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

English Edition Vol. XLVII No. 20 October 21, 2016 www.cpp.ph

Brutal dispersal EDITORIAL

THE COMMUNIST Party of the Philippines (CPP) strongly con- demned the successive violent dispersals of the two consecutive demonstrations led by progressive organizations last October 18 and 19. In a statement, the CPP holds the leadership of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Oplan Bayanihan tramples officials of the Duterte govern- ment responsible for the violent on the ceasefire affront against the people's democratic rights to demonstrate and seek redress. That the suc- he Duterte regime must immediately put an end to the re- cessive dispersals were carried out pressive and bellicose military operations under the US-direc- with such viciousness reveals the ted Oplan Bayanihan. It must order the immediate pull-out of deep-seated hostility against the Tall troops of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) from civilian people and patriotic forces of po- communities in the countryside. lice and military officers who Duterte must ensure that all chief negotiator himself and the ordered the dispersals. These of- his troops in the AFP and police defense secretary asserted that no ficers must be immediately identi- follow his policy of friendship with amnesty proclamation will be fied, investigated and put to task. the revolutionary forces. He must signed until the end of peace ne- The National Democratic Front repudiate the policy of suppression gotiations. This goes against the of the Philippines (NDFP) negoti- against the patriotic and demo- spirit of the August agreement ating panel also slammed the bru- cratic forces. that such a proclamation will be tal dispersal, particularly the Only such measures will en- issued to pave the way for the re- protest in front of the US embassy. courage the Communist Party of lease of 434 more political detain- Most likely, there are elements the Philippines (CPP) and New ees. After having suffered in- within the military and police who People's Army (NPA) to further ex- justice, they will now be made to are against the new policy direc- tend the unilateral ceasefire de- go through the eye of the needle to tion of their commander-in-chief claration. The revolutionary forces attain their aspired freedom. and are out to sabotage the ongo- are discouraged from entering a It is disheartening to know ing peace negotiations between ceasefire agreement in the face of that the GRP will not carry out this the Government of the Republic of the GRP's failure to implement measure. It does not help the Philippines (GRP) and the some points of agreement. strengthen the NDFP's trust in the NDFP, it said. Last Wednesday, the GRP's negotiations. follow on page 3 Over the past 60 days since the volutionary forces and the revolu- bassy during the past days. The CPP and GRP issued unilateral tionary government. successive vicious dispersal of their ceasefire declarations, NPA units Contrary to "friendship", armed demonstrations clearly show the have firmly carried out orders to soldiers continue to be deployed at perpetuation of Oplan Bayanihan, hold off all offensives against the the midst of civilian communities in the policy of suppressing the patri- uniformed personnel of the AFP and the countryside. Using various pre- otic and democratic forces and PNP. This is despite the very diffi- texts ("visits", "anti-drugs", "deliv- treating them as enemies of the cult situation arising from continu- ery of service"), fully-armed soldiers state. ing provocative operations of enemy enter the communities to taunt and The persecution of activists armed units under Oplan Bayanihan. instil fear on the people. They carry continues. There are continuing The US-directed Oplan Bayani- out psywar and intelligence opera- cases of arrests in Southern han is the six-year counter-revolu- tions. One by one, activists and their Mindanao, Bicol, Central Luzon and tionary war program of the AFP families are summoned. Local resid- other parts of the county. Two launched in 2011. It aims to defeat ents are compelled to join village peasant leaders were successively the NPA, destroy the CPP and the meetings organized by soldiers for killed in Compostela Valley by democratic and anti-imperialist fear of being accused as NPA sym- armed troops of the AFP. There is mass organizations and suppress pathizers. relentless suppression of peasant their struggles. The AFP committed Contrary to prevailing laws and struggles across the country such left and right violations of human the CARHRIHL, they use barangay as in Nueva Ecija and Palawan. rights in "peace and development" halls, schools, day care centers and To the Filipino people, the con- operations mostly directed against other civilian infrastructures as tinuing repressive and bellicose op- civilians. barracks. They disturb the lives and erations of the AFP under Oplan The AFP's perpetuation of the livelihood of the peasants. Bayanihan despite the ceasefire Oplan Bayanihan is an outright af- The demand to end the Oplan reveals that the old situation re- front to, and tramples on, the spirit Bayanihan was among the principal mains under the Duterte regime in of the simultaneous ceasefires of demands of the protesting peasants, spite of his talk of peace and the CPP and GRP. It completely dis- minority people and other patriotic change. regards the order of GRP President and democratic forces in front of The prevailing ceasefire while Duterte to be friendly with the re- Camp Aguinaldo and the US em- the AFP continues with Oplan Bay- anihan is greatly disadvantageous to the Filipino people, especially for ANG Contents the peasant masses in the coun- tryside and their people's army. To Editorial: Oplan Bayanihan tramples them, it would be better to not have on the ceasefire 1 Vol. XLVII No. 20 | October 21, 2016 the ceasefire if the soldiers will not Brutal dispersal at the US embassy 1 be removed anyway from their Ang Bayan is published in communities and they would not be Pilipino, Bisaya, Iloco, Hiligaynon, 2 anti-mining Lumads killed 3 allowed to fight on equal grounds. Waray and English. The revolutionary forces re- Ang Bayan welcomes Fabella equipment pulled out 4 main open to forging a bilateral contributions in the form of Lakbayan launched 5 ceasefire agreement that will spe- articles and news items. Readers are cify clear guidelines. Towards this, encouraged to send feedback and Panels agree on CASER outline 6 the CPP hopes that Duterte officials recommendations for improving our Duterte's program for the economy 7 will take back their earlier state- newspaper. ments which contravene the agreed Workers against contractualization 8 upon amnesty proclamation to re- lease political detainees. Aspects of friendship with China 9 In order to extend the cease- Factionalism sharpens 10 fire, the CPP and revolutionary forces expect the Duterte regime to Unequal trade relations with US 11 carry out decisive action to make US presidential elections 13 the AFP and PNP follow its policy of friendship and negotiations with Ang Bayan is published fortnightly by the Central Committee the revolutionary forces and its in- of the Communist Party of the Philippines dependent foreign policy.

