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

Why rely on typhoons to get rid of oil spill?
Pamalakaya says government trivializing clean up

Leftwing activists belonging to Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Thursday scored the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), after undersecretary Graciano Yumul Jr. yesterday said two or three typhoons would normally wash out the bunker fuel from the sunken MT Solar 1, which has spoiled beaches, poisoned mangrove areas and contaminated the rich fishing areas in Visayan Sea.

“ Why rely on typhoons? The DOST must be stopped from trivializing this issue for God’s sake. It is praying for super calamities to get rid of super profit-induced ecological disaster and this is foul. Give us a break,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

“ As this government agency name suggests, the Macapagal-Arroyo administration must explore science and technology to fast-track the clean up, go beyond its narrow role as data bank on the Guimaras oil spill and refrain from issuing incredible and ridiculous statements that would insult the collective intelligence and national sentiment of the people,” Hicap added.

Pamalakaya said it would be so apathetic on the part of the DOST to wait for 2 to 3 super typhoons to wash out spilled oil off Guimaras Island.

“ Does it mean we have to wait for 3 super typhoons to get rid of the 1.3 million liters of bunker fuel which have leaked from the sunken tanker? Does it mean that we have to wait for 3 typhoons to flush out the remaining 800,000 liters of bunker fuel inside the sunken tanker? This is not science and technology, this is a doctrine way back the Jurassic era,” the militant group said.

Pamalakaya further said: “The Guimaras environmental catastrophe is tantamount to national massacre of environment and people’s livelihood and welfare. It is undeniably a crime against humanity, a heinous crime committed against present and future generations, but the DOST reduced this case into mere data gathering activity while dishing out irresponsible and out of this world recommendations.”

The militant group said instead of relying heavily on natural means like typhoons, the DOST must recommend to the government the mass mobilization of government troops and police for the clean up. It said the employment of large-scale human force is proven effective in containing the spread of oil spill to other areas.

Earlier, Pamalakaya suggested Malacañang to mobilize at least 10,000 troops and 5,000 policemen to help in the clean up operations. The group said expenses should be drawn from Petron Corp.’s account and not from public funds.

The militant group also urged DOST to support demands urging Petron Corp., the national government and Sunshine Maritime Development Corp. owner of MT Solar 1 to set aside P 10-B in total seed fund for the clean up operations.

Pamalakaya maintained that biggest oil spill recorded in local history was not an accident or God imposed disaster to test the faith of the people of this nation as what Malacañang and corporate officials of Petron want public opinion to shape to set the stage for a grand cover up and walk-in-the park escape for those responsible for this ecological catastrophe.

“The Guimaras massacre is destined to happen because of unpardonable gross irresponsibility and unfathomable greed on the part of private entities and the national government represented by the maritime authority, the group said #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 07:47 | link | comments |

Another international group hits GMA on political killings
Slay of Pamalakaya leader in Bulacan shocked global fisherfolk group

The international group World Forum of Fisher People (WFFP), a worldwide alliance of fish worker and small fisherfolk organizations was the latest foreign association to condemn the spate of political killings in the country.

The WFPP member countries include the Philippines as represented by Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, New Zealand, Kenya, Mauritania, France, Spain, Canada, Honduras, Uganda, Mali, Senegal and partner networks in Brazil, Mexico, Portugal, The Netherlands, Switzerland, South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Vatican City, United Kingdom, Algeria, the United States, Madagascar, Italy, Norway, Bangladesh, Jordan, Germany, Chile and Columbia.

“ We were shocked to hear and extremely worried about the killings of fisherfolk leaders and activists in the Philippines. The killing of Pamalakaya leader Orlando Rivera by alleged military elements in Obando, Bulacan and the marking of “x” of the house of Sonny de Armas, another Pamalakaya official in the same fishing village is highly condemnable,” said Herman Kumara, WFFP general secretary.

“ We are now very much concern about the life of de Armas and 11 other fisherfolk leaders in Obando, Bulacan. We are in solidarity with the victims and we want to convey our message against the present situation involving political killings in the Philippines,” Kumara said.

On August 16, four bonnet-wearing assassins, armed with .45 caliber pistols, barged into the house of Rivera and shot the victim dead, while de Armas’ house in the same fishing village was marked “X” confirming report that he too was also included in the military’s order of battle. “ The political killings are going on in every corner of the Philippines. We cannot accept these killings and we do not want to hear such killings anymore. We urge President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to take every possible step to protect the life as well as the welfare of the fisherfolk and other sectors involved in advocacy work like Pamalakaya and other groups in the Philippines,” Kumara added.

The WFFP also noted that while the Philippines is a democratic country, the government has no space for the voice of the people. The international fisherfolk alliance said the government should allow the people to take a strong stand against issues, which are detrimental to the lives and livelihood of poor sectors like the fisherfolk.

“ We hope Mrs. Arroyo would allow the fisherfolk and the people to stand up against the issues, which they want to change for the benefit of the people. The killings of leftwing activists, leaders and members of social movements in the Philippines is not the right response and we will not tolerate such action of the Philippine state,” WFFP added.

Meanwhile, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said the issue of Rivera and other fisherfolk leaders killed since 2001 will be brought to the WFFP International Coordinating Committee meeting in Basque, France this coming November.

Hicap said aside from Rivera’s case, they would also report the case of Pedro Gonzales, Pamalakaya national vice-chairperson, who survived an ambush last May 2004, the brutal killings of Roger Perez, Pamalakaya-Quezon vice chair and Bayan Muna coordinator in Quezon in post-May 2004 elections, Isaias Manano Jr., Pamalakaya-Southern Tagalog-Secretary General who was killed in Calapan City in Mindoro Oriental in April 2004, and the summary executions of Anthony Martinez, Oscar Sacdalan and Vidal Lalong Isip, all Pamalakaya-Puerto Galera leaders in September 2003.

“ We will ask the WFFP to support and endorse the filing of war crimes and grave human rights violations against the Republic of Death Squads headed by President Arroyo, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, Army Major Gen. Jovito Palparan and other top defense and military officials before the United Nations Human Rights Council,” Hicap said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 07:45 | link | comments |

2 more activists in Bulacan abducted, mauled by military, Pamalakaya report says

Two more fisherfolk activists in Barangay San Roque, Hagonoy, Bulacan were reportedly abducted and mauled by government troops last night. Reports reaching the national headquarters of the fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said fishpond caretakers Poly Bautista and wife Pia were abducted by military agents belonging to Task Force Bulacan headed by Lt. Col. Rogelio Boac.

“ They were snatched last night and were mauled by their abductors. Poly is still missing, while his wife Pia was brought to Hagonoy District Hospital,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement. Initial reports said the Bautistas were resting few meters away from the fishpond they guard, when troops allegedly belonging to Task Force Bulacan under the command of Lt. Col. Boac came to their hut and dragged them out of their nipa hut.

The Bautistas are active members of Pamalakaya local chapter Samahan ng Bantay Palaisdaan (Association of Fishpond Caretakers), as well as members of the militant party list group Anakpawis. The two work as fishpond caretakers for Dr. Benny Castro.

“ The Task Force formed by Army Maj. General Jovito Palparan under his protégé Lt. Col. Boac is the military group operating in that area and we have no suspects other than this group who made an earlier pronouncement that they will get rid the barangay of Pamalakaya and Anakpawis members, “ Hicap asserted.

Last month, Palparan announced that Pamalakaya and Anakpawis leaders and mass members in Obando, Bulacan, Malolos, Paombong and Hagonoy towns will be singled out in the anti-insurgency campaign of the government. The controversial army officer had accused Pamalakaya of extorting
P 50,000 from fishpond owners, intimidating or forcing fisherfolk to join the New People’s Army and causing trouble to the residents of five coastal towns.

