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

English Edition Vol. XLV No. 20 October 21, 2014 www.philippinerevolution.net

Editorial End US military presence and intervention in the

he Communist Party of the Philippines is in solidarity with the ing the abrogation of the Vis- Filipino people in strongly assailing the killing by an American iting Forces Agreement Tsoldier of a Filipina in Olongapo City on October 12. (VFA)—an unequal treaty stating that American sol- The CPP and all revolution- to place the accused American diers facing criminal cases in ary forces support the family soldier in Philippine custody. the Philippines should remain and friends of the victim Jen- They must go all-out in demand- in the custody of the US mili- nifer Laude in the steps they tary. have taken to obtain justice. The VFA deprives a state The Filipino people fervently of the sovereign right to exer- desire justice for Jennifer, for cise power over anyone who all other victims of crimes per- should be brought to trial. It petrated by American soldiers is a huge insult to the Filipino and for the entire nation for people to be deprived of this the continuing violation of their right by the US government. freedom. Even as the Philippine govern- The CPP supports the Fil- ment may request custody, ipino the US government holds the people's prerogative of whether to demand grant the request or not! We can expect more crimes American soldiers are found, Jennifer's name is only the of this nature committed by prostitution and decadent life- latest in a long list of Filipino American soldiers due to the styles are rampant. victims of various crimes com- Enhanced Defense Cooperation Jennifer was killed in the mitted by American soldiers and Agreement (EDCA) signed by 70th year of US imperialism's the US military in the Philip- the Aquino regime and the US return to reconquer the Philip- pines. In more than a hundred government. Under EDCA, more pines. In the so-called Leyte years of US colonization, neo- American soldiers will be enter- Landing, the US invaded the colonial rule and military inter- ing the country and stationed in Philippines anew to reoccupy it vention in the Philippines, there bases and facilities to be built in after its forces withdrew in have been myriad cases of so-called "Agreed Locations" or 1942 upon their defeat in the killings, rape, massacre, rob- areas within AFP military bases. hands of attacking Japanese im- bery and plunder. Aquino's signing of the ED- perialist military forces. The Jennifer's killing is a painful CA is but his latest act of sub- Leyte Landing (also known as reminder to the Filipino people servience to US military power. Gen. Douglas MacArthur's re- of how US imperialism obliterat- Under the Aquino regime, the turn) is the second time the US ed the lives of 700,000 Filipinos number of US battleships and snatched Philippine freedom in the war of aggression of warplanes allowed to enter, from the Filipinos. 1899-1902. Up to 800,000 more sail, dock and launch various Whenever it enters Philip- Filipinos would be killed by operations within Philippine pine territory, the US military American soldiers in the war to territory in the name of "joint arrogates the privilege of hav- quell the armed revolution for military exercises," or "rest and ing the world's most powerful national liberation that lasted recreation" and "supply pro- armed force. It is the US mili- until 1916. Not a single US sol- curement" by American forces tary that decides when and dier or officer was held ac- have grown over the years. where to enter, where and how countable for these crimes. Nei- Thousands of American troops long to dock, what weapons to ther was any soldier or officer have been entering the country bring, how many soldiers to de- held responsible for the Subic annually. ploy and what operations to rape case in 2005 and for vari- It is the puppet Aquino launch. ous other killings, violations, regime that has actually creat- Every American soldier car- shootings, beatings and intimi- ed the situation that culminated ries with him the imperialist ar- dation, among other crimes. in Jennifer's killing. Wherever rogance of his chieftain Barack Obama, who, in a recent speech, boasted that "we are the indis- pensable nation." As a rule, ANG Contents wherever they go, armed Ameri-

Editorial: End US military presence can troops behave like masters Vol. XLV No. 20 October 21, 2014 and intervention in the Philippines 1 who expect to be waited on by American soldier kills Filipina 3 their "friends." Whether in Af- Ang Bayan is published in Pilipino, 18 soldiers killed in NPA military actions 4 Bisaya, Iloko, Hiligaynon, Waray and ghanistan or Iraq, Pakistan or English editions. NPA punishes Itochu-Dole 5 the Philippines, American sol- It is available for downloading at Harassment operations in Bukidnon 6 diers commit crimes and violate the Philippine Revolution Web Central Father, son slain in ComVal 6 located at: the sovereignty and integrity of CPP condemns Lacub, Abra massacre 7 the countries they enter. www.philippinerevolution.org. HLI barangay captain cashes in on DAP 8 There will definitely be more Cojuangcos, Aquinos slapped Ang Bayan welcomes contributions Jennifers who will be falling vic- with criminal cases 8 in the form of articles and news. tim to various crimes and acts Readers are likewise enjoined to send Urban poor protests 9 in their comments and suggestions for Danding Cojuangco to benefit of violence perpetrated by the betterment of our publication. You from Laiban Dam project 10 American soldiers in the coun- can reach us by email at: In defense of schools and communities 11 try. The Filipino people must [email protected] Kurd resistance to ISIS 11 give their all to fight for justice Progressive journalists launch conference 12 for Jennifer, to demand an end to US military presence and in- Ang Bayan is published fortnightly by the Central Committee tervention and to oust Aquino's of the Communist Party of the Philippines puppet government. ~

