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

Vol XLVI No. 8 August 7, 2015 www.philippinerevolution.net

Editorial Frustrate attempts to cripple the national democratic movement

nder direct orders of the US, the Aquino regime and state se- ership of the Party, the people's war curity forces have launched a desperate attack against the na- continues to advance nationwide. Utional democratic movement. This attack seeks to capture or li- Even in Mindanao where AFP of- quidate leading cadres of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), fensives are concentrated, the NPA commanders of the New People's Army (NPA) and officials of the Na- continues to maintain tactical initi- tional Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), as well as key activ- ative and can launch armed actions ists and leaders of the open national democratic mass movement. and offensives against the enemy. Its despicable aim is to suppress the AFP in Mindanao since the early Units of the NPA continue to gain the Filipino people's national demo- part of 2014 and other parts of the momentum in launching tactical of- cratic movement in order to bull- country which have caused the fensives across the country against doze the neoliberal policies through forced evacuation of tens of thou- the overstretched forces of the en- and pave the way for unimpeded sands of people. The attacks of the emy. plunder and exploitation by foreign AFP against civilians are relentless. In fact, the US-Aquino regime's big capitalists in the coming years. Based on its targets, the AFP arrest and killing of some leaders Arrest and liquidation opera- has failed to attain the aim of Oplan and commanders are merely flashes tions by the US-Aquino regime have Bayanihan to render the NPA to cover up the failure of Oplan intensified over the past few irrelevant by the end of 2013, even Bayanihan and its vain attempt to months. Aquino's urgent objective is by the adjusted timetable of 2015. defeat the people's revolutionary to cripple the protest actions that Every year, the AFP declares so- resistance. While these cause tem- are set to confront the APEC leaders called "conflict manageable areas" porary work dislocations, these fail meeting this November. He also which they would later take back in in preventing the overall advance of aims to suppress the national demo- the face of continuing NPA tactical the armed revolutionary movement cratic forces who are determined to offensives in those areas. and the people's struggles. expose and oppose the computer- Under ized cheating being hatched by the lead- Aquino for 2016 in order to in- stall his clone. His attack against the leading committees, commands and organizations are part of the anti-people Oplan Bayani- han war of suppression. This is a rehash of similar attacks by the Arroyo regime under Oplan Bantay Laya I and II. These attacks aim to derail the ad- vance of both the people's war and the mass struggles in the cities. These are in consonance with the all-out offensives of New revolutionary leaders and others. Aquino regime commanders will continue to rise up All Party organs at different from the ranks to strengthen the levels must be strengthened in or- illegally arrests leadership of the CPP, NPA, NDFP der to be able to strike deep roots NDFP personages and the mass organizations. They are among the masses, and carry out ardently studying Marxism-Leninism- propaganda, organizing and mobil- from Panay and ST Maoism and applying it in advancing ization work. the people's war in the country. It is better for those who can no The all-out attacks of the US- longer effectively work in the cities he US-Aquino regime Aquino regime must be confronted to work in the countryside in the Tonce again dealt a blow to and roundly defeated. Here and territories under the authority of the peace negotiations with abroad, we must carry out vigorous the revolutionary movement. Ter- the National Democratic exposure of the campaign of sup- ritories of the revolutionary move- Front of the Philippines (ND- pression, trampling on civil and ment are also open to activists and FP) when it arrested an NDFP political rights and outright mass leaders being hounded by the consultant and a staffer over distortion of legal processes. The US-Aquino regime. the past two weeks. These mass movement to defend civil The US and Aquino regime are were carried out as part of rights must be strengthened and bound to be frustrated in their aim the intensified suppression expanded among the broad demo- of crippling the national democratic campaign which also targets cratic forces who will stand firmly movement in the face of the deep- activists and leaders of pro- and oppose the regime's campaign seated crisis of the semicolonial and gressive organizations in of suppression. semifeudal system. Aquino's devout urban centers. It is also in Party cadres and personalities adherence to the neoliberal policy tandem with the unabated in the urban areas who are dictates of his imperialist masters attacks against peasants and identified and being pursued are the has resulted in unprecendented minorities who are fighting for most vulnerable to enemy attacks. crisis. The extreme exploitation and their land and livelihood. They should more firmly carry out grave sufferings of the people it has Luis Jalandoni, chief negoti- underground means of working in caused are compelling the people to ator of the NDFP, condemned the cities, including building secret tread the path of revolutionary the successive arrests of NDFP support networks, limiting links, and struggle. consultants and staffers. He likewise condemned Joint Order No. 14-2012 which listed 237 ANG Contents individuals as “wanted com- munists” and increased bounty Editorial: Frustrate attempts to cripple to P467 million for their heads. Vol XLVI No. 8 | August 7, 2015 the movement 1 The Joint Order was issued by NDFP personages arrested 2 the Department of National De- Ang Bayan is published in fense and Department of Interi- IPT 2015 verdict 4 Pilipino, Bisaya, Hiligaynon, or and Local Government in Waray and English. US trained AFP in Panay 5 November 2012 and serves as an It can be downloaded from the “order of battle” or OB for police Philippine Revolution Web Central at NPA raids 58th IB 6 and military operations. This www.philippinerevolution.net scheme has resulted in numer- NPA attacks 75th IB 6 ous JASIG (Joint Agreement of Ang Bayan welcomes NPA strikes 49th IB 6 Safety and Immunity Guaran- contributions in the form of articles tees) violations, and illegal ar- and news items. Readers are SONA protests 7 rests, abuses and detention of encouraged to send feedback and ordinary civilians due to the Job crisis under Aquino 8 recommendations for improving our million-peso bounty. According newspaper. Send your messages to Coconut farmers in 8 to Karapatan, the military, po- [email protected] lice and their fake witnesses Five years under PPP 9 have profited a total of P55 mil- lion from this scheme. POC Privatization 10 Blow to the peace negoti- Ang Bayan is published fortnightly by the ations. Elements of the Criminal Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines Investigation and Detection

