BAYAN- Southern Mindanao Region

With ship visit, Aquino sends wrong message regarding US troop presence in PH

2011-05-16T05:40:00.000-07:00

In a span of three months, Philippine president Benigno Aquino III has joined US soldiers in target-practice during the Balikatan war games and recently, visited the US aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson.

Umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan thinks Aquino is already sending the wrong message and making wrong decisions in relation to the presence of US troops in the Philippines.

“There is supposedly an ongoing review of the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement being undertaken by Malacanang because of problems related to sovereignty, yet the way the president is acting, it appears that there’s no problem at all. The message we’re getting here is that US troops and their war machines are very much welcome in our country despite numerous violations of sovereignty done in the past,” said Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr.

“Instead of taking a more independent and critical outlook towards US troop presence in the country, the Philippine president has shown fan-like awe towards arriving US forces. One wonders what has really become of the VFA review given the recent actions of the President,” Reyes said.

The group said that the Philippine president should make a categorical pronouncement that it will not allow extra-territorial actions on the part of US troops in PH territory, like what US forces did in the raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound in Pakistan.

Bayan questioned the entry of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson saying that it may have violated the constitutional provisions prohibiting nuclear weapons in the country.

“The most ironic and ridiculous thing here is that the Philippine president was on board the aircraft carrier that should have been considered banned under Philippine law. It’s as if Aquino was duped into legitimizing the entry of the warship, or that the president is unaware or does not care about the constitutional provision against nuclear weapons, being more interested in the shock-and-awe factor of US military might,” Reyes said.

“Unfortunately, under the VFA, there is no way for the Philippine government to tell if a warship carries weapons of mass destruction since the VFA prohibits Philippine authorities from conducting ship inspections,” he added.

Section 8 of the Constitution says, “The Philippines, consistent with the national interest, adopts and pursues a policy of freedom from nuclear weapons in its territory.”

“It is our view that the ban on nukes should encompass both nuclear warheads and warships, and that should include the USS Carl Vinson,” Reyes said.

Bayan also said that President Aquino has failed to stop the permanent basing of US troops in Southern Philippines. The US-Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines has been stationed in Zamboanga since 2002. “This is an ongoing violation of our sovereignty. The VFA has allowed an unlimited number of US forces to conduct undefined activities for an unspecified duration in PH territory. What’s to prevent US forces from conducting military operations in our country, similar to what is being done in Pakistan?” he added.###

BAYAN berates union busting by Superstar Coco firm

2011-05-11T00:49:00.000-07:00

Members of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan today staged a protest demonstration at the plant of Superstar Coconut Products Incorporated in Maa, Davao City to castigate the firm for its recent actions to maliciously cripple the Kahugpungan sa mga Trabahante sa Superstar (KTS) Union.

KTS, a union duly recognized by the Department of Labor and Employment, is said to be preparing a strike to demand from the management to implement labor standards and to stop union busting.

“The workers are the life and limb of the company. Without them, the entire production will come to a halt and then the company will be nothing but a dead facility,” said Franchie Buhayan, BAYAN-Southern Mindanao regional spokesperson. “That is the very reason why the company should treat the workers well, give them decent wage and benefits and respect their democratic rights particularly the right to protest and organize a genuine union,” added Buhayan.

One of the top 1000 corporations in the country and considered as the largest coconut products manufacturer in Mindanao, Superstar Coconut Products Incorporated is said to be producing and shipping ton loads of desiccated coconut worth P7.5 million per day. The company is also manufacturing other coconut-based products like coco powder and coco oil.

“Superstar is earning millions from the labor of the workers but ironically the management rewards them with unimaginable exploitation and repression. For years, the workers suffer from poor working conditions with excessive workload and received wages that are far below from the minimum wage mandated by the government. It is only logical for the workers to struggle against the company’s modus operandi,” Buhayan said.

BAYAN explained that recently, leaders and members of the KTS Union experienced different forms of harassments from the management including demotion of 26 union leaders and members, threats of dismissal, intimidation and the use of hush money.

“This is unacceptable! It is an indication that the management is not interested in resolving the problem rightfully under due process. Instead, they use cowardly dirty tactics to get rid of the union and disenfranchise the legitimate demands of the workers. This leaves the workers no option but to intensify the struggle and raise it to a higher level,” said Buhayan.

In a solidarity lunch today with the workers outside the plant of Superstar Coconut Products Inc, BAYAN expressed its total support for the workers and their families.

“If the KTS union will go on with the plan to lead a strike, we, along with our allied organizations will support it through and through,” Buhayan said.

“The city government and DOLE should not slow-foot in addressing this issue. Union busting is a critical offense against the working class and must be dealt with seriousness. And allowing these profit-hungry capitalists to continue making us their modern-day slaves and starve our families to death is a greater offense. These are important points that the government, both local and national, must consider,” added Buhayan.

Superstar company is anti-worker, anti-women - GABRIELA

2011-05-11T00:39:00.000-07:00

Davao City – Progressive women’s organization GABRIELA manifested its support to the beleaguered workers of Superstar Coconut Products Company, Incorporated in a protest action held in front of the regional office of the Department of Labor and Employment yesterday.

“Kontra-trabahante ug kontra-kababayen-an ang kompanya sa Superstar. Angay lang nga paspasan na og pag-imbestiga sa DOLE ang reklamo sa mga mamumuo ug patubagon ang mga tao sa management nga wala nag-atiman sa kahimtang sa ilang mga trabahante nga kadaghanan mga babaye,” said Corazon Espinoza, Vice-Chairperson of GABRIELA and head of the local urban poor women’s organization, Samahan ng Maralitang Kababaihang Nagkakaisa or SAMAKANA

Around 50 women workers and support group of Superstar workers coming from progressive organizations picketed in front of DOLE Region XI and demanded to look into the complaints of the workers against the management.

For Grace Makatuna, a mother of three kids who has worked for eight years at Superstar Coconut Company, their condition as women workers are hapless and inhumane.

“Kadaghanan sa mga trabahante didto sa Superstar mga babaye nga nakasinati sa dili maayong palisiya sa kompanya,” Makatuna said.

“Kung naa mi bation sa lawas ingnan ra mi nga nag-atik-atik mi ug dili pirmahan ang among sick leave.Wala mi ka-pilian kay maka-absent mi ug gani pag mag-absent ilaha pang isuspinde, tulo kaadlaw warning. Kung muabsent na sad ka, kinse ka adlaw napud nga suspension hangtod tanggal na dayon sa trabaho,” she said.

Workers of Superstar have long been complaining about the lack of clinic inside the company given that the firm employs more than a thousand workers.

Aside from the lack of health facilities, the management also failed to supply the necessary equipment and gears to protect the workers from work related accidents. Workers of Superstar are the ones who pay for their gloves, uniform and even the knives use by “parers” (workers who peel the thin and brownish coating from pieces of de-shelled coconuts).

“Women workers should be accorded with humane working conditions. We even have a city ordinance which comply companies to provide seats for all the women workers.
Lingkuranan nalang gani, dili pa mahatag sa kompanya kay ang mga trabahante man ang mopalit, kung magpagamit man sila og lingkuranan panahon ra nga kung adunay bisita o inspection ang DOLE ug uban pang ahensya,” Espinoza said.

“Busa angay lang nga paspasan sa DOLE ang pagresolba sa kaso sa mga trabahante sa Superstar ug patubagon ang mga anaa sa management,” she said.

Usurers, rice cartel, not farmers to benefit from high farmgate prices--KMP

2011-05-10T00:35:00.000-07:00

Davao City --- How can farmers benefit from simple farmgate prices when they do not own the land they till and they continue to suffer from high land rent? This was the statement made by Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas - Southern Mindanao Region (KMP-SMR) belying claims of the National Food Authority that “high” farmgate prices will benefit the farmers .

“The NFA can not deny the fact that it is the usurers and middle merchants who benefit most from the high farmgate prices because farmers still bear the burden of high interest rates,” said Pedro Arnado, Chairperson of KMP-SMR.

He adds, “Farmgate prices are not indicative of the alleviation of the plight of Filipino farmers because we suffer from still many other forms of exploitation --- landlessness, unjust land rents, high amortization rates even for CARP beneficiaries, lack of government subsidy and support in agricultural services. Even the NFA continues to do farmers disservice by buying only 1 – 2% of crops that farmers produce, while it engages in massive rice importation.”

Arnado cited a case in Boston, Davao Oriental wherein farmers are made to pay more than 100% interest for loans they make. 50% of their harvests are yielded to the land owners as interest while they are still obliged to pay for the principal loan. Interests pile up as long as they cannot pay the principal loan. In the same area, a kilo of copra which is normally pegged at P 50.00 based on market price, are bought by the usurer at P 35.00.

KMP also lambasted reports of looming rice crisis projected by the Department of Agriculture.

“The NFA has an ample supply of rice, however, these are sold at high prices that the poor cannot afford. Proof to this is the tons of NFA rice that the administration of former President Arroyo left to rot in NFA warehouses. This showed that the rice crisis during Arroyo’s time was artificial, created to justify pricey rice importations-- a source of megakickbacks,” said Arnado.

Arnado said the Philippine agricultural system is bound to suffer from further decline as the government continues to ignore implementing genuine agrarian reform.

“We must empower the farmers by giving them free access to lands that they can till. We must liberate them from the exploitative land lords, usurers and rice cartels. We urge the P-Noy government to stop the massive exploitation of farmers, lest we face the eventual death of the agricultural sector,” said Arnado.

KMP stressed that mechanization is also an important factor in good rice production.

“We must as well mechanize our method of farming in order to increase their productivity so that we can do away with importing rice. While the government render our national budget to dole outs and mendicancy schemes through the Conditional Cash Transfer, why can’t it invest in providing farm inputs, irrigation systems and machines to increase rice production?” said Arnado.

KMP recently launched a signature campaign promoting the enactment of the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (GARB) or HB 374 which is still pending in the lower house of the House of Representatives to date.

Davao labor day march draws 5 thousand; shows unrest in the labor front remains

2011-05-01T17:30:00.000-07:00

Five thousand people took the streets of Davao City today on Labor Day pressing the Aquino government for higher wages and rejected his proposed palliative non-wage benefits.

The marchers represent organized workers in both public and private industries in the region, the plantation workers, miners, factory laborers, and those from the service sector like construction, transportation, hotel and restaurant, as well as workers from government utility offices.

Joining them are the organized victims of urban poor demolitions, out of school youths, women victims of prostitution, families of overseas workers who have been victims of various forms of exploitations, and organizations representing other sectors.

“The march is a testament that the unrest in the country’s labor front remains no matter how much this government tries hard to placate the outrage,” Franchie Buhayan, secretary general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Southern Mindanao Region said.

“President Aquino has offered non-wage benefits, palliatives in the form of subsidies and other dole-outs but it refuses to resolutely stem the people’s hardship by confronting outstanding issues on wage and prices,” Buhayan said in reaction to the President’s declarations at a breakfast forum with some labor groups in Malacañang today.

Instead of providing substantial wage hikes, President Aquino has offered seed money for cooperatives of labor groups, scholarships and promises of benefits from agencies like Pag-Ibig, PhilHealth, Social Security System, and Government Service Insurance System.

“He forgot that these government agencies are the same culprits of the workers’ agony through corruption of the funds that workers have religiously contributed. Besides, the greater issue here is that we have a President who could not face squarely the capitalists, and make these employers provide just wages to the workers whose toil are being exploited for profits. In that way, he could have adequately answered the people’s needs, foremost is surviving the cost of living,” Buhayan said.

“Either he is simply indifferent, or acting as a plain stooge to capitalists whose super profits depend much on making laborers work more and paying them less, one thing is sure, he is a President who lacks the bone to help his people,” Buhayan added.

Aside from deliberately evading abidance of minimum wage standards, many employers intentionally deny workers’ benefits most commonly are remittance to SSS, provision of overtime and holiday pays, allowing leave and other benefits, to save cost on labor costs.

Buhayan added that capitalists’ exploitation is getting harsher but President has allowed it, as seen in the number of employers, getting retrenched without due cause, and the increasing number of perpetually contractual workers.

“Other blatant violations take the form of repressing trade unionism, which is ironically provided in labor laws. But you hear many union members being victimized by coercive actions, either physical or by other means to discourage them to give up fighting for what is due,” Buhayan said.

