Press Release
March 2, 2006SENATE EMPLOYEES STAGE RALLY TO DEMAND LIFTING OF
1017
IN A SHOW of force, Senate employees
today staged a rally in front of the Senate building in Pasay City
to protest the issuance by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of
Proclamation 1017.
The employees, wearing black armbands and bearing placards, walked
out of their offices at noon. The rally was in support to the
senators' protest action Wednesday when they also wore black
armbands before the session began.
The demonstration was led by SENADO, an organization of 1,700 Senate
employees.
Shouting "Never Again to Martial Law" and "No to 1017," the
employees demanded the immediate lifting of the proclamation. The
rally also drew the attention of media people and Senate visitors.
Perla Mayor, president of SENADO, said more protest actions will be
staged by the association until Malacanang withdrew the state of
emergency. On Monday (March 6), Mayor said all employees were asked
to wear black attire to mourn the "death of democracy."
"This protest action demonstrates our intense opposition to
Proclamation 1017 which curtails our liberty and puts a death knell
to our democracy," Mayor said in addressing the rallyists.
The SENADO president said the Senate is the last bulwark of
democracy and "we as an integral part of the Senate cannot just
allow the curtailment of civil liberties of our citizens. We will
act as one in opposing Proclamation 1017."
Saying the proclamation is "illegal, unconstitutional and gravely
immoral," Mayor said the walkout, a basic constitutional right, is
just the beginning. "Freedom of speech and expression will have to
be defended by all our citizens. We, in the Senate, will defend this
freedom vigorously right here at home."
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