Gerry Albert Corpuz presents

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

Treat for anti-impeachment, pro-Chacha lawmakers and government officials
Militants blast Arroyo’s “I Luv Europe” junket trip

Leftwing activists on Saturday assailed Malacañang for organizing what they called “ I Luv Europe” junket trip for pro-administration lawmakers and government officials supportive of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s anti-impeachment and pro-Charter Change drive in Congress.

In a press statement, the leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) dismissed the junket trip as all-out waste of taxpayers’ money and betrayal of public trust.

“ The government will spend millions of hard-earned taxpayers money for this political extravaganza that would only benefit members of the First Family, the rabid pro-Arroyo lawmakers and local government officials associated with the ruling Macapagal-Arroyo clique in Malacañang,” the group said.

Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said the junket trip scheduled from June 25 to July 2 was part of the out-of-the country planning of President Arroyo to ensure the defeat of the second impeachment case against the President and the passage of Charter Change in the House of Representatives through Constituent Assembly.

“ The murder of the second impeachment case and the legislation of Chacha were the objectives of this syndicated trip to Europe under the guise of official weeklong diplomatic trip to Italy, the Vatican City and Spain,” he said.

Hicap added: “ Where is moral diplomacy and diplomatic ethics in this junket trip? This so-called diplomatic mission is just a cover up. Malacañang will use this channel as a mean to consolidate President Arroyo’s forces in their bid to quash the second impeachment case and the railroad Chacha through constituent assembly.”

The militant leader speculated that Mrs. Arroyo would call a special meeting among her rabid supporters in Congress and in the local government units during the 7-day trip to discuss how to spoil the second impeachment rap against her and design new strategies on how to pursue the revision of the 18-year old charter either through people’s initiative or constituent assembly.






“ This European trip wants to accomplish a number of things like extreme pleasure for pro-Arroyo politicians in exchange for their support to Malacañang’s pet projects like charter change and the rejection of the second impeachment case. At the same time the delegation of pro-Arroyo congressmen, governors and cabinet members will serve as political cheering squad of Mrs. Arroyo during her diplomatic hobnobbing with officials of the European community,” Hicap asserted.

Pro-Arroyo lawmakers at the House of Representatives, members of the First Family headed by First Gentleman Atty. Jose Miguel Arroyo and pro-GMA local government officials made up the bulk of the President delegation in her weeklong trip to Europe from June 25 to July 2.

The lawmakers who would joint the presidential trip to Europe are Juan Miguel Zubiri (Bukidnon), Ma. Amelita Villarosa (Occidental Mindoro), Eduardo Veloso (Leyte), Emmy Lou Talino-Santos (North Cotabato), Mary Ann Susano (Quezon City), Danilo Suarez (Quezon), Lorna Silverio (Bulacan), Rizalina Seachon-Lanete (Masbate), Victoria Reyes (Batangas), Herminia Ramiro (Misamis Occidental), Francis Nepomuceno (Pampanga), Roger Mercado (Southern Leyte), Hermilando Mandanas (Batangas), Uliran Joaquin (Laguna), Cecilia Jalosjos-Carreon ( Zamboanga del Norte), Del de Guzman (Marikina), Arthur Defensor (Iloilo), Rodolfo Antonino (Nueva Ecija), Jesus Reynaldo Aquino ( Pampanga) and Rodolfo Albano III (Isabela).

The pro-Arroyo governors who would join the diplomatic trip are Governors Ben Evardone (Eastern Samar), Erico Aumentado (Bohol), Miguel Rene Dominguez (Sarangani), Adolph Edward Plaza (Agusan del Sur), Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. ( Camarines Sur), Josephine dela Cruz (Bulacan) and Pax Mangudadatu (Sultan Kudarat) and Manila Mayor Lito Atienza.

Aside from First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, other members of the first family joining the trip are daughter Evangelina Lourdes Macapagal, son Diosdado Ignacio and his wife Ma. Victoria Celina and presidential granddaughter Eva Victoria Arroyo.

From the Arroyo cabinet, officials who would join the president are former Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas, Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz Jr., Trade Secretary Peter Favila, Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano and Senator Eduardo Angara. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 05:50 | link | comments |

DRESS REHEARSAL FOR URBAN MILITARIZATION
Weeklong PNP nationwide alert, overkill, says militant group

Leftwing activists on Sunday assailed the top leadership of Philippine National Police (PNP) for effecting a nationwide full alert beginning today until President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s return on July 2 from her trip to Italy, the Vatican City and Spain.

“ This is the grandmother of all overkill. The Arroyo administration under extreme state of political paranoia has virtually converted the entire country under a police state and this is extremely dangerous,” the leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said in a press statement.

The country’s 115,000-strong national police force would be on full alert for entire week in response to consistent intelligence reports that extremist groups were planning to spread terror in the metropolis. Last week, the police set up 15 checkpoints around the National Capital Region and deployed over 20,000 policemen to thwart any terrorist attacks on shopping malls and public transport systems.

But Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap viewed that the nationwide alert of the PNP was a dress rehearsal for near future urban militarization of the main capital in vain attempt to stop massive anti-Arroyo mass actions beginning this last week of June until Mrs. Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address next month.

“ It appears to us that the nationwide alert being called by the PNP for the entire week was part of the grand plan of the administration to prepare the country under police state. It was meant to violently suppress the protest movement and fortify NCR as the police-military bastion of the illegal, corrupt, puppet and brutal regime,” Hicap said.

“ Definitely this PNP nationwide alert project is part of the game plan to save the political career of the unwanted presidency of Mrs. Arroyo,” he added.

