Human rights advocates to JDV, solons: defend human rights and defy PP1017

KARAPATAN
Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights
#34B Maamo Street, Sikatuna Village, Quezon City 1101
Telefax 4354146
Email karapatan@tri-isys.com; karapatan.pid@gmail.com

February 27, 2006

Reference: Ruth Cervantes, Public Information Officer,

*Human rights advocates to JDV, solons: defend human rights and defy PP1017*

Human rights advocates from KARAPATAN Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights challenged Speaker Jose de Venecia and lawmakers to uphold the rule of law by defending human rights and defying Presidential Proclamation 1017.

"Human rights are enshrined in the Bill of Rights and the many international instruments which the government is duty-bound to uphold," said Ruth Cervantes, Public Information Officer.

KARAPATAN challenged legislators to stand with the people in defiance and condemn the illegal arrests and harassments of individuals, including solons being done under this draconian move of the Macapagal-Arroyo regime.

"It is outrageous that duly elected solons like Reps. Satur Ocampo, Liza Maza, Teddy Casino and Rafael Mariano are being hounded like criminals utilizing poorly contrived presidential proclamations," said the human rights alliance.

Cervantes said "Rep. Crispin Beltran and those who were arbitrarily arrested and are still detained must be set free. Rep. Beltran, unlike Mrs. Arroyo, has a clear mandate from the people and he is not a criminal."

KARAPATAN said that the House of Representatives should question Ms Arroyo's declaration of a state of emergency. "For one, questions of Ms Arroyo's legitimacy remain unresolved and proclaiming this PP1017 justifies her clinging to power."

The human rights alliance said that the House of Representatives cannot be able to justify to the Filipino people the support it will give to Ms Arroyo's tyrannical act.

"Mr. de Venecia and administration solons have already turned a deaf ear on the complaints of gross human rights violations when it killed the impeachment complaint against Ms Arroyo, they should act now to stop the lawless violence being committed by Malacanang's murder machine or face the people's judgement," Cervantes concluded.