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Pamalakaya slams DA plan to tap Church as distributors of NFA rice
People need cheap rice, not cheap gimmick, group says

The fisherfolk activist group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Sunday assailed a government plan to tap church organizations and civic associations to help the Department of Agriculture distribute rice obtained from the National Food Authority.

“What kind of state mindset is this? As far as we are concerned the people need enough supply of cheap and affordable rice, not cheap gimmick. Secretary Arthur Yap is trivializing this very sensitive issue,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

In a radio interview on the program “Para Sa Yo’ Bayan” aired over dzmm, Secretary Yap said he will be meeting with some-church based groups and civil organizations next week to discuss the details of the plan asking them to help distribute NFA rice to their members.

“This idea of Secretary Yap is one of the craziest ideas this government has ever had. We hope the decent thinking people in the Christian and other faith-based communities will reject Secretary Yap’s first-rate stupidity,” the Pamalakaya leader said.

Secretary Yap said the supply of NFA rice will be regulated by the government, adding that if there will be an increase in the supply of NFA rice in the market it would be via faith-based group and not in the traditional distribution.

Pamalakaya said the influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) should rebuke this idea of Secretary Yap to convert churches, religious establishments and parishes as small warehouses or trading posts for NFA rice, saying it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that rice and other needs of the people are addressed and delivered.

“The CBCP must reject this ridiculous proposal because the government is hell bent in making a daring escape from the terrible situation that they created in the past and at present by making this issue trivial and comical at the same time,” the group said.

The militant group said instead of resorting to some cheap gimmicks and cheap tricks, the NFA should pursue its mandate of buying locally produced palay from Filipino farmers at P 15 per kilo to prevent the rice cartel and other unscrupulous rice traders from monopolizing the procurement and distribution of rice all over the country.

“The NFA is legally mandated to buy at least 10 percent of the total palay harvest per year. However, the food authority merely buys 1% of the country’s total rice yield per year. At the maximum, the NFA should buy 25% of the total rice harvest per year to make a dramatic impact and keep prices of rice at affordable levels,” Pamalakaya said.

Pamalakaya earlier rejected the plan of Malacañang and Agriculture secretary Yap to reduce tariffs imposed on imported rice products, asserting that such policy would lead to the mass flooding of rice imports in the local market at the expense of small farmers and consumers.

The militant group accused Malacañang and the agriculture department of killing the local rice production in the country by deluding the people with rice imports at the expense of local farmers and the food security of the nation. Pamalakaya said increasing dependence on rice imports is not and will never by a solution to this ongoing rice crisis confronting the people. #

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

A case of another scam?
Pamalakaya asked Gloria: “What happened to 632,000 bags of rice seeds under Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) program in 2007?

The fisherfolk activist group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Saturday asked Malacañang and the Department of Agriculture (DA) secretary Arthur Yap what happened to the 632,000 bags of rice seeds that the government had intended to distribute for 2006 and 2007 under the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) program.

Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said Malacañang and DA were supposed to hand out 407,000 bags of seed of hybrid rice and another 225,000 bags of certified rice seeds to farmers amounting to P 4.2B that was aimed to increase rice, corn and fisheries productivity since last year.

“If my memory serves me right, sometime in September 2006, Malacañang and the agriculture department set aside more than four billion pesos in taxpayers’ money for the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani project that seeks to gain a dramatic increase in rice, corn and fish production in 2007 in preparation for 2008 supply,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

“The national rice crisis and the now the shortage of corn in Cebu are really puzzling both the producers and consumers as to why these terrible situations have become a day-to-day ordeal for them despite the fact that Mrs. Arroyo and her gang have set aside billions of pesos for procurement of rice and corn seeds,” Hicap said.

Pamalakaya’s Hicap said under the GMA project, aside from hybrid seeds and certified seeds, the government should have also distributed should have handed out 26, 700 bags of hybrid corn and 32, 500 kilograms of assorted seeds and 4.78 million pieces of planting materials last year.

Hicap also said under the program, the government should have set aside from 170 million tilapia and 150 million milkfish fingerlings and broodstock last year. Part of the package will include the establishment of 137 seaweed nurseries, 39 central and satellite hatcheries nationwide.

“These unthinkable and mind-boggling allocations of taxpayers’ money were not really accounted. It seems to us that the allocations were made not to address the food needs of the people but to fund the election campaign of Arroyo’s candidates in the May 2007 national elections. The funds were released few weeks before the election period that begun in February last year,” the Pamalakaya leader recalled.

The fisheries program under the GMA project also envisioned the construction and rehabilitation of 8 regional and 7 municipal fish ports, 2 ice plants and cold storages and establishment of new mariculture parks in addition to 28 existing sites across the country.

“Something fishy went on. It seems to us that the government was only up for seed and fingerling scam last year to support the candidacy of Mrs. Arroyo’s most favored bets in the last May 2007 elections” Pamalakaya said.

Pamalakaya said the release of P 4.2 B seed fund was timed at least one to two-months ahead of last year’s campaign period, which started on February 13, 2007 up to May 14, 2007. “The amount for GMA seed program is six to seven times bigger than the P 728 million fertilizer scam engineered by the ruling syndicate in Malacañang,” the group said. #

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

Pamalakaya warns tariff reduction may lead to anarchy of rice imports

The militant fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said the proposed reduction on tariffs imposed on imported rice may result to an anarchy of importation that would lead to death of the local rice production.

“Malacañang and the Department of Agriculture want to kill the local rice production in the country by deluding the people with rice imports at the expense of local farmers and the food security of the nation. Increasing dependence on rice imports is not and will never by a solution to this ongoing rice crisis confronting the people,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

“On the contrary, the proposal to reduce rice tariffs and increase importation will further empower the powerful rice cartel in the country, and that would mean more kickbacks, more smuggling activities for big time rice smugglers connected or associated with who is the present ruling occupant in Malacañang,” Hicap said.

The Pamalakaya leader said Malacañang, the agriculture department and the rice cartel and big rice importers in conspiracy with the National Food Authority are taking advantage of the present rice crisis to justify importation, control the grains and make super profits at the expense of rice farmers and nearly 90 million consumers all over the country.

“We believe Malacañang and the DA are in connivance with the rice cartel and big time rice traders as to how to take advantage of the situation, creating an across-the-nation paranoia among the people to justify the jacking up of prices of rice and even corn,” Hicap stressed.

“Rice is a P 80-billion local industry. Those who control the local production, as well as the importation of rice will surely control local and national politics, since rice is a highly sensitive and politically explosive product,” the Pamalakaya leader added.

The militant group also asked agriculture secretary Arthur Yap what happen to the 632,000 bags of rice seeds that the government had intended to distribute for 2006 and 2007 under the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) program.

Pamalakaya said Malacañang and DA were supposed to hand out 407,000 bags of seed of hybrid rice and another 225,000 bags of certified rice seeds to farmers amounting to P 4.2B that was aimed to increase rice, corn and fisheries productivity since last year.

“If our memory serves us right, sometime in September 2006, Malacañang and the agriculture department set aside more than four billion pesos in taxpayers’ money for the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani project that seeks to gain a dramatic increase in rice, corn and fish production in 2007 in preparation for 2008 supply,” the group said.

“The national rice crisis and the now the shortage of corn in Cebu are really puzzling both the producers and consumers as to why these terrible situations have become a day-to-day ordeal for them despite the fact that Mrs. Arroyo and her gang have set aside billions of pesos for procurement of rice and corn seeds,” Pamalakaya said.

The group said under the GMA project, aside from hybrid seeds and certified seeds, the government should have also distributed should have handed out 26, 700 bags of hybrid corn and 32, 500 kilograms of assorted seeds and 4.78 million pieces of planting materials last year.