Last July 21, Pamalakaya filed a P 21-million libel case against Palparan for branding Pamalakaya as front group of the CPP-NPA-NDF and for singling out the group and its ally Anakpawis party list in the counter-insurgency campaign in Bulacan. On August 16, Pamalakaya-Obando leader Orlando Rivera was shot dead inside his house by four-bonnet wearing assassins believed to be members of Palparan’s death squad operating in Bulacan province.

Also yesterday, the international group World Forum of Fisher People (WFFP), a worldwide alliance of fish worker and small fisherfolk organizations was the latest foreign association to condemn the spate of political killings in the country.

The WFPP member countries include the Philippines as represented by Pamalakaya, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, New Zealand, Kenya, Mauritania, France, Spain, Canada, Honduras, Uganda, Mali, Senegal and partner networks in Brazil, Mexico, Portugal, The Netherlands, Switzerland, South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Vatican City, United Kingdom, Algeria, the United States, Madagascar, Italy, Norway, Bangladesh, Jordan, Germany, Chile and Columbia.

“ We were shocked to hear and extremely worried about the killings of fisherfolk leaders and activists in the Philippines. The killing of Pamalakaya leader Orlando Rivera by alleged military elements in Obando, Bulacan and the marking of “x” of the house of Sonny de Armas, another Pamalakaya official in the same fishing village is highly condemnable,” said Herman Kumara, WFFP general secretary.

“ We are now very much concern about the life of de Armas and 11 other fisherfolk leaders in Obando, Bulacan. We are in solidarity with the victims and we want to convey our message against the present situation involving political killings in the Philippines,” Kumara said. The WFFP also noted that while the Philippines is a democratic country, the government has no space for the voice of the people. The international fisherfolk alliance said the government should allow the people to take a strong stand against issues, which are detrimental to the lives and livelihood of poor sectors like the fisherfolk. “ We hope Mrs. Arroyo would allow the fisherfolk and the people to stand up against the issues, which they want to change for the benefit of the people. The killings of leftwing activists, leaders and members of social movements in the Philippines is not the right response and we will not tolerate such action of the Philippine state,” WFFP added. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 07:44 | link | comments |

Anti-Chacha group happy, but maintains high level of vigilance despite Comelec rejection of people’s initiative

Leaders of the left-wing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said they were happy with the decision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) unanimously denying the petition of the pro-Chacha Sigaw ng Bayan for a people’s initiative to revise the 1987 Constitution.

“ We are happy because the commissioners came to their senses and reject this syndicated approach to cannibalize the 1987 charter through the bogus, immoral and illegitimate people’s initiative orchestrated by mercenaries enlisted in the under the table payroll of Malacañang,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

After two hours of closed-door meeting, the Comelec meeting en banc said the election body had chosen not to entertain or take cognizance of the petition, citing the previous Supreme Court ruling on the case filed by Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago against Comelec in 1997. The Comelec bars itself from entertaining any petition on people’s initiative for lack of enabling law.

But the militant group said the war against Charter Change is not yet over, citing the plan of Sigaw ng Bayan and Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (Ulap) to bring the case to the Supreme Court.

Pamalakaya said Sigaw ng Bayan and Ulap were further exposed to the public when they submitted questionable and fraud-driven signatures to Comelec last August 25. The militant group said Arroyo's pro-Chacha lackeys had already lost he battle over public opinion and they would be challenged by anti-Chacha groups in the parliament of the streets.

" The score in the legal arena is 1-0 in favor of anti-Chacha. This is a good start. We are anticipating a major political and legal battle at the Supreme Court, because President Arroyo's Chacha boys will explore the high court to clinch Chacha at all cost," Hicap said.

But Pamalakaya information officer Gerry Albert Corpuz still lambasted Comelec Chief Benjamin Abalos, Resurreccion Borra, Florentino Tuason, Rene Sarmiento, Nicodemo Ferrer, and Romeo Brawner for issuing a collective statement that the signatures gathered by the petitioners "appeared to meet" the required 12 percent of the national voting population and three percent of the voting population in each legislative district.

" This is a foul statement. A statement that would further embolden the brains behind the people's initiative to pursue their evil agenda in and out of Comelec and in and out of the Supreme Court," Corpuz added.

Corpuz said Abalos and company were trying to swindle the Filipino people because while they reject the people's initiative based on the Supreme Court ruling, they are issuing an editorial opinion putting premium on these illegally and fraudulently gathered signatures.

" How come they are talking about the required 12 percent signatures, when in fact they are barred from taking cognizance of the petition of Sigaw ng Bayan. Something fishy is going on here," he said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 07:42 | link | comments |

Melo commission told: Please don’t give us false hopes

Still highly skeptical of the President created commission on political killings, leftwing militants
belonging to the fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) asked former Supreme Court associate justice Jose Melo not give families, relatives and colleagues of victims of extra-judicial killings false hopes.

“If the Melo commission wants to prove something then go, but please don’t give us false hopes and make us fresh victims of Mrs. Arroyo’s political grandstanding and psy war on extra-judicial killings. The mastermind will not allow herself to play villain in her own created production,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

Melo, head of the Palace-created independent commission to look after extra-judicial killings on media personalities and leftwing activists, yesterday declared that there will be no sacred cows, stressing that it would even investigate President Arroyo, aside from controversial Army Maj. General Jovito Palparan on the issue of political killings. “ The statement is strong but to good to be true. The Melo Commission must prove to the Filipino people that it can exercise strong political will and are ready to score a giant kill not on press releases but in real life,” Hicap asserted.

However, Pamalakaya supported the proposal of Anakpawis party list Rep. Rafael Mariano for the commission to immediately summon Armed Forces Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon, Palparan, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and other top ranking officials of the Northern Luzon and Southern Luzon Command, including the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (Isafp) to explain Oplan Bantay Laya, which the leftwing groups called the ‘ bible’ used by armed agents of the state to assassinate leftist activists and other critics of President Arroyo.

“ The suggestion of Rep. Mariano is an acid test to the Melo Commission. Let us see how this GMA-created body will fare with the sponsors and military backers of Mrs. Arroyo’s death squads all over the country,” the militant group said. “ The Melo commission can summon and compel Palparan to attend the hearing, but not his bosses in the national security syndicate in Malacañang. What if Palace invokes Executive Order 464, Memorandum Circular 108 and its own national security doctrine? Ex-Justice Melo has no option but to disband the commission and tell Mrs. Arroyo and her security officials to go to hell,” Pamalakaya said.

The militant group said the presence of Arroyo boys in the Melo commission was discouraging and disgusting, saying they would only spoil whatever the independent commission would try to achieve if there’s any. Pamalakaya said NBI Chief Nelson Mantaring and Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño were designated by Malacañang to put obstacles on what Melo intends to do on the commission that might implicate and incriminate the Presidency and Mrs. Arroyo’s loyal generals and security officials.

The militant group affirmed its’ position that the Senate could initiate an independent commission on political killings that can be headed by well respected personalities like former Senator Wigberto Tañada and Mrs. Nini Quezon-Avanceña, with representatives from credible groups such as the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), the Counsel for the Defense of Civil Liberties (Codal), the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) and human rights watchdogs like Karapatan and the Ecumenical Movement for Justice and Peace (EMJP).

