Standoff, curfew serve as preview to Martial Law - CBCP head
11/30/2007 | 11:34 AM
The arrests and curfew that followed a six-hour standoff in Makati City Thursday has given modern-day Filipinos a "foretaste" of Martial Law, the head of the influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said Friday.
CBCP president Angel Lagdameo also appealed to authorities Friday to release retired Bishop Julio Labayen, one of those arrested in the standoff at The Peninsula Manila hotel in Makati City.
"Yesterday and last night, the people hold-in at Peninsula Manila had a 'foretaste' of what Martial Law could be. God save us from the worse!" Lagdameo said in his web log.
Lagdameo also thanked the media for keeping the nation informed about "what our country is undergoing at this point in time."
In calling for Labayen's release, Lagdameo said the bishop emeritus of Infanta in Quezon has experienced in the hands of the military what the latter did not undergo even in the time of Marcos dictatorship.
"Bishop Labayen is already 81 years old. I am appealing to the military that he be released on account of his age. The advocacy that Bishop Labayen had been doing is for the country to be restored to genuine democracy and justice which is worth fighting for," he said.
Lagdameo also called on the people for calm and to pray for the country in what he called a "moment of national crisis."
"In this moment of national crisis, may there be sobriety, calmness, mutual understanding among the people in opposite camps. Let us pray for our country," he said.
Two other bishops, Antonio Tobias and Teodoro Bacani, as well "running" priest Robert Reyes also figured in the Makati incident.
Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iniguez, chairman of the CBCP's public affairs office, had said Tobias, Bacani and Labayen acted on their own.
"That act is not representative of the stand of CBCP," said Iñiguez on Thursday night.
Iñiguez, however, said Lagdameo is aware of the position of the bishops.
In a television interview, Tobias said: "I'm giving my individual position as a citizen of this republic even if I’m a bishop. I want the people to go with what is right. If you think that the two soldiers ... have done the right thing, then support."
Tobias, Labayen and Iñiguez earlier called on President Arroyo to resign.
In a related development, Senate President Manuel Villar Jr described the arrest of journalists and the five-hour government curfew in the wake of the Makati standoff as a throwback to Martial Law.
"This is overkill, especially curfew. It was unnecessary and only reminded us of Martial Law," he said Filipino during Bonfacio Day rites in Manila.
He said that while he does not condone what Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim did in walking out of a Makati court hearing and occupying the hotel, he said the government must respect people's basic rights.
"I don't agree with any violation of our laws. But it is important that the government not violate people's rights. Certainly, I will not agree to Martial Law," he said.
On the arrest of journalists following Thursday's incident, he said, "that's even worse."
"This is frightening. I condemn the arrest of journalists. The imposition of curfews must also be stopped," he said. - GMANews.TV
CBCP president Angel Lagdameo also appealed to authorities Friday to release retired Bishop Julio Labayen, one of those arrested in the standoff at The Peninsula Manila hotel in Makati City.
"Yesterday and last night, the people hold-in at Peninsula Manila had a 'foretaste' of what Martial Law could be. God save us from the worse!" Lagdameo said in his web log.
Lagdameo also thanked the media for keeping the nation informed about "what our country is undergoing at this point in time."
In calling for Labayen's release, Lagdameo said the bishop emeritus of Infanta in Quezon has experienced in the hands of the military what the latter did not undergo even in the time of Marcos dictatorship.
"Bishop Labayen is already 81 years old. I am appealing to the military that he be released on account of his age. The advocacy that Bishop Labayen had been doing is for the country to be restored to genuine democracy and justice which is worth fighting for," he said.
Lagdameo also called on the people for calm and to pray for the country in what he called a "moment of national crisis."
"In this moment of national crisis, may there be sobriety, calmness, mutual understanding among the people in opposite camps. Let us pray for our country," he said.
Two other bishops, Antonio Tobias and Teodoro Bacani, as well "running" priest Robert Reyes also figured in the Makati incident.
Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iniguez, chairman of the CBCP's public affairs office, had said Tobias, Bacani and Labayen acted on their own.
"That act is not representative of the stand of CBCP," said Iñiguez on Thursday night.
Iñiguez, however, said Lagdameo is aware of the position of the bishops.
In a television interview, Tobias said: "I'm giving my individual position as a citizen of this republic even if I’m a bishop. I want the people to go with what is right. If you think that the two soldiers ... have done the right thing, then support."
Tobias, Labayen and Iñiguez earlier called on President Arroyo to resign.
In a related development, Senate President Manuel Villar Jr described the arrest of journalists and the five-hour government curfew in the wake of the Makati standoff as a throwback to Martial Law.
"This is overkill, especially curfew. It was unnecessary and only reminded us of Martial Law," he said Filipino during Bonfacio Day rites in Manila.
He said that while he does not condone what Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim did in walking out of a Makati court hearing and occupying the hotel, he said the government must respect people's basic rights.
"I don't agree with any violation of our laws. But it is important that the government not violate people's rights. Certainly, I will not agree to Martial Law," he said.
On the arrest of journalists following Thursday's incident, he said, "that's even worse."
"This is frightening. I condemn the arrest of journalists. The imposition of curfews must also be stopped," he said. - GMANews.TV
