A Lenten Reflection and Call to Action 

Last Ash Wednesday marked the beginning of another Lenten season in our
Christian life --- to engage in solemn prayers, reflections, fasting and other
traditional ways of repenting and asking the Lord’s forgiveness for our 
sins. 

This year, the Lenten season coincides with a very hot season: the 
Election season where the motion of the 4Gs (Gold, Guns, Goons and Garcis) will 
decide who will win or lose. 

Repentance should be a humbling act for those who are willing to admit
misdeeds. But for those who are unwilling, we will never see any sign 
of repentance.   

There is no sign of admittance and repentance from the part of Mrs 
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her conspirators on the outstanding crimes of 
electoral fraud, extra-judicial killings, all-around corruption and subservience 
to foreign interests. Instead of repentance, the Arroyos and their minions 
are arrogantly engaged in constant denial and cover-up of their grave sins 
against the nation. 

As people of faith who seek truth, justice and accountability, we 
deplore the sins of the Arroyos and their minions as they desperately cling to 
power: 

Electoral Fraud and Violence 

As in the 2004 elections, the Arroyo camp will again use all resources 
and machinery to prevent  an Opposition win that could spell a successful
impeachment against the Arroyo administration. 

The progressive party-list groups Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela 
Women’s Party, Kabataan and Suara Bangsa Moro again face grave threats and 
dirty tricks of disqualification. 

Military troops deployed in communities are engaged in massive campaign
against the progressive party-list groups while Malacañang agencies 
have also plotted to remove opposition members from their offices long before the
campaign period. In their brazen abuse of authority, military troops 
are actively campaigning for Arroyo’s candidates. 

Extra-Judicial Killings 

The lives of hundreds of government critics and advocates of meaningful 
social change are placed in the line of fire as the fascist Arroyo regime is
hell-bent on eliminating perceived ‘enemies of the state.’ As noted in 
the report of Prof. Philip Alston, United Nations Special Rapportuer on
Extra-Judicial Killings, the military wants the public to accept the 
killings of activists as ‘unexplained killings.’ In fact, the state-directed 
killings and persecution are expected to escalate through the extended
counter-insurgency program dubbed ‘Oplan Bantay Laya II’ and the recent
passage of the Anti-Terrorism Bill. 

Continuing Alliance with the US superpower 

In exchange for continuing political support to her fraudulent regime, 
Arroyo continues to pledge support for the US war of terror and welcomes 
continuing US military presence despite the people’s outrage on the Subic rape 
case, death of civilians and other consequences of US-RP joint exercises 
under the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the US-RP Mutual Defense Treaty 
(MDT).  

Continuing betrayal and neglect of the people’s rights and welfare 

For six years now, the nuisance president has served the interests of 
US imperialism and the local ruling elite. It has ignored the long-running
demands of the Filipino people for genuine land reform, substantial 
wage hike, jobs, decent housing and other basic social services as it promoted the
imperialist-dictated policies of full liberalization, deregulation and
privatization. 

For six years now, this regime concentrated on all means to suppress 
protests against massive fraud, corruption and human rights violations. It has 
claimed more than 800 lives of civilians, most of whom were peace activists and
leaders and members of the progressive party-list groups who have 
consistently fought for the rights of the rural and urban poor. 

Our Call: Uphold the Spirit of People Power for Genuine Change 

This election season, let us continue to support the progressive 
party-list groups that genuinely represent the poor and marginalized. At the same 
time, let us be vigilant in exposing and opposing the rottenness of the 
ruling political and economic system. As enlightened church people, let us 
help educate and empower the poor through the people’s organizations rather 
than riding on the electoral promises of the traditional politicians. 

Let us continue to uphold the spirit of people power as we engage in 
concerted actions to remove the sinful and murderous Arroyo regime. This Lenten 
Season, let us go beyond personal prayers and reflections, and take to heart 
the Lord’s commandment: 

Is it not this the fast that I choose:
To loose the bonds of injustice,
To undo the thongs of the yoke,
To let the oppressed go free,
And to break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
And bring the homeless poor into your house;
When you see the naked, to cover them,
And not to hide yourself from your own kin?
– Isaiah 58.6-7

Stop the Killings Now! 
Uphold the Politics of Change! 
Oust the Puppet, Fascist and Fraudulent President! 

Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR)
February 28, 2007 

-- 
Promotion of Church People's Response (PCPR)
pcpr_nat@tri-isys.com