The President’s announcement of new job openings is no good news in itself, according to Buhayan. “What kinds of jobs will these be, if capitalists can maintain exploitative terms with their workers without the slightest fear of being punished?”

“Besides, why do we see the continuing exodus of Filipinos to other countries, taking on odd jobs and ending up as victims if indeed these jobs made available in the country can adequately provide for their needs? The truth is the government has never been able to provide job opportunities that will raise the standard of living and at the same time ensure human development, and respect of dignity among most Filipinos,” Buhayan said.

Buhayan also said President Aquino’s policy pronouncements on the problem of prices indicate same cowardice to confront the perpetrators of people’s hardships.

“He feeds us with the same deception towed by oil cartel companies, such as justifying increases by way of citing oil price trends in the world market, when in fact these are schemes of deception and that he can actually decisively address price hikes in the country by regulating the way oil companies can unscrupulously set pump prices via such speculations,” he said.

“We urge the people not to be hoodwinked by these palliatives. These pronouncements could not provide the meaningful change that people need. We have got to show this government that it is the people who are decisive of the change they most need,” Buhayan said.

Transmision: ‘Fuel subsidy is pure gimmick’

2011-04-29T23:57:00.000-07:00

Davao City- The nationwide distribution of smart cards meant to give discounts to fuel purchased by public utility jeepney drivers was met with a protest action by drivers and operators under the progressive Transmision-Piston today.

The protest action staged along Shell gasoline station along Bajada corner Torres St., this city reiterates the driver and operators’ clamor to scrap oil deregulation law and the Value Added Tax imposed on petroleum products.

According to Edil Gonzaga, Secretary-General of Transmision-Piston, “the fuel subsidy is useless and indeed a waste of people’s money. It’s a gimmickry intends to deodorize PNoy’s administration who is clearly favoring big oil companies.”

Gonzaga cited that only a few days after the announcement P-Noy on the said fuel subsidy, the oil price rose twice with an increase of almost P2 per liter.

“Now we see that this fuel subsidy is useless,” he said.

Transmision expressed its support to the proposed repeal of the oil deregulation law in the congress saying this is a more substantive move to bring down the oil price.

The group also expressed its support to the ratification of the P125 wage increase bill being pushed by the progressive partylists in congress.

Gonzaga added, “ If P-Noy really wants to alleviate the hardship of the people, he must have a political will to approve the legislated wage hike. But, we all know that P-noy, just like the previous administration is inutile in favoring the marginalized sectors.”

The smart card being distributed to selected drivers will give P1.00 discount to every 1 liter purchase of gas and diesel. “It is not even enough to cover the increase imposed by oil corporations this April,” Gonzaga lamented.

He said, “We want a long-term solution to the economic turmoil we all bear. Enough of fooling the people of gimmickry like that of the fuel subsidy.”

Support the Kahusayan People’s Struggle; Fight the impunity of landlords like Quiboloy

2011-04-29T22:59:00.000-07:00

DAVAO CITY ---Bagong Alyansang Makabayan in Southern Mindanao Region (Bayan-SMR) unites with the tribesmen and community of slain Bagobo K’lata leader Datu Dominador Diarog in their struggle from the fierce attempts of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy to grab the land that is home to their tribe.

Their case is a classic struggle faced by the national minorities in the country who have, since time, been frequently victimized in various ways, but principally by attempts to evict them from the land on which they derive their means of living, their cultural values and life systems.

The death of Datu Diarog in 2008 was a tragic culmination of his almost decade of struggle in defense of the fertile agricultural land beneath Mt. Apo which is home to the Bagobo Klata tribe.

Since 1999, Quiboloy was able to occupy 5,000 hectares of land covering portions at the foot of Mt. Apo particularly in Brgy. Tamayong, Brgy. Manuel Guianga, Brgy. Sirib, and Brgy.Carmen in the City. These lands have been either converted into ‘prayer mountains,’ extravagant mansions, pine tree plantations, and just recently a gherkins (small cucumber) plantation is being planned in Sitio Kahusayan.

But Quiboloy was never successful in his attempt at fully taking over the land since Datu Diarog refused to yield their 5-hectare stead in Sitio Kahusayan, Brgy. Manuel Guianga in Tugbok District, which is within Quiboloy’s claim.

The Diarog’s land has been fenced off, their house burned, and Datu Diarog himself was talked into by Quiboloy’s men, one of them was identified by Diarog family members as a certain Greg Canada, to sell the land at P50,000 per hectare, but still they persisted and held on to their land.

Such harassment incidents preceded Datu Diarog’s death three years ago on April 29, 2008, when armed men strafed his house, killed him with armalite bullets and injured some of his family members, his wife and his then five-year-old daughter.

Since the Datu’s death, there was never a day that his family and his diminishing tribesmen in Sitio Kahusayan live away from coercsions and brutal attempts of eviction.

Just this month, three backhoes had been escorted to the village by military personnel from the 84th Infantry Battalion. These soldiers have been deployed in the area for several months now as “Peace and Development Teams.”

Members of the Diarog clan have in several times, too, figured in the harassments perpetrated by these soldiers, who are so-called ‘PDTs.’ These harassments are either in the form of being tagged as rebels, or being sought out by the soldiers themselves.

The attacks never ended in Datu Diarog’s death; and neither did his surviving tribesmen’s resistance.

The place claimed by Quiboloy is not just the sacred ground of indigenous peoples whose protection are ensured in the very laws of the country and in international covenants, but a sacred conservation ground too, being part of the declared Mt. Apo protected area.

It is lamentable that amidst these deplorable incidents, we have yet to hear government institutions act on the matter: The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the City Government of Davao itself.

It is appalling that these institutions, by the very fact that Quiboloy has continued amassing of wealth, unhampered, is a tragic proof of their tolerance of such beastly deed. We have been calling on them for action, but it seems they too are rendered inutile.

This forces us to turn our appeals on the Davaoeńos. We call on you to rally behind our lumad brothers and sisters of Kahusayan; to rally in opposition to this blatant violation of human rights and dignities of lumad peoples who are our very own fellow Davaoeńos.

To fight on their side is to fight to end the impunity of these giant oppressors in our midst.

Bayan challenges Noynoy’s clear-cut actions vs. poverty, injustices

2010-07-28T19:46:00.000-07:00

When it was thought to be a SONA of truths and a start of great changes for the nation, less was heard than a “tell-all” of old stories.

It was not uplifting to hear again enumerations of corruption by the past administration for what could inspire people to do more and not just dream again is to see Gloria Arroyo suffer in jail. And on behalf of Gloria Arroyo’s victims of corruption and various human rights violations, we believe prosecuting Arroyo would indeed be a better start –off, a move which will make Pres Noynoy Aquino more of a president than of a mere man of words.

It is wise to be realistic than to go with the flow. There is no way the people can dream again with the priorities uttered by Noynoy in his speech. Noynoy has revealed himself as a believer and follower of US imperialist dictates, as a US-puppet in the making.

Take away the expose and “tagalog” speaking president, the essence of Noynoy’s SONA are retentions of US-dictated economic policies -- privatization, deregulation, and liberalization embody the framework of his policy making.

There were no mention of scrapping anti-people and anti -poor policies that were enacted during the previous administrations such as the E-VAT, Oil Deregulation Law, and the Visiting Forces Agreement and Mutual Defense Treaty.

With his support for the intensification of built-operate-transfer scheme, privatization of more Government Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCC) and its heavy toll on the Filipino poor majority is clear to worsen.

Noynoy’s presidency is not far from ending-up like the conventional ones --- the type that is bound to exist and end with its term of office. For the 15th time that the country had a change in presidency, the people have not seen any President brave enough to breakaway from the controls and dominance of US imperialism.

There has not been a time that genuine land reform -- the total distribution of lands among the farmers and creation of a planned agriculture which products are for local sustainability rather than for exports -- was given a priority as a government policy.

Filipino workers continue to work at the mercy of greedy capitalists. While salaries and wages are nailed at its lowest rate amidst the skyrocketing cost of living, the workers remain unsecured as our own labor policies favor contractual employments.

Our indigenous peoples are up to now waging the struggle for their right to ancestral domain as their lands have been the targets for mining, plantation expansions and profit-driven dam and energy construction.

Noynoy could have said much about truths that is at the heart of every Filipino’s dream for genuine political change but he chose not to for having hailed from a landlord family owning more than half of Tarlac, other haciendas and private monopolies in the business industry and him, being a landlord himself, his own family is at stake.

There are bigger problems than corruption that cause inequities among the people. For more than hundred years now that our people and resources are exploited for foreign-vested interests, such is worse than corruption. It is hard to believe that Noynoy can address insurgency when he chooses to ignore the root cause of poverty and inequities in the country. For every Filipino who is perennially deprived of his rights to dignified job, food, shelter, education, and other basic social services, insurgency will continue to be a resort for his defense and assertions.

There is more to fear when we see Noynoy acting blind about the political killings which greeted his first 26 days in power. As the AFP’s commander-in-chief, he is not innocent about the operations of the institution he leads. It is his duty to stop the military’s brute and anti-people operations under Oplan Bantay Laya unless he wants to suffer for himself the same anger the people have for the former president.

Noynoy’s 6-year term is crucial at this point when everybody longs for genuine change. He’d better rethink his administration’s economic and political policies than his disappointing first SONA. The people’s demands and not just dreams are clear in reminding Noynoy of his mandate to uphold human rights and lead firmly as the country’s president. We don’t need him to act merely as a US puppet.

Bayan demands justice for US military murder victim Gregan Cardeño, pins US military personnel as suspects

2010-07-02T23:31:00.000-07:00

Press Release
July 2, 2010

Davao City- In a march rally held late afternoon yesterday, human rights advocates lighted their torches to condemn the gruesome killing of a Filipino interpreter for US troops Gregan Cardeño and to demand for an independent probe of US military intervention and cover-up.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) spokesperson John Birondo, “We take up the issue of Cardeno who is a clear victim of the US military forces operating in the country, and whose case gives credence to the need for the scrapping by the Aquino administration of the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the abrogation of the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT).”

Gregan Cardeño, a resident of Zamboanga City had allegedly committed suicide, on the eve of February 2, 2010 in his room inside the camp of 103rd Brigade of the Philippine Army in Camp Ranao, Saber, Marawi City. Gregan was supposed to leave for Cotabato City the day before to work as interpreter of Bahasa language for the US military troops under JSOTFP through Capt. Javier Ignacio, CO of MP-WESMINCOM. His employment was coursed through the Skylink Security and General Services.

Contrary to the police reports, BAYAN said its own investigation revealed a foul play in Gregan’s death. Bayan noted the results of the Fact Finding Mission conducted by human rights group Kawagib last March 2 to 4, 2010 that have triggered suspicion on the real cause of Gregan’s death.

“The autopsy alone would show evidences of several puncture wounds, contusions and hematoma in the head of the cadaver that could have been caused forcefully by other persons,” Bayan-SMR spokesperson John Birondo said.

Bayan noted that at 7:48 am of February 2, Gregan’s elder sister Carivel Cardeño received a text message from Gregan informing the latter that he was not brought to Cotabato but to Marawi City instead. At 4:00 pm of the same day, Gregan called his wife Myrna crying and telling her that he was doing a job different from being an interpreter. He further said that the job was difficult and he wanted to go home.

“What caused more suspicions were the inconsistencies in the statements of SPO3 Ali Guibon Rangiris on the part of the local police and Capt. Kay of the US military. Rangiris first reported to Gregan’s family that they saw his body hanging on the roof of his room. He later retracted his statement and had admitted that the body of Gregan was already lying on the floor when they arrived at the scene of incident,” Birondo noted.

“There are more to dig out in this case and we will know the truth no matter what it takes. This is just one of the many atrocities wrought by the presence of US military forces in the areas where the Balikatan exercises are being conducted,” Birondo stressed.

Bayan said “The case of Cardeno was a clear test for Pres. Aquino as regards to promoting genuine patriotism and respect for national sovereignty given that he has been a clear choice by the US government as its next puppet in Asia during the last elections. Pres. Aquino should act on Cardeno’s case now and revoke the VFA and the MDT. ”

Bayan urges Noynoy to pursue plunder case vs. Gloria Arroyo

2010-06-30T20:58:00.000-07:00

IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS (IRR) OF THE DAVAO CITY CHILDREN’S WELFARE CODE

Press Release

June 30, 2010

Davao City- On the occasion of President Aquino’s inauguration, Bayan along with various progressive organizations staged here today a rally urging the new administration to pursue plunder case against Gloria Arroyo.

