Amnesty push for Abu Sayyaf bandits slammed

JOHANNA CAMILLE SISANTE, GMANews.TV

MANILA, Philippines - The possibility of granting amnesty to the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf has drawn flak from several key government officials, including allies of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who said such a move would set a dangerous precedent for those who engage in terroristic acts.

In separate interviews Wednesday, the officials said granting amnesty to the Abu Sayyaf might send the message that those behind abductions, beheadings, and other crimes can get away with it.

"It's just like giving gifts to criminals," said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's Chief Legal Adviser Raul Gonzalez in a phone interview with GMANews.TV.

Gonzalez, who was Justice Secretary for five years until he was transferred to Malacañang last month, said he personally deems it unwise to grant amnesty to the Abu Sayyaf.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita dangled the possibility when he said the government is open to Senator Richard Gordon's proposal to grant amnesty to the bandits as part of the plan to achieve long-lasting peace in the troubled southern Philippines region.

"Let them study that. [But] I'm against it," Gonzalez said. "We'll just give them (Abu Sayyaf) manna from heaven. No way."

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Avelino Razon Jr. said that while his office, along with the national security cluster of the Cabinet, will study Gordon's proposal, the Abu Sayyaf should be held accountable for their involvement in numerous atrocities.

"Ang kanilang gawain sa pagpatay at pagpugot, pagkidnap, pagsunog sa kanilang lugar, dapat managot sila sa aksyon na ito [They have been involved in so many killings, abductions and pillaging in many places. They have to account for these actions]," Razon said in an interview on dzXL radio.

In 2002, the United States Department of Defense included the Abu Sayyaf in its list of terror groups around the world.

The US Embassy in Manila had also thumbed down the proposed amnesty for the Abu Sayyaf.

A dangerous precedent

Under Article 7 Section 19 of the 1987 Constitution, the President has "the power to grant amnesty with the concurrence of a majority of all members of Congress."

But this early, House Speaker Prospero Nograles expressed doubt over whether amnesty can be granted to the Abu Sayyaf in the first place.

"[I] am studying [the] legal question, whether amnesty can apply to bandits, terrorists, kidnap for ransom groups, murderers, etcetera. Amnesty may apply only to political crimes," Nograles said in a text message to GMANews.TV.

Another lawmaker, House Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Paranañaque City Rep. Roilo Golez, echoed this.

"An amnesty proclamation which the President is empowered to issue, subject to concurrence of Congress, should be only for those accused of political offenses. Not for kidnapping, murder, arson, beheadings, etcetera," said Golez, who was National Security Adviser from 2001 to 2004.

Golez said in a text message to reporters that granting amnesty to the Abu Sayyaf "might result in the proliferation of terrorist gangs going on a rampage the way the ASG does."

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. - who hails from Mindanao - agreed with Golez's reaction, telling GMANews.TV in a text message: "It will encourage similar-minded cutthroats to follow the evil path of those who had come before them: perpetuate kidnapping as an industry and violence as a way of life."

Former Senate President Franklin Drilon likewise pointed out that the Abu Sayyaf "has no political agenda" and is therefore not qualified to be granted amnesty.

"The amnesty is not for ordinary criminals and terrorists. The Abu Sayyaf has no political agenda, and their agenda is to make money out of kidnapping and ransom payments. In all amnesties in the past, it always excluded common criminals because the amnesty is for crimes committed in pursuit of political belief," Drilon said in a phone interview with GMANews.TV.

"You can no longer enforce criminal laws if you grant amnesty to the Abu Sayyaf," said Drilon, who was Justice Secretary during the Aquino administration.

Services, not amnesty

The Philippine military, through spokesperson Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr., said it would issue an official statement on the matter later in the day (see sidebar).

But senior military officers contacted by GMANews.TV reacted strongly against the possible granting of amnesty to the extremist group. The officers spoke on condition of anonymity since they were not authorized to talk to the media.

Calling the proposal foolish, an Army officer who had seen action against the Abu Sayyaf said those saying the bandit group should be granted amnesty have no idea what it was like to fall victim to the group's atrocities.

"It would be foolish to grant the group amnesty," the officer said in Filipino.

