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Leftwing fishers cook fish balls in front of DA office to score Yap’s “fish ball, fish cake economics”

Fisherfolk activists belonging to the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) cooked a kilo of fish ball at the entrance gate of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to protest agriculture secretary Arthur Yap’s proposal to buy fish in Romblon and process these either into fish cakes or fish balls.

“The cooking demo” highlighted the protest action staged by some 20 members of Pamalakaya and allied groups denouncing Yap’s “fish ball, fish cake economics” in addressing the problems caused by the recent super typhoon Frank.

“Secretary Yap is performing his role to the hilt as the ultimate king of all escape artists in the Macapagal-Arroyo government. His proposal to buy all fish in Romblon and convert and sell these either into fish cakes or fish balls speaks of his political mediocrity and penchant for all-out travesty in addressing the issues and concerns of the people,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

In a two-page letter addressed to Secretary Yap, the Pamalakaya leader enumerated the group’s five urgent demands for DA and Malacañang to immediately address and favorably act upon. These demands are as follows:

1). Free distribution of rice to all areas ravaged by super typhoon Frank. The priority areas include the provinces of Aklan, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Samar, Leyte, Masbate, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Romblon, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental and Quezon provinces.

2). A monthly oil subsidy of P 7,500 for all fishermen operating small fishing boats, and monthly
P 3,000 economic relief for paddle using fishermen, and boatless and gearless fishermen.

3). Free assistance or subsidy to small fishermen whose motorized bancas, net and other fishing gears were destroyed at the height of typhoon Frank.

4). The immediate and careful retrieval of endosulfan chemicals which are still inside the capsized MV Princess of the Stars.

Pamalakaya’s Hicap said the money for their subsidy proposals can be sourced from the non-payment of foreign and national debt this year. The militant leader said the national government should immediately suspend the payment of P 295.7 B maturing debts and interests of foreign and domestic loans, and re-channel the allocated budget for debt servicing to the present economic woes of the people.

Aside from non-payment, the group said the Office of the President should let go the P 2.5 B Kilos Asenso fund, the audit free fund under the disposal of President Arroyo, which the Chef Executive refuses to release.

“That Kilos Asenso fund belongs to the people, not to Mrs. Arroyo. Her office should free it from the clutches of Arroyo’s day-to-day corruption,” Pamalakaya stressed. The militant group likewise demanded the immediate scrapping of the 12 percent expanded value added tax levied on petroleum products, water and power to provide quick economic relief to the people.

Pamalakaya likewise reiterated the scrapping of the Oil Deregulation Law, and call for the full-blown nationalization of the oil industry, so that fishermen could buy and utilize affordable and cheap gasoline. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 02:27 | link | comments |
bitch n pieces

Lawmakers asked to pass law suspending 2008 debt payment to address economic woes, calamity

Fisherfolk activists belonging to the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Monday urged senators and congressmen to cross party lines and pass a law that would suspend this year’s debt payment to foreign and local creditors, and instead re-channel the budget to address the present economic woes and the catastrophic impact of typhoon Frank confronting the country.

“National interest dictates Malacañang and Congress to at least suspend debt payment for this year and instead prioritize the funding for pressing concerns and needs of the people compounded by the present economic crisis and the all over the country devastation of super typhoon Frank,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

The Pamalakaya leader put to task Senate President Manuel Villar and House Speaker Prospero Nograles to lead the filing of separate bills compelling President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to suspend debt payment for 2008, and re-channel the allocated budget for job creation, relief and rehabilitation programs and thoroughgoing subsidies to the most affected, vulnerable and marginalized sectors.

Hicap said of the P 1.2 trillion 2008 budget passed by both chambers and signed by President Arroyo last March, P 295.7 billion were allocated to debt servicing this year.

“The solution is doable, the only principal obstacle here is the lack of political will of President Arroyo, who always wants to keep her position as the no.1 puppet girl of the US controlled IMF-World Bank and no.1 money market pleaser of financial oligarchs in the world,” the fisherfolk leader added.

Aside from suspending debt payment, Pamalakaya is also demanding the national government to scrap the 12 percent expanded value added tax imposed on petroleum products, water and electricity.

Pamalakaya said the government should scrap the P 54-billion EVAT collected from oil products, and as well as EVAT on power and water to substantially provide economic relief to millions of people.

Earlier, Pamalakaya sought the distribution of free NFA rice to coastal and farming communities ravaged by super typhoon Frank. The group also proposed for a monthly P 7,500 subsidy for fisherfolk owners and operators of small fishing boats across the country to jumpstart municipal fishing operations hampered by the intermittent increases in the prices of gasoline, the fish ban and fish scare imposed by the Department of Agriculture.

The group said there are about 170,000 small fishing boats across the country, which employs an average of 2-3 fishermen including the small fishing boat owner. It said a monthly subsidy would cost the national government at least P 1.3 B a month, or more or less P 4 billion for three months in total oil subsidy.

Malacañang rejected the proposal of Pamalakaya for the Office of the President to release the audit free P 2.5 B Kilos Asenso fund saying only a portion of Mrs. Arroyo’s fund could be released for victims of typhoon Frank.

It also corrected previous reports that President Arroyo has P 15 billion in total funds to address the disastrous impact of typhoons and other natural calamities, stressing that Malacañang has only P 2 billion under its disposal for said purpose. Based on the latest report of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), the damage caused by typhoon Frank has reached the P 12-billion mark. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 07:53 | link | comments |
debt trap

Pamalakaya demands free NFA rice, oil subsidies for
fisherfolk storm victims

The left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas
ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on
Sunday pressed the national government to distribute
National Food Authority (NFA) rice for free to all
fisherfolk and farmer victims of super typhoon Frank.


On top of the demand for free NFA rice, the militant
group also urged the government to provide oil subsidy
of at least P 7,500 per month for each small fishing
boat so marginal fishermen immediately go back to
fishing and re-start their livelihood affected by
typhoon Frank over the last two weeks.

According to Pamalakaya national chairperson Fernando
Hicap, there are about 170,000 small fishing boats
across the country, which employs an average of 2-3
fishermen including the small fishing boat owner.

He said a monthly subsidy would cost the national
government at least P 1.3 B a month, or more or less
P 4 billion for three months in total oil subsidy.

Hicap said the government should immediately
prioritize the distribution of free NFA rice and oil
subsidies to areas devastated by typhoon Frank. The
Pamalakaya leader said these areas include the coastal
communities in Aklan, Iloilo, Negros Occidental and
Negros Oriental, Romblon, Masbate and Quezon
provinces.

"We strongly suggest to the corrupt regime of
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to refrain from
pursuing its campaign of state terror, political
persecution and grandslam corruption, and address
seriously the concern of our people, especially the
victims of typhoon Frank," Pamalakaya's Hicap added.

Pamalakaya said the taxpayers money currently under
the disposal of Malacanang should be used for the
pressing need of the affected fishermen and other
sectors and not in the political interest of Mrs.
Arroyo and her ruling syndicate in the Palace.

"There are billions of pesos out there for public
disposal.But the trouble is President Arroyo does not
want the public to use it for their cause," the group
said referring to the P 2.5 billion audit free Kilos
Asenso fund which is under the Office of the
President.

Pamalakaya said Malacanang is keen in rejecting the
proposal to release the P 2.5 B for reasons that are
syndicated to President Arroyo and her close political
associates.

The group said aside from the audit free P 2.5 B Kilos
Asenso Fund, the funds for NFA rice and oil subsidies
can come from the suspension of debt servicing this
year.

Pamalakaya is eying the immediate suspension of
payment for debt interest amounting to P 12.1 B and
re-channel the funds to relief and rehabilitation
efforts.

Malacañang rejected the proposal for the government to
observe a moratorium on its paying of the interest on
the country’s foreign debts and use the amount
intended for such to fund the rehabilitation of areas
devastated by Typhoon “Frank,” saying such may only
cause a negative backlash to the nation.

Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said while it is a very
enticing idea to forgo debt servicing, such a step
might result in more painful implications rather than
good for the country.

“We cannot simply forgo our commitments including our
international commitment to service our foreign debts.
It could be very damaging to our fundamentals as a
reliable debtor. We should live up to our commitments
as a good-paying debtor,” Dureza said.

