President Aquino's All-Out-Justice Undercuts Peace Initiative – GWP Rep. Emmi De Jesus

"While the President claims interest in continuing peace negotiations, his moves show otherwise when he declared ‘all-out-justice’ and allowed the military air-strike in Zamboanga Sibugay and Basilan. He cannot simply brush aside the impact of this air strike as it resulted to the evacuation of some 20,000 residents in Zamboanga Sibugay and Basilan provinces. This move clearly reveals the President’s mangled concept of justice. His pronouncements attempt to camouflage but his actions clearly exposes the brutality of the government’s Oplan Bayanihan,” said GWP Rep. Emmi De Jesus. “

t is about time that the President stops listening to proposals of his political advisers and listen to the people of Mindanao instead, the real casualties of the escalating military campaigns in Mindanao. We cannot achieve justice by implementing an all-out-war in the guise of this so-called all-out-justice campaign, while realities of death and mass evacuations abound,” added the Gabriela solon.

“While GWP grieves with the mothers of the slain soldiers and also calls justice for them, we affirm that peace negotiations rather than this militaristic all-out-justice campaign is the way to go. We call on the GRP and MILF panels to convene and respect agreements and obligations to stop the fighting and alleviate its impact on the civilian population,” ended the Gabriela solon. ###