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

Critics doubt if P 93.6 B state subsidies are really meant for poor

Ardent critics of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Saturday questioned Malacañang’s plan to release P 93.6 billion in tax payers’ money as subsidies to poor Filipino families to help them cope with the rising food and energy price.

“Is it really meant for the poor? Or is it geared to satisfy the eternal greed of the ruling mafia in Malacañang? Which is which?’, the left leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) asked in a statement.

“It seems the release of people’s money for Arroyo’s sinister agenda is being rushed at this early to make it sure that all money are already released on or before the campaign period of 2010 national elections to avoid political controversies,” Pamalakaya added.

The P 93.6 billion aid package was approved by President Arroyo last week includes P 2 billion in outright cash transfers, according to Department of Finance (DoF) secretary Margarito Teves. The finance official said some 23.5 million poor Filipinos, or about 26 percent of the population, who earn P 67 a day will benefit from state dole-outs.

But Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said the government is merely offering band-aid solutions to the economic woes of the Filipino people instead of addressing the real problems of 88.5 million Filipinos which stemmed from lack of genuine land reform, job losses, job insecurity and depressed wages, regressive taxes imposed on petroleum products and electricity and denial of basic social services.

“President Arroyo and her economic managers are resorting to mass flooding of empty promises and false hopes to the starving public, which is characterized by some showcases of dole-outs and photo-op inspired charity work to obscure the truth about the economy and the very depressing situation of the people,” Hicap said.

The Pamalakaya leader said Malacañang refused workable solutions to immediately cushion the impact of high prices of oil and energy like the repeal of oil deregulation law and Energy and Power Industry and Reform Act, the scrapping of 12 percent expanded value added tax on oil and power, the approval of the nationwide P 125 across-the-board wage increase both for minimum and non-minimum wage workers and the lowering of prices of basic commodities.

“But the problem is President Arroyo’s loyalty is not with the people, but to those who exploit them in exchange for fat kickbacks and political support from Malacañang’s greedy clients,” Hicap noted.

Pamalakaya theorized that the P 93.6 B is more intended for the 2010 presidential, senatorial and local elections, where Malacañang is expected to finance the electoral stints of hardcore pro-Arroyo politicians from the national down to the local levels.

“Malacañang merely brokered the news to Palace ally politicians that there is enough money for them in the 2010 elections. It is President Arroyo like telling pro-administration politicians and 2010 wannabes that stick with me through thick and tin and you will be rewarded with millions of cash bonanza,” the group said.

The finance department said it would source out the P 93.6 B from the windfall tax revenues the government collects from high petroleum prices, where it would get at least P 18.6 billion in taxpayers money. The P 75 billion will come from foreign sources, according to DoF.

Part of the dole-out packages include the P 1 billion scholarship grants and interest-free loans to poor students and soft loans to jeepney drivers who wish to switch to cheaper and more environment-friendly petroleum gas engines. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 02:19 | link | comments |

Leftwing groups see secret signing of RP-US free trade pact in
Arroyo’s US visit next month

The militant peasant alliance Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and the left-leaning fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Friday said the scheduled meeting of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo with US President George W. Bush next month is meant to clinch the proposed RP-US Free Trade Agreement.

KMP and Pamalakaya said it is politically puzzling why President Arroyo did not mention this earth shaking bilateral trade agenda, where in fact this free trade agreement was brought to Malacañang and Washington DC during Arroyo’s political stint in Hanoi, Vietnam on the occasion of 14th summit of leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation or APEC on November 2006.

“Is President Arroyo hiding something and presumably engaged in another secret deal with Bush, the American puppet master?” KMP secretary general Danilo Ramos said in a press statement.

Ramos said Malacañang only announced a number of agenda in Arroyo’s visit to Washington DC and New York City from June 23-29. Among the President’s agenda are to personally thank the US government officials and members of Congress for supporting Veterans Benefits Bill and discuss an array of issues that involved food security, protection of the environment, Philippine defense program, counter-terrorism, Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) community building, human rights, the situation in Myanmar and global trade to mention a few.

“How about the RP-US free trade agreement which is more evil than the Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement? Nothing has been said about this bilateral trade pact. Something fishy is going on here, because President Arroyo is going to sign another deal which is super destructive and super terrifying to ordinary Filipinos,” KMP’s Ramos added.

For his part, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap recalled that sometime in December last year, Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Arthur Yap also announced the need for a new RP-US Free Trade Agreement.

The Pamalakaya leader said: If my memory serves me right, Mr. Yap issued a statement stating that the Philippines would like to move forward in all aspects of its trade relations with the United States, either bilaterally, such as pursuing an FTA or working within the confines of the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), or multilaterally, like working towards a successful conclusion of the Doha Development Agenda.

“Secretary Yap was acting that time as the local town crier of the White House regarding the proposed RP-US free trade pact. It was a follow up and a reminder to Malacañang that President Arroyo should push through with the agreement. The US is dictating upon the Arroyo government the need to come up with a free trade agreement that is bigger and bolder than Jpepa,” Hicap said.

Pamalakaya theorized that Malacañang could be hiding the draft RP-US Free Trade Agreement and the document will be submitted next month to White House during President Arroyo’s state visit to US next month.

“It is a done deal, yet the 88.5 million Filipinos do not know what this political animal is all about?” the fisherfolk group added.

“To set the record straight, the Philippine government already has come up with the proposal for a three-stage RP-US FTA. Under Phase 1 of the package, the two parties must agree on common products like garments and textile and possibly, electronics. Phase 2 would cover the granting of additional concessions on more sensitive products, while Phase 3 would delve on a comprehensive coverage of products and services,” Pamalakaya said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 02:18 | link | comments |

Bunye’s book about his life in Palace a predictable thrash, critics say

The plan of soon-to-retire Press Secretary and presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye to write a book on his stint as an official Cabinet member of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was called a predictable thrash by the leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), a staunch critic of the President and her press secretary.

“Why buy a book that will insult the collective intelligence of the Filipino people? Bunye is known to the public as a certified liar and the no.1 apologist of the corrupt, criminal and immoral regime of President Arroyo, and that book will only reflect the past, present and future lies and deceptions of Bunye and his principal in Malacañang,” Pamalakaya information officer Gerry Albert Corpuz said in a press statement.

Secretary Bunye said the book he plans to write upon retiring as Press Secretary and presidential spokes person will only revolve about his staying in the Palace and more on the Malacañang Press Corps, adding that this book tentatively titled “Babes in the Palace” would not be a tell-all account of what transpired inside Malacañang during his term as press secretary since 2001.

The Pamalakaya information chief said while Bunye is a scholarly writer and journalist, he lacks passion for truth and justice and would be only remembered by the Filipino public as President Arroyo’s lapdog and mini-puppet in Malacañang.

“People are not dumb to patronize something that negates the true essence of truth and justice. What can you expect from that book? Nothing but memoirs of a paid mercenary of the ruling Mafia in Malacañang,” Corpuz said.

Bunye revealed his plan to write a book about his stint in Malacañang after Palace based reporters asked him if he has any plans to write a book, which Scott McClellan, former press secretary of US President George W. Bush did after retiring as spokesman of the US President.

In his book “What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington’s Culture of Deception”, McClellan said he was dismayed and disillusioned during his final year in the White House as press secretary, and revealed that the CIA leak case- and what it revealed about Bush’s role in releasing classified information about the Iraq war to American and international press.

“Do you expect Bunye to be disillusioned and dismayed with President Arroyo? Of course not, because Bunye is getting something in return for defending Arroyo and hiding to public the presidents best kept secrets. And that is a fixed six-year term in Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Beat that,” Pamalakaya’s Corpuz said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 02:17 | link | comments |

Senator Revilla told: Stop father, brother’s P 8-B reclamation project in Cavite

Leftwing militants belonging to Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas on Friday asked administration Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. to stop the P 8-B reclamation project along the coastal areas of Cavite, allegedly initiated by his father, former senator and now Public Reclamation Authority (PRA) chair Ramon Revilla Sr. and Bacoor City Mayor Strike Revilla.

“Blood is thicker than water, but national interest and the people’s environment are no-negotiable items, so we ask Senator Revilla, being the chair of the Senate committee on public works and highways to do his homework and stop the massive reclamation of Cavite’s seashores carried out by his father and brother in the name of the sitting syndicate in Malacañang,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

Pamalakaya’s Hicap was referring to the ambitious P 80-billion reclamation project would cover 7,500 hectares of Cavite’s foreshore land and coastal shore areas of Bacoor, Kawit, Rosario, Binakayan, Novelata and Cavite City.

The fisherfolk leader said the people's livelihood and the environment are sacrificed at the altar of corporate takeover and Interest. Hicap said the Revilla clan should put an end to this reclamation frenzy along the coastal shores of Cavite and let the 26,000 coastal families continue with their day-to-day life.

Pamalakaya said the connection of the Revillas is well established in the widespread reclamation activities along Cavite’s coastal areas, and it confirmed that the project is the pet project of the Revilla clan in the province in collaboration with Malacañang.

“First the senior Revilla is the chairperson of the Philippine Reclamation Authority, the government agency in-charge of reclaiming and selling these reclaimed portions of Manila Bay to developers. Second, Strike Revilla is the mayor of Bacoor, where the project would start, and third, Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. is the chair of the Senate Committee on Public Works and Highways. This leads to a logical conclusion that the Revillas are solidly behind this project,” the militant group added.

The PRA was reportedly offering P 20,000 per family whose tahungan livelihood along Manila Bay were first cleared to give way to the reclamation project. Most of the fisherfolk along Cavite coastal towns are mussel growers.

"We would like to tell Revillas that the compensation for destroyed tahungan (mussel growing) is not really main concern of the fisherfolk. What they need is the rehabilitation and protection of their main source of livelihood and assurance they would be no future reclamation activities along coastal areas” the group said.

Pamalakaya said the reclamation of 4,000 hectares of Bacoor's coastal areas is part of the government's plan to revive the Sangley Point as a major modern logistical hub with seaport and airport that would be provided by reclaimed areas from Bacoor to Cavite City.

"This is the real Sangley Point robbery in broad daylight with Malacañang, the PRA and the powerful Revilla clan engaged in conspiracy to deprive the fishers and urban poor of Bacoor their basic socio-economic and human rights in the name of corporate agenda and promising huge kickbacks," the group said.

The Pamalakaya leader said the reclamation of 7,500 hectares of forehore areas in Bacoor, Cavite will extend the Cavite-Manila Coastal Road project from Bacoor to Kawit, Cavite. This 7-km stretch of new road will also affect nearby towns like Naic and Tanza.

"It is public knowledge that the reclamation project is part of the super region project of Malacañang and the Revillas. But this project is nothing but a roaring cyclone that would practically destroy everything," the group said. #

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

Leftwing groups see secret signing of RP-US free trade pact in
Arroyo’s US visit next month

THE MILITANT PEASANT alliance Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and the left-leaning fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Friday said the scheduled meeting of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo with US President George W. Bush next month is meant to clinch the proposed RP-US Free Trade Agreement.

KMP and Pamalakaya said it is politically puzzling why President Arroyo did not mention this earth shaking bilateral trade agenda, where in fact this free trade agreement was brought to Malacañang and Washington DC during Arroyo’s political stint in Hanoi, Vietnam on the occasion of 14th summit of leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation or APEC on November 2006.

“Is President Arroyo hiding something and presumably engaged in another secret deal with Bush, the American puppet master?” KMP secretary general Danilo Ramos said in a press statement.

Ramos said Malacañang only announced a number of agenda in Arroyo’s visit to Washington DC and New York City from June 23-29. Among the President’s agenda are to personally thank the US government officials and members of Congress for supporting Veterans Benefits Bill and discuss an array of issues that involved food security, protection of the environment, Philippine defense program, counter-terrorism, Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) community building, human rights, the situation in Myanmar and global trade to mention a few.

“How about the RP-US free trade agreement which is more evil than the Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement? Nothing has been said about this bilateral trade pact. Something fishy is going on here, because President Arroyo is going to sign another deal which is super destructive and super terrifying to ordinary Filipinos,” KMP’s Ramos added.

For his part, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap recalled that sometime in December last year, Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Arthur Yap also announced the need for a new RP-US Free Trade Agreement.

The Pamalakaya leader said: If my memory serves me right, Mr. Yap issued a statement stating that the Philippines would like to move forward in all aspects of its trade relations with the United States, either bilaterally, such as pursuing an FTA or working within the confines of the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), or multilaterally, like working towards a successful conclusion of the Doha Development Agenda.

“Secretary Yap was acting that time as the local town crier of the White House regarding the proposed RP-US free trade pact. It was a follow up and a reminder to Malacañang that President Arroyo should push through with the agreement. The US is dictating upon the Arroyo government the need to come up with a free trade agreement that is bigger and bolder than Jpepa,” Hicap said.

Pamalakaya theorized that Malacañang could be hiding the draft RP-US Free Trade Agreement and the document will be submitted next month to White House during President Arroyo’s state visit to US next month.

“It is a done deal, yet the 88.5 million Filipinos do not know what this political animal is all about?” the fisherfolk group added.

