Gerry Albert Corpuz presents

This is Gerry Albert Corpuz and this is my life and political journey to the world of class struggle and class emancipation

Bunye, the American civil liberties union and Japanese experience on national ID system

Sec. Bunye scored for saying that people who keep

mistresses are only those afraid of National ID system

“ Stupid argument to market a silly proposal” - Pamalakaya



Critics of the newly revived National ID system on Monday berated Palace spokesperson and Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye over his argument that those who are afraid of the national ID system are people who are afraid to have their mistresses exposed to the public.



“ It is a stupid argument to market a silly and damn proposal. We will not go down to Sec. Bunye’s gutter-level politics. It is an insult to the collective intelligence of the Filipino people”, said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap.



President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s press secretary said it was unlikely that the national ID system would disclose a person’s amorous relationships, adding that those who do not want an ID system are those people with a love of wives and “ other relatives”.



Later, Bunye said he meant this as a joke, adding that ID system’s main aim was to expose individuals with multiple addresses or those with something to hide. The National ID system that Malacañang wants to implement will require basic information such as the name of one’s spouse or date of birth that is already disclosed in an individual’s social security ID or driver’s license.



But Pamalakaya’s Hicap will not take Bunye’s retraction at face value. “ In an attempt to sell an unmarketable proposal and detestable idea, Sec. Bunye this time appealed to the emotion of public morals to generate support for this satanic, militaristic and diabolical national ID system “, Hicap said.



“ We have many government and private ID’s which contained the same basic information, so why push for the national ID system. The hell bent, non-stop crusade displayed by Malacañang to execute the national ID system reveals the ruling Macapagal-Arroyo circle’s real motive and that is to place the entire 84 million population to the spy web inside Palace war room”, Hicap added.



As for his part, Pamalakaya information officer Gerry Albert Corpuz said the national ID system which is going be implemented by Metro Manila mayors and local government units in the provinces could be challenged in regional trial courts by civil liberties organizations and human rights groups.



“ In defense of the people’s civil liberties and human rights, we ask civil libertarians and human rights groups to challenge the implementation of the national ID system at the local level. We can use the Supreme Court ruling on the unconstitutionality of the proposed ID system to knock down the ID system”, Corpuz added.



Corpuz said the proposal for a national ID system was first proposed during the tenure of former dictator President Ferdinand Marcos. The Martial Law regime failed to pass the measure because of the strong resistance against the dictatorship and martial rule.



He said in 1998, the Supreme Court saw the clear and present danger of the national ID system, which the high tribunal viewed as a direct invasion of one’s privacy and could be used to incriminate a person by abusive, incompetent and corrupt government authorities.



Corpuz said the national ID system that was being proposed by Malacañang was a poor copy of the national ID system which the governments of the United States, Japan, Canada. United Kingdom and Germany wanted to push but rejected by citizens of said first world countries. #





SOME NOTES ON THE NATIONAL ID SYSTEM ABROAD



Americans have consistently rejected the idea of a national ID card. In 1971 the Social Security Administration task force on the SSN rejected the extension of the Social Security Number to the status of an ID card. In



1973, the Health, Education and Welfare (HEW) Secretary's Advisory Committee on Automated Personal Data Systems concluded that a national identifier was not desirable. In 1976, the Federal Advisory Committee on False Identification rejected the idea of an identifier. In 1977, the Carter Administration reiterated that the SSN was not to become an identifier, and in 1981 the Reagan Administration stated that it was "explicitly opposed" to the creation of a national ID card.



Throughout the debates over health care reform, the Clinton Administration also constantly stressed that it was opposed to a national identifier. In 1999 Congress repealed a controversial provision in the llegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 which gave authorization to include Social Security Numbers on drivers' licenses.



In response to the tragic events of September 11, 2001, there has been renewed interest in the creation of national ID cards. Larry Ellison, head of Oracle Corporation, the California based software company, has called for the development of a national identification system and offered to donate the technology to make this possible.



He proposed ID cards with embedded digitized thumbprints and photographs of all legal residents in the U.S. UK Home Secretary David Blunkett is also considering proposals for a national ID card. So far, however, no such measures have been proposed in Congress and the White House is reportedly "not even considering the idea".



National ID Cards: 5 Reasons Why They Should Be Rejected by the American Civil Liberties Union



The terrorist attacks of September 11 have revived proposals for a national identity card system as a way to verify the identity of airline passengers and prevent terrorists from entering the country. For example, the Chairman and CEO of Oracle Corp., Larry Ellison,recently called for the creation of a national ID system and offered to provide the software for it without charge.



The newest calls for a national ID are only the latest in a long series of proposals that have cropped up repeatedly over the past decade, usually in the context of immigration policy, but also in connection with gun control or health care reform. But the creation of a national I.D. card remains a misplaced, superficial "quick fix." It offers only a false sense of security and will not enhance our security – but will pose serious threats to our civil liberties and civil rights. A National ID will not keep us safe or free.



Reason #1: A national ID card system would not solve the problem that is inspiring it.



A national ID card system will not prevent terrorism. It would not have thwarted the September 11 hijackers, for example, many of whom reportedly had identification documents on them, and were in the country legally.



Terrorists and criminals will continue to be able to obtain -- by legal and illegal means -- the documents needed to get a government ID, such as birth certificates. Yes, these new documents will have data like digital fingerprints on them, but that won’t prove real identity – just that the carrier has obtained what could easily be a fraudulent document.



And their creation would not justify the cost to American taxpayers, which according to the Social Security Administration would be at least $4 billion.It is an impractical and ineffective proposal – a simplistic and naïve attempt to use gee-whiz technology to solve complex social and economic problems.





Reason #2: An ID card system will lead to a slippery slope of surveillance and monitoring of citizens.



A national ID card system would not protect us from terrorism, but it would create a system of internal passports that would significantly diminish the freedom and privacy of law-abiding citizens.Once put in place, it is exceedingly unlikely that such a system would be restricted to its original purpose. The original Social Security Act contained strict prohibitions against use of Social Security cards for unrelated purposes, but those strictures have been routinely ignored and steadily abandoned over the past 50 years.A national ID system would threaten the privacy that Americans have always enjoyed and gradually increase the control that government and business wields over everyday citizens.



Reason #3: A national ID card system would require creation of a database of all Americans

What happens when an ID card is stolen? What proof is used to decide who gets a card? A national ID would require a governmental database of every person in the U.S. containing continually updated identifying information.



It would likely contain many errors, any one of which could render someone unemployable and possibly much worse until they get their “file” straightened out.And once that database was created, its use would almost certainly expand. Law enforcement and other government agencies would soon ask to link into it, while employers, landlords, credit agencies, mortgage brokers, direct mailers, landlords, private investigators, civil litigants, and a long list of other parties would begin seeking access, further eroding the privacy that Americans have always expected in their personal lives.



Reason #4: ID cards would function as “internal passports” that monitor citizens’ movements

Americans have long had a visceral aversion to building a society in which the authorities could act like totalitarian sentries and demand “your papers please!”



And that everyday intrusiveness would be conjoined with the full power of modern computer and database technology. When a police officer or security guard scans your ID card with his pocket bar-code reader, for example, will a permanent record be created of that check, including the time and your location?



How long before office buildings, doctors’ offices, gas stations, highway tolls, subways and buses incorporate the ID card into their security or payment systems for greater efficiency? The end result could be a nation where citizens’ movements inside their own country are monitored and recorded through these “internal passports.”



