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

Vol. L No. 17 September 7, 2019 www.cpp.ph

EDITORIAL NPA-Isabela Duterte's seizes 14 firearms FOURTEEN FIREARMS WERE seized counterinsurgency will fail by the New People's Army (NPA)- Isabela in an armed action against ike a broken record, Duterte has repeatedly declared that his the Task Force Kalikasan (TFK) at regime will crush the New People's Army (NPA). Recently, he Sitio Lagis, Sindun threatened anew that "something big will happen" amid the Bayabo, Ilagan City. Five pistols Lfailures of the Armed Forces of the ' (AFP) focused and were confiscated during the opera- sustained military operations in the countryside. tion. The TFK is under the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Instead, the all-out war under territory). The AFP and Duterte Office and is actively supported by the DSSP Kapayapaan and AFP- know very well that NPA guerrilla local police and military forces. PNP Joint Campaign Kapanatagan units are fluid and can base wher- In connivance with the AFP and are pushing millions to take the ever in the vast countryside. PNP, it spearheaded the demolition path of militant and armed strug- Across the country, the NPA con- of houses and eviction of residents gle. tinues to strive to deal blows from Sitio Lagis in June. This has Overall, no unit of the NPA has against AFP units which relent- resulted in the displacement of been crushed since Duterte ended lessly scour and unleash terror in around 56 families who have been peace talks between his regime and the villages and communities. farming in the area for three the National Democratic Front of Undoubtedly, Duterte will fail decades already. the Philippines. The AFP is merely with his "whole-of-nation ap- Simultaneously, Red fighters fooling itself in bragging that it has proach," patterned after the confiscated an M14, AK47, seven "recovered" NPA territories (which "whole-of-government" and pistols, ammunition and handheld is doubly ridiculous considering "whole-of-society" of his US impe- radios from five police operatives that Duterte claims the NPA has no rialist master's "counterinsur- when their convoy was stopped at "Duterte's...," continued on page 2 "14 firearms...," continued on page 3 "Duterte's...," from page 1 between criminal and bureaucrat funds for civilians forced to surren- gency" manual. Military "coopera- syndicates are intensifying. His al- der and for hypocritical projects and tion" with civil agencies cannot lies are openly fighting it out for social services. Corruption is most conceal the rise of the regime's mil- bigger pork barrel allocations, widespread in Mindanao, where itarism and fascism. kickbacks in government contracts, brigades and battalions artificially The AFP trumpets "whole-of- bureaucratic favors and shares in beef up the tally of "surrendered" nation" in the forcible surrender of the loot of syndicates in corrupt Red fighters. civilians, terrorizing their communi- agencies such as the Bureau of But above all, the regime's ties and destruction of their liveli- Corrections, Bureau of Customs counterrevolutionary scheme will hood. "Whole-of-nation" is also be- and Bureau of Internal Revenue. fail because it confronts a party and hind AFP coercion of local His minions are also scrambling people's army that is highly disci- government units to declare the against one another for bribes of plined and deeply rooted among the NPA as "persona non grata" and smuggling and illegal drug syndi- masses. These are the strongest and ban "Leftist groups" fighting for cates. His "anti-corruption drive" is most consolidated force resisting his people's rights. This maneuvers aim also a big joke amid frequent ex- tyranny and defending the people. to subsume civilian institutions un- posés of big anomalies under his They enjoy the trust and support of der the military, destroy the peo- government. the people that is earned not ple's democratic organizations and Even "counterinsurgency" is a through coercion and violence. replace these with those upholding playground of corruption of The Communist Party of the fascist doctrines. Invoking "whole- Duterte's officials. Millions of pesos Philippines and the New People's of-nation," the military perpetrate are pocketed as kickback by his Army have withstood and defeated relentless human rights abuses and generals and their contractors in counterrevolutionary operations of put entire communities under their procuring secondhand ships and reactionary regimes. Not only have rule. helicopters, as well as arms, bombs these overcome the 14-year Marcos Duterte's "counterinsurgency" and bullets for military operations. fascist dictatorship, it was also able will fail because his regime is rotten Generals steal the operational to build and strengthen the people's to the core. His government is mired funds of their troops. They pocket army across the country. These in deep and virulent internal con- the salaries of their men, especially were not crushed by the brutal tradictions because of his greed for of the peasants they conscript as suppression campaigns of the suc- funds and thirst for power. Rivalries CAFGU forces. They wring even the ceeding pseudo-democratic regimes. The NPA is relentless in defend- ANG Contents ing the people from the brutalities of the war primarily directed against Editorial: Duterte's counterinsurgency will civilians. At the same time, it con- Vol. L No. 17 | September 7, 2019 fail 1 tinues to exert effort to frustrate NPA-Isabela seizes 14 firearms 1 the Duterte regime's campaign of Foiled FMO in Agusan del Norte 3 suppression. The people's support Ang Bayan is published Military intervention in schools 4 for their Red fighters and Party in Pilipino, Bisaya, Iloko, Multitrillion budget for dictatorship 5 cadres is boundless. Hiligaynon, Waray and English. Victorious Monde Nissin strike 6 Across the country, the people Ang Bayan welcomes Widespread E-CLIP corruption 6 are firmly defending their demo- contributions in the form Bakwit schools 6 cratic organizations and the victo- of articles and news items. State forces arrest NDFP consultant 7 ries they have won over past Readers are encouraged Duterte regime frees criminals 7 decades. Agrarian and economic to send feedback and Palay farmgate price drops to P7 7 struggles continue to be mounted, recommendations AFP harasses tobacco farmers 8 while organs of political power are for improving our newspaper. West Papuans' struggle 8 established. In areas where these organs and the people's govern- instagram.com/progressiveviews ment exist, the people exercise

