ROXAS VOTES 'YES' TO LIFTING OF MARTIAL LAW

Senator Mar Roxas today voted for the revocation of the martial law imposed in Maguindanao as he and the Liberal Party vowed to fight any attempt by the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to bring back the horrors of a military rule in the country.

Roxas, who is the LP president, appealed to President Arroyo to immediately lift the martial rule and not to extend it longer, stressing government has attained the purpose for which the imposition was made: to arrest all suspects in the gruesome November 23 Maguindanao massacre and to gather evidence that would bring swift justice to the victims.

"Mali ang imposisyon ng martial law sa Maguindanao. Paninindigan ng Partido Liberal, labag sa Konstitusyon ang martial law na ito. Inimagine lang nila itong sinasabi nilang 'rebelyon' (The imposition of martial law in Maguindanao is wrong. The Liberal Party stands firm in its position that this is against the Constitution. The alleged rebellion exists only in their imagination)," he said.

He insisted the martial rule imposition was unnecessary, pointing out government has sufficient powers to arrest the suspects and the masterminds of the brutal killing of 57 individuals, the most violent election-related incident in the Philippine history.

Roxas lamented that while many lawmakers agree with his and the public's perception the martial law in Maguindanao was excessive, "hindi sumang-ayon sa posisyon natin ang mayorya ng Kongreso. Hindi nila nakita nang maigi kung saan tayo tumitindig. Ibang boses ang kanilang pinakinggan at pinaniwalaan (this was not shared by majority of members of Congress. They did not understand where we're coming from. They listened and believed perceptions contrary to that of the public's)."

"Nagawa na ng gobyerno ang dapat nitong magawa. Nananawagan tayo sa Pangulo na tanggalin na ito. Never again to Martial Law. Sisiguruhin namin sa Partido Liberal na hindi na mabubuhay muli ang halimaw na ito na bumulabog sa mapayapang pamumuhay ng mga Pilipino (Government has achieved its goals. We appeal to the president to immediately lift the martial law in Maguindanao. The Liberal Party will fight any and all attempts to revive this ghost that has brought chaos and fear to the lives of Filipinos)," he stressed.