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

Vol XLVIII No.3 February 21, 2017 www.philippinerevolution.info

CPP/NPA terminates unilateral ceasefire

IN A VIDEO message last Feb- ruary 1, New People's Army (NPA) spokesperson Ka Oris announced the joint decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philip- pines and the NPA's National Operations Command to ter- minate the unilateral ceasefire EDITORIAL declaration on the same day. After giving notice to the Gov- Attain just peace through ernment of the Republic of the (GRP), the ceasefire negotiations and people's war will effectively expire on Febru- ary 10, 11:59 p.m. According to Ka Oris, the he Party joins the Filipino people in rejecting the February 4 de- leadership of the revolutionary claration of GRP President Rodrigo Duterte that he will terminate movement decided to terminate peace negotiations between the GRP and the National Democratic the ceasefire since, "first, the TFront of the Philippines (NDFP). Duterte regime failed to comply Not having received any formal Duterte's impetuous pronounce- with its promise to free all notice of termination from the GRP, ments to end the GRP-NDFP peace political prisoners 160 days however, we consider the GRP-NDFP negotiations came a day after ending after it was first brought up in peace negotiations as standing. We the GRP's declaration of unilateral August. Second, the GRP continue to look forward to sched- ceasefire against the NPA. His de- treacherously took advantage of uled talks on February 22-24 and cision was made clearly without ju- the CPP/NPA ceasefire to en- April 2-6. dicious consideration of the advise of croach on the territories of the The Party assails Duterte's his peace panel, and coming at the people's democratic govern- threats to order the cancellation of heels of a successful third round of ment." passports of NDFP negotiators and peace talks in Rome, Italy just over a Even as the CPP and the consultants as well as their rearrest week ago. He asserts that peace ne- NPA end their unilateral cease- and detention without bail. If car- gotiations will no longer be resumed fire, both continue to support ried out, these shall be considered as unless there is "compelling reason" the NDFP-GRP peace negoti- gross acts of treachery and grave vi- to do so. ations. However, the revolu- olations of the Joint Agreement on It is dismaying that Duterte is tionary movement opposes the Safety and Immunity Guarantees showing interest in peace negoti- use of the ceasefire "for paci- (JASIG). The JASIG was reaffirmed ations with the NDFP only as long as fication and to demand a long by the Duterte regime and the NDFP it can be used as a tool for pacifica- and indefinite ceasefire without just a few months ago. It guarantees tion to compel the revolutionary concrete benefits to the people non-reprisal against each other's forces to accept a prolonged cease- . . . to be continued on p. 3 peace personnel. fire that is not only without sub- stantial gain or benefit for the and to sow fear and intimidation prisoners is equivalent to a "sur- people, but also detrimental to the among the people and carry out render" of the GRP. He disregards people as it gives the reactionary armed offensive operations despite the basic fact that they have been state armed forces impunity in car- the reciprocal declarations of uni- charged with trumped up cases and rying out abuses against the people lateral ceasefire. are victims of flagrant injustice. in the countryside. AFP strike operations have in- Over the past months, Duterte In declaring his intention to pull tensified over the past few weeks has adamantly refused to release out from the GRP-NDFP negoti- leading to the January 23 attack on all political prisoners through a ations, Duterte echoed the exagger- an NPA encampment in Makilala, presidential amnesty proclamation, ated anger of the AFP over the out- and the January 26 assault on an contrary to his promise and obliga- break of successive armed NPA camp in Matalam, both in North tion of the GRP. skirmishes between the New Cotabato. The relentless AFP of- It appears that the biggest People's Army and the AFP resulting fensives have made the unilateral stumbling block to the release of in the death of six AFP troops since declaration for an interim ceasefire political prisoners is the AFP. In the end of January. untenable. In response, the NPA has declaring he will not release all He glosses over the fact that it heightened its active defense political prisoners, Duterte says he was he and the AFP hierarchy that manuevers over the past days to must also listen to the military, has ordered the forward deployment defend the interests and welfare of even if this means turning a deaf of armed troops in the guerrilla people. The announcement by the ear to the people's cry for justice. zones and bases of the NPA to oc- Party and NPA last February 1 ter- It has become quite clear that cupy barrios in the guise of "peace minating the ceasefire declaration Duterte, who relies on the support and order", "delivery of was made with more than sufficient of the AFP for his political survival, social services" and forewarning since two months ago. now favors the military and police other pretexts, In wanting to end peace negoti- more than the people. ations, Duterte said he could not The Filipino people demand a agree to releasing all just and lasting peace by resolving political prisoners. He the outstanding socio-economic makes the absurd problems, especially widespread claim that the re- landlessness and landgrabbing in lease of all political the countryside, as well as chronic unemployment, low wages, lack of ANG Contents job security and myriad problems besetting the workers, peasants Editorial: Attain just peace through and other basic sectors. Peace-loving sectors, organiz- Vol XLVIII No. 3 | February 7, 2017 negotiations and people's war 1 ations and personalities must firmly CPP/NPA terminates ceasefire 1 Ang Bayan is published in oppose the precipitate decision of Panels hold 3rd round of peace talks 3 Pilipino, Bisaya, Hiligaynon, GRP President Duterte to end the Waray and English. NPA active defense from January 4 GRP-NDFP peace negotiations. The offices of the NDFP nego- Ang Bayan welcomes GRP illegally arrests consultant 5 contributions in the form of tiating panel shall remain open to US refuses to take off terror list 6 articles and news items. Readers continue to explore the possibility are encouraged to send feedback NPA actions in Batangas and 6 of reopening peace negotiations with the Duterte government, both and recommendations for 7 EJKs under Oplan Kapayapaan 6 improving our newspaper. on the CASER as well as on the NDFP condemns AFP's operations 7 matter of a bilateral ceasefire sim- instagram.com/prwc.info Duterte's criminal Oplan Tokhang 8 ultaneous with release of political prisoners. youtube.com/PhilippineRevolutionWebCentral Workers demand justice for HTI victims 9 The Filipino people must in- @prwc_info Farmers hold campout in Davao City 10 tensify both their armed and non- armed struggles against all forms fb.com/PhilippineRevolutionWebCentral Congress disrupted by teachers 10 of oppression and exploitation. Rallies across the country 11 [email protected] They must vigorously carry forward Drivers protest against phase-out 11 the national democratic revolution Ang Bayan is published fortnightly by the Central Committee in order to lay down the conditions of the Communist Party of the Philippines for a just and lasting peace.