@prwc_info democracy among themselves to further broaden and strengthen [email protected] their unity. Just like under the Marcos dic- tatorship, the armed revolution and Ang Bayan is published fortnightly by the Central Committee the people's resistance to tyranny is of the Communist Party of the Philippines bound to strengthen.

2 September 7 , 2 01 9 ANG BAYAN Foiled FMO in Agusan del Norte

he Armed Forces of the Philippines is covering up the failure of its fo- sued between AFP troops and NPA Tcused military operation (FMO) at Mt. Hilong-hilong in North Eastern units from July 25 to August 12, Mindanao last month to brag and save face. This was the statement of Ka wherein three soldiers were killed Sandara Sidlakan, spokesperson of the New People's Army (NPA)-North including a 29th IB lieutenant. Ma- Eastern Mindanao Region, on September 4. jority of enemy casualties were dealt in a demolition operation in Mt. Hilong-hilong is located troops was able to overrun NPA the mountainous area of Barangay at the triboundary of Agusan del "camps" even though these were only Mahaba, Cabadbaran City on Au- Norte, Surigao del Sur and Agu- former tactical bases or Lumad farm- gust 12. A Red fighter was martyred san del Sur. It is part of the Di- lands. Actuallly, nine encounters en- "FMO...," continued on page 4 wata mountain range and pro- vides habitat for various species of fauna and flora. The 402nd IBde launched its FMO from July 20 to August 15 using its 29th IB and 36th IB, together with elements of the Philippine National Police Caraga and CAFGU. The said operation served as a test mis- sion of the 11th and 12th Scout Ranger Company. In sum, 1,000 "14 firearms...," from page 1 troops of the AFP and PNP were an NPA checkpoint in an adjacent City. On the next day, a soldier was deployed during the operation. area. killed in a sniping operation of the NPA Similar to other FMOs, the mili- Samar. Five soldiers of the 63rd against a detachment of the 2nd IB in tary also used attack heli- IB were killed in an armed action of Del Carmen, Uson. On the same day, copters, artillery and drones for the NPA-Western Samar on Septem- the NPA also fired at PNP detach- support. ber 2 at Sitio Rizal, Barangay Bulao, ments in Guiwanon, Barangay Danao, The operation covered the Basey. Another encounter between a San Jacinto, and in San Rafael, San towns of Sibagat in Agusan del military column and an NPA unit en- Pascual. Sur, Carmen, Cantilan, Madrid sued at around 2 p.m. at Sitio Guin- Negros Occidental. Soldiers of and San Miguel in Surigao del pondoan, Barangay Cogon in the same the 79th IB were ambushed by the Sur and Remedios T. Romualdez town. NPA-North Negros at Sitio Moreno, (RTR) in Agusan del Norte. The said enemy unit was then Barangay Paitan, Escalante City on Troops were also deployed in pursuing Red fighers who harassed a August 31. Three soldiers were the cities of Butuan and Cabad- unit of the 63rd IB. wounded in action. Consequently, the baran in Agusan del Norte. The On August 30, two soldiers were soldiers indiscriminately fired their said areas, particularly the town killed while four others were wounded guns even in areas where some of of Cantilan, is covered by de- in a harassment operation of Red their troops were positioned. Around structive mining operations, in- fighters at 1, Barangay Mabini, 10 soldiers were killed in the crossfire. cluding that of the Marcven- Basey. In retaliation, soldiers indis- The 79th IB has been occupying tures Mining Development criminately strafed the area, wound- Barangay Paitan for almost a year Corporation has been permitted ing a 14-year-old child. already under the guise of "peace to operate in more than 4,799 The 46th IB perpetrated the mur- and development," disrupting the hectares of forestlands. Its op- der of the barangay chairman of Beri livelihood and lives of residents. eration covers the central wa- in April, forced surrender of farmers Soldiers are coercing civilians to tershed which serves as a major from Calbiga and Pinabacdao, and surrender. Cases of illegal arrests source of water for irrigation torture of three farmers in Basey. and extrajudicial killings have also and drinking across the region. Masbate. Four harassment oper- been reported in the area. The com- Previously, the operation permit ations were mounted by the NPA- pany-sized combat operation and of the company has been sus- Masbate on August 18 and 19 against increasing military presence in the pended twice for damaging the the PNP and 2nd IB. On August 18, barangays of Escalante has com- environment. Red fighters harassed a police detach- pelled residents to evacuate from The AFP bragged that its ment in Barangay Bayombon, Masbate their communties.

