This is Gerry Albert Corpuz and this is my life and political journey to the world of class struggle and class emancipation
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Initial P 26 million unexplained disbursement
Senate told: Probe GMA hybrid rice scam
The left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Monday asked the Senate Committee on Agriculture to conduct a separate inquiry on the controversial Hybrids Rice Commercialization Program (HCRP) after the group found out that the Department of Agriculture (DA) failed to explain over 26 million pesos in total fund disbursement.
“ Aside from the P 728 million fertilizer scam, here’s another DA scandal involving the Office of the President and its’ cohorts in the agriculture department that merits the attention of the tax paying public and the full-blown scrutiny of the Senate Committee on Agriculture,” the group said in a press statement.
The HRCP program is part of the GMA Hybrid Rice Program, which covers 600,000 hectares of rice lands to promote rice sufficiency program all over the country. A total of P 544 million taken from the P 38 billion recovered Marcos ill-gotten wealth were allocated to fund the ambitious hybrid program according to documents acquired by Pamalakaya.
Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap citing a recent report prepared by Rice Watch and Action Network, a non-government organization said discrepancies were found out in the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Isabela, Iloilo and Davao del Sur after matching the records of DA and its Provincial Agriculture Offices (PAO) in said areas.
“ We were not born yesterday not to understand this state-of-the-art and sophisticated approach of the corrupt regime in plundering people’s wealth and taxpayers’ money. The GMA hybrid rice scandal is as big and as gigantic as the P 728 million fertilizer fund scam,” Hicap said.
In Nueva Ecija, the DA reported that the HCRP was implemented in 14,180 hectares of rice lands in the province, but PAO said they only covered 9,014 hectares all over the provinces. He said the discrepancy of 4,566 hectares would cost P 5,479,200 based on the allocation of P 1,200 per hectare.
In Isabela province, the DA claimed the hybrid rice program was implemented in 52,953 hectares, but PAO records showed that it was only implemented in 36,100 hectares. The discrepancy of 16,853 hectares was worth P 20,223,600, which the DA national office failed to explain. In terms of beneficiaries, the DA listed 40,733 rice farmers in Isabela province, but PAO said its’ list only has 13,000 farmer beneficiaries.
In the case of Davao del Sur and Iloilo provinces, the DA said the program was implemented in 3,740 hectares and 2,386 hectares respectively, but PAO records revealed that the GMA hybrid rice program was implemented in 3,393 hectares and 1,430 hectares respectively.
Pamalakaya said the discovery of major discrepancies in Nueva Ecija, Isabela, Iloilo and Davao del Sur provinces should convince the Senate Committee on Agriculture chaired by Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr. to push through another investigation on the GMA Hybrid Rice Program, where P 544 million taken from the recovered Marcos Swiss accounts were used to fund the so-called rice sufficiency program.
“ There is a established pattern as far as corruption and plunder of state funds is concerned with regards to the GMA Hybrid Rice program. We hope Sen. Magsaysay’s committee will take and level this case with the controversial P 728 million fertilizer scam perpetrated by Ms Arroyo and company,” the group added. #
Leftwing activists assail Cebu archbishop stand on no permit, no Mass policy around Palace
Cardinal Vidal told: Mass is meant to discover truth, redemption
Anti-Arroyo activists belonging to the fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Saturday told Cebu Archbishop Cardinal Ricardo Vidal that any mass that is meant to discover truth and seek redemption how politically charge it maybe is not against the Gospel.
Pamalakaya information officer Gerry Albert Corpuz stressed the point in reaction to Cardinal Vidal’s statement on last week that it was not proper to use the Mass as a decoration in political gatherings, a declaration meant to uphold the no permit, no Mass for the opposition policy around Malacañang.
“ Is Cardinal Vidal preventing the Church from performing its religious and holy task of bringing out the truth and delivering justice to those who need it for total redemption? We don’t see any moral basis why the Archbishop of Cebu would ban mass asking people to unite for truth and justice,” Corpuz asserted.
Archbishop Vidal on Friday said, “ There has to be great respect for the Mass. It should not be used for any purpose. To make that as instrument is not proper. The Mass is the highest point of unity.”
But Pamalakaya’s Corpuz said there could be no unity if there’s no truth and there could be no justice if there’s no redemption.
“ Cardinal Vidal is either playing his role to the hilt as one of the political stooges of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration or he has completely forgotten the Church’s ethical and moral role to join the people in their day-to-day quest for truth and justice. We don’t know but we hope Cardinal Vidal would soon come to his senses that he exists for the glory of the people and not for the glory of a female dictator named Gloria,” the group’s information chief added.
Vidal has banned the celebration of Eucharist in any political gathering in his archdiocese since the 1980s, especially those held in the guise of “ ecumenical prayers”, adding that the people were distracted and not paying to the Mass anymore.
However, Vidal’s statement failed to dampen the spirit of Pamalakaya, one of the militant groups calling for the resignation of Ms Arroyo. Pamalakaya today urged the influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to condemn the no permit, no Mass policy adopted by Malacañang in nearby churches within the immediate perimeter of the presidential palace.
“ It is now a major battle between good and evil, with the evil empire of Ms Arroyo dictating terms on God’s children and followers and imposing its own will against the will of truth and justice seekers,” the group said.
“ Malacañang is killing the Gospel of faith to save the illegitimate, immoral and anti-Christ regime of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The CBCP must do something to stop this modern-day Herod trapped in a woman’s body in the person of Ms Arroyo,” Pamalakaya added.
Presidential Security Group Commander Brig. Gen. Delfin Bangit in his letter to Msgr. Ernesto Cruz of the National Shrine of St. Michael the Archangel, which is one the Catholic churches within the Palace complex says,” This command respectfully appeals to the fairness and reverence of your church so that political scenarios hidden under the guise of a religious activity could be avoided in the future and thus prevent pious churchgoers from being misled.”
But Msgr. Cruz said the October 24 Mass was a solemn one with no banners and placards and streamers. “ I don’t see any problem with the Mass last Oct.24. That group has as much right as any other to use the church to celebrate the Eucharist for as long as the proper decorum in church is observed. I believe you will be perfectly within your right to act if the gathering becomes violent and unruly,” Msgr. Cruz told PSG Commander Bangit.
To assert his point, the monsignor again allowed another anti-Arroyo group-the Bukluran Para sa Katotohanan to hold a Mass at San Miguel Church last Thursday. Despite the presence of Manila policemen inside the courtyard and even inside the church, organizers finished the Mass celebrated by Bishop Teodoro Bacani.
