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

Militants decry Palace fiction on anti-GMA plot as sabotage of Labor Day rallies
“Oplan Manggagawa, a product of wild imagination”- Pamalakaya

Leaders of the leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Saturday said a Malacañang report detailing an alleged plot to unseat President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo involving militant groups and the opposition was a product of wild imagination.

“ Oplan Manggagawa, a two-page document about the supposed plot of the Left and anti-Arroyo politicians was part of Malacañang’s political drama came from the psy war headquarters of PGMA to justify the militarization of the National Capital Region, pave way for military and police’ violent breaking up of rallies and the Palace’ re-imposition of PP 1017 on Labor Day,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

“ It is like Malacañang doing the fourth sequel to Tom Cruise’s Mission Impossible with its’ Oplan Manggagawa story under the direction of the National Security Adviser and line produced by the Presidential Management Chief of Staff,” Hicap said referring to security adviser Norberto Gonzales and Sec. Michael Defensor.

Hicap said the national security gang in Malacañang through its “ war correspondents” and “ underworld propagandists” are raising the phantom of lawlessness and violence as prelude to the military and police preemptive strikes on May 1 to scare the people and discourage them from joining the Labor Day celebration and mass actions on Monday.

The militant leader said the report, which was supplied by a staff of an opposition senator and was given to Brig. Gen. Delfin Bangit and National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales was orchestrated to create intrigues and divide the anti-Arroyo senators in the Philippine Senate.

“ Malacañang will always resort to this stupid and endless fabrication of tall tales and grand lies in the name of President Arroyo’s political survival. They are fooling themselves and insulting their own intelligence if there’s any for the sake of the illegitimate occupant in Malacañang,” Hicap added.

“ The Filipino working people who will collectively celebrate their class birthday on May 1 will not buy this cheap, terror-driven and dime-a-dozen propaganda of the Macapagal-Arroyo government,” the militant leader said.

“ Everything is all set for the political showdown on Monday against the bogus president, her Charter Change project and anti-people presidency but not with this kind of super gigantic episode Malacañang is trying to picture to the public, at least not for the moment,” Pamalakaya said.

Earlier, the Kilusang Mayo Uno and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) vowed to mobilize 30,000 to 50,000 workers in Liwasang Bonifacio, while the Partido ng Manggagawa placed its’ total mobilization to 20,000. Rural groups contingent from Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and Pamalakaya will join Bayan and KMU with an estimated 1,000 rallyists from Southern Tagalog provinces on May 1.

The militant group said judgment day against President Arroyo and her regime will come because the Filipino people are so sick and tired of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration, but that judgment day will be decided by the people and not mainly by anti-Arroyo forces, although organized groups will play a significant role in mobilizing the Filipino people in their millions to the parliament of the streets to demand for Mrs. Arroyo’s ouster. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 11:17 | link | comments |

Leftist leaders deplore plan to reimpose
PP 1017 on Labor Day

Leaders of leftwing groups on Saturday slammed an alleged government plan to reimpose Presidential Proclamation 1017 on Monday if the situation deteriorates according to the assessment of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales.

In a joint press statement, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) Secretary General Danilo Ramos, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap, Amihan spokesperson Zen Soriano and Amihan national chairperson Carmen Buena said the national security gang in Malacañang was planning to place the country again under the State of National Emergency and resume witch hunting against organizers of various rallies nationwide to stop the resurgence of protest against the Macapagal-Arroyo administration.

The controversial secretary of the Department of Justice (DoJ) yesterday said if the situation worsens in the tradition of May 1, 2001 rally or Edsa 3 staged by supporters of deposed President Joseph Estrada, the government would place the country under the State of National Emergency.

But the leaders of KMP, Pamalakaya and Amihan, now on their second-day fast inside Diliman campus of the University of the Philippines in Quezon City to demand the release of six militant lawmakers and the dropping of rebellion charges against them and other militant colleagues, said the government was engaged in psy war operations, propaganda blitzkrieg and scenario building to create chaos and sabotage the May 1 Labor Day rallies to justify the re-imposition of PP 1017.

“ The cruel intention of DoJ secretary’s threatening statement is clear--- Drive the people away from Labor Day rallies, scare the public and demonize once more anti-Arroyo activists and critics as destabilizers, coup plotters, troublesome and blood thirsty people,” they said.

Ramos of KMP said, “ Palace-based spin doctors headed by Sec. Gonzales are plotting something big against organizers and participants to various Labor Day rallies to be held in the National Capital Region on Monday. The day-to-day meeting conducted by the national security syndicate of President Arroyo was in preparation for the administration’s declaration of recycled political monster known as PP 1017,”

For his part, Hicap of Pamalakaya challenged President Arroyo to immediately drop any plan of declaring a sequel to PP 1017, saying her new plot would be met with stirring protest from the Filipino working class and the general public.

“ Let me remind President Arroyo that the Filipino people are in full battle mode to defy the sequel to PP 1017, just like what they did when the immoral and cheating executive first declared it on Feb.24 on the occasion of 20th year of Edsa 1,” the militant leader said.

Amihan’s Buena on other hand advised Gonzales to resign and do something good for the people, instead of presenting himself like a second-rate, copycat hate symbol of the ruling system.

“ Why not retire from politicking and scaring people and wait for his demise in his chosen deathbed in Iloilo province? He’s too old to be taken seriously, nothing more, nothing less,” the peasant woman leader said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 11:16 | link | comments |

Pre-Labor Day protest action
Leftist groups kick off 3-day fast to demand release, dropping charges vs. 6 militant lawmakers and other colleagues

Leftwing groups begin their three-day today to demand the release of 6 militant lawmakers and the dropping of rebellion charges filed against them and other leftist leaders in connection with the alleged February 24 coup attempt.

Leaders of leftist groups headed by Pamalakaya, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), Amihan-National Federation of Peasant Women and Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA) said the three-day fast will end on Sunday afternoon to welcome over 1,000 peasant and fisherfolk activists from North and South Quezon, Mindoro provinces, Batangas, Laguna and Rizal who will hold a vigil on Sunday inside the Diliman campus of the University of the Philippines (UP) in Quezon City in preparation for the May 1 Labor Day rallies.

Pamalakaya said labor leaders of KMU, sectoral leaders of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), the All UP Workers Union and the UP Central Student Council and activists belonging to church and academic organizations would also join the three-day fast.