3 September 7 , 2 01 9 ANG BAYAN Military intensifies intervention in schools

THE ARMED FORCES of the Philippines (AFP) has intensified its intervention "youth leadership summit" for in schools and universities across the country in compliance with the direc- highschool students in Negros as tion of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict which part of its so-called Community was established through Executive Order No. 70. These are patterned after Support Program. In Northern the "whole-of-nation approach" counterinsurgency campaign and is a major Samar, 803rd IBde troopers con- component of the AFP's psywar operations (now dubbed "information opera- ducted school visits to conduct an tions") across the country. "indoctrination campaign." Among those they visited was the Uni- It primarily aims to dismantle School of Home Industries. Similar versity of Eastern Philippines the democratic organizations of assemblies were conducted by the wherein a National Service Train- students and impose fascist ideol- 8th IB at the Bangcud National ing Program seminar for students ogy in campuses. To actualize this, Highschool and National was held on August 31. As early as soldiers (in uniform and armed) Highschool. The State July, hundreds of youth have been conduct so-called youth fora, infor- University was most frequented by assembled by AFP troops. The AFP mation drives, trainings, youth the AFP. On August 31, the AFP also uses career guidance semi- leadership summits in campuses. gathered around 280 youth partici- nars for senior high school as These activities vilify democratic pants from three barangays in venue to peddle malicious attacks organizations such as Anakbayan, Remedios Trinidad Romualdez, and lies. League of Filipino Students and Agusan del Norte, in a forum These psywar operations pri- even progressive parties such as wherein the military vilified pro- marily target students and youth in the Kabataan Partylist and Bayan gressive organizations. The 402nd provinces wherein focused opera- Muna. In such activities, the said IBde is also scheduled to conduct a tions are simultaneously being organizations are maliciously "leadership development training" conducted by the AFP. The military tagged as "communist fronts" or for Sangguniang Kabataan repre- has long been using this strategy in "NPA sympathizers" to illegalize sentatives from Butuan. The 3rd IB its operations, especially in far- these and justify the violent sup- also assembled more than 150 flung villages. pression of its their members. The youth from several barangays of On top of these psywar opera- AFP presents malicious videos, paid Calinan, Davao City. tions, cases of surveillance by AFP "victims" and fake surrenderees. Similar assemblies are also and PNP elements against student Among those recently con- conducted in Luzon and Visayas. activists from the Polytechnic Uni- ducted were youth and student as- The 303rd IBde conducted a forum versity of the Philippines and Uni- semblies in Mindanao, including the at the University of St. La Salle versity of Santo Tomas have been youth leadership summit in Mt. Mo- Integrated School in Bacolod on reported as well. In Samar, the riah Camp, Malaybalay and the mil- August 23. The AFP also formally PNP Regional Mobile Group inter- itary visit at the Bukidnon National announced its plan to conduct a rogated members of The Pillar, student publication of the Univer- "FMO...," from page 3 sity of Eastern Philippines. In UP during the encounters. Pampanga, police operatives In retaliation, the AFP attacked civilian communities in barangays Ma- trooped to the campus after stu- haba and Puting Bato in Cabadbaran City. It bombed the said areas 15 dents conducted their protest in times in four days. Bombs were also dropped in the areas using Au- conjunction with the UP Day of gustaWestland helicopters. Huey helicopters were also used to evacuate Walkout and Action. The Rise for wounded soldiers and deliver supplies for operating troopers. Education Alliance in University of Before and after the combat operation, the AFP militarized 15 San Carlos-Cebu also reported barangays surrounding Mt. Hilong-hilong under the guise of “community surveillance against their campus organizing for peace and development” (COPD) operations. Using this as activities by police operatives. a pretext, soldiers besieged the barangays to coerce civilians to surren- Meanwhile, the 3rd ID announced der, and intimidate and threaten them by repeatedly summoning them to that it will deploy its troops at the barangay halls where troops are usually stationed. They often conduct West Visayas State University and house searches to coerce residents to "surrender" and pledge allegiance other universities including UP to them. In Barangay San Antonio in RTR, 29th IB troopers murdered Visayas wherein the League of Fil- farmer Roger Mandag on July 30. Earlier, he was repeatedly coerced by ipino Students and Anakbayan are soldiers to surrender. purportedly active.

