Press Release
May 12, 2009

Short statements on issues of the day
By Senator Pia S. Cayetano

Chairperson, Senate Committee on Social Justice

On Malacañang's denials of unflattering int'l reports about RP:

"Activists, journalists and now, even mothers denied of sufficient medical care while giving birth, are getting killed, caused in part by government's negligence and indifference. All these senseless deaths are happening around us, but what does our government do? It turns a blind eye to these problems and brag as if the Philippines were the happiest place on earth, like Enchanted Kingdom."

"I am appalled by the penchant of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's men to simply dismiss or question the credibility of any and all international reports that contain unflattering findings about the Philippines. Instead of acknowledging their message as valid concerns requiring urgent attention, they shoot the messenger instead. Do they even bother to read these reports before issuing official comments? If they weren't so insecure, then they should face straight-up the various issues being raised against this administration."

"The most recent subject of Malacañang's scorn is the follow-up report of United Nations Special Rapporteur Philip Alston on the worsening human rights situation, which centered on the inability of the Arroyo government to institutionalize reforms to stop extra-judicial killings. The other is the State of the World's Mothers 2009 Report by the US-based institute Save the Children Inc. In this report, the Philippines placed a poor 42nd in a list of 75 developing countries in the ranking of the 'best place for mothers' which is measured in terms of internationally accepted social and economic indicators on the state of women and children."

On Pacquiao's appointment as assistant for intelligence to DOJ Sec. Raul Gonzales:

"This new development is one for Pinoy Records.* It can only happen in the Philippines where government officials with very low public credibility try to share in the limelight of popular personalities, like boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, in order to prop them up."

"I would fully support Pacquiao as peace ambassador or icon for sports and other positive causes, but as intelligence agent? Let's be real. What will he be made to investigate, mafias in the boxing world? Granted that there are any, then that's the primary job of the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), not the DOJ's." #

* Pacquiao co-hosts a show with this title on GMA 7

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