Pahayagan ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas ANG Pinapatnubayan ng Marxismo-Leninismo-Maoismo English Edition Vol. XLI No. 13 July 7, 2010 www.philippinerevolution.net

Editorial Noynoy Aquino: The new face of counterrevolution

enigno “Noynoy” Aquino III is the new face of the people, Aquino signalled his support for the mil- counterrevolution. Formally installed on June itary's evil fascist campaign of suppression that has B30 as the new head of the puppet reactionary resulted in tens of thousands of human rights viola- government, he is now the main advocate of US impe- tions. He has been outrightly dismissive of the griev- rialist rule and that of the local big comprador bour- ances of human rights advocates and tens of thou- geoisie, bureaucrat capitalists and land- sands of victims of military violence. He has not even lords. promised a just accounting of the tens of thousands On his shoulders rests the main re- of fascist crimes perpetrated under the previ- sponsibility of continuing the adminis- ous regime and the punishment of the mas- tration of the bankrupt semicolonial terminds among the officers of the puppet and semifeudal system, consolidating military and security forces. and running its state and suppressing Even as he has gone out of his way to any challenge to puppet reac- ingratiate himself with the AFP, Aquino tionary power. has not given the slightest attention Just as US imperialism and to the people's basic probems and the local ruling classes expect- their cries for social justice. ed of him, Aquino focused his His first days in power were first few days on consolidating devoted to sheer gimmickry the puppet army. Aquino is well such as his prohibition of aware that the Armed Forces of sirens in the streets in order the (AFP) is the main to make a show of being one pillar of reactionary rule in the with the people against the abuses of Philippines. It will also serve as the mighty. his main instrument in wielding He claims that he is not impervious to the power and fulfilling his duties. people's grievances, but he feigns ignorance in Thus, he has gone allout in pro- the face of demands for land by the peasant viding it support, promising more masses. He babbles about agricultural services troops, new equipment and hous- but has not said a word about dismantling the ing for soldiers. monopoly of land ownership and the suffering In his failure to castigate the and oppression that this has wrought on the AFP for its grave crimes against peasantry. And he definitely has not said any-

This issue’s Aquino and the peace BM coordinator slain Crisis in the European highlights... talks PAGE 3 PAGE 8 Union PAGE 11 thing about his clan's Hacienda country's national resources and governance leading to a better Luisita. exploiting its cheap labor force. life” has been practically lifted Unemployment is glaringly ob- It is this same policy along word for word from the US Counter- vious as is the severe inadequacy with rampant corruption that are insurgency Guide (USCG). of workers' wages. But all he has behind the reactionary govern- The USCG focuses on winning had to offer is his showcase “emer- ment's severely bankrupt and debt- the people's trust through show- gency employment” scheme osten- ridden state. Despite all this, Aqui- case gimmick-laden and public re- sibly for the benefit of millions of no does not have any plans of put- lations programs even as it relies jobless workers. As before, this can ting a stop to the practice of on fascist force to suppress critical only succeed in creating the illu- squandering the government's big- oppositionists. It feeds the people sion of employment. It will be of gest budgetary allocation on debt deceptive and empty propaganda no real consequence because what- service. It will not be long before while holding a gun to their heads. ever jobs will be created will be Aquino ends up imposing more tax- This is the core of Aquino's coun- very few and temporary in nature. es, scrimping on essential social terrevolutionary line. It will only obscure the basic prob- services, privatizing public assets The USCG does not value peace lem of economic backwardness, the and resorting to more debt. talks as a means of resolving the absence of genuine national indus- Aquino has not turned his back roots of civil war. Neither has Aqui- try and the breakdown even of ag- on the policy dictates of US impe- no shown any great interest in re- riculture. rialism. The wanton trampling of suming the peace negotiations be- Aquino will not be able to re- Philippine sovereignty, the plunder tween the Government of the Re- solve these issues just by parroting of the country's economy and the public of the Philippines and the the old neoliberal shibboleth of the expoitation and oppression of the National Democratic Front of the previous regime of “providing a people are all of no consequece to Philippines (NDFP). level playing field for business and him. He has not declared any plans Nonetheless, in response to the making the country attractive to to review the unequal treaties, NDFP's expression of its openness foreign investors.” This has refer- challenge or oppose the US' contin- to continue the formal peace talks, ence to no other than providing ued intervention in the country. the new regime has declared its big capitalist countries even more In fact, it is the US' designs readiness to resolve the armed freedom to dump their surplus pro- that he has been hewing closely to conflict through negotiations. But ducts in the country, pushing small in his counterrevolutionary line. the new Aquino regime must recog- local capitalists and the people to His declaration of defeating “the nize and abide by previous agree- the wall, destroying the local for- enemy by wielding the tools of jus- ments and seriously pursue the ces of production, plundering the tice, social reform and equitable talks on the remaining agenda for the negotiations to prosper. ANG The revolutionary forces are Contents aware that the new Aquino regime is but a continuation of the previ- Vol XLI No. 13 July 7, 2010 Editorial Aquino: New face of reaction 1 ous regimes. It may sport a new Ang Bayan is published in Pilipino, Aquino and peace talks 3 face, but nothing has changed in Bisaya, Iloko, Hiligaynon, Waray and Surface Calubid, et al 3 essence. The state led by Noynoy English editions. Old faces in Aquino’s cabinet 4 Aquino is the class dictatorship of It is available for downloading at Debts, taxes and austerity measures 5 the exploiters and oppressors that the Web Central BM charges Arroyo 5 located at: Corrupt to the very end 6 Gloria Arroyo and previous chief www.philippinerevolution.org. NPA military actions 7 puppets of the US had led. Ang Bayan welcomes contributions BM coordinator slain 8 As in the time of previous pup- in the form of articles and news. Union busting at ABSCBN 9 pets and reactionaries, the revolu- Readers are likewise enjoined to send 42 arrested in Mendiola 10 tionary movement stands ready to in their comments and suggestions for Cardeño’s death up for reinvestigation 10 deal with the new US-Aquino re- the betterment of our publication. You Worsening crisis in the European Union 11 can reach us by email at: Protests shaking up EU 12 gime to advance the people's na- [email protected] Bangladesh, G8 protests 13 tional and democratic aspirations in all arenas of struggle—in the Ang Bayan is published fortnightly by the Central Committee arena of armed struggle, of open of the Communist Party of the Philippines struggle and peace negotiations.~ 2 ANG BAYAN July 7, 2010 and NDFP chief political consultant Is Aquino serious Comrade Jose Ma. Sison on the list about the peace talks? of “foreign terrorists.” The CPP also called on the ased on his inaugural speech, Benigno Aquino III has a low regard Aquino government to be account- Bfor the peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philip- able for, and surface, NDFP con- pines (NDFP) as a way of resolving the roots of the armed conflict. sultants Leo Velasco, Prudencio He did not even express any in- Philippines (CPP) welcomed the Calubid and Rogelio Calubad as tention of talking with the NDFP Aquino official's statement. None- well as NDFP staff abducted by and instead declared that he “shall theless, it reminded Aquino that fascist agents in 2006 who have defeat the enemy by wielding the for the formal peace talks to pros- not been surfaced to date. Other tools of justice, social reform and per, he must abide by all the previ- NDFP consultants and staff as well equitable governance leading to a ous agreements between the NDFP as other activists and harsh critics better life.” and the reactionary government. of the puppet reactionary state A few days after his inaugura- Among these agreements are and system who are illegally de- tion, Aquino's Presidential Peace The Hague Joint Declaration of tained must also be released im- Adviser Teresita Deles said that she 1992 that laid down the principles, mediately. had already sent the NDFP a mes- framework, agenda and methods The CPP also demanded that se- sage saying that the stalled peace for the talks; the Joint Agreement rious violations of human rights be talks will be resumed and that the on Safety and Immunity Guaran- given appropriate resolution. In government was in the process of tees (JASIG) and the Comprehen- this regard, CARHRIHL's provisions forming its peace panel. This was sive Agreement on Respect for Hu- calling for compensation for vic- in response to the NDFP's earlier man Rights and International Hu- tims of the fascist Marcos dictator- statement declaring its readiness manitarian Law (CARHRIHL). ship who won their tort case filed to face the Aquino regime in nego- The CPP also expects Aquino to in the US must be complied with. tiations to tackle the roots of the rectify Arroyo's connivance with US All victims of the Arroyo re- armed conflict. imperialism and other imperialist gime's relentless terrorism must al- The Communist Party of the countries to include the CPP, NPA so be given justice. ~