Reason #5: ID cards would foster new forms of discrimination and harassment

Rather than eliminating discrimination, as some have claimed, a national identity card would foster new forms of discrimination and harassment of

anyone perceived as looking or sounding "foreign."



That is what happened after Congress passed the Employer Sanctions provision of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1985: widespread discrimination against foreign-looking American workers, especially Asians and Hispanics. A 1990 General

Accounting Office study found almost 20 percent of employers engaged in such practices.



A national ID card would have the same effect on a massive scale, as Latinos, Asians, Caribbeans and other minorities became subject to ceaseless status and identity checks from police, banks, merchants and others. Failure to carry a national I.D. card would likely come to be viewed as a reason for search, detention or arrest of minorities. The stigma and humiliation of constantly having to prove that they are Americans or legal immigrants would weigh heavily on such groups.



Japan launched a compulsory ID system on Monday in the face of stiff protests calling it a violation of privacy and a temptation to hackers.



A group of academics and activists presented the Home Affairs Ministry with a petition demanding the government halt the program, which links municipal computer systems and gives each Japanese citizen an 11-digit identification number.



The group filed a court case at the end of last month, demanding the system be abolished because it is unconstitutional.



"We don't want to be under government surveillance. Stop the resident registry system,'' shouted a small band of protesters outside the ministry.

With one dressed up to look like a computer and another as Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, the demonstrators danced and put on a short sketch to illustrate their objections to the system.



The new database stores personal data--names, addresses, dates of birth, gender and the new ID numbers--for each of Japan's 126 million citizens, making it easier for them to obtain documents for a variety of public services and benefits.



But at least five cities are refusing to join the system, while Mayor Hiroshi Nakada of Yokohama, Japan's second-largest city, said Friday that residents will be allowed to choose whether to take part.



About 4 million of Japan's 127 million people live in cities that are refusing to introduce the system, according to media reports.

Opponents fear that something sinister is at work and that the new system gives authorities a tool to harass and silence critics.



"This system treats individuals as things, not people,'' Hirohisa Kitano, a legal expert and professor emeritus of Nihon University, said at a news conference.



Critics say the ID number could act as a key to an array of personal data stored at different locations, making it easier for hackers to create mischief.



The government says it has created a security system that can detect suspicious access to the database, but several cities have reported computer glitches.



"It's quite common to feel uneasy about something new. We want to keep explaining until such anxieties disappear," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said.



The United States has been debating for some time whether to implement a national identification system

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 12:05 | link | comments |

Pamalakaya activists arrest, jail GMA

Militant group “ arrests, jails Gloria”
for crimes against fisher people

Members of the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) “ arrested and jailed” President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo this morning in Mendiola Bridge two days before the 19th anniversary of first EDSA revolution.

Some 700 fisherfolk activists belonging to Pamalakaya took part in the arrest and subsequent jailing of Mrs. Arroyo for her crimes against the Filipino fisherfolk. Leaders of the militant group said President Arroyo committed the following six grave crimes against the Filipino fisherfolk:

Ø The Macapagal-Arroyo government’s policy of privatization and conversion of fishing areas further triggered the massive transformation of communal fishing grounds into eco-tourism, industrial and commercial zones that eventually displaced and deprived livelihood of nearly 200,000 fisherfolk to date.
Ø The implementation of Fisheries Code of 1998 caused massive poverty because the law legalized plunder and monopoly appropriation of fishery resources across the archipelago.
Ø The local fisheries incorporation to World Trade Organization (WTO) facilitated the massive influx of imported fish and other fishery products to the country to detriment of small fisherfolk and other local producers
Ø The high crimes of corruption of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration. Last year P 728 million of agricultural funds were missing because these funds were channeled to President Arroyo’s campaign kitty during the May 10, 2004 national elections.
Ø The brutal killing of five Pamalakaya leaders din Mindoro Oriental and Quezon provinces allegedly perpetrated by government troops.
Ø The anti-people policies of the Arroyo including the controversial Value Added Tax (VAT) and the revived anti-terrorism bill and national ID system

“ There is legal, political and moral basis to “arrest and jail” President Arroyo. As far as we are concerned her crimes against the Filipino fishers are tantamount to grand betrayal of national patrimony, complete sell out of people’s sovereignty and stirring crimes of plunder and corruption”, said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.

Hicap said the government’s privatization and conversion projects in coastal areas and lakeshores to attract foreign and local investors triggered left and right eviction of small fisherfolk and urban poor families.

He said government ambitious development projects like Laguna Lake 2000 and Manila Bay Master Development Plan are strongly rejected by the fisherfolk residents fishing and living in these major fishing areas in South and North Luzon.

To date, Pamalakaya’s Hicap said, a total of 18,000 fishing families were forcibly demolished along the coastal shores of Las Piñas, Parañaque and Pasay City to give way to government and private infrastructure projects like the controversial President Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard and SM Asia Mall in Pasay City.

The militant leader said the state-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) would also reclaim another 65-hectares of coastal waters along Roxas Boulevard for the construction of another gambling casino in Manila Bay.

Hicap said, Pagcor officials are also planning to revive the Jumbo Palace of casino mogul Stanley Ho, a floating casino inaugurated during the administration of ex-President Joseph Estrada, but owners decided to stop its operations due to mammoth protest staged by anti-gambling and anti-corruption groups. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 10:11 | link | comments |

MWSS to get 146 billion liters of water a year from Laguna Lake if water conversion plan pushes through

Pamalakaya says Laguna Lake water project to fast track death of troubled lake
MWSS to get 146 billion liters of water a year from Laguna Lake if water conversion plan pushes through

The project of Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) to tap Laguna Lake, as possible source of drinking water would cost the endangered lake 146 billion liters of water a year or 400 million liters of water a day.

According to the militant group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) which is protesting the water conversion project, the direction of privatization and water use conversion of the country’s largest lake as carried by MWSS would fast-track the death of the troubled lake.

“ How can we save the lake from further destruction if the MWSS pushes through with another grand water conversion scheme that would put an end to Laguna Lake’s existence as a living lake. The lake deserves a permanent respite from corporate attacks such as privatization and conversion to regenerate itself”, said Fernando Hicap, Pamalakaya national chair in a press statement.

He added: “ The spate of corporate assault on the lake like this MWSS water project will eventually lead to the death of Laguna Lake as the second biggest living lake in Southeast Asia”.

Hicap said real beneficiaries of the Laguna Lake water conversion project are not residents of South Metro Manila which include Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Parañaque and Cavite but the two biggest private water concessionaires in the country namely Maynilad Water Service Inc. and Manila Water Co.

He said under the proposed lake water project, Maynilad would distribute 300 million liters a day, while Manila Water will be in charge of distributing 100 million liters a day or 109.5 billion liters/year and 36.5 billion liters/year respectively.

“ Malacañang really loves the Lopezes and the Ayalas as expressed by this ambitious MWSS lake water conversion project to the extent of giving away the people’s water resources to private water monopolies”, Hicap lamented.

The national government had requested The Netherlands government to finance the MWSS Lake water project adding that its construction was crucial to the stability of Metro Manila. MWSS Administrator Orlando C. Andrade had said that estimated cost of the project was around P 6 billion.

The militant group said the natural purpose of Laguna Lake is mainly for fishing, navigation and irrigation of agricultural lands of fisherfolk, farmers and residents surrounding the lake. Pamalakaya said Laguna Lake is supposed to irrigate 102, 456 hectares of prime agricultural lands in Rizal and Laguna provinces and some parts of South Metro Manila.