2 October 2 1 , 2 01 6 ANG BAYAN 2 anti-mining Lumads killed

TWO LUMADS were consecutively killed by military shot by an unidentified motorcycle-riding agents in Compostela Valley this October. At the same gunman. He was immediately rushed to time, illegal arrests of progressives using the anti-drugs Montevista District Hospital and war and Oplan Tokhang are on the rise. later transferred to the Davao Last October 13, Joselito "Anoy" Pasaporte was Regional Hospital in Tagum City. shot dead by elements of the 46th IB on his way home to He died the next day. Mabini town. Pasaporte was a member of Panalipdan A week Youth in Compostela Valley. before the The military attempted to cover up the crime by incident, saying that it was in line with Duterte's anti-drug war. Saypan Compostela Valley police chief Senior Supt. Armando de confronted Leon even reported that Pasaporte was 6th in the elements Mabini list of suspected drug pushers. of the Army's 66th Infantry Battalion in a dialogue and Panalipdan and progressive organizations slammed demanded the pullout of soldiers, Karapatan said. the police statement. According to the groups, Pasa- Saypan was listed in the military's publicized order of porte was a member of the youth and students' organiz- battle. ation which aims to protect the environment. His organ- CFA and the local government of Compostela had ization led struggles of indigenous peoples against been vocal against the operations of Agusan Petroleum multinational and foreign mining operations in their and Minerals Corporation (AGPET), a mining subsidiary community. owned by Eduardo Cojuangco. Three days earlier, Jimmy Saypan, secretary general Soldiers have been deployed in the community to of the Compostela Farmers' Association (CFA) was also secure AGPET's mining area. follow on page 4

from page 1

Last October 19, police forces from the Police dissent of the marginalized and the oppressed," said District violently dispersed a rally by national minorities Aba. and patriotic organizations in front of the US embassy in The incident at the US embassy generated criticism Manila. The protest is part of the series of activities of from various organizations and personalities. the Lakbayan ng Pambansang Minorya (Journey of the Aiza Seguerra, National Youth Commission head,, National Minorities) which calls to end military presence tagged as "heartless" the police dispersal of the in their communities and US troops in the country. Police protesting organizations whose calls were legitimate. After the violent attack, minorities and organiza- fired tear gas canisters while a police patrol mobile tions trooped to Manila Police District and held an in- rammed into a row of protesters. The mobile repeatedly dignation rally. hit several rallyists. More than 50 were injured, and Simultaneously, a candle lighting and noise barrage three were ran over by the police vehicle and were were held by the University of the Philippines (UP) com- brought to the hospital. Based on reports, 42 were ar- munity at Palma Hall to express their anger. According rested but were released later in the afternoon. to UP Chancellor Michael Tan, "The police disrespected According to SANDUGO, the program was down to the national minorities. It is as if they have mocked UP its last speaker when police began their rampage. because they (national minorities) are our visitors." Ground commander Col. Marcelino Pedrozo Jr. was even The next day, October 19, employees of the Depart- caught on video ordering his men to disperse the rally. ment of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Before this, a similar incident happened last October National Anti-Poverty Commission visited their campout. 18, when members of the AFP blasted water cannons at Here, DSWD Sec. called upon police indigenous people and Moro groups who were staging a officers to obey their commander-in-chief and to respect protest in front of Camp Aguinaldo in , the the rights of the indigenous people AFP's national headquarters. On the same day, SANDUGO held a press conference Jerome Succor Aba, national spokesperson of Suara to hold the PNP accountable, primarily Col. Pedrozo, and Bangsamoro, said that the protest serves to highlight condemn state brutality. the imperialist plunder, abuses, and continued domina- Meanwhile, students of UP Cebu and Kilusang Mag- tion of the US in the country. bubukid ng Pilipinas-Cebu held an indignation rally in "Today, we witnessed how even our local security solidarity with the minority groups and denounced state forces are keen on employing violent tactics to quell the fascism.

ANG BAYAN October 2 1 , 2 01 6 3 from page 3

According to Karapatan, they fredo Ravel, Lito Natoral, Segund- legal drugs. have documented at least eight ina Gaitero, her daughter Mel KMP and Alyansa ng Mag- political killings, including the case Grace, Valentin Salceso and Blas bubukid sa Bulacan also called the of Pasaporte, since the Duterte re- Gaitero were illegally arrested in a attention of the Department of gime declared a unilateral ceasefire police raid on several houses in Si- Agrarian Reform to investigate in August. tio Karahume, Barangay San Isidro their case. Groups also said it could The Kilusang Magbubukid ng last October 4. They were members set a precedent in the rampant Pilipinas (KMP) pointed to the 10th of Karahume Farmers' Association criminalization of agrarian dis- ID as the primary suspect for the who oppose Bangko Sentral ng putes, citing other instances where murder and for terrorizing the en- Pilipinas' attempts to grab more farmers have been charged with tire Compostela Valley since 2008. than 1,000 hectares of land in their trumped up cases such as theft, Antonio Flores, KMP's province. murder and other criminal offenses. secretary-general, added that Pas- According to the KMP, police Meanwhile, police troops illeg- aporte's killing adds to the increas- forces did not even present a war- ally arrested Edwin Dematera, an ing number of farmers illegally ar- rant of arrest. rested and harassed using the Four farmers were released alleged NPA leader and his com- Duterte administration's anti-drug without charges after the illegal de- panion, Den dela Cruz in Magal- war campaign. tention. However, Reola, Ravel and lanes, Sorsogon last October 4. Natural were accused of being Both were on board a tricycle when Illegal arrests, Tokhang-style members of the New People's Army they were stopped by a checkpoint In Bulacan, Rowel Reola, Al- and charged with possession of il- for Oplan Tokhang.

