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Leftist group urges IBP to drop gov’t lawyers who drafted EO 464 from its roll of members

Leftist group urges IBP to drop gov’t lawyers who drafted EO 464 from its roll of members

 

Staunch critics of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her controversial Executive Order No. 464 barring government officials from appearing in any congressional hearings on Friday urged the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) to drop the names of government lawyers who drafted the controversial EO from its roll of members.

 

The militant fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said the IBP should disown and dismember Defense Secretary Atty. Avelino Cruz, Presidential Chief Legal Counsel Atty. Merceditas Gutierrez and Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales.

 

“ Secretary Cruz, presidential legal counsel Gutierrez and Justice Secretary Gonzales violated the code of conduct and ethics and advocacy of IBP for truth, justice and transparency and respect for the Constitution and sovereign rights of the people when they collaborated to pursue this no consent, no appear policy of the female dictator,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap.

 

Pamalakaya’s Hicap said it would be better if the IBP would recommend and pursue the disbarment of Defense secretary Cruz, Justice Secretary Gonzales and presidential chief legal counsel Gutierrez.

 

“ That’s the price they have to pay for crafting a monster edict like EO 464 for violating the 1987 charter and for defending a criminal, corrupt and puppet administration. The IBP should carry this as a campaign or advocacy on an across-the-nation scope,” the leftist leader added.

 

Presidential spokesperson and Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye on Thursday disclosed the names of government lawyers as he dared critics of EO 464 to challenge the legality of said measure to the Supreme Court.

 

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, a staunch ally of President Arroyo urged the Chief Executive to follow Shakespeare’s advice and kill all her lawyers –or at least fire them from office. The senator said those Palace lawyers should be criminally charged and held without bail – if there were such a crime as culpable ignorance of the 1987 Constitution.

 

For his part, Pamalakaya information officer Gerry Albert Corpuz said the Fr. Joaquin Bernas view on E0 464, which the constitutional expert and one of the framers of the 1987 Constitution described as a gag rule, an obstruction of work of legislature from exercising its’ role as a fiscalizer and disturbed the balance of power among branches of the government should move the IBP from pursuing the dismembership and disbarment of the three government lawyers.

 

“ The IBP is facing a Herculean task of getting rid the pro-Arroyo Three Stooges in Malacañang who all conspired with the ruling syndicate in crafting an evil measure that would virtually place the entire country under the US-backed Macapagal-Arroyo dictatorship,” he said.

 

Corpuz also asked other constitutional experts and legal luminaries to come out in the open to denounce and challenge the constitutionality, legality and morality of EO 464.

 

The group’s information chief said the bandwagon of resistance against the controversial order is putting pressure to Malacañang and it may succeed in compelling Ms Arroyo to withdraw EO 464 and other measures, which the Palace might pursue in the coming weeks. #

 

 

 

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 02:53 | link | comments (1) |

Leftist group calls on AFP to drop court-martial vs. Gudani, Balutan

2 military officers who defied EO 464 deserve accolades, not persecution

Leftist group calls on AFP to drop court-martial vs. Gudani, Balutan

 

The left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Friday asked the leadership of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to drop the planned court-martial proceedings against Brig. General Francisco Gudani and Col. Alexander Balutan, saying the two officers and gentlemen deserve accolades of their colleagues in the military and not character assassination and political persecution.

 

“ Brig. Gen. Gudani and Col. Balutan should be saluted and not persecuted by their peers in the military from the generals down to the rank-and-file sector. The proposed court-martial proceedings by pro-Arroyo generals in the AFP is another one big stupidity and bankruptcy in the making,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.

 

AFP Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Generoso Senga together with service commanders of the AFP yesterday announced that Gudani and Balutan would face court-martial proceedings for disobeying a legal order from the President.  The move was formally aired during a news conference announcing the disciplinary action against the two PMA officials.

 

The AFP Chief of Staff asserted that the actions of Gudani and Balutan were tantamount to violations of the Articles of War.  Lt. Gen. Senga said the military is now powerless to take action against the two officers because they are now under the custody of the Senate.

 

Hicap said what Gen. Gudani and Col. Balutan did in defying Malacañang’s gag rule on all government officials to appear before the Senate inquiry on the controversial Hello Garci tape and poll fraud in Lanao provinces was in accordance with the national interest of the Filipino people.

 

“ The AFP chief of staff appears to be in cahoots with Ms Arroyo in suppressing the truth and denying the Filipino people of their collective and sovereign rights to know the truth. His order to place the two officers and gentlemen to the military’s inquisition court is one of the major cover up for the millennium for the sake of his political benefactor in Malacañang,” the militant leader added.

 

Pamalakaya’s Hicap also asked the lawyers and civil libertarians to provide legal help and moral assistance to Gen. Gudani and Col Balutan so both military officers could challenge the military’s order to place them before the military court.

 

“ Let us provide the much needed legal and moral assistance to Gen. Gudani and Col. Balutan who bravely defy an Adolf Hitler inspired order from Ms Arroyo to let the people know the truth about the massacre of people’s verdict in the last May 10, 2004 elections,” the group added.