2 August 7, 2015 ANG BAYAN Group (CIDG) VI and Intelligence soldiers and members of the para- questioned the authority of their Service of the Armed Forces of the military group Alamara, raided leaders. Because of this, she was Philippines illegally arrested Ma. Haran Compound last July 23. The declared persona non grata by the Concepcion Araneta-Bocala, known raid sought to force the 700 evacuees and banned from the as Ka Concha Araneta, spokesper- Lumads who are temporarily living compound. son of the regional committee of inside the compound to go back to The UCCP, progressive repres- the Communist Party of the Philip- their communities despite contin- entatives and organizations and pines and NDF-Panay, in Junta ued military presence which forced the broad masses condemned the Subdivision, Molo, City last them to evacuate. More than 15 raid and the recurrent abuses of August 1. Lumads were injured during the state forces against the Lumads. Araneta was in possession of raid. Haran Compound is owned Consequently, the Davao City NDFP Documentation of Identific- the United Church of Christ in the Council and Congress plan to in- ation ND978245 under the name of Philippines (UCCP.) vestigate Catamco’s role in the Remi Estrella. Araneta is known for The raid is part of the suc- raid. her fierce criticism of the US- cessive attempts of officials of the Meanwhile, on July 15, Datu Aquino regime and of the exploit- US-Aquino regime, headed by the Tungig-Masim-oy from Talaingod, ative and anti-people policies of Rep. Nancy Catamco, and officials together with Karapatan and Na- the state, especially of its criminal of the 10th ID, to silence the tional Union of People’s Lawyers neglect of the survivors of super- Lumads and put a stop to the in- representatives, held a dialogue typhoon Yolanda which left Panay creasing support they are gener- with Dr. Chaloka Beyani, United in tatters. (Read related article.) ating from different sectors and Nations Special Rapporteur for In- Soldiers likewise arrested her institutions here and abroad. ternally Displaced Persons, in nephew Joseph Cariaga, and An- Before the raid, the Lumads Quezon City to convey the Lumads’ nielyn Soldevilla, a housemate. refused Catamco’s offer of vehicles situation. Karapatan submitted to Araneta has a P7.8-million bounty to take them back to their com- Dr. Beyani the documentation of on her head. munities in Talaingod, Davao del 60,000 victims of forced evacu- Earlier, elements of the CIDG, Norte and . The Lumads ations in different parts of Philippine National Police (PNP) have been staying inside the com- Mindanao. It included the case of and Anti-transnational Crimes Unit pound for almost four months. 441 individuals, mostly of the jointly arrested Ernesto Lorenzo, In July 17, Catamco sowed fear B’laan tribe, who were forced to NDF-Southern Tagalog staffer, on among them when she brought leave their community in Sitio Ak- July 21 in the Gilmore IT Center in representatives of the 10th ID to a bual, Upper Suyan, Malapatan, Quezon City. Lorenzo is the holder dialogue inside the Haran Com- Saranggani due to the AFP’s indis- of NDFP Document of Identifica- pound. She pretended to be a crimate bombing, threats and in- tion ND778299 under the name of friend at first, but her true colors terrogation, and the imposition of Lean Martinez. Simultaneous with showed when the evacuees refused a food blockade since May. his arrest, AFP elements raided the to return to their communities as Intensified harassment of legal house where he has been staying long as military troops do not leave activists in Davao. Karapatan dis- and arrested his wife, Joyce Latay- the area. closed last July 15 the threats, an. More than 50 soldiers stormed She was rude to the Lumads harassment, intimidation and sur- the house, while their one-year whom she mocked as “stinky” and veillance carried out against Han- child Julie Alicia was inside. Charges of rebellion, illegal possession of firearms and multiple murder were filed against Araneta while Lorenzo and his wife were slapped with criminal charges such as destructive arson. Both Araneta and Lorenzo are covered by the JASIG. Lorenzo and Latayan are currently held in Camp Crame while Araneta is detained in Camp Martin Delgado, PNP- headquarters. Raid on Haran Compound. More than 500 police, along with

