The group of OFW wants martial law lifted in Maguindanao
MANILA – An alliance of Filipino migrant groups on Saturday expressed concern over t
he declaration of martial law in the province of Maguindanao.
"We have received messages of concern from OFWs around the world who think that Arroyo's game plan is to use the situation in Maguindanao to spread martial law across the country. This is of course something that will be opposed by freedom-loving Filipinos all over the world," said Garry Martinez, Migrante International chairperson.
Martinez said his group is calling for the lifting of the declaration as they believe that the military and police “do not have the moral authority to be accorded blanket authority” in Maguindanao, citing investigations that showed their alleged culpability in the massacre of at least 57 people.
"In the first place, the Ampatuan massacre happened precisely because the AFP and PNP allowed itself to be used by warlords in executing brutal crimes against the people. Meanwhile, Arroyo has given its political allies, the Ampatuans, free reign to terrorize the province for the longest time. How can we now believe her claim that martial law is being declared for the sake of law and order?” Martinez asked.
Earlier this week, authorities dug up a huge arms cache from a vacant lot near the residence of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan. The recovered weapons were reportedly owned by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Migrante views the declaration as "the height of insensitivity to the victims of the massacre, and the height of Arroyo's bloodthirsty quest for power.
MANILA – An alliance of Filipino migrant groups on Saturday expressed concern over t
he declaration of martial law in the province of Maguindanao."We have received messages of concern from OFWs around the world who think that Arroyo's game plan is to use the situation in Maguindanao to spread martial law across the country. This is of course something that will be opposed by freedom-loving Filipinos all over the world," said Garry Martinez, Migrante International chairperson.
Martinez said his group is calling for the lifting of the declaration as they believe that the military and police “do not have the moral authority to be accorded blanket authority” in Maguindanao, citing investigations that showed their alleged culpability in the massacre of at least 57 people.
"In the first place, the Ampatuan massacre happened precisely because the AFP and PNP allowed itself to be used by warlords in executing brutal crimes against the people. Meanwhile, Arroyo has given its political allies, the Ampatuans, free reign to terrorize the province for the longest time. How can we now believe her claim that martial law is being declared for the sake of law and order?” Martinez asked.
Earlier this week, authorities dug up a huge arms cache from a vacant lot near the residence of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan. The recovered weapons were reportedly owned by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Migrante views the declaration as "the height of insensitivity to the victims of the massacre, and the height of Arroyo's bloodthirsty quest for power.
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