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

English Edition Vol XLVI No. 2 January 21, 2015 www.philippinerevolution.net

Editorial Dismantle and end privatization!

he Filipino people suffer from ever heavier burdens due to the el playing field" to attract in- series of hikes in fees and expenses. The huge MRT and LRT vestments, promote competi- Tfare hikes, the water rate hike and the impending power rate tion and reduce prices for the hike are but the latest burdens to be heaped anew by the US-Aquino people. Through the "build-op- regime on the Filipino people's shoulders. They come on top of the al- erate-transfer," "public-private ready spiralling costs of education, medical care, communications, partnership" and various other housing and other social services and infrastructure. schemes, privatization and de- regulation were enforced in al- The higher fees and costs International Monetary Fund most all fields of social and eco- now confronting the people are (IMF) and other imperialist nomic life. the result of close to three dec- agencies imposed on the Philip- Water distribution, power ades of the privatization and pines at the close of the 1980s generation and distribution, deregulation of key social infra- the policies of privatization and roads, hospitals and universi- structure. Enterprises that used deregulation—meaning the re- ties or parts thereof were priv- to be state-owned and run by moval of state controls on servi- atized, as were vast public the government, funded by pub- ces and utilities to give way to landholdings, telecommunica- lic funds and declared to be big foreign capitalist and bour- tions and postal services, and serving the "social interest" are geois comprador investment and the companies Petron, Philip- now run by a handful of big com- management. They took advan- pine National Bank, Philippine prador bourgeoisie and their tage of the Filipino people's an- Airlines and other enterprises foreign big capitalist partners in ger at the bureaucrat capitalist established, owned or run by the name of profit without any Marcos dictatorship and its min- the state. The biggest enter- obligation whatsoever to pro- ions who enriched themselves by prises fell into the hands of the tect the people's interests. running state enterprises in or- biggest bourgeois compradors In exchange for credit, the der to make privatization palat- in the Philippines, among them able to the public. Lucio Tan, the Ayalas, Lopezes, The lofty Cojuangcos, Sys and eventually promise of the Pangilinan group and their privatiza- foreign big capitalist partners. tion's apolo- The privatization process in gists was to the Philippines is fraught with create a corruption. High-ranking gov- "lev- ernment officials always line their pockets full whenever state properties are put on the auction block and government enters into private investment contracts. Sometimes, such corruption is exposed when the rival political party takes pow- er—not to get rid of corruption but to forge new contracts, fa- vor other businessmen and tionalized" and controlled by with the "public interest" as- pocket their own share of the Marcos and his cronies using pect. Because they are funded loot. public funds. To conceal the by private capital (although No less than the Filipino corruption, they were hailed as mainly through state-guaran- people's close to 30 years' expe- enterprises run "in the public teed loans), there is a demand rience with unbridled privatiza- interest." On the other hand, to run privatized entities "effi- tion puts to the lie the claims because they were run "in the ciently and profitably." The so- and promises of privatization. public interest" and with the called "user-pay" principle has Wherever privatization reigned, use of public monies, they were been forced into the picture to social services and public infra- obliged by the people to operate justify all-out commercial oper- structure became commercial and provide services affordable ations and wanton hikes in fees ventures whose main goal was to ordinary folk. and expenditures. to rake in profits for big capital- Within the framework of na- It is right and just for the ists. Services that used to be af- tionalizing public enterprises, Filipino people to demand the fordable are now practically be- infrastructure and services, the renewed nationalization or yond the reach of the Filipino democratic forces are fighting state conrol of infrastructure toiling masses who comprise the for the allocation of bigger pub- and services being utilized by, majority. lic funds to enable these entities and of benefit to, the people Many of such public infra- to provide quality and afforda- and that facilitate the flow of structure were built and funded ble services to the people. They commerce and production. It is by the ruling state in order to resist commercialization, or right for the people to demand facilitate the flow of commerce running these entities in order an end to contracts with private and production for the local rul- for the state to earn profits, and companies that have been ing classes and foreign big capi- regard operating at a loss as granted concessions for water talists. necessary investment for the and power distribution, tele- Because they were funded greater social good. They like- communications, hospitals and by public monies, these formerly wise expose and resist bureau- universities or granted con- state-owned enterprises were crat capitalist management and tracts to use public land or ex- categorized as "publicly owned" fight for more democratic tract mineral or oil resources. and their operations deemed as means of managing enterprises, The people can fight for the "public service." During the US- infrastructure and public servi- renationalization of transport, Marcos dictatorship, a number ces. energy and petroleum compa- of private enterprises were "na- Privatization has done away nies and others that play a sig- nificant role in economic affairs ANG Contents and people's livelihoods. They must likewise resist Editorial: Dismantle and end privatization 1 policies that call for national Vol XLVI No. 2 January 21, 2015 "User-pay” is contrary to public service 3 budgetary cuts in much-needed social services such as health Cancel the water privatization contracts 4 Ang Bayan is published in Pilipino, and education. Year after year, Bisaya, Iloko, Hiligaynon, Waray and English editions. Suppressing the truth 5 the reactionary government has It is available for downloading at been allotting woefully inade- the Philippine Revolution Web Central Filipino people welcome Pope’s support 6 located at: quate funds for public universi- NDF-NEMR cancels release of 3 POWs 6 ties and hospitals. In accord- www.philippinerevolution.org. Advances in Mindoro in 2014 6 ance with the principle that the Ang Bayan welcomes contributions bulk of public funds must be al- NDFP consultant illegally arrested 7 in the form of articles and news. located to the majority, the Readers are likewise enjoined to send The US war of aggression in Mindanao 7 in their comments and suggestions for people must thoroughly resist the betterment of our publication. You .45 caliber pistol: Anti-Moro weapon 8 the allotment of more than a can reach us by email at: third of the government's annu- Contractualization at Franklin Baker 8 [email protected] al budget to service debts to Racist and religious repression in Europe 9 foreign banks. In the particular case of the Ang Bayan is published fortnightly by the Central Committee LRT, MRT and other public of the Communist Party of the Philippines transport systems, the people