Pamalakaya said Malacañang has no right to ban peaceful anti-Arroyo protests and gatherings critical to the present administration of President Arroyo. The group said Roman Catholic churches even if these are located within the security radius of Malacañang do not belong to Palace but to millions of Roman Catholic churchgoers and believers.
“ It is high time for the CBCP to declare all churches as repression free-zones and sanctuaries for those who want truth and justice to come out. We ask the CBCP leadership to make it official and disregard Malacañang’s political and religious persecution of people who believed that she is the worst president this country has ever had and she must be held accountable for her grave crimes against the people and believers of this country,” Pamalakaya said.
Aside from San Miguel Church, the militant group appealed to the CBCP to declare other churches within the vicinity of Malacañang and Mendiola as repression free-zone areas like St. Jude near Gate 7 of Malacañang, San Sebastian Church in Quiapo, Manila, San Beda Church in Mendiola and Bustillos Church in Legarda, Manila. #
CBCP urged to declare Holy War vs. no permit, no Mass policy
Leftist group sees Palace' no permit, no Mass policy a battle between good and evil
Anti-Arroyo activists belonging to the fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Friday urged the influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to condemn the no permit, no Mass policy adopted by Malacañang in nearby churches within the immediate perimeter of the presidential palace.
“ It is now a major battle between good and evil, with the evil empire of Ms Arroyo dictating terms on God’s children and followers and imposing its own will against the will of truth and justice seekers,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.
“ Malacañang is killing the Gospel of faith to save the illegitimate, immoral and anti-Christ regime of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The CBCP must do something to stop this modern-day Herod trapped in a woman’s body in the person of Ms Arroyo,” Hicap added.
The militant leader said the CBCP should not only protest the no-permit, no Mass policy, adding it should also condemn the new repressive measure to high heaven as Hicap further dared the powerful group of bishops to declare “ Holy War” against the Macapagal-Arroyo administration.
Presidential Security Group Commander Brig. Gen. Delfin Bangit in his letter to Msgr. Ernesto Cruz of the National Shrine of St. Michael the Archangel, which is one the Catholic churches within the Palace complex says,” This command respectfully appeals to the fairness and reverence of your church so that political scenarios hidden under the guise of a religious activity could be avoided in the future and thus prevent pious churchgoers from being misled.”
But Msgr. Cruz said the October 24 Mass was a solemn one with no banners and placards and streamers. “ I don’t see any problem with the Mass last Oct.24. That group has as much right as any other to use the church to celebrate the Eucharist for as long as the proper decorum in church is observed. I believe you will be perfectly within your right to act if the gathering becomes violent and unruly,” Msgr. Cruz told PSG Commander Bangit.
To assert his point, the monsignor yesterday afternoon allowed another anti-Arroyo group-the Bukluran Para sa Katotohanan to hold a Mass at San Miguel Church. Despite the presence of Manila policemen inside the courtyard and even inside the church, organizers finished the Mass celebrated by Bishop Teodoro Bacani.
Pamalakaya said Malacañang has no right to ban peaceful anti-Arroyo protests and gatherings critical to the present administration of President Arroyo. The group said Roman Catholic churches even if these are located within the security radius of Malacañang do not belong to Palace but to millions of Roman Catholic churchgoers and believers.
“ It is high time for the CBCP to declare all churches as repression free-zones and sanctuaries for those who want truth and justice to come out. We ask the CBCP leadership to make it official and disregard Malacañang’s political and religious persecution of people who believed that she is the worst president this country has ever had and she must be held accountable for her grave crimes against the people and believers of this country,” Pamalakaya said.
Aside from San Miguel Church, the militant group appealed to the CBCP to declare other churches within the vicinity of Malacañang and Mendiola as repression free-zone areas like St. Jude near Gate 7 of Malacañang, San Sebastian Church in Quiapo, Manila, San Beda Church in Mendiola and Bustillos Church in Legarda, Manila. #
Obando fishers to block Tiangco-MMDA deal on Navotas dumpsite
Obando fisherfolk and residents belonging to Pamalakaya-Bulacan chapter and Obando People’s Alliance Opposed to Dumpsite (Oppose Dumpsite) on Friday vowed to block what it called
‘a looming immoral deal’ between Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco and Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair Bayani Fernando that would allow the dumping of NCR garbage in Navotas Controlled Disposal Facility (NCDF) in Barangay Tanza, Navotas.
“ We cannot allow such preposterous deal. That is immoral and grossly inimical to the collective interest of fisherfolk and ordinary people of Obando,” says Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.
Hicap added: Tiangco and Fernando should drop their stupid deal like a hot potato. It would not gain the support of any rational and decent-thinking people.”
Mayor Tiangco on Wednesday said he was open to the possibility of MMDA’s using the Tanza dump as substitute to help avert a possible garbage crisis after Rodriguez Mayor Pedro Cuerpo banned the MMDA from using the Montalban Solid Waste Disposal Facility.
“ We warn Tiangco and Chairman Fernando that the garbage war against the Navotas dumpsite will spill over the streets of Navotas and EDSA in Makati where the MMDA holds office if they would insist this garbage conspiracy to the detriment of the Obando people and the environment,” Hicap added.
Mayor Cuerpo decided to stop accepting garbage from Metro Manila after MMDA failed to settle its obligations with the local government unit of Rodriguez and the private operator amounting to P 183 million in unpaid fees.
Chairman Fernando said MMDA will be forced to dump Metro Manila’s garbage to Payatas facility in Quezon City and Navotas Controlled Disposal Facility in Brgy. Tanza, which is just 50 meters away from Obando town in Bulacan.
“ Definitely we will not subscribe to this idea and allow the Tiangco-Bayani tandem to transform the Navotas Dumpsite into a garbage colony or a garbage capital of the Philippines. Why not throw their garbage in Malacañang. That’s the best alternative dumpsite in Metro Manila,” Pamalakaya’s Hicap said.
Mayor Tiangco said the MMDA should compel the municipality and officials of Obando to act and allow Metro Manila garbage to be dumped in Navotas dumpsite, which Pamalakaya described as nothing but a desperate act on the part of Mayor Tiangco and Navotas dump contractor Philippine Ecology Systems Corp.
Pamalakaya-Bulacan and Oppose Dumpsite had been barricading the Binuangan River to block the entry of PHILECO’s barges to and from the Navotas dumpsite in Tanza. They said the operation of the dump was polluting the river and had caused several diseases among residents, mostly old folks, women and children.
On October 6, Judge Alexander P. Tamayo of Branch 15 of Malolos Regional Trial Court issued a 20-day restraining order against the barricade to allow Phileco barges to pass through the Binuangan River from October 20 to 26.
