Pahayagan ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas ANG Pinapatnubayan ng Marxismo-Leninismo-Maoismo Vol. LI No. 12 June 21, 2020 www.cpp.ph English Edition

EDITORIAL Rise up and end the oppressive and heedless regime

ocial inequalities in the country have worsened alongside sharpening of verely punished. contradictions as the Duterte regime adopts militarist and anti-people Lacking a clear health plan to measures to confront the Covid-19 pandemic. While a few remain in- overcome the pandemic, Duterte Ssulated in their mansions and palaces and continue to accumulate wealth, stopped everything and shut down a abuse power and engorge themselves in the masses' sweat and blood, millions large part of the economy. Millions of people are mired in poverty and extreme hardship. lost their jobs and income. Small business owners faced devastation. The people demand justice for Covid-19. Data gathering is delayed When restrictions were eased this all those made to suffer hunger and and deficient leaving the govern- June, it did everything to help big poverty, suppressed and denied of ment blind as to where the virus is business rise again, while their rights. After more than three spreading. abandoning the toiling masses and months of failed measures and Not only did promised social aid practically telling them "you're on policies, the Filipino people suffer come late, it was also inadequate your own!" unprecedented hardships. and typically pilfered. "Life is While people were rigorously For close to three months, good!" exclaimed a senator, as of- made to follow suffocating policies, Duterte imprisoned the entire ficials partied and have filled their Duterte and his rotten ilk freely people in their crowded homes in pantries, while they forced people breathed and moved around. the name of preventing the spread survive on porridge and sardines, if While Duterte flew back and of the virus. But Duterte and his any. Majority of the people who live forth to Davao aboard a private generals squandered the people's at subsistence level suffered hunger plane, hundreds of thousands sacrifices. Not enough funds were and distress. Those desperate couldn't find a ride home. They spent to enable the health system enough to leave their home to were made to wait on streets and cope with the pandemic. There is no scrounge for money and food were sidewalks, hungry and with no cer- mass testing. No free treatment of denounced, apprehended and se- tainty when they could easily get a ride and reach home. Who can for- ing anything to stop the sharp much safer than the closed vehicles. get Michelle Silvertino who died downturn in their living standards. Duterte has virtually kicked them after five days of waiting for a ride While allowing "modern" jeeps out. The "kings of the road" are home to Bicol on a foor bridge in owned by big corporations, it con- now pleading and begging on the pasay? tinues to ban hundreds of thou- streets. Everyday, workers and employ- sands of small jeepney drivers and While Duterte is once again ees race and ram against one an- operators. Duterte has turned a rushing to import tons of rice from other as they rush for seats in deaf ear to the clamor of ordinary agriculture-subsidizing countries, limited buses and trains. Because drivers for subsidies to allow jeep- funds are sorely lacking to subsidize not enough safe mass transporta- neys to provide a safe ride even if, Filipino peasant masses and buy tion was prepared, thousands are in fact, jeepneys and tricycles are their produce. now left with no other ooption but Millions of people are to walk or ride along dangerous aggravated by onerous police highways everyday. requirements for those seek- In the face of insufficient ing permits to travel or go workers' wages, Duterte home to their provinces or still permitted big cap- regions. italists to cut wages Because of its refusal to supposedly to help allot enough funds to allow them recover their schools to open safely (more profits. They were also schools, classrooms, teachers freed from responsib- and other educational infra- ility to have their structure), Duterte banned workers tested to classes in the coming months. identify possible Instead, he ordered teaching Covid-19 infections. to be done online but without Duterte is un- alloting funds, thus passing perturbed in the face to teachers and students the of millions of job costs of purchasing com- losses. He is not rush- puters, internet services and other needs. ANG Contents Millions of youth are gripped by fear as many schools plan to raise Editorial: Rise up and end the oppressive and tuition, while state subsidy for heedless regime 1 education remain acutely insuffi- Vol. LI No. 12 | June 21, 2020 Who is Michelle Silvertino? 3 cient. They are also victims of ar- Offensive mounted by NPA-Mindoro 3 Ang Ang Bayan is published bitrary restrictions against 16-21 "This is a mañanita, not a rally" 4 in Pilipino, Bisaya, Iloko, year olds which prevent them from 16 youths arrested in Iligan 5 Hiligaynon, Waray and English. Military arrests CPA founder 5 seeking work or participating in Ang Bayan welcomes US and China warships surround PH 6 various social activities. contributions in the form OFWs stranded abroad 7 Instead of cutting spending for of articles and news items. Remittance set to plunge 7 unproductive debt-driven infra- Readers are encouraged Anti-poor plan on the education system 8 structure projects, and realigning to send feedback and Lumads urge 88th IB to leave community 9 billions of pesos for confidential and Peasant leader killed in Bukidnon 9 recommendations intelligence funds, hundreds of bil- Unemployment at all-time high 10 for improving our newspaper. Hundreds of professionals suffer 10 lions of pesos for the purchase of The revolution takes root in Niyog 11 helicopters, bombs and war Coordinated BPCs in Bicol 12 matériel, the Duterte regime has instagram.com/prwcnewsroom 200 attend wedding in guerrilla front 13 chosen to go on a borrowing spree Killings, arrests and attacks 13 to fund its expenses during the @prwc_info 155th Juneteenth 14 pandemic. Protests in Chile, Lebanon, Hong Kong 14 The debt burden is lopsided on [email protected] Danding's legacy to farmers 14 the people's shoulders. Instead of being increased, the tax share of Ang Bayan is published fortnightly by the Central Committee the billionaire big capitalists were of the Communist Party of the cut by the Duterte regime; and now "Rise up...," continued on page 3 2 June 21, 2020 ANG BAYAN "Rise up...," from page 2 Who is Michelle Silvertino? plans to increase the share of ordinary income ichelle Silvertino was one of millions of Filipinos who sought a better paying earners. The regime has jobs abroad to feed their families. Fail to travel abroad, she worked as a refused to ease the tax M maid in . Due to strict lockdown restrictions, she was not able to burden on the impover- travel back home to her province. When restrictions were eased, she decided to ished people even for a go home to Bicol to be with her four children. moment and even by the slightest amount. Silvertino first went to Cubao vertino waited, more than 700 mi- In the past three hoping to catch a bus ride from there. grant workers and locally stranded months of the Covid-19 As there were no buses there, she individuals (LSI) also stayed under a pandemic, the anti-people then went to Pasay City where she bridge near the airport while waiting Duterte regime has been continued to wait in vain. Unable to for their flights back home to their re- further unravelled by its catch a ride anywhere due to arbitrary spective provinces. They endured refusal to put ahead the changes imposed by the IATF, she de- surviving with minimal food supplies people's interests and pri- cided to stay at a footbrige in the and no beds. They were only given at- oritizing instead the in- same city. She immediately ran out of tention by the government and trans- terests of the big capitalists money and food supplies. She got sick ferred to an evacuation center after and pocketing large on the third day, but instead of being being met with criticism for its negli- amounts of people's money. brought to the hospital, she was gence. Duterte himself has admit- brought by the police to a precint. Silvertino and the 700 who are ted he was the one who After exhibiting Covid-19 symptoms, staying at airports are part of the 4.1 ordered the purchase of the police decided to transfer her to a million LSIs who are being neglected overpriced equipment. In barangay hall. Seeing there was no by the regime. On top of its limited addition, he has prioritized one at the barangay hall, the police and slow program to tranport LSIs, the Anti-Terror Bill, the si- decided to return her to the foot- the government is also profiteering lencing of critics and the bridge. She died the next day (June 5) from them by requiring them to apply strengthening of his military and was buried in a shallow grave. It for numerous requirements such as a forces in order to intimidate is clear that she died due to the re- barangay certifications, medical and the people, suppress gime's criminal neglect. laboratory examinations, IDs and democracy and perpetuate A kilometer away from where Sil- travel authorization from the police. himself as a powerful dic- tator. Over the past three months, the people have NPA strikes at soldiers occupying Mangyan communities been boiling with rage THE NEW PEOPLE'S Army (NPA)-Mindoro mounted successive offensives against against the Duterte the Philippines National Police and fascist troopers of the 4th and 76th IB last regime. They slowly over- month. Six harassment operations were launched in Mansalay, Bulalacao, Socorro come fear and manifest ng Oriental Mindoro and Rizal, Occidental Mindoro from May 6-18. A soldier was courage and the willing- killed and seven others were killed in the attacks. ness to fight. The Filipino people The offensives were mounted in scores of peasant masses were illeg- stand on moral high ground response to complaints of peasants ally arrested and killed. to rise up and resist. It is and Mangyans in the town of Rizal and On June 16, two intelligence imperative for them to Calintaan who were forced to evacuate agents of the 94th IB were also at- unite and use their power due to the military's combat operations tacked by the NPA in Himamaylan to perform the historical in their community on the first week of City. The two are notorious for tag- task of shaping the coun- May. More than 600 military elements ging civilians as "NPA supporters." On try's destiny. Clouds of so- were deployed in the area. They also the same day, the NPA successively cial storm are now fast installed artillery cannons in Rizal. mounted two harassment soldiers gathering. They must seize In , the NPA pun- against operating soldiers in the time and opportunity to ished a CAFGU element in Barangay barangays Mahalang and Buenavista. unleash all rage against Luz, Guihulngan City last June 11. The In Palawan, another NPA unit Duterte's corruption, neg- CAFGU member helped guide 62nd IB blasted a detachment of the 3rd Ma- lect, fascism and treachery operations and actively participated rine Brigade in Barangay Magara, and put an end to his dic- in Oplan Sauron attacks wherein Roxas on May 22. tatorship. ANG BAYAN June 21, 2020 3 Protests against the Anti-Terrorism Bill "This is a mañanita, not a rally"

