February 7, 2016

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

Vol XLVII No. 3 February 7, 2016 www.philippinerevolution.net

Editorial Bring about a new upsurge of protests

t is highly pertinent for us to mark this February the 30th an- years ago, through the EDSA Upris- niversary of the EDSA Uprising which overthrew the US-Marcos ing, the Filipino people asserted dictatorship, and the 45th anniversary of the barricades at the how they cannot be confined to the IUniversity of the Philippines (UP) called the Diliman Commune. elections or other processes set by the ruling system. With the EDSA These two are among the most under the crisis-ridden semicolonial Uprising, they exhibited how they brilliant moments in the history of and semifeudal system and vigor- can use collective street action as a the Filipino people's struggles. They ously pursue the struggle for na- weapon to overthrow a detested challenged and shattered the previ- tional democracy. regime, even if this is not enough to ously existing political processes of The EDSA Uprising is about the transform the entire oppressive the ruling system. The Filipino use of people's sovereign power. ruling social system. people used their political power to This is an inalienable right of the The EDSA Uprising came about shake the foundations of the ruling people. This is the lesson which the as a result of years of heroic classes. reactionaries determinedly want to struggles against the US-Marcos It is important to look back at erase from the people's conscious- dictatorship, both in the cities and these two historic moments in order ness. They insist that "the people countryside, both unarmed and to draw lessons and inspiration to are tired" of struggling in the armed. The collective determination decisively fight worsening US dom- streets in the hope of stopping the demonstrated by the Filipino people ination and intervention in the people from making use of their in- in the EDSA Uprising was tempered country. In collusion with the pup- herent political power. in the flames of strikes and mass pet regime, neoliberal policies are The people's grievances and struggles since the 1970s. imposed left and right, worsening outrage are being drawn into the Among these was the Diliman the oppression and exploitation of realm of reactionary elections. The Commune of 1971 which arose from the Filipino people. EDSA Uprising is portrayed as det- the protest movement against rising The broad masses of the people rimental to the "stability of the gasoline prices. In four days, thou- urgently need to advance the system" even if this does not mean sands of students from UP barri- struggles to end oppression, ex- anything but the stability of the caded the streets going into the UP ploitation rule and interests of the op- Diliman campus as a show of rebel- and re- pressive classes. lion against the ruling system. pression Thirty The Diliman Commune started as a student protest against rising gasoline prices. They sharply condemned and opposed monopoly control of the international oil in- dustry. The Marcos regime unleashed the full-force of the police and military to suppress the strike but was met by students with determined and steadfast anti-fascist struggle. This further gained strength with the support and par- communities and the countryside. to further expand the army of cheap ticipation of UP teachers and work- THE FILIPINO people are faced labor. ers, residents of surrounding com- with a worsening crisis amid the Together with the imposition of munities and students from other prolonged and worsening global burdensome neoliberal policies schools. capitalist system and the aggravat- upon the toiling masses, the ruling The students and other sectors ing and deepening crisis of the Phil- classes propagate ideas and influ- who joined the barricades waved ippine semicolonial and semifeudal ence to make the people accept the the banner of revolution. They were system. prevailing system and silently suffer a continuation of the widespread The people are made to their poverty and hardships. Let us demonstrations of the First Quarter shoulder the burdensome neoliberal shatter the ideas that promote Storm of 1970, the series of demon- policies. These are imposed by the meekness and silence further con- strations of youth and students and reactionary state to allow the big fining the people in a state of op- the toiling people demanding social capitalists and landlords full free- pression and exploitation. revolution. dom to plunder our natural re- The people must learn the les- Although the barricades lasted sources and exploit the labor power sons of their long history of resist- only a few days, through the Dili- and wring the last drop of sweat ance and struggle, including the man Commune the youth and stu- from the worker and peasant EDSA Uprising and the Diliman dents succeeded in drawing the masses. Commune. Draw lessons from other people's attention to the basic Millions of workers suffer from periods of upsurge of protests and problems of imperialism, feudalism extremely low wages and contrac- mass struggles. and bureaucrat capitalism. During tualization and other forms of flex- Use these lessons to make the Diliman Commune, the entire ible labor. Millions of peasants suf- Aquino and his regime answerable campus served as a cultural bastion fer from landlessness and for the numerous and large-scale of the Philippine revolution. It repu- landgrabbing by big landlords and crimes against the people. The diated the concept of "student foreign capitalists in plantations period before the elections are power" and propagated the prin- and mines, slave wages and lack of enough to launch big protest ac- ciple that the masses shape history. jobs. Millions of youth cannot afford tions to make Aquino tremble. It galvanized the students in their school because of exhorbitant fees. The commemoration of the numbers to unite with the toiling Under K-12, hundreds of thousands EDSA Uprising to the May 1 masses and troop to the factories, of low-skilled youth are churned out demonstration are opportunities to unite the entire country to advance ANG Contents large protests to condemn and charge Aquino for all the policies which have worsened the exploita- Editorial: Bring about tion and condition of the Filipino Vol XLVII No 3 | February 7, 2016 a new upsurge of protests 1 masses, as well as for surrendering Ang Bayan is the national sovereignty to US im- published in Expose the distorions of EDSA Uprising 3 perialism to the detriment of the Pilipino, Bisaya, entire people. Fight for additional SSS pension widens 4 Hiligaynon, Expect no change to come out