“To set the record straight, the Philippine government already has come up with the proposal for a three-stage RP-US FTA. Under Phase 1 of the package, the two parties must agree on common products like garments and textile and possibly, electronics. Phase 2 would cover the granting of additional concessions on more sensitive products, while Phase 3 would delve on a comprehensive coverage of products and services,” Pamalakaya said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 03:28 | link | comments |

DAR chief denying farmers right to till land in Fort Magsaysay, rural groups say

Four of the biggest rural-based organizations on Thursday accused Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Nasser Pangandaman of denying peasant land rights to thousands of agrarian reform beneficiaries in Laur, Nueva Ecija.

In a joint press statement, the militant peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), the left-wing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), the agricultural farmworkers association Unyon ng Mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA) and the peasant women group Amihan-National Federation of Peasant Women said the agrarian reform chief should be principally held responsible for the non-distribution of 3,100 hectares of farmlands inside the 73,000 hectare Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation (FMMR) area.

“Secretary Pangandaman is not doing his homework. He is sitting on an agrarian case that should have been resolved 17 years ago. He is concentrating his efforts in attacking the collective opposition to the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, where in fact, the Laur farmers are themselves victims of this bogus land reform program,” they said in a joint press statement.

The groups said the farmers in the 3,100 hectare part of the declared military reservation already have their certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs) but they are still prevented from tilling the land and continuously subjected to day-to-day harassment and human rights violations by landlords and their paid goods, the police and the military manning the military reservation site.

KMP secretary general Danilo Ramos said he was dismayed to learn that the farmers should have been allowed to keep possession of the 3,100 hectares and start their agricultural production in the area by virtue of their CLOAs and the turn over of the Deed of Transfer by the Department of National Defense (DND) to DAR that the disputed agricultural area would be handed over to legitimate farmer beneficiaries.

“The 3,100 hectares in Fort Magsaysay should have been turned over to farmers in 1991. It is now 2008 and nothing has been done to correct this social injustice done by Malacañang, the agrarian reform agency and CARP. This is really terrible and horrible at the same time,” Ramos lamented.

For his part, UMA national chair Rene Galang said instead of ensuring the land rights of the farmers to peaceful possession of lands and making the 3,100 hectares productive, DAR has facilitated the entry of big time land grabbers and real estate speculators inside the contested area.

“Strictly speaking, DAR acted in behalf of the landlord and real estate clients of Malacañang. It is offering the farmers rights to till the land at the altar of the government’s land for market program where agricultural lands are sold like hot cakes to Palace persistent clients,” Galang added.

Amihan chair Carmen Buena said reports reaching her office in Manila revealed that the Provincial Agrarian Reform Office (PARO) has been very accommodating big landlords like Martin Tinio and retired Col. Feliciano Sabite, and has allowed their land grabbing sprees inside the 3,100 hectare land previously awarded to farmer beneficiaries.

“The supposed to be beneficiaries of the government’s land reform program are periodically, if not perpetually driven away from their farmlands to allow big landlords and land speculators to accumulate lands and engage in brutal campaign to harass, threaten and assault farmers asserting their rights to land,” she said.

Buena, a long-time peasant women leader and organizer in Central Luzon said landlord Tinio was able to occupy at least 200 hectares of land inside the disputed 3,100 hectare area encompassing Lots 28 and 29 of the military reservation camp.

“DAR is really having a hard time to justify the landgrabbing spree of Tinio inside FMMR. It even tolerated the militarist approach of the landlord and the outdated logic of counter-insurgency program of the government to justify landlords’ land grabbing frenzy inside the military reservation area,” she said.

Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap recalled that in 1955, former President Ramon Magsaysay issued Presidential Proclamation 237 declaring the 73,000 hectare Fort Magsaysay as a military reservation.

He said the declaration reserved for military purposes 73,000 hectares of the public domain situated in the municipalities of Papaya, Sta.Rosa and Laur, all in Nueva Ecija and portion of Quezon province.

“Since time immemorial and up to present, counter-insurgency and not genuine land reform program is the priority of the government. The case of Fort Magsaysay is strong testimony to this political assertion of landless farmers and striving rural people,” Hicap said.

Pamalakaya said in 1977, the General Headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines drove away farmers occupying not less than 4,000 hectares inside the military reservation. In 1989, DAR endorsed the demand of the farmers to legally acquire the 4,000 hectares they occupied and tilled, and in 1990 the regional office of the DENR ordered an evaluation of lands in accordance with the recommendation of DAR.

In July 23, 1990, the DENR-Central Luzon proposed that only 1,000 hectares of land should be given to land tillers, but the farmers resisted.

In November 5, 1991, a deed of transfer was done between then DAR Secretary Benjamin Leong and defense secretary Renato de Villa based on Executive Order 407 series of 1990, as amended by Executive Order 448 series of 1990 asking the DND to cede control of Fort Magsaysay to DAR, part of which is the allocation of 3,100 hectares of the military reservation to landless farmers and victims of Mt. Pinatubo eruption. #

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

Farewell to a working-class hero
By Gerry Albert Corpuz
Column: Politics in Command
Published: UPI Asia online
May 28, 2008

Manila, Philippines — Last week, colleagues of Rep. Crispin Beltran in the Philippine House of Representatives and Senate paid tribute to the late lawmaker, who died from a fall while fixing the roof of his house in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, on May 20.

The lawmakers’ tribute to Beltran was initiated by his peers in Congress, led by left-leaning party list groups Bayan Muna, his own party Anakpawis and the Gabriela Women’s Party. Joining the night of tribute were key and influential political figures in Manila led by former President Joseph Estrada, Senate President Manuel Villar, Senators Aquilino Pimentel Jr., Loren Legarda, Maria Consuelo Madrigal, Jinggoy Estrada and Alan Peter Cayetano.

At the Lower House, those spotted during last week’s congressional tribute were House Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora, Rep. Eduardo Zialcita and Beltran’s other colleague lawmakers in Congress.

Pro- and anti-administration figures, representatives of different ideological groups and Manila’s ruling elite came to his wake to pay homage to the Grand Old Man of Philippine Labor.

Thousands of Filipino workers and farmers came in crowds to give the 75-year-old former labor leader-turned-lawmaker all the respect he deserved for serving the poor and the underprivileged from the wartime Japanese occupation up to the present.

Beltran is also known and respected by advocates and defenders of workers’ rights abroad, specifically in the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia, as the epitome of a working-class hero and inspiration to struggling workers across the globe.

Activists and workers’ unions from around the world sent messages extolling Beltran as a working-class hero, citing all his contributions and involvement in the global fight for workers’ rights and emancipation from capital exploitation.

Messages of solidarity from foreign allies and colleagues abroad have deluged Beltran’s office at the House of Representatives.

The outpouring of political support and bestowal of accolades and tributes to Beltran stemmed from his painstaking work as a pioneer of genuine trade unionism in the Philippines, and more than half a century of unparalleled activism in defending labor rights and the people’s interests. His activism dates from the beginning of the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in the mid 1940s during World War II, when the late lawmaker served as a courier for Filipino guerillas fighting the Japanese imperial army.

The Center of People Empowerment in Governance, or CenPEG, a Manila-based advocacy group, posted a tribute to Beltran on their Web site. CenPEG said his life had been etched by struggles as a young guerilla during the Japanese invasion of Manila, as a farm worker, office sweeper, gasoline attendant, messenger, bus driver and later, as a cab driver to support his education.

In the dark years of martial law, Beltran was incarcerated by the regime of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos for organizing workers against exploitative capitalists and Marcos’ reign of terror. The activist lawmaker managed to escape his guards on one occasion and went to the countryside to organize farm workers and peasants in Central Luzon, paving the way for the formations of farmer groups and alliances in the region.

CenPEG writes: “For Beltran, working alongside the country’s proletariat did not only mean going on strikes for bread and butter or facing company executives in tough wage negotiations. The years spent in labor leadership also produced hard-fought lessons in ideological skirmishes with “yellow” or compromising trade unionism and also linking up with organizations of farmers, youth-students, urban poor and other sectors in a nationwide cause-oriented movement.”

In 1987, Beltran’s baptism of fire in the electoral process came when he joined the progressive Partido ng Bayan as one of its senatorial candidates. The party was formed to introduce the politics of the masses and the oppressed as an alternative to the politics and rule of the elite. As expected, the progressive political party was brutally suppressed by the militarist regime of former President Corazon Aquino.

Beltran survived the brutal campaign of the Aquino regime and the military and continued his work, providing leadership to many groups such as Kilusang Mayo Uno, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and the International League of People’s Struggle.

In 2001 Beltran, the poorest lawmaker of all time with a net worth of 50,000 pesos, was elected party list congressman under Bayan Muna, and was re-elected representative for a second and third time in 2004 and 2007 under the banner of the Anakpawis party list.

From 2002-2005, he was judged Most Consistent Outstanding Congressman for his exemplary work in Congress. In 2006, he was elevated to the Congressional Hall of Fame by the Congress Magazine for taking up the cause of the poor as a party list lawmaker.

Three of Beltran’s pro-poor bills – one calling for a daily wage increase for private workers, one for a monthly pay hike for state workers and an agrarian reform bill that sought to distribute all agricultural lands for free to landless farmers – were considered landmark pieces of legislation.

CenPEG ended its special article on Beltran with a political statement asserting that the late lawmaker had been vindicated for devoting his life to labor militancy, alongside the marginalized classes, building power from poverty and injustice. The labor and legislative record of Beltran proves that the breed of people’s leaders is bound to increase, and elitist rule will be a thing of the past.

Beltran’s body will be interred this week in a memorial lot donated by friends and allies in the labor and people’s movement. It will be a farewell to the world’s modern-day working-class hero and a new beginning for those who will continue Beltran’s legacy to the working class in the Philippines and the world. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 02:42 | link | comments |

Palace call for Cabinet members to use public transport is too good to be true

"Too good to be true".

This was the initial reaction of the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on the challenge of Malacañang Palace to members of the Cabinet to take public transport to save the government billions in fuel bills.

"Do you expect the Filipino public to buy this cheap publicity stunt? Palace paid propagandists are resorting to the much abused populist attack to win the hearts and minds of the people. But the trouble is this government has no credibility, corrupt and immoral and absolutely known for taking the people to perpetual roller-coaster ride," Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita on Wednesday appealed to cabinet members to set by example by taking public transport on their way to Malacañang to enable the government to save billions of pesos in fuel bills. The government has 80,000 vehicles all over the country, and if they would save at least 1 liter of gasoline or diesel per day that could save taxpayers money by at least P 3 million to P 4 million per day.

The recommendation of government using one liter less a day was made by Philippine National Oil Company- Development Management Corp. (PNOC-DMC) chairman and former senior deputy executive secretary Waldo Flores.

Ermita said the public should not be surprised if the next days they would see Cabinet officials riding bicycles going to and from their office or riding public utility vehicles like the MRT which passes through EDSA and the LRT lines along Taft Avenue and Aurora Boulevard.

Ermita said that such actions should not be branded as "overacting" adding that it "can very well happen". But Hicap said it is not OA, yet Ermita's one-man-show is really just for a super roadshow presentation.

"In fact it is extremely mission impossible. This government with terrible records of unstoppable and continuing records of high crime of corruption might just do it for political show on the first day and probably on the second and third day. But expect them to renege their promise on the fourth day and thereafter," the Pamalakaya leader added.

Hicap said corrupt government officials and cabinet members known for raiding national coffers in the tradition of their sitting principals in Malacañang will not dare to take the extreme challenge.

"Like the Arroyos, their cabinet members will not subscribe to this proletarian way of living. My god, President Arroyo and her gang are not Crispin” Ka Bel" Beltran" who is a certified hero of the plebians and pioneer of proletarian living. The Arroyos and the cabinet members of Mrs. Arroyo are modern-day oligarchs, autocrats, aristocrats and power abusers," Pamalakaya said.

The Land Transportation Office records show that if all the 4,211,932 gasoline-using vehicles in the country adopts the proposed one liter per day savings, it would mean a P 52 per liter of gasoline savings of P 219 million per day or P 6.6 B per month or P 78.8 billion per year.

If the 1,561,935 diesel-fed vehicles in the country also adopts the proposal it would mean a P 45 per liter savings or P 70.3 million per day or P 2 B per month or P 63.3 billion per year.


“This government is not listening to legitimate demands of the people which include the repeal of the oil deregulation law, the substantial reduction in the prices of petroleum products, the removal of expanded value added tax and other regressive levies imposed on oil products, the buy back of Petron and the nationalization of oil industry,” Pamalakaya said.

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 02:40 | link | comments |

New CHR chief pressed: File charges against Palparan

The left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Tuesday dared newly appointed Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chair Leila de Lima to file criminal charges against retired Army Major General Jovito Palparan in connection with the spate of political killings and enforced disappearances that took place during his tenure.

Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said as far as his group is concerned complaints regarding extrajudicial killing, enforced disappearances and other human rights abuses were filed against the controversial general before the CHR, but nothing has been done to address the relatives and colleagues demand for justice.

“The CHR has received and continues to receive complaints concerning political killings and other forms of human rights atrocities against Palparan and his men. But the commission failed to act even on single case. It is now the chance of the CHR chair to prove her worth as true defender of human rights. She should grab this opportunity or she will lose relevance if any,” Hicap said in a press statement.

