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

Vol XLVII No. 2 January 21, 2016 www.philippinerevolution.net

Editorial Further arouse the people's rage against the US-Aquino regime

hile all the reactionary parties and candidates are busy contributions. He is also biased for prettifying themselves and the 2016 election campaign is the bureaucrat capitalists who Wwell underway, the Aquino regime continues to relentlessly plunder the SSS funds for their carry out anti-national and anti-people measures. highliving and investments. The people are enraged at the current Last January 12, the Supreme These dockings show how the head of the SSS who was exposed Court dismissed petitions by sever- , will be transformed for his frequent first-class travels al patriotic personalities and or- into a large US military base under abroad. In 2014, SSS officials gave ganizations against the Enhanced EDCA. Currently, no less than eight themselves a million-peso bonuses. Defense Cooperation Agreement camps are set to be used by the US. These most recent measures of (EDCA). The EDCA is an agreement On the very same day, Aquino the Aquino regime—the unpatriotic the Aquino government entered vetoed the bill set to increase the ratification of EDCA and the anti- into with the US government last monthly Social Security System people veto of the additional SSS 2014 which authorized the US mil- (SSS) pension by P2,000. In doing pension—are the hallmarks of his itary to establish military bases so, Aquino denied the retirees' much-touted "straight path" that is and facilities within the Armed demand for additional pension. nothing but upholding US hegemony Forces of the Philippines' (AFP) Aquino bared his loyalty to the and compliance with neoliberal military camps and facilities. neoliberal policy and principle of policies imposed by the Interna- Officials of the Aquino regime cutting pension subsidies and so- tional Monetary Fund and foreign and the US government have long cial services. Pensioners and other big capitalists. been cooking up this Supreme sectors denounced Aquino for be- These measures further enrage Court decision. On the same day, ing "heartless." the people. These add to the Defense Sec. Voltaire Gazmin and He showed bias towards the people's outrage over the Aquino Foreign Affairs Sec. Albert del Ros- interests of delinquent capitalists regime's corruption in the pork ario, two of the most rabid US pup- who fail to remit their workers' SSS pets of the Aquino regime were in Washington, to discuss the EDCA "implementing rules" or details with US government officials. Also on January 12, the nuclear submarine USS Topeka docked at Subic Bay, a former US naval base which it wants to reutilize under EDCA. This is the third nuclear submarine docking at Subic in a span of a few days after the USS Tucson and USS Texas. barrel, DAP and PPP, criminal They must untiringly arouse, or- US speeds up neglect of millions of victims of ganize and mobilize the people in Yolanda, Pablo and other storms their millions. They should ad- military bases and calamities, violations of hu- vance the struggle to junk EDCA construction man rights under the brutal Oplan and other lopsided agreements Bayanihan war, demolitions, re- and oppose US military presence fusal to raise wages, opposition to and intervention in the Philippines. ON JANUARY 12, the Supreme policies for national industrializa- They should advance the struggle Court upheld the Enhanced Defense tion, opposition to land reform for SSS pension increase, wage Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) and the distribution of Hacienda and salary increases, job security when it junked appeals filed by Luisita, and numerous other and other measures that are some patriotic personalities and crimes and offenses against the beneficial to the people's welfare. organizations demanding its ab- people. The people should be given the rogation. The people's rage against opportunity to express their fierce By voting 10-4-1, the court Aquino and their desire to put an loathing of Aquino. The national ruled against the petition which end to his rule are inexorable. democratic forces must continu- stated that the EDCA is a treaty Amid the elections, the ously expose and reject the Aquino which the senate should first ratify people's intense hatred of these regime and demand his culpability. in accordance to the provisions of measures are directed against They must continue to encourage the 1987 constitution. The court did Aquino's chosen candidates. They the Filipino people to participate not address the substantive issue of also denounce other candidates in various kinds of collective ac- the reestablishment of US military who do not firmly support the de- tion to express their rage and bases which goes against the sov- mand for additional SSS pension protest. ereign provisions of the said con- and those who favor the EDCA or Efforts should be exerted stitution. do not clearly state their relentlessly to enlighten the Through its decision, the Su- opposition. people that with or without elec- preme Court bared itself as an in- The national democratic tions, they hold the power to make strument of the puppet reactionary forces must further arouse the Aquino pay for his big crimes state subservient to US imperialism. people's wrath against Aquino. against the people. As expected, the AFP is set to speed up the construction of facilities for US use. Under EDCA, the US milit- ANG Contents ary will be allowed to use various facilities in so-called “agreed loca- tions” inside AFP camps. The US is Editorial: Further arouse the people's set to use these facilities to land its Vol XLVII No 2 | January 21, 2016 rage against the US-Aquino regime 1 jetfighters, dock its submarines and