 

Earlier, the Communist Party of the Philippines through its spokesperson Gregorio “ Ka Roger” Rosal commended Gen. Gudani and Col. Balutan for defying E0 464 compelling all government officials to get first the consent or approval of Ms Arroyo before testifying in any congressional hearings.

 

Rosal said military officials or enlisted men who are targets of the government’s campaign of suppression can seek refuge with rebels in territories in which they say they exercise control. He also asked disgruntled government soldiers and military officials to come out in the open en masse and support the movement to oust the President. #

 

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 02:52 | link | comments |

Miriam told: Quit Senate

For canceling own probe on Venable LLP deal at the pleasure of Malacañang

Miriam told: Quit Senate

 

Militant leaders of the leftist fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Wednesday told pro-administration Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago to quit her job as elected lawmaker of the country for canceling her own committee’s probe on the controversial Venable LLP deal entered into by National Security Adviser (NSA) Norberto Gonzales to seek support for Charter Change upon the order of Malacañang calling the Senate to cancel all probes set this week.

 

“ She was elected to serve the people and not at the pleasure of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her ruling syndicate in Malacañang. If that is her vocation, then she has no right to represent the voice and collective interest of the Filipino people,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

 

Hicap added: “ She is totally disgusting. She would do practically anything, everything to please Ms Arroyo even at the expense of the people’s collective interest for truth and justice. What kind of advocacy is this? Advocacy by and for puppets?  She is a big letdown to those who voted for her.”

 

Sen. Santiago, earlier announced that the Senate Committee on foreign relations would look into the

$ 900,000 deal with Venable LLP, one of the top 100 law and lobby firms in the United States. Santiago’s committee was supposed to look into the foreign aspect of the Venable contract if such needs an international agreement that would require the ratification of two-thirds of the Senate.

 

Her staff said Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales and Foreign affairs secretary Alberto Romulo had confirmed their attendance but the feisty senator at the last minute cancelled the hearing to give way to Palace request.

 

A highly placed source said Sen. Santiago complied with Malacañang’s appeal being an ally of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration at the Upper House. But Santiago said the committee cancelled the hearing because the resource persons were not available on short notice.

 

“ The Senate is not a place for Santiago. In the first place she is not a lawmaker, a stateswoman or patriotic element in the society. She is Ms Arroyo’s dearly beloved puppet in the August Chamber masquerading as a lawmaker and a self-proclaimed constitutional expert, nothing more, nothing less,” Pamalakaya’s Hicap added.

 

Sen. Santiago yesterday attended a meeting between President Arroyo and members of the Legislative-Executive Development Council (Ledac) in Malacañang Palace together with Senate President Franklin Drilon and Sen. Francis Pangilinan –who earlier called for the president’s resignation, Senate President Pro Tempore Juan Flavier, Senators Manuel Villar, Mar Roxas II and Ralph Recto.

 

Pamalakaya also berated the Malacañang appeal to Senate to cancel all the scheduled probes this week, arguing that President Arroyo is being rattled of the successive investigations by the Senate.

 

“ The Palace is now applying the whip of de facto Martial Law to compel senators to toe the Macapagal-Arroyo line of thinking and march. The Senate must challenge and defeat any political game plan of Ms Arroyo that would convert Senate into another slaughterhouse like the House of JdV,” the group said.

 

The upper chamber is set investigate a number of controversies hounding the Macapagal-Arroyo administration like the Venable LLP deal, the Northrail project, the Hello Garci wiretapping scandal and the raid on the house of opposition document expert Segundo Tabayoyong. #

 

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 06:00 | link | comments |

PNP chief is a political bully, bullshit, says leftist group

Pamalakaya slams bogus policy to protect silent majority

PNP chief is a political bully, bullshit, says leftist group

 

“ The country’s chief of national police is both a political bully and political bullshit. He is a modern-day Adolf Hitler or Benito Mussolini, two of Europe’s most detested fascist rulers and dictators in the 20^th century,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a statement.

 

The leftist leader issued the scathing remarks against Director General Arturo Lomibao, a day after the Philippine National Chief (PNP) chief declared on Monday that police forces all over the country would implement the “ policy to protect the silent majority from the tyranny of the minority”.

 

Lomibao’s directive came shortly after the PNP leadership announced yesterday that reassignment of Senior Supt. Jovito Gutierrez, the Makati Police Chief for the last five years. The move was widely perceived as politically motivated since Supt. Gutierrez was closely identified with Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, a staunch anti-Arroyo politician and chair of the United Opposition (UNO).

 

“ This is ridiculous, a throwback to the Dark Ages and more brutal than ex-President Ferdinand Marcos US-backed dictatorship and martial rule,” Hicap added referring to the latest directive ordering the 100,000 strong PNP to effect arrest against protesters conducting rallies especially on major thoroughfares where traffic could be impeded, even if they have permit to show to police authorities.

 

“ Excuse me Mr. Lomibao, we don’t stage rallies to obstruct traffic but to advocate for truth, justice and genuine democracy. It is Mr. Lomibao, his principal President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and their company of extra-ordinary fascists and bullies who are suppressing the truth and repressing the people fighting state terror and repression,” Hicap stressed.

