President Arroyo is not the State by itself. This could only be exercised pursuant to a law enacted by Congress.

Otherwise her statement would just be another putrid lie to quell the growing public outrage against her virtual despotic rule.

Therefore, the proclamation has no effect on the Bill of Rights -- specifically the freedom of speech, of expression or of the press and the right of the people to peaceful assembly and to petition the government for redress and grievances.

The president cannot suppress 'people power' with a superfluous and illegal edict.

We hope that the Supreme Court will act immediately on the matter to avert any escalation of the political crisis that we have now resulting from the proclamation.

What five members of the Supreme Court say the law is may be something vastly different from what Congress intended the law to be.