Ang Bayan is US speeds up bases construction 2 warships, store its military supplies published in and materiel and for rest and re- Protests against EDCA 3 Pilipino, Bisaya, creation purposes for its troops and Hiligaynon, Aquino vetoes pension increase 4 contracted security forces. Waray and Road now open for election fraud 4 The Philippines will be em- English. broiled in any war the US is set to NPA-EV launches offensives 5 It can be downloaded from the instigate or participate in, even Philippine Revolution Web Central at Journalists condemn killings, harassments 5 without its assent. It has trans- www.philippinerevolution.net Eduardo Serrano: revolutionary leader 6 formed the Philippines into a target for retaliatory strikes from its en- Paramilitary murders Lumad student 7 Ang Bayan welcomes emies. As a result, it has affirmed 7 contributions in the form of articles Stock market nosedives the previously held status of the country as US stooge in the inter- and news items. Readers are Aquino criticized for coal-fired plant 8 encouraged to send feedback and national community. Doctors' strike in England 8 recommendations for improving our Aquino signed the EDCA with newspapers. Send your messages to US-Saudi bombs hospital in Yemen 9 US officials as a welcoming gift to US President Barack Obama’s visit [email protected] NATO forces set to attack Libya anew 9 in 2014. Ang Bayan is published forthnightly by the Central Committee Even before the Supreme Court of the Communist Party of the Philippines issued its decision, Foreign Affairs

2 January 21, 2016 ANG BAYAN Secretary and Naval Station San Miguel in San country in the guise of “exercises.” Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin Antonio, Zambales; Antonio Bautis- Using facilities anywhere in the were on their way to the US to re- ta Air Base, Puerto Princesa, Pala- country, the US has trained and port to US State Secretary John wan; Lumbia Airfield in Cagayan De directed armed forces of other Kerry and Defense Secretary Ashton Oro and Edwin Andrews Air Base in puppet Asian states in the name of Carter. On January 12, the so-called Zamboanga City. “interoperability.” Philippines-US 2+2 Ministerial Even without EDCA, the US mil- To reward Aquino for ratifying Meeting was held in Washington itary has continuously used Philip- EDCA, it has been reported that where the US and the Philippines pine facilities. On 2015, US war- Obama approved last September agreed on EDCA’s implementing ships made a hundred port calls to 2015 the $300 million military aid rules and regulations so that the US Subic alone. During the first two for the AFP’s so-called moderniza- can immediately make use of the weeks of 2016, three US nuclear tion of its arms and facilities. Part agreement. submarines have successively of this so-called modernization is The first of such meetings was docked in Subic — the USS Texas on the purchase of obsolete war ma- held on 2012 where the US laid out January 5, the USS Tucson on teriel from the US and its allies, as its plans to build facilities in Subic January 6 and the USS Topeka on well as the repair of AFP camps for Bay, Zambales, a former US naval January 12. From August 12, a total US troops' use. This fund is also a base, and other locations in the of five nuclear submarines have main source of corruption for top country. The US is currently speed- entered Philippine territory. military officials. ing up the construction and use of This is aside from their troops’ In his statement after the 2+2 these facilities under EDCA. permanent presence inside the Ministerial Meeting, Sec. Kerry The US is also expediting the cited measures that the US has en- delayed construction and operation- acted in exchange of the EDCA. alization of its bases in all of the These include the discontinuation of eight “agreed locations,” including inspections on Philippine labor con- Clark Air Base, its former base in ditions in exchange of the tax-free Pampanga. Aquino has offered the entry of Philippine goods to the US following camps for US use: Fort market. Such inspections are part of Magsaysay in ; the Generalized System of Prefer- Crow Valley in ; Basa ence, a system the US uses as a Air Base in Floridablanca, pressure tactic in exchange of mil- Pampanga; Benito itary and political favors. The Ebuen Air Base in Philippines has also been re- Mactan, Cebu; moved from the Special 301 Camp Lapu-Lapu, Watch List on intellectual prop- Cebu; Camp Maca- erty rights. Philippine planes rio Peralta in Ja- have also been allowed to ply US mindan, Capiz; routes.

