Pahayagan ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas ANG Pinapatnubayan ng Marxismo-Leninismo-Maoismo English Edition Vol. LII No. 8 April 21, 2021 www.cpp.ph

EDITORIAL Celebrate five centuries of armed resistance

t dawn of , 2021, let us mark the 500th year of the Battle of spirit of and his aspiration , the first victory in the Filipino people's long and continuing to be free from foreign powers. history of armed resistance for national freedom. Let us salute From the hundreds of revolts in ALapulapu and the thousands who stood and vanquished the foreign armed more than three centuries of Span‐ oppressors led by . ish colonialism, in time rose as one under the red banner of The is a stark Lapulapu will forever serve as inspi‐ the Katipunan led by Andres Boni‐ symbol of the valiant stand and re‐ ration to the following generation of facio. They waged widespread sistance of indigenous Filipinos. Filipinos who rose up in arms to guerrilla warfare against the colo‐ They chose to bear arms and defend fight for freedom against foreign nial Spanish forces and liberated instead of bowing and paying trib‐ aggressors. the nation from foreign control. utes to a foreign king. They used At various stages of foreign Just as there were Humabons who their superiority in numbers and colonial rule, Filipinos took up arms bowed to Magellan, there was mastery of their land and sea to and fought oppression and ex‐ Aguinaldo and the rich illustrados render useless their enemy's fire‐ ploitation. They resisted the land who betrayed the nation and bowed power and frustrate the attempted grabbing, payment of tributes, to the colonial forces of America occupation. seizure of crops, forced labor and who forcibly took away the coun‐ Through armed resistance, La‐ cruel punishments. They produced try's freedom. pulapu defended their land against heroes such as , Rajah From Batangas to Balangiga in the Spanish forces and such traitors Sulayman, Palaris, Diego and Samar and other parts of the coun‐ as Humabon and Zula. Although Gabriela Silang, Francisco Dagohoy try, Filipinos rose with their guns Spain would later colonize the and thousands of others. They all and daggers. Filipinos fought , the valor displayed by were imbued with the indubitable valiantly even if they were brutally suppressed by the US forces using against fascist Japan even after the ple's democratic revolution under their superior weapons. More than a US-led forces surrendered and proletarian leadership, bringing the million Filipinos died in the course American troops withdrew in 1942. Katipunan's old democratic revolu‐ of armed anti-colonial resistance The US military forces returned in tion to a higher stage. and as a result of widespread 1945 to reimpose their colonial rule The Filipino people's armed hunger and disease during the war through bombings, treacherous at‐ struggle has spread nationwide. It of pacification in the first years of tacks against the Huk and relentless follows the strategic line of pro‐ the 1900s. counterguerrilla operations. Be‐ tracted people's war to systemati‐ The Filipino people's armed cause of the errors of leaders of the cally strengthen the people's army, struggle will resurge under the old Party who collaborated with the overcome in time the bigger and leadership of the old Communist enemy, the Hukbalahap (later the stronger US-supported Armed Party of the Philippines established Hukbong Mapagpalaya ng Bayan or Forces of the Philippines, and over‐ in 1930. The PKP established the People's Liberation Army) was led throw the class rule of the imperi‐ Hukbong Bayan Laban sa Hapon to the path of defeat or surrender alists, the big bourgeois (Hukbalahap, or the Anti-Japanese to the US puppet regime. compradors and big landlord class. People's Army) in 1942 that waged The New People's Army estab‐ Like the NPA, all the Filipino guerrilla warfare against the Japa‐ lished in 1969 took up the cudgels armed revolutions in the past were nese colonial forces. As in the past of Lapulapu and continued the Fil‐ vilified by the oppressors. They armed revolts, the Hukbalahap was ipino people's armed struggle for were called "bandits" or "insurec‐ principally a peasant army that national and social liberation. Led tos." Surely, if Lapulapu or others spread in the countryside and es‐ by the Party reestablished in 1968 who took up arms and rose were tablished organs of governance in under the guidance of Marxism- alive today, they too will be the entire Central Luzon and de‐ Leninism-Maoism, the NPA has branded "terrorists" by those who ployed units in , Southern brought the armed struggle to a fear and oppose the armed people. Luzon up to Panay and other places. new level and strength never The Filipino people's desire for The old Party and Hukbalahap reached before in the nation's his‐ national liberation which incited persevered in armed resistance tory. It is carrying forward the peo‐ successive generations over past centuries to bear arms remain the key objective that continues to ANG Contents rouse them to continue the march along the road of armed resistance. In fighting the imperialist giant and Editorial: Celebrate five centuries of armed Vol. LII No. 8 | April 21, 2021 all its tentacles, the Filipino people resistance 1 and their Red fighters draw inspi‐ The Battle of Mactan 3 Ang Ang Bayan is published ration from the armed valor of La‐ Masses oppose RCSP in Samar 4 in Pilipino, Bisaya, Iloko, pulapu and their victory at the NPA-Lanao observes first day of Ramadan 4 Hiligaynon, Waray, Battle of Mactan. Filled with the Firearms seized by NPA-Negros 4 English and Spanish. spirit of armed heroism of all past Heroes of Kalinga 4 Ang Bayan welcomes heroes, the NPA and all forces of Aid and wage increase now! 5 contributions in the form the people's democratic revolution ₱100-wage increase, big help to workers 5 of articles and news items. are ever determined to carry for‐ 2 civilians killed, 6 arrested 6 Readers are encouraged ward the struggle to attain genuine Salary increase for billionaires 6 to send feedback and national freedom and democracy. Explotation of coconut farmers 7 recommendations In short 8 for improving our newspaper. IMF-World Bank, landgrabber 9 Hate crimes against Asian-Americans 10 @prwc_info Do not rely on US to defend PH—CPP 10