2 ANG BAYAN January 21, 2015 would do right by demanding "User-pay" scheme contrary that these be placed under full state control. It is to the Filipi- to public service no people's interest to cancel the contracts with the Ayalas n order issued by the Department of Transportation and Commu- and Pangilinans that grant them Anications (DOTC) on January 4 invoked the "user-pay" scheme to the right to control the opera- justify the LRT-1, LRT-2 and MRT fare hikes. The "user-pay" scheme tions of the metrotrains for 50 which involves direct payment by consumers for social services availed years—and this includes the of, instead of the people collectively paying through the state, is con- right to hike fares on an annual trary to the principle of the state providing services to the people. The basis. They must also demand "user-pay principle" lies at the core of privatization and is now being an end to contracts privatizing enforced in other services that have been privatized, like water, pow- water distribution in various er and highways (through toll fees). parts of the country. In the case of the MRT/LRT and other infrastructure under the The nationalization of public Aquino regime's Public-Private Partnership program, "user-pay" bra- services and utilities must be zenly enjoys guarantees under the lopsided contracts entered into by demanded by the Filipino people the regime with favored local and foreign capitalists. in the face of the ever worsen- The Aquino regime does not conceal the fact that it is this scheme ing social and economic crisis. that is behind the removal of "subsidies" to the LRT/MRT that used to It is just for the people to fight cover the shortfalls in the incomes of private concessionaires and man- for the nationalization of these agers under the Build-Operate-Transfer and Build-Lease-Transfer entities to ensure decent stand- schemes of previous regimes. The Aquino government's aim is to com- ards of living for everyone. Un- pletely pass on to consumers the burden of defraying the cost of run- der the present ruling semicolo- ning the trains and the private companies managing them, with the nial and semifeudal system, bulk going to debt service. In the MRT's case, an estimated 81% of the they must likewise fight for the company's total expenses goes to debt service. In the case of the LRT- democratic management of 1 and LRT-2, debt service comprises up to 47% of expenditures. ~ these enterprises to prevent them from becoming instru- ments of bureaucrat capitalist enrichment. Cancel the water privatization These people's democratic demands are part of the agenda contracts! in the peace talks between the National Democratic Front of he people are urgently demanding an end to the Concession the Philippines (NDFP) and the TAgreement between the Metropolitan Water- Government of the Republic of works and Sewerage System (MWSS) and the two the Philippines. private concessionaires Maynilad and Manila Wa- State ownership and control ter. Instead, they demand the nationalization of over the biggest and key indus- water services as the solution to unbridled water tries, land and natural resour- rate hikes. ces, infrastructure and services This was the reaction of the are critical aspects of the social broad coalition Water for the Peo- and economic programs of the ple Network (WPN) to the deci- Party and the NDFP. Through all sion of the International Court this, the proletariat and the of Arbitration (ICA) [otherwise democratic government would known as The Court] on Janu- have the power to plan the pro- ary 5 rescinding MWSS' 2013 duction and distribution of ruling that barred Maynilad wealth for the benefit of all and from raising its rates. The ensure that everyone has work WPN charged that it was and is provided free education useless to propose and health services within the amendments to the con- frame of a dynamic, progressive tracts with the two pri- and modern society. ~ vate concessionaires.

