Last year, as a private individual, I wrote to all leaders of the major parties drawing attention to Ms. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's despicable human rights record and disregard for the rule of law. A portion of my email to the then PM was:
"I hope the British Government will take this opportunity to condemn in the strongest language possible the increasing number of extrajudicial killings of journalists and non-government organisation workers in the Philippines. This year alone Amnesty International has documented 50 (and counting) murders of activists and civil servants and there are many more cases of disappearances and warrantless detentions. Recently, Reporters Without Borders has pointed out that the Philippines is the second most dangerous country for journalists after Iraq.
The government of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has failed and refused to resolve these gross human rights violations. More importantly, to further the open secret that her government is complicit in these crimes she has appointed a notoriously violent Military General ,Jovito Palparan, as a national security adviser.
Contrary to Ms. Arroyo's public posturing, the sad reality is that the rule of law is being flaunted under her authoritarian regime. Her government has not been honest and transparent and she has dealt with peaceful opposition and genuine disatisfaction to her policies with an iron fist.
These are not the hallmarks of a free and democratic society...."
Plainly put, GMA is one of the most corrupt presidents of the post-Marcos era. And thank God for the Internet, because her vile record will forever be easily accessible to remind generations upon generations. She deludes herself by saying her unpopularity is due to the tough decisions she has to make running (more like ransacking) the country. Duh, wake up Madame Saruwoman. Your unpopularity and the criticisms you get are simply because you are corrupt, a liar, and a cheat. Pwede ba.
Her lack of legitimacy and moral ascendancy to govern forces her to dip her bloody hands into government coffers to bribe spineless congressmen and she continues to exploit an equally corrupt and incompetent military hierarchy as her personal army to suppress genuine dissent.
This year, she's back to have tea with the Queen. It's time to sharpen those pens and write your local MP, Clarence House, Buckingham Palace, and The House of Parliament (addresses on their respective websites) informing them of your revulsion to Ms. Arroyo's corruption and continuously declining human rights record.
Remember, like me, you DON'T have to be a member of any NGO, Party List Group, or any Union for that matter. Do it because it's the right thing to do.
(And if the Luli Internet Brigade is trawling this, don't bother sending me an invitation. Like last year, I'd rather be outside in the cold than eating turon with corrupt trapos. And yes, I'm happy that with pressure from Pinoy groups in Europe, the NO high ranking official dared sully their reputation by meeting GMA. Inisnab siya. Be bote nga.)
You can send snail mail......
...or message the PM via his Downing Street website....
...or send a message to your local MP