Press Release
July 25, 2009

Press statement of Senator Loren Legarda

No to Guantanamo prison transfer to RP

The transfer of the Guantanamo Bay prison facilities to the Philippines from Cuba, if indeed it is being considered, must be opposed by all Filipinos no matter what carrot is being dangled our way by the US so we'd agree to it.

Such a transfer would make the Philippines a magnet for attack by terrorist groups and would unduly burden us with additional security costs, not necessarily for the prison system itself but for the increased threat to our country that can be expected.

If the US government does not want the prison facility anywhere within America, why would the Philippines even consider such a transfer? We cannot allow superpowers to pass unto us their problems because we already have plenty of our own to deal with.

Yet another try at term extension

Chief Justice Reynato Puno must be hailed for turning down an apparent attempt by the administration to court the Supreme Court's support for the establishment of a transition government that would result to the scrapping of the 2010 elections.

The Chief Justice must have seen through the real motive of the administration's continuing effort to tamper and tinker with our constitution - term extension.

This latest move by the administration belies the announcement of the President that there would be an election next year. We must be vigilant against last-ditch efforts by this administration to stay in power.

On MILF, GRP ceasefire

Even without a formal ceasefire between the government and the MILF, the announcement by the military and the MILF of a suspension in hostilities is most welcome because peace talks can only prosper when the guns had stopped firing.

There must be genuine trust among the parties to any peace negotiation, which must include all sectors of society affected, including non-combatants trapped by the fighting in Mindanao.

The problem in Mindanao is rooted from poverty, marginalization of the region and social inequality. Unless these issues are addressed, there won't be lasting peace in the south.

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