Protests against EDCA

PROGRESSIVE organizations strongly criticized the Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares likewise criti- Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Enhanced De- cized the Supreme Court and said that the EDCA will fense Cooperation Agreement's (EDCA) legality, con- aggravate the tension between China and the Philip- trary to petitions filed to abrogate the agreement on pines. "In truth, the US is just using the territorial the grounds of its unconstitutionality. dispute to justify the transfer of half of its military The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) staged forces in Asia," added Colmenares. a protest rally in front of the Supreme Court last Meanwhile, the Kabataan Partylist urged the Sen- January 12 to express its continued opposition to US ate to stand by its position that the agreement should military intervention in the Philippines. Bayan Secret- have its concurrence. In this regard, Sen. Miriam De- ary General Renato Reyes maintains that the EDCA is fensor-Santiago revived her call to nullify the Visiting not the solution to counter China's threats in the Forces Agreement (VFA). According to the senator, South China Sea. And since this is similar to the national sovereignty, as well as the people's rights return of US bases in the Philippines, EDCA is bound and dignity, have gravely suffered under 17 years of to bring back related social ills to the country. the VFA.

ANG BAYAN January 21, 2016 3 Aquino vetoes 2016 elections pension increase Road now open for electronic fraud CONDEMNATION from various sec- tors flew left and right after Aquino vetoed a proposed law that would onsecutive decisions of the Supreme Court and the Commission on have increased monthly pension pay- CElections (Comelec) paved the way for the repeated use of elec- ments of Social Security System (SSS) toral tricks through the automated counting of ballots. Through this, senior members by P2,000. Aquino the Aquino ruling clique and its US imperialist masters can ensure the vetoed the bill on January 12, two induction of candidates supportive of their interests. days before it would have lapsed into a law of the reactionary government. The Comelec disregarded the individuals and companies own- Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colme- appeal of the Automated Elec- ing Smartmatic-TIM shares to nares is the main proponent of the bill tion System (AES) Watch to junk throw away its appeal. Smart- in Congress. He proposed raising the Smartmatic-TIM contract matic is a firm originally based pensions from P1,200 to P3,200 for despite allegations of the firm's in Venezuela. It is currently those who have worked for 10 years foreign ownership, which is in chaired by Lord Mark Malloch- and from P3,000 to P5,000 for those direct violation of the reaction- Brown, vice-chairperson of the who have worked for 20 years. There ary constitution. AESWatch also Investment Fund (one of the are about 1.9 million SSS pensioners. pointed out that the Smartmat- largest financial speculators), According to Colmenares, SSS ic-TIM papers in 2010 stated formerly vice-president of the pensions should have been raised that its existence would end World Bank and a former mem- long ago. The P1,200 that was given after the election that year. On ber of the United Kingdom cab- in 1997 only amounts to P519 in 2015 December 8, 2015, the Supreme inet. due to rising prices of commodities Court sided with the Comelec Throughout the world, 31 and services. Likewise, the P3,000 is against the AESWatch appeal. countries including Germany now only worth more than P1,000. In December 2015, after the have turned their backs on com- This is a far cry from the P5,330 that AESWatch filed its petition to puterized elections and returned an individual needs to live decently. disqualify Smartmatic-TIM, the to manual counting. Under the Not included in this amount are med- latter submitted to the Comelec AES, there is no way to ascertain ical needs for sickly pensioners. new documents that no longer the accuracy of the vote count, Aquino justifies his veto by saying indicated it would exist only up especially as details of the com- that passing the said bill will bank- to 2010. Thus, it is apparent puter program used to read the rupt the SSS. In truth, the SSS' low that the Comelec's use of its ballots have not been made collection is due to its inefficient col- service and machines during the public. Various groups have as- lection system and its inutility to go 2013 election is illegal. serted the implementation of a after employers who fail to remit The Supreme Court used combination of manual counting their workers’ contributions. AESWatch's inability to chal- of votes and electronic trans- In addition, a big chunk of SSS lenge the nationality of the mission and listing of the res- funds go to scandalously large salar- ies and bonuses its high officials award themselves. The SSS is an in- stitution that is funded by private sectors’ workers’ contributions and managed by officials appointed by the regime in power. National-democratic organiza- tions launched rallies in Mendiola, on January 13, 18 and 19 to condemn Aquino. Several opposition senators supported their calls. On January 19, these called for a series of “Black Fridays” or wearing black on Fridays.