oordinated mass protest actions, dubbed "mañanitas," Cwere mounted last June 12 in Metro Manila and 14 provinces to oppose the Anti-Terrorism Bill. The protests actions were an outright act of defiance to the Malacañang's ban on rallies. Protesters called their protest a "mañanita" as a sarcastic reference to the birthday feast by the police in the National Capital Region for their chief Debold Sinas last May. The protest was held in conjunction with the com- memoration of the 122th Philippine Independence Day. Ma- jority of the participants were from the youth sector.

More than 5,000 converged at Public figures such the campus of the University of the as those from the Philippines (UP) in Diliman, Quezon Liberal Party and City to conduct a "Grand Mañani- other organiza- ta." Similar to a birthday celebra- tions, as well as tion, protesters wore party hats, famous artists and brought balloons, food and cakes cultural performers containing the call "Junk Anti-Ter- participated in the ror Bill." There were songs, dances, protest. tion of emergency aid, speeches and cultural perform- According to Bayan and for freedom and ances. Muna chairperson Neri democracy. The rally in UP was spearheaded Colmenares, the Anti-Terror Bill is Among the highlights of the by the Bagong Alyansang dangerous because it can be used rally was the speech of Marie Makabayan (Bayan) and its allied against ordinary civilians who criti- Dinglasan, an sari-sari store vendor organizations of workers, youth, cize or post express their senti- who trended on social media for women, health workers, government ments against the regime. posting a video criticizing Duterte employees, urban poor and others. Before the protest, the police and bravely responding to Duterte's set up a checkpoint at the entrance trolls who tagged her as an "NPA of the university in an attempt to supporter." The program also fea- Did you know? stop participants from going in. An- tured a performance by theater "MAÑANITA" (which means ticipating this, protesters organized actress Mae Paner who dressed as "little tomorrow" in Span- a team of lawyers to defend those Debold Sinas, and the collective ish) is a surprise serenade who would be arrested. Health dance and singing of the jingle par- to awaken a birthday celeb- workers also stood by to ensure that ody "Don't call me terorista (a ter- rant early in the morning or Covid-19 preventive measures are rorist)." at the crack of dawn. It is observed by protesters. Before the "Grand Mañanita," being practiced in various The protesters strictly main- protests were also conducted at the parts of the Philippines and tained a meter distance from each De La Salle University in Manila and has become a tradition other. Face masks, face shields and at Sitio San Roque, Barangay Pag- wherein families gather to alcohol were also distributed during asa, Quezon City. mark the start of a birthday. the mass action. The program ended Across the country, numerous In , a particular after three hours. activists and youth groups took to mañanita song entitled Protesters pointed out that the streets and rallied against the "Malipayong Adlaw" is often while the rally is directed against Anti-Terror Bill. sang by Red fighters for the Anti-Terrorism Bill, it also aimed Baguio. One hundred individu- their comrades who celeb- to hold the regime accountable for als protested at UP Baguio. Earlier rate their birthdays. The its inetpness to ensure the health on June 3, 62 youth organizations was written and popularized and and welfare of the people amid signed a petition against the Anti- by Agaw-Armas. the Covid-19 pandemic. They called Terror Bill. The petition signing was for mass testing, tracing and vali- led by the Youth Act Now Against dation of Covid-19 cases, distribu- "This is...," continued on page 5

