Pahayagan ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas ANG Pinapatnubayan ng Marxismo-Leninismo-Maoismo English Edition Vol. L No. 15 August 7, 2019 www.cpp.ph

EDITORIAL End Duterte's terror in AFP & PNP incurs 43 casualties Negros & across the country in Negros

egros is drenched in blood. Once again, the Duterte monster spewed a FOUR POLICE OFFICERS, dis- thousand bullets against the defenseless. guised as employees of the De- N partment of Environment and His death squads in the island directed his ire against unarmed Natural Resources, were am- mounted another round of killings of civilians. bushed by Red fighters at Sitio ordinary people over the past Since the Sagay massacre in Yamot, Barangay Mabato, month. No less than 16 were killed, October 2018, Negros has suffered Ayungon, Negros Oriental on including a former mayor, an elected four rounds of concentrated violent July 18. The policemen were council, a school principal and other attacks by the Duterte regime. Pat- killed in action, contrary to officers in the civil bureaucracy. The terned after simultaneous attacks Duterte's claim that the four killing of ordinary civilians is also and killings by police and military in were tortured. Four 9mm. pis- relentless. Most of them were base- communities under the so-called tols, nine magazines and ammu- lessly accused of supporting the Oplan Sauron, armed agents of the nition were consficated from revolutionary movement. AFP and PNP carried out the killings them. Doubtlessly, the monster one after another. The evil aim is to On June 22, the NPA Duterte is behind these killings. He terrorize the people of Negros and blasted an explosive against was so incensed over the annihila- cripple their resistance to the fas- troopers of the 704th Regional tion of his four armed men last July cist regime. Mobile Force Battalion at Sitio 18 in an ambush by the New Peo- Landlessness in the island of Cambugtong, Manjuyod, Negros ple's Army (NPA) last July 18 in Negros is one of the worst in the Oriental. More than 20 police Ayungon, Negros Oriental. Because entire country. Here, the fraudu- officers were killed while two of this, he incited his minions to un- lence of the "land reform" program others were wounded. Earlier, leash even worse fascist terror and of the reactionary state is starkly the people's army sniped sol-

"End...," continued on page 2 "AFP...," continued on page 3 "Wakasan...," mula sa pahina 1 been met with massacres, killings, the entire bureaucracy of the clear. Negros continues to be ruled arrests and incarcerations. Duterte government is under di- by big hacienderos who continue to Through Duterte's October rect and indirect military control. enrich themselves with thousands 2018 Memorandum Order No. 32, All civil agencies are weaponized of hectares of sugar land. At the he claimed additional powers to for the war of suppression. same time, big mining companies impose military and police rule in Across the country, killings covet the island's rich mineral re- the name of "suppressing lawless and military abuses of power are sources. violence." Negros was among those relentless. State violence is em- The masses of peasants and placed under de facto martial law. ployed to silence the clamor for farmworkers in Negros sugarcane After successive killings in July, he genuine land reform and suppress fields suffer severe oppression and deployed an additional 300 troops resistance against entry of foreign exploitation. They go hungry ev- of the Special Action Force in the mining companies, plantations and eryday. Their clamor for social island. This will tighten the armed infrastructure projects under the justice and land reform as solution grip and suppression against the regime's "Build, Build, Build" pro- to their poverty resounds. The people of the island. gram. Fascism is the other face of armed revolution in Negros con- The terror that reigns over the Dutertes' bureaucrat capitalist tinues to gain strength because of Negros is the same that blankets plunder. the deep and wide support of the the countryside across the country. Though brutal and relentless, toiling masses who aspire to put The situation is worse in the Min- one must not think that the an end to the century-old oppres- danao provinces where more than Duterte monster is invincible. Its sive system. two years of martial law has cruelty is a sign not of strength, Big landlords fund soldiers and reigned. In addition to Negros, Bi- but of weakness and inability to police, as well as paramilitary col and Samar are also under de get the ruled to voluntarily and "death squads" in Negros. In the facto martial law. peaceably concede to its evil reign. interests of the hacienderos, the In the countryside and hinter- The foundations of its rule is US-Duterte regime employs its lands across the country, the mili- tattered in crisis. Behind its bar- armed agents to silence the peas- tary rules and there are no laws barity and factitious fearlessness, ant masses and suppress their higher than its command. Under Duterte is deeply frightened at struggles. Over the past months, the National Task Force (NTF) and how the Filipino people will collec- peasant resistance in Negros has its "counterinsurgency" doctrine, tively rise up to bring him down from power and make him account ANG Contents for all his crimes and corruption. The people of Negros and the Editorial: End Duterte's terror in Negros & entire Filipino people will continue Vol. L No. 15 | August 7, 2019 across the country 1 to rise up. They clamor for an end AFP, PNP incurs 43 casualties in Negros 1 to Duterte's brutal reign. They Ang Bayan is published continue to advance along the Negros bloodbath 3 in Pilipino, Bisaya, Iloko, path of resistance. They must Hiligaynon, Waray and English. PH, dangerous for environmental activists 3 firmly unite and further strengthen Ang Bayan welcomes Lt. Gen. Noel Clement, butcher 4 their organizations as their contributions in the form State forces gun down peasant 5 weapons to assert their rights and of articles and news items. Victorious strike in Monde 5 aspiration for justice. They must Readers are encouraged raise everyone's consciousness NLUA, a neoliberal scheme 6 to send feedback and and strengthen their determina- recommendations Pro-peasant bills 7 tion and courage to fight. for improving our newspaper. Bureaucrat-capitalist plunder of the Villars 7 The Party and all revolutionary SONA protests 8 forces are being strengthened. Victories vs. Kentex and OceanaGold 8 They are at the core and vanguard instagram.com/progressiveviews of the struggle of the entire peo- Dwindling resources in the SCS 9 ple. The Party leads the NPA to @prwc_info Bogus Boracay land reform 9 pound Duterte and shatter his

