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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Critics happy with defeat of Miriam’s bid as first woman SC chief
We are happy and we won’t hide it to the public. For us, it is a big slap on the face of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
This was the statement of the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) after the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) on Friday quashed a bid by supporters of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago to extend the deadline for the submission of nominees to the post of Chief Justice so that the lady senator could be included in the list.
“ This calls for a celebration. Everybody knows that President Arroyo was behind the move to have Sen. Santiago as the next and the first woman Supreme Court Chief Justice to replace retiring SC chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. Miriam’s rejection is Ms Arroyo’s rejection too,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.
Voting 6-2, the JBC member and House Deputy Speaker Simeon Datumanong said if they grant the extension to accommodate her and she is chosen, it might not look good for the judiciary and the public might perceive it as political accommodation.
The JBC narrowed down its choices for the SC chief Justice post to Associate Justices Artemio Panganiban, Reynato Puno and Leonardo Quisumbing. Other Associate Justices, who could have qualified as nominees, being senior members of the court, have chosen to give way to the three.
“ Rational and decent thinking people won’t approve such kind of political escapade. President Arroyo is inviting a legal revolution in the offing if she would insist to have Lady Miriam in the SC Chief Justice Post,” said Pamalakaya information officer Gerry Albert Corpuz in another press statement.
“ This will stir a major holocaust in the justice system of this country. It will create a hurricane of protest among genuine crusaders for truth and justice. This is an open declaration of war among truth and justice seekers,” the group’s information chief added.
Pamalakaya’s Corpuz said Ms Arroyo was interested in fielding Sen. Santiago in the Supreme Court soon to be vacated by SC chief justice Davide because she could rely on her in quashing court cases against her or any member of the Cabinet and First Family or she could effect decisions that would allow the president to stay in power and finish her term till 2010.
“ Senator Santiago is a certified puppet of Macapagal-Arroyo. She enjoys the trust and confidence of the ruling political syndicate in Malacañang. This is the reason why Ms Arroyo is pushing Santiago to a syndicated takeover of the SC chief justice post at the expense of the Filipino people’s collective interest for truth, justice and transparency,” Corpuz asserted.
Sen. Santiago, a staunch ally of President Arroyo confirmed that she and President Arroyo had talked about it, but the feisty lawmaker said she had not made up her mind regarding the offer. But the administration senator said she would consider the offer, but she has to finish her term first till 2010.
Sen. Santiago said the Young Lawyers Association of the Philippines asked for her permission to nominate her and she gave her consent, stating that it would be immodest of her to reject the offer and that she would allow her named passed upon by the Judicial and Bar Council. #
Militants laud P 600 million slash on presidential spy fund, but rejects transfer to PNP, AFP
Yes and no. Fisherfolk militants belonging to Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Friday hailed the decision of the Philippine Senate cutting the spy fund allocated to the office of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo by P 600 million, but at the same time rejected the move to transfer said allocations to intelligence agencies held by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
“ It would be better if the Senate transfers the fund allocations to other meaningful undertakings such as education and social services rather than give it away to the national police and the armed forces which are also notorious for super corruption of its higher ups and other unscrupulous officials,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. on Thursday said the Senate agreed to transfer over 600 million pesos of President Arroyo’s intelligence fund to similar agencies in the AFP and PNP, the act drastically reduced the president’s spy fund to 50 million pesos from the original 650 million pesos.
The proposal would center all P 1.2 B budget for intelligence funds to AFP and PNP. Senate President Franklin Drilon was amenable to the proposal to reduce the presidential spy fund to 50 million pesos, saying the senators were receptive to the idea, but they have to wait for the Lower House to submit the 2006 budget to the Senate.
The opposition senator, his colleagues arrived at the decision on the heels of the deaths of seven farmers and the wounding of 10 other farmers in the hands of Army soldiers during a raid in Barangay San Agustin, Palo town, Leyte province on Monday. Sen. Pimentel asserted that the alleged "misencounter" where the soldiers mistook the civilians for communist rebels would have been avoided if sufficient intelligence gathering work had been done before the raid.
“ We appeal to Sen. Pimentel to fully correct the Senate’s decision by denying the AFP and PNP of additional spy funds, and instead channel the 600 million peso spy fund to other legitimate and sensible purposes like education, social services, medical aid and housing,” Pamalakaya’s Hicap said.
But the militant group said the Palo Massacre incident was not a product of sloppy intelligence work contrary to Sen. Pimentel’s observation that the mass murder of agrarian reform beneficiaries was due mainly to poor spy work.
“ The massacre took place because that is what the military want to happen, definitely not because of poor intelligence work. It was intentional because in military’s political term, aboveground activists and ordinary civilians suspected as supporters or sympathizers of the underground movement and communist guerillas are they same and therefore legitimate targets of military operations,” Pamalakaya noted.
Meanwhile, Pamalakaya said the Senate should first demand audit reports from government agencies before they are allowed to discuss the merits and demerits of the proposed budget per line agency. The militant group said lawmakers must first scrutinize how taxpayers’ funds were spent by government agencies before they discuss approval of proposed budget during hearings.
“ The spy fund is one of the bilking cows of government officials, military and police generals because this fund is not subject to any kind of rigid audit and financial scrutiny. A lot of people are making money from the audit-free spy funds,” the group said. #
Militant group seeks “ divine intervention” to
allow relief work in Quezon
Call it ironic, but leaders of a left-leaning group were asking for the “ divine intervention” in Quezon province to allow humanitarian and relief work to proceed in behalf of thousands of affected civilians displaced by the ongoing military operations against the communist guerillas since last week.
