Press Release
January 24, 2009

ROXAS: STOP MILITARIZATION OF GOV'T

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today warned President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo that her appointment of ex-military men in the civilian agencies compromises the civilian nature of the government.

"Mahalagang protektahan natin ang pagiging sibilyan ng ating gobyerno. Ang mensahe nito ka pulutong na nagdududa kay GMA ay baka preparasyon ito para sa martial law (It's important to protect the civilian nature of government. It's message to those who distrust GMA is this is a preparation for martial law)," Roxas said.

"Nakita na natin iyan sa panahon ni Marcos, kung saan ang nakapalibot sa kanya ay mga taong militar (We already saw that during the Marcos era when military people dominated his inner circle)," he said.

He said this in light of the recent appointment of former Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. as chief of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) and ex-police chief Gen. Avelino Razon as presidential adviser on the peace process; as well as the Palace's pronouncements that former Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan is being considered to head the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

"Para sa milyong Pilipino na walang tiwala sa administrasyong ito, ang ibig sabihin nito'y pinaliligiran na ni GMA ang sarili niya ng mga taong walang kwestiyon sa anumang iligal na utos mula sa Pangulo. Martial law na ba ang kasunod nito? (For the millions of Filipinos who distrust GMA, it means she's surroungind herself with yes-men who won't question any illegal directives from the President. Is martial law next?)," Roxas asked.

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