The militant leader lamented that the PNP under the Macapagal-Arroyo regime had become an entire private army of the President. He said police generals identified with President Arroyo like PNP chief Director General Arturo Lomibao and NCRPO Chief Vidal Querol had been performing their roles to the hilt as ‘ political personal security officers of Mrs. Arroyo’ in mobilizing the entire police force as security people not for the Filipino people but for the ruling Arroyo clique in Malacañang.

“ They went to far by declaring a nationwide alert to protect the narrow interest of President Arroyo and her gang, while they are away for one week. The people are not paying them to serve as private army of Mrs. Arroyo,” Hicap said.

Hicap said militant groups led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and activist party list groups Bayan Muna, Anakpawis and Gabriela are set to hold another rally in Mendiola Bridge on June 27 against political killings and widespread human rights violations in the country allegedly perpetrated by security forces identified with the Macapagal-Arroyo clique.

Pamalakaya’s Hicap initially pegged the number of protesters to join next week rally in Mendiola to 5,000 and would include human rights workers, church people and members of the academic community.

“ The power of militant assertion and extreme desire to uphold human rights and civil liberties would be ranged anew against the calibrated preemptive response and the no-rally zone policy of the detested regime. We believe this is one of the reasons, why the PNP had gone mad again by declaring a nationwide full alert in the absence of their principal currently in Europe for a political pleasure trip,” Hicap added. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 05:48 | link | comments |

It is honorable to defeat the anti-people president when she is fit
Militants wish Mrs. Arroyo to get well soon

Leftwing activists on Friday said they wished for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s fast recovery from extreme stomach pain rather than see her crumbled in hospital bed, saying it is honorable for anti-Arroyo critics to politically defeat her in healthy or fit condition.

“ The Filipino had enough of President Arroyo’s puppetry, brutality and crimes of corruption. And they want to engage her in a national fight that would require her to be healthy and in fighting fit body,” the leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said in a press statement.

President Arroyo was rushed to St. Luke’s Medical Center last night after complaining abdominal pains while having dinner at an Italian Restaurant on Tomas Morato Avenue in Quezon City.

Her Presidential Management Staff (PMS) chief Michael Defensor said the doctors of President Arroyo told him that the President was safe and there was nothing to worry about because all she had was an upset stomach.

“ We wish her to get well soon, so that she could face the impeachment complaint to be filed against her next week, as well as the series of planned protests that would culminate in next month’s State of the Nation Address,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said.

Hicap added: Our intention in wishing her well is as noble as our intention to bring her to the impeachment trial and to the court of public opinion for crimes against humanity, election fraud and big crimes of corruption.”

The impeachment complaint will be filed on June 26, but complainants and anti-Arroyo activists would hold a vigil at the gate of the House of Representatives on June 25 to guard their filing of new impeachment complaint against any political saboteur.

“ Her condition needs medical treatment and we hope the doctors attending her case would find the immediate solution to her stomach problem. We also aspire for her immediate recovery so she could face the Filipino people in the final political showdown that would end her bloody career and illegitimate regime,” Hicap said.

Hicap, one of the 300 complainants in the fresh impeachment bid against President Arroyo said his group and staunch allies Anakpawis party list, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), Kilusang Mayo Uno, the urban poor Kadamay and transport group Piston will embark on a six-month campaign involving a nationwide signature campaign and peace caravan in major regional centers nationwide against political repression and all-out military offensives of the government.

The groups will demand the scrapping of the P 1-billion anti-insurgency fund, the pullout of military troops in identified hotbeds of communist insurgency in Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog and Sorsogon province, the revival of peace talks, the stop in the killings of political activists by alleged agents of the state, the scrapping of Oplan Bantay Laya policy  and the release of Anakpawis party list Crispin Beltran. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 07:37 | link | comments |

DILG proposal to tap barangay execs for
insurgency campaign will give rise to vigilantism
“Very Marcosian,” says leftwing group

The militant fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Thursday rejected the proposal of Interior and Local Government secretary Ronaldo Puno to tap barangay officials across the country to help the government in its’ fight against the communist guerillas across the country.

“ The idea of Secretary Puno will revive military backed civilian vigilantism across the country. His Marcosian-like proposal is really horrible and blatant endorsement of an authoritarian state from the national down to the grassroots level,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap.

However, the proposal of Secretary Puno did not come as surprise to Hicap’s group, saying the DILG secretary was part of the National Security Council of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and that Secretary Puno studied and trained under the tutelage of former President Ferdinand Marcos. “ He is a Marcos boy through and through. He started his career as an upcoming traditional politician at the height of Marcos dictatorship in the 70s. So what do you expect from a Marcos guy like Puno?” Hicap said.

Hicap added: “ Secretary Puno wants to rewrite history back to the dark days of Marcos dictatorship where military trained and financed vigilante groups in barangays were roaming free killing people who were branded enemies of the state.”

Hicap recalled the brutal experience of the Filipino people during the 14-years of Marcos dictatorship, when the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos allowed his puppet generals in the Armed Forces of the Philippines to set up Barangay Self-Defense Units (BSDUs) and Civilian Home Defense Forces units (CHDFs) to contain communist insurgency in remote barangays in the countryside.

He said vigilante groups were used to suppress human rights and civil liberties of Marcos critics and mass members of leftwing groups across the country during the dictatorship. At least 10,000 human rights victims during the Marcos dictatorship filed and won class suit case against the late strongman on charges of human rights violations.

The BSDUs and CHDFs which were established by local government officials and backed by military and police authorities had became uncontrollable instruments of the Marcos regime for unbridled violations of human rights and summary executions of critics and alleged supporters of the CPP and NPA at the height of late strongman rule.