“ The three-day fast reflects the rural people’s aggressive search for truth, justice and accountability. It is a political statement addressed to President Arroyo that tyrants like her will not stay long because tyranny is opposed to public interest and collective thrust of the people,” the group said.

Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap denied military reports that their mass action was part of alleged plot to unseat President Arroyo during the celebration of Labor Day. The leftist leader also said the discovery of the so-called explosives in an alleged hideout of the extremist group Abu Sayaff was part of Malacañang’s plot to sabotage the May 1 Labor Day rallies.

“ That is psy war politics. President Arroyo and her military generals are engaged in another psy war and scenario building to justify the imposition of another State of National Emergency and the violent breaking up of rallies despite of the Supreme Court ruling against CPR. Top Palace personnel are again making life hard and miserable to our truth and justice seeking people,” Hicap said.

Pamalakaya said the three-day sympathy fast will banner their political positions on a number of issues like their demands for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to step down, wage increases, release of 6 six militant lawmakers, justice for all victims of political repression and persecution, the junking of Charter Change, the national ID system and Anti-Terrorism Bill and the stop in oil price hikes.

“ This is just of the beginning of more protest actions set against President Arroyo and her bankrupt and corrupt regime in the second half of 2006. The rural people opposed to Mrs. Arroyo’s anti-people and anti-national regime are always willing and ready to go back to the main capital to pursue the political objective of ousting her from Malacañang,” the group added.

Likewise, the group said it is still hopeful that the six militant lawmakers- Bayan Muna Representatives Satur Ocampo, Teddy Casiño and Joel Virador, Anakpawis Reps. Crispin Beltran and Rafael Mariano and Gabriela Women’s Party List Rep. Liza Maza could still find ways to join the May 1 Labor Day protest.

“ We hope to see them joining the May 1 anti-Gloria protest actions. We hope the court will allow them to join the rallies being the true-blue elected representatives of the working people and the Filipino masses,” Pamalakaya said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 01:38 | link | comments |

3 cabinet secretaries, 3 PNP officials, AFP chief and Manila Mayor
Leftist groups says CPR brains may face
charges before Ombudsman office

Leaders of leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) will ask their lawyers if it is possible to file criminal and administrative charges against government officials whom they tagged as “ brains of the controversial Calibrated Preemptive Response or CPR.

Riding high from an initial victory as shown by the 13-0 decision of the Supreme Court against CPR, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said they would immediately consult their lawyers on possible filing of criminal and administrative charges against several government officials, and if their lawyers say yes, they would file criminal and administrative complaints against at least 8 officials before the Office of the Ombudsman.

The militant leader said his group is also entertaining the idea of filing separate criminal and administrative charges in relation to CPR before any regular court in the National Capital Region if they sense the Office of the Ombudsman will take their case for granted.

“ Everything that is available to us will be explored and maximized. CPR was a political nightmare and somebody must be held accountable for this state-engineered repression, nothing more, nothing less,” Hicap said.

Hicap said they might soon file charges against Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz Jr., secretary Ronaldo Puno of the Interior and Local Government, AFP Chief of Staff Generoso Senga, PNP police chief Arturo Lomibao, NCRPO Chief Vidal Querol, Manila Police District chief Pedro Bulaong and Manila Mayor Lito Atienza—all named respondents by petitioners who questioned the constitutionality of CPR before the high tribunal.

“ If CPR is unconstitutional, therefore these people committed a wholesale violation of civil liberties and other constitutional rights of the people. They cannot escape the consequences of their evil acts, they must be held accountable at all cost,” he said.

Hicap said by executing an unconstitutional act, Secretary Ermita and 7 others government officials may be held liable for violating Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act or Republic Act 3019 and Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials or RA 6713 when they summarily executed the basic constitutional rights of the people by imposing CPR against anti-Arroyo rallyists.

“ We will not allow this issue to be reduced to forgive and forget manner. Justice is our primordial concern that’s why the legal track of bringing this concern to the court or to any appropriate body remains a legal remedy,” Pamalakaya said.

The militant group said the high tribunal’s ruling against CPR will be tested on May 1 Labor Day, saying they would closely monitor the political behavior of the police who would be assigned by the PNP-NCRPO to face and prevent rallyists from proceeding to identified rally sites like Welcome Rotonda, Liwasang Bonifacio, Plaza Miranda and Mendiola.

Pamalakaya will join the contingent of not less than 20,000 workers and activists from Kilusang Mayo Uno, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), Anakpawis, Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Migrante, Courage, Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD), Anakbayan, Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR), Gloria Step Down Movement and People’s March. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 06:56 | link | comments |

80s’ activists disown Mike Defensor

Dekada 80 Movement, an association of leftwing activists who started their political activism in the 80s will remember former colleague Presidential Management Staff (PMS) chief Michael Defensor a “ bad egg” and would no longer entertain talking to him in the near future.

“ He is dropped from the roster of Dekada 80 activists. We categorically disown this guy for betraying the principles and legacy of our activism. He is a total disgrace to the activists of the 80’s,” the Dekada 80 Movement said in a press statement.

“ What ever little respect and trust we have for him, they are all gone. He is now nothing but a bureaucrat capitalist”, said Gerry Albert Corpuz, one of the early organizers of Dekada 80 Movement and currently, the head of the information department of the leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pamalakaya.

“ Defensor is a classic example of how elitist politics corrupt a political animal like him. His association with the Macapagal-Arroyo ruling clique helped to bring out the political monster in him,” Corpuz added.

The militant group said in the 80s, Sec. Defensor was just a political starlet who gained fame and public acceptability when he joined different militant youth groups, the last was the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), which he chaired. The NUSP had earlier issued a statement disowning Defensor.

“ He was just a starlet before. The mass movement was instrumental in making him one of the most popular activists and student leaders in the 80s. This was his stepping-stone in entering the traditional political arena. If not for the movement, he is nothing,” Dekada 80 said.

Corpuz said Defensor will no longer get the support of his activist peers in the 80s if he decides to run in any elected government post, adding that they would campaign against Defensor if he decides to run again in 2007 or 2010.

“ Rejection becomes him. His syndicated association with the ruling Macapagal-Arroyo mafia made him one of the most detested public officials in Malacañang joining the league of fascist-extraordinaire of Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, security adviser Norberto Gonzales and justice secretary Raul Gonzales,” he said.

