Pahayagan ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas ANG Pinapatnubayan ng Marxismo-Leninismo-Maoismo English Edition Vol LVII No. 10 May 21, 2011 www.philippinerevolution.net

Editorial Resist the reestablishment of US military bases in the

he Philippines is now a vast US military base. ered fleet was permitted entry manifests the ab- This point was driven home when the US sence of an independent Philippine foreign poli- TNorth Arabian fleet docked at Manila Bay cy and the country's subservience to US interests. from May 15 to 18. In allowing US warships to dock in the country, The fleet, which serves as the US' base of op- the Aquino government has sent the world the erations against Afghanistan, Pakistan and Libya message that the Philippines will always be on is composed of four ships—the USS Carl Vinson, the US side, whatever war the latter chooses to the USS Shiloh, the USS Bunker Hill and the USS wage or engage in. Gridley—and has a personnel of 25,000. The en- Aquino's unannounced and unscheduled tire fleet is nuclear-powered and in all likehood, boarding of the US ship reinforces speculations carries nuclear weapons. It is from this fleet that that secret discussions are underway about US the US launched its operation to assassinate plans to reestablish its military facilities in the Osama bin Laden in Pakistan on May 1. The fleet Philippines. As recently as April 26, two US sena- brought his body to the open sea where it was tors came to the Philippines to inquire about the later thrown overboard. state of their former military base in Subic Bay, In violation of diplomatic protocols, an Amer- Olongapo. The US has long been looking for an ican jetfighter flew US puppet Benigno Aquino III alternative site in the face of strong and relent- to the USS Carl Vinson while the fleet was still in less protests against its military base in Okinawa international waters. Aquino and his staff were and the abuses committed by its troops stationed later shown aboard the ship and all agog over a in Japan. display of US military might by their imperialist The US is master. In coming aboard a US warship, Aquino going allout demonstrated his contempt for the opposition to in strength- the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), the presence ening its pres- of American troops in the country and their abus- ence in the Asia- es against the Filipino people. Pacific. It is seri- Thousands of American soldiers entered Philippine territory as the fleet docked at Manila Bay. The participation of American troops in games and other "friendly" activi- ties effectively camouflaged other more insidious and illegal activities that were of an interventionist nature and violative of the country's sovereignty. The American war fleet's docking at Manila Bay once more brings to the fore the US' use of the Philippines as one big military base. The fact that a nuclear-pow-

