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

English Edition Vol. L No. 14 July 21, 2019 www.cpp.ph

EDITORIAL Fight for genuine freedom! End Duterte's reign!

he people must ardently fight and end the reign of ist system remains unresolved, these contradictions the national traitor Duterte. The future of the en- and its impact on the and other semi- tire nation and the life of every Filipino are at stake colonies and will intensify. Tunder his unrelenting subservience to imperialist powers. Leading imperialist powers, especially the US which Duterte seems to have offered the seas and natural re- remains as the most powerful due to its vast military ma- sources of the country at the altar of China in exchange for chinery dispersed across the globe, are at the center of fat contracts which he and his fellow bureaucrat capitalists these contradictions. Various imperialist powers are rig- profit from. On the other hand, he further strengthened US orously challenging the dominance of US, especially Rus- control of the Philippines as a large military base in ex- sia in the military field, and China in the economic field. change for its continuous military aid for his brutal and In its desperation to arrest its internal economic terroristic "counter-insurgency" and "anti-drug" wars. crisis, the US is bustling to revive its hegemony. As he benefits from these, Duterte is deaf to the The US resists the emerging division of the world clamor of the people to fight for genuine freedom and (in the fields of military and trade) among imperialists defend the interest of the country in the face of two ri- under which its spheres of control are being reduced. valling imperialist superpowers. If Duterte remains in Historically, the Philippines has always been impor- power, foreign domination, the chronic crisis, and the tant in the geopolitical strategies of imperialist countries. fascist supression of the national democratic move- It is sought after by global powers as it is located along ment in the Philippines will certainly intensify. major trade routes, especially that going to and from the The situation in the Philippines is firmly intercon- Indian Ocean, and East and Southeast Asia. nected with the current global situation which is beset In the past more than a century, the US imposed by intensifying contradictions among imperialist pow- its control over the Philippines, firstly through direct ers in the fields of economy and trade, diplomacy, poli- colonization, and later on, through indirect control. US tics and military. While the crisis of the global capital- military bases in the Philippines are used as spring- board for deploying military troops products from China. At present, trade activities in the South China in wars of aggression from Vietnam China is threatened by a produc- Sea. China saw the need to to the Middle East, and also for ex- tion slow down due as it has satu- strengthen its presence and influ- panding its market for American rated the market with overpro- ence in the Philippines amid its in- products in Asia, especially in duced commodities and capital. In tensifying rivalry with the US. This is China. Almost three decades have an attempt to mitigate the crisis it why it is aggressively asserting its passed since these bases were dis- is beset in, China is expediting its control and claim over vast maritime mantled, but up to the present, exportation of capital in the form territories at the western side of the hundreds of American troops are of loans and extensive infrastruc- Philippines, exploiting aquatic re- permanently stationed in the ture construction. sources and constructing their mili- Philippines and their exclusive fa- As part of these desperate tary facilities in the said area. cilities in AFP camps continue to schemes, China has increased its The Philippines is caught be- multiply. presence in the Philippines over tween two clashing imperialist gi- The subsumption of the Philip- the past years, particularly ants. The Filipino people should pines to the colonial and semicolo- through exploiting the mineral and carry their struggle forward for nial domination of the US is the other natural resources of the genuine freedom from US control biggest hindrance to the develop- country. China is competing with and the intrusion of China. ment and advancement of the the US and other capitalist powers This struggle is currently fo- country. The economy of the in depleting the resources of the cused on fighting against the na- Philippines is dominated by Ameri- Philippines. Simultaneously, it is tional traitor Duterte. He must be can corporations and is directed by pouring in infrastructure projects opposed and held accountable for the USAID, IMF-WB, and US banks loans used to purchase its over- his contempt of the freedom and and finance institutions. produced cement and steel. sovereignty of the Philippines. China emerged as a capitalist China acknowleges that the First, his surrender of the superpower since the beginning of Philippines is a US military strong- rights of the Philippines in the 2000s. It used its hundreds of mil- hold which the latter uses as its South China Sea, including the sov- lions of cheap laborers to absorb seaport and airport, and a launch ereign right to the country's productive capital, especially those pad of its war vessels and materiel. "exclusive economic zone" must be from the US. Later on, the world For a long period, the US used the denounced. He must also be held market was flooded with cheap Philippines to dominate and control accountable for corruption and en- riching himself through anomalous ANG Contents agreements and loan contracts. Simultaneously, Duterte's sub- servience to US imperialism must be Editorial: Fight for genuine freedom! End exposed as the foremost imperialist Vol L No. 14 | July 21, 2019 Duterte's reign! 1 power in the Philippines, especially Legislative agenda for liberalization 3 that it is attempting to use big mass Ang Bayan is published protests against China to conceal in Pilipino, Bisaya, Iloko, US tightens hold of PH 4 or justify the intensification of its Hiligaynon, Waray and English. intervention and use of the Philip- Ang Bayan welcomes Workers mount #PayDayProtest 4 pines for its military interests. contributions in the form NPA harasses 63rd & 87th IB 4 Duterte must be opposed and of articles and news items. held accountable for paving the way Readers are encouraged Writ of kalikasan 5 for the increased presence of US to send feedback and military forces in the country recommendations Suspension order vs. Lumad schools 5 through the Operation Pacific Eagle- for improving our newspaper. Impact of rice liberalization 5 Philippines, and the increasing num- instagram.com/progressiveviews ber of joint exercises and maneuvers Rift in Duterte alliance widens 6 of the US military in the Philippines. @prwc_info We must fight the imposition of the Prevailing civil-military junta 7 [email protected] US to change the 1987 constitution Villagefolk foil abduction attempt 8 to completely liberalize the economy of the country to the benefit of for- eign big capitalists, whether Ameri- Ang Bayan is published fortnightly by the Central Committee can or Chinese. This is being carried of the Communist Party of the Philippines "Fight...," continued on page 3