Leaders of the leftwing fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Friday asked leaders of the influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to convince the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to refrain from pursuing military operations in Quezon province against communist guerillas and allow humanitarian and relief groups attend to immediate needs of displaced civilians.
In a press statement, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap asked Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, the newly installed CBCP president, to invoke the gospel of truth, justice and peace in calling for the immediate halt on all military operations in Quezon following reports that around 485 families or 2,213 individuals had been displaced by military’s indiscriminate air strikes since Saturday last week.
“ We appeal to CBCP bishops sense of justice and gospel of bias to the poor. Thousands of civilians had been displaced by this blanket act of government and military terror and we cannot sacrifice the lives of ordinary people just to give way to the state campaign of unjust war and violence,” Hicap stressed.
The militant leader requested the CBCP to immediately issue a pastoral letter asking the AFP to immediately halt military operations in Quezon, Leyte and Panay Island and allow humanitarian and relief missions to areas of armed conflict and attend to immediate needs of civilians affected by large-scale military operations.
Pamalakaya’s Hicap also requested the CBCP to open their churches as sanctuaries for civilians displaced by ongoing military offensives against the communist guerillas. He also asked the governor of Quezon, including the province four district congressmen to rally behind the call for the immediate halt in military offensives in the province.
Citing report from the Quick Response Team of the Southern Tagalog groups Karapatan-Timog Katagalugan and Katipunan ng mga Samahang Magbubukid sa Timog Katagalugan (Kasama-TK), Pamalakaya said 230 families or 901 individuals are currently housed in evacuation centers in Tiaong, Quezon, while 235 families or 1,312 individuals fled in nearby barrios away from barangays indiscriminately strafed by military forces.
Pamalakaya said Archbishop Lagdameo and other CBCP bishops are morally obliged to look into the plight of affected civilians displaced by the government’s counter-insurgency operations, adding that the military seemed to be attacking the civilian populace and were not really after their foes in the battlefield.
“ The AFP is attacking the civilians as if they are fair game and legitimate targets of military operations. This standing policy of the military is not only against the protocols governing the conduct of war, but is totally opposed to the teachings and gospels of the Church,” the militant group asserted. #
Lawmakers asked to allow citizens’ arrest on Garci
The leftwing fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng yesterday asked lawmakers involved in investigating the Hello Garci tape Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) to effect a citizen’s arrest on former Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner Virgilio Garcillano after his wife Vicky confirmed that her husband had returned to the country yesterday.
“ Since we cannon rely on the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police to undertake a joint or separate manhunt and subsequent arrest of Commissioner Garcillano, lawmakers in aid of legislation should empower ordinary people to effect a citizen arrest on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s favorite election official,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.
“ It is effective and beside, it recognizes the real power of the people,” Hicap added referring to the proposed citizen’s arrest on former Comelec commissioner Garcillano who left the country five months ago at the height of the discovery of the Hello Garci tape, which placed him in the center of controversy along President Arroyo on the issue of election fraud.
Earlier opposition Senator Panfilo Lacson said the elusive ex-Comelec official was spotted in Mindanao, while Agusan del Sur Rep. Rodolfo Plaza told House members yesterday that Garcillano had returned to the country, almost two weeks ago.
The militant leader questioned PNP Chief Director General Arturo Lomibao and NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco why their respective offices had no reports about the Garcillano’s return to the country despite lawmakers’ request for them to produce Garci for the resumption of the congressional inquiry on Hello Garci tape.
“ Natutulog sa pansitan o nagtutulog-tulugan? They are not doing their jobs or rather they are doing their jobs for the present cheating regime in Malacañang,” Hicap said. “ If Lomibao and Wycoco cannot produce Garci in less than a week’s time, then they better leave their jobs and go for an early retirement,” he added.
Pamalakaya’s Hicap said arrest of Garci should pave way for the re-opening of the investigation on Hello Garci tape by both houses of Congress. He said Garci, the star witness in the biggest election fraud in the history of reactionary elections in the country should be forced to surface and face the parallel investigations conducted by both chambers of Congress and present himself before the court of public opinion.
Informants said that Garci took a kumpit (Moro fast boat) from Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia to Puerto Princessa in Palawan on the last leg of his voyage back home. From Puerto Princessa, Garcillano allegedly took a plane to Cagayan de Oro and then traveled by land to Marawi City before going to Bukidnon, where he has a farm and where he is reportedly hiding.
“ This political adventure of Garci had been circulating like a major top story of the week but military and police generals and top intelligence officials loyal to the Macapagal-Arroyo government took this case for granted for obvious reason,” Hicap added. #
“AFP Aerial Strikes Triggers Mass Evacuation in Tiaong, Quezon”
Around 485 families and 2,213 individuals in Barangays Cabatang, Lumingon, Lusacan, Anastasia, Talisay and Lagalag in Tiao ng, Quezon are forced to evacuate as the Armed Forces of the Philippines wantonly employed aerial strikes over these areas in a desperate attempt to crush elements of the New Peoples’ Army (NPA).
According to news from the Quick Reaction Team of Karapatan-Southern Tagalog, 230 families (901 individuals) are currently housed in evacuation areas in Tiaong, Quezon while 255 families (1,312 individuals) fled in nearby barrios away from the barangays indiscriminately being strafed by the AFP.
“The running encounter between the elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the revolutionary New Peoples’ Army in Tiaong, Quezon that started last Sunday, November 20, 2005 has taken its toll on civilians caught in the crossfire. Houses are torn down as the AFP continued its aerial strike in hot pursuit of the fleeing NPA rebels. News from the areas affected by the encounter that reached KASAMA-TK Human Rights Desk indicated that a child is in critical condition and many others wounded as the residents scurried for safety”, said Guillermo Bautista, Chairperson of Katipunan ng mga Samahang Magbubukid sa Timog Katagalugan (KASAMA-TK).