2 February 7 , 2 01 7 ANG BAYAN "CPP/NPA. . . ," from page 1 Panels hold successful and the revolutionary move- ment." third round of peace talks The NPA's National Oper- ations Command ordered all NPA units and commands, in- espite Pres. Duterte's declaration last February 4 that he is terminating cluding people's militias and Dthe peace talks between the GRP and NDFP, the revolutionary movement self-defense units to "carry remains open to its continuation. Among the reasons is the success of the third out active defense to counter, round of talks held in Rome, Italy last January 26 and important points of defeat and punish enemy AFP, agreement achieved therein. PNP, CAFGU units patrolling According to the Joint Statement tentions and violations of human guerrilla zones, units which at the close of the third round of rights and international humanitari- occupy barangays and com- talks, the Reciprocal Working Com- an law as a consequence of military munities, including those mittee on SER has discussed the first operations conducted by state se- which launch offensive opera- four sections of the CASER draft. curity forces. tions in the guise of anti-drugs They have also started discussing The NDFP reiterated the matter and anti-crime, which violate agrarian reform and rural develop- of GRP violations to CARHRIHL, in- human rights and the spirit of ment, where the commit- cluding the non-observance of the the reciprocal ceasefire" be- tees agreed in principle to Hernandez doctrine which fore the ceasefire effectively the free land distribution prohibits the filing of expires. to peasants as part of criminal cases against "In the eventual termina- the CASER framework. persons who are pur- tion of the unilateral cease- Randall Echanis, suing a political fire, all NPA territorial and NDFP RWC-SER spokes- belief, the burial unit commands are ordered to person, even expressed of the late dic- take the full initiative in car- that they expect the draft tator Marcos at rying out military campaigns to be ready for signing within this the Libingan ng mga Bayani, the mil- and tactical offensives against year. The panels had also exchanged itary's use of schools, the AFP, PNP, the various drafts for the agreement on political halls, and other civilian structures in paramilitary units and death and constitutional reforms. communities, and the issue of due squads of the Duterte govern- Among the achievements of the process related to the government's ment, as well as armed, abus- talks was the signing of the Supple- anti-drug war. ive and exploitative businesses mental Guidelines for the Joint Mon- The NDFP also reasserted that and other armed groups and itoring Committee (JMC) and of the the release of almost 400 political syndicates," he added. ground rules for the conduct of the prisoners is an issue of compliance to The announcement was meetings of the reciprocal working CARHRIHL. In his opening remarks, followed by Ka Oris answering committees on SER. These docu- NDFP panel chief Fidel Agcaoili said, questions from the media ments will help in the acceleration of "the promise given in August 2016 in through the Philippine Re- the operationalization of the CAR- order to secure the indefinite exten- volution Web Central social HRIHL, which was signed by both sion of the unilateral ceasefire of the media accounts. Parties in 1998. revolutionary movement has not In response, Duterte also Once implemented, the Supple- materialized to date." terminated the GRP's unilat- mental Guidelines will allow the JMC The government committed to eral ceasefire on February 3, a to conduct joint investigations re- work with the defense lawyers to day after announcing that he garding both parties' compliance expeditiously process the release of will "not imitate" the with the CARHRIHL. all political prisoners, starting with CPP/NPA announcement. He Investigations could finally be 200 qualified political prisoners so ordered all AFP soldiers to "go conducted on the thousands of cases that they will benefit from the peace back to camps, clean their filed with the JMC since 2004. For talks process. rifles and get ready to fight." every case against the NDFP, there The failure to release political On February 3, the AFP lead- have been four cases filed against prisoners was one of the reasons for ership held a press conference the GRP. the CPP and NPA's termination of and promised to "hit them Many of the cases against the the unilateral ceasefire effective (NPA) hard." GRP involve extrajudicial killings, in- February 10, although they are still voluntary disappearances, illegal de- willing to suspend the termination if