2 ANG BAYAN October 21, 2014 American soldier kills Filipina in Olongapo

arious progressive organizations launched successive seven civilians, including four protest actions to demand the abrogation of the Visiting minors were killed in an attack VForces Agreement (VFA) and Enhanced Defense Coopera- by joint US Navy and AFP forces tion Agreement (EDCA) after the brutal slaying of a Filipina by an on Barangay Ipil, Maimbung, American soldier on the night of October 12 in Olongapo City. Sulu. The AFP later claimed that the victims were killed in a Jennifer Laude, 26, was Just as it is now doing with military operation against the killed by Pvt. 1st Class Joseph Pemberton, US authorities had Abu Sayyaf that did not involve Scott Pemberton, an element of custody of Smith while his case American soldiers. the US Marine Corps who was was being tried and appealed. In 2004, Arsud Baharun, a among 3,000 soldiers from the Meanwhile, the US relentlessly fisherman, was wounded by US Marines and US Navy who pressured "Nicole's" family to American soldiers undergoing joined the recently concluded have her recant her testimony. marksmanship training in Zam- Balikatan Exercises held in The US quickly flew Smith out boanga City. No one was held Palawan and Zambales. The of the country after "Nicole" accountable, and assistance for American troops were then in retracted her statement and the victim's medical treatment Olongapo for rest and recre- the court reversed Smith's pre- came in trickles. ation. vious conviction. Another civilian, Buyong- Jennifer, whose birth name Another Filipina named Buyong Isnijal, was shot by is Jeffrey, is transgender. She "Vanessa" was likewise raped American soldier Sgt. Reggie and Pemberton met at a disco in April 2009 by a US Marine Lane in July 2002 in Basilan. house and later went to a near- assigned to the Joint US Mili- by motel together. Shortly af- tary Assistance Group. The ter, Laude was found dead in rape, which took place the motel minutes after Pem- in a hotel was berton was seen leaving. confirmed by The Olongapo City police medico-legal find- charged Pemberton with mur- ings. Nonetheless, der on October 16, but he re- "Vanessa" refused mains aboard the USS Peleliu to press charges instead of being detained at a out of fear that she Philippine jail. This is due to a would meet the VFA provision stating that the same fate as US shall maintain custody of "Nicole" who failed American soldiers accused of to obtain justice. crimes in the Philippines. Lance Corporal Smith History is marked with US had just been acquitted a contempt for Philippine sover- month before eignty, especially in the case of "Vanessa" erring American soldiers. In was raped. every case, the reactionary Earlier, in government is likewise complic- February it in covering up for the crimi- 2008, nal troops of its imperi- alist master. In November 2005, Lance Corporal Daniel Smith raped a Filipi- na named "Nicole."

ANG BAYAN October 21, 2014 3 Lane was never charged be- 18 soldiers killed cause the US whisked him out of the country the next day. in series The doctor who treated Isnijal and reported that three Ameri- of NPA military actions can soldiers were among those who brought the victim to hos- pital was killed under mysteri- ous circumstances after two years. In March 2000, three Amer- ican soldiers participating in the Balikatan Exercises mauled taxi driver Marcelo Batistil in Cebu City. The troops involved were likewise immediately sent back to the US. The latest victim before Laude was Gregan Cardeño, a civilian contracted as a trans- lator by American soldiers sta- tioned inside an AFP military base in Marawi City. On Febru- ary 2, 2010, just three days af- ter he started work, Cardeño was found dead at the Philip- pine Army 103rd IBde barracks in Camp Ranao. His friend who ighteen soldiers were killed and two others wounded in a recommended him for the job series of tactical offensives and other military actions by and was helping investigate his Ethe New People's Army (NPA) in Compostela Valley, Davao death was killed in an ambush Oriental and Agusan del Sur from September 22 to October 12, after two months. He was on Two M16 rifles were likewise confiscated in these firefights. The his way to meet with Cardeño's areas concerned fall under the NPA Comval-Davao Eastcoast Sub- family to disclose his findings. regional Command in Southern Mindanao. US military personnel have also been involved in numerous These tactical offensives fighters. cases of disorderly conduct belie claims by the AFP that In the latest tactical offen- and lascivious acts against the NPA has been obliterated sive, Red fighters detonated women in Zamboanga City in Davao Oriental and parts of explosives at the 66th IB since the headquarters of the Compostela Valley. Instead, it headquarters in New Bataan, Joint Special Operations Task is the 67th IB that has lost an Compostela Valley on Octber Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P) equivalent of two platoons 12, at around 10:45 p.m. and was established here in 2002. (dead and wounded) in six another NPA unit ambushed Prostitution has likewise be- NPA tactical offensives and 67th IB soldiers conducting come more rampant in Zam- harassment and sniping oper- operations in Barangay Ma- boanga and Olongapo since US ations launched against this han-ub, Baganga, Davao Ori- warships began docking more battalion. In desperation, the ental. Five soldiers were killed frequently in the Philippines. AFP Eastern Command has and two M16s were seized in We can expect more crimes in- sent in an additional 100 sol- these two tactical offensives. volving American soldiers once diers from the 11th Coy of the Earlier, two other soldiers the EDCA is implemented at full 4th Scout Rangers Battalion were killed when the NPA ha- throttle, since the agreement instead of passing on to the rassed the 67th IB patrol base allows the US tp build military police the areas that have al- in Salvacion, Trento, Agusan bases in the Philippines. ~ legedly been cleared of Red del Sur at exactly 10:35 p.m.