Waray and Cover-up on US role in Mamasapano 5 of the upcoming 2016 elections. English. Whoever among the competing re- It can be downloaded from the US Socom: Secret War in 135 countries 6 actionary candidates gets installed Philippine Revolution Web Central at to power is sure to continue the NPA raids Dole and Del Monte 7 www. philippinerevolution. net neoliberal policies. The US will en-

3rd SFB, "Magahat" suffer 8 KIA, 7 WIA 7 sure that the next president will be Ang Bayan welcomes its puppet. The programs of each contributions in the form of articles Killings, militarization heighten 8 one aim to attract foreign invest- and news items. Readers are ments and create the conditions NGP, landgrabbing in Cagayan Valley 9 encouraged to send feedback and and policies that favor foreign big

recommendations for improving our China economic slowdown 10 capitalists. newspapers. Send your messages to Whoever will sit as president [email protected] Farmers demand free irrigation 11 will surely just continue the anti- people programs of the Aquino re- Ang Bayan is published forthnightly by the Central Committee gime of the past six years. In es- of the Communist Party of the Philippines sence, this is no different from the

2 February 7 , 2 01 6 ANG BAYAN programs of Arroyo, Estrada, Ramos and Corazon The next regime should immediately be confronted Aquino all of which were designed and funded by the by the people with large demonstrations in order to re- IMF-WB in accordance with its push for liberalization, lentlessly pursue Aquino's indictment, and moreoever, in deregulation, privatization and denationalization. In order to pursue their demand for national democracy. pursuit of hegemonism, the US will further intensify mil- Bring about an upsurge of protests against imperialism, itary intervention under the next puppet regime. feudalism and bureaucrat capitalism.

Expose the distortions of the EDSA Uprising history

n marking the upcoming 30th anniversary of the EDSA Uprising in Feb- of the regime, and of poverty res- Iruary 25, the distortions regarding this historic event should be cor- ulting from the absence of indus- rected. The Filipino people must draw lessons useful for their future en- trialization and land reform. deavor in shaping history. Under brutal martial law re- The EDSA Uprising was the cul- regime on February 22 and estab- pression, cadres, activists and the mination of some 15 years of the lished its own command center revolutionary masses laid their lives Filipino people’s struggle against within Camp Crame. This blew open on the line and gave all their the US-Marcos fascist dictatorship. the severe rift within the military strength to bring forth open mass That this was the result of a long and police caused by Marcos favor- actions, until they were able to period of struggle, including heroic ing one faction over the other re- reach out and influence various armed resistance, is a fact that the garding promotions, money-making other patriotic forces in a broad reactionaries wish to expunge from opportunities and power. antifascist struggle. memory. Another group was the conser- This struggle deepened with The ruling elite continuously at- vative opposition of anti-Marcos the antifeudal struggle and tempt to dissociate the EDSA Upris- reactionaries and the Catholic heightened with the anti-imperialist ing from the people. They describe Church led by Jaime Cardinal Sin, struggle resulting in the extreme EDSA as a “miracle” inspired by who became critical of Marcos only isolation of the US-Marcos dictat- Cory Aquino and Cardinal Sin. Last during the late part of martial law, orship. Effective united front work year, Aquino celebrated EDSA in when the mass movement was and a strong revolutionary move- Cebu to emphasize Cory’s role who already on the upsurge. ment encouraged other sectors and was then in Cebu seeking safe The third group was the na- classes to gain the courage to fight refuge. Along with this is the con- tional democratic movement that the detested regime. cocted myth that the EDSA Upris- brought forward the most consolid- When Marcos had Benigno ing started with the Benigno S. ated forces who have long been Aquino assassinated on Agosto 21, Aquino assassination in 1983 and fighting the dictatorship. They 1983, the people’s rage exploded concluded with the coup d’etat at- weathered the whole period of into a giant wave of protest. The tempt within Camp Crame. martial law wherein thousands of national democratic forces stood as They desperately seek to ob- revolutionary martyrs and people the backbone of this wave. They scure the protracted history of were slain, abducted, tortured and strengthened and sustained mass struggle, the sufferings and sacri- imprisoned by the fascist dictator- struggles in the face of Marcos’ at- fices of thousands of people, and ship. tempts to crush these. the long years of forging the coun- The anti-Marcos factions of the try’s consciousness and power to Solid backbone of the anti-US- ruling class who had been quiet overthrow the hated fascist regime. Marcos struggle within the country or chose safer Millions of people went out to The more than one decade and methods of opposition in the US EDSA on February 22-25, 1986. a half before the EDSA Uprising was then linked up with the swelling Contradictory forces converged at a period for the national democratic movement against Marcos. Broad EDSA in an informal alliance against movement to arouse, organize and alliances such as the Justice for Marcos. mobilize the masses. The revolu- Aquino, Justice for All and Coalition Among these was the Enrile- tionary movement gave concrete for the Restoration of Democracy Ramos group with the Reform the form to the people’s hatred not only were formed with the national Armed Forces Movement (RAM) of repression, but also of the wide- democratic forces at the core but that declared its rupture with the spread plunder and rapaciousness also including other patriotic forces