Aquino’s inaugural speech, though indirect in pointing at Gloria Arroyo, promised to run after those who have wronged the Filipino people saying “there could be no reconciliation without justice”.

“Gloria Arroyo’s criminal acts are known facts that the Aquino administration should call for an immediate court trial. Indeed, we, the Filipino people deserve the justice that has long been denied of us,” Bayan-SMR spokesperson John Birondo said.

Bayan recalled the NBN-ZTE deal scandal, Hello Garci scandal, Fertilizers Fund scam, and extrajudicial killings among other criminal acts that Gloria Arroyo should be made accountable for.

“Millions of poor Filipinos are drowned to deeper poverty and inequities as corruption and various human rights violations became more evident under the Arroyo regime. She, her first family, and squarely corrupt allies in the cabinet and Lower House have undeniably profited from the anomalies they have prompted,” Birondo lamented.

“Gloria Arroyo is in no doubt guilty of the crimes charged against her since day one of her sham presidency. And at these most crucial times, the Filipino people expect the Aquino administration to stay true to its words and would be very uncompromising in its stand against Gloria Arroyo,” Birondo stressed.

“Only when we see the case rolling we can be a little optimistic with the Aquino administration. Nonetheless, our vigilance and assertions for equality and justice, especially on the issues of Hacienda Luisita and political killings will also remain uncompromising,” Birondo ended.

BAYAN scores no let-up in troops deployment in south minda; protests Diwalwal sell-out

2010-06-09T23:50:00.000-07:00

Press Release

June 9, 2010

Davao City –The Bagong Alyangsang Makabayan (BAYAN) strongly condemned the continued troop build-up in the region, saying it is a portent of more human rights violations and other bloodbath to come in an area long beset with military abuses against civilians.

BAYAN also feared that the deployment is a cue to a forcible private mining firm takeover of the mineral-rich Mt. Diwalwal in Monkayo town in Compostela Valley—the newly deployed soldiers will serve as private armies to protect the interests of giant mining companies over the mineral reserves of the Diwalwal reservation.

ON FRIDAY, SOLDIERS FROM THE 84TH INFANTRY BATTALION reportedly ARRIVED IN HIJO BEACH IN MADAUM, AN ADDITIONAL FORCE TO THE 71ST IB WHO ARRIVED ON MAY 24..

JOHN BIRONDO, SPOKEPERSON OF BAYAN-SOUTHERN MINDANAO, TOOK A SWIPE OVER THE SUPPORT SHOWED BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO THE DEPLOYMENT OF MORE TROOPS IN DAVAO DEL NORTE AND COMPOSTELA VALLEY.

“As Governor ARTHURO Uy gave clearance for mining activities to continue, the newly deployed troops will surely be part in the Diwalwal takeover, within Compostela Valley, as what military troops have been doing to serve big corporations’ interest. They will gear up for the clearing operations prior to the actual operations of the mining corporations,” said Birondo.

BIRONDO SAID THAT CONTRARY TO WHAT MAJ. GEN. CARLOS HOLGANZA, COMMANDER OF THE 10TH INFANTRY DIVISION claims, THE ADDITIONAL SOLDIERS IN COMPOSTELA VALLEY AND THE OTHER PARTS OF SOUTHERN MINDANAO will threaten CIVILIANS WHO ARE OFTEN ACCUSED OF state enemies, especially those resisting development agression in areas like Diwalwa..

“Whatever mining corporation should take Diwalwal, Philex and other bidders, would only extract the rich gold resource of the province at the expense of the small miners and settlers of the Diwalwal community. The take-over of large-scale mining firms contravenes our national sovereignty and patrimony because these firms are merely dummies of foreign mining firms," said Birondo.

He added that the additional troops reinforcement in the 10th ID indicates that the government is not at all considering lifting its abusive counter-insurgency all-out war policy in the region, even with the installation of the new Noynoy Aquino presidency.#

BAYAN CONDEMNS INCREASED MIL DEPLOYMENT

2010-05-30T06:31:00.000-07:00

May 29, 2010

Press Release

Davao City --- Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) registers its strong condemnation towards the ongoing military deployment in Southern Mindanao Region and seeks for the immediate pull out of the military troops under the 10th Infantry Division.

BAYAN asserts that only the big multinational corporations will benefit from the presence of the military as it would implement the clearing operations necessary prior the actual operation of the mining corporations.

"Additional military troops, particularly the 71st IB which was just recently deployed in Compostela Valley, will speed up the implementation of multinational mining projects in this mineral - rich province and will undoubtedly result to the intensification of human rights violations in the region," said John Birondo, spokesperson of BAYAN.

"Military presence in remote lumad and peasant communities have time and again caused trauma, violence and various forms of rights abuses against the people especially to the children who are the most vulnerable victims of the military's all-out-war," said Birondo.

The group is alarmed over the likely internal displacement of lumads and farmers in areas targeted for mining and military operations.

“Military presence in so-called development areas will put the lives of the civilians in grave danger,”Birondo said.

“With the upcoming administration, we challenge the government to put an end to large scale foreign mining and realign its programs instead to national industrialization and genuine agrarian reform which are the ultimate fundamentals to a strong and pro-people development”, Birondo said.

Bayan: people’s movement for genuine change continues

2010-05-21T00:41:00.000-07:00

Press Release

May 19, 2010

Davao City – Responding to persistent reports of widespread electoral fraud, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said the people's movement will continue to strengthen to end systemic and centuries-old practice of corruption, abuse of power in Philippine politics and foreign domination.

“The recently concluded national elections, with all the flaws and taints of electoral fraud, have failed to assure our people of a moral and principled governance. The process alone was a manifestation of a rotten political system in the country dominated by old elite and traditional politicians,” Bayan-SMR spokesperson John Birondo said.

“As far as the monitoring of Kontra Daya is concerned, vote buying and harassment hounded the elections. As millions of voters were disenfranchised, the entire electoral process is not yet cleared from allegations of massive electoral fraud and the alleged corruption by no less than the officials of the COMELEC, “Birondo noted.

Bayan also belittled the military's General Holganza’s claim of defeat for local and national bets of the progressive bloc. “The people’s movement will never be defeated. With or without the elections, the struggle for justice and equality will continue to bring thousands of protesting people in the streets,” Birondo stressed.

“What is more evident is the fact that the military failed to cause the defeat of progressive partylist organizations. We also welcome the fact the “butcher” retired general Jovito Palparan have failed, so far, to sow violence in the city and prevent volunteers and activists from freely campaigning for progressive candidates,” Birondo said.

“Our representation of the people’s true voice recognizes no boundaries. We shall continue advancing the people’s agenda for land rights, just wages, housing, education, and basic social services no matter what,” Birondo added.

Bayan to sue military of electioneering

2010-04-17T07:53:00.000-07:00

PRESS RELEASE

April 14, 2010

Davao City- In a picket rally led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan today (April 14), the militant group revealed that they plan to sue the 69^th IB of the Armed Forces of the Philippines for culpable violation of the Omnibus Election Code which prohibits members of the AFP from directly or indirectly participating in any election campaign.

Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code states the prohibition of any member of Armed Forces of the Philippines, or any police force, special forces, home defense forces, barangay self-defense units and all other para-military units that now exist or which may hereafter be organized who, directly or indirectly, intervenes in any election campaign or engages in any partisan political activity, except to vote or to preserve public order, if he is a peace officer.

“ There is indeed a clear violation of the law here perpetrated by the members of the AFP. We will be submitting a formal complaint to our legal department in our national office for immediate legal action,” John Birondo said, Bayan Southern Mindanao Regional Spokeperson.

Birondo likewise pointed that the military violated the Article IX-B, Section 2(4) of the 1987 Constitution and Section 55 of the Administrative Code of 1987, which states that “No officer or employee in the civil service shall engage, directly or indirectly, in any electioneering or partisan political campaign” and “No officer or employee in the Civil Service including members of the Armed Forces, shall engage, directly or indirectly, in any partisan political activity or take part in any election except to vote nor shall he use his official authority or influence to coerce the political activity of any other person or body”.

Birondo,who also serves as convenor of the Kontra Daya, an electoral watchdog revealed that there are already several complaints against the military not only in the region but all over the country.

Kontra Daya is a broad network of various organization and individuals; religious, artists, concerned citizens, activists, youth and students, lawyers, IT experts, and teachers who are committed against election fraud and the failure of election.

Earlier, Makabayan or Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan which is composed of the progressive candidates and partylists likewise bared cases of harassments and direct involvement of the military in campaigning against the progressive groups in Pantukan, Compostela Valley, Baganga, Davao Oriental and other parts of the region.

Birondo presented to the public and to the members of the media pictures which he took himself during a forum conducted by the elements of the 69^th IB at the Philippine College of Technology on April 6.

“The military conducted to batches of forum at a school. We also have a recorded audio of what transpired during the said forum, ” Birondo said.

In the said forum, the military urged the students of PCT not to join or support the progressive partylist groups which they said are "New Peoples Army fronts" and which purportedly use their respective “pork barrel” from Congress to support the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Representative Liza Maza of Gabriela and a senatorial candidate of Makabayan challenged the COMELEC to conduct a probe on the matter.

She pointed that “The malicious linking of progressive party-lists to the CPP-NPA is an old issue that has yet to be proven by those who seek to destroy the credibility of individuals and groups--individuals who aspirte to continue serving the people in and out of government," Maza said.

Maza said that Gabriela, Bayan Muna, and Anakpawis have not been receiving their respective Priority Development Assistance Fund – more commonly known as the “pork barrel” – since 2004 due to them as they are critics of the Arroyo administration.###

Bayan moves for disqualification of bogus partylists

2010-04-08T22:59:00.000-07:00

Press Release

April 9, 2010

Davao City – Gearing for bigger moves, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan led here today a protest action against the entry and attempt for re-election of bogus partylists created and supported by Gloria Arroyo and the first family. Bayan and various groups will contest the false representation of such partylists through the filing of disqualification cases sometime next week.

The initial list of bogus partylists that will face disqualification charges are Ang Galing Pinoy, 1-Utak, Ang Kasangga, Batang Iwas Droga (BIDA), KABAYAN, PACYAW, Association of Labor and Employees (ALE), Abot Tanaw, APOI Partylist, BANTAY True Marcos Loyalists, Aangat Tayo, Abono Partylist, Abante Tribung, Alliance of People’s, ANAD. Organizations (APO), Makabansa (ATM), and ARARO.

“We are moving for their disqualification as the representations that they claim on behalf of the country’s marginalized sectors are all made-up. Their sole raison d' etre is to protect and promote the interest of the next Congress under the eminent leadership of the Congresswoman in the making Gloria Arroyo,” Bayan spokesperson John Birondo said.

“The attempt to realize House seats for these bogus partylists is part of a grand plan to ensure perpetuation of Gloria Arroyo’s top post in Malacanang. Gloria’s congressional bid is not the be all and end all of everything. The moves to change the country’s form of government from presidential to parliamentary will pave Gloria’s way to prime ministerial post, and she needs as many allies as possible to make this plan a done deal,” Birondo added.

Bayan cited for instance the parylitst bid of Pampanga representative Mikey Arroyo and recently resigned energy secretary Angelo Reyes who was nominated by transport group 1-Utak. Other groups believed to be associated with Arroyo are PACYAW which counts as its nominees Tourism Asst. Secretary Janet Lazatin and businessman Reynaldo Pineda, both allies of Arroyo from Pampanga. APO partylist has former Ilocos congressman Salacnib Baterina as its first nominee.

“We maintain that the partylist system can still be utilized by the marginalized sectors if only the marginalized sectors fight and struggle to avail of this right and privilege. We support groups that truly represent the marginalized sectors. It is ideal and effective in so far as the experiences of progressive partylists have led to the representation of pro-people agenda in the Lower House,” Birondo said.

“We are pushing for the disqualification charges as it has become evident that the partylist system is being exploited by politicians, big business interests, high-ranking military officials and Arroyo allies for their selfish interests,” Birondo stressed.