However, Tiangco expects the barricade to resume after the 20-day TRO lapsed two days ago. The Navotas Mayor was hopeful that the court would eventually allow PHILECO barges to come in pointing out that the blockade was illegal and that the Department of Environment of Natural Resources had granted the garbage contractor a permit until the end of the year. #
Central Luzon officials, lawmakers pressed to
lead probe on festival of killings in the region, urged them to agree on Palparan's ouster in Central Luzon
Leaders of the left leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Thursday urged all Central Luzon local government officials and lawmakers to lead the investigation on the ' festival of killings' against militant and political activists in the region.
Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap advanced the proposal despite Malacañang ordered the creation of Task Force headed by the Philippine National Police to investigate the recent killings of Hacienda Luisita labor leader Ricardo Ramos and four other activists in the region over the past 24 hours.
Yesterday, alleged military-backed assassins riding inside a van suddenly sprayed bullets on Francisco Rivera, chair of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Pampanga chapter and companions Dr. Angel David and Von John Maniti.
On the same day, late afternoon, unknown assassins shot dead transport leader Federico de Leon, president of Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide in Bulacan. De Leon was also the provincial chair of party list group Anakpawis. Prior to his chairmanship of Piston-Bulacan and Anakpawis, the assassinated leader was the chair of Pamalakaya-Bulacan between 1990-1994.
" We don't trust this Task Force. It is just part of the grand design to deceive the public and take truth and justice seekers to an endless roller coaster ride. With Maj. General Jovito Palparan and Nolcom officials at the helm of or part of the probe, the chance for truth and justice to triumph is nil," Hicap added.
The leftist leader said Tarlac Gov. Apeng Yap, Pampanga Gov. Mark Lapid and Bulacan Gov. Josie dela Cruz together with Central Luzon based lawmakers are highly obliged to condemn the killings and initiate their own investigation to put an end to this regional wide campaign of terror by pro-Arroyo military officials and operatives in the region.
Pamalakaya's Hicap was also counting on the support of Senators Ramon Magsaysay Jr(Zambales), Richard Gordon (Olongapo City), Senator Lito Lapid (Pampanga) and House Speaker Jose de Venecia (Pangasinan). " These top guns of Central Luzon politics are politically obliged too to make their presence felt and stop Ms Arroyo loyalists headed by Palparan from transforming the region into a killing field for militants and political activists," Hicap asserted.
" Something must be done to stop the military death squad from attacking aboveground leaders of the open and legal national democratic organizations in Central Luzon. Governors Yap, Lapid and dela Cruz can start their respective or joint inquiry to the roaring rampage of political killings and state violence in the region," Hicap added.
For a start, Pamalakaya asked Central Luzon governors and mayors, as well as lawmakers in the region to collectively pressed for the removal Maj. Gen. Palparan in the region and immediate relief of all Nolcom and PNP officials in Central Luzon while cases of recent political killings are being investigated by any independent body or task force initiated by local government officials and lawmakers.
" Why not pass a common resolution or political resolve calling for Palparan's ouster in Central Luzon. Why not order the AFP and the Department of National Defense to confine Palparan to military barracks even to mental hospital in Mandaluyong. This guy's fetish and obsession for activists' blood is given impunity by the present leadership in Malacañang and the Armed Forces," Pamalakaya told Central Luzon officials and lawmakers.
GMA told: Face People’s Court
A group of leftwing fisherfolk activists on Wednesday urged President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to come to the People’s Court known as Citizens’ Congress for Truth and Accountability and reply on charges of election fraud, corruption and human rights violations filed against her.
The fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said President Arroyo is politically, morally and constitutionally obliged to attend and submit herself to prosecution during series of hearings slated next month.
The hearings are slated from 9 a.m to 1.pm on Nov.8 and 9 at the University of the Philippines Diliman Campus in Quezon City and on November 15 and 16 at the University of Makati. Organizers expect 400 multi-sectoral and sectoral leaders to participate in the four-day hearings.
“ Ms Arroyo has no legal, moral and political basis to snub the people’s court. She is ordered by the people to face trial and she must accede to their collective sentiment and national will,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.
The People’s Court will be headed by former Vice-President Teofisto Guingona Jr., legal luminaries, recognized members of the civil society, church leaders and their organizations and other former government officials known for their hard stance against corruption, fraud and human rights violations.
“ Ms Arroyo is sure to get fair and objective trial here, because the composition of people working for the People’s Court are not beholden to her or to any opposition party, but to the Filipino people,” Pamalakaya’s Hicap added.
The leftist leader again invoked Article XIII, Section 15 of the 1987 Constitution, which provided the constitutional basis for the establishment of alternative People’s Court to purse and protect the collective interests and aspirations through peaceful and legal means.
The provision states: Article XIII, Section 15, which recognizes the role of independent people’s organizations to pursue within the democratic framework their legitimate and collective interests and aspirations through peaceful and lawful means.
Pamalakaya’s Hicap defended the People’s Court from Malacañang’s offensive and blasted Palace spokesperson and Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye for dismissing the alternative court as “ kangaroo court” designed by opposition forces to get media mileage at the expense of Ms Arroyo.
“ The People’s Court is independent and made up of people with clean conscience, good track records and unbridled commitment to serve the Filipino people. We expect a fair and square trial for Ms Arroyo, in which any decision and conclusion would be based on facts and figures and established events and circumstances,” he added.
“ We are wondering why everybody in Malacañang is in panic about this noble body,” Hicap adding that the organizers of the People’s Court will invite Ms Arroyo, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales and the Villaraza and Angcangco law firm that handles the legal affairs of the Macapagal-Arroyo family would be invited and subpoenaed to defend the chief Executive from charges of election fraud, corruption and human rights violations.
Pamalakaya said, instead of reacting violently to the idea of People’s Court, President Arroyo should be grateful to the organizers and welcome their initiatives because they provided an alternative venue for Ms Arroyo to face her accusers in an independent court. #
Effective November 1
E-VAT to push prices of galunggong, tilapia to P 110 per kilo beginning November, militant group’s study reveal
The average price per kilo of galunggong and tilapia will hit one hundred peso mark starting November 1, the first-day of the implementation of the expanded-value added tax (E-VAT), after the Supreme Court last week ruled with finality the constitutionality of the controversial tax law.
The left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said current prices of poor man’s fishes ranging from an average of P 80 to P 90 per kilo would jack up between P 100 to P 110 per kilo beginning Nov.1.
“ There’s no one to blame but this corrupt and uncaring regime of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Her regressive and anti-national tax measure will eventually take away galunggong and tilapia away from our poor people’s dining tables beginning next month,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.
“ This is more devastating that the calibrated preemptive response. This is national destruction’s of everyone’s stomach, an across the nation campaign of the government to intensify poverty, famine and hunger,” Hicap warned.