“The implementation of indiscriminate aerial strikes by the AFP over civilian areas to crush their targets is a wanton disregard of the international humanitarian law on the rights of civilians caught in the crossfire in armed conflicts. We strongly denounce the massive disregard of human rights by the AFP in this mindless aerial strike and indiscriminate firing against the civilians” said Bautista.
According to wire reports, classess are now suspended in San Pablo City, Laguna and Tiaong, Quezon.
Orly Marcellana, Secretary General of KASAMA-TK strongly reacted to General Orbon’s statement early this morning stating that the evacuees will not be able to return anymore to their communities as their properties are already destroyed and their livestock taken by the NPAs. “From the accounts of civilian victims of military operations, for example in Bgy. Villa Minda, Lopez, Quezon, it is the military who take their livestock without permission, destroy and divest of their properties whenever they conduct counter-insurgency operations”, said Marcellana.
“Orbon has no right to say that people can no longer return to their communities as the people have every right to their properties and livelihood. They should be the ones to protect and ensure civilian rights and their safety even during military operations”, insisted Marcellana.
The Human Rights Peasant desk of KASAMA-TK together with KARAPATAN-Southern Tagalog are currently gathering facts on actual num ber of casualties and if the magnitude of damages and violation to the human rights of the civilians.###
REYES TO US AMBASSADOR POST, PUNO TO DILG
Critics described Cabinet revamp as " political paybacks"
Rabid critics of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Sunday described the looming reshuffle in the Cabinet as " political paybacks" for the top loyal officials of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration.
" It is not actually a revamp. Strictly speaking, what we would witness beginning next year is Malacañang's start of the award giving season, dishing out juicy posts to political allies who had proven their loyalty to the corrupt, brutal and puppet regime of President Arroyo, nothing more, nothing less," said Gerry Albert Corpuz, information officer of the leftwing fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) in a press statement.
Two sources from Malacañang over the weekend said the President was poised to revamp her Cabinet beginning next year. The first source said Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes getting the post of the Philippine Ambassador to Washington, the most coveted diplomatic position that will be vacated next year by current Ambassador Albert F. del Rosario.
The second source said Antipolo Rep. Ronaldo Puno, president of the pro-GMA political party Kampi would be tapped to replace Reyes in the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), while other sources said concurrent environment and natural resources secretary Michael Defensor is on his way out as head of the department because is he is being groomed to be the next Presidential Chief of Staff to replace businessman Tomas Alcantara.
" Reyes, Puno and Defensor's appointments to new juicy and lucrative posts smack of a grand political payback of the regime for those who stood with the corrupt president during the trying political times and crisis of her life. Their new task is how to stop if not spoil the recurring and unstoppable crisis that never fade and still hounds the illegitimate occupant in Malacañang," Corpuz said.
The group's information chief said Sec. Reyes appointment and designation as incoming Philippine ambassador to Washington was meant to ensure the United States support to the Macapagal-Arroyo administration despite inclinations that the American government is all set to drop its' support to the present administration because of the controversies facing the current leadership in Malacañang.
" Sec. Reyes is being eyed to iron out whatever differences Ms Arroyo had before with the puppet master and ensure that the military won't turn their backs on the Macapagal-Arroyo administration. That's why Ms Arroyo puts him there," Corpuz said.
As for Rep. Puno, Pamalakaya's Corpuz said Ms Arroyo gave the break to the Antipolo-based lawmaker to preserve the Kampi political party and ensure the Puno-led party in the House of Representatives that it would not break up with Ms Arroyo and spoil any move in Congress that would reduce the term of Ms Arroyo to 2007 in favor of House Speaker Jose de Venecia bid for prime ministership through the de Venecia engineered Charter Change.
" This so-called Cabinet revamp is actually ridden with so much issues behind the scene. It has plenty of horse-trading, modus vivendi, political stabbing and concessions for political accommodations all in the name of Ms Arroyo's ensured presidency till 2010. Sooner or later, this would create a major political crack among the president's men and this is good for the country," Corpuz added.
As for DENR secretary Defensor, Pamalakaya's Corpuz said the environment secretary will just end up as one of the political operators in Malacañang that would in regular fight with other presidential officials inside Palace over " turf war" and the same time might end up as one of the political decorations inside Ms Arroyo's stinking Cabinet. #
5 Pamalakaya leaders, 200 Obando residents hurt
Fishers group blames Navotas mayor for dumpsite violence
Leaders of the fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Saturday blamed Navotas mayor Toby Tiangco and the garbage operator Philippine Ecology Systems Incorporation (Phileco) for the violence that erupted last Nov.13 in Obando, Bulacan that injured over 200 fisherfolk and residents including 5 leaders of the leftwing fisherfolk alliance.
Reports reaching Pamalakaya office in Manila said between 6:30 am and 8:00 am armed government authorities composed of Cafgu under the 56th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, Obando PNP, Philippine Coastguard and Philippine Maritime led the violent dispersal of residents trying to block the barge containing not less than 700 tons of garbage from Pier 18 port of Manila.
Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said several staff of Phileco identified as Eman and Joey and Obando police chief Rizalino Andaya and Staff Sgt. Mike Alingod led the violent dispersal of fisherfolk and residents opposing the entry of Phileco barge.
" Mayor Tiangco and the operators of Phileco were instrumental in transforming this hated dumpsite into a center stage of police brutality and state terror in Obando, Bulacan in the name of millions in corporate profits," Hicap said, asserting Mayor Tiangco and Phileco had resorted to extreme use of state violence and full-blown militarization to confront the popular and collective resistance against the operations of the dumpsite facility.