ANG BAYAN February 7 , 2 01 6 3 like Tañada and Diokno, up to the anti- keeping her “options open” until 1991, Fight for Marcos reactionaries including Corazon though negotiations would start in Aquino. 1987. additional They worked with the revolutionary The elections were held on February SSS pension movement in militant actions in 1983- 7, 1986. The canvassing was never 1985. Demonstrations of 50,000- completed as the regime’s personnel spreads 100,000 youth, workers and peasants handling the computers staged a walk- became frequent, and were warmly sup- out, unable to put up with the gross ported by the people. fraud. PROTESTS against the The national democratic movement US-Aquino regime's veto US intervention was the biggest force to protest the of the proposed law Concerned that the national demo- fraud. providing an additional cratic movement was fast gaining To seize the initiative in the escal- pension for retired SSS ground and moving towards a leading ating protest, the Catholic Bishops members are fast role, the US had to shift its policy in Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) spreading across the 1984 from supporting Marcos towards under the direction of the US departed country. easing him out. A series of pressures on from its stand of critical collaboration Last January 28, Marcos took place, including the visit of and declared on February 14 that the rallies and other protest Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) dir- Marcos regime was immoral and illegit- actions for the addi- ector William Casey in May 1985 fol- imate. tional P2,000 in monthly lowed by President Reagan’s personal At the fourth day of the stand-off at pension were launched envoy Senator Paul Laxalt in October EDSA, Marcos was spirited out of in Metro Manila as well 1985. Malacañang. He and his family together as other parts of the All these had the consistent mes- with his closest lapdogs were put on country. Under the sage that Marcos should call for presid- board a plane and given safe haven in banner "Kalampagin ang ential elections before 1987 or else Hawaii, USA. SSS" (Hound the SSS), funds from the US would continue to be the Kilusang Mayo Uno withheld. Laxalt also continued the Overthrow of the regime (KMU) led simultaneous pressure in phone calls to Marcos until The people must never forget that pickets in front of the the latter announced in November 1985 the US-Marcos dictatorship was toppled SSS national office in that snap presidential elections will be with the strength of their action. Not Quezon City and in the held. with a miracle. Not with the help of the cities of Baguio, A few days after Marcos’ an- US, or Cory Magic or the RAM’s coup Calamba, Legaspi, nouncement of elections, assistant sec- d’etat. Iloilo, Kalibo, Cebu, retary of state for East Asia Richard In the EDSA Uprising, the most de- Cagayan de Oro, Gen- Holbrooke arrived in Manila. With him cisive force in deposing the US-Marcos eral Santos and Davao. in meeting with Corazon Aquino, Jose dictatorship were the revolutionary Meanwhile, the Cojuangco and Agapito "Butz" Aquino masses. They were the most thorough protest dubbed "Sama- were US Ambassador Stephen Bosworth and consistent in continuing the fight samang Sigaw" (Con- and Manila CIA station chief Norbert and served as the core of the broad and certed Clamor) was held Garrett. militant mass movement. It was be- on January 30 at the QC They laid down to Aquino the con- cause of the mass movement that the Memorial Circle. ditions for her certain victory as pres- US was forced to play its hand in easing Last February 4, at ident. First was to keep the commun- out its isolated puppet. the last congressional ists and communist sympathizers out of But the revolution’s strength at session, Rep. Neri her inner campaign organization and that time was capable only of over- Colmenares' microphone prospective cabinet; the second was throwing a regime. Therefore, the EDSA was turned off cutting not to make the US military bases a Uprising was not a revolution, because short his speech calling campaign issue, to which she acqui- it did not topple the rotten ruling sys- for an override of esced. tem. Aquino's veto. This was She departed from the basic docu- A true revolution and realization of condemned by patriotic ment of the so-called convenor group fundamental change will be attained and progressive groups which she had signed with the national only when the whole machinery of the as well as by some op- democratic forces on December 26, ruling state is ripped apart through positionist congress- 1984 calling for the dismantling of the people’s war and a democratic people’s men. US military bases. She took the line of government is established. Meanwhile, the Ibon

4 February 7 , 2 01 6 ANG BAYAN Foundation condemned the regime for refusing to billion in uncollected revenues in 2009. raise the SSS pension when it is using a large part of The institution also has P447 billion in assets as of government funds to guarantee the profits of big October 2015. All these prove empty the claims of the bourgeois compradors. Aquino regime that the SSS will lose money if addi- According to studies, if the SSS were to improve tional pension is granted. its collection system and reduce the gargantuan bo- On the other hand, the regime is continuously nuses of its officials, the institution will still have a pouring funds to private business involved in the large reserve. Studies by advocates of the proposal Public-Private Partnership. An example of this is the indicate that the SSS still has large assets (P198 mil- P35 billion guarantee or 54% of the overall expenses lion), uncollected contributions from delinquent em- for building the LRT1 by the consortium led by the ployers (P13.5 billion) and a balance of up to P325 Ayala and Pangilinan groups.