2 July 2 1 , 2 01 9 ANG BAYANULY Legislative agenda for all-out liberalization

n his upcoming State of the Nation Address this July 22, Executive Order 65 which promul- Iis expected to once again demonstrate utter subservience to his US impe- gated a shortened FINL. It removed rialist master by prioritizing the implementation of neoliberal economic re- the restriction on five investment ar- forms which have long been recommended by the US under its The Arangkada eas and activities including internet Philippines Project (TAPP). businesses; teaching non-professional subjects in college; technical voca- These reforms aim to push for sewerage pipeline system. tional training centers that are not all-out liberalization of the local This will allow the full part of the formal education economy by streamlining or disman- ownership and control system; financing compa- tling investment restrictions for over the operation of nies; and wellness cen- multinationals and their subsidiaries. companies in these in- ters. It also increased In the past three years, Duterte and dustries by foreign the rate of foreign eq- various government agencies succes- capitalists. Duterte's uity allowed on con- sively issued executive and adminis- supermajority failed to tracts for construc- trative orders, respectively, to grad- railroad the enact- tion and repair of ually foist the implementation of this ment of this pro- public-works and de- neoliberal scheme. posal before the velopment projects from 17th Congress finally 25% to 40%; and on private PSA amendments closed last month. radio networks from 20% to Among those targeted for invest- 40%. ments by multinationals is the FIA amendments These aggressive liberalization telecommunications and transporta- The US is also pushing for the measures will immediately benefit tion subsector. The said industries are amendment of the Foreign Invest- China through capital investments still considered public utilities. Public ment Act (FIA) to compel the gov- and its deployment of personnel as utilities are defined by reactionary ernment to more frequently review per its loan conditions to the regime. law as "goods or services which satify and shorten the list of restrictions on the needs of a community." As these investment areas and professions Other measures are considered strategic enterprises, that are exclusively for . The The US also recommended the the 1987 Constitution limits foreign list, which is called the foreign in- amendment of the Retail Trade Li- equity on public utilities to 40%. This vestment negative list (FINL), pro- beralization Act. This aims to fur- provision, however, is brazenly vio- hibits the entry of and full ownership ther lower the capitalization re- lated as many telecommunication and by transnationals in specific enter- quirement of foreign retail transportation companies are already prises, and the practice of profes- companies from $2.5 million to controlled by foreign capitalists. This sions to foreign nationals. $200,000. is implemented through loans and It particularly seeks to allow Duterte is also railroading the partnerships with local compradors. foreign professionals, especially passage of the the second TRAIN To completely dismantle remain- those from imperialist countries, to Law package dubbed as the Trabaho ing protections on the subsector, the work in the Philippines and manage Bill. This aims to lower the corpo- regime is pushing for the amendment the operations of multinationals and rate income tax rate from 30% to of the Public Service Act (PSA). In their subsidiaries. This poses a 20% and rationalize the incentives compliance with TAPP recommenda- threat to the employment of Filipino given to corporations operating in tions, telecommunications and lawyers, doctors, scientists, engi- special economic zones. transportation will be removed from neers and other professionals as In sum, since he assumed the the list of public utilities. Its scope they will be compelled to comply presidency, Duterte had issued no will now be limited only to "distribu- with foreign requisites in the guise less than 10 executive orders to tion and transmission of electricity; of promoting "global standards." pave way for the full liberalization and water pipeline distribution and On October 2018, Duterte issued of the local economy.