The Pamalakaya leader added: “Let me set the record straight. General Palparan is accused for masterminding the reign of terror and scores of extrajudicial killings and enforced abductions in Mindoro Island, Eastern Visayas and Central Luzon, and complaints were lodged before the CHR. These complaints provided by testimonies of witnesses, legal, straight and circumstantial evidences merit the filing of charges, prosecution and eventual punishment of Palparan.”

“Why not bring Palparan to the court of justice and force him face to he those deluge of criminal charges that stemmed from his execution of Malacañang’s counter-insurgency program known as Oplan Bantay Laya I and Oplan Bantay Laya II,” Hicap added.

The fisherfolk group filed a P 20-million libel case against Palparan for singling out Pamalakaya and Anakpawis party list group in the government counter-insurgency plan. The controversial army major general said the leaders and members of both groups are creating troubles along the coastal areas of the province by intimidating civilians to join the New People’s Army and collect P 50,000 from fish pond operators monthly.

The Quezon City prosecutor’s office sent a subpoena to Palparan to attend the preliminary investigation on June 19, but the retired army officer said he has yet to receive the subpoena.

Pamalakaya lamented the CHR since 2001 never issued a statement condemning the Arroyo government’s counter-insurgency program known as Oplan Bantay Laya 1 and Oplan Bantay Laya II, which invokes the national policy on political killings and enforced disappearance as means to neutralize aboveground groups and persons allegedly identified with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), its armed wing the New People’s Army (NPA) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

“Why is it so hard for the CHR to make a statement against Oplan Bantay Laya I and Oplan Bantay Laya II? The public’s guess is as good as ours,” the group added.

Citing data from the human rights group Karapatan, Pamalakaya said last year, there were 52 incidents of extrajudicial killings and arbitrary execution victimizing 69 people, 73 cases of illegal arrest and detention victimizing 280 political activists, 85 cases of threat, harassment and intimidation victimizing 2,194 leftwing activists.

From January 21, 2001 to December 31, 2007, Karapatan said 888 persons were summarily executed by the military, 395 of them belonged to organized left-leaning groups, while there were 185 persons were abducted by state agents, 62 of them came from organized groups during the same period. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 23:57 | link | comments |

Revilla Sr, sons Bong and Strike asked to
stop reclamation project in Cavite

Leftwing militants belonging to Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas on Tuesday asked former now Philippine Reclamation Chair Senator Ramon Revilla Sr., and sons Bacoor Mayor Strike Revilla and Senator Ramon” Bong” Revilla Jr. to immediately stop the reclamation project along the coastal shores of Cavite province.

“We ask the Revilla family to immediately halt the anti-environment reclamation project in Cavite that would result to the grand massacre and summary execution of fishing communities in the province,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

Hicap said the ambitious P 80-billion project would entail the reclamation of 7,500 hectares of Cavite’s foreshore land from the seashores of Bacoor, Kawit, Rosario, Binakayan, Novelata and Cavite City.

"The people's livelihood and the environment are sacrificed at the altar of corporate takeover and
Interest. We strongly urge the Revilla clan to put an end to this reclamation frenzy along the coastal shores of Cavite and let the 26,000 coastal families continue with their day-to-day life,” Pamalakaya’s Hicap added.

Pamalakaya said the connection of the Revillas is well established in the widespread reclamation activities along Cavite’s coastal areas, and it confirmed that the project is the pet project of the Revilla clan in the province in collaboration with Malacañang.

“First the senior Revilla is the chairperson of the Philippine Reclamation Authority, the government agency in-charge of reclaiming and selling these reclaimed portions of Manila Bay to developers. Second, Strike Revilla is the mayor of Bacoor, where the project would start, and third, Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. is the chair of the Senate Committee on Public Works and Highways. This leads to a logical conclusion that the Revillas are solidly behind this project,” the militant group added.

The PRA was reportedly offering P 20,000 per family whose tahungan livelihood along Manila Bay were first cleared to give way to the reclamation project. Most of the fisherfolk along Cavite coastal towns are mussel growers.

"We would like to tell Revillas that the compensation for destroyed tahungan is not really main concern of the fisherfolk. What they need is the rehabilitation and protection of their main source of livelihood main source of livelihood and assurance they would be no future reclamation activities along coastal areas” the group said.

Pamalakaya said the reclamation of 4,000 hectares of Bacoor's coastal areas is part of the government's plan to revive the Sangley Point as a major modern logistical hub with seaport and airport that would be provided by reclaimed areas from Bacoor to Cavite City.

"This is the real Sangley Point robbery in broad daylight with Malacañang, the PRA and the powerful clans of Cavite engaged in conspiracy to deprive the fishers and urban poor of Bacoor their basic socio-economic and human rights in the name of corporate agenda and promising huge kickbacks," the group said.

The Pamalakaya leader said the reclamation of 7,500 hectares of forehore areas in Bacoor, Cavite will extend the Cavite-Manila Coastal Road project from Bacoor to Kawit, Cavite. This 7-km stretch of new road will also affect nearby towns like Naic and Tanza.

"It is public knowledge that the reclamation project is part of the super region project of Malacañsng and the Revillas. But this project is nothing but a roaring cyclone that would practically destroy everything," the group said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 23:56 | link | comments |

CHR’s promised immunity to witnesses on political killings
Curious, but not hopeful

The left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Monday said it is curious on how the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) will execute and assure its constitutional powers to grant immunity from persecution to any person, including military agents, who are “in the know” about political killings and enforced disappearances, to help solve the spate of murders.

“Let us see how this system will work. We are curious enough but not hopeful given the political orientation and character of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the Armed Forces and the National Security Council,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

Newly appointed CHR chair Leila de Lima yesterday said the commission is set to utilize its underutilized powers to address the spate of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances by offering immunity to witnesses, including military agents who could give information and testify before the commission about the involvement of men in uniform.

“This will really be of great help in encouraging more witnesses to come forward,” de Lima said. As a investigative body, the CHR is mandated to grant immunity to anyone whose testimony or possession of documents or other evidence is necessary to determine the truth in any investigation being conducted by the commission or under its authority, the CHR chair stressed.

But Pamalakaya’s Hicap said the newly installed CHR chair must first prove to the people that she is not beholden to President Arroyo who appointed her, and that she is not afraid of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzalez, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and other members of the National Security Council, and that she is willing to wield the constitutional powers of CHR on them if need arises or the situation calls for it.

“The CHR’s call for immunity will be a myth in essence, unless de Lima makes a categorical and black and white statement to the public that no one in the government, in the national security group and the military establishment will be spared from the commission’s constitutional powers once their participation and involvement in the political killings and enforced disappearances are clearly established by facts, testimonies and even circumstantial evidence,” Hicap added.

Pamalakaya said the CHR since 2001 never issued a statement condemning the Arroyo government’s counter-insurgency program known as Oplan Bantay Laya 1 and Oplan Bantay Laya II, which invokes the national policy on political killings and enforced disappearance as means to neutralize aboveground groups and persons allegedly identified with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), its armed wing the New People’s Army (NPA) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

“Why is it so hard for the CHR to make a statement against Oplan Bantay Laya I and Oplan Bantay Laya II? The public’s guess is as good as ours,” the group added.

Citing data from the human rights group Karapatan, Pamalakaya said last year, there were 52 incidents of extrajudicial killings and arbitrary execution victimizing 69 people, 73 cases of illegal arrest and detention victimizing 280 political activists, 85 cases of threat, harassment and intimidation victimizing 2,194 leftwing activists.

From January 21, 2001 to December 31, 2007, Karapatan said 888 persons were summarily executed by the military, 395 of them belonged to organized left-leaning groups, while there were 185 persons were abducted by state agents, 62 of them came from organized groups during the same period. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 02:48 | link | comments |

Fishers group fears Palace, DoJ to spoil P 20-million libel case against Palparan

The group which filed the P 20-million libel case against retired Army Major General Jovito Palparan expressed fears that Malacañang and the Department of Justice will meddle and dictate the outcome of the case against the controversial former military official.

“The possibility is always there. In fact that possibility is very strong given that this government is the principal author of this across-the-nation extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and political persecution of leftwing activists and ardent critics of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,” the militant fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya (Pamalakaya) said in a press statement.

“Palparan is Mrs. Arroyo’s favorite general. She even gave a tribute to him during her State of the Nation Address in 2006,” recalled Fernando Hicap, Pamalakaya national chair. Last May 7, the Office of the City Prosecutor in Quezon City issued a subpoena to Palparan in connection with the P 20-million libel case filed by the fishers group last July 13, 2006.

“What if Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez wields his political power in the name of Malacañang and coerces the prosecutor’s office to kill the P 20-million libel case against Palparan? We will explore the option of bringing the case to the Supreme Court if that will be the case,” the Pamalakaya leader added.

The subpoena penned by Romano said that Pamalakaya’s Hicap and Palparan are commanded and requested to appear at the Office of the City Prosecutor on June 19, 2008 at around 2:00 p.m, Hall of Justice Building in Quezon City. The subpoena was issued last May 7, 2008.

The prosecutor office said the preliminary investigation would require Palparan to subscribe and swear to his written statement on record and submit himself for clarificatory questioning. It will also require Palparan to submit counter-affidavits, but the prosecutor’s office would not entertain any motion from Palparan’s camp to dismiss the case.

The P 20-million libel case filed by Pamalakaya against Palparan stemmed from statements issued by the controversial military general against leaders and members of the fisherfolk group and the activist party list group Anakpawis in Bulacan coastal areas.

In an interview conducted by Central Luzon based Inquirer reporter Tonette Orejas, Palparan accused Pamalakaya and Anakpawis of creating troubles along the coastal areas of the province through intimidation and recruitment of civilians to the New People’s Army (NPA) and seizing or extorting P 50,000 monthly from fishpond operators in the province.

In the same interview, Palparan said it is necessary to single out Pamalakaya and Anakpawis in the counter-insurgency campaign of the government to eliminate terrorist communist guerillas, a statement which Pamalakaya said was an open endorsement of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in the province.

In their nine-page complaint, Pamalakaya said aside from tarnishing its image, stature and reputation, Palparan’s statements exposes its officials, organizers and members into grave dangers of their lives, security and safety. It exposes them to dangers of extra judicial killings, abductions, threats and harassment.

In asserting their legitimacy as a people’s organization in various advocacy work, Pamalakaya said it is a legal organization registered before the Securities and Exchange Commission. As a federation, Pamalakaya has 36 provincial chapters all over the country and commands total individual membership of not less than 80,000 as of July 2006.

As a fisherfolk organization, Pamalakaya has been consistently invited in various gatherings abroad, including the United Nations, which invited Pamalakaya to act as a resource group in the early 90s regarding the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Pamalakaya has been attending various international conferences abroad including those held in the United States, Japan, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Denmark, The Netherlands, Italy and France.

Just recently, Pamalakaya was tasked to draft the Asian charter of the World Forum of Fisher People (WFFP), the biggest global organization of fishermen and fishworkers in the world. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 10:05 | link | comments |

QC prosecutor’s office orders Palparan to appear on P 20-million libel case filed by fishers group

The Office of the City Prosecutor in Quezon City had issued a subpoena to retired Army Maj. General Jovito Palparan in connection with the P 20-million libel case filed by the militant fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) last July 13, 2006.

The complainant, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap brokered the news to the media upon the receipt of the subpoena issued by Quezon City assistant prosecutor Corazon Romano over the weekend.

The subpoena penned by Romano said that Pamalakaya’s Hicap and Palparan are commanded and requested to appear at the Office of the City Prosecutor on June 19, 2008 at around 2:00 p.m, Hall of Justice Building in Quezon City. The subpoena was issued last May 7, 2008.

“We are ready for this face off. We want to face “The Butcher” and tell right on his face his crimes and sins against the fisher people and peace loving folks in Bulacan,” Hicap said in a press statement.

The Pamalakaya leader added: “This is one fight the late working class hero Anakpawis party list Crispin Beltran has been anticipating for nearly two years. Ka Bel wants us to succeed in pursuing this criminal case against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s fair-haired general.”

The prosecutor office said the preliminary investigation would require Palparan to subscribe and swear to his written statement on record and submit himself for clarificatory questioning. It will also require Palparan to submit counter-affidavits and would not entertain any motion from his camp regarding the dismissal of the case.

The P 20-million libel case filed by Pamalakaya against Palparan stemmed from statements issued by the controversial military general against leaders and members of the fisherfolk group and the activist party list group Anakpawis in Bulacan coastal areas.

In an interview conducted by Central Luzon based Inquirer reporter Tonette Orejas, Palparan accused Pamalakaya and Anakpawis of creating troubles along the coastal areas of the province through intimidation and recruitment of civilians to the New People’s Army (NPA) and seizing or extorting P 50,000 monthly from fishpond operators in the province.

In the same interview, Palparan said it is necessary to single out Pamalakaya and Anakpawis in the counter-insurgency campaign of the government to eliminate terrorist communist guerillas, a statement which Pamalakaya said was an open endorsement of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in the province.

In their nine-page complaint, Pamalakaya said aside from tarnishing its image, stature and reputation, Palparan’s statements exposes its officials, organizers and members into grave dangers of their lives, security and safety. It exposes them to dangers of extra judicial killings, abductions, threats and harassment.

