Gerry Albert Corpuz presents

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

P 50 billion GMA-Danding deal could spark coco revolt

One of the groups which filed a plunder case against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and businessman Eduardo “ Danding” Cojuangco more than two years ago today warned Malacañang that the alleged ongoing negotiations for a P 50-B out of court settlement between President Arroyo and Cojuangco could spark a nationwide coco revolt.

In a press statement, the leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said the syndicated and blasphemous deal between the Arroyo and Cojuangco camps could stir a nationwide social unrest among 1.3 million coconut farmers across the country.

“ We will not allow the Arroyo and Cojuangco syndicates to sign this death warrant for millions of struggling coconut farmers in the name of Malacañang’s play for political accommodation and survival,” says Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap, one of the leaders who filed the plunder complaint against President Arroyo and Cojuangco on November 13, 2003.

The militant leader noted on days after People Power 2, Ms Arroyo’s camp had tried to negotiate with the Cojuangco group an out-of-court settlement regarding the controversial coconut levy fund but it did not materialize due to extreme pressure from coconut farmers organizations.

“ The out-of-court settlement with Danding on the P 130-B coconut levy fund is one of Malacañang’s top agenda since the Arroyo gang assumed the presidency in 2001. The Macapagal-Arroyo group is now desperate to finance its survival campaign by pushing the 50-billion settlement so it could finance its’ counter-ouster campaign and survive the widespread movement for her ouster,” Hicap stressed.

Sometime in November 2003, another news broke out that Ms Arroyo was negotiating with Cojuangco for an out-of-court settlement to the tune of P 20-B that prompted Pamalakaya and other coconut farmers associations in Quezon province and Bicol region to file a plunder complaint against President Arroyo and Cojuangco.

Hicap’s group Pamalakaya along with staunch allies Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), Amihan-National Federation of Peasant Women, Piglas-Quezon and Bicol Coconut Planters Association Inc. (BICPAI) filed the plunder complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman more than two years ago, but their case was still the anti-graft body despite repeated requests for then Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo to speed up the case.

The fresh warning for a coconut farmers’ revolt came a day after Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) Camilo Sabio during a Senate budget hearing flatly refused to disclose the details of the ongoing negotiations for a 50-billion peso out of court settlement President Arroyo initiated with the Cojuangco group, which was asked by administration senator Joker P. Arroyo.

Sabio who replaced the late PCGG chair Haydee Yorac also rejected the request of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile to turn over documents to the Senate, citing Section 4B of Executive Order 1, which prevents any PCGG member or staff from producing any evidence before any judicial or legislative body. The PCGG chair’s response prompted Enrile to file a motion not to grant any budget allocation to the PCGG which sought a 67 million-peso budget for 2006.

“ Chairman Sabio is a willing servant, a hyper puppet of the Macapagal-Arroyo mafia in Malacañang and the coco levy gangland of Danding Cojuangco. What is 67 million pesos budget for PCGG compared to the P 50 billion out of court settlement his principal in Malacañang could get?” Pamalakaya’s Hicap said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 00:34 | link | comments |

How would they explain the death of pregnant “Dugong”?
Fisherfolk groups reject results of latest probe on
Lafayette mining spills

Leaders of Lakas ng mga Maliliit na Mangingisda ng Bicol (Lambat-Bicol) and Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Saturday rejected the results of the latest tests made on waters off the Lafayette mining site that showed cyanide levels there within safe limits.

In a joint press statement signed by Lambat-Bicol secretary general Arieto Radores and Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap, both groups questioned the outcome of water sampling conducted by an investigating team commissioned by the provincial government of Sorsogon last January 6 and 19.

“ How they would explain the death a pregnant Dugong which was found in Sitio Gogon, Barangay Poblacion, Rapu-Rapu island, one of the affected areas of the last year’s mining spills on the morning of January 25? Unless they could prove to us that the rare marine mammal committed suicide, that’s the time we can say their results were correct,” Lambat-Bicol and Pamalakaya said in joint statement.

On January 6 and 19, a team composed of scientists and researchers from the Department of Science and Technology, UP National Science Research Institute, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Sorsogon multi-partite monitoring task force was dispatched to investigate the chemical contamination following complaints from fishermen that no one was buying their catch for fear of contamination.

But reports reaching Pamalakaya national office said local fisherfolk in barangay Poblacion suspected that Dugong’s death was due to exposure to toxic chemical wastes present in the seawaters off Lafayette.

“ The incident took place barely a week after the last water sampling test. We are not scientists nor researchers good in scientific research but our rich experience would lead us to an objective conclusion that the death of Dugong is largely attributed to the heavy toxicity of waters off Rapu-Rapu Island,” Hicap asserted.

Pamalakaya and Lambat-Bicol said Fr. Felino Bugauisan local Assistant Parish Priest and spokesperson of Sagip Isla told environmentalists monitoring the Lafayette mine spills that it was the first time Rapu-Rapu residents found a dead Dugong in the Island.

The group asserted that the death of Dugong validated the toxic effects of the cyanide and other heavy metals in the mine tailings spilled from the mining operation last year. Pamalakaya said, contrary to the findings of Sorsogon provincial government commissioned research group the threat of contamination still lingers in the island.

Defend Patrimony and Kalikasan-People’s Network for the Environment which had been assisting local fisherfolk groups in their fight for the permanent closure of Lafayette Mining asserted that the cyanide spill and the voluminous toxic mine tailings that have been dumped in Rapu-Rapu island has caused the contamination of the seagrass and poisoning of sealife including the Dugong.

On the average, a dugong eats 25 kilos of seagrass a day. The presence of toxic heavy metals such as mercury, lead and arsenic in their food is fatal to Dugong. Aside from Dugong, whale sharks, commonly known as Butanding are also found in Rapu-Rapu Island. The people and local government of Sorsogon also oppose the LMI large-scale mining project because it is affecting the multimillion whale watching tourism in the province. Rapu-Rapu Island and Donsol, Sorsogon is the natural sanctuary of Butanding and Dugong.

Until now, the people and fisherfolks of Rapu-Rapu Island are reeling from the effects of mine tailings spill of LMI. The volume of our fish catch drastically decreased and people from other places is still afraid to buy our catch for fear of toxic poisoning.

Kalikasan and Defend Patrimony said cyanide spill, the fish kill and the death of Dugong in the Island only shows why the DENR can not be trusted with the protection of people's welfare and the environment. They said the situation also affirms that there is no such thing as environmental-friendly mining operation under the mining revitalization program of the Arroyo administration.

Pamalakaya, Lambat-Bicol, Defend Patrimony and Kalikasan reiterate their demand for the closure of the Lafayette mining operation in the island. On Monday they will join the presentation of the laboratory results of the local samples drawn by an Independent Investigative Mission, led by the Center for Environmental Concerns (CEC), on the immediate impacts of the Rapu-Rapu incident. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 01:04 | link | comments |

ECCgate scandal
Lawmakers pressed to investigate Defensor
for handing out 4,968 ECCs last year

Leaders of the leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Saturday asked lawmakers from both houses of Congress to investigate the highly questionable release 4,968 environmental certificates of compliance (ECC) handed out by former Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR ) Secretary Michael Defensor last year.

In a press statement, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said Congress should probe how the newly appointed presidential Chief of Staff managed to release 4,968 ECCs last year or an average of 14 ECCs a day, wherein by law and by practice, the processing of ECC usually takes one to six months prior to its approval.

“ There is no enabling law that authorizes the DENR to facilitate and approve 14 ECCs a day. The Senate and the House of Representatives must look into this ECCgate scandal. This is a matter of life and death to all small Filipino fisherfolk,” Hicap said.

Earlier, former DENR Sec. Defensor reported his department’s contribution to the entry of more the P 518 B in fresh investments in 2005. The secretary said comparing the P518.13 billion in 2005 to the P130.98 billion invested in 2004, last year’s investment posted a 396-percent increase.

But Pamalakaya’s Hicap was not impressed, adding that the easy to get ECC policy of Sec. Defensor paved way for the series of environmental disasters last year including flashfloods, landslides, fish kills and other forms of ecological devastations, which he attributed to the mass distribution of ECCs to transnational and multinational clients of Malacañang and the Office of the President.

The militant group said lawmakers should press Defensor to explain how his department was able to process the approval of an average 14 ECCs a day and what are the companies and corporations that benefited from the dime-a-dozen policy of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration and the environment department last year.

“ Something must be done to uncover this biggest money making scheme and have the perpetrators and their clients punished for their economic and environmental crimes against the people,” Pamalakaya asserted.

DENR statistics showed that investments for new power plants brought the largest share of investments with more than P39.9 billion. The environment department identified First National Gas Power Corp., a project proponent of the San Gabriel power plant located in Sta. Rita, Batangas, and the Salcon Power Corp. that serves two 100-megawatt coal-fired power plants in Colon, Naga, and Cebu as major players.
Another player in the power industry that sought an ECC last year was Mirant Pagbilao Corp., which manages the Pagbilao expansion project in Pagbilao, Quezon. Next to power plants were infrastructure projects with total investments of P4.5 billion that included the Manila Waterworks and Sewerage System with its Manila Third sewerage projects in Metro Manila and in the towns of Taytay and Cainta in Rizal province.
In mining, DENR said total investments accounted for P3.7 billion with Diwalwal Direct State Development project in Monkayo, Compostela Valley, and the proposed Clay Mining project in San Fernando, Cebu topping the list of investors. Golf courses also accounted for a big chunk of the investments at P658.6 million and among the major players were the South Pacific Davao Golf Course project in Davao City and the South Forbes Golf and Leisure Club. “ 14 ECCs a day? It seems to us the DENR has become a factory mill of giveaway ECCs last year that is why it was able to register a 400 percent increase in total investments last year,” Pamalakaya added. #

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

Pamalakaya calls TUCP’s support for English as medium of instruction ‘ stupid, irrelevant and ridiculous’

The left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) has three words that best describe the unconditional support given by the moderate Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) to a proposal reinstating English as medium of instruction----‘ stupid, irrelevant and ridiculous’.

