Gloria-Resign.net

One of the most bitter ironies in the Philippines today is that there are so many who are languishing in jail because they dreamed of a better life for every Filipino, and actually took steps to realize this dream, while the country’s worst criminals run around like beasts.

Among them is a fellow artist of ours, poet Axel Pinpin — who was a fellow for poetry in the 1997 UP (University of the Philippines) National Writers’ Workshop. For almost two years, he and four other companions — Riel Custodio, Aristides Sarmiento, Enrico Ybañez, and Michael Masayes — have been detained at the “temporary” holding facility at the PNP’s (Philippine National Police) Camp Vicente Lim in Calamba City, Laguna.

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Declaration of the University Council
University of the Philippines Manila

We are once again confronted with a serious political crisis caused by the series of exposes of big-time corruption and bribery involving top officials of the Arroyo administration. As responsible and concerned members of the University of the Philippines Manila academic community, we believe it is our duty and right to make our voices heard and to take a stand on the social ills affecting everyone of us.

We believe that integrity and accountability in public office have been severely compromised putting in serious doubt the credibility and legitimacy of the present political dispensation and therefore its capacity to govern.

We are gravely concerned with the persistence of a culture of impunity with the government’s indifference and inutility in prosecuting and punishing all those involved in cases of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and torture. We condemn the continued disappearance of two UP students: Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño. There is no place for these human rights violations in a democratic society.

We are outraged by moves of the Arroyo administration to silence witnesses to anomalies and prevent people from participating in peaceful assemblies to express their sentiments.

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Statement from Artists’ ARREST

It was as though the nation was not facing a grave political and moral crisis when Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo broke into song with two highly popular performing artists – one of them a foreigner who was invited to come in especially for the occasion.

The date was Feb. 14, 2008. Preparations for the next day’s big rally by various groups demanding truth and accountability from the Arroyo regime and the fictitious President’s resignation from office were all over the news.

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