Maza Joins Whistleblower's Kin in Filing Writ of Amparo

“Let Nancy Speak! Let’s provide her a venue to talk about what she knows regarding corruption in the AFP. Safety not only for Nancy but also to her children and her family should therefore be secured.”Thus said Assistant Minority leader and Gabriela Women’s Party Rep.Liza Maza today as she joined Nedina Gadian Diamante, the elder sister of Lt.SG Mary Nancy Gadian and other civil libertarians in filing the petition for the issuance of a writ of amparo before the Supreme Court.

The nine-page petition stated that “the issuance of a writ of amparo seeking the protection of the Honorable Court over the sister of the petitioner, Lt. SG Mary Nancy P. Gadian, a Philippine Navy officer who, because of her disclosures on the alleged misuse of public funds allocated for the joint RP-US Balikatan Exercises, is now facing threats to her life, liberty and security”.

Maza, together with other progressive solons, earlier filed House Resolution 1160 seeking probe over the Balikatan fund mess. The Gabriela solon also called the attention of the AFP regarding the alleged ‘shoot to kill’ order issued against the resigned Navy junior officer.

It was also written that because of the serious threat to Gadian’s life, liberty and security, the woman whistleblower on the seemingly unending corruption in the military establishment has gone into hiding.

The petition further read that “Ostensibly, the threats to Petitioner’s sister are meant to cow, intimidate, and prevent her from informing the public about the alleged corruption in the Balikatan exercises”.

Named respondents in the petition were: Military Chief Lieutenant General Victor Ibrado; Navy Chief Vice Admiral Ferdinand Golez; Colonel Joel Ibañez, Chief of Staff of the Western Mindanao Command ; Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Dacanay, Management and Financial Officer of Westmincom; and retired Lieutenant General Eugenio Cedo, former commander of the Western Mindanao Command.