 

Hicap said PNP’s Lomibao’s policy clearly bans all rallies whether these rallies are approved or not by local government units authorized to issue permits for mass actions. He said the country’s police chief proposal was an offshoot of the proposal of Department of Justice (DoJ) secretary Raul Gonzales for Malacañang to revoke even permits issued to organizers of protest actions against the government.

 

Pamalakaya said the PNP’s bogus and Marcosian like policy is inviting the political activists, civil libertarians, patriotic forces and the Filipino public to bring their protests right at the doorstep of the national police headquarters in Quezon City.

 

“ Perhaps, it would be a wonderful idea to stage daily if not frequent protests at the main gate of the PNP national headquarters in Camp Crame just to remind Lomibao and other pro-Arroyo police generals in the PNP that their days are numbered if they insist in bullying and terrorizing the people in the name of Ms Arroyo’s  immoral political ambition to stay till 2010,” the group added.

 

The PNP chief said, “ In the past, we used to close streets just to allow people to have rallies.  But this time, that cannot be done anymore. We are in a democratic society and the rule of majority is always upheld, and we cannot allow  the so-called tyranny of the minority to rule over the big majority.

 

But Pamalakaya invoked the recent survey of Social Weather Station (SWS) to disprove Lomibao’s assertion that the PNP was upholding the collective interest and sentiment of the majority of the Filipino people. 

 

“ For Mr. Lomibao’s information, 75 percent of the Filipino people want President Arroyo to face an impeachment trial, 64 percent want the Chief Executive to resign and 51 percent favors People Power as a political mode to remove the corrupt, cheat and anti-people president from power. The chief of PNP is running in circle to fool the country’s police force and the Filipino public in general in the name of his political benefactor,” the group added. #

 

 

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 11:43 | link | comments |

Oscar award-winning actress Jessica Lange denounces killing of Nestle union leader

Oscar award-winning actress Jessica Lange denounces killing of Nestle union leader

1994 Academy Award winner for Best Actress Jessica Lange on Monday signed a petition condemning the assassination of labor leader Diosdado Fortuna, president of Nestle Union in Laguna.

According to Pamalakaya information officer Gerry Albert Corpuz, Ms Lange, who won an Oscar best actress trophy for film Blue Sky in 1994 as mentally disturbed wife of a military officer, signed the Philippine petition addressed to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Peter Brabeck, Chief Executive Officer of Nestle, Switzerland.

" The breaking news was e-mailed to us by Gabriela International Network. Ms Lange signed the petition during the anti-US war on Iraq rally in Washington D.C attended by over 500,000 anti-war and anti-imperialist protesters," Corpuz said.

" This is highly commendable and we thank Ms Lange for her political support to the cause of the Filipino workers fighting for labor rights, justice and class emancipation," Pamalakaya's Corpuz asserted.

Corpuz said Ms Lange's advocacy for the slain labor leader could help popularize the issue and mobilize millions of Fil-Americans and Filipino migrants all over the United States to achieve truth and justice for the murdered labor leader by elements of military death squad.

" We will spread the good news about Ms Lange's activism and concern for Ka Fort and the Filipino workers in general. This would inspire many people here and abroad to work hard in the name of Ka Fort's political legacy for truth, justice and class emancipation," Corpuz added.

Corpuz, a self-confessed fan of Lange said the actress first came to Hollywood fame by landing a leading role in Dino de Laurenti's King Kong in 1976. She was first noticed  as serious actress for her performance in 1979 movie All That Jazz and got raves for her performance in Bob Rafelson's The Postman Always Ring Twice in 1981 opposite multi-academy award winner Jack Nicholson.

She also won an Oscar Best suporting actress award in 1982 for her performance in Sydney Pollack's Tootsie opposite Dustin Hoffman. Other memorable films of Lange include Sweet Dreams (1985), Music Box ( 1989) and Martin Scorsese's Cape Fear in 1991 opposite Robert de Niro and Nick Nolte.

Ms Lange, an anti-US war activist, delivered a fiery speech against the US invasion of Iraq at the anti-war mobilization in Washington D.C, said Corpuz, quoting report of Gabriela international spokesperson Ninotchka Rosca.

The petition that was signed by Ms Lange reads " we protest the assassination of Diosdado " Ka Fort" Fortuna, president of the union Nestle workers called Union of Filpro Employees- Drug, Food and Allied Industries. We call on Brebeck to resolve the three-year old labor dispute at the plant.  We call on the de facto President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to investigate reports that members of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the National Police carried out this murder. We call on both to respect human, civil and labor rights- without which there is only barbaric fascism."

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 08:23 | link | comments |

Leftist group told Ermita: Explain alleged existence of Cabinet backed Death Squad

Leftist group told Ermita:  Explain alleged
existence of Cabinet backed Death Squad

 

Staunch critics of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo belonging to activist fisherfolk group Pamalakaya on Monday pressed Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita to break his silence on allegations that a group of Cabinet members, which he heads, is maintaining Death Squad to liquidate personalities identified with the legal leftist movement in the country.