Soldiers sneak out Fabella equipment

IN CONNIVANCE with the Armed Forces of the Philip- for mobiliz- pines (AFP), the management of Dr. Jose Fabella Me- ing soldiers morial Hospital attempted to pull out equipment last Oc- to transfer tober 13. According the Save Fabella Hospital Movement hospital (SFHM), soldiers from the 51st Engineering Brigade equipment armed with high powered rifles took the hospital equip- without ment and loaded these into a truck. proper authorization The AFP could not present any copy of an order or a hospital order. when asked by workers and staff of Fabella. Residents The SFHM obtained a letter dated Aug. 10, signed near the hospital as well as Fabella Hospital employees by Secretary Ubial and addressed to Fabella hospital and members of the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) director Dr. Esmeraldo Ilem, approving proposals to and SFHM prevented the pull-out. In an interview with downsize the bed capacity from 700 to 200. officers of the AFP, orders came directly from the hos- The letter also gave an order to utilize the three- pital director, Dr. Esmael Ilem and Paulyn Ubial, secret- storey out-patient department building at the Lung ary of the Department of Health. Center of the Philippines compound as a facility of Fa- This is contrary to Ubial's statement during the bella hospital and delay hiring for vacant positions until budget hearing in the House of Representatives that Fa- completion of the new Fabella hospital. bella Hospital would not be transferred. Rodel Aala, Fabella hospital employee said Dr. Ilem Elvira Mendoza, Fabella staffer and spokesperson of has told them in previous dialogues that the problem SFHM, said Ilem warned one of her colleagues that a stems from the land issue. legal action would be taken against them if the transfer The AHW condemned military presence in the hos- did not push through. pital. They further added that such action serves as a Due to protests, the transfer did not push through. threat to silence employees who are vocal about their However, Mendoza said that some equipment were opposition against the hospital's transfer. sneaked out of the hospital without their knowledge. But Aala said that they will not back down in their The AHW is now preparing to file a complaint at the struggle, as they are fighting not only for their rights as Commission on Human Rights against the hospital's ad- employees of the hospital but also for free health ser- ministration and Sec. Ubial for grave abuse of authority vices.

4 October 2 1 , 2 01 6 ANG BAYAN Lakbayan ng Pambansang Minorya launched

"WE WOULD LIKE to advance calls of Cor- dillera people and national minor- ities in the entire country for genuine regional autonomy and to end control and plunder of our natural resources and militar- ization in our communities," said Abigail Anongos, secretary general of Cordillera People's Alliance (CPA). CPA members were part of more than 3,000 minorities who actions, marched to Manila to express solid- 400 members of indigen- arity in the historic gathering ous people's groups from han counter-insurgency campaign. dubbed as "Lakbayan ng Pam- Northern Luzon trooped to the main Groups also lamented that in- bansang Minorya para sa Sariling offices of multinational mining digenous people are still discrimin- Pagpapasya at Makatarungang companies Lepanto and Oceania ated in access to social services. Kapayapaan" (Journey of National last October 13. While carrying Many of their relatives also fall vic- Minorities for Self-determination their demands, delegates symbolic- tim to land grabbing. and Just Peace). The Lakbayan ally closed building entrances. For instance, the Aeta in Capas, began last October 8 and Minorities also picketed the Tarlac are being kept out of their culminated this October 21, Nation- Department of Justice (DoJ) office farms by soldiers in the military re- al Peasants' Day. last October 17, to demand to Sec. servation. The entire delegation was com- Vitaliano Aguirre the scrapping of "Our ancestral lands are prised of Aggays, Kalinga tribes and all false charges against 200 activ- claimed by the military," declared organizations from Northern Luzon; ists from national minority groups. Lito dela Cruz of Central Luzon Aeta from Central Luzon; Dumagat, Instead, they said the DoJ Ayta Association. Mangyan and Palaw'an from South- should prosecute soldiers and ern Luzon; Tumandok and Ati from paramilitary men who perpetrated Sandugo Panay Island and Moro and Lumad —and continue to perpetrate—the National minority members people from Mindanao. killings, harassment and other at- went to the University of the Philip- According to Piya Macliing tacks on schools and communities. pines in Diliman, Quezon City where Malayao, secretary general of They also commemorated Fr. Fausto Chancellor Michael Tan led the UP Kalipunan ng Katutubong "Pops" Tentorio's 6th death an- community in welcoming them. Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (Katribu), niversary. At this gathering, Sandugo, the the combined groups of indigenous Movement of Moro and Indigenous peoples from various parts of the Oplan Bayanihan and the struggle Peoples for Self-determination, was country, along with Moros from for ancestral lands launched. Mindanao, expressed support for a During the program, Kerlan "From the scattered struggle of foreign independent policy and the Fanagel, chairperson of Pasaka the indigenous peoples, to the re- peace negotiations. They also con- Confederation of Lumad Organiza- gional level, we have now taken our demned the continuing Oplan Baya- tions, asked the crowd to raise their struggle for self-determination to a nihan counter-insurgency program fists in a minute of silence for two national level," declared Dulphing in their communities. peasant leaders in Compostela Val- Ogan, from B'laan tribe and sec- On October 13, the streets of ley who were killed last October 10 retary general of Kalumaran, a Metro Manila echoed with the and 15—Jimmy Saypan, secretary Mindanao-wide alliance of Lumads. sound of gangsa and agong (indi- general of Compostela Farmers' "As part of the Philippine na- genous gongs) while thousands of Association and Joselito Pasaporte, tion, we are part of the Filipino indigenous people marched to Men- member of Panalipdan Youth. people's struggle for genuine free- diola. Progressive organizations Fanagel condemned the ongoing dom and democracy and assert self- marched with them carrying thou- militarization by the Armed Forces determination against imperialism," sands of torches. of the Philippines of civilian com- said Joanna Cariño from Ibaloi tribe As part of the series of protest munities under the Oplan Bayani- in Cordillera.