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Ang Bayan is published fortnightly by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines

2 April 21, 2021 ANG BAYAN The Battle of Mactan

he Battle of Mactan on April 27, 1521 marked the first organized strug‐ Tgle of Filipinos against foreign colonizers. Datu Lapulapu and the in‐ digenous warriors bravely faced and defeated the led by Ferdinand Magellan who had superior weapons.

In the early 1600s during the warriors to force Datu early stage of capitalism, several Lapulapu, leader of empires such as that of Spain, Portu‐ Mactan, to submit. gal and Britain were competing with At midnight on each other to establish their colo ‐ April 26, Magellan nies, expand their trade activities, and his soldiers and advance their political and eco‐ left for Mactan nomic dominance across the globe. along with Italian Under this circumstance, the chronicler Anto‐ Portuguese Magellan proposed to nio Pigafetta. King Charles I to lead an expedition They arrived in to discover the Spice Islands, a Mactan three group of islands which is now known hours before dawn. Magellan did as Mollucas and is a part of Indone‐ not wish to fight then, but sent a down upon the foreigners with loud sia. Spices which can be found in message to Lapulapu through in‐ cries. From a distance, Magellan's the island such as pepper, cinna‐ digenous emmisaries to compel men fired their muskets and cross‐ mon, turmeric, ginger and other them to be baptized, recognize the bows. spices used as food condiments or King of Spain as their sovereign, or Magellan ordered his men to aromatics were very valuable to Eu‐ wait to see how their lances would burn the indigenous people's rope. After receiving approval, wound them. houses to terrify them. However, Magellan set sail in August 1519 Lapulapu was not intimidated this only roused them to greater with five ships and a crew of about and said thay they had lances of fury. Using their bows, they fired 250 men. bamboo and stakes hardened with poison arrows at the foreigners and It took them two years before fire. The asked the Spaniards not to charged. discovering any land. On March 17, proceed to attack at once and wait They attacked the Spaniards on 1521, the starving voyagers landed until morning. The vainglorious their flanks and front. They hurled in the island of Homonhon in Samar Magellan consented to Lapulapu's their and fired their arrows where they met some indigenous request. targetting the bare legs of the leaders. The latter were awed by Magellan was not a wise com‐ Spaniards. They focused their at‐ the foreign fleet which was armed mander. He belittled the indigenous tacks on Magellan until his arm and with 12 cannons and muskets which people's determination to fight back leg were wounded. When Magellan fire "thunder and lightning," 50 and not be conquered by the colo‐ fell face downward towards the crossbows, , axes and metal nizers. He also failed to analyze the water and died, the Spaniards fled armors. In the name of "friend‐ characteristics of the island and retreated aboard their ships. ship," they were baptized as Chris‐ wherein there were many protrud‐ Meanwhile along the shores of tians and were made to bend their ing rocks and corals near the shore Mactan, Lapulapu and his men knee before the authority of Spain which prevented the fleet from ap‐ shouted in victory. According to Pi‐ and were obliged to pay tribute and proaching nearer. Magellan