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

Defense Sec. Cruz told to disclose new RP-US terror pact

A group opposed to any presence of US military troops in the country today pressed the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Department of Foreign Affairs to disclose the details of the new security arrangement signed by the Manila government and Washington yesterday.

Invoking the principles of national interest and public trust, the leftwing fisherfolk group Pamalakaya urged defense secretary Atty. Avelino Cruz Jr. and foreign affairs chief Alberto Romulo to reveal to the public, the details of the new anti-terror accord agreed between the governments of the United States and the Republic of the Philippines.

“We demand full disclosure and open debates on the new security pact signed by the puppet state and the puppet master last Wednesday,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap insisted.

“ Secretary Cruz and Secretary Romulo have no recourse but open this security pact for Senate deliberation and wholesale public debates. They are not the approving authorities, therefore the status of this security agreement remains a standing proposal,” Hicap said, saying it the Senate, which has the final say over the treaty, which he described as a product of grandslam treachery and betrayal of national interest.

The accord involves the setting up of a new joint panel called the Security Engagement Board (SEB), a new consultative mechanism for cooperation on non-traditional security concerns including terrorism, transnational crime, maritime safety and security, natural and man-made disasters and pandemic outbreaks.

Earlier, Renato Reyes, chair of the leftist alliance Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) described the new anti-terror agreement as blatant way for the US military to intervene in the domestic affairs of the country. He said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would use this to get Washington support to stay in power.

“ Was this part of the political deal between Washington and President Arroyo? It seems to us that the signing of the new anti-terror agreement is part of the package deal in connection with the political game plan of Malacañang for Mrs. Arroyo’s illegitimate and unwanted stay in the Palace,” Hicap said in support to his colleague’s previous view on the RP-US anti-terror accord.

“ We were not born yesterday. We smell something fishy and that is the grand sell out of the country’s remaining aspects of national sovereignty to its’ colonial master and this is highly inflammatory and grossly revolting to our patriotic sense,” Hicap added.

Despite the assurance of Defense Secretary Cruz that the new security accord would not allow US forces to reestablish bases in the country or to join local military operations as enshrined in the constitution, Pamalakaya said the new security pact will pave way for the entry of large-contingent of US troops in the country and re-establishment of American military bases in the country under the pretext of combating international and domestic terrorism.

“The United States will not strike a security agreement just for the sake of having an agreement. The basing rights and rapid and mass redeployment of its troops abroad to RP top its military and political agenda in Southeast Asia,” Pamalakaya added. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 09:46 | link | comments |

Militant group scored 3 EV governors for backing
Palparan’s proposal to outlaw CPP and alleged front groups
Toe “ The Butcher’s line or face electoral defeat in 2007- Pamalakaya

Toe “ The Butcher’s line or face electoral defeat in 2007 polls?

Leaders of the activist fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Thursday warned three governors in Eastern Visayas of electoral defeat in May 2007 elections if they will not renege their support to the proposal of controversial Maj. General Jovito Palparan to outlaw the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its’ alleged legal front organizations.

Palparan’s proposal to outlaw the CPP and alleged front groups received support of three governors in Eastern Visayas region- Gov. Rosete Lerias of Southern Leyte, Milagros Tan of Samar and Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar.

“ It is tantamount to endorsing the government’s national policy of killing leaders, mass activists and ordinary people critical of the present administration. The three rabid pro-Arroyo governors is offering the lives of activists and anti-Gloria common folks in Eastern Visayas at the altar of state repression and state sponsored terrorism,” Pamalakaya said.

The militant group said the three governors are supporting the military’s Oplan Bantay Laya counter-insurgency program in eliminating all underground and mainstream Left groups in the region.

Pamalakaya also said the endorsement of Palparan’s proposal to outlaw the CPP and legal democratic organizations in Eastern Visayas was a tacit approval of future political killings in the region victimizing mass activists and ordinary people in the region.

“ They want to transform Eastern Visayas into a major regional killings for President Arroyo’s death squads for the sake of the Chief Executive’s political survival and that is totally reprehensible and highly revolting,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap.

Hicap further added: “ If they insist, we will have no other choice but to mount a regional and provincial wide campaign rejecting their candidacy in the 2007 national elections. Their electoral defeat would be at the center of our electoral agenda in 2007 in the region.”

Pamalakaya said that’s the price the three governors of Eastern Visayas have to pay for upholding the Gospel of terrorism espoused by Palparan and his principals in the national security cluster of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The militant group likewise lambasted Eastern Samar Gov. Evardone for supporting Palparan’s suggestion to outlaw the CPP and militant organizations like Pamalakaya, which was alleged as one of the legal fronts of the communist party.

“ Please allow us to remind Evardone of his roots. What happen to his principles being a former student leader activist in University of the East-Recto who fought against tuition fee increases and university-wide suppression of academic freedom? Did he sell his principles to the devil just to become a bureaucrat capitalist and rabid anti-Left political animal?” Pamalakaya asked.

Pamalakaya said Gov. Evardone was once the president of UE-Recto student council and the editor-in-chief of the militant school publication “ The Dawn” in mid-80s, after the fall of former President Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.