In a press statement, Pamalakaya leaders took turns in lambasting TUCP secretary general Ernesto Herrera for supporting the proposal of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and big business groups to reinstate English as a medium of instruction at all school levels to improve the quality of graduates and make them competitive in the labor market.

“ If this kind of colonial orientation and leadership will continue, Herrera and company will be driving this country into a colony of English-speaking modern day slaves. His proposal is an epitome of mediocrity to the highest level,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said.

Former Senator Herrera of the TUCP argued that English proficiency was a core human resource competency that all Filipinos should strengthen if they want to attract more business process outsourcing providers, particularly call centers that deal with the customers of large US firms.

Herrera pointed out that even citizens of highly developed and technologically advanced countries like South Korea are studying English. The ex-senator said thousands of young South Koreans are going to the Philippines to get their formal or informal crash courses in English.

“ Well what can you expect from TUCP? Nothing but false hopes and acts of puppetry and class betrayal to the cause of our working people, nothing more, nothing less,” Hicap added.

For his part, Pamalakaya information officer Gerry Albert Corpuz accused Herrera and TUCP of shifting away the attention of Filipino workers from the real issues confronting the domestic labor front like depressed wages and economic hardships brought about by skyrocketing prices of basic commodities and services, the continuing depreciation of peso and grave political repression by the state among trade unions.

“ These apologists in the labor front are doing their assignments not for the interest of the working class but for their transnational clients and ideological gurus in Washington D.C, Japan and European Union,” Corpuz said.

Citing the study of independent think-tank Ibon Databank last year, Corpuz said the total number of employed persons last year fell by 156,000 compared to 2004 and the number of own account and unpaid family workers drastically increased by 855,000 compared to 2004.

Pamalakaya’s Corpuz said the total unemployed and jobless Filipinos last year went up to 4.2 million people out of the 36.461 million total labor force. “ They were jobless not because of problems in English proficiency, but because of present economic crisis and the monopolies’ endless search for profit and the super exploitation of labor by capital,” he stressed.

Earlier, the Makati Business Club and the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce of the Philippines stressed that improving the Filipinos’ proficiency in English would boost their chances of getting employed. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 02:13 | link | comments |

Disbarment of Subic rape case judge sought: Critics decry foul play on national sovereignty after Dilag recalled arrest warrant vs. 4 GIs

Activists calling for the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) on Friday urged the influential lawyers’ group Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) to denounce and work for the disbarment of Olongapo RTC Branch 73 Judge Renato Dilag who yesterday recalled the arrest warrant against four US servicemen accused in the rape of a 22-year old Filipina inside the Subic Free port last year.

Calling Judge Dilag a modern day Judas and a traitor to national sovereignty and public interest, leaders of the leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said the IBP should disown Judge Dilag for paving the way the walk-in-the park escape for the 4 US marines implicated in the rape case.

“ We appeal to the IBP and to all members of the legal profession to disown, disbar and deplore Judge Dilag’s classic act of betrayal and treason. This guy does not deserve the respect of any decent thinking people in this country,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

The militant leader said Judge Dilag could also be held liable for violating the rule of law, the
jurisprudence on criminal law, the revised code, the anti-graft and corrupt practices act and the 1987 Constitution for recalling a legitimate and sovereign act against the four US servicemen implicated in the rape of the 22-year old Filipina inside the former American naval base in Olongapo City.

“ Judge Dilag has no sense of justice. He should not be inside any hall of justice,” Hicap asserted. Judge Dilag said he recalled the warrant because Lance Corporals Daniel Smith, Keith Silkwood, and Dominic Duplantis and Staff Sergeant Chad Brian Carpentier, in effect, voluntarily surrendered when they agreed to be left in the Philippines and stay at the US embassy in Manila.

The Olongapo RTC judge further stressed that the custody of the suspects by the US embassy was contained in the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), which states that primary jurisdiction of American soldiers accused of crimes will be within the US government.

“ He is talking about the law imposed by Washington on colonial and semi-colonial states and rejected the Filipino people’s sovereign will against any foreign invader or aggressor committing blasphemous, heinous and war crimes. Judge Dilag simply obeyed the dictates of US Embassy in Manila over and above the national interest of our people,” Pamalakaya added.

Dilag said he also suspended further hearings pending the decision by the DoJ on a petition for review of the case by the four US soldiers. The RTC judge said Justice Secretary Rau Gonzales has 60 days to issue a ruling -- either to grant the petition of the US Marines to dismiss their case or to file a motion for their arraignment.

Smith, Silkwood, Carpentier and Duplantis have denied the charge, have been under US custody since November 2. They were participants of the VFA-sanctioned joint exercises between the US and the Philippine troops.

The US embassy in Manila has invoked the VFA to justify its refusal to surrender the suspects,
prompting legislators and militants to demand the abrogation of the bilateral agreement. On Thursday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo agreed to abolish the VFA Commission that oversaw the implementation of the agreement forged in 1999. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 02:10 | link | comments |

2006 General Appropriations Act is “ Arroyo’s bribe, war and survival act”
Militant group urges senators to scrap P 13.7 B healing fund, 100 million-peso hike in pork barrel

Rabid critics of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Thursday asked senators to immediately scrap the P 13.7 B healing fund allotted by the House of Representatives to heal the wounds of the 1986 and 2001 uprisings, the P 8 billion peso-fund tucked into the budget of the Office of the President and the 100 million increase in the pork barrel of congressmen.

In a press statement, the leaders of the left-leaning fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) the add-ons inserted were meant to bribe pro-Arroyo congressmen, military and local government officials to maintain their patronage of and loyalty to the President in the name of Ms Arroyo’s political survival.

Pamalakaya said the P 1.05 trillion budget was also meant to finance an existing de facto dictatorship under a female dictator. “ It’s like Marcos telling his Kilusang Bagong Lipunan assemblyman in the old days of Marcos dictatorship to make money for the gang,” the group said.

“ The 2006 General Appropriations Act passed by Ms Arroyo’s House of Representatives should be renamed “ Arroyo’s Bribe, War and Survival Act.” That is the essence of the 2006 national budget passed by the President’s stooges in the lower house,” said Fernando Hicap, Pamalakaya national chair.

“ The Senate is hereby tasked by the Filipino people to overrule, correct if not reject this gross and blatant display of political arrogance and financial greediness of Ms Arroyo’s allies and close associates in the House of Representatives,” Hicap stressed.

The militant leader said the P 13.7 B Kilos Asenso fund and the 100 million increase in pork barrel of congressmen were automatic appropriations to reward pro-Arroyo politicians for their tour de force and heroic display of loyalty and allegiance to President Arroyo.

“ Can the 13.7 billion peso healing fund and the 100 million peso hike in the pork barrel of congressmen could erase controversies hounding the Macapagal-Arroyo ruling clique like the Hello Garci tape, crimes of corruption and ever increasing list of human rights violations and political assassinations? We don’t think so,” Hicap said.

Pamalakaya further insisted that the 2006 General Appropriations Act passed by pro-Arroyo congressmen betrayed public trust and was oriented in buying out political patronage, promote influence peddling and institutionalize bureaucratic corruption. “ This is the Grandmother of All Corruption under the Macapagal-Arroyo regime in the name of Ms Arroyo’s survival,” the group said.

The 13.7 billion healing fund was more than the proposed combined pork barrel allocations of the House of Representatives and Senate amounting to P 6.2 B. Last year, the pork barrel was reduced to 40 million pesos from 70 million pesos for each congressman and 120 million pesos from 200 million pesos for each senator.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye denied some senators' allegations that the two new items in the proposed national budget were pork barrel funds. He said the healing fund was meant for the 10-point pro-poor agenda designed to put more food on the table, shelter over families and education for those who cannot afford it. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 01:19 | link | comments |

At least 500,000 warm bodies needed to compel military
to withdraw support from Arroyo
Edsa 1, 2 veterans say new People Power vs. GMA highly probable

Veterans of the two the People Power uprisings on Saturday said the ouster of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo might take place within the first six months or in the second half of 2006 and it would be peaceful and bloodless contrary to Malacañang claim of bloodshed if the military withdraws their support from the President.

“ The probability of ousting the puppet, corrupt, brutal and illegitimate presidency of Ms Arroyo is high. This is the reason why GMA and the political operators of her regime are cramming and crumbling to arrest the looming scenario of another popular uprising in the tradition of Edsa 1 and Edsa 2,” says Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.

The militant leader, a veteran of two People Power uprising said anti-GMA forces and political groups should plan and lead how to mobilize at least 500,000 people for a peaceful, bloodless yet decisive battle against Ms Arroyo and her ruling political mafia that would compel the entire if not majority of the armed forces and national police, including big business and church groups to withdraw their support from President Arroyo.

