Press Release
December 12, 2009

PALACE NEUTERING CONGRESS AND THE SUPREME COURT
AQUINO, ROXAS: PEOPLE DESERVE PRAISE FOR THEIR VIGILANCE

While welcoming the lifting of the unconstitutionally and capriciously imposed Martial Law in Maguindanao, Liberal Party standard-bearers and Senators Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III and Mar Roxas called on the people to "not be carried away by feelings of relief."

"As the President has done before, so she's doing it again: she has pushed the envelope but withdrawn her controversial proclamations before anyone can actually render a verdict on their legality or wisdom," Aquino and Roxas said in a joint statement.

"President Arroyo has deprived Congress of its constitutional mandate to exercise oversight. On cue from the Palace, the Speaker says he wants to adjourn the joint session reviewing the declaration of martial law thus sparing Malacañang from the scrutiny of its disastrous illegal misadventure. We believe the administration will make the same case when it comes to the Supreme Court, which was due to hear the government's response on Monday, to the many cases questioning martial law."

Aquino and Roxas said the Filipino people deserve praise for maintaining their vigilance and scrutinizing the government's actions since Martial Law was imposed after the Maguindanao Massacre. This imposition, they said, should still be examined and parameters be clarified.

"The Supreme Court and Congress must continue to examine and pass judgment on this illegal martial law declaration in order to set the proper guidelines for the correct exercise of the President's powers," Aquino and Roxas said.

"Public outrage and devotion to constitutional principles pushed Congress, in particularly the House of Representatives which was uninclined to even meet with the Senate, to assemble in joint session," they said in the joint statement.

"During the joint session we saw the government stumble and falter, proving itself willfully ignorant of the law and of the Constitution's requirements. Focused and fearless reports by the media showed that much more was accomplished to obtain justice for the massacre victims by the Human Rights Commission and by the police and military before martial law was proclaimed," he stressed.

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