Pamalakaya also said under the program, the government should have set aside from 170 million tilapia and 150 million milkfish fingerlings and broodstock last year. Part of the package will include the establishment of 137 seaweed nurseries, 39 central and satellite hatcheries nationwide.

“These unthinkable and mind-boggling allocations of taxpayers’ money were not really accounted. It seems to us that the allocations were made not to address the food needs of the people but to fund the election campaign of Arroyo’s candidates in the May 2007 national elections. The funds were released few weeks before the election period that begun in February last year,” the group recalled.

Pamalakaya said the release of P 4.2 B seed fund was timed at least one to two-months ahead of last year’s campaign period, which started on February 13, 2007 up to May 14, 2007. “The amount for GMA seed program is six to seven times bigger than the P 728 million fertilizer scam engineered by the ruling syndicate in Malacañang,” the group said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 04:51 | link | comments |

LLDA asked: “Will demolition of 32,000 homes save lake from biological destruction?”

The left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Thursday asked Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) General Manager Edgar Manda if the demolition of 32,000 homes will save Asia’s second largest lake from becoming biologically dead.

“Is that so? Aside from absurd and illogical, the LDDA solution is unscientific and dumb,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in reaction to the agency’s plan to evict over 30,000 homes housing not less than 100,000 lake dwellers mostly fishermen and urban poor.

Hicap added: “Malacañang and Manda- one of the trusted lieutenants of Mr. and Mrs. Arroyo are provoking the lake people to engage them in lake wide revolt. The Laguna Lake folks have not option to defy and resist.”

At the launching of the LLDA Bike Tour project on April 26-27, the LLDA general manager warned that the lake would become biologically dead in few years if rampant pollution is not stopped.

While blaming factories and other establishments surrounding the lake for the worsening condition of Laguna Lake, the LDDA top official said the 32,000 impoverished families have contributed largely in converting the lake into a virtual septic tank, and that the government needs massive funding to remove the dwellers from the dying lake.

Manda said it would tap the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) for the demolition. He said MMDA chair Bayani Fernando has already expressed willingness to provide technical and manpower support to LLDA.

"The people there are not squatters. They have been there since generations. The present occupants in the lake are products and first, second and third generations of lake people surrounding the lake," Pamalakaya asserted.

"The real squatters are Manda, Fernando and the present political occupants in Malacañang. They should be prevented from scoring a giant kill against the legitimate fisher people and lake folks," the group said.

Manda blamed the residents for the deterioration of the lake, saying their eviction would pave way for the rehabilitation of the 280 kilometer lake.

But Hicap refuted Manda's claim, asserting that instead of blaming the fisherfolk and urban dwellers, the government should blame the 10,000 business clients of Malacanang and LLDA allowed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to use the lake for their money making scheme.

Pamalakaya said the reason behind the proposed demolition of 32,000 families surrounding the lake is the ambitious Laguna Lake 2000 program that puts the entire lake and its surroundings in the road map of corporate takeover.

"The Macapagal-Arroyo government wants to convert Laguna Lake into an industrial and commercial haven to foreign clients and big businesses allied with Malacanang," the group said.

The militant group said Laguna Lake 2000 aims to convert the lake into a major source of potable water for water concessionaires, as well as source of potable water for big industries and commercial establishments that would be set up along the lake.

Pamalakaya said the government is also planning to convert certain parts of the lake into eco-tourism areas, that is why it is reclaiming lands and bodies of lake waters, as well as create alternative roads for corproate groups wanting to establish their business along the lake.

"The first step to realize Malacanang's projects is to demolish communities and eliminate opposition to these foreign and corporate funded projects. The Palace is also eying the demolition of fish pens and fish cages in Laguna Lake to clear the lake from all kinds of structures, other than those prescribed by corporate clients of Mrs. Arroyo," the militant group
said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 04:42 | link | comments |

Fishers grilled GMA on P 4.2 B seed fund

The fisherfolk activist group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Wednesday asked Malacañang and the Department of Agriculture (DA) officials what happen to the P 4.2B Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) seed fund that was aimed to increase rice, corn and fisheries productivity last year.

“If my memory serves me right, sometime in September 2006, Malacañang and the agriculture department set aside more than four billion pesos in taxpayers’ money for the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani project that seeks to gain a dramatic increase in rice, corn and fish production in 2007 in preparation for 2008 supply,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

“The rice crisis and the now the corn shortage of corn in Cebu are really puzzling both the producers and consumers as to why these terrible situations have become a day-to-day ordeal for them despite the fact that Mrs. Arroyo and her gang have set aside billions of pesos for procurement of rice and corn seeds,” Hicap said.

Pamalakaya’s Hicap said the government, under the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani project should have handed out 26, 700 bags of hybrid corn, 407,000 bags of hybrid rice and 225,000 bags of certified rice seeds and 32, 500 kilograms of assorted seeds and 4.78 million pieces of planting materials.

Hicap said also under the program, the government should have set aside from 170 million tilapia and 150 million milkfish fingerlings and broodstock last year. Part of the package will include the establishment of 137 seaweed nurseries, 39 central and satellite hatcheries nationwide.

“These unthinkable and mind-boggling allocations of taxpayers’ money were not really accounted. It seems to us that the allocations were made not to address the food needs of the people but to fund the election campaign of Arroyo’s candidates in the May 2007 national elections. The funds were released few weeks before the election period begun in February last year,” the Pamalakaya leader recalled.

The 887 million from the P 4.2 B seed fund last year is 21 percent of the total allocation for GMA program. The other banner programs and their allocations: rice program (P 1.788 B or 42.4%), corn ( P 658 M or 15.6%), high variety seeds ( P 459 M or 10.7%), livestock ( P 430 M or P 10.2%)

The fisheries program under the GMA project also envisioned the construction and rehabilitation of 8 regional and 7 municipal fish ports, 2 ice plants and cold storages and establishment of new mariculture parks in addition to 28 existing sites across the country.

“Something fishy went on. It seems to us that the government was only up for seed and fingerling scam last year to support the candidacy of Mrs. Arroyo’s most favored bets in the last May 2007 polls from senatorial down to municipal mayors,” Pamalakaya said.

Pamalakaya said the release of P 4.2 B seed fund was timed at least one to two-months ahead of last year’s campaign period, which started on February 13, 2007 up to May 14, 2007. “The amount for GMA seed program is more than the P 728 million fertilizer scam engineered by the ruling syndicate in Malacañang,” the group said. #

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

CHR asked to probe AFP “door-to-door surveys” in Laguna

The leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Sunday asked the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to investigate the alleged “door-to-door survey” conducted by members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in several towns of Laguna thickly populated by workers and urban poor dwellers.

Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap cited the column “Sowing Fears in the Philippines” published by the online edition of the United Press International –Asia, and penned by Hong Kong based human rights activist Bruce Van Voorhis, staff member of Asian Human Rights Commission.

“The military has been treating workers and urban poor communities in Laguna like modern day concentration camps similar to what Adolf Hitler did to Germany and the rest of Europe several decades ago,” Hicap said.

“The CHR must take this into account and investigate the AFP’s state terrorism activities in several towns of Laguna. This policy and work of undeclared Martial Law must be investigated and stopped in soonest time possible,” the Pamalakaya leader added.

In his column dated March 19, Voorhis said in January of this year, the mayor of the city of Santa Rosa informed the head of the barangay Pulong Santa Cruz that soldiers belonging to 202nd Infantry Brigade of the Second Infantry Division of the Philippine Army would undertake community organizing and development work in the area. The mayor also asked the assistance of the barangay captain for the military led civic work.

Leaders of Pulong Santa Cruz had been told that government troops would be there to carry out livelihood and medical projects for the community. However, two months after, there is nothing to acknowledge or applaud as the promises of community organizing and development have failed to materialize, according to Voorhis.