4 ANG BAYAN October 21, 2014 of October 11. The attack on the 66th IB NPA punishes headquarters was especially timely as it was conducted only Itochu-Dole Corp. hours after soldiers from this battalion brutally killed a father in South Cotabato and his son who they merely chanced upon in Manurigao, he New People's Army (NPA) in Far South Mindanao New Bataan. (See related arti- torched a boom sprayer in Sitio El Bantong, Barangay cle) It was also punishment on T Rang-ay, Banga, South Cotabato on October 6 to pre- the 66th IB for its extrajudicial vent it from being used further in destroying the environment killing of peasant activist Gre- and the people's health. gorio Galacio who was mur- This piece of equipment is owned by Itochu-Dole (formerly dered in his house in Kahayag, Dole Philippines), a Japanese company with vast plantations New Bataan on July 19. in the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand and various other The NPA in the subregion countries in Asia. likewise attacked various mili- The NPA Julito Banda Front undertook the punitive meas- tary units in its area of opera- ure in the face of the widespread and serious damage being tions four times in the latter caused by the company's operations. Since the plantation was part of September: built in Allah Valley more than ten years ago, thousands of On September 27, at around peasants have been dispossesed of their lands due to the 2 p.m., the NPA burned down pineapple and banana plantation's aggressive expansion. the 67th IB detachment in Km. Large-scale land-use conversion from rice cultivation to 28, Barangay Panansalan, Com- monocrop plantations has gravely threatened food security. postela town in Compostela Val- On the other hand, the company's massive use of agrochemi- ley. cals has polluted the air, irrigation systems and food sources, On September 26, at around causing health problems to growing numbers of people. Seri- 9 a.m., four fascist troopers ous flooding which is now common in Allah Valley has been were killed and two others caused by siltation due to the company's dumping of toxic wounded in an encounter be- waste into nearby rivers. tween the NPA and 67th IB sol- Strong opposition by the masses has forced the company diers in Barangay Kampawan, to stop the aerial spraying of pesticides. Instead, the compa- Baganga. ny's boom sprayers are now being used on land. But whenev- On September 24, at around er the boom sprayers pass, residents throw stones at them to 10 and 11 p.m., two soldiers un- show their anger at, and opposition to, the plantation's der the 72nd IB were killed in presence. two separate sniping operations Itochu-Dole has been using the mercenary troops of the on enemy detachments in 27th IB to suppress the people's resistance and the farm Barangay Tapia, Monkayo, workers' movement against the company. Compostela Valley and Baran- Meanwhile, in Northern Samar, up to 11 soldiers were gay Marapat, Compostela. killed in two separate harassment operations in Barangay And on September 22, at Gebonawan, Lope de Vega on September 29 and 30. around 3 a.m., four soldiers The targeted enemy elements formed part of a 50-man were killed when the NPA used force from the 63rd IB that conducted military operations in command-detonated explosives the area from September 26 to October 7. on a platoon under the 25th IB After the harassment, more than 130 soldiers who were conducting patrols in Upper sent in as reinforcements scoured the area within a six-kilo- Ambawan, Barangay Ngan, meter radius but failed to find the Red fighters. Compostela. The KM 450 truck Angered, the enemy strafed communities in Gebonawan they were riding was likewise and in Barangay Paguite twice from the air, but again failed to destroyed. In another opera- inflict casualties on the NPA except for a guerrilla who was tion, a soldier guarding Petrole- slightly wounded. um Mining Corp. was killed by Officials of Barangay Paguite immediately complained to NPA snipers in Sitio Mam- the local government about the AFP's indiscriminate aerial busao, Barangay Ngan. ~ strafing. ~