ANG BAYAN - August 7, 2015 3 imay Suazo, Karapatan-South victims in ’s provincial grabbed through intimidation, Mindanao Region secretary-gener- jail. They are facing trumped-up killings and various legal al, by the 10th ID, 10th Civil Milit- charges of illegal possession of manueverings during their family’s ary Operations (CMO) Battalion, firearms. tenure in local politics. agents of the Eastern Military In Negros, Ronel Bariga, a In , the military re- Command and CIDG XI since Oc- member of the National Federa- peatedly intimidated and tober 2014 up to the present. tion of Sugar Workers (NFSW), threatened Nonoy Bungtiwen, one Suazo is one of the 15 leaders was injured last July 17 in an am- of the leaders of the Ifugao Peas- charged with kidnapping, illegal bush by paid goons of a notorious ant Movement’s (IPM) and a detention and human trafficking in landlord while on his way to barangay councilor of Tulludan, relation to the Lumad evacuees. Barangay Igmay-an in the town of Tinoc. Bungtiwen and the IPM The operations carried out by Salvador Benedicto. Bariga was strongly oppose the Quadriver the military against Suazo include then onboard a jeepney with his project which aims to build a hy- motorcycle-riding operatives tra- nephew Ariel Ceballos when two droelectric power plant in their cking her movements, blatant in- men riding-in-tandem opened fire. area. In July 19, the Tulludan timidation by a military officer The NFSW believes that Alexander council passed a resolution to during a dialogue, an attempt to Ceballos, Ariel’s father, was the condemn the threats against enter the Karapatan office, 24- goons’ real target since he led the Bungtiwen and called for the mil- hour surveillance of the said office cultivation of land in Igmay-an for itary to stop maliciously linking and brazen loitering of motorcycle- food consumption. The land, which him with the New People’s Army. riding military agents at their the farmers call a “land cultivation In related news, residents gates. area” has been sold by Nehemias from nearby Barangay Tukucan In a related case, military de la Cruz, Salvador Benedicto’s condemned Quadriver’s attempt to agents ransacked the home of ex-mayor, to Benigno Aquino III’s bribe their barangay captain, Grace Gamalinda, Migrante-Da- uncle, Eduardo “Danding” Joseph Calabson, to make him sign vao’s education officer, last July Cojuangco. a memorandum of agreement 20. Gamalinda and her daughter Before the attempted murder, (MOA) as part of gaining their free Arriane, are among those charged the same goons have already prior and informed consent (FPIC). with the same spurious cases as threatened the lives of Alexander The residents had already Suazo. In another related case of and 11 more farmworkers. De la withdrawn a prior MOA after intimidation, state agents followed Cruz’s son likewise threated to file learning the extent of the project’s Cristy Balinawa, Migrante-Davao cases to drive them out of the land destruction to their land and live- staffer, on her way home from during a confrontation inside the lihood. Quadriver promised higher Haran Compound. According to office of the Provincial Agrarian wages for Calabson and other of- Balinawa, police cars have been Reform Office in July 14. ficials if they signed a new MOA staking out her house for several Since 2013, Ceballos and 50 and Quadriver’s operations go days. other NFSW members have cultiv- ahead in Tinoc. Calabson refused Fascism against peasants and ated the 25-hectare land which and instead called a barangay as- minorities. In Cagayan, three the de la Cruzes are claiming. sembly where the residents re- members of the Aggay minorities They have planted rice, corn, cas- stated their decision to close the were abducted by elements of the sava and bananas for their famil- door to the project. The Quadriver 17th IB in Sitio Dalingan, San ies’s consumption. The property is project is a subsidiary of a com- Juan, last July 20. According part of the 771-hectare land that pany owned by the Ayala family. to Karapatan-Cagayan’s docu- the de la Cruzes have mentation, the victims Mendo Vis- iotan, Marlon Baganay and Lando Duruin were first mauled before the soldiers dragged them out of the sitio. The soldiers also kicked Visiotan’s wife Jessica when she attempted to stop them. Before leaving, they ran- sacked five houses and accused the residents of being supporters of the New People’s Army. After a long search, relatives found the