This issue’s Rivalry within the NPA punishes foreign Landgrabbing highlights... Aquino clique PAGE 3 mining firm PAGE 5 in Palawan PAGE 6 ously concerned with the fact Smith and his "detention" with- that China has been beefing up in US embassy grounds despite its military capability. In his having been convicted of 2008, China was able to raping a Filipina in Su- build a submarine base at bic Bay in 2005. the edge of Hainan Island, The US like- which is near the major wise brazenly in- commercial sea routes of tervenes in the Southeast Asia. The US es- Philippines to timates that the base is suppress the capable of accommodat- progressive and ing up to 20 subma- revolutionary rines, including a movement new type capable of against US imperialism and its launching nuclear bal- taining the puppet regime. More than 700 listic missiles. ease by which it is able American troops under the To counter China's to use the Philippines as an op- Joint Special Operations Task growing military presence in erational launching pad, source Force-Philippines (JSOTFP) of the region, former US Pacific of supplies, training ground and the US Pacific Fleet are perma- Fleet commander Adm. James repair station. As in the past, nently stationed in Camp Na- Lyons has recommended closer the US continues to use the varro in . The ties with the US’ allied regimes Philippines as a docking station JSOTFP is a US military agency in the Asia-Pacific. He particu- for its ships and troops—not that directs the course of the larly recommended the estab- only those operating in the counterrevolutionary war in the lishment of "high-level mili- Asia-Pacific but also those de- Philippines. It conducts intelli- tary ties" with the Philippines ployed in the Middle East and gence work, provides informa- and leasing to the country a North Africa. tion to the AFP and actually squadron of F-16 jetfighers as The Philippines remains a participates in military opera- well as warships as part of ef- "favorite" spot for US military tions within guerrilla fronts forts to address the Chinese basing because it is ruled by ob- against the armed revolution- threat. Plans by the Armed For- seqious puppet regimes. ary forces. ces of the Philippines (AFP) to Through the VFA, American The Philippines' neocoloni- purchase submarines in the troops are able to freely enter al status is emphasized with name of modernization fall and operate within the country every instance of US interven- within this framework. beyond the purview of local tion and trampling of the For the US, the Philippines laws. US domination over the country's sovereignty. The US remains valuable to its military Philippines was demonstrated is hellbent on maintaining the strategy in the Asia-Pacific. with the forcible transfer of cus- Philippines as a neocolony not Thus the importance of main- tody over Lance Corporal Daniel only to be able to use it as a base in pursuit of its military strategy but to continue ex- ANG Contents ploiting its natural resources and the cheap labor of Filipino workers. Vol XLII No. 10 May 21, 2011 Editorial: Resist the reestablishment As the US confronts the in- Ang Bayan is published in Pilipino, of US bases 1 Bisaya, Iloko, Hiligaynon, Waray and ternational capitalist crisis, it English editions. Rivalry within the Aquino clique 3 will surely guard more zealously It is available for downloading at Liberalizing mining 4 its political, military and eco- the Web Central located at: NPA punishes mine company 5 nomic interests in the Philip- www.philippinerevolution.net pines, to the detriment of the Ang Bayan welcomes contributions Landgrabbing in Palawan 6 Filipino people. in the form of articles and news. Readers are likewise enjoined to send AFP anomalies 7 The Filipino people must in their comments and suggestions for Cops shoot Anakbayan leader 7 therefore fire up their patriot- the betterment of our publication. You ism. Their struggle for nation- can reach us by email at: AFP lies 8 al liberation is intimately [email protected] News 9 linked to their struggle for so- Ang Bayan is published fortnightly by the Central Committee cial justice and people's de- of the Communist Party of the Philippines mocracy. ~

2 ANG BAYAN May 21, 2011 Aquino will feel compelled to Take advantage expose what they know of the anomalies, the corruption and of the worsening rifts abuses of officials within the ruling clique. within the Aquino camp The unravelling of the Aqui- no clique due to intense rival- ries for the spoils of power is fter barely a year in power, there already are gaping cracks weakening its rule. The Filipino in the US-Aquino regime's rule. The rifts among the various people are severely dismayed to Aforces that supported Benigno Aquino III during the 2010 see the favors and privileges en- elections are threatening to weaken the already tenuous unity joyed by the Kamag-anak, Kak- within the ruling clique. lase and Kaibigan Inc. while the During his candidacy in signed a variety of high-profile toiling masses are barely able to 2010, Aquino was able to unite roles. cope with the burdens of crisis. a broad spectrum of forces Malacañang's legal team is Unemployment continues to ranging from reactionary politi- still busy manufacturing a new grow. Prices of goods and servi- cians, big businessmen and re- position for Roxas where he ces are skyrocketing. The worker formist groups. But since his as- could serve as Aquino's alter ego. and peasant masses and even cension to power, Aquino has Aquino's fevered efforts to cata- the middle forces are very much been hard put trying to pay off pult Roxas to such a position has hard up. All Aquino has had to everyone who supported and caused resentment among the offer are band-aid solutions like rode on his campaign by, among other factions, especially since it the "pantawid pasada" and the others, providing juicy positions would mean sidelining other key conditional cash transfer. De- in government and awarding lu- Aquino officials. spite mouthing the slogan of crative contracts. Aside from Roxas, Aquino al- "peace," repression, brutality He has not been able to so plans on appointing other and other violations of human spread out such favors equally. losing candidates to his cabi- rights continue without letup Thus, even before Aquino could net. But to do this, Aquino must especially in the countryside warm his seat of power, resent- get rid of other members of his against those who have been ments and disappointments had clique, which is a surefire way opposing and taking action already arisen among his allied to fuel their anger. against the antipeople policies forces. The ruling regime now pre- of the ruling regime. The rivalries among these sents a stark picture of infight- It has become exceedingly factions came to the fore this ing among Aquino relatives, clear to the people that Aquino May as the one-year ban on ap- classmates and friends who are has failed to make good on his pointing losing candidates to all scrambling to have a taste of promise of ridding the govern- government positions lapsed the spoils of power. ment of corruption. It has also and Aquino allies jockeyed for Unfortunately, the ruling re- become apparent that the Aqui- positions of power. gime has to contend with the no regime neither has the capa- Sticking out like a sore fact that its resources are too bility nor the will to advance thumb are ' maneuver- dissipated for its rival factions policies that will liberate the ings. Roxas was Aquino's losing to share smoothly and peaceful- people from the bonds of pover- vice presidential candidate, ly. Aquino cannot but favor one ty, hunger and fascist violence. head of the Liberal Party and ac- faction or relative over another. In the face of the worsening knowledged leader of the "Ba- Sooner or later, those economic crisis besetting the lai" faction. Aquino has who have been people, a broad people's long been wanting to sidelined by movement aimed at Aquino's appoint Roxas to the ouster has been slowly powerful position he was emerging and expanding. promised so the latter Sooner or later, could use it as a plat- growing de- form to cam- mands and paign for the people's strug- presidency in gles to oust 2017. As early as Arroyo will April, Roxas had deepen the already been as- factional rival-