"Fight...," from page 2 forward by Duterte to push for the implementation of his able, especially the US, for arming its fasicsts agents. bogus federalism or other changes to ensure the expan- The military support received by Duterte's military from sion of the power of his family. the US reinforces him to carry on with the relentless We must condemn the US and China for supporting mass killings, political persecution and supression the tyrannical rule of Duterte, and hold them account- against those fighting his reign.

ANG BAYAN July 2 1 , 2 01 9 3 US tightens hold on the Philippines

THE PHILIPPINES further tightened its hold on the Philippines after the 8th Bilateral Strategic Dialogue (BSD) between both countries was concluded last June 15-16. The annual BSD is conducted under US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty and is participated in by ranking officials of the US government and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The US delegation was headed by strength through sailing warships and Ambassador Sung Kim, along with flying jetfighters within the territory representatives of the State De- of the country. partment for East Asian and Pacific Bigger exercises will be conducted Affairs and Department of Defense for by the and US in the AFP this 2019. This still excludes the Indo-Pacific Security Affairs. Not only coming years. In the Salaknib 2020, share of the Philippine government military, but also political and the 1st Brigade Combat Team (BCT), from $1.5 billion military aid, economic matters were discussed founded by the US military in 2018 will recently approved by US President during the dialogue. be retrained. About 1,500 BCT Donald Trump for countries in the The US used the dialogue to soldiers and 1,700 US Army Pacific Asia-Pacific, for 2019-2023. further assert its power over Asia, Command troopers will participate in In conjuction with the BSD, the especially amid its tension with China. the activity. Salaknib purportedly aims Marine Aviation Support Activity It urged the Philippines to uphold the to enhance interoperability of US (MASA) was also held at the Marine Association of Southeast Asian military commanders and AFP soldiers Base Gregorio Lim in Ternate, Cavi- Nations (ASEAN) code of conduct to in conventional warfare and te. MASA is conducted twice a year counter the claim of China over the counterterrorism operations. "This is and is participated in by the Marines disputed territory in the South China a preparation for large-scale and Air Force of the US and Sea. It was also agreed upon that the conflicts," said Philippine Army Philippines. MASA is one of the 280 Philippines will participate in US spokesperson Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala. military exercises which are freedom of navigation operations, Prior to the BSD, the US already scheduled to be conducted in the through to project the latter's allocated a $145.6 million aid for the country this 2019.

Workers mount #PayDayProtest NPA harasses 63rd & 87th IB MEMBERS OF THE Kilusang Mayo Uno conducted a #PayDayProtest on THE NEW PEOPLE'S Army (NPA)- July 15, a week before Rodrigo Duterte's State of the Nation Address. Western Samar twice harassed They condemned the regime's continuing policy of wage repression, con- elements of the 63rd IB on June 16 tractualization and the overarching jobs crisis in the country. in Barangay Bay-ang, San Jorge, Farm workers from Hacienda In , police elements ille- Samar. Two soldiers were killed-in- Buenconsejoa in E.B. Magalona, gally searched through the personal action. Three elements of the 87th Negros Occidental participated in belongings of activists protesting in IB were also killed in a harassment the campaign. They said that their front of the regional office of the operation in Barangay Sto. Niño, pockets are already empty because Department of Labor and Employ- Paranas on June 27. of the hacienda's illegal closure and ment. Meanwhile, the NPA meted a its management's termination of Earlier, workers spearheaded by punitive action against Sonny Mo- workers. Their Their ₱150-daily the Pepsi Cola Workers Unity reno, a member of the Military wage is way below the legislated protested in front of the factory Intelligence Battalion (MIB), in ₱365-daily minimum wage for work- gates in Muntinlupa City last July Poblacion, San Jose de Buan last ers in Negros. Majority of them have 12. They condemned the manage- July 7. He actively participated in worked in the hacienda for three up ment for turning a deaf ear to the surrender campaigns against civil- to 24 years. demands, including wage increase ians. Moreno was also a notrious In Cebu, drivers protested to and the regularization of 1,000 rabid counter-revolutionary mer- condemn the bogus jeepney mod- contractuals, which they raised cenary of former mayor Ananias ernization program which is essen- during negotiations for their collec- Rebato. The NPA punished Rebato tially a scheme to kill their livelihood. tive bargaining agreement. on October 2018.