Pamalakaya's Hicap said the combined elements of Cafgu, coastguard, police and maritime forces even tried to arrest Pamalakaya-Bulacan leader Ricardo de Armas and brother Sonny de Armas when one of the staff of Phileco identified as Eman pinpointed them as the leaders of the protest against the dumpsite. But residents and co-protesters belonging to Pamalakaya and Obando People's Alliance Opposed to Dumpsite (Oppose Dumpsite) prevented them from arresting the de Armas brothers.
The militant group said the police, elements of Cafgu, coastguard and maritime hit protesters with yantok sticks when residents tried to block Phileco barge at around 7 am in Barangay Salambao and Barangay Binuangan.
Aside from de Armas, those who were injured were brother Sonny, Virgilio del Rosario, Veneer del Rosario and Edwin Burgos, all members of Pamalakaya-Bulacan and Oppose Dumpsite coalition and 200 more residents.
" Tobias, Phileco and those involved in the frustrated murder of over 200 people in Obando should be charged of frustrated murder. We are now consulting our lawyers on what other criminal and administrative charges should be filed against these criminals dressed in government suits, military and police uniforms," Pamalakaya said.
" We will not take this case sitting down and allow these garbage officials and armed officers to employ state violence against the legitimate rights and collective interest of the people for survival and hazard-free environment," Pamalakaya said.
" We have a strong political and economic case against this group of hooligans led by Tiangco, Phileco and their armed elements in the PNP, Coastguard, Army and Maritime police," the group added. #
Extreme bias to 6 GIs scored
Militants want Sec. Gonzales out Subic rape case
Leaders of the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Thursday asked Department of Justice (DoJ) secretary Raul Gonzales to inhibit himself from the Subic rape case involving a 22-year old Filipina allegedly raped by six American servicemen who took part in last RP-US joint military exercises last month.
Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap made the assertion after Atty. Katrina Legarda, counsel for the rape victim disclosed yesterday that it was Sec. Gonzales who ordered the six US marines to be put under the custody of the US Embassy in Manila immediately upon embassy officials’ request as early as Nov.2.
“ We deplore this supreme act of treason and gross display of betrayal of national sovereignty and high disregard for justice,” Hicap said in a press statement, saying Sec. Gonzales’ act merits his expulsion from the justice department and the wholesale condemnation of the Filipino people.
Atty. Legarda said upon the request of US Embassy, Sec. Gonzales immediately ordered the Olongapo fiscal to turn the 6 US servicemen over to the American embassy in Manila for custody of accused.
Atty. Legarda said because of Sec. Gonzales’ intervention, the prosecutors failed to conduct an inquest immediately and the police were unable to arrest and detain suspects the 6 US marines. She said it seems that the DoJ is out to protect the Americans and that there was no intent to have the six suspects jailed for their heinous crimes.
Pamalakaya’s Hicap said Atty. Legarda’s observation that the DoJ secretary was out to protect the American servicemen accused of raping a 22-year old Filipina inside the Subic Freeport was true, reliable and authenticated because Malacañang does not want this case to go full-blown and inflict serious damage to the one-sided RP-US foreign relations.
“ Sec. Gonzales is doing the dirty jobs for the six US servicemen and find ways how to get them off the hook because that is the tall order coming from his bosses in Malacañang and the US military command in Asia Pacific,” the leftist leader added.
Pamalakaya likewise assailed the plan of the US government to put the six US marines under its own military tribunal saying justice is not Washington cup of tea. “ The US military tribunal will just absolve the sexual terrorists and let them stage their walk-in-the-park escape from justice,” it said.
Embassy spokesman Matthew Lussenhop last week said ”Whenever there is violation of US laws, the US military conducts its own investigation for a possible court martial”. Lussenhop could not ascertain how soon would the US investigation be finished. “But it would have to be done quickly so it would not drag on, “ the US embassy spokesman added.
Pamalakaya cited the sad experience of South Korean people in the hands of US military tribunal more than three years ago, when the American military court absolved two US servicemen charged for killing two 14-year old Korean girls on June, 2002.
The group said on June 13, 2002, two US servicemen driving an armored vehicle crushed two 14-year old South Korean girls to death. The US military tribunal investigated the case and later acquitted the two US soldiers on November of the same year. #
Pamalakaya said on September 2, 2002, three other US servicemen in Kyonggi-do also in South Korea, started a tussle on a road, and they deliberately smashed a taxi car parked on the roadside and beat up its Korean driver. On the same day, six American soldiers were charged with sexual harassment, assault and scuffle after drinking.
“ The US military tribunal that would try Silkwood and the his company of rapists will follow the footsteps of those trigger happy and sex-starved American servicemen who committed heinous crimes but were glorified by Washington’s occupants and powerful military generals,” the group said.
Pamalakaya said US troops based in Okinawa, Japan had been in constantly involved in criminal cases such as arson and rape. Investigation shows that after the World War II, US servicemen have committed over 300 sex crimes in Okinawa, 130 rape cases reported since 1972.
The militant group also cited a January 7, 2002 incident in Okinawa involving a US serviceman who broke into an apartment of a 24-year old woman. It said Frederick Thompson; a US Navy marine stationed was arrested by local police on charges of trespassing on private property after he broke into the apartment of Japanese girl.
On Dec. 3 the same year, the police department of Okinawa prefecture issued an arrest warrant against Major Michael Brown of the US Marine Corps, who was accused of attempted rape and damaging of private articles, but the US side refused to hand the suspect. #
Joining Malacañang’s crisis team as Chief of Staff
Defensor tagged as “ Political Boytoy in the Palace”
He is nothing but one a political boytoy in the Palace.