Pamalakaya said representatives of United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the London-based Amnesty International (AI), the Hong Kong based Asian Human Rights Center (AHRC), Reporters Without Borders and International Association of Progressive Lawyers (IAPL), International Peasant Solidarity Mission (IPSM) and other credible organizations can sit as observers on an independent commission that would be formed by Senate in aid of legislation. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 03:02 | link | comments |

Hello Melo

GMA: Hello Melo
Melo: Yes mam
GMA: Mapapabango ba ako sa international community ng commission natin?
Melo: Pipilitin po natin mam
GMA: Ah ok. Ok
Melo: Sige ho

GMA: Hello Melo
Melo: Hello po mam
GMA: Sabi ng human rights group, yong Karapatan, 741 na raw biktima ng extra-judicial killings?
Melo: Based po iyon sa record nila mam
GMA: Do you think we can reduce their statistics to 100?
Melo: Tingnan po natin mam, nahihirapan ho tayong bawasan ang statistics sa Central Luzon at Southern Tagalog, aktibo po ang death squad ninyo dyan mam

GMA: Hello Melo
Melo: Yes po mam
GMA: Napababa na ba natin yung bilang ng biktima ng political killings?
Melo: Mam inaasikaso na ho ng mga tao natin yung…..
GMA: Yung bawas, yung bawas
Melo: Sige po mam

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

Let truth, justice and accountability prevail on Guimaras Massacre

A position paper prepared by Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on the occasion of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on the Clean Water Act of 2004 and the Guimaras Oil Spill
August 28, 2004

The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), a national alliance of small fisherfolk organizations composed of 43 provincial organizations and 80,000 individual members, condemns in strongest possible terms the latest oil spill off Guimaras Island.

The biggest oil spill recorded in local history was not an accident or God imposed disaster to test the faith of the people of this nation as what Malacañang and corporate officials of Petron want public opinion to shape to set the stage for a grand cover up and walk-in-the park escape for those responsible for this ecological catastrophe.

The Guimaras massacre is destined to happen because of unpardonable gross irresponsibility and unfathomable greed on the part of private entities and the national government represented by the maritime authority.

The government’s culpability is highly registered here because MARINA had complete knowledge and full consent of the series of conversion of MT Solar 1 from a tanker in 1988 to a chemical tanker in 1989 to oil tanker at present and its incapability to perform its task as chartered oil tanker.

Senator Jamby Madrigal, who exposed this information to the media last Friday, dismissed the sunken ship as one of the floating coffins sailing in Philippine waters, and for us Solar 1was more of a floating atomic bomb ready to unleash terror in high seas. The pro-environment senator also said there’s a strong evidence that the ship was overloaded and all available air space between the cofferdams were loaded with oil, forcing the ship to lose trim and stability.

The Guimaras environmental catastrophe is tantamount to national massacre of environment and people’s livelihood and welfare. It is undeniably a crime against humanity, a heinous crime committed against present and future generations and a national felony against the collective interest of our fisherpeople and the 85 million Filipinos across the nation.

Last week, our chapters in Guimaras, Iloilo and Negros Occidental provinces dispatched reports confirming the previous assessment of Guimaras governor on the situation and far-reaching effects of the oil spill which were summarized as follows:

-4,000 fisherfolk families or 26,000 individuals in 22 barangays of Nueva Valencia lost their livelihood, 7 wharves were destroyed, 13 resorts, 9 fishing grounds, 7 scenic views, four diversities and a cave were mutated by the oil spill, 453 hectares of mangrove area and 116 hectares of seaweed plantation and 220 kilometers of coastline were decimated and contaminated as a result of Petron Corp.’s patent rush for super profits, which is sad to say is sanctioned and institutionalized by the present government.

Behind the reported statistics of environmental destruction, of people losing their livelihood and getting sick due to harmful effects of oil spill and mushrooming of so-called investigating groups like Task Force Guimaras created by Malacañang and Ligtas Guimaras of Petron Corp. the national question pertaining to truth, justice and accountability remains unanswered over the last two weeks.

It is so arrogant of Malacañang and Petron Corp. to form their respective investigating bodies to arrive at the truth, where in fact, these entities should be investigated and in the near future charged for their gross negligence and irresponsibility that caused extreme damage to environment and marine life and the economic being and health condition of impoverished coastal people in Guimaras Island and nearby coastal municipalities of Iloilo and Negros Occidental.

Aside from the appropriate government agencies, which should be summoned and investigated by this joint oversight committee, namely the Philippine Coast Guard, Maritime Authority (MARINA), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, this investigating entity should also call the corporate and operating personnel of Petron Corp. and Sunshine Maritime Development Corp.

In strong pursuance to our legitimate, legal and moral call for truth, justice and accountability we reiterate the following demands to this respected committee:

1. In aid of legislation, this honorable body designates an independent commission on the Guimaras oil spill that would be comprised by representatives of environmental expertise groups, church and academic institutions, people’s organizations, pro-environment non-government organizations, lawyers’ group like the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and other stakeholders representing the interest of the environment and the people.
2. A Senate edict or resolution directing Petron Corp., its parent company Saudi Aramco, Sunshine Maritime Development Corp and the national government of setting aside P 10-B seed fund for speedy clean up of the spilled oil and retrieval of possible toxic wastes, and for economic and rehabilitation efforts.
3. Mobilization of 15,000 government troops for the speedy clean up of oil spill. Even in advanced countries like Japan and the United States, the employment of massive human force is still the most effective way to combat the spread of oil spill. As of now only 700 local folk are mobilized for the clean up.
4. A Senate resolution directing the Office of the President to set aside P 2 billion of her audit free social funds for economic aid, and another P 2 billion to be drawn from the
P 46.4 B supplemental budget asked by Malacañang.
5. Support the filing of class suit being planned by local government officials and small fishermen against Petron Corp. and other perpetrators of the environmental disaster off Guimaras Island.



For the fisherfolk,


FERNANDO LAROGA HICAP
National Chairperson, Pamalakaya

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 02:59 | link | comments |

Pamalakaya slams Petron’s refusal to cough up P 10 billion clean up expenses
Visayas wide fisherfolk revolt in the offing against Petron’s refusal to shoulder cost of clean up operations

A Visayas wide fisherfolk revolt is in the offing after Petron Corp. issued an statement to a stock exchange in Manila that it has no obligation to shoulder the cost of cleaning up a massive oil slick from a sunken chartered it commission

“ If that is the case, Petron and its client government- the Macapagal-Arroyo administration have no option but to face us in a round-the-clock political showdown in the parliament of the streets, in the battle over public opinion and in any appropriate court,” the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said in a press statement.

Petron said it was not under any legal or contractual obligation to set aside P 10-B in economic aid or to post a 100-million peso bond to pay for clean up under pertinent Philippine Coast Guard circulars. It said it is the Sunshine Maritime Development Corp. that should carry the cost of clean up operations. Pamalakaya had earlier pressed Petron Corp. to set aside P 10-B for the clean up operations.

The left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) warned Petron and Malacañang of fisherfolk led massive protests in the capitals of Guimaras, Iloilo, Cebu and Negros Occidental if Petron and the Palace-created task force fail to contain the worst environmental sea disaster.

“This environmental tragedy perpetrated by Petron Corp. in collaboration with the national government will literally and politically speaking launch a thousand ships carrying protesters and angry fishermen and residents,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement. “ They better accomplish their assignments or face a Visayas wide fisherfolk revolt,” Hicap warned.

The militant leader said Pamalakaya’s provincial chapters in Guimaras, Iloilo, Cebu and Negros Occidental will hold a meeting on September to discuss what appropriate actions they would do to hold Petron and Malacañang liable for the biggest maritime disaster of all time.

Pamalakaya’s Hicap said he would propose a Visayas wide fluvial protest on the third or last week of September denouncing not only the slow pace of clean up undertaken by the national government and Petron Corp, but as well present its four point agenda before the public.

The four point agenda or set of demands carried by Pamalakaya: 1). Compel Petron Corp. to set aside at least P 10-B bond for the oil clean up, relief and rehabilitation activities off Guimaras Island and nearby affected provinces 2). Mobilize at least 15,000 government troops for the clean up to speed up the process including the retrieval of Solar 1 3). Force the Office of the President to set aside a separate P 2 billion to be drawn from Mrs. Arroyo’s social funds to provide immediate economic relief 4). Call on the people of Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Iloilo and Cebu to support a class suit against Petron to be filed either in a local court or in the United States.