Hicap added that E-VAT law would trigger a social volcano against the embattled regime of Ms Arroyo, adding that the implementation of the new tax measure will spark uncontrollable protests in the streets that would cause the political career of the incumbent administration.
Pamalakaya’s computations shows that E-VAT would automatically increase post harvest production by 10 percent since traders would reflect the increase in cost of production that would entail preservation and transport of raw fishery products to the market. The group said the retailers would impose another 10 percent mark up to cover additional expenses and profits.
But Pamalakaya’s Hicap maintained that small fisherfolk would not benefit anything from the expected surge in the prices of fishery products due to E-VAT because it is the traders, not them who control and dictate the price of their harvests.
“ President Arroyo and her IMF-WB worshippers in Congress should be condemned by the Filipino people for plotting and sneaking out this highway robbery in broad daylight to satisfy the corporate lords of globalization and certified plunderers in the Macapagal-Arroyo government,” the leftist leader added. Pamalakaya presented a number of most sought fishery products in the market or those most ordinary Filipinos buy and their projected costs beginning Nov.1.
Fishery Products Current Prices per kilo Projected cost with EVAT
Galunggong P 90.00 P 110.00
Tilapia 90.00 110.00
Bangus 100.00 120.00
Sapsap 90.00 110.00
Tamban 60.00 80.00
Tambakol 80.00 100.00
Bisugo 100.00 120.00
Tuyo (dried fish) 120.00 150.00
Tinapa (smoked fish) 120.00 150.00
Hasa-hasa 100.00 120.00
CHR pressed to file charges against CPR, Mendiola ban implementors
Leftwing activists belonging to Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Tuesday asked the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to file charges before the Department of Justice or any appropriate court against implementors of the calibrated response policy (CPR) and the ban on mass actions on Mendiola Bridge.
Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap advanced the proposal after CHR commissioner Wilhelm Soriano declared the government’s CPR and no-rally zone policy as illegal. “ So after declaring that CPR and the Mendiola ban have no legal basis, what’s next? We hope the CHR will go extra mile in challenging these extreme measures for extreme repression adopted by President Arroyo,” Hicap asserted.
Commissioner Soriano stressed that any ordinance that would collide with a constitutional guarantee on peaceful assembly, that local ordinance will only serve as a regulatory power of the mayor but not in any way exist as prior restraint to peaceful assembly citing a Supreme Court ruling concerning a case where local ordinance was used to ban protests outside the US Embassy in Manila.
The militant leader said his group welcomed the CHR findings and opinions about illegality and unconstitutionality of CPR and no-rally zone policy, but Hicap said CHR should go another mile by filing criminal and administrative charges against those who executed the policies.
“ The CHR, as a duly constituted authority is politically, legally and constitutionally obliged to file charges against the implementors of CPR and no-rally policy before the Department of Justice or any appropriate court,” he said.
The CHR commissioner also said policies requiring anti-government groups to seek a permit to a rally and the use of water cannons have no legal basis. Soriano said the consensus among the commissioners was reached during the CHR discussion of the Oct.14 dispersal of a prayer rally near Mendiola.
Hicap said the CHR should file criminal and administrative charges against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, PNP Chief Arturo Lomibao, NCRPO Chief Vidal Querol, Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, Manila Police District chief Pedro Bulaong and MPD ground commanders who administered the series of violent dispersal of activists in Mendiola over the past two weeks.
“If the CHR would not file criminal and administrative charges against government and police authorities involved in the violent dispersal of rallyists, their statement about the illegality and unconstitutionality of CPR and no-rally zone policy would remain a motherhood statement, unless the commission go for a giant kill and flex muscles to its declaration,” the leftist leader added.
The Pamalakaya leader said their colleagues are now consulting a battery of lawyers, including human rights lawyers, legal luminaries and civil libertarians on what charges would be filed against local government and police authorities who executed the CPR and Mendiola ban policies.
“ Definitely we would go beyond the scope of Batasang Pambansa 880. The charges against government and police officials would range from violations of Revised Penal Code and Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act up to grave desecration of the 1987 Constitution,” Hicap added. #
Militants find GMA’s surprise visit to critical senators, cheap, hopeless and incorrigible
Pamalakaya tags GMA an unwanted political gatecrasher
It was cheap, hopeless and incorrigible.
That was how critics of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo described her surprised visit at a dinner of the Senate Wednesday Group composed of Senators Joker Arroyo, Manuel Villar, Francis Pangilinan, Ralph Recto and Pia Cayetano.
“ An unwanted political gatecrasher has no right to intervene, drop by or show up in any political and social meetings of his or her detractors. That is a foul play, a cardinal sin for breaking up the political protocol”, said Pamalakaya information officer Gerry Albert Corpuz in a press statement.
Corpuz’s group recently joined the weeklong Peasant Caravan that started on October 16 and ended last Friday in a march rally at Recto Avenue corner Morayta street in Manila, few hundred meters away from Mendiola Bridge.
“ The tour-de-force performance of Ms Arroyo as an attention getter and undesirable political gatecrasher will not merit any public acceptance. On the other hand, the people will just see it as another cheap publicity stunt of Ms Arroyo’s hired PR machinery in Malacañang,” Corpuz stressed.
Senate Majority Leader Pangilinan said members of the Wednesday group were all surprised when Ms Arroyo dropped in to enjoy an evening of red wine, fusion, food, cordial talk, even laughter with the president’s vocal critics at the upper chamber of Congress.
“ We agree with Sen. Pangilinan that members of the Wednesday Group were ambushed by the President, together with her most trusted associates--- DENR Secretary Michael Defensor and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr., “ the group’s information chief stressed.
Pamalakaya’s Corpuz said members of the Wednesday group should not only view it as part of the charm offensive and the back-channeling efforts of President Arroyo to ease tension between Malacañang and the Senate over the Upper House investigation on controversial issues involving the Chief Executive like the Hello Garci tape, the Venable LLP contract, the North Rail Project, the GMA fertilizer scam and the jueteng payola scandal and the Senate detention of National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales.
“ The purpose is to let the Wednesday Club senators know that Ms Arroyo is well informed about their informal and formal meetings and that Malacañang is watching every move and breath they take. The Pinay Big Sister is engaged in spying and psy war activities against her vocal critics and detractors in the Senate,” Corpuz said.
President Arroyo had openly castigating the Senate for pushing the investigation of several issues raised against her by critics calling these investigations in aid of legislation and assailed lawmakers for detaining her security adviser and for questioning her Executive Order 464 prohibiting all government officials from attending any congressional inquiry without her consent.
