Militants bare 'wish list' for Noynoy

Prosecuting outgoing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, making her Cabinet men accountable, and promoting human rights highlight the wish list of militants for the administration of President-apparent Sen. Benigno Simeon “Noynoy" Aquino III. The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said Aquino will be in a position to do what past impeachment attempts against Mrs. Arroyo failed to do. “Everything from corruption, election fraud, gross human rights violations and the sell-out of national interests should be swiftly investigated and appropriate charges filed. Mr. Aquino should make true his word that a special commission will be created to look into the charges against Mrs. Arroyo," Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said in an article on the Bayan website. Reyes said Mrs. Arroyo, who was proclaimed Pampanga congresswoman Wednesday night, will use the House of Representatives to gain political leverage. Mrs. Arroyo had been accused by critics of planning to have her allies move for a shift to a parliamentary form of government, under which she can run for prime minister. “Gloria Arroyo will try to use the Lower House to gain some political leverage against those who want to make her accountable. She will use her newly acquired position as Representative of the 2nd district of Pampanga to ward off cases against her. She is also hoping she will find relief from the Supreme Court, majority of which are her appointees," Reyes said. Fujimori case Bayan cited the recent case of former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori who was jailed over charges of corruption and human rights abuses. He was meted a 25-year sentence for human right violations committed during his regime. Bayan also challenged former members of the Arroyo Cabinet who will serve under the new administration to first make a full accounting of their role as part of Mrs. Arroyo’s official family. “Members of the Arroyo cabinet who will be appointed to the next administration must first reveal to the public what they know of the shenanigans of the previous regime. They should tell all and help make their former boss accountable," Reyes said. At least one former Arroyo cabinet official, former Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman, is expected to return to her "old post" under Aquino's prospective Cabinet. Other Arroyo officials are expected to be re-appointed to various positions. “We should learn from the experience with the former dictator Marcos. Failure to successfully prosecute plunderers will eventually allow them to make a political comeback. That’s what’s happening now," Reyes said. Human rights Bayan said human rights violations should be looked into and justice must be achieved for the victims. “The issue of human rights does not seem to be among the issues that will be looked into by the special commission that Mr. Aquino will form. We hope these changes and the prosecution of human rights violators such as Gen. JOvito Palparan and Norberto Gonzales will also be on the next administration’s agenda," Reyes said. “We hope political prisoners like the 43 health workers arrested in Morong, Rizal, will also see freedom during the next administration," he added. — LBG, GMANews.TV