4 June 21, 2020 ANG BAYAN "This is...," from page 4 mounted by the Bacolod Youth Alli- at around 6:00 a.m. Tyranny-Baguio-Benguet. ance at six spots in Bacolod City in- Davao. The PASAKA Confede- Nueva Vizcaya. Anti-mining cluding the Rizal Freedom Park, ration of Lumad Organization hos- and environmental advocates and Bacolod City Plaza, Fountain of Jus- ted a program at the UCCP Haran in residents of Didipio, Kasibu conduc- tice, San Sebastian Cathedral, local Davao City which was participated ted a protest action in their com- ABS-CBN station, and in front of the in by 500 evacuees. The parti- munity. office of Cong. Greg Gasataya. Sim- cipants also conducted a protest Isabela. The police stopped se- ultaneously, a protest action was action while strictly observing veral students from holding a pro- also held by Paghiliusa, Liberal Party physical distancing. Later that gram at a school in Santiago, Isabe- Negros and the Federation of Urban evening, Lumad leaders led a torch la. They were told to take pictures Poor in front of the San Sebastian lighting ceremony to symbolize their instead, and immediately disperse. Cathedral to condemn the Anti-Ter- detemination to bring light amid the Pampanga. Five activists were rorism Bill. That afternoon, similar dark times of tyranny under the tailed and interrogated by police protest actions were also conducted Duterte regime, and how this light agents after participating in a pro- by Bayan and Karapatan-Negros in is further ignited through the gram at the Plaza Miranda in Ange- front of the Fountain of Justice. people's struggle. les City. Iloilo. A "mañanita against Datu Minstroso Malibato poin- Albay and Naga. The Youth Act terrorism" was held by students and ted out: "We are struggling to edu- Now-Albay spearheaded a protest teachers of UP Visayas, the church cate our children but the govern- at the Pinaglabanan Monument in sector and the Commission on Hu- ment is ruthlessly closing down our Legazpi City. According to the Jus- man Rights Region 6 in front of the schools and killing our people.” The tine Mesias, spokesperson of the university campus in Iloilo. group stressed that that the real said alliance, the regime's Anti-Ter- Cebu. With police troops en- terrorist is the Duterte government. rorism Bill will only aggravate the camped in front of UP Cebu and the . A "mañanita" was also plight of the people. Approximately refusal of the university adminis- held at the Freedom Park in Butuan 200 members of Anakbayan-Naga tration to recognize the rights of City. City and Bayan-Camarines Sur also students to assemble in the campus, Youth groups and lawyers also protested at the Plaza Quince Mar- progressive groups conducted their conducted "mañanitas" in Cagayan tires in Naga City. lightning rallies at the Gorordo de Oro, Dumaguete, Zamboanga Negros. Lightning rallies were Avenue and Escario Street in Cebu and Bulacan.

"I still can't stop crying..." Military arrests CPA founder ONE OF THE 16 youths who were illegally arrested ANNE MARGARET Tauli, 70, was arrested by military after conducting a peaceful protest action at the Ro- elements in Besao, Mountain Province and flown by tonda in Barangay Pala, Iligan City on June 12 said helicopter to Baguio to face National Security Adviser that she still could not stop crying due to trauma. Sec. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. on June 11. Majority of those arrested were former students Esperon made it appear that Tauli "surrendered" of the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of and "returned to the folds of the law." He accused Technology. They were apprehended by police troops her of being a ranking member of the Communist after their protest. While attempting to flee, the vic- Party of the Philippines, a claim which her relatives tims heard a police officer shout "pusila, pusila!" belied. (shoot them, shoot them!). An activist who attempted They said that Tauli has long been receiving death to explain was restrained by chokehold. Their cell- threats for advocating for participating in mass cam- phones were confiscated and they were forcibly taken paigns to advance the right of the Igorot people to to a police precint where they were interrogated and autonomy and self-determination. Earlier in March, threatened. Four of them were maliciously tagged as state elements attempted to arrest her. There were having links with the New People's Army. During the also reports of a shoot-to-kill order against her. interrogation, the victims discovered the extent of Tauli, a former teacher, was one of the founders police surveillance on them. of the Cordillera People’s Alliance (CPA) in 1984. She They were detained for seven hours before their is a leader of the Batil-ang Peypeyan clan. Her sister, lawyers were able to get them out. The protest was former UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indi- part of the coordinated nationwide "mañanita" genous Peoples Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, was also ac- against the Anti-Terror Bill. cused of being a ranking CPP official.

