As of this time, the Congress will still have to meet in a joint session to agre

e on the decision to approve or revoke Proclamation 1959 or Martial Law in Magui

ndanao. What we are witnessing now is perhaps a prelude of a well-planned scenar
io expand ML, get the President elected Speaker, constitutional change which wou
ld make her eventually the Prime Minister.
This is what several pundits say. But I am still hopeful that with greater publi
c vigilance, we can still forestall such eventuality.The imposition of ML does n
ot make sense, according to Senators Aquino and Roxas who noted earlier governme
nt pronouncements which indicated that everything is under control. As no additi
onal advantage can be gained in declaring martial law, legally and militarily, t
hey raise these questions: Is it to cover up the discovery of DND/PNP arms and a
mmunition in the Ampatuan compound?Or to impose overwhelming control so that the
re can be no leaks of information, and therefore suppress evidence of electoral
fraud and other crimes? Or is this a test for implanting Martial Law rule in ord
er to perpetrate the power of this administration indefinitely?This makes us all
the more appreciate the need for a legal framework that enables freer access an
d flow of information, especially on matters affecting national and individual s
ecurity.A big rally by the Access to Information Network (ATIN) in support of th
e Freedom of Information bill last Monday had to be cancelled because of the exp
ected emergency meeting of the Senate and the House on Proclamation 1959. What a
pleasant surprise then to hear that the Senate Committee on Public Information
did meet after all and approved the FOI bill on second reading. Nepo Malaluan, o
ur ATIN co-convenor, writes: Our deep gratitude to Senator Alan (Cayetano) for pu
lling through for us. Sen. Migs (Zubiri) also helped substantially. In the Lower
House, our deep gratitude to Rep. Erin (Tañada) along with Reps. Joel (Villanueva
) and Del (de Guzman) for making sure we passed the bill early. This has allowed
us to focus our efforts in the Senate. Amid the dark cloud of Martial Law, thes
e legislators have provided light. This administration will be remembered for the
number of executive orders that had hampered access to information. NBN-ZTE, fer
tilizer, and euro scams, among others, would have been prevented if there was tr
ansparency in government transactions or if we did not have EO 464, Executive Pr
ivilege, and similar fiats.The Maguindanao massacre and Hello Garci are outcomes
of deliberate suppression of information.Another worrisome trend is the recent
ruling by the second division of the Comelec on Pampanga Gov.Eddie Panlilio and
Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca, co-founders of Kaya Natin, a movement for good govern
ance and ethical leadership.. In a statement signed by Mayor Jesse Robredo of Na
ga City, Gov. Teddy Baguilat Jr. of Ifugao, Mayor Sonia Lorenzo of San Isidro Nu
eva Ecija, Mayor Florante Gerda of Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya, Mayor Roque Verzosa o
f Tagudin, Ilocos Sur, Mayor Fermin Mabulo, of San Fernando, Camarines Sur, Mayo
r Marivic Belena of San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, Rep.Teofisto Guingona III, of Bu
kidnon, Councilor Jorge Bolet Banal of Quezon City, Councilor Mabel Sunga Acosta o
f Davao City, Mayor Gloria Congco of Cabiao, Nueva Ecija, and former Rep. Nereus
Acosta of Bukidnon, these Kaya Natin leaders denounced allegations of electoral
fraud and cheating hurled against the two governors by their political opponent
s which they say are absolutely false and baseless. Given their lack of financia
l resources and political machinery, who will believe that they will have the ca
pability to commit electoral fraud?, they ask. The statement, which was endorsed
by Liberal Party leaders, noted that the move by some leaders at the Comelec to
rule against the two governors is part of a grand plot by the present administra
tion to oust duly elected government leaders who are closely identified with the
opposition, particularly with the Liberal Party. This, they note, does not come
as a surprise considering that former Pampanga Board Member Lilia Pineda and Be
njamin Dy, respectively, are known to be very close allies of the present admini
stration.