Sixteen senators including Pangilinan and Recto had signed the Senate Resolution challenging EO 464 before the Supreme Court, while Pangilinan joined Senate President Franklin Drilon in calling for the resignation of President Arroyo on July 8. As for Villar, his wife Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar had signed the impeachment complaint against Ms Arroyo. #
Rural activists declare countryside “ Querol free zones”
KMP, Pamalakaya slam NCRPO chief for calling them a class of terrorist from countryside
Organizers of the weeklong Peasant March which culminated in yesterday’s rally in Recto corner Morayta Streets in Manila castigated NCRPO chief Vidal Querol for sweepingly categorizing their members as a class in the countryside sowing terror among the people in the National Capital Region.
In a joint press statement, the militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Saturday took turns in berating the chief of the NCR police authority dismissing his remarks against farmers and fisherfolk who tried to march to Mendiola yesterday as a “ class in the countryside sowing terror and disorder” in main capital.
“ The NCRPO chief who wants to become an urban legend by defending the cheating executive through massive build up of military and police fortress within the Malacañang garrison committed the biggest political blunder of his life as police officer,” leaders Willy Marbella of KMP and Fernando Hicap of Pamalakaya said in a joint press statement.
“ Querol is either a political bully or a political psychotic who uses his rank to satisfy his obsession for peasant’s blood in the countryside. He is terrorist and certified human rights violator who will practically do anything, everything to save the female dictator in Malacañang,” both leaders said.
KMP and Pamalakaya said they would not forgive and forget Querol’s terrorist tagging and class bashing against their ranks as they vowed to apply an across-the-nation, across-the-sea campaign declaring the controversial NCRPO chief persona non-grata in peasant and fisherfolk areas where they have their leadership and mass membership.
KMP’s Marbella said his group’s chapters in 64 provinces and 15 regions and Pamalakaya’s Hicap whose group is found in 43 provinces and 5 regions would declare their respective territories as “ Gloria and Querol free zone areas”. “ Huwag na huwag siyang makakatapak ng kanayunan. Sasalubungin namin siya ng protesta kahit saan siya naroon. Hindi siya welcome sa kanayunan,” Marbella and Hicap said.
Marbella and Hicap said Querol knew of the presence of military intelligence operatives deployed to infiltrate and sabotage the weeklong Peasant March which started in Calamba, Laguna on October 16 and ended yesterday afternoon in Recto, Manila.
During the protest vigil set at the Department of Agrarian Reform national office in Quezon City, the protesters caught retired army officer 2nd Lt. Eliseo Madrid, 60 for infiltrating and monitoring their protest activity. He was caught carrying a .45 caliber Llama pistol in his pants.
The following day, yesterday morning at DAR before the Southern Tagalog peasant activists prepared their caravan to Mendiola, protesters confronted marine Sgt. Fernando Alcantara on suspicion that he was an infiltrator.
The peasant and fisherfolk protesters after inspecting his belongings found out a .45 caliber pistol and mission order from the Philippine Marines to spy on the protesters. “ Now, General Querol who are the real terrorists? Do you need more proof?” KMP and Pamalakaya asked.
Leftist group urged CBCP bishops to
issue pastoral letter on Sunday vs. CPR
Militants appeal to CBCP bishops to ring alarm bells against rising tyranny and repression
Leftwing activists belonging to Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Tuesday asked bishops objecting the calibrated preemptive response (CPR) to issue a pastoral letter condemning the policy and other repressive measures being implemented by the Macapagal-Arroyo government.
Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap directed the request to Bishop Antonio Tobias of Novaliches, Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez of Caloocan, Bishop Antonio Labayen of Infanta, Quezon, Archbishops Angel Lagdameo of Jaro, Oscar Cruz of Lingayen and Jesus Tuquib of Cagayan de Oro City, Bishop Vicente Navarra of Bacolod City, Archbishop Antonio Ledesma of Ipil, Bishop Chito Tagle of Imus and Leo Drona of San Pablo City.
The leftist leader also made the appeal to Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales and other bishops of the influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), which according to Bishop Tobias would soon come out with a strong and solid position against the Martial Law-like regime of President Arroyo.
“ Heaven knows the cruel intentions of President Arroyo why she unleashed this political monster known as CPR and other similar repressive measures. It is time to ring the church’s alarm bells against the emergence of a female dictator, rising tyranny and repression,” Hicap added.
Another request of Hicap’s group was for the CBCP bishops to open their cathedrals, churches, chapels and schools as sanctuaries to all victims of CPR and other repressive measures of the government that stops short of declaring the country under martial rule and dictatorship employed by the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos from 1972 to 1986.
“ The country is under undeclared Martial Law and the bishops are called by Gospel to disseminate the truth to the people for proper collective action,” Pamalakaya’s Hicap stressed.
Top leaders of the Roman Catholic Church and the CBCP, including its incoming chair Archbishop Lagdameo over the weekend assailed last Friday’s brutal dispersal of rallyists, who include Bishops Tobias, Labayen and Iñiguez, Vice-President Teofisto Guingona Jr., Senator Jamby Madrigal, Bayan Muna party list Rep. Satur Ocampo and former Pangasinan Gov. Oscar Orbos.
Bayan, Pamalakaya, Gloria Step Down Movement and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, the main organizers of the big rally this Friday at the Mendiola Bridge in Manila said they had invited former VP Guingona and the three bishops who joined last Friday’s rally in Don Chino Roces bridge.
The organizers also extended a verbal invitation to Senator Jamby Madrigal and other opposition and administration lawmakers critical of the CPR, the no permit, no rally policy and the no-rally zone of Malacañang to join farmer activists in their protest this Friday.
Pamalakaya said 5,000 peasant, fisherfolk, worker and urban poor activists from Bicol, Southern Tagalog, Central Luzon, Ilocos Region, Cordillera and Cagayan Valley would troop to Mendiola on Friday. They would be joined by 10,000 Metro Manila activists from urban poor group Kadamay, leftist worker's group Kilusang Mayo Uno, youth and student group Anakbayan and women group Gabriela. #
Militant group to distribute 1,000 copies of Bill of Rights document to arm protesters on Oct.21 protest with constitutional ammunition vs. anti-riot cops
Leftwing activists belonging to Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Monday said they would produce and distribute over 1,000 copies of a document pertaining to Article 3 of the 1987 Constitution or the Bill of Rights provision in the 18-year old charter in their rally on October 21 at Mendiola in Manila to equip protesters with a solid document upholding their guaranteed rights under the fundamental law of the land.
The article on Bill of Rights encompasses 22 sections concerning guaranteed basic human and constitutional rights of the every Filipino that includes the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.