In asserting their legitimacy as a people’s organization in various advocacy works, Pamalakaya said it is a legal organization registered before the Securities and Exchange Commission. As a federation, Pamalakaya has 36 provincial chapters all over the country and commands total individual membership of not less than 80,000 as of July 2006.

As a fisherfolk organization, Pamalakaya has been consistently invited in various gatherings abroad, including the United Nations, which invited Pamalakaya to act as a resource group in the early 90s regarding the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Pamalakaya has been attending various international conferences abroad including those held in the United States, Japan, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Denmark, The Netherlands, Italy and France. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 10:04 | link | comments |

Anti-CARP groups want dialogue with CBCP on GARB

Groups opposed to the extension of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) on Sunday urged the influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to provide a separate venue where they could articulate their support for the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (GARB) or House Bill 3059, principally authored by the late Anakpawis party list Rep. Crispin Beltran.

Leaders of four of the biggest rural based groups in the country- the militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), the agricultural workers union Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA) and Amihan-National Federation of Peasant Women, said they are ready to articulate to the archbishops and bishops of CBCP why GARB is superior, and politically and morally correct compared to the proposed five year extension of the 20-year old land reform program.

“Please allow us to articulate our position in favor of GARB and against CARP and CARP extension. We are willing to explain and in the process enlighten the prelates on why GARB and not CARP is the correct way to address landlessness and social injustice in the countryside,” the leaders of KMP, Pamalakaya, UMA and Amihan said in a press statement.

KMP secretary general Danilo Ramos said GARB or HB 3059 has been subjected to all-round trial by publicities by those groups and political forces, specially issues like GARB is communist-inspired, confiscatory and unconstitutional.

“GARB proponents and advocates are ready to defend the progressive agrarian reform bill in the parliament of the street, in the court of public opinion and in the corridors of powers. But the trouble is proponents of CARP extension in and out Congress are reducing HB 3059 as plain favorite topic for red bashing, scare campaign and irresponsible legal and constitutional rhetorics without giving us the deserved venues for debates and further clarifications,” the KMP leader lamented.

Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said CARP beneficiaries were victims themselves of the bogus agrarian reform program of the government over the last 20 years. The group cited at least 7 big cases in Southern Tagalog where CARP beneficiaries including fishermen were eased out from their farmlands to give way to land use conversion projects undertaken by big landlords, private developers and the government.

• 10,000 farmers and fisherfolk beneficiaries, all CARP beneficiaries are still in landlocked battle against Fil-Estate, the Manila South Coast Development Corporation and SM of Henry Sy over 8,650 hectares of prime agricultural lands, which private developers intend to develop into a major eco-tourism hub in Hacienda Looc, Nasugbu in Batangas. The Department of Agrarian Reform cancelled their Certificate of Land Ownership Awards (CLOAs) and Emancipation Patents (EPs) to pave way for land use conversion.
• The CLOAs of CARP beneficiaries were revoked by DAR in Hacienda Roxas in Nasugbu, Batangas covering 7,183 hectares of sugar lands to give way to eco-tourism, residential and commercial projects to be funded by foreign and local investors.
• In Hacienda Puyat in Batangas, some 1,800 hectares of land were denied to supposed CARP beneficiaries to pave way for the construction of golf courses and other eco-tourism projects.
• The DAR allowed the exemption and conversion of 10,000 hectares of sugar lands to livestock farms, poultry farms, fishponds in Hacienda Zobel in Calatagan, Batangas, and also gave the right to the Ayala clan to landgrab an additional 2,000 hectares of foreshore land to deny agrarian claims of farmers and fishermen in 19 out of Calatagan’s 24 barangays.
• In Carmen and Silang towns, DAR approved the conversion of 2,500 hectares of land into golf courses and residential areas by the Ayala land group of companies, denying farmer beneficiaries of their rights to utilize prime agricultural lands which they tilled for generations.
• In Aguinaldo Estate, Tartaria, Silang in Cavite, 2,000 farming families were displaced from their farmlands, after DAR gave the go signal for investors to convert the 197-hectare estate to commercial subdivision and a high-end golf course.
• The DAR also facilitated the conversion of 7,100 hectare Hacienda Yulo in Canluibang, Laguna into an array of subdivisions and golf courses, and victimized 457 families, whose CLOAs were cancelled by the agrarian reform agency.

The Pamalakaya leader said based on the report provided by the regional peasant group Kasama-TK from 1994 up to 2007, about 1,302,375 hectares of prime agricultural lands have been placed by DAR under conversion and such terrible act led to the massive land reform reversals with the cancellation of land titles all over the region.

Hicap said around 173,000 hectares of prime agricultural lands in the region have been already converted for commercial purposes; leaving tens of thousands of supposed to be CARP beneficiaries landless.

In 1993, Pamalakaya, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and the Sentro Para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo (Sentra) held a preliminary assessment of CARP from 1988 to 1993, and one of the striking results of program was revealed--- a total of 10,958 certificate of land transfers (CLTs), 9,133 EPs and 2,303 CLOAs were cancelled by DAR covering 32, 041 hectares of prime agricultural lands affecting over 22,000 CARP beneficiaries.

Pamalakaya said while farmlands belonging to farmers are perpetually targeted for landgrabbing and conversion under CARP, lands leased to foreign corporations like Dole and Del Monte Philippines remained untouched. It said foreign corporations managed to keep 220,000 hectares of agricultural lands because these lands were devoted to production of export crops.

“GARB or HB 3059 is a million times superior compared to CARP. The 20-year old sad and exploitative experience of the Filipino peasantry under this bankrupt land reform program is a strong basis why CARP and its extension must be buried six feet below ground, and have it replaced by GARB which is politically and morally correct,” the militant group added. #

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

Anti-CARP groups declare Senate as the next battle ground

GROUPS OPPOSED to the extension of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) on Thursday welcomed the position of some senators rejecting the proposal to extend the 20-year agrarian reform which is set to expire on June 10.

Four of the biggest rural based groups- the militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), the agricultural workers union Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA) and Amihan-National Federation of Peasant Women, all staunch critics of the proposal to extend CARP all declared that the battle ground will shift to Senate once the House of Representatives passed House Bill 4077, extending the 20-year old land reform program to another five years.

“The House of Representatives will definitely pass the CARP extension law based on the growing consensus of the congressmen, so it the next battle ground will be the Senate,” the groups said in a joint statement.

At the House of Representatives, Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao said the Lower House agreed to pass HB 4077 before the first regular session of the 14th Congress ends on June 13, but the Cagayan Valley lawmaker admitted that pro-CARP extension proponents will encounter a problem with the Upper House since a number of senators headed by administration senator Joker Arroyo expressed opposition against extension of CARP.

KMP secretary general Danilo Ramos aside from Senator Arroyo, other considered allies in the Senate against CARP extension are senators Juan Miguel Zubiri and Rodolfo Biazon who also expressed deep reservation against the proposed measure extending CARP because of the program’s failure to address the agrarian concerns of the farmers over the last 20 years.

“Some senators have already stated their position against CARP extension. We hope to convince more and rally them to the necessity of scoring a giant kill against a measure that will further intensify the basic fundamental problem of landlessness and perpetual denial of justice across-the-country,” Ramos said.

The KMP and allied groups are proposing the enactment of Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (GARB) or HB 3059, which is principally authored by the late Anakpawis party list Rep. Crispin Beltran.

The landmark land reform bill which is co-authored by Bayan Muna Party list Reps. Satur Ocampo and Teodoro Casiño and Gabriela parry list lawmakers Liza Maza and Luzviminda Ilagan seeks to cover all agricultural lands for land nationalization and have it distributed for free to landless farmers.

Pro-administration Senator Arroyo asserted that CARP failed to implement reforms in the agricultural sector, adding that those covered by the program were mostly small landlords. The veteran lawmaker noted that the original targets of CARP were landed estates and not the small landlords during the Senate hearing on the program’s extension last Wednesday.

For his part, Zubiri said unless the government addresses the “loopholes” in the program, he would not support the approval. Biazon cited the case of a 350 hectares of land in Mexico, Pampanga , which were given to CARP beneficiaries but were sold two years later to a land developer to justify his position rejecting the extension of the government agrarian reform program to another five years from 2008 to 2013.



Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said CARP beneficiaries were victims themselves of the bogus agrarian reform program of the government over the last 20 years. The group cited at least 7 big cases in Southern Tagalog where CARP beneficiaries including fishermen were eased out from their farmlands to give way to land use conversion projects undertaken by big landlords, private developers and the government.

• 10,000 farmers and fisherfolk beneficiaries, all CARP beneficiaries are still in landlocked battle against Fil-Estate, the Manila South Coast Development Corporation and SM of Henry Sy over 8,650 hectares of prime agricultural lands, which private developers intend to develop into a major eco-tourism hub in Hacienda Looc, Nasugbu in Batangas. The Department of Agrarian Reform cancelled their Certificate of Land Ownership Awards (CLOAs) and Emancipation Patents (EPs) to pave way for land use conversion.
• The CLOAs of CARP beneficiaries were revoked by DAR in Hacienda Roxas in Nasugbu, Batangas covering 7,183 hectares of sugar lands to give way to eco-tourism, residential and commercial projects to be funded by foreign and local investors.
• In Hacienda Puyat in Batangas, some 1,800 hectares of land were denied to supposed CARP beneficiaries to pave way for the construction of golf courses and other eco-tourism projects.
• The DAR allowed the exemption and conversion of 10,000 hectares of sugar lands to livestock farms, poultry farms, fishponds in Hacienda Zobel in Calatagan, Batangas, and also gave the right to the Ayala clan to landgrab an additional 2,000 hectares of foreshore land to deny agrarian claims of farmers and fishermen in 19 out of Calatagan’s 24 barangays.
• In Carmen and Silang towns, DAR approved the conversion of 2,500 hectares of land into golf courses and residential areas by the Ayala land group of companies, denying farmer beneficiaries of their rights to utilize prime agricultural lands which they tilled for generations.
• In Aguinaldo Estate, Tartaria, Silang in Cavite, 2,000 farming families were displaced from their farmlands, after DAR gave the go signal for investors to convert the 197-hectare estate to commercial subdivision and a high-end golf course.
• The DAR also facilitated the conversion of 7,100 hectare Hacienda Yulo in Canluibang, Laguna into an array of subdivisions and golf courses, and victimized 457 families, whose CLOAs were cancelled by the agrarian reform agency.

The Pamalakaya leader said based on the report provided by the regional peasant group Kasama-TK from 1994 up to 2007, about 1,302,375 hectares of prime agricultural lands have been placed by DAR under conversion and such terrible act led to the massive land reform reversals with the cancellation of land titles all over the region.

Hicap said around 173,000 hectares of prime agricultural lands in the region have been already converted for commercial purposes; leaving tens of thousands of supposed to be CARP beneficiaries landless.

In 1993, Pamalakaya, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and the Sentro Para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo (Sentra) held a preliminary assessment of CARP from 1988 to 1993, and one of the striking results of program was revealed--- a total of 10,958 certificate of land transfers (CLTs), 9,133 EPs and 2,303 CLOAs were cancelled by DAR covering 32, 041 hectares of prime agricultural lands affecting over 22,000 CARP beneficiaries.

Pamalakaya said while farmlands belonging to farmers are perpetually targeted for landgrabbing and conversion under CARP, lands leased to foreign corporations like Dole and Del Monte Philippines remained untouched. It said foreign corporations managed to keep 220,000 hectares of agricultural lands because these lands were devoted to production of export crops.

“GARB or HB 3059 is a million times superior compared to CARP. The 20-year old sad and exploitative experience of the Filipino peasantry under this bankrupt land reform program is a strong basis why CARP and its extension must be buried six feet below ground, and have it replaced by GARB which is politically and morally correct,” the militant group added. #

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

Fishers group offers land dispute victory over Ayalas to Ka Bel

CALLING IT A FITTING TRIBUTE to certified working class hero, leaders of the leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) and its affiliate- the Haligi ng Batangueñong Anak Dagat (Habagat) offered their victory against the Ayala family over the disputed 2,000 hectare of foreshore land area in Calatagan, Batangas to Anakpawis party list Rep. Crispin Beltran.

“This victory is a product of our painstaking work and day-to-day struggle, and Ka Bel is part of this class triumph over their long-time oppressor,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

Environment Secretary Joselito Atienza on Thursday ordered officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Batangas to implement a 1965 Supreme Court ruling mandating the national government the distribution of foreshore areas, allegedly landgrabbed by the Ayala family in the mid 60s.

“The nearly month long camp out protest by Calatagan farmers and fisherfolk in front of the DENR to demand the immediate distribution of 2,000 hectares of foreshore land paid off. Beltran’s political work and support regarding this four decade struggle is highly notable and strongly felt and we offer this victory to the late representative of the people,” Hicap said.

Since April 28, fisherfolk and farmers belonging to the Pamalakaya affiliate Habagat and the Samahan ng mga Magbubukid sa Batangas, the provincial chapter of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) started their month long camp-out at the DENR national office to pressure Secretary Atienza the execute the order of the high tribunal.

In 1965, the high court ordered the Ayalas to give up their claim on the 2,000 hectares of coastal shore, but the Ayalas questioned the order. Twenty three years after, in June of 1988, the high tribunal issued a writ of execution for the enforcement of its 1965 decision.