Pamalakaya’s Hicap said the P 100-million bond asked by the Philippine Coast Guard from Petron was not enough to cover the daily expenses including mobilization of labor force for the clean up. He proposed that an initial P 1-B should be set aside since the expenses could reach P 14 million a week or P 56 million a month and that does not include economic assistance and other logistical needs for the operations.

Pamalakaya insisted that the mobilization of 15,000 government troops for the clean up is necessary to speed up the clean operations, saying advanced technologies and instruments will not work out without the heavy application of human labor. The group said even in highly advanced countries like the United States, Japan and Europe, the employment of massive human labor for clean up operations was the decisive factor in the fast track clean up operations on cases of big oil spill. #

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

Militant group says P 10-B is a seed fund to contain Guimaras oil spill
Pamalakaya urges DENR Sec. Reyes to impose P 10-billion bond vs. Petron on Guimaras oil spill

The left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Thursday pressed environment and natural resources Secretary Angelo Reyes to impose a P 10-billion bond against Petron Corp. which the group blamed for the biggest and destructive oil spill in the country’s history.

In a press statement, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said Secretary Reyes was treating the corporate owners of Petron Corp. with kid gloves and that the DENR chief was not in his fighting mood when it comes to multinational interest like the leading oil company.

“The DENR Secretary is legally and constitutionally empowered and mandated to act accordingly to collective sentiment of the people. But Secretary Reyes is not doing his assignment and was totally afraid to confront the transnational masters of Petron. Is he a puppet and willing servant of this giant environmental criminal?” Hicap asked.

Hicap suspected that Malacañang and Sec.Reyes will not go all-out against Petron Corp. because they don’t want to offend the biggest oil firm in the country. The militant leader said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the DENR secretary are after the financial, political and material support of Petron Corp., which is expected to be delivered to them come the campaign period during 2007 national elections.

“It is an open book that Petron Corp is one of the biggest contributors of election campaign funds during poll season. It is the obvious reason why nobody wants to force a political showdown with the front runner of the ruling oil cartel in the country,” the militant leader stressed.

Pamalakaya since last week had called on owners of Petron Corp. to set aside P 10-B for the clean up operations and economic assistance to affected fishermen in 22 barangays in Nueva Valencia in Guimaras province. The oil firm, in a statement sent to Philippine Stock Exchange yesterday, said it is not legally obliged to fund the ongoing clean up operations off Guimaras Island.

For his part, Pamalakaya information officer Gerry Albert Corpuz said in case Secretary Reyes refused to impose a P 10-billion bond on Petron, his group would lobby a proposal at the House of Representatives and the Philippine Senate to enact a special law that would compel Petron Corp. to allocate P 10 billion peso as seed fund for the ongoing clean up operations, including economic relief and rehabilitation efforts needed by affected residents and communities.

“ The P10 billion seed fund for Guimaras oil spill is materially necessary to fast-track the clean up operations and diffuse the ecological time bomb caused by Petron’s obsession for super profits and penchant for destroying the environment,” Corpuz said.

The group’s information chief said the P 10-Billion seed fund will be drawn from Petron’s account and not from taxpayers’ money. Corpuz said, aside from the P 10-B seed fund, his group will also ask lawmakers to pass a resolution authorizing the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to mobilize 15,000 government troops for the clean up operations.

“ Even in advanced countries like the United States and Japan, they mobilize thousands of their armed forces to help in clean up operations and such practice reaped quick good results for the people,” Corpuz stressed. #

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

Pamalakaya cites Ecuador class suit against Chevron Texaco in 2003
Petron may face class suit over Guimaras oil spill, says militant group

Petron Corp., the biggest oil company in the country, which is implicated in the largest oil spill in history, may face a class suit bigger than the class suit filed by 10,000 human rights victims during the Marcos dictatorship.

The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), a national federation of small fisherfolk organization in the country said the Saudi Aramco-owned oil firm should be held accountable for economic and environmental crimes.

“A class suit can be filed against Petron either in the Philippines or in any appropriate international court,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement. “Something must be done to stop transnational giant like Petron from destroying our environment and people’s livelihood,” he added.

“ The case People of the Philippines vs. Petron Corp should be filed here and abroad in the name of truth, justice and accountability. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the no.1client of this exploiting and environmental disaster-ridden company should be named as accomplice of Petron,” Pamalakaya added.

The militant group said filing a class suit against an oil firm accused of destroying the marine environment and people’s livelihood with millions of liters of spilled oil, had several precedents in the past. The most recent, Pamalakaya said, was the class-action suit filed by Ecuadorians against Chevron Texaco in 2003, which was charged for dumping over 18 million gallons of toxic in Aguarico River between 1964 and 1992.

In 1998, Pamalakaya said, Texaco undertook a $ 40 million clean up. Although the Ecuadoran government released Texaco of its obligations, people resisted and still pushed through with the filing of a class suit against the oil firm in a United States court.

The federal appeals court in New York ruled in 2002 that the case against Texaco should be tried in Ecuador, but in a landmark decision, the court also warned that any judgment against the oil company by the Ecuadoran court would be enforced in the United States.

Pamalakaya said over 30,000 Amazonian peasants and Indians; aimed at teaching foreign oil companies to conduct their operations in foreign land responsibly supported the class-suit action against Texaco. “The Petron engineered, Malacañang sanctioned oil spill was not an accident. It resulted from Petron’s great rush for super profits, nothing more, nothing less,” the group said.

Earlier the group pressed Petron Corp. to cough up at least P 10-B to finance the logistical and technical requirements for the clean up, and to provide economic assistance to affected fishermen and residents in 22 barangays of Nueva Valencia town in Guimaras province. Pamalakaya had also called Malacañang to mobilize 15,000 government troops for the speedy clean up of the oil spill.

Reports reaching Pamalakaya national office in Quezon City revealed that as of August 15, three-days after the oil spill, four thousand families or approximately 26,000 individuals, all dependent on fishing were economically displaced due to the heavy oil spill.

The reports also said more or less 20 barangays, 6 wharfs, 13 resorts, 9 fishing grounds, four
diversities, 7 scenic views and a cave were affected by the oil spill off Guimaras Island. Around 453 hectares of mangrove areas had been destroyed, while 58 hectares of seaweed plantation were contaminated. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 07:36 | link | comments |

Leftwing group urges Malacañang to dispatch 15,000 AFP troops to clean up oil spill off Guimaras Island

On top of the heavy financial requirement, the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Sunday pressed Malacañang to dispatch at least 15,000 government troops to help in the clean up drive of the oil pill off Guimaras Island in Western Visayas.

Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap urged the Macapagal-Arroyo administration to mobilize 10,000 to 15,000 members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to speed up the clean up operations, saying the mobilization of the AFP in the clean up drive for three to six months is necessary to prevent further damage to marine life and economy of small fishermen.

“ Why not pull out 5,000 troops from Luzon, 5,000 troops from Visayas and from 5,000 troops from Mindanao and task these mercenaries to do at least something good for the people and the environment, instead of making them busy for unjust and senseless war?” Hicap said in a press statement.

The militant leader said the expenses should be drawn from the account of Petron Corp. and not from the taxpayers’ money in reaction to latest government move to use P 300,000 of public funds daily to finance the logistical requirement of the clean up.

“ Why use our taxpayers’ hard-earned money? Mrs. Arroyo is passing the burden to the taxpaying public to please and appease the corporate masters of Petron Corp. This is grossly insulting and revolting to the highest level,” asked Hicap.