“If we won’t comply, it would hurt us more rather than
help us. It is just like you are amortizing a car and
then you suddenly decide to forgo servicing because
you believe you have to spend on some other things
aside from amortization. You car could be taken away
from you and you’ll be on the losing end,” Dureza
further said.#

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 04:38 | link | comments |
economic slavery

P 60 per liter gasoline will trigger nationwide fish
strike, warns fishers group

The unstoppable increases in the prices of petroleum products will trigger a nationwide fish strike.

The warning came from the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) shortly after oil companies hiked prices of diesel and kerosene by an average of  P 2 liter, and gasoline by P 1 per liter.

"If a nationwide fish strike will contribute to all efforts to press down prices of petroleum products,
then we will campaign for an across-the-country fish strike," Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

“Remember oil is a very sensitive political commodity. It can spark an across-the-country uprising that may
even lead to the eventual collapse of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,” Hicap added.

But Hicap said his group will need ample time to convince small fishermen to go on a nationwide strike.
He said there's no problem as far as Pamalakaya members are concerned.

"We will reach out other groups to make this mass action a general success. We need this collective and
communal action to stop the Arroyo-oil cartel conspiracy from bloodsucking our fishers and the public in general," the Pamalakaya leader said.

Hicap said a Pamalakaya memorandum calling all chapters of the group in 43 provinces nationwide to
prepare for a nationwide fish strike either last week of July in time for President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo's State of the Nation Address (SONA) or early August will be released next week.

"We will convince the fish eating public to seal their approval and cooperation in the name of people's fight
against the exploitation and abuses of the Shell, Cheveron and Petron and their no.1 patron in Malacanang," the Pamalakaya leader added.

Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap made the fearless forecast a day after Edgar Chua, country
chair of Shell Philippines announced that oil companies will jack up price of diesel by an average
of P 7.01 per liter representing under-recoveries for June due to steady increase in the price of petroleum
products in the world market.

“Malacañang has two options left. One is to arrest and end the corporate greed of the three oil companies and the second one is to offer their President at the altar of national outrage for failing to curb the
monopoly practices and cartelized operations of the Big Three. But the Filipino people want the two
options to take place,” Hicap added.

The Pamalakaya leader said the Macapagal-Arroyo government has been snubbing the concrete proposals of various consumer groups and cause-oriented organizations that would cushion the impact of weekly increases in the prices of petroleum products.

Hicap said concrete and doable solutions like the repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law, the imposition of
price control, the removal of 12 percent expanded-value added tax and other regressive taxes levied on petroleum products, the buy back of Petron and the nationalization of oil industry have been suggested to Malacañang and to the legislative branch of government for urgent action.

“But Mrs. Arroyo is the biggest problem here. She is not only reluctant and hesitant. She herself is the
biggest apologist of the blood sucking operations and system of the oil cartel in the country under the
banner of privatization, deregulation and liberalization,” Pamalakaya said.

Citing data provided by IBON Data Bank, the militant group said diesel prices increased by 607 percent
since the start of deregulation in 1996, while pump prices of unleaded gas increased by 492 percent.
Pamalakaya said as much as 47 percent to 54 percent of the pump price of petroleum products represents windfall profits of the oil firms.

Based on Pamalakaya study said fisherfolk owners of 177, 627 motorized small fishing boats across who
employ 2-3 small fishermen could no longer bear the brunt of rising prices of petroleum products.

It said the unstoppable hikes in the prices of petroleum products may soon compel small boat owners
either to reduce hours of fishing from an average of 8 to 12 hours to 4 to 8 hours or abandon their 4 to 16
horsepower motors and look for other jobs such as tricycle drivers, carpentry work in and out of the
fishing villages and do construction work.

Small Filipino fisherfolk use at least 5 liters to 10 liters of regular gasoline, costing between
P 300 to P 600 in fuel prices per fishing operation based on current prices of petroleum products in the
country. As per fishing operation, the normal average fish catch is 5 kilos to 10 kilos at P 50 per kilo of
fish or roughly P 250 to P 500 a day. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 04:37 | link | comments |
economic slavery

CHR chair asked: Probe Army’s plan to neutralize Pamalakaya and other militants in Negros

THE MILITANT FISHERFOLK ALLIANCE Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Friday asked Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chairperson Leila de Lima to investigate the alleged plan of Philippine Army to neutralize leaders and members of activist organizations in Negros, that include the fisherfolk group, member organizations of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and militant party lists Bayan Muna, Gabriela and Anakpawis.

“The Philippine Army in Negros are telling the people that our leaders and members are targets of military counter-insurgency operations because according to the military we work with the Communist Party of the Philippines, the New People’s Army and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

Pamalakaya’s Hicap issued the call a day after a group of Manila-based pastors from the Roman Catholic and protestant churches went to Guihulngan City in Negros Occidental to check reported human rights abuses there allegedly perpetrated by the military.

The religious-led fact finding mission was conducted after reports reached Manila that a village resolution was allegedly passed last May 28 preventing leaders and members of human rights watchdog Karapatan from entering Barangay Linantuyan in Guihulngan City.

The fisherfolk leader said military officials of the 11th Infantry Batallion of the Philippine Army, including Major Nathaniel Villasor, chief of the 303rd Infantry Brigade Civil Military Operations and Philippine National Police (PNP) Senior Supt. Rosendo Franco are the front runners in the alleged campaign against leaders and members of progressive groups, which according to Philippine Army are closely being watched for their connection with the communist guerillas in the island.

“President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and league of extrajudicial killers in Negros are setting the stage for another round of extrajudicial killings and campaign of state terror in the province. We strongly ask the CHR chair, including the Senate and House Committees on Human Rights to look into this gameplan of the military to eliminate political activists in the province,” Hicap said.

Pamalakaya said they will write Senate Majority Leader Senator Francis Pangilinan, chair of the Senate Committee on Human Rights, and Quezon Rep. Lorenzo Tañada III to conduct either a joint or separate congressional inquiry on the alleged plot to liquidate Negros based activists.

“This looming orgy of political killings must be stopped not only in Negros, but in the entire Philippines. The government is banking on its election as Vice President of the United Nations Human Rights Council to pursue its national policy and pattern of political killings and go full blast again in its campaign of state terror,” the militant group added.

Citing the data of the human rights group Karapatan, Pamalakaya said last year, that there were 52 incidents of extrajudicial killings and arbitrary execution victimizing 69 people, 73 cases of illegal arrest and detention victimizing 280 political activists, 85 cases of threat, harassment and intimidation victimizing 2,194 leftwing activists, Pamalakaya argued that the Philippine government does not deserve to be included in the UN human rights body.

From January 21, 2001 to March 31, 2008, Karapatan said 903 persons were summarily executed by the military, while there were 193 persons were abducted by state agents since the Arroyo government’s implementation of Oplan Bantay Laya 1 and Oplan Bantay Laya II. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 08:10 | link | comments (1) |
state terrorism

Secretary Yap’s plan to process fish from Romblon into fish cakes or fish balls draws laughter from fishers group

LOL or Laugh Out Loud.

This was the immediate reaction of the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on the newest plan of agriculture secretary Arthur Yap to buy fish from Romblon and process these into fish cakes or fish balls to prevent a collapse of the province’s fishing industry.

“Is Secretary Yap serious? Or the agriculture secretary merely wants to display his sense of humor in times of national hardship or crisis? Either both ways, we find this political escapade escapist, cheap and at the same time outrageous,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

Hicap had blamed Secretary Yap for the spread of fish scare all over the country, asserting that this premature and irresponsible announcement of a fish ban created an across-the-nation psychological thriller and national panic among the fish eating public.

The fish ban was imposed by Secretary Yap in connection with the sinking of MV Princess of the Stars carrying 10,000 kilos of toxic pesticide inside the 40-foot container aboard ship.

“Secretary Yap is going trivial again, as if the problem is not complicated, and as simple as ABC. This is the problem with the secretary of agriculture, he does not know where he is coming from. After that blunder of premature and irresponsible fish ban announcement, Secretary Yap is going for another fatal error,” Pamalakaya’s Hicap added.