4 January 21, 2016 ANG BAYAN ults. voters as they could not travel to the provincial centers Meanwhile, the Supreme Court sided with the to register and have their biometrics taken. Comelec in implementing the Voter Verification System through biometrics. In junking the appeal of the Election spending reaches billions Kabataan Partylist (KPL), the Supreme Court supported Meanwhile, expenses by presidential candidates for the “no bio, no vote” scheme. This is despite the six television advertisements have reached P2.3 billion million old and new voters who were not able to re- before the end of 2015. This is in addition to expenses gister under the system. for newspapers and radio. , the US-Aquino At the Court's pressing, the Comelec admitted it regime's candidate, registered the biggest expenses would not be able to issue out the new IDs until October with a total of P744 million. 2016. Thus, the biometrics for the election day is The Comelec has done nothing despite the exist- rendered useless since there is no way to verify the iden- ence of laws imposing limits on election spending. It tity of the voters. It appears that the Comelec only re- admitted that the law is ineffective since it does not vised the voters list so that it can be easily manipulated. consider as candidates those who filed their certific- Through the “ no bio, no vote,” voters from far- ates of candidacy last October until the campaign flung areas were effectively removed from the list of period starts in February.

NPA-EV launches offensives Journalists condemn in response to AFP attacks killings and harassment

oordinated tactical offensives were launched by the NPA-East- ern (NPA-EV) in response to military operations in C THE NATIONAL Union of Journalists of Samar. Five tactical offensives were launched by NPA units in the the Philippines (NUJP) condemned the region within five days on December 18-22, 2015. In these offens- continuing killings and harassment of ives, 19 soldiers were killed and eight were wounded. journalists under the US-Aquino regime. On December 18, 2015, at of the 20th IB was ambushed In the past, the organization has not 7:30 a.m., an NPA unit har- between Barangay Bugay and always considered that the reactionary assed troops of the 87th IB Barangay Bukid, Las Navas, government is behind the said killings. who were aboard a truck in North Samar. Three were killed, The latest cases of military harass- Madalunot, Pinabacdao, West- two were wounded. The next ment of journalists actively covering the ern Samar. Four soldiers were day, at 9 p.m., a soldier of the people’s anti-fascist campaigns have killed and two were wounded. Bravo Company HQ of the 43rd made them reconsider their view. In Around 3:00 p.m., troops of the IB was killed in harassment particular, the NUJP is outraged at the 87th IB were subjected to operations launched at military’s campaign to suppress, vilify sniper fire in Literon, Calbiga in Barangay Erenas, San Jorge, and intimidate its former president In- the same province. One was West Samar. day Espina-Varona for her exposés on killed on the spot while two During the whole month of the military’s brutality and crimes in died on the way to the hospital. November until the December Lumad communities. At 5:00 p.m., one military truck 23, 2015 ceasefire, AFP troops On December 2015, the Magahat- and a vehicle of the concentrated and Bagani, a paramilitary group directly Phil. Army Light carried out intensive under the AFP, threatened journalists Armored Regiment and sustained military set to cover the Party’s anniversary was destroyed by a operations in the towns celebration in Northeast . command detonated of Pinabacdao, Cal- Prior to this, there have been numerous landmine in Borong, biga, and cases of media killings which the regime Calbiga. Eight Borongan. But has ignored. Violations of their other soldiers were the tactical of- rights and disregard for their welfare, killed and four fensives proved such as contractualization, low wages wounded. that Oplan and union busting, are widespread. On Decem- Bayanihan is During Aquino’s term, 30 journal- ber 21, 2015, only bound for ists have been killed due to their pro- the Charlie Coy failure. fession.

