Republic of the PhilippinesHOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

TWELFTH CONGRESSThird Regular Session

HOUSE RESOLUTION No. 1225____________________________________________________________________________________

Introduced by Reps. SATUR C. OCAMPO, CRISPIN B. BELTRAN, LIZA L. MAZA, ABRAHAM B. MITRA, CARLOS M. PADILLA, ROLEX T. SUPLICO, AGAPITO A. AQUINO, CONSTANTINO G. JARAULA

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RESOLUTIONURGING THE FORMATION BY CONGRESS OF AN INDEPENDENT, IMPARTIAL AND MULTI-SECTORAL BODY

TO INVESTIGATE THE SERIOUS CHARGES AND GRIEVANCES WHICH LIE AT THE ROOT OF THE RECENT MILITARY MUTINY AND SEEKING THE RESIGNATION OF DEFENSE SECRETARY ANGELO REYES AS AN ESSENTIAL CONDITION

TO PAVING THE WAY FOR THE CREDIBLE OUTCOME OF THE INVESTIGATION

WHEREAS the peaceful end to the one-day military mutiny from July 26-July 27, 2003 led by a band of junior officers while much welcome should not expunge the responsibility of government in probing into and rooting out the causes of this failed rebellion;

WHEREAS the surrender of the mutineers, far from marking the end of the crisis, underscores the crisis of governance under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and is but symptomatic of the rising groundswell for change in the light of her failure to deliver on the promise of People Power II to alleviate the people’s abject condition and effect genuine reforms in society in general;

WHEREAS although Bayan Muna has declared its non-support of the attempted coup by a faction of the AFP and stands by the Filipino people in this renewed challenge to our nation, we believe that the grievances aired by the idealistic young officers are legitimate and merit a full-scale and independent investigation;

WHEREAS the charges raised by the mutineers against the administration as regards the sale of govern-ment arms and bullets to the Abu Sayyaf, MILF and NPA and the specific role of Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes and the AFP leadership in orchestrating the recent Davao bombings and the escape of suspected terrorist bomber Fathur Al-Ghozi are extremely damaging in nature and must be seriously confronted;

WHEREAS these charges give further credence to issues raised by Bayan Muna and other progressive groups that the militarists in government may be responsible for the widespread terror in Mindanao and the rest of the country to justify the need for repressive measures against the people and US military intervention in the country;

WHEREAS the formation of an fact-finding body by Congress is necessary to investigate the charges of the military rebels regarding entrenched corruption at the highest official levels and the complicity and culpability of the defense brass in a pattern of schemes that has sacrificed people’s lives and the cause of peace in exchange for US military funding;

WHEREAS to be credible and effective, this probe body should be independent, impartial and multi-sectoral in character, counting on the participation of various democratic forces and headed by persons of integrity and nationalism like Vice-President Teofisto Guingona and former Senator and Congressman Wigberto Tañada;

WHEREAS to pave the way for the organization of this fact-finding body, the resignation of Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes is an essential condition toward fostering a positive climate of cooperation and security for all those who shall testify and participate in the investigation;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED that the House of Representatives initiate the formation of an independent, impartial and multi-sectoral body to investigate the serious charges and grievances which lie at the root of the recent military mutiny and seek the resignation of Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes as an essential condition to paving the way for the credible outcome of the investigation.

Adopted,

SATUR C. OCAMPO CRISPIN B. BELTRAN LIZA L. MAZA Bayan Muna-Party-List Bayan Muna-Party-List Bayan Muna-Party-List

ABRAHAM B. MITRA CARLOS M. PADILLA Palawan, 2D Nueva Vizcaya, LD

ROLEX T. SUPLICO AGAPITO A. AQUINO Iloilo, 5D Makati, 2D

CONSTANTINO G. JARAULA Cagayan de Oro City, LD