This was the reaction of one of the avid critics of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Michael Defensor after learning yesterday that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was set to appoint the controversial secretary as presidential chief of staff officially joining the Palace crisis team.
“ It is basically a political reward granted to Sec. Defensor for defending the illegitimate, corrupt and anti-people presidency of President Arroyo and for keeping himself a meter away from the has-been and aging but notorious president in Malacañang,” said Pamalakaya information officer Gerry Albert Corpuz in a press statement.
“ But at the end of the day, the DENR secretary would end up as one of the political boytoys of the regime,” he added.
Sec. Defensor yesterday revealed that he had discussed with President Arroyo the possibility of joining her Palace team although it was not clear yet what position he would actually given. He said the position of the presidential chief of staff was also mentioned during his talks with the president.
However, Defensor said he wanted his new role defined in Malacañang to avoid any turf wars. The embattled DENR secretary said the last time he and the president talked about the new assignment in Malacañang was when he shared a plane ride with the President to Cebu a month ago.
A Palace official confirmed the talks between the President and Sec. Defensor and that the environment secretary would possible get the appointment as Presidential Chief of Staff beginning January 2006.
“ Frankly my dear, we don’t give a damn whatever position his political benefactor would give to him in Malacañang. It is non-issue after all. For us, he would remain as one of Ms Arroyo’s fair haired boys who would comprise as one of the members of the ruling political syndicate in Malacañang,” Corpuz said.
“ Who cares if Ms Arroyo gives him the break to join the elite crisis team? Anyway this administration is in crisis, the president is suffering from political crisis and Sec. Defensor is facing a major credibility crisis. They deserved each other’s company,” Corpuz added.
Pamalakaya said the offer of Ms Arroyo to Sec. Defensor to join her crisis team, as chief of the presidential staff currently being chaired by businessman Tomas Alcantara was not a feather to be added to his cap.
“ The offer to and possible appointment of Secretary Defensor as presidential chief of staff emanated from a corrupt and illegitimate government, so strictly speaking, his appointment is nothing but a corrupt act of Arroyo’s dirty politics, period, period, period,” the group said.
Pamalakaya said President Arroyo will tap Defensor as chief of the Presidential Staff because the latter had proven in the past, that he was a good political gangster operator, a loyal one-man army to the corrupt President who would toe Malacañang’s line whatever it takes and whatever havoc it would create to the people and to the country as long as the price is right. #
Militants reject Palace non-wage benefits
Leftist group calls on labor to stage pre-Christmas across-the-nation strike vs. Malacañang’s refusal on wage hike
Leftwing activists belonging to Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Wednesday urged militant and moderate labor groups to stage an across-the-nation labor strike before Christmas or end of this year to pressure President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and big business groups to grant the demand for P 125 across the board wage increase.
“ Labor groups have no choice but to prove their class power and collectively purse the fight for P 125 across-the-board increase in minimum wage. They have to prove their class superiority over President Arroyo and her business associates by going bolder and daring this time in the name of their own class interest,” Pamalakaya information officer Gerry Albert Corpuz said in a press statement.
Pamalakaya, one of the militant groups supporting the fight for a legislated pay increase in Congress said Ms Arroyo and big business groups identified with her administration should expect a classic battle royale with the Filipino workers, once labor groups and labor centers decide the push a non-stopping nationwide protest against Palace refusal to grant the much-needed pay increase.
Corpuz said fish workers in commercial and aquaculture allied and affiliated with Pamalakaya are willing to join any massive strike that would be staged by labor groups demanding for the immediate passage of the P 125 pay increase and rejecting any form of exploitative measure that would continue to keep wages at very depressed levels.
“ The extreme poverty and extreme repression imposed by Malacañang and big business groups allied with President Arroyo should be met with first-rate and highly intensified resistance from the labor groups,” Corpuz stressed.
The group’s information chief advanced the proposal after President Arroyo backtracked on her previous statement asking Congress to immediately push a legislated pay hike to mitigate the bad effects of the expanded value added tax (E-VAT).
President Arroyo withdrew her suggestion for a legislated wage increase after warnings from her economic advisers and supporters from the business sector that any wage increase or adjustment would adversely affect the viability of business in the country.
Big business groups headed by the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (Ecop) and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) welcomed the decision of Ms Arroyo to retreat from her previous statement supporting a legislated pay increase.
“ As far as we are concerned, the P 125 across-the-board wage increase is non-negotiable, morally just and politically and economically superior compared to the dime-a-dozen non-wage benefits being offered by Malacañang and its’ business associates,” Corpuz asserted.
Malacañang officials yesterday said involved government agencies had started discussing what are the non-wage benefits that would be offered to Filipino workers in the absence of wage increase and to cushion the impact of the controversial tax law passed by Congress this year.
Among the non-wage benefits being considered are tax exemptions and transport benefits, according to Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas, who is on her way home from Geneva, Switzerland. #
Leftist group rejects US military parallel probe on Subic rape
Cites South Korean experience on US military trial
Leftwing activists belonging to Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Wednesday rejected the US military’s own investigation of the alleged gang rape of a 22-year old Filipina inside the former American naval base, dismissing it as a game plan to liquidate truth and justice to save the 6 US servicemen accused of committing said heinous crime.
US Embassy spokesman Matthew Lussenhop yesterday said ”Whenever there is violation of US laws, the US military conducts its own investigation for a possible court martial”. Lussenhop could not ascertain how soon would the US investigation be finished. “But it would have to be done quickly so it would not drag on, “ he added.