ANG BAYAN September 7 , 2 01 9 4 Multitrillion budget for dictatorship

udget for peace and development—this was how the US-Duterte regime some of these have been long been Bdescribed its proposed P4.1-trillion budget for 2020. This is far from opposed by the people. These in- reality as the multitrillion budget is bound to be corrupted and will be used to clude the P919-million Jalaur River fund anti-people programs and projects, and to intensify fascism. Multipurpose Project Stage II, the P890-million Balog-balog Multi- The proposed P4.1-trillion bud- pork barrel” as its utilization is un- purpose Project in Isabela, the get for 2020 is 12% higher than the der the personal control of the P800-million Lower Agno River Ir- P3.662-trillion budget for 2019. The president. For every P10 that the rigation System Extension Project budget increase was based on the government will spend in 2020, P4 in Pangasinan, and the P500-million government's projected 6.5-7.5% can be considered as Duterte's Malitubog-Maridagao Irrigation gross domestic product (GDP) personal funds. Project Phase II in North Cotabato. growth in 2020, a target that it will Anomalous projects, which are The 2020 budget proposal also certainly fail to reach amid the pro- commonly the source lawmakers' includes the construction of the duction decline in various economic hefty kickbacks, have been overtly Chico River Pump Irrigation Project sectors such as agriculture and placed in the proposal. Part of this which is vehemently being opposed manufacturing. In fact, the GDP de- is the P972.5-billion allocation for by minority peoples residing at the clined to 5.5% which is the lowest in the “Build, Build, Build” program to project site. It will be mainly the past 17 quarters. fund infrastructure projects already funded using Chinese loans. The said budget will primarily awarded to his favored bureaucrats be funded by tax revenues. The and bourgeois compradors. Funds for fascism Duterte regime estimates that tax It also includes other projects Aside from corruption, the revenues, including additional taxes which have long been used as milk- Duterte regime has also increased imposed under the TRAIN law ing cows by politicians such as road it budget for intensified fascism. among others, will increase to construction and "repair" projects. The budget of the Philippine P3.54 trillion. This is 12.3% higher Among these are the proposed con- National Police further increased than the P3.15-trillion tax revenue struction of a 338.3-kilometer road from P173.5 billion this 2019 to collection in 2019. However, the network, which is equal to the dis- P184.9 billion in 2020. Part of this regime will still have borrow heavily tance between and Naga is the P3 billion for the recruitment as the revenue is short by P677 bil- City. Another suspicious allocation of 10,000 new police operatives lion. is the P16.9-billion fund for the and P14.4 billion that will be used In sum, the government is set “preventive maintenance” of 955 to help fill up 26,685 positions in to loan up to P1.4 trillion in 2020. kilometers of road networks (equal the PNP. By the end of 2019, the national to the distance between Baguio City Another P546 million is alloted outstanding debt is expected to and Hongkong). The “preventive for the PNP's implementation of the reach P7.853 trillion. By 2020, it is maintenance” will certainly serve as despised “war on drugs,” and an expected to peak at P8.767 trillion. corrupt officials' lucrative source of additional P1.4 billion for agencies Consequently, the net debt per kickbacks under the guise of road such as the Department of Interior capita of every Filipino is expected repairs. and Local Government, which totals to balloon to P72,518 and P79,780 Irrigation projects are another to P1.9 billion in Oplan Tokhang in 2019 and 2020, respectively. source of huge kickbacks. Around budget. P36.3 billion is allocated for na- The Department of National The president and his minions' tional and communal irrigation Defense budget will also increase pork barrel projects, while P2.2 billion is allo- from P183.9 billion this 2019 to The proposed 2020 budget is cated for small irrigation projects. P189 billion in 2020. Approximately riddled with anomalies. Of the P4.1 Majority of these projects are not P25 billion will be used for the sec- trillion-budget, only P2.36 trillion is delivered, and funds for these are ond round of procurement of war allocated for government agencies often just pocketed by congressmen matériel under the Revised AFP and departments. The remaining and local government officials. A Modernization Plan. Among those P1.73 trillion will go to the "special large chunk of funds is also allo- set to be procured by the AFP are purpose fund," or the lump sums in cated for the construction of a na- additional secondhand vessels,