Dekada 80 Movement said Sec. Defensor was very instrumental in the filing of rebellion charges against leftwing lawmakers- Bayan Muna representatives Satur Ocampo, Teddy Casiño, Joel Virador, Anakpawis party list representatives Crispin Beltran and Rafael Mariano and Gabriela Party list Rep. Liza Maza.

The group also said Defensor was one of the brains behind the filing of rebellion charges against Bayan Muna official Vicente Ladlad, peace activist Ray Claro Casambre, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) deputy secretary general Randal Echanis, Anakpawis Vice-chairperson Rafael Baylosis, Bayan Muna secretary general Nathaniel Santiago and Gabriela official Tita Lubi.

“ How could he do this stupid act of political persecution? He knows these people who are currently the target of state-sponsored terrorism are decent and patriotic people. May heaven curse Defensor for his arrogance and puppetry,” Dekada 80 added. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 01:55 | link | comments |

Labor Day incomplete without Ka Bel, Batasan 5, says militant group

The six militant lawmakers currently detained for alleged crime of rebellion would be largely missed by their militant colleagues in this year commemoration of Labor Day, according to the leftwing fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), one of the groups participating in this year’s protest action on May 1.

“We will miss them a lot, but the fight must continue and this is what they want us to do,” said Pamalakaya information officer Gerry Albert Corpuz, saying his militant colleagues are still hopeful that Bayan Muna representatives Satur Ocampo, Teddy Casiño and Joel Virador and Anakpawis representatives Crispin Beltran and Rafael Mariano and Gabriela party list lawmaker Liza Maza would be able to join them in the May 1 rally against the President and Charter Change.

“ Militants’ labor day rallies are incomplete without the true representatives of the working class on their side. But as the saying goes, the show must go on and our activist colleagues in Congress would be happy to see that,” Corpuz added.

Corpuz urged the Makati Regional Trial Court and the House of Representatives to grant the request of Beltran and five other militant solons holed up inside the Batasan Complex in Quezon City at least to join the May 1 Labor Day rallies.

“ We hope the court and the House of Speaker Jose de Venecia will find compassion by giving in to the request of Beltran, Ocampo, Casiño, Maza, Virador and Mariano to join the workers in celebrating the national and international day of the working class, whom they serve all their life,” he said.

Except for Rep. Beltran, who still detained inside the PNP General Hospital in Camp Crame, the five other militant lawmakers are currently held in protective custody of the House of Representatives while the preliminary investigation is still being processed by the Department of Justice on charges of rebellion.

On May 1, some 20,000 workers and activists affiliated with Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) will converge in Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila to protest Charter Change, demand wage increase for private and government workers and the immediate release of six militant legislators and call for the ouster of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Pamalakaya said the six leftwing congressmen were considered modern-day heroes of the Filipino working class having been the leading figures in the labor front movement for two and a –half decades since the Marcos dictatorship.

“ They have been fighting for workers’ rights and welfare since the beginning of their political activism. The six congressmen are the prime movers of the present legislative agenda calling for a P 125-across the board wage increase among private workers and P 3,000 monthly increase in the take home pay of government employees. Their constituents composed of workers and ordinary people will surely miss Beltran and company,” the group said.

Pamalakaya along with militant rural groups like Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), Amihan-National Federation of Peasant Women, Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura and Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura will hold a three-day sympathy fasting from April 28 to 30 inside UP Diliman in Quezon City to demand the release of six activist solons and the dropping of rebellion charges against other militant leaders in connection with the February 24 alleged coup attempt against the Macapagal-Arroyo administration involving some military officials and civilian personalities. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 03:48 | link | comments (1) |

Reyes sales pitch for mining
earned him “ Enemy of Mother Earth” tag

Environment secretary Angelo Reyes’ open endorsement of the Philippine mining industry to foreign investors earned him a title “ Enemy of Mother Earth” from an anti-mining group.

In a press statement, the leftwing green group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) scored Reyes statement assuring foreign mining firms that the department would continue to accept applications despite the congressional review of the Mining Act of 1995 and strong opposition by the influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

“ Sec. Reyes’ latest sales pitch for mining made him a certified and first-rate enemy of the Philippine environment. His declaration is an open invitation to national catastrophe and disaster,” the group said.

“ Mother Earth will surely disown the environment secretary as his son for endorsing large-scale corporate mining in the country. If that is the case Mother Earth will resign as Sec. Reyes eternal mother,” Pamalakaya said.

The controversial environment secretary said the DENR is working on 1,400 applications for Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) , 400 exploration permits and 59 Financial Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) pending before the Mines and Geosciences Bureau as he denied reports that the government was implementing a moratorium on mining.

Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said Reyes has further reduced the DENR into an extension office of foreign mining firms interested in conducting anti-people and anti-national mining operations in the country.

“ The DENR secretary is now performing his role to the hilt as the executive secretary of transnational mining monopolies in the country with the blessing of the Office of the President to please the mining clients of Malacañang,” Hicap said.

The militant leader said Sec. Reyes was talking of another world when he said that mining firms are capable of performing responsible mining, stressing that they come here to the Philippines not to care for the environment but to extract our resources and gain super profits.

Sec. Reyes told yesterday’s participants at the Australia-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce that his office would no longer debate the ownership issue because the Supreme Court has already ruled out on the question of its mining law’s constitutionality.

“ Responsible mining under the hands of foreign monopolies is a myth. It won’t happen. They will not earn super profits if they go for responsible mining,” Hicap said.

Pamalakaya said the Senate and the House of Representatives tasked to review the mining law should immediately stop Secretary Reyes from accepting and processing mining applications while the Mining Act of 1995 is under congressional review.

“ Lawmakers should cross party lines and stop Secretary Reyes from pursuing Malacañang’s policy and legacy of pleasing these transnational giants and prevent him from acting like a king in his own mining estate,” the group said. #

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

Lafayette execs told: We don’t need your millions

We don’t need your millions. You can’t please and bribe everybody.

Leaders of the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) and its regional affiliate Lakas ng mga Maliliit na Mangingisda ng Bicol (Lambat-Bicol) lashed out executives of Lafayette Philippines Incorporated for dangling hundreds of millions of pesos to convince mine spill victims in Rapu-Rapu and nearby coastal towns that it want to improve the quality of life of the people in exchange for their support to the Australian-owned mining firm.