ANG BAYAN May 21, 2011 3 ries within the ruling regime and among rival fac- pled on by Aquino's favored camps. They must tions within the ruling classes. On the other hand, be encouraged to cooperate openly or clandes- this intensifying rivalry will also help and tinely with the broad alliance along with the ba- strengthen the broad mass movement against the sic sectors advancing mass struggles. Sooner or Aquino regime. later, the further expansion of this anti-Aquino We must seize this opportunity by actively alliance will isolate the Aquino camp even more linking with forces both within and outside the and help hasten the end of its puppet and fas- ruling regime whose interests have been tram- cist rule. ~

tal as well as the towns of Ba- Aquino regime hellbent say, Ayungon, Bindoy, Tayasan, Jimalalud, La Libertad and Gui- on pushing liberalization hulngan in Oriental. For- ty percent (40%) of the island's in mining land area or 80% of Negros' ag- ricultural land will be affected. Still fresh in the Negrenses' he Aquino regime is hellbent on "reforming" the mining indus- memory are the disasters and try in order to put money into its rapidly emptying coffers. Ac- hardships suffered by thousands Tcording to Secretary Ramon Paje of the Department of Envi- of farmers due to mining opera- ronment and Natural Resources (DENR), the higher taxes to be paid tions in the 1950s in Sipalay by mining companies will put `8 billion into the government treas- City and Hinobaan in Negros Oc- ury in addition to the `7 billion to be earned from royalty taxes. cidental and in Basay, Negros In this regard, Paje has been horts among government offi- Oriental. The operations pollut- pushing for the declaration of cials. ed rivers, streams and other 21 "mineral reservations" in Ilo- sources of water and destroyed cos Norte, Zambales, Bulacan, Opposition to mining farmlands after toxic chemicals Camarines Sur, Samar island, in Negros from the mines overflowed. Surigao del Norte, Compostela Negrenses are wary of the Many people fell ill from the Valley and Zamboanga del Norte expansion of mining operations poisoned water and dust-filled and all offshore areas in the in the island. Exploration and air. country. other mining operations are cur- The people's armed and un- Paje's "reforms" all fall with- rently being conducted in Neg- armed resistance to mining have in the framework of the regime's ros by Philex Mining, Philmet been growing, said National policy of liberalizing the mining Exploration Corp. and Essensa Democratic Front (NDF)-Negros industry. The Aquino regime has Mining Corp. Forty other compa- spokesperson Ka Frank Fernan- thus targeted a higher mining nies have also filed applications dez. The people and the revolu- output. From 20% in 2009 under with the Mines and Geosciences tionary forces have been exert- the Arroyo regime, the first Bureau (MGB), covering the ing all efforts to stop the deser- months of the Aquino regime al- towns of , Cauayan, tification of the island due to ready saw a 10% increase in Hinobaan and Isabela and the destructive mining. mining output. This betrays the cities of , Ka- Almost immedi- regime's hypocrisy in declaring bankalan and ately after the NDF- that it would protect the envi- Sipalay in Ne- Negros' strongly- ronment. gros Occiden- worded statement, Aquino turns a blind eye to Neg-ros Occciden- the widespread environmental tal Gov. Alfredo degradation wrought by mining Marañon and all operations and to the disasters of the mayors in and loss of lives they have en- the province gendered. Like its predecessor, signed a resolu- the Aquino regime disregards tion on May 12 the widespread destruction of addressed to Benigno people's lives and property as Aquino III stating their well as the environment due to fierce opposition to the incessant profit-taking by for- widespread offshore mining of eign capitalists and their co- magnetite that has been tak-