A petition to quash the writ was filed by the Ayalas a month after the Supreme Court issued the writ, but 11 years after, the Supreme Court denied the petition with finality. “Secretary Atienza and the DENR must enforce the decision, or else we will charge them with obstruction of justice,” Hicap added.

For his part, Habagat chair Isabelo Alicaya noted that Rep. Beltran is very much aware of the issues of farmers and fisherfolk across Batangas province and in the entire Southern Tagalog.

He said the late Anakpawis party list lawmaker was in constant communication and consultation with farmers and fisherfolk in the province and in Southern Tagalog regarding the rural people’s issues, concerns and conditions.

Alicaya said Beltran used is wide knowledge and research on the Batangas and Southern Tagalog agrarian and fisheries issues in drafting and leading the sponsorship of the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (GARB) or House Bill 3059, one of the pet bills of Beltran during his term as Anakpawis representative.

HB 3059 principally authored by Beltran in cooperation with Ocampo, Maza and Gabriela party list lawmaker Luzviminda Ilagan seeks to replace the 20-year Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and allow the distribution of lands to farmer beneficiaries for free under GARB. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 07:18 | link | comments |

Anti-CARP groups declare Senate as the next battle ground

Groups opposed to the extension of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) on Thursday welcomed the position of some senators rejecting the proposal to extend the 20-year agrarian reform which is set to expire on June 10.

Four of the biggest rural based groups- the militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), the agricultural workers union Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA) and Amihan-National Federation of Peasant Women, all staunch critics of the proposal to extend CARP all declared that the battle ground will shift to Senate once the House of Representatives passed House Bill 4077, extending the 20-year old land reform program to another five years.

“The House of Representatives will definitely pass the CARP extension law based on the growing consensus of the congressmen, so it the next battle ground will be the Senate,” the groups said in a joint statement.

At the House of Representatives, Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao said the Lower House agreed to pass HB 4077 before the first regular session of the 14th Congress ends on June 13, but the Cagayan Valley lawmaker admitted that pro-CARP extension proponents will encounter a problem with the Upper House since a number of senators headed by administration senator Joker Arroyo expressed opposition against extension of CARP.

KMP secretary general Danilo Ramos aside from Senator Arroyo, other considered allies in the Senate against CARP extension are senators Juan Miguel Zubiri and Rodolfo Biazon who also expressed deep reservation against the proposed measure extending CARP because of the program’s failure to address the agrarian concerns of the farmers over the last 20 years.

“Some senators have already stated their position against CARP extension. We hope to convince more and rally them to the necessity of scoring a giant kill against a measure that will further intensify the basic fundamental problem of landlessness and perpetual denial of justice across-the-country,” Ramos said.

The KMP and allied groups are proposing the enactment of Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (GARB) or HB 3059, which is principally authored by the late Anakpawis party list Rep. Crispin Beltran.

The landmark land reform bill which is co-authored by Bayan Muna Party list Reps. Satur Ocampo and Teodoro Casiño and Gabriela parry list lawmakers Liza Maza and Luzviminda Ilagan seeks to cover all agricultural lands for land nationalization and have it distributed for free to landless farmers.

Pro-administration Senator Arroyo asserted that CARP failed to implement reforms in the agricultural sector, adding that those covered by the program were mostly small landlords. The veteran lawmaker noted that the original targets of CARP were landed estates and not the small landlords during the Senate hearing on the program’s extension last Wednesday.

For his part, Zubiri said unless the government addresses the “loopholes” in the program, he would not support the approval. Biazon cited the case of a 350 hectares of land in Mexico, Pampanga , which were given to CARP beneficiaries but were sold two years later to a land developer to justify his position rejecting the extension of the government agrarian reform program to another five years from 2008 to 2013.



Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said CARP beneficiaries were victims themselves of the bogus agrarian reform program of the government over the last 20 years. The group cited at least 7 big cases in Southern Tagalog where CARP beneficiaries including fishermen were eased out from their farmlands to give way to land use conversion projects undertaken by big landlords, private developers and the government.

• 10,000 farmers and fisherfolk beneficiaries, all CARP beneficiaries are still in landlocked battle against Fil-Estate, the Manila South Coast Development Corporation and SM of Henry Sy over 8,650 hectares of prime agricultural lands, which private developers intend to develop into a major eco-tourism hub in Hacienda Looc, Nasugbu in Batangas. The Department of Agrarian Reform cancelled their Certificate of Land Ownership Awards (CLOAs) and Emancipation Patents (EPs) to pave way for land use conversion.
• The CLOAs of CARP beneficiaries were revoked by DAR in Hacienda Roxas in Nasugbu, Batangas covering 7,183 hectares of sugar lands to give way to eco-tourism, residential and commercial projects to be funded by foreign and local investors.
• In Hacienda Puyat in Batangas, some 1,800 hectares of land were denied to supposed CARP beneficiaries to pave way for the construction of golf courses and other eco-tourism projects.
• The DAR allowed the exemption and conversion of 10,000 hectares of sugar lands to livestock farms, poultry farms, fishponds in Hacienda Zobel in Calatagan, Batangas, and also gave the right to the Ayala clan to landgrab an additional 2,000 hectares of foreshore land to deny agrarian claims of farmers and fishermen in 19 out of Calatagan’s 24 barangays.
• In Carmen and Silang towns, DAR approved the conversion of 2,500 hectares of land into golf courses and residential areas by the Ayala land group of companies, denying farmer beneficiaries of their rights to utilize prime agricultural lands which they tilled for generations.
• In Aguinaldo Estate, Tartaria, Silang in Cavite, 2,000 farming families were displaced from their farmlands, after DAR gave the go signal for investors to convert the 197-hectare estate to commercial subdivision and a high-end golf course.
• The DAR also facilitated the conversion of 7,100 hectare Hacienda Yulo in Canluibang, Laguna into an array of subdivisions and golf courses, and victimized 457 families, whose CLOAs were cancelled by the agrarian reform agency.

The Pamalakaya leader said based on the report provided by the regional peasant group Kasama-TK from 1994 up to 2007, about 1,302,375 hectares of prime agricultural lands have been placed by DAR under conversion and such terrible act led to the massive land reform reversals with the cancellation of land titles all over the region.

Hicap said around 173,000 hectares of prime agricultural lands in the region have been already converted for commercial purposes; leaving tens of thousands of supposed to be CARP beneficiaries landless.

In 1993, Pamalakaya, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and the Sentro Para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo (Sentra) held a preliminary assessment of CARP from 1988 to 1993, and one of the striking results of program was revealed--- a total of 10,958 certificate of land transfers (CLTs), 9,133 EPs and 2,303 CLOAs were cancelled by DAR covering 32, 041 hectares of prime agricultural lands affecting over 22,000 CARP beneficiaries.

Pamalakaya said while farmlands belonging to farmers are perpetually targeted for landgrabbing and conversion under CARP, lands leased to foreign corporations like Dole and Del Monte Philippines remained untouched. It said foreign corporations managed to keep 220,000 hectares of agricultural lands because these lands were devoted to production of export crops.

“GARB or HB 3059 is a million times superior compared to CARP. The 20-year old sad and exploitative experience of the Filipino peasantry under this bankrupt land reform program is a strong basis why CARP and its extension must be buried six feet below ground, and have it replaced by GARB which is politically and morally correct,” the militant group added. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 07:16 | link | comments |

Anti-CARP group welcomes senators’ opposition to CARP extension

A group opposed to the extension of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) on Thursday welcomed the position of some senators rejecting the proposal to extend the 20-year agrarian reform which is set to expire on June 10.

The left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), a staunch critic of CARP and advocate of an alternative measure known as Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (GARB) or House Bill 3059 to replace CARP said they saw tactical allies with Senators Joker Arroyo, Juan Miguel Zubiri and Rodolfo Biazon, who all rejected the CARP extension because of its failure to address the agrarian concern of the farmers and other rural people over the last 20 years.

GARB or HB 3059 is principally authored by the late Anakpawis party list Rep. Crispin Beltran and co-authored by Bayan Muna Party list Reps. Satur Ocampo and Teodoro Casiño and Gabriela parry list lawmakers Liza Maza and Luzviminda Ilagan seeks to cover all agricultural lands for land nationalization and have it distributed for free to landless farmers.

“The battle ground will soon shift to Senate once the House of Representatives completes the railroading of CARP extension. It is good to know some senators have expressed opposition against the program’s extension, which for majority of the farmers is nothing but a day-to-day curse,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

Pro-administration Senator Arroyo asserted that CARP failed to implement reforms in the agricultural sector, adding that those covered by the program were mostly small landlords. The veteran lawmaker noted that the original targets of CARP were landed estates and not the small landlords during the Senate hearing on the program’s extension last Wednesday.

For his part, Zubiri said unless the government addresses the “loopholes” in the program, he would not support the approval. Biazon cited the case of a 350 hectares of land in Mexico, Pampanga , which were given to CARP beneficiaries but were sold two years later to a land developer to justify his position rejecting the extension of the government agrarian reform program to another five years from 2008 to 2013.

Pamalakaya said CARP beneficiaries were victims of the bogus agrarian reform program of the government over the last 20 years. The group cited at least 7 big cases in Southern Tagalog where CARP beneficiaries including fishermen were eased out from their farmlands to give way to land use conversion projects undertaken by big landlords, private developers and the government.

• 10,000 farmers and fisherfolk beneficiaries, all CARP beneficiaries are still in landlocked battle against Fil-Estate, the Manila South Coast Development Corporation and SM of Henry Sy over 8,650 hectares of prime agricultural lands, which private developers intend to develop into a major eco-tourism hub in Hacienda Looc, Nasugbu in Batangas. The Department of Agrarian Reform cancelled their Certificate of Land Ownership Awards (CLOAs) and Emancipation Patents (EPs) to pave way for land use conversion.
• The CLOAs of CARP beneficiaries were revoked by DAR in Hacienda Roxas in Nasugbu, Batangas covering 7,183 hectares of sugar lands to give way to eco-tourism, residential and commercial projects to be funded by foreign and local investors.
• In Hacienda Puyat in Batangas, some 1,800 hectares of land were denied to supposed CARP beneficiaries to pave way for the construction of golf courses and other eco-tourism projects.
• The DAR allowed the exemption and conversion of 10,000 hectares of sugar lands to livestock farms, poultry farms, fishponds in Hacienda Zobel in Calatagan, Batangas, and also gave the right to the Ayala clan to landgrab an additional 2,000 hectares of foreshore land to deny agrarian claims of farmers and fishermen in 19 out of Calatagan’s 24 barangays.
• In Carmen and Silang towns, DAR approved the conversion of 2,500 hectares of land into golf courses and residential areas by the Ayala land group of companies, denying farmer beneficiaries of their rights to utilize prime agricultural lands which they tilled for generations.
• In Aguinaldo Estate, Tartaria, Silang in Cavite, 2,000 farming families were displaced from their farmlands, after DAR gave the go signal for investors to convert the 197-hectare estate to commercial subdivision and a high-end golf course.
• The DAR also facilitated the conversion of 7,100 hectare Hacienda Yulo in Canluibang, Laguna into an array of subdivisions and golf courses, and victimized 457 families, whose CLOAs were cancelled by the agrarian reform agency.

The Pamalakaya leader said based on the report provided by the regional peasant group Kasama-TK from 1994 up to 2007, about 1,302,375 hectares of prime agricultural lands have been placed by DAR under conversion and such terrible act led to the massive land reform reversals with the cancellation of land titles all over the region.

Hicap said around 173,000 hectares of prime agricultural lands in the region have been already converted for commercial purposes; leaving tens of thousands of supposed to be CARP beneficiaries landless.

In 1993, Pamalakaya, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and the Sentro Para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo (Sentra) held a preliminary assessment of CARP from 1988 to 1993, and one of the striking results of program was revealed--- a total of 10,958 certificate of land transfers (CLTs), 9,133 EPs and 2,303 CLOAs were cancelled by DAR covering 32, 041 hectares of prime agricultural lands affecting over 22,000 CARP beneficiaries.

Pamalakaya said while farmlands belonging to farmers are perpetually targeted for landgrabbing and conversion under CARP, lands leased to foreign corporations like Dole and Del Monte Philippines remained untouched. It said foreign corporations managed to keep 220,000 hectares of agricultural lands because these lands were devoted to production of export crops.

Pamalakaya, like the KMP and other militant peasant organizations are in favor of the passage and enactment of House Bill 3059 otherwise known as the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill or GARB.

“GARB or HB 3059 is a million times superior compared to CARP. The 20-year old sad and exploitative experience of the Filipino peasantry under this bankrupt land reform program is a strong basis why CARP and its extension must be buried six feet below ground, and have it replaced by GARB which is politically and morally correct,” the militant group add

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 07:16 | link | comments |

DBP TV ads depicting militants as troublemakers, rally for pay organizers, an insult to Ka Bel, says Pamalakaya

A commercial advertisement paid for by the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) depicting leftwing militants as troublemakers and rally-for-pay organizers assailed by the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya).

Dismissing it as a black propaganda, and a gross insult to the great memories of the late Anakpawis party list Crispin Beltran and a mockery of the collective intelligence of the Filipino people, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap demanded the DBP to pullout the commercial ad and stop using taxpayers’ money in attacking the critics of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“The DBP allowed Malacañang to use development institution as a staging ground for Palace black propaganda offensive against leftwing militants and critics of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration. It is probably a novelty for the dirty works department of Malacañang, but definitely senseless, horrible and highly inflammatory,” said Hicap.