regime of Benigno Aquino III. Surface Calubid et al, CPP demands Meanwhile, relatives of desapa- recidos took heart when the Com- he Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) called on the Armed For- mission on Human Rights (CHR) Tces of the Philippines (AFP) on June 26 to surface Prudencio Calubid. joined them on July 2 in calling on Calubid, a member of the CPP Lacno's abduction and torture re- Aquino to sign the International Central Committee, officer of the main one of the most heinous Convention for the Protection of New People's Army (NPA) and a crimes perpetrated by the US-Arroyo All Persons From Enforced Disap- peace consultant of the National regime's fascist agents, said the pearance. The treaty must first be Democratic Front of the Philippines CPP. It was a blatant violation of signed by at least 20 countries to (NDFP) was abducted by military human rights, of the Joint Agree- take effect. It has so far been agents four years ago. He was ment on Safety and Immunity Guar- signed by 18 countries. seized along with his wife Celina antees (JASIG) and the Comprehen- There were 1,206 cases of extra- Palma, niece Gloria Soco and staff sive Agreement on Respect for Hu- judicial killings; 205 cases of abduc- Ariel Belo and Antonio Lacno along man Rights and International Hu- tion of activists, among them NDFP Quirino Highway in Sipocot, Cama- manitarian Law (CARHRIHL) signed consultants in the peace talks; hun- rines Sur on June 26, 2006. After by both parties, the CPP added. dreds of arrests and illegal deten- two days of severe torture, Lacno The revolutionary forces in the tion cases; and more than a thou- was able to escape when they were Philippines have declared that the sand cases of torture under more brought to a farflung mountainous responsibility to take the guilty par- than nine years of the Arroyo re- area to be killed. Calubid and his ties to account and give justice to gime. All of these crimes were per- comrades' fate remains uncertain. Calubid and other victims of human petrated by the government's armed Calubid, Palma, Soco, Belo and rights violations now rests with the instrumentalities. ~

ANG BAYAN July 7, 2010 3 (Department of Old faces in Noynoy Aquino's Labor and Employment), (Department of Health) and new cabinet (Department of Envi- ronment and Natural Resources). Kim Jacinto-Henares who used to art , part big comprador and part Kamag-anak and Kaklase supervise corporate tax collection Inc. is how one might describe the US-Aquino regime 2's newly has been promoted chief of the Bu- Pformed cabinet. It is a mixed bag of old bureaucrats and politicians reau of Internal Revenue. who served the hated Arroyo regime; close relatives and friends of From big business, Aquino has Aquino's; and the biggest contributors to his campaign. Only a handful appointed Makati Business Club may possibly be relied upon by the people. president to head the The so-called Hyatt 10 refers to and Corazon “Dinky” Soliman (rein- Department of Tourism; SM Invest- ten officials who were part of Glo- stated at the Department of Social ments and Belle Corp. executive ria Arroyo's cabinet from 2001 to Welfare and Development). to be secretary of 2005 and were her co-conspirators Retained as secretary of the the Department of Trade and Indus- in various shehanigans but who re- Department of Foreign Affairs is Al- try; Maynilad Water Services execu- signed after exposés of Arroyo's in- berto Romulo. Also previously serv- tive as chief of the volvement in poll fraud in the 2004 ing under the Arroyo Department of Public Works and elections. Members of the Hyatt 10 regime Highways; and Water presi- reappointed by Aquino are Cesar dent Jose Almendras to head the Purisima (reinstated at the Department of Energy. They rep- Department of Finance); resent the big comprador (previ- bourgeoisie in general and ously of the Depart- the Sy, Ayala, Razon, Pangili- ment of Education and are nan and Lopez families in now with the Depart- particular—all of them major ment of Budget and bankrollers of Aquino's Management), Teresita campaign. Deles (reinstated as Ad- Others served under viser on the Peace Process) Cory Aquino's regime