An officer of the Philippine Marines who had seen a number of his men die at the hands of the Abu Sayyaf said members of the bandit group should just surrender if they are indeed ready to lay down their arms, as Sulu Vice Governor Lady Ann Sahidulla had quoted Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Albader Parad as saying.

The same officer likewise said the government should just improve basic social services in Mindanao, particularly in Sulu, if it wants to achieve developments in the region.

"Ang pag-grant ng amnesty, parang pinapakita natin na mahina ang gobyerno [Granting amnesty seems to send the message that the government is weak]," the officer said.

For his part, Senator Francis Escudero told GMANews.TV in a text message that while he is also open to the possibility of granting amnesty if it will lead to peace in Mindanao, "the government must resolve the root cause of the problem: poverty and the absence or lack of development in the area."

The proposal to grant amnesty to the Abu Sayyaf got a boost following the group's release of Red Cross worker Eugenio Vagni, whom they abducted along with Vagni's fellow humanitarian workers Mary Jean Lacaba and Andreas Notter last January after the three inspected a water sanitation project in Patikul town in Sulu.

While Lacaba and Notter were freed from captivity last April within days of each other, the 62-year-old Vagni was only released early Sunday morning. -with reports from Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV

Solon seeks mandatory preggy test

The bill seeking to make pregnancy test a pre-requisite to cosmetic surgery is being readied for bicameral deliberation upon the opening of congressional session later this month, a lawmaker revealed Tuesday.

Caloocan Rep. Mary Mitzi Cajayon, author of the bill, said her proposal is already on the way for bicameral scrutiny after it has been approved on third and final reading by the House of Representatives.

"The bill seeks to ensure that proper medical attention is accorded to every patient undergoing a cosmetic procedure, particularly females of childbearing age, by making pregnancy testing an indispensable requisite prior to undergoing such a procedure," the young solon said.

Under the bill, she noted, cosmetic surgeon will face a criminal suit if he fails to inform the patient of the potential risk of the cosmetic procedure or of performing cosmetic surgery to any woman in her childbearing years without the required pregnancy test.

The bill provides that the pregnancy test shall be done by the cosmetic surgeon himself or any accredited medical practitioner who can testify to the veracity or authenticity of the test.

Cajayon said that cosmetic surgeries that require the administration of general anesthesia using inhalational anesthetic gases and other types of sedating drugs given intravenously or orally are considered harmful both to the pregnant woman and the unborn child.

These procedures include liposuction of the abdomen, arms, thighs, submental area, abdominoplasty, breast augmentation, mastopexy, buttocks augmentation and chemical peeling of the face and body.

Cajayon said women who are infertile or incapable of reproduction are exempted, provided such condition is supported by certified medical records.

http://www.mb.com.ph

Cory’s wish is healing of the nation, says priest

What former President Corazon "Cory" Aquino prays for is not her own healing but that of the nation, said healing priest Fr. Fernando Suarez as he led Monday's sixth novena Mass offered for the healing of the cancer-stricken leader.

Speaking before friends and former Cabinet officials of the country’s first woman President, alongside mass goers at the Sto. Niño de Paz Chapel in Greenbelt 5, Makati, Suarez recounted how Aquino received the news that she was diagnosed of cancer back in March, 2008.

"When she was first diagnosed of her illness, she told me that she is prepared for whatever the Lord wants for her. All she wanted is for the will of God be done,” he said.

"That is why I believe that what Tita Cory wants for now more than her own healing is the healing of our nation, both moral and spiritual," Suarez said in his homily.

The priest described Aquino as a fulfilled woman. "Wala na siyang mahihiling pa kaya all she needs is to pray, meditate, and reflect," he said.

"This woman is holier than any woman I have ever met. I admire her grace, simplicity, and words that are filled with so much dignity and compassion," he said, adding that he was allowed to visit Aquino at the Makati Medical Center.

As of press time, Aquino remains conscious and stable but "her normal appetite is not yet back," according to spokesperson Deedee Siytangco.

Despite the confidentiality of Aquino’s medical situation, Siytangco said the former President will stay hospitalized “indefinitely” even if the nine-day novena Mass at Greenbelt 5 is already drawing to an end this Thursday.