Hicap dared Petron to immediately set aside P 10-B for the relief and rehabilitation effort being undertaken right now to attend to the immediate economic needs of the affected sectors and to fast-track the clean up operations off Guimaras Island and nearby coastal areas in Negros Occidental.

“ Petron is politically, legally and morally obligated to spend billions of their accumulated super profits to caution the impact of the Guimaras tragedy. This exploiting firm should not be allowed to escape their obligations and the government should not allow Petron from staging their walk-in-the park escape. That would be unfair and unjust to the people,”

Pamalakaya likewise pressed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to set aside P 1.B from her social funds and another P 1 billion peso from her audit free intelligence fund to augment the relief and rehabilitation effort undertaken by the provincial government of Guimaras.

The militant group earlier said the largest oil spill in history had affected over 15,000 fishermen in Guimaras Island and four coastal towns in Negros Occidental. Hicap pegged income lost for small fishermen between P 3 to P 5 million a day or roughly P 30 million to P 50 million since Friday last week.

Hicap dared the biggest oil company in the country to immediately set aside P 10-B for the relief and rehabilitation effort being undertaken right now to attend to the immediate economic needs of the affected sectors and to fast-track the clean up operations off Guimaras Island and nearby coastal areas in Negros Occidental.

“ Petron is politically, legally and morally obligated to spend billions of their accumulated super profits to caution the impact of the Guimaras tragedy. They should not be allowed to flee from their obligations and the government should not allow this exploiting oil firm from staging their walk-in-the park escape. That would be unfair and unjust to the people,” Hicap added.

Pamalakaya likewise pressed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to set aside P 1.B from her social funds and another P 1 billion peso from her audit free intelligence fund to augment the relief and rehabilitation effort undertaken by the provincial government of Guimaras. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 03:14 | link | comments |

Pamalakaya leaders reject DENR probe on Guimaras oil spill
Hunger awaits 15,000 fisherfolk in Guimaras and Negros Occidental

Leaders of the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Friday outrightly rejected the move of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Angelo Reyes to investigate the biggest oil spill in history, saying Reyes and the national government lack credibility and would only result to whitewash.

" Secretary Reyes is not the right person and the DENR is not the right institution to investigate the accountability and liability of Petron Corp. and Sunshine Maritime Development Corporation. If that would be the case, we will have Lafayette part 2 in the offing," Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

Hicap said the Office of the President and the DENR are setting the stage for the walk-in-the park escape of Petron Corp. and the owner of the vessel contracted by the oil company.

" Malacañang and Secretary Reyes are determined to take the leader of the oil cartel and its partner in crime off the hook. This is the message Secretary Reyes wants to impart to the public when his office initiated the investigation on the massive oil spill off Guimaras Island.

Pamalakaya-Negros Occidental secretary general Editho Namion confirmed Hicap's assertion that fisherfolk victims in Guimaras and Negros Occidental were highly skeptical of the DENR-led probe, adding that fishermen associations representing the victims of oil spill prefer an independent investigation.

" The level of distrust is very high. They fear Secretary Reyes would absolve Petron like what the government did to Lafayette Philippines Inc., an Australian-owned mining firm charged for two fatal toxic spills off Rapu-Rapu waters in Albay last year," the Bacolod-based Pamalakaya leader said.

Pamalakaya-Negros said the oil spill will send over 15,000 fisherfolks in Guimaras and Negros Occidental to extreme state of hunger and poverty. The group said the clean up may take 2-3 years because of the slow clean up operation undertaken by the Macapagal-Arroyo government.

" The Guimaras oil spill is seven times bigger than the Semirara oil spill and it took the government over six months to finish the clean up operation. Based on this data, the government could only finish roughly 300,000 metric tons of oil within the six month period," Pamalakaya said.

Pamalakaya likewise questioned the move of the government to use P 300,000 of taxpayers money daily for the clean up, saying it is the Saudi Aramco, the US-Arabian owned oil firm and the Sunshine Maritime Development Corp. that should shoulder the expenses.

" Why use our taxpayers' hard-earned money? Mrs. Arroyo is passing the burden to the taxpaying public to please and appease the corporate masters of Petron Corp. This is grossly insulting and revolting to the highest level," the militant group added.

Pamalakaya recounted that the Philippine government failed to provide any assistance to the victims of last year's oil spill off Semirara Island. The group said no repot was sent to them that fisherfolk victims in affected barangays in Semirara were given quick economic aid by the government last year.

" The same fate is going to happen again and this environmental tragedy is going to last for a lifetime unless the Arroyo government takes this matter seriously and quit from reducing the issue to mere recital of statistics," the group said. Pamalakaya is set to lobby next week its proposal for a joint or separate congressional inquiry on the latest oil spill off the coastal of Guimaras Island. The group said they would personally ask opposition Senator Jamby Madrigal, Bayan Muna party list Rep. Joel Virador and Anakpawis party list Rep. Rafael Mariano to initiate the Senate and House investigation on the Guimaras oil spill. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 04:16 | link | comments |

Pamalakaya rejects Palace commission on political killings

Leaders of the leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Friday rejected the proposed Malacañang commission that would look into the unstoppable killings of leftist militants across the country.

" We will not cooperate with any Palace-initiated investigation on political killings. We will not deal with the mastermind of the 728 extra-judicial killings," Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said Malacañang was planning to put up a powerful commission that will probe the killing of journalists and activists. The Palace spokesman said a retired Supreme Court Justice topping the short list of appointees to be named by President Arroyo will head the powerful body.

" Let them talk to their own shadows, but as far as the families and other relatives of the victims are concerned, they would not give premium to this national masquerade and roller-coaster escapade being planned by President Arroyo and the national security syndicate in Malacañang," Hicap said.

Pamalakaya's rejection of Palace commission on political killings came a day after the US-based United Methodist Church issued a strongly worded statement calling US President George W. Bush to apply pressure on the Philippine government to respect civil liberties and human rights and enforce effective policing and judicial process.

Last Wednesday, Orlando Rivera, 49 years old, and leader of Pamalakaya-Obando chapter was gunned down by alleged military assassins inside his house, while the door of another Pamalakaya-Obando leader Sonny de Armas was marked X by supposedly military agents.

Pamalakaya said only an independent and credible commission would enjoy their trust and convince them to participate in the investigation to resolve the spate of political killings in the country. " We were not born yesterday, not to understand the sinister agenda behind Malacañang's formation of its' own commission on political killings," the group said.

The militant group said the military in Bulacan under the command of Major General Jovito Palparan is hunting down 12 others leaders of the group's local chapter in Obando, Bulacan.

Pamalakaya said the military maintained a list of 13 leaders of the group, who lead the fight last year against the Navotas dumpsite in Barangay Binuangan, Obando in Bulacan province.

"The 13 leaders of Pamalakaya in Obando are open target of military's active research and neutralization campaign under the Malacañang-Armed Forces of the Philippines' orchestrated Oplan Bantay Laya project. Rivera is dead and Palparan's death squad might soon pursue the assassination campaign on other 12 leaders in vain attempt to cleanse Obando of political activists and ordinary critics of President Arroyo," Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

" Rivera is the latest political activist offered by Palparan to Mrs. Arroyo's altar of political repression and state terror. This orgy of death and festival of killings in Central Luzon and other parts of the country will continue unless the Office of the President and the national security syndicate in Malacañang stop its' unbridled bloody campaign against political activists across-the-nation," Hicap stressed.

Hicap said the military suspected Pamalakaya leaders in Obando who led the series of blocking the barge carrying Metro Manila garbage to Navotas dumpsite were members of the New People's Army operating in the coastal towns of Bulacan.