“ This guy merely used the mainstream Left for his political ambition and that is horrible and grossly immoral on his part,” the group said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 09:44 | link | comments |

Activists willing to act as Sherpas of truth
Militants seek audience with Papal Nuncio on political killings

The militant peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and its’ staunch ally Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) will seek the direct intervention of the new Papal Nuncio to the Philippines regarding the unbridled killings of their colleagues by alleged agents of the state.

“ We are willing to act as Sherpas of truth so to enlighten the Holy See’s new ambassador to the Philippines on the issue of political killings,” the KMP and Pamalakaya said in a joint press statement.

The two militant groups idea of seeking an audience with Archbishop Filoni emanated from the statement the latter’s statement that he would support the Filipino bishops involvement in social issues, especially those that concern the poor. The Papal Nuncio said yesterday that it was the duty of the Filipino bishops to get involved in social issues affecting poor Filipinos.

KMP Secretary General Danilo Ramos said they would try to arrange a meeting with Papal Nuncio Archbishop Fernando Filoni to inform him on several social issues confronting the 85 million Filipinos, including the ongoing campaign of political killings and persecution against their leaders and mass members by the Macapagal-Arroyo government.

“We will work for his divine intervention specially on political killings and persecution of legal democratic groups and its’ personalities and ordinary members. He is an open-minded and progressive leader of the Church and we are confident we would listen to us,” Ramos said.

Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said their group would present to Archbishop Filoni the 601 cases of extra-judicial killings perpetrated by the military, police and hired assassins of the government from January 21, 2006 to May 22, 2006.

Citing the validated and consolidated data of the human rights watchdog Karapatan, Hicap said 198 peasants, 57 workers, 63 women and 43 children were the primary victims of political assassinations and extra-judicial killings during the Macapagal-Arroyo administration. He said 94 of the victims are affiliated with Bayan Muna, while more than 20 belong to allied party list group Anakpawis.

Hicap said they would also bring the case of four Pamalakaya leaders who were summarily executed by elements headed by controversial Maj. General Jovito Palparan in Mindoro and Quezon provinces. Between 2003 and 2004, Pamalakaya leaders Isaias Manano Jr, Anthony Martinez and Oscar Sacdalan in Mindoro Oriental and Roger Perez were gunned down in separate occasions.

“The Papal Nuncio in the Philippines deserves the truth and nothing but the truth. So we are willing to act as his Sherpas for truth. We will keep him posted and we will provide him alternatives sources and viewpoints of current social issues,” Pamalakaya said.

KMP and Pamalakaya said they would also raise the issue of mining, Charter Change, election fraud and corruption, saying they would give the Papal Nuncio a report of the Citizen’s Congress for Truth and Accountability (CCTA), which held President Arroyo on trial for various charges regarding election fraud, corruption and political killings last year. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 04:54 | link | comments |

Pamalakaya decries “ foreign intervention”
Australian embassy told to stop meddling on Lafayette

An anti-mining group on Tuesday protested what it called an intervention of the Australian embassy on the controversy involving Lafayette Philippines Inc. saying the issue emanating from the twin toxic spill last year in Rapu-Rapu island in Albay province was between a private mining company and the people of the Republic of the Philippines, and not between the Filipino people and the Australian embassy in Manila.

“This is tantamount to foreign intervention,” the militant fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said in a press statement, copies of which were distributed during a press briefing called by Defend Patrimony and Kalikasan-People’s Network for the Environment.

“ The Australian Embassy in Manila has no political and moral business to engage the Filipino public over this issue of national plunder and environmental destruction. It has no political and moral rights to meddle and raise above the occasion in defense of an alien destroyer,” said Fernando Hicap, Pamalakaya national chair and one of the convenors of Defend Patrimony and Kalikasan environmental group.

Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Tony Hely yesterday urged the Philippine government to allow Lafayette to commence testing operations as soon as possible so that all stakeholders an judge an objective and scientific basis, whether Lafayette operation is now in a position to meet the government’s appropriately high standards and safeguards.

The Australian envoy had assured the government that Lafayette mining firm has met all compliance requirements mandated by the national government in the aftermath of twin toxic spill incidents October last year.

“ Malacañang should file a diplomatic protest over this act of foreign intervention. If President Arroyo refuses to file protest, we will do it for the Filipino people and for the Australian people who are raged by their own government’s insensitivity to the plight of the Filipinos and the environment,” Hicap said.

Pamalakaya’s Hicap said the whitewash of the case against Lafayette Philippines Inc. is 100 percent sure because Malacañang is hell bent to allow Lafayette and will not go against the recommendations of the Australian Embassy in Manila.

“ The massacre of truth, justice and accountability involving this transnational mining monopoly is in the offing because Malacañang, the environment and natural resources department and the Australian embassy in Manila are working in high level of conspiracy to acquit Lafayette. They seemed to be unstoppable but wholesale condemnation would hound them 24 hours and 7 days a week,” he said.

Pamalakaya backed Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes plan to issue a strongly worded letter to President Arroyo if she ignores the panel’s recommendation to stop mining in Rapu-Rapu Island. Earlier, Malacañang through Press Secretary and Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye allayed fears that the administration will ban mining activities in the country, after the commission came out with their report last week suggesting the closure of Lafayette mining in Albay.