AFP recruits child combatants

ne of the combatants arrested by the New People's Army (NPA) at a checkpoint it set up in Sitio Maba- Otas, Barangay Upper Ulip, Monkayo, Compostela Valley on June 19 is a 17-year old element of the Citi- zens Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) under the 10th ID of the Philippine Army. “Jomar” (not his real name) was arrested while on his way to their detachment in Mount Diwalwal. He was riding in tandem on a motorcycle driven by S/Sgt. Bienvenido Gentugao Arguelles Jr. of the 25th IB. The NPA learned of “Jomar's” real age when he underwent investigation by the NPA Conrado Heredia Command of the Southern Mindanao Region. He was born in October 1992 and was not even 16 when he was recruited in October 2008 into the Philippine Army's paramilitary group. The military was aware that “Jomar” was a minor. In fact, there were 18 other minors with “Jomar's” batch who went through 45 days of military training at the headquarters of the 1001st Infantry Brigade in Barangay Tuburan, Mawab, Com- postela Valley. “Jomar” said that he was given a fake birth certificate stating that he was born in 1990 instead of 1992. The same was done to the other minors in his batch of trainees. On December 2, 2008, he officially became a CAFGU element in a ceremony held at the 72nd IB Company Post in Compostela Valley. “Jomar” was a combatant when arrested by the NPA. Nonetheless, he is not being treated as a prison- er of war in deference to his age and out of respect for his rights. The NPA is ready to reunite him with his parents barring any obstacles to his immediate release. ~

4 ANG BAYAN July 7, 2010 and have strong personal loyalties his regime's decision-making mulo's retention at the DFA. Pro- to the Aquino family. Among them processes. They sit in various com- gressive groups have likewise are (who headed mittees, including the decisive roundly condemned it. Romulo's the Presidential Security Group search committee that recommend- record is replete with instances of [PSG] during the first US-Aquino ed the people who are now in the kowtowing to US imperialist inter- regime and now heads the Depart- cabinet as well as other positions. ests. He paved the way for the re- ment of Defense), Cayetano Aquino himself has said that he lease of Daniel Smith, the Ameri- Paderanga Jr. (who has been reap- consults his sisters on all his deci- can soldier convicted of raping pointed as secretary of the Depart- sions. Nicole in Subic Bay in 2005. Romu- ment of Socio-Economic Planning lo is also a zealous defender of the and director of the National Eco- Perpetuating the old ways Visiting Forces Agreement and the nomic Development Authority) and permanent presence of US troops in Jose “Ping” de Jesus (Department A marked feature of Aquino's the country. of Transportation and Communica- recycled cabinet is the appoint- Progressive workers' unions and tion). De Jesus was president of ment of rabid advocates of liberal- migrants' organizations have also Meralco before being reappointed ization and the deregulation of the expressed their strong opposition to the cabinet. Even Lt. Gen. Ricar- local economy. They are no differ- to Baldoz's appointment as head of do David, the new AFP chief, used ent from the officials of the Arroyo the Department of Labor and Em- to be a PSG officer under the first regime who were responsible for ployment. Baldoz has a very poor Aquino regime. bankrupting the economy and de- record and was inutile as chair of Aquino has also appointed his stroying the people's livelihoods. the Philippine Overseas Employ- close friend and personal legal Foremost among them is Paderanga ment Administration (POEA). counsel Paquito “Jojo” Ochoa Jr. as who has been pushing for liberal- Paje's appointment as DENR Executive Secretary. Another ization since the first Aquino chief has likewise been con- friend, La Salle president Bro. regime. Another one is Purisima demned. Paje headed the Minerals has been designated (Finance) who pushed for the ex- Development Council, one of the secretary of the Department of Ed- panded Value Added Tax (VAT) in strongest advocates of large-scale ucation. Others served under or are 2005. One of the Aquino regime's foreign mining interests in the relatives of Aquino supporters such first plans is to privatize the gov- country. as Florencio Abad's daughter Julia ernment's shares in the Malampaya Ona's appointment as DOH sec- who has been appointed chief of project, Sucat thermal power plant, retary has been assailed by the the Presidential Management Staff; Navotas gas turbine plant and Health Alliance for Democracy and Col. Ramon Dizon, a former Malaya thermal power plant. (HEAD). HEAD said that as former member of the PSG who now heads Uniffors (an organization where Executive Director of the National the unit. many officers and staff of the De- Kidney and Transplant Institute, Although they do not officially partment of Foreign Affairs are af- Ona was involved in the illegal sale hold cabinet positions, Aquino's filiated with) has registered strong of kidneys to foreign transplant pa- four sisters play significant roles in and widespread opposition to Ro- tients. ~

es and local and external borrowing More taxes, debts and belt-tightening to manage the deficit. In 2005, no less than Finance measures loom Secretary suggested the expanded coverage of the Value he Arroyo regime has as its legacy to the Aquino regime the biggest Added Tax (VAT) to alleviate the Tbudget deficit in the country's history. The deficit is expected to reach budget deficit. Newly appointed `340 billion for the whole of 2010, the equivalent of 4.2% of the Gross BIR commissioner Kim Henares was Domestic Product (GDP). A budget deficit emerges when government also among the supporters of this spending exceeds tax revenues. measure. The EVAT was passed into The reactionary government has ever bigger taxes on the people, re- law despite the people's strong repeatedly resorted to imposing ducing funds for basic social servic- oppposition. The Arroyo regime col-