[email protected] Dethroning the king of the road 10 fascist fangs. The Party calls on Duterte vetoes SOT 10 the entire people to struggle and end all his infamy and advance the Ang Bayan is published fortnightly by the Central Committee revolutionary struggle to establish of the Communist Party of the a new order in the country.

2 August 7 , 2 01 9 ANG BAYAN PH, most dangerous Negros bloodbath place for environmental activists n the evening of July 25, several armed men forcibly entered the hut of the IOcampo family in Barangay San Jose, Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental. They THE INTERNATIONAL com- gunned down Marjon, a one-year old baby, and his father, Marlon Ocampo, who munity turned the spotlight they accused as a supporter of the New People's Army (NPA). Marlon's wife on the Philippines after being sustained a gunshot wound. Their two other children witnessed the shooting. The listed as the most dangerous Ocampos were the last among the 87 victims of extrajudicial killings in Negros place for environmental ac- since the monster Duterte sat in power. tivists, and fourth for civil- In Guihulngan, Atty. Anthony Barangay Mabato, also died in the ians. Trinidad was also gunned down on said town, after purportedly A report published on July 23. He was among the lawyers ingesting pesticide on July 25. July 30 by the Global Wit- who were maliciously linked to the Another farmer, Reden Eleuterio, was ness, an London-based in- revolutionary movement by the also shot in Barangay Tampocon II. dependent group, exposed group Kawsa Guihulnganon Batok These attacks were the cowardly that the Philippines has re- Komunista. The said group is funded retalliation of the Duterte regime placed Brazil as the most by and operates as a death squad of against the legitimate ambush of Red murderous country for envi- the Philippine National Police. fighters against four policemen in ronmental activists. The re- Wounded during the incident were Ayungon on July 18. port indicates that 30 de- his wife, Novie Marie, and another On July 26, Federico Sabejon was fenders were killed last year, pedicab driver. On July 25, siblings killed in Barangay 3, Siaton. In following 48 in 2017, which Arthur Bayawa, principal of Guihul- Canlaon City, Ernesto Posadas, was the highest ever ngan Science High School, and captain of Barangay Panubigan, and recorded in Asia. A third of Ardale Bayawa, head of the Guihul- city councilor Ramon Jalandoni were the victims were from Min- ngan City Division of the Department also murdered. Barangay Bucalan danao where Duterte plans of Education, were murdered in watchman Andanacio Rosalita was to allocate 1.6 million Barangay Hibaiyo. Killed on the same gunned down by Duterte's death hectares of land to planta- day was Romeo Alipan, a farmer and squad at the Oval Public Market in an tions, majority of which are captain of Barangay Buenavista. The adjacent barangay on July 28. Lumad ancestral lands. Half killings were made to appear as NPA Two farmers, Wenny Alegre and of the killings were related to killings even through the victims Felimino Janayan, president of the agribusiness. were earlier tagged by the AFP as United Calango Farmers Association Last June, the Armed supporters or members of the NPA. in Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental Conflict Location and Event Former Ayungon Mayor Edcel were also gunned down on July 24. Project (Acled), a US-based Enardecido and his cousing Leo The perpetrators disguised as Red group, also listed the Philip- Enardecido were also killed on July fighters to vilify the revolutionary pines as the fourth most 27. Earlier, Sunny Caldera, captain of movement. dangerous place for civilians. A third of the victims were "AFP...," from page 1 killed under the guise of diers of the 94th IB at Sitio Bulo. The action. Duterte's "war against operation resulted in three enemy ca- Agusan del Norte. The NPA also drugs." Members of political sualties. blasted an explosive against 23rd IB parties, activists, farmers, On July 2, at 4:30 a.m., Red fight- troopers at Sitio Hinandayan, Barangay lawyers and judges are also ers foiled an attempted attack of the Camagong, Nasipit on July 12, at 9:40 targeted by killings. The 11th IB against an NPA unit at Sitio a.m. Five soldiers were reported killed group exposed that Duterte's Small Samac, Barangay Nalunhdan in while five others were wounded. policy has resulted in direct Bindoy town. Five soldiers were killed Quezon. Three harass operations attacks against and killing of while six others were wounded. were successively mounted by the 490 civilians this 2019. Sorsogon. The NPA-Sorsogon also NPA-Quezon against joint forces of Around 450 were directly conducted a demolition operation the 80th IB and PNP Regional Mobile murdered by state forces. against troopers of the PNP Special Force Battalion at Sitio Lagmak, Majority were killed in Cen- Action Force (SAF) in Barangay Tulat- Pagsangahan, Gen. Nakar on July 28- tral Luzon (23%), Calabarzon ula Sur, Magallanes on July 30, at 3 30. A soldier was killed while two (22%) and the National Capi- p.m. Ten SAF troopers were killed in others were wounded. tal Region (10%).