4 ANG BAYAN May 21, 2011 ing place even within 14 marine protected areas ation in their efforts to protect the environment in the province. The affected areas have a com- and the country’s economic sovereignty. bined area of 36,533 square kilometers. Residents and local officials of fear the The province's local officials also called on destruction of marine life, beaches and fishing Aquino to order the DENR-MGB to stop accepting grounds caused by offshore mining. The latter en- and processing applications for offshore explora- tails the extraction of millions of tons of sand tion and mining, and revoke all previously ap- from the ocean floor, from which magnetite is de- proved applications. rived. Experts says this destroys sand quality and The people in the neighboring island of Panay changes the temperature of sea water which is also have the same worries as the Negrenses. detrimental to marine flora and fauna. They fear the desertification of many areas due to In the Cordillera region, residents of three the relentless expansion of both inland and off- villages in Tuba, Benguet have maintained their shore mining. vigilance since March against the entry of The Panay-based Madiaas Ecological Move- Philex Mining and two other giant mining com- ment has reported that aside from large mining panies. They have demanded the expulsion of companies such as Teresa Marble Corp., Quarry three Philippine Army camps which have been Ventures, Walter Mining and Industrial Corp. and serving as armed guards of these mining compa- Semirara Coal Mines that have been expanding nies. their operations, there are 91 other applications In Bicol, particularly in the island of Catan- pending with the DENR-MGB covering 311,776 duanes, many residents have joined since April an hectares. antimining coalition that enjoys strong support Seventy of these applications are for large- from the Diocese of Virac Social Action Founda- scale mining such as that of Evergifted Mining tion Inc. of the Catholic church. The Katandungan Corporation that plans to mine magnetite sand in Kontra sa Mina (KKM) aims to block the opera- more than 14,542 hectares along the shorelines tions of Asianmines, Inc. and Xing Fu-Fang Min- of Roxas City, Pan-ay, Lutod-lutod and Pilar in Ca- ing Corp. that have pending applications to con- piz. duct mining operations in the towns of Viga, Gig- The Madiaas Ecological Movement and Defend moto and Bato, covering up to 4,443 hectares. ~ Patrimony have been closely monitoring the situ-

this policy to prevent foreign NPA punishes foreign mining monopoly capitalists conniving with local government officials company in SMR from plundering the country's natural resources with impuni- ty. ed fighters of the 3rd Pulang Bagani Company of the Merar- Sanchez also said that the do Arce Command in Southern Region meted pun- Aquino government is currently ishment on a security unit of RACEL Mines and Minerals on R implementing the liberalization May 12. of mining in the provinces of The NPA set up a checkpoint M4A1. The M4A1 is a modern Compostela Valley, Davao Orien- in Barangay Kingking, Pantu- automatic rifle that is now the tal, South Cotabato, Surigao kan, Compostela Valley and standard issue of the US Special and Paquibato District in Davao blocked a four-man security Forces and S.W.A.T. units. Also City. The policy will affect the force travelling with a geologist confiscated were four communi- livelihoods of farmers and en- employed by the mining firm. cations radios. tire communities of national A member of the security Sanchez said this tactical minorities. force decided to fight it out offensive implemented the peo- RACEL Mines and Minerals with the Red fighters and was ple's policy of defending the na- and its American partner St. Au- killed in the process, said Ka tional patrimony from US impe- gustine mine gold in the moun- Rigoberto Sanchez, spokesper- rialist plunder and destruction tains of Pantukan. They main- son of the Merardo Arce Com- which the current US-Aquino re- tain a fairly large armed group mand. The three other security gime has intensified. The revo- that guards the area and the men and the geologist were un- lutionary people's government Americans running the 4,000- harmed. stands for a pro-Filipino and hectare mining concession. This The Red fighters seized four environmentally friendly policy. is aside from the protection be- M4 US carbines, also known as The NPA strictly implements ing provided by the 71st IB. ~