One year after Commander Parago's daughter's death Bayan: DCPO Taskforce Rebelyn inutile

2010-03-08T06:36:00.001-08:00

PRESS RELEASE

FEBRUARY 24, 2010

Davao City - After a year of still unresolved rape and murder case of Rebelyn Pitao, Bayan and other human rights groups launched a protest rally at Camp Leonor today against the Davao City Police Office - Task Force Rebelyn concrete.

“Like other crimes which involves the military, Rebelyn Pitao's case remains bereft of justice. The police is not likely to pinpoint a clear suspect from the military intelligence community. This is more than a display of inutility on their part, this is an utter mockery of the rule of law,” Bayan SMR spokesperson John Birondo said.

Rebelyn Pitao was abducted last March 4, 2009; a day later, her lifeless body--bearing several stab wounds and rape marks--was found in an irrigation ditch in San Isidro, Carmen, Davao del Norte.

“There is no justification to the crime committed against an innocent civilian like Rebelyn. She was murdered because she was the daughter of NPA leader Leoncio Pitao a.k.a. “Ka Parago” – a crime that is clearly against the International Humanitarian Law (IHL),” Birondo stressed.

“The police until now has taken no actions to, at the very least, hold under investigation the suspects who were identified members of the Military Intelligence Group (MIG) of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) and the Military Intelligence Battalion of the 10th Infantry Division,” Birondo said.

Bayan named Ben Tipait, Aldan Sulao, Helvin Bitang and Pedring Pedregosa of the Military Intelligence Group to be the suspects in the killing.

“There was a chance for the police to pursue the case against Ben Tipait when he was detained at the Buhangin police station last month for violating gun ban. But he was released immediately, a clear act of connivance with the MIG to protect its most trusted agents," Birondo noted.

“The immediate release of Tipait was very anomalous given that he was released on a Sunday -- a move to hide him away from investigations on Rebelyn’s murder case,” Birondo said.

“Rebelyn’s case is just one of the crimes committed by the Arroyo regime against thousands of innocent civilians. And even as Gloria Arroyo's days in power are supposedly numbered, her fascist regime through the Armed Forces of the Philippines is relentless in violating human rights and in committing crimes against humanity,” Birondo lamented.

"While these criminals enjoy the rule of impunity, the family of Rebelyn Pitao continues to struggle for the justice they have long been wanting," Birondo ended.

Bayan hits black propaganda vs. Ocampo, Maza

2010-03-08T06:31:00.000-08:00

Press Release

February 26, 2010

Davao City - The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan slammed the military’s smear campaign against progressive senatorial bets Representatives Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza "setting precedence of partisan campaigning and political persecution under a culture of impunity."

“Only the military has the intention to employ such a smear campaign. They have been very vocal and active in campaigning against progressive organizations and its members whom they tag as fronts of the communist movement. This scheme is evidently laid down in their Oplan Bantay Laya,” Bayan-SRM spokesperson John Birondo said.

Bayan recalled the military’s Order of Battle exposed by no less than Satur Ocampo in an International Solidarity Mission last year which contained the names of activists in Southern Mindanao Region. Celso Pojas who was killed last 2008 was among the identified personalities in the list.

“If we are to think logically, all the political killings and harassments happening in all parts of the country are orchestrated by no less than the military.Their influence is of immense force that they can turn truths into lies and make crimes without getting apprehended,” Birondo said.

Malacañang desperate to cover up its corruption - Bayan

2009-08-20T21:15:00.001-07:00

MEDIA RELEASE

August 21, 2009

Davao City - Palace mouthpieces are now doing anything to bail out the rottenness of the US- Arroyo regime by pretending to be transparent in the eyes of the people on the matters of expenses of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo during her trips outside the country but such act will not work according to Bayan- Southern Mindanao spokesperson John Birondo.

“Presenting the huge expenses of Gloria Arroyo’s foreign trips amounting to P2.7 Billion to the public is an obligation of the Arroyo administration and their brand of “transparency” certainly won’t work in saving the corrupt Arroyo administration from the angry people,” Birondo said.

Palace spokesperson Cerge Remonde has been conducting briefings showing the so-called benefits from the foreign trips conducted by Mrs. Arroyo since 2001. A Commission on Audit report has shown that the president has overshot her own budget for foreign travel for the past eight years by as much as P1 billion. Malacanang has sought to justify this by pointing out the benefits in terms of investments and other foreign aid.

Bayan lambasted Malacañang’s claim that the country benefits from the foreign trips of the Arroyo government like foreign investments and military aid. “The benefits of the trips abroad that Malacañang claims are not for the people. It is for the bolstering of the puppetry of this regime to the dictates of its imperialist master – the US,” Birondo said.

“We cannot even feel that there are benefits because the people are still hungry. Health Secretary Francisco Duque even admitted this during his recent visit here in Davao saying that the hunger incidence in the country particularly here in Mindanao has increased from first and second quarter of this year. There are no jobs for the workforce and the farmers remain landless,” Birondo said.

“The Filipino people will not buy the false justifications and diversions of the Arroyo regime. The crookedness of this regime will be faced with collective efforts and actions of the people that will sooner lead to the ouster of this corrupt and isolated regime,” Birondo said.

Bayan criticizes additional P5 B to feeding program, says Arroyo only tries to appease People’s anger

2009-08-19T19:01:00.001-07:00

MEDIA RELEASE

August 18, 2009

Davao City – Amidst the increases on the prices of basic commodities like rice and oil, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan slammed anew the move of the Arroyo administration’s additional budget for its palliative poverty reduction strategy “Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program”.

“This is a just desperate attempt of the Arroyo regime to save its image after criticisms over the very luxurious meals it had at Le Cirque, New York and in Bobby Van’s Steak House which amounted to more than a million pesos easily spent,” according to Bayan spokesperson John Birondo.

“The additional P5 billion budget is like a candy given to the Filipino people hoping that this could be Arroyo’s way out of people’s anger. Is she trying to fool us? Mrs. Arroyo has the same pattern of actions every time she is confronted with issues and anomalies,” Birondo said.

“The program itself is palliative. It does not address the root cause of poverty which is landlessness. This administration is treating us like beggars when in fact the money it spends for the program is the people’s money,” he said.

“The isolated Arroyo administration is doomed to fail in its attempt to stop the people’s wrath. The Filipinos are already aware that under the present regime prioritization of the demands of the people is impossible.”

“What the people really wanted is for Gloria Arroyo to be ousted and for her to face the cases of anomalies, corruption and murder that she has committed against us,” Birondo said.

Bayan urges people to continue Cory’s fight vs. Cha-Cha

2009-08-07T02:55:00.000-07:00

PRESS RELEASE
AUGUST 7, 2009

Davao City- Bayan urged here today the Filipino people to continue the fight waged by former President Corazon Aquino against charter change saying “Cory’s legacy should continue to unite us all for our constitution and aspirations for genuine freedom and democracy.”

“Former president Aquino was among the ordinary Filipinos who, from the very start, had vigilantly fought against the attempt of the Arroyo administration to amend the 1987 Philippine Constitution. Cory lived her life for us to realize the significance of democracy as she wanted the nation to be truly free,” Bayan-SMR spokesperson John Birondo said.

“Cory wanted us to take a stand against corruption and immoralities in the government. Her courage and strength that helped unite the Filipino people against the fascist Marcos regime should remind us of the need to be brave and relentless in the fight against Gloria Arroyo’s fascism, corruption, deceits, and other immoralities,” Birondo added.

“The Filipino people made a good start in opposing Gloria Arroyo’s charter change. Our task now is to be more active in ensuring that Gloria Arroyo and her cabals in the House of Congress will be completely denied of their sinister plan to pursue charter change,” Birondo said.

People’s SONA staged successfully

2009-07-28T17:39:00.000-07:00

MEDIA RELEASE

July 28, 2009

Davao City – With around 30,000 people coming from various parts of Southern Mindanao, the nationwide protest against Gloria Arroyo’s SONA yesterday (July 27) headed by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and People’s March was indeed historic and a first in Davao City.

“There is more that could be learned and realized with the people’s overwhelming response to our call for a unity against Gloria Arroyo and her morally bankrupt regime. What was significant and undeniable with the turnout of the mobilization yesterday is the fact that the people are now conscious of their situation and are ready to oppose the exploitations inflicted against them by the Arroyo administration,”
Bayan-SMR spokesperson John Birondo said.

“What could have been a missed opportunity for those who failed to experience a truthful event yesterday will surely make them want to know more of the people’s genuine and most popular opinion than the bragging and self-defense mechanisms of Gloria Arroyo against her critics during her SONA,” Birondo added.

“There is nothing more realistic than what the people think about Gloria Arroyo’s performance in her nine years of sham, corrupt, and fascist presidency. Economic and social injustices are evident with majority of the Filipino people living below poverty line and with very little opportunities to earn for a living,” Birondo lamented.

“What were bragged mostly by Gloria Arroyo in her SONA were temporary and very insignificant resolutions she has done like the P500 economic subsidy for every poor Filipino family. An amount that is way insufficient for a day’s need of a family with a minimum of four members,” Birondo stressed.

“Infrastructure is not a gauge of genuine development. A simple, non-complicated, and very layman manifestation of poverty are the families living in urban communities whom the Arroyo government labels and treats as squatters,” Birondo said.

“It is neither difficult to understand the kind of jobs being provided by the Arroyo administration. Mostly on contractual basis, nothing is stable and sustaining. Jobs created through Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) like call centers are also vulnerable to retrenchments with the global financial crisis still looming and is expected to worsen in the coming months,” Birondo added.

“If we only try to analyze deeply our country’s situation, and with bias to what is only true, our everyday struggles and encounters with other people will make us more critical, honest, and factual,” Birondo said.

“It is a challenge for all of us to be sincere in our efforts to know the truths and make use of these truths to influence genuine societal changes. The people are just there, waiting for us to ask them about their real opinions and aspirations,” Birondo added.

The People’s State of the Nation Address

2009-07-28T17:30:00.000-07:00

UNITY STATEMENT

July 27, 2009

Gloria Arroyo’s nine years in Malacañang gave the worse in every aspect of the Filipino people’s existence. With a sham, fascist, and corrupt president in control of the country’s economic and political affairs, the worse has nailed every Filipino family to extreme sufferings. Gloria Arroyo’s mantra “BEAT THE ODD” literally speaks for how she should be treated. She is the ODDEST that ever happened to our country and she must be BEATEN at all cost… Now or Never!

Gloria Arroyo’s 9^th SONA is expected to pronounce the accomplishments of her “BEAT THE ODD” program which she said has focused on fighting poverty through: Balanced Budget, Education for All, Automated Elections, Transport and Digital Infrastructure, Terminate Hostilities, Healing the Wounds of EDSA 1, 2, and 3, Electricity and Water for All Barangays, Opportunities to Create 6 to 10 Million Jobs, Decongesting Metro Manila, and Develop Subic and Clark.

A well-formulated acronym indeed, Gloria Arroyo’s “BEAT THE ODD” program was a perfect gimmickry – a skill she has harnessed over the years. However, reality will speak for what is obvious. Gloria Arroyo’s nine years of sham presidency can be summed-up to one hard truth, a Filipino nation reeling in deep and permanent CRISIS.

How possible was it for Gloria Arroyo and her morally bankrupt administration to claim any accomplishment amid facts of massive corruption, apparent deceits, gross human rights violations, dereliction of the people’s right to decent and stable jobs, and rejection of the people’s access to basic social services?

Gloria Arroyo’s record-breaking performance reveals today’s 27.6 million number of Filipinos that are officially considered poor from 23.8 million in 2003. There are 15.6 million of Filipino workers officially considered as jobless & underemployed as of the latest count, while those that are employed are receiving a meager minimum wage of P265 in Mindanao alone.

Effective rate of Meralco per kilowatt-hour is now P8..81 from P5.13 in 2001. Retail price of LPG per 11-kg tank which was P192 in 2001 is now P605. Pump price of diesel is currently at P33.29 per liter from as low as P12.62 per liter in 2001. Retail price of regular-milled rice which was P17.51 per kilo in 2001 is now P30 per kilo. Water in Manila as a basis is now P23.05 per cubic meter from P17.51 in 2001. Tuition fee in Davao City alone is now P302.50 per unit at the minimum from P170 per unit in 2001.