ANG BAYAN June 21, 2020 5 The Philippines is surrounded by US and Chinese warships

rom east to west Philippines, one can find US and Chinese warships. Both The Duterte regime must be Fare saber-rattling. Tensions and threats of war breaking out are height- denounced for following the dic- ening. There is rising danger of the Philippines getting caught in the armed tates of both US and China in the conflict of two imperialist powers. military, political and economic terms. On the one hand, it has In the West Philippine Sea, China Sea. failed to assert the country's ter- Chinese Coast Guard and "militia" In early May, the US dispatched ritorial and economic rights as re- ships are permanently stationed. the USS Montgomery and USNS cognized by the 2017 decision of There are also at least seven Cesar Chavez to conduct patrol op- the International Tribunal on the Chinese military bases and facilities erations. On May 8, two more US Law of the Seas, when it allowed in the area, several of which were bombers launched from Guam flew China to construct military facilities constructed within the country's over the South China Sea. Around in areas under Philippine jurisdic- territory. the same time, the Japan-based US tion. On the other hand, it contin- On the Philippine Sea (on the Seventh Fleet bragged that three ues to allow the US to use the country's east), two US carrier submarines under its command are country as launching pad for its op- strike groups (armadas with lead conducting war exercises in the erations in the South China Sea, the aircraft carriers) and submarines Philippine seas. Philippine Sea and the rest of the operate. Not far from the country's On the first week of June, the Asia-Pacific region. It has also al- seas is another US aircraft carrier, US military claimed it has three lowed the US to set up facilities the USS Nimitz. carrier strike groups conducting within AFP camps, in exchange for From April to May, amid the operations across the Indian Ocean helicopters and other war matériel Covid-19 pandemic, US and Chinese and Pacific. Two of these strike for its war of suppression against military forces maneuvered and groups, the USS Theodore Roosevelt the Filipino people. countermaneuvered in the South strike group, and the USS Ronald The people must demand the China Sea. In mid-April, China de- Reagan (from its Japanese port), dismantling of Chinese military fa- ployed the Haiyang Dizhi 8 survey both nuclear-powered warships and cilities in the country's territory ship for searching sea and mineral carrying a combined force of more and reparation for damaged marine resources, escorted by a flotilla of than 10,000 troops, are presently resources. They must also demand coast guard and militia ships. operating in the Philippine Sea. the withdrawal of armed Chinese Tensions rose on April 28-29 The manuevers and counter- Coast Guard and paramilitary ships. when the US deployed the USS Gab- maneuvers of US and Chinese milit- At the same time, the people rielle Giffords, a combat littoral ary forces within and around Phil- must call for the complete abroga- ship, to "patrol" the area. Tensions ippine territories must be tion of the Visiting Forces Agree- further rose when on April 29 two denounced. All these heighten ten- ment, the Enhanced Defense Co- US Air Force B-1B Lancer bomber sions and raise the danger of con- operation Agreement and all other plane were launched from contin- frontations and igniting direct lopsided treaties which give US mil- ental US and flew towards the South armed conflict in the region. itary forces extraterritorial rights. USANDCHINESEWARSHIPSINTHEPHILIPPINES

6 June 21, 2020 ANG BAYAN Millions of OFW are stranded abroad

he reactionary state has always treated overseas Filipino workers like a million migrant workers will lose garbage. The pandemic only highlighted this fact. Last June 16, 14 T their jobs. But according to Filipinos who wanted to come home were barred by the Duterte regime from estimates by the International La- leaving Amsterdam, the Netherlands because there were not enough bor Organization in April, the figure quarantine facilities in the Philippines. They were told that could go up to 5 million. This is only allows 1,000 OFWs to come home per day. because most Filipino migrant workers (43%) work in food and The 14 are among the millions One in every three Filipinos who accommodation, wholesale and of migrant Filipinos in various parts succumbed to the disease is an retail, manufacturing and trade of the world who are now suffering OFW. Many of them have resorted services and administration— due to the Duterte regime’s neglect. to begging the Philippine embassies sectors which are most affected by In Asia-Pacific countries, many of for food. In other parts of world, the pandemic. Adding insult to the them work in the health and service three have committed suicide out of injury, the regime even plans to sectors. They face the threat of depression as they lost their jobs. increase the migrants’ Philhealth infection everyday. Domestics in The Duterte regime has no plan contribution to 3%. Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and in place against the mounting Singapore are not spared from this unemployment among migrants due situation. to the pandemic. Despite getting The government does not have a billions worth of loans, Duterte only Remittances set to plan to give them protection. In allocated P1.5 billion to those who plunge this year Hong Kong, migrants themselves have lost their jobs. Due to budget IN EARLY APRIL, the Na- have to buy medical supplies like constraints, funds to provide tional Economic Develop- face masks and alcohol. In South P10,000 per worker financial aid ment Authority projected Korea, they had to push Philippine have long dried up. that the inflow of remit- embassy officials to distribute Majority of those who requested tances sent back home by masks. Thousands of Filipinos for aid were turned down as funds overseas Filipino workers working in ships are detained in the were limited to migrants in 29 (OFWs) will plunge by shores of Australia because they countries. Migrants in more than around 30% this year due were banned from docking. The 190 countries and territories were to the Covid-19 pandemic. regime has no plan to conduct mass not counted where most are This is because almost half testing among them or to pay for temporary workers, trainees, of the total number of their hospitalization in case they students, tourists and OFWs are employed in are infected. undocumented workers. Families of sectors hardest hit by the Because of this neglect, more OFWs in the Philippines are also pandemic in various coun- than 6,000 migrants have been excluded. tries. infected with Covid-19 in 51 According to the DOLE’s This poses a huge chal- countries. More than 440 have died. understated estimates, 700,000 to lenge to the local economy especially that it is heavily reliant on remittances. Last year, OFW remit- tances hit a record high of P1.68 trillion, which is equivalent to 10% of the gross domestic product in the same year. OFW rem- mitances are among the regime's primary source of funds to sustain local con- sumption and resolve the ever-increasing deficit in its balance of payments.