4 August 7, 2015 ANG BAYAN IPT 2015 finds Aquino and the US guilty soldiers fired indiscriminately at their community. uilty beyond doubt — this was the verdict handed down against Benigno The IPT verdict will be submit- GAquino III and the US government for violating the Filipino people’s ted to the office of the prosecutor political and civil rights, economic and social-cultural rights, and right to of the International Criminal Court self-determination. This was the decision of the International People’s and courts in America, Europe, Tribunal (IPT) which was held last July 16-20 in Washington, D.C. The Africa and Asia, where Aquino and tribunal heard a total of 34 cases, with 32 witnesses, filed by various groups. the US government can be put on The tribunal found that the han, which is “implemented with the trial. evidence submitted complies with assistance of the US government.” Meanwhile, in July 15, Filipino evidenciary requirements and that Among those who testified was human rights defenders testified in there is clear basis to convict and Cynthia Jaramillo, wife of Arnold the Tom Lantos Human Rights hold responsible Benigno Aquino III Jaramillo, who gave an account of Commission of the US Senate to and the US government for their the results of the autopsy on her narrate abuses and other human crimes against the Filipino people. husband and that of his companions rights violations committed against The IPT is an independent body of which proved that they suffered the minority peoples of Cordillera, lawyers and human rights experts. extreme torture and brutality be- Sierra Madre and in Mindanao. One As stated by the tribunal, the fore soldiers executed them in a of the participants, Bishop Solito human rights violations are not raid in Lacub, in 2014. Earl Toquero, reminded the commission “random” but are of a clear pattern, John Antivo, Roque Antivo’s 8-year that they had also appeared in 2007 especially in the context of the old brother, also gave his testimony. when they called for the US to stop Aquino government’s Oplan Bayani- Roque was killed in April 2013 when military aid to the Philippines.

November. Added Ka Concha, “some US troops trained AFP ministerial-level conferences had been held and some are still to be for APEC—Ka Concha conducted, including those on capital infrastructure (policies which facil- number of American troops were deployed in Panay for “inter-op- itate capital penetration and remit- Aerative” training of AFP troops to secure the upcoming Asia-Pa- tances), privatization of small and cific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings. This is according to Ka medium industries and the further Concha Araneta, spokesperson of the National Democratic Front exploitation of the blue economy (of (NDF)-Panay, in a statement released a few days before Benigno the sea). We are made to particip- Aquino’s State of the Nation Address (SONA). ate, as hosts to the APEC, in the According to Ka Concha: “The vigorated NPA forces. On certain plan to subject our livelihood to the regime has doubled regular army occassions, the regime has added control of foreign capital, to the sell- troops deployed in Panay to face in- 2,000-3,000 to the Philippine Na- out of our patrimony and the bank- creasing numbers of tional Police (PNP) to secure APEC ruptcy of small and medium indus- people massing and presidential sorties in tries by subcontracting them to big up to protest Panay.” local and foreign corporations for on the Panay is one of the sites more profits. Our depleted sea re- streets and chosen by the regime to host sources would be further exploited to fight various APEC meetings. A for more profits of big foreign fish the in- convention center, spon- factories.” sored by loyal Aquino sup- Fishing is Panay’s second largest porter Sen. Franklin Drilon, industry. The biggest is rice and was built in Iloilo for this sole third is sugar. purpose. The center is mired Ka Concha also denounced the in anomaly and corruption massive importation of rice and sug- which the government has chosen ar which has caused peasant liveli- to cover-up. Among other places hoods to fall. She also slammed the chosen for the meetings is Bora- Aquino regime’s long-delayed release cay, , where the whole police of the Emergency Shelter Assistance force was trained by the US. The (ESA). She said many victims re- APEC leaders meeting will be held in ceived nothing at all from the ESA