ANG BAYAN January 21, 2016 5 Eduardo Serrano: revolutionary leader

he Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), New People's TArmy, National Democratic Front (NDFP), Southern Taga- log Regional Party Committee (STRPC) and the whole revolu- tionary movement honor Eduardo Serrano “Ka Eddik”, 62, who died in prison last January 8.

According to the CPP, the the Bicol University Filipino people holds responsible College of Agriculture. Benigno Aquino III, Gloria Arroyo After one semester, he and their defense and security offi- transferred back to cials for Ka Eddik's death. UPLB where he finished The STRPC salutes Ka Eddik Bachelor of Science in whose “life and struggle is a shining Agriculture, with a ma- inspiration.” Guerilla zones in the jor in Animal Science. region held tributes in his honor. Ka Eddik joined the Kabataang years, one of the longest in Philip- Aside from reflecting on his revolu- Makabayan (Patriotic Youth or KM) pine history. In jail, he joined in the tionary life, his contemporaries in in April 1971 and was elected as political prisoners' struggles. He various works reminisced their KM's vice-chairperson in UPLB from suffered a heart attack last memories of the jolly and playful January 1972 up to the declaration December 16, 2015 and succumbed comrade. of Martial Law. He also studied in last January 8 at the Philippine The NDFP lambasted the Aquino Copenhagen, Denmark from 1978 to Heart Center. regime for its heartlessness, which 1979. Upon returning to the coun- is a far contrast to Ka Eddik's caring try, he responded to the Party's Tributes and mass actions spirit. To condemn the injustice, call for cadres and members and Tributes were held for Ka Eddik political detainess in the Special In- mass activists to work fulltime in in urban areas. In UPLB, some 500 tesive Care Area 1 and the 1980. students held a tribute at Baker's City Jail, both in Camp Bagong Di- He first worked among the Hall last January 12. A tribute ce- wa, as well as in the National Pen- peasant masses and the NPA at the remony was also held by 200 stu- itentiary in Muntinlupa, conducted Quezon-Bicol border. In 1983, he dents in the UP-Diliman last Janu- a five-day hunger strike. was deployed to the Mindoro island. ary 10. There he would be known to the Members of Anakbayan, League A true son and people's hero masses and comrades as Ka Juan, of Filipino Students and Karapatan Ka Eddik was a member of the Makling, Eska and Vocag. He protested in front of the Office of Southern Tagalog Regional Party worked tirelessly as a cultural the Presidential Adviser on the Executive Committee (RPEC), worker, artist, writer and poet of Peace Process in Ortigas, Pasig last formerly secretary of the Party Kalatas, the Southern Tagalog's re- January 15. They condemned the Committee in Mindoro Island and volutionary mass paper. Aquino government for the harass- NDFP consultant to the peace talks. He was arrested on May 2, 2004 ment of NDFP consultants, espe- He gave 44 years of his life in ad- despite having in his possession the cially in Ka Eddik's case that led to vancing the revolutionary struggle. Identification Documents stating his death. Ka Eddik is the eldest of seven that he is a consultant to the peace Condemnations were also aired siblings. He was born in Oas, Albay negotiations. Trumped-up criminal by the Bagong Alyansang in June 20, 1953. After finishing his cases were filed against him. Makabayan, Anakpawis, Karapatan elementary and high schooling at None of the charges against him and other national-democratic and the Naga Parochial School, he went were proven by the reactionary progressive organizations. to the National University in Manila state. While the courts ordered his Meanwhile, the group Samidoun in 1970. He then transferred to the release, he remained in prison as Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Net- University of the Philippines in Los additional cases were filed against work expressed its praise for Ka Baños (UPLB). Upon the declaration him. Eddik as a peasant leader and of martial law, he took up studies at Ka Eddik was detained for 11 martyred political prisoner.

