We have a dictator in Malacañang -- Virador

March 10, 2006

Murder in Bulacan
We have a dictator in Malacañang – Virador

BAYAN Muna representative Joel Virador today condemned the continuing environment of impunity being perpetrated by the Macapagal-Arroyo administration to groups and individuals who are against its repressive policies and maneuvers to stay in power.

“The killing of Crisanto (not Santiago as earlier reported) ‘Ka Santi’ Teodoro, chairperson of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Bulacan provincial chapter, shows that Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is instituting a climate of fear in the country and widening the crackdown on all opposition to her illegitimate presidency. While the crackdown is mainly on peoples organizations and progressive party lists, high on Arroyo’s targets are critical media outfits, rank-and-file soldiers, even academicians, church people and businesspersons,” Rep. Virador said.

Teodoro was killed at about 9:00 last night at the boundary of Malolos and Plaridel towns of Bulacan. He is the 26th activist killed this year and also the 12th fatality in the Central Luzon region.

“Obviously the Amnesty International notice that it is “gravely concerned” over the killings and its advice for Macapagal-Arroyo to “send a clear message to security forces that extrajudicial killings would not be tolerated” is actually being ignored by Gloria,” Virador said.

The militant solon also reiterated that the killing shows that “despite the so-called lifting of Presidential Proclamation 1017, the situation has only worsened.”

“The civil liberties of the people and press freedom under attack. We are being forced to accept the terms of an illegitimate president who does not want freedoms to be exercised under her rule. She does not want the truth on corruption, fraud and other high crimes to come out. She wants to be in control of everything. We have a dictator in Malacañang,” Virador said.