“ What is P 320 million pesos compared to the future of the people and the environment? This foreign monopoly mining is corrupting the minds of the residents through the power of finance capital,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.

“ This is part of Lafayette’s holistic approach for a grand comeback in the early second quarter of the year. Definitely, we will expose and oppose this demonic scheme to pave the way for the return of the detested mining firm in Rapu-Rapu Island,” Hicap said.

Former agriculture secretary, now Lafayette chairman and president Carlos Dominguez announced last Tuesday that the company was coming out with projects to dramatically improve the life of people in Rapu-Rapu island, adding that the mining company would spend around P 320 million a year for its supplies including grocery, meat, fish and office needs that would be brought locally.

The Lafayette official said this is aside from the P 10 million a year assistance fund the company will provide to the three barangays with free street lighting, medical support and livelihood projects.

“ Mr. Dominguez is acting like a king in his own mining state, treating the people of Rapu-Rapu like medieval peasant serfs. This system is not only insulting the people, it is an open invitation to massive graft and corruption,” Hicap added.

Pamalakaya and Lambat-Bicol reminded Dominguez, other Lafayette executives and local officials of Albay and Sorsogon that the mining firm is facing graft and corruption charges before the Office of the Ombudsman. Both groups filed the complaint on February 14, and among those included in the charge sheet were President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, former DENR Sec. Michael Defensor, foreign affairs secretary Alberto Romulo and regional officials of the department of environment.

“ The people of Rapu-Rapu and Sorsogon have strong case against them and they cannot force them to retreat and surrender their case in exchange for millions—the search for truth, justice and accountability is non-negotiable,” Pamalakaya added.

For his part, Lambat-Bicol secretary general Arieto Radores appealed to the Fact Finding Mission created by Malacañang to look into the impact on the environment of twin toxic spills to consider the voice of the people and not the sinister agenda of Lafayette and the Office of the President, which created the probe body.

“ We appeal to the group to finally seal the fate of Lafayette with a resounding decision to close the operations of the destructive mining firm. We cannot sacrifice the future of our people and the environment in the name of corporate greed and corrupt practices of those in power. The gospel of truth, justice and accountability must prevail over few people’s fetish for monopoly profits,” Radores said.

Radores said an ongoing signature drive demanding for the closure of Lafayette operations had collected over 7,000 signatures and they plan to submit them to the Australian embassy in Manila to convince the Australian government to pullout Lafayette from Rapu-Rapu Island. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 04:27 | link | comments |

Labor Day protest
Pamalakaya cries foul over PNP “threat group” tag

Leaders of the leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Tuesday decried what it called a “ vilification campaign” by the national police after the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) named the group along with other leftist labor organizations as “ threat groups” that would take advantage of Labor Day to seek the ouster of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“ This is foul. A preview of what kind of harassment we would get from the colony of Arroyo puppet police come Labor Day,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.
“ Malacañang’s attack police dogs are now sowing black propaganda and firing weapons of intrigue at this early to discourage people from joining Labor Day rallies and demonize the organizers as partners of coup plotters and crusaders of destabilization,” Hicap added.

NCRPO chief Vidal Querol yesterday announced the activation of Task Force Manila Shield composed of five sub-task groups namely Task Group Anti- Criminality headed by Chief Supt. Eric Javier, Task Group Antabay headed by Chief Supt. Napoleon Cachuela, Task Group Heartland , Task Group Rimland and Task Group Reserve to prevent militant groups and labor organizations from exploiting the occasion to advance their political agenda of removing President Arroyo from power.

The task force would plan, direct and supervise the conduct of security operations to address threats against the Macapagal-Arroyo government, including threats of terrorism, coup attempt and destabilization efforts of anti-Arroyo groups.

“ The police state of President Arroyo is making a mountain out of mole by engaging in mass production of lies and deceptions, character and political assassination of groups and personalities exposing the regime’s day-to-day crimes against the people,” Hicap said.

Pamalakaya said workers and their supporters will gather on May 1 to raise the issues of election fraud, wage hike, corruption in the government, mass killings of leftwing activists, persecution of six militant lawmakers and educate the public why organized labor and other militant groups are unstoppable in pressing for the ouster of the President Arroyo and rejection of Charter Change.

“ The threat group tag of the national police against militant groups is a standing invitation for members of the PNP to violently disperse all mass actions on Labor Day. But just in case we are prepared to deal with the state saboteurs who would be deployed by the PNP against the protesters.

Also mentioned in the “ threat group category” that would be subjected to intense police intelligence work are party list groups Bayan Muna, Anakpawis and Gabriela, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Nnara-Youth, Pinagisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) and the urban poor group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay).

Pamalakaya said around 4,000 farmers and fisherfolk activists from Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog will come to Manila on May 1 to join Metro Manila based workers in this year’s commemoration of Labor Day.

“ The people are entitled to state their stakes and that is to tell President Arroyo that her time is up and her Chacha project deserves interment six feet below ground. No amount of black propaganda by the Arroyo dirty tricks department could stop us from going to Manila and say our political statement on Labor Day, “ Pamalakaya added.

According to NCRPO intelligence report, multisectoral and cause-oriented groups numbering between 10,000 to 20,000 would converge at the University of the Philippines, Morayta, Welcome Rotonda, Ayala Avenue, Bantayog ng Mga Bayani, Liwasang Bonifacio, Bonifacio Shrine, Plaza Salamanca, Bustillos and Mendiola. #

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

Monkey business, says Pamalakaya
Militants slam big business role in Chacha train

Opponents of Charter Change on Sunday rebuked the proposal of the country’s biggest business organizations to hold public debates on the controversial Chacha dismissing the suggestion as
“ pure monkey business”.

The left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said the suggestion of Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce Inc. (FFCCCI) to sponsor public debates on the pros and cons of constitutional reforms specifically on economic policies was just a promotional blitzkrieg for the proposed revision of the 1987 Constitution.

“ While we encourage debates on Chacha, the venues provided by pro-Chacha big business groups won’t be conducive for those who want to expose this millennium betrayal of national sovereignty and patrimony, civil liberties and people’s rights,” says Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap.

Hicap further said the two big business groups have no moral and political rights to take the initiative in holding public discussions on the proposed revision of the 19-year old charter, asserting these groups had already taken a staunch pro-Chacha position and they will mobilize their resources to promote the anti-people Chacha.