ANG BAYAN August 7 , 2 01 9 3 Lt. Gen. Noel Clement, a butcher in Palparan’s shadow

he recent mass killing in Negros is a continuation of the horrific Oplan divisions (8th ID in Eastern Sauron which sowed terror in the island since December 2018. Since its Visayas and 3rd ID in Central and T Western Visayas), the 2nd Tactical implementation, more than 40 civilians have fallen victim to extrajudicial killings. Aside from those killed, many civilians were also illegally arrested and Operations Wing of the Air Force, slapped with trumped-up charges. and the whole naval forces in the Visayas. Oplan Sauron’s implementa- tion. As commander of the 602nd In less than a month after be- tion is headed by the Armed Brigade from 2015-2016, Clement ing transferred to the Centcom, Forces of the Philippines Central became notorious to Moro resi- Clement promptly implemented Command (AFP Centcom) under dents in North Cotabato for Oplan Sauron in Negros in line the command of Lt. Gen. Noel shelling their communities. with Rodrigo Duterte’s Memoran- Clement. Clement is notorious for A few days after Duterte’s dec- dum Order No. 32. Centcom’s all being one of the junior officers laration of martial law in Mindanao -out war is currently aimed at the trained in the past by Jovito Pal- last May 2017, the AFP assigned island, where five combat battal- paran in committing crimes under Clement to head the 10th ID. Its ions are deployed, apart from Oplan Bantay Laya 1 and 2. Wher- area of operations covers the entire forces of the Philippine National ever Palparan sowed terror, Davao region, and its boundaries in Police. Clement has always been in his the provinces of Surigao del Sur, Aside from ravaging Central shadow. Like his idol, Clement is Agusan del Sur and Bukidnon. Visayas, killings and destruction of known for tagging those who criti- Clement and his troops ravaged the communities in Eastern Visayas are cize the reactionary government area. In a span of 19 months, up to Clement’s orders. In Samar island, as communists. He zealously car- 50 civilians were killed by Clement’s murders of civilians intensified ried out orders of murder and men, including two minors. Thou- since March 2019. At the onset of other human rights violations. sands were also forced to evacuate the year, 545 villages were re- Clement was under the 204th due to military shellings and rav- ported to be militarized, 250 of Brigade when human rights advo- aging of communities. which were occupied by soldiers. cates Eden Marcellana and Eddie Among Clement’s vicious crimes More than 300 families have been Gumanoy were abducted by the as 10th ID commander was the displaced from their residences said military command in Mindoro massacre of seven Lumads last De- due to the occupation of their Oriental in 2003. Palparan was the cember 3, 2017 in Lake Sebu, South communities by 8th ID troopers. commander of the said brigade. Cotabato. Two others were Meanwhile in Western Upon Palparan’s transfer to wounded in the incident. Multiple Visayas, Centcom’s operations is the 7th ID in Central Luzon in counts of murder were filed against marked with psywar. In March, 2005, he and Clement sowed vio- Clement, together with Lt. Col. the 61st IB in Panay successively lence in the region. From January Harold Cabunoc of the 33rd IB and circulated news of fake encoun- to February 2006, 25 individuals Lt. Col. Benjamin Leander of the ters in order to cover up its cases fell victims to murder, abduction, 27th IB. Soldiers under Clement’s of illegal arrests of farmers and torture, physical abuse, threats, command were also the perpetra- Tumanduk minorities. Aside from massacre, interrogation and ille- tors in the abduction, torture and this, a fake surrender of a sup- gal detention. Clement was the attempted burning of two youth posed minor Red fighter was pub- commander of the 56th IB, the miners last November 2017 in licized. most abusive military unit in the Compostela Valley. Clement likewise submitted his region. He is also one of the mas- troops in the Centcom to become terminds and implementors of the Command over Centcom pawns for the US military. In the abduction of activist Jonas Burgos Clement was transferred from recently held Pacific Partnership in 2007. the 10th ID to the Centcom in No- last March, the US brought its Meanwhile, operations com- vember 2018. Centcom’s opera- puppet and allied troops from the manded by Clement in Mindanao tions cover the whole of Visayas. Indo-Pacific region to Visayas to resulted in widespread devasta- Under its command are two Army train them under its command.