ANG BAYAN July 7, 2010 5 lected billions of pesos from Bayan Muna this scheme, especially charges Arroyo when the prices of com- modities and with corruption services skyrock- eted. ayan Muna (BM) charged Gloria Arroyo with corruption one Just last month, day after her immunity from suit was lifted. The case was Arroyo's finance Bfiled by BM's Teodoro Casiño and Atty. Neri Colmenares at secretary Margarito the Department of Justice (DOJ) on July 1. Teves pro- In particular, Arroyo was charged for her government's entry posed rais- into the anomalous NBN-ZTE project. The project, which planned ing the to link all government offices through the internet for the sum EVAT from of $329 million was called off after anomalies involving Arroyo 12% to 15%, also and other government officials came to light. Also involved was at the behest of the World Bank and Gloria Arroyo's husband Mike. The bill was reportedly overpriced other imperialist institutions. Aquino by as much as $130 million to accommodate huge kickbacks for has promised not to do so. Perhaps not the Arroyos and their close associates. at this time, interjected Purisima, but it Casiño and Colmenares said they purposely filed the case is inevitable. with the DOJ because they had lost trust in the Office of the Om- To alleviate the deficit, the Aquino budsman which is led by Merceditas Gutierrez, a close friend of regime reportedly plans to go after big the Arroyos. An earlier decision by the Ombudsman excluded Glo- companies who have been evading tax- ria and Mike Arroyo from the list of suspects to be charged be- es and those involved in smuggling. The fore the Sandiganbayan, retaining only former COMELEC Commis- government loses an estimated `150 sioner Benjamin Abalos and then NEDA director Romulo Neri. billion due to tax evasion and smug- Four officers of the Chinese-owned company ZTE who conspired gling. But very few corporations have with Arroyo in committing the irregularities were also absolved been charged with tax evasion in the by the Ombudsman. past years and only `110 million has Neither did Casiño and Colmenares wait for the newly formed been collected by the BIR from such Truth Commission's investigation, saying that the NBN-ZTE case companies. There is even a proposal to was well-documented in the Senate's hearings. The Truth Com- reduce business taxes from 30% to 20%. mission led by former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. was set up The government loses much more rev- by the Aquino regime to reinvestigate enue from the reduction or abolition of prominent cases under the Arroyo re- import tariffs which was done in accor- gime. dance with deregulation and liberaliza- Casiño and Colmenares are also tion policies. seeking to have the case filed against Whatever Aquino has promised, he Arroyo treated as an administrative cannot afford to dismiss the huge and case so that she could be suspended mounting deficit and the enormous and from her post as representative in still ever-growing government debt. Af- Congress while the case is being ter just a few days in office, the new BIR heard. commissioner has already pushed for the Bayan Muna's corruption case collection of the Value Added Tax on toll against Arroyo is but the first in a se- fees in six major expressways in Luzon. ries of cases to be filed against her. As before, the US-Aquino regime has BM said that once they are able to con- nowhere else to turn to: more debts, solidate all complaints such as the ferti- more taxes and more scrimping on social lizer fund anomaly, the Hello Garci scan- expenditures. The people are being sad- dal, the Philhealth cards scam and the Ve- dled with ever heavier burdens in the nable contract anomaly, it will be filing face of the government's bankruptcy. ~ plunder charges against Arroyo. ~ 6 ANG BAYAN July 7, 2010 VICTORIOUS NPA OFFENSIVES

wounded were brought for treat- NPA military actions ment to Cebu City, according to ine enemy elements were killed and 11 were wounded in seven sep- NPA Leonardo Panaligan Command arate military actions of the New People’s Army (NPA) from June spokesperson JB Regalado. N18 to July 2. June 24. NPA Red fighters raid- July 2. Two soldiers were my’s 3rd ID. ed the office of Eldore Mining Corp. wounded in an encounter with NPA Earlier, the military attempted in Dumangmang, Labo, Camarines Red fighters in Sitio Lawaon, Ba- to raid an NPA encampment in Si- Norte and disarmed the Australian- rangay Baracatan, Toril District, tio Igpapatao, Barangay Tacpao, owned mining company's private . Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental guards. June 30. Two soldiers of the but they took the beating instead. June 23. Two soldiers were 66th IB were wounded when NPA Four elements of the 11th IB and killed and another was wounded in Red fighters attacked their detach- the 2nd Scout Ranger Company an ambush staged by the NPA ment in Barangay Cambagang, Ma- were killed when they encountered against the 3rd Special Forces Com- ragusan, Compostela Valley. Red fighters under the Leonardo pany-1st Special Forces Battalion June 25. A sergeant from the Panaligan Command. in Sitio Bigaan, Mamala, Sampaloc, 47th IB in charge of a patrol base Col. Maximo Caro, 303rd Bde Quezon. The soldiers were aboard a in Barangay Sto. Rosario, Jamin- commander denied their casualties Lite Ace van en route to their dan, Capiz was wounded when and claimed that it was the NPA headquarters when they were am- guerrillas under the NPA Jose Per- that suffered four fighters dead bushed. cival Estocada Jr. Command of Pa- and nine wounded. However, the The Red fighters’ advantageous nay’s Central Front harassed their military cannot deny that the sol- position enabled them to effective- base. The patrol base is located diers who had been killed were ly rout the fascist enemy troops. just a few kilometers from the brought to the Riverside Medical The NPA seized two M26 modular headquarters of the Philippine Ar- Center in Bacolod City and the shotguns. The M26 is a 12-gauge

