Pahayagan ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas ANG Pinapatnubayan ng Marxismo-Leninismo-Maoismo

Vol. LI No. 7 Abril 7, 2020 www.cpp.ph

EDITORIAL The Covid-19 pandemic has become more than just a health concern

rom being a health crisis, the situation brought about by the Covid-19 mass organizations, private associ- pandemic has rapidly developed into an economic, social and political ations and other groups. crisis. More and more get infected and die in the and across Duterte is using an iron fist in Fthe globe. Simultaneously, more and more Filipinos suffer from hunger, dis- facing the public health crisis. He ease and other hardships brought about by Duterte's lockdown imposed has deployed police personnel and without comprehensive, sufficient and immediate health and economic mea- soldiers at the frontline and in sures in place. command of the government's ma- chinery to address the health crisis. The Duterte government is too tion is exposed with its procure- He further suppressed the people's slow to implement much needed ment of overpriced equipment. right to speech and assembly. mass testing as an immediate mea- The longer the lockdown, mil- Duterte openly threatened anyone sure to contain the spread of the lions more are made to suffer from who will not abide by his rules and disease. Three weeks since the hunger by the government. The "incite chaos" with a shoot to kill lockdown, only more or less 19,000 budget allocated is way too insuffi- order. Duterte imposes terror while individuals have been tested while cient to compensate all those who the masses are distressed and left this has to be extensively conducted lost their jobs and income. The dis- hungry by the lockdown and negli- in communities. Despite the powers tribution of aid came very late and gent government. given Duterte to realign public many are yet to be compensated. The longer the lockdown, funds, only a small amount was al- Officials of various agencies are Duterte's incompetence and inca- located to support health workers passing the buck. It has become pability to rule and comprehensively and aid public hospitals to keep up stark that the Duterte government is address the people's plight is fur- with the pandemic. The government incompetent and incapable of lead- ther exposed. Millions of toiling is acting too slow amid supply ing amid the crisis. Many are depen- masses and the middle class are shortages and is relying on initia- dent on the quicker and more exten- becoming more desperate because tives by the private sector. Corrup- sive aid provided by volunteers, of hunger, scarcity and depletion of their savings and loss of livelihood. They must continue to demand must act in their numbers to fight In the countryside, the peasant an end to the lockdown and for im- and surmount Duterte's threat to masses are driven to deeper poverty plementation of measures such as suppress all mass actions. by roadblocks preventing the free mass screening and testing in com- To face the Covid-19 pandemic flow of farm produce, and restrictions munities in order to immediately and in response to the United Na- on transportation and food purchase. contain and prevent the spread of tion's call for a "global ceasefire,' Despite Duterte's ceasefire declara- the virus. Thousands of health the Party declared a ceasefire on tion, AFP and PNP counterinsurgency workers and volunteers must be March 26 that will remain in effect operations continue unabated and mobilized, trained, and provided until April 15. We directed NPA have intensified. At least 146 with sufficient funds and equip- units to focus on providing health barangays are currently occupied by ment. Now is the time to clamor for services in barrios despite being the military. In some areas, soldiers the strengthening of public hospi- continuously disrupted by AFP op- conduct house-to-house inspections tals instead of undermining these erations and raids which have re- without wearing face masks to pre- under the policy of spending cuts on sulted in at least seven armed en- vent the spread of the disease. Under health services. counters. Amid relentless AFP the guise of fighting the spread of While Duterte's lockdown is in offensives, the Party reminded all Covid-19, soldiers mounted check- place, the people must demand the NPA units to uphold their discipline points to restrict travel and prevent quick distribution of sufficient aid in maintaining secrecy to deny the people from tending their farmlands for all. They must hold the Duterte enemy an opportunity to attack and and buying food. regime accountable for its slow, in- to ensure wide latitude for the NPA To beat and contain the pan- sufficient and non-transparent dis- to continuously provide services to demic, the Filipino people need to tribution of aid. the masses. Organizations and stand up, act collectively and work Amid the lockdown, the collec- forces in the countryside must be together to prevent the spread of tive aspirations of the people are mobilized to assert economic de- the disease and demand the go- primarily gathered in urban and ru- mands and plan for increasing food vernment to provide aid in this time ral poor communities. The people's production in preparation for the of crisis. At the same time, they hardships are concentrated in these imminent shortage due to the lock- must defend their rights and wel- areas. Communities must creatively down and production stoppage. fare that are being trampled upon act to collectively express the entire While Duterte insists on his by the regime's militarist solution. nation's plight and demands. They fascist dictatorial methods, he continues to isolate himself from ANG Contents the people. Duterte stinks even more because of the Covid-19 crisis Editorial: The Covid-19 pandemic brought about by his regime's fail- Vol LI No. 7 | April 7, 2020 has become more than ures. His regime is shaken by crum- just a health concern 1 bling support. Every time his dirty Ang Ang Bayan is published Lockdown rouses anger 3 mouth opens and with his every in Pilipino, Bisaya, Iloko, Where is the people's money? 4 misstep, he further enrages the Hiligaynon, Waray and English. people and fires up their courage. Frontliners' just demand 4 Ang Bayan welcomes He has at times gave in to people's Looming food shortage 5 contributions in the form demands to ease the situation. It of articles and news items. Cuba's medical services 5 remains to be seen whether he can Readers are encouraged Covid-19 infections worldwide 6 stop the people's anger from boiling to send feedback and Free all political prisoners 6 over or if he will be totally engulfed recommendations Mass clinic 7 by the people's burning anger. for improving our newspaper. 51st NPA anniversary 7 The heavy impact of the Covid- 19 in the Philippines exposes the Ceasefire alert 8 rottenness and fundamental con- bombinb spree 9 instagram.com/prwcnewsroom tradiction of the ruling semicolonial Peasant leader killed in Surigao 10 and semifeudal system. It revealed @prwc_info ASF pandemic 10 the incapacity of the ruling state to