ANG BAYAN June 21, 2020 7 Anti-poor plan on the education system

evoid of sympathy and preparation. This was what millions of parents pressure. A 19-year old student Dand thousands of teachers accuse Rodrigo Duterte and his education committed suicide as he was ex- officials with regards to the plan of enforced “distance learning” for the tremely stressed on where to find coming schoolyear. “The online, modular, television, radio and laptop meth- money for his cellphone services. ods are inappropriate since families' conditions vary,” a mother and member of the Amihan, an organization of peasant women, said. “They no more Anti-poor and a sham money for buying food, what more for buying gadgets,” the group said. In Distance learning pushes many many rural areas, many have no access to the internet and people have no children and youth to drop out of gadgets. Some do not even own a television or radio. There are also places school. Estimates put that only with no electricity. 55% or 15.2 million of the 27.7 who enrolled in 2019 will enrol this Under the Department of Edu- terials, buying the needed gadgets year. Enlistment already slowed cation’s distance learning, classes and paying for the needed internet down from 6.3 million during the will be held without opening services. first week of June to 4.2 million in schools. This was after Duterte de- Joy, a contractual worker with the second week. From this num- clared that there will be no face-to- two school-age children, is feeling ber, only 319,000 enrolled in face classes in all areas at all levels the pressure. She only has one private schools or a mere 7.6% out until a vaccine becomes available. phone which she uses in her work as of the 4.2 million private students Parents can supposedly pick from a doctor’s assistant. She is among last year. Private enrolment will three options—the modular, online those who are under a no-work, no- probably not reach a million this and television/radio-based instuc- pay scheme, and earns only year. tion. In the modular distance learn- P15,000/month. She is thinking of There are studies which say ing, parents pick up learning in- picking the modular type of in- that the number of cellphones ex- structions from schools, either in struction but worry that her chil- ceed the number of Filipinos (117 digital or printed form, which the dren will not learn anything without million for 110 people.) But these children will then learn on their a teacher since she is at work for are concentrated in urban areas, own. For online classes, all these most of the day. and half of which are not internet- will be done through the internet, Teachers are also stressed. A capable. Majority of internet users and the third option will have chil- group of teachers in Maco Valley, (80%) are subscribed to the dren learning their lessons from the Davao de Oro was forced to set up cheapest, intermittent and slowest television or radio. In all three op- camp along the highway for a DepEd connection. The cheapest student tions, mothers or a family member webinar since it was the only area internet service package is P50 for will be obligated to stay at home to where they could pick up internet 3 days. Each student will then need act as teacher. Teachers, on the signals. Even students feel the either a laptop (P18,000) or an in- other hand, will take on the ternet-capable cellphone (P2,500). responsibility of pre- Overall, minimun costs for dis- paring the ma- tance learning can reach P110.8 bil- lion for a period of three months. A minimum of P69.25 billion is needed so students can each have access to a gadget. The cheapest internet services will cost at least P41.55 billion. This does not include teachers’ needs such as laptops and in- ternet allowance set at P1,500/month. Cellphone and in- ternet companies are set to make a "Anti-poor...," continued on page 9

8 June 21, 2020 ANG BAYAN Lumads urge 88th IB Agents strafes to leave community in Bukidnon house of Kasama- Bukidnon leader he confrontation between between Lumads and 88th IB officials became Theated during a dialogue held in Cabanglasan, Bukidnon last June 13. SUSPECTED ELEMENTS of The Lumads urged the military unit to leave and demanded an end to its the 88th IB strafed a house attacks in the community. The unit has occupied the communities of Eyaray, where Elita Manlapid, 59, Lakap, Katablaran, Salorenga, Maynaga, Tombaga, San Vicente and Kahen. and her family were staying The dialogue was attended by the Cabanglasan local government, barangay on the night of June 16. captains and 200 residents from barangays Kanangaan, Iba at Manggaod, Manlapid was the chairper- along with three chieftains. This was the first dialogue conducted in the area. son of the San Fernando Kasama-Bukidnon chapter in In a radio interview, Datu attend the dialogue amid intense 2013. Konrado Salimbon narrated that in focused military operations in their She has been repeatedly the past, they allowed themselves area. pressured to “surrender” as to be used by the AFP as The Lumads were angry with a member of the New Peo- paramilitary forces of Alamara and how the 88th IB summoned ple’s Army in 2016 and 2019. Bagani. They were regularly used as residents two at a time to force The 88th IB also summoned guides by AFP regular platoons them to surrender as NPA members. her to their headquarters in against the New People’s Army. They were further enraged when Maramag. The residents in Their anti-Lumad activities ruined the military claimed that their the area have been experien- the communities and their tribal presence is for the Lumad’s good. cing violence and threats by unity. For two decades, they had no The 88th IB, however, admitted an AFP-organized paramilit- livelihoods, and there were that they remain in the area ary group. Kasama-Bukidnon frequent “lidos” or interclan wars. because they regard the residents has been leading the fight to The military also used them to plant as Red fighters. defend the Pantaron range marijuana in their ancestral lands The 88th IB’s area of operation and stop mining companies in Pantaron. covers the municipalities of Va- from destroying the Lumad’s But because of the 88th IB’s lencia, San Fernando, Quezon, Ma- ancenstral land. repression, they were forced to ramag and Kitaotao. Human rights unite to escape from the military’s violations are rampant in these deception and exploitation. They areas. From January 2019, Ang May 15, the 88th IB expanded its decided to air their grievances and Bayan recorded seven cases of operations and covered the town of did not let attempts by the military extrajudicial killings and 112 Cabanglasan. This came after the to stop them from going out of their arrests. There were at least two 4th ID's declaration that it has communities. They successfully bombing incidents which forced already decimated the NPA in the demanded the local government to 3,509 individuals to evacuate. Last aforementioned towns.

