SECRETARY REYES resign!
Justice for the victims of the Davao bombings!
Justice for the people of Mindanao who are suffering from the governent's
all-out war!
We in INPEACE MINDANAO believe that our consistent and persistent
call for an independent investigation into the series of mystery
bombings in Davao has been confirmed and validated by the claims of
junior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that
this terrorism is government-sponsored.
The alleged Reyes-Corpus hand in the Davao bombings further emphasizes
our analysis that traditional institutions like the AFP, including
the whole Arroyo administration, are suffering from a serious crisis
of credibility.
We seriously doubt the outcome of any "high-level" investigation
for as long as Sec. Angelo Reyes wields power as Defense chief—undoubtedly
the most powerful cabinet portfolio in a country where the military
is highly politicized.
Reyes' purported willingness to be subjected to a "high-level"
investigation is pure hogwash. How can we expect a high level investigation
to be impartial when the accused are themselves in the highest levels
of government? A whitewash and suppression of evidence is possible
given the vast resources and machinery that Reyes wields under his
command. Civilian leaders can easily become targets of surveillance
and neutralization by Reyes who controls the AFP intelligence units
and its whole apparatus.
The victims of the Davao bombings deserve to be given immediate justice.
We believe that if the AFP junior officers are really sincere in their
quest for genuine reforms in the armed forces and the country, they
should press on by presenting the evidence they hold until heads will
roll, including those of the Defense and AFP top brass. It is the
moral obligation of the AFP junior officers to tell all, and help
seek justice for the victims of the AFP's alleged terrorism in Davao.
Muslims in Mindanao deserve justice. It is utterly condemnable that,
after all, it could be the AFP that has been trying to sow religious
conflict by assaulting mosques and discriminating Muslim civilians.
We believe that even President Arroyo herself should be subject to
investigation and, if found to have knowledge of the alleged AFP plan
to bomb Davao and terrorize Muslim communities, should be called to
step down. We also believe that the Meiring-CIA angle should be continually
investigated and analyzed as to its role in the whole scheme of terrorism
in Mindanao.
Now there is reason to believe that the peace negotiations can only
resume when Reyes and other militarists, who are lording it over our
civilian bureaucracy, are removed. "Ang mga Filipino ay mahirap
i-govern," Reyes said yesterday in explaining the roots of the
problems of Philippine society. Such a militarist mindset will certainly
be a stumbling block in our quest for the resolution of the armed
conflict through the elimination of poverty and injustice in our country.
In view of the recent developments, INPEACE MINDANAO urgently calls
for the resignation of Secretary Reyes, General Victor Corpus and
others who may have complicity in the pervading terrorism in Mindanao.
We shall continue with our independent fact finding mission
and we call on the Magdalo group to consider this grassroots initiative
as an investigative body where it can entrust its evidence and testimonies
especially on the involvement of Reyes and the AFP in the Davao bombings.
Dr. Robinson Montalba, S.Th.D.
Convenor
Bishop Felixberto Calang, IFI
Convenor