Pamalakaya said it is not really hard and difficult to convince half-a-million people flooding the main streets leading to Edsa or Malacañang given the present and firmed political sentiment of the general public against Ms Arroyo from countryside to urban centers.

“ Majority of the Filipino people wants Ms Arroyo and her political gangland out of Malacañang. People hate and regarded her as a national curse and certified enemy of the people,” the group said.

The group said anti-Arroyo forces should kick off a major opening salvo next month by calling a huge rally that should be participated by not less than 50,000 people and it would pave way for major build up with the expected surge in numbers of participants until series mass actions reach the 100,000 mark.

“ From 100,000 we can look forward to 200,000 , then 500,000 people and that would be the judgment day. We hope this political configuration would be considered by anti-Arroyo forces to keep the principle of civilian supremacy over the military in ousting an unwanted regime and it is also a major and decisive political safeguard to any kind of military adventurism,” Pamalakaya said.

The group cited the recent survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS) that Ms Arroyo’s satisfactory net rating went down to negative 30 percent and that a sizeable number of people are willing to join the next People Power to oust Ms Arroyo if that time has come.

“ In this year of the underdogs, the main political task of the oppressed, repressed and harassed broad section of the Filipino society is to rise above the occasion and end Ms Arroyo’s bogus administration before the end of 2006,” Hicap stressed.

Pamalakaya said the broad united front seeking the ouster of President Arroyo must concentrate in mobilizing hundreds of thousands of warm bodies in the streets similar to People Power 1 and People Power 2 and frustrate the ambitious plan of the present administration and its’ loyal generals in the AFP and Philippine National Police to unleash state terror against agents of change and political forces seeking the removal of a bogus, corrupt, brutal and puppet regime of Ms Arroyo. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 02:56 | link | comments |

Let RP-US military agreement collapse
Militant group rejects “Hello George” proposal to save VFA

Leaders of the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Friday rejected the proposal of administration senator Ralph Recto for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to phone US President George W. Bush and ask him to order US embassy officials in Manila to surrender the 4 US servicemen to Philippine authorities to save the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA.

“ The Philippine government should assert its authority on the custody of the four sexual terrorists by invoking its national sovereignty and the collective sentiment of the people. The Hello George proposal in the name of pro-imperialist agreement is highly condemnable and grossly unpatriotic,” says Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.

Sen. Recto asserted that the VFA would be saved from Senate abrogation if President Arroyo would pick the phone and appeal to US President Bush to allow the Philippine government to have custody of four US marines suspected of raping a 22-year old Filipina inside Subic Freeport last year.

“ The idea if not cheap is stupid. It is as dirty and as incorrigible as President Arroyo and US President Bush. Sen. Recto must withdraw his crazy proposal before anti-VFA activists and truth and justice seekers shift their anger on him,” Hicap said.

Recto said,” If she has that direct line to the White House, as she is reputed to, then now is the time to use it. Pick up the phone, Ma’am, and make your call. Unlike the Hello Garci, Hello George is one greeting we’d like to hear.”

The administration senator said he was confident that US President Bush would allow the four rape suspects to get in the way of a beautiful relationship between the Philippines and the United States. But Recto’s statement raised eyebrows from the spokesperson of the militant group.

“ What beautiful relationship Sen Recto is talking about? He better check his knowledge and sense of history to avoid irresponsible statements and gross misrepresentation of facts, figures and chronicles of our relationship with imperial America since 1898,” says Pamalakaya information officer Gerry Albert Corpuz.

Corpuz said there was no big difference between Hello Garci and Hello George calls. “ Hello Garci presents Ms Arroyo as the biggest manipulator of national elections of all time, while Hello George presents Ms Arroyo as the all-time super puppet of US President Bush and White House in Asia and the Pacific. Both acts regard Ms Arroyo as corrupt, puppet and brutal president,” he said.

The group’s information chief said while their group favors the abrogation of the VFA treaty as passed by the concurrent resolution made by the Legislative Oversight committee on VFA (Lovfa) it is not favor of renegotiating the same treaty six months after termination.

“ Yes and no is our position. Yes for abrogation and no to renegotiation. It is the politically correct position. Definitely correct and mature compared to the position of renegotiation and the proposal of Sen. Recto to give Bush a phone call to beg for the custody of the US servicemen,” Corpuz said.

However, Pamalakaya supported the position of Lovfa to stop all the scheduled RP-US Balikatan exercises for the duration of the trial of the four US marines charged with raping a 22-year old Filipina last Nov.1, 2005. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 06:43 | link | comments |

Pamalakaya believes plunder complaint it filed vs. GMA, Bolante and Lorenzo over the P 728 million fertilizer fund was one of cases lobbied by FG Arroyo for dismissal?
Leftist group asks ex-Ombudsman Marcelo to break silence
on Mike Arroyo’s lobby that forced him to quit

Leaders of the militant fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Thursday urged former Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo to break his silence on the alleged move of First Gentleman Atty. Jose Miguel Arroyo pressuring the former ombudsman to drop certain cases filed against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and close associates.

Invoking the principles of national interest, public trust and aboveboard governance, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said, “ It is time for former Ombudsman Marcelo to break his silence and tell the nation the truth about the alleged pressure politics and bullying tactics applied by the presidential husband.”

“Ex-Ombudsman Marcelo cannot escape his political, moral and legal obligation to the Filipino people. He must tell the public what Mr. Arroyo did last 2004 and what are the pending cases the Big Brother Mike lobbied for dismissal that forced him to vacate his post. Once and for all, he must address this issue face-to-face with the public,” Hicap stressed.

Former Senate President and Kilos Bayan and Katarungan chair Jovito Salonga in an electoral forum sponsored by an anti-GMA civil society group said the pressure applied by Atty. Arroyo contributed to the untimely resignation of Ombudsman Marcelo last year.

Salonga said Atty. Arroyo approached Marcelo last year about the pending cases against his wife and a number of government officials identified with President Arroyo filed before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Marcelo resigned last year citing health reasons, but rumors about Malacañang exerting pressure on him circulated after he was asked to resign September last year. He was supposed to serve as Ombudsman until 2009, but Marcelo resigned citing ulcers and hypertensions as main reasons for his untimely resignation.

The veteran lawmaker said he confronted Marcelo and the latter did not deny it adding that we wanted to resign as head of the Ombudsman’s office and was just waiting for the final verdict on the plunder case filed against deposed President Joseph Estrada.

“ Did Atty. Arroyo also lobby for the dropping or junking of charges against President Arroyo, former DA undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante and former DA secretary Cito Lorenzo? We deserve a honest-to-goodness response from Ombudsman Marcelo”, Hicap said.

Pamalakaya, the peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and Amihan-National Federation of Peasant Women on June 2004 filed a plunder compliant against Ms Arroyo, Bolante and Lorenzo for releasing the P 728-million fertilizer fund to beef up the president’s election campaign kitty in May 2004 national elections.

Groups of fishermen, peasant women and small farmers which were invited in the Senate hearings last year over the controversial fertilizer fund chorused that they did not receive any single centavo from the controversial P 728-million fertilizer fund released on February 2004, three months before the May 10, 2004 national elections. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 01:27 | link | comments |

Anti-Chacha group asks senators to snub
Rep. Pichay, Lakas emissary on charter change

The left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Wednesday urged senators to snub Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr., the designated emissary of the ruling Lakas-CMD party to hold back channels with senators to convinced them to amend the 1987 Constitution and proceed with the proposed shift in the form of government from presidential to parliamentary.

In a press statement, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap urged senators to give Rep. Pichay a cold treatment and let President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s staunch ally feel the hostile environment and sentiment of the August Chamber against amending the charter.

“ Rep. Pichay deserves nothing but wholesale rejection by the Senate. As the designated point person of Malacañang, the Surigao del Sur lawmaker is tasked by Ms Arroyo and her cohorts in Lakas-CMD to penetrate the Senate and campaign for this incorrigible Chacha,” added Hicap.

“ Malacañang is so desperate because it is tapping the services of a traditional politician with checkered past and blasphemous track record as public servant,” the militant leader added.

Presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio yesterday said the dominant ruling party Lakas-CMD has designated Rep. Pichay to be the president’s point person to conduct backchannel talks with senators opposing Chacha, the scrapping of the 2007 elections and the shift in the form of government from presidential to parliamentary.

The new task to Pichay was agreed and decided during the Lakas-CMD national directorate meeting last Saturday that was attended by top party leaders, including former President and Lakas-CMD chair emeritus Fidel V. Ramos and House Speaker Jose de Venecia.

“ We are confident senators won’t put political premium to Rep. Pichay’s covert and overt pro-Chacha operations in the Senate once the pro-Arroyo congressman makes his move to convince senators on proposals to amend the 1987 Charter. They should not deal with any member of Ms Arroyo’s inner circle or ring leaders of her distrusted regime,” Pamalakaya’s Hicap said.

Pamalakaya was counting Senate President Franklin Drilon, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “ Nene” Pimentel Jr. and maverick lawmaker Sen. Joker Arroyo to quash any attempt of Malacañang to bribe, threaten and intimidate the hostile Senate against the Macapagal-Arroyo administration and its proposal to fast-track Chacha, the scrapping of 2007 elections and the shift from presidential to parliamentary form of government.

The militant group is set to join farmers-led rally on January 20 coinciding with the 19th year anniversary of the infamous Mendiola Massacre and the 5th year anniversary of the second People Power uprising that deposed former President Joseph Estrada from power.