ANG BAYAN October 2 1 , 2 01 6 5 Panels agree on CASER outline

he second round of talks between the National Democratic Front of the TPhilippines (NDFP) and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) concluded in Oslo, Norway last October 9.

Here, both panels agreed to the draft outline and framework of the Comprehensive Agreement on So- cio-Economic Reforms, the second substantive agenda of the talks. Ne- gotiations took a difficult turn due mainly to the differing views of both sides on the Philippine economy and solutions to its problems. There were twists during the negotiations, which extended even later after Hernani Braganza told the media that there were "snags" because the NDFP refused to incor- To break the deadlock, the ND- that the armed struggle is the cause porate the GRP draft outline. FP suggested the incorporation of of poverty and underdevelopment. Braganza heads the GRP's Recip- the GRP outline into the NDFP pre- This kind of thinking distorts the rocal Working Committee on Socio- pared outline. After a series of essence of the talks. Economic Reforms (RWC-SER). small-group discussions, the GRP This morning, Silvestre Bello, Unlike the NDFP's prepared acceded to several edits and a final GRP panel chairperson, announced comprehensive draft, the GRP draft was reached. This draft will that the political prisoners will be pushed for a nine-point set of "out- serve as the basis for more sub- released by batches. comes." This includes poverty erad- stantial talks in the next few But prior to this, in a Senate ication, environment and climate months. The two panels will meet hearing last October 19, Depart- justice, globally competitive eco- again on the third week of January ment of National Defense (DND) nomy, adequate and quality social 2017. Secretary insisted services, reduced inequalities, The NDFP also managed to as- that there will be no amnesty peaceful rural communities, food sert the inclusion of a resolution for "without a ceasefire" as relayed to security, living incomes, and gender the immediate release of the re- him by , Presidential equality and representation. Juliet maining detained NDFP consultants Adviser on the Peace Process. An de Lima, NDFP's RWC-SER chair- and 434 political prisoners during "amnesty ceasefire" will only be person, stated that the GRP's draft the second round. However, on Oc- given at the last part of the negoti- outline is merely an enumeration tober 12, the NDFP expressed "un- ations, he said. His department and and is actually lifted from the NDFP easiness" on the GRP's delay to do the armed forces (of the GRP) will draft. (Read in Ang Bayan, August 7, so. not agree to the release of the 2016 issue.) It would appear that The GRP's large delegation on prisoners prior to this, he added. the GRP did not prepare sufficiently, the third and fourth agenda—on Contrary to this, Angela Lib- had no elaborations and did not set political and constitutional reforms rado-Trinidad, GRP panel member, expectations. The GRP would ap- and end of hostilities and disposi- announced that the GRP is already pear that it expected the NDFP to tion of forces—was conspicuous. In reconstituting the Presidential fall in with its outline because this the face of its lukewarm preparation Committee on Bail, Recognizance was supposedly according to the for the talks on CASER, the GRP and Pardon which has been signed Philippine government's laws. This made it plain that it was more in- by the DND, Department of Justice stance did not depart from the pre- terested in reducing the level of vi- and Department of Interior and vious position of subsuming the ne- olence by coming up with a docu- Local Government secretaries as gotiations under GRP legalities and ment for a bilateral ceasefire. This preparations to the release of NDFP its constitution. stems from the timeworn excuse prisoners.

6 October 2 1 , 2 01 6 ANG BAYAN Contradictions within the Duterte regime's economic policies

his past week, clashes within the Duterte Tregime's cabinet erupted between repres- entatives of the democratic movement and champions of bourgeois comprador in- terests. Officials from the Department of Finance (DoF), National Economic Development Agency (NEDA) and Vice-president openly contested the Department of Agrari- an Reform's (DAR) recommendation to impose a two-year moratorium on the conversion of agricultural lands. on raising foreign capital and wooing ments between them and large cor- At the same time, Department of foreign business, particularly for its porations controlled by China's Labor and Employment Sec. Silvestre public infrastructure program. monopoly bureaucrat capitalists Bello withdrew his support for the Duterte's technocrats criticized were quickly reached. These include P125 across-the-board wage hike the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreements pushing for the estab- after the president of the Employers of the US-Aquino regime's as slow, lishment of the Clark Green City In- Confederation of the Philippines expensive and contrary to the in- dustrial Park and the Cavite confronted him. The NEDA also re- terests of the public. But like the reclamation project, both of which peated the old excuse that small PPP, this grand infrastructure plan are objects of the people's ire. enterprises will lose if labor groups (rails, roads, seaports and airports) As in the past regimes, Duterte insist on a wage hike. depends on foreign loans and in- is pushing for the establishment of With regards to the peace talks, vestment, especially from China, and additional export processing zones the expected conflicts have already also from Japan and South Korea. (EPZ). These will add to the current started to emerge in negotiations on Within six years, the regime is EPZs which produce low-value added the outline on socio-economic re- estimated to need $8 trillion. To products for export. These EPZs are forms. Differences in the revolution- achieve this, the regime is seeking part of the so-called Factory Asia—a ary program and that of the reac- membership to the Asian Infra- network of factories which make up tionary state's take on the economy structure Investment Bank, China's a production line controlled by is apparent in the GRP panel posi- answer to the World Bank. China. These ties are bound to tions, Duterte's technocrats and In Duterte's visit to China this tighten when China's Regional Duterte himself. October (read related article in page Comprehensive Economic Partner- 9), China promised him around $9 ship come to fruition. Foreign-dependent billion worth of loans for his projects industrialization and programs. In recognition of Land reform and counter-reform In Duterte's speech in front of Duterte's separation from the Phil- Ever since peasant leader Ka big banana planters last October 7, ippines' US imperialist masters, Paeng Mariano headed the DAR, he said that the industrial sector is China promised not only to help him notable land disputes have been re- already "too cramped." "Within the in infrastructure projects but also in solved in favor of the peasants. span of the next thirty years, I don't the country's agriculture and fin- These include positive decisions re- see any new industrial sector ance. garding Hacienda Luisita and other rising," he said. "The resources are Nevertheless, it would appear vast holdings in Mindoro, Zam- already committed and besides we that the regime did not do away with boanga, Sorsogon, Negros and lag behind in the money business." projects under the PPP program of Iloilo. But clashes are bound to arise In truth, the regime does not the US-Aquino regime. During his when landlords decide to contest the have a concrete plan for an inde- visit to China, 400 businessmen ac- DAR. pendent industrial sector. Like the companied him, including the coun- The DAR's decision to impose a previous regimes, it places emphasis try's biggest compradors. Agree- two-year moratorium on conversion

