Anti-Charter Change rally held in Zamboanga City

About 200 mostly students joined an interfaith rally Friday, June 19, 2009 in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines to protest moves by allies of President Gloria Arroyo in Congress to change the Constitution. (Mindanao Examiner Photo / Jung Francisco and Jonathan Deles)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 19, 2009) – About 200 mostly students joined an interfaith rally Friday in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines to protest moves by allies of President Gloria Arroyo in Congress to change the Constitution.

The rally, which lasted several hours, was held at a public square called Plaza Pershing in downtown Zamboanga. Security was tight around the plaza, which was previously bombed by rebels. Soldiers and policemen were deployed around the area.

Political activists have been holding street protests in Mindanao and denouncing the proposed amendments to the Constitution.

Militant groups and other people’s organizations, including opposition politicians, have criticized the passage early month of the House Resolution 1109, which seeks to turn Congress into a Constitutional Assembly, paving the way for changes to the Constitution.

Protesters previously held rallies outside the congressional office in Davao City and house in Manila of Speaker Prospero Nograles, a key ally of Arroyo.

“There is nothing more obvious than the actions made by Malacañang, through its allied congressmen, to cart off the barriers to cha-cha’s realization. The passage of HR 1109 speaks for their intentions to railroad charter change before the 2010 national elections and maintain Gloria Arroyo’s top post as prime minister,” said John Birondo, a Bayan spokesman.

Birondo urged the public to stay vigilant and oppose changes in the Constitution which could extend Arroyo’s term beyond 2010.

Arroyo is to step down next year when her term ends, but her allies in Congress are campaigning to amend the Constitution.

Activist said amending the Constitution would eventually prolong Arroyo's stay in power. Nograles said the change in the Constitution is needed to introduce reforms in the economy, among others and not to extend Arroyo’s terms.

Under the presidential form of government, Arroyo is allowed only one six-year term. In the charter change proposal suggested by her political allies who dominate Congress, she can be elected as prime minister should Congress dissolve the Senate and change the system of government to parliamentary and eventually prolong her into power beyond 2010.

Arroyo deposed President Joseph Estrada in a people power revolution in 2001, but corruption scandals in her government and allegations of poll fraud has made her extremely unpopular among Filipinos. (With reports from Jung Francisco and Jonathan Deles)

Muslims, Christians hold interfaith prayer rally in South RP on eve of anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Filipino human rights advocates light candles in front of photographs of political activists and civilians, who were either abducted or summarily executed during an interfaith prayer rally on Tuesday, December 9, 2008 - on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - at Plaza Pershing in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines. Filipino human rights organizations says there are 977 cases of extrajudicial killings and 201 victims of enforced disappearances since President Gloria Arroyo came into power in 2001. According to the group called “Karapatan,” which means (Rights), the killing spree is triggered by the military's anti-communist insurgency campaign in the Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)


ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 9, 2008) – Muslim and Christian and Catholic religious leaders held an interfaith prayer rally in Zamboanga City on Tuesday, the eve of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The organizers of the prayer rally also displayed several photographs of political activists and civilians, who were either abducted or summarily executed in the Philippines. Many students and human rights and peace advocates joined the rally held at the Plaza Pershing in downtown Zamboanga.

They also lighted candles in front on the photographs and offered prayers; many were calling for justice for victims of summary executions and human rights violations. “This prayer rally is dedicated to all those victims of human rights in the Philippines. We just pray that the unabated political killings shall stop in the Philippines,” said human rights advocate Marie San Jose.

The rally lasted more than two hours and ended with songs of praises and prayers led by Fr Vicente Climaco, of the Trinity Episcopal Church. Those who were also in the prayer rally were Ustadz Isahak Azarie and Rev. Fernmone Taripe, of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines; and Fr Richard Pama, of the Episcopal Church in the Philippines.

The interfaith prayer rally was organized by the Zamboanga Basilan Regional Ecumenical Council, United Methodist Youth Fellowship, Samahan ng Kabataang Episkopal sa Pilipinas and the Christian Youth Fellowship. Other groups which supported the rally were Gabriela, Moro Christian People’s Alliance, Liga ng Kabataang Moro, Natioanl Council of Churches in the Philippines, United Methodist Church and the Kawagib Moro Human Rights.