[email protected] Hog raisers incur huge losses 11 address the plight of the people. The need for revolutionary change to establish a new people's demo- Ang Bayan is published fortnightly by the Central Committee cratic system that will uphold the of the Communist Party of the Philippines interests of the Filipino people has become ever clearer. 2 April 7 , 2 02 0 ANG BAYAN Lockdown rouses anger, esprit de corps

he lockdown has failed to prevent the breakout of the people's outrage ment, were lauded for their initia- Tover the regime's blunders in facing the Covid-19 crisis. tives to help health workers and those adversely affected by the On April 1, residents of Tricycle drivers also trooped to the lockdown. Atty. Chel Diokno, who San Roque, Bagong Pag- office of Gov. Edgardo Tallado in volunteered to provide legal assis- asa, City protested to de- . tance for people being harassed by mand quick distribution of food aid. Meanwhile, residents of Bara- the NBI, also received wide support More than 6,000 residents live in ngay Muzon, Taytay, trooped after being harassed and insulted the said community, majority of to their barangay hall twice (March by Duterte. whom are odd jobbers who survive 24 and April 2) to demand that they On April 5, the call #Defend- on daily incomes. The local govern- be given aid. PressFreedom also trended in de- ment in the area has long sought to fense of Joshua Molo, editor-in- evict residents to pave way for the Online protest chief of Dawn, the student publica- construction of malls and other Many sectors, especially the tion of the University of the East, commercial establishments. youth and professionals, expressed who was threatened to be arrested Instead of addressing their their raging anger against Duterte and coerced to publicly apologize plight, police personnel dispersed through the internet as going out for posting anti-Duterte statements the peaceful rally and arrested 21 and assembly are restricted. They in Facebook. protesters. They were detained and continuously criticized the govern- threatened to be kept in jail until ment's failure to provide health Esprit de corps in the lifting of the lockdown. In a workers with sufficient face masks, beating Covid-19 video broadcast that evening, thermal scanners and other perso- In the absence of adequate Duterte ordered the PNP to shoot nal protective equipment (PPE). government assistance, aid poured anyone who will "resist." His In social media, they criticized out from various groups and indi- marching order has further stoked the regime for giving special priority viduals to help health workers and the people's raging anger. to senators and congressmen in the poor. This is while local gov- The call #OustDuterteNow im- testings amid the shortage in test ernment units are struggling to mediately trended on social media kits. The calls #NotoVIPTesting and make do with limited resources to after his speech. Many artists and #MassTestingNowPH trended as help their constituents survive. known personalities expressed their people demanded to prioritize doc- Through the #BarangayDama- support for the call and delivered tors and nurses, and suspected yan campaign initiated by Kadamay, aid for the poor. Many contributed Covid-19 positive individuals. The the group conducted relief drives in to raise money to bail out those ar- conduct of mass testing is among various urban poor communities. rested (P15,000 each or P315,000). the basic recommendations of the The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipi- The police was compelled to release World Health Organization. The nas launched the campaign Sagip the 21 on April 6. However, the regime announced it will start con- Kanayunan (Save the countryside) community was again attacked by ducting mass testing on April 14 but to aid farmers from at the PNP on the same day. They vio- only for those who have symptoms . It also conducted the lently demolished the residents' and for health workers. campaign Bagsak-Ahon Gulay Sale community kitchen. The call #NasaanAngAyuda to help farmers from Bulacan to sell On the same day, the police de- (Where is the aid?) also trended, their produce online. Kilusang Mayo molished a barricade in Barangay demanding the regime's account- Uno also launched a relief drive for Didipio, Kasibu, ability over the slow distribution of workers in Caloocan and Quezon which residents put up to prevent aid and the extremely limited bud- City under the campaign #Tulong- OceanaGold from sneaking in its get allocation. Obrero (aid workers). fuel tanker. On top of lockdown re- Netizens also criticized the Actress Angel Locsin also striction, OceanaGold operates ille- harassment by Duterte's spearheaded a donation gally as the local government has henchmen against drive and provided already suspended its operations. Vice President Leni various hospitals Spontaneous protests were also Robredo and Pasig in with launched by the people to demand City Mayor Vico isolation tents immediate aid. In , residents Sotto who, con- to help these protested in front of the DSWD Re- trary to the na- establishments gion VI headquarters on April 3. tional govern- "Lockdown...," continued on page 4