ANG BAYAN October 2 1 , 2 01 6 7 of agricultural lands have been only be realized in 2040. Labor Summit opposes countermanded by technocrats and Duterte signed Executive Order contractualization real estate compradors. No. 5 containing the the AmBisyon AT THE LABOR Summit held on In different occasions, Duterte Natin 2040 (Our Ambition 2040) last October 17 at the Occupational has made plain his readiness to dis- October 12. It aims to create a Safety and Health Center in tribute public lands. In concurrence, "middle class" Philippines with the Quezon City, workers and labor he asserted that the Philippines can majority of Filipinos owning a house unions once again reached a make it big through agricultural de- and vehicle, with sufficient funds to consensus to end contractualiz- velopment compared to industries. tide them over the day, college fund ation. Industry will only have value if it for their children and some savings. The Department of Labor comes from agriculture, he said. But Duterte gave the NEDA the respons- and Employment (DOLE) called the agricultural production he was ibility of crafting four "five-year for the said summit supposedly referring to is agriculture based on program" from 2016 to 2040. for the labor sector to come up large commercial plantations owned AmBisyon Natin 2040 is nothing with a unified stand regarding by foreign capitalists and oriented but an empty promise. For now, it is the issue. But according to the towards foreign markets. merely a slogan which is no different workers, as early as October 3 at This is no different from what big from the US-Ramos regime's "Phil- the Labor Sector Dialogue, 95% foreign companies call Philippine ag- ippines 2000." It only serves to keep of the labor unions have already ricultural "modernization" through the people's hopes up to take their declared clearly their opposition laying down appropriate infrastruc- attention off their current problems. to all forms of contractualiza- ture. Big compradors would like to In truth, it does not offer funda- maximize agricultural lands, espe- tion. mental changes in the economic cially in Mindanao, for export pro- The labor unions criticized structure. If NEDA's previous pro- duction and put up the needed DOLE's indecisiveness against grams are to go by, AmBisyon will transportation infrastructure for contractualization, despite Pres. not veer away from the old and swift transport of products for the 's clear order to bankrupt neoliberal policies. international market. end the practice. The unions de- It is under this framework that Worse, the regime is poised to manded the repeal of the the regime is pushing for laying down set the heavy burden of financing its agency's DO 18-A and the issu- a modern train system in Mindanao. schemes by increasing taxes to raise ance of an order in its stead This will facilitate and simplify the revenue. The DoF is pushing to in- which strictly prohibits contrac- transport of products from planta- crease value-added taxes from 12% tualization. tions to airports and seaports. to 15%. It also plans to impose other Presented in the summit This October, Duterte signed taxes on petroleum products and were examples of contractual with China the Agricultural Coopera- sweet drinks (softdrinks, juices, oth- workers' struggles at Tanduay in tion Action Plan 2017-2019 to facil- ers). It boasts of lowering income, Laguna, AGC Flat Glass in Ma- itate the export of Philippine property and transaction taxes but nila, at ports in Negros, in small products such as mangoes and bana- these will only benefit the largest factories, up to major companies nas to China. The agreement covers companies and wealthiest families. like the Philippine Airlines, PLDT coming up with export regulations, Income taxes for millions of ordinary and large banks. research for major projects and co- workers and employees may be At the same assembly, DOLE operation for increased production lowered, but additional funds will go Sec. Silvestre Bello rejected the and investment. straight to state coffers through high call for a P125 wage increase. prices of commodities and services. This, after he had ordered the AmBisyon Natin 2040 regional wage boards last The regime continues to offer In the face of such grand plans, September to conduct a study on palliative measures to raise the the Duterte regime has no immediate the said increase. Wage increase people from poverty. These include plans to increase wages and ensure is beyond DOLE's jurisdiction, continuing the 4Ps program, distri- job security for workers and govern- Bello said. ment employees. Instead, it came up bution of one sack of rice to some Outside the venue, labor with an "anti-poverty" program that families and other superficial meas- unions together with progressive will bring about a "simple and com- ures that have long been proven in- organizations and labor institu- fortable life." But this "ambition" will effective. tions staged a protest action.

8 October 2 1 , 2 01 6 ANG BAYAN The two aspects of friendship with China

RP President Duterte is currently in China Gto forge economic and security agree- ments. He was welcomed by China as a firm ally and friend.