“ We will engage these business cronies of President Arroyo on Chacha debates, but not in their staged-managed venue or in their own turf, but in the parliament of the streets, in the court of public opinion or in any venue provided by a responsible and respected entity,” the militant leader said.

Pamalakaya said the influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) could initiate the debates on Charter Change, instead of big business groups, saying the debates can be held in Catholic run schools and offices, public parks and even in state-run universities and colleges, but definitely in venues provided for by PCCI and FFCCCI.

PCCI President Donald Dee the format of the debates on Chacha would be finalized this week, adding that the focus of the debates would be on the economy on whether or not freeing up the economy to more foreign investors would be beneficial to the economy.

For his part, FFCCCI president Francis Chua said his group was prepared to join the debates on Chacha as long as it will help transform the economy into more attractive investment haven and it will provide our masses livelihood opportunities. The business leader said it would mobilize their resources to enlighten the public on the advantages of having liberal Constitution.

Both Dee and Chua represented the business sector in drafting the proposed revisions to the 1987 Charter.

Pamalakaya said the proposed economic provisions include 100% foreign ownership of land, the entry of foreign capitalists in the education, utility, media and other profitable sectors or sections of the economy, which the group all oppose because these suggestions were anti-national and anti-people.

“ This is a throwback to Jurassic era where the small people are made easy prey to roaming predators. Even PCCI and FFCCI would lose whatever they have if foreign predators representing international monopolies and cartels will come to the country. We have rich experience with them and we are not engaged in polemics,” the group added. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 02:27 | link | comments |

Militant group wants identity of
70 witnesses on Mayuga report disclosed

Staunch critics of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Saturday urged Armed Forces Chief of Staff Generoso Senga and Navy Chief Vice Admiral and former AFP inspector general Mateo Mayuga to disclose to the public the identities of the 70 resource persons allegedly interviewed by military probers in connection with the Hello Garci scandal.

The militant group Pamalakaya made the proposal after the much-awaited military fact-finding report on the Hello Garci tapes came out last week absolving three military generals accused of conspiring to rig the May 2004 elections in favor of President Arroyo.

“ Let these star witnesses come out in the open and allow the Filipino public to verify and evaluate the authenticity of their statements. Why is it that President Arroyo and her favored generals in the AFP are the ones speaking on their behalf? That’s ridiculous,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

Hicap added: “ The Filipino people deserve the truth and nothing but the truth about the real score in the last May 2004 presidential elections and they won’t accept such syndicated report penned by script writers of Malacañang and engage themselves in endless guessing game.”

Vice Admiral Mayuga said all the 70 witnesses who testified before the military fact-finding body had no direct knowledge about the alleged participation of military generals in the election fraud last May 2004 elections.

The five-man fact-finding body headed by Mayuga cleared Army Chief Lt. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Southern Command chief Lt. Gen. Gabriel Habacon and retired Lt. Gen. Roy Kyamko of allegations that they took part in cheating for President Arroyo.

Pamalakaya was also puzzled why retired Brig. Gen. Francisco Gudani who was also mentioned in the Hello Garci not as accomplice in the election fraud but merely as supporter of the late presidential candidate and movie actor Fernando Poe Jr. was being investigated in the alleged vote-rigging, where in fact Gudani should serve as witness to the election fraud in Mindanao.

The militant group wondered why Philippine National Police chief Arturo Lomibao and his predecessor, not Public Works secretary Hermogenes Ebdane who were both mentioned in the tapes were not investigated by the five-man fact finding team.

“ What kind of investigation is that? It appears to us that Malacañang had the hand in selecting who would be investigated, who would testify and who would be cleared right away, as if the Mayuga report is already made prior to the investigation,” Pamalakaya said.

The militant group said the Filipino people should protest, reject and condemn the Mayuga report dismissing it further as “mockery of truth, justice and accountability.”

“ The Mayuga report is anchored on President Arroyo’s desire to get off the hook. It is Malacañang that prepared the report using the corrupt language of the bankrupt regime and its military allies in the AFP,” Pamalakaya added.

“ The intention is clear- to take advantage of the Holy Week season where everybody is attending to their religious activities. That’s how a ruling political mafia operates and they did it again this time of the Mayuga report,” the group said. Pamalakaya further said, “ the distorted and cannibalized report reflects the pervasive corruption in the Macapagal-Arroyo administration and the gross massacre of truth and accountability in the name of the President’s political survival.” #

Lenten spoof and tirade
Pamalakaya crowns GMA “National Escape Artist”

Rabid critics of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo did not declare ceasefire in their political attacks against the Chief Executive still embattled with charges of election fraud, big crimes of corruption and political killings.

On Easter Sunday, the leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) bestowed the “ National Escape Artist” award to President Arroyo, citing her consistent efforts to obscure the truth and get away with accountability for refusing to face her accusers in any regular court and in the court of public opinion about issues confronting her administration.

Unlike the award for National Artist, which recognized the exemplary works of different artists in their respective fields and disciplines, the national escape artist award, according to Pamalakaya is given to any unscrupulous and blasphemous government official who used their position like a bureaucrat capitalist to take advantage of the people and pursue self-serving and dangerous interests.

“ It is a shame award. It is meant to shame the shameless. President Arroyo’s corrupt disciplines in governance merited her a national escape artist award,” said Pamalakaya information officer Gerry Albert Corpuz in a press statement.

Corpuz said President Macapagal-Arroyo led scores of government officials who staged their walk-in-the park escapes from various charges ranging from election fraud, plunder and left-and-right violations of the 1987 Constitution and the Filipino peoples’ civil liberties and basic human rights.

“ Mrs. Arroyo is the runaway winner of the National Escape Artist plum for 2006. Although she’s not a true-blooded artist, but her stints as an escape artist to cover up the truth and commit day-to-day crimes against the people made her the country’s no.1 political escape artist of the millennium,” Corpuz said.

The group’s information chief said President Arroyo was cited for her perpetual denial that she rigged the last May 2004 national elections, for her gross denial that she spent billions of tax payers money to during the last presidential elections, for refuting damning evidence that she robbed the national coffers to bribe government officials in exchange for their support and for rebuffing documented cases involving the political killings of the President’s critics and members of leftwing groups.