and his gafettas notes, 12 of them were taxes. men leaped into thigh-high waters killed (eight Europeans including Using divide and conquer as and walked through water before Magellan, and four of Humabon's strategy, Magellan ordered Rajah they could reach the shore of Mac‐ men). The surviving Spaniards fled Humabon, the leader of , to tan. Upon reaching land, they saw Cebu and continued to sail until make everyone bow to his power. On Lapulapu's warriors formed in three they reached the Spice Islands. April 26, 1521, Humabon and an‐ divisions. Pigafetta estimated that They returned to Spain in 1522 other cheiftain named Zula sug‐ Lapulapu had about 1,500 fighters. with only two ships led by Captain gested Magellan to use their The indigenous people charged Juan Elcano.

ANG BAYAN April 21, 2021 3 The masses' united struggle NPA-Negros seizes 3 short firearms against RCSP in Samar TWO INTELLIGENCE AGENTS he relentless Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) operations of the 15th IB were killed in an Tof the Armed Forces of the Philippines in a town in Western Samar which ambush by the New People's has which now has lasted more than a year has failed to break the firm unity Army (NPA)-Southwest Negros of the peasant masses and their support to the revolution. The said town is (Armando Sumayang Jr. Com‐ part of a guerrilla front which the 8th ID has touted to have "decimated." mand) at Sitio Cambaga, Yaoyao, Cauayan, Negros Oc‐ cidental on April 3. A .45 cali‐ During this time, soldiers re‐ identify residents who disobey their bre pistol, isang 9mm Glock, peatedly summoned farmers in a orders. and intelligence documents military camp to force them to "sur‐ Villagers complained that they were confiscated from them. render" and serve the reactionary could no longer go to their farms In the afternoon, four 15th IB army as assets or spies. They were over fears of police and military troopers were killed in an en‐ coerced to lie, and pretend to have surveillance. Hunger caused by the counter with the NPA. "come down from the mountains military operation is worse than On April 13, another pistol due to difficulties," or admit that what they experienced during the was seized from an active they are "members" of the people's lockdown. agent of the 7th Intelligence militia, local Party branch or com‐ To monitor the operations of the Service Unit in Barangay Cons‐ mittees of local chapters of the military and police, villagefolk sched‐ ing, E.B. Magalona, Negros Oc‐ Pambansang Katipunan ng Mag‐ uled to guard their community round cidental. bubukid. the clock. They also implemented a A day earlier, the NPA- In a barrio, residents collec‐ logbook system to list down the North Negros torched three tively decided to disobey the sum‐ names of all individuals who enter backhoes used in destructive mons of the military to express their their community. Tree logs were also quarrying in Barangay E. opposition to the harassment placed along the road to prevent the Lopez, Silay City. The quarry‐ against them. Afterwards, police‐ entry of vehicles and motorcycle ing operation has caused mas‐ men and soldiers in plainclothes re‐ which the military and police use to sive flooding in the area as well peatedly entered the community to enter their community. as environmental destruction. These are owned by Mayor Mark Andrew Golez of Silay City and cost about ₱16.6 mil‐ NPA-Lanao expresses solidarity with Moros for Ramadan lion.