Yesterday, Philippine Acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Rafael Seguis served the subpoenas to US Marines Chad Carpentier, Daniel Smith, Corey Burris, Albert Lara, Keith Silkwood, and Dominic Duplantis for raping a 22-year old girl from Zamboanga province. Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño of the Department of Justice accompanied the acting DFA chief.
In the subpoenas, the servicemen are ordered to appear before the City Prosecutor's Office in Olongapo on November 23 and 29 at 2:30 p.m. Summoned are US Marines Chad Carpenter, Daniel Smith, Corey Burris, Albert Lara, Keith Silkwood, and Dominic Duplantis.
Asserting their call for outright rejection of the US military’s parallel probe, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap cited the sad experience of South Korean people in the hands of US military tribunal more than three years ago, when the American military court absolved two US servicemen charged for killing two 14-year old Korean girls on June, 2002.
Hicap said on June 13, 2002, two US servicemen driving an armored vehicle crushed two 14-year old South Korean girls to death. The US military tribunal investigated the case and later acquitted the two US soldiers on November of the same year.
“ Justice is not Washington military’s cup of tea. The US military tribunal will just absolve the sexual terrorists and let them stage their walk-in-the-park escape from justice, period, period, period,” the leftist leader added.
Hicap said on September 2, 2002, three other US servicemen in Kyonggi-do also in South Korea, started a tussle on a road, and they deliberately smashed a taxi car parked on the roadside and beat up its Korean driver. On the same day, six American soldiers were charged with sexual harassment, assault and scuffle after drinking.
“ The US military tribunal that would try Silkwood and the his company of rapists will follow the footsteps of those trigger happy and sex-starved American servicemen who committed heinous crimes but were glorified by Washington’s occupants and powerful military generals,” Hicap added.
Pamalakaya said US troops based in Okinawa, Japan had been in constantly involved in criminal cases such as arson and rape. Investigation shows that after the World War II, US servicemen have committed over 300 sex crimes in Okinawa, 130 rape cases reported since 1972.
The militant group also cited a January 7, 2002 incident in Okinawa involving a US serviceman who broke into an apartment of a 24-year old woman.
It said Frederick Thompson; a US Navy marine stationed was arrested by local police on charges of trespassing on private property after he broke into the apartment of Japanese girl. On Dec. 3 the same year, the police department of Okinawa prefecture issued an arrest warrant against Major Michael Brown of the US Marine
2 rape suspects are switchboard operators in US base in Okinawa
Leftist group bares identities of 2 US servicemen in Subic rape case
Leaders of the militant fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Saturday revealed the identities of two of the 6 US servicemen accused of raping a 22-year old woman inside the Subic Freeport in Olongapo City.
In a press statement, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said although the six US marines were named in a complaint filed with the Olongapo prosecutor’s office as Keith Silkwood, Daniel Smith, Albert Lara, Dominic Duplantis, Corey Burris and Chad Carpenter, their faces were not yet shown to the public and nothing had been said about them except that they took part in the joint military exercises under the Visiting Forces Agreement last Oct. 22.
“ Lance Corporals Keith Silkwood and Corey Burris are part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit of the US Marines currently based in Okinawa, Japan where cases of arson and rape are perpetually committed by American servicemen in said island base of the American military forces,” Hicap said.
The militant leader who got the information from the Internet said Silkwood, 21 years old and Burris, 19 years old were switchboard operators. Their job is to set up electronic equipment including telephone switchboards that are linked to a satellite van that is linked to different military commands in the fields to provide communication support.
“ Silkwood and Burris are no ordinary US servicemen joining the Balikatan exercises in the country under VFA blanket. They are being trained here as future communication experts for the US military forces in Okinawa when they committed the heinous crime against the 22-year old Filipina inside the Subic Freeport,” Hicap said.
“ That’s why the US Embassy is not keen to reveal their real identities to the Filipino public agitated by the celebrated rape case. This extreme behavior displayed by embassy diplomats in Manila is gearing for a walk-in-the-park escape for their flesh obsessed, fascist and sex –starved military forces in the country,” Hicap said.
Pamalakaya said the Philippine Senate, which ratified the VFA, as a treaty in 1999 should immediately junk the joint RP-US military pact giving US military access to the Philippine ports and airports for refueling, supplies, repairs, and rest and recreation. The treaty, ratified on May 1999 by the Philippine Senate also allowed joint military exercises between the US and the Philippines.
Hicap said the rape of Filipino woman by 6 US servicemen was a solid ground and sound basis for the Philippine Senate to quash the agreement and prevent US servicemen’s gang raping of any Filipina in the country.
Pamalakaya also urged the DFA to immediately banned US Embassy officials from interfering in the case, assume full jurisdiction on the case and stop Washington and the US military command in Asia Pacific from doing covert and overt acts that would allow Silkwood, Burris and four other suspects to launch their grand escape from justice.
Pamalakaya also said the Bureau of Immigration should issue a hold departure order to the six American servicemen and stop them from sneaking out of the country, while the case filed against them is being heard by the country’s regular criminal court. “ The immigration bureau should adopt a 24-hour, 7-days a week vigilance against any possible attempt of the US government to sneak out their mercenaries from the country to their military watering hole in Washington D.C,” the group added. #
DFA Chief asked: Present 6 US marines held for rape in public
Leftwing activists belonging to Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Friday asked Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Alberto Romulo to present to the public the six US servicemen accused of raping a 22-year old woman inside a rented van in Olongapo City.
“ It is not enough to name the six American servicemen. Their faces and their present whereabouts should be disclosed in the name of national interest, truth and accountability. We cannot entertain motherhood statements and slogans from the national government just to pacify the raging public,” says Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.
