Pangilinan likens Arroyo to Marcos

Senate majority leader Francis Pangilinan on Friday cautioned Malacaňang against blatant human rights violations and chided the military and the police for rashly dispersing anti-government crowds holding scattered rallies in Metro Manila. Pangilinan said if violations of citizens’ basic rights continue, "President Arroyo would virtually be following the footsteps of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos, whose government was toppled 20 years ago by the first People Power revolt in EDSA." The country is celebrating this week the 20th anniversary of the EDSA 1 revolution. Pangilinan protested what he said were “acts of repression" that occurred today and stood in line with groups who disapproved of the state of national emergency declared by President Arroyo this morning. “I join the ranks of our countrymen and protest these acts of violence against our human rights and I stand ready to help defend and protect the democracy we fought so long and hard for," he said. He reminded Malacaňang to distinguish between enemies of the state and citizens merely expressing their constitutionally guaranteed rights. “If it fails to do so, then its proclamation (of a state of national emergency) is nothing but a license for wholesale human rights violations," he said. Pangilinan said the first casualties of warrantless arrest were University of the Philippines professor Randy David, lawyer Argee Guevarra and Ronald Llamas. He said those arrested cannot be considered as enemies of the state. He appealed to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to “remain guided by the Constitution they swore to uphold always. As the mandated defenders of our nation, it is their duty to remain apolitical and uncompromising." He also urged the public to remain steadfast and vigilant as events continue to unfold over the next few days.-GMANews.TV