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A
President's Reaction
This
is an excerpt of a statement made by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
on April 24, 2001 (http://www.opnet.ops.gov.ph/speech-2001april24.htm)
<edited out>
NOW,
ON MARK WILSON CHUA.
AS
A PARENT, I CANNOT BUT BE OVERWHELMED BY GRIEF BECAUSE OF
WHAT HAPPENED TO MARK WILSON CHUA, 19 YEARS OLD, A SECOND-YEAR
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING STUDENT AND A RESERVED OFFICER TRAINING
CORPS CADET AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS.
MARK
WILSON CHUA WAS ABDUCTED, APPARENTLY ON THE UST CAMPUS ON
THE EVENING OF MARCH 15. HIS BODY, BLOATED AND DECOMPOSING,
WAS FOUND FLOATING IN THE RIVER BESIDE JONES BRIDGE LEADING
TO ESCOLTA AT AROUND 9 A.M. ON SATURDAY, MARCH 18. HIS FACE
AND HEAD WERE WRAPPED TIGHT IN A TAPE, HIS HANDS AND
LEGS HOG-TIED.
I SHUDDER TO THINK OF THE ORDEAL SUFFERED BY MARK'S PARENTS
WHEN THEY IDENTIFIED THE BRUTALIZED BODY AS THAT OF THEIR
SON. I PRAY, MOST FERVENTLY, THAT OTHER PARENTS BE SPARED
OF HIS ORDEAL.
AS
A FILIPINO, I AM SHOCKED TO LEARN HOW BRUTISH SOME OF OUR
COUNTRYMEN HAVE BECOME, HOW LOW THEY HAVE SUNK. THEIR DEPRAVITY
REVOLTS AGAINST EVERYTHING WE HOLD SACRED EVERYTHING WE CHERISH,
AS MEMBERS OF A FAMILY, OF A COMMUNITY, OF A NATION.
AS
YOUR PRESIDENT, I WILL SEE TO IT THAT NO STONE WILL BE LEFT
UNTURNED, SO THAT JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL. MARK WILSON CHUA DESERVES
THIS. HIS FAMILY DESERVES THIS. WE ALL DESERVE THIS.
INITIAL
REPORTS SAY THAT MARK WILSON CHUA SUFFERED MARTYRDOM BECAUSE
OF A CRUSADE HE AND LIKE-MINDED COLLEAGUES LAUNCHED AS ROTC
CADETS.
I
THEREFORE SAY THAT IT IS TIME A MASSIVE AND SUSTAINED INVESTIGATION
BE LAUNCHED. JUSTICE DEMANDS THIS. JUSTICE WILL NOT BE DENIED.
I AM PLEASED TO INFORM YOU THAT, ON HIS OWN, DEFENSE SECRETARY
ANGELO REYES HAS FORMED A TASK FORCE TO SOLVE THE CRIME SOONEST.
THE SECRETARY WILL GET FULL SUPPORT FROM THE OFFICE OF THE
PRESIDENT.
MARK
WILSON CHUA, IN MY EYES AS A PARENT, A FILIPINO, AND AS PRESIDENT,
DIED FIGHTING FOR A CAUSE.
LET
IT NOT BE SAID THAT HIS CAUSE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY BRUTES MASQUERADING
AS HUMAN BEINGS.
<edited out>
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