However, the group complained that 2.04 billion cubic meters of the lake is used annually for industrial cooling. Pamalakaya said 70 percent of the 2 billion cubic meters is being used by the power generating plants of the National Power Corporation (Napocor) like the Malaya TPP, Sucat TPP and Kalayaan TPP, while industries and factories surrounding the lake are using the rest. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 12:29 | link | comments (2) |

Lifted from Ang Pamalakaya magazine, March 2002

USapang TERORRISMo ni Gerry Albert-Corpuz



Pinunit ng trahedya ng World Trade Center ang moog na larawan ng Estados Unidos bilang nangungunang super power sa daigdig. Hindi ito ang unang atake sa Estados Unidos, ngunit sa ngayon ito ang pinakamatindi. Pinatunayan ng masaklap na pangyayari na hindi ligtas, bagkus ay bulnerable ang US sa anumang teroristang atake mula sa loob at labas ng Estados Unidos.



Nagimbal ang mga mamamayan ng buong daigdig sa magkakasunod na atake sa WTC, sa Pentagon at sa iba pang mga gusali at lugar sa bansang Amerika. Mahigit na 6,000 ang kumpirmadong patay Marami pang bangkay ang tinatayang natabunan sa gumuhong gusali ng WTC.



Nakalulunos isipin na ang mga ordinaryong mamamayang Amerikano, ang kanilang mga kamag-anak at kaibigan na nasawi sa trahedya ang kailangang pumasan sa ganting reaksyon na iniluwal ng mahabang kasaysayan at kasalukuyag yugto ng kampanyang terorismo ng Estados Unidos sapul ng ito ay maging isang imperyalistang bayan.



Karumal-dumal ang teroristang atake na pumatay sa libo-libong sibilyan sa WTC. Nararapat na kondenahin ang mga nasa likod ng kasuklam-suklam na pamamaslang. Ngunit higit na kagalit-galit na gamitin ng Estados Unidos ang trahedya at alalala ng masaklap na sinapit ng mamamayang Amerikano upang pagtakpan ang maraming krimen at kaso ng terorismo ng imperyalistang Estados Unidos at sunggaban ang isyu para pagharian, digmain at puksain ang mamamayang ng daigdig.



Dekada 60-70



Sa huling bahagi ng dekada 60 at maagang yugto ng dekada 70 laging laman ng mga pahayagan sa buong mundo ang mga balita kaugnay ng teroristang atake. Sunod-sunod ang mga balita kaugnay ng hijacking, pambobomba o panununog ng mga embahada, kidnapping ng mga matataas na opisyal ng gobyerno, probokasyon at mga aktuwal na pananabotahe at iba pang porma ng teroristang atake.



Sa pagtatapos ng dekada 70, 50 % ng napabalitang teroristang atake ay naganap sa Europa, 21% sa Latin America, 14% sa North America, 11% sa Middle East at 11% din sa North Africa.



Krimen ng CIA



Ayon mismo sa US News and World Report na nagsagawa ng 25 taon pag-aaral mula 1951-1976 hinggil sa terorismo sa buong daigdig, ang Central Intelligence Agency o CIA ay nakapaglunsad ng humigit-kumulang 900 teroristang atake laban sa mga di-kanais-nais na indbidwal,gobyerno at mamamayan na kritikal o laban sa interes ng Estados Unidos.



Sangkot ang CIA sa pamamaslang kay Iranian premier Mossadegh at sa pagbabagsak ng kanyang rehimen noong 1953. Sinundan ito ng pagpapatasik ng mga gobyerno at rehimen sa Guatemala noong 1954, Dominican Republic noong 1965, rehimen sa Ghana noong 1966 at Chile noong 1973.



Sangayon sa ulat, ilan sa mga kilalang lider sa mundo ang pinaslang ng CIA sa ngalan ng imperyalistang paghahari at interes. Tampok dito ang pagpatay ng CIA kina Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba ng Congo, Ernesto Che Guevarra, President Salvador Allende ng Chile, dating Bolivian president Juan Torres, Amilcar Cabral, secretary general of the African Party for Independence in Guinea and Cape Verde Islands, Eduardo Mondlane, lider ng isang kilusan sa Mozambique at Prime Minister Solomon Bandaranaike ng Sri Lanka.



Sinasabing ang CIA ang nasa likod ng pagkamatay ni General Carlos Prats at kanyang asawa nang sumabog ang isang booby-trap car sa Buenos Aires, Argentina noong Setyembre 10,1974.



Ang CIA rin ang itinuturong nasa likod ng pagpatay kay Orlando Letelier, dating foreign minister ng gobyernong Allende ng Chile kasabwat ang Chilean secret police. Namatay si Letelier sa isang malakas na pagsabog sa Sheridan Circle sa Washington DC noong Setyembre 21, 1976.



Naging mainit din ang CIA kay Fidel Castro ng Cuba. Katunayan 20 beses nagtangka ang mga ahente ng CIA para patayin ang kilalang lider.



Hindi maitatatwa ng CIA at imperyalistang Estados Unidos ang kanilang pangunahing papel sa malaganap ng terorismo at pasistang atake sa hanay ng mga mamamayan mula dekada 50 hangang huling bahagi ng dekada 70.



Terorismo bilang patakarang panlabas ng US



Ayon kay Admiral Stansfield, direktor ng CIA sa ilalim ng dating administrasyon ni US president Jimmy Carter, isa sa pinaka-epektibong paraan upang isulong ang interes ng imperyalismong Estados Unidos ay ang paggamit ng terorismo sa pamamagitan ng pagpasok sa hanay mismo ng mga terorista.



Noong July 1981, inilathala ng Panorama magazine ng Italya ang isang bahagi ng dokumento na nagtatalakay sa paggamit ng mga teroristang grupo upang higit pang maitulak ang interes ng Estados Unidos sa mga kaibigan at kaalyadong bansa. Isa rito ang Lodge Propaganda 2 na ginamit upang maging tulay ng CIA at Italian secret police para sa pagkontak ng mga network ng mga pasista, kasapi at pamunuan ng mafia.



Nilikha ng CIA at mga kasabwat nito sa pakikipagtulungan mismo ng US National Security Council ang isang organisasyon upang ipihit ang pulitika sa lipunang Italyano sa ultra-kanang tunguhin.



Katulad ng CIA, malaki rin ang naging papel ng British secret service sa pagbubuo ng grupong terorista para sa pagpapatalsik ng mga lider ng Zimbabwe Patriotic Front noong 1980.



Sa Pilipinas, ang pagkakabuo ng Abu Sayyaf noong maagang bahagi ng dekada 90 ay halimbawa ng operasyon ng CIA. Mismo ang CIA, kasabwat ang Armed Forces of the Philippines at iba pang opisyal na gobyerno ang nagbuo ng Abu Sayyaf upang pwersahin ang Moro National Liberation Front ni Nur Misuari na tanggapin at pumaloob sa balangkas ng usaping pangkapayapaan na inihapag ng gobyernong Ramos.



Nagtagumpay ang CIA at gobyernong Ramos sa kapitulasyon sa pangkating Misuari, ngunit hindi na nila nakontrol ang Abu Sayyaf at ngayon ay nagkakalat ng lagim sa Basilan at iba pang bahagi ng Mindanao.



Noong 1981, si dating US president Ronald Reagan ay nanawagan sa pagbubuo ng isang kampanya laban sa international terrorism sa layong pagtakpan ang krimen ng CIA at ibintang naman ang nagaganap na sigalot sa mundo sa dating Unyong Sobyet at mga kilusang mapagpalaya sa buong mundo.