ANG BAYAN February 7 , 2 01 7 3 the GRP fulfils its obligations. ment proposal for a bilateral ceasefire and other mat- But on February 3, Duterte declared that he is with- ters pertaining to the CARHRIHL's implementation. It drawing his ceasefire declaration and ordering the AFP has also been agreed upon to hold the fourth round of to conduct all-out operations. Following this, he exas- talks on April 2-6 in Oslo, Norway. The GRP has yet to peratedly declared that he was disengaging from the present its written notice of terminating the peace talks talks, and stressed that he will not release the political to the NDFP panel and the Third Party Facilitator before prisoners because he supposedly has to contend with this is finally terminated. the sentiments of the AFP elements . Meanwhile, Reynante Malcampo, 41 years old, was However, the NDFP is still willing to engage in peace already sickly by the time he was released from the talks. According to Fidel Agcaoili, "the NDFP is still hop- Compostela Valley Provincial Rehabilitation Center, ing that the peace talks will proceed as agreed and the Tagum City. It was only after five years that he was ac- CASER will still be ready for approval by both parties quitted by the courts from trumped-up criminal charges near the end of 2017." of illegal possession of explosives. He was not released The panels are slated to meet again in Utrecht, The through Pres. Duterte's amnesty but through human Netherlands, on February 20-22 to discuss the govern- rights advocates' own efforts. NPA launches active defense from January

ore than 18 armed actions were launched by Mvarious units of the New People's Army (NPA) throughout the country following the directive of the National Operations Command to carry out active de- fense to protect the welfare of the people and the re- volutionary forces. Isabela. A unit of the NPA- South Isabela (Benito Tesorio Com- mand) successfully ambushed two elements of the 86th IB in Echague town on January 30. In a statement by Victor Ser- vidores of the NPA-Cagayan Valley, the two were part of AFP troops who were persistently carrying out intelligence operations in the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela. Military units are blatantly us- ing relief and rehabilitation opera- tions and anti-drug campaigns as pretext to disguise AFP intelligence and combat operations in territories of the democratic people's govern- ment. Batangas. A few hours after diers were wounded. Reactionary bungan, Iloilo and Barangay Osorio the NPA's declaration of the cease- troops immediately swooped on the III, San Remigio, Antique. fire termination, the NPA-Batangas place, causing the evacuation of This military action was in re- (Eduardo Dagli Command) harassed several families. sponse to the people's demand to a detachment of the Philippine Air Southern Panay. Two success- punish the AFP elements creating Force on February 1 in Sitio Buntog, ive military actions were carried out disturbance in their community. Barangay Bulihan, Nasugbu. on February 1 by the NPA-Southern In the NPA-NTC's statement, Sorsogon. NPA-Sorsogon (Celso Panay (Napoleon Tumagtang Com- the 82nd IB and 3rd ID PA have Minguez Command) ambushed a mand) against 82nd IB and 3rd ID been involved in indiscriminate firing 31st IB patrol in Trese Martires, troops and launching military oper- at villagers' homes and coercing the Casiguran, on February 6. Two sol- ations in Barangay Boloc, Tu- people to sign papers consenting to

4 February 7 , 2 01 7 ANG BAYAN the AFP's encampment in their Kibalabag, City on Feb- According to Sanchez, as in the community. ruary 1. The three soldiers were failed AFP operation in Barangay North Central Mindanao Re- killed in the ensuing encounter and Makilala and Matalam, North Co- gion. Red fighters carried out har- Red fighters confiscated three cal- tabato, the NPA-Comval-Davao assment operations on January 30, ibre .45 pistols from them. East Coast Subregional Command against troops of the 8th IB who Northeastern Mindanao Re- successfully foiled renewed attacks were encamped at the SIDAMCO gion. On January 29, the NPA- of the 67th IB on February 1, 12:30 building in Barangay Concepcion, NEMR captured and declared pris- noon. Failing to inflict damage on Valencia City, Bukidnon. oners of war 30th IB element PFC the NPA, fascist AFP soldiers killed While encamped, the 8th IB or- Edwin Salan in Barangay Boudling- two farmers from Barangay Del Pil- ganized the DDSM or Duterte Drug in, Alegria, Surigao del Norte. Salan ar. Squad Movement led by the military is one of the 18 elements of the As early as January 31, combat intelligence battalion, which, ac- 30th IB on combat operations in the troops of the 67th IB have been cording to them, are against drugs area. deployed in barangays Kayawan, but targeting progressive com- The following day, January 30, Del Pilar and Kapasnan, Manay munity leaders in reality. Red fighters carried out harassment town. The following day, several Every night, they investigate operations against 29th IB troops villagers were subjected to inter- peasant leaders and force them to in barangays San Isidro, Ma- rogation and forced to reveal the admit that they know the where- hayahay and Hinimbangan, in whereabouts of the Red fighters. abouts of the NPA camp, NPA Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte and Around noon, an encounter oc- leaders and supporters. 75th IB troops on "peace and de- curred between four AFP columns AFP troops are also involved in velopment" operations in Sitio and an NPA unit in the area. The the proliferation of pornographic Brazil, Barangay Mat-i, Surigao Red fighters were able to maneuver shows, gambling and drunkenness City. Three AFP soldiers were well, killing 2Lt. Victor Alejo, and in the community. wounded. seriously wounding another AFP Alan Juanito, NPA-NCMR On the same day, another NPA element in the firefight. spokesperson, belied the declara- unit carried out harassment opera- Hundreds of families and tion of Capt. Joe Patrick Martinez tions on the 36th IB which was farmers have evacuated from their of the 4th ID that the AFP unit was launching COPD operations in community because of the 67th carrying out relief operations for Barangay Magtangali, Anawawon, IB's encampment. flood victims of Valencia City. Ac- Surigao Norte. Far South Mindanao Region. cording to him, there was no evacu- Southern Mindanao Region. Two elements of the 39th IB were ation center in said barrio and there Rigoberto Sanchez, NPA-Southern captured and declared prisoners of were likewise no evacuations during Mindanao Region spokesperson, war by Red fighters in Telefas, the floods. condemned the AFP statement that Columbio, Sultan Kudarat on Feb- Meanwhile, three elements of soldiers were implementing anti- ruary 2. They were identified as the 8th IB were flagged down by an crime operations in Brgy. Lambog, Sgt. Solaiman Calucop and Pfc NPA unit in Sitio Kalib, Barangay Manay, Davao Oriental. Samuel Garay.