“Instead of development work, the Army engaged in intelligence work by conducting door-to-door surveys of selected houses in Pulong Santa Cruz. The military were asking residents if they are members of trade union like Kilusang Mayo Uno or urban poor group like Kadamay, two of the militant organizations labeled by Malacañang and the AFP as communist front organizations,’ Pamalakaya’s Hicap said.

The Pamalakaya leader also agreed with the observation raised by the Hong Kong human rights activist that the surveys were conducted on the context of its political proximity of the community to Laguna Industrial Park, an area that houses factories of Japanese automobile manufacturers such as Toyota, Nissan and Honda currently facing strong protest from labor unions and allied communities for labor malpractices.

“The CHR should probe these door-to-door surveys of the military in the context of the government and the military’s national policy of eliminating critics through extrajudicial killings, forced abductions and harassment of communities and subservience to Japanese multinational interests in the area,” Hicap said.

Hicap said in addition to survey, troops both in uniform and civilian clothes are allowed to carry automatic rifles while roaming in the community, while armed government troops are also well placed in factories of these Japanese car manufacturing companies.

Pamalakaya also questioned the military’s imposition of curfew in Pulong Santa Cruz from 10 p.m to 4:00 am without any reason to justify such draconian measure.

The militant group said the same “military door-to-door surveys had been adopted by the AFP in other parts of Laguna like San Pablo City and Cabuyao. Pamalakaya said the military had staged a witch hunt against leaders of workers and urban poor groups leading the opposition against summary demolition of communities to pave way for the construction of the controversial North Rail project funded by the Chinese government from the $ 8-billion dollar to the Philippine government.

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 02:45 | link | comments |

PNOC prexy confirmed sell out of
RP territory and Spratly, says fishers group
“It can be used as strong basis to charge GMA of treason”-- Pamalakaya

The admission of Antonio Calilao, president of the state-owned Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) that entire 142,886 square kilometer area covered by the controversial Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU) among the Philippines, China and Vietnam is all under Philippine territory merely confirmed the allegations of sell out and gross betrayal of national sovereignty and public interest.

Despite the assurance of Calilao that the undertaking was purely commercial undertaking, the militant fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said the pronouncement of the PNOC chief is an evidence that can be used to charge President Arroyo and other government officials of high crime of treason and that the Chief Executive committed a gross blunder and it is an impeachable offense.

“This is the moment we are waiting for. Calilao statement will be used in all legal cases that would be filed in the near future against Arroyo and her cabal of kickback addicts in the government. We will take cue from the PNOC president’s bombshell,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

Calilao said JMSU as a purely commercial agreement has a precedent citing the joint Australian-Philippine cooperation, the joint Norwegian-Philippine cooperation, stressing that involvement of other nationalities in such undertaking is a very common practice here.

“Mr. Calilao could be a potential hostile witness in the scheduled Senate hearing on Spratly probe. He must be invited by the Senate, along with former PNOC President Eduardo Mañalac who earlier agreed to testify in any Senate investigation on JMSU,” Hicap added.

The Pamalakaya leader said the Philippine territory has been offered to the altar of the corporate great rush for energy resources in exchange for $ 8-billion loan from China that would be treated as central fund of Malacañang for graft and corruption purposes.

The projects linked to the JMSU deal include the $ 329 million National Broadband Network (NBN) deal and other Chinese funded projects checkered with allegations of corruption and high irregularities like the Northrail project, South Rail project and Cyber Education project of the Department of Education (DepEd).

Pamalakaya’s Hicap assailed the government’s plan to continue the second phase of JMSU despite controversies hounding the project ranging from the issue of territorial integrity, national sovereignty and graft and corruption.

Hicap learned that a senior official of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) revealed that President Arroyo has no official order to put the JMSU on hold and that the operation will continue, unless Palace issues an official order recalling the project.

“Two days ago, the Chinese oil ship Nam Hai 502 used in the oil exploration in Palawan was docked in Puerto Princesa City to refuel. Its national crew is composed of 44 Chinese technical oil exploration persons and only 1 Filipino staff. This event corroborates Calilao admission that the JMSU is being undertaken not only in the disputed Spratly group of islands, but also inside the Philippine territory,” Pamalakaya said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 04:25 | link | comments |

Pamalakaya to Arroyo: Talk peace, save P 1-B

The leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Wednesday said her government could save P 1 billion in counter-insurgency fund if she would call for the unconditional resumption of the stalled peace negotiations between the government and the communist-led National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

“The Filipino people could save as much P 1 billion to P 12 billion in taxpayers money if the President Arroyo will just call for the unconditional resumption of peace talks with the NDFP. That’s a big relief to all the people. But the trouble is Mrs. Arroyo and the pro-Arroyo chain of command in the military are war freak and certified criminals,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

“The fund can be re-channeled to other meaningful and reform-oriented activities like free land distribution, creation of jobs, production of support services and availability of social services in depressed communities,” Hicap added.

Speaking at the graduation rites of the Philippine Military Academy 2008 “Baghawi” class on in Baguio City on Tuesday, President Arroyo announced the allotment of P 1 billion from the
P 1.227 trillion national budget for 2008 to finance military community-building projects aimed at denying the communist guerillas of their mass base.

The President also announced the procurement of more helicopters, mortars and squad automatic weapons the beat the deadline set for the elimination of communist rebels on or before her term ends on May 2010.

Arroyo said wars are not won merely with the “barrel of a gun” but also through “investing in people,” providing them with jobs and food on the table. Outgoing Armed Forces Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said the P 1-B fund was a big boost to the Kalayaan Barangay Project, which had a budget of P 500 million last year.

The President and the AFP Chief both agreed that the fund will be used to build farm-to-market roads, repair school buildings and undertake civic action for the communities allegedly influenced by New People’s Army.

But Pamalakaya’s Hicap said President Arroyo and Esperon were just taking the fresh PMA graduates for a ride. “The fresh graduates in the military school will not subscribe to Arroyo and Esperon’s hard sell counter-insurgency rhetorics. The two figured in both crimes of election fraud and crimes of corruption,” the militant leader said.

According to Hicap, the P 1-B additional fund for the military will be used either to build “farm-to-detachment roads” or “farm-to-pocket roads” to satisfy local allies of President Arroyo fetish for fat kickbacks and commissions.

Pamalakaya said the announcement of President Arroyo to buy more arms was against the appeal of the influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to resume the peace negotiations between the government and rebel forces.

“She is not listening to the bishops. She is listening to her criminal mind and to her ruthless heart. While the bishops want peace, Mrs. Arroyo and Esperon are preparing the bloody carpet for more senseless and unjust war in the countryside,” the group said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 04:24 | link | comments |

Release of 22 Chinese fishermen meant to appease China, fishers group says
By Gerry Albert Corpuz, Bulatlat.com

The militant fishermen alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Saturday said the dismissal and the subsequent release of 22 Chinese fishermen last Friday was meant to appease the Chinese government currently irked over the scandal and diplomatic repercussions created by the controversial Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking.

“We see this as a diplomatic goodwill of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the Chinese government currently dismayed with the government’s handling of the RP-China offshore mining deal in Spratly. It is like the Philippine President saying to the Chinese bureaucrat capitalists don’t worry we are in control of the situation and you will get what you want in exchange for that eight billion dollar loan to my presidency,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement emailed to Bulatlat.com

The special court handling the environmental cases in Palawan dismissed the cases against suspected Chinese poachers arrested in 2006 near Balacbac islands some 270 kilometers south of Puerto Princesa City.

Palawan Regional Trial Court Branch 52 Judge Toribio Ilao ruled in favor of 22 Chinese fishermen who asserted that they were already outside the country’s territorial waters and inside Malaysia off Manganese Island when Philippine authorities arrested them in October 2006.