Bin Laden



Ang Saudi billionaire na si Osama Bin Laden at ang lambat ng terorista na kontralado at impluwensyado nito ang itinuturo ng Estados Unidos bilang pangunahing suspek sa naganap na pag-atake ng mga terorista sa WTC at Pentagon noong Setyembre 11.

Si Bin Laden ay dating protégé o alaga ng CIA at imperyalismong Estados Unidos. Sumailalim si Bin Laden sa pagsasanay ng tropang Amerikano para labanan ang armadong pwersa ng dating Unyong Sobyet na pilit na sinasakop ng huli ang bansang Afghanistan sa panahon ng Cold War.



Lumutang at nakilala si Bin Laden bilang tagapagtatag ng Taliban, ang namumunong gobyerno sa kasalukuyan sa Afghanistan. Buong-buong sinuportahan ng Estados Unidos at CIA ang pakikipaglaban ng mgaTaliban upang pabagsakin ang naghaharing Ruso ng mga panahong iyon. Nadudumilat ang katotohanan na si Bin Laden at gobyernong Taliban ay likha ng CIA at imperyalismong Estados Unidos laban sa Unyong Sobyet na noon ay isa na rin imperyalistang bayan sa ilalim ng rebisyunistang rehimen.







Noong 1979, nilusob ng Unyong Sobyet ang Afghanistan at itinayo ang paghahari ng USSR. Hindi ito suportado ng mga mamamayan, kung kaya’t dagli rin sumiklab ang rebelyon at mga pag-aalsa sa pamumuno ni Bin Laden at Taliban.



Maraming sa mamamayang Afghan ang naging war refugees. May 3 milyong sa kanila ang tumungo sa kalapit na bansang Pakistan, samantala isa’t kalahating milyon naman ang lumikas papuntang Iran. Sa labas ng Afghanistan nabuo ang sangkaterbang paksyon ng mga puwersang laban sa paghaharing Ruso sa Afghanistan.



Noong 1986 mapagpasyang ginapi ng Taliban at ng iba pang pinagsama-samang puwersa kontra-gobyernong Ruso ang pamamayani ng USSR sa Afghanistan. Sa kabila ng higit na mas marami ang puwersa ng Ruso ( humigit kumulang 170,000 tropa) at modernong kagamitan kontra sa Taliban at iba pang pwersang anti-Unyong Sobyet, namayani at napatalsik ng Afghan ang mga mananakop sa tulong ng imperyalismong Estados Unidos. Daan-daang milyong dolyar ang ginastos ng US para pabagsakin ang paghaharing Ruso sa Afghanistan.



Mapagpasya ang naging papel ng Estados Unidos sa pagkakabuo at kasalukuyang paghahari ng Taliban sa Afghanistan. Ngayon, tinatamasa ng US ang ganting reaksyon mula sa mahabang panahon ng panghihimasok alinsunod sa patakaran ng pang-uupat ng digma, maghati at maghari at terorismo.



Imperyalismo at Teroristang Estados Unidos



Sa pahayag ng Bagong Alyansang Makabayan tinukoy ang US bilang pangunahing terorista sa paraang mas karumal-dumal sa nangyari noong Setyembre 11 sa WTC. Ayon sa Bayan, aabot sa 11 milyong ang mga namatay sa iba’t-ibang gyerang inilunsad ng Estados Unidos mula noong 1800.Kabilang dito ang malawakang pambobomba, pagpatay sa mga sibilyan, economic blockades at iba pang porma ng terorismo.



Ang imperyalismo at teroristang Estados Unidos ang responsable sa pagpatay sa naparaming sibilyan sa buong mundo sa pagnanais nitong makapaghari. Sa paghihimasok at pandidigma nito sa Iraq, umabot sa 1.5 milyon ang pinatay ng tropang kano kabilang dito ang daan-daang libong bata.



Kasuklam-suklam din ang ginawang pagmasaker ng Estados Unidos sa milyon-milyong mamamayan ng Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, Indochina at iba pang bansa sa panahon ng Cold War. Mahigit 200,000 mamamayang Hapones sa Nagasaki at Hiroshima naman ang namatay ng hulugan ng US ng atomic bomb ang mga bayang nabanggit noong World War II.



Masaklap din ang sinapit ng sambayanang Pilipino sa kamay ng tropang kano. Daan-daang libong Pilipino ang pinatay ng US sa pagsiklab ng Filipino-American war noong maagang bahagi ng 1900. Tampok din sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas ang ginawang pagmasaker ng tropang Kano sa Samar. Dito, pinag-utos ni General Jacob Smith na sunigin ang lahat, patayin ang lahat ng may edad na 10 pataaas, at isinagawa ang masaker, arson at pagnanakaw sa Balanggiga at mga kalapit bayan.



Wala nang makakapantay sa mahabang listahan ng krimen ng Estados Unidos sa mga mamamayan ng daigdig. Nakaugat at iniluwal ang terorismo ng Estados Unidos sa iba’t-ibang porma at paraan alinsunod sa patakaran ng imperyalistang pandarambong, pananalakay at panghihimasok sa mga aping bansa sa daigdig.



Imperyalista at teroristang pananalakay sa Afghanistan



Desido ang imperyalistang Estados Unidos na ituloy ang kanyang imperyalista at teroristang pananalakay sa bansang Afghanistan. Nag-umpisa na ang US kasama ang British armed forces sa pag-atake sa bayang Afghanistan isuko man ng gobyernong Taliban si Osama bin Laden o hindi.



Mahusay na nakumbinsi ng US ang iba pang bansa na sumasa sa binuong international body para diumano labanan ang global terrorism, kaya’t hindi lamang ang Afghanistan ang tiyak na target ng US, maging ang iba pang mga bansa na kritikal at laban sa interes ng Estados Unidos. Si Bin Laden lamang ang target ng US, ngunit sinaklot ng US ang buong mundo ng takot sa napipintong pagkalat ng kanyang teroristang pananalakay at dahas.



Pinangunahan ng Britanya ang pagtugon sa panawagan ng US na atakihin na ang Afghanistan. Sumuporta rin ang bansang Japan, Russia, China, India, gayundin ang Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Israel at iba pang mga gobyerno sa Gitnang Silangan Sa tulong ng North Atlantic Treaty Organization, nabuo ang international coalition against terrorism pang makuha ng US ang pinakamalawak na suportang pulitikal, militar at pinansyal para sa giyera laban diumano sa terorismo.



Kung nag-iisip ang mga gobyerno at estadong nabanggit na sumusuporta sa US war of aggression sa anyo ng paglaban sa terorismo, buong loob na binigyan nila ang Estados Unidos ng extraterritorial powers sa kani-kanilang bayan at gobyerno na siya naman pangunahing target ng US para isulong ang mga maka-imperyalistang pakana nito.



Ginagamit ng imperyalismong US ang trahedya ang WTC upang bigyan katwiran ang gagawin nitong pananalakay, panghihimasok at terorismo hindi lamang sa Afghanistan kung hindi sa iba pang bayan at tiyakin na mapaglingkod ito sa interes ng dayuhang monopolyo kapital.



Inaasahan maraming sibilyan at mamamayan ng daigdig ang mamamatay, magkakasakit o madidisloka mula sa kanilang kabuhayan at paninirahan kapag sinimulan na ng US ang kanyang pananalakay.



Free ride ni Gloria



Kitang-kita ang sagad-sagaring pagpapakatuta ng gobyernong Arroyo sa Estados Unidos. Dalawang araw matapos ang atake sa WTC at Pentagon, inalok na ni President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ang administrasyong Bush at imperyalismong US na handa nitong ipagamit ang mga dating base militar ng kano, ang Subic Naval Base sa Olongapo City at Clark Air Base sa San Fernando, Pampanga.