GRP illegally arrests consultant

THE REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENT, human rights groups and peace supporters strongly condemn Ariel Arbitrario and two of his staff's illegal arrest by combined forces of the military and police. Arbitrario and his companions were flagged down at surveillance and ensure that their locations are known. a checkpoint in Sirawan, Toril, Davao City around 9 a.m. He also called the CPP, NPA and even the NDFP as ter- on February 6. He was freed on bail last August 18, 2016 rorist organizations. to participate as a consultant to NDFP-GRP peacetalks. All 17 consultants are already in the Philippines and He was present during the three rounds of talks. they are not in hiding, the NDFP said in a statement in His arrest is the first after Duterte announced the February 6. They can't be arbitrarily arrested because GRP's termination of the peacetalks. Concurrently, he they are protected by the JASIG (Joint Agreement on also ordered the cancellation of the consultants' pass- Security and Immunity Guarantees). A termination re- ports and told them to return to jail as they are "crim- quires 30 days to take effect after a written notice is inals." He also ordered the military to put them under served.

ANG BAYAN February 7 , 2 01 7 5 US refuses to take Sison NPA punitive actions and CPP off terror list in Batangas and Bukidnon THIS FEBRUARY 2, the US refused to take Prof. Jose Maria Sison and the Communist THREE PUNITIVE ACTIONS were implemented by units of the New Party of the Philippines off its terror list. People's Army in Batangas and Bukidnon against the oppressive big This, after the Government of the Philip- bourgeois comprador companies. pines (GRP) formally asked the US to strike him off the list. This measure was Batangas. Forty-two fire- In Sitio Convento, Barangay jointly agreed upon by the NDFP and GRP arms, including 14 M-16s and Looc, Sitio Bangkal and Sitio during the third round of peace talks in 20 shotguns, thousands of Cueba, Barangay Bulihan, the Rome, Italy last January. magazines, ammunition and guards repeatedy placed the According to the joint statement is- communication equipment were farmers at gunpoint. The latter sued by the NDFP and GRP negotiating confiscated by the NPA in two are also involved in blocking panels, there is no reason why Sison and successive raid and punitive fisherfolk from staying and fish- the CPP should remain within the list actions on the Selective Secur- ing along the coasts of Hamilo since its umbrella organization, the Na- ity Agency and 3-I Security Cove and areas covered by Henry tional Democratic Front, is engaged in Agency on January 29, 6:30- Sy's "development" in Barangay peace talks with the Philippine govern- 7:45 p.m. in Barangay Papaya, Calayo and Barangay Papaya. ment. This is contrary to the qualification Nasugbu town. Bukidnon. Ka Alan Juanito, of terrorists, said GRP panel chief Sil- Red fighters from the NPA- spokesperson of NPA-North vestre Bello. Sison and the CPP were in- Batangas (Eduardo Dagli Com- Central Mindanao Region, re- cluded in the terror list upon the recom- mand) led the disarming of ported the paralization of the mendation of the then Arroyo regime. guards who served as goons of Del Monte multinational fruit Bello also headed that previous GRP pan- Henry Sy against the farmers of corporation's backhoe and el. Hacienda Looc. Meanwhile, the bulldozer by a team of NPA's Instead of responding positively, the NPA ensured that no guards Mt. Kitanglad Subregional US took advantage of the situation to nor employees of the said com- Command on February 1. chide the Philippines on its "wrong steps" pany were injured. This action Concurrent to this, the with regard to its handling of the South was part of the punitive action NPA-South Central Bukidnon China Sea, referring to the Duterte re- against Henry Sy and his Subregional Command burned a gime's silence on China's reported stock- guards who are employed in the dump truck owned by the piling of weapons in disputed shoals and violent and widespread land- Macabaya family in Libertad, islands. grabbing in Hacienda Looc. Quezon. In related news, arms sold by the US Among their cases were the in- The Macabaya family is no- in line with its "war against terror" discriminate repeated destruc- torious for landgrabbing and already arrived in the Philippines, among tion of the farmer's plants, insufficient wages for workers these are 400 grenade launchers, 85 burning of huts and charcoal in their sugarcane fields. It is M40A5 sniper rifles and an RQ-11B Raven furnaces, confiscation of crops also accountable for demolish- unmanned aerial vehicle system with and blocking the farmers from ing 100 homes in Brgy. three drones. tilling their land. Salawagan, Quezon. 7 extrajudicial killings recorded under Oplan Kapayapaan

ust a month shy from the start of the year, at least seven peasant leaders lets hit him on the head, causing his Jand activists in Negros and Mindanao have already been killed for actively immediate death. Another farmer, defending their rights to land. Rebeco Pabuaya, was hit but sur- Wencislao Paquiao, Jovani Pa- clared Oplan Kapayapaan, the new vived. They were then participating guntalan, Iver Mulasi, Alexander campaign of suppression of the in a planting activity in a farm lot in "Sander" Ceballos of Negros and Duterte regime. Barangay San Benito, Calatrava. Veronico "Nico" Lapsay Delamente, Negros. Paquiao, 48, member of On January 20, masked ele- Emelito "Tatay Intik" Rotimas, and the San Benito Farmers Association- ments of the RPA working as armed Renato Anglao from Mindanao were KMP was killed on January 25 at goons of Mayor Nehemias dela Cruz the first victims of the newly-de- around 9 in the morning. Five bul- shot and killed Ceballos, 54, a

