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27Nov/092

Statement of the UP Manila Political Science Committee on the massacre in Maguindanao

26 November 2009

The UP Manila Political Science Committee condemns in the strongest possible terms the latest case of election violence in Maguindanao.

November 23 will go down in history as a day of unparalleled evil and barbarity. More than 50 unarmed individuals, mostly women, media workers, lawyers and members of the Mangudadatu clan, were butchered in an attempt to preserve what appears to be a monolithic kingdom ruled by the Ampatuans in Maguindanao.

The massacre in Maguindanao comes as a shock to Filipinos and the rest of the world and happened in a time that has long forgone Stone Age barbarism and arbitrariness for rule of law and due process.

The brutal killings did not only reveal the extent of lawless violence in several areas in the country but bare the bigger tragedy in Philippine politics – the continuing supremacy of established political clans who act as impervious and invincible gods. It’s further proof that nothing has essentially changed and that the country remains a confederacy of fiefs ‘owned’ by a few affluent families.

The overconcentration of power in the hands of political dynasties has been sustained and reinforced by brokerage-style politics that has come to characterize the current regime.

Political patronage allowed warlordism and a culture of impunity to thrive in Maguindanao and other parts of the country in exchange for political support from the Ampatuans and other influential political clans for the vulnerable Arroyo presidency. Since 2001, the Ampatuans intermittently ruled the province and were largely credited for delivering the votes for Mrs. Arroyo in the 2004 presidential elections and giving the administration ticket a 12-0 win in the 2007 senatorial race.

As we grieve with the victims’ families and call for immediate justice, we also denounce the evident attempts of Malacanang to shield the Ampatuans from accountability. The failure of the Arroyo administration to act swiftly displays the government’s duplicity in bringing the perpetrators to justice. The mere fact that the government chose to send emissaries to the Ampatuans and not arresting officers despite clear evidence that indicate the involvement of specific persons shows its double standard and preferential treatment for its political ally.

We call on all Filipinos to remain vigilant. The gruesome massacre presages the possible escalation of cases of election violence and echoes circumstances that led to the fraudulent elections in 2004 and 2007. It poses a huge threat on the conduct and credibility of the upcoming automated elections and opens an opportunity for individuals and groups who want and stand to benefit in a no-election scenario.

We also call on Congress to pass pending measures prohibiting all forms of political dynasties and laying the foundations for genuine participatory democracy that provides equal opportunity for public service. ###

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Tagged as: ampatuans, and, Arts, CAS, college, deparment, DSS, maguindanao, massacre, of, political, polsci, PS, science, social, statement, up, UP Manila, upm 2 Comments

20Nov/094

Becoming A Student of Politics (SS 09-10)

I feel like I'm becoming a PolSci major already. I mean, my courses this second semester are mostly major subjects or if not, social science subjects. It made me feel that I'm finally approaching a new phase of my academic life. My second semester started very well, from enrollment up to the first day of classes. I feel that there is a very thoughtful but unknown power giving me these things. The force be with you too!

SS09-10 Courses

Communications III

Professor Anna Aclan

This course is all about speech communication. I'm afraid of this course since a powerful Being deprived me of oral skills. I'm not good in delivering speeches and such because I'm not a fluent English speaker. I also have a p and f speech defect. But I do want to take up this course since it can help me. I also find this useful as a political science major and someone who is planning to take up Law. I do think that this course will be able to help me improve my speech communication skills. It is also a practical course since lectures given by the professor will always be tested since students are required to deliver different kind of speeches. I think this will be fun!

Philosophy 11

Professor Paula Sioco

I don't think I will like this course. I like philosophy but not logic. Unfortunately for me, this course is all about logic. It requires, well, logic, which I think something that I don't have. This is the reason why I hate Mathematics. But I really have to take up this course since this will prepare for the Law Aptitude Exam of UP College of Law and for any law school for that matter. I will have to do my best since logic is not that friendly to me.

History II

Professor Sharon Caringal

I'm a history fan but not a history buff. I plan to take up something related to history in the future, maybe another bachelor's. Well, BA History is one of my choices when I was still in high school. The course is about Asian history and how it affects the world. It gives us a unique focus. We are all accustomed to seeing history in the view of the Westerners since they believe that their culture is more civilized and superior than that of the Asian. This time, history will be analyzed in the viewpoint of an Asian. I do think that this will be a very interesting analysis. This course excites me because we really have to do some readings. I love readings!

Political Science 100

Professor Jalton Taguibao

This is actually my third major Political Science course. But this is my first major that is numbered in three digits. That alone excites me. Hopefully, this course will enable me to think like a Political Scientist. The course is about political theories, tools and analysis. Judging from the course outline, I think that it is a very technical course. But I like anything that is Political Science. I will surely enjoy this course.

Political Science 150

Professor Josefina Tayag, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

In all the domains of Political Science, i admit that Public Administration is the least that i like. PS 150 is an introductory course in Public Administration. But this is also the field that I'm least knowledgeable. I find the course interesting because I learn so much from the readings and from the professor. I also find this course very practical. There are lot of things to learn from PublicAd, plus i really love to read new things.

Economics 101

Professor Chester Arcilla

We all know how much I love Economics, at least most of my friends knows it. And you also know now. This is my second economics course in the university and this course is all about Macroeconomics, one of the two bigger fields of economics. Economics for me minus the mathematics part is a very interesting and engaging subject. But we can't separate and isolate the quantifiable part of economics, so more or less, the course is interesting, engaging and challenging. At the end of the day, I know how much I enjoyed the lectures and I hope that this will be the basis for the grades! Haha.

SS09-10 Courses

Communications III

Professor Anna Aclan

Philosophy 11

Professor Paula Sioco

History II

Professor Sharon Caringal