"Anti-poor...," from page 8 schools and face-to-face interaction nurses and other school personnel killing. If parents do not shell out for is more advantageous and cost-ef- who can go on rotation if necessary. these gadgets and services, local fective, especially in areas where The DepEd plans to add only 10,000 governments, like Pasig City, will do Covid-19 is not prevalent. teachers for 2020, even though the purchasing using public funds. If Nevertheless, these health 81,000 teachers have been needed the said private companies give- measures should be accompanied since 2018. away their products and services, all with extensive reforms to resolve In general, 30 million students, their “donations” will be tax-deduct- decades-old problems of the educa- teachers and other school employ- ible. tional system. Social distancing is ees in elementary and high schools On the other hand, the DepEd difficult to implement in schools are affected by Rodrigo Duterte’s estimates that it will take only P37 with acute shortages of classrooms, lack of sympathy and preparation. billion to put into place the basic chairs and desks. In 2019, the The pandemic exposed not only the health measures. Combined with DepEd admitted a 800,000 regime’s inutility in addressing the mass testing of teachers (at the classroom shortage. Toilets, water needs and rights of children and the most P6.9 billion for three months) and other sanitation facilities are youth, but also the country’s back- and other adjustments to class size, also severely lacking. ward and rotting educational sys- duration and frequency, opening of There are not enough teachers, tem. ANG BAYAN June 21, 2020 9 Unemployment at all-time high Hundreds of eports of mass lay offs filled the news as companies face the threat of professionals suffer Rbankruptcy due to the crisis wrought by Duterte's almost 3-month lock- under lockdown down. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of professionals and workers Companies have successively unemployed and underemployed in the service sector continue expressed their intent to retrench Filipinos during the said period, to suffer from the Duterte their workers. Among these are the which is the highest in history. regime’s neglect under the Bank of Philippine Islands which an- lockdown. They lost incomes nounced it will retire 1,286 employ- Further burden when schools, offices and ees who are 50 years and older. Amid worsening crisis, the re- cinemas were closed. Among Cebu Pacific is also planning to gime fast-tracked the implementa- them are 50,000 teachers in retrench 1,000 of its ground crew tion of more neoliberal policies to universities and colleges, and who are outsourced from the 1Avia- futher exploit workers and ensure 500,000 education workers in tion Services Corp., on top of the the maximum profit of capitalists. private schools. In addition, 400 who were laid earlier in April. On May 16, the Department of 800,000 workers in the film The Philippine Airlines and Air Asia Labor and Employment issued Labor industry, and the arts and will also retrench 564 workers. Advisory 17 which allowed employ- culture were also affected. About 400 workers of Victory Liner ers to retrench their workers, cut Most of them are hired on are set to lose their jobs. Okada salaries and benefits, compress a no-work, no-pay basis. Des- Manila also announced it will lay off working hours and days, and imple- pite this, they are not covered 1,000 workers. ment various flexible labor schemes. by the regime’s miserable aid In Davao City, approximately This includes the "work from home" and compensation. 200,000 workers will lose their jobs arrangement which is being used by Wages for teachers in as more than 10,000 companies ex- employers to cut the salaries of private colleges stopped in pressed their intent to reduce their workers in half. March. They will not be paid respective workforces. Earlier on May 7, the depart- until classes resume. Many ment issued Department Order 213 teachers and employees of Worst unemployment in history which suspended the conduct of in- private schools have not The Department of Labor and spections in work places which is a been paid since the middle of employment reported that more requisite in ensuring safety as the April. They are in the brink of than 2,000 companies with a total economy reopened. It also suspen- losing their jobs as estimates workforce of 69,000 closed down ded all activities related to union show enrollment in private since the lockdown. work which effectively suppressed schools down by 75% down The Philippine Statistics Autho- the right of workers to redress this year. rity (PSA) also published a survey grievances. this June stating that the total Meanwhile, the Bureau of number of unemployed has reached Internal Revenue issued a memor- 7.3 million in April, bringing the un- andum requiring self-employed in- employment rate to 17.7%. The dividuals or those who run online number of unemployed is more than businesses to register with the thrice higher than the 2.4 million agency. Applicants are recorded in January. expected to spend at Ibon Foundation, however, said P2,260 for the regis- that the actual number of unem- tration alone. Through ployed is 14 million, and the unem- this, those earning ployment rate is actually 22%. more than P20,833 per These figures were derived by month will be charged adding the number of discouraged a tax of 20%. Many workers and those who lost their workers who lost their jobs during the lockdown who were jobs during the lock- dropped by the PSA its computa- down shifted to this tions. sector to earn a liv- In sum, there are 20.4 million ing.

10 June 21, 2020 ANG BAYAN The revolution takes root in Niyog

pening new territories, or doing expansion work in an area, is a difficult we’re just ordinary. We are here to Obut challenging task of the people’s army. In Negros, one such place is serve you wholeheartedly and we Niyog, a barrio in the island's hinterlands. Almost all residents here are poor ask for nothing but your support.” peasants. Some are farmworkers. They plant coconuts and produce copra. “Oh lord! I thought the NPAs were bad people! But you are all so At the outset of expansion “have horns, tails and go angry handsome and beautiful!” she said. work, a unit invariably faces chal- when rice cauldrons are empty." “Come inside the house, so I can lenges. But by firmly grasping mass At first, the comrades did not give you some coffee.” From then line, constantly conducting investig- introduce themselves to avoid on, she would always look for the ation and upholding military discip- alarming the residents. They be- comrades. One of her early memor- line, the Red fighters will be able to friended them while deepening their ies are of the 10 Red fighters who organize and establish mass organ- knowledge of the barrio and its amazed her when they helped her izations from which Red power will people’s issues. At first, they asked harvest her produce in lightning grow. around for animals to buy, and hung speed. This jolly mother, who was The first thing the comrades did around to listen to barrio tales. then 54, became one of staunchest in Niyog was find a good site to en- Once, a comrade asked a mother supporters of the people’s army. camp outside the community. Since what will happen if he ever crossed There was a time when the they didn’t know anybody in the paths with an NPA member in the comrades hesitated to speak to area, the comrades became creative area. people who lived in a big house. in finding food, and competed in “You’ll have to excuse me, my They thought they might need to catching the most frogs and crabs, child,” she told the comrade, “I adjust their approach as they might and gathering wild vegetables and haven’t seen one of those. I don’t face someone from a higher class. It others. know if that’s a person or an animal turned that the house was actually The people of Niyog were not or what. Just proceed carefully.” Niyog’s barangay hall. It turned only unaware of the NPA, they were The comrade did not prolong out, their appointment was with fed with lies by the AFP. The com- the suspense and introduced him- village officials who wanted to talk rades knew that Niyog residents will self. “Thank you, but you should and join the organizations. be uneasy of the NPA as the AFP also forgive me. We are NPA mem- Through constant immersion and had told them that NPA members bers. We don’t have tails or horns, "The revolution...," continued on 12