6 February 7 , 2 01 7 ANG BAYAN peasant leader of the National Fed- demned by the NFSW, Kilusang Delamente is known for leading eration of Sugarcane Workers (NF- Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and the struggle against large-scale nickel SW), at around 8 p.m. in his house Bagong Alyansang Makabayan mining in their ancestral land. Last in Barangay Pandan Silos, Murcia, (BAYAN) in Negros that launched a December, they filed charges against Negros Occidental. He was felled by series of marches and a protest-fu- Rep. Prospero Pichay of Surigao del three bullets. neral from January 22, the 30th an- Sur, owner of Claver Mineral Devel- Mulasi, chairman of the Nieves niversary of the Mendiola Mas- opment Corp. which was forcibly Agro Cooperative of Don Salvador sacre, and at the funeral memorial evicting the Lumad-Mamanwa from Benedicto, Negros Occidental, was for Ceballos on February 1 at the his mining concessions. shot to death on January 16 in front Murcia municipal cemetery. On February 6, Emelito "Tatay of his house in Barangay Pandanon According to Fidel Agcaoili, Intik" Rotimas, chairperson of Pur- Silos in Murcia, a municipality ad- chief NDFP negotiator, "Ceballos' ok 6, Barangay Lapu-lapu, Maco, joining Don Salvador Benedicto. killing is but the latest case of land- Compostela Valley, was shot by two Jovani Paguntalan was shot to lord violence against peasants who motorcycle-riding men around death on January 2. have taken initiatives to assert 11:45 a.m. outside the Community The land that Paquiao and other their right to have land to till in the Technical College of Southeastern farmers were tilling had previously face of the failure of successive Mindanao Incorporated (CTCSM). been sold by a certain Agustilo government agrarian reform pro- The shooting occurred while he was Hullesa through the voluntary offer grams." This demonstrates the talking to some students of the to sell. But this was redistributed by need for "sweeping reforms in the CTCSM. the Department of Agrarian Reform Philippine countryside to dismantle On February 3, the Rural Mis- (DAR) on February 2014 to dummy landlord power, resolve the peas- sionaries of the Philippines-NMR beneficiaries working under antry's hunger for land and end reported the killing of Renato Hullesa. The farmers filed a case rural oppression and exploitation.” Anglao, a Lumad involved in the against the Department of Agrarian Mindanao. Men aboard a mo- struggle against corporate planta- Reform (DAR). torcycle shot Delamente, 27, leader tions encroaching on their ancestral Ceballos was one of the leaders of a Mamanwa tribe, around 12:20 land. of the successful NFSW struggle to noon on January 20, in Punta Naga, More than 26,000 victims of recover the land grabbed by Mayor Brgy. Caagdianao, Claver, Surigao human rights violations have been Dela Cruz, a landlord politician of del Norte. He had been provincial recorded by Karapatan since Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occi- coordinator of the Katribu Party Duterte came to power as presid- dental. Since January 13 and 14, he since 2010 and an active member of ent. Among these are 18 extrajudi- had received death threats from a Kahugpungan sa Lumadnong mga cial killings, 14 attempted extraju- certain Jigger Costan, Mayor Dela Organisasyon (KASALO)-Caraga. A dicial killings, 397 illegal arrests, Cruz's bodyguard. Ceballos' son Ar- child was hit during the shooting, 7,841 cases of military occupation iel had narrowly survived a previous and is still in the hospital as of this of community structures, and shooting on July 17, 2015. writing. The shooting occurred near 14,659 cases of threats, intimida- The killings were strongly con- a military detachment. tion and harassment. NDFP condemns AFP's treacherous anti-NPA operations

THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC Front of the Philippines an NPA unit was encamped. The Red fighters carried out (NDFP) condemned the AFP's attacks on two NPA camps evasive maneuvers but army operations continued and at in North Cotabato in January 21 and 26. These were around 5:00 p.m., an armed skirmish ensued. Eight part of the reasons why the NPA was not able to sustain soldiers were killed while a Red fighter was martyred. The its unilateral ceasefire. place is far from the town center so the army's presence The attack against an NPA unit in Makilala in meant they were in pursuit of the NPA even while the January 21 was a serious breach of the AFP's own reciprocal unilateral ceasefires were in place. ceasefire, the NDFP said. The third round of peace In fact, the 39th IB has been on a rampage through negotiations in Rome, Italy were then set to open the North Cotabato communities since August, the NPA-SMR next day. said. A week after Duterte declared his ceasefire, the According to the Regional Operations Command of AFP sent "peace and development" teams which the NPA-Southern Mindanao, around 5:00 a.m. on the encamped in barangay halls, health centers and schools said day, troops from the 39th IB arrived at Sitio in Kidapawan City and in the towns of Pres. Roxas, Concepcion, Brgy. Kisante and launched combat Magpet and Arakan. It continued to mobilize its troops operations towards Sitio Lokatong in Brgy. Biangan where and paramilitaries in various forms of combat operations

