Leaders of two militant groups in Oriental Negros denounced yesterday President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's declaration of a national emergency and expressed fears it would open the floodgates to more suppressions of civil liberties.

Trelly Marigza, Gabriela-Negros Oriental chairperson, and Ronald Ian Evident, spokesperson of Kilusang Mayo Uno Negros island, issued the denunciation after President Arroyo came out live on television to declare the state of national emergency through Presidential Proclamation No. 1017.

Arroyo cited, among others, Article 12, Section 17 of the 1987 Constitution which states "In times of emergency, when the public interest so requires, the State may, during the emergency and under reasonable terms prescribed by it, temporarily take over or direct the operation of any privately owned public utility or business affected with public interest."

"She has no reason to declare a state of emergency," Marigza told a hastily called press conference at the headquarters of the Promotion of Church People's Rights in Brgy. Piapi, Dumaguete City.

Marigza said the declaration was suspect because it came at a time when the President had announced that Malacañang had overcome the political and economic crises blamed on the moves to unseat her.

Marigza said the dispersal of the rallyists at the height of the celebration of the 1986 EDSA uprising and the discovery of the breakaway young military officers could not be a reason for the emergency.

"How could that be a reason?" the outspoken feminist asked.

She said she feared that the campaign to repress civil liberties could accelerate in the next few days after a brief lull.

Marigza said, "We should be on guard against means the state will use to repress our civil liberties."

For his part, Evidente said, "technically", the nation is now under martial rule because of the ban on transport and labor strikes and rallies.

But, he said, militant and other cause-oriented groups might heighten their action to oust the President.

"The emergency declaration is the only way for GMA to survive the calls for her to step down," he said.

In Negros Oriental, Evidente said, militant groups would continue their mass action despite the ban against rallies.

"We will not let this pass because the political and economic crises of GMA will remain," he added.*RG

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