ANG BAYAN October 21, 2014 5 Harassment Father and son slain operation in ComVal Mandaya father and his son were mercilessly killed by sol- in Bukidnon diers in Compostela Valley. Meanwhile, a peasant leader A in Davao del Norte, a development worker in Tagum City n element of the Spe- and two cousins in Pampanga became victims of illegal arrest. A cial CAFGU Active Auxiliary was killed after a Compostela Valley. Two sultant for the Salugpungan team of guerrillas from members of the Mandaya tribe Learning Center in Talaingod, the New People's Army were killed after elements of Davao del Norte and a mem- (NPA) sniped soldiers con- the 66th IB Alpha Coy gunned ber of the Rural Missionaries ducting military opera- them down in Manurigao, New of the Philippines staff. tions in Kagahuman, San Bataan in the early Pampanga. Po- Luis, Malitbog, Bukidnon morning hours of Oc- lice and AFP intel- on October 9, at around tober 12. ligence operatives 12 noon. Rolando L. Da- illegally arrested Again, at around 5:30 gansan, 45, and his cousins Lourdes p.m. of October 11, anoth- 15-year old son Juda David Quioc, 64 er NPA team sniped 8th IB were on their way and Reynaldo Can- troops in Sitio Calampi- home from their corn las Ingal, 63, in gan, Kalabugao, Impasug- farm when they were Barangay San An- ong, Bukidnon, killing a chanced upon by sol- tonio, Mexico on soldier and wounding two diers conducting military op- October 2. CAFGU elements. erations. The troopers indis- The PNP-Region 3 insists The AFP troops have criminately rained bullets on that Quioc and Ingal are actu- been stubbornly conduct- the victims, mutilating their ally "Eugenia Magpantay" and ing military operations in bodies and leaving their faces "Agaton Topacio," allegedly a vain attempt to rescue unrecognizable. One of Rolan- CPP and NPA officials with two soldiers arrested by do's arms was torn away from `10.6-million bounties on the NPA in Impasug-ong the sheer force and number of their heads. The victims' rela- on August 22—Pfc. Marnel the gunshots inflicted by the tives strongly denied the alle- Cinches and Pfc. Jerrel soldiers. The fact that the vic- gation. Quioc is a well-known Yorong. The soldiers even tims were riddled with bullets midwife in the locality and a mounted two 105-mm gives the lie to the military's church volunteer while Ingal howitzers in Barangay claim that the soldiers had is a retired driver of the Na- Hagpa, Impasug-ong. been taken by surprise and tional Power Corporation in Meanwhile, 58th IB ele- mistook the Dagansans for Morong, Bataan. ments have also continued NPA. They are currently de- launching combat opera- Tagum City. Policemen and tained at the Bulacan Provin- tions and mounted two soldiers who seized Domini- cial Jail. howitzers in Palo, Hinda- ciano Muya at a checkpoint on Davao del Norte. Peasant ngon, Gingoog City. October 16 failed to present leader Lito Lao was arrested The NPA has roundly an arrest warrant. Muya, an at the ABC Hall in Kapalong assailed the continuing agriculturist and development town while arranging a dia- rescue operations, saying worker was accused of being a logue between farmers and a that the AFP should in- high-ranking official of the land grabber in the area. He is stead implement a Sus- CPP and NPA with a `4.8-mil- one of 13 activist leaders pension of Offensive Mili- lion bounty for his arrest on named in an arrest warrant tary Operations to pave charges of murder and rob- stemming from a trumped-up the way for the orderly bery in Bukidnon, Agusan del case of theft filed against and safe release of the Sur and Davao Oriental. He is them by landlord Vivien Jubac two prisoners of war. ~ actually a soil science con- in 2012. ~

