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BAYAN MUNA-WOMEN
CALLS ON ESTRADA
TO SURRENDER TO PREVENT VIOLENCE
NEWS RELEASE
25 April 2001
"Indeed there is no better way to commemorate the 100th day of the beginning of People Power II tomorrow, than the arrest of ousted President Estrada." This was according to Liza Maza, BAYAN MUNA Partylist Nominee and GABRIELA Secretary General, following the Sandiganbayan's issuance of Estrada's arrest warrant today.
BAYAN MUNA-Women and GABRIELA will be joining militant groups at 5:30 this afternoon at the Welcome Rotonda to await Estrada's pending arrest and mark another victory of People Power II.
"We call on the ousted President to immediately surrender to authorities and not make a huge drama out of this event. We also call on Estrada's supporters not to waste their time and efforts in protecting a criminal. Let justice take its course."
"It is thus important for Estrada to voluntarily surrender immediately to avoid any untoward incident in Greenhills. Also, Estrada should call on his supporters to calmly accept the Sandiganbayan's decision."
Maza also asked PNP not to take drastic measures against the Estrada supporters blocking Estrada's arrest. "We call on the PNP to exercise maximum tolerance and avoid any violence that could mar the conduct of Estrada's arrest."
"Estrada's arrest is another victory for the people. Once more, the militance, the constant vigilance of the people paid off. Let us not tire in this fight for justice." ###
IT'S THE 100TH DAY OF PEOPLE POWER II AND NOT "JUST ANOTHER DAY" - GABRIELA
"It will never be just another day for a people awaiting justice." This was according to Liza Maza, BAYAN MUNA Partylist Nominee and GABRIELA Secretary General, after Sandiganbayan Justice Francisco Garchitorena dismissed yesterday's events as just another day.
"Such statements show how perfunctory the Sandiganbayan has been in performing its duty. It will be the 100th day of People Power II tomorrow (April 26) and we, who took to the streets at People Power II take offense at such show of indifference to the nation's clamor for justice." BAYAN MUNA Partylist was an active participant in People Power II while GABRIELA first registered its call for Estrada's resignation in March of the previous year.
"Whatever tactics the Ombusdman's office takes is the prosecutor's prerogative. The Sandiganbayan's responsibility is to issue a warrant of arrest for Estrada based on the merit of the case. By making the withdrawal of five cases difficult, the Sandiganbayan is deliberately delaying the issuance of arrest warrant," Maza said.
"Estrada's arrest will restore the confidence, not just of the business sector but more importantly, of the people, to the justice system in this country. Estrada should be arrested immediately. Otherwise this case will be no different from that of the Marcoses whose cases rest idly and whose billions remain hoarded in European accounts."
"The very little credibility that our country enjoys from the international community will vanish. They witnessed our nation oust another corrupt and inept president only to watch us again tolerate Estrada, his mistresses and his cohorts enjoy the fruits of his crimes here and abroad."
"Another day of Estrada's freedom is another day of injustice. It is another
day of dissipating the gains of People Power II. Five days from now, GMA will
mark the 100th day since the people's action has installed her in Malacanang,
we hope we will not be marking the 100th day of a plunderer's escape,"
Maza concluded.###