“ Secretary Puno is not doing his assignment in defense of human rights and civil liberties. He is performing his role the max as the civilian counterpart of the militarist people in the National Security Council of President Arroyo. This is disgusting and grossly reprehensible,” Pamalakaya said.

In yesterday’s meeting in Malacañang, Secretary Puno asked Malacañang to tap local officials at the village level in the government’s heightened counter-insurgency operations to eradicate the 37-year old communist rebellion in the country. The DILG chief with the help of barangay officials, the government’s goal to wipeout insurgency within two years would be realistic.

“The proposal of Secretary Puno is as Jurassic and time warp as the Marcos militarist approach to communist insurgency in the country. The anti-insurgency campaign was blown up by Malacañang because it believes it is an effective diversionary tactic to cover up President Arroyo’s super crimes against the Filipino people like election fraud, corruption, puppetry and mass murder of people,” Pamalakaya said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 07:35 | link | comments |

Pampanga, Bulacan governors pressed to recall Palparan troops in Central Luzon urban areas

The left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Thursday urged Pampanga Gov. Mark Lapid and Bulacan Gov. Josie dela Cruz to block the plan of controversial army Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan to deploy government troops in the provinces’ urban areas.

Palparan, commander of the 7th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, said the deployment of troops in Central Luzon urban areas was to clear urban centers of communists, adding that the approach, which he first used as commander of the 24th Infantry Battalion in Pampanga and Bataan in 1985 was coordinated with the PNP-Central Luzon command.

Assailing the repositioning of troops as “urban militarization to the highest level”, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap asserted that both governors are constitutionally and legally mandated to recall the deployment of government soldiers in urban areas in Pampanga and Bulacan provinces.

“ Governors Lapid and dela Cruz must add their voice against growing political repression and physical elimination of activists by security forces of the state. They must exercise their political authority to stop Palparan’s roaring rampage of mass murder in the region,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

“ What they will do in these urban areas? Dress as soldiers at day, wear bonnets to assassinate their targets at night? This seems to be overall objective of Palparan,” Hicap added.

Hicap appealed to Gov. Lapid to order the pullout of Palparan troops in San Fernando City, Angeles City and Mabalacat town in Pampanga, saying the situation does not warrant the heavy presence of military in abovementioned areas.

“Gov. Lapid is politically obligated to dismantle Palparan’s 17 detachments in the province for the sake of civil liberties, human rights and peace and order in Pampanga. The same demand applies to Bulacan Gov. dela Cruz. If they want to save lives and uphold constitutionally guaranteed civil liberties, they must stop Palparan boys from performing their job as terrorists and violators of human rights in the region,” Hicap added.

Pamalakaya also urged Bulacan Gov. dela Cruz to push the dismantling of 40 military detachments set up by Palparan in Malolos City, Bulacan, Obando, Hagonoy, Pandi and Sta.Maria towns.

The controversial army major general, however said the number of his urban-based soldiers was still small compared to the density of the population in identified cities and towns in Pampanga and Bulacan. Palparan said a nine-man team for every 5,000 population was still small.

But Pamalakaya said, Palparan’s statement was preparation for the justification of massive deployment of troops in the region, both in rural and urban areas. “ He wants to hamlet the entire provinces of Pampanga and Bulacan. Sooner he would request the Northern Luzon command to add more troops for his revived campaign of terror in Metro Central Luzon,” the group said.

Pamalakaya is set to bring the matter before the House of Representatives this week, saying they would ask the six militant lawmakers- Bayan Muna party list representatives Satur Ocampo, Joel Virador and Teddy Casiño, Anakpawis congressmen Rafael Mariano and Crispin Beltran and Gabriela Women Party list Rep. Liza Maza to immediately pursue a full-blown inquiry on deployment of troops in Pampanga and Bulacan provinces.

“ This plot to convert Pampanga and Bulacan towns into an urban jungle for state-backed terrorists and mercenaries should be exposed and opposed. Mr. Palparan must be compelled to stop his project of political assassination and repression,” Pamalakaya added. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 05:52 | link | comments |

DENR move to pave way for the unwarranted comeback of destroying giant
Pamalakaya mulls TRO against 30-day test-run

The left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Wednesday is set to contest the decision of environment and natural resources secretary Angelo Reyes anytime this week.

“ The 30-day test run granted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will be challenged not only in the parliament of the streets and in the court of public opinion, but also in any appropriate court. We will file a temporary restraining order this week or early next week,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

The leftwing-leader said the decision of Sec. Reyes to re-open Lafayette is tragic, unacceptable and unpardonable. “ Sec. Reyes penchant for environmental tragedy and unparalleled puppetry to mining giants is displayed with his latest decision. The test-run officially announces the unwarranted comeback of a destroying giant,” Hicap added.

Hicap further said: “ The test-run granted by Secretary Reyes is an open declaration of class war against people exploited and devastated by mining giants. It is an open invitation of war also against advocates of genuine national industrialization. This is something the Chief of the DENR must regret for the rest of his life as bureaucrat capitalist in the Arroyo administration.”

Their legal counsels are currently discussing said contents of the TRO to be filed against the DENR decision and their lawyers are expected to finish the document tomorrow or on Friday.

“If they finish it on Thursday, we will file it on Friday. What is 100 percent sure is the filing of the TRO and they can’t stop us from performing our assignment in the name of the environment and people’s rights and welfare,” Hicap asserted.

Further describing the decision of DENR Secretary Reyes as gross betrayal of national patrimony and people’s interest, Hicap said will explore all legal remedies to stop the unholy alliance of the DENR, Malacañang and Lafayette Philippines Inc. from pursuing a super profit-induced and destructive mining project in Rapu-Rapu Island.