Cover-up continues on US role in Mamasapano

OTHING close to a revelation, but a continued cover-up of the US’ agreed to implement the US pro- Nprimary role and responsibility and the Aquino regime’s collabora- ject. Some lawyers say this is an tion, characterized the Senate’s reopening of the Mamasapano incident impeachable offense because investigation. Aquino allowed US troops to con- duct combat operations in Philip- During the January 27 Senate of the blame was still Getulio pine soil without Congressional reinvestigation charade, Sen. Napeñas. approval. Juan Ponce Enrile insisted that The Philippines’ national sov- Even before the reinvestiga- Aquino had direct knowledge of ereignty is the real victim in tion, the Department of Justice the January 25, 2015 bungled SAF Mamasapano. This was willfully (DOJ) cleared the US and Aquino operation in Tukanalipao, and grossly trampled upon by the of any accountability in the mas- Mamasapano, Maguindanao. US which directly planned, trained sacre. The DOJ decided on Janu- Killed in this operation were 44 and directed troops, and parti- ary 14 to file charges of direct SAF troopers, 17 MILF/BIFF ele- cipated in the actual assault of assault with murder and robbery ments, and five civilians. their own chosen target. US Am- against some 90 accused for the But Enrile made no remark on bassador Philip Goldberg keeps on death of 35 troopers of the 55th the very obvious truth about the denying this, but he was still SAC. The accused are alleged interventionist role of the US. compelled to admit that they had members of the MILF and BIFF. Enrile’s exposé of the purpor- a hand in training troops and gave No cases were filed against SAF ted recorded cellphone conversa- drone support. But he claims that personnel for the massacre of five tions and text messages point to this was requested by the Philip- civilians and wounding many oth- Aquino’s role in Mamasapano. He pine government. ers including a five-year-old girl. insists that Aquino intentionally In fact, US officers were giv- The victims were shot at close prohibited sending reinforcements ing directions at the tactical com- range even before and after the resulting in the annihilation of the mand post in Shariff Aguak where encounter. SAF forces. Napeñas was at that time. Forces In an attempt to quell the re- But his voice was effectively of the JSOTF-P chose the SAF sentment of PNP personnel and overridden by the regime’s de- troops for the operation. Americ- the families of the SAF 44, fenders. In the end, the Senate an soldiers also trained the SAF Malacañang on January 25 awar- decided to retain its previous re- operators in their facilities at the ded the Medal of Valor to two of port hiding the failure of the US Zamboanga resort of Celso the slain SAF commandos. But in- and Aquino leading to the numer- Lobregat. They also funded and stead of waning, more resentment ous deaths of police commandos in supplied the armaments. emerged as medals were not Mamasapano. Bearing the brunt As the chief puppet, Aquino awarded to all officers killed.

ANG BAYAN February 7 , 2 01 6 5 US Socom: Secret Warfare in 135 countries Pacific (SOCPAC) which includes the Philippines. There is also one sub- he US military officials who planned and directed the failed operation in command operating clandestinely, TMamasapano in January 26, 2015 are under the so-called Joint Opera- the Joint Special Operations Com- tions Task Force Philippines (JSOTF-P). The JSOTF-P is a 900-man special mand (JSOC). JSOTF-P is under unit of American troops under the US Special Operations Command (SOCOM). this. Votel originated from this, which reputedly specializes in After the recent approval of the stant dollars). This is on top of the hunting and killing those it deems EDCA by the Supreme Court, a more $8 billion yearly allocation from as "terrorists." active role of the US military in the various services (army, navy, air The most elite of all special op- Philippines is most certain, along force and marines). Troop deploy- erations are undertaken by the the lines of the Asia Pivot. Aside ment of US special forces overseas JSOC. Its expertise is in covert, from the use of regular military tripled. Each day some 11,000 clandestine and "low-visibility" op- forces under the US Pacific Com- troops of SOCOM are deployed erations in the "hottest" places or mand, among the forces used by the outside the US. combat operations. This included US are the special troops under the Currently heading the SOCOM is the operation to assassinate Abu SOCOM. Maj. Gen. Joseph Votel, who was Sabaya in Mindanao. SOCOM is composed of such recently designated as next to head Most of SOCOM deployment is units as the Green Berets of the US the US Central Command (Cencom) geared towards training missions. Army, Navy Seals from the US Navy covering the Middle East. These include individual-level and the Special Forces of the US Air Since 2006, the number of SO- training such as rifle marksmanship, Force and Marines. COM forces in the Pacific, including land navigation, airborne opera- The US has been long using the those in the Philippines, increased tions, etc. They provide unit-level SOCOM in "counter-insurgency" from 7% to 10%. The percentage of training in subjects like small-unit wars against countries struggling forces deployed to the Middle East operations, counterterrorism oper- for national liberation as in Vietnam decreased from 85% to 69%, while ations and maritime operations. then. The Special Forces were the deployment to the European Com- SOF can also provide formal first to enter Vietnam before the mand (EUCOM), including the hot- classroom training in subjects like eventual deployment of 500,000 spot Ukraine, doubled from 3% to the military decision-making pro- regular American forces in 1968. In 6%. The largest increase is in the cess or staff planning. the Philippines, SOCOM created and Africa Command from 1% to 10%, From 2012 to 2014, Special deployed the JSOTF-P in 2002 when reflective of growing interests in Operations Forces (SOF) conducted the US declared the Philippines as a that region. 500 Joint Combined Exchange "second front" in the "war against Most of the deployed special Training (JCET) missions in 67 terrorism". It established a per- forces are placed under the territ- countries yearly. Some 25,000 manent presence inside Camp Nav- orial commands of the US, such as troops from 77 countries joined in arro of Zamboanga City. the Special Operations Command- these exercises from 2012-2013 alone. It also conducted 75 train- SOCOM encompasses the whole ings in 30 countries in 2014; and world planned to launch 98 in 34 coun- SOCOM operations cover 135 tries last year. countries, 80% compared to the The most number of JCETs in 75 countries in 2010 and double 2012-2013 were carried out by compared to what it reached the SOCPAC. The most numer- before Obama became presid- ous of these trainings in 2012 ent in 2008. It has doubled were launched in the Philip- its forces from 33,000 in pines. In 2013, there were 2001 to 70,000 at present. equal number of trainings SOCOM's budget more launched in the Philip- than tripled from $3 bil- pines and Thailand. lion in 2001 to $10 bil- (To be continued in lion in 2014 (in con- the next issue.)