Pamalakaya said the damage of fish ban announcement is spreading like an incurable disease or a national curse crippling the livelihood of small Filipino fishermen in many provinces of Southern Tagalog, Bicol, Central and Western Visayas regions.

The group said the “premature and irresponsible fish ban announced by secretary Yap was the ultimate cause of the widespread fish scare affecting tens of thousands of fishermen in Romblon, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Palawan, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Cebu, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Iloilo and Aklan provinces.

The militant group said the number of small fishermen that would be affected by the fish scare initiated by the government would be between 100,000-300,000 fishermen and their dependents. Pamalakaya pegged lost income from June 22 up to June 30 between P 450 million to P 1.3 B.

According to the group, each fisherman in the affected regions normally catches fish and earns a daily gross income of P 500 per fishing trip. But because of the fish scare, they were deprived to earn P 4,500 in total gross income over the last 9 nine days.

Pamalakaya said the fish scare also provided an opportunity for commercial buyers to further reduce the average prices of fish from the current P 50 per kilo to P 25 per kilo.

“The commercial fish traders have used the occasion to further lower prices of fish and other marine products they buy from small fishermen. This is one of the horrifying consequences of Yap’s imposed fish ban in the aftermath of typhoon Frank,” the group added. #






Meanwhile, Pamalakaya dared President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to immediately release her
P 2.5 B Kilos Asenso fund for the victims of super typhoon Frank. “Mrs. Arroyo should let that 2.5 billion peso audit free fund freed from the clutches of her criminal syndicate in Malacañang and allow the people to use the money for urgent relief and rehabilitation programs. Anyway, it is not her money, it belongs to the people,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

The fisherfolk group said the P 2.5 billion Kilos Asenso fund should be proportionally distributed to areas devastated by super typhoon Frank. The group proposed that the audit free Kilos Asenso fund shall be distributed as follows: P 1.5 billion for Panay Island and Negros Islands, P 500 million for Romblon and the remaining P 500 million for other affected provinces in Southern Tagalog and Bicol regions.

On top of the P 2.5 billion Kilos Asenso fund, Pamalakaya said the government should also realign the approved P 12.1 billion budget allocated for debt interest payments this year to increase relief and rehabilitation funding.

Pamalakaya also said the relatives of the victims of the capsized ship MV Princes of the Stars should also receive substantial aid from the national government. All in all, the militant group is demanding the government to set aside at least P 15-B to address the urgent and strategic needs of farming and fishing communities affected by super typhoon.

“Since President Arroyo lacks budgetary wisdom and only good in bureaucratic corruption, we initiated this simple accounting mechanism that will immediately address the pressing concerns and needs of the people,” the militant group said.

But Pamalakaya said the release and disbursement of funds should be closely monitored by the Commission on Audit (COA) in close coordination church and civic groups and anti-corruption watchdogs to prevent the corrupt regime from corrupting taxpayers’ money.

“We are talking here of billions of pesos and Arroyo’s running record of crimes of corruption is an open book to the public. We have to be very, very extra careful and vigilant here,” the group added. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 03:26 | link | comments |
bitch n pieces

PREMATURE, IRRESPONSIBLE FISH BAN ASSAILED
DA secretary Yap blamed for spread of fish scare

Fisherfolk activists belonging to the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Wednesday blamed government officials led by Department of Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap for the spread of fish scare all over the country that stemmed from an endosulfan-triggered fishing ban imposed by the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Romblon and nearby province.

The fish ban was imposed by DA in connection with the sinking of MV Princess of the Stars carrying 10,000 kilos of toxic pesticide inside the 40-foot container aboard ship.

Yesterday, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Reform (BFAR) assured the public that the fish caught by small fishermen in Romblon and nearby provinces are safe to eat. The DA for its part said it will recommend at least a partial lifting of the ban after initial findings show no symptom of endosulfan contamination.

“But the damage has been done. It is spreading like an incurable disease or a national curse crippling the livelihood of small Filipino fishermen in many provinces of Southern Tagalog, Bicol, Central and Western Visayas regions,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

“After creating an across-the-nation psychological thriller and national panic, the government is now resorting to all kinds of super road show presentation to eliminate the sum of all our people’s fears,” Hicap said in reference to fish-eating events conducted by local government officials in Romblon and Navotas led by Romblon Gov. Natalio Beltran III to assure the public that the fish are safe to eat.

Pamalakaya said the “premature and irresponsible fish ban announced by secretary Yap was the ultimate cause of the widespread fish scare affecting tens of thousands of fishermen in Romblon, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Palawan, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Cebu, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Iloilo and Aklan provinces.

The militant group said the number of small fishermen that would be affected by the fish scare initiated by the government would be between 100,000-300,000 fishermen and their dependents. Pamalakaya pegged lost income from June 22 up to June 30 between P 450 million to P 1.3 B.

According to the group, each fisherman in the affected regions normally catches fish and earns a daily gross income of P 500 per fishing trip. But because of the fish scare, they were deprived to earn P 4,500 in total gross income over the last 9 nine days.

“Imagine the devastating impact of Secretary Yap’s suicidal fish ban in Romblon, he has to make a public apology or make an irrevocable resignation,” Pamalakaya said. “Instead of giving all the care and passion needed for the victims of typhoon Frank, Malacañang through its agriculture secretary performed its role to the hilt as the ultimate scare giver,” the militant group added.

Pamalakaya said the fish scare also provided an opportunity for commercial buyers to further reduce the average prices of fish from the current P 50 per kilo to P 25 per kilo.

“The commercial fish traders have used the occasion to further lower prices of fish and other marine products they buy from small fishermen. This is one of the horrifying consequences of Yap’s imposed fish ban in the aftermath of typhoon Frank,” the group added. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 06:24 | link | comments |
state negligence

Militants dismissed Arroyo’s reasons for US trip despite Frank as “garbage”

Leftwing activists belonging to the fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Tuesday dismissed as “stockpile of garbage” the reasons lined up by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo why she and her entourage for leaving the country to United States at the height of super typhoon Frank.

“That’s garbage, garbage and garbage,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

President Arroyo said it was difficult decision for her to proceed with the 10-day working visit to Washington, but she lined up several reasons why she and her entourage still proceeded with the trip. The Chief Executive said she fully trusted her people on the ground to do everything to address the situation.

Mrs. Arroyo said as a President, she has to make a decision whether to cancel important meetings with US President George W. Bush and leaders of Congress who specifically asked that she and her company be in Washington to lobby the passage of the Philippine veterans bill in American congress.

The President said aside from securing new pledges of jobs and investments from new business players, the Philippine government was able to reaffirm its strong ties with US in fighting terrorism, adding that aside from investment and food aid, security ties between the two countries were further strengthened.

“After spending over 1.5 million US dollars or roughly P 67 million in taxpayers’ money, President Arroyo and her junket gang have both the face and the nerve to say that what they did is for the sake of starving, yet struggling 88.5 million Filipinos. Give us break,” the Pamalakaya leader said.

Hicap pressed President Arroyo, and the 59 congressmen, two senators and 10 cabinet members who joined her 10 -day working visit to the United States to pay for their round trip tickets, hotel and other bills.

“Arroyo and her company should not charge their multi-billion expenses to the taxpaying public. This triple platinum robbery in broad daylight is highly condemnable and has no place in this world,” he added.

Pamalakaya further said: “The Filipino taxpayers are not obliged to pay this mother of all junket trip. If Arroyo and her gang want to see US President George W. Bush, Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama and Republican presidential bet John McCain or witness the triumph of boxing champion Manny Pacquiao against David Diaz, that’s their prerogative, but please spare the people’s money.”

The group said Arroyo’s entourage to US had spent some $ 1.5 million or roughly P 66.885 M according to the present US dollar-peso exchange rate. He said the Philippine Airlines chartered by Malacañang to carry the entourage could reach $ 200,000, while the private plane used by President Arroyo from Fresno, California to Washington could cost taxpayers not less than $ 300,000.

Pamalakaya said the hotel bills at the top-rated Willard Hotel could cost Filipino taxpayers some 250,000 US dollars with rates ranging from $ 300 to $ 5,000. He said car rentals during the 10-day working visit could cost Filipino taxpayers some $ 150,000.