The visit is expected to pave the way for the large inflow of mono- poly capitalist investments from China. The Party and revolutionary movement have a critical view of the Duterte regime's policy of amity and friendship with China. On the one hand, the revolutionary move- China's geopolitical interests are It is China's plan to build large ment is aware that China has its increasing and its challenge to US plantations for export production. imperialist self-interest in forging hegemony is growing. This contravenes the interests of friendship with the Philippines. On Duterte's friendship with China the peasant masses and the minor- the other hand, they also see the can help the Filipino people in their ity peoples and is destructive to the opportunities for positive changes struggle to break free from US con- environment. This must not be al- in the economy and people's liveli- trol and domination and end reli- lowed to become a dominant aspect hood which were long closed be- ance on US imperialism. But this in the rural economy. cause of US domination and will happen only if the Filipino Duterte must train principal Philippine dependence. people's national democratic attention to distributing land to China is one of the biggest cap- struggle will continue to advance peasant tillers as a means of cor- italist countries and a burgeoning and if the Duterte regime will forge recting a historic injustice, and to imperialist power. It was once a with them a patriotic alliance. pave the way for modernization of modern socialist country (1949- Several billion dollars of in- local agriculture geared towards 1976) before the new bourgeoisie vestments and loans from China are the production of food and other which emerged from the bureau- bound to build factories and plant- needs for local processing. cracy wrested state power and des- ations that are geared to supply the In his earlier declaration, troyed the Communist Party of factories and market of China. In Duterte has been busy attracting China and the socialist system. the name of unity with the Filipino foreign investments, in particular, China is currently confronting a people against US imperialism, investments from state-private capitalist crisis in finance and over- China must be called upon to allot a firms of China. This corresponds production. Its inventory of surplus substantial amount of investments with China's plans to build infra- goods (steel, cellphones and other to support national industrializa- structure for production and electronic products and parts) is tion and genuine land reform to get transportation in accordance with growing as well as uninvestible sur- the local economy to stand on its its plan to reach out to the farthest plus capital. It seeks areas to dump own feet. The protection of the corners of the world to draw in its surplus goods and bigger sources welfare of millions of people must hundreds of millions of people into of cheap labor-power and raw ma- be ensured in every infrastructure its wide ocean of labor-power. terials to run its so-called Factory project. The Filipino people must insist Asia—the network of tightly linked The struggle for genuine land that establishing steel and other factories in different countries that reform must be advanced vigor- basic industries must be given pri- engage in semi-processing. ously. The Filipino people must ority. Duterte must insist on China China has imperialist ambitions. challenge Duterte to smash the that its investments in export-ori- Along with the expansion of China's economic power of the big landlords ented production should have a economic empire, there is also its who long have served as power counterpart investment or assist- strategic deployment of military base of US imperialism in the Phil- ance to more basic industries forces in various parts of the Asia- ippines and are among the principal needed by the country. Pacific, Middle East and Africa. factors for the backward economy. To ensure that the people are

ANG BAYAN October 2 1 , 2 01 6 9 not completely disadvantaged, Duterte must ensure that forge cooperation, China must recognize and respect such policies will have a corresponding policy of protect- the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the ing national interests. It must be insisted that a portion Philippines. of investments be allotted to basic industries and that As a friendly overture, China must stop its exclusive there should be technology transfer. There must also be claims of the fishing area around Bajo de Masinloc. It clear-cut policy for protecting the environment and the can support the clamor for demilitarization of the South national patrimony. China Sea and avoid taking steps that contravene other The people must challenge Duterte to protect the in- country's claims. terests of the working class against very low wages and China can build long-lasting friendship with the to repudiate the policy of privatization and commercial- Filipino people if it will support genuine land reform and ization of public services. The Duterte regime must take the establishment of various basic industries. This is immediate steps to control prices of food, medicine, fuel comparable to efforts of the US and Japan to support and other basic commodities. land reform and building basic industries in Taiwan If Duterte will not uphold the democratic interests (from the 1950s) and South Korea (from the 1960s) with of the people, Philippine ties with China will only lead to the aim of turning these into capitalist bases in the replacing the giant that dominates and plunders the struggle then against the promotion of anti-imperialism country and the perpetuation of foreign monopoly capit- and socialism in China and North Korea. alist plunder of the country. US imperialism is closely watching the forging of If the people's interests are not prioritized, the China-Philippine friendship under Duterte. Its agents in promised new roads, bridges, rails and ports will be for the AFP and other state agencies are mobilizing to pre- naught. The economy will be glittery outside but under- pare for measures to prevent the strategic weakening of developed inside. There will be factories but no industri- US control and influence in the Philippines. alization; there will be plantations but the people will In promoting friendship with China, Duterte must lack food and be condemned to hunger. also seek to weaken US imperialist influence and control It is in the geopolitical interest of China to turn the of the AFP which has been dependent on US military aid Philippines into a bastion of anti-US imperialism. This is and oppose the policy of suppression against the anti- consistent with the aspirations of the Filipino people. To imperialist, progressive and revolutionary forces.

Pro and anti-US factionalism emerges

AS EXPECTED, GRP Pres. Rodrigo Duterte's anti- ies with the objective of pushing back Duterte's US tirades have deepened factionalism among the avowed independent foreign ruling classes. This was sharply defined when policy. It is apparent Fidel Ramos, among GRP's most puppet presid- that the ex-president ents, attacked him on his 100th day in office. has ties with US milit- Reactionaries out of power, such as those in ary agents to counter the Liberal Party and their supporters, the strong currents quickly joined in the chorus. Duterte con- against US presence and siders Ramos as the one who "convinced" exercises. He also serves as him to run for president. the center for AFP pro-US Ramos damned the current regime in officials. a column he wrote for a newspaper. In Meanwhile, the Duterte camp's attacks the main, he parroted lines used by against Sen. Leila de Lima, number one US, UN and EU officials in relation to proponent of the US line on anti-drug extrajudicial killings in the regime's killings, continue unabated. After being anti-drug war. He directly mocked unseated from a powerful committee in the Duterte's statements and threats against the senate, she is now besieged with cases filed against presence of US troops, war planes and ships. The Philip- her to shame her to silence. The committee which suc- pines is "losing badly," he said, and Duterte's leadership ceeded her exonerated the Philippine National Police is a "huge disappointment." The "Philippine ship is sink- from all the extra-judicial killings and completely ab- ing," he added, due to Duterte's "willy-nilly" navigation. solved the Duterte regime by stating that there was no Through his tirades, Ramos has exposed himself as Davao Death Squad when Duterte was the city's mayor. the US' main puppet inside the Duterte administration. In the meantime, the number of those killed, both by He is set to lead the pro-US camp among the reactionar- police and so-called vigilantes continues to rise.