 

“ Is it true that Ermita and the Macapagal-Arroyo national security mafia in Malacañang are in charge of assassinating aboveground and leftist leaders and personalities? The Little President seems to have big knowledge of the Death Squad operations all over the country,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

 

“ The Macapagal-Arroyo government is not only banning the legitimate expression of people’s right to speech, assembly and organizations through its Marcosian calibrated repression campaign, it is also employing gun-toting and gun firing policy against leaders and mass activists of anti-Arroyo groups,” Hicap stressed.

 

Aside from Sec. Ermita, other members of the Oversight Committee on Internal Security like National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, Department of National Defense (DND) Atty. Avelino Cruz, Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes, AFP Chief of Staff  Gen. Senga and PNP National Police chief Arturo Lomibao were also told to shed light on the alleged existence of the Cabinet backed military death squad.

 

Pamalakaya’s Hicap voiced out their concern after the communist-led National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) human rights monitoring committee on Sunday said the summary execution on Sept. 22 of labor leader Diosdado Fortuna, union president of Nestle by motorcycle riding hitmen has it roots way back the elections of 1987 when Ermita, then Deputy chief for operations of the AFP introduced the same pattern to assassinate candidates and supporters of the leftist political party Partido ng Bayan.

 

“ Sec. Ermita and members of the Cabinet Oversight Committee on Internal Security should break their silence if there is truth to reports about the existence of this shadowy group that is tasked by the committee to assassinate or murder aboveground personalities belonging to progressive and militant organizations,” the militant leader said.

 

Hicap added: “ The allegations that Cabinet Oversight Committee maintains a Death Squad to spearhead systematic political killings of leaders of left-leaning groups is a serious concern that merits a full-blown inquiry.”

 

The NDFP on Sunday accused Sec. Ermita of masterminding the assassination of leaders and activists of progressive party list groups and organizations since the start of this year. In a statement signed by Fidel Agcaoili, chair of the NDFP human rights monitoring committee, the group said the gangland-style killings were executed by military and police assassins, which had also victimized other Bayan and Bayan Muna leaders like Atty. Norman Bocar of Eastern Visayas and Pastor Raul Domingo of Palawan. u

 

 

It also said the summary execution of Fortuna by motorcycle riding men was similar  to how political killings of leftist leaders and activists in Northern and Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog and Eastern and Western Visayas were carried out said regions.

 

The NDFP said the systematic killings are made to appear random but actually premeditated with pre-selected targets and timetable carried out by teams of trained assassins of the military and police. Reports reveal that more than 50 activists and leaders of progressive organizations and party lists have been assassinated since the start of 2005.  #

 

 

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 03:01 | link | comments |

Leftist group eyes PGMA in hot seat over Venable LLP deal probe

Why wait for national security adviser to speak if Gloria can do the job?

Leftist group eyes PGMA in hot seat over Venable LLP deal probe

 

If the security adviser can’t speak for his own, let his principal do the work for him.

 

With this proposal in mind, the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Monday urged Senate President Franklin Drilon and Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chair Sen. Joker Arroyo to summon President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to testify before the committee on the controversial Venable LLP deal.

 

Pamalakaya advanced the proposal after National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales failed to answer questions and landed in a hospital for hypertension due to intense grilling by lawmakers on the controversial law and lobby deal.

 

“ There’s no law or whatever rules that would stop Senate from inviting President Arroyo for questioning on the controversial Venable LLP deal. First, Ms Arroyo cannot invoke her immunity from suit since this is a plain and simple investigation in aid of legislation, says Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.

 

Hicap added:  “ Second, NSA Gonzales told the people that he was instructed by the President to sign the secret consultancy contract in the name of the president and the Republic and third, there was a Senate precedent, when former President Fidel V. Ramos during his incumbency appeared in a senate inquiry at the height of the PEA-Amari deal controversy.”

 

The militant leader said”  If Ramos can do it, why can’t Gloria? She is the real point person and the mastermind in the Venable LLP deal in conspiracy with the executives of the Baltimore-based law and lobby consultancy group and Secretary Gonzales was just a bit player, a fall guy and front act in this illicit game of lies and deception.”

 

Hicap said while NSA Gonzales said he had no written authority from President Arroyo, he assumed he had it when President Arroyo gave him the permission to get a lobby group . The leftist leader said Gonzales act was sanctioned and guaranteed by Malacañang.

 

“ The Senate will get nothing from NSA Gonzales since he is the fall guy. It would be productive if it invites President Arroyo, the main man in this P 50 million controversy. We cannot wait for Gonzales to finish his dirty tricks and antics just to arrive at the truth. The truth about the Venable LLP deal is a matter of national interest to the country,” he said.

 

Pamalakaya expressed optimism that Senators Drilon and Arroyo this time, they won’t not turn down their request to have Ms Arroyo invited in the Venable probe following NSA Gonzales refusal to answer the senators’ questions on the controversial deal. “ Let President Arroyo speak for the mess she created at the expense of national interest and the taxpaying public. Let the real star of the show face the music,” the group added.

 

Earlier, Pamalakaya had asked the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to invite Venable LLP executives Atty. James Pitts and Atty. James George Jatras to shed light on the issue. The two lawyers signed the agreement on behalf of the law and lobby firm with NSA Gonzales on the part of the Philippine government.

