The report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Executions Philip Alston is very "alstonishing"! It has closely matched the government-sponsored Melo Report headed by the former Supreme Court Justice Jose Melo.

Finally, the alleged killings of several leftists and mediamen have been enlightened. Though, it's not a very comprehensive report, it has already gave an account on the military's role in perpetrating these killings.

After he ended his 10-day visit in the Philippines, he made a controversial report that made the faces of those in Malacañang and in the Armed Forces awful. He said to the media that the military was in a denial of these killings.

Armed Forces Chief Hermogenes Esperon said that Alston was in denial, though he was not. His report is based on the facts that he gathered from several persons allegedly involved and affected by the extrajudicial killings.

There's a possibility that the military is behind the killings of several leftists and mediamen because somebody ordered it. Whether it's a high-ranking official from the National Executive, Legislative, Judiciary and even in the local governments.

It's no secret anymore. Our country is the 2nd most dangerous place after Iraq. Iraq's reputation of being the most dangerous place is very well justified because of the ongoing war of U.S. President George Bush. But, c'mon. Philippines is not under a state of war! The government insists that we are on war against poverty, criminality, terrorism, etc. and not against our own deserving compatriots.

The Alston report is done. It will be delivered to the United Nations Human Rights Council. Thus, the UN will finally make a stand on whether to scold its non-abiding member or not. But of course, we don't want to be scolded by the UN, neither do I! We should solve these killings immediately so that we would not reach that point.

Mrs. Arroyo is not doing enough. Whether she's involve with these political killings or not, she should do something NOW! If she can't sincerely do it, the people would be curious. Let's see if she's really sincere in solving this crisis in her administration.

Another thing, this issue can also be a good point of argument for the Genuine Opposition (GO). The irresponsibility and insincerity of the Arroyo administration is evident in solving these political killings. It has been a long time that we are hounding this to our leaders and they're are only doing a magnified big (because it's small) action now because the world is watching them.

To the military and Mrs. Arroyo, my message to you: The world is watching on how you solve these political killings, and we are waiting. Abide by the findings of the Alston and Melo Report.

To those who want to read the entire text of the two reports, just visit this PDF link for the Melo Report and this PDF link or HTML link for the Alston Report.

Labels: election 2007, political killings

After the Team Unity of the election-cheater president was proclaimed in the Cebu City Coliseum, the Genuine Opposition (GO) also made their proclamation rally in the historic Plaza Miranda last February 24.

Trillanes has a more convincing excuse for not attending the said event because he was in detention by the Philippine Armed Forces. In his lieu, he sent his representative, in the person of Sonny Rivera.

Meanwhile, Pangilinan, who has declared himself as an independent candidate, refused to attend the proclamation rally because of a certain thing. He doesn't want to be viewed as an Erap supporter.

Pangilinan is an adopted candidate of GO. When he was made known that he was adopted by GO, he said "Thank you!". With that gesture, he was willing to accept the offer. So? Why would he distance himself from the opposition? His track record in the Senate is undeniably among the best. But, if his opposition stance remain in question, he is in risk of replacement (maybe, if he keeps on doing that!) by either Gringo Honasan, Zosimo Paredes or Richard Gomez.

Well, c'mon! This election is not about a proxy fight between Erap and PGMA. It's about choosing candidates who want to abolish the Senate (ironically, TEAM Unity's Senate candidates are running for the office that they want to abolish) and those who want to protect the Senate from the hands of PGMA.

In my 2007 senatorial preferences, I chose mostly from the Genuine Opposition than in Team Unity as what my post entitled "2007 Senatoriables: Who should win" said. The 2 GO senatoriables that I didn't like to win in the election are Nikki Coseteng and John Osmeña.

Nikki Coseteng is a good politician as far as my knowledge is concerned. She is an anti-graft and corruption, women's rights and environmental protection advocate. She also gives importance to arts as her special passion. But, her winnability is at stake in this election. Honestly, she's not too appealing to the people anymore.

Lastly, John Osmeña was used to be a Cebuano pride of the Senate. He has a magic within that made him one of the longest serving senator in the Senate's history. But aftr 2004, his magic fade out. He's too old, and I'll tell you my fellow citizens, he's ironically an anti-Cebuano. Why? He supports the move to break Cebu into 3 provinces namely Cebu del Norte, Cebu del Sur and Cebu Occidental together with the Cebu province proper.

As I am predicting, it would be a 10-2 victory, in favor of the Genuine Opposition. The people are tired of PGMA's lying, election-cheating and corruption.

Labels: election 2007, erap, senators