ANG BAYAN February 7 , 2 01 7 7 which resulted in extrajudicial killings and harassments. CAFGU and PNP Special Action Force assaulted another Among the human rights violations are the killing of NPA camp in Sitio Emilda, Brgy. Taguranao, Matalam. At civilians Rita and Norberto Gascon on September 13 and around 6:00 a.m, 50 soldiers attacked the NPA camp Rolan Malignan on November 22. On December 6, located three kilometers away from the nearest barrio. several families from Magpet evacuated due to intense All Red fighters safely withdrew while three soldiers militarization. were killed in the battle that lasted for 45 minutes. A On January 26, combined forces from the 71st IB, hundred soldiers were sent to Matalam that day. Duterte's criminal Oplan Tokhang

his January, the Duterte regime earned an- Tother round of recriminations in relation to the large number of extrajudicial killings of drug victims and the disclosure of police criminal activities in the name of Oplan Tokhang. The latest of these is the police killing of the Korean businessman Jee Ick-Joo inside the premises of killings are the Philippine National Police (PNP) not done by headquarters in Camp Crame. Due amateur assas- to this, Duterte and PNP chief Ron- sins but by trained ald de la Rosa were forced to tem- and efficient killers. porarily suspend Oplan Tokhang and They are organized and pretend to investigate police per- systematic. sonnel involved in the extortion and The existence of a national who used drugs in 2016. Even his killing. death squad ran by the police, if not statement that drug addicts have The Communist Party of the directly populated by police per- "destroyed minds" and their num- Philippines has made its stand clear sonnel to help with the killings, is bers will increase in the next five against the regime's "war against indisputable. According to an in- years is not supported by studies. drugs" since August 2016. In the vestigation, police are paid by the According to the United Nations next six months, its anti-poor and "headquarters" for every suspect Office on Drugs and Crime, only anti-democratic character has been they kill. Police also pay a network 12% of drug users graduate into proven in the brutal and indiscrimin- of assassins that serve to ramp up serious addicts. ate killings during police operations the number of killings. There have 3) Duterte gave the "war where, incredibly, the victims al- been numerous reports where the against drugs" to the PNP, an legedly fought back or attempted to police have been exposed as pro- agency widely infiltrated by criminal escape. Most of the victims come tectors of drug syndicates. syndicates. The PNP is known for its from poor communities in cities and 2) To justify the massive inutility, corruption, widespread barrios and have been subjected to killings, Duterte repeatedly over- human rights violations and in- intense pressure to "surrender" and states the number of drug victims, volvement in major crimes. In the be listed. In time, the criminal and treating them as criminals who need last decade alone, police have been anti-people character of the anti- elimination. Seventy percent of all involved in numerous high profile drug campaign became more evident his speeches carry on this vein and cases of killings, kidnappings and based on the following reasons: is echoed by his stooges in the PNP. other crimes related to illegal drug 1) According to PNP statistics, Even his secretary in the Depart- syndicates. It has been repeatedly an average of 30 drug-related ment of Justice states that those proven that not only a few killings occur each day. More than who are involved in drugs are not scalawags or rotten individuals are 7,000 have been killed in the last part of humanity, so they don't have involved. Its inherently reactionary seven months but the PNP denies rights. and criminal character will not be that police are responsible for more Nevertheless, his data do not wiped clean by any amount of than half of the killings. According jive with his own government's Duterte's shaming of a few high of- to them, only 2,500 died under their statistics. According to the Philip- ficials. operations. The others are perpet- pine Dangerous Drugs Board, there 4) At the onset of the campaign, rated by drug syndicates. Neverthe- were only 1.8 million (2.3% of the it was already clear that Duterte less, it is apparent that these population), and not three million, was using the campaign to consol-

8 February 7 , 2 01 7 ANG BAYAN idate his hold on the police and mil- NUMBER KILLED IN itary. This is apparent in his push to THE ANTI DRUG WAR use the "war" to insist on authorit- - arianism and to propagate the pos- sibility of a martial rule. This was from July 2016 to January 2017 carried out with offering higher 7,025 wages and other bribes to officials killed in police under and personnel. 2,503 operations investigation 5) On the national level, 3,603 Duterte came out with various now, Duterte's "naming" of other people. As time goes by, his incess- "lists" to put pressure on his polit- high officials involved in drugs re- ant description of the drug problem, ical enemies. As expected, senate mains a threat. defense of this own campaign and and congressional investigations attacks on all of his detractors, has have come to nothing. Not a case WHILE EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS become tiresome. These are all has been filed against those he ac- and criminality rise, Duterte's all- empty bravado, as evident in his cused of involvement in the grand out support and defense of the PNP reversal and admission that the PNP network of narco-politics. Until has become intolerable for the is "rotten to the core." Workers launch protests to demand justice for HTI victims

