Press Release
June 12, 2017

HONTIVEROS ATTENDS DEMOCRACY RALLY, HONORS SOLDIERS FIGHTING MAUTE

To express her full support to the soldiers, police officers and personnel fighting the Maute terrorists in Marawi, Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday attended a democracy rally held at the historic Plaza Miranda.

Organized by the Gathering for Civil Liberties (GCL), the rally calls on the public to defend civil liberties and democracy, and oppose "creeping authoritarianism."

"As we celebrate our independence day, we honor our brave heroes from the time of Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio to our valiant soldiers, police officers and personnel fighting for the lives and liberty of our brothers and sisters in Marawi. We will not allow their heroism, sacrifices and martyrdom to be dishonored by creeping authoritarianism. Independence and freedom will have no sense without democracy," Hontiveros said.

"Our freedom can only be guaranteed by strong democratic institutions. We call on the public to honor the sacrifices of our heroes by opposing a Martial law declaration that is not compliant with the constitution. Let us always remember, the promised order of tyranny will never bring us to full democracy," Hontiveros added.

Hontiveros also called for the preservation of the country's democratic institutions, in particular for Congress to hold a joint session on President Rodrigo Duterte's declaration of Martial law in Mindanao. She explained that the public has the right to transparent and deliberative proceedings within which they can be informed of the factual bases of the declaration of Martial law.

Aguirre is a "shameless charlatan"

Meanwhile, Hontiveros slammed Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre's order to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate and build cases against Senators and opposition leaders who are allegedly part of a destabilization plot against the government.

"The justice secretary's order is a form of intimidation and a waste of taxpayers' money. It is also an insult to the sacrifices of our soldiers fighting in Marawi. Soldiers and innocent people are dying in Marawi, yet, the shameless charlatan posing as justice secretary is still busying himself with fake cases and fake news " Hontiveros said.

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