6 February 7 , 2 01 6 ANG BAYAN NPA raids Dole and Del Monte plantations in Bukidnon

he New People's Army (NPA) in Bukidnon launched a series of attacks on imperialist companies of Del Monte Tpineapple and banana plantations during the last week of January to and Dole-Itucho, including resist the multinationals’ environmentally destructive planned expansion. Lapanday of the Lorenzo family, continually indulge in expanding On January 25-30, NPA fighters bulldozers in Barangay Gabunan, their plantations...For every destroyed various destructive and Casisang, Malaybalay City. hectare of land used by the poison spraying heavy equipment of According to Allan Juanito, plantations, another hectare the big plantations to paralyze spokesperson of NPA-North Central allotted to food crop production is their operations and stop their Mindanao Region, soil excavation lost.” expansion. for leveling plantations cause Crops in these plantations are On January 25, a bulldozer, similar destruction with that of not consumed by the farmers but Hummer truck and generator mining. generate large profits for owned by Leo Wu, contractor of “For every hectare bulldozed, multinationals that export them. Del Monte Philippines, Inc. in more than 150 tonnes or 70 dump- Lapanday Foods produces more Barangay San Juan, Balingasag was truck loads of soil would be than two million crates of pineapple torched. Two days after, four displaced and eroded into streams yearly in its plantations in Aglayan hectares of Del Monte’s MD2 and rivers. This would desolate and Maluko, Bukidnon. pineapple were razed in Barangay every standing tree, grass and Del Monte Pacific Ltd (DMPL), Lapinigan, Libona, Bukidnon. other undergrowth, as well as good the largest pineapple plantation in On January 30, the NPA burned insects that would be poisoned by the world, harvests 700,000 tons of a pineapple boom spray of insect sprays and fertilizers,” he pineapple yearly in Mindanao. Dole Lapanday Company in Barangay added. Food Company, in partnership with Laguitas and a banana boom spray “While the numerous peasants Itochu Corporation of Japan, is of Dole Skyland. Also torched were and their families here in our region known as the world’s biggest Del Monte’s two D150 Caterpillar wallow in intense poverty ...the supplier of fresh fruit.

3rd SFB, "Magahat" suffer eight KIA, seven WIA

EIGHT were killed and seven wounded on the side of the all under Kalpit Egwa. 3rd Special Forces Battalion (SFB) of the Philippine Army Bobby Tejero was involved in the massacre of and the paramilitary "Magahat" in three separate Lumads in Han-ayan, Diatagon, Lianga on September 1, clashes against the New People’s Army last January 15- 2015. Anit Belandres is a brother of Marcial Belandres 16 in Barangay Mabuhay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur. who murdered Lumad leader Henry Alameda on October A unit of the NPA-Front 19 ambushed a 12-man 24, 2014 in Barangay San Isidro, Lianga, Surigao del "Magahat" group in the morning of January 15, and an- Sur. other unit harassed the said paramilitary group in the Malaya added that the clashes are proof of the afternoon. Two elements of the bandit "Magahat" were Armed Forces of the Philippines’ control of the criminal killed. The next day, at around 9:20 a.m., 50 elements of group of Tejero and Belandres, and that the AFP has no combined 3rd SFB PA and "Magahat" troops assaulted intention of arresting the "Magahat" for killing Lumads. the NPA position in Sitio Kauswagan, Barangay Meanwhile, three harassment operations were con- Mabuhay. Six enemy troops were killed while seven were ducted by the Celso Minguez Command-NPA Sorsogon wounded in almost 20 minutes of fighting. against troops of the 31st Infantry Battalion and PNP According to Ka Maria Malaya, spokesperson of the Public Safety Battalion. An NPA team fired first at a National Democratic Front-Northeastern Mindanao Re- column of enemy on operations in Barangay Tabi, Gubat, gion, present in the operation were "Magahat" bandits on January 27, 4:00 p.m. This was followed by two har- who had been involved in killing Lumads. Residents re- assment operations on enemy troops encamped at the ported the presence in the 3rd SFB operation of Bobby barangay hall of San Antonio, Barcelona on January 29, Tejero, Romeo Banusan, Emie Perez, and Anit Belandres, 10 a.m. and in Bulacao, Gubat, that afternoon. The har-

ANG BAYAN February 7 , 2 01 6 7 assment operations were carried out against enemy Tuy, Batangas. A group of Red fighters were on man- troops that have been conducting combat operations for euvers on a hill when they caught sight of the soldiers a week in the towns of Gubat, Casiguran, Bacon, and and fired. A few hours after the incident, the PAF dis- Barcelona. patched a helicopter and strafed the areas around Meanwhile on January 25, a soldier of the Philippine Mount Batulao, causing fear among the residents of Air Force was killed in an encounter in Barangay Toong, barangays Toong, Aga, Pulo, Boboc and San Jose.