Leaders of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and Pamalakaya from Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog will lead the commemoration of Mendiola Massacre with a blood compact signaling the campaign for 100 days of protest against charter change, for land and justice and for the removal of President Arroyo and establishment of transition council.

Allied groups like Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Gabriela, Courage, Migrante, Health Alliance for Democracy, Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR), Anakbayan, Bayan Muna and Anakpawis party lists, Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) and Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) will join over 2,000 farmers and fisherfolk in the January 20 protest against Ms Arroyo, the first for this year. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 05:46 | link | comments |

Fishers group says no to ex-agri chief’s’ takeover of Lafayette
Lafayette’s dummies out to save Australian mining firm, says Pamalakaya

Leaders of Lakas ng Maliliit na mga Mangingisda ng Bicol (Lambat-Bicol) and its’ parent federation-the militant fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Wednesday rejected the proposal of a group of businessmen headed by former Agriculture Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez to takeover the operations of Lafayette Mining.

In a joint press statement, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap and Lambat-Bicol secretary general Arieto Radores charged former DA secretary Dominguez and other local businessmen of acting as local dummies for the Australian mining firm suspended after two mining spills last year.

“ The cruel intention of Dominguez’s group is to perform the front act for Lafayette by acting out their roles as certified dummies for the Australian mining monster and help out Malacañang’s mining client to recover from public condemnation before resuming their plunder activities in Rapu-Rapu,” Hicap and Radores said in a joint press statement.

Announcements issued here and in Sydney, Australia said Dominguez and a group of unidentified investors had bought into Lafayette Mining Limited Australia and would manage the operations of Lafayette Philippines. The group of Dominguez was said to acquire 10 million shares of Lafayette’s total stake or 1.6 percent stake in Lafayette Mining Limited Australia equivalent to 1 million Australian dollars or roughly P 39.62 million.

Dominguez, who served as agriculture secretary during the administration of former President Aquino will head the local firm as chairman, president and chief executive officer, according to the announcement.

“ The victims of Lafayette tragedy deserve justice and not this kind of merry-go-round drama that aims to save the day for the Australian mining firm and sets the stage for Lafayette immediate comeback courtesy of their local puppets in the mining industry headed by President Arroyo and DENR Sec. Defensor,” Pamalakaya’s Hicap added.

Dominguez assured the Filipino public that the management of Lafayette will not resume operations of the Rapu-Rapu polymetallic processing plant unless it is absolutely sure that the project is operated and environmentally sustainable manner.

Lambat-Bicol said Rapu-Rapu fishermen’s daily catch was reduced to 1 kilo per day from 10 kilos of assorted fish per day due to two mining spills last Oct. 2005. It said the loss is equivalent to P 450 per day or P 31,550 per fisherman since November 1, 2005 up to present.

The gripping fish scare likewise affected fishermen and fish vendors in nearby towns of Gubat, Prieto-Diaz and Barcelona, all in Sorsogon province. Lambat-Bicol and Pamalakaya yesterday started a Rapu-Rapu wide signature campaign seeking the permanent closure of Lafayette mining.

“ The signature drive is part of the three-pronged fight against Lafayette Mining. Aside from series of dialogues and hearings, the war against Lafayette will spill into the streets and in the court of public opinion,” Hicap said.

Pamalakaya is set to file criminal and other appropriate charges against Lafayette before the Office of the Ombudsman along with DENR Secretary Michael Defensor and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo next month. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 04:44 | link | comments |

Sec. Bunye plastic, says Pamalakaya

Palace will miss ex-Pres. Aquino in Jan.24 state council meet?
Sec. Bunye plastic, says Pamalakaya

“Plastic”.

This was the reaction of the militant fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) to the statement of Press Secretary and presidential spokesperson Ignacio Bunye after President Arroyo’s spokesman told Palace beat reporters yesterday that Malacañang will surely miss the participation of the former President to the state council meeting scheduled on Jan.24.

“ Secretary Bunye is the grand father of political charlatans in Malacañang. It is really hard for anyone to put trust or premium to whatever statement he issues to the public because most of the time he is lying to his teeth at the behest and for the sake of the illegitimate interest of an illegal and corrupt occupant in Malacañang,” says Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.

Sec. Bunye was diplomatic in his reaction over the statement of former President Aquino that she was boycotting next week’s Council of State meeting warning of pro-longed political turmoil in the country if Ms Arroyo refuses to give up her post.

Bunye said: “ Former President Aquino’s participation will be missed. But is certainly her prerogative not to attend.”

Pamalakaya’s Hicap said if ex-President Aquino and deposed President Joseph Estrada will not attend the Jan.24 state council meet, then the scheduled affair will be dubbed either as another meeting of Lakas-CMD national directorate or another meeting and photo op session for “ The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe”, the leftwing group’s newest allusion to ex-President Fidel Ramos, Pres. Arroyo and House Speaker Jose de Venecia.

According to Pamalakaya ex-Pres. Ramos is the “ The Lion” because he wants a lion share of political powers and become Prime Minister through Charter Change and establishment of a British parliament model.

“ Pres. Arroyo is “ The Witch” because she uses Chacha like a witchcraft project to keep her illegally acquired post until 2010 and beyond, while Speaker de Venecia is “ The Wardrobe” because is he obsessed to become and wear the wardrobe of Prime Minister through Chacha and the establishment of a parliament patterned after the French parliamentary system of government,” the group explained.

When asked about what is best title that describes Sec. Bunye, Pamalakaya said the Palace spokesman and press secretary is a first-rate spin doctor of Malacañang whose bread and butter in life is to fabricate tall tales and all-out lies in the name of the ruling Macapagal-Arroyo political syndicate.

The militant group supported the call of various opposition groups to boycott the Jan.24 state council meeting, stressing that Malacañang would use the occasion to assert the Macapagal-Arroyo presidency currently battered with questions of legality and legitimacy.

Yesterday, House Minority Leader Sorsogon Rep. Francis Escudero III said he was also staying away from the scheduled meeting at Malacañang Palace called to discuss a number of national concerns including charter change and the proposed shift from presidential to parliamentary form of government. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 03:47 | link | comments |

Chronicles of Chacha
Leftist group likens FVR-GMA-JdV troika to
“The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe”

Former President Fidel Ramos, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and House Speaker Jose de Venecia, three top political leaders in the country today shall be known among leftwing activists as The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe respectively, the characters in C.S Lewis top selling book “ The Chronicles of Narnia”, leftwing activists said in a press statement.

“ Ex-President Ramos is “The Lion” because he wants a lion share of political powers as “ future Prime Minister through Charter Change and the British parliament, despite of his status as an aging, has-been and rejected traditional politician,” says Pamalakaya information officer Gerry Albert Corpuz.

Corpuz said Ms Arroyo is “ The Witch” who exploits a witchcraft project like Charter Change to quash any attempt that would oust her from power and keep her illegally acquired presidency till 2010 and beyond.

“ Speaker JdV is “The Wardrobe” whose obsession in life is to wear the wardrobe of a Prime Minister through Chacha and the French parliament model,” the group’s information chief added.

Pamalakaya assailed the three top Lakas-CMD leaders for conditioning public mind that the issue of Charter Change should be resolved and decided among top party leaders and members of the ruling Lakas-CMD.

The militant group accused President Arroyo, former President Ramos and House Speaker de Venecia of usurping the powers vested exclusively on the Filipino people and berated the top three Lakas leaders of alternately passing themselves off as the savior of the 84 million Filipinos.

The group said Ms Arroyo, Ramos and Speaker de Venecia were acting and playing like the undisputed Gods of Chacha, saying the fate of the nation shall be decided collectively by the Filipino people and not by the unholy troika and their political lieutenants in Lakas-CMD.

Pamalakaya, one of the groups calling for the ouster of President Arroyo, said any talks about political and economic reforms should take place after the removal of Ms Arroyo from Malacañang and the establishment of the transition council and after the commencement of national elections called within six months after Ms Arroyo’s removal from power.

The group said instead of Chacha, the Filipino people and anti-Arroyo forces should work double time to realize the removal of Ms Arroyo and her clique from power and pursue the establishment of a transition council that would have equal and adequate representatives from the broad anti-Arroyo political groups, patriotic forces and basic sectors in the society.

Pamalakaya said the alternative collective group that should discuss sweeping and strategic reforms in the economic and political landscape of the country, not this triumvirate of Washington-bred politicians led by Arroyo, FVR and JdV.

Pamalakaya is opposing the proposed Charter Change because it would allow Ms Arroyo to finish her questioned presidency until 2010 and the provisions on 100% foreign ownership of land, media and other profitable sectors of the economy like public utilities, education and basic services. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 01:21 | link | comments (1) |

An order that could launch a thousand boats, says critics
Pamalakaya to stage nationwide fluvial protest vs. DENR order opening coastal areas to investors

Leaders of the leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) vowed to launch a nationally coordinated fluvial protest against a new order from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) allowing the 25-year lease of idle coastal areas all over the country to big investors.

“ This is an open declaration of war. If Sec. Defensor and his big boss in Malacañang want war, then we have no other choice but to declare war too,” says Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.

In a directive dated and issued on January 9, 2006 to its 43 provincial chapters nationwide, Pamalakaya called on all its members to launch fluvial protests against DENR Administrative Order No.24 (DAO 24) opening up the country’s coastal areas while reviving the country’s depleted mangrove forests.