A complaint filed before the Olongapo prosecutor’s office identified the six American servicemen as Keith Silkwood, Daniel Smith, Albert Lara, Dominic Duplantis, Corey Barris and Chad Carpenter.
Earlier, Sec. Romulo said he had instructed the Presidential Commission on VFA to assist the complainant and support the prosecution of the case. Romulo and Department of National Defense Secretary Atty. Avelino Cruz co chair the presidential commission.
“ These are just names. The public wants to know the faces behind the names. What if they use other names and pass themselves off as ordinary US tourists to stage their walk-in-the park escape from justice? Secretary Romulo must show these flesh starved US mercenaries to the public while preparing the criminal charge against them,” Hicap added.
The leftist leader further advanced the proposal to immediately suspend the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) while preparing the stage for the outright nullification of the treaty giving US military access to the Philippine ports and airports for refueling, supplies, repairs, and rest and recreation. The treaty, ratified on May 1999 by the Philippine Senate also allowed joint military exercises between the US and the Philippines.
Hicap said the rape of Filipino woman by 6 US servicemen was a solid ground and sound basis for the Philippine Senate to quash the agreement and prevent US servicemen’s gang raping of any Filipina in the country.
Pamalakaya also urged the DFA to immediately banned US Embassy officials from interfering in the case, saying the only thing the US government could do is to give legal support to their servicemen accused of gang raping a Filipina through their designated legal counsel or counsels.
“ The US Embassy is highly capable of providing the gateway car, the getaway plane and the getaway backdoor exit for their erring servicemen accused of committing heinous crimes in any foreign land. The Philippines maintains a long history of US national bastardization and violation of national sovereignty in the name of American colonialization and neo-colonialization,” the group said.
Pamalakaya also said the Bureau of Immigration should issue a hold departure order to the six American servicemen and prevents them from sneaking out of the country, while the case filed against them is being heard by the country’s regular criminal court.
“ The immigration bureau should adopt a 24-hour, 7-days a week vigilance against any possible attempt of the US government to sneak out their mercenaries from the country to their military watering hole in Washington D.C,” the group added. #
Leftist group urges Sen. Enrile to give up family logging in Samar
Leftwing activists belonging to Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Friday urged Senator Juan Ponce Enrile to give up the 95,770 hectare logging concession in Samar to end speculation that the go-so signal given to his logging corporation to resume operation in the province was a political concession from the Macapagal-Arroyo administration.
Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said Sen. Enrile has no choice but to put an end to SJTC existence in Samar following the strong resistance lodged by the people of the province and the wholesale public condemnation assailing the possible return of SJTC operations courtesy of political accommodation.
“ Sen. Enrile must give up his family’s stake in Samar in respect to the people’s collective interest and castigate President Arroyo for exploiting the issue and for putting him on the spot in vain attempt to clinch his political support to Ms Arroyo’s illegitimate, immoral and corrupt regime,” the leftist leader added.
Pamalakaya’s Hicap dared Sen. Enrile to make a categorical statement announcing that the SJTC will not operate in recognition of people’s interest and public opinion. “ We have a make or break situation here for the opposition senator. He must break his silence and tell the real score if there was an exchange deal between him and President Arroyo in connection with Palace decision to give SJTC a second chance for indiscriminate logging in Samar,” he said.
The timber license agreement (TLA) of SJTC covered an area adjacent to the watershed inside the Samar Island Nature Park. Earlier, the United Nations threatened to pullout its funding for a conversation project, and yesterday the Regional Development Council (RDC) of Eastern Visayas is said to be preparing a petition asking Malacañang to rescind the order of DENR Secretary Michael Defensor allowing SJTC to resume logging that falls inside the Samar Nature Park.
The operations, the RDC said, would affect the P 2.4 B Help Catubig Agricultural Advancement Project (HCAAP) funded by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and the Samar provincial government. The project will provide water supply to irrigation of two municipalities in Samar province.
“ Definitely there’s a big stake there. The decision was meant to secure Enrile’s support to the illegitimate, brutal, puppet and corrupt administration of President Arroyo. The behavior of Senator Enrile in the next few days would provide a political weight to this incorrigible lifting of the suspension order posed against his logging firm,” Hicap said.
Enrile’s SJTC is a holder of a timber license agreement (TLA) that covers 95,770 hectares, but the logging operations were suspended by former DENR Secretary Fulgencio Factoran Jr in February 8, 1989 to enable the government to determine the extent of remaining forest resources in Samar and the sustainable rate of forest extraction.
Pamalakaya said Malacañang is well informed about Enrile’s “ independent posturing” in the Senate and so far the most cooperative opposition lawmaker as far as Ms Arroyo is concerned among the anti-Arroyo senators in the Upper House.
“ President Arroyo is moving heaven and earth to survive the present political turmoil to the extent of offering Samar’s fragile forest resources to win Mr. Enrile as part of the divide and rule tactic strategy of Malacañang,” the group said.
Pamalakaya stressed Malacañang and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will not proceed in reversing a 1989 decision banning big logging activities without getting something big in return.
“ So what’s the big deal? President Arroyo and DENR Secretary Michael Defensor should tell the people what’s the real score behind this sudden reversal of fortune in favor of Senator Enrile to the detriment of the people of Samar,” it said.
Pamalakaya’s Hicap also assailed the decision of Secretary Defensor’s office to extend the effectivity of the SJTC logging permit by another 16 years and three months, or until 2021. He said the logging bonanza awarded to Enrile’s timber company was extremely “ unusual and horrifying”.
“ It’s a highway robbery in broad daylight. This is in gross violation and constitutes massacre of the country’s national patrimony to the highest order. The Malacañang-SJTC deal deserves wholesale public condemnation,” the leftist leader added.