ANG BAYAN June 21, 2020 11 Party conducts coordinated BPCs in Bicol

our full sessions of the Basic Party Course and an instructors training Fwas recently conducted in the Bicol region. “The BPC further deepened my eagerness to join the NPA. This gave me a clearer understanding of what the people's army actually does," said Ka Troy, one of the students.

Coordinated educational dis- along with several other students. cussions were conducted to consol- An instructors training was also idate the mass base and the conducted and produced 18 more people's army. This is also in re- BPC instructors in the guerrilla zone. sponse to the fascist counterinsur- The training was launched in gency campaign of the fascist Du- between BPC sessions. The newly terte regime. This was conducted graduated instructors were immedi- while the guerrilla front was not fo- ately assigned to teach and were cused of military operations. grouped to discuss particular topics. Within five weeks from March “At first, I was not at ease to key to conducting the BPC and until the first week of April, 84 res- lead discussions on the subject mat- other Party courses. idents and Red fighters finished the ter... I initially felt timid,” narrated After planning, the guerrilla BPC. Ka Nati, one of the new instructors. front immediately invited the local He said the techniques taught during Party branch in the barrio and asked Result of the studies the training such as use of illustra- them to list those who will particip- Ka Troy is a member of a youth tions helped him in the discussion. ate in the discussions. The plan was group who later on became a key also coordinated with Party mem- partner of the New People's Army Decisiveness bers in the urban center for them to (NPA) in their community. He is Last year, holding Party courses be able to send their delegates. Red among the 70 farmers who graduated in the guerrilla front was not as fighters ensured the security of the from the course. “I learned more fruitful due to lack of proper plan- venue of the program. about the policies... these policies are ning and motivation. This year, the On average, the courses were the reasons why I like how the Party leadership in the province led completed in one week. The conduct people's army operates," commented the planning and execution of the of educational discussions were co- Ka Troy during the graduation. educational discussions in the said ordinated in various barangays. In- Through the BPC, Ka Troy was fi- guerrilla front. tructors were able to immediately nally able to firm up his decision to Planning and the students' respond to the instruction needs in join the NPA as a full time member, eagerness to finish the courses are other areas.

"The revolution...," from page 11 rose to become their first leader. residents reminisce, they could not explanations, the comrades reversed In the next months, the army help but be amused by some of their the ugly picture of the NPA painted and the mass organizations experiences. But they also know by the AFP, and forged the unity launched mass campaigns for the that such experiences during that between the people and their army. improvement of the community. formative period shaped both the The people’s fears and doubts were Niyog residents participated comrades and the masses which replaced with joy and unwavering wholeheartedly as they knew these they serve. support to the mass struggles. were for their own welfare. For the moment, Niyog’s re- The first educational seminar It did not take long for Niyog to volutionary people are faced with was held in the village basketball move from an expansion area to a the challenge of standing firm and court where they established the consolidated one. The barrio’s first expanding further their organiza- local chapter of the Pambansang Red fighter and martyr, Ka Marmar, tions and movement in face of in- Katipunan ng mga Magsasaka. A joined in 2018. He was killed this tensified military operations in discussion on the short course on year. Many of Niyog’s best sons and Negros. They are confident that Philippine society and revolution daughters have joined, and will they will overcome their difficult was also held. Forty people atten- continue to join, the people’s army. situation, with their beloved army ded the meeting, Tatay Abraham When the comrades and Niyog’s on their side.

12 June 21, 2020 ANG BAYAN 200 attend wedding in a guerrilla front

early 200 residents from various barangays and communities attended Nthe wedding of four Red fighter couples in Bukidnon last June 11. The people witnessed the couples exchange vows under the rules of the revolu- tionary government and flag of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Simultaneously, a conference of 19 which calls for collective re- revolutionary youth organization sponse. Kabataang Makabayan (KM) was The participants discussed cur- held in the province. Up to 37 KM rent national issues, as well as is- members from different towns, cit- sues faced by the youth in areas ies and communities of the province where the KM chapters operate. KM conference were concluded participated in the activity. These discussions resulted in the safely, even as four battalions of Issues of national concern as formation of an organization that the Philippine Army mounted at- well as those affecting the KM’s will collectively respond to the pan- tacks in the area. Although the area particular areas were discussed in demic and oppose to the US-Duterte is Covid-19-free, health measures the conference. Foremost among regime’s terrorist attacks. were strictly observed during both these is the global concern of Covid- Both the mass wedding and the activities.