THE NEW PEOPLE'S ARMY (NPA)-Lanao stood in solidarity with the Moro people as they started to observe the holy month of Ramadan. In solidarity, the Red fighters also fasted on April 12, the first day of Ramadan. This is the fourth Ramadan since the Duterte regime ravaged Marawi and evicted its HEROES OF KALINGA. The revolu‐ residents. Until today, Moros have yet to return to their communities and tionary movement in Kalinga paid trib‐ just rely on the aid of international agencies. The conditions in evacuations ute to Rudy Daguitan (Ka Pinpin) and continue to worsen by the day due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Nora Miguel (Ka Lanie), veteran Red Amid the grave hardships military's indisciminate bombing fighters in the province, who were slain suffered by the Moro people, they and strafing in their communities. in an encounter last March 15 in are further driven away from their They join other evacuees who suffer Barangay Gawaan, Balbalan. Ka Pinpin communities by the Duterte difficulties in commemorating Ra ‐ was a military cadre while Ka Kabue regimes. Among them are 1,500 ma dan this year. was a medic. They were both steeled families from Barangay Pusaw, The NPA-Lanao called on the by challenges since the Second Great Sharif Saydona Mustafa and 600 Moro people to continue to aspire Rectification Movement and the re‐ families from Barangay Kitango, for a liberated society where their strengthening of the revolutionary Datu Saudi Ampataun who were rights to self-determination will be movement in the province. Agbiag dag‐ forced to evacuate due to the respected. iti bannuar ti umili!

4 April 21, 2021 ANG BAYAN down upon the foreigners with loud cries. From a distance, Magellan's men fired their muskets and cross‐ bows. Magellan ordered his men to burn the indigenous people's houses to terrify them. However, this only roused them to greater fury. Using their bows, they fired poison arrows at the foreigners and charged. They attacked the Spaniards on their flanks and front. They hurled their spears and fired their arrows targetting the bare legs of the Spaniards. They focused their at‐ tacks on Magellan until his arm and leg were wounded. When Magellan fell face downward towards the water and died, the Spaniards fled and retreated aboard their ships. Meanwhile along the shores of Mactan, Lapulapu and his men shouted in victory. According to Pi‐ gafettas notes, 12 of them were killed (eight Europeans including Magellan, and four of Humabon's men). The surviving Spaniards fled Cebu and continued to sail until they reached the Spice Islands. They returned to Spain in 1522 with only two ships led by Captain Juan Elcano.

Demand for 2021 Labor Day Just aid and wage increase now!

