“THE PUBLIC’S EYES ARE WATCHING ON DISARMAMENT” – VILLANUEVA

“THE PUBLIC’S EYES ARE WATCHING ON DISARMAMENT” – VILLANUEVA

“Even with eyes closed, one can still see clearly the bloodied lifeless bodies of innocent men and women who brutally suffered from the inconceivably blood-lusting hands of the perpetrators of the Maguindanao massacre,” Bro. Eddie Villanueva of Bangon Pilipinas Party said as he described the chilling effects of the grisly murders of 57 innocent civilians, including several members of the media.

Reacting to the arrest of four alleged gunmen involved in the multiple murders, Villanueva said in a statement that people are now more vigilant and would not even blink until justice has been served.

“The warlords’ monstrosity has opened the public’s eyes widely, never to be shut again to the atrocities of armed violence and criminality,” he said.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) calls the suspects as “militiamen” under the control of Andal Ampatuan Jr.

Villanueva said that the massacre itself is the overwhelming evidence of the “continuing crime of breeding private armies.”

“We hope this recent arrest is not just a band-aid solution to the problem but the beginning of long-term solutions to the perennial political violence in Mindanao. We will be very vigilant as to the developments in this area,” he said.

“If the government is really sincere in serving justice to the victims, one of the sensible immediate actions to take is to disarm private armies. Disarming private armies not only in Mindanao but in all parts of the country will increase the possibility of a peaceful 2010 elections,” Villanueva added.

He also called on both the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the PNP to immediately relieve military and police officers who practically did nothing during and after the massacre, as he called the inaction as “utmost abandonment of duty.”

“It’s high time we weed out the few scallywags who unfortunately taint our military institutions and unjustly drag into the mire the honourable men and women in uniform who remain faithful to their sworn allegiance and duty to our people and nation,” said Villanueva. ###