“$ 8-B is $ 8-B. It is a huge fortune that would last for a lifetime. The corrupt and bankrupt presidency of Malacañang will do practically everything, anything to keep that fortune at the expense of truth, justice and accountability,” Pamalakaya’s Hicap added.

“The release of 22 Chinese poachers is part of that immoral confidence building on the part of the Philippine government to indicate that it is willing to push through its partnership in crime with China,” he added.

In his ruling, Judge Ilao said the prosecution witnesses has provided inconsistent testimonies to establish that the Chinese were actually fishing near Manganese Island, Palawan’s southernmost tip. He rejected the prosecution’s position that the arrest was valid since it was done during a hot pursuit operation. The prosecution maintained that the 22 Chinese poachers violated Sections 87 and 88 of the Fisheries Code of 1998.

Since the decision was issued on Friday, the prosecution was not given an opportunity to contest the decision of Palawan RTC that might result to the immediate release of 22 Chinese poachers.

Not April 28

Meanwhile, Pamalakaya asked Senate President Manuel Villar to convene the Senate Committee on Whole to undertake the investigation on JMSU. The militant group the proposal of Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations to handle or lead the investigation will not suffice since the issue involve a lot of concerns like foreign relations, constitutional issues and graft and corruption since the deal was tied up to an $ 8 billion dollar loan from China meant to fund equally scandalous projects like the ZTE broadband deal.

Pamalakaya also said the Senate convening itself as a whole committee should schedule the hearings on Spratly deal right after the Holy Week break beginning March 24 and not April 28 as suggested by Sen. Santiago.

“Why April 28? The outraged public cannot wait for April 28. This is a matter of life and death, and such delay is not acceptable. Let the Spratly investigation begins right after the Holy Week break,” the group said.

Pamalakaya also doubted the credibility of Senator Santiago to lead the investigation, adding that aside from being a certified puppet of the Arroyo presidency is known for compromising the Philippine sovereignty to any foreign power as indicated by her position on the equally controversial Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement or Jpepa.

“This self-proclaimed legal expert on international law should not be trusted by any decent thinking and patriotic Filipino. She is a champion of political mediocrity in the country,” the militant group said.

Diplomatic protest

Last week, Pamalakaya filed a 7-page diplomatic protest at the Consular office of the Chinese Embassy in Makati City. “It seems to us that the Chinese government and its client monopolies in and out of China who want their capital to accumulate in accelerating proportions have seen a goldmine in President Arroyo’s uncontrollable greed, and are using this kind of rotten statesmanship and governance to further their economic and financial agenda in the Philippines,” the group said in their diplomatic protest.

Pamalakaya asserted the JMSU will allow Chinese oil corporations to undertake offshore mining in Philippine claimed territories in the Spratly is a gross violation of our people’s sovereign rights and the country’s national patrimony.

The group likened to the joint agreement to an aggression and plunder by foreign power against a nation of people fighting against any kind of form of foreign invasion and exploitation, whether it is political, military or economic as in the case of the RP-China Spratly deal on offshore mining.

Pamalakaya said the country’s claimed territories in the Spratly are part of the Philippines defined territorial waters according to the 1987 Constitution and as set by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea belong to the Filipino people, and not to the Arroyo ruling syndicate in Malacañang, and definitely not to the Chinese government and their corporate clients.

The group asserted that these territories, which China intends to explore for offshore mining activities are the breeding and spawning grounds of Philippine tuna and other marine species. “These territories as well provide the passage for the entry and migration of migratory stocks in the Pacific Ocean. By nature and by design, our claimed territorial waters are part of the country’s EEZ,” Pamalakaya said.

Release timed for arrival of Chinese officials?

Going back to the release of 22 Chinese poachers, Pamalakaya believed that the decision of the Palawan RTC was timed for the surprise visit of top Chinese government officials last week who were here last week on what critics called a highly questionable diplomatic mission.

“This tin cup diplomacy further degenerates the country’s political and moral standing in the international community because of Malacañang’s political flirtation with China’s billion dollar bribers”, Pamalakaya said.

“Are they here to ensure the release of 22 Chinese poachers? Are they here to clinch the second phase of JMSU? The move of Beijing is not only undiplomatic. It is actually foreign intervention authored and executed by the ruling capitalist railroaders and bureaucrat capitalists in China who passed themselves off as communists. They are not communists because these are not the works of communists. The truth is these Beijing top guns are top money makers and exploiters based in Beijing, nothing more, nothing less” the group said.

Cebu Rep. Antonio Cuenco yesterday said Beijing’s apparent influence on the continued delay of the House of Representatives final approval of the bill was obvious. In a news forum, Cuenco chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs said Chinese Charge d’ Affaires Deng Xijun met with him in January to express China’s disagreement over the approval of HB 3216.

The Cebu lawmaker said he received a letter from the Philippine Embassy in China a copy of communication from the Chinese government dated December 2007. In the document, Beijing made reference to the controversial Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU) among the Philippines, China and Vietnam, saying the proposed RP territory bill would affect the bilateral agreement involving joint exploration project in the disputed Spratly.

Pamalakaya’s Hicap believed Malacañang had a hand in the delay passage of the RP territory because President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo wants first to eliminate controversial provisions in the bill that would displeasure China and that would affect the implementation of JMSU.

“The rubber stamp Congress under the leadership of House Speaker Prospero Nograles will water down HB 3216 to please China , and to make sure that the new bill will not run contrary to JMSU. We are talking here of $ 8 billion loan from China that promises huge kickbacks and fat commissions to Arroyo and company and this explains the current behavior of Malacañang and the congressmen loyal to President Arroyo,” Hicap added.

Pamalakaya said: “Beijing will tolerate the uncontrollable greed of President Arroyo because their corporate giants see huge return in investment which is 10 times up to 100 times bigger than their corporate funding for corruption.”

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 11:02 | link | comments |

Militants defend Jamby from critics
Senator knows where she is coming from--- Pamalakaya

The leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Sunday rushed to the defense of opposition Senator Ma. Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal after a senior member of the Commission on Appointments (CA) accused her of playing dumb or actually dumb when Madrigal invoked Section 20 of CA rules that allow a member to move for the suspension of the CA’s action on any appointment.

“She is very much aware of issues of the people. She knows where she is coming from and her stand on these issues are politically correct as far as our group is concerned,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

Agusan del Sur Rep. Rodolfo Plaza, a member of the House of the Representatives contingent to the powerful appointment body scored Sen. Madrigal over allegations that the congressmen members of CA worked like a mafia who could be bribed to support nominations.

“That accusation is very irresponsible. Either she is just playing dumb so she can have an excuse to pick up a fight other members of the Commission on Appointments and get media attention,” Rep. Plaza said last week.

“Otherwise, she simply lacks the comprehension to understand what went on last Wednesday which is understandable for slow learners. Her mouth works faster than her brain. Before making such accusations she should make it sure that she has evidence to prove her claim,” the Agusan lawmaker added.

But Pamalakaya’s Hicap defended Sen. Madrigal, adding that the lady senator could be feisty and fiery on the floor, but still she is one of the lawmakers that people’s organizations could rely on with it comes to national, regional and local issues which are a matter of life and death, specially to the grassroots people.

The militant leader said Sen. Madrigal was the leading opposition lawmaker in taking the issues of the people against the immoral and bankrupt presidency of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Hicap said the senator was active in the people’s advocacy for human rights, civil liberties, peace talks and environment.



Pamalakaya’s Hicap said Sen. Madrigal’s position on a number of issues like expanded Value Added Tax, oil price increases, the long-running crimes of corruption in the Macapagal-Arroyo government including but not limited to ZTE broadband deal, the controversial Human Security Act, the Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement and recently the Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking are commendable and worthy of public appreciation.