Noong September 18, nakipag-usap sa pamahalaang Arroyo si Admiral Thomas Fargo, commander–in-chief ng Asia Pacific Fleet upang ilatag sa papet na gobyerno ni Arroyo ang pangkalahatang plano ng US kaugnay ng paggamit nila ng mga dating base militar, airspace ng Pilipinas at deployment ng mga military assets sa bansa.



Walang pagdadalawang isip na sinangayunan ito ni Arroyo. Katunayan, umabot pa ang kayabangan at kahibangan ng rehimen sa intensyong magpadala ng sundalong Pilipino sa Afghanistan para tumulong sa tropang Kano na sasagupa sa armadong sandatahan ng Taliban islamic state.



Sinasakyan din ni Gng. Arroyo at iba pang militarista sa gobyerno ang naganap na atake sa WTC at Pentagon. Ginagamit din ng gobyernong Arroyo ang isyu para ilusot ang mga panukala para sa militaristang pakana at opensiba sa hanay ng mga mamamayan.



Itinutulak ngayon ng gobyernong Arroyo ang pagpapasa ng mga ibinasurang panukala ng mga nagdaang rehimen. Tampok dito ang anti-terrorism bill, National ID system, warrantless arrest, deployment ng secret marshal, gyera at militarisasyon sa kanayunan at iba pang patakaran na laban o kikitil sa kalayaang sibil at pulitikal o lalabag sa basic human rights and international humanitarian laws.



Panawagan sa sambayanan



Kailangan makisangkot ang Sambayanang Pilipino at aktibong labanan ang pakanang giyera at terorismo ng imperyalismong Estados Unidos at ng papet na rehimen ni Gloria Macapagal –Arroyo. Kailangan ilantad at labanan ang US bilang pangunahing tagapagtaguyod ng terorismo ng estado laban sa mamamayan.



Habang nirerehistro ang pagkondena sa lahat ng porma ng terorismo at nanawagan para sa katarungan sa lahat ng biktima ng World Trade Center at milyon-milyong mamamayan na pinaslang ng teroristang US, kailangan igiit ng mga mamamayan ang pambansang soberanya at integridad ng teritoryo ng Pilipinas.



Bahagi ng ating paglaban sa imperyalista at teroristang Estados Unidos ang paglalantad at pagkondena laban sa paggamit nito ng mga pamuksang sandata laban sa mamamayan.



“Dapat ding tuligsain ang mapanghimasok na patakaran ng US na nagbibigay-buhay at kumakasangkapan kapwa sa mga pasistang gobyerno at teroristang grupo sa buong mundo,” ayon sa pahayag ng Bagong Alyansang Makabayan.



Nanawagan din ang Bayan na kailangan labanan ang lumulubhang resismo at diskriminasyon sa mga migrante at mamamayang Arabo, Asyano,Latino, Aprikano at iba pang people of color. Sa ngayon, lalo pang pinag-iibayo ng US ang rasismo at diskriminasyon gamit na sangkalan ang trahedya ng WTC upang higit pang makapaghati at makapang-hari.



Bahagi ng paglaban ng sambayanan ang paggiit na ipawalang bisa ang RP-US Mutual Defense Treaty at RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement at pakikipagtunggali sa gobyernong Arroyo laban sa panlabas na patakaran nito at baluktot na interpretasyon sa UN Resolution 1368 upang bigyan ligal na batayan ang buong suporta ng gobyerno sa giyera at terorismo ng US.



Isang di makatarungan, hangal at walang kwenta gyera ang inilulunsad ang US laban sa mamamayan ng daigdig. Kailangang gapiin ng Sambayanang Pilipino at ng mamamayan ng daigdig ang imperyalismo na siyang naghahasik ng terorismo, lagim at sindak sa buong mundo.

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 01:41 | link | comments |

DILG Chief, Oplan Greenbase and National ID system

DILG chief told : Answer raps first on Davao bombings
before thinking of national ID system

The left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) urged Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Angelo Reyes to answer charges of young military officers that he ordered the bombing of Davao International Airport on March 4, 2003 which killed 23 and wounded over 150 people instead of pushing the implementation of the controversial national ID system.

On July 28, 2003, some 300 government troops led by young military officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) staged a mutiny and camped inside Oakwood Hotel in Makati City to denounce Sec. Reyes alleged involvement in the March 4, 2003 Davao airport blast.

Pamalakaya was referring to Oplan Greenbase, a military plot hatched by Reyes, then defense secretary and other top military advisers of Mrs. Arroyo. It involved series of bombings in Davao City and other key cities in Mindanao in 2003. According to the young officers who staged the military mutiny, these bombings will be blamed to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and to justify the declaration of Martial Law on August 2003.

“ Sec. Reyes, the point man behind the revived national ID system failed to clear his name in the Davao airport bombings. The people will not take this kind of silly proposal emanating from someone who had been charged of orchestrating a deadly act of terrorism”, said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.

Hicap said Sec. Reyes since assuming the highest post in the Armed Forces of Philippines (AFP) during the time of deposed President Joseph Estrada and the defense portfolio during the term of President Arroyo prior to May 10, 2004 presidential elections had been showing “ intense obsession for the national ID system”.

“ He is a Marcos-bred military official who always champion the cause of Martial law and authoritarian rule in the country. This military official has never forgotten his fetish for police state and extensive police powers”, he added.

In a briefing at Camp Crame, Sec. Reyes said the Valentine’s Day bombings in the cities of Makati, General Santos and Davao City, which claimed 7 people dead and injured 151 ordinary folks, could have been prevented if an identification system was in place.

The DILG chief rejected criticisms that the national ID system would invade the privacy of citizens, adding that if a person has nothing to hide, he has nothing fear on the proposed national ID scheme. Under Sec. Reyes national ID proposal, basic information such name, address, weight, height and distinguishing marks of a person would be part of a national ID.

“ But who will save the people from government authorities like Sec. Reyes and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who see people’s legitimate expression of public opinion as a terrorist act? How can you trust people with sinister agenda and who have long list of criminal and corrupt activities against the people”, Hicap added.

Pamalakaya vowed to oppose the national ID system in the streets and in the Supreme Court. The group said civil liberties groups and human rights organizations could immediately challenge the constitutionality of the system before the high tribunal once Metro Manila mayors implement their own scheme of national ID ,while the mother law is still being deliberated in Congress. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 07:43 | link | comments |

16 US troops to join each company sized AFP unit in North Quezon

16 US troops to join every company sized AFP unit in North Quezon, militants bare


Leaders of the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) revealed on Friday that local and US military officials officiating the RP-US Balikatan exercises agreed to allow 16 American forces to join a company sized AFP unit in North Quezon.



“ They said US troops will assist the military in relief and humanitarian mission in the devastated areas of Infanta, Gen. Nakar and Real towns. But we don’t think so. The truth is the US troops will join the government forces in counter-insurgency operations against the New People’s Army in North Quezon,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.



“ This is not only a gross violation of the 1987 Constitution but a direct intervention of the US government in the domestic affairs of the country,” Hicap added.



Hicap said members of their local chapters in Gen. Nakar, Infanta and Real informed him that the so-called humanitarian mission will be conducted in the hinterlands and coastal areas of said towns. He said the AFP and the US military command will use the humanitarian mission in Gen. Nakar, Infanta and Real as a cover up to conduct a round-the-clock surveillance on alleged bailiwicks of the New People’s Army in North Quezon district.