4 August 7 , 2 01 9 ANG BAYAN State forces gun down Victorious strike in Monde peasant activist NINE HOURS AFTER mounting ecurity forces of the Duterte regime fired shots at a couple who are their strike on August 6, con- Smembers of a peasant organization, while inside their store at Sitio Kasi- tractual workers of the Monde laan, Barangay Halapitan, San Fernando, Bukidnon last August 2. Guillermo Nissin Labor Association Casas died on the spot while his wife Jocelyn was wounded. (MNLA–LIGA) was able to com- pel the management of Monde Guillermo is the 10th victim of mains unconscious. IPM actively Nissin Corp. to negotiate with extrajudicial killing in Bukidnon this opposes the construction of the them regarding their demand for year. Chico River dam which will reclaim regularization. The strike was On the same day, Ernesto Es- their ancestral lands. conducted as a reaction to the trella was gunned down in Antipas, termination of contract of nine North Cotabato. Estrella was a for- Repression against activists and workers last week. In sum, 111 mer pastor of the United Church of peasants workers have been dismissed by Christ in the Philippines. The widespread intimidation of the company since July 2018. Last July 25, Misba Masla, 60, the regime against activists and During the negotiation, the was killed in an aerial bombing by peasants continues unabated. In management agreed to reinstate the AFP at Sitio Butilin, Kabalasan, Quezon, a unit of the 2nd IB con- the terminated workers. Another Pikit, North Cotabato. The 6th IB ducted an intelligence operation in round of negotiation was also made it appear, through Maj. Gen. Barangay 1, Lucena City last July 30 scheduled. The workers, major- Diosdado Carreon, commander of under the the guise of a survey for ity of whom have worked in the the AFP-Joint Task Force Central, the 4Ps program and searching for a company as contractuals for 13 that a bomb exploded inside the place to rent. years, considered this as a big house of the Maslas and resulted to Troops of the 95th IB twice victory. his death. However, even the AFP, called for a meeting in Barangay Monde Nissin is a food man- through Brig. Gen. Alfredo Rosario, Sta. Isabel Sur, last August ufacturing company and is commander of the 603rd IBde, ad- 3 wherein they accused members of known for its biscuits (SkyFlakes mitted that the Masla residence was Dagami, a local peasant organiza- and Fita) and noodles (Lucky hit when the AFP bombed the place tion, of being supporters of the Me!). Since 2000, the company at 3 a.m. The AFP reasoned out that NPA. The residents voluntarily left has been consistently included in they were pursuing a group of the the first meeting and asserted their the top 50 corporations in the Bangsamoro Islamic Fredom Fight- democratic right. They also opposed Philippines. It is owned by bour- ers (BIFF) that, according to their the AFP's offer to parade the resi- geois compardor Betty Ang who intelligence report, was there. dents as NPA surrenderees in ex- reported a P14.17-billion net The AFP accused Misba's hus- change for money. worth in 2018. band, Ali Masla, 62, of being a In Cebu, police forces at- On the same day, Super 8 member of the BIFF. Ali and his tempted to intimidate members of workers also mounted their strike grandson Edwid Masla were the local chapter of Kabataan in Pasig City after its termination wounded during the bombing. The Partylist last July 27. In Bukidnon, of 200 contractual workers. BIFF belied the accusation of their the 1st Special Forces Battalion presence in the area during that threatened and forced Kristin Lim, a STUDENTS OF THE Polytechnic time. BIFF spokesperson Abu Misri former station managing director of University of the Philippines Mama condemned the killing. The Radyo Lumad, to surrender in Du- (PUP) in Sta. Mesa, Manila AFP's pronouncement of protecting milag, Manolo Fortich last August 3. successfully junked the dress the civilians is a big lie because Meanwhile, two memebrs of code policy after a seven-hour they are the ones who bomved the KASAMA-TK were arrested by the protest. They said that residence of the elderly couple, he 76th IB last July 27 in Sablayan-Sta. protests will continue to op- said. Cruz, Occidental Mindoro. The vic- pose plans to implement re- Last August 6, Brandon Lee, a tims were identified as Nadeline pressive policies such as the member of the Ifugao Peasant Fabon and Reynaldo Malaborbor. mandatory random drug-test- Movement (IPM) and a writer of They were assisting peasants who ing and harassment against Northern Dispatch was shot in La- were severely affected by drought in organizations, student councils gawe, Ifugao. As of present, Lee re- the community. and publications.