“Senator Madrigal is not the stereotype traditional opposition. Her political standing is based on the merits and demerits of the issues. If some sectors believe there is problem with the way she delivers her point, then that could be fixed, criticized or corrected, but what is important is that she knows her facts and the sound basis of her advocacy and political positioning on issues,” Pamalakaya said.

Senator Madrigal invoked Section 20 of the CA rules in retaliation for what she claimed was the railroading of the promotion of Brig. Gen. Nestor Sadiarin in a previous CA hearing. She had opposed the promotion of Sadiarin whom she blamed for carrying out a pre-election survey in the military on Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.

Pamalakaya for its part had submitted a petition letter before the CA coursed through Madrigal’s office also opposing the promotion of Sadiarin. The fisherfolk group had opposed the promotion of Sadiarin because the military official was engaged in partisan politics in the May 2007 elections urging the voters in Bicol not to vote for communist front party lists like Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela Women’s Party, Kabataan Party and Suara Bangsa Moro.

In its petition letter, the group asked the CA to reject the promotion of Sadiarin because aside form committing partisan politics which is against the law, Sadiarin’s statement also encouraged extrajudicial killings and political abduction of leftwing activists and militants in the region.

Pamalakaya asked critics of Madrigal in the appointment body that instead of ganging up on her, members of CA should devise a way how to stop Malacañang from re-appointing undesirable appointees in the Cabinet like Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzalez, environment secretary Joselito Atienza, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, energy secretary Angelo Reyes among others. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 11:02 | link | comments |

Militants dismissed GMA unity walk with students
as recycled Marcos gimmick

The leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Friday said the unity walk staged by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo with over 1,000 students and Sangguniang Kabataan officers and members was a recycled gimmick done by the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos during the 14 years of dictatorship.

Pamalakaya information officer Gerry Albert Corpuz said during his elementary and high school days, the school principal used to mobilize them to fill the crowd and represent the young audience on major photo op events organized by Malacañang in the name of former dictator and his wife former First Lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos.

“The GMA unity walk with the student is a very cheap gimmick which shows that Mrs. Arroyo is the champion of all political mediocrity in the country,” he added.

Corpuz said during the Marcos presidency, principals and officials of public elementary schools and high schools in Metro Manila were religiously asked to send delegations by then Ministry of Human Settlement chaired by former First Lady to watch government sponsored activities like Quiz Bee, Malacañang sponsored cultural activities and inauguration of government school projects among others.

“Seeing these students joining President Arroyo in photo op activities and partaking free lunch with the Chief Executive for the sake of political and highly partisan activity reminds me of what happened to us – the generation of elementary and high school students at the height of Martial Law. Our schools are compelled and forced by the dictatorship to deliver grade schoolers, high school and college students as cheering squad, audience or advance welcome party to the Marcoses and their foreign guests,” Corpuz added.

The Pamalakaya information officer said during that time he and fellow elementary students were brought from the school to the Freedom Park in Malacañang to welcome diplomats and other foreign dignitaries visiting ex- President Marcos and wife Mrs. Marcos. Corpuz said they used to waive Philippine flags or the flags of visiting diplomats to make foreign visitors feel the Filipino brand of hospitality.

“Mrs. Arroyo is doing a Marcos. She is Marcos trapped in a woman’s body. The sight of that young people messing around with her in Malacañang is a reminiscent of that old Marcos trademark and formula three decades ago. She revived it again like a second-rate, trying hard, copy cat of the late dictator,” Corpuz said.

Some 1,000 students, campus leaders and government scholars joined President Arroyo in a unity walk to show that the embattled President accused of high crimes of corruption has also the support of young people. The unity walk was complete with mascots, placards and banners declaring undying support for Ms. Arroyo.

The students came from V. Mapa High School, Qurino High School, Datamex computer school, International Electronic and Technical Institute, Far Eastern University, Assumption College and Sangguniang Kabataan officials from Marikina, Mandaluyong and Pasig, and government scholars, including caregiver from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

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

Leftwing activists accused Beijing of foreign intervention on RP territory bill

Leftwing activists belonging to Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Thursday accused the ruling Communist Party of China of foreign intervention when it installed the passage of House Bill 3216 defining the country’s territorial waters that include the Kalayaan Group of Islands and the Scarborough Shoal in the disputed Spratly.

“The move of Beijing is not only undiplomatic. It is actually a foreign intervention authored and executed by the ruling capitalist railroaders and bureaucrat capitalists in China who passed themselves off as communists. They are not communists because these are not the works of communists. The truth is these Beijing top guns are top money makers and exploiters based in Beijing, nothing more, nothing less” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

Cebu Rep. Antonio Cuenco yesterday said Beijing’s apparent influence on the continued delay of the House of Representatives final approval of the bill was obvious. In a news forum, Cuenco chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs said Chinese Charge d’ Affaires Deng Xijun met with him in January to express China’s disagreement over the approval of HB 3216.

The Cebu lawmaker said he received a letter from the Philippine Embassy in China a copy of communication from the Chinese government dated December 2007. In the document, Beijing made reference to the controversial Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU) among the Philippines, China and Vietnam, saying the proposed RP territory bill would affect the bilateral agreement involving joint exploration project in the disputed Spratly.

Pamalakaya’s Hicap believed Malacañang had a hand in the delay passage of the RP territory because President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo wants first to eliminate controversial provisions in the bill that would displeasure China and that would affect the implementation of JMSU.

“The rubber stamp Congress under the leadership of House Speaker Prospero Nograles will water down HB 3216 to please China , and to make sure that the new bill will not run contrary to JMSU. We are talking here of $ 8 billion loan from China that promises huge kickbacks and fat commissions to Arroyo and company and this explains the current behavior of Malacañang and the congressmen loyal to President Arroyo,” Hicap added.

Pamalakaya said : “Beijing will tolerate the uncontrollable greed of President Arroyo because their corporate giants see huge return in investment which is 10 times up to 100 times bigger than their corporate funding for corruption.”

On Monday, Pamalakaya filed a 7-page diplomatic protest at the Consular office of the Chinese Embassy in Makati City.

“It seems to us that the Chinese government and its client monopolies in and out of China who want their capital to accumulate in accelerating proportions have seen a goldmine in President Arroyo’s uncontrollable greed, and are using this kind of rotten statesmanship and governance to further their economic and financial agenda in the Philippines,” the diplomatic protest letter said.

Pamalakaya asserted the JMSU will allow Chinese oil corporations to undertake offshore mining in Philippine claimed territories in the Spratly is a gross violation of our people’s sovereign rights and the country’s national patrimony.

The group likened to the joint agreement to an aggression and plunder by foreign power against a nation of people fighting against any kind of form of foreign invasion and exploitation, whether it is political, military or economic as in the case of the RP-China Spratly deal on offshore mining.

“The situation merits our active involvement as small fisherfolk of the Philippines, being the most affected group of people on this particular concern, and as patriotic citizens of this country desiring national emancipation and freedom from all kinds of foreign conquest,” Pamalakaya said.

Pamalakaya said the country’s claimed territories in the Spratly are part of the Philippines defined territorial waters according to the 1987 Constitution and as set by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea belong to the Filipino people, and not to the Arroyo ruling syndicate in Malacañang, and definitely not to the Chinese government and their corporate clients.

The group asserted that these territories, which China intends to explore for offshore mining activities are the breeding and spawning grounds of Philippine tuna and other marine species. These territories as well provide the passage for the entry and migration of migratory stocks in the Pacific Ocean. By nature and by design, our claimed territorial waters are part of the country’s EEZ.

“The JMSU which covers 142,886 square kilometers in South China Sea is tantamount to wholesale destruction not only of the Philippine claimed territories but almost the entire EEZ and continental shelf of the Philippine archipelago,” Pamalakaya said.