ANG BAYAN April 7 , 2 02 0 3 Where is the people's money?

he P200-billion financial aid allocated by Duterte regime is not only in- nesses. DOST was given P52 million Tsufficient but its coverage is also limited. This was exposed during the for the production of test kits. regime's first batch of distribution of the P5,000-P8,000 aid to appease the Meanwhile, almost the same amount hunger and poverty caused by the militarist lockdown. To make do with the (P52.3 million) was allocated to the budget, the regime imposed a quota system on local government units. PNP under vague terms. If summed up, these allocations are already In Valenzuela, the aid coverage the large gap. more than half of the P275 billion is limited to only 95,000 families or They are asserting that all fam- promised by Duterte. 61% of the total 155,000 families ilies and not just the poor are af- The people have been waiting residing in the city. The city mayor fected by the month-long lockdown for proper aid and compensation for griped against how the DSWD iden- and need aid and compensation. more than two weeks now. Many are tify beneficiaries and asked how the Many workers and employees, already going hungry. They are en- other 60,000 families will survive whether regular or contractual, lost raged at the slow distribution of aid without aid. their sources of income and jobs. especially since Duterte used this as In other cities in the National They have no other means to source a pretext to demand that he be Capital Region (NCR), less than half funds but from the subsidy being granted emergency powers. Duterte of the total number of families will distributed by government. is putting the blame on local officials be given aid. In , for in- Data by the reactionary govern- and are accusing them of corruption stance, only 185,000 (43%) out of ment indicate that only P100 billion and being slow. However, the people 435,237 will receive aid; and 77,764 was distributed by DSWD as of April clearly see that it is Duterte and his (49%) out of 160,000 in Parañaque. 3. Around P100 million was allocated military-led Inter-agency Task The situation is even worse in to DOLE to aid workers who lost their Force that who are inutile and inca- provinces outside NCR. Local offi- jobs; and another P100 million to pable of handling the current public cials are now struggling to bridge DOH to aid patients with various ill- health crisis.

Frontliners' just demand

octors, nurses, technicians and other health workers, known as front- Since the 1980s, the govern- Dliners, have been performing dangerous duties to care for Covid-19 ment's budget allocation to health positive patients. For them to be able to perform efficiently, they have laid has not reached 5% of the local out their immediate needs and just demands. gross domestic product. Particu- larly, the budget for the Research Primarily, they demanded the They also demanded additional Institute for Tropical Medicine government to provide health work- hiring of and trainings for regular (RITM), which primarily conducts ers with adequate supply of personal heaalth workers to improve their Covid-19 tests, was slashed by 57% protective equipment (PPE). PPEs re- capability in treating patients. In in 2017. fer to protective clothing, helmets, 2018, 47% of barrios across the Frontliners also demanded for face shields, or other garments country have no health centers. wage increase, hazard pay and se- designed to protect the wearer's The presence of health cen- curity of tenure. body from infection. Frontliners ters, however, does not bear the dangers of shortages guarantee the availability "Lockdown...," from page 4 in PPEs in many hospitals. of doctors or nurses that to accommodate more patients According to the Alliance of will attend to patients. with Covid-19 symptoms. Many Health Workers, 26 health The doctor-to-patient other artists and workers also workers tested positive for ratio in the Philippines volunteered to raise aid. the disease in is one doctor per 33,000 Many Filipinos donated to alone. At least 12 doctors patients (far from the help procure more face masks and have died from the disease. global standard set at one other medical needs in hospitals. Frontliners also de- doctor is to 1,000 patients). Many restaurants, food stalls and manded free and, if possible, Similarly, only 10 hospital ordinary citizens donated food, regular testing for health beds are available for every while others volunteered to give workers. 10,000 patients. free transportation and delivery services, among others.