ANG BAYAN January 21, 2015 3 The privatization contracts have completely done There was no representative from the consumers' away with public control and regulation of water sector. services. Maynilad's newest water rate hike comes to The ICA's arbitration proceedings were all for `3.06 per cubic meter, equivalent to a 9.8% in- show. Long before the ruling came out, Maynilad crease. The ICA is likewise expected to rule in favor was sure that by petitioning the ICA, it would be of Manila Water which has a similar petition pend- able to go through with its water rate hike. This is ing with The Court. because the ICA is nothing but an instrument to re- Due to the ICA decision, a previous order by the solve contractual obstacles in favor of big business MWSS directing the two companies to reduce their and make sure that arbitration decisions are carried water tariffs by `0.29 per cubic meter for Maynilad out. and `1.45 per cubic meter for Manila Water up to In the case of Maynilad's petition at the ICA, 2017 can no longer be enforced. These increases two out of three of the committee members who is- stem from anomalous charges imposed on the con- sued the decision came from the ranks of big busi- sumers, such as income taxes, advertising costs, ness—the representatives of Maynilad and the ICA. donations and other company expenses. ~

Suppressing the truth during Pope Francis' visit

he US-Aquino regime attempted to obscure the real conditions were on hunger strike and have of Philippine society during the January 15-19 visit to the long been victims of injustice Tcountry of Pope Francis, the highest-ranking leader of the Ro- from catching Pope Francis' at- man Catholic Church. tention. Organized groups, including The Aquino regime abused up forces of the 8th Infantry Di- priests, nuns and other church its power in the name of "secu- vision. Clearly, the objective people were unable to attend rity." Since January 16, the re- was to stop organized gather- the mass held at the Manila Ca- gime imposed restrictions on ings by people wanting to air thedral on January 16 after be- telecommunications and the their grievances regarding the ing blocked, with some of them right to assembly. It also barred incompetence, criminal negli- detained by the police. Their various sectors from speaking gence and widespread corrup- simple wish was to make known about important issues con- tion surrounding relief and re- to Pope Francis the burning so- fronting the Filipino people. habilitation work for Yolanda cial and economic issues dis- On January 15, military for- victims. Days before the Roman tressing the workers, peasants, ces in Leyte detained a number Catholic pontiff's arrival in the unemployed, the youth, of nuns belonging to the Sisters Leyte, the military set up check- women and other oppressed Association of Mindanao (Sa- points to restrict vehicles bear- sectors of Philippine society. min) involved in relief work in ing Yolanda victims affiliated The Aquino regime's policies Tanauan, Leyte. The military with the People Surge Alliance and measures to suppress the branded them as members of going to Tacloban. truth were desperate attempts the New People's Army despite Earlier, the Aquino regime to show a positive but false im- their coordination with the had already been suppressing age of the Philippines. In fact, archbishop of Palo regarding human rights advocacy groups, after close to five years of the their relief work among survi- relatives and friends of 491 po- Aquino regime, the people's vors of supertyphoon Yolanda. litical prisoners detained at the poverty, oppression and exploi- Numerous police forces were PNP jail in Bicutan, Taguig City tation have worsened. State also deployed to Samar and and more than 40 other deten- forces continue to violate civil Leyte and Philippine Army tion facilities nationwide. The and political rights with impuni- troops from the AFP Southern sinister objective was to pre- ty. The country's semicolonial Luzon Command likewise beefed vent the political prisoners who status is likewise deepening. ~