Pamalakaya said Bishop Bastes and 8 other members of the Rapu-Rapu Fact Finding Mission Commission were just taken to a roller coaster ride by Malacañang, because of its’ refusal to honor the findings and the recommendations of the Bastes-led probe body on the two toxic spills caused by Lafayette operations last year.

“ The honest, good intention and pro-people advocacy of Bishop Bastes was grossly bastardized by the Arroyo regime for the sake of image building, while the truth of the matter is Malacañang on full speed ahead preparing the red carpet welcome for the grand comeback of Lafayette. This is highly revolting,” the militant group said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 04:52 | link | comments |

Rapu-Rapu fact-finding mission report as evidence
Palace dared: Charge Lafayette owners

Leaders of the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pamalakaya on Sunday dared President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to file criminal and civil charges against the owners of Lafayette Philippines Inc. on the strength of the findings of the Palace-created Rapu-Rapu Fact Finding Commission recommending the scrapping of the environmental compliance certificate issued to the Australian owned mining firm for violating 11 of the 29 conditions stated in its’ environmental compliance certificate.

“ The ball is now in Malacañang’s court. The Filipino public is now waiting for the concrete and politically correct action that should be undertaken by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the name of public accountability and national interest,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.

Hicap added: “ Malacañang should ready the charge sheet against Lafayette anytime this week. This is a make or break situation for Mrs. Arroyo and the rabid pro-mining group in the Palace.”

Pamalakaya said criminal and civil charges should be pressed against Lafayette country manager Rod Watt, including the past and present board of directors of the Australian mining firm before any regular court.

“ Malacañang has to choose between the interest of the people and the interest of its’ mining client in Australia. Will President Arroyo go against the anti-mining Gospel of Bishop Arturo Bastes in favor of the multi-million peso commission the Office of the Presidency from Lafayette mining?” the group said.

Pamalakaya said the statement issued by Press Secretary and Palace spokesperson Ignacio Bunye assuring foreign mining investors that mining is still a government priority was tantamount to rejection of the Bastes’ commission report calling for the closure of Lafayette mining operations in Rapu-Rapu Island.

“ Malacañang merely exploit the Rapu-Rapu commission it created in vain try to please and calm down the protesting bishops of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines and the people staging a collective mass upheaval against Lafayette mining. Now, Malacañang is singing the same pro-mining tune, despite the objective and collective report of the commission calling for Lafayette’s closure,” the group said.

Pamalakaya said it is set to file an ex-parte motion for the speedy resolution of the case against Lafayette officials on June 1 before the Office of the Ombudsman, saying the findings of the Bastes commission on Lafayette further bolstered their claims that President Arroyo, owners of Lafayette and other government officials committed major blunder in connection with the operations of the Australian mining firm.

“ We are now holding consultations with our lawyers regarding the next legal move against Lafayette and government officials accountable for the twin toxic spills last year. What is definite is that we will file the motion on or before June 1,” the group said.

The militant group filed criminal and administrative charges against President Arroyo, other government officials and Lafayette owners on February 14 this year, accusing them of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards Among Public Officials and several environmental laws.

Aside from President Arroyo and Lafayette officials, those charged in the Pamalakaya complaint included Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, former environment Secretary Michael Defensor and DENR Region V officials. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 06:26 | link | comments |

Militants to assert legality despite Palparan’s move to outlaw them

Militants on Sunday vowed to assert their legality and status in the parliamentary struggle in response to Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan suggestion to pass a new law outlawing the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its’ alleged front organizations.

“ We will not leave the legal and the parliamentary arena. We will assert our legality by all means, at all cost and whatever it takes,” said Pamalakaya information officer Gerry Albert Corpuz in a press statement.

“ The criminal Palparan has no legal, moral and political business in calling for our elimination in the legal and parliamentary struggle. We will not allow this Palace-bred serial killer of mass activists to persistently and continuously execute and justify the left-and-right killings in the name of Malacañang’s national security doctrine and survival of the corrupt and illegitimate presidency of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,” the Pamalakaya information officer said.

Palparan on Saturday said the repeal of Republic Act 1700 or the Anti-Subversion Law was a mistake, because it enabled the legal fronts of the CPP to infiltrate the government through party list organizations referring to Bayan Muna, Anakpawis and Gabriela.

The Anti-Subversion Law was repealed during the time of former President Fidel Ramos, which political analysts said was a political move to convince and accommodate leftist organizations and leaders to join the legal and parliamentary arena.

The rabid anti-communist military general said although party list organizations are legal, they are doing illegal activities, citing the military allegations of a tactical alliance between the CPP-NPA, the party list groups and other opposition parties to topple the Macapagal-Arroyo administration.

“ What is illegal in marching to the streets and demand President Arroyo’s resignation and account for her crimes of corruption, election fraud, serialized killings of mass activists and anti-people programs and policies? What is illegal is raising placards containing Mrs. Arroyo’s anti-national acts against the people? This favorite general of Mrs. Arroyo also needs psychiatric treatment just like the two Gonzales in the Cabinet,” Corpuz said.

“ Gen. Palparan is engaged in psy war and political polemics when he proposed the passage or revival of the Anti-Subversion Law at the expense of legitimate and politically correct political and people’s organizations,” Pamalakaya said.