The Pamalakaya leader added: “If Ka Bel is still alive, we would condemn this brazen and blatant campaign of the Malacañang and the National Security Council to demonize groups and the Filipino people opposing Mrs. Arroyo’s corrupt and immoral rule and clamoring for genuine change and reforms, human rights and justice and against any form of corruption and exploitation.”

Hicap said DBP is used to be an institution for banking and finance, adding that it was quite surprising that it allowed the government to use its resources to fund an anti-Left infomercial.
“Is DBP a political subsidiary of Malacañang or the dirty work department of the Presidential Palace? It seems that is the new orientation of this banking and finance group,” the militant leader asked.

The one-minute commercial shows the political character Mr. Shooli played by Jun Urbano of the defunct TV satire show Mongolian Barbeque addressing politicians to make true to their promise to the people, government officials and policemen to shun corruption while misrepresenting activists as troublemakers and ray-for-pay organizers.

In the DBP TV ads frequently shown during morning and primetime shows of leading television networks, the rallies showing the flags and banners of identified leftist groups like League of Filipino Students (LFS), Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) and Kilusang Mayo Uno (UNO) served as back draft while Mr. Shooli was talking about people joining the rallies for pay.

At the end of the TV ad, Mr. Shooli told a young girl that she should not join rallies even if rally organizers offer her money in exchange for participation, but when Mr. Shooli’s sidekick emerged from a rally showing a P 500 bill in payment for his participation in the militant led rally, Mr. Shooli decided to join to get paid.

Pamalakaya said the government could have spent not less P 20 million for the DBP TV ads since the infomercials have been aired by giant stations ABS-CBN and GMA networks for almost a week now.

“P 20 million is just a conservative estimate. It could reach as much as P 30 million and that big amount for infomercial came from people’s hard-earned money. Imagine our taxes go to corruption and black propaganda activities and offensives of the criminal, corrupt and brutal regime in Malacañang,” the militant group said.

Pamalakaya said President Arroyo and members of the National Security Council in Malacañang are so desperate against their critics because they have resorted to a national foul play and black propaganda campaign that would require tens of millions of taxpayers’ money. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 07:15 | link | comments |

Rural-based groups hail Beltran too
as the Grand Old Man of Genuine Land Reform

Four of the biggest rural-based groups- the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), the fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), the agricultural workers union Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA) and Amihan-National Federation of Peasant Women bestowed Anakpawis party list Rep. Crispin Beltran the title “Grand Old Man of Genuine Land Reform” in the country.

In a press statement, the groups said Beltran is the modern day Andres Bonifacio who wants to free the Filipino workers and farmers from the exploitation of capitalists and bondage of feudal exploitation respectively.

“Ka Bel is the epitome of a truly revolutionary working class hero. We physically lost him, but his memories, his struggles and journey to the world of class struggle and class emancipation will continue to be imbibed by present and future warriors for genuine and radical change,” the groups said in a joint statement.

The four groups recalled that during Martial Law, Beltran went to Central Luzon to organize farmers and rural workers in the region. His political work paved way for the establishment of KMP chapters in the region under the banner of Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon (AMGL).

“Aside from the workers, the next groups of people next to Beltran’s heart are the farmers, fishworkers, peasant women and fisherpeople,” they said.

KMP Secretary General Danilo Ramos said Beltran is the leading figure in and out of the House of Representatives against the extension of the bogus Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), and has been persistently aiming to replace the 20-year old land reform program with Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (GARB) or House Bill 3059 that seeks to nationalize all agricultural lands in the country and have it distributed for free to all landless peasants across the country.

“On June 10, farmers and the rest of the rural people will stage across-the-nation long marches to pay homage to the grand old man of genuine land reform program and continue his fight for GARB or House Bill 3059 and for the emancipation of all poor people in the country,” Ramos added.

For his part, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said his group has been in consultation with their chapters all over the country regarding the drafting of Genuine Fisheries and Aquatic Reform Bill (GFARB) which they would give to Beltran by July for sponsorship at the Lower House along with Bayan Muna Reps. Satur Ocampo and Teodoro Casiño and Gabriela party list lawmakers Liza Maza and Luzviminda Ilagan.

“GFARB which is GARB’s counterpart in fisheries and aquatic sectors is primed for Beltran’s sponsorship at the House of Representatives at the opening of Congress in July for State of the Nation Address. We have not told him about this because it is still in the process of drafting and we will just submit this to him as long as it is done and ready for finishing touches,” the Pamalakaya leader said.

Hicap said the across-the-nation long marches on June 10 that will serve as fitting tribute to Beltran and for genuine land reform will take place in Central Luzon, Ilocos, Cordillera, National Capital Region, Southern Tagalog, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Panay, Western Visayas, Southern Mindanao Region, Far South Mindanao, Caraga and other regions of Mindanao. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 07:14 | link | comments |

Laguna Lake fishers ask LLDA Chief to reveal Laguna
Lake 2000 project

INVOKING PUBLIC INTEREST AND TRANSPARENCY, some 100 leaders of the fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) and Save Laguna Lake Movement (SLLM) from Laguna, Rizal and National Capital Region troop to the main office of the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) in Pasig City this morning and asked LLDA General Manager Edgar Manda to reveal the master plan of Laguna Lake 2000 project.

In a press statement, Pamalakaya national chair and SLMM convener Fernando Hicap said previous and present leadership of LLDA have been denying the existence of Laguna Lake 2000 project, asserting that the lake authority agency has kept the master plan like a Da Vinci Code.

"The LLDA said the Laguna Lake 2000 project, which entails the massive conversion of the lake into an industrial and commercial hub in Calabarzon area is just a myth," Hicap said. "But the ongoing projects in the lake like the left-and-right reclamation and road widening appear to be in preparations for the grand corporate takeover of the lake," the Pamalakaya leader added.

The SLMM said the North Laguna Lakeshore Flood and Control Drainage System involving dike and road construction of the 9.8 km Taguig-Taytay Road, Bicutan-Taguig Road (9.5km), Sta. Rosa-Calamba section (28 km), Bay-Sta.Rita section (32km), Siniloan-Kalayaan Section (28 km) and Tanay Area (10km) are in preparations for the ambitious Laguna Lake 2000 project.

The SLMM said the LLDA is facilitating the massive demolition of some 32,000 fisherfolk and urban poor in the National Capital Region part of Laguna Lake to pave way for the reclamation of 5,000 hectares of lake waters in Muntinlupa, 3,000 hectares of lake waters in Taguig and 500 hectares in Los Baños.

Reclamation of lake waters will also be conducted from Taytay to Binangonan, according to Pamalakaya and SLMM. Both groups said the government, in cooperation with private investors are also planning to use 1,000 hectares of Talim Island in Binangonan, Rizal for the Rizal International Airport. The projects under Laguna Lake 2000 will be finished on or before 2025, according to Pamalakaya and SLMM. "The Laguna Lake 2000 project is not a myth. It is
happening like a day-to-day curse," the groups said.

Pamalakaya and SLMM also will raise the issues of road dikes and reclamation, the problem of demolition, the status of Napindan Hydraulic Control Structure, the illegal titling of foreshore land areas, the list of registered fishpens in Laguna Lake, and the quarrying activities and land use conversion among others. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 07:12 | link | comments |

Fishers group says fight against
offshore mining in Tañon Strait far from over

THE LEFTWING FISHERFOLK alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Monday said the fight against any oil and gas exploration in Tañon Strait, a protected seascape separating the island of provinces of Cebu and Negros is far from over.

Last week the Japan Petroleum Exploration Co. Ltd. (Japex) and its local subsidiary Japex Philippines announced it would give up its offshore mining activities in Tañon Strait because of the lack of oil and gas discovery as a result of exploration work including drilling of one exploration well. The oil and gas exploration firm said it would relinquish Service Contract 46 on June 2008.

But Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said affected groups and anti-offshore mining advocates will not let their guards down because Department of Energy in Central Visayas director Antonio Labios said the decision of Japex to pull out from Tañon Strait will not stop the government from entertaining other possible investors that want to conduct oil and gas hunt in the protected seascape.

“We are still in full battle mode. The all-out war against offshore mining in Tañon Strait will still be waged in the parliament of the streets, in the court of public opinion all the way up to the Supreme Court,” Hicap said in a press statement.

The Pamalakaya leader added: “Although we made a giant kill against Japex, Malacañang is hell bent to sell Tañon Strait to the highest bidder at the expense of the fisherpeople livelihood, national patrimony and marine environment.”

Earlier, Pamalakaya said unstoppable protests, the fishers’ engagement in legal battles and their all-out war in the court of public opinion pushed Japex to give up offshore mining in Tañon Strait.

A Tokyo based daily published a story on May 13 stating that Japex mother company announced that Japex Philippines Ltd. had decided to relinquish service contract 46 on June 20, 2008 because no promise of oil and gas was found in the protected seascape believed to be rich in marine biodiversities.

Pamalakaya said its chapters in Cebu and Negros led by Pamana-Sugbo and Pamalakaya-Negros supported by Central Visayas Fisherfolk Development Center and staunch allies in the environmental, legal and academic sectors scored a stirring victory against Japex and their clients in Malacañang, the Department of Energy and Department of Environment and Natural Resources who all collaborated to allow Japex to destroy this protected seascape known for its rich marine biodiversities.

“This is a triumph of truth and justice and high regard for people’s livelihood and the environment. We are happy to send Japex out of Tañon Strait. But we have some scores to settle with Japex and Malacañang for the economic and environmental havocs they created detrimental to the people,” the group said.

Pamalakaya said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, top officials of DoE and DENR and owners and executives of Japex must be compelled to pay just compensations to tens of thousands of fishermen in Western Cebu and Negros affected by the oil drilling, and face criminal and other civil suits in any appropriate court.

The militant group said aside from just compensations, the government must conduct a thorough study regarding the extent of damage caused by oil and gas exploration since 2005, with the objective of conducting a full rehabilitation of the protected seascape.

“Japex and Malacañang can’t say no to just compensations and full-blown rehabilitation. They must pay for the great damage they have done to the people and the environment. They have to pay for their crimes. The amount for damages will be identified by the affected fishermen in Cebu and Negros,” Hicap said.

Japex Philippines Ltd., a subsidiary of Japex Petroleum Exploration Co. Ltd. based in Marunouchi, Chiyoda-Ku in Tokyo was established on May 26, 2006 to supervise the oil and gas exploration in Tañon Strait with a paid-in-capital of 2.9 billion yen.

According to Service Contract 46, Japex Philippines will lead the oil and gas exploration with 65 percent participating interest, while the Philippine government through Kufpec Philippines will have a 35 percent participating interest in the gas and oil exploration that will entail 2,500 square kilometer of Tañon Strait waters.

Pamalakaya believed that aside from protest and massive propaganda against Japex, another factor that compelled the oil and gas exploration company to relinquish the contract was the recent Supreme Court move, which acted favorably on the part of small fishermen who filed an injunction case against Japex.

The Supreme Court in an en banc resolution dated March 4 accepted and docketed the injunction case against Japex. In the injunction case, the high tribunal would soon summon those officials named in the complaint led by Japex officials and top government officials like Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, environment Secretary Joselito Atienza and Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 07:11 | link | comments |

AFP Chief Yano asked: How much reward did the AFP give to the killers of KMP spokesman in Davao?

AN OFFICIAL of the leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Thursday asked newly installed Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) how much reward did the military institution give to the assailants for the brutal murder of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) spokesman in Davao City early this morning.

In a press statement, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said the resumption of extrajudicial killing of leftwing activists was triggered and emboldened by Yano’s statement that monetary rewards would be given to agents of the state who would help ensure the defeat of New People’s Army and others perceived as enemies of the state.

“The Malacañang funded and the AFP tapped assailants are further encouraged to resume and be more daring in their extrajudicial killing activities after learning that Yano will give cash for every NPA or every activist they will murder at any given time. This is Yano’s first victim of cash per extrajudicial killing stint policy under Oplan Bantay Laya II,” Hicap said in a press statement.

Based on reports provided by Karapatan-Southern Mindanao, 45-year old Celso Pojas, secretary general of KMP affiliated Farmers Association in Davao City (FADC) was murdered at around 6:30 a.m in front of the farmer group’s office in Maa, Davao City.

“The new AFP Chief of Staff wants to prove something. That despite global condemnation against extrajudicial killings of leftwing militants, the murderous policy will continue and will be more aggressive and daring under his term as chief of the super reactionary military. The political assassination of Pojas officially starts the summary execution regime of Arroyo-Yano tandem,” the Pamalakaya leader said.

AFP Chief of Staff was quoted by Reuter the other day, saying the soldiers would be given fat rewards for dismantling rebel bases, capturing top guerilla communist leaders and hitting their targets ahead of schedule.

The report added that some P 300,000 would be given to a military unit that would dismantle a guerilla front within a given target period. Money would be given to every rifle or weapon taken from captured or slain rebel.