ANG BAYAN May 21, 2011 5 Landgrabbing and ally undertook a series of under- handed moves to recover the land from the peasants. He filed maneuvering in Palawan several petitions to revoke the farmers' ownership of the land rogressive organizations and institutions as well as church and even pretended to do this groups conducted a fact-finding and solidarity mission on in pursuit of the farmers' inter- PApril 5-7 regarding the threatened eviction of residents from ests. The farmers' ownership of Taytay, Palawan. Taytay is one of the foremost tourist destinations the land was revoked in 1997 by in Palawan. the Department of Agrarian Re- The activity was led by the poration (GIDC), a well-known form (DAR) in connivance with Katipunan ng Samahang Magbu- real estate developer. the local government, thereby bukid sa Timog Katagalugan Up to 4,000 families are set restoring control to PLC. In (KASAMA-TK) and Kilusang Mag- to be driven away from their 2002, the Pujalte Estate sold bubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP). homes with the conversion of the property to GIDC, which be- Representatives from the Na- more than 1,265 hectares of gan fencing it off. It has begun tional Council of Churches of land to commercial and eco- building areas for tourism and the Philippines and the Asian tourism uses. Even those living eventually plans on building Peasant Coalition as well as outside of the directly affected other areas for commercial use. Rep. Rafael Mariano of Parti- areas stand to lose their liveli- Obviously, neither the local dong Anakpawis also joined the hoods as most residents of Tay- government nor DAR has any activity, as did delegates from tay farm for a living. plans of implementing genuine various sectors in Palawan and It was the Pujalte Estate agrarian reform. They have in- . They also owned by Joyce Pujalte Dwyer stead been conspiring with launched a medical mission and that first seized lands in Taytay. landlords and giant corpora- relief operations that benefited As early as 1935, the Pujalte tions to systematically seize the some 300 families. Lumber Company (PLC) was put farmers' lands. The Comprehen- According to the fact-find- up as a logging firm. It eventu- sive Agrarian Reform Program ing results, residents of Taytay ally denuded the town's forests. Extension with Reforms (CARP- are facing eviction due to a pro- When it stopped operating in ER) is inutile in protecting the gram being pushed by the local 1985 and complied with a gov- farmers' interests. Instead, government and the Pujalte Es- ernment order ceding the land CARPER has even intensified tate in connivance with Guev- to the farmers, PLC administra- feudal exploitation in the coun- ent Industrial Development Cor- tor Atty. Daniel Romana gradu- tryside and poverty among the

Anomalies in the AFP Cops summarily execute Anakbayan activist ELEMENTS of the Navotas PNP summarily executed a mem- UP to `14.1 billion in cash ad- ber of the youth group Anakbayan on April 21. vances in the Armed Forces of Twenty-seven year old Jerwin de Antonio was picked the Philippines (AFP) in 2010 re- up by policemen from his house in Bagong Silang, San main unliquidated. This was re- Jose Village, Navotas City on April after he came home ported to the Senate by no less from selling fish in the market. than the special investigative Witnesses said he was forced into a patrol car where committee of the Department of policemen began beating him up even as he held up his National Defense. hands and cried for help. At the precinct, policemen con- The committee report cited tinued mauling him. Early the next morning, witnesses al- clear violations of the law by the so reported seeing three policemen bring the victim to a AFP. For instance, records of sidestreet near the barangay outpost in Navotas West transactions have gone missing. where he was again beaten up. The witnesses also report- In some instances, national se- ed seeing the policemen force a gun into De Antonio's curity is invoked as a pretext to hand, ostensibly to give him a chance to fight back. avoid scrutiny. The use of alter- De Antonio's relatives found his body in a funeral native methods of purchasing home in Navotas on April 22. The PNP claimed in its offi- military equipment was also cial report that a PO1 Ronie de la Cruz was forced to shoot abused. him after De Antonio seized a gun.