 

But Arroyo and Drilon rejected the proposal saying the two Venable LLP executives were not at fault and the government has no jurisdiction on the law and lobby firm, unless the two executives are working within the country’s territory. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 03:00 | link | comments |

Leftist group refines slogan from Oust GMA to Oust GMA dictatorship, begins calling Ms Arroyo a dictator

Leftist group refines slogan from Oust GMA to Oust GMA dictatorship, begins calling Ms Arroyo a dictator

 

Starting next week, the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) will change its anti-Arroyo slogan from “ Oust GMA to Oust GMA dictatorship”.

 

“ President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has revived the Marcos dictatorship both in flesh and in spirit. This nation of 84 million Filipinos is now under de facto Martial Law under the stewardship of a female dictator in the person of Ms Arroyo. We have to start popularizing the “ Oust GMA dictatorship slogan and begin calling Ms Arroyo a dictator,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

 

However, Hicap said the Oust Gloria or GMA slogan would still be used because it is also popular with the public and was not a deviation from the new slogan the group would popularize starting next week and in the forthcoming anti-Arroyo mass actions in the National Capital Region.

 

During the commemoration of the 33^rd year anniversary of Martial Law in Ayala last week, Pamalakaya and allied groups Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), Amihan-National Federation of Peasant Women and Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA) used 60 placards containing the slogan: People Power vs. Gloria, Panahon Na!

 

“ Political slogans should capture the political situation. The situation states that we are under undeclared Martial Law and so the right attitude and propaganda is to remove or oust the Arroyo dictatorship currently in de facto form,” Hicap asserted.

 

Pamalakaya said Malacañang Palace had officially declared “ undeclared Martial Law” on September 21, 2005, 33 years after the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos imposed martial rule all over the country when it announced the calibrated preemptive policy last week to stop protests against the government.

 

The said the reported presidential proclamation drafted by the Department of Justice, which stops short of a declaration of Martial Law would just formalize the announcement by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita on calibrated preemptive strike in lieu of maximum of tolerance last Wednesday. “ The GMA dictatorship could be held liable for the gross violation of the 1987 Constitution and the political massacre of people’s civil and political rights as enshrined in the Bill of Rights provision of the 18-year old charter,” Pamalakaya stressed.

 

Pamalakaya, together with allied organizations Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), Amihan-National Federation of Peasant Women, Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura, Sentro Para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo (Sentra) and National Network of Agrarian Reform Advocates (Nnara) are set to challenge the constitutionality of Ermita’s calibrated response.

 

The groups are now consulting their lawyers in preparations for the petition they would file before the end of this month to the Supreme Court in challenging the constitutionality of the Palace order on calibrated response.

 

“ We will not allow the Arroyo gangland in Malacañang to reverse history’s verdict on Martial Law. Who are they to challenge the verdict of the people against any form of authoritarian rule? The attempt of the Arroyo camp to curtail basic and fundamental rights as guaranteed by the 1987 Constitution and collective wisdom of the people will be crushed by people fighting state terrorism and repression,” Pamalakaya asserted. #

 

 

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 04:03 | link | comments |

Pamalakaya 13 snubs NBI invitation to shed light on barge blockade

Pamalakaya 13 snubs NBI invitation to shed light on barge blockade

It’s all Sec. Defensor’s fault, says leftist fisherfolk alliance

 

Pamalakaya-Bulacan chairperson Ricardo “ Boy” de Armas and 12 other fishermen invited by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to explain their side on the complaint of Navotas Mayor Tobias Tiangco regarding the blocking of barges loaded with garbage on the Binuangan River since April did not attend the scheduled hearings on Sept. 21 and 22.

 

The NBI investigation was scheduled on Sept. 21 and 22, but upon the advice of their lawyers, the 13 fisherfolk activists did not show up in protest of Navotas Mayor Tiangco’s allegations that they committed acts of illegal activities tantamount to hijacking, kidnapping or robbery by blocking the barge of the garbage contractor---Philippine Ecology Systems Incorporated or PHILECO. 

 

“ Our lawyers told us to skip the hearings because they are questionable. The intervention of NBI on the case is highly questionable and Navotas Mayor Tiangco’s allegations against us are purely political harassment and character assassination in nature,” de Armas told reporters who attended the press conference jointly sponsored by Pamalakaya and Kalikasan-People’s Network for the Environment.

 

De Armas gamely joined Pamalakaya national chairperson Fernando Hicap and Clemente Bautista of Kalikasan-People’s Network for the Environment in eating several bananas in front of the media to neutralize his hypertension both physically and politically brought about by Mayor Tiangco’s latest move involving the NBI on the Navotas dumpsite issue.

 

“ How can we hijack, kidnap or rob a barge which is as tall as one of the buildings in Ayala? Give us a break,” de Armas told reporters. 

 

Pamalakaya’s Hicap and Kalikasan’s Clemente blamed Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Michael Defensor’s failure to address the ongoing squabble between Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco and Obando fisherfolk and residents over the controversial Navotas Controlled Disposal Facility (NDCF) facility.

 

“ It’s all Secretary Defensor’s fault. His office promised fisherfolk and residents of Obando that they would close the garbage disposal facility in July this year. But they reneged their commitment and extended the operation till end of 2005,” Hicap said.