4 April 7 , 2 02 0 ANG BAYAN Looming food shortage

idespread food shortage is becoming imminent in the National Capital chicken in Metro Manila increased WRegion (NCR) and across the country. Many farmers and businessmen due to limited supply. Recent re- incurred high income losses because of Duterte's militarist and restrictive ports indicate that the average lockdown. Many were forced to stop production. The situation is bound to get price of chicken in Metro Manila has worse with Duterte's plan to extend the lockdown until April 30. reached P160/kilo, higher by P30 than the P130/kilo SRP. They are Agricultural supply became in- low farmgate price. Now, majority also unable to sell chicken eggs creasingly scarce due to the lock- of traders stopped buying their which are also just left to rot. down. Contrary to the regime's or- produce as they could not transport On top of these, more than 800 der to allow the transportation of these into markets. Despite efforts container vans containing perish- food products and cargo, trucks of some local governments to buy able goods such as vegetables, that carry food and meat products their produce, a large portion of fruits, meat and medical supplies are hampered at checkpoints. their harvests were not sold. are stuck at ports in Manila. These past few weeks, tons of Poultry farmers in Central Lu- Meanwhile, multinational com- vegetables were left to rot, dumped zon and , regions that panies in export-processing zones or fed to animals as farmers were un- supply almost half of the total sup- threatened to move their opera- able to sell their produce. Many farm- ply of chicken meat and eggs across tions to other countries if they will ers were compelled to sell their prod- the country, are also unable to sell not still be allowed to re-open and ucts at extremely low rates. Pechay their produce due to the lockdown. operate. They challenged the farmers for instance, sold their pro- This has sparked a poultry glut in regime to allow limited operation of duce at P3/kilo, way below the the region which further pulled their factories. However, they have P60/kilo suggested retail price (SRP). down farmgate prices. not offered any comprehensive Farmers from and According poultry farmers, the compensation program or safety , provinces which farmgate price of chicken dropped measures for their workers. Their primarily supply Metro Manila with to P30-P50/kilo which is lower than operations, which are primarily vegetables, incurred highest losses. their P70/kilo cost of production. concentrated in enclaves, were put They have long been suffering from Ironically, the market price of to a stop due to the lockdown.

Cuba, beacon of international solidarity and medical service

uba, a small country in Latin America which is being harassed by US im- for thousands of patients. It is will- Cperialism, is leading in medical solidarity and providing services to peo- ing to manufacture more if needed. ples of the world to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. It promptly deployed medi- Meanwhile, half a million Cuban cal brigades to help countries hardest hit by the disease. On March 18, health workers expressed their allowed the docking of British ship MS Braemar which carried Covid-19 pa- readiness to provide assistance to tients and was denied entry in other countries. countries in need of medical help. According to the Cuban Health Cuba offered to export to any by Chinese and Cuban scientists. It Workers Union, more than 45 country a drug to help Covid-19 has been manufactured and used in countries have requested help from patients. The said drug, called the China since January. According to Cuba as of March 30. In the Philip- Interferon Alpha 2-B, was devel- scientists, the drug is most effective pines, Bayan Muna Rep. Euphemia oped by Cuban scientists since the when taken during the early stage Cullamat filed a petition on April 5 1980s to treat dengue, HIV, hepati- of infection or as a preventive drug. to request help from Cuba. tis and other viral diseases. The The World Health Organization Currently, more than 28,000 drug helps the body's ability to pro- (WHO) is currently studying inter- Cuban health workers are providing duce interferon, a group of proteins feron-beta, along with three other medical service in over 60 coun- that the body uses to strengthen its drugs, to determine their effective- tries. Its deployment of medical resistance to viral diseases. Viral ness against Covid-19. Eight hospi- brigades was a program initiated by diseases are not cured by drugs but tals in the Philippines will partici- former Cuban Pres. Fidel Castro in are rather overcome only through pate in the WHO experiment. 1963. It has been able to provide the body's resistance.. According to Cuba, they have medical service to more than 160 The drug was jointly developed Interferon Alpha-2 supplies enough countries.

