I just want to share some recent items and news releases about the bombings, SONA security, emergency plots, Cha-cha, etc. floating in my FB account.
Iligan City --- July 8, 2009
Failure of Intelligence or Deliberate Obfuscation?
Bayan Muna Partylist Rep. Teddy Casiño today condemned as deplorable acts against humanity the recent string of bombings and bomb scares in Mindanao and Metro Manila. At least six were killed and more than 50 civilians were wounded in separate bombing incidents.
Rep. Casiño, who was guest speaker at the Mindanao State University in Marawi yesterday, is now in MSU - Iligan Institute of Technology attending a forum and the launching of the People's MARCH (People's Movement Against Charter Change) - Lanao.
"We condemn the series of bombings and bomb scares that injured and killed civilians as acts against humanity, and we sympathize with those who have been affected by these deplorable string of events," said Casiño. "These should have been prevented, had the intelligence community performed their duties of preventing lawless acts and apprehending criminal elements," he added.
"Now, we have more reason to think that either there is failure of intelligence on the part of the military and police, or there is an ongoing cover-up and obfuscation meant to confuse the public," said Casiño.
"With all the speculations circulating about the possible motives and perpetrators responsible for the bombings, we are appalled and alarmed about the lack of credible information from authorities. There still seems to be no official statement that points away from the Arroyo administration as the chief beneficiary of a chaotic scenario leading to repressive measures and emergency rule," Casiño laments.
"Billions of pesos of people's money go to the intelligence funds of Malacanang, the military, police and their attached departments. Instead, earlier we heard the military and police saying that the bomb scares were "ordinary" prior to SONA. Congress should look into where these funds are exactly used vis-a-vis the spate of bombings that remains to be solved," Casiño said.
"The lack of conclusive information on the motives and perpetrators of the bombings reinforces the suspicion that either there is a failure of intelligence or the obfuscation is deliberately orchestrated to divert the public's attention from the real issues and the threat of emergency rule. Arroyo remains as the sole beneficiary of what's going on," concludes Casiño. ###
July 6, 2009
Security Plans for SONA,
Based on Rumors and Meant to Intimidate
Security preparations for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's annual State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) shown to the public over the weekend were meant to intimidate instead of reassure the people that everything is normal. This was what Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño said in response to the Armed Forces' and National Police's show of force.
"This security overkill showcases the administration's strong arm and sends a warning to the ordinary folks who plan to join protest actions on July 27 as Arroyo delivers her SONA," said Casiño. "Malacanang and the military leadership's message aims to discourage people from exercising the basic human and Constitutional rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assemblies," the militant solon adds.
Casiño said, "the Armed Forces and the National Police's preparations for protest rallies and a so-called destabilization plot, even if they say it is merely a rumor, in light of the recent bombings that they dismiss as a "trend", do not reassure us that everything is normal."
"Are they telling us that they are making such preparations based on rumors?," Casiño asks. "It's more alarming now that instead of revealing to us those who are behind the rumored destabilization plot and the bombings, the Armed Forces and Police downplay these as ordinary. Their statements do not dispel our doubts that something's brewing," said Casiño.
"I offer this advise to our military, police and to Malacanang. If they want to eliminate the possibility of unrest or chaos, the administration's plans for Charter Change, convening a constituent assembly, House Resolution 1109, and all plots to extend Arroyo's powerhold should be junked once and for all," said Casiño.
"In the end, the security overkill only justifies the deployment of more troops, the suppression of our rights and the quelling of peaceful protests. But their show of force can not stop us from exercising our democratic rights," concludes Casiño.###
June 30, 2009
Casiño calls for vigilance in face of
poll automation failure, bombing, martial rule plot
In view of the apparent collapse of the poll automation project, the recent bombing and the “Oplan August Moon” plot, Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño today warned the public to be extra vigilant in ensuring that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will not stay in power beyond June 2010.
"We should be on guard not only with con-ass but the other Palace-concocted scenarios. We must be extra vigilant for a no elections (no-el) scenario or a brewing coup plot that would prolong PGMA's powerhold beyond 2010," Casiño said, citing an earlier proposal by National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales for Arroyo to head a transitional revolutionary civilian-military junta.