The militant group this would be first time the US military command will field in a considerable number of troops that would join in the local military operations since the Balikatan exercises under the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).



Pamalakaya said the level of engagement of US military troops in North Quezon is part of the familiarization campaign of the American military command prior to any joint RP-US offensive against alleged stronghold of the NPA.



“ This is US military intervention in preparation for US war of aggression. We call on the attention of lawmakers and patriots to look this issue with paramount concern”, the group said adding that the recent bombings in Mindanao and Makati City could be part of the sinister plan to justify American forces military involvement in the country.



US Ambassador Francis Ricciardone on Thursday said the US government will recognize the Philippines laws while the US troops are here for the 28 Balikatan exercises. The US envoy to Manila said he will give his cellphone and landline so that the Filipino people could contact him and inform the US Embassy in Manila in case American troops in the Philippines violate national laws.



“ So can we get your contact numbers Ambassador Ricciardone? We want to inform you that your mercenaries in North Quezon will join their local counterparts in counter-insurgency operations ,which is purely a domestic affair between the reactionary AFP troops and the revolutionary forces. This is a gross violation of the 1987 Charter, which bans the entry and prohibits the participation of foreign troops in the ongoing civil war in the countryside”, Pamalakaya said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 07:42 | link | comments |

On Debt Moratorium

February 11, 2005
PRESS RELEASE

For Reference: Gerry Albert Corpuz, Pamalakaya information officer
Contact Nos: 434-38-36 and 436-89-15

Militant group proposes 3-year Debt Moratorium Law
instead of VAT hike

Anti-VAT activists belonging to the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Friday urged lawmakers to disregard the proposed increase in the value added tax and instead, enact a debt moratorium law to arrest the current fiscal woes.

At the press conference of the anti-VAT coalition Alliance of Concerned Citizens Oppose to Unjust New Taxes (Account), Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap asked legislators of both houses of Congress to pass a three-year Debt Moratorium Law instead of enacting new tax measures like VAT, which Hicap said, would further reduce the purchasing power of peso and widen the gap between the cost of living and actual income.

“ It is high time for Congress to pass a debt moratorium law that would recognize and uphold the sovereign will of the people and not narrow interest of financial oligarchs of the IMF-WB”, Hicap stressed.

The militant leader said if the national government will impose a three-year debt moratorium, it would save more than P 900 B or P 300 billion a year. “ The debt moratorium law is obviously superior compared to the regressive VAT. So why settle for less superior and anti-people tax measure like 12% VAT if we can strike a deal that would benefit the poor majority,” Hicap said.

The budget for debt servicing accounts for 33 percent of the annual national budget, according to Pamalakaya, the bulk of which, the group said goes to payment of interest, while a little over 40 percent is slashed from the principal. The country’s total foreign debt is approximately $ 60 billion at the end of 2004.

“ Of course the financial syndicates like the IMF-WB, US banks and the Paris Club will strongly reject this proposal. But they cannot stop the Filipino people from exercising their sovereign rights to get out of the debt row”, Hicap asserted.

Pamalakaya said it about time to teach the IMF-WB syndicate a lesson they would not forget. The group said it is time to impose the people’s own will against the corporate games and rules of the IMF-WB and its financial monopoly clients.

“ The three-year debt moratorium law is an act of political and economic sovereignty. We hope our lawmakers would perform their jobs in accordance with the sovereign will and national interest of the people and quit from toeing the Malacañang line of puppetry”, the group added.

The Macapagal-Arroyo administration is seeking P 35 billion in total taxes from the imposition of 12% VAT. But Pamalakaya said the consumption-based tax scheme will be shouldered by the common people because the VAT will be passed on to consumers by the importers, manufacturers and wholesalers. The retailers of good, it said would collect the 12% VAT from end-users or consumers.

The militant group also said a national campaign against big time tax evaders would immediately give the national government a collection of not less than P 54 B, while the campaign to stop overspending and corruption in all government bureaucracies will enable to government to save P 160 B in taxpayers’ money. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 10:58 | link | comments |

RP lost 93 percent of its best defense against tsunami to conversion

RP lost 93 percent of its
best defense to tsunami to conversion

The Philippines lost 93 percent of its mangroves, the country’s natural armor from tsunamis due to widespread conversion of mangrove areas to fishponds and aquaculture farms.

The country now maintains 38,000 hectares of mangroves or seven (7) percent of the original 500,000 hectares of mangrove areas surveyed in the early 50s. The rapid expansion of export-driven aquaculture farms from the time of former President Ferdinand Marcos up to the present administration made this possible.

In exchange for super profits and fat kickbacks, previous administrations and the present Malacañang occupants headed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo allowed foreign and local fishing monopolies to takeover 462,00 hectares of mangrove areas for production of water crops for export at the expense of our fisher people’s livelihood and environment.

The national government legalized the conversion, privatization and corporate grabbing of mangroves through Fishpond Lease Agreement (FLA), which allows fishing monopolies to lease and convert mangrove areas for 25, 50 and 75 years.

In 1998 alone, 64, 530 hectares of mangrove areas were converted to fishponds and prawn farms. This was covered by 3,705 fishpond lease arrangements approved by the national government. This trend continues up to the present administration of Mrs. Arroyo in vain attempt to please the corporate lords of World Trade Organization and globalization.

The Philippine government, along with its clients- the United States, Japan and the European Union should be blamed for the lost of our main defense against tsunamis. The government fast-tracked the conversion and privatization of mangrove areas to pave way for aquaculture production for export and other raw materials needed by these imperialist fishing giants.

The proposal of Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri (Lakas, Bukidnon) to launch mangrove reforestation in 815 coastal towns across the archipelago is not a bad idea. However, this will not work if the government continues to grant big corporate interests the monopoly power and control to exploit the country’s mangrove areas.

The government will just spend billions of taxpayers ‘ money for rehabilitation of mangrove areas for the vicious cycle of monopoly appropriation by Malacañang’s corporate clients.

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 10:46 | link | comments |

On the impeachment case vs. GMA

Impeach GMA
Militants advised Philconsa: Take Sen. Pimentel challenge

Leaders of left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Wednesday urged members of the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa) to consider the challenge of opposition Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. to have President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo impeached for allegedly violating the 1987 Constitution on three counts.

“ Take the challenge. That’s the only way you can show to the people that you exist to defend the charter from corrupt leaders and criminal minds”, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap told Philconsa members.

In a speech before Philconsa’s observance of Constitution Day at the Manila Polo Club in Forbes Park, Makati City last Tuesday night, the opposition senator said President Arroyo violated the constitution for the illegal use of trust funds through the road users tax and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) for her own purposes during the 2004 national elections.

Sen. Pimentel also said the Chief Executive authorize the illegal payment of $ 68 M or roughly
P 3.762 B for the purchase of six search and rescue vessels for the Coastguard without congressional authority.

“ The public knew when, how and for what reasons these crimes of corruption were committed. It is now Philconsa’s turn to concretize public knowledge and opinion and that is by sending President Arroyo to the impeachment line,” Hicap said.

The senator said Philconsa’s 200 members and guests were shocked with his speech as they thought his speech was just an ordinary speech. “ Well it is shocking, but it is a legitimate call and reflective of the national aspiration and collective sentiment of the Filipino people,” said Pamalakaya information officer Gerry Albert Corpuz, referring to the impeachment challenge posed by Sen. Pimentel.

Pamalakaya’s Corpuz told Philconsa members to consider the filing of impeachment complaint against President Arroyo for grave malversation of public funds and grand crimes of corruption instead of dancing the Charter Change being pushed by President Arroyo’s allies in both chambers of Congress.

