Loren: RP, patungo na sa martial law?

Patungo na ba ang Pilipinas sa martial law o lumalala na ba ang tinaguriang "culture of impunity"?

Nagbabala si Senator Loren Legarda na ito ang dalawang malaking katanungan ngayon ng mga Pilipino kaugnay ng malabis na aksyon ng pmahalaan sa kasagsagan at matapos ang Manila Peninsula siege noong nakaraang linggo.

"There's a chilling effect when the police imposes an illegal curfew, arrests media men without warrant and strong-arms ABS-CBN into turning over its raw TV footage of the Manila Pen standoff," wika ni Loren.

"If there's a lesson to be learned from the Manila Pen incident, it is that the government should be allowed to do its mandate but that the people and the media should be vigilant against abuses, especially when they are carried out under the pretext of enforcing the law."

Ayon kay Loren, halos na-house arrest ang lahat ng Pilipino bunsod ng curfew at hindi dahilan na limang oras lang ito ipinatupad para palampasin ng mga mamamayan.

"They have set a precedent which, if it goes unchallenged before the Supreme Court, will always be there to be used again and again to suit whatever needs they have," anang senadora.

"That curfew, which legal experts say had no basis under our constitution and laws, is like the sword of Damocles hanging over our heads or a gun that may be unholstered anytime."

Tinuligsa rin ni Loren ang aniya'y di makataong pag-aresto na ginawa sa mga mamamahayag, lalo pa't isinantabi nito ang prinsipyong ang lahat ay inosente hangga't hindi napapatunayang nagkasala.

Aniya'y nakikita rin ito bilang pananakot sa media.

"So many coups had been attempted during the time of President Cory Aquino, but it is only now that the journalists themselves were arrested on the pretext of 'processing' them," ani Loren.

Ikinadismaya rin ni Loren ang pagtatali sa kamay ng mga journalist, gayundin ang pagparada sa kanila na parang mga criminal patungo sa sasakyang bus.

Bilang isang dating broadcast journalist, sinabi ni Loren na maiintindihan niya kung lalabanan ng ABS-CBN sa korte ang subpoena ng Philippine National Police, na nag-aatas sa network na i-turnover nito ang raw footages ng Manila Pen.

"The network correctly pointed out that the raw footages can be likened to reporters' notes, whose confidentiality have to be guarded at all cost."

"They hew closely to the protected right of journalists not to disclose details given to them in confidence," dagdag ni Loren.