6 ANG BAYAN October 21, 2014 CPP strongly condemns Lacub, Abra massacre

he Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the New after. Asbucan said that he People's Army (NPA) in Ilocos-Cordillera Region vehe- had been ordered by the sol- T mently condemned the heinous massacre of seven NPA diers to claim that Viste was members by 41st IB soldiers in Lacub, Abra on September 4. The killed by NPA members. victims were all hors de combat. The CPP likewise condemned The CPP strongly supports the extrajudicial killing of two civilians by the military as well as the widespread demand by other violations of human rights and international humanitarian the people of Abra for the im- law. mediate pullout of the 41st IB. The CPP called on the peo- The CPP and NPA paid the in the area when she was ple of Abra and the Filipino highest tribute to Party killed. people to strengthen their cadres and Red fighters Also tortured and killed by protests and make resounding Arnold "Ka Mando" Jaramillo, the 41st IB was Noel Viste, a cries for the immediate expul- Recca Noelle "Ka Tet" Monte, resident of Barangay Pobla- sion of the criminal AFP Brandon "Ka Sly" Madranga, cion, Lacub who was among troops. Robert "Ka Dawyan" Beyao, 24 civilians used as guides The CPP also directed the Ricardo "Ka Tubong" Reyes, and human shields by the 41st NPA in Abra and the entire Pedring "Ka Jess" Banggao IB on September 5. Most of Ilocos-Cordillera Region to and Robert "Ka Limbo" Perez. the civilians were eventually punish those responsible for Initial investigations re- released with the exception of these crimes and grave human vealed that the slain Red Viste and Nicasio Asbucan. rights abuses and give justice fighters had all been captured Viste was found dead the day to all victims of fascism. ~ wounded after being subdued by operating troops of the Armed Forces of the Philip- Minority groups assail AFP pines (AFP). Instead of pro- viding medical treatment and for arming and pitting Lumad treating them as prisoners of war in accordance with inter- against fellow Lumad national rules of war, they were mercilessly tortured and he Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas killed by the fascists. These (KAMP) strongly assailed the AFP for organizing and arm- findings are supported even Ting paramilitary groups among the Lumad and pitting them by the results of the autopsies against their own relatives and fellow tribespeople. conducted by government The AFP aims to destroy the unity of the Lumad, use them as agencies. Ka Mando's body, in pawns in its Oplan Bayanihan war and pave the way for the en- particular, was riddled with try of foreign companies coveting the mineral and other natural bullets. The bullets' entry resources found in the Lumad's ancestral lands. points had gunpowder burns, There are now 13 Lumad paramilitary groups in the entire is- indicating that he had been land of Mindanao that continue to sow terror in Lumad and peas- shot at close range. ant communities. In Bukidnon, among these groups are the San The CPP also condemned Fernando Matigsalug, Tribal Datus (Sanmatidra); the Bungkatol the killing of Engr. Fidela Sal- Liberation Front (Bulif); and the New Indigenous People's Army vador, 50, an official of the for Reform (Nipar) under the 8th IB. Other examples are the Cordillera Response and De- Salakawan or Wild Dogs (formed by the 402nd Infantry Brigade), velopment Services, a local the Alamara in Northern Mindanao and the Task Force Ganta- NGO. She was monitoring the ngan-Bagani Force in the Caraga region. implementation of her NGO's These groups are behind at least 11 killings of Lumad and Philippine Tropical Cyclone their supporters. ~ Emergency Response Project

ANG BAYAN October 21, 2014 7 Hacienda Luisita barangay captain benefits from DAP

dgardo Aguas, village chief of Barangay Central, the Aguas was likewise pro- biggest barrio within Hacienda Luisita, has long been vided with DAP funds in ex- E a loyal liege man of the Cojuangco-Aquino clan. Aguas change for his long service to is one of the government officials who benefited from Benig- the Aquinos and Cojuangcos, no Aquino III's anomalous Disbursement Acceleration Pro- especially in maintaining the gram (DAP). clan's control over the vast Hacienda Luisita estate. The Aquino personally hand- Aguas' inclusion in the Cojuangco-owned Central ed over `3.5 million to list of DAP recipients brings Azucarera de Tarlac (CAT), Aguas in August 2012 al- to the fore the rotten pa- their church and "Sitio Alto" legedly for the construction tronage system being used where the Cojuangcos' luxu- of a multi-purpose building and strengthened by Aquino. rious mansions are situated in Barangay Central. Aguas Aquino uses public funds to are all in Barangay Central. is one of only two barangay bribe and reward govern- Aquino and his sisters are captains who received DAP ment officials and gain their registered voters of this funds. The other recipients support. The favors he has barangay. are 22 senators, 173 con- bestowed on Tarlac and its More than being a mere gressmen, 51 governors, two officials call to mind the fa- village chief, Aguas is virtu- vice governors, two provin- voritism exhibited by Marcos ally a member of the power- cial board members, 32 may- for his home province of Ilo- ful landlord clan. He is a ors and two vice mayors. cos Norte. stockholder of the CAT,

Aquinos and Cojuangcos slapped with criminal cases

ore than 100 farmers from Hacienda age to crops and property. They stem from the MLuisita trooped to the Department of repressive acts of personnel from the Tarlac Justice (DOJ) on October 12 to file more than Development Corp. (Tadeco) in its attempt to 100 criminal cases against the Cojuangco- expel the farm workers from the lands they Aquino family and their cohorts in the police have been tilling within Hacienda Luisita. and the Department of Agrarian Reform Tadeco's goons have several times bulldozed (DAR). The cases stem from the series of vio- the farmers' crops and burned their huts. lent acts inflicted on the estate's land reform Despite being at the receiving end of these beneficiaries since the fake land distribution violent acts, the farm workers have been at the hacienda in July 2013. charged multiple times in various Tarlac The respondents are all friends and mem- courts in an attempt to pressure and intimi- bers of Benigno Aquino III's family, among date them. them his uncle Jose "Peping" Cojuangco Jr., Prior to this, the farm workers assailed the his sister Maria Elena "Ballsy" Aquino-Cruz disqualification of 125 farm workers of Ha- and his shooting buddy Virginia Torres. Also cienda Luisita, including members and officers among the accused are Tarlac PNP Provincial of AMBALA (Alyansa ng Manggagawang Bukid Director Alex Sintin and former Tarlac City sa Asyenda Luisita). The DAR dropped them PNP chief Bayani Razalan. from the list of beneficiaries after they re- The charges include attempted murder, ar- fused to sign a contract obliging them to pay son, physical injuries, illegal arrest and arbi- regular amortizations for the land they have trary detention, robbery, child abuse and dam- been fighting for. ~