4 July 2 1 , 2 01 9 ANG BAYANULY Regime coerces fishermen to withdraw writ of kalikasan petition

ON JULY 9, lawyers of the Duterte regime coerced 40 fishermen from Masin- the regime was able to remove a loc, Zambales and Palawan to withdraw their petition for a writ of kalikasan in legal obstacle to Chinese exploita- the West Philippine Sea (WPS). tion in the Philippine seas. Meanwhile on July 12, in Assisted by the Integrated Bar The Supreme Court earlier is- commemoration of the third year of the Philippines, the fishermen sued a decision in favor of the fish- since Arbitral Tribunal's issuance filed a petition at the Supreme Court ermen last May. It ordered the of the decision in favor of the last April against China's destruc- Duterte regime to protect the WPS Philippines' claim over the dis- tion of coral reefs at the WPS. A and take measures to stop the vio- puted West Philippine Sea, hun- writ of kalikasan is a legal remedy lation of environmental laws, espe- dreds trooped to the Chinese Em- used to compel the incumbent gov- cially in the exclusive economic bassy to condemn the continuing ernment to protect the constitu- maritime zones of the Philippines. intrusion of China in Philippine tional right of Filipinos to a healthy , the fishermen's lawyer, maritime territories. environment in compliance with the stated that the decision proved that According to P1NAS, the deci- 1987 Constitution. their petition is legitimate. He added sion of the Arbitral Tribunal in The fishermen filed the petition that their withdrawal are a result of 2016 may also be help other coun- to stop the China's reclamation to government intimidation. Because of tries to fight Chinese intrusion in erect its military structures within this, the court cancelled the second their respective maritime territo- Philippine territory. The reclamation hearing wherein the fishermen and ries. As a result of the reclamation, has resulted in massive destruction government representatives were China was able to complete the of reefs, especially in Zambales and supposed to meet. construction of a military base in Palawan. By coercing them to withdraw, the Philippine seas.

SOS condemns suspension order The scourge of liberalization against Lumad schools to rice farmers ECONOMIC OFFICIALS of the reactionary gov- STUDENTS AND TEACHERS of Lumad schools under the ernment, during their Pre-State of the Nation Save Our Schools (SOS) Network protested in front of the Address Economic and Infrastructure Forum, headquarters of the Department of Education in Pasig City dubbed the Republic Act 11203 or Rice Libera- on July 17 to condemn its attempt to order the closure of lization Act a "monumental legislative achieve- Lumad schools in . In particular, they criticized ment." This is a big fat lie as this "achievement" its suspension of 55 schools of the Salugpongan Ta' Tanu is considered a scourge by rice farmers. Igkanogon Community Learning Center Inc. in compliance The said law was implemented in Decem- with the order of National Security Adviser Hermogenes ber 2018 to arrest rice inflation in the lokal Esperon, Jr. market. In reality, however, the price of rice The Save Our Schools (SOS) recorded that 215 schools in only dropped by ₱1-2 since the implementation Mindanao have been forcibly closed since 2016. Eighty of the law. Its retail price is still pegged at schools closed down due to military occupation in communi- ₱30-₱70. ties and systematic attacks and destruction of facilities by This is despite the deluge of imported rice soldiers. whose landed cost range from ₱18-₱25/kilo. Duterte has long accused Salugpongan and other Lumad On the other hand, the average farmgate schools of being schools operated by the New People's Army. price of local palay dropped from ₱20/kilo in In his second State of the Nation Address in 2017, he even the beginning of 2019 to ₱12-₱17/kilo this threatened to bomb the said schools. This year, 30 Lumad June. This value is almost equivalent to the schools were closed wherein 1,300 students were compelled cost of production shouldered by rice farmers. to stop schooling due to relentless military attacks. Because of this, rice farmers are expected to The CPP stated that the DepEd order manifests how the lose up to ₱114 billion this year which is way military controls the policy issuances of civilian agencies. It beyond the much-hyped ₱5.9 billion rice tariff added that this adds to the anti-Lumad policies of the which was collected after the implementation Duterte regime including the grabbing of ancestral lands for of the liberalization law. conversion into mining and plantation uses.