ANG BAYAN April 7 , 2 02 0 5 Over 1 million Covid-19 infections worldwide

ver 1.2 million people in 204 countries and territories have been tested the elderly (60 years old and above) Opositive for Covid-19 worldwide as of April 6. More than 52,000 have and those with cardiovascular com- died from the disease since the outbreak of the pandemic in China last year. plications and diabetes. Pandemic experts believe that the actual number is likely higher given that While governments are strug- many cases are not reported to the World Health Organization (WHO). Many gling to grapple with the health cri- countries have yet to conduct mass testings (including the Philippines and sis, they are concurrently facing some countries in Africa). There are also some countries believed to be hiding threats of socio-economic deterio- their actual infection toll. ration and the loss of livelihood in their respective countries. Unions in By the last week of March, more other personal protective equip- Europe projects that over one mil- than two billion have been quaran- ment. Its hospitals have become lion jobs will be lost due to the clo- tined and are staying at home to congested and morgues could not sure of factories, schools and busi- implement social distancing to con- keep up with the number of dead. nesses, and the ban on mass tain the virus. Factories and mass In Europe, 626,140 infections assemblies. This is lower than the transportation have been shut and 33,498 deaths were recorded 10 million jobs lost in the US, 6.6 down. International travel and mass as of April 6. Countries hardest hit million of which were lost during the assemblies were also prohibited. in the continent include Italy, last two weeks of March. The most restrictive lockdowns Spain, France, Germany and the were implemented in China, India, United Kingdom. The death toll in France, Italy, New Zealand, Poland Germany is relatively low (1,810), Release 609 and UK. although its infection toll has political prisoners! The centers of capitalism have reached 103,374. Experts attrib- been hit hard by the pandemic. The uted this to the mass testing KARAPATAN CALLED FOR the highest number of infections promptly conducted by the German immediate release of 609 po- (366,906) were recorded in the US government, wherein 500,000 were litical prisoners in the country, where more 10,868 have died as of tested weekly, and its preparation especially the elderly and sick. April 6. New York City is considered of facilities for patients with severe This is to take them away from the epicenter of Covid-19 with cases of infection. Aside from UK the congested and vulnerable 4,758 deaths and 131,239 infec- and Italy, majority of countries conditions in prisons during tions. This is despite the US govern- across Europe implemented volun- the Covid-19 pandemic. ment's implementation of a strict tary quarantine measures. The call was renewed travel ban to and from China, and In China, 81,708 infections and when United Nations High quarantine measures for those who 3,331 deaths were recorded. Infec- Commissioner for Human came from the latter. On March 13, tions are also high in Iran, Turkey Rights Michelle Bachelet called Trump declared a national emer- and Canada. By April, the number of on governments to release gency and allocated $50 billion to infections in Brazil and other coun- prisoners to decongest jails. contain the virus and mitigate its tries in Latin America started to in- Iran, Brazil and other coun- socioeconomic impact. Majority of crease. As of April 6, the Philippines tries responded to this call. its states implemented voluntary recorded 3,660 infections and 163 The group also launched quarantine measures. deaths. the #SetThemFree and Like many other countries, US According to WHO, the infec- #FreePoliticalPrisonersPH hospitals and clinic suffer from tion fatality ratio is currently at 3%. campaigns in social media. shortages in ventilators, masks and The infection poses a high risk to Earlier, churches including the National Council of Churces of Testing patients with Covid-19 symptoms Philippines and the Archdio- cese of San Carlos also called Take samples Compare Match Seal samples from patients samples samples for the release of political de- tainees. Positive Majority (209) of political Taking samples from nose or throat prisoners arrested under Duterte are farmers who were accused of being members of Blood extraction Negative the New People's Army.

Sample Sars-Cov2 *test results are typically released after 6 hours 6 April 7 , 2 02 0 ANG BAYAN NPA Covid-19 response: Mass clinics, food aid and production

n response to the call of the Communist Party of the Philippines to launch the call amid Duterte's restrictive Ihealth campaigns to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, the NPA-Central Ne- lockdown in Luzon and other parts gros (Leonardo Panaligan Command) extended medical services to at least of the country which is causing 1,000 farmers during the last week of March. NPA medics paid close at- severe prob- tention to the elderly and pregnant women. They conducted check-ups lems on the and distributed herbal medicines for fever, cough and colds. They also people. distributed vitamins to improve the masses' resistance against dis- In reality, eases. At the same time, they educated the masses about the pandemic. the lockdown is not just in Luzon. Many used by NPA in the relief oper- local governments have Members of the barrio health ations were revolutionary tax imposed enforced quar- committee, Makibaka and Ka- collections. antines and closed their bataang Makabayan helped in con- NPA units in borders. Businesses, ducting the mass clinic. Panay, Quezon and transportation, In Bicol, around 260 families other areas also schools, churches and from three barangays received rice launched information drives. other socio-economic activities from the NPA during the last week These efforts are in line with have been shut down. Because of of March. The said barrios were af- the CPP’s call to immediately help this, majority of the people have fected by the food crisis brought those in need. At the same time, the lost their income and are having a about by the regime’s lockdown. Party advised all its forces to carry hard time buying food, medicines The NPA unit and mass organiza- out emergency food production and and other basic needs. In some tions supervised the the distribu- intensify economic work in revolu- provinces, only churches give out tion of emergency aid. The funds tionary territories. The CPP issued "Mass...," continued on page 8