the budget dubbed the "presidential tional irrigation systems, even if "Budget...," continued on page 6

5 September 7 , 2 01 9 ANG BAYAN "Budget...," from page 5 Victorious Monde radar and surveillance systems, attack helicopters and Nissin strike planes and other military equipment for counter-insurgency. Another P522 million is allocated to various agencies for MONDE NISSIN WORKERS' second strike last Au- the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed gust 27 was successful as the management agreed Conflict. The fund will be used to intensify the suppression to negotiate with the Monde Nissin Labor Associa- and intimidation against civilian communities using the mili- tion-LIGA (MNLA-LIGA) regarding the retrench- tary and police's "whole-of-nation approach." ment of 176 workers. The management agreed to There are also projects which aim to enhance the reac- compensate dismissed contractual workers a sepa- tionary state's intelligence capacity. Among these is the P20- ration pay of not less than P100,000 each. million allocation for Project D.I.M.E. (Digital Imaging for The MNLA first staged its strike on August 6 in Monitoring and Evaluation) which will be used for the pro- which the management agreed to regularize its curement of drones, light detection and ranging (LIDAR) contractual workers. However, it reneged on its systems, and other equipment purportedly for monitoring promise and cunningly terminated the contracts of the the delivery of projects in the countryside, but are actu- the said workers. ally for the intensification of surveillance in hinterland com- The MNLA-LIGA stated that the struggle of the munities. workers will not stop with their acceptance of sep- Aside from these projects, confidential and intelligence aration pay. funds particularly for the Office of the President (OP) will In fact, Monde Nissin workers were among also balloon to P4.5 billion in 2020. In sum, more than P8.28 those who protested against low wages, contractu- billion is allocated to various agencies for confidential and alization and suppression during the Heroes' Day intelligence expenses. This is the source of funds for gov- demonstration last August 16. ernment's various "black operations" such as maintaining NutriAsia and Peerless Products Manufacturing death squads and perpetrating other heinous attacks against Corporation workers also participated in the the people. protest. Widespread E-CLIP corruption Bakwit schools open in IN THE NORTH EASTERN Mindanao Region (NEMR), Maria Malaya reported Quezon and Davao City that about P60,000 are pocketed by AFP officials for every civilian they are A BAKWIT SCHOOL (school for able to coerce to surrender. Reports from various barangays and communities evacuees) held its opening of across the region indicate that those coerced were promised to be given classes for the current academic P65,000 each. year last September 2 at the Uni- In truth, however, majority of dines. versity of the Philippines-Diliman in them have not received even a sin- Data obtained by the NDF- Quezon City. Around 50 Lumad gle centavo. The maximum com- NEMR indicate that around P5.8 students, their teachers and lead- pensation received by some was million in E-CLIP funds have been ers participated in the activity. only P5,000. There were cases pocketed by AFP officials in the re- Meanwhile, 155 students par- wherein the P5,000 compensation gion. Meanwhile, P480 million sup- ticipated in the opening of classes was used as initial payment for mo- posedly for 8,000 "NPA suren- in another Bakwit School at the torcycle loans. Subsequently, "sur- derees" across Mindanao have also UCCP Haran in Davao City. The renderees" are obliged to pay in been corrupted by these officials. Salugpongan administration said full the P65,000 balance. Thus, AFP E-CLIP has only aggravated the that they decided to open the Bak- officials are able to rake in kick- plight of the residents in the region. wit schools amid the Department of backs in double. On top of funds It is only used as a milking cow by Education's refusal to revoke its they are able to pocket from the E- corrupt AFP officials. The NPA- suspension order against their CLIP budget, they also serve as NEMR has long belied the fake sur- schools. agents of motorcycle companies. render campaign of the butcher AFP. Simultaneously, Lumad com- Some surrenderees were also co- The military has only repeatedly munity leaders and students from erced to train as CAFGU elements used and paraded as "surren- the Save Our Schools Network and were promised high salaries. In derees," its assets in barangays, staged a picket in front of the reality, however, they receive no former NPA members who have long House of Representatives in con- salary and are only compensated laid low and civilians who were co- junction with the conduct of De- with a few kilos of rice and a few erced to surrender in fear of of being partment of Education budget pieces of noodles and canned sar- charged or killed by state agents. hearing last September 3.