ANG BAYAN July 2 1 , 2 01 9 5 Rift in the Duterte alliance widens

he rift in the Duterte-Arroyo-Marcos alliance is Twidening further. This is evident in the continu- ing rivalry among its henchmen who are vying for the highest position in Congress. Duterte directly inter- vened in the competition by endorsing last July 8 and Lord Allan Velasco to al- ternately share the Speakership. But days after this, however, the congressmen still failed to reach a con- sensus contrary to Duterte's expections.

Until the eve of the opening of tutional Congress, nobody among the ri- reforms valling congressmen is certain to which have long been recommended enemies will neither be able to garner a majority vote. by the American Chamber of Com- stand on their own nor earn the When Duterte endorsed the merce. support of Congress and other speakership of Cayetano and Ve- The Task Force is lobbying for branches of the state. On July 18, lasco, he also endorsed Martin Ro- "federalism," but as Duterte recog- he filed a sedition case against po- mualdez from the Arroyo bloc to act nized that there is no broad support litical oppositionists, including Leni as the majority leader. Cayetano for this, he instead declared "even if Robredo, vice president of the gained the blessing of Duterte be- you don't like federalism, you Philippines, and 35 others. Also cause he promised to lobby for change the constitution still." Ac- among those charged were LP sen- charter change or cha-cha in Con- cording to Eduardo Año, secretary ators, candidates gress. Many, however, still oppose of the Department of Interior and (except ), priests and a the plan for his speakership. The Local Government, the direction of bishop, lawyers and their support- PDP-Laban, earlier, refused the cha-cha may still change in the ers. term-sharing offer. Three other coming three years. The Communist Party of the blocs in Congress, including that of Details on constitutional Philippines called this a "intimida- siblings Sara and Paolo Duterte's, amendments proposed by the Task tion and harassment" attempt are also not amenable to the Force are yet to be publicized. But against political oppositionists scheme. based on the Resolution of Both which serves as his warning to Houses No. 15 which wass issued on those who will refuse his cha-cha New wrapping, old scheme December 2018 by the Congress, it agenda. "Pure hogwash," beyond Duterte's endorsement of is certain that the Philippine Con- belief," and "extreme harassment Cayetano was primarily based on stitution will worsen as it contains and intimidation,"—these were the the latter's promise to champion proposals to remove provisions reactions of the senators and cha-cha. Despite having a superma- which protect the insterests of local bishop who were accused of incit- jority in the previous Congress, businessmen and the people, and to ing to sedition by the regime. The Duterte failed to railroad this liberalize the local economy for case was based on a video state- scheme due to contentions between transnational corporations. Simi- ment of Peter Advincula (alias Bi- the Senate and Congress on certain larly, it gives Duterte legislative koy) who implicated the Duterte key provisions on the transition to powers and absolute control of the family in illegal drug trade. This the federal form of goverment. government. In Duterte's "new" legal attack clearly aims to harass, To pave the way for cha-cha, constitution, the people's rights intimidate and coerce the opposi- the Inter-Agency Task Force on Fe- will be reduced, and they will lose tion to stop from fighting his deralism and Constitutional Reform the right to impeach an incumbent schemes. This also serves as a guised it as a new package which president. warning to Duterte's allies who are emphasizes on economic provisions planning to unite with the opposi- that will purportedly "open the Intimidating the tion. Earlier, LP declared that it economy to give everybody hope." political opposition was "open" to joining the super- Under this slogan, the regime will Amid rivalries among his allies, majority to be established by Ca- certainly push for neoliberal consti- Duterte is ensuring that his political yetano in Congress.

6 July 2 1 , 2 01 9 ANG BAYANULY Prevailing civil-military junta

he civilian bureaucracy of the US-Duterte regime is Tdominated by what is practically a civil-military junta. This July, the number of positions in the govern- ment held by retired military and police officials already reached 64. Eleven of them are in his cabinet and spearhead major agencies. This number is set to in- crease as Rodrigo Duterte is set to appoint another re- tired soldier to head the Department of Agriculture.

