MANILA, Philippines – The marching order given by President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III to new Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to prepare cases against erring government officials is a welcome move, according to militant group Bayan.
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"We welcome the statements of President Benigno Aquino III that there will be “no reconciliation without justice” and that “to forget the wrongs of the past would mean repeating them," Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said.
During his inaugural speech, Aquino directed de Lima to “begin the process of providing true and complete justice for all.”
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"We expect nothing less than the filing of charges, the arrest and conviction of these officials for large-scale corruption, gross human rights abuses and election fraud. We expect nothing less than the removal of the corrupt and abusive remnants of the Arroyo regime, including the questionable midnight appointees," he added.
He stressed that the newly formed Truth Commission to be headed by former Supreme Court Justice Hilario Davide should concentrate on the so-called "big fish" in government.
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"We look forward to the day that Arroyo, Virgilio Garcillano, Joc-Joc Bolante, Gen. Jovito Palparan and others like them will face the justice system and be convicted for their crimes against the people," Reyes said.
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Garcillano has been dragged to the "Hello Garci" controversy where Mrs. Arroyo allegedly ordered the former poll official to rig the 2004 elections in favor of her candidacy.
On the other hand, Bolante was allegedly the "architect" of the multi-milllion peso fertilizer mess, while Palparan was accused of being behind the spate of enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings of activists. - By Dennis Carcamo