“ Sec. Defensor wants this incorrigible and idiotic order to appear as a business oriented but environment friendly undertaking. He is insulting the collective intelligence and national sentiment of our small fisherfolk by pursuing this repackaged and deodorized plunder of national patrimony,” Hicap added.

The DENR order was approved on Nov.17, 2005 to encourage trade and investment in biodiversity and optimize the special use of degrading coastal areas for sustainable development.

But Pamalakaya said the order was a recipe for destruction citing the case of 543 hectares of shallow waters in Manila Bay in Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City, where the national government and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. intends to reclaim and develop for new first-class casinos along the bay.

Pamalakaya’s Hicap said fluvial protest actions on February 24, coinciding with the 8th year anniversary of Fisheries Code of 1998 will take place in Sarangani, Davao del Sur in Mindanao, Cebu and Bohol in Central Visayas, Aklan, Iloilo, Negros, Eastern Visayas, Masbate, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte in Bicol Region.

Pamalakaya’s chapters in La Union, Batangas, Taal Lake, Laguna Lake and Manila Bay areas comprising fishing communities in National Capital Region, Cavite and Bulacan will also conduct their own fluvial protests simultaneously with their chapters in Mindanao, Visayas and Bicol Region. The militant group said around 500 small-scale fishing boats will participate in the Feb.24 nationally coordinated fluvial rally.

“ Sec. Defensor and President Arroyo are the Helens of Troy of the millennium. Literally and politically speaking they could launch a thousand ships by imposing this blasphemous order sending our fish boats in protest mode,” the group said.

Pamalakaya said the controversial DENR order will be used as a basis for the filing of criminal and anti-graft charges against President Arroyo and Sec. Defensor on the second week of February prior to the fluvial parade on Feb. 24.

The group said aside from DAO 24, it would also cite the issue of oil drilling and gas exploration in Tañon Strait, the Lafayette mine spills last year, the failure of the DENR to address the Navotas Dumpsite and the issuance of 4,968 environmental clearance certificates (ECCs) last year without any public consultation. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 04:58 | link | comments (1) |

An order that could launch a thousand boats, says critics
Pamalakaya to stage nationwide fluvial protest vs. DENR order opening coastal areas to investors

Leaders of the leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) vowed to launch a nationally coordinated fluvial protest against a new order from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) allowing the 25-year lease of idle coastal areas all over the country to big investors.

“ This is an open declaration of war. Is Sec. Defensor and his big boss in Malacañang want war, then we have no other choice but to declare war too,” says Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.

In a directive dated and issued on January 9, 2005 to its 43 provincial chapters nationwide, Pamalakaya called on all its members to launch fluvial protests against DENR Administrative Order No.24 (DAO 24) opening up the country’s coastal areas while reviving the country’s depleted mangrove forests.

“ Sec. Defensor wants this incorrigible and idiotic order to appear as a business oriented but environment friendly undertaking. He is insulting the collective intelligence and national sentiment of our small fisherfolk by pursuing this repackaged and deodorized plunder of national patrimony,” Hicap added.

The DENR order was approved on Nov.17, 2005 to encourage trade and investment in biodiversity and optimize the special use of degrading coastal areas for sustainable development.

But Pamalakaya said the order was a recipe for destruction citing the case of 543 hectares of shallow waters in Manila Bay in Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City, where the national government and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. intends to reclaim and develop for new first-class casinos along the bay.

Pamalakaya’s Hicap said fluvial protest actions on February 24, coinciding with the 8th year anniversary of Fisheries Code of 1998 will take place in Sarangani, Davao del Sur in Mindanao, Cebu and Bohol in Central Visayas, Aklan, Iloilo, Negros, Eastern Visayas, Masbate, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte in Bicol Region.

Pamalakaya’s chapters in La Union, Batangas, Taal Lake, Laguna Lake and Manila Bay areas comprising fishing communities in National Capital Region, Cavite and Bulacan will also conduct their own fluvial protests simultaneously with their chapters in Mindanao, Visayas and Bicol Region. The militant group said around 500 small-scale fishing boats will participate in the Feb.24 nationally coordinated fluvial rally.

“ Sec. Defensor and President Arroyo are the Helens of Troy of the millennium. Literally and politically speaking they could launch a thousand ships by imposing this blasphemous order sending our fish boats in protest mode,” the group said.

Pamalakaya said the controversial DENR order will be used as a basis for the filing of criminal and anti-graft charges against President Arroyo and Sec. Defensor on the second week of February prior to the fluvial parade on Feb. 24.

The group said aside from DAO 24, it would also cite the issue of oil drilling and gas exploration in Tañon Strait, the Lafayette mine spills last year, the failure of the DENR to address the Navotas Dumpsite and the issuance of 4,968 environmental clearance certificates (ECCs) last year without any public consultation. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 01:24 | link | comments |

Militant group slams DENR for approving 4,968 ECCs or an average 14 ECCs a day last year
Sec. Defensor issues ECCs like free fast food coupons, critics say

Outgoing Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) secretary Michael Defensor might be very proud of the department’s contribution to the entry of more the P 518 B in fresh investments in 2005, but his critics were not impressed.

The militant fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Saturday said the DENR was able to register a record high of nearly 400 percent increase in total investments last year because Sec. Defensor was giving way environmental clearance certificates (ECCs) like free fast food coupons to foreign investors.

“ The ECCs are awarded to foreign investors like free food coupons. They can easily get the ECCs at the counter with no sweat and in red carpet fashion,” says Pamalakaya information officer Gerry Albert Corpuz in a press statement.

Pamalakaya’s Corpuz said his group is demanding a thorough explanation from Sec. Defensor on how the DENR managed to approve 4,968 ECCs, which the department issued last year. Based on Corpuz’ computation the DENR was processing and approving an average of 14 ECC applications per day.

“ 14 ECCs a day? It seems to us the DENR has become a factory mill of giveaway ECCs last year that is why it was able to register a 400 percent increase in total investments last year,” the group’s information chief stressed.

Pamalakaya said it would ask the committees on environment of the House of Representatives and the Senate to conduct separate or joint congressional inquiry on how the DENR was able to process over 4,000 ECCs last year and if these ECCs were processed in consultation with the affected sectors and communities.

“ The ECCs are sold for dime-a-dozens to please the corporate clients of Malacañang and facilitate their walk-in-the park plunder of the country’s national patrimony and environment,” the group said. Likewise, Pamalakaya said the influx of investments in power; mining and infrastructure failed to generate jobs for millions of jobless Filipinos and did not make any impact in improving the lives of the downtrodden sectors in the country.

Defensor said, comparing the P518.13 billion in 2005 to the P130.98 billion invested in 2004, representing a 396-percent increase. The outgoing DENR chief who is named by President Arroyo as Malacañang’s newest Chief of Staff said foreign investors managed complied with the required ECCS.

DENR statistics showed that investments for new power plants brought the largest share of investments with more than P39.9 billion. The environment department identified First National Gas Power Corp., a project proponent of the San Gabriel power plant located in Sta. Rita, Batangas, and the Salcon Power Corp. that serves two 100-megawatt coal-fired power plants in Colon, Naga, and Cebu as major players.

Another player in the power industry that sought an ECC last year was Mirant Pagbilao Corp., which manages the Pagbilao expansion project in Pagbilao, Quezon. Next to power plants were infrastructure projects with total investments of P4.5 billion that included the Manila Waterworks and Sewerage System with its Manila Third sewerage projects in Metro Manila and in the towns of Taytay and Cainta in Rizal province.

In mining, DENR said total investments accounted for P3.7 billion with Diwalwal Direct State Development project in Monkayo, Compostela Valley, and the proposed Clay Mining project in San Fernando, Cebu topping the list of investors. Golf courses also accounted for a big chunk of the investments at P658.6 million and among the major players were the South Pacific Davao Golf Course project in Davao City and the South Forbes Golf and Leisure Club. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 11:46 | link | comments |

Win-win solution nothing but a division of spoils between GMA, FVR-JdV Camps
Pamalakaya sees Lakas-CMD as emerging KBL

Leftwing activists belonging to Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Friday said the ruling Lakas-CMD party is fast emerging into a political party similar to the defunct Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL), the party established by the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos at the height of the dictatorship in mid 70s up to early 80s.

“ The emerging consensus for a win-win solution among part leaders and members of the ruling Lakas-CMD to allow President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to finish her ill-acquired presidency, provided she would share powers with the FVR-JdV camp through Charter Change is short of reviving KBL, says Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a pres statement.

The militant leader said KBL the political party controlled by Marcos during the dark days of US-backed dictatorship champions all forms of political accommodations and concessions in the name of the old strongman’s fetish for wealth, power and fortune. “ Lakas-CMD is the new millennium’s KBL, a political party which is willing to do everything, anything to keep themselves to power and ensure division of spoils among members of this Old Boys Club,” Hicap said.

Lakas party spokesman Heherson Alvarez on Thursday said majority of the party members will support the holding of the 2007 elections and allow President Arroyo to finish her term until 2010 as mandated.

Pamalakaya’s Hicap said the game plan of the Macapagal-Arroyo camp and the Lakas group of former President Ramos and House Speaker Jose de Venecia was to get the prime ministership in 2007 under the new parliamentary form of government. He said either Ramos or de Venecia would take the prime minister post and share equal powers with Ms Arroyo in running the affairs of the state until she finishes her term in 2010.