This not the first time Pamalakaya had filed a diplomatic protest against the Chinese government. Last September 2007, the group and staunch allies Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP-National Peasant Movement of the Philippines), Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (Union of Agricultural Workers) and Amihan-National Federation of Peasant Women filed a diplomatic protest in connection with the $ 329 million NBN deal and against the RP-China agreement consisting 18 agricultural and fisheries pacts that deemed to undermine our sovereign and patrimonial rights as rural-based producers all over the country. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 01:18 | link | comments |

Pamalakaya staged swim protest against JMSU in Senate
Fishers group wants Senate Committee on Whole to probe Spratly deal

Ten fisherfolk members of the militant fishermen alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) today staged a swim activity to dramatize their opposition against the controversial Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking or JMSU which they claimed was a sellout of national sovereignty and patrimony.

Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap who led the swimmer protesters asked Senate President Manuel Villar to convene the Senate Committee on Whole to undertake the investigation. The protesters carried placards made of wood bearing slogans “Defend patrimony, Scrap JMSU”, “Resist Uncontrollable Greed, Scrap JMSU”, “Defend Sovereignty, Scrap JMSU and “Oust Gloria” braved the high tide waters of Manila Bay near the Senate building in Pasay City.

Hicap said the proposal of Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations to handle or lead the investigation will not suffice since the issue involve a lot of concerns like foreign relations, constitutional issues and graft and corruption since the deal was tied up to an $ 8 billion dollar loan from China meant to fund equally scandalous projects like the ZTE broadband deal.

The Pamalakaya leader also said the Senate convening itself as a whole committee should schedule the hearings on Spratly deal right after the Holy Week break beginning March 24 and not April 28 as suggested by Sen. Santiago.

“Why April 28? The outraged public cannot wait for April 28. This is a matter of life and death, and such delay is not acceptable. Let the Spratly investigation begins right after the Holy Week break,” Hicap said.

Two days ago, Pamalakaya filed a 7-page diplomatic protest at the Consular office of the Chinese Embassy in Makati City. “It seems to us that the Chinese government and its client monopolies in and out of China who want their capital to accumulate in accelerating proportions have seen a goldmine in President Arroyo’s uncontrollable greed, and are using this kind of rotten statesmanship and governance to further their economic and financial agenda in the Philippines,” the group said in their diplomatic protest.

Pamalakaya asserted the JMSU will allow Chinese oil corporations to undertake offshore mining in Philippine claimed territories in the Spratly is a gross violation of our people’s sovereign rights and the country’s national patrimony.

The group likened to the joint agreement to an aggression and plunder by foreign power against a nation of people fighting against any kind of form of foreign invasion and exploitation, whether it is political, military or economic as in the case of the RP-China Spratly deal on offshore mining.

Pamalakaya said the country’s claimed territories in the Spratly are part of the Philippines defined territorial waters according to the 1987 Constitution and as set by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea belong to the Filipino people, and not to the Arroyo ruling syndicate in Malacañang, and definitely not to the Chinese government and their corporate clients.

The group asserted that these territories, which China intends to explore for offshore mining activities are the breeding and spawning grounds of Philippine tuna and other marine species. These territories as well provide the passage for the entry and migration of migratory stocks in the Pacific Ocean. By nature and by design, our claimed territorial waters are part of the country’s EEZ.

“The JMSU which covers 142,886 square kilometers in South China Sea is tantamount to wholesale destruction not only of the Philippine claimed territories but almost the entire EEZ and continental shelf of the Philippine archipelago,” Pamalakaya said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 01:17 | link | comments |

Palace told to back off from RP-China
offshore mining deal on Spratly
China exploiting GMA’s uncontrollable greed, fishers group says

This time it is the turn of the staunch critics of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to say “back off”.

Fisherfolk activists belonging to Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Tuesday asked Malacañang to back off from the Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU), and instead face the planned Senate inquiry on the controversial deal which the government signed to avail $ 8 billion loan from China, which is intended to finance shady contracts like the $ 329 million National Broadband Network (NBN) contract.

“We point our accusing finger to President Arroyo and we want to tell her to back off from this multi-billion dollar millennium crime of corruption,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

The Pamalakaya leader issued the statement a day after Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Presidential legal chief counsel Sergio Apostol said the government is studying the plan to continue the second phase of the joint oil exploration in the Spratly covering 142,886 sq. kilometers in South China Sea.

According to Ermita and Apostol, the group that will compose the study that would recommend whether the government should pursue or discontinue the joint exploration project will include Department of Justice (DoJ) Secretary Raul Gonzalez and Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera.

Hicap said: “Now that the Malacañang and China have confirmed the presence of 3.3 trillion cubic meter of natural gas in areas covered by Philippine claim to Spratly, both parties are now preparing for the ultimate plunder of a lifetime.”

Hicap added: “China will tolerate the uncontrollable greed of President Arroyo because their corporate giants see huge return in investment which is 10 times up to 100 times bigger than their corporate funding for corruption.”




Yesterday, Pamalakaya filed a 7-page diplomatic protest at the Consular office of the Chinese Embassy in Makati City.

“It seems to us that the Chinese government and its client monopolies in and out of China who want their capital to accumulate in accelerating proportions have seen a goldmine in President Arroyo’s uncontrollable greed, and are using this kind of rotten statesmanship and governance to further their economic and financial agenda in the Philippines,” the diplomatic protest.

Pamalakaya asserted the JMSU will allow Chinese oil corporations to undertake offshore mining in Philippine claimed territories in the Spratly is a gross violation of our people’s sovereign rights and the country’s national patrimony.

The group likened to the joint agreement to an aggression and plunder by foreign power against a nation of people fighting against any kind of form of foreign invasion and exploitation, whether it is political, military or economic as in the case of the RP-China Spratly deal on offshore mining.

“The situation merits our active involvement as small fisherfolk of the Philippines, being the most affected group of people on this particular concern, and as patriotic citizens of this country desiring national emancipation and freedom from all kinds of foreign conquest,” Pamalakaya said.

Pamalakaya said the country’s claimed territories in the Spratly are part of the Philippines defined territorial waters according to the 1987 Constitution and as set by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea belong to the Filipino people, and not to the Arroyo ruling syndicate in Malacañang, and definitely not to the Chinese government and their corporate clients.

The group asserted that these territories, which China intends to explore for offshore mining activities are the breeding and spawning grounds of Philippine tuna and other marine species. These territories as well provide the passage for the entry and migration of migratory stocks in the Pacific Ocean. By nature and by design, our claimed territorial waters are part of the country’s EEZ.

“The JMSU which covers 142,886 square kilometers in South China Sea is tantamount to wholesale destruction not only of the Philippine claimed territories but almost the entire EEZ and continental shelf of the Philippine archipelago,” Pamalakaya said.

This not the first time Pamalakaya had filed a diplomatic protest against the Chinese government. Last September 2007, the group and staunch allies Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP-National Peasant Movement of the Philippines), Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (Union of Agricultural Workers) and Amihan-National Federation of Peasant Women filed a diplomatic protest in connection with the $ 329 million NBN deal and against the RP-China agreement consisting 18 agricultural and fisheries pacts that deemed to undermine our sovereign and patrimonial rights as rural-based producers all over the country. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 10:37 | link | comments |

Pamalakaya (National Federation of Small Fisherfolk Organizations in the Philippines
18-A MABUHAY STREET, CENTRAL DISTRICT QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES TELEFAX: 0632-434-38-36 EMAIL ADDRESS: PAMPIL@SKYINET.NET


March 10, 2008

His Excellency Ambassador Li Jinjun
Embassy of the People’s Republic of China

C/o the Chinese Embassy Consular Section
World Center Building
330 Senator Gil Puyat Avenue
Makati City, Philippines

Re: Fisherfolk diplomatic protest against the Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU)


His Excellency,

We, leaders of the fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) strongly object the Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU) which your government and the Philippine government of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed in September 2004 and demand the Chinese government to rescind the contract secretly signed by the Chinese and Manila governments like thieves in the night.