Aside from Rivera, the 12 other fisherfolk leaders in military's close surveillance and in Palparan's order of battle are Ricardo de Armas, chairman of Pamalakaya-Bulacan, Sonny de Armas, Pamalakaya-Obando chair and Pamalakaya-Obando council of leaders Celso Balasta, Obet Calbadores, Adriano del Rosario, Racelito San Diego, Rey Silangan, Nading dela Cruz, Arthur Burgos, Isidro dela Cruz, Cecilio Alcantara and Virgilio del Rosario.

"If something bad happen to our colleagues in Obando, we will not hesitate to file scores of criminal charges against Palparan and other Mrs. Arroyo's paid assassins. As for Rivera's killers, including Palparan and his protégées in Bulacan, they will have their time in court in soonest possible time," Pamalakaya's Hicap added.

Pamalakaya said, next week it would formally ask the Senate Committee on Human Rights chaired by Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan and House Committee on Human rights chair Rep. Benny Abante (6th district, Manila) to conduct a separate or joint on-site congressional inquiry on the assassination of Rivera and the ongoing military campaign in Obando and other coastal areas in Bulacan.

" We appeal to Sen. Pangilinan and Rep. Abante to score a major political act in aid of legislation to stop the spate of killings and wholesale massacre of civil liberties and basic human rights in Obando and other parts of Central Luzon, which is now the biggest laboratory of the Arroyo administration for political assassination and state terror," the group said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 04:15 | link | comments |

Pamalakaya says clean up of oil spill in Guimaras could take 3 years
Leftist group backs call for Petron accountability on oil spill

Leaders of the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Thursday backed the proposal of the international environmentalist group Greenpeace to hold Petron Corp. and its partners including the government accountable for the damage to marine environment and fisherfolk livelihood caused by the oil spill off Guimaras island.

In a press statement, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said, based on the government past experience in oil spill clean up, the cleaning up this time might take 3 years or more because over 2 million liters of bunker fuel were spilled.

" The Guimaras oil spill is seven times bigger than the Semirara oil spill and it took the government over six months to finish the clean up operation. Based on this data, the government could only finish roughly 300,000 metric tons of oil within the six month period," Hicap said.

" If that is the case, then we can call the Guimaras oil spill incident as the biggest oil spill of all time and one of the most worst environmental tragedies of the millennium courtesy of Petron and its' client government under the Macapagal-Arroyo administration.

Hicap said over 3,000 small fisherfolk of Guimaras and nearby coastal towns in Negros Occidental were hardly hit by the oil spill incident. The militant leader said, its' regional chapter Pamalakaya-Negros said if the effect of oil spill will continue to worsen in the next couple of weeks, it could trigger the massive economic dislocation of not less than 10,000 small fishermen in Negros alone.

Pamalakaya asserted that Malacañang and Petron should immediately pursue the clean up operations to avoid any further negative impact of the oil spill. The group said President Arroyo and environment secretary Angelo Reyes could tap the services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to fast track the clean up operations.

" Malacañang wants us to join in scooping out the spilled oil. This is one crazy proposal. The fisherfolk victims of this environmental tragedy need economic, logistical and medical assistance, not insult and degradation from the Arroyo government. Why not mobilize thousands of mercenaries in the AFP for the quick retrieval of oil?" the militant group added.

Pamalakaya recounted that the Philippine government failed to provide any assistance to the victims of last year's oil spill off Semirara Island. The group said no repot was sent to them that fisherfolk victims in affected barangays in Semirara were given quick economic aid by the government last year.

" The same fate is going to happen again and this environmental tragedy is going to last for a lifetime unless the Arroyo government takes this matter seriously and quit from reducing the issue to mere recital of statistics," the group said.

Pamalakaya is set to lobby next week its proposal for a joint or separate congressional inquiry on the latest oil spill off the coastal of Guimaras Island. The group said they would personally ask opposition Senator Jamby Madrigal, Bayan Muna party list Rep. Joel Virador and Anakpawis party list Rep. Rafael Mariano to initiate the Senate and House investigation on the Guimaras oil spill.

" This environmental disaster deserves full-blown inquiry. Something must be done to stop Arroyo's transnational clients from destroying our marine environment," the group said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 04:14 | link | comments (1) |

12 Pamalakaya leaders in Obando in military's Order of Battle

Leaders of the leftwing fisherfolk alliance on Thursday said the military in Bulacan under the command of Major General Jovito Palparan is hunting down 12 others leaders of the group's local chapter in Obando, Bulacan.

The activist fisherfolk group Pamalakaya said the military maintained a list of 13 leaders of the group, who lead the fight last year against the Navotas dumpsite in Barangay Binuangan, Obando in Bulacan province. One of them, Orlando Rivera, 49 years old was gunned down by alleged military assassins yesterday inside his house.

The 13 Pamalakaya leaders were charged before the NBI last year by Phileco, a garbage contractor running the 10-hectare dumpsite near barangay Binuangan, for blocking the barge the firm used to ferry Metro Manila garbage to the dumpsite. A report says, the military got a copy of the 13 names of Pamalakaya leaders and used the NBI document as reference in their research against leaders and members of the militant group in Obando.

"The 13 leaders of Pamalakaya in Obando are open target of military's active research and neutralization campaign under the Malacañang-Armed Forces of the Philippines' orchestrated Oplan Bantay Laya project. Rivera is dead and Palparan's death squad might soon pursue the assassination campaign on other 12 leaders in vain attempt to cleanse Obando of political activists and ordinary critics of President Arroyo," Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

" Rivera is the latest political activist offered by Palparan to Mrs. Arroyo's altar of political repression and state terror. This orgy of death and festival of killings in Central Luzon and other parts of the country will continue unless the Office of the President and the national security syndicate in Malacañang stop its' unbridled bloody campaign against political activists across-the-nation," Hicap stressed.

Hicap said the military suspected Pamalakaya leaders in Obando who led the series of blocking the barge carrying Metro Manila garbage to Navotas dumpsite were members of the New People's Army operating in the coastal towns of Bulacan.

Aside from Rivera, the 12 other fisherfolk leaders in military's close surveillance and in Palparan's order of battle are Ricardo de Armas, chairman of Pamalakaya-Bulacan, Sonny de Armas, Pamalakaya-Obando chair and Pamalakaya-Obando council of leaders Celso Balasta, Obet Calbadores, Adriano del Rosario, Racelito San Diego, Rey Silangan, Nading dela Cruz, Arthur Burgos, Isidro dela Cruz, Cecilio Alcantara and Virgilio del Rosario.

"If something bad happen to our colleagues in Obando, we will not hesitate to file scores of criminal charges against Palparan and other Mrs. Arroyo's paid assassins. As for Rivera's killers, including Palparan and his protégées in Bulacan, they will have their time in court in soonest possible time," Pamalakaya's Hicap added.

Hicap said the house of Sonny de Armas had been marked X supposedly by military agents, while last April, some military men barged into the house of Ricardo de Armas in Barangay Purok 2, Binuangan to arrest de Armas but failed to get their target.

Pamalakaya said, next week it would formally ask the Senate Committee on Human Rights chaired by Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan and House Committee on Human rights chair Rep. Benny Abante (6th district, Manila) to conduct a separate or joint on-site congressional inquiry on the assassination of Rivera and the ongoing military campaign in Obando and other coastal areas in Bulacan.

" We appeal to Sen. Pangilinan and Rep. Abante to score a major political act in aid of legislation to stop the spate of killings and wholesale massacre of civil liberties and basic human rights in Obando and other parts of Central Luzon, which is now the biggest laboratory of the Arroyo administration for political assassination and state terror," the group said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 04:13 | link | comments (1) |

Pamalakaya leader in Bulacan gunned down by death squad
'Stop this orgy death, festival of killings', militants tell PGMA

Leaders of the leftwing fisherfolk alliance on Wednesday again challenged President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to stop the ongoing orgy of death and festival of killings in Central Luzon, less than 24 hours after one of its local leaders was gunned down by alleged members of military-backed death squad inside his house in Barangay Binuangan, Obando in Bulacan province.