“ Philconsa, which vowed to protect the 1987 charter from political mudslinging and exploitation should get their acts together and proceed with the impeachment of President Arroyo. This is the right time to send Mrs. Arroyo the impeachment court and Philconsa should strike it now”, Corpuz asserted.

Pamalakaya, together with other allied militant groups, last year filed a plunder complaint before the office of the Ombudsman against President Arroyo and other government officials for the illegal use of P 728 million in total agricultural funds, which the group said were used to beef up the campaign kitty of the President in May 10, 2004 presidential elections.

The militant group did not discount the possibility that they might elevate their case to an impeachment case against President Arroyo adding that their plunder and anti-graft case against the president was sufficient both in form and in substance.

“ We will consult our legal counsels regarding the prospect of filing an impeachment rap vs. Mrs. Arroyo. We will let Malacañang know when this impeachment rap would be filed against the President, but for know, let them worry through our political teasers”, Pamalakaya added. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 10:44 | link | comments |

Road to Perdition Articles

The two articles on the controversial PDMB Road Scam were scratched from the list of featured articles in this site to give way to the request of one the legal counsels acting for the accused, since the case is now with Sandiganbayan anti-graft court.

However, Pamalakaya will continue to issue press releases on the PDMB Road Scam regarding new developments in connection with the controversial road scam.

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 03:27 | link | comments |

US produced RP war movie, political ad for Balikatan exercises

MIRAMAX FILM’S THE GREAT RAID
US produced Philippine war movie, a political ad for Balikatan exercises, says militant group

Left-leaning militants belonging to the fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said the forthcoming 50 million dollar Philippine war movie “ The Great Raid” produced by Miramax Films International was meant to sell the RP-US joint military exercises in the country and the country’s support to US war on terror.

“ It is part of the ideological offensive of US- the leading imperialist power in the world. It is a political advertisement for US present-day colonialization and war of aggression under the guise of fighting international terrorism,”, said Gerry Albert Corpuz, Pamalakaya information officer said in a press statement.

Corpuz added: “ Filipinos don’t deserve this kind of mind-conditioning, US propaganda driven cheap stuff. We hope this film if shown here, will suffer a big letdown at the box-office because this film is nothing but one of those dime-a-dozen American war epics that insult the collective intelligence of the Filipino people”.

The film featured Filipino actor Cesar Montano in a supporting role as Captain John Pajota, who led a team of Filipino guerillas who backed the US troops in rescuing over 500 American prisoners in a military garrison held by Japanese occupation forces in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija on January 8, 1945.

Corpuz said the US military and the puppet government of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will exploit the Philippine premiere and regular showing of “ The Great Raid” to generate support to the 28 RP-US joint military exercises scheduled this year. “ That is why the first Balikatan exercise was held in Nueva Ecija this year. It is part of the promotional kickoff for this propaganda film”, he said.

Pamalakaya’s Corpuz said the Philippine war film should be taken as a propaganda film and not just an action packed American produced war film about the Second War II.

“ Between “ The Great Raid” and “ Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos” (Three Years Without God), I will always choose the Tagalog war drama for its conviction against the evils of the Second World War and for its depiction on how the US-Japan war for imperialist supremacy destroyed Filipino lives in the 1940s”, he added.

“ Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos”, directed by multi-awarded director Mario O ‘ Hara was shown in the 1976 staging of yearly Metro Manila Film Festival and starred superstar Nora Aunor, Christopher de Leon and Bembol Roco. The film was considered as one of the gems of Philippine Cinema’s Second Golden Age.

“ The Great Raid," starred Hollywood actor Benjamin Bratt, one of the most sought American actors in Hollywood. The film was shot on location in Shanghai and Australia and is being promoted in Manila to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation.

Other actors are James Franco who plays US scout ranger Bob Prince and Joe Fiennes. John Dahl directs it. The film was based on the book "Ghost Soldiers" penned by US author Hampton Sides and "The Great Raid" by Bill Breuer, the movie tells the story of how Filipino guerrillas led by Captain Pajota supported the rescue mission of US troops. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 02:58 | link | comments |

Anti-VAT activities ahead of Feb.16 national day of protest

VAT foes line up pre-Valentine and Valentine protests
Fluvial Rally, Anti-VAT Caravan scheduled
ahead of Feb. 16 National Day of Protest

Vowing to exert political pressures to stop the proposed hike in the Value Added Tax (VAT), foes of the Malacañang-backed tax measure had line up several mass actions this week till February 16, the scheduled National Day of Protest against VAT.

In a press statement, the left-wing fisherfolk group Pamalakaya said a Fluvial Rally coupled with Slash and Burn activity will be conducted by members of the militant group in the waters of Manila Bay on Thursday.

“ This is going to be another slash and burn flotilla protest to display the collective anger of the small fisherfolk against the anti-people VAT measure”, Pamalakaya said referring to the Manila Bay activity this week.

Pamalakaya national chair and convenor of the agricultural-based alliance Koalisyon sa Agrikultural Kontra sa VAT (Kontra VAT) Fernando Hicap aside from the fluvial rally in Manila Bay, Pamalakaya and Kontra VAT will stage a Valentine-inspired Anti-VAT Caravan on Monday next week.

The Anti-VAT caravan, which will be participated by 20 jeeploads of anti-VAT activists will start from the national office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Quezon City and will pass EDSA on its way to the Philippine Senate. Hicap said anti-VAT senators will welcome them at the Senate grounds but refused to name at this early.

“ This is just a preview of the brewing political storm against the regressive tax measure engineered by the IMF-WB in conspiracy with the taxing regime of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo”, Hicap said.

On February 11, Kontra-VAT, the militant peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and the Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA) will stage another mass action at the Senate grounds as part of the week-long protest against the VAT hike.

Pamalakaya’s Hicap said the rural peoples’ anti-VAT activities are part of the build ups of the February 16 National Day of Protest Against VAT to be led by the militant alliance Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Gabriela and the anti-tax group Kontra KulimVAT.

“ There is a sinister move on the part of Malacañang and pro-VAT senators to downplay the issue and divert public attention from the controversial tax measure. We will not give them the chance to skirt this issue even for a week”, the militant leader said.

Last Monday, activists belonging to Kontra VAT and peasant women group Amihan staged an all-peasant women rally in the Senate to dramatize their opposition against the VAT. The anti-VAT groups belonging to Kontra KulimVAT and Kontra VAT are expected to join forces on February 16 against the proposed two percentage points increase in the value added tax.

Thousands of small fisherfolk, farmers, agricultural workers, peasant women and agricultural producers are expected to join the Feb.16 national day of protest. Pamalakaya said its chapters in Bicol, Southern Tagalog, Central Luzon, Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Negros and Panay Islands and Mindanao will join the Feb. 16 protest. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 02:57 | link | comments |

On Perez and oil price hikes

Perez told to seek TRO on new prices of oil products
Energy Secretary dared: Recall hikes in oil prices

The left-leaning fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Monday pressed Energy Secretary Vincent Perez to use the executive powers of the Department of Energy to stop oil companies from raising pump prices despite declining prices of oil in the world marker and strong performance of the peso against the dollar.

“ Secretary Perez is highly obliged to compel the oil companies to recall whatever planned hikes in the prices of petroleum products. This is his assignment beyond telling these petroleum corporations to explain and justify the increases in pump prices,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap.

Secretary Perez on Sunday asked local oil companies to explain their decision to raise prices of petroleum products after the energy secretary found out that prices of oil in the world market went down by an average of 7 cents from $ 51.33 per barrel to $ 51.26 last month.