“ We will pass around over 1,000 copies of the document to our colleagues who would join the protest at Mendiola on Friday. We just want to say to President Arroyo and her truncheon beating and water blasting cops that our protest is politically correct, legitimate and guaranteed by the highest law of the land,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.
Peasant and fisherfolk activists numbering to 5,000 from Bicol, Southern Tagalog, Central and Northern Luzon will converge at the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) national office on Thursday for a vigil protest and would march to Mendiola the next day.
Organizers of the Peasant Long March Against Arroyo’s Open Fascist and Dictatorial Rule and For Genuine Land Reform, Just Wages, Jobs and Justice led by the left-leaning alliance Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and the anti-Arroyo coalition Gloria Step Down Movement (GSM) said the 5,000 rural force would be augmented by 10,000 NCR-based activists on Friday, mostly workers, urban poor, students and youth.
Hicap added: “ We will show to the antiriot policemen right in their faces that they are grossly violating the basic and constitutional rights of the people by enforcing the calibrated preemptive response, the no permit no rally policy and the no-rally zone policy of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration.”
Section 4 ,Article 3 of the 1987 Constitution states that no law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech and other freedoms such as expression, free press and the right of the people to peaceful assembly.
The militant leader said the controversial CPR and the no permit no rally policy, in essence were declared illegal and unconstitutional by the 18-year old charter. Pamalakaya’s Hicap if the anti-riot cops would insist to break up their rally on Friday, the would file not only violations of human rights and other criminal charges ,but would also file charges in violations of the Constitution under its article on Bill of Rights.
“ We will proceed to Mendiola to protest Ms Arroyo’s agrarian crimes against the Filipino peasantry, denounce her repressive measures to high heavens, reiterate that she is an illegal and immoral occupant of Malacañang, that we assail her government for orchestrating political killings and massive violations of human rights and for plunder ,which is the principal source of her current unexplained wealth,” Hicap asserted.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye last Friday said Malacañang will adopt a US policy preventing any protest actions within a broad perimeter within the White House. Details of such plans were still being discussed with top security officials and Manila Mayor Lito Atienza. #
Protest form of art against extreme poverty, repression
Anti-Arroyo activists stage body paint session for protest’s sake
Leftwing activists belonging to Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and agrarian reform advocates from Nnara-Youth let their bodies individually painted with anti-Gloria slogans on Sunday at the UP Oblation ground in Diliman Campus, Quezon City.
“ This is for protest’s sake and for art’s sake too,” says Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement. The leftist leader, one of the leading leftist personalities in the broad movement to remove President Arroyo said the body paint session is a regular fixture in any mass action against Ms Arroyo since 2001.
“ This time we will use our warm bodies to deliver a strong message against Ms Arroyo. Our message through body painting can challenge Ms Arroyo’s military and police fortress in Malacañang,” Hicap said.
He added: “The painting of anti-Arroyo slogans on warm bodies of protesters would mean one thing: they would be bolder and more daring in staging next anti-Gloria rallies in Manila and other protest centers nationwide.”
Staff of Pamalakaya and KMP together with student activists of Nnara-Youth held a two-hour body painting session at the famous UP Oblation statue in UP Diliman to dramatize the rural people’s call for the ouster of President Arroyo and genuine agrarian reform.
They allowed their bodies and faces painted with slogans and calls like “ Oust GMA, Oust Gloria, No to CPR, No to Emergency Rule, Yes to Genuine Land Reform and Gloria, Puppet, Fascist, Corrupt and Enemy of the People”.
“ The extreme poverty and extreme repression in the countryside are top reasons why more than 10,000 farmers, workers, urban poor and fisherfolk will troop to Mendiola on October 21 to engage Ms Arroyo in a major political showdown,” said Hicap referring to forthcoming rally in Mendiola bridge in Manila on Friday.
Organizers of the big rally on Friday billed their protest action as Peasant and People’s March against Arroyo’s Open Fascist and Dictatorial Rule and for Land, Wages, Jobs and Justice. They expect to reiterate issues raised against Ms Arroyo including but not limited to sorry state of land reform in the country, the Hello Garci tape, the controversial P 728 million Masaganang Ani Fund, the political killings of activists, the State of National Emergency, the calibrated preemptive response, the no permit, no rally policy, EO 464 and EO 467.
Pamalakaya and KMP chapters in Southern Tagalog will start marching to Manila starting 4 pm today from Crossing in Calamba, Laguna.
Hicap expects about 2,000 farmers, fisherfolk, workers and urban poor to join the march from Laguna to Manila. The leftist leader said the Southern Tagalog contingent will stay in Biñan the following day, Baclaran on October 19 and Department of Agrarian Reform national office in Quezon City on October 20, prior to the big march to Mendiola on Friday.
Pamalakaya said over 3,000 peasant activists from Central and Northern Luzon will stage a caravan from San Fernando junction in Pampanga to Muñoz Market in Quezon City on October 20. From Muñoz, they would march to DAR national office to join protesters from Southern Tagalog for a vigil protest. #
Militants to test no-rally zone policy on Friday
Leftist group eyes Malacañang’s freedom park
as another venue for anti-Arroyo protest
Despite Palace pronouncement that it would set up a virtual fortress in Malacañang to thwart protest rallies near the presidential palace, the leftist fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) insisted that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo should allow anti-government rallies in Malacañang’s Freedom Park—few meters away from the Palace gate.
“ It is a certified and declared freedom park. Under their own reactionary law, protests can be staged in any declared freedom park all over the country, so by the standard and orientation set by their own reactionary law, we can hold everyday protest in Malacañang Freedom Park,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap.
But Hicap maintained that rallies should be mainly held in Mendiola, saying the historic bridge, which served as a major battleground against the Marcos dictatorship does not belong to Ms Arroyo and her company of fascist generals and officials, but to the Filipino people who fought and won their fight against the strongman rule in February 1896.
“ Aside from Mendiola, the Filipino people should reclaim Malacañang’s Freedom Park from Ms Arroyo’s inglorious presidency and syndicated rule,” he said, stressing that the no-rally radius around the Palace as proposed by Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye and Manila Mayor Lito Atienza was absolutely outrageous and illogical.
Ms Arroyo’s presidential spokesman on Friday said Malacañang would adopt the US policy prohibiting rallies within a broad perimeter around the White House, in this case, nearby streets and main roads connecting to and from Malacañang Palace.
“ If you analyze Bunye’s crazy proposal, Malacañang would close the entire stretch of Ramon Magsaysay Blvd., Nagtahan Bridge, Gov. Forbes Avenue, Recto Avenue, Ayala Avenue leading to Malacañang, Morayta cor. Recto and the entire España Road from Welcome Rotonda in Quezon City to UST in Manila,” Hicap said.