ANG BAYAN - August 7, 2015 5 because “many were stolen by NPA raids 58th IB in public officials”. Ka Concha also criticised the Gingoog City “glorified” Jalaur River Dam pro- ject which, aside from presenting K3 light machine gun and an M203 grenade launcher were seized by enormous danger to people down- Athe Eastern –Northeastern Bukidnon (EMONEB) Sub- stream, will also create an enorm- regional Command in a successful raid against a Peace and Development ous debt burden for the people. Team (PDT) of the 58th IB in Brgy. Alagatan, Gingoog City, last July 11, The planned Jalaur Dam will be the 2015. The said PDT encamped at Alatagan's barangay hall. biggest dam outside Luzon, and is Around ten soldiers under the As of last report, the two are in funded by an P11 billion loan from command of 1st Lt. Valiente Palo- stable condition. South Korea. mino were caught by surprise when Ka Allan also declared Pfc. She further added that “All of they were attacked by an NPA pla- Lupiba (Serial No. 863573) as pris- the above only make the people toon while playing basketball. The oner-of-war (POW). Last July 22, Ka more determined to overthrow the gunfight lasted for about 20 Luis Jalandoni, chief negotiator of US-Aquino regime.” minutes, resulting in a soldier killed, the National Democratic Front of Meanwhile, Ka Oris, spokes- seven wounded, and the capture of the Philippines, endorsed the re- person of NDF-Mindanao, con- Pfc. Adonis Jess M. Lupiba. A Red commendation of NDF-NCMR to demned the lies peddled by Aquino fighter was wounded. Aside from start negotiations for his safe and in his last SONA. the two high powered firearms, the orderly release. Last July 28, the According to Ka Oris, “Aquino NPA seized two ammunition vests, NPA-NCMR released a video of III is the latest upgrade in the im- three machine gun ammunition Lupiba showing him to be in good plementation of neoliberal policies links, 12 40mm ammunition and two condition in the custody of Red in the country that mired the military backpacks. The NPA suc- fighters and that he is not wounded, people in dire poverty… Real eco- cessfully withdrew from the site. contrary to rumors being spread by nomic growth is impossible under On the other hand, the NPA- the military. He is currently under Aquino III’s reign because he re- North Central Mindanao Region the care of an NPA custodial unit fuses to implement land reform (NCMR) apologized for injuring two that is ensuring his and establish national industrializ- civilians, Helen Mae Helodo, 14 rights and welfare. ation... Moreover, giant agribusi- years old, and Leticia Cabrera. They ness companies, such as DOLE, Del were immediately given first aid Monte and Sumifru, have further before they were taken to the hos- expanded their plantations in pital. According to Ka Allan Mindanao, grabbing more land Juanito, spokesperson of NPA- from peasants, including the Moro NCMR, the NPA is ready to and Lumad peoples, and exploiting shoulder their medical expenses. agri-workers”. He stated further that: "His NPA launches offensive against 49th IB stress on AFP and PNP modern- in ization, highlighting the pro- curement of new vehicles, air- NINE were confirmed killed and one seriously wounded in an harassment crafts, sea crafts and military action launched by the NPA in Sta. Elena, Jose Panganiban last July 20. hardware and weaponry, means At around ten in the morning, Red fighters of the Armando Catapia the intensification of the OPB Command (ACC) attacked a detachment of the CAFGU and 49th IB in military suppression campaign. response to the village people’s demand to punish the abusive and However, he intentionally extortionist troops. Romeo Gresola (Ka Gomar), who hailed from Bulacao, skipped mentioning his adminis- Gubat, , was martyred in the battle. The National Democratic tration’s human rights viola- Front-Bicol paid him the highest tribute. tions, such as extrajudicial Last July 19, Red fighters burned down the camp of Charlie Coy of the killings, which claimed 229 lives 49th IB in Barangay Dumagmang, Labo while the soldiers were out on from 2010 to 2014, 85 in operations. Mindanao alone, forced evacu- Meanwhile, the Celso Minguez Command meted the death sentence on ations, filing of trumped-up Recto Maglaque Jr., a member of the Civilian Armed Auxillary of the 22nd IB cases, forcible closure of some in Magallanes, Sorsogon last June 25. Maglaque acted as a guide in military community schools and many operations in the area, including the raid of the 31st IB against the NPA in others.” Barangay Tagas, Magallanes last April 2.