“Is Pojas hit ahead of the schedule? So how much of taxpayers’ money would be given to his assailants for scoring ahead of the scheduled assassination. Mr. Yano’s formula for cash reward on extrajudicial killings appears to be the general guideline for the summary execution of the KMP leader,” Pamalakaya added.

“The new AFP chief of Staff wants to tell the public that he could be as promising as former AFP Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon Jr. and retired Army Major Gen. Jovito Palparan in the extrajudicial killing department,” the group said.

Pojas is the 904th victim of extrajudicial killing allegedly orchestrated by government backed assailants since 2001 and the 105th victim from the ranks of KMP leaders and mass members across the nation.

In 2006, Karapatan recorded 13 cases of extrajudicial killings in the region, with 2 cases of enforced disappearance in Southern Mindanao. Last year, Southern Mindanao has 7 victims of extrajudicial killings and 1 case of enforced disappearance. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 07:38 | link | comments |

Militants: Protests pushed Japex to give up offshore mining

THE MILITANT FISHERFOLK ALLIANCE Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Thursday said unstoppable protests, the fishers’ engagement in legal battles and their all-out war in the court of public opinion pushed the Japan Petroleum Exploration Co. Ltd. (Japex) to give up offshore mining in Tañon Strait, a protected seascape separating the island provinces of Cebu and Negros.

A Tokyo based daily on May 13 said Japex mother company announced that Japex Philippines Ltd. had decided to relinquish service contract 46 on June 20, 2008 because of the lack of commercial oil and gas discovery as a result of exploration work including drilling of one exploration well.

“We made a giant kill. The Japanese oil and gas exploration company decided to pull out because they could no longer bear the intensifying and electrifying resistance put up by the fisherpeople of Cebu and Negros,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

Hicap said its chapters in Cebu and Negros led by Pamana-Sugbo and Pamalakaya-Negros supported by Central Visayas Fisherfolk Development Center and staunch allies in the environmental, legal and academic sectors scored a stirring victory against Japex and their clients in Malacañang, the Department of Energy and Department of Environment and Natural Resources who all collaborated to allow Japex to destroy this protected seascape known for its rich marine biodiversities.

“This is a triumph of truth and justice and high regard for people’s livelihood and the environment. We are happy to send Japex out of Tañon Strait. But we have some scores to settle with Japex and Malacañang for the economic and environmental havocs they created detrimental to the people,” the Pamalakaya leader said.

Hicap said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, top officials of DoE and DENR and owners and executives of Japex must be compelled to pay just compensations to tens of thousands of fishermen in Western Cebu and Negros affected by the oil drilling.

He said aside from just compensations, the government must conduct a thorough study regarding the extent of damage caused by oil and gas exploration since 2005, with the objective of conducting a full rehabilitation of the protected seascape.

“Japex and Malacañang can’t say no to just compensations and full-blown rehabilitation. They must pay for the great damage they have done to the people and the environment. They have to pay for their crimes. The amount for damages will be identified by the affected fishermen in Cebu and Negros,” Hicap said.

Japex Philippines Ltd., a subsidiary of Japex Petroleum Exploration Co. Ltd. based in Marunouchi, Chiyoda-Ku in Tokyo was established on May 26, 2006 to supervise the oil and gas exploration in Tañon Strait with a paid-in-capital of 2.9 billion yen.

According to Service Contract 46, Japex Philippines will lead the oil and gas exploration with 65 percent participating interest, while the Philippine government through Kufpec Philippines will have a 35 percent participating interest in the gas and oil exploration that will entail 2,500 square kilometer of Tañon Strait waters.

Pamalakaya believed that aside from protest and massive propaganda against Japex, another factor that compelled the oil and gas exploration company to relinquish the contract was the recent Supreme Court move, which acted favorably on the part of small fishermen who filed an injunction case against Japex.

The Supreme Court in an en banc resolution dated March 4 accepted and docketed the injunction case against Japex. In the injunction case, the high tribunal would soon summon those officials named in the complaint led by Japex officials and top government officials like Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, environment Secretary Joselito Atienza and Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap.

“Japex and top officials of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration do not want to face us in a major court battle. They want to render the injunction case moot and academic,” Pamalakaya added. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 07:36 | link | comments (1) |

Pamalakaya rejects plan of 3 oil firms to relocate depots along Manila Bay

THE LEFT WING FISHERFOLK alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Wednesday slammed the plan of Chevron, Pilipinas Shell and Caltex to relocate their oil depots from Pandacan in Manila to Manila Bay, along the coastal areas of Manila, Parañaque and Navotas.

“The idea of the Big Three is absurd, incorrigible and extremely dangerous. The people should score a giant kill against this stupid plan of the oil cartel,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

The Pamalakaya leader added: “Chevron, Pilipinas Shell and Petron will gamble the lives of over 2 million urban poor and fishermen in the Manila, Parañaque and Navotas just to accommodate their oil depots. This will be done in the name of their eternal thirst for super monopoly profits.”

Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said his group will ask Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco and Parañaque mayor Florencio Bernabe Jr. to oppose the grand plan of the oil cartel to transfer their depots in their respective localities.

“In the name of public interest, the mayors of Manila, Parañaque and Pasay must say no to oil cartel’s grand plan to use the coastal shores of Manila Bay for their blood sucking operations. The oil cartel must be banned from relocating their destructive and dangerous depots in the metropolis,” Hicap said.

The proposed seaside relocation was mentioned in the 20-page joint Comprehensive Relocation Plan submitted by the three oil companies before the Manila Regional Trial Court branch 39 yesterday in compliance with a Supreme Court order for Chevron, Pilipinas Shell and Petron to move out of the 36-hectare Pandacan oil depot in Manila.

According to the relocation plan, the three oil companies are targeting coastal areas due to its strategic access to and from the sea. It said the ideal site for coastal depot should have adequate depth of harbor, protection from the elements and sufficient maneuvering area for safe and efficient handling of marine vessels.

The Big Three said actual construction of new facilities would take three and half-years, but securing permits, licenses and other clearances might take longer.

The oil cartel has another option that would utilize its refinery depots and secondary depots like Petron oil terminals in Limay, Bataan, Shell’s Tabangao depot in Batangas, Chevron’s San Pascual depot in Batangas, ans secondary sites such as Petron’s depot in Rosario, Cavite and Navotas depots. But they warned that prices of petroleum products might go up because of the distance of these oil terminals and secondary depots are farther compared to the location of the markets demanding for oil supply.

But Pamalakaya said the presence of oil depots in coastal shores, aside from putting the lives of residents and fishermen in great risk, will also fast track the death of Manila Bay, which is currently in the brink of ecological destruction due to rapid commercialization, privatization and conversion of once, the most productive fishing area in the country.

“The mere presence of oil depots along Manila Bay is already a major cause of alarm due to possible major accidents emanating from oil leak and possible chemical combustion and explosion. We are not also discounting the possibility of frequent oil spill and other environmental crimes such as dumping of industrial wastes onto the waters of Manila Bay,” the militant group said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 00:06 | link | comments |

Batangas farmers, fishers embark on a 15 kilometer walk against CARP

Batangas farmers and fishermen on Wednesday embarked on a 15-kilometer walk against the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and the current proposal to extend the government’s land reform program, which they said was another exercise in futility.

Some 40 farmers and fishermen belonging to Samahan ng Magbubukid ng Batangas (Sambat) and Haligi ng Batangueñong Anak Dagat (Habagat), affiliates of the activist peasant alliance Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) respectively started their 15-kilometer walk from the national office of the Department of Environment of Natural Resources (DENR) at around 10:00 a.m and are expected to reach the House of Representatives in Batasan Road by past 12 noon.

The 40 marchers clad in sacks with slogans Junk the Bogus CARP and Enact Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill or House Bill 3059 were led by Romeo Cayao, Sambat chairperson, Isabelo Alicaya chair of Habagat, KMP leader Antonio Flores, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap and Pamalakaya vice chair for Luzon Salvador France.

“This is the peasant march against CARP and CARP extension. We cannot get social justice under a bogus and anti-farmer land reform program. To reform CARP is like bringing the dead back from the grave. We want the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill or GARB nothing more, nothing else,” Sambat and Habagat said in a joint statement.

The two-Batangas based farmers and fisherfolk groups said majority of the peasants and fishermen in the province are certified victims of CARP’s perpetual denial of justice. “We lost our farmlands and foreshore land areas because of this fake land reform program. CARP is used as a tool to concentrate and monopolize more lands in the name of big landed estates in Batangas,” both groups added.

Sambat and Habagat the family of Jaime Zobel de Ayala managed to keep their 10,000 hectare land holdings in Calatagan, Batangas, depriving tens of thousands of families of their legitimate rights to former sugar lands, which was converted into pasteur lands, commercial farms and livestock farms which was allowed under CARP, and such paved way for its exemption from land distribution.

Not contended with what they have, the groups said, the Ayalas also annexed 2,000 hectares of foreshore land areas in Calatagan to their 10,000 prime agricultural estate, and later sold these areas of public domain to real estate clients and beach resort developers, despite an existing Supreme Court decision, asking the Ayalas to leave the 2,000 hectare foreshore area and allow the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to resurvey the area.

Sambat and Habagat also said CARP was reduced into a mere piece of paper when the national government upon the recommendation of the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) asked Malacañang to declare the entire town of Nasugbu into a special tourism zone.

On August 7 ,2007, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita in behalf of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Executive Order 647 placing 21 farming and fishing barangays of Nasugbu under special tourist zone.

EO 647 will facilitate the conversion of 14,000 hectares of rice lands and sugar farms currently covered by CARP for eco-tourism development. They project will displace 63,000 farmers and fishermen, according to Sambat and Habagat. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 00:05 | link | comments |

Militants wild guess: Esperon either as new security
adviser or member of NSC

Critics of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and retired Armed Forces Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon Jr. on Tuesday made a wild guess regarding what government position Malacañang would offer to the ex-AFP chief after his short vacation.

In a press statement, the leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said President Arroyo would most likely
give the National Security Adviser post to Esperon currently occupied by Arroyo's favorite attack dog secretary Norberto Gonzalez.

"Mrs. Arroyo wants Esperon for her political survival and vice versa, that's why they are inseparable political animals," Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

The Pamalakaya leader added:” The other position which Malacañang could offer to Esperon is the membership to the National Security Council, the national security syndicate of the Palace." Hicap said the integration of Esperon to Arroyo’s official Cabinet will complete the militarization of bureaucracy headed by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita.

“Human rights watchdogs and defenders of civil liberties must prepare their battle plan against Esperon, ahead of the retired general’s big comeback in the political scene. His appointment to any appointive post must be challenged in the parliament of the streets, in the court of public opinion and aggressively questioned and fought before the powerful Commission on Appointment,” Hicap added.

At the occasion of the turn over ceremony of the AFP chief of staff post to Lieutenant General Alexander Yano in Camp Aguinaldo, President Arroyo told Esperon to hurry back so he could still continue serving the people.

Esperon said Mrs. Arroyo's hint for a possible new position to him was a pleasant surprise, adding he will accept whatever position the President would offer to him,

"Mrs. Arroyo is politically compelled to keep Esperon to keep their best kept secrets of a lifetime which happened in May 2004 presidential elections," Hicap said referring to the controversial Hello Garci tape which suggested that President Arroyo committed serious election fraud in the May 2004 polls.

The militant group shared the same observations and sentiments raised by fugitive rebel leader Captain Nicanor Faeldon, who wrote an open letter to President Arroyo, saying Esperon is willing to prostitute his own uniform and his institution to keep a fake president.

Pamalakaya believed Esperon will not be tapped to replace Presidential spokesperson and Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye or join the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as one of its commissioners.

"His expertise is more on senseless and unjust war like Oplan Bantay Laya 1 and Oplan Bantay Laya 2. President Arroyo will continue to benefit from his war mongering and outdated logic on counter-insurgency," the militant group added.

Esperon is largely blamed for the extrajudicial killings of nearly 900 leftwing activists, and the
enforced disappearances of not less than 200 leftwing activists since President Arroyo assumed the presidency in 2001. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 00:48 | link | comments |

Top tourism officials asked to recall EO placing Nasugbu
under eco-tourism zone

Batangas farmers and fishermen on Tuesday asked top tourism officials to recall the implementation of Executive Order 647 placing 21 farming and fishing barangays of Nasugbu under special tourist zone.

Some 35 farmers and fishermen staged a picket at the national office of the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) in Manila this morning to press PTA chief Robert Dean Barbers and Department of Tourism Secretary Robert Ace Durano to recall the implementation of EO 647, which they said would facilitate the conversion of 14,000 hectares of rice lands, sugar farms and coastal areas out of 27, 750 hectares total land area of Nasugbu in Batangas province.

Armando Limeta, secretary general of Haligi ng Batangueñong Anak Dagat (Habagat), an affiliate of the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said 63,000 farmers and fishermen in Nasugbu will be displaced from their main source of livelihood once Barbers and Durano start all government tourism projects in Nasugbu.

“There would be a grand massacre of livelihood and environment. We ask Secretary Durano and PTA chair Barbers to heed to the legitimate and moral demands of the people to spare their farmlands and foreshore land areas from government’s eco-tourism projects,” the Habagat leader said in a press statement.