he Kilusang Mayo Uno, along with its affiliate unions and other labor or‐ Tganizations, launched a series of protest last April 16 to drumbeat their demand for a ₱10,000-aid for all who lost their jobs during the pandemic and a ₱100-wage increase for all workers and farm workers. On the same day, workers conducted a noise barrage in Mendiola, Manila to demand the imple‐ mentation of a ₱750-national daily minimum wage. On April 19, more than 100 members of the 10K Ayuda Network marched in Quezon City in conjunc‐ tion with the filing of petition for the distribution of ₱10,000-aid to 18 million suffered from the extremely long families for two months. A protest action was also mounted in Davao City on lockdown. April 9. In a research by the Economic Policy Research Institute last De‐ On April 15, the Unyon ng mga regime when it implemented a two- cember 2020 in NCR, almost all ur‐ Manggagawa sa Agrikultura filed a week enhanced community quaran‐ ban poor families (19 out of 20) petition at the Department of Labor tine in the National Capital Region said that they experienced job or and Employment (DOLE) for a ₱100- and four other provinces is only income loss last year. Only more wage increase for 10.3 million farm equivalent two a two-day salary in than half (65%) said that they were workers. The petition was filed de‐ the National Capital Region (NCR). able to receive financial aid. Major‐ spite the agency's junking of the This is way lower than the ₱420-bil‐ ity (92%) of these families said that earlier demand of the Defend Jobs lion aid package under the Bayani‐ they have at least one family mem‐ Philippines' insisting that an across- han 3 which was proposed in ber who is vulnerable to Covid-19 the-board wage increase is beyond Congress, and even lower than ₱1.5 infection (elderly, pregnant, babies, its authority. trillion aid package suggested by sick or disabled.) The ₱1,000-aid from the ₱23 Ibon Foundation for decent aid to Given that urban poor families billion allocated by the Duterte more and more families who have loss 30% of their income and that not all have been able to receive aid, the institute estimated that na‐ tional poverty headcount ratio ₱100 wage increase, big help to workers (those who live on $1.90 or ₱90 per A ₱100-INCREASE in daily wages will significantly help workers, day) to have doubled to 32.8% in especially those who work in industries and services considered es‐ 2020 from 16.8% in 2018. sential amid the pandemic. Majority of them face job insecurity, Among those who suffered are compensated below the legislated minimum wages, and work hardships are are the millions who under "no work, no pay" arrangement. lost their jobs and income. Around These workers include Andrea who is employed in a restaurant 12 million workers were unem‐ which opens or closes depending on the level of lockdown. She has ployed or underemployed last Feb‐ been working as a contractual employee for a year now with a daily ruary. This excludes millions of wage pegged at ₱336. workers dropped from the labor Bob, who works for an agency outsourced by an internet ser‐ force survey during the same pe‐ vice provider, also favors this proposal as he only receives ₱400 riod. daily. Most of those reemployed when Mon, a delivery rider who earns up to ₱500 per day, said that the economy was reopened are in this should even be increased to ₱200. He said that this is not im‐ occupations with low wages and possible especially during the pandemic when many depend on that are contractual or informal. their services. According to Ibon Foundation, 48% Although receiving a daily wage of ₱1,300 per day, call center or 923,000 of the 1.9 million work‐ agent Karla said that she is in favor of the ₱100-wage increase. ers who were reemployed in Febru‐ She said that it is appropriate to implement this to ensure that ary are part-time workers (with less workers are able to live decently. than 40 working hours), while 23% of them were categorized as em‐ ployed but furloughed.

ANG BAYAN April 21, 2021 5 HEROES OF KALINGA. The revolu‐ tionary movement in Kalinga paid trib‐ ute to Rudy Daguitan (Ka Pinpin) and Nora Miguel (Ka Lanie), veteran Red fighters in the province, who were slain in an encounter last March 15 in Barangay Gawaan, Balbalan. Ka Pinpin was a military cadre while Ka Kabue was a medic. They were both steeled by challenges since the Second Great Rectification Movement and the re‐ strengthening of the revolutionary movement in the province. Agbiag dag‐ iti bannuar ti umili!