ANG BAYAN August 7 , 2 01 9 5 National Land Use Act, a neoliberal scheme

or the third time, Rodrigo Duterte Fhas again identified the National Land Use Act (NLUA) as a priority bill of his regime in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22.

Duterte insisted that this mea- sure has to be immediately passed by Congress before the end of 2019 to purportedly lay down a national and comprehensive land use plan that will "meet the demands of for- eign investors." t The NLUA primarily aims to i hasten the process of massive con- version of agricultural and ances- tral lands into residential, commer- cial and industrial uses to ons of commercial timber. Despite being an ally of Duterte, immediately facilitate wholesale of The NLUA has been languishing she is strongly opposing the en- these to foreign investors and their in Congress for more than two actment of the NLUA as this will bourgeois comprador counterparts. decades already. It was first remove from local governments the This will be used to evict farmers pushed for by the Corazon Aquino authority to reclassify land re- and indigenous peoples from lands regime along with other neoliberal sources within their territories and that are targeted for the construc- reforms dictated by the World implement a local land use plan. tion of giant infrastructures under Bank. In the past, this push was When the NLUA is enacted, the the "Build, Build, Build" program. undertaken as a conditionality in said powers will be granted to the The regime has initially imple- exchange for billions of loans. The NLUC which is directly under the mented this through the issuance bill has been successively for- national government. of several administrative orders by warded and even identified as a The Villars have obviously the Department of Agrarian Reform key legislative measure by suc- benefitted from the current land last February. ceeding regimes; however, it is yet use policy especially that it enables The NLUA will establish the to be enacted. them to easily bribe local govern- National Land Use Commission These past few years, the ment officials to have their real (NLUC) which will administer the American Chamber of Commerce, estate businesses passed. (Read reclassification and conversion of in partnership with the USAID, related article on page 7.) land resources across the country used the The Arangkada Philippines Amid the threat of once again and drafting of a national plan ev- Project to aggressively compel the being stalled, the regime imple- ery ten years based on the de- Aquino and Duterte regimes to mented the Joint Department of mands of capitalists. The agency continue lobbying for the passage Agrarian Reform-Department of will classify only which lands can of the bill in Congress. The Duterte Justice Order 75 on May 31 which be cultivated and on the other regime manifested utter sub- will institutionalize Duterte's land hand be used for infrastructures servience when it had its Congress use program even if the NLUA has and settlements. The NLUC will pass on third reading the said bill not yet been ratified. also prohibit farming in public just before it ended its session on Conservative government esti- lands that will be classified as June 3. mates published last January indi- forestlands, even those already The bill has already been re- cate that the total agricultural land being cultivated by small farmers. ferred to the Senate and is set to area in the country already shrank This will systematize schemes such be discussed in the coming months by 25% from 9.7 million hectares in as the National Greening Program under its committee on environ- 1980 to 7.3 million in 2012, pri- which are being used to evict small ment and natural resources which marily due to massive use conver- kaingineros from their farms that is chaired by Sen. . sion and widespread landgrabbing are converted into vast planta- across the country.

6 August 7 , 2 01 9 ANG BAYAN Pro-peasant bills

he Duterte regime is relentlessly pushing for the liberalization of the Tagricultural sector, including agricultural lands, to allow foreign ownership and plunder. Despite this, progressive congress representatives continue to lobby for reforms that will benefit peasants.