It seems to us that the Chinese government and its client monopolies in and out of China who want their capital to accumulate in accelerating proportions have seen a goldmine in President Arroyo’s uncontrollable greed, and the Chinese capitalists in connivance with top officials of your government are using this kind of rotten statesmanship and immoral mode of governance of President Arroyo to further their economic and financial agenda in the Philippines.

Your Excellency, the JMSU that will allow Chinese oil corporations to undertake offshore mining in Philippine claimed territories in the Spratly is a gross violation of our people’s sovereign rights and the country’s national patrimony. It can also be likened to an aggression and plunder by foreign power against a nation of people fighting against any kind or form of foreign invasion and exploitation, whether it is political, military or economic as in the case of the RP-China Spratly deal on offshore mining.

The situation merits our active involvement as small fisherfolk of the Philippines, being the most affected group of people on this particular concern, and as patriotic citizens of this country desiring national emancipation and freedom from all kinds of foreign conquest.

The RP-China deal on Spratly for the purpose of offshore mining in exchange for highly scandalous $ 8 billion loan from China is tantamount to treason and sell out on the part of the Philippine government, which the Chinese government, whether you admit it or not, has supported and upheld such act of the Arroyo government which is grossly unconstitutional, totally erroneous, illegal and politically bankrupt.

As people of the Philippines exercising their sovereign rights as citizens of this country, we file this strongly worded diplomatic protest against the Chinese government on the grounds that your government committed serious violations against the sovereign and patrimonial rights of our people over our resources and our legitimate claims on certain parts of the Kalayaan group of islands by enjoining and cooperating with the Macapagal-Arroyo presidency and by authoring and clinching this horrible, treacherous and horrendous crime against the Filipino people.

Your Excellency, our highly charge political tone manifested in this diplomatic protest stemmed from the fact that our livelihood and the marine environment are at stake here, including the sovereign rights of 87 million Filipinos.

Our claimed territories in the Spratly, which are part of the our defined territorial waters according to the 1987 Constitution and as set by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea belong to the Filipino people, not to the Arroyo ruling syndicate in Malacañang, and definitely not to the Chinese government and your big corporate clients inside and outside mainland China.

These territories, which your government intends to explore for offshore mining activities are the breeding and spawning grounds of Philippine tuna and other marine species. These territories as well provide the passage for the entry and migration of migratory stocks in the Pacific Ocean. By nature and by design, our claimed territorial waters are part of the exclusive economic zone or EEZ.

The JMSU which covers 142,886 square kilometers in South China Sea is tantamount to wholesale destruction not only of the Philippine claimed territories but almost the entire EEZ and continental shelf of the Philippine archipelago.

China’s mad rush for black gold prompted your government to collaborate and conspire with the presidency of Macapagal-Arroyo to launch this biggest offensive against our national sovereignty and patrimony that would endanger all the existing marine life in these Philippine claimed territories in the Spratly, the EEZ and the continental shelf, and that would eventually lead to the national massacre of our fisher people livelihood and environment.

Mr. Ambassador it would be unfair both for the Chinese people and the Filipino people if your government pursues this project just to satisfy inestimable greed of some powerful and influential people and their uncontrollable fetish for huge profits, fat kickbacks and high commissions.

This not the first time we file a diplomatic protest against the Chinese government. Last September 2007, we filed a diplomatic protest in connection with the $ 329 million National Broadband Network (NBN) deal and against the RP-China agreement consisting 18 agricultural and fisheries pacts that deemed to undermine our sovereign and patrimonial rights as rural-based producers all over the country.

The said agreements are as follows:
a. Memorandum of Understanding on Expanding and Deepening Agricultural and Fisheries Cooperation;
b. Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Agriculture and General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China in the field of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
c. Agreement on the Development of 1 million hectares of land for Hybrid Corn, Hybrid Rice and Hybrid Sorghum Farming;
d. Agreement on the Leasing of 40,000 hectares of Agribusiness Lands for Sugarcane and Cassava Plantation;
e. Agreement on the Provision of 5,000 sq. m. space for Philippine Tropical Fruits in the Jiangnan Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Market
f. Agreement for the Establishment of a 150,000-liter per day capacity of Bio-ethanol Plant in Palawan;
g. Joint Venture Agreement for the Manufacture of Bio-Ethanol;
h. Joint Venture for the Manufacture of Bio-Ethanol in Southern Negros;
i. Memorandum of Agreement on the Provision of Small Mobile Ice Plant and Transport Facilities to Municipal Fishery Cooperatives and Associations;
j. Memorandum of Agreement on the Establishment of a 35-hectare Demonstration Farm for Sweet Corn;
k. Memorandum of Agreement on the Construction of Shipyard, Establishment of a Cold Storage Facility and Upgrading/Rehabilitation of Certain Facilities at the Navotas Fishport Complex;
l. Agreement on the Development of Candaba Swamp Resource Project ;
m. Memorandum of Agreement on Cooperation by and between the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and Guangdong Ocean Fisheries Administration;
n. Memorandum of Agreement on the Breeding and Culture of Grouper and other High Value Species;
o. Joint Venture Agreement on Fisheries;
p. Agreement on Breeding and Culture of Abalone, Sea Cucumbers, Sea Urchins and Scallops;
q. Agreement to develop 200,000 hectares of land which are suitable for rice and corn, agro-tourism and organic farming; and
r. Joint cooperation agreement on coconut production and supply

As fisherfolk and concerned citizens of the Philippines, we also demand that these agreements be scrapped as they are detrimental to the lives and livelihood of rural folks like us. We are set to lose control of millions of hectares of farm lands under four (4) of the agreements alone which requires the government to provide 1.24 million hectares for the cultivation of hybrid rice, hybrid corn and hybrid sorghum alone.

Furthermore, these agreements in agriculture and fisheries, most of which involve private corporations, may spawn JMSU or NBN-like scams to the detriment not only of rural folks but the entire nation as well.













In the name of truth, justice and people’s interest,



FERNANDO L. HICAP
National Chairperson
Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya)



SALVADOR FRANCE
Vice- Chairperson
Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya)

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 10:36 | link | comments |

Pamalakaya likens says secret RP-China Spratly deal to another Sabah
Group to question constitutionality before SC

The militant fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Wednesday likened the secret RP-China Spratly deal that would allow Chinese oil corporation to conduct offshore mining to territorial waters claimed by the Philippine government in the disputed group of islands as another Sabah in the making.

“It seems that Philippine government will no longer pursue our people’s legitimate claims to Spratly islands because it already allowed China to explore and search oil there in exchange for
$ 4 billion loans from the bureaucrat capitalists and private groups in China. It is like maintaining a dormant claim in the tradition of Sabah,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

“President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is resigned to selling our historical, political and territorial claims over certain parts of Spratly by accommodating the request of China to undertake the most massive, the most destructive and the most ambitious oil hunt in world history courtesy of this secret, illegal, unpatriotic and highly revolting deal,” Hicap said.

The Pamalakaya leader added: “The Macapagal-Arroyo government in its desire to obtain four billion dollars from China that would quench its desire for fat kickbacks and mind-boggling commissions has pushed for the signing a syndicated agreement at the expense of our national sovereignty and patrimony. If this is not treason to the highest order, then what is it?”

The Philippines claims sovereignty over certain parts of Spratly islands, which are also claimed by China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan, and at the same time retains a buried claim over Malaysia’s Sabah in Northern Borneo.

Several decades ago, the Sultanate of Sulu granted the Philippine government the power a sovereignty claim on his behalf. In 1962, former President Diosdado Macapagal filed an official claim on Sabah, which has been a home to Filipino Muslims for centuries.

