Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo 's letter to GMA : QC IMC

BAYAN MUNA NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
3rd floor Erythrina BuildingNo.1 Matatag corner Maaralin Sts.
Central District, Diliman, Quezon City 1100
tel (632) 921-3499 fax (632) 921-3473 email: bmhq@info.com.ph

April 6, 2004

Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
President
Republic of the Philippines

Dear Madame President,

I would like to express my extreme alarm and anger over National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales’ relentless and malicious attacks against my party, Bayan Muna. His barrage of attacks has literally become a life-and-death issue for us.

I raise this in the light of the fact that 37 of my partymates have already been slain in the course of their work. Mr. Gonzales’ baseless allegations all the more make us fair game for ultra-rightist elements in the military who are widely believed to be behind the killings and enforced disappearance of my party-mates.

Over the past weeks, Mr. Gonzales has alleged – without any basis whatsoever – that this representation, together with former Bayan Muna representatives Crispin Beltran and Liza Maza, has diverted Priority Development Assistance Funds to finance the New People’s Army. Today, he has come out again in media urging the disqualification of my party and five other party-list groups based on mere “strong suspicions”, as Gonzales himself admitted.

Mr. Gonzales has been long on his charges but short on evidence. The timing of his wild claims is suspect. Our party is in the midst of a campaign to gain a fresh mandate in Congress and there are clear indications that we shall repeat, albeit even surpass, our victory in the 2001 party-list elections.

The irresponsible acts of your National Security Adviser compel me to seek a clarification on the following:

> What is your government’s official policy on the electoral participation of legal and legitimate progressive or Left political parties?
> Are Mr. Gonzales’ actions and declarations sanctioned by Malacañang?

Mr. Gonzales’ actions negate your own avowed declaration seeking unity and reconciliation with all sectors and groups. By urging our disqualification, is Mr. Gonzales now telling us there is no room in the electoral arena for political organizations like ours?

Madame President, on behalf of Bayan Muna, I formally request that Mr. Gonzales be immediately relieved of his post for his irresponsible actions. His continued stay in your Cabinet seriously endangers the lives of my party-mates, including my own, and shuts the door to groups which have chosen to participate in the parliamentary arena.

May I request a dialogue with you to thresh out this matter at your earliest convenience.

Respectfully yours,

Rep. SATUR C. OCAMPO
President, Bayan Muna