Limeta said EO 647 was signed on August 3, 2007 by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita on behalf of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Under said EO, the 41 farming and fishing villages of Nasugbu which include barangays Kaylaway, Aga, Banilad, Tumalim, Bilaran, Riparo, Katandaan, Cogonan, Wawa, Bucana, Natipoan, Balaitigue, Latag, Mataas na Pulo, Lumbangan and Bulihan will be converted to projects catering to eco-tourism industry.

Prior to the signing of EO 647, Malacañang through the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) had previously cancelled awarded Certificate of Land Ownership Awards (CLOAs) in Hacienda Looc also in Nasugbu, Batangas, covering 8,650 hectares of rice lands and sugar lands to pave way for the grand eco-tourism projects being developed by Fil-Estate, the Manila South Coast Development Corp. and SM Investment Corp.

For his part, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said the declaration of Nasugbu as a special tourism zone under EO 647 could be the brainchild of Executive Secretary Ermita, the most powerful politician in the entire Batangas province. “Secretary Ermita is the key political animal behind this project. This is part of the political agreement between him and President Arroyo. This is a reward for his continued loyalty to the Chief Executive and that includes the Ermita fiefdom in Nasugbu and other parts of Batangas province,” Hicap said.

The Pamalakaya leader said Secretary Ermita could be one of the five eminent persons identified by EO 647 to implement government tourism projects in Nasugbu. Hicap said, Nasugbu, which is part of the first congressional district of Batangas has Ermita’s daughter Eileen Ermita-Buhain as representative.

“We have to see the connection in order to identify the main players and actors that would stand to benefit from this ambitious project that seeks to convert Nasugbu into a major special tourism zone. Secretary Ermita is the little president of Malacañang and her daughter the congressional district representative, and that best explains why the Ermitas are poised to control Nasugbu,” Hicap added. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 00:47 | link | comments |

Leftists thank Bacolod bishop for urging people to join transport strike
It is politically and morally correct divine intervention, says Pamalakaya

Leftwing activists belonging to the militant fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Sunday praised Bishop Vicente Navarra of the Bacolod Diocese for urging the people to join the scheduled nationwide transport strike against the unstoppable increases in the prices of petroleum products.

“We express our deepest gratitude to Bishop Navarra for his politically and morally correct divine intervention. The Gospel for truth, justice and emancipation is well served to the people with this call for the public to join the people’s strike against unjust and exploitative oil price hikes,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

In response to Bishop Navarra’s call, Hicap called its leaders and mass members in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental to join the island wide transport strike led by Pinagisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide-Negros Chapter (Piston-Chapter) and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan-Negros) to join the strike on Monday and Tuesday.

Hicap said Pamalakaya has also asked its chapters in Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Panay Island and in Mindanao Island to join the nationwide strike called by the militant transport group Piston. The militant fisherfolk federation has 43 provincial organizations all over the country and commands a mass membership of not less than 80,000 members.

The Bacolod bishop called on the people to show their indignation over what he called were haphazard oil price increases by joining rally centers in Libertad, Magsaysay, Ramos and Burgos streets in Bacolod City and in other parts of Negros Occidental. Navarra issued a pastoral statement over the weekend against the unjust measures of the government that oppress the people.

“We hope more archbishops and bishops will follow Bishop Navarra’s crusade against the exploiting regime of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and its no.1 business client- the oil cartel which is taking advantage of the crisis by bleeding the people more in the name of super monopoly profits,” the Pamalakaya leader said.

Meanwhile, Pamalakaya pressed Secretary Angelo Reyes, whom the fisherfolk group called, the second biggest white elephant in the country next to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and a certified puppet of the oil cartel to step down for failing to stop oil price increases.

“Secretary Reyes should leave the energy department and apply as spokesperson either for Shell, Caltex or Petron. He has been doing that since he assumed the energy post and it is about time to make it public. He is useless to the Filipino public but a triple platinum goldmine to the oil cartel,” the group said.

Pamalakaya said Malacañang and Secretary Reyes have been rejecting sound solutions called by different concerned groups to address the issue like the repeal of Oil Deregulation Law, the scrapping of Expanded Value Added Tax and other regressive tax measures levied on petroleum products, the buy back of Petron and the nationalization of oil industry.

“Malacañang and the DoE have become the extended agencies of the oil cartel in justifying and collecting super profits from the people by acting as the support arm of Shell, Caltex and Petron. The President and the energy secretary are partners in crime of the oil cartel, which has been gobbling up the remaining centavos left in the pockets of every ordinary Filipinos,” the group said.

“The perpetual hikes in the prices of petroleum products courtesy of the oil deregulation law, the puppetry of Mrs. Arroyo to oil cartel and compounded by the 12 % Expanded Value Added Tax and other forms of regressive taxation imposed on oil and fuels has become an across-the-nation nightmare to small fishermen, who are also significant bloc of oil petroleum products all over the country,” the militant group said.

Pamalakaya said around 710,000 out of 1.3 million small fisherfolk or nearly 55 percent of Filipino fisherfolk population is severely affected by soaring prices of petroleum products. Each fisherfolk use an average of 5 liters to 10 liters of regular gasoline currently priced at P 47.26 per liter. The group said that is equivalent to P 235 to P 470 per day, and the fishermen have to catch at least 10 kilos of fish only to make a break even.

Based on Pamalakaya study said fisherfolk owners of 177, 627 motorized small fishing boats across who employ 2-3 small fishermen could no longer bear the brunt of rising prices of petroleum products, and such scenario may soon compel small boat owners either to reduce hours of fishing from an average of 8 to 12 hours to 4 to 8 hours or abandon their 4 to 16 horsepower motors, and go back to paddles because of high and unaffordable prices of petroleum products.

"That's because they could no longer afford the cost of fuel, particularly regular gasoline now pegged at more than P 47 per liter," the group said. At present, there are 292,180 non-motorized boats out of 469,807 registered bancas in all the country's municipalities or 62% of all registered municipal bancas all over the country. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 08:27 | link | comments (1) |

CARP spared 30,000-hectare Cojuangco estate from land distribution

Vast tracts of land owned by big landlords like businessman tycoon Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco were exempted from distribution under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), according to the leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), one of the groups opposing the extension of the 19-year land reform program.

“In reality, the CARP was made as a convenient excuse to spare Cojuangco’s 30,000 hectares of agricultural lands found in Negros Occidental, Isabela, Cagayan, Davao del Sur, Cotabato, Palawan and other provinces,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.

“CARP served as an instrument for this century old running denial of justice to landless farmers and fishermen,” Hicap added.

The Pamalakaya leader said Cojuangco used a number of schemes provided by CARP to evade land distribution like the stock distribution option (SDO), leaseback arrangement and land use conversion as provided with legal clout under the 19-year old program.

“The truth is CARP made Cojuangco and his sprawling hectares of agricultural lands in several provinces extremely untouchable. The bogus land reform program further institutionalizes the power of fiefdom over peasant land rights,” Hicap added.

Pamalakaya said aside from Cojuangco big landowning families were made untouchables under CARP. The group said the family of Cojuangco, Senator Juan Ponce Enrile and for Former Isabela Gov. Faustino Dy remains the top landowning families in Cagayan Valley region with a combined estate of 13, 085 hectares of prime agricultural lands.

The militant group said Nestle Philippines, a transnational corporation is controlling over 10,000 hectares of prime agricultural lands spread in the provinces of Isabela, Cagayan Valley, Compostela Valley, Agusan del Sur and other provinces under the leasehold agreement with the national government.

Pamalakaya said the Floirendo family in Davao del Norte still occupies 11,048 hectares of prime agricultural lands which are devoted to production of bananas for export. The other big landowning families which managed to keep their lands from distribution courtesy of CARP are the Almagro family in Dalaguete Cebu (10,000 hectares), the Dimaporo clan in Lanao provinces (10,000 hectares), the Hacienda de Santos (9,700 hectares) in Nueva Ecija, the Roxas family in Batangas (8,500 hectares), the Yulo family (7,100 hectares) in Laguna, the Tinio family ( 7,000 hectares) in Nueva Ecija, the Cojuangco-Aquino clan in Tarlac ( over 6,000 hectares in Hacienda Luisita), Guanzon family (2,945 hectares) in Pampanga, Reyes family (2,257 hectares) in Southern Tagalog region, the Sanggalang family ( 1,600 hectares) also in Southern Tagalog region, the Uy family (1,500 hectares) in Southern Tagalog and Palmares and Co. Inc. (1,027 hectares) in Iloilo province.

The other big landlords whose agricultural lands were spared by CARP from distribution are the Lobregat family in Zamboanga, the family of Jesus Ayala in Davao and Compostela Valley, Alcantara family in Davao City, Davao del Norte and Cotabato), the Lorenzo family in Davao, the family of Roberto Sebastian in Compostela Valley, the Zubiri and Fortich families in Bukidnon, Soriano family in Davao del Sur and Cotabato, the Plaza family in Agusan, the Rabat family in Davao Oriental, Almario family in Davao Oriental, Barbers family in Surigao Norte, the Dizon family in Compostela Valley, the Roa family in Misamis Oriental, the Tan family in Misamis Occidental and Dominguez family in Davao.

In the Visayas the big landlords include the Lopez family (Iloilo), Araneta ( Negros Occidental), Roxas (Capiz), Larrazabal family (Leyte), Romualdez ( Leyte), Roño (Samar), Franco (Cebu) and Montano (Negros Oriental).

In Luzon the most notable landlords include Angara (Aurora), Marcos (Ilocos Norte), Singson (Ilocos Sur), Agbayani (Pangasinan), Ramos (Pangasinan), Villafuerte (Camarines Norte), Imperial (Albay), Espinosa (Masbate), Araneta (Central Luzon), Puyat, Bernardino, San Victor and Bacani families to mention a few.

Pamalakaya said the government’s agrarian reform program was used to facilitate land grabbing, instead of land distribution. Pamalakaya cited the following cases of land reform reversals in Southern Tagalog

• 10,000 farmers and fisherfolk beneficiaries, all CARP beneficiaries are still in landlocked battle against Fil-Estate, the Manila South Coast Development Corporation and SM of Henry Sy over 8,650 hectares of prime agricultural lands, which private developers intend to develop into a major eco-tourism hub in Hacienda Looc, Nasugbu in Batangas. The Department of Agrarian Reform cancelled their Certificate of Land Ownership Awards (CLOAs) and Emancipation Patents (EPs) to pave way for land use conversion.
• The CLOAs of CARP beneficiaries were revoked by DAR in Hacienda Roxas in Nasugbu, Batangas covering 7,183 hectares of sugar lands to give way to eco-tourism, residential and commercial projects to be funded by foreign and local investors.
• In Hacienda Puyat in Batangas, some 1,800 hectares of land were denied to supposed CARP beneficiaries to pave way for the construction of golf courses and other eco-tourism projects.
• The DAR allowed the exemption and conversion of 10,000 hectares of sugar lands to livestock farms, poultry farms, fishponds in Hacienda Zobel in Calatagan, Batangas, and also gave the right to the Ayala clan to landgrab an additional 2,000 hectares of foreshore land to deny agrarian claims of farmers and fishermen in 19 out of Calatagan’s 24 barangays.
• In Carmen and Silang towns, DAR approved the conversion of 2,500 hectares of land into golf courses and residential areas by the Ayala land group of companies, denying farmer beneficiaries of their rights to utilize prime agricultural lands which they tilled for generations.
• In Aguinaldo Estate, Tartaria, Silang in Cavite, 2,000 farming families were displaced from their farmlands, after DAR gave the go signal for investors to convert the 197-hectare estate to commercial subdivision and a high-end golf course.
• The DAR also facilitated the conversion of 7,100 hectare Hacienda Yulo in Canluibang, Laguna into an array of subdivisions and golf courses, and victimized 457 families, whose CLOAs were cancelled by the agrarian reform agency.

Pamalakaya said based on Kasama-TK’s report collated from 1994 up to 2007, about 1,302,375 hectares of prime agricultural lands have been placed by DAR under conversion and such terrible act led to the massive land reform reversals with the cancellation of land titles all over the region.

Hicap said around 173,000 hectares of prime agricultural lands in the region have been already converted for commercial purposes; leaving tens of thousands of supposed to be CARP beneficiaries landless.

In 1993, Pamalakaya, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and the Sentro Para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo (Sentra) held a preliminary assessment of CARP from 1988 to 1993, and one of the striking results of program was revealed--- a total of 10,958 certificate of land transfers (CLTs), 9,133 EPs and 2,303 CLOAs were cancelled by DAR covering 32, 041 hectares of prime agricultural lands affecting over 22,000 CARP beneficiaries.

Pamalakaya said while farmlands belonging to farmers are perpetually targeted for landgrabbing and conversion under CARP, lands leased to foreign corporations like Dole and Del Monte Philippines remained untouched. It said foreign corporations managed to keep 220,000 hectares of agricultural lands because these lands were devoted to production of export crops.

Pamalakaya, like the KMP and other militant peasant organizations are in favor of the passage and enactment of House Bill 3059 otherwise known as the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill or GARB.

“GARB or HB 3059 is a million times superior compared to CARP. The 20-year old sad and exploitative experience of the Filipino peasantry under this bankrupt land reform program is a strong basis why CARP and its extension must be buried six feet below ground, and have it replaced by GARB which is politically and morally correct,” the militant group added. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 08:26 | link | comments |

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