These reforms are linked to the bution policy within five years. It longstanding struggles waged by will cover all private agricultural peasant organizations. These are lands, agribusiness plantations, also part of the Comprehensive those that have been tilled by farmers Agreement on Social and Economic but were taken away by the govern- Reforms (CASER) which was drafted ment, landlords or foreign institutions, The Makabayan bloc also filed in 2016 during peace negotiations and other public agricultural lands. the Rice Industry Development Bill. between the Government of the Re- GARB also includes comprehen- It declared that rice farmers who public of the Philippines and the Na- sive support for peasants including are tilling farmlands shall not be tional Democratic Front of the the provision of sufficient subsidies subjected to land rent that is more Philippines. for their production. This will also than 10% of the average net harvest Agrarian reforms become in- encourage farmers to organize or per hectare in the last three con- creasingly significant amid all-out join cooperatives to enhance their secutive years. attacks against the sector—from the production. This will provide a Meanwhile, other representa- liberalization of rice to the relent- mechanism against grabbing of tives filed bills to ensure full insur- less killings of peasants struggling farmer beneficiaries' lands. ance for beneficiaries of the bogus for their right to land. At present, farmers asserting Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Progressive parties under the their right to land, including those Program and to construct a com- Makabayan bloc refiled the Genuine awarded with Certificate of Land munal irrigation, half of which will Agrarian Reform bill (GARB) at the Ownership, are gravely repressed. be paid by farmer beneficiaries in a House of Representatives. This bill Many loss their lands for failing to certain span of time. lays down a comprehensive framework pay high amortization dues. In rela- They also pushed for the con- for genuine land reform. It aims to tion to this, a bill was filed to write struction of warehouses and the dismantle land monopolies and imple- off these dues to and award these ment a free, fair and just land distri- lands to them. "Bills...," continued on page 8

Bureaucrat-capitalist plunder of the Villar family

ouple Manny and Cynthia Villar are the owners of Vista Land & of P3.7 billion and was considered CLifescapes which are notorious for landgrabbing and converting thou- the richest senator, while their son, sands of hectares of farmlands into subdivisions (Camella Homes, Lumina Mark Villar, secretary of the the Homes) and huge malls ( and Vista Malls). They are the head of the Department of Public Work and Villar dynasty in Las Piñas and both became members of the House of Repre- Highways, reported P1.4 billion and sentatives. served as senator from 2001 to 2013, and was suc- is considered as Duterte's richest ceeded by his wife who up to now is a member of the Senate. cabinet official. The Villar family has obviously In 2008, Cynthia Villar was ac- supporter of Duterte. Manny Vil- benefitted from the regime's infra- cused of grabbing peasant lands in lar's political party, Nacionalista, is structure program. Their company Norzagaray, Bulacan. Manny Villar also allied with Duterte's PDP-La- was the last to pass an application was also accused of plunder in 2010 ban. for the construction of a casino be- after proposing to realign the C-5 Under Duterte, Manny Villar's fore Duterte imposed has issued a Extension Project to benefit his wealth drastically rose from US$1.5 moratorium on new casinos on Jan- businesses. It was also exposed billion (P75.4 billion) in March 2017 uary 2018. Aside from the 1,000- that irrigated farmlands were con- to US$5.5 billion (Php288.3 billion) hectare casino and resort which is verted by the Villars into subdivi- this March 2019. From being the being constructed in Dasmariñas, sions in Pavia, Iloilo City (2010) and 12th, he is now the richest individ- , the Villars are also planning Plaridel Bulacan (2014). ual in the country. Meanwhile, to push for a similar infrastructure The Villar family is a known Cynthia Villar reported a net worth project in Las Piñas.

ANG BAYAN August 7 , 2 01 9 7 United People's SONA Victories against Kentex and OceanaGold

