ON THE ERAP VERDICT...

"President Estrada was given his day in court, and we await the verdict on his plunder case with full confidence on the rule of law. Whether the former president is acquitted or convicted, we call for respect for our justice system, and sobriety among our citizens. In the end, whatever the court decides, we believe that President Estrada must be accorded the respect and dignity of a former head of state, voted by our people to the highest seat of the land"

"In the event of demonstrations, our police forces must stand their ground without being overzealous and they must, at all times, respect the rights of rallyists. Calibrated Preemptive Response has already been ruled illegal and unconstitutional by no less than the Supreme Court. Government should act prudently and avoid an overkill in the deployment of security forces in anticipation of the public response to the Erap verdict. An excessive deployment of police and military personnel will only create the opposite effect. Instead of projecting stability, confidence and security, the overkill will project a government that appears to be under siege, insecure, paranoid and fearful of its own people. It will do our authorities well to observe maximum tolerance and not aggravate the situation by overkill. The heightened security alert does not give our authorities reason to use force indiscriminately." ###

Dumaan sa proseso ng husgado ang kaso ni Presidente Estrada, kaya tama lamang na irespeto natin ang magiging desisyon ng korte. Kung ano man ang kalabasan ng kasong ito, nananawagan tayo ng mahinahon na pagtanggap mula sa ating mga kababayan. Sa huli, guilty man o hindi, dapat pa ring bigyan ng sapat na respeto at dignidad na naaayon sa isang dating pangulo na inihalal ng sambayanang Pilipino si Presidente Estrada.

Sa kaganapan naman ng mga kilos-protesta, pinapaalala natin sa ating kapulisan na irespeto ang karapatang-pantao ng ating mga raliyista. Ang Calibrated Preemptive Response ay illegal at hindi naaayon sa Saligang Batas, ayon na mismo sa Korte Suprema, kaya't hindi ito maaaring gawing dahilan ng ating mga awtoridad. Mas makabubuti na gamitin ang maximum tolerance kaysa palalain pa ang sitwasyon dahil sa overkill. Kahit nakataas ang security alert level, hindi ito nagbibigay-permiso sa ating kapulisan na gamitin ang dahas sa mga kilos-protesta. ###