“President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, certified puppet of transnational mining corporations is gambling the fate of the already fragile environment and the future of the fisherpeople to appease and please her corporate mining clients. This is totally outrageous and beyond doubt horrific,” Hicap added.

Pamalakaya said it would raise the recommendations of Rapu-Rapu Fact Finding Commission (RRFC) and their arguments against the Australian-based mining company as stated in the anti-graft complaint the group and other militant lawmakers filed before the Office of Ombudsman last Feb. 14, 2006 in filing the TRO against the 30-day test run granted by Reyes’ office.

Last June 1, Pamalakaya filed a motion for the speedy resolution of its’ case pending before the Office of the Ombudsman against owners and operators of Lafayette. The group included Lafayette country manager Rod Watt in the anti-graft complaint it filed before the quasi-judicial anti-graft court last Feb.14 this year.

Pamalakaya and the fact-finding mission both suggested the closure of Lafayette Philippines Inc. citing violations of 11 out of 29 conditionalities and sub-conditionalities contained in the agreement between the government and the LPI, as well as the cumulative effects and the clear and present danger posed by Lafayette’s continued operations in Rapu-Rapu Island pertaining to ecology, health and livelihood of small fishermen. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 05:50 | link | comments |

Leftists’ prayer: “ May heaven curse Arroyo’s Charter Change”
20,000 LEFTISTS TO JOIN BISHOPS ANTI-CHACHA HOMILY ON JUNE 12

The left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Sunday disclosed that 20,000 leftwing activists will attend the anti-Charter Change homily led by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) at the Liwasang Bonifacio tomorrow.

“ We commend the CBCP and other top religious leaders from different sects of faith for the anti-Chacha prayer rally. The inter-faith gathering will bring the moral question ranged against charter change. May heaven curse Arroyo’s anti-people charter change agenda,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.

“ The homily and divine intervention of the Bishops will further strengthen the people’s political and moral position against the administration’s campaign to cannibalize the already mangled 1987 Constitution in the name of President Arroyo’s political survival, first-rate puppetry and fetish for crimes of corruption,” Hicap added.

“ This anti-Chacha gathering of the faithful means the God of History, Truth and Justice is on the side of the Filipino people fighting this anti-Filipino, evil and immoral crusade of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration,” Hicap stressed.

Pamalakaya had opposed the proposed revision of the 1987 charter change since the time former President Fidel V. Ramos. Among the hotly contested issues raised against Chacha was the shift in the form of government from presidential to parliamentary, which left-leaning groups believed was meant to extend the term of the president and other elected officials.

Pamalakaya also opposed the provisions in Charter Change that would allow 100% foreign ownership of land, the elimination of the entire Bill of Rights provision in the 18-year old charter and the return of the US military bases in the country.

“ Charter Change is evil. It is a national felony trying to impose itself over and above the national interest of 85 million Filipinos and at the expense of national patrimony, national sovereignty and people’s rights and civil liberties,” the group said.

Pamalakaya’s Hicap said the crowd in inter-faith rally will exceed 30,000 people from different political and religious groups. “ The prayer rally contains powerful moral commentary against Chacha which President Arroyo and members of the pro-Chacha syndicate can’t ignore and reduce to mere Independence Day gathering,” he added.

He said part of the Bayan contingent in the prayer rally against Chacha is the 1,000 peasant and fisherfolk activists from Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog regions.

The farmers and fishermen were in Manila since Thursday last week and were part of the group, which were twice dispersed by elements of the Manila Police District Disturbance Management Unit Friday last week in España and Don Chino Roces Bridge last Friday.

Pamalakaya said before the 4:00 p.m to 6:00 p.m prayer rally in Liwasang Bonifacio, militant groups under Bayan will gather in Welcome Rotonda in Quezon City and in Taft Avenue corner Kalaw St. in Manila for simultaneous anti-Chacha political programs from 1 p.m to 3 p.m. The Bayan contingents will march from Welcome Rotonda and Taft Avenue and will converge at Liwasang Bonifacio by 3:30 p.m.

The militant group said aside from Charter Change, leftwing activists will carry their issues against the spate of political killings and other economic issues inflicting day-to-day pains to every ordinary Filipino. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 08:06 | link | comments (1) |

“They violently dispersed us, not once, but twice”
Militants to trade raps with cops over Friday’s violent dispersals

Organizers of yesterday’s protest rally in Manila today said they would file counter-charges against government and police officials responsible for the violent break up of anti-Arroyo rally yesterday along España and in Don Chino Roces Bridge.

The Manila Police District on Friday said they would file charges against leaders and organizers of the farmers-led rally that was twice dispersed by anti-riot policemen. The police charge sheet include Anakpawis party list Rep. Rafael Mariano, Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño and Renato Reyes, secretary general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) in violation of BP 880.

Also this morning, NCRPO Chief Vidal Querol lambasted organizers of yesterday’s protest in Manila as troublemakers, lawbreakers and violent people.

But the activist peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said criminal and administrative charges will be filed against Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, Manila Police District Chief Supt. Pedro Bulaong, MPD Station 8 Commander Teodorico Perez, PNP Chief Arturo Lomibao and NCRPO Chief Vidal Querol.

“ They violently dispersed us, not once, but twice”, decried leaders of KMP and Pamalakaya in a joint statement, saying that they are now in consultation with their legal counsels on appropriate charges will be filed against top government and police security officials before any regular court and in the Office of the Ombudsman.

KMP vice-chair Imelda Lacandazo said “ If they want to file charges against our leaders, let them file, we are not afraid, because truth, justice and history is on our side, nothing more, nothing less.”