4 ANG BAYAN January 21, 2015 The Filipino people welcome CPP said that long before the Pope's challenge for the reli- Pope Francis' support gious to go to the poor and the oppressed, many Filipino church for their struggle people have already been work- ing with the oppressed and he Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) hailed Pope Fran- downtrodden masses and help- cis' statements supportive of the Filipino people's struggles for ing strengthen their spirits as Tsocial change. they advance their cause for national and social liberation. The CPP took note of the cis on January 18, leaders of dif- In a statement, the Chris- Pope's call to "break the bonds ferent religions asked for his tians for National Liberation of injustice and oppresson" that support for the resumption of (CNL), the underground nation- give rise to "scandalous social peace talks between the NDFP al-democratic mass organiza- inequalities" and the mainte- and the Government of the Phil- tion of church people and one of nance of structures that "per- ippines. The CPP said that the the NDFP's allied organizations, petuate poverty and the exclu- revolutionary forces are always hailed Pope Francis' call to Ca- sion of the poor." ready to engage in peace negoti- tholics to lead lives of simplicity The CPP said that these as- ations as a means of attaining and service to the poor. pirations lie at the core of the just and lasting peace. The CNL called for greater Filipino people's revolutionary The people likewise wel- efforts in arousing, organizing struggle. Semicolonial and semi- comed Pope Francis' call to fight and mobilizing church people to feudal social structures contin- corruption and put an end to heed the urgent demand to oust ue to subject the broad masses policies that create widespread the landlord president. of the Filipino people to grave unemployment and push the Amid the grave sufferings of exploitation and oppression and people to leave their loved ones the Filipino people, more and suppress their democratic rights behind and work overseas. more young priests, nuns and and liberties. His concern for victims of other church workers are seek- Pope Francis' calls to ad- natural calamities and condem- ing to integrate themselves with dress the structural roots of the nation of the snail-paced and the peasants in their struggle crisis pose a challenge to advo- corruption-ridden delivery of for land, with the national mi- cates of peace and justice to relief and emergency services norities in defending their an- more vigorously push the Aquino struck a deep chord among Fili- cestral land and with the mass regime to engage in serious pinos in the face of the Aquino of workers in their struggle for peace negotiations that address regime's criminal negligence and higher wages and job security. the socio-eco- corruption. The CPP, the NPA and the nomic roots of Meanwhile, Supreme Bishop people's revolutionary forces the armed con- Ephraim Fajutagana of the Igle- welcome young church people in flict. sia Filipina Independiente and their quest to work with the Fil- In a meeting other religious leaders passed ipino people to attain justice with Pope Fran- on to Pope Francis a letter of and peace. appeal from political They boldly continue the prisoners who have revolutionary tradition of the been on hunger strike Filipino clergy set forth by the in various detention Gomburza martyrs. They draw centers nationwide inspiration from the courageous since January 10. The struggle of the Filipino masses Aquino regime had im- as well as from the martyrdom posed a news blackout of Fr. Pops Tentorio, Fr. Frank and barred law- Navarro, Fr. Zacarias Agatep, yers, doctors, the Fr. Nilo Valerio and scores of media and others other church people who made from visiting them. the ultimate sacrifice in choos- Challenge to Filipi- ing a life of service to the peo- no church people. The ple. ~

