Philippines: MEDIA ARRESTS AND CURFEWS: REGIME WITH PENCHANT FOR DICTATORIAL POWERS SENDS OUT CHILLING EFFECT

For Reference: REP. LIZA L. MAZA 0920-9134540
Jang Monte (Public Information Officer) 0915-6463009

MEDIA ARRESTS AND CURFEWS: REGIME WITH PENCHANT FOR DICTATORIAL POWERS SENDS OUT CHILLING EFFECT

“Yesterday, the Arroyo regime lost no time in implementing measures
worse than what was imposed during Marcos’ Martial Law, with the clear
intent of sending out a chilling message to the public. There is no
telling what it could do next.”

This was the statement issued today by Gabriela Women’s Partylist
Representative Liza Largoza Maza following yesterday’s crisis at the
Manila Peninsula, adding that “The random and unceremonial arrest of
members of the mass media yesterday is a serious and direct attack
against freedom of the press and a violation of the constitutional
right to free speech and expression, and the public’s right to
information.”

Rep. Maza further said, the curfew implemented from 12midnight to 5am
is unconstitutional because there is no enabling law. “Article 3 sec 6
of the Constituiton guarantees the right to travel and freedom of
movement cannot be impaired except as may be provided by law.”

Initial reports reveal over 400 individuals have been arrested for
violating the illegal curfew in Central Luzon and Metro Manila alone.

The GABRIELA solon further stressed that the Arroyo government has a
penchant for using dictatorial powers– violating the constitution,
impairing the basic rights of citizens, including that or free speech
and expression and freedom of movement– in the process of protecting
its illegitimate and unpopular rule.

“We must not allow the Arroyo regime to get away with these illegal
actions and attempts to steal the implementation of Martial Law in
bits and pieces. We must continue to assert our civil and political
rights and freedoms.” #

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