orkers of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) demanded justice for the Wvictims of the February 1 fire at the House Technology Industries (HTI) in Cavite at a protest action in front of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) office on February 3. Concurrent with the national and other labor institutions con- protest against contractualization ducted a fact finding mission at the and for a national minimum wage, Cavite Export Processing Zone protesters demanded to hold the (CEPZ) on February 2, but many of HTI management, the Philippine the interviewed workers were hes- Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and itant in giving information for fear Trias. This is one of the factories DOLE responsible for their negli- that the company would not pay the government protects in its neo- gence of health and safety stand- them damages if they told the liberal policy of attracting and pri- ards which resulted in the death and truth. According to Joms Salvador oritizing foreign investments in the injury of the company's workers. of Gabriela, "certain interests are country, to the point of risking the More than 100 workers have trying to suppress information, like lives of workers. been reported injured and hospital- reports of workers killed by the fire Under the Special Economic ized. A number are in critical condi- and through suffocation." Zone Act of 1995, factories within tion, and there have been deaths. In the afternoon, the Kilusan ng the enclaves are not required to But there are no clear reports from Manggagawang Kababaihan (KMK) follow Philippine laws regarding the the PEZA or the Cavite local gov- led a noise barrage at the Welcome health and safety of workers. In al- ernment regarding the real number Rotunda. According to Avic Vil- most 300 enclaves in the whole of deaths. Media personnel were lanueva of KMK, women are greatly country, foreign corporations are not allowed near the ongoing fire. affected by the lack of safety free to conduct business untaxed Gov. Remulla continued to report standards at the CEPZ because they for eight years. After this tax holi- that there were no deaths and the comprise 80% of its labor force. day, they are required to pay only only notices coming from the man- This was followed by candle-lighting 5% of their income to the national agement were reassurances that activity by KMU workers. government, while continuing to HTI will pay the workers. However, The HTI is a Japanese firm enjoy tax exemptions from port some residents and the Workers manufacturing prefabricated hous- tariffs, import-export, foreign per- Assistance Center in Rosario, ing materials, with 6,000-7,000 sonnel, and others. Cavite were reporting deaths at the workers and employees, in a seven- Despite the immense corporate time of the fire. hectare facility within the CEPZA or profit and privilege, the usual an- KMU, Gabriela Women's Party labor enclave at Rosario and Gen. nual workers' wages in the enclaves

ANG BAYAN February 7 , 2 01 7 9 are the second lowest, next only to to collectively bargain. These are hold the Duterte regime account- Vietnam's and far lower than that neoliberal attacks against workers able for its failed promise to end of China and India. that the Duterte administration contractualization and listen to the According to Elmer Labog of the failed to address. Worse, his eco- demands for national daily minimum KMU, "like majority of today's nomic managers are even promot- wage of 750 for private sector workers, HTI workers are mostly ing these gross anti-worker workers and 16,000 monthly for contractuals, their wages are way policies." public sector employees. Similar below living standards and are de- After the program at DOLE, the protests were held in Cebu, Negros prived of their right to unionize and rallyists marched to Mendiola to and other places in the country.

Farmers hold campout in Davao City Congress hearing disrupted by THOUSANDS OF FARMERS gathered in Davao City last January 24-27 to teachers' protest demand calamity aid and other concrete solutions to their problems. The Farmers' Campout for Food, hectares of land from Lapanday. Land and Justice was participated in These are adjacent to the 136- TEACHERS BELONGING TO the by 5,000 farmers and national hectare land already being retaken Alliance of Concerned Teachers minority people from Compostela by MARBAI. (ACT) launched a protest action Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao del Lapanday grabbed more than within the halls of Congress Sur and Davao Oriental. They asked 1,000 hectares of land earmarked against the tax reform system for immediate aid of 15,000 cavans for land reform under the Certificate proposed by the Department of of rice (more or less 940,000 kilos), of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) Finance (DOF) last February 1. and production subsidy for farm im- which the cooperative holds. While the congress committee plements, seed, and other inputs. Members of KMP, Unyon ng mga was holding a hearing on the The farmers of Compostela Val- Magsasaka sa Agrikultura and land proposal, they unfolded placards ley demanded a 1/kilo increase in reform advocates picketed in front and chanted slogans till they prices of banana products from the of the Lapanday offices in Makati were stopped by the congress present 4/ kilo. These are sold by and Davao City to protest the land- sergeants-at-arms. Some teach- middlemen at 8/kilo in the market. grabbing. ers had to be bodily carried out More than 30,000 families have lost DAR Secretary Rafael 'Ka Paeng' of the hall. their homes and livelihood to floods. Mariano and officials of DAR Region According to ACT Teachers Among the protesters were 12 held a dialog with the protesters Party-List Rep. Antonio Tinio, peasants from the Madaum Agrarian in Rizal Park at the third day of the the proposed excise tax on pet- Reform Beneficiaries Association In- campout. roleum products will be borne by corporated (MARBAI) who were During the campout's last day, low-income and poor families. evicted by the Lapanday Food Cor- the farmers marched and held a rally Gabriela Women's Party's Emmi porations (See Ang Bayan, December in front of the Eastmincom, AFP De Jesus, chair of the House 21, 2016) and those from the Co- headquarters in Panacan, Davao Committee on Poverty Allevi- tabato Foundation College of Science City. ation, agreed, saying the pro- and Technology (CFCST). The peas- The two provinces and four posed tax reform package is ants from CFCST are asserting their towns of Davao region have been "deceptive and anti-poor," be- right to more than 4,611 hectares of under a state of calamity due to cause the supposed reduction in school reservation site that they continuous rains and floods. Ac- personal income tax "is just a have been tilling since 1967. Aside cording to initial government as- smokescreen for a tax tsunami from MARBAI, two other cooperat- sessments, at least 7.42 million directed against poor Filipinos." ives—the Hijo Agrarian Reform Be- have been damaged in Davao del "DOF's tax reform bundle neficiaries Cooperative-B (HARBCO- Norte. DAR-Davao initial data also will ultimately hurt poor Filipino B) and the Guhusnong Mag-uuma show that floods damaged 2,320 families as it will increase exist- Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Inc. hectares of land in five municipalit- ing taxes on several basic com- (GMARBAI)—are demanding that ies, with banana plantations hardest modities and lift tax exemptions Lapanday return the land to the hit at 4.17 million worth. on goods and services directly rightful beneficiaries. According to government stat- and indirectly accessed by the HARBCO-B has 372 farmer be- istics, 11 of the country's poorest 20 poor. The reduction in personal neficiaries and are demanding the provinces are in Mindanao. The re- income tax is just a sweetener," return of 260 hectares while GMAR- gions in this island are also the most Rep. De Jesus said. BAI is asking for the return of 116 militarized in the Philippines. The proposal seeks to lower