8 ANG BAYAN October 21, 2014 along with Aquino's sisters Urban poor and a Wellerita Aguas, al- so an executive of the CAT wage series of protests and the Cojuangco-owned Luisita Realty Corpora- arious groups rallied in front of the Department of Budget tion. When the stock dis- and Management (DBM) on October 7 to condemn the re- tribution option (SDO) V lentless demolitions of urban poor communities and assail scheme was implemented, corruption in the use of the Aquino regime's budget for housing. Edgardo Aguas was an en- According to the Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap gineer at HLI and one of (KADAMAY)-Metro , the urban poor have not benefited at its most highly paid em- all from the `11.05-billion in DAP funds purportedly set aside ployees. The Cojuangco- for government housing programs. Aquino family uses him to Instead of benefiting the urban poor in the form of decent undermine the peasants' housing and other basic services, it serves as capital for con- unity in their struggle to struction companies like New San Jose Builders. It also serves as regain the land in Hacien- a milch cow of high-ranking officials of the National Housing Au- da Luisita. thority (NHA) and Malacañang, including Aquino's former class- In February 2013, mate, NHA Gen. Manager Chito Cruz. Aguas' name and those of According to the DBM, `10 billion from the DAP has been giv- other loyal factotums of en to the NHA for housing urban poor living along ’s the Cojuangco family were estuaries; `450 million for residents of North Triangle, Quezon surreptitiously included in City; `100 million for settlers along the banks of the Iloilo River the final list of those who and its tributaries; and `500 million to house personnel of the would be receiving Certifi- Bureau of Fire Protection and Bureau of Jail Management and cates of Land Ownership Penology. Award. On the other hand, The `10 billion allotted to the NHA is part of the `50-billion genuine beneficiaries like Informal Settler Fund (ISF) for 2012-2016. The ISF and other the members and officers DAP funds purportedly for housing have been used to fund cost- of AMBALA were arbitrari- ly and violent clearing operations in urban poor communities, ly disqualified and dropped thus accelerating the implementation of various Public-Private from the list. (See related Partnership (PPP) projects, including the Central article) Business District. Aguas and the village Quezon City. Also on October 7, the Alyansa Kontra De- chiefs of all of Hacienda molisyon-Quezon City (AKD-QC) led a protest action to assail the Luisita's 11 barangays al- "zero informal settlers" policy or the removal of all urban poor so receive huge percent- communities. ages for serving as middle- The AKD likewise issued an urgent call for the revocation of a men in the "aryendo" sys- new city ordinance—SP 2247-2013—which empowers local offi- tem. The scheme involves cials tp order demolitions even in the absence of a court order. encouraging beneficiaries This ordinance will pave the way for rampant demolitions of ur- to borrow money using the ban poor dwellings. land distributed to them "The fate of the houses of 223,000 families now lies in the as collateral. The lands hands of the corrupt officials of Task Force Copriss (Control, are eventually foreclosed. Prevention and Removal of Illegal Structures and Squatting). TF The Cojuangcos use this as Copriss is an agency attached to the Office of the City Mayor and a means of reconcentrat- the barangay captains. It has the power to arbitrarily declare ing the land and realizing any structure illegal, and therefore order its demolition. their plans of converting The AKD has discovered that 17 communities in Quezon City part of the plantation into have already received Certificates of Compliance from the QC a commercial center. This Local Housing Board and could go ahead with evicting the urban way, the Cojuangcos are poor. able to circumvent the law Montalban, Rizal. Also on October 7, residents of Kasiglahan requiring the distribution Village dialogued with NHA officials and the New San Jose of agricultural land. ~ Builders housing contractors. Kasiglahan Village is a housing

