GMA's Opening Statement

MAY I BEGIN WITH MY STATEMENTS.

FIRST, IT IS MOST UNFORTUNATE THAT GIANCARLO LEUNG, WHO, ALONG WITH HIS
FRIEND, TIHANI TINGAL, WAS ABDUCTED AND KILLED BY STILL UNIDENTIFIED
PERSONS EARLY LAST MONTH, THAT HE SHOULD BE DEPRIVED OF HIS COLLEGE DIPLOMA.

GIANCARLO HAD COMPLETED HIS ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS BEFORE HIS UNTIMELY
DEATH. HE SHOULD THEREFORE BE ACCORDED WHAT IS DUE TO HIM: HIS RIGHTFUL
PLACE ON THE LIST OF GRADUATING STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE
PHILIPPINES-BAGUIO.

I THEREFORE URGE U.P. OFFICIALS, LED BY U.P. PRESIDENT FRANCISCO NEMENZO,
TO RESTORE GIANCARLO LEUNG'S NAME IN THE ROSTER OF GRADUATING STUDENTS.

HIS BEREAVED FAMILY, STUNG BY HIS UNTIMELY DEMISE, MUST BE RELIEVED OF THE
NEEDLESS ORDEAL OF GIANCARLO BEING DEPRIVED OF WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY DUE HIM.

I ALSO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT -- JOEY LINA,
IS HE HERE? -- TO CONDUCT A FULL-DRESS PROBE ON THE ABDUCTION AND KILLING
OF GIANCARLO LEUNG AND TO BRING THE PERPETRATORS TO JUSTICE.

NOW, ON MARK WILSON CHUA.

AS A PARENT, I CANNOT BUT BE OVERWHELMED BY GRIEF BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED
TO MARK WILSON CHUA, 19 YEARS OLD, A SECOND-YEAR MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
STUDENT AND A RESERVED OFFICER TRAINING CORPS CADET AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
SANTO TOMAS.

MARK WILSON CHUA WAS ABDUCTED, APPARENTLY ON THE UST CAMPUS ON THE EVENING
OF MARCH 15. HIS BODY, BLOATED AND DECOMPOSING, WAS FOUND FLOATING IN THE
RIVER BESIDE JONES BRIDGE LEADING TO ESCOLTA AT AROUND 9 A.M. ON SATURDAY,
MARCH 18. HIS FACE AND HEAD WERE WRAPPED TIGHT IN A TAPE, HIS HANDS AND
LEGS HOG-TIED.

I SHUDDER TO THINK OF THE ORDEAL SUFFERED BY MARK'S PARENTS WHEN THEY
IDENTIFIED THE BRUTALIZED BODY AS THAT OF THEIR SON. I PRAY, MOST
FERVENTLY, THAT OTHER PARENTS BE SPARED OF HIS ORDEAL.

AS A FILIPINO, I AM SHOCKED TO LEARN HOW BRUTISH SOME OF OUR COUNTRYMEN
HAVE BECOME, HOW LOW THEY HAVE SUNK. THEIR DEPRAVITY REVOLTS AGAINST
EVERYTHING WE HOLD SACRED EVERYTHING WE CHERISH, AS MEMBERS OF A FAMILY, OF
A COMMUNITY, OF A NATION.

AS YOUR PRESIDENT, I WILL SEE TO IT THAT NO STONE WILL BE LEFT UNTURNED, SO
THAT JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL. MARK WILSON CHUA DESERVES THIS. HIS FAMILY
DESERVES THIS. WE ALL DESERVE THIS.

INITIAL REPORTS SAY THAT MARK WILSON CHUA SUFFERED MARTYRDOM BECAUSE OF A
CRUSADE HE AND LIKE-MINDED COLLEAGUES LAUNCHED AS ROTC CADETS.

I THEREFORE SAY THAT IT IS TIME A MASSIVE AND SUSTAINED INVESTIGATION BE
LAUNCHED. JUSTICE DEMANDS THIS. JUSTICE WILL NOT BE DENIED. I AM
PLEASED TO INFORM YOU THAT, ON HIS OWN, DEFENSE SECRETARY ANGELO REYES HAS
FORMED A TASK FORCE TO SOLVE THE CRIME SOONEST. THE SECRETARY WILL GET
FULL SUPPORT FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT.

