Beltran to Joker: Be ‘the Good Arroyo’

MANILA -- A former client of senatorial candidate Joker Arroyo today
said that the voting public's less than enthusiastic response to his
latest bid to return to the senate might well be likely a result of
the public's disappointment with his decision to run under the
administration banner. "Many are also surprised with the line that
Sen. Arroyo is taking on the issue of extrajudicial killings and the
international attention the issue has been getting. People expect more
Joker – after all, he's the 'good Arroyo," said Anakpawis
Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran.

Arroyo was one of the Beltran's lawyers from 1984-1986 when Beltran
was a political detainee under the Marcos dictatorship. Now, Beltran
is again a political detainee and has been under detention since
February 25, 2007.

Beltran himself said that he was very surprised and disappointed with
Joker's stance on pressing political issues such as human rights and
the extrajudicial killings. He said that Joker's vote in support of
the Human Security Act or the anti-terrorism law was also tragic.

"He became known as a human rights lawyer and a civil rights defender;
but now his stance seems to vary from day to day. It's most
unfortunate that he has chosen to side with the Arroyo administration
and defends its from ultimate responsibility and criminal liability
for the extrajudicial killings. Many see him now as an apologist for
the Arroyo government, and it has caused much confusion in how voters
perceive him. If he didn't want to join the Genuine Opposition, he
should have gone independent instead of throwing his lot with Team
Unity and his infamous namesake of an illlegitimate president," said
Beltran.

Beltran said that it the supporters and sympathizers of the
progressive party-lists Anakpawis, Bayan Muna, and Gabriela Women's
Party are not encouraged to include Joker in the list of candidates
they will vote for in the senate elections. "However much we want to
support and endorse Arroyo's candidacy, it's become difficult for us
because of his inconsistent stand on human rights and the
extra-judicial killings. Many were shocked to hear him defend the
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Arroyo government itself
from culpability. It was a disappointment," he said.

"Joker would win more votes and once more secure a seat in the senate
if he once more takes up the cudgels for human and civil rights in the
Philippines. This is what the Filipino people expects of him."

Finally, the veteran labor leader turned legislator said that it was
it was not too late for Joker Arroyo to disaffiliate himself from Team
Unity and take a more correct and humane, internationalist stand on
the issue of extrajudicial killings.

This morning, Beltran was allowed by the Makati Regional Trial Court
Branch 150 under Judge Elmo Alameda to attend the Comelec hearing on
the disqualification case filed by members of Akbayan Party-List.
Beltran is Anakpawis Party-List's chairman and first nominee. Other
nominees are Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano who also stands as party
president; Kilusang Mayo Uno secretary general Joel Maglunsod,
Pamalakaya chair Fernando Hicap, and president of the Confederation
for the Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees
(COURAGE) Ferdinand Gaite. #