State forces kill 2 civilians, arrest 6 others in Negros

he police and militar's reign of terror continue unabated at three sitios Maynila at the barangay hall to Tin Barangay Nagbinlod, Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental. On March 29, six purportedly undergo randomized civilians were arrested including a 2-year old child, and two were killed in the swab testing last April 19. Ban‐ area. As in previous attacks on civilians, evidences of firearms were planted gayan was immediately released in the houses of the victims to make it appear that they are members of the while the whereabouts of Lucena New People's Army (NPA). remain unknown to her lawyer and friends. Lucena was among those At Sitio Balog, the military killed Killing. Jesus Pason Jr., tricycle previously identified by the NTF- Fredo Binangkil and Julito Solano driver and a resident of Basurahan, ELCAC to have been "kidnapped" by and made it appear that they were Barangay Mambulay, Silay City, Ne‐ Kabataan Party List and Mak‐ killed in an encounter. In sitios gros Occidental was gunned down abayan to vilify activists. She is the Payawpayawan and Bayog, state last April 17. He was a member of daughter of NTF-ELCAC agent and forces arrested couple Marites and the Pasil Homeowners Association, Hands Off Our Children spokesper‐ Benjie Saingga along with their 2- Inc. and Kadamay-Negros. son Relissa Lucena. year old child, Wilmar Jiminez and Arrest. In Eastern Samar, the Red-tagging. Volunteers of the two other farmers. 52nd IB arrested Erwin Ramirez “community pantry” in Maginhawa, Simultaneously, the police Mortal and Pablito Lapesora Quezon City and Pandacan, Manila raided the house of Nene Solano, Libanan during the last week of were forced to temporarily stop leader of the Kilusang Magbubukid February and were accused of being their operations last April 20 after ng Pilipinas-Negros Oriental. His fa‐ NPA members. Both farmers are their initiatives were red-tagged by ther-in-law was mauled. residents of Casapa, Barangay the police. Bombing. The AFP dropped six Dinigpian, Dolores. The community pantry is a form bombs last April 6 in Barangay Kas‐ In , state forces arrested of mutual aid among residents apa II, La Paz, Agusan del Sur Oscar Balonga, chairperson of the which receives food items and gives terrorizing residents. The forested Bongbong Farmers Association, last them to those in need. area of the barangay was also re‐ April 7. He is currently detained at This initiative was launched last peatedly strafed. The 60th IB and the Police Station. April 15 and was followed by 300 26th IB has been scouring commu‐ Abuction. Agents of the NTF- other initiatives across the country. nities along the boundaries of La ELCAC abducted Alicia Lucena and Earlier, employees of the Senate Paz, Loreto and San Luis in Agusan Sofia Bangayan, members of and Supreme Court, as well as the del Sur, and Kapalong, Davao del Anakbayan, after being summoned Alliance of Health Workers were Norte since February. by officials of Barangay 483 in also red-tagged by the NTF-ELCAC.

Bonus and salary increase for billionaires

AMID WIDESPREAD UNEMPLOYMENT and income loss suffered by busi‐ in 2020 from ₱277 million in 2019. nesses, top executives of big companies raised their own income by millions Meanwhile, 17 billionaires were of pesos by in the form of bonuses and salary increases in 2020. listed in the Forbes' list of richest individuals in the world. They in‐ Six executives of GMA 7, inclu ‐ of PLDT increased by 12%. The said clude Manuel Villar (352nd richest) ding Felipe Gozon and Gilberto Du‐ company operates Smart Telecom‐ who was recorded to have the high‐ avit, received ₱259 million in bonuses munications. Its officers collectively est net work in the country, fol‐ in 2020, 43% higher than what they received an additional P1 million in lowed by Enrique Razon, Lucio Tan, received in 2019. This is on top of the bonuses in 2020. Andrew Tan, Sy siblings, Ramon 37% salary increase which they re‐ On the other hand, Globe Ang, Lance Gokongwei, Roberto ceived during the same period. Telecommunications head Ernest Cu Ongpin, Ricardo Po and Edgar Sia. Similarly, the salary of Manuel and four other executives earned Amazon chief Jeff Bezos remains Pangilinan and four other officials ₱295 million in salaries and bonuses the richest individual globally.

6 April 21, 2021 ANG BAYAN suffered from the extremely long lockdown. In a research by the Economic Policy Research Institute last De‐ cember 2020 in NCR, almost all ur‐ ban poor families (19 out of 20) said that they experienced job or income loss last year. Only more than half (65%) said that they were able to receive financial aid. Major‐ ity (92%) of these families said that they have at least one family mem‐ ber who is vulnerable to Covid-19 infection (elderly, pregnant, babies, sick or disabled.) Given that urban poor families loss 30% of their income and that not all have been able to receive aid, the institute estimated that na‐ tional poverty headcount ratio (those who live on $1.90 or ₱90 per day) to have doubled to 32.8% in 2020 from 16.8% in 2018. Among those who suffered hardships are are the millions who lost their jobs and income. Around 12 million workers were unem‐ ployed or underemployed last Feb‐ ruary. This excludes millions of workers dropped from the labor force survey during the same pe‐ riod. Most of those reemployed when the economy was reopened are in occupations with low wages and that are contractual or informal. According to Ibon Foundation, 48% or 923,000 of the 1.9 million work‐ ers who were reemployed in Febru‐ ary are part-time workers (with less than 40 working hours), while 23% of them were categorized as em‐ ployed but furloughed.