NPA celebrates 51st anniversary

he New People’s Army (NPA) celebrated its 51st anniversary amid the preparations for the imminent crisis TCovid-19 health crisis. Red fighters and people gathered at temporary it may cause in the countryside. encampments in various areas. In a statement, the NPA- Bukidnon called on the people's More than 2,000 farmers at- prove the body's resistance against army and the masses to intensify tended celebrations held by the diseases. The NPA-Negros also their resistance amid relentless fo- NPA-Central Negros (Leonardo launched Ispading, the literary folio cused military operations in the Pacsi Command). The NPA staged of the revolutionary movement in province. Last year, it documented cultural presentations that paid the island. a total of 72 tactical offensives tribute to the noble contributions of More than a hundred Red fight- which resulted in 152 soldiers killed the people’s army in the island. ers and residents from nearby bar- and 94 wounded. According to Ka They also paid tribute to victims of rios gathered in a guerrilla front in Dereka Magtanggol, provincial Oplan Sauron and relentless extra- Bicol. The highlights of the program spokesperson of the NPA, the AFP judicial killings in the island. The include dances, songs and solidarity has dropped at least 84 bombs and people’s army also held a mass clinic messages of revolutionary organi- fired 395 artiller rounds in the on the same day. zations. They celebrated the an- mountains of the province Red fighters from NPA-Negros niversary with the theme, since 2018. (Apolinario Gatmaitan Command) “Frustrate the US-Duterte NPA units from the wore face masks during the celebra- regime’s war of suppression! regions of Southern tion to symbolize its solidarity with Further strengthen the New Tagalog, Panay and Bi- the Filipino people’s fight against People’s Army and compre- col, and from the prov- Covid-19. The celebrations centered hensively advance the people’s inces of , on informing the masses about the war!” Speeches by Red fight- and Mindoro also is- pandemic and on the importance of ers centered on responding to sued their respective maintaining a healthy diet to im- the Covid-19 pandemic and statements.

ANG BAYAN April 7 , 2 02 0 7 NPA units must be on extra alert amid ceasefire

he Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) directed all units of the New global ceasefire to focus on fighting TPeople’s Army (NPA) to be on extra alert in the face of successive at- the spread of the Covid-19 pan- tacks mounted by units of the military and police across the country. These demic. On March 19, the Party di- attacks have been carried out despite Rodrigo Duterte's ceasefire declaration rected all commands and units of on March 19 and will be effective until April. the people's army and militia to cease and desist from carrying out The Party also called on the spread of Covid-19. However, it re- offensive operations against AFP NPA to exercise strict discipline to minded the people's army to remain and PNP units and elements. It ad- ensure secrecy in their maneuvers ever ready to engage in battle when vised all revolutionary forces to to deny the AFP and PNP any oppor- necessary to defend themselves and continue conducting health cam- tunity to attack while giving the Red the masses against offensive oper- paigns and providing medical ser- fighters the widest latitude to un- ations of the AFP. vices to prevent the spread of dertake measures to educate the The Party responded positively Covid-19. The Party's ceasefire masses on how to prevent the to the United Nation's call for a "NPA...," continued on page 9

(based on initial data gathered by Ang Bayan)

Encircled numbers pertain to the number of towns/cities

"Mass...," from page 7 nanas, maize, pechay and other lords to allow the use of their land aid. Aid from local government vegetables and crops that can be for emergency food production units, if there is any, is distributed harvested in the short-term. without rent. It urged landlords to at snail pace. The people are yet to It also advised its forces to extend financial assistance, use of receive any subsidy from the na- launch economic conferences to as- facilities and other resources. The tional government. sess their needs and supplies, and Party also urged all local and inter- The Party called on all NPA their production potentials, and national agencies and organizations units to plan out emergency food come up with specific plans to cover to extend all forms of assistance to production to cultivate palay, the rest of the year. help the masses in emergency food camote and other root crops, ba- The Party also called on land- production efforts.

