Joker Arroyo for senator sana, kaso…
Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales is completely
missing the whole point on the issue of the extrajudicial killings and
worsening human rights situation in the country. Rosales was essentially
defending the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) 
and absolving the
institution and its members from culpability over the killings by giving
credence to its arguments that the New People’s Army (NPA) were also guilty.
It’s most unfortunate that Cardinal Rosales can even think
to say that the extrajudicial killings under the incumbent government are
nothing compared to those perpetrated by the Marcos dictatorship. It’s like
he’s trying to downplay the urgency of the need to find justice for the victims
and put an end to the killings. Is he saying that we should wait for the number
of extrajudicial killings under Macapagal-Arroyo reach or exceed the record set
by Marcos before we sound the alarm?
Cardinal Rosales has begun to be convinced by the twisted
arguments and lies of the AFP that the progressive party-lists are fronts for
the NPA and the Communist Party of the Philippines, and this is a very
terrible mistake. The victims of the extrajudicial killings are unarmed
civilians, members and leaders of the progressive party-lists, and all the
signs point towards the AFP as the perpetrators of the killings. Cardinal
Rosales sounds like he is already giving up on the campaign to find justice for
the victims and is now just spreading the blame around instead of focusing on
the institution that’s mainly responsible for upholding human rights in the
country but is now violating them: the
Macapagal-Arroyo government.
We hope that other bishops, cardinals and priests will not
take the same tack as Rosales and instead see the issue of the extrajudicial
killings as it really is: the responsibility of the Macapagal-Arroyo
government. He’s better off following Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick
Pabillo’s lead. Bishop Pabillo recently released a report endorsing the public call for the
pull-out of AFP troops from the urban poor communities and residential areas in
the National Capital Region.
—
Senatorial candidate Joker Arroyo must know the reason
behind the voting public’s less than enthusiastic response to his latest bid to
return to the senate. He’s still on insecure footing and might still be taken
out of the Magic 12, and this might well be likely a result of the public’s
disappointment with his decision to run under the administration banner. Many
are also surprised with the line that Sen. Arroyo is taking on the issue of
extrajudicial killings and the international attention the issue has been
getting. People expect more Joker – after all, he’s the ‘good Arroyo.
I’m a Joker fan, but I was very surprised and disappointed
with his stance on pressing political issues such as human rights and the
extrajudicial killings. Joker’s vote in support of the Human Security Act or
the anti-terrorism law was also tragic.
He became known as a human rights lawyer and a civil rights
defender; but now his stance seems to vary from day to day. It’s most
unfortunate that he has chosen to side with the Arroyo administration and
defends its from ultimate responsibility and criminal liability for the
extrajudicial killings. Many see him now as an apologist for the Arroyo
government, and it has caused much confusion in how voters perceive him. If he
didn’t want to join the Genuine Opposition, he should have gone independent
instead of throwing his lot with Team Unity and his infamous namesake of an
illlegitimate president.
Supporters and sympathizers of the progressive party-lists
Anakpawis, Bayan Muna, and Gabriela
Women’s Party are not encouraged to include Joker in the list of candidates
they will vote for in the senate elections. However much we want to support and
endorse Arroyo’s candidacy, it’s become difficult for us because of his
inconsistent stand on human rights and the extra-judicial killings. Many were
shocked to hear him defend the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the
Arroyo government itself from culpability. It was a disappointment.
Joker would win more votes and once more secure a seat in
the senate if he once more takes up the cudgels for human and civil rights in
the Philippines.
This is what the Filipino people expects of him. I bet even Gloria Arroyo was shocked but hit it when Joker decided to run under Team Unity. She must’ve thought "Hell! What is he doing siding with the like of me?!"
In any case, it’s still not too late for Joker to
disaffiliate himself from Team Unity and take a more correct and humane,
internationalist stand.