A Filipino human rights group called Karapatan on Tuesaday also decried the continued political killings in the country and blamed the Arroyo government for the murders. It said the killings were triggered by the government’s anti-insurgency campaign.

The group said it recorded 977 cases of extrajudicial killings and 201 victims of enforced disappearances since President Gloria Arroyo came into power in 2001.

Meanwhile, the Reporters Sans Borders in a report released on Tuesday said the UN Human Rights Council is doing little better than its predecessor, the now-abolished Commission on Human Rights, which was completely discredited over the years, especially when it named a Libyan as its president.

It said the Council has the failings of all UN bodies, where member-states are both judges and judged. States with repressive governments are elected to the Council and thus tasked with ensuring respect in other countries for rights they themselves are abusing on a daily basis. Until this absurd situation is ended, the United Nations cannot be said to be fulfilling its goal of protecting human rights.

“The use of human rights by countries for their own purposes will not end until the UN Security Council and the whole system of world governance is reformed and enlarged. This issue has been highlighted by the present economic and environmental crisis.”

“If the UN does not manage to end it, the Council will fail in its mission. The Universal Periodic Review, though a good step forward, will not make up for these weaknesses,” it said. (Mindanao Examiner)

Army Reiterates Support To Peace Efforts In Mindanao

Colonel Benito de Leon, commander of the Philippine Army's 104th Infantry Brigade,and honorary sultan in Mindanao, speaks to participants to the 3rd Interfaith Council Meeting held on October 27, 2008 in Iligan City, the capital of Lanao del Norte province. De Leon, a decorated officer, spoke about the importance of interfaith among Filipinos in achieving peace and unity. Other resource speakers and participants also pose for photo with De Leon.

ILIGAN CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 28, 2008) – The Philippine Army said it will continue to support efforts of civil society groups and non-government organizations to bring about peace and unity in Mindanao.

The Army is actively campaigning to bring tranquility in the troubled region and has embarked in various peace and development programs in partnership with different government agencies, non-government and civil organizations.

Col. Benito de Leon, commander of the 104th Infantry Brigade, who was invited Monday to speak at a forum by the civil society organization called Pakigdait Inc., said the Army is supporting government efforts to sustain peace and development in Mindanao and at the same time ensure the safety of civilians from lawless groups.

“Your military will always give high priority in ensuring the protection of the Filipino citizens whether they be Christians, Muslims, Lumads, or otherwise,” De Leon told participants to the 3rd Interfaith Council Meeting held in Iligan City.

The forum was attended by traditional and religious leaders headed by Rev. Fr. Regino Quijano, the Pakigdait chairman and Musa Sanguila, who heads the Civil Society Organization of Lanao del Norte Partnership for Peace and Development.

De Leon praised both groups for helping dozens of families, displaced by in the past by rebel hostilities, to return to their homes in Lanao del Norte’s Kauswagan town.

Troops have been deployed in the province to help local police forces pursue rogue Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels and maintain peace and order.

“Even as we pursue these lawless groups, we shall strictly abide by the instructions of minimizing collateral damage and in upholding the rights of the people as guaranteed in our Constitution,” De Leon said.

De Leon also briefed participants about the security situation in Lanao del Norte and other areas nearby and lauded the support of provincial and local government officials to the military’s efforts.

He also praised Muslim and Christian religious organizations which continue to play an active role in hastening the return of peaceful conditions in Lanao del Norte.

In 2000, De Leon was conferred the honorary title of “Sultan a Romapunut,” which literally means “Leader of Peace” in Lumbayanague in Lanao del Sur province because of his various conflict prevention and peace building efforts in the past in Mindanao. (Mindanao Examiner)

Muslims, Christians In South RP Join Interfaith Prayer Rally For Truth

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 29, 2008) – The Suara Bangsamoro, Jesus Is Lord Movement (JIL) and other Moro and civil society groups will stage an interfaith prayer and candle lighting rally on Friday evening.

The groups will convene at City Plaza at 4:00 PM, as part of the people’s unyielding quest for truth, justice, accountability and meaningful reforms in governance amid the deteriorating political crisis prodded by the $329-million ZTE-NBN scam.

Danny Vergara, resident pastor of JIL-Cotabato City, depicted the interfaith prayer assembly as a dignified gathering of groups, sectors and individuals who are resolute to grasp the genuine truth of the overpriced ZTE-NBN deal and make all those involved, including President Gloria Arroyo, accountable for their abuses and callousness.

Suara Bangsamoro’s national secretary-general, Bai Ali Indayla remarked that the movement calling for Arroyo’s resignation or ouster keeps mounting and intensifying as the political crisis drags on stressing that ‘Arroyo has a lot to answer including the organized extra-judicial killings, Hello Garci scandal, electoral fraud and numerous cases of multi-billion peso graft and corruption involving her family and cronies.’

“The pathetic statement of CBCP could not give GMA some relief. Cries of people from all walks of life are intense. She has escaped judgment in the past, but people now will decisively say, ‘Enough of Corruption, Enough of GMA!’ Indayla said in a statement.

The groups pointed out that they will stage series of activities including street education, sinehang bayan (film viewing) and concert for truth to edify the people on the present political quagmire until the downfall of Arroyo’s regime.

Religious Groups Join Calls For Arroyo To Resign

"Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another." Leviticus 19:11

We, members and leaders of the religious community, lawyers' organization, academe, youth organizations and multi-sectoral groups, have come together to express our common understanding on the recent political crisis that was triggered by controversies on the anomalous $329 million NBN-ZTE deal and to act in accordance with the principle of truth and justice. The Arroyo administration's brazen attempt to silence truth bearers through intimidation and abduction and by continuously invoking Executive Order No. 464 to evade Senate inquiries are acts in complete disregard of the truth and a betrayal to the basic tenet of governance that "public office is a public trust".

We believe that the Arroyo administration should be held accountable of the crimes that it has committed against the Filipino people, which include political killings, graft and corruption and electoral fraud. If perpetrators of these crimes are left unpunished, public officials from various agencies of the government will be emboldened to steal public funds, to cheat during elections, and to conceal the truth about illegal acts in the bureaucracy. Leaving to the Arroyo administration the task to reveal the truth and to give justice to the Filipino people is completely inappropriate at this time especially that the President herself has been involved into illegal transactions and has been using different agencies of the state to hide the truth.

We are also saddened with the continued apathy on the part of Former National Economic and Development Authority Director General Romulo Neri especially that he religiously submitted himself to the administration's script instead of standing up as an agent of truth. His testimony could help us thresh out the details on how intense is the corruption in the government after series of scandals haunting the Arroyo administration since 2004.

We urge Neri to reflect and be enlightened that it is time that public interest should supersede the welfare of Arroyo and her administration.

We deplore the Arroyo administration's blatant disrespect to the Filipino people's constitutional rights to expression and peaceful assembly in redress of grievances. Surveillance cameras have been installed outside educational institutions to monitor activities of students seeking for the truth about the NBN ZTE controversy. Protest rallies are being dispersed wantonly, by which it has become the administration way to neutralize dissent starting from the implementation of calibrated preemptive response to the declaration of the state of the national emergency. Up until now, political killings are systematically done with impunity in the country sides and it has instituted fear among local residents.

We believe that the Arroyo administration has been given enough time and chances to correct mistakes she has committed in the past, which include the controversy hounding the 2004 elections and scams about the fertilizer fund and jueteng.
Yet, we have had enough of Arroyo administration's lies and deception. Truth will never prevail in an administration that thrives in injustice, corruption, greed, fraud and political persecution. Justice and change can never be achieved by a president who had lost the moral ascendancy and the trust of the Filipino people to lead. Thus, we believe that we can only move on by putting an end to this political deadlock. We call on Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to RESIGN. If she still insists to lead this country until 2010, we will work for her removal from Malacañang.

To carry on this task, we have organized a gathering for an Interfaith Worship for Truth and Accountability on Friday, the 29th of February, to be held in Rizal Park, from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS: Assumption College of Davao, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-SMR, Center for Overseas Workers' Development Inc., Promotion of Church Peoples' Response, Religious of the Good Shepherd, Sisters Association in Mindanao, Union of Peoples' Lawyers in Mindanao, United Church of Christ in the Philippines