6 ANG BAYAN May 21, 2011 peasantry. Manggagawa at Magsasaka sa Taytay (PLORMM) The residents, however, have refused to be and the Samahan ng mga Mamamayang Benefici- cowed and have learned to fight and assert their aries sa Taytay that are now at the forefront of right to the land. In 2007, they tore down the their struggle. fences put up by GIDC and launched protest ac- The town of Taytay is one of Palawan's much- tions in the town center. Despite the cases filed vaunted tourist areas. It has a land area of 1,390 against the leaders and attempts to divide their hectares and comprises 31 barangays. It is rich in ranks, the residents have stood their ground and natural resources and includes part of the Pala- raised the level of their struggle and unity. They wan Marine Sanctuary. cooperated with progressive groups to put up The town is currently being targeted for city- mass organizations in villages affected by the hood. Private companies plan on putting up busi- land conversion project in order to consolidate nesses and urbanize it not for the welfare of its their ranks. They set up organizations like the residents but for the interests of foreign and lo- Pinagkaisang Lakas ng mga Okupante, Residente, cal ruling classes. ~ Weaving lies under Oplan Bayanihan major part of the AFP's Oplan Bayanihan counterrevolution- soldiers were sent for this oper- ary campaign involves the conduct of disinformation and ation. The AFP claimed that the Apsywar. AFP spokespersons have thus been lying through soldiers were conducting search their teeth to make the military and police appear "pro-peace" and rescue operations to court and cover up their fascist crimes and their failures in the battle- the public's sympathy. field. Nonetheless, the military and its fascist spokespersons are The lie: According to the eventually caught in the tangled web of their own lies. The fol- 303rd IBde, a number of NPA lowing are some of the most striking examples. Red fighters were killed in a mis- The lie: According to the the bus that had been held up encounter between two NPA AFP, noted scientist Leonardo Co and peppered it with bullets units in Calatrava, Negros Occi- and two of his companions were while passengers were still dental on January 28. killed in the crossfire between aboard. Among those killed was The truth: It was the AFP forces of the 19th IB and an NPA the bus conductor and a teach- that figured in a misencounter. unit on November 15, 2010 in er. Fifteen soldiers under the 303rd the forests of Kananga, Leyte. The lie: Spokespersons of Bde were killed after their units The truth: No encounter the 10th ID-PA claimed that the traded shots. Five soldiers had took place between the NPA soldiers ambushed by the NPA in earlier been killed in an NPA and the AFP on November 15, Barangay Kingking, Pantukan, ambush. A Red fighter was 2010 in Kananga, Leyte. In Compostela Valley on May 4 were killed before the NPA unit could fact, no NPA unit was in the ar- conducting a search and rescue withdraw. ea on that day. Co and his com- operation. The lie: The 9th ID claimed panions Sofronio Cortez and Ju- The truth: The 71st IB that a certain Rodel/Elmer Es- lius Borromeo were collecting troops were conducting combat trellado was a high-ranking NPA plant samples from the forest operations against the NPA leader killed in an encounter be- when they were fired upon by when they were ambushed by tween the AFP and the NPA in elements of the 19th IB who Red fighters. In fact, three col- Bato, Camarines Sur at around 6 mistook them for members of umns of a.m. of February 25. the NPA. The truth: Estrellado was The lie: Four alleged NPA abducted by armed state agents members who had held up a bus at around 9 a.m. of February 25 were killed by soldiers who from his house in Barangay 3, blocked the bus at a check- Malilipot, Albay and forced into point in Catanauan, Quezon a vehicle. His body was on December 1, 2010. found in Buluang, Ba- The truth: The people to, Camarines Sur that killed by soldiers of the same day. 74th IB were not NPA The lie: A young girl was al- members but ordinary ci- legedly killed in the crossfire be- vilians. They were killed tween clashing AFP and NPA for- when the soldiers blocked ces on March 10, 2011 in Sitio

