To Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
We, the undersigned, who represent a broad spectrum of patriotic Filipinos and freedom-loving friends of the Filipino people in the United States of America, condemn the ongoing state attacks perpetuated by you and your administration against progressive leaders, parliamentarians, church leaders, journalists, lawyers, teachers and other civilians in the Philippines under the auspices of your arrogantly abusive Presidential Proclamation 1017 (PP1017). All evidence has led to the clear understanding that in one fell swoop of a so-called “state of national emergency”, you have single-handed advanced you longtime agenda to reinstate martial rule reminiscent of Marcosian Martial Law (1972-1986). In our call to end the heightening political repression of innocent civilians, we reiterate our demand for your complete and immediate resignation from the executive seat you were not elected to, for your moral bankruptcy and evidently fascist acts against the people. Furthermore, we wholeheartedly support the popular people’s call for your ouster.
We demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all political detainees who are being persecuted because they espouse just and democratic ideals for the people– most notably the Honorable Congressman Crispin Beltran of Anakpawis Partylist, the Honorable Congressman Joel Virador of the Bayan Muna Partylist, the Honorable Congressman Satur Ocampo of Bayan Muna Partylist, the Honorable Congresswoman Liza Maza of Gabriela Women’s Partylist, the Honorable Congressman Rafael Mariano of Anakpawis, and the Honorable Congressman Teodoro Casino of Bayan Muna Partylist. The “Batasan 5”, as they have come to be known, remain unjustly incarcerated to this very hour under the totalitarian command of you military.
Furthermore, we see you devious intent of suppression with the listing of over 51 individuals under so-called charges of “rebellion.”, a convenient pretext to go after those living national heroes and leaders who have been building popular opposition against you because, quite frankly, you have made it so easy for the people to hate you ever since your ascendance to office in 2001.
It is with no illusion that we understand the recent chain of events in the Philippines stem from a consistent agenda from your administration to quell a broad and growing public and popular opposition to your regime. In fact, 8 out of 10 Filipinos in the Philippines today want your administration to step down. It is no wonder that on the very moment you declared PP 1017, the very day the Filipino people were commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the ouster of the Marcos dictatorship nonetheless, the streets of Manila and other urban centers were not filled with fear and trepidation over your manufactured and opportunist accusations of a military coup attempt. On the contrary, the streets of Makati were filled with confetti falling from the sky, declaring middle class and professional support from the highest skyscrapers for the toiling majority who were leading massive demonstrations calling for your ouster.
As we celebrated the 20th anniversary of the ultimate democratic practice of the Filipino people, People Power, you lambasted democracy and all its ideals by thrusting our beloved Philippines back to the darkest days of tyranny—of warrantless arrests, of heightened political assassinations of activists and genuine people’s leaders, and of press freedom curtailment and silencing.
You walk hand in hand with the fascist Marcos dictatorship before you, resurrecting almost every act of tyranny to the tee, and in many ways, surpassing him.
Well, Mrs. Arroyo, enough is enough. No amount of state-exacted terror from you ranks can ever quell the peoples yearning for freedom, democracy, and justice. No amount of killings can destroy the movement to oust you. Heed the people’s call for resignation, or stand to be ousted with such popular conviction of the people, it will rise above the public humiliation standards of the two ousters before you.
The truth is, we see your desperation climbing, your proclamations a failing attempt to cling to what little power you still have. You harbor zero in the people’s respect, the people’s trust, and in the people’s support. Like Marcos before you, your anti-patriotism has ignited a united call for nationalism from patriotic forces to isolate your anti-Filipino acts. While you rely on your trusted economic support from the war-hungry Bush administration to fund your killing campaigns, the democratic sectors of the American people know your game and continue their pressure for the complete withdrawal of US military and economic support to your regime.
We are Filipinos in the United States—men, women, and children—enjoin ourselves with our American brothers and sisters, to demand the following:
GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, RESIGN OR BE OUSTED!
RELEASE CONGRESSMAN CRISPIN BELTRAN AND THE BATASAN 5!
RELEASE ALL POLITICAL DETAINEES!
JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES!
NO TO POLITICAL REPRESSION!
DEFEND PRESS FREEDOM!
US OUT OF THE PHILIPPINES!
Signed:
