News Release
February 12, 2008
Reference: Rafael “Ka Paeng” Mariano, chairman, KMP and president, ANAKPAWIS party list
 
Militant farmers dismayed with Sen. Arroyo’s on NBN hearing.
Says good senator seems to be turning to the dark side
 
            The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) expressed its dismay with Senator Joker Arroyo for bullying National Broadband (NBN) deal whistler blower Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada and in essence protecting the Mafia First Family.
 
            According to Rafael “Ka Paeng” Mariano, chairman of KMP and concurrent president of ANAKPAWIS party list, “it is very ironic that during the Martial Law years Sen. Arroyo as a human rights lawyer was always against violations of rights and civil liberties and is always at the opposite side of then Defense chief Juan Ponce Enrile but now it seems that they are on the same side in trying to defend the corrupt family in Malacanang. Has the good senator been seduced by the dark side?
 
            “Instead of bullying their witness it would be better if Sen. Arroyo look on all the facts and circumstances of this anomalous deal as well as the record of Malacanang in trying to hide the truth on its corrupt practices. He should also look and feel the sentiment of the public on this case or has he completely turned and is part of the efforts by the Macapagal-Arroyo regime to discredit and destroy Lozada,” said Mariano.
 
            “Everybody is closely watching the Senate hearings and the people are getting turned off by the administration senators particularly Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Sen. Enrile including Sen. Arroyo. Most Filipinos see them now as part of the administration conspiracy to hide the truth,” added the peasant leader.
 
            “It is in this light that peasants will be joining more protests actions to expose the truth and call for the ouster of the Macapagal-Arroyo regime and we hope that more people would go to the streets to denounce this regime. We want an end to corruption and poverty and the first big step is to oust Gloria!” ended Mariano. # # #