The Pamalakaya said each congressmen is also entitled to a P 100,000 monthly travel allowance, and since this is the only foreign trip so far in this month of June, he presumed the each congressional representative received the travel allowance for the month.

Pamalakaya identified the following congressmen who joined Arroyo’s trip to US. They are Rep. Narciso Santiago III, Alliance for Rural Concerns Party List Group, Rep. Monico Puentevella, Bacolod, Rep. Albert Garcia, Bataan , Rp. Mark Llandro L. Mendoza, Batangas, Rep. Hermilando Mandanas, Batangas, Rep. William Irwin Tieng, Buhay Party List Group, Rep. Jose Zubiri III, Bukidnon, Rep. Lorna Silverio, Bulacan, and Rep. Mitzi Cajayon, Caloocan.

Rep. Diosdado "Dato" Macapagal Arroyo, Camarines Sur, Rep. Joseph Santiago, Catanduanes, Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr., Cavite, Rep. Antonio Cuenco, Cebu, Rep. Eduardo Gullas, Cebu, Deputy Speaker Raul Del Mar, Cebu City, Rep. Rommel Amatong, Compostela Valley, Speaker Prospero Nograles, Davao City, Rep. Antonio Lagdameo, Davao Del Norte, Rep. Marc Cagas, Davao Del Sur, Rep. Nelson Dayanghirang, Davao Oriental, Rep. Teodolo Coquilla, Eastern Samar, Rep. Andres Salvacion, Leyte, Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Leyte, Rep. Trinidad Apostol, Leyte, Rep. Ma. Zenaida Angping, Manila, Rep. Amado S. Bagatsing, Manila, Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr., Manila, Rep. Rizalina Seachon-Lanete, Masbate and Rep. Herminia Ramiro, Misamis Occidental.

Rep. Yevgeny Emano, Misamis Oriental, Rep. Rozzano Rufino Biazon, Muntinlupa,
Rep. Joseph Gilbert Violago, Nueva Ecija, Deputy Speaker Ma. Amelita C. Villarosa, Occidental Mindoro, Rep. Anna York Bondoc, Pampanga, Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr., Pampanga, Rep. Juan Miguel Macapagal Arroyo, Pampanga, Rep. Conrado Estrella III, Pangasinan, Rep. Ma. Rachel Arenas, Pangasinan, Rep. Eduardo C. Zialcita, Parañaque, Rep. Roman Romulo, Pasig City, Rep. Mary Ann Susano, Quezon City, Rep. Nanette C. Castelo-Daza, Quezon City, Rep. Danilo Suarez, Quezon Province, Rep. Junie Cua, Quirino, Rep. Arturo B. Robes, San Jose Del Monte,
Rep. Roger Mercado, Southern Leyte, Rep. Munir Arbison, Sulu, Rep. Rex Gatchalian, Valenzuela City and Rep. Antonio Diaz, Zambales.

Among the senators who joined President Arroyo are Senators. Miriam Defensor Santiago and
Sen. Richard Gordon, two of the President’s allies in the Upper House. The cabinet members who joined Mrs. Arroyo are Agriculture secretary Arthur Yap, budget secretary Rolando Andaya, Central Bank governor Amando Tetangco, Defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro, local government secretary Ronaldo Puno, education secretary Sec. Jesli Lapus, environment secretary Lito Atienza, finance secretary Margarito Teves, foreign secretary Alberto Romulo, labor secretary Marianito Roque, presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye, press secretary Jesus Dureza and trade secretary Peter Favila.

“The most noble and appropriate political act these lawmakers and cabinet members should do is to declare to the public that they will pay for their own expenses and regret their association with President Arroyo and Malacañang,” Pamalakaya said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 12:55 | link | comments |
corruption

Militants urged Arroyo, 59 congressmen, 2 senators and 10 cabinet members in GMA junket trip to pay their tickets, other bills

Fisherfolk activists belonging to the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Monday pressed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and the 59 congressmen, two senators and 10 cabinet members who joined her 10 -day working visit to the United States to pay for their round trip tickets, hotel and other bills.

“Arroyo and her company should not charge their multi-billion expenses to the taxpaying public. This triple platinum robbery in broad daylight is highly condemnable and has no place in this world ,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

Hicap added: “The Filipino taxpayers are not obliged to pay this mother of all junket trip. If Arroyo and her gang want to see US President George W. Bush, Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama and Republican presidential bet John McCain or witness the triumph of boxing champion Manny Pacquiao against David Diaz, that’s their prerogative, but please spare the people’s money.”

The Pamalakaya leader said Arroyo’s entourage to US had spent some $ 1.5 million or roughly P 66.885 M according to the present US dollar-peso exchange rate. He said the Philippine Airlines chartered by Malacañang to carry the entourage could reach $ 200,000, while the private plane used by President Arroyo from Fresno, California to Washington could cost taxpayers not less than $ 300,000.

Hicap said the hotel bills at the top-rated Willard Hotel could cost Filipino taxpayers some 250,000 US dollars with rates ranging from $ 300 to $ 5,000. He said car rentals during the 10-day working visit could cost Filipino taxpayers some $ 150,000.

The Pamalakaya leader said each congressmen is also entitled to a P 100,000 monthly travel allowance, and since this is the only foreign trip so far in this month of June, he presumed the each congressional representative received the travel allowance for the month.

Pamalakaya identified the following congressmen who joined Arroyo’s trip to US. They are Rep. Narciso Santiago III, Alliance for Rural Concerns Party List Group, Rep. Monico Puentevella, Bacolod, Rep. Albert Garcia, Bataan , Rp. Mark Llandro L. Mendoza, Batangas, Rep. Hermilando Mandanas, Batangas, Rep. William Irwin Tieng, Buhay Party List Group, Rep. Jose Zubiri III, Bukidnon, Rep. Lorna Silverio, Bulacan, and Rep. Mitzi Cajayon, Caloocan.

Rep. Diosdado "Dato" Macapagal Arroyo, Camarines Sur, Rep. Joseph Santiago, Catanduanes, Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr., Cavite, Rep. Antonio Cuenco, Cebu, Rep. Eduardo Gullas, Cebu, Deputy Speaker Raul Del Mar, Cebu City, Rep. Rommel Amatong, Compostela Valley, Speaker Prospero Nograles, Davao City, Rep. Antonio Lagdameo, Davao Del Norte, Rep. Marc Cagas, Davao Del Sur, Rep. Nelson Dayanghirang, Davao Oriental, Rep. Teodolo Coquilla, Eastern Samar, Rep. Andres Salvacion, Leyte, Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Leyte, Rep. Trinidad Apostol, Leyte, Rep. Ma. Zenaida Angping, Manila, Rep. Amado S. Bagatsing, Manila, Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr., Manila, Rep. Rizalina Seachon-Lanete, Masbate and Rep. Herminia Ramiro, Misamis Occidental.

Rep. Yevgeny Emano, Misamis Oriental, Rep. Rozzano Rufino Biazon, Muntinlupa,
Rep. Joseph Gilbert Violago, Nueva Ecija, Deputy Speaker Ma. Amelita C. Villarosa, Occidental Mindoro, Rep. Anna York Bondoc, Pampanga, Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr., Pampanga, Rep. Juan Miguel Macapagal Arroyo, Pampanga, Rep. Conrado Estrella III, Pangasinan, Rep. Ma. Rachel Arenas, Pangasinan, Rep. Eduardo C. Zialcita, Parañaque, Rep. Roman Romulo, Pasig City, Rep. Mary Ann Susano, Quezon City, Rep. Nanette C. Castelo-Daza, Quezon City, Rep. Danilo Suarez, Quezon Province, Rep. Junie Cua, Quirino, Rep. Arturo B. Robes, San Jose Del Monte,
Rep. Roger Mercado, Southern Leyte, Rep. Munir Arbison, Sulu, Rep. Rex Gatchalian, Valenzuela City and Rep. Antonio Diaz, Zambales.