" Orlando Rivera, 40 years old and a political activist actively involved in the fisherfolk community fight against an unwarranted dumpsite was the latest militant leader offered by the military to Arroyo's altar of state terrorism and political repression," Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

" Please give us the opportunity to rephrase Amnesty International's statement. To President Arroyo and Mr. Palparan and their entire criminal machinery in the AFP and PNP- Shame on you, all of you deserve to perish in the fires of hell for orchestrating the killing of our beloved leader in Obando", Hicap said.

Hicap added: "Barangay Binuangan is a small village saturated by elements of the military and Cafgus under the 56th IB of the Philippine Army with Lt. Col. Noel Clement at the helm, who is a rabid follower and top protégée of the Mrs. Arroyo's favorite general, Army Maj. Jovito Palparan. It is obvious Palparan and his men are behind this latest assassination."

Reports reaching Pamalakaya headquarters in Quezon City said that around 1 am, 4 bonnet-wearing assassins barged into the house of Rivera and shot him with .45 caliber pistol. " Binaril siya sa baba at tumagos ito sa kanyang ulo, may tama rin sa tiyan na tumagos sa kanyang likod at may tama rin sa isang palad," the report said. The report also said that the house of another Pamalakaya-Obando leader Sonny de Armas was marked X allegedly by military agents operating in the fishing village.

Rivera, was one of the 13 Pamalakaya leaders who were charged before the NBI for allegedly hijacking a barge, operated by garbage contractor Phileco and used to ferry Metro Manila garbage to Navotas dumpsite near Barangay Binuangan, Obando town. Pamalakaya has been spearheading the fight against the dumpsite and had blocked the barge several times to and from Navotas dumpsite because of the landfill's negative impact to livelihood and health of fisherfolk and residents.

Pamalakaya said the brutal murder of Rivera and the ongoing witch-hunt on other leaders of Pamalakaya in the coastal towns of Bulacan- Obando, Bulacan, Malolos, Paombong, Hagonoy and Calumpit was Palparan's response to the group's political decisiveness to bring the controversial army general to court, referring to the group's P 20-million libel case against Palparan filed before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court last July 21.

"Palparan was so outraged by the fact that Pamalakaya was the first people's organization to file criminal charges against him. He can't accept it being the most prized criminal element of the national security gang in Malacañang," the group said.

The militant group said they would not refer the case to Task Force Usig headed by PNP Deputy Director General Avelino Razon. " What's the use of bringing this case to Task Force Usig. It is just a waste of time. We will look for other venue where justice could still be served within the parliamentary arena and legal struggle, but definitely not in Razon's highly questionably body, period, period,period," Pamalakaya said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 04:11 | link | comments |

Pamalakaya pressed Joe de Venecia, CL and NL lawmakers
to stop 10,000 battle-ready troops in North Luzon

The left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Tuesday urged House Speaker Jose De Venecia and lawmakers from Central and Northern Luzon to stop the Northern Luzon Command from deploying 10,000 troops to abate what it called an” emerging bloodbath and festival of killings in the regions.

“ House Speaker Jose de Venecia and lawmakers of Central and Northern Luzon must stop their boss in Malacañang and the military syndicate of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from converting the rice granaries of North Luzon into a major killing field in the country,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

“ In aid of legislation, House Speaker de Venecia and other legislators in Northern provinces must do their assignment to save life, dignity, human rights and civil liberties from the massacring company of Mrs. Arroyo and her rabid military generals,” Hicap added.

The militant leader said with the mobilization of 10,000 government troops, he expects the number of victims of political killings in the regions to go up by over a hundred mile. Data said since 2005, at least 82 activists have been killed, while 40 have been missing in Central Luzon, which was largely blamed on controversial Army Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan.

“The mass murder of basic human rights and civil liberties in Central and Northern Luzon will continue as affirmed by this policy of militarization and political assassination of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration with the help of blood thirsty generals like Ramos and Palparan,” Hicap stressed.

Report says that all 10,000 troops under Nolcom command have been deployed to rebel fronts since last week, 50 percent of them were spread in Central Luzon provinces, where communist guerillas have mass bases, logistics and financial support, according to Nolcom Chief Maj. Gen. Bonifacio Ramos.

Pamalakaya’s Hicap urged de Venecia and other lawmakers from the region to immediately sponsor and pass a House resolution calling for the pullout of all government troops in Central and Northern Luzon to avoid another surge in human rights violations, political killings and gross disrespect of civil liberties.

“ We cannot allow this orgy of death and political killings to continue and let the people of the regions reduced into day-to-day collateral damage and victims of this illegitimate government which is working on political survival through sheer terror and unjust war,” he said.

Pamalakaya said the sending of 10,000 battle-ready troops to Central Luzon and Northern Luzon was also part of Mrs. Arroyo’s plan to clear this “ super region” of communist guerillas, leftwing activists and vocal critics of President Arroyo and pave way for the transnational plunder of both regions’ national resources.

“ The national security cluster in Malacañang, President Arroyo and her generals like Gen. Ramos and Palparan are moving heaven and earth to stop the rising tide of resistance in Central and Northern Luzon at the expense of their collective and individual survival as a ruling mafia,” the group said.

The Nolcom said soldiers from the 24th, 48th, 56th, 69th, 70th and 71st Infantry battalions of the Philippine Army, as well as the 3rd Infantry Brigade that had been pulled out from Mindanao in June, had been concentrated in the priority areas of Bulacan, Bataan, Zambales, Pampanga and Nueva Ecija. #



Militants no show on PNP’s multisectoral dialogue on political killings
Pamalakaya calls it an early morning Circus Show with Calderon and Razon acting like Palace clowns


As expected, leaders of leftwing groups boycotted the multisectoral conference on political killings initiated by the Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Calderon and Task Force Usig head Deputy Director Avelino Razon.

“ It’s like an early morning Circus show with the Chief of the national police and the head of Task Force Usig performing their roles to the hilt as clowns of the National Security Cluster in Malacañang,” the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said in a press statement.

“ Playing good supporting roles to this grand political escapade of the criminal regime are noted charlatans and swashbuckling and rabid anti-Left psychotics like Fr. Romeo Intengan of PDSP and Pastor Alcover Jr. of the Anad group. This is a real circus, literally and politically speaking,” Pamalakaya said.

“ We are happy and totally convinced that our boycott position made them talk with their own shadows. The grandiose and evil plot of the Calderon-Razon-Intengan-Alcover quartet to spoil our day and please Malacañang did not materialize,” the group added.

Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap further described the PNP-initiated dialogue a “ shameless attempt to cover up the truth on political killings and merely a publicity project for image building”. The militant leader further stressed that the multisectoral dialogue lacked credibility, highly skeptical and grossly reprehensible.

Aside from Pamalakaya, other militant groups which boycotted the multisectoral dialogue include the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), party lists Bayan Muna, Anakpawis and Gabriela, human rights watchdog Karapatan and families of victims of extra-judicial killings.

Last week, President Arroyo ordered a 10-week deadline to police authorities to resolve 10-cases and jail 10 suspects within the prescribed period. The PNP also announced a P 100,000 bounty for those who could help pinpoint the suspects behind the murder of leftwing activists and journalists and vowed to give protection for witnesses who want to come into the open and shed light on the killings of political activists.

Pamalakaya said that the PNP had their chance to prove to the public that they could help in solving the unbridled killings. “The cases of political killings had been brought to their attention since 2001, but they all fell on deaf ears. What the PNP did was to re-echo the military's psywar offensive and malicious communist baiting against the Left. How could we trust these people? They cannot blame us for keeping a no-show and hardline stance,” the group said.