Pamalakaya said the proposal of Gen. Palparan to outlaw even party list organizations and other militant groups was a clear violation of the 1987 Constitution, which guarantees the people to get involve in nation building and form themselves into associations of people for clear and legal advocacy work.

“ Palparan could also be charged of inciting to sedition like Justice Secretary Gonzales for pushing mass activists to abandon their legal and parliamentary cause and wage their battle in the hills,” the group said.

Pamalakaya said lawmakers in both Houses of Congress should cross party lines and issue joint or separate statements denouncing Palparan’s challenge for them to outlaw the CPP and its’ alleged front organizations.

“ The arrogant Palparan is insulting the sense of the House of Representatives and the Philippine Senate when he made the proposal for legislators to revive the Anti-Subversion Law and outlaw people’s organizations just like in the years of Marcos dictatorship,” the group said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 06:25 | link | comments |

Big rally set on June 9 against Palace-made scam
Complainants impose 22-day deadline to Ombudsman to resolve
P 728-million fertilizer fund scam

Complainants to the P 728-million fertilizer scam have given the Office of the Ombudsman 22 more days to act on their “class case” against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, former agriculture secretary Luis Lorenzo and undersecretary Jocelyn “ Joc-joc” Bolante, whom they charged of plunder and other graft charges on June 3, 2004 in the connection with the release of government funds months before the May 10, 2004 national elections.

Leaders of the activist peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and the leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) today filed a “ motion urging the Office of the Ombudsman to speed up the investigation of the fertilizer fund scam in the name of national interest, truth and justice”.

“ The 22-day deadline for Ombudswoman Atty. Merceditas Gutierrez is enough and reasonable. We strongly urge her office to decide this case with finality holding President Arroyo and her fertilizer scam gang responsible and accountable,” the KMP and Pamalakaya said in a joint press statement.

KMP Secretary General Danilo Ramos said the motion for speedy resolution was filed because the Office of the Ombudsman had not acted upon on the plunder complaints they filed on June 3, 2004 against the President and her officials who masterminded the fertilizer scam to generate funds for the election campaign of Mrs. Arroyo last May 2004 national elections.

“ It is a make or break for the Office of the Ombudsman. Any wrong judgment on this biggest highway robbery in broad daylight will eliminate any basis for this office existence. It is time for Atty. Gutierrez to resolve this case in favor of the Filipino peasants and the general public and not on the narrow interest of the present occupant in Malacañang,” Ramos said.

Ramos said more than 5,000 peasant and rural folk activists from Central Luzon, Cagayan Valley, Ilocos and Cordillera regions, Southern Tagalog and Bicol regions will troop to the Office of the Ombudsman on June 9 to demand the resolution of their case.

“ We expect the Office of the Ombudsman to file plunder and other criminal and administrative charges against President Arroyo and other government officials implicated in the fertilizer scam before the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court on or before June 9,” the militant leader said.

10 reasons why the GMA fertilizer fund is a scam

For his part, Pamalakaya national chairperson Fernando Hicap cited 10 reasons why the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) fund is a scam.

1. Nobody in the Department of Agriculture knew of the existence of the farm inputs and implements program because not a single document supports the existence of such program.
2. The fertilizer fund was a single appropriation meant only for 2004, which was implemented only during the election campaign that suggests of its immoral objective and illicit purpose.
3. The corruption in the fertilizer fund was manifested by overpricing, blatant violations of the procurement law and gross wastage of scarce government resources as shown by the COA audit reports.
4. The funds were released during the traditional harvest season when fertilizers are no use because planting time officially begins in November.
5. The discovery of ghost and questionable suppliers.
6. Frisco Malabanan, Director, GMA Rice Program said the program only requires P 28.613 million and not P 2.806 B worth of fertilizers.
7. The DA supplied foliar fertilizer, which is used for ornamental plants and not for rice.
8. The wrong and overpriced kind of fertilizer for rice was even diluted with water.
9. Undersecretary Bolante listed 105 congressmen, 53 governors and 23 mayors as recipients of the fertilizer fund to justify the immediate release of funds.
10. Bolante made the list attractive by including a number of politicians as proponents, while the truth and in fact, their names were just used to lend credence to the highly questionable project.

“ We hope these 10 reasons why the GMA fertilizer should be billed as the grandmother of all scam in the new millennium should convince the Office of the Ombudsman to make a wise judgment and act accordingly to the collective interest of the people,” Hicap said.

“ Please allow us to remind the Ombudsman’s office that it is constitutionally, morally and politically mandated by the Filipino people and the taxpaying public to act in the name of truth, justice and accountability and not on the syndicated interest of the Arroyo-Bolante gang behind the fertilizer fund scam,” Pamalakaya’s Hicap further added. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 05:22 | link | comments |

Witnesses willing to testify on killings as long as probe is conducted by UN Human Rights Council, 2 militant groups say

Two of the militant groups on Wednesday said a number of witnesses to the resurgence of political assassination against leaders and members of left-leaning groups are willing to testify against alleged perpetrators of extrajudicial killings on the condition that the investigation would be conducted by the UN Human Rights Council or local trusted groups like the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and the Philippine Senate.

“ The witnesses are willing to come out in the open to testify against the perpetrators but they are afraid of possible reprisal of the death squads commissioned by the national security cluster of Malacañang, the military and the national police tasked to go after and execute leaders and members of militant groups,” the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas and Pamalakaya said in a joint statement.