Killings, militarization heighten at start of 2016

he US-Aquino regime commenced the first month of its last year in office After three days, Navacilla suc- with left-and-right killings, arrests, heightened militarization and other cumbed to bullet wounds. Navacilla T joined the struggle against the human rights abuses. Most vicious of these was the slaying of three civilians in Mindanao as well as in Masbate, illegal arrests in Sorsogon and the de- entry of the Nationwide Develop- ployment of additional battalions of troops to Surigao. ment Corporation (Nadecor) and the St. Augustine Gold & Copper Meanwhile, youth and student codename "Mike" who had long Limited, a Canadian firm. She was leaders launched activities to de- been tailing him. When Matibay's a small-scale miner and chair of mand the release of political detain- wife stood up to buy supper, “Mike” the Gumayan local community in ees. shot Matibay before speeding off. Kingking. She is the 54th victim of Negros Occidental. Karapatan Matibay sustained three gunshot extrajudicial killings in Southern recorded four killed in the first wounds. Mindanao since 2010. She was also month of January. First was peasant In Barangay Central of Mati, one of the convenors of the Save activist Benjie Sustento who was another activist, Ricky Peñaranda, Pantukan Movement, an alliance kidnapped on the night of January 9 chair of the Fishermen Landless opposed to large-scale mining. in his house in Lopez Jaena, Murcia, Association, was gunned down by The afternoon she was killed, Negros Occidental. His body was motorcycle-riding men. Navacilla paid a visit to Giovanni found the next day, with torture Davao del Norte. Residents of Gutierrez, a fellow small-scale marks and bullet wounds in the Sitio Laslasakan, Sitio Nalubas and miner and "abantero" or tunnel face. He was blindfolded, gagged, Sitio Panga-an in Barangay Palma digger who is accused of being an with hands bound and dragged by a Gil and Sitio Pongpong in Barangay NPA member and jailed on vehicle several hundred meters on Dagoho, Talaingod were forced to trumped-up charges at the muni- the road. Sustento is a member of evacuate. This was several days cipal office of the the National Federation of Sugar after the paramilitary group Ala- Philippine National Workers. Before being killed, mara killed a 15-year old student Police. Sustento participated in the collect- named Alibando Tingkas (See Ang ive cultivation of land and experi- Bayan, January 21, 2016). enced harassment. Earlier, As a result, schools of the Sa- Sustento's brother was charged lugpongan Ta'tanu Igkanugon with arson by a land speculator. Community Learning Center in these Davao Oriental. Latest of the four sitios were forced to shut victims last January was Christoph- down. Teacher, students and other er Matibay, 43, lider of the group civilians were forced to evacuate in Barug Katawhan formed by victims fear of further attacks by the para- of Typhoon Pablo and one of the military group. participants of the Manilakbayan Compostela Valley. Teresita last year. Matibay was seated with “Bebing” Navacilla, a 60-year old his wife at a waiting shed in Lamba- activist, was attacked on the night jon, Baganga, Davao Oriental at 4 of January 27 in Barangay Kingking, p.m. last January 18 when a motor- Pantukan while she was tending her cycle-rider passed and stopped store. She sustained wounds from nearby. Matibay recognized him as two bullets that grazed and flew an intelligence officer with the past the back of her head and nape.

