Press Release
July 2, 2009

STATEMENT OF SENATOR AQUILINO Q. PIMENTEL, JR.

1. On the report that a P500 million demand supposedly told in jest by Jose Mari Artunez, head of Total Information Management Corp. (TIM), caused the breakup of its partnership with Smartmatic.

     Automation of elections is no joking matter. There is a place for jokes, a place for serious talk.

    Artunez should be banned from participating in the negotiations for TIM. Perhaps, another more sober TIM representative should take his place.

2. On the plan of the United States government to investigate abduction and torture Filipino-American Melissa Roxas and advice of Commission on Human Rights for her to return to the Philippines.

     If Melissa Roxas cannot come back for preliminary investigation, there should be a way to get her statement before our embassy or consulates in the US just to start the investigation.

    When trial comes, she may come back and testify personally under heavy guard like the Gracia Burnham who was brutalized and kidnapped by the Abu Sayaff years ago.

     Whoever kidnapped and tortured her should not be spared from punishment according to law.

3. On the third improvised explosive device found in Barangay Loyola Heights in Quezon City.

     Lumang tugtugin na yan. Whoever is trying to set the country up for the imposition of martial law or national upheaval should be a little more innovative.

     People see through that as a ploy to make trouble for the country and subject it to more trouble to justify repressive rule and increase the importance of some palace insiders who want to please the incumbent for their own personal agenda.

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