Gloria Arroyo’s P25-M Reward Against Political Killings, the Height of Hypocrisy

This is a reaction to the news that Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo decides to allot P25-M in solving and preventing political killings---obviously passing the buck on solving political killings to Congress. This is an aspect of Gloria’s maneuver to clear her bloodied name, but what is more insidious though is that it is the apparent mastermind of the political killings that is the one offering the reward to get the mastermind.

This is the ultimate squid tactic, considering that with her administration’s anti-insurgency Operation Plan Bantay Laya 1 and 2, Gloria sanctioned the political killings in the country. This is the height of hypocrisy and very insulting to the victims of political killings and their families. What is worse is that the “Butcher” Jovito Palparan is even supportive of this plan because it will also shift the blame of the killings away from him and the military.

As of now there are 178 victims of extra-judicial killings in Bikol and it is still rising. If Gloria is really sincere in stopping political killings then she should just issue an order stopping the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) for carrying out such crimes, if not then the posters containing the so-called masterminds and perpetrators should include Gloria herself, Palparan, and key members of her Cabinet.

The pictures should also include the identified local soldiers and policemen like those in the killings of Pastor Isaias Sta. Rosa, Joel Asejo and Rafaela Polborido in Albay, Domingo Bardado in Camarines Sur and Edelina Jeruz of Sorsogon. Political killings is the unwritten policy of this regime against its critics and it is only Gloria that can stop it.

John Concepcion
Spokesperson
KARAPATAN-Bikol
664-Encarnacion Bldg. Rizal St.
Legazpi City, Albay