lowances for the agency's offi- Corrupt to the very end cials and staff. The fund's first tranche was p to their last moments in power, Gloria Arroyo's minions had on- used up in a year. The second Uly one thing in mind: how to skim funds from the public coffers. tranche, which was released up- The former chief accountant of ficials to Singapore and other on Abaya's assumption as OPAPP the Department of Defense dis- countries in late June were ques- head last November was used closed on July 1 that she was tionable because the officials mainly for the unauthorized pur- pressured by former DND Secretary were due to leave their posts in a chase of vehicles, the construc- Norberto Gonzales to approve the matter of days. tion and beautification of of- disbursement of `5 million in “in- Meanwhile, Annabelle Abaya fices, travels, supplies and other telligence funds.” Leticia Obnima- who used to head the Office of the expenditures “still being figured ga refused to accede to Gonzales' Presidential Assistant on the out to this day.” Only 36% of the demands and was fired from her Peace Process (OPAPP) also ex- SIP went to its intended benefi- job as a result. “Intelligence posed on June 14 the rampant ciaries. funds” are a frequent source of corruption within this agency. She Abaya's revelations merely corruption because they are not revealed that up to `170 million confirmed what has been known subject to audit. of a `500 million fund intended as a long-time practice at the Obnimaga also revealed that for the Social Integration Program OPAPP of using the SIP as one of fund releases for trips taken by (SIP or livelihood assistance for the biggest milch cows for high- DND Undersecretary Arturo “rebel returnees”) was used for ranking AFP officers and govern- Lomibao and other department of- unnecessary bonuses and al- ment bureaucrats. ~

ANG BAYAN June 7, 2010 7 VICTORIOUS NPA OFFENSIVES FASCIST STATE ON A RAMPAGE shotgun that can be attached to an M4 or M16 in the same way as an M203 grenade launcher. Infantry and special oper- BM coordinator ations forces of the US Army use the M26. That same day, a Philippine Air Force (PAF) soldier was killed and two others were wounded in an NPA ambush in Ba- slain rangay Calantas, Calaca, Batangas. The PAF soldiers were aboard a motorcycle. provincial coordinator of Bayan Muna June 18. Three troopers of the 1105th Police Mobile became the first victim of extrajudi- Group-Philippine National Police were killed and five others Acial killing under the regime of Be- were wounded when Red fighters under the NPA Antonio nigno Aquino III. A journalist in Kalinga Nerio Antao Command (ANAC)-Front 15 raided the police de- and a witness to the Maguindanao massacre tachment in Sitio Dao, Barangay Poblacion, Cateel, Davao were also killed, while an attempt was made Oriental. on the life of a priest in Aurora. To cover up their embarassment, propagandists of the July 5. Still unidentified assailants PNP-Police Regional Office XI made up the story that they killed Fernando Baldomero, 61, provincial had frustrated an NPA attack and they had killed five Red coordinator of Bayan Muna in Aklan. Bal- fighters and wounded three others. domero was elected for a second term as The military action was also a punitive action, according councilor of Lezo town in the recent polls. to ANAC spokesman Dyomabuk Kadyawan, as the policemen He was in his house in Barangay Estancia, had committed numerous crimes. They were involved in last Kalibo, Aklan preparing to take his 12- year’s killing of Ludenio “Dos” Monson, a staunch critic of the year old son to school when the killers abuses of the 1105th PMG-PNP in Boston town. They were al- started shooting. An attempt on Baldom- so involved in the proliferation of illegal drugs and extortion ero’s life was also made on March 19 when of commercial trucks that pass by the detachment. Residents assailants lobbed grenades on his house. in the area have long been demanding the eviction of the po- July 3. Journalist Jose Daguio was shot lice detachment. dead in his home in Tuga, Tabuk, Kalinga. After the ambush, the police troopers retaliated on de- Daguio is a reporter of Radyo Natin Tabuk fenseless civilians. They mauled four civilians and ransacked and a columnist for a local newspaper in Ka- the homes of those they suspect of supporting the people’s linga. Daguio had just finished supper when guerrillas, Dyomabok Kadyawan added. ~ the still unidentified killer shot him. June 26. Anticommunist elements opened fire on the sleeping quarters of Fr. Emulate the heroic life Joefran Talaban in Casiguran, Aurora at 2 a.m. He survived the shooting. The assail- of Comrade Azad ants left a leaflet signed by a group that identified itself as the Aniban ng Ayaw sa mulate the heroism of Comrade Azad (Cherukuri Raj- Komunista. They want Fr. Talaban, whom Ekumar), said the Communist Party of the Philippines in they claim to have links to Communists, to a statement on July 5. The Party expressed sympathy for leave the place. The perpetrators escaped in the Indian people over the police slay of one of the top a car without a license plate. Indian revolutionary leaders. Comrade Azad was abducted Father Talaban has served as parish and summarily killed by members of the Andra Padesh Spe- priest of Nuestra Señora de la Salvacion for cial Police Branch on July 2 in the forests of Adilabad near nine years. the Maharashtra-Andra Pradesh border. He was then with Meanwhile, the World Council of Comrade Hem Pandey (Jitender). Churches (WCC) called on Benigno Aquino Ka Azad was a member of the Central Committee of the III to immediately give justice to two Communist Party of India (Maoist) and served as its church people killed in June. The WCC spokesman until his treacherous murder by fascist police. made the call in solidarity with the Na- He dedicated three decades of his life to the revolutinary tional Council of Churches in the Philip- cause of the Indian people. ~ pines and the Iglesia Filipina Independi-

8 ANG BAYAN July 7, 2010 FASCIST STATE ON A RAMPAGE ente (IFI) in condemning the ex- been hired by the Ampatuan clan. ment of Justice (DOJ). Upham re- trajudicial killing of Benjamin Upham had admitted that he was turned to Mindanao when the DOJ Bayles in Negros Occidental and one of the seven gunmen who dragged its feet on his application. Jovelito Agustin in Laoag City, killed the 57 victims including 32 Upham refused to meet with offi- Ilocos Norte. Bayles was killed on journalists on November 23, 2009. cials of the DOJ in its own turf due June 14, and Agustin the follow- He pointed to the Ampatuan fami- to information that some depart- ing day. Agustin was also a radio ly as the brains behind the massa- ment officials were collaborating broadcaster in Ilocos Norte. cre. with the Ampatuans. June 14. Suwaib Upham, Upham first came out as a wit- Many groups and organizations, known as Jesse, a key witness to ness on March 19. He was brought including the US-based Human the Maguindanao massacre was to Manila to apply for the Witness Rights Watch condemned Upham’s killed by gunmen believed to have Protection Program of the Depart- murder. ~