ANG BAYAN October 21, 2014 9 project in Montalban where NHA representative regarding who are now facing eviction thousands of families evicted the whereabouts of the DAP allegedly because the building from "hazardous areas" in the allocations for their communi- has become unsafe. National Capital Region were ty. The NHA representative They are likewise opposed resettled. answered that the `10-billion to their next relocation site The residents said, howev- fund from the DBM was not in- at Aguada, Trece Martirez, er, that they now face greater tended for Kasiglahan Village. Cavite not only because it is dangers compared to the haz- He added that the residents' far from their jobs but be- ards they encountered in their housing amortizations will be cause the dwellings have previous communities. Just used to fund other urban poor been built with substandard last September, their houses groups to be relocated in the materials and the area is at the relocation center were future. prone to landslides and used submerged in floods that October 3, Western Bicu- to be a dumpsite for toxic reached their rooftops during tan, . Residents of Fort waste. the onslaught of typhoon Bonifacio Tenement Building Ayala Land is keenly inter- Mario. conducted a noise barrage to ested in their current location During the dialogue, oppose the notice of eviction because it lies between Global KADAMAY Secretary-General they have received. The entire City and ARCA South Industri- Carlito Badion, a resident of tenement has 692 units with al Estate where the Ayalas are Kasiglahan Village asked the up to 1,000 resident families major investors. ~

Danding Cojuangco will benefit the most from the Laiban Dam project

enigno Aquino III is hell-bent on pushing the filled dam (CFRD) which will have a capacity of Bconstruction of the Laiban Dam in Tanay, 1,800 million liters per day will submerge 28,000 Rizal under his watch because the project's main hectares and displace about 7,000 families. investor is no other than his uncle Eduardo Aquino declared in his State of the Nation Ad- "Danding" Cojuangco Jr. dress last July that the construction of the Kali- The `65-billion Laiban Dam project is a joint wa and Laiban Dams in the Sierra Madre is a pri- venture of the Cojuangco-owned San Miguel ority. To suppress the people's widespread oppo- Corp. and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sew- sition to these projects, the AFP has deployed two erage System (MWSS), a government corpora- battalions in the villages to be submerged by the tion. It falls under the Aquino government's Pub- dams. Forces of the 16th IB are currently occupy- lic-Private Partnership scheme. The dam, which is ing the mountainous barangays that would be go- one of two ventures under the New Centennial ing under water due to the Laiban Dam—Laiban, Water Source Projects meant to ensure Metro Cayabu, Sta. Inez, Tinucan, Mamuyao, San An- Manila's water supply is slated to become anoth- dres, Sto. Niño and Daraitan in Tanay and Lumu- er milch cow for the Aquino clique. (The other tan in General Nakar. On the other hand, the 1st project is the `23-billion Kaliwa Dam in General IB has been focused on the upland villages to be Nakar, Quezon). submerged by the Kaliwa Dam—Pagsangahan, These projects will be submerging 37,700 Umiray, San Marcelino and Canaway in General hectares of watershed areas, including the an- Nakar and Magsaysay in Infanta, Quezon. cestral lands of the Dumagat and Remontado Nonetheless, the New People's Army's (NPA) tribes in Rizal and Quezon. Up to 8,000 families Rosemarie Lodronio Rosal Command supports the living in the affected areas, including more than people's struggle to stop these megadams' con- 4,000 Dumagat and Remontado families will be struction. The command, whose area of opera- forced to evacuate. Neither tribe has consented tions is the Mt. Sierra Madre-Southern Tagalog to the construction of the Kaliwa and Laiban Subregion, pledged to launch tactical offensives Dams. like the successive attacks on AFP troops in Gen- The Laiban Dam will be causing far greater eral Nakar, and in Tanay and Montalban, Rizal damage. The 113-meter concrete-face, rock- last July. ~

