Farmers belonging to Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luson (AMGL, Peasant Alliance in Central Luzon) demand the immediate prosecution of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo after the resignation of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez. The group asserted that Arroyo is responsible for massive corruption and gross human rights abuses brought about by her counter-insurgency program Oplan Bantay Laya (OBL).
AMGL represented by its chairperson is a complainant of the plunder case, particularly the fertilizer scam against former agriculture under-secretary Jocelyn “Joc-joc” Bolante, former agri sec Cito Lorenzo and Arroyo. The group is also the regional chapter of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), also a complainant and witness on the fertilizer scam issue.
“We are very eager that Arroyo be held accountable for more than 9-years of her corrupt and fascist rule. Arroyo raked the public funds of billions of pesos and her reign of terror was through Oplan Bantay Laya. Central Luzon suffered 154 victims of extra-judicial killings, ranking third in the country and 66 victims of enforced disappearances, ranking first. Arroyo could employ all her influence and power to oppose the corruption case but she could never deny the indicators of her state terror,” said Joseph Canlas, AMGL Chair said.
The group believed that Gutierrez’ decided to resign to prevent the imminent snowballing of Arroyo’s corruption issue in the public opinion.
“It is not impossible that Gutierrez settled with the Aquino government to leave her post. Her resignation is apparently a graceful exit. She should not be bailed out of Arroyo’s corruption, we would never forget that she did nothing for the Hacienda Luisita massacre case but cleared Arroyo,” Canlas said.
The group then challenged the Aquino government to immediately prosecute Arroyo as there is already no stumbling block such as Ombudsman Gutierrez.
“We dare president Aquino to realize his promise during his electoral campaign. To date, all he has done were to wipe out urban poor communities, convert productive agricultural lands, privatize public lands, displace farmers, deny Hacienda Luisita farmworkers of their rights and militarize the countryside. This is his chance to do the people a favor,” Canlas said.
AMGL also warned the Aquino government against political compromise with Gutierrez.
“The issue of prosecuting Arroyo is a litmus paper for the Aquino government. The people would finally prove if Aquino is capable of putting Arroyo on trial or just a lame duck president,” Canlas said. #
AMGL represented by its chairperson is a complainant of the plunder case, particularly the fertilizer scam against former agriculture under-secretary Jocelyn “Joc-joc” Bolante, former agri sec Cito Lorenzo and Arroyo. The group is also the regional chapter of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), also a complainant and witness on the fertilizer scam issue.
“We are very eager that Arroyo be held accountable for more than 9-years of her corrupt and fascist rule. Arroyo raked the public funds of billions of pesos and her reign of terror was through Oplan Bantay Laya. Central Luzon suffered 154 victims of extra-judicial killings, ranking third in the country and 66 victims of enforced disappearances, ranking first. Arroyo could employ all her influence and power to oppose the corruption case but she could never deny the indicators of her state terror,” said Joseph Canlas, AMGL Chair said.
The group believed that Gutierrez’ decided to resign to prevent the imminent snowballing of Arroyo’s corruption issue in the public opinion.
“It is not impossible that Gutierrez settled with the Aquino government to leave her post. Her resignation is apparently a graceful exit. She should not be bailed out of Arroyo’s corruption, we would never forget that she did nothing for the Hacienda Luisita massacre case but cleared Arroyo,” Canlas said.
The group then challenged the Aquino government to immediately prosecute Arroyo as there is already no stumbling block such as Ombudsman Gutierrez.
“We dare president Aquino to realize his promise during his electoral campaign. To date, all he has done were to wipe out urban poor communities, convert productive agricultural lands, privatize public lands, displace farmers, deny Hacienda Luisita farmworkers of their rights and militarize the countryside. This is his chance to do the people a favor,” Canlas said.
AMGL also warned the Aquino government against political compromise with Gutierrez.
“The issue of prosecuting Arroyo is a litmus paper for the Aquino government. The people would finally prove if Aquino is capable of putting Arroyo on trial or just a lame duck president,” Canlas said. #
RSS Feed