“ They don’t trust the task force created by Malacañang to look into these politically motivated killings orchestrated by the state under Oplan Bantay Laya. They don’t trust the Witness Protection Program of the Department of Justice. They don’t want to be part of Malacañang’s general masquerade and political mockery of truth,” KMP Deputy Secretary General for External Affairs Randal Echanis said.

Echanis said, the witnesses had informed them they would testify only if the probing body is proven impartial, credible and objective, saying they are thinking over a hundred times on whether to cooperate with the Arroyo-called Task Force Usig chaired by PNP Deputy Director Avelino Razon Jr.

“ We cannot blame them if they refuse to cooperate with Task Force Usig. They said it is a Malacañang plot for publicity and media mileage in the name of public image building and to cover up the national crimes of the President. That’s why they are insisting a UN Human Rights Council probe or a CBCP-Senate-CHR task force,” the KMP official said.

For his part, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said Task Force is not a credible and impartial investigating body since it is created by President Arroyo- the national lead political element behind this series of political killings.

“ President Arroyo is the chief suspect behind this endless festival of political killings across the country victimizing leaders and ordinary members of militant groups at all levels. The military project Oplan Bantay Laya made her and her administration as a roaming free national serial killer and murderer of activists across the archipelago,’ Hicap said.

The Pamalakaya leader said the summary executions conducted against leaders and members of the left-leaning groups should cause major alarm among the leadership and mass members of the UN Human Rights Council, which elected the Philippines as one of the members of the 47-member nations of the influential human rights body.

Yesterday, 70-year old peasant activist Jose Doton, chair of the KMP affiliated Timawa peasant alliance and Bayan-Pangasinan secretary general was gunned down by alleged military assassins. He was the fifth activist killed this week, the 27th activist leader killed in Central Luzon, the 67th activist leader slain this year and the 585th activist murdered since 2001.

“ The UN Human Rights Council should intervene, public condemn before the international community the government-sanctioned massacre of civil liberties and human rights and ask President Arroyo to stop her policy of political assassinations and summary executions of leaders and ordinary members of left-leaning groups in the country, “ Hicap added. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 09:05 | link | comments |

Pamalakaya wants DoJ, PNP and AFP out of investigation
Militants eye Senate-CBCP-CHR probe on political slays

The left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Monday urged top leaders of the Philippine Senate, the influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines and Commission on Human Rights to lead the investigation on alleged military crackdown against aboveground leaders and mass members of left-leaning groups tagged by government and military officials as front organizations of the underground Communist Party of the Philippines.

“ We appeal to our Senators, bishops and human rights commissioners to initiate a joint or separate inquiry to the left and right killings of political activists across the country which was made possible by a national policy of Malacañang and operated by dispersed units of assassins hired by the state,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

“ We don’t trust the Malacañang’s task force including the probers in the DoJ, the PNP and the AFP. They are nothing but paid hacks of the criminal regime and agents of the bloodthirsty administration of Mrs. Arroyo,” Hicap added.

Hicap said any probe initiated by the Department of Justice, the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines will not be welcomed or recognized by families and colleagues of the victims because Malacañang will just use its’ own investigation to whitewash the case and save its’ mercenaries from any legal, political and moral condemnation by the Filipino people.

“ We don’t want this long search for truth and justice reduced into another mockery. The perpetrators of this never ending political assassinations and elimination by agents of the state must be held accountable and the first step is to stop Malacañang from exploiting this issue for its own sinister agenda and cruel intentions,” the militant leader said.

Pamalakaya made the appeal for a Senate-CBCP-CHR inquiry on the unbridled killings of leftwing activists, a day after another Bayan Muna leader in San Fernando City, Pampanga was shot dead by alleged military assassins posing as customers after ordering beers in a videoke bar.

The militant group said the national security cluster in Malacañang together with the justice department and the interior and local government is trying to recycle the old history of bloody purges in the communist movement in the 80s to cover up Malacañang national campaign on the physical elimination of militant leaders and members, whom National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales and other security officers tagged as members of the communist party and very effective in exposing and opposing the President’s crimes against the people.

“ What sequel the Macapagal-Arroyo administration is talking about? As far as we are concerned President Arroyo has reinvented and applied Oplan Phoenix in the Philippines to persecute and eliminate those groups and persons rejecting her illegitimate and immoral rule,” Pamalakaya said referring to the US-backed counter-insurgency in Vietnam in the 60s where leaders and members of aboveground leftist groups were summarily executed by the joint US and pro-US Vietnamese counter-insurgency operatives.

The group said the killings were perpetrated by the military and its’ hired assassins. It is an open book to the public as prescribed by existing national security documents and based on the national pronouncements of the national security adviser, the justice secretary and top officials of the AFP. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 09:04 | link | comments |

Pamalakaya invites UN Human Rights Council to probe killings, rejects PNP role in probe
Leftist group asked PGMA: Did you order
the killing of Bayan Muna members?

Colleagues of slain Bayan Muna activists in Cagayan Valley today asked President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo if she had a hand in the cold-blooded murder of Bayan Muna-Cagayan Valley secretary general Elena Mendiola and live-in partner Ricardo Balauag who were shot and killed Wednesday night in Barangay Garit Sur, Echague, Isabela province.

The leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) demanded a categorical answer from President Arroyo who arrived yesterday from a state visit to Saudi Arabia.

“We want a honest-to-goodness yes or no answer from President Arroyo. Did she order the brutal assassination of Mendiola and Balauag? Who among members of her administration’s death squad executed the killing of our dear colleagues in Cagayan Valley?” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

The militant leader likewise challenged President Arroyo and the national security cluster in Malacañang composed of Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, PNP Director General Arturo Lomibao, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Generoso Senga, Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, Presidential Management Staff chief Michael Defensor and Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales to break their silence on unbridled killings of leftwing activists in the country.

“The paid assassins who comprised the administration’s death squad spread all over the country receive direct orders from the national security syndicate in Malacañang. This truth can never be denied by the Macapagal-Arroyo administration, even if they raise their denials and objections to high heavens or down hell,” Hicap said.

Bayan Muna said the murder of Mendiola and Balauag raised to 91 the total of its members killed beginning April 2001, the period when the Macapagal-Arroyo government and the military began implementing a national policy of eliminating leaders and mass members of militant organizations, which it claimed as front groups for the underground Communist Party of the Philippines, the National Democratic Front and the New People’s Army.

Appeal to UN Human Rights Council

Pamalakaya said the unstoppable killings of leftwing activists merits the attention of the United Nations Human Rights Council, in which the Philippine government was earlier granted in the influential international body.

“ We appeal to the members of the UN Human Rights Council to come over to the Philippines and discover for themselves the extent of human rights violations and summary executions of mass activists perpetrated by the Arroyo government and its’ paid mercenaries and attack dogs in the country,” the militant group said.

Pamalakaya said they will formally write the UN human rights body to address the spate of political killings of leftwing activists by alleged state agents in the country, which the group claimed were done to please the United States, the colonial state army and rabid anti-Left allies of President Arroyo.









PNP role in the probe rejected

While the militant group is pursuing a UN-led probe on the killings of leftist activists, Pamalakaya rejected the idea of allowing the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Management to lead a probe establishing the pattern to the murders.

Pamalakaya made the reaction after PNP spokesperson Senior Supt. Samuel Pagdilao said there was no factual basis to blame the killings on the security units of the government. However he said the PNP would be tasked to establish the pattern that victimizes scores of activists over the past five years.

“What would happen to the investigation? The PNP is operating under the directives and orders of the principal suspect and her accomplices in the wave of political killings. This is disgusting, the PNP is part of the problem, not a solution to this never ending crime of political killings and persecution,” the group said.

Pamalakaya said the PNP is daydreaming when it claimed that leaders and members of militant groups would seek their assistance, saying it would be hard for relatives and supporters of slain activists to seek their help and cooperate with the PNP for the speedy resolution of the case.

“ What we need is an independent probe body, not the PNP-led nor the DoJ-NBI led investigation that would soon whitewash the case especially if it would directly or indirectly involve the Office of the President, the AFP and their bosses and clients in the national police,” the group said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 03:32 | link | comments |

Palace takeover of Pagcor, PCSO linked to Chacha drive

Opponents of Charter Change on Thursday said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has taken back direct control of government cash cows- the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to provide financial support to the pro-Charter Change offensive and the planned plebiscite for Chacha on the second half the year.

Before re-assuming control of Pagcor and PCSO, President Arroyo on March 27 signed Executive Order 520, which mandated the return of the two government cash cows to the direct supervision of the Office of the President, as Mrs. Arroyo named Presidential Management Staff chief Michael Defensor as the new head of the PCSO.

“ That’s the game plan. We don’t know other cruel intentions of President Arroyo aside from Chacha, the plebiscite and corruption when she took back the reins of Pagcor and PCSO, other than these three wanting reasons of the ruling Macapagal-Arroyo mafia in Malacañang,” said the leftwing fisherfolk group Pamalakaya in a press statement.

Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said the Office of the President wants full control of Pagcor and PCSO funds to enable President Arroyo to dispose cash advances to finance the national political propaganda blitzkrieg for Chacha and the logistical and technical requirements for the scheduled plebiscite on June or July this year.

Hicap said the government needs at least P 1 B to fund the Charter Change drive, excluding the budget for the holding of plebiscite, since no items were approved by the House of Representatives for the holding of plebiscite on the proposed revision of the 1987 Constitution.

“ President Arroyo and her cabal of Charter Change fanatics and gigsters will deny this to high heavens. But the unfolding turn of events are leading us to this objective and logical conclusion that Pagcor and PSCO money are inclined to be spent for pro-Chacha purposes,” Hicap added.

Palace officials said the move was made to ensure quick and sufficient funding for the President’s multi-billion-peso social projects, such as mass housing, food subsidies, medical services, education and utilities, although nearly one-third of the P 1 trillion peso budget for 2006 was already allocated for President Arroyo’s social service projects.

But Pamalakaya belied Malacañang’s statements that the takeover of Pagcor and PCSO was meant to improve the delivery and quality of social services to the people. “ The delivery and improvement of basic social services is not President Arroyo’s cup of tea. The control of government cash cows was meant to support the Chacha train express and perpetuate the President’s illegal stay in power,” the group said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 03:29 | link | comments |

Militants eye force retirement for DoJ Sec Gonzales due to old age, health problem

Having a change of heart towards one of the most hated cabinet members of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo?