6 January 21, 2016 ANG BAYAN Paramilitary murders Lumad student

A LUMAD student was killed by a member of the Ala- when the culprit opened fire. Tingkas was hit twice on mara, a paramilitary group, in Sitio Laslasakan, the chest and was immediately killed. Barangay Palma Gil, Talaingod, Davao del Norte on The Save Our Schools Network strongly condemned January 17. The Alamara is under the control of the this latest military brutality. According to the SOS, 68th IB. Tingkas is the 29th child that the Aquino regime killed Alamara’s Joven Salangani shot Alibando Tingkas, a under Oplan Bayanihan. In related news, teachers from Grade 3 student of a Salugpongan school. Together with Talaingod’s Salugpongan reported receiving threats two others, Tingkas was walking towards Laslasakan from the Alamara.

Crumbling illusion: Stock market plunges

he illusion of Philippine economic growth is fast crumbling as the Philip- building industry or strengthening Tpine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) plunged last week, simultaneously with manufacture, nor does it create the similar drop in other stock markets in other countries since the start of value. the year. The large outflow of hot money and the resulting nosedive of the By January 11, the PSEi dropped outflow reached $600 million, 93% PSEi during this year's first week of by 9.57% in a span of one week. This higher than the $310 million which transactions coincides with the is the steepest drop since the 6.7% flowed out in 2014. This is three sudden drop in the stock markets plunge in the PSEi in August 24, times larger than the Aquino offi- around the world. This follows in- 2015. cials' target of only $200 million. formation revealing the slowing Among the biggest losers are In 2014, more than 70% or down of the Chinese economy. Bloombery Resorts Corp. (which $15.6 of the overall $22 billion Among the data released show dropped by 23% or P11.34 billion) foreign investment, was hot money an 8% drop in Chinese trade in and International Container Ter- which created the illusion of GDP 2015, far from the first target of a minal Services Inc. (17.5% or P25 growth. More than 80% of inflowing 6% expansion. The Chinese economy billion), both controlled by Enrique hot money goes to the PSE. This is expected to grow by only 6.5% Razon; and Henry Sy's SM Invest- bloats the value of stocks but is this year, the lowest over the past ments Corp (11% or P75.8 billion). easily drawn out any time in order 25 years. China's economic There was a similar drop in the to cash in on the dividends. slowdown, the biggest engine for value of shares of the Ayala Cor- The "growth" brought about by global production and trade, poration (12% or P412 billion); hot money is empty and temporary. threatens to worsen the depression Lopez Holding (12%), Andrew Tan's This does not bring about stability of the global capitalist system. Alliance Global Group (9.3% or P8.6 to the economy nor contribute to (More in the next issue.) billion) and Megaworld (P23.5 bil- lion), and Manny Villar's Vista Land and Lifescapes (10.8% or P7.2 bil- lion). The PSEi dropped by 22.71% or an equivalent of P2.93 trillion from 8,136 points in April 7, 2015 to 6,288 points last January 11. This is a big blow to Aquino's prediction last year that the PSEi is set to reach the 10,000 mark. The PSEi nosedived primarily as a result of the large outflow of portfolio investments (also called hot money). In 2015, hot money

ANG BAYAN January 21, 2016 7 Groups criticize Aquino's inauguration of Davao's coal-fired plant