To top it all, Gloria Arroyo’s declared net worth of P66.75 million in 2001 has soared to P144.54 million as of 2008. This is to exclude the money and properties she has amassed out of corruption. To note, an estimated P17 billion was corrupted by Gloria Arroyo and her family from the ZTE-NBN project, fertilizer funds, and others more.

The infrastructure projects which Gloria Arroyo claims to have been completed under her term were either tainted with anomalous transactions or have actually been the number one source corruption. More so that the construction of farm to market roads are irrelevant for majority of the Filipino farmers who, to begin with, are incapable of sustaining their productions due to the high cost of farm inputs and stiff competition in the market brought by the influx of imported agricultural goods. Realistically, these infrastructure projects are meant to back multinational and transnational investments in the country.

Urban communities have become more congested over the years due to lack of livelihood opportunities in the countryside. Majority of the people are forced to seek for greener pasture in the cities making life more difficult for each to survive. While this problem exists, the Arroyo administration has instead intensified the demolitions of urban communities and continues to ignore the people’s need for employment and affordable housing services.

Hostilities remain uncontained and are intensifying with the rebellion waged by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Communist Party of the Philippines. Not even Gloria Arroyo’s pronouncement of beating rebellion by 2010 has resulted to anything realistic. Worst, incidents of political killings and other human rights violations have intensified, victimizing thousands of innocent civilians as results of the Arroyo regimes implementation of Oplan Bantay Laya. To date, there are 1,015 victims of political killings nationwide since 2001 where 105 are from the Southern Mindanao Region. Moreover, militarization in the countryside continues to sow terror and displace the farmers and Indigenous Peoples.

Gloria Arroyo was never sincere in mending the wounds that continue to divide the Filipino people. HHHer latest manipulation of charter change is pushing more oppositions and divisions. Unity is impossible with Gloria Arroyo becoming more persistent to perpetuate herself in power at the expense of the nation’s sovereignty and genuine democracy.

Thus, we say:

ENOUGH OF GLORIA ARROYO!

NO TO CHARTER CHANGE!

NO TO NOGRALES’ HR 737!

NO TO US PLUNDER OF OUR NATIONAL PATRIMONY AND SOVEREIGNTY!

OUST GLORIA!

JOHN BIRONDO

Spokesperson- Bayan-SMR

BP. CONSTANTE CLARO

ConvenorPEOPLE’S MARCH

Davao City

Bayan urges Dabawenyos to go out and protest Gloria Arroyo’s SONA

2009-07-25T04:40:00.000-07:00

MEDIA RELEASE

July 24, 2009

Davao City – Bayan urged here today in a protest rally in front of Nograles’ office the people of Davao City to go out and show their opposition to Gloria Arroyo and her highly anticipated theatrical State of the Nation Address (SONA) this coming July 27.

“There is nothing significant to what Gloria Arroyo will say in her SONA as her nine years of sham presidency will speak for the failures of her administration to address and resolve the poor state of the nation. It is not enough that we just stay at home and witness Arroyo’s SONA through our televisions and radios as what is needed of us now is our active opposition,” Bayan-SMR spokesperson John Birondo urged.

“It’s a shame for anyone in the Arroyo administration to brag about their sham president and her accomplishments knowing that they themselves knew of the people’s worse situation. It is high time that we all show our dissent against the exploitations we have been suffering all our lives and act among ourselves the genuine societal changes we direly aim for,” Birondo said.

“We can not afford to be very complacent and be caught unprepared when the worse of the Arroyo administration reveals its real intention of keeping Gloria Arroyo in power by all means. Time and again, we warn our people about the possibility of Arroyo making use of the SONA to manipulate the realization of charter change through ConAss, worse, her declaration of martial law,” Birondo added.

Bayan also hit Prospero Nograles for conspiring with Gloria Arroyo’s plot to pursue charter change and allow, through his self-authored HR 737, foreign plunder of the nation’s patrimony and sovereignty.

“It is sheer arrogance for the speaker of the House to act as if he has the confidence and vindication of the people of Davao to represent the concerns of the city. The forums we are conducting in the city’s various communities reveal the people’s strong opposition to charter change contrary to the projections being made by Boy Nograles,” Birondo stressed.

“We disown Boy Nograles as our House representative as he has never represented the real demands of his co-Dabawenyos. We only want to remind that Boy Nograles was among the congressmen who rejected the passage of House Bill 345 which was supposed to benefit the workers with P125 across-the-board wage increase,” Birondo said.

“Like his superior, the corrupt and anti-people Gloria Arroyo, Boy Nograles should be condemned and be disallowed from holding any public office. His posturing now manifest the worse he can be in the future,” Birondo added.

Bayan ensures big mobilization to counter Arroyo’s SONA

2009-07-20T21:55:00.000-07:00

MEDIA STATEMENT

July 21, 2009

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan ensures Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of a mobilization that will reveal the real state of the nation as against her usual untruthful statements. This year’s SONA of Gloria Arroyo is the most crucial one knowing the possibility of her declaration that will either enforce martial law or will pave the way for the Congress to convene in a “Senate-less” constituent assembly and discuss and approve their amendments to the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

In any ways that Gloria Arroyo will try to push her filthy agenda, we are making sure that we have the people with us to oppose and deny her plans. What seems to be unusual with the rigid gearing-up of the Philippine National Police for this year’s SONA, as compared to the previous ones, is their anticipation of a strong opposition from the people. Whatever it is that they think will ignite the people’s resistance, we will ensure readiness among our ranks and be as peaceful as we have always been.

Our community forums in the city’s various barangays are successful in giving education about the real situation of our country amid the worsening global financial crisis and the looming effects of charter change to our sovereignty and patrimony. The people’s responses are overwhelming and we believe that their participation to our mobilization this coming July 27 is a result of their consciousness and willingness to be active against the manipulations of the Arroyo administration.

The Filipino people have expressed enough of their dissents against Gloria Arroyo’s corrupt, sham, and fascist regime. Apparently, Gloria Arroyo is too shameless and uncaring to realize that she has never won the people’s confidence and sympathy since the time she rigged the 2004 presidential election and be seated as a sham president of the country.

Gloria Arroyo has gone further with her sins after she initiated anomalous transactions and conspired with her allies in corrupting the people’s money. This is to remind us all of Gloria Arroyo and her family’s involvement to NBN-ZTE deal scandal, the P728 million fertilizer fund scam, and many others. Gloria Arroyo has also caused gross human rights violations and senseless deaths of thousands of innocent civilians through her implementation of Oplan Bantay Laya.

Gloria Arroyo has blatantly neglected the people’s economic rights by ignoring their needs for stable and decent jobs, lands, food, shelter, and access to basic social services. These are more than enough reasons for the Filipino people to ensure the end of Gloria Arroyo’s anti-people regime. There is no way that we will allow her manipulations to stay in power and be granted the immunity from any lawsuit.

Gloria Arroyo deserves nothing less than ouster. We need to stop and kick her out from Malacañang before her evil works succeed in exploiting more the Filipino people and our nation.

No to Charter Change!

Never Again to Martial Law!

Oust Gloria!

Mobilization is set on SONA day despite holiday declaration

2009-07-19T23:38:00.000-07:00

PRESS RELEASE

July 20, 2009

Davao City – Bagong Alyansang Makabayan announced today that the big mobilization next Monday (July 27) will push through despite a special working holiday declaration by the Palace on Gloria Arroyo’s 9^th State of the Nation Address.

The Palace declared July 27, as a special working holiday for the founding anniversary of the Iglesia Ni Cristo.

“The declaration will not affect the preparation of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan for the big protest action this July 27. Build-up activities are also set this week,” said John Birondo, spokesperson of Bayan-Southern Mindanao.

Bayan is expecting for a bigger mobilization this year than the previous SONAs.

“This is Arroyo’s last SONA. It will all be the same SONA speech showcasing deceitful figures and sheer lies but at the same time we see the desperate moves of Malacañang to stay in power with the moves to amend the charter. We have to show our numbers,” Birondo said.

“This administration is desperately trying to quell the coming public outrage come July 27. We have heard of the planned emergency rule and even the red alert status of the security forces to last until SONA. But still, the people’s wrath will prevail,” Birondo said

“We enjoin everyone to join the protest action this coming SONA. Let us show our disgust over this regime that will be leaving us with the most unbearable legacy of corruption, human rights abuses and economic degradation,” he said. #

Bayan condemns bombings, warns reinforcement of martial law

2009-07-10T19:01:00.000-07:00

Media Release

July 10, 2009

Davao City- Bayan condemned here today in a picket rally the recent bombing incidents in Mindanao that grisly took the lives of innocent civilians and have worsened the instabilities in the country’s present political and economic conditions.

“One lesson we should not forget about the circumstances that justified the declaration of martial law by the dethroned Marcos regime was the ploy of social unrest and the consequent military take-over and supremacy,” Bayan spokesperson John Birondo said.

“The theories and justifications of the military linking the recent bombings to terrorism sound so cliché and unbelievable. It is so irreconcilable that the military has not preempted the bombings when all these times, they claim they knew of the plans through intelligence reports,” Birondo added.

Birondo added “the military was very quick to point with certainties at the MILF and the Abu Sayaff group as the ones instigating the bombings in Mindanao, yet, they can not explain how the bombings happened beyond their control.”

“Whichever angle the military will try to situate the bombings, the people’s utmost vigilance is needed to impede any attempt that will take advantage of the situation and cause the reinstatement of martial law,” Birondo warned.

“It is not coincidence that the bombings are happening with the coming of Gloria Arroyo’s SONA three week s from now. Time and opportunities are slithering from Gloria’s hand as nothing is working to ensure her continued stint in Malacañang,” Birondo said.

“Martial law is Gloria Arroyo’s remaining hope to stay in power. The people’s movements against her sham presidency are too strong for her to contain and stop,” Birondo stressed.

Bayan recalled the aftermaths of the martial Law declaration in June 21, 1972 where opposition figures, including Benigno Aquino, journalists, and student and labor activists were arrested. A total of about 30,000 detainees were kept at military compounds run by the army and the Philippine Constabulary.

Bayan added “the assassination plot of then Minster of National defense Juan Ponce Enrile which precipitated Proclamation 1081- Marcos’ proclamation of Martial– was learned to be a ploy admitted by Enrile himself after the downfall of the Marcos regime in 1986.

“The statement of whistleblower Vidal Doble involving the military to the bombings in the country is too serious to be treated unaddressed and uninvestigated,” Birondo added.

“There are many lessons in the past and in the present times that are enough to teach us of the actions we should be making now. A radical opposition against Martial Law is a must for us Filipinos to take-on. Let us fight now before our actions become irrelevant and toothless against Martial Law,” Birondo said.

Bayan warns US meddling in 2010 elections dubious

2009-07-06T16:03:00.000-07:00

MEDIA RELEASE

July 6, 2009

Davao City – Bayan warned here today that the expression of possible interference of the US government in the 2010 national elections will dangerously lead to more interventions of the country’s economic and political affairs.

“The statement issued by US ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney expressing the need to pursue the 2010 national elections was not a simple gesture of concern. There is a need for the US to ensure the elections in 2010 for its agenda of having charter change to also push through,” Bayan spokesperson John Birondo said.

“The mounting protests against Gloria Arroyo’s Con-Ass and Cha-Cha have caused huge damage in the credibility of charter change in general. Issues of term extension for Gloria Arroyo and her cabals did not help in building the people’s confidence over the initiatives for charter change,” Birondo added.

“We see now a shift in the efforts of the Arroyo administration to continue with cha-cha as dictated by US. The 2010 national elections will pursue as other details of ensuring Gloria Arroyo’s top post as prime minister will come after the form of government is changed to parliamentary from the current presidential system,” Birondo warned.

“In anyways the whole thing will happen, Gloria Arroyo will surely benefit from Cha-Cha,” Birondo said.

Bayan reiterated that the declaration of national patrimony and sovereignty in the 1987 Philippine Constitution is a barrier to the full operations of foreign investments in the country. It limits the implementation of policies brought by the concepts and practices of globalization such as the Mining Act of 1995.

“The US economy trampled under recession has aggressively pushed the US government to find viable options for its survival. It is in this aspect that the Philippines’ semi-feudal and semi-colonial characteristic is sustaining the need of the US and other capitalist countries for cheap labor and raw materials and a market for its surplus products,” Birondo explained.