8 February 7 , 2 01 6 ANG BAYAN Perpetrators of the killing were Farmer's Association (CFA). CFA is Dangcalan and Sgt. Bustamante, believed to be from the 46th IB that opposing the entry of Agusan Pet- both of the 9th IB that was operat- have been on a rampage in Pan- roleum Mining Company (AGPET), a ing in the area at that time, as the tukan lately, arresting innocent ci- subsidiary of San Miguel Corpora- perpetrators of the massacre. vilians and portraying them as tion owned by Eduardo Cojuangco, members of the NPA and assaulting uncle of Benigno Aquino (See Ang Widespread protests the human rights of progressive Bayan, December 7, 2015). Meanwhile, student leaders leaders in the area as well. The mil- Masbate. The NPA-Masbate and writers of the Polytechnic itary primarily targets the small- (Jose Rapsing Command or JRC) University of the Philippines were scale miners, farmers and Lumad of identified the Charlie Company of prevented from visiting three de- the Mansaka tribe who are opposed the 9th IB as the perpetrator of the tained youths in the Special In- to the full operations of Nadecor slaying of the Bartolabac, San tensive Care Area-1 in Camp and St. Agustine Mining. Jacinto barangay captain in Ticao Bagong Diwa, Bicutan last January Nadecor is the sole claim owner Island this January. According to 17. The three detainees -- Jared of mineral rights to 1,656 hectares the JRC, Brgy. Captain Rey S. En- Morales, Hermogenes Reyes Jr., of Kingking property covering four cabo was forcibly killed "to silence and Rex Villaflor -- are counted villages of Pantukan including his firm commitment to defend the among the 136 youth political Kingking, Magnaga, Tagdangua and human rights of his fellow residents prisoners in the country. An at- Araibo. in the barangay." tempt by student leaders of UP to Before this, at the start of the Councilor Robert “Bongbong” D. visit Maricon Montajes, a detained year, Renante Mantos, a leader of Almondiel who was with the film student of the University of the Hugpong sa Mag-uuma sa Wa- barangay captain at the time of the the Philippines, in the Batangas log Compostela (Farmers solidarity murder was also killed. Jay C. Provincial Jail was also denied. in Walog o HUMAWAC), was Amoradiel, 14, who witnessed the According to the guard on duty on charged with trumped up cases of crime was likewise killed. Encabo's the day of the visit last January 24, illegal detention of his own neigh- face was clubbed while his body was the new jail warden, David Quimio bors. already sprawled on the ground Jr., gave instructions not to allow Last year, two attempts were while the teenager Jay's face was the visitors access to the political made on the life of Isabello Tin- also blown up. prisoners due the the "special dasan, chair of the Compostela The JRC identified Corporal nature" of their case.

National Greening Program, In Quirino In the municipality of Diffun, landgrabbing in Cagayan Valley 300 hectares previously planted to corn by farmers of Barangay Mag- saysay, Campamento, San Pascual he National Greening Program (NGP) is a sham reforestation program of and Dumanise have been turned Tthe US-Aquino regime. This is a landgrabbing scheme of big logging con- into gmelina plantations. The DENR cessionaires. (See Ang Bayan, December 7, 2015.) NGP is going full blast in included these in its reforestation Cagayan Valley. program in 1997. The people were deceived by In the provinces of Isabela, are classified as forestal although the DENR’s promises that farmers Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino, farmers have long cleared, tilled will continue owning the land and 1,146,716 hectares or 67% and resided in these lands. These receive compensation for planting of their total are areas of deep social discontent gmelina. Supposedly they would be 1,700,000 and resentment against the gov- allowed to use the timber for the hectares ernment, due to the absence of land construction of their houses. security over the cultivated lands The former barangay captain of and partiality towards big foreign Magsaysay came up with papers and local businesses. These are that showed the approval of the lands coveted by land speculat- residents in declaring the area a ors and logging plantation con- Forest Zone and allowing 300 hec- tractors. tares to be planted with gmelina. DENR deployed its personnel to the

ANG BAYAN February 7 , 2 01 6 9 area, among them Butch Marsan In Brgy. Disulap, 4Ps benefi- San Jose and Casala. Bioethanol who had American partners. ciaries are required to plant trees. investors use coercion and decept- The promises were never ful- They are threatened exclusion from ive offers of payment to take ad- filled. The residents are forbidden the list of beneficiaries if they do vantage of the difficult living con- to cut trees and to plant any crop in not comply. This is still implemen- ditions of the indigenous people. their land that is covered by the ted by the DENR in coordination The land delineation survey in contract. At present, Marsan is with the Department of Social Wel- 2014 was accompanied by opera- claiming the whole plantation. He fare and Development. Farmers are tions of the 86th Infantry Bat- employed forest rangers to guard also offered contracts to “reforest” talion. against and threaten people who the lands they are cultivating. They The greed of people who are in want to reclaim their land. Because are offered P10 per seedling or if business and power is beyond of this, several families have left funds are available, as much as measure. They will occupy whatever the place. Marsan is also planning P10,000 per hectare. In this man- land is available. They take turns to sell the plantation due to dis- ner, a bigger chunk of the funds, or enjoying the benefits of the land agreements with his American part- P40,000 per hectare, is pocketed by produced by generations of farm- ner. This year, the gmelina planta- DENR officials. ers. They blatantly appropriate the tion will be expanded to 500 Local politicians Rep. Ana Go wealth borne out of the people’s la- hectares as per agreement with the and Jun Carreon commissioned a bour through reactionary laws and NGP. helicopter survey of their almost might of their mercenaries and sol- 1,000-hectare former concession diers. In Isabela in the Barangay Minanga, Disusuan In the face of this greed and More than 200,000 hectares and Dibuluan tri-boundary. Sonny viciousness, the people understand were covered by the province’s In- Rodriguez, an official of the Na- that their aspirations for freedom tegrated Social Forestry Program. tional Commission on Indigenous and justice will be achieved only This contained countless rules, reg- Peoples, has a share in these lands. through resistance. Resistance not ulations and prohibitions that drove These are productive lands long only to sham programs like refor- residents and tillers away from the occupied and tilled by Ilocanos, estation, but resistance to imperi- mountains. In cancelling the Indus- Ibanag, Kalinga, Ifugao and Aggay alist economic, political and military trial Forest Management Agree- peoples. Landgrabbers are seizing control of the lives of the people ment (IFMA) applications in the the opportunities provided by the through the overthrow of a govern- municipality of San Mariano, the new law that allows the use of ment subservient to the imperialists foothills of Sierra Madre are now these areas for biofuel production. and establishment of a truly pro- covered by the NGP. A P50,000- The NGP will also cover 100 peasant and pro-people govern- per-hectare fund is available for hectares occupied by Agta and ment. (From Baringkuas corres- this program. Ifugao peoples in the barangays of pondent.)