“ This is the gentleman’s agreement among the top honchos of Lakas-CMD. These people want to decide among themselves the fate and future of this nation under the banner of puppetry to US, state brutality and super crimes of corruption,” Hicap added.

While Pamalakaya was for the holding of the 2007 elections, the militant group said Ms Arroyo should not be allowed to finish her term for her various crimes against the people and allow her group and the FVR-JdV faction to score Chacha as a mode for them to control political power.

An earlier report said President Arroyo acceded to Ramos' demand not to scrap the 2007 elections and that both agreed that the former leader's demand for the President to resign by June 2007 be thrown to the Lakas-CMD caucus on Saturday, June14.

Alvarez also said this "emerging consensus" would be tabled during the Lakas meeting on January 14 where they would come up with a common stand on the proposed changes in the Constitution, particularly on the controversial scrapping of the 2007 polls.

The Lakas spokesperson said Ms Arroyo would be sharing powers with the new elected Prime Minister although her powers would be limited to appointing the head of finance or the military but the principal power still remains with the Prime Minister.

Lakas members believe the proposal will be a “win-win” solution for all parties who had been fighting over the issue of scrapping the 2007 polls and the shortening of the President's term. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 22:33 | link | comments |

Leftwing activists asked judge on Subic rape case to cite DFA usec in contempt of court over deferment of arrest warrant vs. 4 GIs

Anti-VFA activists belonging to Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Thursday asked Olongapo City Judge Renato Dilag to cite in contempt of court Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) undersecretary Zosimo Paredes II for asking the court to defer the issuance of an arrest warrant against four US servicemen accused of raping a 22-year old Filipina inside the former American military base last year.

“ Judge Dilag must cite Paredes in contempt of court. It is about time to teach this political animal a lesson of a lifetime. He is not doing his job. He is acting more like an extended spokesperson of the US Embassy in Manila, the leftwing fisherfolk alliance said in a press statement.

DFA undersecretary Paredes yesterday appealed to Judge Dilag to postpone the issuance of warrants pending negotiations between the Macapagal-Arroyo government and Washington over the custody of suspects. The foreign affairs official told Judge Dilag that DFA Secretary Alberto Romulo was negotiating for the turnover of the 4 US servicemen with the US government.

But Dilag said the detention area should be agreed upon by the Philippine and US governments according to the provision of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) ratified by the Philippine Senate in May 1999. The four soldiers have been in the custody of the US Embassy in Manila since Nov. 3 or two days after they allegedly raped a 22-year-old woman at the Subic Bay Freeport.

The DFA Tuesday denied reports that Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo would use his trip to the US to lobby for the Philippines' pending request for custody of the four American Marines.

“ Undersecretary Paredes should stop bullying the court and allow justice to take its normal course. If he wants to help the four sexual terrorists, he better quit his post and pass himself off as counsel for the legal defense of the four American rapists,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap.

Hicap said the negotiation between Romulo and his US bosses in Washington D.C over the custody of four US servicemen implicated in the celebrated rape case of a Filipina last year should have no political bearing in the decision of the local court to issue warrant of arrest that is long overdue and caused too much pain for the aggrieved party.

“ Usec Paredes should shut up. Neither him nor Sec. Romulo is the victim here. The victims here is the 22-year old Filipina and the country’s national sovereignty, period, period, period,” the militant leader said. Undisclosed sources said the incident that took place at the former American naval base in Subic, Zambales province was part of Romulo's agenda when he went to Washington.

Pamalakaya’s Hicap said warrant of arrest to be issued against Lance Corporals Daniel Smith, Keith Silkwood, Dominic Duplantis, and Staff Sergeant Chad Carpentier who have been charged with raping a 22-year-old Filipina in Subic on Nov. 1, 2005, must proceed today or any time before the weekend. #

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

Militant group eyes P 10.7 million fine for indemnification of victims
Pamalakaya insists pullout of Lafayette despite P 10.7 million fine

Leaders of the militant fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Tuesday demanded the immediate pullout of Lafayette Philippines Inc. from the island-municipality of Rapu-Rapu in Albay despite the P 10.7 million fine slapped by the Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB) for the two mine spills last year.

“The demand of Bicol fishermen and other affected residents to get Lafayette out of their lives is non-negotiable. The message is clear and it should go beyond the financial aspect of the issue, nothing more, nothing less,” says Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.

The PAB has ruled that the Rapu-Rapu Processing Inc. (RRPI) owned by Australian Lafayette Mining Inc. violated the Clean Water Act when it discharged waste water with high cyanide content into creeks on Oct.11 and Oct.31. Earlier Lafayette was slapped a P 300,000 fine for violating the provisions of its environmental compliance certificate.

However, conditions were made by the government for Lafayette to follow if the Australian mining firm wants to continue its operations in the country that include an approved environmental management system of ISO 14001 certification, a comprehensive pollution control program, budget and chart of activities, a surety bond of 25 percent of the total cost of the pollution program, a detailed description of the interim remedial measures to mitigate pollution, employment of a pollution control officer duly recognized by DENR and a notarized undertaking from the company showing proof of compliance of all conditions.

But Pamalakaya’s Hicap said Lafayette is a certified “ transnational mining monster” that could buy and bribe everybody in the national government including the Office of the President and the conditions set by the DENR are giveaways meant to set the stage for Lafayette’s comeback in the indiscriminate mining scene.

“ We don’t believe Ms Arroyo would give up Lafayette- her government’s flagship project for transnational plunder of mineral resources in the country. Contrary to the make-or-break statement of DENR Sec. Mike Defensor, Malacañang would soon set the stage for the defense of its dearly beloved mining client,” the militant leader said.

While, Pamalakaya was demanding for the pull-out of Lafayette mining, the group pressed the DENR to use the P 10.7 million fine slapped on the Australian mining firm to indemnify the victims of two mine spills that occurred last year.

The group said small fisherfolk in the towns of Rapu-Rapu in Albay and Gubat, Prieto Diaz and Barcelona in Sorsogon were adversely affected by the twin mine spills last year. Pamalakaya said the fishermen in these towns are currently suffering from extreme economic displacement because of the gripping fish scare brought about by the mine spills.

Pamalakaya said the P 10.7 million fine, once collected should be given to the recognized fisherfolk organizations and cooperatives and let them decide on what to do to cushion the impact of the Lafayette mine spills that has affected the livelihood of coastal people in said towns over the last two months. “ The P 10.7 million fine against Ms Arroyo’s mining client should not go to Palace’s national treasury. This will only land to the corrupt hands of the Macapagal-Arroyo clique. It would be better if the ordinary people through their organizations, cooperatives and associations would take care and manage the collected funds,” the group added. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 01:21 | link | comments |

Leftist group eyes boycott campaign vs.
5-million signature drive on Chacha

Leaders of the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) this week will issue a national memorandum to its’ provincial and regional chapters all-over the country to launch a boycott campaign against the 5-million signature drive in favor of Charter Change initiated by local government officials under the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (Ulap).

Pamalakaya’s campaign memorandum no.2 series of 2006 tasked its 43 provincial chapters nationwide to undertake provincial and regional wide campaign urging the people to boycott the Chacha initiative undertaken by local government authorities identified with the Macapagal-Arroyo administration.

The group said its’ 80,000 mass members would serve as “army of anti-Chacha crusaders” starting this week to counter Malacañang-backed People’s Initiative for Charger Change and cancellation of the 2007 national elections.

“ The boycott campaign against the bogus People’s Initiative carried out by pro-Arroyo hooligans should be exposed and opposed to the highest order,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.

The militant leader the signature drive initiated by Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone was not only against the 1987 Constitution but also against the collective sentiment and national interest of the Filipino people.

“ It is not a People’s Initiative but a syndicated plot to keep Ms Arroyo and these power-starved politicians to power without the benefit of an electoral exercise. This is robbery in broad daylight,” Hicap added.

Another item being opposed by Pamalakaya in the proposed Charter Change is the plan of the Macapagal-Arroyo government to allow 100% foreign ownership of land and transnational takeover of profitable sectors currently owned by Filipino businessmen like media, public and other basic utilities.

Pamalakaya also urged senators to immediately question the 5-million signature drive of Ulap for Charter Change and scrapping of 2007 elections before the Supreme Court, stressing that the move of Evardone’s group was grossly unconstitutional and does not reflect the general views of the Filipino public, which is totally opposed to Chacha and the move to cancel the 2007 national polls.

“ Anti-Chacha senators are hereby tasked to challenge the 5-million signature drive in the halls of the Philippine Senate, before the national sala of the Supreme Court and in the court of public opinion,” the group said.

The militant group also said opposition senators could file a bill and enact a law banning local government officials from initiating something that is not reflective and supportive of the common goal and highest interest of the people.

“ The Senate must stop this initiative that was planned in the dirty tricks room of Malacañang and in the watering hole of the Macapagal-Arroyo syndicate,” Pamalakaya said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 05:39 | link | comments |

Leftist group calls for boycott of Jan.24 state council meet

Leftist group calls for boycott of Jan.24 state council meet

Rabid critics of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Monday asked politicians and other political forces to boycott the January 24 state council meeting called by Malacañang saying the proposed meeting of all political leaders and groups from pro and anti-GMA groups would be used by the president’s camp to provide legitimacy to the bogus and illegitimate presidency of Ms Arroyo.

“ The Jan.24 state council meeting is one big political trap. It is an opening salvo for the administration’s campaign for Charter Change and no-elections project of the Macapagal-Arroyo camp, so it deserves nothing but boycott” says Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in press statement.