The leftist leader said President Arroyo would soon declare these areas as no man’s land for anti-Arroyo activists and would soon execute an order asking the police to arrest or even shoot activists planning to stage mass action near the broad perimeter set up by Malacañang against any anti-Arroyo rallies.
“ This is worst as the French Bastille in medieval France and America’s Alcatraz. Ms Arroyo is setting up a political killing field for all anti-Arroyo protesters in defense of her immoral and illegitimate regime,” Hicap said.
Pamalakaya said peasant and fisherfolk activists from Bicol, Southern Tagalog, Central Luzon and Northern Luzon provinces will stage a bigger protest on Friday, October 21 to denounce President Arroyo’s bogus land reform program, the implementation of calibrated preemptive response, the no permit, no rally policy, EO 464 and EO 467, the ongoing political killings allegedly perpetrated by the armed forces and national police and the massive graft and corruption in the government.
“ This time we will test the no-rally zone policy of Ms Arroyo that virtually transforms Malacañang into a modern-day fortress for oppression,” the group said. #
Oct. 14 evening water blast part of Palace campaign to justify emergency rule, says leftist group
It was part of Malacañang’s calibrated campaign to justify the imposition of emergency rule.
Leftwing fisherfolk activists belonging to Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said top security officials of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered policemen to turn jets of water to leaders of protest procession against former Vice-President Teofisto Guingona, Bishops Antonio Tobias, Deogracias Iñiguez and Julio Labayen and Bayan Muna party list Rep. Satur Ocampo to convince the public that there was a breakdown in the peace and order situation in the country--- a requisite to justify the President’s declaration of State of National Emergency.
“ The state-engineered tragedy last night was part of the calibrated campaign to justify the imposition of State of National Emergency. It was one of the requirements asked by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita to justify Ms Arroyo’s declaration of emergency rule, which is an inch closer to Martial Law,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap.
Hicap said President Arroyo and Sec. Ermita were moving heaven and earth to sneak out the declaration of emergency rule at the expense of people’s legitimate right to assembly and free speech. He recalled that during a press briefing last week Sec. Ermita said the condition of peace and order breakdown was necessary for Malacañang to enable Ms Arroyo to declare an emergency rule.
“ Nobody is safe now from the Arroyo-Ermita political mafia. If they did it to a former vice-president, to three top leaders of the Roman Catholic Church, to an incumbent senator and congressmen and to nuns and priests, what more with ordinary people and struggling activists? The country is grave danger under the stewardship of present Malacañang occupants,” the leftist leader added.
The site of ex-VP Guingona, lawmakers, three aging prelates, nuns and priests and two images of Virgin Mary held aloft during the protest procession did not stop antiriot cops from blasting the marchers with water cannons Friday evening.
On the same day, at the Palace Executive House, presidential spokesperson and Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye told reporters that Malacañang was setting up a virtual fortress adopting the US policy of prohibiting rallies within the broad perimeter around the White House.
Ms Arroyo’s spokesman said the Palace was finalizing details of the White House like policy with Manila Mayor Lito Atienza who was present at the briefing.
But Pamalakaya said the virtual fortress set up by Malacañang would be challenged anew by rural-based activists on October 21, the 33 year anniversary of former President Ferdinand Marcos PD 27, a Martial Law edict on land reform.
The militant group said not less than 10,000 farmers, fisherfolk, agricultural workers and urban poor from Ilocos Region, Cordillera provinces, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog and Bicol regions would march to Mendiola to defy the calibrated preemptive response (CPR) and no permit, no rally policy and against the declaration of emergency rule.
“ There’s no turning back. Thousands of rural-based warm bodies are politically and physically prepared to defy the CPR, the no permit, no rally policy and challenge Malacañang’s own version of French Bastille right at its’ doorsteps come what may,” Pamalakaya said. #
Dee, Varela and Chua: new cronies backing Gloria’s undeclared Martial Law
Leftist group sees new “ Danding Cojuangcos”
in top 3 pro-GMA businessmen
Leftwing activists belonging to Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Friday assailed three of the country’s top businessmen as the new “ Eduardo ‘ Danding’ Cojuangcos” of the millennium for supporting President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s iron fist policy in dealing with the political situation facing the country.
In a press statement, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap tagged businessmen Donald Dee, head of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Miguel Varela, PCCI honorary chair and Francis Chua, president of the Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce as “ frontline cronies” backing the Martial Law like rule of President Arroyo.
Cojuangco, a former crony of President Marcos was one of the few businessmen during Martial Law, who helped the late strongman hatched the imposition of martial rule in exchange for the control of controversial coconut levy fund and San Miguel Corporation- the country’s largest food and beverage company in the country.
Pamalakaya’s Hicap drew the parallelism between Cojuangco and the group of Dee after the latter publicly supported the tough stance employed by Ms Arroyo against her critics and political foes, which stops short of endorsing the alleged Palace plans to impose a martial law inspired State of National Emergency.
“ Dee, Varela and Chua are reprising the same role performed by Danding Cojuangco during the Marcos dictatorship. They now comprised the new breed of cronies providing political, material and logistical support to Ms Arroyo’s Martial Law project and obsession to national security policy,” Hicap asserted.
At the 31st Philippine Business Conference and Exposition, business leaders led by Dee, Varela and Chua applauded the President’s fighting stance against her foes after enduring months of political instability triggered by allegations that she stole the 2004 presidential elections.
President Arroyo used the occasion as another staging ground in attacking her political foes and critics blasting the anti-Arroyo forces of undermining her efforts to lift the economy and impeding the progress of nation for the sake of their unquenchable thirst for power.
Dee and Chua in separate statements said they were glad that Ms Arroyo decided to take off her kid gloves and decided to deal her foes head on. Dee said that the President’s show of political strength will transfer to more determined efforts to implement economic reforms, while Chua for his part said the business sector affirmed its’ support to Ms Arroyo’s firm and decisive leadership in running the country’s economic affairs.
But Pamalakaya’s Hicap said the statements of Dee and Chua were clear endorsement of Malacañang’s plans to impose an undeclared Martial Law through an Executive Order placing the entire country under State of National Emergency, that would allow the President to implement sweeping massive warrantless arrests against opposition forces and critics and takeover of businesses allegedly owned and operated by critics of President Arroyo.
“ Dee and his company of pro-GMA businessmen deserved wholesale public condemnation for providing political premium and weight to Ms Arroyo’s illegitimate, corrupt and brutal leadership. This is not business as usual, this is business unusual,” the leftist leader added. #
“Down with the US-backed Macapagal-Arroyo dictatorship”
Leftist group revives ‘ famous anti-dictatorship call’ to fight GMA
Leftwing activists belonging to Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Thursday revived a 33-year-old political slogan against Marcos dictatorship and Martial Law as its rallying call to remove President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
In a press conference announcing the week-long peasant protest in the National Capital Region and key cities nationwide against President Arroyo, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap displayed a placard bearing the slogan “ Down with the US-backed Macapagal-Arroyo dictatorship”.
