No Basis for Martial Law

The Supreme Court has established that despite threats against some judges and court personnel the judicial system is able to respond to the needed procedures demanded by the despicable massacre in Ampatuan, Maguindanao. This debunks one of the basis for issuing Presidential Proclamation 1959 stating that “the local judicial system and other government mechanisms in the province are not functioning, thus endangering public safety….” The other conditions, ironically brought about by Executive patronage, which purportedly deprived the Chief Executive or the Legislature of its powers and prerogatives could be rectified, if Ms Arroyo is willing.

The Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) stands firm with the Commission on Human Rights that “full force of the law, not martial law is the form of decisive governmental intervention” needed to render swift justice and to break the impunity perpetrated and so far perpetuated against the victims who according to the report of Ms. Arroyo bore “marks of despicable torture, contempt and outrageous torment”. Such ruthlessness and barbarism are repugnant hallmarks of extra-judicial killings executed with impunity during this administration brought to a new peak in this massacre. Concocting a situation of rebellion out of murders and of cruel and inhuman treatment so as to maintain a tight grip on political and economic power seem more to be a ruse to escape prosecution than redress for the victims and their families. Martial law is the legitimizing iron hand of impunity.

Reject Presidential Proclamation 1059

PAHRA calls on the members of Congress to reject Presidential Proclamation 1959 as having no factual basis, unnecessary and uncalled for.

PAHRA calls for the restoration of civilian supremacy over the military and the implementation of human rights in governance and in development. The perpetuated status of Maguindanao as the 2nd poorest province in the country wherein 63% of its constituent live on less than one dollar a day, the coercive environment, the climate of fear and the culture of impunity are deeply rooted in the continuous violations of the people’s economic, social and cultural rights.

PAHRA demands:

• the immediate creation of a commission composed of unquestioned probity outside of government to investigate the case;
• the arrest and prosecution of all the people involved in the massacre;
• the formation of a special court to try the case;
• the conduct of a speedy trial.
• the disarming and dismantling of all private armies and para-military formations.