ANG BAYAN September 7 , 2 01 9 6 State forces arrest NDFP consultant Palay farmgate price drops to P7 JOINT ELEMENTS OF the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines illegally arrested Esterlita Suaybaguio, 60, in Cubao, Quezon City on THE LOWEST FARMGATE August 23. Suaybaguio is a consultant of the National Democratic Front of the price of local palay (unhusked Philippines (NDFP) in its peace negotiations with the GRP. She was arrested based rice) was pegged at P7/kilo on a fabricated case of illegal possession of firearms and explosives, similar to last August from P22-24/kilo charges against other NDFP consultants. She was also slapped with trumped up which was the highest price murder and frustrated murder charges. last year. This was after the influx of relatively cheaper The Communist Party of the the towns of Cawayan and San Fer- imported rice into the local Philippines (CPP) demanded Suay- nando, Masbate. During the first week market. This has adversely baguio's immediate release as she is of September, the NPA-Masbate re- affected the overall local protected by the Joint Agreement on ported that the fascists have already agricultural production which Safety and Immunity Guarantees entered four barangays in Uson. Hu- has decreased by 1.27% dur- (JASIG) which was signed by the gov- man rights perpetrated by the 2nd are ing the 2nd quarter of the ernment of the Philippines and the widespread in these villages. The said year and is the lowest in the NDFP. Suaybaguio's Document of battalion is under the command of Lt. last three years. The public, Identification indicates that she is a Col. Fabon. especially farmers, are aware consultant for Mindanao concerns. In Bulacan, farmers at Sitio Com- that this is due to the rice lib- Fidel Agcaoili, chief negotiator of pra, Barangay San Mateo in Norza- eralization law which Duterte the NDFP, condemned the arrest. He garay are subjected to continuous signed last year. said this is yet another block to the harassment by the Royal Mollucan Even then, farmers were possibility of resuming negotiations. Realty Holdings Inc. which is notori- already wary of the P10-billion The CPP and NDFP demanded that ous for attempting to grab 75.5 subsidy which was allocated the trumped up charge against hectares of farmlands that have been for those affected in the sec- Suaybaguio and other detained tilled by farmers since the 1960s. On tor. According to Bantay Bigas, NDFP consultants and staff be September 2, its goons forcibly en- the amount is insufficient to junked. tered the residences of the members support about 2.7 million af- Meanwhile, attacks by Duterte's of the Samahang Magbubukid sa San fected farmers especially that armed forces and his landlord cohorts Mateo. They also cut the power sup- only 10% of these are directly in the countryside continue unabated. ply lines in the area, stole the resi- given to farmers in the form of Since May 23, 2nd IB troopers dents' goats and destroyed their loans. Farmers have long been have been occupying 23 barangays in crops. buried in debt due to high pro- duction costs and land rent. Instead of addresssing their Duterte regime frees criminals plight, half of the said subsidy (P5 billion) will be used to pro- MORE THAN 1,700 heinous crime convicts have been released by the Duterte cure farming machinery. regime through the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) Law. Simultaneously, the rice The GCTA provides for the early release of inmates, including those sen- milling industry is gradually tenced to life imprisonment, as reward for their good behavior in prison. being destroyed. The Philippi- This releases came under fire following a public outcry, especially that of the ne Confederation of Grains victims' family, against the alleged plan to release former Calauan Mayor Antonio Association stated that about Sanchez who was convicted over the rape-slay of Eileen Sarmenta and her com- 4,000 rice mills (40% of the panion Alan Gomez, and for killing father-and-son Nelson and Rickson Peñalosa. total number of local rice The people were enraged even more with the direct endorsement of Sal Pan- mills) have gone bankrupt and elo, Duterte's minion, of