These military and police offi- implicated in cials appointed by Duterte are noto- the "pabaon" rious for butchery, subservience to scandal in their US master and massive corrup- which he tion. He rewarded them with civil pocketed ₱50 powers to continue with the brutal million in counter-insurgency programs which "retirement they previously spearheaded as bat- benefits." talion and division commanders in Eduardo Mindanao. Thus, most of them have Año, veteran had earlier engagements with intelligence Duterte when he was still the Mayor officer, currently heads the De- sioner Ret. Gen. Rey Leonardo of Davao City. partment of Interior and Local Guerrero. He replaced Ret. Police Government which manages the Gen. Isidro Lapeña after being im- Militarized departments budget of the Philippine National plicated in smuggling ₱6.4 billion Five out of 21 departments of Police (PNP). He is responsible for worth of shabu from China. the Duterte government (one is va- the abduction of activist Jonas Despite this, Lapeña was reap- cant) are directly headed by retired Burgos as he served as the head of pointed as director of the Technical military officials. The Department the Intelligence Service of the Education and Skills Development of Agrarian Reform is also headed Armed Forces of the Philippines Authority. Former BoC chief by a graduate of the Philippine Mil- when the crime was perpetrated. Nicanor Faeldon who was com- tary Academy who did not serve as Año was also the commander of the pelled to resign was reappointed as a soldier. 10th ID when Leoncio Pitao (Ka chief of the Bureau of Corrections, Leading among these militarists Parago) was killed hors de combat the former position of PNP chief is Ret. Gen. , sec- in 2015. Ronaldo de la Rosa before running retary of the Department of Na- was also ap- for senator. Faeldon was involved tional Defense. He is a rabid imple- pointed as secretary of the Depart- in two coup attempts against for- mentor of US policies in the Armed ment of Information and Communi- mer president Gloria Arroyo. Forces of the Philippines (AFP) cation Technology. Honasan were Meanwhile, Carlito Galvez Jr. since he was appointed in 2002 as among the soldiers who mounted a was appointed as head of the Office Defense Attache of the AFP in coup against former president of the Presidential Adviser on the Washington DC. He worked hand in . Meanwhile, Ret. Peace Process after Duterte can- hand with Duterte in the late 1980s Gen. Rolando Bautista, a military celed peace negotiations between when he became the commander of chief of the Duterte regime who re- the GRP and the National Demo- the Second Scout Ranger Battalion cently retired, is the secretary of cratic Front of the Philippines. He in Davao City. the Department of Social Welfare was a military officer of Duterte The Department of Environment and Development. and was involved in a coup attempt and Natural Resources is headed by in 1989. Ret. Gen. . He was Other civilian positions Also currently headed by for- dubbed “General Pacman” for Duterte also offered them other mer military officials are the Hous- spearheading the "all-out war" in positions in the civilian bureaucracy ing and Urban Development Coor- Mindanao under the regime of outside his cabinet. Among these dinating Council, Metropolitan . When he was still are the Bureau of Customs (BoC) Development Authority and Chief of Staff of the AFP, he was which is now headed by Commis- National Security, among others.

ANG BAYAN July 2 1 , 2 01 9 7 Villagefolk foil abduction attempt

esidents of Barangay Bito-on in Jaro District, Iloilo City foiled the killing in Negros under the Duterte Rabduction attempt against Wilfredo “Tay Pido” Panuela, 65, leader of the regime. Katilingban sang mga Imol sa Syudad (Kaisog), by state agents this month. Harassment against church people criticizing the regime's Two intelligence agents were attempted abduction, attacks and crimes and violations of human held and brought by the villagefolk harassment against urban poor rights continue unabated in the at the barangay hall. Without leaders who are resisting demolition island. Military elements are providing any identification, they and condemning human rights currently looking for Rev. Joel claimed that they are members of violations. On July 8, the group Bengbeng of the United Methodist the Philippine Army and the Natio- trooped to the police headquarters Church (UMC) in Canlaon City and nal Bureau of Investigation. in Iloilo City. Rev. Brian Ascuit of UMC in San Panuela and his wife Josephine have On July 7, Salvador Romano was Pedro, Sta. Cruz to purportedly talk long been subjected to harassment murdered while aboard a motorcycle to them. due to their participation in the at Aglipay St., Poblacion, Manjuyod, In Ilocos, soldiers are struggles of the community. Negros Oriental. He was a former conducting so-called visits under Maura Abellon, leader of the staff of Karapatan Negros and is the Joint Campaign Plan Kapanata- Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap currently a member of the Iglesia gan to harass members of the IFI, in Panay and Guimaras, believes Filipina Independiente (IFI). He is UMC and the United Church of that the government is behind the the 48th victim of extrajudicial Christ in the Philippines.

8 July 2 1 , 2 01 9 ANG BAYANULY