ANG BAYAN January 21, 2015 5 NDF-NEMR cancels release of 3 POWs

he National Democratic Front in Northeast- Earlier, the revolutionary movement in Minda- ern Mindanao Region (NDF-NEMR) was nao had released four prisoners of war in December. Tforced to postpone the scheduled release on Cpl. Benjamin Samano and Pfc. Alvin Ricarte were January 17 of three prisoners of war being held by released in Montevista, Compostela Valley on De- the New People's Army (NPA) due to the Armed For- cember 21 while Pfc. Marnel Cinches and Pfc. Jerrel ces of the Philippines' (AFP) refusal to temporarily Yorong were released in Malaybalay, Bukidnon on put a stop to military operations in two villages. December 26 (not in Marihatag, Surigao del Sur, as In an open letter to the relatives and friends of was previously reported in AB). PO3 Democrito B. Polvorosa, PO1 Jorie M. Amper Meanwhile, Jose Mervin Coquilla, jail warden of and PO3 Marichel U. Contemplo, to the Third Party the Compostela Valley Provincial Rehabilitation Facilitator and to the people, the NDF-NEMR ex- Center was released on humanitarian grounds. Co- plained that it had requested the AFP for a suspen- quilla, who was arrested on December 23, was re- sion of military operations in Barangays Sico-sico leased in a remote area of Compostela Valley on and Caman-anan in Gigaquit town, Surigao del January 19. The NDF-Southern Mindanao said it Norte for the safe and orderly release of the three suspended judicial proceedings against Coquilla in prisoners and to avoid possible clashes between response to calls from his family and out of consid- the NPA and the soldiers, but this was refused by eration for Pope Francis' visit to the Philippines. Brig. Gen. Jonathan Ponce, 402nd Infantry Brigade The NPA transferred custody over Coquilla to May- chief. or Rodrigo Duterte of Davao City. ~

Advances in Mindoro in 2014

he Party leadership and the entire revolutionary movement in people's rights and destroying Mindoro island are confident of achieving greater victories as the environment. Tthey enter 2015 and heed the call to contribute to completing Breakthroughs in consoli- the requisites for reaching the stage of strategic stalemate. In this dating the mass base were regard, they are marking the 46th anniversary of the Communist achieved in Mindoro, such as Party of the Philippines' reestablishment by summing up experiences the conduct of a conference of and revolutionary work to use these as bases for their programs, additional full-fledged mass or- tasks and rectification. ganizations, building branch groups as well as Party Branch- In the previous year, the Attritive military actions were es. Experiences in waging agra- Party, people's army and all the likewise launched against oper- rian revolution were summed up revolutionary forces in the is- ating troops of the 4th and 76th to ensure that victories are con- land fervently fulfilled their IB, 21st Division Reconnais- tinually protected and pre- tasks of advancing the armed sance Company and the PNP Re- served. The Basic Party Course struggle, building the mass base gional Public Safety Battalion, was given and supplemented and advancing agrarian revolu- inflicting major damage to their with other studies. Groups and tion amid the worsening politi- operations. The NPA makes sure committees of the peasantry, cal and economic crisis in the that every time the enemy pene- women, youth and national mi- country. trates the revolutionary bases, norities were further consoli- A number of successful tac- they are fired upon by sniper dated through their participa- tical offensives were launched and sapper teams. A number of tion in various economic, politi- in Mindoro, the most striking of enemy intelligence agents who cal and cultural tasks. The ene- which was the victorious raid on served as obstacles to revolu- my's military and psywar opera- the Paluan, Occidental Mindoro tionary work and were banes to tions failed to prevent the con- municipal hall on November 7 the masses were likewise meted duct of these activities. that yielded 20 high-powered punishment, as were bad ele- There are continuing strug- firearms—enough to arm an ad- ments repudiated by the people gles in Mindoro to defend both ditional platoon of Red fighters. and class enemies violating the the ancestral land of national

6 ANG BAYAN January 21, 2015 minorities and land long occupied and NDFP consultant illegally arrested developed by settlers. About a thou- sand peasant and minority families till tate security forces illegally arrested Rogelio Posadas, a about a thousand hectares of land, ex- Speace talks consultant of the National Democratic Front ercising self-management in develop- of the Philippines (NDFP). Posadas was arrested by elements ing the land and addressing their of the 67th IB in Barangay Punao, San Carlos City, Negros needs. New forms and tactics of land- Occidental. He is currently held at the Philippine National Po- grabbing such as the National Green- lice detention center in Cadiz City, in the same province. ing Program and energy projects such In a statement, NDFP chief negotiator Ka Luis Jalandoni as mines, hydrothermal, geothermal roundly assailed the illegal arrest. Posadas was issued NDFP and wind projects are clearly threats Document Identification No. ND978313 under the name An- to the people's security, livelihoods gel Jose. A Letter of Acknowledgment had also been issued by and rights. They do not resolve the Silvestre H. Bello III, who chaired the GPH Negotiation Pan- masses' basic problems but cause el during the Ramos regime. Posadas is therefore covered by greater suffering and poverty. The the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees people are duty-bound to fight for the (JASIG). land being seized from them due to Jalandoni demanded that the Aquino government release these pretexts. Posadas and 14 other NDFP consultants who are likewise being Said the Party committee in Min- illegally detained. He said this was the GPH's obligation under doro, they achieved their gains due to the JASIG, the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Hu- the Party's correct leadership and ad- man Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) herence to basic revolutionary princi- and other existing bilateral peace agreements. ~ ples. ~ The US war of aggression in Mindanao (1899-1913)