ANG BAYAN May 21, 2011 7 Balinsasayaw, Barangay Sta. Fe, Mandaan, Mas- te Group, a criminal syndicate handled by high- bate. ranking PNP and military officers. It is composed The truth: The young girl was killed after sol- of criminals who are routinely let in and out of diers of the 9th ID sprayed bullets at the house jail and are involved in a string of gun-for-hire, of the Amaro family. robbery, extortion and other cases. The lie: In a statement, the 56th IB claimed The lie: On March 5, the PNP accused the NPA that six Red fighters and a solider were killed in of burning two buses of Silver Star Bus Liner in an encounter between the AFP and the NPA in San Almeria, Biliran and killing the two drivers. Jose del Monte, Bulacan on April 26. The truth: The NPA had nothing to do with The truth: Soldiers attacked a team of Red the bus-burning incident in Biliran. The PNP has fighters and opened fire even if they were near a not presented an iota of evidence to support its group of houses. The NPA unit immediately dis- accusations against the NPA. The PNP was mere- tanced themselves from the area to avoid civil- ly spreading disinformation to cover up its fail- ian casualties, while firing selectively at the sol- ures in the successful NPA ambush on February diers. A Corporal Reyes was killed and three oth- 26 in Arteche, Eastern Samar. er soldiers were wounded before the comrades The lie: Police officials claimed that they had were able to withdraw. In contrast to the re- arrested in Panabo City in the second week of straint exercised by the NPA, the soldiers sprayed April two petty criminals who allegedly joined the automatic fire at the houses, wounding resident NPA. Lanie Mendoza and her two children. The soldiers The truth: Toto Ancahas and Gerald Robles then illegally arrested and detained former ba- are not NPA members but civilians arrested and rangay councilor Carlito Mendoza and all his rel- tortured by the Panabo police. Robles was on atives who lived near the scene of the fighting. temporary liberty from his incarceration at the The lie: PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Agrim- Davao Penal Colony. The police got angry at him ero Cruz claimed in a press release that eight NPA for refusing to join a drug and extortion syndi- members were killed by the police in Rizal, Nueva cate being formed by the police. Ancanas, on the Ecija on May 13. other hand was included in the PNP's list of The truth: There was no encounter between wanted criminals after he posted bail in behalf the police and the NPA. The eight men killed of the families of four NPA members who were ar- were believed to be members of the Red Vigilan- rested in 2009. ~

Colleges and universities to hike tuition fees MORE than 15% or 282 out of a ness, Miriam College, Assump- anao which raised its Physical total of 1,792 universities and tion College and OB Montessori Education fees by `250. In West- colleges in the country will raise will be raising their tuition fees ern , 24 schools will be tuition fees upon the opening of by 5%. Also hiking their fees hiking tuition fees by an average classes this June, giving another are the University of the East- of 14.92%, three of them state headache to students and their Manila, 4.35%; University of colleges. parents. School supplies also Santo Tomas, 3.75%; and De La With these annual hikes, tu- registered a 5% markup a few Salle University, 3.5%. ition fees are estimated to have weeks before classes. There will also be hikes in doubled since 2001. Meanwhile, On May 13, the Commission other areas of the country such the CHEd itself has admitted on Higher Education (CHEd) an- as in Baguio Central University, that eight out of ten high nounced that 69 private colleg- 12%; St. Louis University, 5% in school graduates will not be es and universities in the Na- both tuition and miscellaneous able to go to college due to the tional Capital Region (NCR) will fees; Ateneo de Cagayan, 5%; rising costs of education. be raising tuition fees in June. and Ateneo de Davao, 6.99%. A The Kabataan Party has thus The hikes will range from 3.5% number of State Universities and pushed anew for the passage of to 12%. Colleges (SUC) are likewise set to House Bill 3708 which sets a The biggest tuition fee hike raise tuition and other fees, like three-year moratorium on tui- will be imposed by the St. Pangasinan State University, 30% tion fee hikes in all schools. It Luke's College of Medicine (`170 per unit, up from `130 per also called for the revocation of (12%). The University of the unit); Technological University of CHEd Memorandum No. 13 and East-College of Medicine, Ate- the Philippines, 9.6%; University the Education Act of 1982 neo de Manila University, Ate- of Mindanao, 8.5%; and the Uni- which both paved the way for neo Graduate School of Busi- versity of the Philippines-Mind- relentless hikes in school fees.