Among the senators who joined President Arroyo are Senators. Miriam Defensor Santiago and
Sen. Richard Gordon, two of the President’s allies in the Upper House. The cabinet members who joined Mrs. Arroyo are Agriculture secretary Arthur Yap, budget secretary Rolando Andaya, Central Bank governor Amando Tetangco, Defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro, local government secretary Ronaldo Puno, education secretary Sec. Jesli Lapus, environment secretary Lito Atienza, finance secretary Margarito Teves, foreign secretary Alberto Romulo, labor secretary Marianito Roque, presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye, press secretary Jesus Dureza and trade secretary Peter Favila.

“The most noble and appropriate political act these lawmakers and cabinet members should do is to declare to the public that they will pay for their own expenses and regret their association with President Arroyo and Malacañang,” Pamalakaya said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 12:54 | link | comments |
corruption

2-DAYS BEFORE THE SC SUMMIT ON ACCESS TO JUSTICE
Chief Justice told: Radical judicial activism needed to make justice accessible, attainable to poor

THE LEFTWING FISHERFOLK alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Saturday asked Chief Justice Reynato Puno to rally members of the justice system in the country to engage in radical judicial activism in order to make justice accessible and attainable to poor and marginalized people.

The militant group led by Pamalakaya chairperson Fernando Hicap will participate in the high tribunal forum regarding making justice accessible next week. He will be joined by other sectoral groups representing marginalized sectors in the country.

In a four- page paper prepared by Pamalakaya entitled “Saan Nagtatago ang Hustisya” (Where Is Justice Hiding?), the fisherfolk group said the two-day forum scheduled on June 30- July 1 said the members of the justice from the lower courts up to the high tribunal should accept the reality that justice to marginalized sectors is not all about access to court, but how the court within its own judicial power and wisdom assure the poor would get justice from day-to-day oppression of the present system.

“Reforms in the justice system cannot be and will never be achieved through any kind of overnight success. The high tribunal must engage in pro-people activism in the performance of its’ duty, reform its nature, character and orientation, and the first step the Supreme Court should do its to listen, work, learn from and serve the people,” the Pamalakaya paper said.

The militant group said the SC forum is a social and political commentary in recognition of a huge problem and major flaw in the entire justice system in the country. Pamalakaya said the forum is also a recognition that justice is elusive when it comes to the marginalized and oppressed sectors of the society, and that the prevailing justice system failed to address and defend the economic, social and cultural rights of the poor people.

Pamalakaya said apologists of the current justice system always tell the poor that the justice system in the country works, and that the rich have no monopoly of justice in the country. The group further said the landlords in the countryside, the big business groups, powerful government officials and their corproate clients, the moneyed few, the all-time oligarchs and aristocrats, and the bureaucrat capitalists in the government always emerge as winners under the present justice system.

“The cardinal rule under the present justice system is for the defense and further empowerment of the rich. But there are hard fought victories as well for the poor, not because the justice system works favorably for the marginalized, but because of the poor people’s resistance and determination to win their cause in defense of their economic, social and cultural rights, and therefore the mass movement of people should be credited for this strings of victories against their long-time oppressors,” the Pamalakaya paper added.

The militant group lamented that the Supreme Court is part of this perpetual denial of economic, social and cultural rights of the marginalized people. Pamalakaya said many of the high tribunal controversial and landmark decisions in the past up to present are used by the powerful few to deny the economic rights of the people.

Pamalakaya recalled that the Supreme Court failed to execute and pursue its decision way back in 1965, when it ruled that the 2,000 hectare of foreshore land area in Calatagan, Batangas should be taken off from the control of the Zobel-Ayala clan and tasked the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to conduct the resurvey of the coastal barangays.



“Last month, the Calatagan fisherfolk and farmers staged a month-long camp-out outside the office of DENR to compel the agency to execute the SC decision which was promulgated 43 years ago. The expression of people power yielded favorable results to the striking farmers and fishermen,” the group said.

The militant group also blamed the Supreme Court decision upholding former President Ferdinand Marcos proclamation declaring the entire town of Nasugbu in Batangas, an eco-tourism zone.

Pamalakaya said the Martial law edict is being used by big landlords to evade land distribution under the equally bogus Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and legalize the left-and-right eviction of fisherfolk and farmers in 14,000 hectares of prime agricultural lands and foreshore areas.

Pamalakaya said in 1995 it questioned before the Supreme Court the constitutionality of Republic Act 7881 exempting over 800,000 hectares of fishponds and aquaculture farms from the coverage of CARP. The militant group said the exemption from coverage from CARP or from any land reform program of these fishponds and aquaculture farms denied social justice to more 50,000 fishpond workers across the country.

“The court decision upholding the constitutionality of RA 7881 made fish pond workers life further miserable and made life so prosperous for fishpond landlords and corporate fishing interests. The rest is history, the high tribunal’s decision is used by big landlords to convert farmlands and mangrove areas into fish ponds and avail of the long-time exemption,” the group recalled. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 04:26 | link | comments |
supreme court

Pamalakaya slams UN for electing RP as VP of HR council, says its’ horrible

“IT IS HORRIBLE,  TERRIBLE AND EXTREMELY reprehensible. It is a direct affront to the victims of extrajudicial killings and other human rights violations in the country,” the leftist fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said after learning that the Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) in Geneva, Switzerland has been elected as Vice President the UN Human Rights Council or UNHRC.

“Where is UN’s sense of justice and fairness? A lot of people have been summarily executed and massacred by the criminal regime of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo since she assumed the presidency in 2001. This is very, very unfair,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

“We will protest this incorrigible resolution of the UNHRC. The Macapagal-Arroyo government has no political and moral right to sit as Vice President of the human rights council, and the same time has no legitimate standing to become member of the world’s human rights body, unless UN praises states and governments with stirring records of crimes against humanity,” the Pamalakaya leader added.

Hicap said they will send a letter to the UN HRC next week to protest the election of Basilio as VP of the world’s human rights body. “ We will reserve a tongue-lashing and nerve wracking letter against the election of Basilio as VP of the UNHRC. This letter will go direct straight from Manila to Geneva,” the Pamalakaya leader added.

The Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador. Erlinda Basilio, was elected by members of the human rights body by acclamation to serve as Vice-President representing the Asian group of states, a statement released by UNJRC last Thursday.

The UNHRC said the election of the Philippines to the post demonstrated the "confidence" of the international community in the Philippines as an "active and constructive" member of the UN in human rights promotion and protection. The Philippines, through the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the United Nations in Geneva, shall serve a one-year term as Vice-President, and Basilio will be the first woman vice-president in the body since it was established in 2006, the statement added.

The human rights group Karapatan said last year, there were 52 incidents of extrajudicial killings and arbitrary execution victimizing 69 people, 73 cases of illegal arrest and detention victimizing 280 political activists, 85 cases of threat, harassment and intimidation victimizing 2,194 leftwing activists.

From January 21, 2001 to March 31,2008, Karapatan said 903 persons were summarily executed by the military, while there were 193 persons were abducted by state agents since the Arroyo government’s implementation of Oplan Bantay Laya 1 and Oplan Bantay Laya II.

“Ambassador Basilio is Mrs. Arroyo’s second rate puppet and militarist lapdog , and she has been speaking the lines of National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzalez, former Armed Forces Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon Jr. and Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita to cover up the crimes of her principal benefactor in Malacañang,” Pamalakaya said.

In addressing UN Special Rapporteur Philip Alston’s report to the 8th session of the UNHRC, Ambassador Basilio said the UN special rapporteur readily accepted information from supporters of rebel groups while casually dismissing information provided by the government, and reminded Alston his favored group- the CPP was in the terror list of the United States and the European Union. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 04:26 | link | comments |
human rights

Leftists see arrival of US carrier as White House military intervention, not for rescue, recovery operations

The leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) is the latest group that joined the bandwagon in questioning the deployment of US aircraft carrier to help in the search for survivors of the capsized MV Princess of the Stars and the retrieval of the bodies trapped inside the vessel.

“The deployment of the nuclear powered USS Ronald Reagan is Washington military intervention. It is exploiting the situation spawned by the recent sea tragedy to be able to score a rapid deployment and wholesale positioning of its troops in the country for possible combat operations against armed groups critical of US interests across the country,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

“If it is a strategic and combat vessel designed to carry 6,000 troops and stockpiles of nuclear weapons, then it not really meant to assist rescue and recovery operations, but to fulfill US President George W. Bush promise to make the Philippines as America’s second front in its campaign of war of aggression under the pretext of US-led war on terror,” the Pamalakaya leader added.