“ The political boycott of the Jan.24 state council meeting is a politically correct position. Since it was called by an illegitimate president, therefore the political affair is nothing but an illegitimate and immoral gathering,” Hicap added.

Pamalakaya said the proposal to hold the Council of State Meeting was an indirect admission that Malacañang was worried about the wholesale rejection of Charter Change and the proposal to scrap next year elections and left-and-right predictions from political experts about the strong chance of removing Ms Arroyo within the first six months of the year.

“ Ms Arroyo, her staunch political allies and staff wanted to give the Council of State Meeting a second try in vain attempt to stop the roaring public opinion seeking her ouster within the first six months of the year. The so-called Jewel in the Palace is currently in the state of extreme paranoia,” the militant group said.

Hicap’s group yesterday issued a bold prediction on the possible outcome of the Jan.24 state council meeting. It said the Palace-engineered meeting of President Arroyo, former Presidents Corazon Aquino and Joseph Estrada will fail at the political box-office because the two former presidents who earlier called for Ms Arroyo’s resignation had rejected Malacañang’s all-out campaign for Chacha and no-elections and the President’s wish to finish her illegally acquired presidency on 2010.

Pamalakaya also said the Jan.24 meeting was called by Malacañang to pre-empt if not undermine the possible anti-Arroyo statement that might be rendered by the influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) during its’ 92nd plenary scheduled on January 28-30 at the Pope Pius Center on United Nations Avenue in Manila.

Malacañang earlier had invited former Presidents Aquino and Estrada to join the Jan.24 state council meeting to ease political tensions among rival political camps and discuss what is best for the country.

But opposition politicians led by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “ Nene” Pimentel Jr. rejected the idea, adding that he will not join the meeting he did not want to give semblance of legitimacy to President Arroyo and her administration.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Malacañang was expecting the country’s leaders to discuss Charter Change and the proposal to scrap the 2007 national elections. Malacañang, he said was very optimistic that the council of state meeting would provide the way for unity and understanding among political leaders and give the Filipino people relief from too much politics and to enable the economy to move forward as a result of the peso’s strong performance since last month. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 05:37 | link | comments |

Pamalakaya mulls filing criminal and graft charges vs. Defensor over 4 environmental disasters last year

Leftist group says outgoing DENR chief not yet off the hook
Pamalakaya mulls filing criminal and graft charges vs. Defensor over 4 environmental disasters last year

Leaders of the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Sunday vowed not to give outgoing Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Michael Defensor a graceful exit as the controversial staunch ally of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo over the weekend confirmed that he would soon be part of the latest cabinet revamp to be announced this week by Malacañang.

Sec. Defensor on Saturday said he would soon be taking up the post of President Arroyo’s chief of staff and he would take up a leave of absence this week. However, the outgoing DENR secretary named three of his undersecretaries—Ramon Paje, Demetrio Ignacio and Armando de Castro as contenders to replace him when he officially assumes the new post next week.

“ The filing of criminal and graft charges against Sec. Defensor is highly considered by our group. We cannot allow him to go scot-free and savor the new job as the Macapagal-Arroyo gangland’s newest chief of staff. The search for justice must continue,” says Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap.

The militant leader said his group would consult their chapters in Mindoro Oriental, Bulacan, Cebu and Negros provinces about Pamalakaya’s plans to press file appropriate charges against Sec. Defensor for the environmental disasters that took place in their respective areas last year.

Pamalakaya’s Hicap was referring to the flash flood caused by indiscriminate logging in Mindoro Oriental, the Navotas dumpsite in Obando, Bulacan, the Lafayette mine spill in Rapu-Rapu, Albay and the oil drilling and gas exploration in Tañon Strait, a protected seascape between Cebu and Negros islands.

He said Sec. Defensor also proposed a 5-year fish ban in the Visayan sea to allow oil drilling and gas explorations in Tañon Strait and Cebu Strait, another protected seascape located between the island provinces of Cebu and Bohol.

Hicap said their chapters agreed to the proposed plan and they would soon consult their lawyer allies when they would file their charges against Sec. Defensor before the Office of the Ombudsman, but the militant leader said the charges would might be filed on or before February 24—where Pamalakaya and its’ chapters in Bohol, Cebu and Negros are expected to conduct and lead a Visayas wide fluvial protest against the oil drilling and gas exploration in Cebu and Tañon Straits.

“ Our group is set to face Sec. Defensor and his corrupt boss- Ms Arroyo in a major political showdown early this year. It’s payback time,” Pamalakaya said.

Late last year, affiliate organizations led by Pamalakaya-Bulacan, Lambat-Bicol, Pamalakaya-Central Visayas, Pamalakaya-Eastern Visayas, Pamalakaya-Negros and Pamalakaya-Aklan met and proposed the filing of criminal and other graft charges against Sec. Defensor before the Office of Ombudsman.

“ Sec. Defensor, the favorite political animal and one of the most trusted lieutenants of President Arroyo will join his master in the dustbin of history. The victims of all the environmental disasters last year will rise above the occasion to render their verdict against the Arroyo-Defensor tandem, which offered the environment to their corporate clients at the expense of our rural people,” Pamalakaya said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 01:14 | link | comments |

“Jan 24 state council meet will fail at the political box-office”, says Pamalakaya

Militants early 2006 prediction
“Jan 24 state council meet will fail at the political box-office”, says Pamalakaya

The first political box-office disaster in year 2006.

This was how the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) boldly predicted the outcome of the forthcoming Jan.24 Council of State meeting that would allow President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to come face to face with two former presidents- President Joseph Estrada and President Corazon Aquino who publicly called on her to resign last year.

“ The Jan.24 state council meeting orchestrated by the Macapagal-Arroyo clique will not broke existing political box-office records such as Edsa 1 and Edsa 2. This is going to be first major political disaster for Ms Arroyo in 2006,” says Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.

According to Hicap, the Jan.24 state council meeting has all the elements of a political box-office disaster. He said the Macapagal-Arroyo administration in charge of the proposed political event has no credibility and highly isolated with the people and no political forces in the country would risk their stake and rub elbows with the present administration.

“ It is a kiss of death. Erap and Cory know the disastrous consequences if they accept such cheap publicity stunt and psy war project and give Ms Arroyo’s political challenge a touch of legitimacy,” Hicap said.

The militant leader said the Palace proposed Jan.24 meeting with Presidents Estrada and Aquino was anchored on sinister agenda and cruel intentions, which include the objective of neutralizing the two former Presidents and weaken the broad united front calling for the ouster of President Arroyo from power.

“ Ms Arroyo is moving heaven and earth to turn the tables around against her opponents by creating a bogus climate for political reconciliation at the expense of the collective sentiment of the people to see her out of Malacañang on or before 2006,” Pamalakaya’s Hicap stressed.

For his part, Pamalakaya information officer Gerry Albert Corpuz said another objective of the Jan.24 state council meeting is to pre-empt, if undermine the possible anti-GMA position that might be rendered by the influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) during its meeting on Jan. 28 to 30 in connection with the bishops 92nd plenary assembly to be held at the Pope Pius Center on United Nations Avenue in Manila.

Pamalakaya’s Corpuz said Malacañang and staunch allies of Ms Arroyo initiated the Jan.24 meeting with Estrada and Aquino after they learned that the president of CBCP assured bishops that they are free to speak out politics and that staunch critics of President Arroyo within in the CBCP are proposing to assess the situation, change their previous position on Arroyo’s ouster and issue another pastoral statement that might ask the president to step down.

“ The Palace is anticipating an unfavorable CBCP statement against Ms Arroyo during the prelates’ 92nd plenary. The Jan.24 state council meeting is part of the political psywar of the Macapagal-Arroyo camp either to dissuade the bishops from changing its’ soft-stance on the issue calling for the removal of the entire Macapagal-Arroyo gang in Malacañang,” Corpuz asserted.

The group’s information chief said President Arroyo was afraid of the CBCP under the leadership of Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, because the new CBCP president was well-known to be a critic of the present administration and very open to politics and advocacy against any corrupt, brutal and anti-people regime. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 01:12 | link | comments |

Deployment of 5,000 US troops for war exercises unusual, says militant group
Are they here for war?

A left-leaning group opposed to RP-US joint military exercises on Thursday questioned deployment of more then 5,000 American soldiers who will hold counter-terrorism exercises together with their Filipino counterparts from third week of February to first week of March this year.

“The deployment of 5,000 American troops is highly unusual, totally questionable and grossly inimical to the national interest of the Filipino people. It gives us the impression that the US imperial army is getting ready for an all-out war of aggression in Southern Philippines,” noted the leftist fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) in a press statement.

US Embassy in Manila spokesperson Matthew Lussenhop yesterday confirmed the holding of the largest war exercises since the ratification of the Visiting Forces Agreement in 1999 by the Philippine Senate. The treaty is currently the subject of hot debate after six US marines were implicated in the rape of a 22-year Filipina last November 2005.

The embassy spokesperson, however, denied that US troops would join government forces in hunting down suspected Abu Sayyaf terrorists in the island.

But the militant group dismissed Lussenhop’s statement as farce and illogical, adding that the US military command will not deploy big military forces just for rest and recreation and familiarization purposes in the Jolo. Pamalakaya asserted that American troops will definitely join the combat operations in covert and overt manners.