Not exactly, but critics both of the President and her justice secretary Raul Gonzales today advised the controversial top official of the Department of Justice to retire due to old age and health problem and rest in his hometown province rather than engaged in daily heated arguments with leaders of leftwing groups and mainstream opposition parties.

The left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Wednesday urged Sec. Gonzales to quit as chief of the DoJ and spend the rest of his life on earth without hurting ordinary people and persecuting persons fighting for truth, justice and accountability.

“Sec. Gonzales is too old. He is mentally and physically weak, morally and politically incapable to hold the justice portfolio. He has no sense of justice and objectivity and he is totally engrossed in one-sided affair to attack critics of the President. All conditions are there for him to have force retirement,” the leftwing group said in a press statement.

Pamalakaya said Malacañang is exploiting his weakness physically, morally, politically and mentally speaking to make him the no.1 hate symbol for the sinister purpose of diverting public attention from his principal and the ruling gangland in the Palace.

For humanitarian reason, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap argued that said President Arroyo should stop using the mentally and physically incapacitated Gonzales and refrain from using taxpayers money for Gonzales’ monthly salaries and benefits. “ If President Arroyo and the likes of Executive Secretary Ermita, Michael Defensor and National Security Adviser still has some common sense, the won’t allow Gonzales to engage in a full-blown shooting war with the President’s critics,” he said.

Gonzales, 75 years old, a native and former congressman of Iloilo is reportedly injuring kidney
problems and currently undergoing a dialysis. But the DoJ secretary said his kidney problem was a non-issue, and that he was mentally and physically fit to continue his job.

The militant leader said President Arroyo and the national security cluster had allowed Gonzales to single handedly confront the issue of Batasan 5 and Anakpawis party list Rep. Crispin Beltran reducing the justice secretary into a shock absorber for the embattled Macapagal-Arroyo presidency.

Hicap said upon retirement from public office, Sec.Gonzales should also make a public apology for his role in helping President Arroyo pursued the political crackdown and persecution of her rabid critics and political opponents, and for using the justice department as staging ground for these political attacks.

Yesterday, Pamalakaya and other militant groups engaged in heated verbal tussle with Sec. Gonzales after the latter told militant lawmakers to go back to the mountain on the same day Bayan Muna party list Reps. Satur Ocampo, Teddy Casiño and Joel Virador, Anakpawis party list Rep. Rafael Mariano and Gabriela Party list Rep. Liza Maza went out of the Batasan Complex by virtue of the decision of the Makati RTC judge rejecting the amended complaint filed by the DoJ charging 5 militant lawmakers of rebellion.

Pamalakaya on Tuesday asked Secretary Gonzales to see a psychiatrist for behaving extremely; saying the behavior of the controversial secretary was highly unusual, disparaging and worthy of public condemnation. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 03:27 | link | comments |

Militant groups to dispatch “ army of freedom fighters
” to escort Batasan 5
Which will prevail the rule of law or the rule of the political syndicate in Malacañang?

Leaders of the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas on Sunday urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to uphold the rule of law and not the injustice project of the Department of Justice (DoJ) in connection with the decision of the five militant lawmakers to leave the Batasan complex after a Makati RTC Judge Jenny Lind Delorino rejected on Thursday an amended complaint filed by the department.

“ This is another litmus test for the PNP. Which will prevail on Monday, the rule of law or the rule of the ruling political syndicate in Malacañang?” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.

“ We hope the PNP will be true to their words that they would uphold the rule of law and not syndicated rule of the unholy trinity of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the DoJ and the national security cluster in Malacañang,” he added.

Hicap said militant groups supporting the fight of six militant lawmakers slapped with rebellion charges along with other military rebels by the Macapagal-Arroyo government will deploy an “ army of freedom fighters” to welcome and escort Bayan Muna Reps. Satur Ocampo, Teddy Casiño and Joel Virador, Anakpawis party list Rep. Rafael Mariano and Gabriela Party list Rep. Liza Maza as they leave the Batasan premises on Monday.

“ We will make it sure that this will become a successful homecoming political party among street parliamentarians outside the gate of the House of the Representatives. We strongly ask the PNP not to spoil this political event by enforcing warrantless arrest as dictated by the DoJ. If they are for the Constitution and for the rule of law, they won’t pursue such evil plan,” the militant leader said.

Hicap did not mention how many people will gather in Batasan Complex on Monday to greet and escort the five militant lawmakers, but he said it was a policy mob, meaning all staff, supporters and activists of different militant organizations and party list groups are required to go to Batasan to give support to the left-leaning lawmakers.

“ It could be hundreds or could be thousands. As of now we cannot give a total headcount of those people who would troop to Batasan to welcome the militant housemates. What is important is we are there to celebrate as the militant lawmakers reclaim their freedom from the dark forces and evil empire of President Arroyo,” Pamalakaya said.

Pamalakaya urged the PNP to go back to their senses and uphold and follow the decision of the Makati RTC in its blow-by-blow account. The message is clear-there’s no case against Ocampo and company and no arrest warrants are served to them,” the militant leader said.

