Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra and Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon yesterday stressed the need to maintain civilian supremacy over the military and ensure the people's right to a free press.

Marañon yesterday said his fear is that, if the situation at the national level worsens, a military junta could take over.

The national leadership should maintain its supremacy over the military because, right now, the perception is that the president is dependent on the military, the governor said.

We don't want a military junta, so all precautions should be taken that this will not happen, Navarra said.

"As citizens, it is our duty to see to it that we contribute all we can to preserve human rights and that we safeguard the people whom the government is supposed to protect," Navarra said.

The bishop said he will never support a violent takeover of the government, but said citizens should exert pressure on the Arroyo administration to respect human rights.

Navarra also said government takeover or closing down of media entities is immoral because it is encroaching on the public's right to information.

The media should express its objections to the suspected move of government to suppress freedom of the press, he said, "unless it is proven that what is being done by the media is really subversive or derogatory to the welfare of the nation."

"The public should be aware of the issues and if, according to their prudent analysis, there are some incursions on their rights and the media that deprives them of lawful and necessary information, then I think they should speak out, " he said.*CPG

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