LETTERS

Human Security Act ‘dangerous’

A pall of unease, uncertainty and fear blankets us these days. As a people traumatized by the cruelties of Martial Law, we have time and again vowed never to be brutalized by reign of terror.

Lives and dreams were sacrificed in the hope that generations after the Marcos dictatorship would live and breathe in a more humane and just society. We thwarted attempts by post-Marcos administrations to foist iron- fisted rule upon us because as a people we knew our power would let democracy prevail.

Today, past regimes pale in comparison to the viciousness of the Arroyo government with its record of human rights violations. Aping the global police stance of American President George Bush who unleashed the unpopular borderless and all-out war on terror, the Philippine’s commander-in-chief has allowed military agents to go on a rampage of unabated killings and enforced disappearances of civilians suspected to be sympathetic or associated with militant or progressive organizations.

Worse, the government does not discern combatants from civilians and perceives sectors and organizations voicing dissent against an unjust and oppressive system as enemies of the state, rendering them hapless targets for annihilation.

The killings, disappearances and torture persist with impunity. And as if these were not enough heinous crimes of the state against the people, the Human Security Act of 2007 or Republic Act No. 9372 is vaunted by President Arroyo and her militarist advisers as “an act to secure the state and protect our people from terrorism.” Despite major questions on its rationale, implication and impact on civil liberties, this shall take effect on July 15.

We dare ask, who defines terrorism, who brands one a terrorist? Amid the people’s unrelenting call for an illegitimate leadership to step down, in the din of protests over policies that spell further poverty and social injustice, is it not just and imperative for citizens to demand reforms and change in leadership?

Why does the state reply with bullets and an ominous law that will stifle freedom to express grievances? The existing Penal Code suffices for the persecution of criminals and lawless elements who wreak mayhem like the Abu Sayyaf. The enactment of the HSA is a sinister move towards another martial law era; it is an official declaration of GMA’s autocracy. It portends of another dark passage in our history.

Let not this threat paralyze us. Let not the HSA make us cringe in fear, nor drive us into our comfort zones. We must constantly remind ourselves that this government has gone this far only because we are allowing it to trample on our rights as a people, as a community.

Let us find our voice again as we did before the death throes of Martial rule when we mustered strength and courage and found power on the streets. Let us find our voice again as we repelled the evils of corruption, plunder and inept leadership. Let us altogether lift this blanket of doom that dares silence us. Let us resist the Human Security Act!

Tongtongan ti Umili
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Search on for the best gov’t agency program

The Civil Service Commission-Cordillera Administrative Region has issued regional memorandum circular CSC – CAR 2007 – 002 announcing the conduct of the 2007 Search for Best Agency PRAISE Committee in the CAR.

Launched in March 2005, the search is aimed at recognizing best performing agency PRAISE committees in the Cordillera and to highlight the critical role of agency PRAISE committees in the implementation of the honor awards program in the region. The four pioneer Search winners were recognized during the conduct of the 2nd PRAISE committee convention in the CAR on March 2006.

This year’s search for best PRAISE committee in the CAR shall apply to all PRAISE committees established under CSC MC No. 1, s. 2001 in the Cordillera.

CSC MC 1, s. 2006, underscores the imperative existence of an agency PRAISE Committee as an absolute requisite for agencies to nominate or endorse nominations of its officials and employees to the honor awards program while CSC MC 1, s. 2001 requires agencies to submit status reports to CSC on agency PRAISE committee accomplishments.

Under the new search policy, agencies need not be nominated to the search. Agencies shall submit a documentation of accomplishments of the agency PRAISE committee for the period 2002 to 2006. These reports shall be submitted to the CSC Field Offices and shall serve as agency nomination to the Search. Accomplishments prior to 2002 may be included. Entries shall compete regionwide.

Winners shall be recognized on September during the regional recognition rites in Baguio to coincide with the recognition of the 2007 HAP awardees and semifinalists from CAR. Prizes include plaques of recognition, cash and other non-cash incentives.

Entries must be submitted to the Civil Service Commission – CAR field offices on or before July 30.

For inquiries on the Search, please contact the CSC-CAR Search secretariat at Tel Nos. 443-5982 & 442-8012 local 25.

Atty. Lorenzo S. Danipog
Director IV
CSC-Cordillera

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Going hard against illegal squatters in Baguio City

“Baguio Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. has vowed to strengthen the city’s campaign against illegal settlers in the hope of making a dent on the perennial squatting problem,” said an article presumably from city hall.

We hope the city government would indeed go hard against illegal squatters who have mocked the laws and even ejected legal owners from their lands through their sheer number, arrogance and shamelessness with help from their political patrons.

Bautista, in the article, said priority targets for the drive will be the parks, watersheds and the road rights-of-way. The mayor said he also intends to beef up the anti-squatting committee facilitating the implementation of demolition procedures by assigning city administrator Peter Fianza as head of the team.”

Bautista said Fianza, whom he reappointed as city administrator will be supported by two other appointees of the mayor, acting city legal office Melchor Carlos Rabanes and lawyer Ronald Perez whom the mayor eyed to serve as his secretary.

For the past two years, Rabanes reportedly headed the committee composed of representatives from the office of the city engineer, city police, public order and safety division, community affairs division, and Philippine Commission on Urban Poor as regular members with the secretary to the mayor and the head of the city demolition team as ex-officio members.

More on the press (praise?) release: “The mayor said he specifically assigned the three lawyers to said job in the hope of speeding up the facilitation of demolition proceedings normally involving legal issues. As team head, Fianza was given the authority to sign in behalf of the mayor notices of demolition, demolition orders and other issuances and documents prepared and reviewed by the city legal office. The mayor had issued Administrative Order No. 73 delegating to Fianza “the ministerial signing of documents relative to the efforts of the City Government against illegal constructions and squatting activities.”

The city mayor is empowered to order the demolition of buildings and other structures illegally built on public and private lands by virtue of section 455 of the Local Government of 1991, LOI No. 19 and LOI 691 in relation to Presidential Decree No. 1096, Republic Act No. 7279 and other related laws, issuances, rules and regulations and jurisprudence.

The city government should indeed go hard against illegal squatters who have become bold and brazen. If the mayor in sincere in waging the war against squatting in the city, he should also watch out how some honorables in the city government would act. As things stand now, some officials have been blamed for the proliferation of squatters for being “protectors.” Mayor Bautista could also look deep at motives of some people in the city council and city government. He could be amazed at what they have been doing in the past relative to squatting or acquisition of lands.

Name withheld on request