Bayan added that the denationalization, liberalization, privatization, and deregulation policies of globalization have annihilated the role of the government in decision makings involving local investments, taxation, employment, prices of basic commodities and services, food security, public utilities, and land use.

“The root cause of social and economic disorders in the country is systemic. The crisis that has permanently caused poverty and exploitation of the Filipino people for more than a century now can only be defeated through the people’s movements,” Briondo said.

“In any way or form, a US dictated charter change will further neglect and abuse the people’s civil and economic rights,” Birondo added.

Bayan defends picket in front of Boy Nograles’ House

2009-06-13T21:50:00.000-07:00

PRESS RELEASE

June 14, 2009

Davao City – In reaction to the editorial of a local newspaper dated June 13, Bayan defended the protest rally it staged outside the residence of House Speaker Prospero Nograles saying “ the rally was not meant to disrespect the latter’s family.”

Bayan quoted the editorial saying "no matter what one says about the rightness of the protesters' cause, their behavior in front of Mrs. Nograles, who is not a government official in the first place was completely unacceptable and unnecessary."

“What was not shown in the footages was the accommodation given to Mrs. Nograles by the protesters when she went out of her way and wanted to speak during the rally. There was no agreement that Mrs. Nograles will speak during the rally as what was mentioned in the editorial,” Bayan-SMR spokesperson John Birondo said.

“We object to how the editorial has challenged our struggles for genuine democracy. The spontaneous reaction of the people to bring the protest against charter change right to the very doors of Prospero Nograles’ house was an expression of the people’s anger and mounting discontent to all his betrayals,”Birondo added.

“What was not shown in the footages was the accommodation given to Mrs. Nograles by the protesters when she went out of her way and wanted to speak during the rally. There was no agreement that MRs. Nograles will speak during the rally as what was mentioned in the editorial,” Birondo stressed.

“Without pause and question, Nograles makes use of himself as Gloria Arroyo’s conspirator in railroading charter change amidst the fact that the Filipino people, especially his fellow Dabawenyos are strongly opposed to it,” Birondo said.

Bayan noted that Nograles gave the biggest share in passing House Resolution 1109. He, among the allies of Gloria Arroyo in the Lower House, was decisive and most influential to gather the approval of majority of the congressmen for HR 1109. In some incidents, he initiated cunning strategies of gathering the signatures of some congressmen to complete the needed number of votes for the passage of the said resolution.

“There are more to enumerate why Nograles should be scorned by the people. He was a culprit to many corruption cases like the fertilizer fund scam and was part of the efforts that killed the impeachment complaints against Gloria Arroyo,” Birondo stressed.

“He was among those who defended the First Gentleman, Gloria Arroyo, and the first family during the exposition of the NBN-ZTE Deal Scandal which offshoot was his seat as Speaker of the House,” Birondo added.

Bayan said that “like the millions of Filipino families exploited and betrayed by Prospero Nograles, his family is also a victim of his wickedness.”

“Mrs. Nograles explanation was unnecessary during the rally as she was expected to defend her husband. Besides, they have all the resources and influence to air their own side of the story - a right they are free to assert,” Birondo said.

“If the House Speaker felt his privacy was disrespected, it was not enough to make him pay for his disrespect to the people’s will and dignity. He has no right to cry foul when he himself is causing unbearable damages to the lives of millions of Filipino people,” Birondo stressed.

“Freedom and democracy comes when you fight for it. And in the struggle for genuine freedom and democracy, it is inevitable that the people’s enemy will suffer humiliation and defeat. If indeed Mrs. Nograles speaks from the heart when she uttered she is a Filipino, she should take a stand against his husband’s will and fight for the rights and welfare of her fellow Filipino people,” Birondo said.

Bayan says Nograles will be remembered as traitor to nation

2009-06-11T20:15:00.000-07:00

PRESS RELEASE

June 12, 2009

Davao City – Bayan commemorated the 111 years of Philippine Independence denouncing the highest form of treachery committed by House Speaker Prospero “Boy” Nograles and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo against the nation and the Filipino people saying “the Filipino people of today and the future generations will recall Nograles as among the traitors who vended our country for his personal benefits and perpetuation of his political interests. Nograles should remember that among the lives he is destroying is the life of his own family.”

“Nograles deserves all the humiliations he is getting now for initiating charter change and for representing Arroyo’s political interests and foreign dictates over the Filipino people’s rights and welfare,” Bayan-SMR spokesperson John Birondo said.

Nograles led the passage of House Resolution 1109 seeking congress to convene to initiate charter amendments even without the participation of the Senate. He is also the author of House Resolution 737 which lifts restrictions to foreign ownership of land and corporations.

“We will not stop airing our dissents in any form and place we can slap to Nograles’ face his mistakes. Not until he steps up and starts himself the move to junk Cha-cha, he will forever be haunted by the people’s mockery and his own conscience,” Birondo added.

“What he’s doing is a clear sellout of our national sovereignty and patrimony. He said he wants the people to respect his privacy but we tell him he should respect the dignity of the Filipino people,” Birondo said.

In yesterday’s picket rally, members of the progressive groups stormed the house of Nograles in Davao City. “The protest yesterday manifested the people’s wrath over his treachery to the nation. We warn Nograles that the people will never be tired of protesting against his being the staunchest lapdog of Gloria Arroyo,” Birondo said.

Bayan’s protest vs. Cha-cha hits Arroyo-Nograles conspiracy, lauds city council’s anti Cha-cha stand

2009-06-11T00:47:00.000-07:00

PRESS RELEASE

June 10, 2009

Davao City – Bayan’s nationwide protest action against charter change moved hundreds of protesters in Southern Mindanao Region as a start-off of bigger mobilizations in the coming days to renounce Arroyo-Nograles’ conspiracy against the Filipino people.

“The conspiracy of Gloria Arroyo and her staunchest lapdog Prospero “Boy” Nograles, being the main operators of Cha-cha’s railroading, will earn both of them not only the people’s ire but the denigration of our today’s and future generations,” Bayan-SMR spokesperson John Birondo exclaimed.

“History will remember Gloria Arroyo and Boy Nograles as among the traitors who disdained the Philippine constitution and the dignity of the Filipino people. Their objectives of amending the constitution at this time when their political influences are dwindling utterly bare their subservience to foreign dictates and their greed for money and power,” Birondo said.

“We denounce their arrogance and insults to the people whom they treat like idiots. Gone are the days when dirty politics can deceive Filipinos from all walks of life. They can continue ignoring the people’s clamor against Charter Change and against them but they can never escape the people’s final judgment,” Birondo warned.

Bayan will also form part of a broader mobilization led by PEOPLE’S MARCH-Davao and other people’s organizations as continuation to today’s anti Cha-cha protest movement.

“We commend the members of the city council of Davao for taking a strong stand against cha cha. People from the church and other religious groups, academe, health professionals, youth and students, and business sector in Davao have also taken a strong opposition against Cha-cha,” Birondo said.

“This only shows the readiness of the people to unite and set aside personal differences for the cause of the country. This mounting strength of the people will surely give Gloria Arroyo, Prospero Nograles and their political allies the defeat they rightfully deserve,” Birondo added. #

BAYAN calls on Davaoeños to take the streets, show outrage vs Chacha

2009-06-09T07:35:00.000-07:00

PRESS RELEASE

June 8, 2009

Davao City – The umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan today called on to civil society groups, opposition groups and other organizations in the region to show their outrage thru varying forms of protest actions over the “arrogance and deception” of members of the Lower House allied with Malacañang.

“Let us commit ourselves to show these so-called public officials especially Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her lapdog Speaker Prospero Nograles that we are not to be fooled by their deception and that we will not let their arrogance be disregarded,”

“Let us take note the names of those representatives from our districts who have voted for HR1109. They have to pay for their disloyalty to our democracy and sovereignty,” Birondo said, adding that these officials should be blacklisted by their constituents.

“Here in the city we can protest everyday in front of the office of Nograles. We have to show him that he is a humiliation in our city,” he said.

“We will never allow their malicious acts to go unnoticed,we have two days to go to prepare for a massive protest action nationwide. Here in the city we could do our part by taking the streets together with our church leaders, teachers, and barangay officials from today until Wednesday and even until Arroyo’s last State of the Nation Address next month,” Birondo said.

Bayan is set to join with other groups like the People’s Movement Against Charter Change for the nationwide protest action against Chacha.

Bayan slams passage of HR 1109, intensifies anti cha-cha movements

2009-06-09T07:26:00.000-07:00

PRESS RELEASE

June 3, 2009

Davao City – Bayan and other people’s organizations slammed here today in a protest rally in front of congressman Nograles’ office the passage of HR 1109 saying “Gloria Arroyo and her political allies in the lower house headed by Cong. Nograles are making their biggest crime against the Filipino people with their attempts to fulfill charter change.”

“There is nothing more obvious than the actions made by Malacanang, through its allied congressmen, to cart off the barriers to cha-cha’s realization. The passage of HR 1109 speaks for their intentions to railroad charter change before the 2010 national elections and maintain Gloria Arroyo’s top post as prime minister,” Bayan-SMR John Birondo said.

“Malacanang’s pronouncement that it will push through with the 2010 elections is no difference to the lies it said with the ‘Hello Garci Scandal’, ‘NBN-ZTE Deal Scandal’, and the rests of the controversies involving Gloria Arroyo, her administration, and the first family,” Birondo added.

“For our lawmakers to break the laws themselves, pursue something unconstitutional, and act against the people’s will is clear arrogance. They don’t deserve to be respected and be regarded as the people’s representatives,” Birondo said.

“What the people urgently need amidst the worsening global financial crisis are resolutions from the Arroyo government that will ensure jobs for the workers, lands for the farmers, quality and accessible education for the youths, food and shelter for the urban poor, and free health services for everyone,” Birondo stressed.

Bayan also urged the public to be more vigilant and to actively participate in the movements against charter change.

“We will not stop from opposing charter change until it is fully defeated. We will be doing series of protest actions nationwide starting this week and the coming days,” Birondo said.

Bayan chides lawmakers to dismiss Cha-cha, urges public to register and vote in 2010 elections

2009-05-16T05:39:00.000-07:00

Press Release

May 13, 2009

Davao City- Faced with the worsening global financial crisis, Bayan said here to today that the members of the Lower House should instead make resolutions to resolve the crisis rather than insist on changing the constitution.

Bayan also urged the public to assert their right to suffrage by having themselves registered with the Commission on Elections and to ensure that their votes are casted and counted during the 2010 elections.

“Be it through House Speaker Nograles’ HR No. 737 or Congressman Villafuerte’s HR No. 1109, the debate on changing the constitution is not about choosing the mode in doing so but the intentions of those who want to railroad charter change before the 2010 elections,” Bayan-SMR spokesperson John Birondo said.

“Straight from the horse’s mouth, the proponents of charter change have said the possibility of retaining Gloria Arroyo’s top post in a parliamentary form of government if in case she wins as prime minister,” Birondo added.

“Come the time that the constitution is changed giving way to a parliamentary form of government, who do we expect to dominate as members of the parliament? Who alone shall have the right to elect the prime minster?” Birondo raised.

“There is no genuine change in everything that Gloria Arroyo and her allies are adamantly pushing now. We will have the same corrupt and immoral government leaders with these kinds of people dominating the parliament,” Birondo stressed.

Birondo added that the initiative to change the constitution is no more than an attempt to prolong Gloria Arroyo’s stint in Malacañang, to ensure her the immunity from lawsuits and to intensify foreign dictates to our economic policies.

“Criminal charges await Gloria Arroyo by the end of her term for all her involvements to corruption and extrajudicial killings. Without the power and influence, Gloria Arroyo could now imagine herself spending the rest of her life behind bars,” Birondo said.

Bayan sustains Alston’s implication of Gloria Arroyo’s accountability on continuing political killings

2009-05-11T00:21:00.000-07:00

Press Release

May 9, 2009

Davao City – Bayan said here today that the grounds laid by UN special rapporteur Philip Alston in his report realistically imply Gloria Arroyo’s accountability on the worsening extrajudicial killings in the country, her, being the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“The notion that the AFP is behind the killings and abductions of political activists all over the country is a fact that has long been proven by circumstantial evidences of the crimes, actual accounts of the witnesses and of the victims themselves and their families,” Bayan-SMR spokesperson John Birondo said.

