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Patriots' letter to the editor of Philippine Daily Inquirer
by Fr. Joe Dizon
Tuesday, May. 25, 2004 at 11:18 PM
Letter to the Editor
May 24, 2004
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Your featuring us in your May 24, 2004 editorial terribly humbles us. It gives
us the attention we neither deserve nor seek.
But nothing can be further from the truth. And this is the truth.
1. The various groups you mentioned who attended our May 21, 2004 at Bayview
Hotel like the supporters of candidates Fernando Poe Jr., Bro. Eddie
Villanueva and Ping Lacson, the retired generals and the progressive party
lists are neither members of Patriots nor do we have any formal and direct
organizational link with them. They attended our press conference as invited
guests. What we have reached that day is cooperation with one another in
collating all the data of each group in relation to fraud and violence vis-à-
vis the May 10, 2004 elections and to come out in the most feasible time a
more comprehensive and extensive report on the matter. We welcome any
documented information the administration may wish to submit to us regarding
fraud and violence committed by the opposition for our independent analysis
and balanced reporting. When this arduous work is done, we will present the
report once more, both for the scrutiny of the court of public opinion and the
appropriate court of law.
2. We also agreed to hold a one-week activity from May 25-28, 2004 dubbed as
the “Peoples’ Watch” to express our peoples’ demand and continuing vigilance
for a credible outcome to this year’s electoral exercise.
3. We are fully aware that all those who come to us in these extremely trying
yet challenging times have motives and intentions beyond or even contradictory
to the cause that members of Patriots have publicly, openly and earnestly
pursued before, during, and after the May 10 elections; that is, to arouse our
people’s vigilance and readiness at all times to assert their sovereign will
and advance their welfare and interests.
It is the right of any group to define themselves and their distinct
objectives; it is for the people to perceive and to judge their motives and
intentions and act accordingly. Our unity and cooperation with any and all
groups rests on this bottom line -- the advancement of the greater good of our
people especially the poor, oppressed and powerless.
4. Finally, regarding the purported certificates of canvass allegedly found in
the Senate premises. We also received documents claimed to be certificates of
canvass. We showed and submitted these to the Comelec Chairman who
instantaneously proclaimed these to be fraudulent. At this time, we have
chosen to accept the pronouncement of Chairman Abalos.
Thank you for giving us the reason and the opportunity to make plain what
Patriots is about. Believe this: “The truth shall set us free.” But it will
first make us uncomfortable.
Fr. Joe P. Dizon
Convenor, Patriots
Why the duplication?
by Pat Riots
Friday, May. 28, 2004 at 10:24 PM
Patriots’ aim of defending the people's sovereignty by ensuring honest, peaceful and orderly election is great.
However, a question need to be asked – why the duplication? This role is being done by NAMFREL with its long record of doing a good job even during the heights of Marcos dictatorship.
Or maybe Patriots have hidden agendas, just like the supposed to be non-partisan Generals for Free and Orderly Election (Generals for POE).
Patriots is silent about NPA extortion and harassments
by Rene Climente
Sunday, May. 30, 2004 at 8:01 AM
Members of Patriots are silent about NPA extortion and harassments.
If Patriots is true to its aims why is it silent about NPA extortion and harassments done during election campaign? It should issue statements against such as this hinder democracy and distort the true will of the people.
It is also discriminatory against poor candidates as they can’t afford to pay for the so-called Permit to Campaign (PTC) in addition to other electoral expenses. The NPA say they are pro-people and pro-poor and yet their actions say otherwise. Patriots say they are non-partisan yet their silence on this issue say otherwise.
Rene Climente
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