Hicap theorized the mobilization of USS Ronald Reagan from Hong Kong to the Philippines under the guise of helping the Manila government in its rescue and recovery operations in the aftermath of super typhoon Frank was meant to show military powers in Asia like China and North Korea that Washington under President Bush is capable of rapidly deploying its military forces within the Asia Pacific and East Asia region at any given time to check the two countries that threatened the US military supremacy.

“The arrival of USS Ronald Reagan in the Philippines is not only meant to warn and provoke the local armed resistance groups in the Philippines like the CPP-NPA-NDFP and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and draw them to US instigated war of aggression , but also to score a psywar victory against China and North Korea that Washington is capable of shifting and redeploying US troops at any given situation or time,” Pamalakaya’s Hicap added.

Pamalakaya said the United States maintains 100,000 troops in Asia and the Pacific under the U.S. Pacific Command, with 80,000 troops based in Japan and Korea. It said the 6,000 crew of USS Ronald Reagan aircraft is always ready for rapid deployment, mobile and ready in the event of any conflict.

The group also said the United States is closely monitoring the capacity and capability of China's 2.5 million troops, North Korea's 1 million troops, South Korea's 600,000 troops, Vietnam's 480,000 troops and Taiwan's 350,000 troops. The United States has successfully clinched working military alliances and agreements with Vietnam, Taiwan, South Korea, Australia and Japan to probably check China and maintain Washington's military dominance over Asia for the purpose of pushing its economic agenda further.

Pamalakaya also assailed Palace officials over their statements that the arrival of USS Ronald Reagan will not violate the 1987 Constitution provision banning the entry of foreign ships carrying nuclear weapons inside the Philippine territory.

“How sure Malacañang is that there will be no nuclear weapons inside USS Ronald Reagan? This US aircraft designed for outright combat and wholesale destruction will be useless if does not carry nuclear weapons. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her league of extraordinary US puppets are lying to their teeth,” the group said.

“Will the US military commanders aboard USS Ronald Reagan allow the ship to be subjected to rigid and on the spot checks once they enter the Philippine territory? Malacañang propagandists are insulting our collective intelligence and patriotic wisdom,” Pamalakaya added.

The militant group added that the entry of USS Ronald Reagan in the Philippines will spark a new issue against President Arroyo for violating the 1987 Constitution banning the entry of nuclear weapon carrying ships in the Philippine territory. “ This can be a new ground for Arroyo’s impeachment”, Pamalakaya said.

Last Wednesday, Senator Rodolfo Biazon, a former military general himself said the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier is not designed for salvage, rescue and recovery operations. He said a military ship carrier, its main assets are aircrafts like F-18 which cannot be utilized for rescue and recovery operations.

Biazon said the USS Ronald Reagan strike group is consists of the carrier, a cruiser, three destroyers and a frigate. The aircraft, which is currently in Hong Kong and is set to arrive to the Philippines anytime between this week and next week, is carrying about 6,000 US troops. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 03:44 | link | comments |
us militarism

Fishers group praises NPAs on relief efforts for typhoon Frank victims

The leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Wednesday lauded the New People's Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, for calling all communist guerillas to carry out possible efforts to extend relief and assistance to the victims of super typhoon Frank.

"The national leadership and mass membership of our group welcome the NPAs resolution to help the victims of typhoon Frank like the farmers, fisherfolk and other ordinary people. This political resolve best explains why they are close to the hearts of poor and the toiling masses," Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

"We hope the Army of the reactionary government of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will not exploit the situation for counter-insurgency and state terrorism purposes. The Armed Forces of the Philippines should not spoil and sabotage the sincere efforts of the revolutionary forces," Hicap added.

"We hope the AFP will exercise some kind of rationality in these very trying times and refrain even temporarily from their blood hunting escapade and help the best way they can do," Hicap stressed.

The Pamalakaya leader agreed with the observations raised by the CPP that the Macapagal-Arroyo government and its anti-people policies and outright disregard for the environment should be blamed for the calamities that destroyed farmlands and fishing communities all over the country. "The government is behind this massacre of people's lives and source of livelihood through and destruction of environment through the grand sell out of environment to highest bidders, commission givers and favored partners in crime of the Macapagal-Arroyo government," Hicap added.

The militant leader said Pamalakaya members in Iloilo and the rest of Panay Island, Negros Island, Romblon, Batangas, Quezon, Mindoro Occidental and Mindoro Oriental, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna and Bulacan were affected by super typhoon that hit the country beginning Friday last week.

Hicap said members of their chapter in Iloilo province were the most hit by typhoon Frank. He said their national headquarters in Manila have been receiving reports from Iloilo blaming the national government and Palace big time logging clients as the culprit in the latest manmade tragedy in the province.

Pamalakaya said the CPP and the NPA were also right in attributing the calamities to decades of rampant commercial mining and logging and the recent rush to strip forests and replace them with hybrid corn plantations resulted in extensive river siltation and vulnerability to flooding of wide swaths of land in Western Visayas.

“The Filipino people should hold the Arroyo government accountable for playing the lead role in the destruction of the environment that stemmed from Malacañang's sell out of national patrimony, gross murder of food security, and open house prostitution of the country’s natural resources," Pamalakaya stressed.

The CPP also held the Arroyo government and the owners of Sulpicio Lines particularly responsible for last Saturday's sea tragedy. NPA fighters in typhoon-stricken areas, particularly
in Iloilo and Eastern Samar will be on defensive mode as they carry out rescue, relief and rehabilitation work. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 06:41 | link | comments |
civil war

Fishers group urges 10 Panay lawmakers to probe mining, logging firms blamed for rampaging floods in Iloilo

Fisherfolk activists belonging to the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Wednesday asked the 10 representatives of Panay Island to lead an investigation on alleged widespread mining and logging activities in the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz and Iloilo.

The destructive mining and logging across Panay Island were blamed for rampaging floods over the weekend that heavily affected 38 out of the 42 towns in Iloilo province at the height of super typhoon Frank over the weekend.

In a press statement, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said Panay lawmakers ---Rep. Florencio Miraflores of the lone district of Aklan province, Rep. Exequiel Javier (lone district of Antique), Rep. Jeanette Garin ( 1st district, Iloilo), Rep. Judy Syjuco (2nd district, Iloilo), Rep. Arthur Defensor (3rd district, Iloilo), Rep. Ferjenel Biron (4th district, Iloilo), Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. (5th district, Iloilo), Rep. Raul Gonzalez Jr. (Lone district, Iloilo City), Rep. Antonio del Rosario (1st district, Capiz) and Rep. Fred Castro (2nd district, Capiz) should conduct a full-blown inquiry on the Iloilo tragedy induced by all-out destructive mining and logging activities in the island.

“It is a make or break for the 10 Panay legislators. They have to do their homework and stop these profit starved, anti-people and anti-environment mining and logging firms from destroying the environment and the Ilonggo people,” Hicap said.

The Pamalakaya leader said thousands of their fisherfolk members in Iloilo, Aklan, Antique and Capiz were affected by typhoon Frank that ravaged the agricultural and coastal areas of Panay Island. Hicap said their chapter in Iloilo had sent an appeal for immediate relief operations.

“The homes of poor fishermen were reduced into pieces. Their small fishing boats were washed away from the seashore. Practically everything is in wholesale disarray courtesy of these mining and logging giants, which are all clients of the sitting administration in Malacañang,” Hicap added.

Pamalakaya also asked the congressmen in Panay Island to immediately re-channel their pork barrel to relief and rehabilitation efforts in Iloilo and other affected areas in Panay Island. The group also addressed the same call to governors, mayors and other officials of local government units to re-channel substantial parts of their Internal Revenue Allocation to relief efforts.

The militant group also lauded the New People's Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, for calling all communist guerillas to carry out possible efforts to extend relief and assistance to the victims of super typhoon Frank.

The CPP also held the Arroyo government and the owners of Sulpicio Lines particularly responsible for last Saturday's sea tragedy.