"Due to irreconcilable differences between TIM and Smartmatic, the planned automated election has been jeopardized. We also suspect that the leak about 'Oplan August Moon' and the bomb incidents at the Department of Agriculture and the Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City are all aimed at creating the conditions for giving Arroyo authoritarian powers or extending her term beyond 2010," Casiño said.
Regarding a possible declaration of military rule, Casiño said "Marcos did it before. Arroyo has all the cards, motives and tendencies to do it again. We should keep ourselves informed and prepared for such scenarios."
Casiño warned the Palace not to consider such repressive scenarios as PGMA might suffer the fate of ousted president Marcos in the 1980s and, just recently, of Honduran president Manuel Zelaya, if PGMA and her allies push through with term extension.
The plot dubbed “Oplan August Moon” was reported as favorable to Arroyo and to generals identified with Class ’78 of the Philippine Military Academy. PGMA is an adopted member of Class ’78.
Casiño, together with anti con-ass leaders, lawmakers, and ordinary citizens will be marching against con-ass and Charter change today at 3 p.m., June 30. Assembly points are: Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila - Intramuros, Adamson University - Taft Ave., and Welcome Rotonda in Manila.
June 29, 2009
Three Things PGMA Should Say on Her SONA
Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño today said there are only three things that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo should declare on her State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27 at the House of Representatives in Quezon City.
Casiño said, “Majority of Filipinos, as consistently verified in all opinion surveys in the country, are interested to hear only three things from PGMA when she delivers her SONA:
Number 1. ‘ I will abandon all efforts to convene Congress into a constituent assembly (con-ass) and therefore there will be no more Charter change (Cha-cha) before the 2010 national elections; ’
Number 2. ‘ I will step down in 2010, and; ’
Number 3. ‘ I’m not running for any position, be it for Congresswoman or even for municipal councilor, in the 2010 elections. ”
“That’s all that matters. That’s all we want to hear from PGMA,” affirmed Casiño, citing the nationwide disgust for President Arroyo and her administration.
“She should make her last SONA short and sweet. Enough of her lies. PGMA’s alter-egos in Malacañang do not need to fool us about a ‘resilient Philippine economy’, the ‘improved fight against corruption’ and her numerous achievements,” said Casiño.
“PGMA’s claims of economic development are obviously far from reality,” concluded Casiño.
Casiño is one of the most popular guest speakers invited by host committees of anti-con-ass forums held in schools and communities nationwide.
This afternoon, Casiño will be attending the noise barrage to be held in front of De La Salle University along Taft Avenue, Manila at 5:30 p.m., as part of the nationwide campaign against Arroyo’s con-ass and Cha-cha.
June 26, 2009
Casiño: Surround the House on PGMA's SONA to Stop Con-Ass
To avert any move that will convene Congress into a constituent assembly (con-ass) beginning July 27 when President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (PGMA) delivers her State of the Nation Address (SONA) in the House of Representatives, Bayan Muna Partylist Representative Teodoro Casiño is calling on the public to surround the House and guard vigilantly against con-ass.
“We should be alert when Pres. Arroyo congratulates her allies in Congress during her SONA to ensure con-ass is not convened right then and there,” Casiño said.
“Let's show them we have the numbers to defeat con-ass by surrounding the House of Representatives on July 27,” Casiño appealed before a forum of anti-con-ass forces in Marikina City today. Casiño and other anti-con ass congressmen are doing the rounds of schools and communities in preparation for a showdown when Congress resumes next month.
“Con-ass proponents are bent on taking steps to amend the Constitution, we shouldn't risk letting our guard down. Remember, the House majority approved House Resolution 1109 at an unholy hour when they thought most Filipinos were already asleep,” added Casiño.
He also said it is still possible for majority of the congressmen to abandon con-ass if they become convinced of the public's outrage.
Bayan Muna partylist firmly opposes any amendment that will favor Arroyo’s perpetuation in power, and institute pro-foreign and repressive provisions in the Constitution. ###