 

 

 

“ Where is justice in this world? What Pamalakaya 13 did was to prevent this Trojan Horse-like barge from dumping the corporate garbage of Manila and Navotas which had caused massive loss of livelihood, ecological disaster and health hazards to the fishermen and residents of Obando,” Kalikasan said.

 

Those summoned by the NBI aside from de Armas were brother Sonny de Armas and Pamalakaya activists’ Celso Balasta, Obet Calbadores, Orlando de Vera, Adriano del Rosario, Racelito San Diego, Rey Silangan, Nading dela Cruz, Arthur Burgos, Isidro dela Cruz, Cecilio Alcantara and Virgilio del Rosario.

 

Last Tuesday, the barge used by the garbage contractor Philippine Ecology Systems Corporation (PHILECO) tried to pass through the Binuangan River in Obando, Bulacan but was blocked by 20 motorized bancas operated by fisherfolk residents.

 

Immediately after the incident, subpoenas signed by Wycoco and NBI lawyer Atty. Nestor Mantaring were handed out to fisherfolk leaders allegedly leading the human barricade against the passage of PHILECO barge to and from the Navotas dumpsite.

 

On September 9, Tiangco filed a petition before the Regional Trial Court, Third Judicial Region in Malolos City, Bulacan asking the court to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the municipal government and residents of Obando from enforcing resolutions and ordinances, including the blocking of PHILECO barges to and from the Navotas dumpsite citing its irreparable damage to the garbage contractor and the municipality of Navotas.

 

But on September 13, the RTC Branch 15 in Malolos City denied the petition of Mayor Tiangco for TRO stressing that the petitioner failed to present evidence proving his right to be protected by way of a TRO. 

 

The court said “ It has not been shown that the petitioner, the municipality of Navotas represented by its Mayor will suffer irreparable damages and injuries should the act of the complained of be not restrained but PHILECO. It is basic for the issuance of TRO to be proper, the right of the movant petitioner must be clear and unmistakable and there is an urgent and paramount necessity for the writ to prevent serious damage”.  # # #

 

 

 

 

                                   

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 04:02 | link | comments |

Pinoy Big Brother wants GMA evicted in soonest time possible

Pinoy Big Brother wants GMA evicted in soonest time possible

US now hunting for Gloria replacement, leftist group says

 

The left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Wednesday said the United States is now looking for the possible replacement of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo but the short list did not include Vice-President Noli de Castro, whom it thought would only do further damage to the present political and economic situation.

 

In a press statement, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said the series of reports authored and submitted by former US Charge’ de Affaires Joseph Mussomeli to the Federal Bureau of Investigation from April to July this year reflected Washington’s disappointment with the leadership of Ms Arroyo and willingness to let go her together with Vice President Noli de Castro.

 

The leftist leader said the Mussomeli reports reflected Washington’s view that Ms Arroyo and VP de Castro were no longer capable of carrying out US imposed policies and interests in the country due to controversies hounding the present administration including the unresolved cases of election fraud, the massive graft and corruption,  the jueteng payola scandal and the discovery of several secret contracts with Venable LLP and other American law and lobby firms.

 

“ In reality, Pinoy Big Brother practically wants  Palace political mates Ms Arroyo and VP de Castro evicted from Malacañang. While it is true that is now applying pressure to both Ms Arroyo and VP de Castro to vacate their posts, the US at the same time is scouting for possible or potential political talents that would replace their abandoned horses in the very near future,” Hicap said.

 

Hicap added: “ The Mussomeli reports by design and by orientation merely declared the presidential position open to all presidential wannabes who want to replace Ms Arroyo, but Washington wants this bunch of presidential successors to prove that they are worthy of White House support.”

 

Pamalakaya said the July 16 report prepared by Mussomeli depicting VP de Castro as inept in both domestic and foreign policy issues was the start of the “ selection process” as to who among the present batch of political wannabes is qualified to takeover Ms Arroyo’s position in case the latter is forced to step down or relinquish her post.

 

“ VP de Castro did not pass the standard of puppetry set by Washington. That is the essence of the July 16 Mussomeli report. The US Embassy in Manila together with their unseen and unnamed operatives in the country are working double time to look for the possible successor of Ms Arroyo in vain attempt to disenfranchise the growing movement calling for the ouster of  both Ms Arroyo and VP de Castro and for establishment of transition council,” the group said.

 

Earlier,  retired Navy Commodore Rex Robles, president of the security risk management consultancy RCR, warned that the series of US Embassy reports on military coups could be the start of long-drawn US pressure for the credible resolution of the election fraud against President Arroyo.

 

Robles said he expects more revelations and actions from the US side that would continue to pressure the Macapagal-Arroyo administration to set things right. #

 

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 05:07 | link | comments (4) |

NBI probes 13 fisherfolk activists for blocking barge-carrying garbage to Navotas dumpsite

Pamalakaya deplores harassment

NBI probes 13 fisherfolk activists for blocking barge-carrying garbage to Navotas dumpsite

 

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will begin today the investigation on the alleged criminal and civil offenses committed by 13 fisherfolk activists in Obando, Bulacan, who allegedly blocked a barge carrying tons of garbage to the Navotas Controlled Disposal Facility yesterday.