6 August 7, 2015 ANG BAYAN Widespread protests greet Aquino's SONA

n July 27, tens of thousands of pro- Otesters held a demonstration along Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City, to expose the lies of Benigno Aquino III’s sixth and last SONA and to express their extreme anger at his regime. Workers, peasants, and other sectors including students, women, migrants, indigenous people and teach- the country. ers rallied to the call to “end the corrupt, incapable, elitist and oppress- On July 23, the KMP launched ive rule of the US-Aquino regime”. 'Kadenang Magsasaka', a series of protest actions including a noise The rally was held amid threats commuters, the return of US bases via barrage, human chain and other and harassments on leaders of the the EDCA, the selective prosecution in activities all over Luzon to highlight democratic organizations and the corruption cases, bogus land reform, the real state of the peasants even heavy phalanx of police troopers, historically high unemployment amid before Aquino presented his sham container vans and concertina wire to so-called growth, the plight of Mary SONA. block the protesters. Jane Veloso and the rise of barkada- On July 24, artists, together with Around noon, peasants from han governance”. Karapatan, the End Impunity Alli- Southern Tagalog and After Aquino’s speech, repres- ance and relatives and friends of were bombarded with water cannons entatives of progressive parties inside political prisoners held an exhibit in the police’s futile attempt to dis- the halls of congress stood up and entitled “PORTRAYAL: Faces For perse the march. Protesters from the raised placards in front of Aquino Freedom” at the Maximillian Gallery, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas with slogans such as “mapang-aping Quezon City. Faces of political pris- (KMP) were able to push aside some asendero” (oppressive landlord), oners were featured in more than 50 container vans that blocked their “pahirap sa mga manggagawa at paintings, digital art, and sketches to march. kawani” (burden to the workers and refute Aquino’s criminal labels on The protesters blasted the hyped employees), “human rights violator”, them and to express solidarity with “Daang Matuwid” and asserted that “pork barrel king”, “serbisyo palpak” the call for their release. Aquino's rule must end. Renato (botched services), and “tuta ng On July 21, at twelve noon, Reyes, secretary-general of Bayan, Kano” (US puppet). political prisoners in different pris- declared that “The Aquino regime will In Baguio City, protesters pick- ons in the country sang Bayan Ko. be remembered for the following eted the city hall. The Cordillera Detainees in prisons in Metro Manila, things: pork barrel corruption, the il- Peoples Alliance and other progress- , Negros, , legal Disbursement Acceleration ive organizations attended the mass and Southern Mindanao Program, the failed response before action. joined in the coordinated protest. and after Yolanda, the Mamasapano Even before the SONA, protest Last July 29, a few days after the incident, the daily suffering of train actions were held in different parts of SONA, members of Alyansa ng Novo NPA attacks 75th IB Viscayanos Para sa Kalikasan and other progressive organizations from FIVE government soldiers were killed and two wounded in separate en- held a picket in front gagements between the NPA and military troops in and of the provincial capitol of Nueva last July 23, 2015, a few days before Aquino’s State of Vizcaya in Bayombong. the Nation Address. They condemned the extrajudi- In Barangay Doña Carmen, Tagbina, Surigao del Sur, two troopers cial killing of more than 150 peasants from the 75th IB were killed in an ambush by Red fighters from Front 14. and other human rights violations in At 9:30 a.m., in Sitio Zapanta Valley, Bangayan, Kitcharao, Agusan del the region. They also declared their Norte, two Scout Rangers were killed in an ambush by the NPA-Front 16. opposition to Oceana Gold in Didipio, Another soldier of the 29th IB was killed around 2:35 p.m, in the same Kasibu and FCF Mining in Runruno, place. Quezon. In retaliation, two Air Force bomber planes dropped eight bombs, Peasants affected by the big while two MG-520 attack helicopters dropped an undetermined number of foreign mining companies in Cordon, rockets and fired cal. 50 machine gun at 4:55 p.m. on the same day. A UH- , expressed solidarity with 1H helicopter also flew twice to get the casualties in Zapanta Valley. the protesters.

ANG BAYAN - August 7, 2015 7 Coconut farmers launch “Bigkisan” in Quezon wherein CLAIM presented the real PROGRESSIVE coconut farmers (Quezon Coconut Farmers Chain for state of the farmers in the province. headed by the Coco Levy Funds Iba- the Return of Coco Levy Funds.) More than 1,300 farmers who lik sa Amin (CLAIM or Give Us Back They stretched over two kilometers participated in the “Bigkisan” the Coco Levy Funds) launched a of road. gathered at a camp in Lucena City’s week-long series of protest actions In San Francisco, more than Perez Park before travelling to in the province of Quezon last July 1,000 farmers joined in the Metro Manila on July 23. On July 20-27. “Bigkisan.” Simultaneously, delega- 24, they went to the US embassy, On July 20, up to 5,000 farmers tions from Central and South before picketing in front of the joined in the demonstrations in dif- Quezon picketed in front of the pro- United Coconut Planters Bank office ferent towns in the province. This is vincial capitol while the provincial in Makati. On July 25, they launched the biggest and most extensive council held deliberations regarding a protest-action in Mendiola. The demonstration of coconut farmers in coco levy funds inside. On the same next day, they picketed in front of the province in more than 30 years. day, hundreds of students from the the Aquinos’ house in Times St., The largest among the gather- Southern Luzon State University West Triangle, Quezon City. On the ings was held in Catanauan where and Enverga University walked out day of the SONA, they joined the more than 2,000 farmers assembled of their classes and linked arms in large demonstration on Common- and linked arms on the roadside. solidarity with the farmers. wealth Avenue. The next day, they They called the action “Bigkisan ng One of the highlights of the went to Camp Crame to condemn Magsasaka sa Niyugan ng Quezon “Bigkisan” is the State of the Mag- the violent dispersal of their ranks Para Bawiin ang Coco Levy Funds niniyog (coconut farmers) Address the day before.