Pamalakaya insisted that an independent body should investigate the spate of political killings of leftist activists, journalists and critics of the President.

The body shall be composed of representatives from the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), the Philippine Senate, House Minority in the House of Representatives, the Commission on Human Rights, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines and non-government human rights organizations, and militant and church groups. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 08:34 | link | comments (1) |

GMA, Noli dared: Go to Lebanon and lead rescue of OFWs

Leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Saturday challenged President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Vice-President Noli de Castro to personally attend to the rescue and evacuation operations of remaining overseas Filipino workers trapped in Lebanon.

“ We want the Gloria-Noli tandem, the two beneficiaries of the P 8-billion Owwa fund to personally lead the repatriation of not less than 30,000 OFWs in the war-torn Lebanon,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

The militant leader said President Arroyo and VP de Castro should bring along with them controversial Army Maj. General Jovito Palparan and the entire National Security Cluster of Malacañang composed of National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Presidential Management Staff chief Michael Defensor, AFP Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. and interior and local government secretary Ronaldo Puno.

“ If they are for the security of our people in Lebanon, Mrs. Arroyo and VP de Castro should mobilize the entire national security gang of Malacañang in the safe evacuation of OFWs. Not here but in Beirut,” Hicap said.

Evacuation by sea emerged yesterday as the only possible option for thousands of Filipinos trapped in war-torn Lebanon, after Israeli forces blasted bridges used by OFWs as escape route from Lebanon to Syria.

“ Gloria and Noli are politically obligated to lead the safe evacuation and repatriation of thousands of OFWs in Lebanon. Aside from making their presence felt both in flesh and in spirit, the two top officials of Arroyo republic who benefited much from the OFWs collective contributions are obliged to condemn the US-backed war of aggression being launched by the Israel government in Lebanon,” Hicap asserted.

The militant leader wondered why up to now President Arroyo and VP de Castro have not condemned the Israeli attack on Lebanon and have been reluctant to express support to the United Nation’s resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire to allow evacuation and medical operations for those trapped in the war-devastated country.

“ Gloria and Noli do not want to antagonize the United States and Israel for obvious reason, that is why they are not releasing any statement that would offend the super power and its client state in the Middle East,” Hicap argued.

VP De Castro, presidential adviser on OFWs and head of Task Force Lebanon said the escape route to Syria was destroyed after an Israeli bomb blasted the bridges linking the Beirut-Tripoli-Al-Arida Damascus evacuation route, which was used by fleeing Filipinos and other foreign nationals from Lebanon to Syria.

“ We all know that VP de Castro is a media person by profession and by heart. But this is not the time for plain reporting for hi, because there’s a lot of people in the press that would do the job. What the people need from him is a concrete action that would save and build lives. Mrs. Arroyo’s VP must contribute to the safe evacuation and repatriation of OFWs, period, period, period,” Pamalakaya added. #

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

Leftists want independent probe body to stop “orgy of death”
Pamalakaya to boycott PNP multisectoral conference on political killings next week

The leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Saturday said they would not attend the multisectoral conference on political killings to be called by the Philippine National Police (PNP), stressing that the police establishment lacked credibility and passion to resolve the murder of leftist activists and render justice to victims of extra-judicial killings.

“ We will not attend the PNP conference on political killings. For us this is not the appropriate venue. It is a hostile environment and the PNP personnel are perceived by many as actors or supporting actors in the sweeping implementation of present state policy on extra-judicial killings either as implementor or accomplices of the military backed, Malacañang sanctioned death squads,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

“ The PNP had their chance to prove their merits. The cases of political killings had been brought to their attention since 2001, but they all fell on deaf ears. What the PNP did was to re-echo the military’s psywar offensive and malicious communist baiting against the Left. How could we trust these people? They cannot blame us for keeping a no-show and hardline stance regarding this particular concern,” Hicap added.

Hicap clarified that the plan to boycott the PNP-led conference on political killings is only the position of his group Pamalakaya. Regarding other militant groups and allied organizations position on the issue, a separate consultation will be done among leftwing organizations whether to attend or not to attend next week’s police conference on political killings.

“ PNP Chief Director General Oscar Calderon must convince everybody and the general public that this conference on political killings is genuine, free from the dictates of the national security gang in Malacañang and ready to go for a giant kill like putting to full-blown investigation people like of Army Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, ex-Nolcom chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino, ex-Solcom chief Pedro Cabuay and national security adviser Norberto Gonzales,” the Pamalakaya leader said.

Pamalakaya insisted that an independent body should investigate the spate of political killings of leftist activists, journalists and critics of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo rather pin their hopes on the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Justice (DoJ), which the President gave 10-week deadline to resolve political killings.

Pamalakaya said a Truth, Justice and Peace Commission composed of representatives from the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), the Philippine Senate, House Minority in the House of Representatives, the Commission on Human Rights, Integrated Bar of the Philippines and non-government human rights organizations and church groups will be credible compared to Palace created and PNP-led Task Force Usig.

The group said foreign human rights watchdogs such as the London-based Amnesty International, Asian Human Rights Center (AHRC) of Hong Kong , the Netherlands-based International Association of Progressive Lawyers, foreign journalist groups and the United Nation Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) should be invited as participants and observers in any human rights fact-finding mission that would be conducted by the Philippine based commission that would look into the spate of political killings across the country.

“ We strongly believe this collective group of truth, justice and peace seekers is credible and highly respectable, compared to the Task Force Usig created by the Office of the President,” Pamalakaya added. #

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

ENCHANTED KINGDOM ECONOMICS
52 cents cut in power rates, but P 2 hike in oil price this August, that’s ridiculous, that’s preposterous- Pamalakaya

Ridiculous and preposterous.

That was how the leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) reacted on the 52 centavo reduction in the power costs announced by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, stressing that the reduction would not be felt by consumers, since prices of petroleum products will be raised by an average of P 2 per liter this month.

“ Mrs. Arroyo is again unleashing her Enchanted Kingdom Economics to delight of her transnational masters and for the sake of her political survival at the expense of truth and public accountability, “ the group said in a press statement.

“ President Macapagal-Arroyo only announced what she called the ‘good news’. But she did not announce the bad news. The full equation of this political masquerade is hidden to the public. While there’s a 52-centavo reduction in Meralco rates, the government would allow a P 2 oil price hike this month. And that for us is tantamount to another national disaster,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap.

Hicap said, Petron was planning to jack prices of its petroleum products by an average of P 2 per liter, while Pilipinas Shell and Caltex and other oil players are expected to announce a P 1 hike in the prices of petroleum products next week.

“ Mrs. Arroyo is taking us again to another roller-coaster ride and endless guessing game on when the Filipino people would enjoy lower power costs and lower oil prices,” the militant leader added.

The President yesterday announced that Meralco consumers will enjoy lower costs starting this month because of the free-market competition, which began in June with the launch of the wholesale electricity spot market (WESM).

Report says power consumers in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces who use up at least 200 kilowatt-hours in a month will have their electricity bill slashed by 52 centavos per kwh starting August.

“ It seems to us that President Arroyo was always absent during her economic and mathematics class during college. Whatever slash in the power rate, will be automatically eaten up by the surging prices in petroleum products, aside from the regressive taxation imposed by the national government through the expanded value added tax system on electricity and petroleum products,” Pamalakaya’s Hicap said.

“ We are just ordinary people, but we know this economy and mathematics of the oppressors and the monopolists. The 52-centavo cut in Meralco rates was just a cheap propaganda, empty and was merely done for another super roadshow presentation of Malacañang for image building,” Pamalakaya said. #

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