 

The 13 fisherfolk militants belonging the left-leaning Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) were subpoenaed yesterday by NBI Director General Wilfredo Wycoco to appear before the anti-kidnapping, hijacking and robbery division of the investigation bureau to give to shed light on the complaint of Navotas Mayor Tobias Tiangco, one of the proponents of the controversial dumpsite—the subject of the three-year old fight between the office of Tiangco and the residents of Obando.

 

Those who were summoned by the NBI to appear for an investigation today and tomorrow were activists Ricardo “ Boy” de Armas, chair of Pamalakaya-Bulacan and members Sonny de Armas, Celso Balasta, Obet Calbadores, Orlando de Vera, Adriano del Rosario, Racelito San Diego, Rey Silangan, Nading dela Cruz, Arthur Burgos, Isidro dela Cruz, Cecilio Alcantara and Virgilio del Rosario.

 

“ This is terrible. What happened last Tuesday was a legitimate expression of People Power in defense of the environment and the common folk’s livelihood from the corporate attack of a moneymaking company. Now, Mayor Tiangco wants to criminalize this political act through the help of another oppressive institution for the sake of his narrow interests,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.

 

“ Why they were brought to NBI? They did not kidnap the barge. They did not hijack the barge or robbed the garbage inside the barge. Where in heaven’s name Mayor Tiangco and Gen. Wycoco got their idea that the small fisherfolk committed the following criminal offenses? They are moving heaven and earth to make our fisherfolk appear like criminals and terrorists” Hicap decried.

 

Yesterday, the barge used by the garbage contractor Philippine Ecology Systems Corporation (PHILECO) tried to pass through the Binuangan River in Obando, Bulacan but was blocked by 20 motorized bancas operated by fisherfolk residents.

 

Immediately after the incident, subpoenas signed by Wycoco and NBI lawyer Atty. Nestor Mantaring were handed out to fisherfolk leaders allegedly leading the human barricade against the passage of PHILECO barge to and from the Navotas dumpsite.

 

Pamalakaya said Mayor Tiangco’s decision to bring his complaint to the NBI was a very desperate act after the continuous human barricade put up by Obando fishermen and residents forced PHILECO barges to stop from entering the Binuangan River since April this year.

 

On September 9, Tiangco filed a petition before the Regional Trial Court, Third Judicial Region in Malolos City, Bulacan asking the court to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the municipal government and residents of Obando from enforcing resolutions and ordinances, including the blocking of PHILECO barges to and from the Navotas dumpsite citing its irreparable damage to the garbage contractor and the municipality of Navotas.

 

But on September 13, the RTC Branch 15 in Malolos City denied the petition of Mayor Tiangco for TRO stressing that the petitioner failed to present evidence proving his right to be protected by way of a TRO. 

 

The court said “ It has not been shown that the petitioner, the municipality of Navotas represented by its Mayor will suffer irreparable damages and injuries should the act of the complained of be not restrained but PHILECO. It is basic for the issuance of TRO to be proper, the right of the movant petitioner must be clear and unmistakable and there is an urgent and paramount necessity for the writ to prevent serious damage”.  # # #

 

 

 

 

                            

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

NFA’s ‘Text complaint’ campaign, a sham - Leftist group

NFA’s ‘Text complaint’ campaign, a sham - Leftist group

 

The left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Sunday assailed the campaign of the National Food Authority (NFA) messaging service (SMS) campaign aptly billed as “ Text NFA” as a response to growing concerns from farmers regarding pricing issues of agricultural produce.

 

“ This is a big joke. The NFA knows poor farmers are financially incapacitated to purchase even the cheapest cellphone unit in town. They would rather spend their remaining pesos for food and other necessities rather than acquire a cellphone and buy load,” says Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.

 

Hicap dismissed the NFA campaign as sham and money making scheme organized by Malacañang and communication companies like Smart and Globe, which are expected to rake additional hundreds of millions of pesos in total profits from farmer texters across the country.

 

“ The NFA is tasked to procure a substantial volume of palay produced by our small farmers by at least 25 percent of the total palay production every year and buy it at a price determined by peasant associations and not to encourage farmers to buy cellphone and loads just for the campaign. It is a very crazy idea worthy of national condemnation,” Hicap added.

 

The protest lodged by the militant group against the NFA “ Text complaint” campaign came at the heels of the agency’s plan to increase the price it is selling to the public from P 16 per kilo to P 18.50 per kilo or an increase of 15.6 percent, as well as jack up the price of well-milled rice from P 18 per kilo to P 19.50 per kilo to reduce NFA trading losses incurred from the sale of rice.

 

“ Where in heaven’s name did the NFA get their idea that millions of small farmers in the country would subscribe to their campaign that they would send their complaints to NFA through text SMS? The NFA is moving heaven and earth to make Smart and Globe richer by additional hundreds of millions or even billions in total profits,” Hicap stressed.

 

Pamalakaya said as far as farmers’ complaints to the NFA are concerned, they are religiously sent to agency from the national level down to regional, provincial and municipal offices of the NFA. The group said the NFA offices all over the country are frequently barraged with complaints concerning the agencies’ incapacity to procure the produce of palay farmers and the demands for higher prices for agricultural produce.