“ They even violated their own reactionary BP 880 law. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has virtually transformed the entire MPD police force into her own Manila-based private army trained to harass and inflict harm on any protester or anti-Arroyo activist in the main capital,” the KMP leader stressed.

KMP also said aside from violation of BP 880, the government and police officials who ordered the violent break up of protest action will also be charged for several counts of serious physical injuries and gross violations of guaranteed constitutional rights.

Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said organizers will also file formal complaints before the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), saying 16 of their activist colleagues suffered injuries, most of them farmers from Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog.

Hicap said their colleagues were able to video taped the two dispersals conducted by the police against the rallyists in España and Mendiola streets. The group said the video footages will show the extreme behavior displayed by elements of the MPD Civil Disturbance Management Unit in dealing with farmer activists last Friday.

He said their groups will make use of video footages as part of the evidence they would submit to the court, to the Office of the Ombudsman and to the CHR once they file they charges against certain government and police officials.

“ The MPD cops acted as if they were disciples, rabid fanatics and followers of Adolf Hitler during the Nazi invasion of Germany turning España and Mendiola streets into “free-fire zones” for forces of a de facto authoritarian state. The video footages will show” Hicap said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 08:05 | link | comments |

Norwegian gov’t asked to intervene on
NDFP-GRP talks on rights violations

The left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Wednesday urged the Royal Norwegian government to intervene and act appropriately on the demand of the communist-led National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) for the Philippine government to resume talks on human rights violations despite the breakdown of peace negotiations since 2004.

“ The Royal Norwegian government, as a third party facilitator on the peace talks between the NDF and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines can facilitate the discussion on alleged human rights violations in the light of the current wave of extra-judicial killings across the country,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap.

Hicap stressed that the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) created by the NDF and government peace negotiators is politically required to address cases of human rights violations despite the breakdown of peace talks two years ago.

Of the nearly 800 cases of alleged human rights violations filed by both sides, 693 involved cases of alleged human rights violations by state security forces, while 106 were blamed on the New People’s Army.

“ The situation calls for the resumption of talks at least on particular works and concerns of the JMC. We would like to remind the Macapagal-Arroyo government that is politically obligated to face their counterparts in the JMC and address the human rights violations charged against agents of the state,” Hicap added.

Hicap further stressed that the Royal Norwegian government as third party facilitator can initiate talks that would bring at least representatives of the NDFP and the GRP in the discussion table to talk on the human rights cases still pending before their respective JMC secretariats.

“ We are not asking for divine intervention, what we are asking is a political intervention of a neutral political entity that would help create a conducive venue for the resumption of talks on a very particular issue that is a paramount concern for the Filipino people,” Pamalakaya said.

The militant group said President Arroyo and the Cabinet Oversight Committee on Internal Security (Cocis) must not prevent its’ peace panel from joining their counterparts from the other side in the talks dealing with the works and concerns of JMC, the secretariat and operations of which is funded by the Royal Norwegian government.

Pamalakaya said they are also planning to file human rights cases against military officials and government agents involved in the day-to-day harassment of their leaders and supporters before the JMC.

The group was referring to the case of KMP secretary general Danilo Ramos and Pamalakaya’s legal counsel Atty. Jobert Pahilga, executive trustee of Sentro Para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo who had been tailed by alleged motorcycle-riding military agents in their neighborhood since last month.

Pamalakaya had identified a certain Christopher Artuz, a police personnel of the PNP-CIDG who had been tailing the militant peasant leader since last month, while military agents identified with Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan have been tailing Atty. Pahilga in his neighborhood since this month.

“ If something bad happen to Ramos and Atty. Pahilga, we will hold Gen. Palparan, the national security gang in Malacañang and the President accountable, nothing more, nothing less,” the group added. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 08:04 | link | comments |

Fury against political killings, CARP extension mark pre-Independence Day rally

The peasant’s outrage against the spate of political killings of mass activists and the failure of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) to address the serious problem of landlessness in the country marked the 18th year anniversary of what left-leaning groups called bogus land reform program bannered the pre-Independence Day rally held in Manila this morning.

“President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the national serial killer in Malacañang in killing our political and moral rights to life and land. We have no other choice but defend our collective interests and pursue the fight against the female dictator in the Palace,” said peasant leader Danilo Ramos, secretary general of the left-wing farmer group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP).

Around 5,000 activists from KMP, the fisherfolk group Pamalakaya and allied organizations identified with the largest leftwing alliance Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) will try to march from the University of Sto.Tomas in España to Mendiola Bridge to protest the unbridled killings of political activists and the extension of CARP for another five years from 2008 to 2013.

“ Defiance is the tall order of the day. The political objective of reclaiming the Don Chino Roces bridge is one way of showing Malacañang that we will not stop from seeking truth, justice and accountability over this regime’s failure to stop state-sponsored terrorism and national denial of peasant’s land rights,” Ramos said.

The KMP leader said today’s peasant-led rally was just a preview of the bigger mass actions scheduled on June 12 Independence Day, June 27 and the State of the Nation Address (SONA) next month. “ This is just an opening salvo. We will create a political momentum that would trigger bigger and daring anti-Arroyo mass actions in the next few weeks that would culminate in Mrs. Arroyo’s next SONA on July,” Ramos added.

Meanwhile, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap warned anti-riot policemen that they would face appropriate charges in court if they break up the militants’ rally in Mendiola today. The fisherfolk leader said they have talked to their legal counsels the possibility of filing strings of criminal and administrative charges against police officers and rank-and-file members of the Manila Police District.

“ Let them face scores of criminal and administrative charges before any regional trial court in the National Capital Region. That’s the price they have to pay for taking an order from an illegitimate, puppet and brutal president,” Hicap said.