“Please tell us no lies. We are not born yesterday not to understand the sinister and cruel intention of the US military forces in Jolo. They want to spark and create troubles to justify their large-scale and full-blown involvement in the government’s anti-insurgency and anti-terror campaign for the sake of neo-colonialization and super profits from war,” Pamalakaya said.

Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said there is a huge possibility that the US military forces will join their Filipino counterparts in combat operations against suspected Abu Sayyaf rebels and bandits in Jolo despite denial from US Embassy in Manila that the American generals and troops would only assist the AFP in developing its anti-terrorism and interoperability capabilities in dealing with terrorists and other anti-government armed groups.

“ The American troops are advancing their march toward war of aggression. That explains their sheer number in Jolo. The US Embassy’s statement that their troops won’t join the AFP in combat operations against suspected Abu Sayyaf elements in the island is absolutely false, incorrigible and pure psywar tactic,” Hicap added.

In an attempt to stop the Balikatan exercises this coming February, Pamalakaya’s Hicap appealed to senators to immediately file a resolution indefinitely suspending the implementation of the VFA and the joint RP-US military exercises and pursue an investigation why the Macapagal-Arroyo government suddenly approved the holding of Balikatan exercises particularly in Jolo, which is a proven hostile community to US military forces.

“The intention of the forthcoming joint military war exercises in Jolo is to provoke the Muslim people and slowly but surely set the stage for US troops all-out involvement in the government’s war against the Moro people in the South,” Pamalakaya added. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 01:24 | link | comments |

Banaue Rice Terraces, not King Kong is the 8th Wonder of the World,
says militant group

The left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Wednesday blasted the Macapagal-Arroyo administration for not making any political and diplomatic move to correct the misrepresentation of producer/director Peter Jackson that King Kong, the fictional and legendary character was the 8th Wonder of the World and not the Philippines’ Banaue Rice Terraces.

In a press statement, Pamalakaya information officer Gerry Albert Corpuz lambasted President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Alberto Romulo for allowing Jackson, the man responsible for the Lord of the Rings trilogy and Universal Pictures for promoting King Kong as the Eight Wonder of the World, a title which was attributed to the 2,000 years old rice terraces located in Ifugao province, north of Manila.

“ The Philippine government is taking this issue for granted and simply dismiss the case as non-political and purely for cinematic effect despite the fact that the country’s national heritage built and established by our Ifugao forefathers more than 2,000 years ago. The biggest work of art and engineering in this country is being bastardized by US monopolies for the sake of King Kong’s performance at the box-office,” Pamalakaya’s Corpuz added.

The group’s information chief said there was a scene in the movie where King Kong held in captivity was presented to the American movie going public as the 8th Wonder of World. Corpuz said that scene was one of the highlights of the latest Jackson movie, which he said was done in bad taste.

“ We are not making a mole out of a hill. It appears to us that the Macapagal-Arroyo government is taking lightly this kind of gross misrepresentation to avoid any political and diplomatic confrontation against the US government at the expense of our people and cultural heritage,” Corpuz stressed.

Pamalakaya said while the Macapagal-Arroyo government was not in the mode to protest King Kong’s illegitimate claim as the 8th Wonder of the World, the President was setting her eyes on alleged “ squatters and homeless people” in Banaue Rice Terraces.

“ We don’t believe our Ifugao people settling in the terraces are squatters and illegal settlers. That is a complete lie, a national affront to these folks whose great grandfathers made the real 8th wonder of the world a majestic work of engineering,” the group added.

King Kong, directed by Oscar winner Jackson opened last week in the United States and won the box-office race. It was shown ahead in Metro Manila on December 14, but was temporarily pulled out from exhibition to give way to all Filipino movies entered in the 31st Metro Manila Film Festival from December 25, 2005 to January 8, 2006.

In the latest King Kong movie, documentary filmmaker, Carl Denham played by Jack Black sails off to remote Skull Island to film his latest epic with leading lady, Ann Darrow essayed by Naomi Watts.

Native warriors kidnapped Ann to use as a sacrifice as they summon " King Kong" with the local witch doctor. But instead of taking Ann as sacrifice, the legendary ape saved her. The giant ape was eventually taken back to New York where he searched Ann, eventually winding up at the top of the Empire State Building, facing off against World War I fighter planes. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 01:23 | link | comments |

WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY FOR CORRUPTION

Leftist group says GMA P 35-B food subsidy
only meant for press release

 

One of those dime-a-dozen publicity stunts. This was how the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) viewed the P 35-B government food subsidy program announced by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in a press conference held at St. Mary High School in Sagada, Mt. Province yesterday.

 

“ Her promise is based on lies and triggered by cruel intentions. Nobody would take her statement at face value or put premium on such cheap publicity stunt at the expense of impoverished people,” says Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.

 

“When the President announced that her government would subsidize food needs of poor people to the amount of P 35 B, she is just telling her corrupt league of political allies and close associates that Malacañang is providing another window of opportunity for corruption,” Hicap added.

 

Pamalakaya said the announcement of the P 35-B food subsidy program of the government should be dismissed as a press release or regarded as another corrupt program aimed to bribe and buy loyalty of local government officials to support the illegitimacy of the present administration hounded by charges of election fraud, corruption and other detestable policies reminiscent of former President Ferdinand Marcos’ 14 years of dictatorship and big time corruption.

 

“ We were not born yesterday. This latest escapade of Ms Arroyo in Mountain Province is nothing but PR offensive to douse cold water to the roaring rampage of protest set this month against her anti-people, anti-national administration,” the militant group added.

 

Pamalakaya said the biggest beneficiary of the P 35-B food subsidy program of President Arroyo were the politicians allied with Malacañang including their associates involved in the importation of rice and the rice cartel identified with the Macapagal-Arroyo administration.  “ The P 35-B food subsidy of the Arroyo administration is intended for syndicates, corrupt politicians and local government officials and not to starving public,” the group said.

 

President Arroyo said she ordered the release of P 35 billion to enable her government to pursue the fight against poverty, hunger and unemployment by maintaining the prices of rice per kilogram to P 18 per kilo and noodles to P 4.50 per pack sold in all groceries and markets nationwide.

 

Pamalakaya said instead of spending the P 35-B to procure imported rice which is sold at P 18 per kilo, the national government should use the fund to increase the buying capacity of the National Food Authority (NFA) on local palay produced by not less than 6 million palay farmers nationwide.

 

But Trade Secretary Peter Favila denied any government plan to subsidize budget noodles and rice sold in groceries and markets nationwide, saying the government’s plan was to expand its network of rolling stores selling noodles, rice and other basic commodities at discounted prices.

Budget Secretary Romulo Neri said only P 10 B was available for spending by the government since this represented the actual cash raised from better-than-expected revenues. Malacañang’s budget czar said the president’s P 35 B budget for food subsidy could still be realized if local government units would accede to Ms Arroyo’s request to channel their surplus funds to the priority infrastructure projects identified by Malacañang. #

 

One of those dime-a-dozen publicity stunts. This was how the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) viewed the P 35-B government food subsidy program announced by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in a press conference held at St. Mary High School in Sagada, Mt. Province yesterday.

“ Her promise is based on lies and triggered by cruel intentions. Nobody would take her statement at face value or put premium on such cheap publicity stunt at the expense of impoverished people,” says Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.

“When the President announced that her government would subsidize food needs of poor people to the amount of P 35 B, she is just telling her corrupt league of political allies and close associates that Malacañang is providing another window of opportunity for corruption,” Hicap added.

Pamalakaya said the announcement of the P 35-B food subsidy program of the government should be dismissed as a press release or regarded as another corrupt program aimed to bribe and buy loyalty of local government officials to support the illegitimacy of the present administration hounded by charges of election fraud, corruption and other detestable policies reminiscent of former President Ferdinand Marcos’ 14 years of dictatorship and big time corruption.

“ We were not born yesterday. This latest escapade of Ms Arroyo in Mountain Province is nothing but PR offensive to douse cold water to the roaring rampage of protest set this month against her anti-people, anti-national administration,” the militant group added.

Pamalakaya said the biggest beneficiary of the P 35-B food subsidy program of President Arroyo were the politicians allied with Malacañang including their associates involved in the importation of rice and the rice cartel identified with the Macapagal-Arroyo administration. “ The P 35-B food subsidy of the Arroyo administration is intended for syndicates, corrupt politicians and local government officials and not to starving public,” the group said.

President Arroyo said she ordered the release of P 35 billion to enable her government to pursue the fight against poverty, hunger and unemployment by maintaining the prices of rice per kilogram to P 18 per kilo and noodles to P 4.50 per pack sold in all groceries and markets nationwide.

Pamalakaya said instead of spending the P 35-B to procure imported rice which is sold at P 18 per kilo, the national government should use the fund to increase the buying capacity of the National Food Authority (NFA) on local palay produced by not less than 6 million palay farmers nationwide.

But Trade Secretary Peter Favila denied any government plan to subsidize budget noodles and rice sold in groceries and markets nationwide, saying the government’s plan was to expand its network of rolling stores selling noodles, rice and other basic commodities at discounted prices.

Budget Secretary Romulo Neri said only P 10 B was available for spending by the government since this represented the actual cash raised from better-than-expected revenues. Malacañang’s budget czar said the president’s P 35 B budget for food subsidy could still be realized if local government units would accede to Ms Arroyo’s request to channel their surplus funds to the priority infrastructure projects identified by Malacañang. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 10:45 | link | comments |

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