against the national traitor AFTER MORE THAN four years of struggle, Kentex workers odrigo Duterte's fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) was met with achieved a victory last July 26. protests in various urban centers across the country. These were partici- The Supreme Court ordered R the Kentex Manufacturing pated in by more than 50,000 individuals who condemned Duterte's utter treachery. They also called for his ouster for surrendering to China the rights of Corp. to pay 57 workers who Filipinos to the West Philippine Sea. They criticized his fascism and for imple- survived the fire that razed menting anti-people policies which further impoverished the Filipino people. the slipper factory on May 13, 2015 which claimed the lives In the national capital, organiz- Visayas. In Panay island, protest of 72 other workers. ers reported that more than 40,000 actions were mounted in four urban The order reversed the marched along the Commonwealth centers and were participated in by Court of Appeals verdict Avenue in Quezon City to tell more than 4,000 activists. More than which absolved Kentex from Duterte, the national traitor, that the 3,000 protested at the public park of the said obligation to its "Philippines is ours!" They demanded Bacolod City carrying calls to end the workers. The Department of the eviction of China from Philippine perpetration of arbitrary killings and Labor and Employment territorial waters. The protest was massacres against the people of Ne- (DOLE)-National Capital Re- led by the Bagong Alyansang Maka- gros. Around 400 activists protested gion was the first to order the bayan (Bayan) and was participated in Bohol to condemn the continuing company in 2015 to pay the in by activists from various organiza- harassment and killing of farmers workers the said amount after tions carrying their respective sec- and other human rights violations. discovering that they only toral calls. Bayan-Central Visayas also spear- received a measly P202.50- Luzon. More than 600 farmers, headed a march of 300 activists from daily wage. fisherfolks, and indigenous peoples Fuente Osmeña Circle to Colon Street Meanwhile, environmen- protested at the Aurora Park in in Cebu City. tal groups called the decision Laoag City to criticize continuing mil- Mindanao. Activists and Lumads issued by the Regional Trial itary harassment against their ranks, protested in and Court of Nueva Vizcaya on surge in the prices of commodities Davao City carrying calls to end Mi- July 27 "a victory for the due to the implementation of the Tax nadanao martial law. They also criti- people." The court denied the Reform for Acceleration and Inclusi- cized the regime's closure of Lumad petition for injuction filed by on (TRAIN), and the absence of schools. Meanwhile, Marawi resi- OceanaGold against the resi- sectoral subsidies. In Baguio City, dents conducted their version of the dents' barricade which para- more than 200 participated in a fo- SONA which they dubbed the "State lyzed its operations. (For rum on Duterte's SONA which was of Marawi Bakwit (Sombak) at the more details, read Ang Bayan, organized by the Tongtongan Ti Umi- Mindanao State University. July 21, 2019.) li-Cordillera Peoples Alliance at the Overseas. The Malaya Movement The issue was issued on Cathedral of the Resurrection, Mag- led the protest of more than 100 in- the eve of a national solidar- saysay Avenue. dividuals in front of the Philippine ity mission organized by en- More than 500 protested at the Consulate General in New York City. vironmental activists led by Peñaranda Park, Legazpi City to con- Similar protest actions were mounted the Kalikasan People’s Net- demn widespread extrajudicial killings by Filipino migrants in the urban work for the Environment in the region. Activists also protested centers of Australia, Canada, France, that sought to probe the in Naga, Sorsogon and Masbate to call Hongkong, Italy, Japan, The Nether- continuing operation of the for Duterte's ouster and criticize his lands, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, company even if its contract subservience to China. South Korea and United Kingdom. has already expired on June 20. "Bills...," from page 7 provision of milling facilities for every rice-producing municipality and city. This will also support all transportation requirements. The loan will be payed at a set amount for 25 years. In the Senate, Sen. Ralph Recto refiled a bill mandating the placement of a "timbangan ng bayan" (weighing scale) in all markets to deter the prolifer- ation of defective weights. He also pushed for the construction of farm-to- market roads across the country.

ANG BAYAN August 7 , 2 01 9 8 Dwindling resources in the SCS MILITARY STANDOFF: Across the globe, the US remains as the leading ilipino fisherfolk lose a lot due to massive Chinese poaching of fishes military superpower in terms of troops, in Philippine territorial waters. In the past six decades, fish stocks in bases, war matériel and nuclear arms. F It is currently challenged by the rise of the South China Sea steadily dwindled due to overfishing. China, especially that the South China A 2015 study revealed that Sale of resources Sea is exploited and occupied by their fish stocks in certain parts of the The Center for Environmental respective security forces. Here are SCS declined by as much as 90%. Concerns and Kalikasan People’s some figures on their current military High-value fishes, like tuna and Network for the Environment es- strength: grouper, are becoming scarcer. timate that Duterte has sold at Fishermen are compelled to sail least P773-billion worth of Philip- farther and longer to catch fish. pine sovereign mineral, water, As a result, the catch of Filipino wildlife, and marine resources to fishermen continues to decline. foreigners in the past three years. From 2005 to 2014, this declined China destroyed reefs worth by 13.5%, and further slipped by P99 billion in the West Philippine CHINA USA 4.3% in 2015-2016. Sea (WPS) due to constant patrols 260 3,822 Filipino fishermen suffer are of Chinese paramilitary vessels. In NUCLEAR WARHEADS at a disadvantage with their rela- addition, around P150-billion tively smaller vessels, high costs worth of endangered flora and 2,300,000 1,281,900 of transportation (which spiralled fauna have been poached and TROOPS due to the TRAIN law) and lack of smuggled out of the country. government support. This is in Moreover, P23-billion worth Land contrast to the Chinese govern- of land and waters were 7,760 6,393 ment’s high fuel, wage and vessel promised as sovereign guarantee TANKS subsidy for their fishermen which by Duterte should the country 6,000 41,760 enable them to fish farther and default on its onerous loans with AFV longer. China has the largest dis- China for the Kaliwa Dam and 9,726 3,269 CANNONS tant water fishing fleet (2,500 Chico River Pump Irrigation 1,710 950 vessels) which engages in far- projects. In general, the coun- SELF-PROPELLED ARTILLERY ranging and long fishing opera- try's biggest loss is due to the 1,770 1,197 tions. The Filipino fishers are fur- massive operations of multina- ROCKET ARTILLERY ther disadvantaged by the lack of tional mining companies which security even within the country’s exported more than P501.4-bil- Aerial exclusive economic zone and tra- lion worth of mineral resources in 4,182 12,304 ditional fishing grounds. the same period. TOTAL AIRCRAFT 1,150 457 FIGHTER Bogus agrarian reform in Boracay 629 2,192 MULTIROLE ontrary to President Rodrigo Duterte's claim in his fourth State of 270 587 Cthe Nation Address, it is not true that land reform has been imple- ATTACK mented in the Boracay Island, Aklan. 1,170 4,889 HELICOPTER In reality, 18-hectares of been distributed to 44 families land subjected to agrarian re- that are members of the Boracay Marine form have not yet been distrib- Ati Tribal Organization. 780 437 TOTAL NAVAL uted to beneficiaries. According An anthropological research 2 20 to Department of Agrarian Re- exposed that the Atis are the AIRCRAFT CARRIER form (DAR)-Western Visayas Di- original inhabitants of Boracay 36 85 rector Stephen Leonidas, these and they lived there even before DESTROYER are yet to be distributed to in- the entry of the Visayans and 54 0 digenous settlers who are not Spanish colonizers in the island. FRIGATES part of the Ati tribe in Boracay. This, however, is contested by 42 0 On November 2018, only 3.2 minority settlers (non-Atis) who CORVETTES hectares of land (not even 1% of are asserting their right to the 76 71 the 1,032-hectare island) have land which is to be distributed. SUBMARINE