Ang Bayan is reprinting this article, which first appeared in its times. The Tausug, who were March 2002 issue. It is the fourth in a series of articles reminding armed only with krises, spears readers of the heinous crimes perpetrated by US troops in the Philip- and a few rifles, were no match pines. The first three articles were about US crimes under the Military to the US troops who were sup- Bases Agreement and the Visiting Forces Agreement, and in Luzon and ported by cannons from their na- the Visayas during the US war of aggression. vy. Gen. Leonard Wood instruct- ed the two battalions under his o be able to concentrate were able to put down the resist- command to kill or capture the their forces on Luzon and ance, but not before suffering Tausug. (General Wood became Tthe Visayas, the American major losses themselves. In re- governor-general of the Philip- colonialists deceived the Sultan taliation, entire communities pines from 1921- of Sulu into signing the Bates were massacred by US troops. 1927). The Agreement of 1899 that declared Among the most infamous of American US sovereignty over the island of these incidents are the following: troops were re- Jolo. With the defeat of major Bud Dajo Massacre. Up to corded to have sections of revolutionary resist- 900 persons died in a three-day suffered 21 ance in Luzon, the US unilateral- attack by the Americans on the dead and 75 ly scrapped the agreement in entrance to Bud Dajo volcano in wounded. 1904 and declared total war on Jolo where Tausug resistance B u d Mindanao. fighters had entrenched them- B a g s a k Moro warriors and the people selves from March 5-7, 1906. Massacre. of Mindanao gallantly resisted Most of the dead, including chil- Residents the American troops. Because of dren and women, were riddled of Lati, Jolo their superiority in both the with bullets. According to some- number and quality of their one who saw the bodies, many of weaponry, the American soldiers them were hit more than 50

ANG BAYAN January 21, 2015 7 entrenched themselves from January to .45 caliber pistol: June 1913 in formidable fortresses in the mountains of Jolo. US troops launched a se- Anti-Moro weapon ries of attacks on the fortresses until they reached the entrenchment at Mt. Bagsak. he .45 caliber semi-automatic pis- On June 11, 1913, Gen. John Pershing or- Ttol was created in 1911 because dered an attack on the fortress. Up to 2,000 American soldiers needed a more powerful assault weapon persons died, including 196 women and 340 against the so-called “huramentado.” “Huramentado” was children. Although the incident was exposed the pejorative term given to Moro who, armed only with in the media and assailed by the American krises, would attack American soldiers. They were ready to people, Pershing was never punished. give up their lives rather than be enslaved by the imperial- Massacre in Talipao. Residents of Tali- ists. The Moro warriors would bind their joints to prevent pao, Jolo opposed paying taxes (such as the bleeding should they be hit in the arm or leg. Thus, they cedula tax and toll fees for the use of roads) would not weaken and could continue attacking the persons to the US. They entrenched themselves at shooting at them. With such determination shown by the Mt. Talipao and on August 13, 1913, were Moro warriors, they could not be felled by lower caliber attacked and defeated by American troops. Springfield and Krag rifles and revolvers, which were the This being the last major act of resistance standard issue then for American soldiers. Consequently, by the Moro, the US declared an end to its many American officers and men died in the hands of the war on Mindanao. ~ valiant Moro. ~