Pamalakaya said Sec. Defensor is again performing his job as a political operator for President Arroyo courting ardent critics of Ms Arroyo who are ready to give up their anti-Arroyo position in exchange for political accommodations and concessions from the regime. #
Pamalakaya dares Arroyo’s “Gang of 10” to defend
President in People’s Court
Rabid critics of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Wednesday dared at least 9 government officials and lawmakers identified as staunch supporters of the embattled President to attend the proceedings of Citizens’ Congress for Truth and Accountability (CCTA) and defend President Arroyo before the People’s Court.
In a press statement, the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) asked Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Department of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales, Press Secretary and Palace spokesman Ignacio
Bunye, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary (DENR) Michael Defensor, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Arturo Lomibao, controversial military general Jovito Palparan, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, House Majority Floor Leader Prospero Nograles and Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero
Pichay Jr. to come to the People’s Court and represent Ms Arroyo on charges of election fraud, corruption and grave violation of human rights.
“We challenge the Gang of 10 to rise above the occasion and defend their immoral, corrupt, puppet and illegitimate president before the people-oriented, truth-centered and justice-driven People’s Court,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap stressed.
Hicap added: “Since of all of them are self-proclaimed town criers, spokespersons and defenders of Ms Arroyo, it would be better if they represent Ms Arroyo in the people’s congress. It is their chance to realize their common dream of becoming the president’s battery of political counsel in a People’s Court.”
So far, among those dared by Pamalakaya to defend Ms Arroyo in the CCTA, only DENR Secretary Defensor expressed interest in attending the proceedings of the People’s Court starting this week at the UP Diliman Campus in Quezon City. “Well at least he has the balls to represent Ms Arroyo. We hope other members of the Gang of 10 would follow Sec. Defensor and represent the voice of the ruling mafia leader before the people’s tribunal for truth and accountability,” the militant leader said.
Pamalakaya and allies Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and Amihan-National Federation of Peasant Women had submitted before the People’s Court their charges against Ms Arroyo on possible plunder case over the alleged use of P 728 million fertilizer funds to Ms
Arroyo’s campaign in last year’s presidential elections.
The groups along with Bicol, Southern Tagalog, Central Luzon, Ilocos and Cagayan Valley based peasant organizations filed a letter of complaint to the Office of Ombudsman to investigate President Arroyo, former Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Luisito “Cito” Lorenzo, Undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante and other government officials for possible violations of the Anti-Plunder law and the Anti-graft and Corrupt practices Act.
The CCTA convenors said aside from Sec. Defensor the list of possible invitees include Pedro Ferrer, Arroyo's counsel during the impeachment proceedings who sought to quash the complaints against the President in the House of Representatives.
Earlier supporters of Ms Arroyo dismissed the CCTA as "a mere media gimmick, a seditious, illegal and unconstitutional undertaking that shall undermine the government." But People’s Court organizer human rights lawyer and United Nation’s judge on war tribunal Atty. Romeo
Capulong said the CCTA was a serious project being undertaken within the framework of the Constitution. #
Leftist group sees Palace-Enrile deal in resumption of senator’s logging firm in Samar
The go-signal for the timber firm San Jose Timber Corp. (SJTC), which is owned by Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, to resume logging operations after being suspended for 16 years since was a political concession to the opposition lawmaker in exchange for his support to the Macapagal-Arroyo administration.
“ Definitely there’s a big stake there. The decision was meant to secure Enrile’s support to the illegitimate, brutal, puppet and corrupt administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The behavior of Senator Enrile in the next few days would provide a political weight to this incorrigible lifting of the suspension order posed against his logging firm,” said the leftwing fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) in a press statement.
The militant group theorized that the Office of the President through the Department of Environment of Natural Resources (DENR) lifted the suspension of logging operations in Samar Island promulgated in 1989 to convince the opposition senator that rewards await anti-Arroyo lawmakers and politicians once they turned their backs against their colleagues.
Enrile’s SJTC is a holder of a timber license agreement (TLA) that covers 95,770 hectares, but the logging operations were suspended by former DENR Secretary Fulgencio Factoran Jr in February 8, 1989 to enable the government to determine the extent of remaining forest resources in Samar and the sustainable rate of forest extraction.
Pamalakaya said Malacañang is well informed about Enrile’s “ independent posturing” in the Senate and so far the most cooperative opposition lawmaker as far as Ms Arroyo is concerned among the anti-Arroyo senators in the Upper House.
“ President Arroyo is moving heaven and earth to survive the present political turmoil to the extent of offering Samar’s fragile forest resources to win Mr. Enrile as part of the divide and rule tactic strategy of Malacañang,” the group said.
The group’s chairperson Fernando Hicap stressed Malacañang and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will not proceed in reversing a 1989 decision banning big logging activities without getting something big in return.
“ So what’s the big deal? President Arroyo and DENR Secretary Michael Defensor should tell the people what’s the real score behind this sudden reversal of fortune in favor of Senator Enrile to the detriment of the people of Samar,” Hicap said.
Pamalakaya’s Hicap also assailed the decision of Secretary Defensor’s office to extend the effectivity of the SJTC logging permit by another 16 years and three months, or until 2021. He said the logging bonanza awarded to Enrile’s timber company was extremely “ unusual and horrifying”.
“ It’s a highway robbery in broad daylight. This is in gross violation and constitutes massacre of the country’s national patrimony to the highest order. The Malacañang-SJTC deal deserves wholesale public condemnation,” the leftist leader added.
Pamalakaya said Sec. Defensor is again performing his job as a political operator for President Arroyo courting ardent critics of Ms Arroyo who are ready to give up their anti-Arroyo position in exchange for political accommodations and concessions from the regime. #
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