Killings, arrests and attacks are prevalent even without ATB

wo civilians were killed and seven others were arrested by state forces in ganon, Bantayan, Cebu. She is co- Tthe past two weeks. ordinator of the Farmers Develop- ment Center (Fardec) sustainable Suspected state agents gunned In Gonzaga, Cagayan, joint ele- agriculture program. She is also a down Sanggunian Kabataan (SK) ments of the Marine Battalion Lan- member of the International Asso- councilor Harold Tablazan at Sitio ding Team 10 and Cagayan PNP ciation of Women in Radio and Te- Passi, Barangay Mayang, Tubungan, Provincial Mobile Force Company levision Philippines which operates Iloilo last June 20. Tablazan was a arrested peasants Rolando Reyes, the Radio Sugbuanon. She is yet to former member of the Federation of 40, and Ranchi Tubban, 19, last be surfaced by the abductors. Iloilo Farmers Association and is June 10. They were nabbed at a Meanwhile, three farmers were currently working in the island. His checkpoint in Centro Gonzaga. attacked by soldiers last June 15 at companion, SK chairman Glenn Bun- Troopers planted a grenade inside around 5:00 a.m. in Tayasan, da, was also killed in the attack. the victims' van while inspecting it. Negros Oriental. Victims, Dodoy In Negros Occidental, joint ele- The victims were on their way home Perez, 51, Quiting Amad, and an ments of the police and 79th IB il- from ushering stranded stranded unindentified person, are all resid- legally arrested activist Gaspar passengers to the next town. ents of Barangay Laguit. Soldiers Davao last June 12 at a checkpoint On June 12 in North Cotabato, mauled Perez and his companion, in Barangay Caduha-an, Cadiz City. elements of the PNP, 73rd IB and while Amad was stabbed by six The police claimed the victim was 39th IB abducted Lumad Mongkel unidentified men who were with the found positive of Covid-19. The po- Tacalan, 66, and his two children. soldiers. lice planted a grenade in the vic- The Tacalans were apprehended Barangay Tayasan residents are tim's bag while he was being de- outside the Mindanao Interfaith actively opposing the entry of a de- tained. Davao is an organizer of Services Foundation Incorporated structive mining company in the the National Federation of Sugar in Barangay Kisante, Makilala, area. The company is set to operate Workers and has long been tagged North Cotabato. They were de- in Basay, Ayungon, Bindoy, Jimala- by the military as a supporter of tained by the 39th IB before being lud, La Libertad and Guihulngan. the New People's Army (NPA). He surfaced in June 17. The 11th IB was redeployed in the was presented by the AFP before On June 13, six armed state province in June 2019 particularly the media as an "NPA surrende- agents also abducted Elena Tijamo to suppress the residence struggle ree." at her house in Barangay Kamping- against the said project.

ANG BAYAN June 21, 2020 13 Americans mark 155th anniversary of end of slavery

housands of Americans marched in more than 100 cities across the US in accountable for their crimes, re- TJune 19 to mark the 155th Juneteenth, the day in 1865 when the Black moval of their many privileges, de- people were formally emancipated from slavery in the United States. funding the institution, and even calls to dismantle the police. At Majority marked the commem- Hundreds of teachers and their least nine states supported these oration with protests to demand families also marched to seek addi- calls. including Minneapolis, where justice over police brutality and ra- tional funding for black students George Floyd was killed, which de- cist killings that target Black Amer- and demand that the curriculum be manded the that the police be dis- icans. Massive protests condemning reformed to include the history of mantled. Resolutions were also re- the police killing of George Floyd the Black people in history classes. cently issued to prohibit the use of continue to expand across the US. A number of monuments associated excessive force by police against On June 12, people were further en- with Black slavery were taken down suspects including chokeholds and raged with the police shooting of by the people, including statues of no-knock warrants. In Washington Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta, Georgia slave traders and flags of big land- D.C., a resolution was issued ban- while attempting to run from police lords who refused to liberate their ning the police from using tear gas, operatives. Brooks, a restaurant slaves, among other images and pepper spray, rubber bullets and employee, died after sustaining two symbols of discrimination. stun grenades in dispersing protest gunshot wounds in the back. actions. In solidarity, thousands of Defund the police The Black Lives Matter move- workers mounted strikes at the Among the major calls of the ment also called for jobs, wage in- International Longshore and Ware- Black Lives Matter movement and creases, housing and the repect of house Union in Oakland, California other groups is to reform the police human rights. They asserted that on June 19. The strike paralyzed the institution. This includes the re- many crimes in their communities operation of approximately 29 ports moval of its ranking officials, en- stem from poverty, state neglect along West Coast for eight hours. actment of laws that will hold them and discrimination.

Protests in Chile, Lebanon and Hong Kong Exploitation and oppression, THOUSANDS OF CHILEANS trooped to Santiago, the Danding's legacy to peasants national capital of Chile, on May 18 to express their anger LANDLORD AND COMPRADOR Eduardo “Danding” and expose the hunger and poverty they are suffering due Cojuangco, Jr died last June 16. He was one of the to the lockdown and the onslaught of the Covid-19 crisis. closest cronies of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos They condemned the surge in the prices of food and water and is notorious for plundering the coco levy fund in the country due to the lockdown arbitrarily imposed by and land grabbing. He left a legacy of landlessness the state. and oppression to farmers and farm workers. Successive protests were also mounted by several In Negros Occidental, he monopolized control thousands in Beirut, the national capital of Lebanon since over 11 haciendas covering 4,461 hectares of land June 11. They condemned the economic downturn in the which he grabbed from peasants. He was notori- country and the currency devaluation of more than 70%. ous for conniving with anyone in power to More than a third of Lebanon's are jobless, and the strengthen his control over the haciendas. He also pandemic has further aggravated their plight. masterminded the eviction and slapping of Meanwhile, thousands of Hong Kong citizens marched trumped-up charges against peasants asserting on the streets on May 24 and 27 to oppose the resolution their right to own the land in the said haciendas. issued by the National People’s Congress of China which He was also notorious for plundering the coco implemented a mechanism to “preserve” the national levy fund that is supposedly intended for coconut security of Hong Kong. Protesters were dispersed with tear farmers. He used the said fund to buy the San gas and rubber bullets. China made it appear that the said Miguel Corporation. Approximately P105 billion resolution only aims to combat threats of separatism, are yet to be returned to coconut farmers. His subversion, terrorism, and foreign interference in Hong companies are notorious for widespread practices Kong. In truth, the resolution actually seeks to suppress of contractualization and other flexible labor ar- the citizens' struggle for autonomy. rangements.

14 June 21, 2020 ANG BAYAN