The peso also broke into the P 54 level against the dollar, which means that oil companies will spend fewer pesos in procuring oil products from abroad.

But the Pamalakaya leader said instead of waiting for the explanations of oil companies, Sec. Perez can file a temporary restraining order (TRO) before any regional trial court or in the Supreme Court to stop the oil companies from raising the prices of oil products.

“ The energy secretary cannot ignore the justness of our position for the immediate recall of hikes in the prices of petroleum products. Sec. Perez will be put in hot water if he tolerates these price manipulation and overpricing schemes of the oil cartel-Shell, Caltex and Petron”, Hicap said.

Perez said Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., Flying V and Unioil Petroleum Philippines Inc. would have to come up with suitable explanations for their actions. Shell, Flying V and Unioil on Sunday raised pump prices of diesel and kerosene by 30 centavos a liter and unleaded gasoline by 40 centavos per liter. Shell also increased price of its cooking gas by 40 centavos per kilo or
P 4.40 per 11-kg cylinder.

Caltex Philippines on Monday midnight also raised gasoline prices by 40 centavos per liter, diesel and kerosene by 30 centavos per liter and cooking gas by 40 centavos per liter. Perez said the option left to consumers is to exercise the power of choice.

“ Power of choice? What choice? The oil cartel is directing the price of petroleum products nationwide even small industry players are obliged to follow to survive this dog-eat-dog industry. Sec. Perez must be dreaming,” Pamalakaya stressed.

The group said it did not see any kind of logic or objectivity on the statement of Sec. Perez that he should first wait on the explanations of the oil companies before taking any action on the matter. Pamalakaya said it is obvious the petroleum syndicates in the country are taking advantage of the economic and fiscal crisis and they want more huge profits at the expense of the people. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 06:07 | link | comments |

Militants vowed to block sale of coconut levy shares in SMC

President Arroyo has no moral and political jurisdiction
Militants vow to block sale of coconut levy shares in SMC

The left-leaning fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Monday vowed to block the move of Macapagal-Arroyo government to sell the 27 percent coconut levy shares in the food and beverage giant San Miguel Corporation.

Depicting President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s order to dispose 27 % of the coconut levy shares in SMC as an act of treason and the biggest betrayal of the millennium, the militant group asserted that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo lacks moral and political jurisdiction over the 27 percent shares representing coconut levy funds invested in SMC.

“ We cannot entrust the coconut farmers’ money to the corrupt and anti-people regime of President Arroyo. The fate of the coconut levy shares in SMC should be decided by the coconut farmers and their trusted organizations, entities and individuals,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap.

Hicap said his group and other allied organizations which field a plunder complaint against Eduardo ‘ Danding’ Cojuangco before the Office of Ombudsman in 2003 will consult their legal counsel on the possible implication of the Malacañang’s order to their plunder case against Cojuagco and other officials during the Marcos administration.

“ We will also ask our lawyers on what to do to stop Mrs. Arroyo from selling the coconut farmers share. We will explore all the legal and extra-legal means to bar the President from executing another crime and blunder against millions of coconut farmers nationwide”, Hicap added.

Pamalakaya said President Arroyo’s move could be part of the orchestrated campaign to solidify Cojuangco’s control of SMC in exchange for political favors from the Cojuangco clique.

" What would be the next move of Mrs. Arroyo? Sell the 27 percent shares of coconut levy funds to Danding to amplify Mr. Cojuangco's ownership and control of SMC? Or sell it to Kirin Brewery of Japan, which vote as one bloc with Danding, “ the group said.

Pamalakaya added: " We were not born yesterday not to understand this merry go-round play of the ruling syndicates in Malacañang and the Cojuangco camp".

" If Mrs. Arroyo wants a battle royale over the coconut levy fund, then she would get what she wants. We would see her and Danding in any appropriate court, in the streets and in the battle over public opinion", Pamalakaya said warning Malacañang anew of coconut farmers’ revolt.

The President made the announcement in Mulanay, Quezon where she inspected a processing center for coconut and identified one million hectares of coconut land that would be developed for agribusiness production.

The Chief Executive had asked incoming Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima to work out the sale of the San Miguel shares to can finance the development of the coconut industry.

The government won the legal battle for ownership of the coconut levy funds in May 2004 when the Sandiganbayan awarded to government the 27-percent bloc of shares in SMC. The anti-graft court ruled that the government in trust owned the 27 percent originally held by 14 holding companies of the Coconut Industry Investment Fund for the coconut farmers. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 06:07 | link | comments |

KONTRA VAT position on VAT hike

Kontra VAT Koalisyon Sa Agrikultura Kontra sa VAT
18-A Mabuhay Street Central District, Quezon City
Telephone No. 436-89-15 Telefax No. 434-38-36

Why agricultural producers say no to VAT hike?
Position paper of the Koalisyon sa Agrikultura Kontra Sa VAT (Kontra VAT) presented during the public launching of the agricultural based alliance
against the proposed hike in the value added tax.
February 4, 2005, Tree House Grill and Restaurant
Diliman, Quezon City

The Koalisyon sa Agrikultura Kontra sa VAT ( Kontra VAT), an alliance of agricultural based organizations of farmers, fisherfolk, peasant women, livestock and poultry owners and operators are joining the broad opposition against the Malacañang-sponsored and IMF-WB engineered increase in the present Value Added Tax (VAT).

The VAT hike spells double whammy for all of us both as producers and consumers. As producers the two percentage points or 20 percent increase in the value added tax would mean an additional 20 percent hike in the cost of production. As consumers, this would mean another 20 percent increase in prices of consumption products.

The government and other proponents of the VAT increase are misleading the public and the Filipino people when they argued that prices of agricultural products will not go up since these products are exempted from the coverage of the value added tax scheme.

Though exempted from the present coverage of VAT, prices of agricultural products will still go up at an average of 20 percent. Our studies state that the incremental increase in the prices of agricultural products will come from the increase in the prices of agricultural inputs and transportation costs spent in carrying the produce from farm gates to markets.

For example, the current market price of rice per kilo is P 20 and galunggong for P 100 per kilo. If the 12 percent VAT is imposed, we expect prices of these basic food products to shoot up to
P 24 per kilo and P 120 per kilo respectively. This is a national burden that would be shouldered by 80 percent of the country’s 84 million population.

Instead of pushing the VAT hike, we recommend the following alternatives to the Macapagal-Arroyo administration and to Philippine Congress, which we believe are sound, workable, doable, pro-people and just.

· The national government should launch a major campaign against notorious and certified tax evaders in the country. This campaign will yield not less than P 54 billion in total tax collections.

· The national government should exercise strong political will and deep sense of commitment to combat overspending and graft and corruption in the government. The campaign against overspending and corruption will help the government save P 160 billion in tax payers money, which represents the 20 percent of total annual budget that is yearly lost to corrupt and other anti-people practices of the bureaucracies.

· The government should consider debt moratorium for a certain period of time. This would allow the national government to save P 301 B yearly or roughly 33 percent of the annual budget. The Macapagal-Arroyo administration should consider the case of Argentina, where the government imposed a debt moratorium in response to the financial and economic crisis that afflicted the Argentine people in 2003

· The government should re-impose tariff duties on imported agricultural products to generate a yearly income of P 100 million. The government in connection with the administration’s commitments to World Trade Organization (WTO) canceled these tariff duties. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 09:07 | link | comments |

Template by motime.com  |  header image credit: Markus Gann © www.begann.de