10 October 2 1 , 2 01 6 ANG BAYAN Unequal RP-US economic relations

ecades of control have shackled the Philippine economy to the DUS. For a long time, the country was without economic sover- eignty as a result of being confined to supplying cheap raw materials and labor force for the US, and as dumping ground for surplus manu- factures and other imports, as well as its surplus capital.

Since the 1940s, American cap- the US' market for its soy- italists have been the biggest source bean meal (soya residue of foreign direct investments (FDI) after oil has been extracted) to the Philippines. Most of these are at $589M; fourth in dairy invested into the manufacturing products ($345M); sixth in sector, finance and securities, real wheat ($569M) and eighth in estate, wholesale and retail trade, pork and pork products and construction. American capital- ($116M). ists live off the Philippines' cheap Meanwhile, the Philip- labor force and abundant resources. pines remained a supplier of They repatriate huge profits. cheap raw materials to the US. The mained backward: geared towards Economic laws since the Treaty country is the US main supplier of exporting raw materials or semi- of General Relations of 1946, the coconut oil ($454M) and copra processed parts and dependent on Investment Incentives Act of 1967, ($55M). Also, the Philippines places importing finished products. This up to the Foreign Investment Act of eighth in the US' source of pro- explains the chronic deficit in Phil- 1991, distinctively favour American cessed fruits and vegetables ippine foreign trade. In 1957, from investors. ($197M); fruit and vegetable juice a deficit of $14 million ($58.5 mil- From 1999-2012, the net FDI ($62M) and sugar ($23M). Likewise, lion imports and $44.5 million ex- from the US amounted to $4.52 bil- the Philippines is the 11th largest ports), this swelled to $97.3 million lion. This comprises almost 20% of supplier of seafoods to the US in 1987 ($463 million imports and the entire FDI during that period. ($264M). $365 million exports). In August In 2013, despite placing second (to The US also benefits consider- 2016, Philippine trade deficit Japan), FDI from the US still ably from the Filipino people's cheap already amounts to $2.02 billion. amounted $1.3 billion. In 2015, the labor force. Among the biggest Because of the continuing trade US' FDI was $732.5 million (39.72% American companies having invest- deficit, the Philippines is compelled of all FDIs). ments in the Philippines are Citi- to incur strings of loans from fin- During the same period, 19.4% group, General Electric, Procter & ancial institutions such as the In- of Philippine exports went to the Gamble, JP Morgan, Coca Cola and ternational Monetary Fund and the US, while 15.8% of the country's im- Chevron. World Bank (IMF-WB) which the ports were sourced from the US. The American economy leads in US also controls. Fifty-one percent Also, a fraction of Philippine trade exploiting the Filipino working of the World Bank's funds is to ASEAN and other countries in people's talents, skills and labor— sourced from the US, while the East Asia go to the US. as workers in mines and plantations country also holds the biggest vot- Despite being primarily agricul- during the 1920s and as soldiers ing power share in the IMF at 17%. tural, the Philippines is flooded by and navy men after the Second From $360 million in 1962, the American agricultural products. Un- World War. Today, almost four Philippines' external debt has der the US-Aquino regime, agricul- million migrant Filipinos are in the shrunk to $77.47 billion in 2015. All tural products imported by the Phil- US. They comprise the largest num- loans are conditionalities. At ippines from the US ballooned to ber (15.7%) of migrant health present, the Philippines has 70 dif- 123%. The country is the US' ninth workers (mostly nurses), and are ferent loans and credits with the largest market for its agricultural second most populous (13.7%) mi- World Bank. Each of these loans products, with profits reaching $2.8 grant workers in services. entails four to five conditionalities. billion in 2014. Under decades of being tied to In a rundown, almost half The Philippines ranks second in the US, Philippine economy has re- (49%) of the conditionalities im-