HE people criticized Benigno S. Aquino III’s owned hydroelectric dam complexes were not developed Tpersonal inauguration last January 8 of the Therma and were left to rot, while giant foreign and big compra- South Incorporated (TSI), one of the biggest coal-fired dor bourgeoisie corporations guzzle up the greater part power plants in Mindanao, just a few weeks after his of the power supply. The so-called power crisis is a posturing as an environmentalist and anti-carbon emis- scheme of the US-Aquino regime to justify the complete sion advocate in Paris, France. privatization of the power generation industry in the is- Residents of the area, as well as scientists, oppose land. the operation of TSI, as it has adverse effects both on Aboitiz Power’s coal-fired power plants have a 2,000 the people’s health and the environment. MW capacity between them. Among these are the plants They condemned the US-Aquino regime for hypocrit- under construction in Subic, Zambales, in Pagbilao, ically inaugurating TSI just after declaring that the Phil- Quezon, and in Toledo City, Cebu. These can annually ippines will reduce its carbon emissions. They also emit more than 13 million tons of carbon dioxide to the slammed the privatization of the power generation in- atmosphere. Coal-fired power plant technology is con- dustry. sidered the dirtiest source of power generation and is TSI is located in Barangay Binugao, Toril, Davao banned in many countries. City. It is owned by Aboitiz Power Corporation (Aboitiz- According to the Advocates of Science and Techno- Power) of the Aboitiz clan, one of the biggest compra- logy for the People (AGHAM), the regime’s plan to con- dors favored by the US-Aquino regime. It has two power struct 28 coal-fired power plants within the next three generators with a combined capacity of 300 megawatts years and another 32 by 2020 is proof that Aquino’s (MW). The construction of the P35 billion plant was promises in the climate conference in Paris last Decem- started in 2012 and its Unit 1 started commercial opera- ber are nothing but empty rhetoric. tions last September 2015. Unit 2 is set to start opera- The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines tions by February. also expressed its opposition to the construction of new Presently, TSI supplies 20 electric cooperatives in plants and the issuance of permits to coal miners. the cities of Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Zam- Aside from Aboitiz, other big bourgeois compradors boanga, Butuan, Kidapawan, Tagum, Koronadal, Digos, such as Eduardo Cojuangco and the Sy family are also Pagadian and Cotabato. More than 100 MW of its capa- set to inaugurate coal-fired power plants. Among those city is contracted to Davao Light and Power Company, to be inaugurated later this year are the 100 MW plant another AboitizPower subsidiary. of the Sarangani Energy Corporation in Maasim, The regime touts the plant as a long-term solution to Sarangani and two plants of the San Miguel Power Cor- the power shortage in Mindanao. In reality, two state- poration with a capacity of 150 MW each.

Against neoliberal austerity: Doctor’s strike in England

HOSPITALS in England were almost entirely paralyzed during the 24-hour strike on January 26 where emer- strike by junior doctors that started 8 a.m. on January 11. This is one of the gency services will still be provided, latest actions against the austerity policy of European governments in the and a general strike on February 10 face of the drawn-out economic crisis. when even emergency services will The National Health Service failed to agree on a new contract. not be made available. (NHS) - England reported that only In line with its austerity program, Of more than 55,000 junior 10,000 of the assigned 26,000 juni- the government insists that it lacks doctors in England, 37,000 are or doctors showed up at hospitals. funds for the doctors' salary in- members of BMA. Doctors who have Around 3,300 medical operations crease. only a decade of work in their pro- were cancelled, as were 4,000 Talks broke down in 2014, but fession are considered junior doc- routine treatments, check-ups and the dispute escalated after minis- tors. They work under the govern- tests. Only emergency cases and vi- ters said they would impose the ment because the health care tal treatments were continued. deal despite the disagreements, and system is largely owned by the Doctors launched the strike thus provoking the strike. state. England constitutes the after the British Medical Associ- If the deadlock continues, the biggest district of the United King- ation (BMA) and the government BMA plans to launch a 48-hour dom.

