Akbayan Condemns
the Leaders of the Estrada Loyalists
From the Akbayan
website
Akbayan condemns
the leaders of the Estrada loyalists for their role in the violence
that their supporters have now committed. During the last week, these
politicians and other Erap lapdogs—Maceda, Enrile, Santiago, Honasan,
Puno, PMAP officers and others—have been agitating the already unruly
crowd at EDSA to storm Malacañang without concern for the risk to
these people’s lives and welfare. They have not hesitated to make
cannon fodder to their own followers. After their seditious statements
and naked call to return Erap to power, they are washing their hands
of any responsibility. They must be held accountable for the consequences
of their irresponsible and selfish acts and pronouncements.
Since Erap supporters
converged at EDSA last week, we have refrained from ridiculing the
masses who sympathized with Erap because we believe that they have
legitimate grievances whose solutions they have mistakenly linked
with Erap and his allies. However, this rabid and fanatical attempt
to re-instate their corrupt idol is unacceptable. The individuals
who participated in the Mendiola riot themselves must be held responsible
for their own actions.
We commended the
PNP and the military for the incredible restraint they have shown
in dealing with the pro-Erap mob. We hope that they will be able to
maintain their composure and control amidst the unreasonable conduct
of these rioters. We lament the unnecessary deaths of the two police
officers lynched by the protesters. Erap’s lieutenants and supporters
must be held accountable for these deaths, as well.
Akbayan maintains
that the true spirit of Edsa is peaceful, principled struggle against
tyranny and corruption, not the violent defense of a thief. We reaffirm
the justness and correctness of Erap’s arrest as a difficult but necessary
step this nation must take in the war against corruption. If he had
remained free as the Marcoses are, all our struggles would have been
in vain and all efforts to defeat corruption would be meaningless.
We urge the Arroyo administration to pursue the criminal cases against
Erap and his accomplices. It must not entertain any of the impossible
demands proposed by the Erap camp or legal team.
Akbayan has shelved
its previous Labor Day plans to gather in Manila because we have no
wish to confront fanatical Erap loyalists. We gather again at the
EDSA shrine today, Labor Day, not merely to show support for the Arroyo
government, but to make a stand for justice, peace and the rule of
reason. We have reclaim the space that was the site of two valiant
struggles that enabled us to enjoy the democracy we enjoy today. We
call on the Filipino people to keep the true spirit of EDSA alive.