China economic slowdown and threats of worsening global crisis

tock markets across the world slumped almost all at the same Stime during the first week of trading this 2016. The big capitalist bankers and investors trembled at the threat of another financial storm and the worsening of the global capitalist system's protracted depression.

The stock markets dipped after the release of ulators data indicating a slowdown in the China economy. It and in- shows that last December, industrial production vestors growth slowed to 5.9% from 6% in November. Growth in stocks and other of retail trade also slowed down from 11.3% last financial instruments. November to 11.1% in December. They have been keeping watch of While these show only a slight slowdown in the any indication of a slump in the China China economy, these have shaken the financial spec- economy that will pull the global capitalist system to

10 February 7 , 2 01 6 ANG BAYAN a worse crisis. economy, it is now also feeling the countries. (Compare this to the US In 2009, China poured $587 growing problem of overproduction. which is the biggest trading partner billion for economic invigoration, It has been in the process of slow- of 76 countries.) As much as 5% of most of which went to housing and ing down over the past years. After the income of US companies come infrastructure such as modern rails almost two decades of rapid capit- from China. There are some com- and highspeed trains, wide roads, alist expansion since the end of the panies such as Pizza Hut and Ken- ports and others. China also poured 1980s, the growth of the China eco- tucky Fried Chicken which earn up large funds into Africa. Last 2015, nomy has slowed down concurrent to 50% of their income in China. China financed one-fourth of the with the collapse of big banks in Some European companies also initial $100 billion fund of the Asian 2008. earn 10% of their income from Infrastructure Investment Bank There is a growing inventory of China. (AIIB), with which it expects to unsold goods including houses, cell- China has been relentlessly de- fund large-scale infrastructure pro- phones, electronic products and fending the value of the yuan jects under the New Silk Road. Al- others. There is a growing number against the dollar so that it con- most half of the $100 billion fund of of companies that are folding up or tinues to dominate the export mar- the New Development Bank (BRICS going bankrupt. As a result, there is ket. From September 2014, China bank) also came from China. a growing number of workers who has poured $443 billion to prevent China has been investing in have been kicked out of work. the yuan from undergoing large backward countries classified as Over the past five years, the fluctuations. "emerging" economies. But this has growth of the China economy has Despite the size of the Chinese accomplished little in reviving the been moderately slowing down economy, it cannot serve for long international economy and has (measured in gross domestic as the "machine" that will run the failed to moderate the crisis of product) from 7.7% (in 2012), to international capitalist system and overproduction in the capitalist 7.6% (2013), to 7.3% (2014) and push it towards recovery and re- countries. A number of China pro- 6.9% last year, the lowest since activation. On the contrary, the jects, such as the oil pipeline from 1990. This is expected to go down overheating of the China machine Siberia might no longer be pursued. further to 6.5% this year. contributes to aggravating the The "special economic zone" it es- Even if the China economy crisis of overproduction across the tablished in its border with Kazakh- slowdown is moderate, this has country. On the other hand, the stan, another project under the profound effects on many econom- prolonged depression of the global New Silk Road, is almost aban- ies that are tightly bound to it. In capitalist system has slowed down doned. 2012, China has become the China and is pulling it into a crisis of Despite the size of the China biggest trading partner of 124 overproduction.

Farmers demand free irrigation

FARMERS from Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan and Isabela Aquino regime is funding are big dam projects such as the rallied in front of the National Irrigation Administration Balog-Balog Multipurpose Dam Project in Tarlac that will (NIA) in Quezon City last January 21 to demand free benefit the Hacienda Luisita of the Aquino-Cojuangcos irrigation services for farmers. The protest action was led and the Jalaur Multipurpose Dam Project in Iloilo that is by the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP). being pushed by Franklin Drilon, Aquino's partymate in According to the KMP, farmers are commonly made the Liberal Party. to pay an annual P4,500 in irrigation service fees (ISF) The large irrigation fees that raise the costs of or an amount equal to five cavans of palay per hectare production are burdensome to the peasants. Up to 80% of with exhorbitant interests. Farmers are required to pay the monies being collected by the NIA are farmers' debt. ISF to the Irrigators Association (IA) even if they have The KMP also denounced the anomalies at the NIA. It not received any water or even if there is no irrigation in questioned the severalfold increase in the NIA budget their area. from P2.4 billion in 2014 to P28.7 billion in 2015 and "Given the strategic importance of irrigation in P32.7 billion this year. Last year, it only completed 1,905 pursuing sustained agricultural development, rice self- hectares in irrigation works out of a target of 7,502 sufficiency, food security, and the upliftment of Filipino hectares and repaired 8,609 hectares out of a target of farmers' welfare, it is the obligation of the government to 24,541 hectares. provide free irrigation services," asserted KMP chair The demand for free irrigation services has become Rafael Mariano. more urgent in the face of droughts brought about by the Instead of providing subsidies to irrigation, what the El Niño phenomenon.

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