Sanchez's release at the Bureau of Pardons and Parole. been forced closed down due Panelo was one of Sanchez's defending lawyers during his trial. to the deluge of cheaper im- To save face, Duterte dismissed Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Commissioner ported rice. In a congressional Nicanor Faeldon. Previously, Faeldon was also dismissed as chief of the Bureau of hearing last August 28, the Customs after being implicated in smuggling shabu. Makabayan Bloc, together Majority of those freed by the Duterte regime are rapists and murderers. with farmers and rice millers, Aside from Sanchez, it also freed four of the seven inmates convicted for the demanded to junk the rice lib- rape-slay of the Chiong sisters in Cebu in 1997. eralization law which is killing The GCTA Law was enacted under the regime of Benigno Aquino III in 2013. local rice production.

ANG BAYAN September 7 , 2 01 9 7 AFP harasses tobacco farmers

he Solidarity of Peasants Against Exploitation (Stop Exploitation) con- cessively been involved in plunder- Tdemned Lt. Col. Charles Castillo of the 81st IB for tagging the organiza- ing tobacco funds. In 2001, former tion as a legal front of the CPP-NPA. Castillo said this after a dialogue between president and hueteng lord Joseph the peasant group and the military in the office of Gov. Ryan Singson at the Estrada was charged for asking from Ilocos Sur Capitol on August 8. Gov. Luis Singson P130 million from the tobacco fund. Meanwhile, under Stop Exploitation is demanding construct an irrigation system for the pretext of "protecting public the direct distribution of the 15% ex- 26,800 hectares of farmlands health," imposed cise tax on tobacco which was en- across the region, and procure sev- another increase in tobacco excise acted in 1992 (RA 7171) and 1996 eral tractors and farming equip- taxes last July 25. In January, the (RA 8240). The said tax is suppos- ment. Around 38% of the fund is reactionary government was able to edly for the enhancement of the pro- enough to subsidize an entire collect more than P20.5 billion in duction capacity and livelihood of planting season and allow 37,000 tobacco excise taxes. tobacco farmers. In 2016 alone, the farmers to cultivate an hectare of Even local government officials reactionary government was able to land each. There will still be a sur- of the reactionary government take collect up to P15.8 billion (15% of plus which can be allocated for part in malversing the fund. From P105.4 billion) in tobacco excise health and education services for 2016-2018, four local government taxes. The group, however, said that peasant families. units have failed to issue reports as they are left with almost nothing. In reality, however, almost 85% to how they spent the P1-billion Since its enactment, only a handful of the said fund are used to con- they were allocated respectively. receive a P15,000 subsidy, or worse, struct infrastructure projects that The government was able to collect a sack of fertilizer. do not directly benefit farmers and more than P41 billion in excise taxes Farmers demand subsidy, pro- are merely used as milking cows by during the said period. duction incentives, and programs local politicians and warlords in the Relatedly, Stop Exploitation de- which will concretely address their region. In 2001, it was exposed that manded to raise the farmgate prices plight including high production the Singson dynasty of Ilocos Sur of tobacco at a standard price of costs and low income. In addition, corrupted about P224 million from P128/kilo, without classification. they also call for palay production the said fund. Similarly, Sen. Imee This is to reverse the underpricing support as most of them engage in it Marcos is also accountable for (P28-P82/kilo) and bogus grading of after harvesting tobacco. plundering P213 million from the Virginia, Burley and Native tobacco A research by the National fund when she was still governor of by traders and big companies in Democratic Front-Ilocos indicates Ilocos Norte in 2011 to 2013. connivance with the National To- that the 2016 fund is sufficient to Syndicate regimes have suc- bacco Administration. West Papuans' struggle for national liberation