The workers denounced ABS- Workers assail union busting CBN’s refusal to recognize their un- at ABS-CBN ion. The DOLE did not approve their application for a Certification Elec- tion (CE) in November 2009 claim- labor group at ABS-CBN denounced the management’s busting of the ing that workers under the IJM Internal Job Market (IJM) Workers Union and illegal dismissal of 25 A were not regular employees. It is unionists. clear, according to Perez, that ABS- The management of ABS-CBN, years. He dismissed the company’s CBN and the DOLE are colluding to one of the biggest radio and televi- excuse that they are not real em- destroy their union. The union was sion networks in the country dis- ployees but just contractual talents formed in March 2009. missed the workers after they re- enlisted in the ABS-CBN Internal Members of the union continue fused to sign documents perpetu- Job Market (IJM). On the contrary, to experience harassment. Their ating their contractual status and the workers’ payslips, identification work schedules are either often prohibiting them from filing cases cards, income tax returns and other changed, canceled or postponed. A against the company. documents state that they are em- hundred more employees and other The contract also stipulates ployees of ABS-CBN and not of IJM. workers are also in danger of being that they will receive lower wages Some 1,400 of ABS-CBN’s 2,700 dismissed. (less than a third of their previous employees are under the IJM which The company has also hired the pay), and will not be paid for over- is actually also being run by the services of HRH Agency Personnel time and holidays or vacations. It company. Only 100 of the 1,400 to replace the IJM and reject the also states that the company will were regularized after ABS-CBN union. The company also plans to not recognize their previous serv- called for contract signing purport- get more employees from its re- ice, thus barring them from receiv- edly to regularize those under the gional branches to replace the dis- ing backpay for the period when IJM. The workers have questioned missed workers. they should have been eligible for the IJM with the Department of La- ABS-CBN is one of the top 1,000 regular status. They will also lose bor and Employment (DOLE). They corporations in the country. It is their job security because they are said ABS-CBN is only using the IJM under the Lopez Group of Compa- not guaranteed employment when as a pool of cas- nies and earned a total of `1.9 bil- the network cancels the television ual employees. lion in the first quarter of the year. program that they work for. But the DOLE The Lopezes were According to Antonio Perez, un- sided with among the biggest ion president, station video editor ABS-CBN and contributors to and one of those dismissed, the said the IJM the electoral company should treat them as regu- complies with campaign of Be- lar employees because most of them the Labor nigno Aquino have worked for the station for Code. III. ~

ANG BAYAN July 7, 2010 9 was compelled to release the 42 activists arrested in Mendiola detainees and drop the charges against them. olice arrested 42 farmers and activists after dispersing their protest Meanwhile, soldiers continue to Paction at the Mendiola Bridge in Manila on July 3. threaten farmers from Hacienda Most of those arrested are 6,000 hectares in Luisita and Hacienda Yulo. Accord- farmers from Hacienda Luisita Inc. and 7,000 hectares in Hacienda Yu- ing to the Alyansa ng Mangga- in and Hacienda Yulo in La- lo. But instead of getting their de- gawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita guna, including Servillano Luna Jr., mands, their picket line was dis- (AMBALA), armed soldiers follow campaign officer of pered by elements of the hacienda peasant leaders wherever the Unyon ng mga Manila Police District they go. Hacienda residents are al- Manggagawa sa (MPD) Station 8. so being told to stop their struggle Agrikultura (UMA). The Anakpawis Party for land. The activists had immediately denounced Citizens Armed Force Geograph- camped at the bridge the violent dispersal. ical Unit (CAFGU) elements were since June 30, a day Anakpawis Rep. Rafael sent to the hacienda and recruit- before Benigno “Ka Paeng” Mariano said ment continues for the Barangay “Noynoy” Aquino III the 42 protesters arrest- Intelligence Network (BIN). A assumed the presidency. ed were the first casualties under peasant picket line in Hacienda Yu- The farmers were mainly the Aquino regime and their arrest lo was likewise dispersed on May demanding the implementation of indicates that the state’s violation 21, resulting in injuries to about a genuine land reform. They were of human rights will continue. hundred farmers and the detention demanding the distribution of The following day, the police of ten of the protesters. ~

On March 3-4, various groups Cardeño's death up for reinvestigation investigated the death of Cardeño but were not allowed to inspect the S military intervention in the Philippines once again reared its ugly room where his body was found and Uhead when the Supreme Court approved on June 24 the petition for were not shown the bedsheet which habeas data filed by the family of a civilian who died mysteriously in a he allegedly used to hang himself. US military facility in Marawi City. The court granted the victim's family The family’s suspicions and con- protection and access to official documents and information that may cern grew when unidentified men help in solving the case. killed Maj. Javier Ignacio on March Gregan Cardeño, 33, was re- in Bisaya, Tagalog, English, Tau- 25 in Zamboanga City. Ignacio was ported to have hanged himself in sug and Bahasa Indonesia. set to face the media to reveal im- his room inside the Joint Special Before his death, Cardeño was portant information on the case. Operation Task Force-Philippines able to call and send a text mes- Ignacio, who was Military Po- (JSOTFP) camp in Marawi City on sage to his family. He said that he lice chief of the Western Mindanao February 2, just two days after he did not like the job that he was Command was a friend of the Car- arrived at the camp. He had ap- given and that he wanted to re- deños and was the one who recom- plied for a job as a security guard sign. He also said that he was the mended the victim to work for US at the Skylink employment agency only Filipino in the US facility troops as the salary offer was high. and was officially deployed to aside from the cook. Ignacio had been helping in Camp Siongco in Awang, Datu Cardeño is said to have com- the investigation of Cardeño’s Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao. But mitted suicide but his family refus- death when he himself was killed. instead of taking him there, he es to believe this especially since He earlier claimed that many peo- was brought to the headquarters he bore many wounds that the po- ple were offering him bribes to of the JSOTFP inside the camp of lice did not include in its autopsy keep quiet and later threatened to the Philippine Army’s 103rd In- report. There was no death certifi- kill him if he did not stop his in- fantry Brigade. He was employed cate nor was any permit issued vestigation. as an interpreter when the US sol- when US soldiers brought his body The mysterious deaths of Car- diers learned that he was fluent to Zamboanga City. deño and Javier have brought many