The fisherfolk leader said teams of para-legal and medical volunteers were deployed to provide legal and medical assistance to activists who would be arrested or injured by the policemen, in case anti-riot cops violently dispersed their ranks.

Pamalakaya said peasant and fisherfolk activists from Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog regions will stay here from June 9 until June 12 to be able to join the anti-Chacha rally set on Monday, Independence Day.

After the June 9 rally, the rural-based activists will hold a camp-out inside the University of the Philippines (UP) campus in Diliman, Quezon City to wait for the bishops-led anti-Chacha rally in Liwasang Bonifacio on June 12. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 08:04 | link | comments |

Leftists declare war against CARP extension

Two militant groups on Thursday vowed to oppose the plan of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to extend the implementation of Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) for another five years from 2008 to 2013.

In a joint press statement, leaders of the militant peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and the leftist fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said President Arroyo wanted to extend CARP not to distribute lands but to exploit the bogus agrarian reform program as staging grounds for more crimes of corruption.

“ 18 years of CARP is a social-political nightmare. It failed to address the fundamental problem of landlessness in the country and this bogus land reform program was further used to deny peasants’ rights to land. President Arroyo only wanted to extend this agrarian reform program because it is proven to be an effective tool for cornering public funds in the name of institutional and pervasive corruption,” the KMP and Pamalakaya said.

The agrarian reform program is scheduled to end on 2008, but Malacañang intends to extend it another 5 years because the Department of Agrarian Reform discovered that more than 500,000 hectares have not been distributed to target farmer beneficiaries.

KMP secretary general Danilo Ramos said the Filipino peasantry will declare war against President Arroyo’s proposal to extend CARP till 2013, further saying that the figures cited by DAR that had distributed 3.7 million hectares of land to farmer beneficiaries were “ distorted, doctored and manipulated” to make it appear that CARP succeeded in bringing social justice to the countryside.

“ Mrs. Arroyo wants the dead CARP to live for another five years, because she is anticipating the recovery of more Marcos wealth, which she could infuse to CARP to facilitate more crimes of corruption for her government,” he said.

Ramos said over 27 billion pesos of recovered ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses were questionably spent for the implementation of CARP, and another 544 million pesos of the recovered wealth were questionably used to finance the scandalous GMA fertilizer scam during the May 2004 national elections.

For his part, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said if CARP was a successful land reform program how come the 18-year old agrarian reform program did not cover the vast landholdings of Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr.

“ CARP transformed Danding Cojuangco into a national warlord and no.1 big comprador-landlord in the country and the undisputed landgrabber of peasant lands across the country,” Hicap said. “ The Pacman is the most cherished client of President Arroyo and the bogus CARP. Danding remains untouchable because of the Chief Executive and her fake land reform program,” Hicap added.

The Pamalakaya leader said Cojuangco still maintains vast hectares of land in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, Agusan, Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino and Nueva Viscaya, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Quezon, Laguna, Batangas and Palawan. Hicap said Cojuangco’s landed estates were acquired during his association with the Marcos dictatorship and was upheld by the present Macapagal-Arroyo administration in the name of political accommodation. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 08:02 | link | comments |

Palparan men tailing Batasan 5 lawyer, Pamalakaya report says

Military intelligence agents working for controversial Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, chief of the 7th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army based in Nueva Ecija have been tailing Atty. Jobert Pahilga, one of the legal counsels working for the defense of six militant lawmakers charged for rebellion by the Macapagal-Arroyo government.

In a press statement, the leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said motorcycle riding agents identified with Palparan continue to tail Atty. Pahilga, counsel for the defense of Anakpawis party list Rep. Rafael Mariano and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) deputy secretary general Randal Echanis, both charged for rebellion in connection with the Feb.24 alleged coup attempt against President Arroyo.

“ If something bad happen to Atty. Pahilga, we will hold Gen. Palparan, the national security gang in Malacañang and the President accountable, nothing more, nothing less,” the group said.

Since last week, two motorcycling riding men had been frequented the neighborhood of Atty. Pahilga, asking residents if they know the lawyer, his exact address, his whereabouts and his scheduled court hearings.

“ A well-placed source from Fort Magsaysay camp confirmed that the men tailing Atty. Pahilga since last week in his neighborhood and his court hearings were agents of Palparan. We strongly urge the Butcher from Mindoro to stop his murderous frenzy and recall his men out to harass or even liquidate Atty. Pahilga,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap.

“ Gen. Palparan is moving heaven and earth to pursue his evil crusade to harass and liquidate people fighting repression and upholding the cause of genuine land reform, truth, justice and accountability. He will surely deny this case to high heavens, but truth has its’ way to give public the real score,” Hicap added.

Hicap said the source from Fort Magsaysay told Atty. Pahilga, that aside from monitoring the lawyer’s day-to-day activities, his cellphone is bugged and monitored by alleged agents identified with the controversial military general.

“ We will bring this case to the Commission on Human Rights and other independent bodies working for the sake of human rights and basic civil liberties. Definitely will not bring this to Task Force Usig or any police or military authority because we don’t trust them,” Hicap added.

According to Hicap, Atty. Pahilga, aside from acting as legal counsel for Rep. Mariano and Echanis in the rebellion charges filed by the Department of Justice before the Makati Regional Trial Court is Pamalakaya’s legal counsel in the P 728-million fertilizer scam complaint they filed against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo before the Office of the Ombudsman on June 3, 2004.

Atty. Pahilga, also the Executive Trustee of the farmer NGO group Sentra Para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo (Sentra) was also the legal counsel of Pamalakaya in the anti-graft complaint the group filed against President Arroyo, former DENR Secretary Michael Defensor and Foreign Affairs secretary Alberto Romulo in connection with the Lafayette toxic spills last year.