Workers resist contractualization at Franklin Baker

orkers of Franklin Baker Company picketed on January 8 to Investments Corporation. condemn the contractualization being enforced by the Franklin Baker's underhand- Wcompany on its more than 1,000 workers, many of whom ed maneuvers were made easy have been working at the company factory in Sta. Cruz, Davao del due to Department Order 18-A Sur for more than ten years. issued by the Department of La- bor and Employment which al- The factory exclusively sup- their obligation to regularize lows the use of labor and man- plied dessicated coconut to the factory workers. SAMA-AKO power agencies in circumvent- Franklin Baker before it was for- charged that Franklin Baker dis- ing and/or dismantling mally purchased by the company regarded the workers' long companies' obligation to in May 2014. Prior to this, it was years of service to the company. regularize their work- run by B/L Investment Inc., They were not even offered sep- ers. Golden White Coco Traders and aration pay before being treat- Meanwhile, the Ki- Mactan. The evade its responsi- ed as "new contractual work- lusang bility to confer regular status to ers" in the factory they had long Mayo Uno its workers, Franklin Baker been working in. strongly transformed the three exclusive Franklin Baker Company of con- suppliers into manpower agen- the Philippines is a subsidiary of demned cies, retaining their status as the US-owned Franklin Baker "employers" while ownership of Company which produces and the factory was transferred to exports dessicated coconut Franklin Baker. worldwide. In 1987, it was According to the Samahan acquired by Phllip Morris, ng Manggagawang Kontraktwal which then owned Gen- (SAMA-AKO), an association of eral Foods and Kraft. In workers within the factory, 2005, Kraft transferred Franklin Baker and its three management of the "suppliers" connived to evade company to Andorra

8 ANG BAYAN January 21, 2015 a statement by PMFTC Inc., a cigarette manufac- Corporation and Phillip Morris International's turing company owned by Lucio Tan announcing subsidiary in the country. It manufactures more the mass termination of 640 workers at its plant than three billion cigarette sticks annually under in Parang, Marikina City allegedly due to its famous brand names like Marlboro, L&M, Fortune, shrinking share of the market. PMFTC Inc. was Champion and Hope, and controls 90% of the cig- formed after the 2010 merger of Fortune Tobacco arette market. ~

Racist and religious repression imposed in Europe

enewed repression is sweeping France and the neighboring Worse, France and other countries of Belgium and Germany, all in the name of "anti- European states are currently Rterrorism" and with the governments of these countries invok- exploiting the killings and the ing the heinous killing of journalists at Charlie Hebdo, a publication people's widespread condemna- based in Paris, France. tion for them by further sup- pressing Muslim minorities in On January 7, brothers Philippines joined the wide- their respective countries. Chérif and Said Kouachi at- spread condemnation of the kill- Thousands of armed forces tacked the press office of Char- ing of the journalists of Charlie have been deployed to the lie Hebdo. Among the 12 people Hebdo. On the one hand, the streets of Paris, France, and killed were the magazine's edi- magazine deserves criticism and even in Belgium and Germany to tor and cartoonist. Scores were must be taken to task for fuel- conduct wave upon wave of at- likewise wounded. After three ling chauvinism and insulting re- tacks against Islamic groups al- days, the Kouachi brothers were ligions and entire communities. legedly connected to Islamic cornered and killed. They both But making it a target of armed State. The "war against terror," claimed to be "Islamic fighters" attacks can never be acceptable. racism and discrimination have and members of Islamic State, After the killings, the US, attained renewed frenzy in an an Islamic group based mainly Germany, the UK and other im- attempt to justify the use of along the Syrian-Iraqi-Turkish perialist countries hypocritically force and deflect the people's border areas. condemned them, even if their attention from the crisis of cap- Charlie Hebdo is a weekly sa- own armed forces are involved italism in their respective coun- tirical magazine that specializes in systematic killings and vio- tries. ~ in ridiculing religion, politics and lence against civilians in Iraq, other public figures. For the Afghanistan, Libya, Pakistan past few years, it has been pub- and Nigeria. Concomitant to lishing articles and cartoons rid- these attacks are racist and reli- iculing and insulting Islam and gious profiling of Muslims as other religions as well as minor- targets of the "war against ter- ities and other colored peoples ror." It is US imperialism that is in France. Charlie Hebdo pro- at the forefront of the tide of re- voked widespread anger, espe- actionary racist and religious fa- cially from Muslims in France naticism which justifies the use and other areas of the globe. of violence against unarmed The Communist Party of the people.

ANG BAYAN January 21, 2015 9