NPA fighters in typhoon-stricken areas, particularly in Iloilo and Eastern Samar will be on defensive mode as they carry out rescue, relief and rehabilitation work.#

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 06:36 | link | comments |
mining

World activists demand release of KMP leader

Some 339 world activists representing labor and farmers' organizations, human rights groups, civil
liberty associations, lawyer groups, migrant organizations and political parties in 35 countries
across the globe signed a petitioned letter demanding Malacañang and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to urgently free peasant leader Randall Echanis.


Echanis, the deputy secretary general of the militant farmers' group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), was arrested on January 29 in Bago City, Negros Occidental while attending a consultation called by the agricultural workers' group Unyon ng Mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA) on the proposed
Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (GARB) or House Bill 3059.

The KMP leader was charged by the Philippine government with 15 counts of murder in connection with
the discovered mass grave in Hilongos, Leyte. The government and the military had said the mass grave is connected with the communist purge in the 80s to rid the movement with deep penetration agents.

According to Gerry Albert Corpuz, information officer of the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang
Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), the more than 300 leftwing and
anti-imperialist activists also demanded President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to immediately drop all
fabricated and trumped-up charges against Echanis.

Corpuz, who also heads the international desk of Pamalakaya, brokered the news on his way to Manila
last Sunday from Hong Kong. He was in Hong Kong from June 18 to 22 to represent Pamalakaya in the Third International Assembly of the anti-imperialist alliance International League of Peoples' Struggle
(ILPS).

"The world is condemning President Arroyo and the Philippine military over the continued detention and
political persecution of Echanis. The message of this across-the-globe call for the urgent and unconditional release of the KMP leader is clear--Mrs. Arroyo should let Echanis go or face the collective wrath of world activists," the Pamalakaya information chief added.

The signature campaign was initiated by KMP secretary general Danilo Ramos, in cooperation with Pamalakaya, UMA and Amihan-National Federation of Peasant Women.

Those who signed the manifesto for the immediate release of Echanis are leaders of labor, peasant and
political organizations in Brazil, the United States, Canada, The Netherlands, Belgium, Turkey, Austria,
United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, China, Mongolia, Hong
Kong, Philippines, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand.

Ramos said KMP will submit the signatures to Quezon Rep. Erin Tanada, chair of the House Committee on Human Rights and Senator Maria Consuelo "Jamby" Madrigal, chair of the Senate Committee on Peace. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 03:45 | link | comments |
human rights

Global activists support anti-offshore mining fight in
RP

Some 339 world activists representing labor and farmers' organizations,environmental groups, human
rights groups, civil liberty associations, lawyer groups, migrant organizations, and political parties
in 35 countries all over the world approved a resolution opposing all destructive offshore mining
activities in the Philippines, including the $ 110-million ExxonMobil oil and gas exploration in
the Sulu Sea slated mid next year.

The Resolution Opposing Destructive Offshore Mining in the Philippines authored and presented by the
left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) was passed at the plenary session of the Third International Assembly of the International League of Peoples' Struggle (ILPS) held in Hong Kong on June
18-20.

Pamalakaya information officer Gerry Albert Corpuz said those who approved the anti-offshore mining
resolution in the Philippines include social activists from the United States, Canada, Brazil, The
Netherlands, United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, Turkey, Austria,Italy, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, India, Nepal,
Bangladesh, Pakistan, Malaysia, Taiwan, China, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan,Mongolia, Australia, New
Zealand, and the Philippines.

Corpuz who represented Pamalakaya in the third general assembly of the anti-imperialist league said the
activists vowed to campaign against offshore mining in the Philippines, including ExxomMobil's oil and gas search in the Sulu Sea.

"The international campaign against offshore mining is on. There's no turning back. The people of the world are also raging against this extreme act of imperialist plunder," Corpuz added.

Aside from ExxonMobil, the Pamalakaya information chief said global anti-imperialist league also vowed
to support the group's campaign against offshore mining in Cebu-Bohol Strait, a body of water
separating the island provinces of Bohol and Cebu, and other oil and gas oil explorations to be conducted in Ragay Gulf in Bicol Region, Antique and Guimaras provinces in Western Visayas, Leyte, Davao del Sur,
Surigao del Sur, and Quezon and Mindoro provinces in Southern Tagalog.

"Our colleagues specially in the United States, Australia, Japan, The Netherlands and China have
committed to pursue lobby and advocacy work against their respective governments currently engaged in
offshore mining projects in the Philippines," Corpuz added.

Pamalakaya said the controversial Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU) between the Philippine and Chinese governments was also denounced by the  ILPS participants .

Corpuz said an international fact finding mission to investigate the impact of offshore mining in Tañon
Strait, a protected seascape separating the island provinces of Cebu and Negros will be conducted in
early October this year to assess the impact of offshore oil exploration conducted by Japan Petroleum
Exploration Corp. (Japex) in the last three years from 2005 to 2008.

Pamalakaya's Corpuz said the international fact finding mission will be headed by the Philippines,
Japan, Australia and Malaysia. It will include a week long social investigative on fishing areas affected by
Japex oil and gas offshore mining activities.

Next year, Pamalakaya will organize a national conference on offshore mining in Manila, and will
invite several anti-mining groups and personalities in the US, Europe and Asia for inputs and possible
exposure to offshore mining areas.

"The world is watching President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her clients-- the oil and gas corporations and it wants to pursue accountability against the President and these offshore mining
giants," Pamalakaya said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 03:38 | link | comments |
mining

Fishers group told Rep Iggy Arroyo:
Stop acting like a House benchwarmer, start offshore mining probe

THE LEFTWING FISHERFOLK alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Tuesday pressed Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo to quit acting like a resident benchwarmer at the House of Representatives and jumpstart the long-delayed investigation on the impact of offshore mining in the Visayan Sea.

“Rep. Arroyo is not doing his homework as the Chair of the environmental committee of the House of Representatives. House Resolution 212 authored by militant party list lawmakers and legislators from the Visayan bloc has been sent to his committee August last year. In two months time we will be commemorating the first year anniversary of this resolution,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

“When will Rep. Arroyo tackle this very important piece of legislative inquiry? All our chapters representing the affected fishermen in Cebu, Bohol and Negros are telling Rep. Arroyo to do his homework now and refrain from acting as the King of benchwarmers in the Lower House,” the Pamalakaya leader added.

Pamalakaya said House Resolution 212 authored by Bayan Muna Party list Reps. Satur Ocampo and Teodoro Casiño, Gabriela part list lawmakers Liza Maza and Luzviminda Ilagan and the late Anakpawis party list Rep. Crispin Beltran was supported by Rep. Eduardo Gullas (1st district, Cebu), Rep. Benhur Salimbangon (4th district, Cebu), Rep. Antonio Cuenco (2nd district, Cebu City), Rep. Jocelyn Sy-Limkaichong (1st district, Negros Oriental), Rep. George Arnaiz (2nd district, Negros Oriental), Rep. Henry Teves (3rd district, Negros Oriental), Rep. Edgar Chatto (1st district, Bohol), Rep. Roberto Cajes (2nd district, Bohol) and Rep. Adam Relson Jala (3rd district, Bohol).

The resolution had called for Rep. Arroyo as chair of the House Committee on Environment to undertake a full-blown congressional inquiry on offshore mining being conducted in the fishing areas of the Visayas, including protected seascapes in Tañon Strait, a body of water separating the island provinces of Cebu and Negros, the Cebu-Bohol Strait, another protected seascape between the islands of Cebu and Bohol, as well as other offshore mining activities in the waters of Antique, Leyte, Ragay Gulf, and Quezon and Mindoro provinces in Southern Tagalog region.

“Rep. Arroyo’s snub of House Resolution 212 deserves the attention of the House Committee on Ethics. It is very unethical of him to sit on a resolution that is a matter of life and death to the Visayan fishermen and to the environment,” the Pamalakaya leader added.

“Of course we will not wait until August 12 for his committee to act on House Resolution No.212. We will do the appropriate move to compel him to take his assignment seriously in accordance with the sectoral and national interest of the fisher people in the Visayas,” Hicap said.