Atty. Pahilga was also one of the lead counsels of farm workers in Hacienda Luisita and serve as lawyer of poor farmers in strings of land dispute cases involving big landlords in Central and Northern Luzon, Southern Tagalog and Bicol regions. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 02:34 | link | comments |

Palace inviting workers’ revolt with rejection of P 125 bill

Malacañang is inviting an across-the-nation workers’ revolt by threatening to veto a law that would grant P 125 wage increase in the daily take home pay of private workers.

“President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and puppets of the big employers in the administration are inviting a major political showdown with Filipino workers by killing the passage of the legislated P 125 across-the-board pay hike in the take home pay of the country’s working class,” the militant fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said in a press statement.

“ President Arroyo- the grandmother of extraordinary pimps in the country is prostituting the rights of Filipino workers to higher wages and wage increases to appease and please her government’s business clients. This is outrageous and totally revolting,” Pamalakaya added.

The Palace, through Press Secretary and Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye yesterday announced that Malacañang would not support the legislated wage hike and would instead; endorse the regional wage board as the better medium in determining wage increase to protect both the interests of ordinary wage earners and employers.

“ This is an extreme expression of class betrayal by the Macapagal-Arroyo administration. The Filipino working class must assert their collective rights and interest to the streets to frustrate President Arroyo’s political massacre of workers’ rights to higher wages and wage increases,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said.

The House of Representatives on second reading last Wednesday approved House Bill 354 authored by Anakpawis party list Rep. Crispin Beltran and 5 other militant lawmakers known as Batasan 5. The bill seeks a P 125 across-the-board increase in the daily wage of workers nationwide.

The increase as proposed by HB 354, would be spread over three years- P 45 on Oct.1 of 2006,
P 40 on Oct.1, 2007 and another P 40 on Oct.1, 2008. But the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (Ecop) described the proposed wage increase as an “ unconscionable act” that would do more harm than good.

Pamalakaya’s Hicap said aside from being anti-labor and pro-business, President Arroyo wants to veto the passage of P 125 wage bill because the authors of the bill were the representatives of militant party list groups, whom Arroyo tagged as enemies of the state and held for rebellion charges.

The militant group said President Arroyo was not keen to support the bill because it would credit Rep. Beltran, being the main author of the bill and five other militant lawmakers- Bayan Muna party list Reps. Satur Ocampo, Teddy Casiño and Joel Virador, Anakpawis party list Rep. Rafael Mariano and Gabriela party list Rep. Liza Maza.

“ She is afraid Beltran and the Batasan 5 lawmakers would receive credit for their painstaking work in pushing the P 125-wage hike bill in Congress. This is another reason, why the President is not supportive of the proposed legislated wage hike, aside from her first-rate class bias to big foreign and local capitalists,” Pamalakaya said.

“Mrs. Arroyo is a certified enemy of Filipino workers, there’s no doubt of it. She will practically do anything, everything to please her employer clients in the name of political survival. The rejection of the P 125-wage hike bill is part of the Arroyo game plan to perpetuate her illegal government till 2010,” Pamalakaya added. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 02:33 | link | comments |

P 200 per participant
Pro-Lafayette prayer rally paid, says Pamalakaya report

Leaders of the militant fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) in Bicol today said those who attended the pro-Lafayette prayer rally held last Tuesday in Albay Astrodome was paid P 200 each by prayer rally organizers.

“Lafayette with the help of top government officials staged a mocked prayer rally to convince the public believe that there was a strong demand for the return of mining operations in Rapu-Rapu Island,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.

Reports reaching the Pamalakaya national headquarters in Quezon City said many of those who attended the pro-Lafayette rally last Tuesday were dismayed because organizers failed to pay them in full amount.

“The agreement was each participant would receive P 200 from the organizers of the pro-Lafayette prayer rally. However, some complained because they did not receive any amount from those who invited them to appear in the pro-Lafayette rally,” Hicap said.

Hicap said Lafayette Philippines Inc. is desperate to resume its’ operations in Rapu-Rapu Island, charging the Australian mining group of exploiting the people’s poverty for the sake of super monopoly profits.

“ This is the grandmother of all bribery, lies and deceptions. The owners and officials of Lafayette in cahoots with the provincial executives of the Bicol region and the national government will move heaven and earth to the extent of using religion and pulpit to dupe people and pass themselves as sinners turned saints to gain public acceptability,” Pamalakaya said.

The group said if there was truth to report that they were able to mobilize 15,000 people for the pro-Lafayette prayer rally, the Australian mining firm could have spent at least not less than
P 3 million for the activity.

Pamalakaya learned that those who were mobilized in exchange for P 200 attendance fee came from Masbate and Sorsogon and Rapu-Rapu Island in Albay. But the militant group doubted the report that Lafayette was able to mobilize 15,000 in the pro-Lafayette prayer rally, because the group received reports that the capacity of Albay Astrodome was only 1,000 and less than 1,000 people attended the mocked prayer rally initiated by Lafayette supporters in the region.

Earlier today, Pamalakaya, Anakpawis party list Representatives Rafael Mariano and Crispin Beltran and Gabriela party list Rep. Liza Maza filed a 6-page petition strongly urging the Office of the Ombudsman to act on their complaint filed against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, former environment secretary Michael Defensor and top officials of Lafayette Philippines Inc.

On February 14, 2006 complainants led by Pamalakaya and its provincial chapters in Bicol, Cebu, Bohol and Negros, Reps. Mariano, Beltran and Maza charged President Arroyo, Defensor, DENR Region V officials and Lafayette officials Rod Watt and Wilhelm Thiele in violation of Republic Act 7980 or Plunder Law, Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Republic Act 6713 or the Code of the Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials, the Water Code Law and other environmental laws in connection to the mining operations of Lafayette Philippines in Rapu-Rapu, Albay.

