Press Release
July 8, 2009

STATEMENT OF SEN. PIA S. CAYETANO
Chair, Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development
Topic: Mindanao Bombings

"I join our countrymen in strongly condemning the new spate of bombings across Mindanao which have resulted in at least seven deaths and injuries to scores of people, most of them civilians."

"No political agenda or ideology can justify this latest wave of violence, for the only objective it serves is spreading more fear in a region already gripped by deep poverty, decades of neglect and fragile peace. The government can do no less than to bring the perpetrators before the court and bring justice to all victims."

"Four blasts (Cotabato, Iligan, Jolo and Lanao Del Norte) in just three days suggest a breakdown in the intelligence work of the police and military. The standard practice of military officials to immediately pinpoint the 'usual suspects' after each blast -- without first bothering to present convincing evidence -- are not exactly reassuring signs that the situation is under control, or that these acts will be prevented from happening again."

"I am willing to support any initiative in the Senate to make a full accounting of how the police and military leadership are using hundreds of millions in confidential and intelligence funds allocated to them every year. This could be taken up in the coming budget deliberations for the general appropriations bill of 2010."

"With public trust on the Arroyo government at a critical low, people can't be blamed for speculating that these terror acts could be part of a grand scheme to justify emergency rule by an administration desperately wanting to cling to power. It has happened before in the seventies before Marcos declared martial law to extend his rule. It can happen now."

"People should remain calm and vigilant. We should not allow fear to rule over our lives. By all means the peace process must be pursued. A thorough evaluation of government initiatives to address the roots of the conflict in Mindanao should also be given priority."

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