Piercing Pens

Recent developments, including the Friday night raid of the Daily Tribune newspaper office, the deployment of troops to “watch” over broadcast stations ABS-CBN and GMA7, and the threat implied against news organizations in the February 24 proclamation declaring a state of national emergency, all indicate that the Arroyo government is seeking to intimidate print and broadcast facilities and journalists, and scare them from covering and exposing all the angles of the present crisis.

The question is: will we be cowed?

International human rights lawyer Romeo Capulong said Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran’s arrest is “illegal” and “an act of harassment and persecution.”

Capulong said Beltran is being held by the military for a charge of sedition against the labor leader-solon during the Marcos regime. Television reports say the case was filed in 1985, even before the dictator was ousted by People Power!

Manwhile, former Police chief Ramon Montaño and retired Police General Rex Piad were also arrested. Reports say Tribune editor Niñez Cacho-Olivarez will also de picked up.

Below is the media release from the office of Rep. Beltran:

After Procalamation 1017, the biggest news today are the police raid of pro-Estrada newspaper Daily Tribune, the arrest of Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran, and attempts to get other opposition figures.

Manila police raided and closed the Tribune office in Manila after midnight today, according to news reports.

Tribune editor Niñez Cacho Olivarez, one of the journalists who dared to criticize Marcos during martial law, said she will go to Supreme Court if the government will shut down the Tribune.

“Its just like Marcos all over again. It won’t be long before they start ringing editors and asking them to fire columnists or writers they consider to be againt them,” she added.

Press Statement
February 24, 2006

Protect Media Freedom

We demand that the Arroyo government allow journalists and media organizations the fullest freedom to air and print news and information about the current political crisis, and that it desist from undertaking repressive action against journalists and media organizations covering the crisis.

Despite Malacañang’s declaration of a state of emergency and the announcement of the cancellation of all EDSA-related activities, as well as the police’s warning that they will arrest anyone who stages a rally without permit, former President Corazon Aquino said she will push through with a scheduled march to his husband’s monument in Ayala Avenue, Makati. Aquino also reiterated her call for Gloria Arroyo to make the ultimate sacrifice and resign.

Earlier this afternoon, the police dispersed a group of protesters who belong to the Bayan bloc and pro-Erap groups in EDSA Shrine. They also violently dispersed, chased, and arrested members of the Laban ng Masa/Akbayan-Sanlakas bloc near Santolan. UP Prof. Randy David and Atty. Argee Guevara were among those who were arrested.

As we commemorate the aniversary of EDSA People Power today, Arroyo signs Proclamation 1017 declaring s a state of emergency.

Below is the full text of PROCLAMATION NO. 1017 DECLARING A STATE OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Friday, February 24, 2006 from the OPS website:

The Arroyo government is using the reported impending coup d’ etat that was supposedly quashed by the military this early morning to prevent her political foes from staging massive protest tallies today. It cancelled all rally permits, giving the police an excuse to suppress those who want to commemorate the 20th anniversary of EDSA People Power Revolution.

Arroyo indeed appears to be afraid of People Power. Recently, she’s been trying to downplay the very same force that catapulted her to power.