10 ANG BAYAN July 7, 2010 issues to the fore. One of these is DEVELOPMENTS OVERSEAS the futility of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) in protecting Filipino victims of crimes com- The worsening crisis mitted by US troops. Instead, the VFA is being used to cover up in the European Union such crimes and let the perpetra- tors get away. The case also reveals the tock trading in the world market once again again suffered a dras- depth and breadth of US military tic drop on July 2. It is the fourth such downturn since the outbreak intervention in the Philippines. Sof the crisis in Greece two months ago. Skylink, the local employment Investors are having a hard from the EU and the International agency that gave Cardeño the job time coping with the crisis grip- Monetary Fund. at the US facility, was hired by ping the European Union which Since the formation of the 16- DynCorp. International, a US- started in Greece in May. Because member Eurozone (composed of based company looking for con- the EU’s economy represents 30% countries using the euro as their tractual employees to perform of the entire world economy, there common currency), they have sensitive tasks for the Pentagon are fears that the situation will adopted the regulation that each and the US State Department. worsen the crisis of the world cap- member-country’s debt should not When Cardeño was killed, it italist system which started way exceed 60% of their respective was revealed that he was actually back in 2007. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and assigned to the Liaison Coordina- Stock markets the world budget deficits, 3% of GDP. The tion Elements (LCE), a US military over became shaky and sales regulation aims to control unit composed of elements from of stocks tumbled when the spending and borrowing in the special operations forces of newly elected Greek president order to sustain the eco- the different services. It is tasked revealed in November 2009 nomic growth of each to advice and assist select units the longstanding problem of member country. of the AFP in planning and inte- mounting budget deficits and Except for Finland grating intelligence to support public external debt. The and Luxembourg, no operations against so-called “ter- country’s economic crisis country complies with rorists” and “insurgents.” The op- erupted in May when the this regulation. Greece erations of the LCE cover the desperate Greek government registered the highest rate armed revolutionary movement in was forced to beg for a bailout of borrowing which is now the Philippines, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Abu Say- yaf. The presence of such a unit in Obama relieves US commander in Afghanistan an AFP camp was unintentionally US Pres. Barack Obama relieved Gen. Stanley McChrystal of his duty as revealed when Cardeño was commander of US and NATO military forces in Afghanistan on June 23. killed. It is not farfetched that General McChrystal’s removal was the result of his and his aides’ Cardeño and Ignacio were killed comments in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine which were un- because they came to know of favorable to Obama. clandestine and dirty jobs being According to Rolling Stone, McChrystal was diasappointed with his done jointly by US and AFP first conversation with Obama last year. The magazine also published troops. several other comments made by close aides of the general which did Cardeño and Ignacio's heinous not make the administration happy. killing once again highlights the In their comments, General McChrystal’s team alleged the exis- importance of waging a vigorous tence of a rift between the military and Obama advisers at a time mass movement to fight military when the Pentagon’s strategy in Afghanistan was parrying numerous intervention by US imperialism in criticisms. the Philippines and exact justice McChrystal was replaced by Gen. David Petraeus, current com- for the victims of imperialist vio- mander of the US forces in Iraq. ~ lence. ~ ANG BAYAN July 7, 2010 11 DEVELOPMENTS OVERSEAS at 124.9% of its GDP. Its deficit is turn in Greece is the possibility These conditions caused out- at 13.6% of the GDP, second only that the country might declare rage among the Greeks and sparked to Ireland which has the biggest bankruptcy or deliberately default a national strike by 50,000 workers budget deficit. on its debts. That would certainly from May 4 to 5. Almost all of the 27 countries mean big losses for German, Brit- As majority of EU countries are of the European Union are suffer- ish, French, Japanese and Ameri- experiencing similar situations, the ing high budget deficits and large can banks since they provided 80% EU and the IMF decided on May 10 external debts. Like Greece, several of Greece's external debt. to allocate 750 billion euros or al- other EU countries are now incapa- To be able to stem the crisis in most $1 trillion in aid to countries ble of paying their external debts Greece and prevent its spread to needing immediate assistance. In and have become ineligible to seek other EU countries and the whole exchange, each government is re- new loans. Next to Greece, Italy world, the EU and the IMF agreed quired to impose austerity meas- has the second highest rate of bor- in May to bail out the country with ures in order to avoid a situation rowing at 118.2% of its GDP. The loans of 45 billion euros ($54.2 bil- such as that in Greece. The EU and rest are Portugal, 85.6%; Germany, lion) initially, and up to 110 billi- IMF are likewise pushing for new 78.8%; and Ireland, 77.3%. Ire- on euros ($1.322 trillion) if need- taxes. land’s budget deficit is now at ed. The loans require Greece to un- Workers and their families are 14.7%; the United Kingdom, dertake austerity measures, includ- angered by the austerity measures 10.4%; Spain, 10.1%; Latvia, ing salary cutbacks or a freeze on being imposed by EU governments 9.9%; and Portugal, 8%. wages of government employees as because they deprive the people of One reason there is so much well as cutbacks on pensions and their rights to basic benefits and concern about the economic down- children’s benefits. social services. ~