housands of West Papuans have continuously staged massive demon- Dutch East Indies (presentlyz In- Tstrations since August 17. They mounted their rallies in conjunction with donesia) which was colonized by the the commemoration of the national independence day in Indonesia to demand Netherlands since 1880. After rec- national liberation and cessation (separation from Indonesia as an indepen- ognizing Indonesia's independence dent nation). in 1949, the Dutch government re- fused to let go of its hold over West Instead of addressing their de- wounded, when Indonesian troops Papua to ensure its economic inter- mands, the Indonesian government strafed and dropped teargas ests in the region. deployed an additional 1,200 mili- grenades on the protesters in Deiya But in the 1960s, former US tary and police operatives in the on August 28. These series of at- President John F. Kennedy plotted province to violently suppress the tacks are part of the continuing the transfer of West Papua to In- demonstrations. On September 3, at genocide campaign of the Indone- donesia in favor of the local ruling least two Papuan students were sian state against Papuans. class in the latter. In 1969, a refer- killed when paramilitary elements endum was held wherein Papuans attacked their dormitory. Similarly, History of foreign intervention were supposedly allowed to vote for six were killed, including a child, West Papua (formerly Nether- or against West Papua's integration while more than a dozen were lands New Guinea) was a part of the "West Papua...," continued on page 9

8 September 7 , 2 01 9 ANG BAYAN "West Papua...," from page 8 to the republic of Indonesia. In- for large commercial plantations. 45,000 Indonesian troops, it is donesian soldiers handpicked 1,025 considered the most militarized Papuans to participate in the refer- Decades-long struggle province in the country. Among endum and coerced them to vote for The West Papuans's aspiration those deployed here are Konstrand integration. for self-determination and national Commandos who were trained, The integration ensured the liberation was clear from the very armed, and funded by the US and free entry of local and multinational beginning. In 1965, they founded Australia. mining and plantation companies the Free Papuan Movement, an Intense militarization results in and their plunder of West Papua's armed group of the New Guinea genocide and massive eviction of natural resources. Among these are Raad, the West Papuan people's Papuans. Since 1969, more than the US-based Freeport and Aus- government which they established 100,000 Papuans have been killed, tralia-based Rio Tinto, companies in 1961. In 2015, the Melanesian while tens of thousands have fallen that are notorious for destroying Spearhead Group, an organization of victim to other human rights viola- the environment. Japanese compa- countries in the Oceania subregion, tions. nies are also at the forefront in de- recognized the coalition of Papuan In the face of worsening foreign nuding the forests and depleting groups under the United Liberation intervention in their ancestral lands the natural gas (together with US Movement of West Papua. and suppression of their rights, the companies) in the island. Mean- To suppress the Papuan peo- West Papua National Liberation while, big compradors and Indone- ple's struggle, the province has Army continues on waging guerrilla sian capitalists are grabbing the been continuously placed under de warfare to achieve national libera- ancestral lands of Papuans as sites facto martial law. With more than tion.

ANG BAYAN September 7 , 2 01 9 9