“ The award is long overdue. It should have given to Mrs. Arroyo in 2001 during her first State of the Nation Address. But it is better late than never. We hope to give the award to Ms Arroyo in the next anti-government protest either last week of April or on May 1, 2006- Labor Day,” Corpuz said.

Pamalakaya said President Arroyo vested other nominees in the national escape artist award that include Presidential Management Staff (PMS) Chief Michael Defensor, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Press Secretary and Palace spokesperson Ignacio Bunye, First Gentleman Atty. Jose Miguel Arroyo, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, PNP Director General Arturo Lomibao and Department of Justice (DoJ) secretary Raul Gonzales.

“ The rest of the national security gang played supporting roles to President Arroyo, but their respective stints as conspirators of the President were largely considered in the selection of the national escape artist award,” the group said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 02:27 | link | comments |

Gambala’s confession raised militants’ eyebrows to 13th Floor
He makes himself propaganda
pig of PGMA in exchange for “freedom”

Rabid critics of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had raised their eyebrows to 13th floor when one of the ringleaders of the 2003 Oakwood mutiny came out in new Malacañang documentary video “ Sabwatan sa Kataksilan” ( Alliance in Treachery) confirming an alleged alliance between rightist elements and communist rebels to seize power from the President.

“ Army Capt. Gerardo Gambala is the latest addition to Malacañang’s bunch of propaganda pigs and he is doing it in exchange for his freedom driven by narrow personal interest,” said Pamalakaya information officer Gerry Albert Corpuz.

“ I can’t help but raise my eyebrows to the 13th floor. This young officer who first captured the hearts and minds of the Filipino people for his idealism and progressive views has become one of the official town criers of the ruling Macapagal-Arroyo mafia in Malacañang,” the group’s information chief added.

In the new documentary video, Malacañang presented Gambala as the government’s surprise witness about the supposed right-left alliance aimed at ousting President Arroyo, which was used by the Macapagal-Arroyo administration as one of the justifications in declaring Presidential Proclamation 1017 putting the country under State of National Emergency on Feb.24.

The alleged alliance between the Magdalo group and the Left paved way for the arrest of six militant lawmakers in the House of Representatives, which according to Palace and military witnesses conspired with Magdalo young officers to bring down President Arroyo.

“ If Malacañang believes their newest star performer in the person of Army Capt. Gambala would deliver the goods for President Arroyo, they are all wrong. Just like his president, rejection becomes Gambala, “ Corpuz said.

The Palace produced documentary opened with Army Capt. Gambala saying that representatives of the Left made efforts to make ties with them in building an alliance in an effort to seize power. Malacañang officials said the new 15-minute documentary would further beef up the President’s allegations that the Feb. 24 alleged coup attempt was the handiwork of the Right and the Left.

A few seconds before the video documentary ends, Gambala appeared again and said he won’t do it again, adding that he did a terrible mistake when he joined and led his fellow young officers referring to the 2003 Oakwood mutiny.

But Pamalakaya said the second video documentary, just like the first video documentary will fail at the political box-office. The group maintained that the Filipino people will not entertain or waste their time viewing a documentary meant to vilify and demonize groups and personalities calling for meaningful reforms in the society.

“ Our decent thinking fellowmen will not put political premium to this latest junk produced by Malacañang. President Arroyo and her cohorts can produce as many Gambalas as they want but they cannot arrest the rising tide of protest against the no.1 Third World puppet and corrupt president,” the group said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 07:20 | link | comments |

PAGC probe on fertilizer scam, a mockery of truth

One of the groups, which filed plunder and anti-graft complaints against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and other government officials in connection with the controversial P 728 million agricultural fund scam today said the investigation being conducted by the Palace-created Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) will not render the truth.

“ Will they go against their creators and bosses in Malacañang? We don’t think so,” said the leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) in a press statement.

“ The PAGC probe on the P 728 million fertilizer scam is a mockery of truth. The materials about this well-documented scam had been told and re-told, shown and re-shown to the public and we don’t see any reason why the anti-graft board should make another investigation, unless they want to clear President Arroyo and her fertilizer scam gang,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.

On June 3, 2004, Pamalakaya along with staunch allies-Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and Amihan-National Federation of Peasant Women led several rural-based organizations in filing plunder and other criminal charges against President Arroyo, former agriculture secretary Luisito Lorenzo and undersecretary Bolante over the misappropriation of the P 728 million fund allegedly used to beef up the campaign kitty of the President in the last May 10, 2004 presidential elections.

“ The PAGC only wants the version of Malacañang, that is why it is not dependent to the rich materials uncovered by the Senate investigation and the findings of the Commission on Audit. The Palace wants to express its’ own version of truth through the PAGC,” Hicap added.

The PAGC yesterday said that it would wind up its’ investigation on the alleged-multi-million fertilizer scam by the end of May. PAGC chair Dr. Constancia P. De Guzman assured the public that the anti-graft commission was doing its’ best to get at the bottom of the controversy.

De Guzman said the investigation is independent and was meant to search for a truth. The commission, she added had formed special operations team assigned to the fertilizer scam case and had submitted an initial report based on the voluminous available documents gathered from different sources.

The PAGC said that after the Holy Week break, the team will hold a series of conferences to get testimonies and statements from individuals who have personal knowledge of the transactions and other documents related to the fertilizer scam.

“ Will they call on President Arroyo and former DA undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante to the witness stand? Will the beneficiaries stand up against their benefactors? Or they would be part of the continuing cover up of the regime?” Pamalakaya said.

The COA’s final audit report dated March 31, 2006, which was submitted to Senate last week revealed that the list of proponents that was attached to DBM’s Special Allotment Release Order for the P 728 million was different from the list in the eventual allocation of the funds.

The COA said two Metro Manila congressmen (for a total of 8 million), three congressmen and a mayor in Ilocos region (P 11.5 million), two governors in Cagayan Valley (P 10 million) and a P 5 million allocation for Pampanga were not included in the original list of recipients of the fund submitted. The same report also contained that the fertilizer brought with the P 728 million Ginintuang Masagani Agricultural (GMA) fund had been overpriced by 682 percent, or by P 128 million. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 07:19 | link | comments |

Sec. Puno’s call to support Chacha to remove Arroyo, a political blackmail, an indecent proposal, says critics

DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno’s challenge to anti-Charter Change groups to support the revision of the 1987 Constitution in exchange for the removal of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was a political blackmail and an indecent proposal rolled into one package deal, the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said in a press statement.