 

“ For instance, the demand of palay farmers in Cagayan Valley, Ilocos region, Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog to raise the price of per kilo of palay from P 12 to P 15 had been snubbed by the Macapagal-Arroyo government and the NFA since 2001,” the group said.

 

Pamalakaya called on Department of Agriculture Secretary Domingo Panganiban and NFA Administrator Gregorio Tan to immediately scrap the NFA Text Complaint campaign adding that it was a big sham and a top-level money making campaign among the top executives of Malacañang in conspiracy with cellphone companies and communication corporations like Smart and Globe.

 

The proponents of the “Text NFA campaign” will use one number (+639176210927) for all complaints, suggestions and other inquiries to the NFA.  Six top NFA executives are tapped to entertain and reply to text messages. They would assure that a reply would be sent to the farmer texter within the first 24 hours from time of sending. NFA said the SMS service will allow farmers to air their complaints against unscrupulous traders from overpricing agricultural products, particularly rice, as well as diversion of stocks of agricultural produce. #

 

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 07:46 | link | comments |

Leftist group wants US diplomat in hot seat over US spy work in RP

Lacson, Pimentel, Golez and Escudero asked to initiate probe on US spy activities

Leftist group wants US diplomat in hot seat over US spy work in RP

For admitting that the US government is conducting spy work in the Philippines to help his government get better understanding of the political situation in the country, the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) wants lawmakers to grill US Charge d’ Affaires Darryl Johnson.

The high ranking US diplomat confessed yesterday that the US analyses of the political situation in the Philippines are considered confidential information and passed it as normal procedures for the American government.

But Pamalakaya, which frequently stage bayside and fluvial protest rallies near the US Embassy in Manila said while it is normal for a certain country to understand the political situation of another country in the spirit of international solidarity, the US maintained classified information about the Philippines for covert and overt plans to undermine the national sovereignty and collective interest of the people.

“ The massive extent of US intelligence gathering in the country is not only providing Washington occupants a complete grasp of the present political situation in the country. It is giving them the idea on how to formulate economic, political and military strategies that would keep this nation of 84 million people an eternal hostage of the White House company in Washington D.C,” said Fernando Hicap, Pamalakaya national chair in a press statement.

Hicap said instead of ganging up on members of opposition camp who have acknowledged that they had received from e-mails from either former police Supt. Michael Ray Aquino or Filipino-American Leandro Aragoncillo, an intelligence analyst at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, pro-Arroyo lawmakers should re-direct their efforts on how to stop US intelligence work in the country that had undermined the country’s domestic affairs since the colonial era.

For a start, Pamalakaya’s Hicap urged House Minority Leader Francis Escudero and Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez and opposition senators Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and Panfilo Lacson to initiate a separate or joint congressional hearing to investigate the extent of US spying in the country in aid of legislation.

“ Let us put the US Charge d’ Affaires Darryl Johnson in the hot seat. He has admitted that the US had been spying on RP and had put gathered information in the classification box of the FBI. We believe that the US government committed a gross violation of the country’s national sovereignty and had done a major political foul play on 84 million Filipinos,” Hicap asserted.

The militant leader said Escudero, Golez, Lacson and Pimentel should assert the country’s sovereign rights in compelling Johnson to appear before any separate or joint congressional hearing probing the extent of US spy work in the country in aid of legislation.

“ Johnson must come if subpoena by Congress and our lawmakers should invoke the country’s sovereign rights to have him grilled for such purpose. We cannot allow this Washington-bred political animal to dictate and impose his will on us,” Hicap added.

Pamalakaya said Reps. Escudero and Golez and Senators Lacson and Pimentel are highly obliged to initiate the probe on US spy activities and instead of allowing allies of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in both houses of Congress to pin down the opposition camp on the controversy.

Ex-President Joseph Estrada along with Lacson, Pimentel and Lacson were among alleged Philippine officials who got information from either Aquino or Aragoncillo about the FBI confidential report regarding the political situation in the Philippines. #

 

 

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 12:08 | link | comments |

Oil drilling in Tañon Strait reduces fish catch by 80 percent, environmental mission shows

Oil drilling in Tañon Strait reduces fish catch by 80 percent, environmental mission shows

The left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Friday said the ongoing oil exploration in Tañon Strait, a protected seascape separating the islands of Cebu and Negros drastically reduced fish catch production by an average of 80 percent since May this year.

The Department of Energy (DoE) has recently awarded a 7-year oil and gas exploration contract to Forum Exploration Incorporated of Canada and Japanese Petroleum Exploration (Japex) to tap the potential 1 billion barrels of oil reserves in the protected seascape between Cebu and Negros provinces.

“ From an average of 20-30 kilos of fish catch a day, small fisherfolk are now only catching an average of 3 to 5 kilos a day since the joint oil exploration kicked off last May,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap, one of the participants in the Environmental Investigative Mission (EIM) from September 9 to 12.

He said prior to oil exploration, small fisherfolk had been earning an average of P 1,500 a day but when Forum and Japex started oil drilling in May, daily income fall to an average of P 150 to P 250 a day.