ANG BAYAN April 7 , 2 02 0 8 AFP bombing spree in Bukidnon, Davao amid Covid-19 ceasefire

he Armed Forces of the Philippines is on a bombing spree and continues up their ground troops. Tto carry out focused military offensives in the Bukidnon-Davao border The military also raided an NPA area amid the Covid-19 ceasefire. Based on field reports by the NPA-Bukid- encampment in Little Baguio, San non Subregional Command, Philippine Air Force (PAF) units under the 4th ID Fernando, Bukidnon on March 29 at used an FA-50 fighter jet to indiscriminately drop five 500-pound bombs near 2 a.m. two communities in Barangay Mandahikan, Cabanglasan on March 27. Residents reported that military troops continue to operate in Three bombs were dropped at The military also deployed an addi- Barangays Kibongcog and , around 9 a.m. and two more at 2 tional column of soldiers at Sitio San Fernando; Barangay Concep- p.m, traumatizing Lumad children Miyaray to conduct combat opera- cion, Valencia; Santa Filomena, and residents. The airstrike severely tions. Quezon; Barangays Bulonay and damaged the environment which Meanwhile, two columns and Kalabugao, Impasug-ong; Barangays serves as the primary source of food three armored fighting vehicles were Busdi, Caburacanan, Manalog, Saint and livelihood of the in the deployed at Sitio Tapayanon, Peter and Zamboanguita, Malay- area. Barangay Gupitan, Kapalong, Davao balay City; and Barangay Poblacion, After two days, using attack del Norte. On March 24, elements of Cabanglasan. helicopters, the military dropped at the 60th and 56th IB attacked an Soldiers also installed two ar- least 10 rockets in the same NPA unit at the said area. The mili- tillery cannons in Sitio Nursery, barangay at noontime. Rounds were tary made it appear that the attack Barangay Concepcion and another in also fired from artillery cannons in- was staged by the NPA although it Sitio Salaysay in Barangay Santa stalled at an adjacent barangay in was clear that they were carrying Filomena. Loreto, . A Cessna out offensive combat operations as The said areas have been sub- surveillance aircraft flew overhead evidenced by the fact that they have jected to continuous aerial surveil- the whole day after the airstrike. prepositioned artillery units to back lance since the last week of March.

"NPA...," from page 8 to conduct counterinsurgency oper- that they have been conducting declaration will take effect until ations in at least 80 towns and combat patrols against the NPA. April 15. cities, covering 146 barangays in On April 2, another NPA en- The CPP is the first belligerent the past three weeks. campment in Barangay Balagon, force in the world to respond to Hours after Duterte issued a Silay, was UN's call for ceasefire. In a state- call for a ceasefire on March 16, the raided by troops of the 44th IB. The ment, the UN lauded the declara- 8th IB bragged about raiding an same AFP unit raided another NPA tion saying that this “will serve as NPA encampments in Sitio Bendum, camp in Barangay Peñaranda, an example across the world.” Barangay Busdi, City in Kabasalan in the same province last The UN announced on April 4 Bukidnon. March 21. that 11 countries has responded to In Quezon Province, the 85th Military and police operations its call, including the reactionary IB attacked an NPA unit in and occupation of barrios endanger Philippine government. Barangay Ilayang Yuni, Mulanay on the lives and bring intense hard- April 1. Another NPA unit was ships on civilian residents. In Relentless military offensives raided by 59th IB troopers in , the NPA reported that sol- The regime is not only violating Barangay Mabunga, Gumaca on diers are operating in barrios with- Encircled numbers pertain to the number of towns/cities its own ceasefire declaration, but is March 31. According to NPA-Que- out taking necessary medical pre- also its commitment to the global zon, the AFP has also been con- cautions. They are operating in at ceasefire, as military operations ducting sustained combat opera- least 15 towns in Northern, Eastern continue unabated amid the pan- tions in at least 10 towns in the and Western Samar. demic. It is squandering funds in its province. Military operations are also relentless and expensive conduct of On March 28, the 80th IB also widespread in the islands of Negros combat psywar, drone surveillance attacked an NPA unit conducting a and Mindoro, , and and bombing operations in civilian medical mission in Barangay Puray, , and in the communities instead of allocating Rodriguez, Rizal, and made it ap- provinces of , , funds to contain the pandemic. pear the attack was staged by the , , Saranggani, Based on initial reports compiled by NPA. This is contrary to 2nd ID's Misamis Occident and Surigao del Ang Bayan, the AFP has continued own spot report which indicates Sur.