“ Only indecent people and people with checkered and dark past could think of such kind of political blackmail, gross insult and indecent proposal,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap, saying Secretary Puno was peddling a proposal that reflected his absurdity as a Jurassic traditional politician.

“ The trouble with Sec. Puno is he always regard himself as a superior and brilliant politician and tactician of the regime and he regards the Filipino as nothing but low-life political animals. His challenge for us to support Chacha to pursue the removal of Arroyo like Thaksin under a parliamentary form of government is an insult to anybody’s intelligence,” Hicap added.

The militant leader lashed back at Secretary Puno, this time pressing him to leave his post as secretary of interior and local government, seek a permanent residence and later run for a parliament seat in Thailand if that country would so allow, to make his dream of becoming a parliamentarian under a parliamentary form of government a reality.

“ Why not leave the Philippines and go to Thailand or Europe and seek a political career there as a parliamentarian. The problem is politicians turned lawmakers in those country will not allow him because of his character and deplorable records in the country as a shady politician involved in alleged big crimes of corruption,” Hicap said.

The DILG chief yesterday dared the President’s foes saying they better work for Charter Change and allow a shift in the form of government from presidential to parliamentary if they want President Arroyo to follow the example of Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and resign from public office.

“ This Jurassic and Martial Law bred politician is bringing the issue of Mrs. Arroyo’s ouster to the level of the gutter. Will somebody tell this guy to shut up or engage in principled debate rather than engage in day-to-day issuance of incorrigible statements,” Hicap said.

Puno said the system of government in Thailand is parliamentary so those hoping for a similar scenario should work for Charter Change.

The DILG secretary was vocal about his support to people’s initiative but denied his office had a hand in Sigaw ng Bayan coalition, a group spearheading the signature drive to revise the 19-year old charter.

Pamalakaya said Sec. Puno was transferred to DILG to fast track the approval of Chacha through a people’s initiative. The militant group said, while talks of his pending appointment to DILG was still being processed by Malacañang, Sec. Puno was already peddling the idea of people’s initiative to clinch the revision of the 1987 Charter.

“ Sec. Puno is Malacañang’s point person on Chacha. He is desperately engaged in all forms of political propaganda, psy war and blackmail to convince the people to support the proposed revision of the 1987 Charter,” the group said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 07:02 | link | comments |

SUPER ROADSHOW PRESENTATION
Militants say Palace fact-finding missing on Lafayette was meant to neutralize anti-mining bishops

Anti-mining activists on Friday were not expecting the fact-finding mission created by Malacañang to look into the impact of the Lafayette polymetallic project in Albay to deliver the truth and serve justice to the victims of toxic spills last year following the non-appearance of four of the five former and incumbent environment secretaries invited to appear to the hearing.

“ This super roadshow presentation put up by Malacañang was meant to appease or neutralize the anti-mining bishops and save Lafayette and other mining clients of the Macapagal-Arroyo from wholesale public condemnation,” said Pamalakaya information officer Gerry Albert Corpuz in a press statement.

The group’s information chief said the cruel intention of the Palace-established fact finding mission on Lafayette was to show the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) that it was doing the necessary act to stop future toxic spills arising from mining operations in the country.

Corpuz further said Malacañang was just waiting for the opportune moment when it would allow Lafayette to resume operations, saying President Arroyo will not allow Lafayette to close since it was her administration’s flagship project in mining.

“ It is part of the role-playing of President Arroyo. The probe will end up as an exercise in futility because the real motive of Malacañang is not to find the truth but to psy war the bishops and set the stage for the grand comeback of Lafayette mining in Rapu-Rapu,” Corpuz asserted.

Former DENR secretaries Antonio Cerilles, Elisea Gozun and Michael Defensor and incumbent secretary Angelo Reyes failed to show for yesterday’s hearing. It was only ex-DENR secretary Heherson Alvarez, who signed Lafayette Philippines Inc. environmental compliance certificate in 2001 appeared before the Malacañang created commission.

Pamalakaya said whatever efforts of the fact-finding mission to pin down Lafayette and make it accountable for the destruction of the environment in Rapu-Rapu and affected nearby towns in Sorsogon will go to waste because Malacañang is determined to absolve the Australian mining firm.

“ Malacañang wants a walk-in-the park escape for Lafayette and subsequently give it another try to convince corporate interests that is super friendly to mining giants,” the militant group said.

The militant group last February 14 filed anti-graft complaints against top officials of Lafayette headed by country manager Rod Watt together with President Arroyo, former Sec. Defensor and other regional officials of DENR before the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the twin toxic spills last year.

Pamalakaya said until now, the Office of the Ombudsman has not acted on their demand to investigate President Arroyo and other charged officials, accusing Ombudsman chief Atty. Merceditas Gutierrez of exacting extreme bias to the President, ex-DENR Sec. Defensor and officials of Lafayette. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 07:01 | link | comments |

DARK DAYS FOR RP DEMOCRACY
New York Times editorial indicates US waning support to PGMA

The April 5 editorial of New York Times entitled “Dark Days for RP Democracy” castigating President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo meant one thing- the President was loosing the support of the US government and Washington is ready to dump her anytime soon.

“ The New York Times which expresses the sentiment of big corporate and political interests in the United States is telling US President George W. Bush that it is time for White House to say enough of and give up Mrs. Arroyo,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.

“ It is not a simple editorial. It is a political statement warning US power brokers about the return of Martial Law, electoral fraud, cronyism and unbridled first-rate graft and corruption in the country, the same issues raised against the Marcos dictatorship,” Hicap said.

Pamalakaya’s Hicap said the New York Times editorial will put President Arroyo in the league of currently hated world leaders accused of several crimes against their own people ranging electoral fraud, corruption, political killings, state repression among others.

“ The editorial will also place the Philippines in the global map as one of the Third-World countries with bad democracy records courtesy of the present ruling political syndicate in Malacañang,” the militant leader said.

“ If you read between the lines of the editorial, the New York Times opinion article is telling the people of the world that diplomatic support for the Arroyo administration should be dropped for the rebirth of Marcos dictatorship in the country,” Hicap added.

Pamalakaya said the New York Times editorial will exact pressure on the White House, the US State Department and the US Congress to reconsider their present support to President Arroyo and call for her immediate resignation to pave way for new democratic elections in the country.