Political analysts and Martial Law veterans said Pamalakaya’s revival of the slogan“ Down with the US-backed Marcos dictatorship” popularized at the height of the people’s fight against the late strongman ex-President Ferdinand Marcos from early 70’s up to first People Power Revolution in 1986 was in recognition of the present tactical situation.
“ The country is under de facto Martial Law. We are under the US-backed Macapagal-Arroyo dictatorship. Ms Arroyo had imposed calibrated preemptive response and the no permit, no rally policy, the EO 464 and is about to impose state of national emergency,” Pamalakaya’s Hicap stressed.
The leftist leader added: “ Political killings and harassment and government persecution of opposition forces and critics are rampant or massive. This is not democracy, this is full-blown dictatorship in de facto form both in form and in substance.”
The militant group said it also got information that Malacañang Palace would time the declaration while both houses of Congress is in recess to avoid an early confrontation with or deny both chambers the right to legally question the declaration of state of national emergency.
The group said the declaration of national emergency would be announced between October 15 and October 24. Pamalakaya said the psy war agents of President Arroyo since Monday had started publicity promo for state of national emergency by convincing the public of possible terror attacks, worsening peace and order situation and oil crisis with the lifting of Supreme Court suspension on E-VAT implementation.
“ A Malacañang insider tipped this political event. This had been circulated before DoJ Secretary Raul Gonzales announced to the public that he is done with draft executive order placing the country under virtual Martial Law which only needs the signature of Ms Arroyo,” Pamalakaya said.
The militant group hinted that a separate EO would be released right after the declaration of state of national emergency, this time ordering the country’s police and military officials to stage a massive arrest of political leaders and personalities leading the anti-Arroyo demonstrations in the National Capital Region since the Hello Garci wiretapped controversy came in to the picture.
“ There are about over a hundred anti-Arroyo politicians, leaders of militant and civil society groups spearheading the ouster movement against Ms Arroyo would be arrested. It is one of the prescriptions contained in a separate executive order according to an undisclosed source in Malacañang,” Pamalakaya said.
The militant group also said the EO referring to declaration of state of national emergency and the takeover of vital public and private utilities and companies would also be used to justify Malacañang’s takeover of the 5,000-hectare Hacienda Luisita currently locked in dispute between the family of ex-President Corazon Aquino and the sugar farmworkers.
“ President Arroyo would unleash the EO on state of national emergency to get back on Cory and deny the Hacienda Luisita workers of their rights to land, just wages and justice,” Pamalakaya said. # # #
GMA led “ terror drill” in Makati high school
an act of terrorism, says leftist group
Leftwing activists belonging to Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Wednesday blasted President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for leading an anti-terrorism drill inside Andres Bonifacio High School in Guadalupe, Makati City yesterday.
In a press statement, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap described the drill as “ act of state of terrorism saying the sinister motive of the anti-terror exercise was not to inform and prepare the students and school community how to fight terrorism but to condition the minds of the people to accept the government’s anti-terrorism campaign by sheer state terror.
“ It is a modern classic case of government-sponsored state terrorism. It was meant to terrorize the people by no less than the highest official of the land. To simplify the argument, Ms Arroyo yesterday terrorized the academic community of A. Bonifacio High School to gain support for her anti-terror campaign,” Hicap stressed.
Pamalakaya said the terrorism drill facilitated by President Arroyo was a political promotional blitz to her anti-terrorism bill ,which she certified as urgent bill. The militant group said Malacañang was engaging in direct psywar activity to convince the public on the necessity of passing an anti-terrorism law.
In that exercise, a bomb exploded in the school canteen after a student opened a backpack that turned out to be filled with explosives. The backpack was left a terrorist posing as a student. In few minutes, after the explosion, firemen, police and medical authorities hurriedly came in to respond to the terrorist attack, as school officials led their students out of harm’s way.
After the drill, President Arroyo told students and faculties of A. Bonifacio High School about the need of the country to be prepared in case of a terrorist attack. The president said, “ If there’s fire drill and earthquake drill, there should be a terrorism drill”, as she advised other schools to conduct similar drill on terrorism.
But Pamalakaya’s Hicap urged Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay to immediately condemn the terrorism drill initiated by President Arroyo. The leftist leader said the terrorism drill was staged in A. Bonifacio High School in Makati City to embarrass Binay, a staunch opposition and president of the United Opposition (UNO).
“ We ask the honorable mayor of Makati City to denounce this latest political escapade of Ms Arroyo. We cannot allow a terrorist masquerading as top government executive of the country to practice psy war terrorism at the expense of our peace loving and patriotic people,” he said.
Likewise, the militant leader urged other school officials to junk the proposal of Ms Arroyo for them conduct anti-terror exercise inside their schools, saying the idea was not only stupid and absurd, but would only promote fear and psychological trauma among the students and the other members of the school community.
Pamalakaya also asked the Department of Education (DepEd) to look into the criminal and administrative culpabilities of Ms Arroyo and other government officials behind the staging of terrorism drill in A. Bonifacio High School.
“ Something must be done to stop Ms Arroyo’s terror campaign in the name of her stupid and bogus anti-terrorism bill and campaign. Something must be done to stop Arroyo-staged state terrorism in soonest time possible,” the militant group said. # # #
Palace asked: “EO 464 then EO 467, so where’s EO 465, EO 466?”
Leftwing activists belonging to Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Tuesday asked Palace spokesperson and Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye why Malacañang failed to announce the content of EO 456 and E0 466 and announced right away EO 467, which defines the implementation arrangement for the phase 2 of Land Administration and Management Project (LAMP) and the creation of one-stop-shops for the projects in the participating provinces.
EO 467, which was highly anticipated by some quarters, especially the opposition camp as key Palace measure placing the country under a state of national emergency that would allow President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to temporarily takeover vital private industries in the wake of surging prices of petroleum products in the world market and allow the government to arrest members of the opposition and anti-Arroyo groups without warrants.
But Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita dismissed earlier reports about the imminent declaration of Martial Law or state of national emergency as a bum steer.
Last week Malacañang issued EO 464 banning all government officials, including military and police officers from appearing before any congressional hearing investigating alleged irregularities and corruption in the government.
“ So what kind of political animals are EO 465 and EO 466? Why did Secretary Bunye deliberately skip the announcement of two executive orders? From EO 464, the Palace jumped to EO 467, which is very