Intense exploitation of coconut farmers

n contrast to the hardships of coconut farmers, big Ilandlords, traders and monopolistic corporations con‐ tinue to fatten their pockets. Amid the pandemic, the ex‐ ploitation of coconut farmers has further intensified.

In December 2020, a tenant the average farm‐ family based in a barrio of Ca‐ gate price of copra marines Sur which tends a four- was only ₱18.75 hectare coconut farm earned a per kilo. Lowest of measly ₱4,900. Of the 661 kilos of which was in East‐ copra which they processed, 20% ern (₱14). (which is valued at around ₱3,960 Although the price in at a price of ₱30 per kilo) was not Bicol increased to ₱30, the purchased by the trader. Despite income of a coconut farmer is how well the copra was processed, actually low due to resikada. traders still impose resiko or the Traders make around P8.45 profit percentage arbitrarily shaved off for every kilo of cheap copra when from the price of the product due to these are sold to factories, who in moisture content. turn further jack up prices when The whole family participated in they sell to the export market. P&G increased during the pandemic. the production to minimize their ex‐ Local plants primarily supply Among all food manufacturing com‐ penses. After deducting transporta‐ copra to large foreign companies panies globally, Nestlé recorded an tion costs to their gross income for which manufacture food and other income of $13 billion in 2020 which 529 kilos of copra (₱15,870), the consumer goods. These plants in‐ was the biggest during the said family was left with ₱14,700. Under clude those which are under the Co‐ year, higher by 2.8% than in 2019. the tersyuhan system, two-thirds of conut Industry Investment Fund-Oil The highest income of the corpora‐ the said income will go to the land‐ Mills Group which was funded dur‐ tion was from its sales of Purina, lord, while while the farmer gets ing the Marcos dictatorship using which manufactures animal feeds only one-third (₱4,900). This is the taxes of coconut farmers. These using the byproduct of processed equivalent to ₱109 per day which plants initially process copra into copra. the farmer has to stretch over the coconut oil or other products. Cargill on the other hand next 45 days for his family of eight. From January to October 2020, recorded an income of $3 billion Due to successive typhoons the Philippines exported a total of during the same year from $2.56 which hit the said barrios during the 1.4 million metric tons of copra. Due billion before the pandemic. P&G, last quarter of 2020, the income of to the pandemic, this is lower by the biggest multinational company coconut farmers further shrank. 21% from 1.8 million metric tons which produces personal care prod‐ They were able to survive by plant‐ during the same period in 2019. The ucts (soaps, shampoos, tooth‐ ing vegetables and asserting their Philippines is the leading exporter pastes) recorded an income of right to forego land rent payment of copra (64%) globally. $12.76 billion in 2020 from $3.63 for two copra processing seasons. Processed food products and billion in the previous year. While farmers went hungry, sanitation products that are copra- Millions of dollars in profit was traders accumulated huge profits based became in demand since the accumulated by Philippine-based from the copra they bought. Ac‐ lockdown. This includes products by companies which produce coconut cording to the Philippine Coconut Nestlé and Cargill (food manufac‐ oil. These include the Peter Paul Authority, the farmgate price of co‐ turing multinationals), and Procter Philippines Corporation and Primex pra significantly decreased from and Gamble (P&G) which source Coco Products, which are among ₱54 per kilo in January 2017 to their raw materials from the Philip‐ the biggest processors and ex‐ ₱13.39 per kilo in January 2019. In pines and two other countries in porters of coconut products glob‐ some areas, farmgate prices went Asia. ally, and recorded $13.8 million in for as low as ₱12 per kilo. In 2020, Profits of Nestlé, Cargill and sales in 2020.