Birondo added the divulged Oplan Bantay Laya of the AFP and PNP which counterinsurgency machineries are designed to liquidate members and leaders of progressive groups whom it accuses as legal fronts of the communist revolutionary movement.

Bayan noted that in Southern Mindanao alone, only within the 2008 time-frame, Arroyo government has committed more than 300 cases of human rights violations victimizing 30,857 individuals and 4,802 families.

“It is not only necessary to demand for Gloria Arroyo’s accountability on the crimes because of the so- called chain of command. More importantly, Gloria Arroyo should be made accountable along with the leaders of the Armed Forces of the Philippines as they have deliberately and nonsensically killed and abducted innocent civilians and are relentless in committing such heinous crimes,” Birondo exclaimed.

Bayan condemned the killing of Ludinio Monson last April 29 whose anti-mining advocacy in Boston, New Bataan, caused hindrances in the operation of foreign-owned transnational mining companies in the area.

“Ludinio Monson, like any other victims of political killings in the country was killed because he was actively working for the protection of the environment, human rights, and the people’s welfare. It is always a fight against the government when what is being fought for is justice and equality,” Birondo said.

Bayan also hit the proposed reward system of the Arroyo government for informants of extrajudicial killings which would need P25 million from the congressmen’s pork barrels.

“It is blatant hypocrisy for Gloria Arroyo to say she is sincere in resolving extrajudicial killings when she cannot even act on allegations that involved the armed forces in the killings that are happening all these years. The Arroyo government has gone farther in making it possible for Jovito Palparan, a known butcher of activists, to secure a seat in Congress,” Birondo said.

“Not only the proposal sounds so poor based on propaganda value, this is yet, another scheme of the Arroyo administration to corrupt the people’s money,” Birondo added.

“The Arroyo government is bound to be faulty as it can never be a government for the people. The state will always be the people’s enemy unless genuine societal changes are done for genuine land reform and industrialization,” Birondo added.

“And for as long as there is oppression, the people will inevitably fight back. The people’s resistance against the government’s anti-people policies makes the killings, abductions, and other human rights violations more inevitable for the Arroyo government to commit for its protection and survival,” Birondo said.

Bayan upholds legitimacy and urgency of transport strike

2009-04-19T23:12:00.000-07:00

STATEMENT

April 20, 2009

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan believes in the legitimacy and urgency of the transport strike that the public transport sector as headed by TRANSMISSION-PISTON will hold on April 29. Rooting on the legitimacy of the calls to abolish DOTC Order No. 38 and 39 plus the calls to scrap Oil Deregulation Law, it is urgent that a higher form of opposition such as transport strike be done and supported by other sectors and the riding public ourselves.

High time as it is, the public transport sector needs to act strongly against DO 39 as such implementation is unjust and abusive. The implementation has not only bypassed due processes and the right of the drivers and operators to be consulted, the objectives are clear in using the public transport sector as a milking-cow of the Arroyo administration to suffice its needed funds for the 2010 election. The vulnerable condition of the sector to traffic rule violations is clearly being maximized for income generation which made the Land Transportation Organization (LTO) as the 4^th most income generating government agency under the Arroyo administration.

In the 1st quarter of 2009, LTO was able to generate an income of P2.8 B from the fees it has collected from the public transportation sector and is set to collect P10 B more by the end of 2009. Add to this the Road User’s Tax which already amounted to P51 B in the past 7 years that LTO has been collecting such tax. There is also the 12% Value Added Tax which is estimated to amount to P81 B for 2009. While the government is earning this much from the public transportation sector, nothing has been done to improve the traffic situation in the country.

Not a single motive would explain that DO 38 and 39 is meant to deter traffic rule violations and vehicular accidents. DOTC’s own study of the traffic situation in the country does not show positive changes by its implementation of penalties and fees. In fact, it admits that the traffic situation is worsening over the years. And for it to say that additional penalties and fees are necessary to resolve the problem is way-off illogical and purely a tall tale statement.

We stand against DO 38 and 39 on ground that the country’s perennial problem on traffic necessitates deeper understanding of a traffic system under a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society. Traffic violations and vehicular accidents are worsening basically because the conditions of the streets and highways in almost all parts of the country are sub-standard and not proportionate to the large number of vehicles that are on the streets in a day-to-day basis. This is to emphasize that the rampant corrupt practices in the biddings and implementation of the government’s infrastructure projects have been sacrificing the convenience and safety of the drivers and the riding public.

There is more that confronts the ordinary public transportation drivers in today’s situation. Burdened by numerous and redundant fees, the everyday threat of oil price hikes makes life even harder for the drivers. Amidst the worsening global economic crisis that is already causing the prices of basic commodities and services to become more unaffordable for Filipinos from all walks of life, the implementation of D0 38 and 39 is absolutely absurd and inhuman.

The track record of the Arroyo government, the DOTC and LTO on corruption makes the implementation of DO 38 and 39 more unacceptable. Within their turfs, corruption is rampant and undeniable. Thus, the people will not stop from getting more vigilant against corruption and anti-people policies of the Arroyo government. We stand firm in saying:

Abolish DOTC Dept. Order 38 ug 39!

Scrap Oil Deregulation Law!

Oust Gloria Arroyo!

Bayan holds GFC and CHA-CHA forum for SP employees

2009-04-17T20:46:00.000-07:00

PRESS RELEASE

April 15, 2009

Davao City – Bagong Alyansang Makabayan in coordination with the office of vice mayor Sara Duterte will hold a forum on Global Financial Crisis (GFC) and Charter Change today (April 15) dubbed “The Philippines’ Worsening Economic and Political State and the People’s Alternatives”.

“Our efforts to raise the consciousness of the people regarding global financial crisis and charter change are all geared towards forging unities among the various sectors of our society that will stand in oppose to all forms and attempts of economic and political manipulations of the Arroyo government,” Bayan-SMR spokesperson John Birondo said.

“Government employees are not exempted from the crisis that has so far caused massive retrenchments in the private business sector. Basing on the resolutions undertaken by the Arroyo government like the Executive Order 366 (E.O. 366)or the rationalization in government agencies, it is not far that more government employees will lose their jobs as the crisis heightens,” Birondo stressed.

Bayan noted that since the implementation of EO 366, thousands of regular and contractual government employees nationwide have already lost their jobs. As targeted by the Civil Service Commission, about 420,000 or 30% of the 1.4 million workforce of the government nationwide will be affected by the rationalization.

“The Arroyo government has never paid attention to the welfare of the government employees. When it knew for a fact that the crisis is severely causing hunger and job instabilities, it speciously pushed for the immediate approval of the P330 billion stimulus package which will come from the funds of GSIS, SSS, and the private business sector,” Birondo lamented.

“These funds are supposed to provide financial assistance to private and government workers in these most crucial times of economic crisis. It is the people’s money to begin with and they alone have the right to decide for whatever is due to them,” Birondo added.

Bayan also hit the continuous effort of the Arroyo government to pursue charter change as headed by house speaker Cong. Prospero Nograles.

“Like a pimp, Cong. Nograles is all out in giving away the remaining wealth of our country for foreign exploitation. Just the same, he can never hide the fact that this is a conspiracy he and Gloria Arroyo would want to realize for their filthy political ends,” Birondo said.

Bayan noted the ongoing forums on GFC and Cha Cha happening in the various barangays of the city which is in close coordination with the office of ABC Davao City chapter president Paolo Duterte.

“We need to inform and equip the people with the kind of knowledge that will agitate their assertions for their legitimate rights and for the protection of the country from plunder and foreign exploitation. There is no way we can allow the Arroyo government to once again take advantage of the situation to fulfill its political agenda and greed for money and power,” Birondo said.

Bayan supports call to abolish DO 39, hits corruption of the Arroyo government

2009-04-02T19:34:00.000-07:00

Press Release

April 3, 2009

Davao City – Bagong Alyansang Makabayan registers here today its support for the abolition of Department Order 2008-39 saying “the policy should be abolished at all costs on grounds that it is unjustifiable, abusive, and highly susceptible to corruption of no less than the Arroyo government.”

“The implementation of DO 39 is obviously a conspired effort of Malacanang, the Department of Transportation and Communication, and the Land Transportation Office to satisfy their greed for money and suffice the funds needed by Gloria Arroyo to maintain her influence and post beyond 2010,” Bayan-Southern Mindanao Region spokesperson John Birondo said.

“DO 39 will not deter traffic violations of PUJ and PUB drivers as it does not address the root cause of the problem. These violations are results of the drivers’ poor education on traffic rules. This is to emphasize the fact that the corrupt practices in LTO allow the drivers to have their licenses without undergoing the necessary seminars and examinations,” Birondo stressed.

“Who among us does not know about the fixers that are rampantly operating within the LTO? And who among us would believe that the officers of LTO are unaware of these corrupt practices within their turf?” Birondo raised.

“The track record of Gloria Arroyo, DOTC, and LTO on corruption would explain the need for the abolition of DO 39. This is aside from the fact that DO 39 is nonsensical and a redundancy of existing laws such as EO 128,” Birondo added.

The Office of the Ombudsman recently tagged the five most graft-prone agencies in government which included the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in the list. “It is an understatement to claim that these government agencies are prone to corruption for they are actually doing corruption,” Birondo said.

“The drivers can no longer bare the burdens added to them by this unjust implementation not only because economic crisis is worsening but basically because they have long been exploited of their poor situation,” Birondo added.

“From the burdens of high oil prices, undue taxes, unaffordable prices of basic commodities, lack of social benefits, and redundant penalties, how do we expect our poor drivers to survive?” Birondo said.

Bayan discounts military’s investigation that cleared suspects on Rebelyn’s Killing, hits TF Rebelyn

2009-03-12T22:55:00.000-07:00

PRESS RELEASE

March 13, 2009

Davao City – Bayan discounted 10^th ID’s claim that Corporals Melvin Bitang and Orly Pedrigosa are clear from any accountability on the killing of Rebelyn Pitao saying “ it is idiocy for the military to think that they can change the tides and make the people believe that the accused are indeed innocent.”

“The people’s sympathy is evidently pointing on the suspects’ involvement in the crime and the military cannot simply dismiss the allegations by using the results of their own investigation as proofs of the suspect’s innocence. How in the world would the masterminds of Rebelyn’s killing say that their men are guilty?” Bayan-SMR spokesperson John Birondo said.

“Commander Parago’s accusation against these suspects can not be simply dismissed as unfounded neither the military can claim that the killing is an isolated case. Such crime has been happening under the military’s Internal Security Plan which launched Oplan Bantay Laya 1 and 2 as the main policies for the execution of the relentless political killings nationwide,” Birondo stressed.

“We instead dare the leadership of the 10^th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army to surface and submit the 12 suspects on the killing of Rebelyn Pitao for appropriate investigations including the investigation that will be carried out by an independent body,” Birondo added.

Bayan also hits the seemingly hollow police investigation of Task Force Rebelyn on the killing.

“We never believed that the creation of Task Force Rebelyn can be infringing of a state policy that subjects innocent civilians to abduction, torture, and worse, callous deaths,” Birondo said.

“The police can only make a pseudo investigation on the killing of Rebelyn Pitao for it can never be sincere in exposing the hard truth that the military is behind the abduction, rape, and killing of Commander Parago’s innocent daughter,” Birondo added.

Bayan recalled Task Force Pojas that the Davao City Police created to investigate last year’s killing of peasant leader Celso Pojas. To date, the crime remains unresolved while justice remains elusive for Pojas’ family and the people he had served in his lifetime as defender of peasant rights and welfare.

Bayan relives EDSA’s triumphs that united the Filipinos against state fascism, Urges stronger people power to topple Arroyo regime

2009-02-26T07:14:00.000-08:00

PRESS STATEMENT

February 25, 2009

The 23 years of EDSA’s historic role of realizing the true power of the people lives on to strengthen their aspiration for equality and genuine justice. Equality for every Filipino who has long been deprived of his right to own a land, live in a descent shelter, work with just wages, and take pleasure from all his hard works and from all of the nation’s wealth. EDSA reminds every Filipino of the justice he genuinely deserves for every right that has been violated of him, the economic inequities and state fascism he has suffered from unbearably.