Aside from Aquino’s former Cabinet officials, seen Monday at the novena Mass were Susan Roces and her daughter, Grace Poe Llamanzares.

“We know that a lot of people are concerned about her and my family is one of them,” Poe said. “When FPJ was sick, it was she who visited us and brought a rosary so she could pray with me. This time, my family is praying for her,” Roces said.

Meanwhile, community prayer vigils will be held in 33 barangays of Makati City as the residents join in praying for Aquino’s speedy recovery.

Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay urged residents and the public to offer prayers for the former president.

http://www.mb.com.ph

Did doctor leak Arroyo boob job news?

MANILA - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Tuesday started its probe into the leaked information on President Arroyo's confinement at the Asian Hospital last week, focusing their investigation on one doctor.

The NBI's Anti Fraud and Computer Crimes Division, which handles the alleged medical information leak, said the probe was not due to a command from the Palace, but from a request from the administration of the Asian Hospital.

"Malacanang has nothing to do with the ongoing probe. This is a request of a private hospital to conduct investigation for possible administrative liability of any of its hospital employees for getting patients' file and leaking it," NBI Director Nestor Mantaring said.

The NBI said it will investigate who and how the private medical information concerning the President leaked out.

An ABS-CBN source said the investigation is focusing on one doctor.

Three medical staff from the hospital's Center for Women's Health have already given statements, and the source said it points to one doctor as the source of the leak.

The three staff could also possibly stand as witnesses against the unidentified doctor, the source said.

The NBI, meanwhile, has not yet confirmed this, and whether the doctor in question is the President's doctor.

The agency also said that they will try to finish the investigation as soon as possible, saying that they are not being pressured by Malacañang.

With a report from Maan Macapagal, ABS-CBN News

10 Rizal monuments around the world

MANILA, Philippines—National hero Dr. Jose Rizal is recognized in many parts of the world for his intelligence and heroism, earning him at least 10 Rizal monuments in four continents around the world, Senator Richard Gordon said Friday.

At the commemoration of Rizal’s 148th birthday, the senator paid tribute to the national hero.

“Jose Rizal showed us that even if we were colonized by foreign nations, we can refuse to be bound by them, by having a vision and strengthening our values. He showed that Filipinos could excel and compete with the best,” he said in a statement.

“Jose Rizal was the first Filipino to break the walls in his mind, walls which were built by the foreign invaders. Other countries also recognize his heroism and have chosen to erect monuments in his honor,” he added.

Gordon pointed out that Filipinos should be proud that other nations recognize that Rizal’s short but meaningful life is an ideal model which shows that a person can achieve far beyond what he may seem to reach if only he has a vision and strives hard to achieve it.

He welcomed the development of a Rizal Park in New South Wales, Australia as a fitting tribute to Rizal’s heroism. (Earlier, the Department of Foreign Affairs said a 2.2-hectare property in the city of Campbelltown, New South Wales will be developed to become the Rizal Park in Australia. It was through the initiative of a group of Filipino-Australians and their friends who petitioned the city council of Campbelltown to name it Rizal Park. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd gave A$120,000 for the initial construction of the park while the Campbelltown city council will provide another A$140,000.)

Aside from the park being built in Australia, he said there are monuments in Rizal’s honor in Madrid, Spain; Wilhelmsfeld, Germany; Jinjiang, Fujian, China; Cherry Hill Township, New Jersey; San Diego, California; and Seattle, Washington; Reforma Avenue in Mexico City, Mexico; La Molina in Lima, Peru; Litomerice, Czech Republic; and Singapore.

Guided by the values inculcated by Rizal, Gordon started the Bagumbayan Movement which seeks to rediscover and revitalize the Filipino identity by having a vision grounded on values and empowered by volunteerism.

He explained that the Bagumbayan movement aims to regain the Filipinos’ sense of responsibility, to reinvent the government that it may faithfully perform its duty to serve and protect the people, to fortify law and order, and to build a strong and growing economy.

It also strives to prioritize education, provide adequate health care, create jobs, assist people in securing homes and land, strengthen the family as the foundation of the nation, and protect and preserve the environment for posterity.

Source:
Philippine Daily Inquirer