FREE RANDALL ECHANIS, FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS!

AJLPP Statement

September 5, 2008

JAIL THE CROOKS LIKE BOLANTE, FREE PEACE CONSULTANTS LIKE RANDALL ECHANIS

We, Filipino Americans in the United States are aghast at the height of callousness of the Department of Justice as it issues statements that shows its impartiality towards a former government official who is going to be deported by the US government while it wields a heavy hand on a peace consultant of the NDF in the Philippines.

We, in the Alliance-Philippines (AJLPP) vehemently condemn the defiance of DOJ and the PNP in its insistence on not transferring Randall Echanis from the Manila City Jail to Camp Crame. This recycled policy of treating political dissidents like common criminals is a worn-out Marcosian tactics being used now by the US-Arroyo regime.

Just look on how they put out P 10 million bounties for MILF commanders like Umbra Cato and Macapaar Bravo? Are we like the wild, wild west of America in the 1880’s where shooting first and asking questions later is the rule? Is this the rule of law or the rule of the gun?

We also criticize DOJ Secretary Gonzales for assuring that Jocjoc Bolante will not be arrested when he is deported back to the Philippines despite corruption charges against President Gloria Arroyo’s operative in the Department of Agriculture.This proves that injustice reigns today in the Philippines.

When the Supreme Court decides in favor of the incumbent president in its case. When corruption is rampant in the highest court of laws like the Court of Appeals. When the DOJ is being used against the enemies of the present dispensation. Where can the Filipinos go to seek justice?

When the PNP and DOJ openly defies the courts, the Court of Appeals decides against the people who are filing cases against the military? When the Supreme Court repeatedly and openly decides in favor of an arrogant executive who flaunts her executive privilege, where can the people turn to find justice?

We feel we are closer to martial law now after deposing a dictator through people’s power. To think that the present president was installed by people’s power in 2001. Now, the present president is deriding people’s power and seeks a “strong republic” by the use of all her executive powers, martial law is coming thorugh other means.

We owe to people like Randall Echanis who was imprisoned during martial law in 1983, re-arrested in 1991 and again arrested in January 2008 our freedom as a people in 1986. They are the people that Gloria Macapagal –Arroyo owes her power and now she is persecuting them.

We should never a tyrant rule the Philippines again. Free Randall Echanis, Now!

Jail all the crooks like Jocjoc Bolante and other corrupt cohorts of PGMA!

FREE RANDALL ECHANIS AND ALL NDF PEACE CONSULTANTS!



Arturo P. Garcia

West Coast Coordinator

AJLPP-USA

September 3, 2008

We, Filipino Americans in the United States are aghast at the height of callousness of the Department of Justice as it issues statements that shows its impartiality towards a former government official who is going to be deported by the US government while it wields a heavy hand on a peace consultant of the NDF in the Philippines.

We, in the Alliance-Philippines (AJLPP) vehemently condemn the defiance of DOJ and the PNP in its insistence on not transferring Randall Echanis from the Manila City Jail to Camp Crame. This recycled policy of treating political dissidents like common criminals is a worn-out Marcosian tactics being used now by the US-Arroyo regime.