Pamalakaya said it had already asked the group’s legal counsel Atty. Jobert Pahilga of Sentro Para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo (Sentra) what legal action should be done to stop the Arroyo government from executing the offshore mining deal.



“We are still exploring what legal remedies would be undertaken to score a giant kill against this unscrupulous and illegal deal. We might question the constitutionality of the RP-China Spratly deal on offshore mining before the Supreme Court. Let us see what we can do to stop the Arroyo mafia and the Chinese syndicate from destroying everything,” the group said.

Yesterday, Pamalakaya challenged Foreign affairs secretary Alberto Romulo to resign following the discovery of the secret RP-China deal that allows Chinese oil group to conduct offshore mining in the disputed Spratlys in exchange for $ 4-B loan from the government.

The group asserted that RP-China offshore mining deal in Spratly islands would allow Chinese oil companies to undertake offshore oil exploration inside the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone and including the bodies of waters being claimed by the Philippine government as part of its territorial waters which are exclusively reserved for Filipino fishermen.

Pamalakaya said the country’s exclusive economic zone, including its claimed in the Spratlys is the breeding and spawning ground of Philippine precious tuna and other migratory fish species. It said, aside from tuna and other marine species, the territorial waters, including the Philippine claimed territories in the Spratly are also known to be rich in oil deposits.

“If China is allowed to conduct offshore mining in the Spratly and inside the territorial waters, the country’s tuna stocks will be reduced by of 50,000 metric tons of tuna per year or more than that. What is sure is that this offshore mining escapade will create a major imbalance in the ecosystem of tuna and other marine species,” Pamalakaya added.

Pamalakaya learned that the RP-China Spratlys exploration deal was contained in an agreement signed by the Department of Trade and Industry and the ZTE International in January 2007 in exchange for projects amounting to $ 4 B.

The group said the $ 4-B package from China included the stalled NBN deal, the Cyber Education project, and the North Rail and South Rail projects which are said to be overpriced by hundreds of millions of US dollars.

Pamalakaya said prior to last year signing of the oil exploration deal, the Philippine government and China signed the Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU) in 2004 to map resources in the Spratly, including its potential for rich oil deposits.

The allegation of corruption against the secret RP-China Spratly deal was first reported by the Far Eastern Economic Review (FEER) which said it was a sell-out on the part of the Macapagal-Arroyo government. The internationally circulated magazine said the designated zone for offshore mining covers the waters of Palawan, includes a disputed area, and is very near to the gas-producing Malampaya gas project.

“The purpose of JMSU is seismic survey and the Chinese government is to confirm the oil potential of the areas in the Spratly that is being claimed by the Philippine government. The agreement last year was the finalization of China’s massive hunt for oil,” Pamalakaya said.

According to FEER “there appears to be sufficient basis for this claim because during her visit to China in 2004, Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo did in fact caused the signing of the “ Agreement for Seismic Undertaking for Certain Areas in the South China Sea and between China National Offshore Oil Corporation and Philippine National Oil Company.” #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 09:58 | link | comments (1) |

Leftist fishers want DFA Secretary Romulo’s head over secret
RP-China Spratlys offshore mining deal

Leftwing fishers belonging to Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Tuesday asked Foreign Affairs secretary Alberto Romulo to resign following the discovery of the secret RP-China deal that allows Chinese oil group to conduct offshore mining in the disputed Spratlys in exchange for $ 4-B loan from the government.

“Secretary Romulo and his principal President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo committed a super millennium crime of treason. The crime is unpardonable that merits Romulo and Arroyo resignations and trial before any appropriate court and in the court of public opinion,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

“The best kept secret about the secret RP-China Spratly deal is the $ 4-B loan from Chinese government that is also checkered with big crimes of corruption. We are going to lose this country to all time dogs of corruption and salesmen of national sovereignty and patrimony,” Hicap added.

“If Secretary Romulo has still some decency in mind and in heart, he would quit his post and ask GMA to join him, period, period, period,” Hicap added.

The Pamalakaya leader maintained that RP-China offshore mining deal in Spratly islands would allow Chinese oil companies to undertake offshore oil exploration inside the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone and including the bodies of waters being claimed by the Philippine government as part of its territorial waters which are exclusively reserved for Filipino fishermen.

Hicap said the country’s exclusive economic zone, including its claimed in the Spratlys is the breeding and spawning ground of Philippine precious tuna and other migratory fish species. He said, aside from tuna and other marine species, the territorial waters, including the Philippine claimed territories in the Spratly are also known to be rich in oil deposits.

“If China is allowed to conduct offshore mining in the Spratly and inside the territorial waters, the country’s tuna stocks will be reduced by of 50,000 metric tons of tuna per year or more than that. What is sure is that this offshore mining escapade will create a major imbalance in the ecosystem of tuna and other marine species,” Hicap said.

Pamalakaya learned that the RP-China Spratlys exploration deal was contained in an agreement signed by the Department of Trade and Industry and the ZTE International in January 2007 in exchange for projects amounting to $ 4 B.

The group said the $ 4-B package from China included the stalled NBN deal, the Cyber Education project, and the North Rail and South Rail projects which are said to be overpriced by hundreds of millions of US dollars.

Pamalakaya said prior to last year signing of the oil exploration deal, the Philippine government and China signed the Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU) in 2004 to map resources in the Spratly, including its potential for rich oil deposits.

The allegation of corruption against the secret RP-China Spratly deal was first reported by the Far Eastern Economic Review (FEER) which said it was a sell-out on the part of the Macapagal-Arroyo government. The internationally circulated magazine said the designated zone for offshore mining covers the waters of Palawan, includes a disputed area, and is very near to the gas-producing Malampaya gas project.

“The purpose of JMSU is seismic survey and the Chinese government is to confirm the oil potential of the areas in the Spratly that is being claimed by the Philippine government. The agreement last year was the finalization of China’s massive hunt for oil,” Pamalakaya said.

The militant group supported Senate Resolution 309 filed by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV asking the Senate committees on Blue Ribbon and environment and natural resources to lead the investigation.

Citing FEER report, Trillanes said “there appears to be sufficient basis for this claim because during her visit to China in 2004, Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo did in fact caused the signing of the “ Agreement for Seismic Undertaking for Certain Areas in the South China Sea and between China National Offshore Oil Corporation and Philippine National Oil Company.” #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 10:50 | link | comments |

VP de Castro told: “Prove yourself as worthy successor to GMA

“Whether he is prepared or preparing to takeover the presidency in the event of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s resignation or ouster, it does not make sense. Mr. Noli de Castro should prove to the people that he is a worthy successor to the ruling political gangland in Malacañang,” the leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said in a press statement.

Pamalakaya said Mr. de Castro is playing an opportunistic card at the moment, waiting the sweeping outrage against Mrs. Arroyo to form a critical mass enough to compel the military and police leadership, the reluctant bishops and Cabinet members to drop the President like a hot potato.

“If he wants to gain the people’s trust and be the moral replacement to Mrs. Arroyo, he should resign as a Cabinet member of the Arroyo camp, expose and corroborate the charges of first-rate crimes of corruption against the Arroyo administration and join the people’s quest for truth, justice and accountability and ask Gloria to step down,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.

Hicap added: “At this point of his political career, Mr. de Castro is merely engaged in limelight hugging and cheap publicity blitzkrieg over this ambition to replace the morally bankrupt sitting president in Malacañang and that is opportunism to the highest order. His statement merely reflects the same bankruptcy he shares with President Arroyo.”

The Pamalakaya leader said VP de Castro remains an unacceptable replacement to President Arroyo and that his group will continue to press for the establishment of a Transition Council that would compose the transition government in the event of Mrs. Arroyo’s ouster or resignation.

“In this country, we have a Vice