and by protest actions on June 5 Protests shaking the European Union and 23 led by communist groups. June 29. Workers in Spain also rotest actions are spreading in European Union (EU) countries due to held a march-rally which paralyzed Pthe people’s vehement opposition to proposed austerity measures. the entire transport system in the Workers foresee that such pension cuts being imposed by the cities. The strikers were angered by measures will cause extreme suffer- EU and IMF as part of the govern- government measures to reduce by ing. They will mean big cuts in ment’s austerity measures. They are 5% the salaries of workers in the budget allocations for basic bene- opposing the government’s plan to public sector. On May 27, the aus- fits and social services like pen- reduce pensions and raise the terity measure won by one vote in sions, education, health, support retirement age. The march- parliament. The workers earlier for children, housing and others. rally brought about dislo- launched a one-day strike on June The workers say they bear the bur- cations in the tourism 8 which was joined by 75% of the den of colossal debts from which industry and public trans- 2.3 million members of the biggest they do not benefit and they suffer portation. unions in the public sector in from a crisis that is not of This is the fifth major Spain. their doing. strike launched by workers’ June 25. Workers held a march- June 29. Twelve unions in the public and pri- rally in Rome, Milan and other cit- thousand (12,000) vate sectors in Greece since ies in Italy to demand the restora- people marched in May 1. The unions threatened tion of 25 billion euros ($30.1 bil- Athens, Greece and to launch a 24-hour strike in lion) that had been cut from the held a rally be- July to protest the proposed budget. Members of the CIGL, the fore the parlia- pension cuts. Earlier, 50,000 largest union in Italy with six mil- ment building workers held a two-day gen- lion members, took part in the pro- where lawmak- eral strike on May 4 and 5. It test action. The workers threatened ers were was followed by a march- to launch another protest action debating the rally on May 20 in Athens on September 29 if the government 12 ANG BAYAN July 7, 2010 does not give in to their de- 50,000 workers strike in Bangladesh mand. June 24. In France, two mil- MORE than 50,000 workers in garments factories in the Bangladeshi cap- lion workers carried out 200 ital Dhaka held a series of strikes from June 19 to 22 to demand wage protest actions in various parts increases. Police violently dispersed the strikes. of the country. They are oppos- The workers demanded the in- mounted when the Bangladesh ing the government’s move to crease of their monthly minimum Garment Manufacturers and Export- raise the retirement age from 60 wage from 1,662 taka (almost ers' Association (BGMEA) decided to 62 years. The protest action $24.00 or `1,145.00) to 5,000 to close down 250 factories indefi- was led by CGT, the biggest taka ($71.00 or `3,270.00) in ac- nitely. They again took to the union in France. cordance with an agreement by streets and burned the tires of ve- June 12. In Germany, thou- their union, the government and hicles that insisted on breaching sands of workers protested the the owners of the factories way the barricades. government’s move to cut 80 back in 2006. The textile and garment indus- billion euros ($96.3 billion) On June 19, the workers try accounts for 80% of Bangla- from the budget. This is the big- poured out of the factories, pick- desh’s exports, earning $15 billion gest budget cut in Germany eted and barricaded roads leading annually. since World War II. They are al- to the manufacturing zone in The first general strike in so opposing new taxes that are Ashulia and Kanchpur, 30 kilome- Dhaka was also held on June 27 going to be imposed within four ters north of Dhaka. The two under the leadership of the oppo- years starting 2010. zones host factories supplying sition Bangladesh National Party May 27. In Portugal, thou- garments to big foreign compa- (BNP). The protesters denounced sands of workers marched in the nies like Wal-Mart, Tesco, Zara, the failures and excesses of the city of Lisbon to oppose the Carefour and H&M. administration of Prime Minister government’s austerity meas- The police attempted to break Sheikh Hasina Wazed since her ures which includes a 5% cut in their barricade with water can- assumption to power in 2009. salaries for private sector nons, rubber bullets and teargas. They demanded the holding of employees. The rally was the The strikers fought back by throw- early elections before 2013. In a first protest action in the coun- ing stones at the police. They de- sign of popular support for the try since the austerity measures stroyed some 200 factories. More strike, public transportation was were adopted on May 13. ~ than 100 strikers were injured. paralyzed and businesses closed On June 22, the strikers’ anger for a day. ~

Protests at G8 and G20 meeting One group fought back with stones, bottles and other hard objects. The A week of protests greeted the three-day summit of the Group of 8 (G8) police retaliated with teargas, and Group of 20 (G20) on June 25 to 27 in Ontario, Canada. The G8 and smoke grenades and rubber bullets. G20 are groups of the wealthiest countries in the world. The summit dis- The police then proceeded with cussed the topic of recovery from the global financial crisis and the prob- searching the protesters’ belong- lem of mounting deficits and debts facing the European Union. ings and mauling them. More than The protesters denounced the tion of various smaller protest ac- 400 rallyists were arrested. futility of the summit that cost the tions, resulted in a day-long paral- The police raided a university Canadian people over a billion dol- ization of transportation and the where activists were staying the fol- lars in taxes. They criticized the shutting down of hospitals and oth- lowing day. Some 200 were arrested policies pushed by the summit such er establishments in Toronto. and detained in a facility prepared as measures cutting back on work- The march started with a rally by the police four kilometers from ers’ benefits and social services. in front of the Parliament building the summit venue. Activists soon More than 10,000 activists from in Ontario. The marchers were two held a rally before the detention fa- different groups opposing global- kilometers away from the Metro cility to demand the release of the ization marched on June 26 in Toronto Convention Centre, the detainees. Plainclothes policemen Toronto, the biggest city in Canada. summit venue, when riot police violently dispersed the rally and de- The march, which was the culmina- started to block and attack them. tained suspected leaders. ~

ANG BAYAN July 7, 2010 13