In a press conference held inside the Batasan complex, the five lawmakers announced that they would leave and asserted that the government had no case against them based on the ruling of Judge Delorino rejecting outrightly the amended complaint linking them to an alleged coup last February 24 together with former Senator Gringo Honasan and 48 others.

Bayan Muna Rep. Ocampo said they would sue administration officials should the police insist on arresting them, while colleage Casiño said, although the Batasan 5 won’t resist arrest, it would still be politically bloody for the Macapagal-Arroyo administration if it would pursue their warrantless arrest.

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 03:26 | link | comments |

Public apology, resignation pressed
“PGMA should say sorry for dispersal
of rallies, illegal arrests and media raids”- Pamalakaya

Aside from tendering her irrevocable resignation, along with the resignations of those who conspired to execute the controversial Presidential Proclamation 1017, critics of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo also asked her to apologize for the violent dispersal of rallies, illegal arrests of opposition forces and raids on media outfits critical of her administration.

“ Aside from giving up the presidency, PGMA should say sorry for dispersal of rallies, illegal arrests and raids on media institutions and face the consequences of her brutal acts against the people,” the militant group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said in a press statement.

The Supreme Court, in a 11-3 ruling, while declaring PP 1017 constitutional, said the illegal arrests of protesters, the forcible break up of rallies, and the raid on newspaper office that were carried out in the name of State of National Emergency were illegal and constituted shades of Ferdinand Marcos martial law edict.

“ The high court ruling is 50 percent short because it failed to recognize the cruel intentions of
PP 1017 which the basis of petitioners to declare the edict illegal. However, Malacañang has to be held accountable for the massacre of the Bill of Rights and persecution of critics,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap.

“ Despite the SC ruling upholding the constitutionality of PP 1017, Malacañang has nothing to celebrate. She can declare PP 1017 whenever she wants to declare. But definitely she can’t arrest people, break up rallies and harass media and that’s ironic for her,” Hicap said.

“ What’s Mrs. Arroyo next move after the high court nullified her arrest and raiding powers? Send her critics to firing squad and later ask the court if it is legal and constitutional? That is not a remote possibility given the track record of her regime in scoring political assassination against her critics,” Pamalakaya asked.

The group said the Supreme Court ruling on PP 1017 should nullify the illegal arrest conducted by police authorities on Anakpawis party list Rep. Crispin Beltran, who was arrested without warrant by operatives of the PNP-CIDG on Feb.25.

“ The decision of SC on PP 1017, specifically on warrantless arrest must compel the PNP to release Rep. Beltran from detention. There’s no legal basis for his arrest and continued detention in the hands of police,” Pamalakaya said.

Pamalakaya likewise echoed proposal of some anti-Arroyo politicians that those victims of illegal arrests, violent break up of rallies and raids on media outfits should file criminal and administrative charges before the Office of the Ombudsman or any regular court.

The militant group said those who should be in charge aside from President Arroyo are Department of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Defense secretary Atty. Avelino Cruz Jr., National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzalez, PNP Chief Arturo Lomibao and other members of the Cabinet security cluster of Malacañang.

“ It is an open book that these people conspired and planned to breath life to this Marcosian edict. They should be held accountable for bringing back Martial Law in flesh and in spirit,” Pamalakaya added. #

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

Let war on EO 464 escalates into a full-blown shooting war
Senate asked to drop maximum tolerance
against EO 464 sanctioned officials

Staunch critics of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Thursday asked the Senate leadership to drop its maximum tolerance policy against cabinet members and other government officials who refused to attend Senate hearings by invoking the controversial gag order Executive Order 464, which was declared unconstitutional last week.

“ The Senate should drop its maximum tolerance and instead use its legislative powers to summon and compel those officials who want to cover up the truth for the sake of their principal in Malacañang,” the left-leaning fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said in a press statement.

“ Let the war on EO 464 escalates into a full-blown shooting war. Malacañang is asking for it, the Senate is highly obliged to match and fight it out whatever it takes,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap.

The militant leader said Malacañang had disobeyed the Supreme Court ruling on EO 464 by maintaining the gag order and disallowing cabinet officials from attending Senate hearings. He said Malacañang’s latest directive for Cabinet officials to snub Senate hearings was in direct contempt and total disregard of the high tribunal decision on EO 464.

Last Tuesday, Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, Trade Secretary Peter Favila and BIR Commissioner Jose Buñag failed to show up at the scheduled hearing of the Senate Ways and Means Committee chaired by Sen. Ralph Recto.

Pamalakaya said Teves, Favila and Buñag acted like “ political untouchables” because the gag order was still in placed despite the Supreme Court ruling against EO 464 and such blanket authority remains a tall order of the day as far as Malacañang officials are concerned.

“ The senate is constitutionally and legally empowered to exercise its’ own police powers and therefore it has the mandate to cite these officials in contempt and order their arrest in soonest time possible for breaking the law and for violating the constitution,” Hicap added.

Pamalakaya said the boycott of three government officials of the hearing of the Senate Ways and Means Committee last Tuesday, the first after the high court nullified EO 464 was part of the ongoing campaign of Malacañang to reduce the critical Senate as collective body of low-life and powerless political persons. #

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

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