ROXAS: SUMMON AMPATUANS TO JOINT SESSION
SAYS CLAN MEMBERS MUST SHED LIGHT ON POLL CHEATING

Liberal Party President Senator Mar Roxas today demanded that members of the Ampatuan family be summoned during the joint session of Congress to shed light on massive cheating in Maguindanao every time there is an election.

Roxas said it was important for lawmakers to determine the veracity of allegations the declaration of martial law in Maguindanao was merely an attempt by the Arroyo administration to gag the Ampatuans from revealing the role they played in manipulating results of elections. Reports have it that the supposed tampering was ordered by the Ampatuan family.

President Arroyo placed the Maguindanao province under martial law on Saturday, allegedly because of threats to public safety following the brutal killing of 57 people in the country's worst election-related incident. In her 20-page report to Congress, the President claimed "lawless elements have taken up arms and committed public uprising against the duly constituted government and against the people of Maguindanao."

"Wala kaming nakikitang sapat na dahilan para sa martial law na ito. Ang tanging bentahe dito sa deklarasyon na ito ay dagdag na puwang para makapag-cover-up sa maraming kasalanan ng gobyernong ito sa taumbayan (We don't see sufficient reason for the declaration of martial law. The only advantage this gives to the government is an opportunity to cover-up its sins to the people)," he said.

"Hindi makikinabang ang mga biktima ng masaker sa martial law na ito. Hindi makikinabang ang mga ordinaryong Pilipino. Tanging ang mga nasa poder lamang ang makikinabang dito (The massacre victims, as well as ordinary Filipinos. will not benefit from this martial law. Only those in power stand to profit from it)," he said.

The Visayan senator believed the Ampatuans, who are known close administration allies, are privy to how Malacañang used government resources to carry out cheating in Maguindanao and ensure the victory of President Arroyo. He cited media reports on how the provincial government allegedly controlled the conduct of the 2004 electoral exercise and the tabulation of votes in the province, supposedly using guns, goons and gold to influence the results of the last presidential contest.

"Kasama sa kapangyarihan namin ang magpatawag sa sinumang sa tingin namin ay makatutulong sa imbestigasyon na ginagawa namin. Kailangang malaman namin ang katotohanan kung nagkaroon nga ng dayaan tuwing may eleksyon at kung ano ang naging papel ng mga Ampatuan sa mga dayaang naganap (Among our investigative powers is to summon anybody whom we think would be able to help in our investigation. We need to know the truth about alleged cheating in elections, and what role the Ampatuans played in it)," Roxas said.

He insisted lawmakers could only evaluate the necessity and legality of Malacañang's decision if government comes clean as to the real reason why and how the decision was arrived at.