There is no other way to survive but to defeat the fascist, fake, and corrupt regime of Gloria Arroyo. When the Filipino people threw out Hitler-like Ferdinand Marcos from Malacañang, after sowing terror, inflicting mental and physical torture to everyone who stood in opposition of his dictatorship, and causing the death of thousands of innocent civilians, every Filipino realized that a united and strong mass movement can destroy Marcos’ iron hands. Now, the people have thousand folds of reasons to oust Gloria Arroyo from Malacañang.

First, the Arroyo administration is accountable for the worsening economic crisis happening in the country. Long before the burst of global financial crisis, the Philippines is already suffering from serious economic bankruptcy due to its incapacity to generate local jobs that are independent from the aids of foreign investments. An all time high record, unemployment in the country increased to more than 11 million by the start of 2009. Out of the 81 million total population of the country, 70 million (or 13.9 million families) are living with only P112 or lower than this amount as their daily earning. The government’s inutility to prop up employment for its millions of labor forces has intensified its labor export policies. Now, about 4,000 thousands Overseas Filipino Workers have lost their jobs and 50,000 to 100,000 thousands more are expected to lose their jobs as the crisis is expected to worsen in the coming months.

The Arroyo government’s insistence of foreign trade agreements through GATT-WTO, APEC, EAGA, etc. intensifies the implementation of globalization policies of deregulation, privatization, and liberalization. This, in effect, makes the Arroyo government inutile amidst the soaring prices of oil, rice, and other basic commodities. Registered under the Arroyo government is a 13.6% rate of increase in the prices of food where 29.2% is the increase in the price of rice. The liberalization of local markets make locally-produced agricultural products less competitive compared to imported products. Add to this the IMF-World Bank dictated imposition of Value Added Tax (VAT) on the prices of basic commodities which has made life very unlivable for jobless Filipinos. Absurd as it is, the Arroyo administration through the Mining Act of 1995 has permitted transnational mining companies to exploit the country’s mineral resources. As of the latest, there are 62 priority mining projects approved under the government’s Mining Revitalization Program.

On the other hand, the soaring prices of oil products which increased to as much as P52 per liter will continue unless the government scraps the Oil Deregulation Law. While the government is relentless in privatizing Government Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCC’s), consumers are suffering from high power and water rates. The government’s supposed obligation to provide free housing services for the Filipino families has become a super-profiting business for transnational corporations like the Balikatan Housing Finance Inc. which is a subsidiary of the Deutsche Bank Real Estate Global Opportunities (DBREG).

Second, immorality penetrates down to the very core of the Arroyo government. Gloria Arroyo’s sham presidency whose victory was through a rigged election is not mandated to begin with. More than just ouster, the massive corruption in the bureaucracy that Gloria Arroyo, along with the first family and her political allies, tolerates and participates herself should deserve her a lifetime in jail. Billions of pesos from the nation’s coffer were corrupted and squandered by the Arroyo government while millions of Filipinos barely get a single peso for their daily needs.

Third, political killings and harassments are callously executed by the Arroyo government as its reaction to the mounting people’s discontent and uprising. In protection of foreign capitalist interests, the military is relentless in harassing and causing the displacement of farmers and indigenous peoples in the hinterlands of Southern Mindanao to pave the way for the operations of transnational mining companies and other multinational corporations that own vast plantations. This regime has so far committed 995 cases of political killings and 190 cases of enforced disappearances. Worst, these cases remain unresolved and such violations of human rights continue with impunity.

To quell the people’s assertion of their legitimate rights will inevitably bring the people to fight by all means. The true legacy of EDSA did not end 23 years ago. The chain of oppression it broke from the 20 years of Marcos rule has taught the people to continue fighting for the cause of the oppressed, the children’s welfare, and for a society that is free to give the future generations their rights and aspirations for equality.

Our continuing struggles will pull our strengths together, strong and unbending amidst attacks and dissuasions of the fascist, sham, and corrupt Arroyo regime. Thus, we say:

Jobs and Higher Wages for the Workers!

Remove VAT on Oil, Power, Foods and Other Basic Goods and Services!

Higher Budget for Education, Housing, and Health!

Defend National Patrimony and Sovereignty!

Pass HB 3059 or the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill!

Advance National Industrialization!

No To Charter Change!

Oust Gloria Arroyo!

Bayan links with Lozada in anti-corruption campaign

2009-02-14T18:30:00.000-08:00

PRESS RELEASE

February 11, 2009

Davao City – Bagong Alyansang Makabayan together with some religious groups in the city is joined by Jun Lozada as the speaker of today's forum dubbed "Truth, Honesty, and Good Governance".

The forum is in cooperation with the Assumption College of Davao, Lay Forum Philippines, Kahiusahan sa mga Layko sa Mindanao (KALAMI), SCLF-Mindanao, Sisters' Association in Mindanao (SAMIN), and the Promotion of Church People's Response (PCPR).

"Corruption has become a 'bread and butter' for the Arroyo government and the first family. More so, corruption has been a source of funding for the Arroyo's political survival," Bayan-SMR spokesperson John Birondo said.

Birondo added that amidst the millions of Filipino families reeling in deep poverty, the first family and Arroyo's political allies are, one after the other, linked with anomalous government transactions and are seen spending luxurious lifestyles.

Bayan noted the latest survey form anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International where the Philippines is ranked 141st most corrupt country in the world out of the 180 countries surveyed.

"The Arroyo government has so far corrupted an estimated of $27 billion from the country's coffer which is more than enough to finance the people's need for basic social services for food, health, education, and housing," Birondo said.

Bayan highlighted the Arroyo government's involvement with the PhP 728 million fertilizer fund scam, the PhP 2.5 billion NBN-ZTE Deal Scandal, and the recently divulged involvement of first gentleman Mike Arroyo with the rigged bidding of World Bank funded projects.

Bayan lamented that the most damaging effects of the Arroyo government's corrupt and malpractices break in to the very core of our dignity as Filipinos and as a nation. "Worst, not even one case of corruption was resolved to hold the Arroyo government accountable of the charges amidst the existence of strong evidences," he added.

"We recognize the strong principles of Jun Lozada whose crusades continue to seek for truth and for just and honest government," he said.

"There is nothing left in the Arroyo government for it to continue leading the country. Its crimes against the people should be stopped at all cost before millions more lose their lives because of hunger and exploitation," Birondo said.

"It is high time that we take part in the actions that will free us from the bondages of corruption, greed and inequality. We can not expect a bureaucrat capitalist government like the US-Arroyo regime to surrender its interests for the people's welfare and genuine freedom," he said.

Bayan dares 10th ID to surface 3 abducted NPA combatants

2009-02-07T16:25:00.000-08:00

PRESS RELEASE

February 6, 2009

Davao City – In a picket rally today at Camp Panacan, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) dared the leadership of 10^th Infantry Division under the command of Major General Jogy Leo Fojas to surface 3 NPA combatants who by statements of their families and other witnesses were abducted last January 26 of this year.

Bayan also noted the writ of amparo which the families of Ruel Cabales, Catherine Guinoo Cacdac, and Nelson Carbajosa had filed before the Regional Trial Court, Branch 3, last January 29.

"We reiterate the fact that only the military has the motive to do the abduction. And our conclusion that the incident was abduction is based on the statements of the witnesses and the victims' families which were strongly and consistently stated during the hearing of the writ filed before the RTC," Bayan spokesperson John Birondo said.

"This is nothing new to what they have long been doing to members of progressive groups whom they accuse of being the legal fronts of the communist movement. Time and again, they kill, abduct, and torture those they tag as enemies of the state and act as if nothing happens. They are unstoppable in sowing terror in various communities where helpless civilians used to dwell in peace," Birondo added.

"The crux of the issues here is the respect for human rights which the military should accord to any member of the New People's Army considering that the same is being accorded to any member of the military in cases that they are held prisoners of war," Birondo said

"This is in respect to national and international declarations such as the Geneva Convention and Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Laws (CARHRIHL) which the government especially the AFP is not innocent of," Birondo stressed.

Birondo added that "the military's lame denial of the abduction clearly speaks of the military's filthy schemes that are meant to liquidate all movements against the Arroyo government, be it the New People's Army or legitimate people's organizations in the country."

"Gloria Arroyo's bankrupt regime is bound to fail in its battle against insurgency and all other forms of oppositions as it can never quell the people's outrage for justice and equality. For as long as there is inequality in land distribution and the workers remain exploited, insurgency and the people's movements will inevitably topple down this regime," Birondo added.

Bayan to head-on cha cha moves, urges public's vigilance

2009-02-04T19:29:00.000-08:00

Press Release

February 5, 2009

Davao City – Unsurprised by the decision of the House committee on constitutional amendment to railroad charter change, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) expressed here today its readiness to head-on with any move that seeks to amend the constitution.

Bayan also warned the public to be as vigilant as ever considering that Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her political allies are known masters of deceits, power greed, and shameless manipulators of evil practices in the government.

"The Arroyo administration has uttered so many lies in the past and for so many times was caught doing so. Its offhand posturing on the issue of charter change won't buy any trust from the people, whom it deceived during the "Hello Garci" controversy, the NBN-ZTE deal scandal, and many others that have not yet come out to the open," Bayan spokesperson John Birondo said.

"What can be more obvious than to see Cong. Prospero Nograles, the speaker of the House and Gloria Arroyo's staunchest ally in the House of Congress, doing the groundwork for the final operations of charter change that Malacañang can deny its participation in it?" Birondo added.

"More incredibly, Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile's "ok statement" for a constituent assembly to merely discuss and approve amendments on economic provisions of the constitution can expunge the fact that charter change is Malacañang's only hope for Gloria Arroyo's term extension," Birondo stressed.

"The design and machineries for charter change are now evidently working to destroy all legal impediments to its completion. The arguments on how charter change will be taken-up, either by constituent assembly or constitutional convention, would require the Supreme Court's intervention and it is no co-incidence that the upcoming appointments of SC's new justices will happen amidst the railroading of cha cha," Birondo warned.

"This goes to show that Gloria Arroyo's upcoming appointees in the Supreme Court are designed to be seated in their positions to ensure that a constituent assembly be formalized to take-up cha cha," Birondo added.

"The people's real pulse is to end Gloria Arroyo's presidency and her machinations of anti-people policies. The kind of charter change that the Arroyo administration is lobbying won't save our nation from the crises that they, themselves, have caused to happen," Birondo said.

Bayan stressed the urgency of social change that roots from the needs of the people for stable jobs, higher wages, land to till, decent shelters, affordable prices of basic commodities, access to social services for health, food, and education, and the respect for human rights.

"We are set to begin our barangay forums this month to educate the people of Davao about the real contents of charter change vis-à-vis the worsening global financial crisis. This effort is in cooperation with the city's local government units and other people's organizations under Bayan," Birondo announced.

Bayan chides 10th ID's lame denial of keeping abducted NPA combatants

2009-02-03T02:20:00.000-08:00

PRESS RELEASE

February 3, 2009

Davao City – What appears to be the first abduction case in Southern Mindanao under the US-Arroyo regime, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) hits the leadership of 10^th Infantry Division under the command of Major General Jogy Leo Fojas for constantly denying such report amidst statements of the witnesses and the families of the 3 abducted combatants of the New People's Army.

"The military is acting on a script, in denying any involvement in the abduction of Ruel Cabales, Catherine Guinoo Cacdac, Nelson Carbajosa. The abduction of suspected NPA combatants and legal personalities is something that the military is bound to commit under their machinations of Oplan Bantay Laya 2," Bayan-SMR spokesperson John Birondo said.

"Indiscriminately, the military hits like a butcher to those who stand firm against the Arroyo government - a government that deserves no less than the people's ire for all its faults and sins," Birondo stressed.

“The military should respect the fact that their battle against the New People's Army is of high relation to national and international declarations such as the Geneva Convention and Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Laws (CARHRIHL), and that they can not go on violating everything that are stipulated therein," Birondo stressed.

"Yet, in contrast to the NPA which respects the rights of its Prisoners of War, the 10^th ID, as the region’s butchers in uniform, is perpetrating the most fascist means and brutal interrogation tactics to extract whatever valuable information they aim to extract from their captives, in extreme violation to IHL standards and menacingly similar to those employed by the US military towards its own captives, " Birondo added.###