10 February 7 , 2 01 7 ANG BAYAN the personal income tax rate from 32% to 25%, but the deposits and investments and on property-related revenues will be recouped by new excise taxes on money transactions will be drastically cut. "It becomes clear remittance transactions, petroleum products, low-cost that the ultimate beneficiaries of the proposed tax re- and socialized housing, transportation fares, power form are wealthy families and businesses in the coun- transmissions, and other services. try," de Jesus said. According to her, the issue will be The poor's daily expenses will rise, while tax rates raised in the series of protest actions in the run-up to on corporate profiles, interest income earned on peso March 8.

Rallies across the country management by a new government Samar holds peace rally corporation. Mindoro. Fisherfolk's protest actions on February 1 successfully t least 1,000 farmers held a rally in front of the Samar Provincial Capitol stopped new demolition attempts in Aon January 26 to demand the withdrawal of AFP troops encamped within Rizal and San Jose, Occidental communities in the province. Mindoro, on the land unjustly According to peasant leaders Metro Manila. On February 3, claimed by Annaliza Pojas-Lopez. from Hinabangan, Pinabacdao, Basey activists led by Bayan marched from Cordillera. Some 300 delegates and Calbiga, troops of the 8th ID T.M. Kalaw St. to the US embassy to from various Cordillera provinces never left their villages and protest US Pres. Trump's anti- held a peace assembly on December continued to harass the peasants immigrant policies. The protest 29, 2016, as part of the national despite their vaunted ceasefire. action was timed to mark the peace assembly called by the CPP. Farmers are coerced to attend anniversary of the Philippine- Featured in this assembly were calls "meetings" wherein AFP troops boast American War on February 4. for just peace, support for the NDFP- that they are no longer implementing On February 2, farmers led by GRP peace talks, and withdrawal of Oplan Bayanihan, but Oplan KMP, UMA and Anakpawis Party AFP troops from minority peoples' Kapayapaan. picketed the office of the Philippine communities. The assembly also Participants also reported that in Coconut Authority to demand the highlighted the minority people's a certain "medical mission" earlier immediate return of the P75 billion struggle for self-determination this month, an illiterate peasant was coco levy fund to small coconut through the Cordillera Peoples' issued a prescription by an army workers, not its privatization or Democratic Front (CPDF). doctor, but when he had someone Drivers protest against jeepney phase-out else read it for him, written there was "you are hiding a rifle in your MORE THAN 500 public jeepney operators and drivers held a street possession." protest in Baguio City on January 21 against the Department of Trans- At the rally, peasants led by portation's (DOTr) deceptive jeepney modernization scheme. Kapunungan han Gudti nga Parag-uma The said program, which was made in 2015 by the Aquino regime, is ha Weste han Samar (KAPAWA or scheduled to phase-out the currently operating jeepneys and replace Unity of Small Peasants in Western them with electric jeepneys (e-jeepney). An e-jeepney costs around 8 Samar) and People Surge-Western million each, an amount too steep for operators and drivers. Samar Provincial Formation of also "This is not an improvement but additional burden to jeepney declared their continuing support for drivers and operators. What will happen to small jeepney operators who the NDFP-GRP peace talks. cannot afford to buy and maintain e-jeepneys?" asked Carlito Wayas, Meanwhile, public elementary PISTON group's national vice president. and high school teachers from At a rally at Igorot Park in Baguio City, PISTON president George different places in Eastern Visayas San Mateo declared that the phase-out is included in the proposed converged in Samar on February 3 to Emergency Traffic Powers Bill, which will give the president emergency join the national protest action under powers in matters of street traffic. This bill will facilitate the govern- the Alliance of Concerned Teachers ment's planned Fleet Management Program, wherein jeepney franchises that demanded wage increase. The and units will be controlled by big businessmen, financiers, and govern- teachers also decried the snail-paced ment officials. financial aid to the victims of super- San Mateo added that e-jeepneys cannot negotiate the steep in- typhoon Yolanda, the delayed clines, descent and sharp curves of Cordillera's interior roads. This has Performance Based Bonus, and the been proven in a test run in Baguio City in the past, where road undula- anti-teacher declarations of Budget tions were even milder. Secretary Benjamin Diokno. PISTON also supported the jeepney strike under STOP and GO on Protest actions also continued in February 6. different places across the country. ANG BAYAN February 7 , 2 01 7 11