ANG BAYAN August 7 , 2 01 9 9 Dethroning the king of the road

ajor transportation lines were de- Mstroyed during World War II. As a temporary solution, several Filipinos in- vested in refurbishing dilapidated US military jeeps.

Sarao Motors was the first and formerly the biggest jeepney manufacturer in the country. It was founded in 1953 by business- man Leonardo Sarao, a mechanic and former calesa (horse-drawn carriage) driver, with a meager lines as it opened up franchises capital of P700. With this, his to Tamaraw FX taxis (manufac- ernization," Sarao Motors was business grew into becoming a tured by transnational firm Toy- compelled to enter into a joint company. ota) and inaugurated the Light venture with Le’ Guider Interna- Sarao reconfigured the jeepney Rail Transit. A more stringent tional (a company owned by busi- to accomodate more passengers. registration application process nessman Youssef Ahmad), to Metal sheets decorated in vibrant was also implemented by the manufacture electronic jeepneys colors with ornaments were used as government at that time. It was (e-jeepneys). Instead of an en- its roof. A horse miniature was in- then that Leonardo Sarao left gine, e-jeepneys are powered by a stalled atop the jeepney's hood to management of the company to permanent magnetic motor that is symbolize the calesa which is con- his son Edgardo. made of neodymium, a rare-earth sidered the first king of the road. The Amid the continuing decline, magnet whose extraction and design of the jeepney was based on Edgardo was compelled to tem- production is dominated by China. the color and form of the calesa. porarily halt the production of Last year, 80% of its global supply Since then, it has been dubbed as the the company and retrench 250 of was produced by China. new "king of the road." its workers in October 2000. Af- An e-jeepney unit, on average, In the 1960s, the company ter a few weeks, the company re- costs P1.4 million. This is way employed more than 300 workers. sumed its production with only 50 more expensive than a traditional Until the 1970s, the assembly employees. At that time, only an jeep which only costs P400,000 plant manufactured up to 10 ve- average of three jeep units were per unit. The bogus modernization hicles a day. In the 1980s, how- produced weekly. scheme will certainly leave drivers ever, its production has slowed In the face of Duterte's and operators bankrupt and down to rising production costs scheme to phaseout older jeep- buried in debt, and will subse- and fewer franchises issued by the neys under the guise of "mod- quently result in fare hikes. government. The decline was also attributed to the global financial Duterte vetoes SOT crisis which has resulted in the depreciation of peso and tripled DUTERTE SHOWED his extreme bias for capitalists when he vetoed the the price of secondhand engines Security of Tenure (SOT). He clearly admitted this during his speech in from Japan. Itbayat, Batanes last July 30 wherein he explicity said that the "anti- In 1995, the Land Trans- endo" bill lacks safeguards for businessmen. Consequently, progressive portation Office stopped the is- lawmakers filed a new version of the bill that is genuinely anti-endo and suance of franchises to jeepney pro-worker.

10 August 7 , 2 01 9 ANG BAYAN