, evacuation and relief of overseas workers and the law providing protection for children caught in conflict.
Now the Arroyo administration would set back the hands of the political clock, push back political progress and deny the poor and the disadvantaged representation in the House. In its single-minded effort to remain in power, it would stifle political dissent, criticism and opposition. It is militarizing politics, if it has not indeed imposed a de facto martial law. It is killing democratic pluralism and trying to bring about a regime where literally the unanimity of the graveyard will reign.