8 ANG BAYAN May 21, 2011 NEWS CPP extends condolences in death of Chit Estella Transport strike paralyzes THE Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) extended its condo- lences on the death of Lourdes Estella-Simbulan, who was better known in media circles as Chit Estella. Estella died in a vehicular A two-day transport strike accident in Quezon City on the night of May 13. paralyzed 90% of public Tributes poured in upon Estella's death. In a short message, the transportation in Negros Oc- CPP said Estella served as a stalwart of patriotic and critical jour- cidental. nalism. The May 17-18 protest ac- Estella was among the founders of the Philippine Center for In- tion led by the United Negros vestigative Journalism and VERA Files. Before she died, she had al- Drivers and Operators Center so been a professor for years at the UP College of Journalism. (UNDOC) was launched to Her firm stand against the anomalies of the Estrada regime dramatize opposition to the marked a high point in her career as a journalist. She edited the extraordinary discrepancy be- Times which focused on publishing articles critical of Estra- tween the prices of petrole- da. Before this, she resigned as managing editor of The Manila um products in Negros Occi- Times when the newspaper's owner published a public apology to dental and other areas. The Estrada after the latter threatened to close down the publication price per liter of diesel, gas- and slap it with a string of lawsuits. oline, kerosene and liquefied Estella began as a student activist at the University of the Phil- petroleum gas (LPG) is high- ippines in Diliman in the 1970s. She was president of the UP Jour- er by `4 to `5 in Negros nalism Club and the Youth for Social Action Council which were compared to Metro Manila. both active against the Marcos dictatorship. After graduating, she The protest action was wrote for the National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA) news- supported by progressive or- letter. ganizations. Students set up "rally centers" in strategic 11 cops killed in India areas. Two business groups likewise gave their allout UP to 11 policemen were killed and 15 were wounded in an am- support—the Bacolod Filipi- bush by guerrillas under the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI- no-Chinese Chamber of Com- M). merce and Industry (BFCCCI) The ambush occurred at Lohardaga District in Jharkhand state and the Cham- on May 3. The police and paramilitary forces were poised to strike ber of Commerce and Indus- after learning of plans by guerrillas to build a camp in the forest- try (MBCCI). ed areas of Dhardhariya. Instead, the attacking forces who arrived The transport strike was earlier fell into a trap when the guerrillas detonated a bomb along launched in preparation for a their path before opening fire. Six elements of the Central Reserve bigger coordinated mass ac- Police Force (CRPF) were killed on the spot in the first volley of tion in the next several days. fire.

Ex-Ombudsman Gutierrez faces new raps FORMER Ombudsman Merceditas of these groups trooped to the pertaining to the Fertilizer Gutierrez was able to avoid an Department of Justice on May 9 Fund. Gloria Arroyo had diverted impeachment trial at the Senate to charge Gutierrez with viola- the fund meant for the purchase when she resigned. But she has tions of the Anti-Graft and Cor- of fertilizer for farmers and used not been able to steer clear of rupt Practices Act, obstruction it for her presidential campaign. corruption and other charges of justice and perjury stemming Task Force Abono thus recom- filed by the Anakpawis Party, from the `728 million Fertilizer mended filing charges against the National Union of People's Fund scam. then Undersecretary of Agricul- Lawyers, the Kilusang Magbu- It will be remembered that ture Jocelyn "Joc-joc" Bolante bukid ng Pilipinas and other Task Force Abono was formed in and others involved in the peasant organizations. Leaders 2004 to investigate anomalies scam.

ANG BAYAN May 21, 2011 9