10 ANG BAYAN October 21, 2014 SOS: In defense Kurds’ of schools and communities resistance

he state has been waging relentless military at- to ISIS T tacks on schools and communities, especially al- ternative schools built by the peasant and Lumad he Kurdish people in Syr- masses in various parts of Mindanao. ia are waging all-out re- This spurred various groups to hold a conference T sistance to the vicious of the Save Our Schools (SOS) Network in Davao City and plunderous war of aggres- on September 25-27. The conference was attended by sion being launched by Islamic 142 teachers, church people and advocates from ten State (ISIS). Despite their in- Mindanao provinces. ferior weaponry, they have The conference, the second to be called by the succeeded in repulsing ISIS SOS Network, issued the call "Stop Attacks on our forces attacking Kobane, Syr- Schools and Communities! Education not Militariza- ia's northernmost town which tion!" lies along Turkey's southern The conference took notice of the rampant human border. rights violations and repression of persons advocat- For the past several weeks, ing alternative schools. At least 100 community ISIS has been targeting schools have been victimized by the AFP all over Min- Kobane, which is a key area in danao. Most of them are found in farflung areas of its objective of gaining ab- Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur, solute control over the entire Surigao del Norte, Davao del Norte, North Cotabato, border area between Syria and Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, Bukidnon and Turkey. ISIS has committed Sarangani. numerous atrocities, including These schools were built on the initiative of mass killings of civilians and Lumad organizations in partnership with church peo- rape. Tens of thousands have ple to provide schooling to children who have long been forced to evacuate to been deprived by the reactionary government of edu- Turkey. cation services. Instead of being shaken, The Aquino regime has been severely trampling on however, the Kurdish people's the rights of these schools. It has issued in quick suc- determination to struggle and cession policies that run counter to the growth of al- defend their homes and town ternative schools such as the 2013 Guidelines on the have only grown stronger. Led Protection of Children during Armed Conflict (Memo- by the YPG or People's Defense randum 221 of the Department of Education) and Let- Unit, the Kurdish people have ter Directive 25 issued by the AFP chief, both of continued to inflict casualties which assert that launching AFP activities within on ISIS and thwarted its plans schools and public utilities is legitimate. to seize Kobane. These policies grant the AFP the freedom to at- Kobane is one of three can- tack community schools, with cases becoming worse tons in the Rojava region (or than ever as the AFP implements its Oplan Bayanihan western Kurdistan, which lies war against the people. Schools are frequently used in northern Syria) where the as barracks or detachments are built right beside Kurdish people have estab- school buildings. lished an independent adminis- The SOS Network called for the immediate pullout trative government. They have of soldiers and paramilitaries from all schools and long been struggling for self- communities. They also condemned the conduct of determination in order to es- psywar operations within schools and communities tablish an independent state in under Civil-Military Operations (CMO) and demanded an area straddling northern an end to hamletting, food blockades and the con- Syria, southeastern Turkey, scription of Lumad into paramilitary groups. ~ northwestern Iran and north- ern Iraq.

ANG BAYAN October 21, 2014 11 More than a year has passed since ISIS Rojava. The PYD is an ally of the PKK (Kur- attacked Kobane and imposed blockades to distan Workers Party) which is based in force the people to succumb to ISIS' brutal- southern Turkey and northern Iraq. The ity. Scores of municipalities are already un- PKK and its allied parties have long been at der siege by ISIS in its campaign to expand the forefront of the Kurdish people's armed its territory at the border region between struggle to advance their aspirations for Iraq and Syria through sheer brutality and self-determination. terror. Its goal is to control the vast oil The Kurdish people attained their victo- fields in this area. ries in the face of Turkey's refusal to con- At least 40 ISIS personnel have been front ISIS. Turkey has preferred to attack, killed as the YPG put up intense resistance in instead of help, the Kurdish forces resisting Kobane in the past few days. Since Septem- ISIS. This has sparked massive demonstra- ber, more than 300 ISIS forces have been tions in Turkish and even German cities, killed while attacking Kobane, and more than condemning the Turkish government's mol- 200 on the YPG side. On October 15, the lycoddling of ISIS. ISIS forces were repulsed in most of their In a desire to protect its "alliance" with positions in Kobane. Nonetheless, they are Turkey, the US has pussyfooted in launching expected to mount renewed attacks. bombing raids on ISIS positions—demon- The YPG is an armed force established by strating the US' rank hypocrisy when it de- the PYD (Democratic Union Party), the Kur- clared war on ISIS just to preserve its dish people's main umbrella organization in standing within the Middle East. ~

Progressive journalists hold conference on alternative media

rogressive journalists from various parts Kalayaan, the newspaper of the Katipunan P of the country successfully launched a during the First Philippine Revolution, and conference on the alternative media on Octo- those of the revolutionary publications like ber 9 and 10 at the University of the Philip- Ang Bayan, Taliba ng Bayan and Balita ng pines-Diliman. Malayang Pilipinas since the martial law years The term alternative media pertains to me- to the present. dia that are not owned or controlled by big In a speech read by National Democratic corporations. Websites, radio programs and Front of the Philippines consultant Rey Claro newspapers published by progressive or na- Casambre, CPP Information Bureau media li- tional-democratic organizations are part of aison officer Marco Valbuena traced the grad- the alternative media, or altermedia for short. ual expansion of revolutionary propaganda's Altermedia journalists from Metro Manila, reach, from written form to internet and Baguio, Southern Tagalog, Davao, Cebu, Ca- video. gayan de Oro, Bicol, Central Luzon, Panay and The conference likewise resolved to ex- Tacloban attended the conference, whose pand the network of progressive journalists theme was "New Times, New Challenges, and include other aspects like radio, internet Strengthen the people's voice." (social media), video and print. The delegates The conference tackled the importance of also adopted resolutions defining their stand the alternative media in the current situation on issues relating to the mass media such as and its duty to serve as the "people's media" the Maguindanao Massacre, the Cybercrime advocating the people's basic issues. Law, the Freedom of Information Bill and The conference harked back to the revolu- charter change, among others. They also tionary tradition of propaganda work, citing vowed to continue strengtening the people's the contributions of La Solidaridad of the voice by providing alternative sources of in- First Propaganda Movement to those of formation and analyses on issues. ~

12 ANG BAYAN October 21, 2014