Pamalakaya said it got information from its chapter in Cebu and Bohol that the Australian firm NorAsia is set to conduct oil and gas exploration in Cebu-Bohol Strait by August this year. The exploration will entail seismic and related offshore mining activities in the 444,000 hectare strait.

Earlier the group obtained the support of 339 political and environmental activists all over the world when they approved the anti-offshore mining resolution authored by Pamalakaya during the Third International Assembly of the International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS) held on June 18-20 in Hong Kong.





Pamalakaya also vowed to oppose the plan of the world’s largest gas producer—the US oil firm ExxonMobil from conducting the ambitious $ 110 million oil exploration program in Sulu Sea that will start in the middle of next year.

The militant group said the immediate implications of the planned offshore mining in Sulu Sea would be the eventual displacement of Moro fishermen, as well as the destruction of marine biodiversities in the fishing grounds of Sulu. It said there are about more or less 10,000 Moro small fishermen in the island province.

Pamalakaya added that the destructive impact of the proposed offshore mining would be the same if not surpass the country’s previous experience on oil and gas exploration, particularly, the experience of small fishermen in Tañon Strait, a protected seascape which was previously explored by a Japanese oil and gas exploration firm.

After his meeting with ExxonMobil officials last week, Energy secretary Angelo Reyes last announced the plan of ExxonMobil to undertake a milestone oil exploration in the Philippines, adding that the Texaco-based US oil and gas explorer and producer would be able to strike oil in the Sulu Sea.

The energy chief said ExxonMobil is a major player and it will not go a country where the potentials are not great. The US oil firm officials headed by Stephen Greenlee said the plan to explore oil and gas in Sulu was a big deal for the company, and the ExxonMobil was encouraged preliminary seismic data on the potential of oil and gas reserves in Sulu Sea. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 03:35 | link | comments |
mining

Leftists call Manila priest a fake messiah for blaming Edsa 2 over political turmoil

THE LEFTWING FISHERFOLK alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Sunday slammed a top official of the Manila Archdiocese for dismissing the 2001 People Power revolution counterproductive, and dismissed his anti-Edsa 2 statement, as a message from fake messiah.

“The 2001 People Power Revolution is a collective action and expression of people’s will. Nobody, including self-proclaimed messiahs in the Roman Catholic Church, has the right to ridicule or emasculate the people’s political wisdom that successfully ousted an unwanted regime,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

“The correct political attitude is to blame the ruling Macapagal-Arroyo syndicate in Malacañang for betraying what the people had fought for in Edsa 2. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her league of extra ordinary criminal gang should be condemned not the second popular uprising in 2001 over the country’s political crisis,” Hicap added.

Manila Archdiocese Vice Chancellor Fr. Sid Marinay on Sunday said the CBCP acknowledged the error of “Sin era” in supporting the Edsa 2 that ousted former President Joseph Estrada, and said the prelate’s group wants to make up for it”.

“This political starlet has no sense of history and respect for the collective wisdom and political power of the people to remove an undesirable regime from office. He does not even know his Gospel,” Pamalakaya’s Hicap added.

“Let me remind Fr. Marinay that Edsa 2 is People Power in action and he should not insult the people’s action and decisive power to punish unwanted and corrupt regimes at any given period of history. People Power is sacred and should not be insulted to high heaven,” the Pamalakaya leader added.

Pamalakaya said if there’s one who should be blamed for the political prostitution of the political institutions in the country, it is no other than the ruling de facto Martial Law and the corrupt and brutal regime of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“Is the Manila Archdiocese deaf? Is it blind? Mrs. Arroyo is destroying practically everything in this country in the name of her political survival”, the group said.

Fr. Marinay said the current direction of the CBCP is to strengthen political institutions to solve and prevent political crises is a kind of corrective measure of Edsa 2 which weakened political institution in the sense that it did not wait for the verdict of the Senator-Judges in the impeachment case against President Joseph Estrada.

The Manila Archdiocese Vice-chancellor said people always blame the government they have chosen to govern them, and have become more aware, that despite efforts, successful or not, to remove incompetent or corrupt, the problems have remained.

In his article posted at CBCP website, Fr. Marinay said “the kind of political activism the CBCP is trying to espouse at this point in Philippine history is at the service of the stability of our political institutions to be able to solve political problems and prevent political crises. This emphasis on making the political institutions strong by promoting rule of law serves a grammar that can help accurately interpret the language of CBCP at this point in Philippine history ,and the thread that coherently links all of the CBCP statements from 2004 to 2008, the post Cardinal Sin era of the Catholic Church in the country”.

Fr. Marinay also said the statements released by CBCP from 2004 to 2008 showed the end of the era of the CBCP’s political activism, saying the era of church activism faded away with the passing of former Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 02:06 | link | comments |
people power

Leftists ask Obama to support peace talks, not US war
on terror in RP

Leftist activists belonging to the fisherfolk alliance
Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas
(Pamalakaya) on Saturday asked United States (US)
Democratic Party's presidential standard bearer Barack
Obama to support the resumption of peace talks between
the Government of the Republic of the Philippines
(GRP) and the communist-led National Democratic Front
of the Philippines (NDFP) in case he wins the
presidential derby this year.

“If he is really against US President George W. Bush's
war on terror, and against Bush's doctrine and policy
of unjust war , the Democrat presidential wannabe
should support the resumption of stalled peace talks
between the Manila government and the equally
belligerent Communist Party of the Philippines, the
New People's Army and the NDFP, recall the US war on
terror campaign all over the world and pursue
international dealings on the basis of truth, justice
and fairness,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando
Hicap said in a press statement.

“Obama is running on the strength of his anti-US war
on terror campaign in Iraq, in Afghanistan and in
other parts of the world. The American people will
give their votes and electoral approval to him
provided that he will pursue their anti-US war on
terror sentiment in and out of the White House. The
Filipino-Americans in the US share the same sentiment
against Bush war on terror, and their votes will count
and help in the decision of who will be the next
President of the United States,” Hicap added.

Pamalakaya said Obama should also process the
delisting of CPP and the NPA in the terror list of the
United States, authored by US President Bush and other
militarist officials in the White House and US
National Defense Department.

“The inclusion of the CPP and the NPA in the Bush
authored terror list remains a material political
obstacle in the GRP-NDFP peace talks. If elected,
Obama must scrap this terror list, and instead
encourage states confronting civil wars and armed
rebellions to stick to the policy of just peace and
junk unjust war as a policy to address civil strifes,”
the militant group added.

Pamalakaya's Hicap said aside from seeking Obama's
support to the resumption of peace talks between the
government and the communist guerillas and the
delisting of the CPP-NPA from US terror list, the
group also asked Obama to pursue the abrogation of the
controversial Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and
Mutual Logistic and Support Agreement (MLSA) with the
US government.

Also if elected, Pamalakaya said Obama should
immediately nullify the RP-US Free Trade Agreement
which is being resolved right now by President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo and Bush in time for the Philippine
president visit to US in the third week of this month.


Pamalakaya also asked Obama to immediately drop the
support the US government to the Philippine military
in connection with the ongoing extrajudicial killings
and enforced disappearances of poltiical activists
allegedy perpetrated by state agents since January 21,
2001.

The senator from Illinois who defeated New York
senator Hillary Clinton in the nomination race of the
Democratic Party greeted Filipino-Americans in Hawaii
with “mabuhay” (long live) during the celebration of
the Filipino independence day last June 12.

Today, I extend my warm wishes to President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo and the people of the Philippines.
Let us join with Filipinos worldwide and Filipino
Americans to celebrate Philippine Independence Day.
Mabuhay!" he said.

Obama's statement, available at the website of Asian
Americans for Obama, acknowledged the contribution of
Filipino veterans who fought in the Second World War.

"During World War II, Filipino and American troops
fought bravely together under some of the most trying
conditions suffered by any forces during that
conflict, forging a historic bond between our two
nations and their people. Filipinos displayed great
courage alongside American soldiers at Bataan and
Corregidor, only to be denied their just benefits by
our government," he said.

The Democrat presidential hopeful also urged members
of the US Congress to pass the Veterans' Benefits
Enhancement Act of 2007 which would honor the service
of all US veterans, including these Filipino World War
II heroes.