Bayan, media groups hold protest: “No bail for Ampatuan!”

News Release

January 13, 2010

Bayan, media groups hold protest: “No bail for Ampatuan!”

On the second hearing of Andal Ampatuan, Jr., principal accused in the Ampatuan Massacre in Maguindanao, human rights advocates led by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and media groups belonging to the November 23 Movement held a protest action in front of Camp Crame. The groups opposed the granting of bail for Ampatuan while supporting calls for media coverage of the court proceedings.

“We are holding this mass action to support the massacre victims in their opposition to the petition for bail of the principal accused. This action is part efforts of various watchdog groups who want to see justice achieved in this case. We agree with the prosecution that evidence is strong against Andal, Jr., ” said Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr.

“We also would like to air our support for Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes who is trying this case. We are aware of the dangers and threats she may face in the course of the trial. We’d like to give her the people’s support as she carries out her mandate and duty as a judge,” Reyes added.

Bayan said it was important that the public closely follow the whole case and demand greater transparency in the proceedings.

“The demand for greater media coverage is a reasonable one. There is great public interest in this particular case. Public vigilance is also an important counter-balance to any attempts to undermine the case,” Reyes said.

Private armies

Bayan called on the Arroyo government to dismantle para-military groups such as CAFGU’s and CVO’s as the country enters the election period. Recently, the Comelec has exempted CAFGU’s from the nationwide gun ban.

“Para-military groups, whether CAFGU’s or CVO’s, should be dismantled now. The campaign against private armies will not go far if these armed civilians are not disbanded by the very government that created them,” Reyes said.

“There is a great possibility that in many places, these so-called counter-insurgency ‘force multipliers’ are nothing more than armed goons of local warlords for the elections. Up to now, the Arroyo government has not rescinded EO 546 despite growing calls for its junking,” Reyes added.

The demand for scrapping EO 546 was aired anew after the President convened the National Security Council for the first time since 2005. The NSC meeting discussed the dismantling of private armies nationwide.

“The exemption of CAFGU’s from the gun ban does not help in the cause of dismantling private armed groups,” Reyes said. ###