8 January 21, 2016 ANG BAYAN US-Saudi coalition bombs hospital in Yemen Hadi declared his own provi- sional government in south Aden where he fled. He was again ousted issile attacks by the Saudi-led coalition on a hospital in Yemen killed at after the Houthi attacked the Mleast five people on January 10. Several buildings of the Shiara Hos- southern city of Aden in March pital, a facility run by the humanitarian agency Medecins Sans Frontieres 2015. (Doctors Without Borders or MSF), were destroyed. At least ten were On January 7, Saudi Arabia wounded and more are feared dead under the rubble. bombed the Iranian embassy in MSF condemned the attack on 5,800 have been killed and 5,200 Sanaa. This is against international their hospital, saying that Saudi Ar- wounded in Yemen from bombings laws that guarantee the safety of abian officials have been informed of by the US-Saudi led coalition. Half diplomatic structures in all situ- the GPS coordinates of their facility. of the victims are civilians. Almost ations. Saudi airplanes targeted the hospital all the structures destroyed were Before this, Saudi Arabia six times. Last month, nine were for civilian use such as churches, escalated tensions with Iran by be- wounded in the bombing of an MSF hospitals and schools. heading a Shi’ite Muslim clinic in Taez in Yemen. Another MSF The bombings aim to cleric who had close ties hospital was bombed in October reinstate the US puppet, with Iran, as well as 46 2015 in Saada province. former president Abd of his followers. This Since March 2015, Yemen has Rabbuh Mansur Hadi. The resulted in the col- been incessantly bombed by jet- Hadi government was ous- lapse of diplo- fighters of the Saudi Arabia-led co- ted in September 2014 after matic relations alition that includes Bahrain, United armed Houthi militias seized between Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, a large portion of west Yemen, the two Kuwait, Morocco, Sudan and Qatar. including capital city Sanaa. nations. The US government funds, arms and The Houthis are an ethnic trains this coalition. group identified with the It is estimated that at least Shia Muslim branch.

Control for oil: NATO forces set to attack Libya anew major oil mines and refineries. However, it is an open secret that the ISIS was created and utilized by ased on United Kingdom (UK) declarations, the North Atlantic Treaty the US, despite its much publicized Organization (NATO) forces are set to attack Libya this January pur- B anti-ISIS war in Syria. portedly to defeat the ISIS (also known as IS, ISIL or Daesh) that is based NATO forces claim that the at- at the eastern section of the nation. The UK announced on January 5 that it tack aims to defend the oil refinery will deploy 1,000 Special Forces troops to Libya to spearhead some 6,000 in Marsa al Brega, the biggest in NATO troops under the guise of fighting the ISIS. North Africa. This is apparently an Italy, Libya's former colonizer, before combined forces of the US ISIS target and if captured, will will make up the majority of the and France ravaged it in 2011 and give them firm control over the troops, together with American and ousted the anti-imperialist govern- whole Libyan oil industry. French soldiers who are armed with ment of Muammar Gaddafi. Aside from ISIS, there are two US weapons. This offensive is not Imperialist countries covet rival governments in Libya, one in authorized by any Libyan govern- control of its oil because aside from Tobruk and the other in Tripoli. ment nor the UN Security Council, the huge reserves, it is very ac- These governments have agreed to and as such, is clearly a case of cessible to Europe and other coun- unite, but the UN-sponsored “gov- aggression. tries. Libya faces Italy just across ernment of national unity” last This attack on Libya is part of the Mediterranean Sea. It lies along December 17, 2015, has yet to as- the geopolitical maneuvers of im- the coast of the sea together with sume power. perialist countries within NATO to Egypt and Saudi Arabia, oil-rich This attack is part of the US and control the biggest share of Libyan nations that are now controlled by NATO plan to completely subjugate oil. the US imperialists. Libya while dividing the oil re- Libya is one of the largest coun- To control Libyan oil, the US sources of the nation among them- tries in all of Africa. Because of its uses the pretext of pursuing the selves. NATO is only using the ISIS abundant oil reserves, it was one of ISIS which is based in Sirte, which presence in Libya as a pretext to the most developed African nations is considered the gateway to some send more troops into the country.

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