Press Release

Pilipino.org.ph, a website that carries Faeldon's statements and pictures, has come out with a list of what people can do as part of the civil disobedience campaign against Arroyo. On top of the list is flying the Philippine flag at half-mast, to show that the country is in mourning.

"The country is in mourning because its citizens are dying," pilipino.org had said earlier, pointing out that Arroyo's insistence on lying to the people and her refusal to be investigated is killing the Filipino's sense of citizenship, making them cynical and liable to think only of their own interests.

Included in the list, though it does not violate any law, is a boycott on Arroyo. It suggests that people turn off their tv/ radio sets whenever Arroyo and her cohorts come on the air. "Say out loud: I will not listen to lies. This tells yourself and everyone within hearing distance that you have the power to reject Arroyo and her lies," the website says.

Civil disobedience is often associated with sit-down strikes and non-payment of taxes, but the suggestions on the website consisted only of violations of laws with very light penalties, and easily doable actions such as wearing a shirt with a flag at half-mast or printing out a sticker and putting it on a car.Others are simply means of expressing one's self, such as wearing a shirt calling for a boycott on Arroyo, or expressing support for civil disobedience, or for Faeldon.

"Civil disobedience is a non-violent way to effect social change; in this case, to bring down Arroyo. You cannot be charged with rebellion or sedition, for both involve the use of force. You can only be charged - and punished - for violating specific laws," the website says.

"If you were to bring down the flag in front of Malacanang and fly it at half-mast, and the police stop you, you would be charged with resisting arrest, if you resist arrest. But there are no penalties for flying the flag at half-mast," it adds.

Philippine Marines Capt. Nicanor Faeldon released another set of pictures and video footages, this time taken at the Southern Command headquarters in Zamboanga.

Days after Faeldon left detention, Southcom chief Lt. Gen. Edilberto Adan had ordered his men to be on the lookout for Faeldon.

Last January 5, Faeldon had released a set of pictures taken from the Western Command headquarters in Palawan on December 21, 2005. The pictures came with a statement: "Unless those corrupt generals man the gates themselves, no one can stop me from going in and out of these camps. The enlisted men and officers of the military and the police who remain loyal to the people will not turn me in." "No one is coddling me; rather, there are members of the police and the military who are exercising civil disobedience together with me."

The pictures taken at the Southcom headquarters carried the same statement. The pictures were taken beside the grandstand at the Southern Command, a stone's throw away from Adan's office. Military spokesman Col. Tristan Kison is insisting the pictures taken at the Western Command were either old ones or tampered with to make it look like Faeldon was in Palawan. The pictures, however, were supported by footage, which shows Faeldon in the same place, wearing the same clothes. Kison did not dispute the authenticity of the video footages.

Shortly after the Palawan pictures were released, the Western Command had denied that Faeldon could go in and out of the camp at will. Adan is expected to make the same denial.

Photos Here

Sa press conference kahapon, sinabi ni Col. Tristan Kison na may nakita silang mga dokumentong nagpapatunay na nagtangkang pumasok si Capt. Faeldon sa Visayas Command ngunit di natuloy dahil sa mahigpit na seguridad. Hanggang sa Mariott Hotel lang daw siya nakaabot.

Narito ang mga litratong nagpapatunay na hindi lang siya nakapasok sa Central Command, doon siya sa mismong ibaba ng harap ng headquarters nagpakuha ng litrato. Hindi dito nagtatapos ang laban; at hindi ito ang huling litrarong ilalabas namin.

Marami kaming raw footages na nagpapakita kung paano siya nakapag-ikot sa loob ng mga kampo. Hindi siya nagpunta roon at nagmamadaling nagpakuha ng litrato, at kaagad ding umalis. Ipapakita namin sa inyo ang iba't ibang mga litrarong kuha sa iba't ibang lugar sa mga kampong binisita niya.

Hindi siya nantutuya, gaya ng sabi ng military. Kinuha at inilabas ang mga litrato upang patunayan na marami pa ring mga disenteng sundalo at pulis sa loob ng mga kampo, kahit na pilit tayong pinaniniwala ng mga general na ang buong miltar at kapulisan ay sunod-sunuran sa kanila at sa anumang sabihin ni Arroyo.

Kinuha ang mga litrato upang iparating sa mga tao na patuloy na nagsisilbi at naniniwala sa kanila ang mga sundalo at pulis, at hindi sa mga corrupt na general.

"Hindi maikukulong ng mga rehas na bakal ang pakikibakang umusbong na," ang sabi ni Capt. Faeldon nang magkita sila ni Atty. Pulido sa loob ng ISAFP.

Hanggang ngayon, ipinapakita ng militar at ng mga tao ni Arroyo na hindi tumitigil ang pagsisinungaling nila sa taong bayan. Hindi rin natin dapat itigil ang pakikibaka para sa katotohanan, at sa isang matinong gobyerno.

Laban nating lahat ito, hindi lamang ni Capt. Faeldon. Hindi siya ang nagsimula ng labang ito; hindi rin siya ang kailangang magtapos.

Nakakulong na siya, at pansamantalang hindi makakapagsalita, kundi sa pamamagitan ng kanyang abogado. Panahon na para tayo naman ang magsalita, tayo naman ang tumaya.

Nananawagan kami sa lahat ng naniniwala sa katotohanan, at sa isang gobyernong nagsisilbi sa tao: panahon na para manindigan. Huwag nating pabayaang masayang ang labang ito.