MARK WILSON CHUA, IN MY EYES AS A PARENT, A FILIPINO, AND AS PRESIDENT,
DIED FIGHTING FOR A CAUSE.

LET IT NOT BE SAID THAT HIS CAUSE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY BRUTES MASQUERADING
AS HUMAN BEINGS.

AND NOW ON PAOCTF.

NO MORE "BANTAY-SALAKAY" COPS.

NO MORE "HULIDAP". NO MORE "HULI, HOLD-UP" OPERATIONS.

NO MORE HOLLYWOODISH-STAGE-MANAGED KIDNAPPINGS.

ITO ANG ILAN SA DAHILAN KUNG BAKIT BINUWAG KO NOONG ISANG LINGGO ANG
PRESIDENTIAL ANTI-ORGANIZED CRIME TASK FORCE OR PAOCTF.

KUNWARI'Y NILULUTAS ANG KIDNAPPING NG MGA KAIBIGAN NATING FILIPINO-CHINESE.
PERO MAY ILAN SA KANILA PALA ANG NAGSASAGAWA NG MGA KIDNAPPING.

KUNWARI'Y BINABANTAYAN NILA ANG MGA NATATAHIMIK NA CHINOY.
"BANTAY-SALAKAY" PALA.

KUNWARI'Y HUHULIHIN ANG MGA SIBILYAN DAHIL MAY ITINATAGO DAW NA DROGA.
IYON PALA'Y HO-HOLDAPIN ANG BIKTIMA.

HUMINGI PA MAN DIN ANG TASK FORCE NG P100 MILLION CONTRIBUTION SA CHINOY
COMMUNITY PARA ILIGTAS SILA LABAN SA KIDNAPPING. PERO MGA MIYEMBRO PALA
MISMO NG TASK FORCE O MGA KASAMAHAN NILA ANG NANDUDUKOT SA MGA CHINOY
PAGKATAPOS AY NAGBAYAD PA NG DAGDAG NA RANSOM ANG BIKTIMA.

IT IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE IN A CIVIL SOCIETY AND UNDER A GOVERNMENT OF LAWS.

THERE WILL BE NO MORE PRIVILEGED POLICE GROUPS. NO MORE ORGANIZATION WITH
EXTRAORDINARY POWERS WITHIN THE POLICEORGANIZATION.

AS I SAID IN MY SPEECH BEFORE THE FILIPINO CHINESE COMMUNITY YESTERDAY,
WE CANNOT ALLOW THIS NATION TO TURN INTO A PLAYGROUND OF GLOBAL CRIMINAL
SYNDICATES. WE WILL ROOT THEM OUT, ALONG WITH THEIR PARTNERS IN CRIME, NO
MATTER HOW HIGHLY PLACED THEY ARE.

THE CONFIDENCE OF THE BUSINESSMEN, PARTICULARLY THE FILIPINO-CHINESE
ENTREPRENEURS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ITSELF, MUST BE RESTORED. THIS WILL
BE OUR UNBENDING PRIORITY IN THE DAYS TO COME.

I HAVE ASKED SECRETARY LINA TO RUN AFTER "BANTAY-SALAKAY" COPS AND TO PUT
A STOP TO STAGE-MANAGED KIDNAPPING WITH POLICEMEN ACTING AS ACTORS,
DIRECTORS AND PRODUCERS.

AND NOW ON THE PEACE TALKS.

TOMORROW, THE MEMBERS OF THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT PANEL ARE SCHEDULED TO
LEAVE FOR OSLO, NORWAY, TO RESUME TALKS WITH THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC
FRONT, THE POLITICAL ARM OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF THE PHILIPPINES. I ASK
PEACE-LOVING FILIPINOS TO JOIN ME IN WISHING THEM GOOD LUCK AND A
SUCCESSFUL MISSION.

WE HAVE HEARD COUNSEL THAT IT IS A FOLLY TO TALK PEACE WITH THE COMMUNISTS
BECAUSE THEIR LONG-TERM GOAL IS RUNNING AN INDEPENDENT GOVERNMENT ON
PHILIPPINE SOIL. BUT WISDOM AND THE REQUIREMENTS OF PEACE, STABILITY AND
GROWTH DEMAND THAT WE SIT DOWN WITH THE ENEMY AND DISCUSS CREATIVE WAYS
OF ABATING THE 30-YEARS OLD INTERNECINE CONFLICT.