“ New York Times is New York Times, the bible of opinion maker across the globe. Malacañang people are fooling themselves when they said they were not affected by the April 5. The influential newspaper is telling not only the American people and the entire denizens of the world that Mrs. Arroyo is bringing back the sad stories of Martial Law in flesh and in spirit under the persona of a revived or recycled Marcos trapped in a woman’s body,” the militant group said.

The New York Times editorial urged Bush to warn President Arroyo that she was undermining a hard-won democracy and making the country vulnerable to terrorist pressures. The editorial further said “ the Filipinos thought they had put an end to electoral chicanery and governmental intimidation when they overthrew the Marcos dictatorship two decades ago.”

The New York Times further added that President Arroyo has completely lost touch with the ideals that inspired the 1986 “people power movement”. It said Mrs. Arroyo is Ferdinand Marcos, at least not yet. But this one time reformer is reviving bad memories of crony corruption, presidential vote rigging and intimidation of critical journalists.

The leading US newspaper said unless Congress and the courts find their ways to rein in Mrs. Arroyo’s increasingly authoritarian tendencies, democracy itself, may be in danger. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 07:00 | link | comments |

In the wake of Comelec commissioner's admission that there was cheating: Militants want PET to re-open case on election fraud vs. GMA

The militant group Pamalakaya on Tuesday urged the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) to re-open the election fraud case filed by supporters of the late movie actor and presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. a day after Commission on Election (Comelec) commissioner Resurreccion Borja admitted to a Senate-led inquiry that there was cheating in the last may 2004 presidential elections.

" The admission of Commissioner Borja merits of the re-opening of the election fraud case filed by supporters of FPJ against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In the name of truth and justice and national interest, the PET has no choice but to re-open the case and establish the truth," Pamalakaya information officer Gerry Albert Corpuz said in a press statement.

Borra said with the fresh evidence presented by management consultant Hermenegildo Estrella Jr, cases of election fraud can be brought to PET or the Senate Electoral Tribunal in connection with the May 2004 national elections.

" Borja's statements even how tamed and sanitized they were merit the attention and appropriate action of PET," Corpuz said.

On July 23, 2004, Poe and his vice-presidential candidate former senator Loren Legarda filed separate electoral protests against President Arroyo and Vice-President Noli de Castro before the Supreme Court sitting which sit on both cases as members of PET.

The two accused President Arroyo and the Vice-President of committing "massive and widespread electoral fraud, anomalies and irregularities" in up to 124,404 precincts, which allegedly led to the "wholesale" and illegal increase in the number of votes for Arroyo and de Castro.

Poe and Legarda also said some Cabinet members resorted to "dagdag-bawas" (vote padding and shaving) and double-registration schemes to cheat them of victory. But while PET upheld to hear Legarda's case against de Castro, the tribunal dismissed the case of Poe against President Arroyo.

Pamalakaya's Corpuz if PET decides to re-open the case of Poe vs. Arroyo, the electoral tribunal should subpoena and compel Commissioner Borja as well as Comelec provincial officers in six Mindanao provinces-Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-tawi, Sulatan Kudarat and Maguindanao and in Pampanga, Iloilo and Cebu where alleged vote padding occured in favor of Mrs. Arroyo.

" The Supreme Court sitting as PET is constitutionally, legally and politically obliged the election fraud case filed against President Arroyo. More and more people are coming out in the open to tell the truth. It is time for the PET to deliver this truth in the language of law, constitution and public interest and public moral," Corpuz asserted.

Pamalakaya said the Senate should also subpoena the 9 provincial Comelec officials to shed light on election fraud based on the evidence presented by Estrella. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 04:36 | link | comments |

On the occasion of President Arroyo’s 59th birthday tomorrow
Militants birthday wish for GMA: More sleepless nights, 24/7 criticisms

Opponents of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo were one of the early wishers who greeted the Chief Executive on the occasion of her 59th birthday on April 5. Their wishes for the President: More sleepless nights and 24/7 criticisms.

The leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Tuesday wished President Arroyo on her 59th birthday with more sleepless nights and daily breakfast of criticisms and political exposition from people calling for her to step down from Malacañang.

“ This Jurassic, corrupt, unrepentant and authoritarian politician does not deserve peace of mind. May she have more troubled life to come as punishment for her gross betrayal of public interest and public trust,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.

“ We don’t want to be rude, but she does not deserve our gentleness and kindness. We will not greet her a happy birthday, because a politician like her does not deserved happiness. She is Ferdinand Marcos trapped in a woman’s body and a certified class enemy of the Filipino people,” Hicap said.

Pamalakaya, one of the rabid critics of President Arroyo since she came to power via the successful People Power 2 uprising said the Chief Executive committed grave and unpardonable sins against the Filipino people ranging from election fraud, first-rate crimes of corruption and national betrayal of public trust and interest.

“We are expecting this arrogant president to stage another set of cheap political propaganda on the occasion of her 59th birthday tomorrow, but the people will not buy her PR blitzkrieg for political survival. Nobody will celebrate with her except her paid cohorts and equally corrupt gang of politicians in and out of Malacañang,” the militant group said.

As a special “ gift to her”, militant groups and anti-Arroyo forces headed by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and Gloria Step Down Movement (GSM) will hold another big rally on Thursday in Manila to call for her ouster and protest the proposed Charter Change and the ongoing people’s initiative to revise the 19-year old charter.

Protest organizers said around 10,000 people will join the first big anti-Arroyo rally after the declaration of Presidential Proclamation 1017 last February 24. Bayan leaders said members of opposition block and other anti-Arroyo political forces were also invited to join the protest on April 6.

Today, on the eve of Mrs. Arroyo’s 59th birthday, some 1,000 peasant and fisherfolk activists belonging to Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and Pamalakaya will stage a torch parade from the Diliman campus of the University of the Philippines to Quezon City Memorial Circle to protest President Arroyo’s illegitimate stay in Malacañang and Charter Change.

“ Protests against her puppet, bogus, brutal and corrupt presidency will mark the 59th birthday of the cheating executive. That is the tall order of the day and we will not be left behind in this cascading train of protests against President Arroyo,” Pamalakaya said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 04:34 | link | comments |

Template by motime.com  |  header image credit: Markus Gann © www.begann.de