Job crisis under Aquino phoon, there were more than 500,000 unemployed people in EV. quino declared in his SONA that the unemployment To pull down the rate of unem- Arate in the Philippines has gone done to 6.8%, sup- ployment, the Aquino government posedly the lowest in the past decade. reduced the base number of the labor force. This was done by drop- He also asserted labor force are unemployed or un- ping or not counting those indi- that the number of Filipino overseas deremployed. This is the biggest viduals who said they were no contract workers (OCW) has gone number yet of unemployed and un- longer looking for work because down and that many are coming deremployed in government statist- they had lost hope of landing a job. home because they are encouraged ics. Based on this new standard, the to seek employment here. This estimate is based on an labor force participation rate was According to a study by the Ibon analysis of data released by the reduced from 65.2% in April 2014 to Foundation, a research group, the government. Actual number and 64.6% this year (or a reduction of current job crisis is unprecedented. rate of unemployment is higher 1.5 million people). The group estimates that the num- since the National Statistics Office Worse, a large part of those the ber of unemployed grew by at least did not release data from Eastern Aquino government consider as em- 100,000 while the number of under- Visayas, where supertyphoon ployed are comprised of people hav- employed grew by not less than one Yolanda's effect on the people's ing part-time and low-income work in million. The number of workers who livelihood was worst. Even before the informal sector. do mere part-time work grew the In 2014, the govern- by 1.5 million. ment boasted of generating Government data makes 1.2 million new jobs. In it appear that there are only re ality, 90% of these or 2.68 million unemployed. But 918,000 are mere according to Ibon estimates, "part-time" work there are 4.3 million without or those with less work (10.2%). This is no dif- than 40 hours a ferent from the 10-12% un- week. More than employment rate since 2000. 60% (605,000) In addition, there are 7.9 work less than 20 million underemployed. All in all, ty hours a week. 12.2 million or 29.12% of the entire

8 August 7, 2015 ANG BAYAN Of the overall 38.3 million workers went down by 400,000 abroad, far more numerous than the considered by government since 2011, supposedly because 2,800 who found work in the local as "employed", 15.5 or 40% are they were encouraged to find work economy. Most of the migrants who mere "part-time" workers. here. In reality, migrant Filipinos came home were forced by the crisis In his SONA, Aquino made it continue to be deployed abroad. In in the different countries and not appear that the number of migrant 2014, 4,500 daily sought work because of Aquino's illusory jobs.

Five years of enrichment the PPP projects will not bring about better services, modernization of under the PPP program facilities nor lower prices of ser- vices. Instead, fees and prices wil n his last State of the Nation Address, Benigno Aquino III rise due to the “user pays” scheme Iboasted of 50 Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects wherein all expenses for running the under his regime. He pointed out that 10 have been awarded, business will be directly shouldered 13 are under bidding while 27 more are being filed. From these by the consumers of the service. projects, P64.1 billion in premium will allegedly go into the nation's coffers. In truth, only a minimal amount or even none will reach the government or Intensified privatization the people from these projects. Instead, the government and the people will be spending more because of these projects. The PPP program is framed in Most of the 10 awarded pro- joys real property tax exemptions the bankrupt doctrine of neoliberal jects went to only four big bourgeois reportedly costing P64 billion. In globalization. Under this, the US- compradors. Three have been awar- this one project alone, corporations Aquino regime has paved the way ded to San Miguel Corporation will recoup double the alleged for more and bigger deals of the (SMC) and its subsidiaries. SMC is “premium” to be received by the three-decades old privatization of owned by presidential uncle government in all 10 projects. public utilities. It has completely Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco. Five Whatever money slips into one hand sold roads, airports, ports, bridges, projects were given to SM and leaves the other. trains and other transport systems, Banco de Oro owner Henry Sy, In fact, the Aquino government water utilities, hospitals and through his Megawide Construction allocated P59 billion in its past 2014 schools, to the local comprador big Company. The biggest project, the national budget for PPP projects. bourgeoisie and their foreign busi- LRT 1 Extension and Opera- The biggest bulk of this (P30 billion) ness partners. Following the neo- tions and Maintenance, was was reserved for the “risk manage- liberalization dogma of “open mar- cornered by the Salim/Metro Pacific ment” program to guarantee kets” wherein there is minimal or Investment Corporation (MPIC) private company profits. even no “state intervention in eco- group and its counterpart Ayala Aside from the local comprador nomic management”, Aquino dis- Corporation. The project costs some big bourgeoisie, foreign consultants mantled piece by piece the laws and P65 billion, a third of the total cost contracted for their design and ad- regulations that of all the projects. Two other pro- ministrative expertise will rake in hinder the jects have been granted each to the huge profits. Companies who will accumu- Ayalas and the MPIC headed by be sourced for basic materials lation Manuel Pangilinan. – from construction, Aquino's statement that the industrial “the premium coming from the PPP and technical companies... will proceed to the na- equipment, tion's coffers” is a blatant lie. In the hardware and case of the LRT1 project alone, technology—that more than 54% of its entire cost will will be completely be shouldered by the government. imported from big Of the total project cost of P64.9 foreign partner billion, Aquino agreed to shoulder companies of the P34.9 billion, including the expenses local bureacrats for right of way acquisition, pur- will also rake in chase of additional coaches, civil millions. works and construction of depots. Contrary to the The Ayala-Pangilinan group also en- regime's rhetorics,