THE NDF AND THE NEW PEOPLE'S ARMY, THE MILITARY ARM OF THE CPP, KNOW FULLY
WELL THE DEPTHS OF THE GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO PEACE. WE HAVE LONG
LEGALIZED THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF THE PHILIPPINES. WE HAVE EXTENDED AMNESTY
TO NPA GUERRILLAS WHO WISH TO RETURN TO THE FOLD OF THE LAW AND REJOIN
SOCIETY. ALREADY SOME MEMBERS OF THE LEFT-LEANING GROUPS HAVE BEEN ELECTED
TO CONGRESS.

WE HAVE ALWAYS MET WITH THE NDF ON MUTUALLY ACCEPTABLE TERMS TO CONTINUE
THE DIALOGUE FOR ENDING THE CONFLICT AND ESTABLISHING PEACE. OUR MISSION
TO OSLO IS ONE MORE PROOF OF OUR READINESS -- AND MY READINESS -- TO WALK
THE EXTRA MILE TO PUT AN END TO THE INTRACTABLE PROBLEM.

I HOPE THAT WE CAN FIND AN END TO THE CONFLICT -- NOT NEXT YEAR OR THE
NEXT BUT SOON, WITHIN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. I KNOW THE ATTRACTION OF
THE NPA IS NOT SO MUCH THE LURE OF COMMUNISM, WHICH HAS DISINTEGRATED IN
MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD. THE NPA GUERRILLAS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS ARE NOT
BLIND WORSHIPERS OF LENIN OR MAO ZEDONG. MOST OF THEM FIGHT FOR DEEPER,
MORE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES.

THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE INSURGENCY IS NOT COMMUNISM, BUT SOCIAL INJUSTICE
AND ECONOMIC DEPRIVATION. YOUNG FILIPINO MEN AND WOMEN ARE NOT FIGHTING
FOR WORLD REVOLUTION OR TO BUILD A MONUMENT TO COMMUNIST HEROES. THEY
ARE ENGAGED IN THE STRUGGLE BECAUSE MASSIVE POVERTY HAS ROBBED THEM OF
OPPORTUNITIES, BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH DECENT JOBS FOR PEACEFUL
CITIZENS, BECAUSE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS INDIFFERENT TO THE POOR,
BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD DOCTORS, HOSPITAL AND RISING MEDICAL COSTS.

NAKIKIHAMOK ANG MARAMING NPA SAPAGKA'T ANG KARALITAAN NILA AY
NANGANGAHULUGAN NG KAMANGMANGAN, KAWALAN NG EDUKASYON, MGA SAKIT NA HINDI
MAIHANAP NG LUNAS, KASO SA HUKUMAN NA MABAGAL KUMILOS, GUTOM NG PAMILYA NA
MAHIRAP IBSAN AT ISANG LIBONG PANGARAP PARA SA ISANG BAGONG BUHAY NA
NAKAWALA SA KANILANG MGA KAMAY.

OF COURSE, THE NDF HAS A POLITICAL AGENDA. WE WILL DISCUSS THEIR
POLITICAL DEMANDS. BUT AS WE LISTEN TO THE IDEOLOGICAL BOTTOM LINE, WE THE
LEADERS IN GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR, SHOULD CONTINUE TO PRESS THE
WAR AGAINST POVERTY, UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT, DECLINING WAGES,
SOCIAL INJUSTICE, LAWLESSNESS IN SOCIETY, GRAFT AND CORRUPTION, CORRUPTION
IN THE POLICE RANKS, SLOW MOVING JUSTICE AND A REFORM-STARVED EDUCATION
SYSTEM.

MAKIKIPAG-USAP TAYO NG PUSPUSAN SA NDF. TATAPUSIN NATIN ANG PEACE TALKS NA
MAY MALINAW NA KONKLUSYON. PERO PANININDIGAN NATIN ANG "SOVEREIGNTY" NG
PILIPINAS AT ANG DIWA NG KONSTITUSYON. IPAGTATANGGOL NATIN ANG DIGNIDAD NG
MAMAMAYANG PILIPINO.

WE WILL WIN THE PEACE, PEACE WITH HONOR.

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