9 April 7 , 2 02 0 ANG BAYAN State agents kill peasant leader in Surigao

mid the Covid-19 crisis, state elements gunned down peasant leader 71st IB troopers at Sitio Mangga- ANora Apique, 66, while on her way home in Barangay Patong, San paluway, Pantukan on March 30. Miguel, on March 31. She was a leader of the Kahugpungan sa The victims were on their way home mga Mag-uuma sa Surigao del Sur, a local chapter of the Kilusang Mag- from hunting wild boars when they bubukid ng Pilipinas. were arrested. In , elements Apique served as the chairper- national companies at the Andap of the 94th IB ransacked houses in son of the Municipal Agrarian Re- Valley Complex that plunder their Barangay Luz, Guihulngan City and form Committee (ARC) and was a ancestral lands. Tomalon is a sister illegally arrested peasant Teodoro member of the Provincial ARC. She of Bayan Muna Rep. Eufemia Culla- Bolhano, a resident of Barangay participated in caravans of KMP- mat. Budlasan, Canlaon City on April 3. to Metro Manila to demand Police and 6th IB elements also Military operations also continue free irrigation. Apique was the arrested civilian Leon Tacduro at unabated in Kambairan and 249th peasant killed under the Sitio Kipopo, Barangay Keytodak, Sampungan in Barangay Trinidad, Duterte regime. Lebak, Sultan Kudarat on March 16. Guihulngan City. Meanwhile, police and 3rd Spe- Tomalon at Tacduro were both Meanwhile, 44th IB troopers cial Forces Battalion elements ar- accused of being members of the ransacked the house of a Lumad rested Manobo leader Gloria Toma- New People's Army and were peasant identified as Boy Tupaw in lon in Barangay Diatagon, Lianga slapped with trumped up criminal Barangay Cianan, Godod, Zam- on March 16. She is known for ac- charges. boanga del Norte during the last tively participating in campaigns In , 11 peasant week of March. Soldiers stole his against the operation of five multi- Lumads were illegally arrested by cash savings and shot his chickens. ASF: Pandemic affecting domestic pigs

pandemic has already been spreading around the world even before the ACovid-19 contagion. This is the African Swine Fever (ASF) pandemic, a disease that infects and kills domestic pigs. It is not zoonotic but it devastates the livelihood of small peasants. There is neither cure nor vaccine for ASF, thus leaving swine slaughter the only effective disease control option. The virus has a 100% case fatality rate.

Like Covid-19, the current ASF bial is an agent that kills pandemic broke out in China in microorganisms such as 2018. During the first nine months viruses, bacteria and microbes. of 2019, 100 million pigs died or had Examples of antimicrobials are an- to be slaughtered. The virus contin- tibiotics and chemicals such as zoonotic, eventually infect humans. ues to spread in the country until chlorine. Antimicrobials are often Antimicrobials have been used today. China is the world’s biggest injected to farm animals from birth in piggeries and poultry farms since pork importer, producer and con- as growth promoter. It is also mixed the 1940s. However, its use became sumer. in animal feed and water. widespread and indiscriminate after ASF first emerged in Kenya in Regular and prolonged use of piggeries and poulty farms grew 1921. It remained endemic in Africa antimicrobials in healthy animals into factory farms to meet the in- until 1957. The virus is believed to generate antibiotic-resistant bac- ternational demand for meat. be transmitted by soft ticks in wild teria and generally weakens their Antimicrobial abuse is currently boars. In 2007, the virus spread in resistance to diseases. These ani- widespread in US and China. In Europe and subsequently in Asia. mals become more vulnerable to 2012, China used approximately 34 ASF initially spread from big new and more virulent types of dis- million kilos of antimicrobials. In the piggeries, poultry farms and eases. US, 13.6 million kilos of antimicro- ranches in capitalist countries, Consequently, this results in bials were used in animal farms. where antimicrobials are widely and incurable infections which rapidly Majority of antimicrobials used are indiscriminately used. An antimicro- spread to other animal farms, and if "ASF...," continued on page 11

ANG BAYAN April 7 , 2 02 0 10 Hog raisers incur huge losses due to ASF "ASF...," from page 10 antibiotics like chlortetracycline and FILIPINO HOG RAISERS whose ASF-infected pigs were culled penicilin, drugs which humans also use. complained that the financial assistance given them by the Department Worse, these antibiotics are of Agriculture is too low. The DA only gives the farmers P3000-P5000 passed on to humans through soil, per pig killed while hog prices are pegged at P9000 per head. There are water and air contamination. Accord- approximately 13 million domestic hogs in the Phillipines, 40% of which ing to experts, animals excrete 75% of are raised by poor farmers in their backyards. antibiotics through feces and urine. Since the outbreak of ASF in the Philippines in August 2019, around Antibiotic residues contaminate the 251,450 hogs died or have been culled to prevent the spread of the soil, rivers, and eventually reach peo- disease. The most affected provinces are Bulacan, , Quezon, ple's water sources. Feces, both of Batangas, Rizal, . , Benguet, North , Davao City, pigs and poultry, are also used as and and Sur. “organic” fertilizer. Hence, antibiotic In 2019 alone, hog raisers lost about P1 billion in income due to the residues are also absorbed by veg- pandemic. Hog raisers in Davao Occidental and Davao City are etable products that humans eat. expected lose P80 million more this year.

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