“ Enough is enough. The Office of the Ombudsman must exercise its constitutional mandate and duty to act on the concerns of the public and combat the pressure exerted by Malacañang and the transnational mining clients of the President,” Pamalakaya said.

“The office of Atty. Merceditas Gutierrez should act on this case decisively in the name of public interest and accountability. This is the time to prove that she is not a lame duck ombudswoman and she is not puppet of President Arroyo and big mining interests in the country,” the group added.

The 6-page petition says, “ since Feb.14, however, the complainants never heard of any response or action from the Office of the Ombudsman, and they have not received subpoena, notice or memorandum for the preliminary investigation of the case, and the complainants never heard that the Ombudsman issued subpoena, notice or order the respondents to submit counter-affidavits to the complaint.

The complainants asserted that that their complaint was urgent and a paramount concern because it affects national interest, the people’s economy and environment and patrimony. They said their case is very serious and involves highest officials of the land from the Office of the President, her cabinet secretaries and persons perceived to be very influential if not powerful in the country.

“ The complicity of the respondents with the multinational mining companies in destroying our environment is likewise appalling, but again it is very unfortunate that this Office did not even lift a finger to investigate or start with the investigation of the case,” the complainants added.

Pamalakaya asserted that said the Office of the Ombudsman has had enough evidence to proceed with the case. “ This office has become a white elephant. It should now subpoena the respondents, immediately resolve this case with or without the respondents counter-affidavits and prosecute those persons charged in the Lafayette case,” the group said.

Pamalakaya asserted that the allegations and annexes have established and surpass prima facie evidence against the respondents that they have committed, abetted, tolerated and benefited from the offenses charged that warrant an immediate investigation and action from the Office of the Ombudsman.

“ The tall order of the day for the Office of the Ombudsman is to probe, prosecute and punish those public and private entities involved in the Rapu-Rapu environmental tragedy last year,” the group added. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 03:59 | link | comments |

Pamalakaya sought ouster of Solcom Chief

He is an idiot and an all-out political-military charlatan.

Stepping up their propaganda offensive against Let. Gen. Pedro Cabuay Jr., commander of the Southern Luzon Command, leaders of the leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) sought the removal of the Solcom chief from his post.

“ The unbridled political killings of militant activists in Southern Tagalog and Bicol regions has the Solcom chief’s approval and right away endorsement. He can deny it to high heavens but his actions and words speak so much of his desire to eliminate leftwing critics of his principal benefactor in Malacañang,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

The Pamalakaya leader strongly denounced the Solcom chief statement attributing the ambushed of Sotero Llamas, former chair of the Communist Party of the Philippines and NPA commander in the Bicol region.

“ Lt. Gen. Cabuay is the grandfather of all political-military charlatans in Bicol region. This military official will lie 24 hours and seven days a week in the for the sake of his military career and in the name of the corrupt, bogus and criminal regime in Malacañang,” Hicap added.

The Solcom chief yesterday attributed the ambush of Llamas to his former comrades in the New People’s Army, stressing that by all indications, the killing of former consultant of the NDFP peace panel was done by the NPA hit squad as part of the continuing purge within the movement.

Cabuay further stressed that the CPP-NPA-NDF marked Llamas as counter-revolutionary and that the communist leadership did not approve Llamas decision to run for the governorship of Albay in the last May 10, 2004 elections.

Pamalakaya’s Hicap, however asserted that Lt. Gen. Cabuay should be held as principal suspect in the cold-blooded murder of Llamas, saying the Solcom chief, just like National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales and Maj. General Jovito Palparan had been very eager to see the physical annihilation of leftwing activists not only in the region, but across-the-country.

“ Lt. Gen. Cabuay, the undeclared regional operator of government-financed and military-trained death squads in Southern Tagalog and Bicol regions is lying on his teeth when he accused the NPA as suspects in the killing of Llamas,” Hicap added.

Pamalakaya said the Solcom Chief is the chief implementor of Oplan Bantay Laya, a five-year counter-insurgency military program that aims to eliminate alleged front organizations of the underground Communist Party of the Philippines.

“Lt. Gen. Cabuay is the regional architect of Oplan Bantay Laya, the political-military bible and doctrine used by hired assassins to annihilate leaders, personalities and ordinary supporters of leftist groups across the country,” the group stressed.

Pamalakaya said Oplan Bantay Laya was conceptualized in 2001 and was nationally adopted and implemented beginning 2002. The military program, which will end this year, involves rigid intelligence work on alleged left-leaning groups and personalities, sectoral and support organizations and the vilification and demonization campaign against these groups.

“ The last phase of Oplan Bantay Laya is the physical elimination of targets based on existing documents about it and the Isafp memorandum orders to regional and provincial field commanders to go after militant groups, their grassroots leaders and ordinary supporters and the Solcom Chief is 101 percent aware of this plan,” the militant group said.

Hicap said the decoding of Oplan Bantay Laya will help solve the mysteries behind the serialized extra-judicial killings victimizing leaders and supporters of legal militant organizations and will further expose the role of Lt. Gen. Cabuay on this five-year counter-insurgency plan.

“ If probers want to identify the national serial killers behind the unbridled extra –judicial killings, we strongly suggest both chambers of congress to table the public scrutiny of Oplan Bantay Laya. This will lead them to logical and objective conclusion that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the national security cluster are behind the across-the-country political killings of militants,” Pamalakaya said.

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 03:58 | link | comments (1) |

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