ANG BAYAN October 2 1 , 2 01 6 11 posed by the WB relate to the de- velopment of private and finance sectors (this comprises 32% of IMF conditionalities). Meanwhile, 39% of these are geared towards privatiz- ation (52% in IMF conditionalities). Apart from gaining control of the country's economy through loan conditionalities, the US likewise ex- ploits its "aid" in order to impose economic policies. The Partnership for Growth (PFG) signed between the Philippines and the US in 2011 is an example of how the US tightens its command over the country's economy. Through the Joint Country Ac- tion Plan as determined by the PFG, reforms in the economy that favour the US are identified. These include trade and investment liberalization, deregulation, effective implementa- tion of private business contracts such as Public-Private Partnership deals, as well as reforms in the fin- ancial system and the judiciary. For example, under the PFG, $434 million was allocated by the interests of foreign corporations in tions in the country, as well as big Millenium Challenge Corporation the country. Every year since 2011, bourgeois-compradors such as (MCC) in exchange for "economic the Arangkada Project monitors Pangilinan, Sycip, Ayala, Razon and freedom" in the Philippines. At any and rates the application of its "re- many others. The USPS aims to in- time, the MCC may suspend dis- commendations" by the Philippines. fluence officials and lawmakers in pensing "aid" if the Philippines does Along with AmCham are 17 the Philippines. not enforce trade liberalization other big foreign and local business The USPS is much like the lobby along with relaxing tariffs and re- groups that push for further liber- group AGILE (Accelerating Growth, moval of barriers on foreign invest- alization, deregulation, privatiza- Investment, and Liberalization with ments. A substantial amount of MCC tion and denationalization. Among Equity) which the USAID funded funds touches on counterinsurgency Arangkada's "recommendations" during the Estrada and Macapagal- such as funding the Kalahi-CIDSS are the enactment of laws, intensi- Arroyo regimes. AGILE blatantly ($120 million) and road projects fication of infrastructure projects, wrote draft bills and campaigned in ($214.4M) in Samar communities. and even the composition of gov- Congress for the enactment of The funds also finance projects in ernment bureaucracy. The Philippine laws that safeguard US increasing tax revenue collection Arangkada Project also regards intellectual property rights. ($54.3 million). land reform as an impediment to These laws, including those Also part of the PFG is the agribusiness corporations. economic agreements passed at the Arangkada Project which is spear- Also, the US-Philippine Society onset of US domination of the headed by the USAID and the (USPS) was established to lobby for country, have continuously American Chamber of Commerce PFG within the Philippine govern- hindered development and des- (AmCham). Through this project, ment. Members of the lobby group troyed local industries and liveli- AmCham and USAID push the Phil- include former US ambassador to hood, and have perpetuated ippines' implementation of 471 "re- the Philippines John Negroponte chronic poverty and persistent commendations" that promote the and top executives of US corpora- crisis of the Philippine economy.

12 October 2 1 , 2 01 6 ANG BAYAN American people have no choice in the US presidential elections

ome November 8, the American people Cwill again vote in their presidential elections. But as in all bourgeois elections, the people have no viable choice among candidates who are as bad as each other.

The presidential elections come at a time when the US is at the trough of an almost two decades- long recession that still has no solu- tion in sight. Its influence in inter- national trade formations is declin- ing. It is projected to be already insolvent in its trade deficits and public debt. In the face of new emerging imperialist countries, the American ruling classes are falling over themselves to wage war or in- stigate war to regain their position China Sea. Both of them present Afghanistan, and built-up military as number one imperialist power campaign platforms to continue the troops in the Asian pivot. It was and maintain world hegemony. proxy war in Syria, Yemen and other also recently exposed that Clinton The two leading contenders, countries in Africa and continue the intentionally held back information Democratic Party's Hillary Clinton war of aggression in Afghanistan to about funding support for the ISIS and Republican Party's Donald ascertain their investments and through their Saudi Arabian allies. Trump are both candidates of the military positions against Russia and In the US, she faced the issue of ruling class. They both promise that China. This growing rightist trend is neglecting security for their em- they will lift the people from the also consistent with their approval bassy in Libya which resulted in the mire of economic crisis, though in of the Patriot Act, strengthening the death of four American diplomats in truth they will be busy enabling the Central Intelligence Agency and 2012. Despite this, Clinton big capitalists to continue raking in National Security Agency, and in- sponsored continued US military wealth. creasing sanctions against North presence in the country. They are zealous promoters of Korea. Clinton initially pushed for the neoliberal economic policies that Thus, the American people can Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), the give US monopoly capitalists free expect no substantial change from neoliberal agreement that will fur- rein to rob the fruits of workers' either leadership. People in US ther abet imperialist plunder of un- labor in their own country and plun- colonies and neocolonies can also derdeveloped countries' resources. der the wealth of underdeveloped expect continued plunder, arm- She later distanced herself from the countries. On the other hand, they twisting, bullying from "the world's TPP to garner popularity from the adopt protectionist measures police" and intensifying military ac- broad masses of American people against rival countries' competition tions to defend their dwindling ter- who oppose it and the ultra-right- in trade and other economic in- ritory for trade. ists who advocate ultranationalism. terests, though these may necessit- Before running for presidency, However, she remains a strong ate military action. Clinton was US Secretary of State. supporter of "free trade", plunder They both consider the Philip- In this post, she initiated the ouster of other countries' resources, limit- pines as launching pad for their so- of Libyan president Moammar Qad- ing their own workers' minimum called "defense" against China and dafi, supported the bombing of Syr- wages, and reducing social services North Korea, and for maintaining ia, instigated war in Yemen and for the people. She still upholds the their military might in the South Turkey, continued drone warfare in neoliberal dogma to favor big cap-

ANG BAYAN October 2 1 , 2 01 6 13 italists supposedly to stimulate business and create Mena, Arkansas, through the Arkansas Development jobs. Finance Authority. All these were strictly kept under For his part, Trump campaigns for continued military wraps by the government and investigations have come action against the ISIS although the real victims are the to naught up to now. Syrian civilian population, racist measures against Trump is a big businessman who accumulated wealth people of color and migrants as in his proposal of barri- in real estate and casinos through fraud in this tax de- ers against Mexicans and Muslims, and tax cuts for the wealthy. He flaunts his contempt of women, Muslims and clarations and other dirty means. He was implicated in minority people in the US. the investigations for racketeering cases against the They both have skeletons in their closets. William Salerno and Gambino families, the two biggest US Mafia and Hillary Clinton were involved in the Iran-Contra groups at that time, but he was able to extricate himself scandal or secret arms deals to Iran and the Nicaraguan through his money. Contras where Arkansas, which then had Mr. Clinton as Trump's numerous and frequent offensive remarks governor, was allegedly used as launching pad. This against women, together with his slurs against blacks scandal was related to drug smuggling from Central and other minorities within the US, have become issues America using CIA personnel and money laundering in in his campaign.

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