ANG BAYAN - August 7, 2015 9 of super-profits by local and foreign consolidate the different laws and POC Privatization: capitalists “jostling” to “join” the orders already in place to oversee For profit, not PPP program. the PPP program. The PPP Act will for services At the onset of his regime, further weaken substantially the Aquino announced that his regime courts and regulatory bodies by dir- will ensure the profits of investors ectly restricting their mandate. ONE of four PPP projects in- who will enter deals under the PPP The PPP Act will disallow courts volved in privatizing public program. He termed this “regulatory from issuing temporary restraining hospitals has been awarded by risk guarantee”, a provision of the orders (TROs), preliminary injunc- Aquino. The contract for the contracts that since then has been tions and preliminary mandatory in- rehabilitation and management questioned by progressive organiza- junctions against practically all PPP- of the Philippine Orthopedic tions. related acts. Court officials who will Center, the country's leading In 2012, Aquino amended the violate this will be expelled from the bone hospital, is now in the Implementing Rules and Regulations judiciary and face criminal and civil hands of the Megawide Con- (IRR) of the laws related to the liabilities. Only the Supreme Court struction Corporation-World Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) pro- (SC) can issue TROs against a PPP Citi Consortium of Henry Sy and jects to legalize the spirit of “regu- project, but such orders will only be the Guico family. The P5.7 bil- latory risk guarantee”. Accordingly, effective for a maximum of six lion contract will close down the the government guarantees the in- months. POC in its current location at vestors' profit from the agreed ser- Moreover, the PPP Act will insti- Sta. Mesa Heights, Quezon City vice fees in the contract, even if tutionalize a Contingent Liabilities and build a new hospital that there is opposition or contrary de- Fund (CLF) to be funded by foreign will be named Center for Bone cisions from its own agencies. The debt and local resources. The CLF and Joint Disease, Trauma and government will pay the difference will ensure a steady source of public Rehabilitation Medicine near between the fares stated in the con- funds to meet government’s financial the National Kidney and Trans- tract and the fares approved by the obligations arising from PPP con- plant Institute along East Av- government’s regulatory agency. The tracts. Such obligations include per- enue, Quezon City. “deficit payment scheme” provision formance undertaking where govern- The POC currently provides of the contract between Aquino and ment guarantees debts incurred by free service to some 450-500 the Salim/MPIC/Ayala group under the private investor. One of the PPP poor patients at any given day the LRT1 was concocted in this light. projects that enjoy the CLF provision and allocates 85% of its beds In 2012, Aquino created the Al- is Eduardo Cojuangco's P69.3 billion for service (charity) patients. ternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) MRT-7 project. The old “deficit pay- But under the Megawide man- through Executive Order No. 78. Un- ment scheme” in the LRT1 contract agement, only 10% will be al- der this, all disputes and conflicts is now called the Viability Gap Fund- located for service patients. arising from the contract lifetime of ing (VGF). Hundreds of bone patients a PPP project are settled not in local Outside of the CLF and the VGF, coming from all over the coun- courts but within the ADR. ADR the PPP Act will allow the govern- try will be turned away. Further hearings and decisions are not open ment to shoulder more than 50% or on, the transfer of the POC to to the public. half the project cost. As additional East Avenue will favor the aim This 2015, Aquino seeks to pass incentive, investors will enjoy perks of attracting medical tourism, the PPP Act that will amend the 26- like exemptions from local and real or serving foreign patients for year old BOT Law. The PPP Act will property taxes. bigger profits.

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