ANG BAYAN April 21, 2021 7 8 April 21, 2021 ANG BAYAN IMF-World Bank, landgrabber and environmental plunderer

rogressive organizations went online last April 11 to protest the opening tation of the Support to Parceliza‐ Pof the Spring Meeting of the International Monetary Fund-World Bank tion of Lands for Individual Titles, a (IMF-WB). In this meeting, leaders of the IMF-WB and delegates discussed program which will divide collective the issues of Covid-19, debt and climate change. As in the past, the IMF-WB land titles to railroad land aquisi‐ claimed to be an "environmental champion" by announcing its plans to "for‐ tion by foreign companies which give" the debt of poor countries in exchange for implementing "green invest‐ target to establish "mega farms" or ments." In truth, these projects are only a continuation of the neoliberal plantations in the country. The said agenda railroaded by the institution across the world. Such projects are be‐ program covers around 1.4 million ing used to pave way for large-scale grabbing and use conversion of forests hectares of agricultural land culti‐ and farm lands to the detriment of the environment and the people who de‐ vated by around one million farm‐ pend on these for their livelihood. ers. Last year, the country received a $370-million loan (₱17.8 billion) The IMF-WB utilizes both capi‐ Papua New Guinea. The IFC loaned from the WB for the said program. tal investments and loans to coun‐ the company $200 million (₱9.6 bil‐ tries and corporations to facilitate lion at an exchange rate of $1=₱48) Anti-environment land aquisition. According to a re‐ in 2016 for expansion of its opera‐ The WB is making it appear that searh by International Development tions which resulted in the eviction it allocates "climate funds" to sup‐ Association, IMF-WB directly of 150,000 Guineans from their an‐ posedly protect the environment funded at least 14 large land deals cestral lands and the poisoning of a and combat climate change. How‐ of various companies covering at river which serves as residents pri‐ ever, it was exposed that around least 900,000 hectares and pro‐ mary source of drinking water. It 70% of the programs that it funded vided securities financing to over funded a similar project in Myanmar are power generation projects in‐ 700,000 more in Africa, Latin Amer‐ which resulted in the eviction of cluding megadams and coal-pow‐ ica, South and South East Asia. 16,000 farmers and Karen minori‐ ered power plants in 12 countries. Worst of these concessions ties from 23 communities. These projects are notorious for were funded by the International In over 30 countries, the IFC forcibly evicting entire communities Finance Corporation (IFC), an actively funds various landgrabbing and destroying the environment agency of the WB which invests di‐ concessions through its local inter‐ Data by World Bank in 2015 in‐ rectly in private companies. Among mediaries such as banks and and dicate that the Philippines received the projects it funded was the baux‐ private equities. the biggest investments ($4.9 bil‐ ite mining operation of Compagnie In the Philippines, the WB is lion or ₱235.2 billion) for such des Bauxites de Guinée (CBG) in currently pushing for the implemen‐ projects, followed by South Africa, Chile and Malaysia. Across the globe, it allocated the highest funds ($1.2 billion or ₱57.6 billion) to the San Buenaventura Power Plant in Mauban, Quezon. Additionally, $937 million (₱45 billion) was allo‐ cated to the Therma Visayas Power Plant in Toledo City, Cebu. Both are coal-fired powerplants. This March, the WB revised its climate policy to purportedly miti‐ gate climate change. However, many criticized this as it has not in‐ cluded the commitment to stop funding power generation projects which utilize fossil fuel and coal.

ANG BAYAN April 21, 2021 9 Hate crimes against Asian-Americans escalate

ate crimes against Asian-Americans in the US Hare escalating. Hate crimes pertain to crimes committed on the basis of a particular skin color, race, , national or ethnic origin, age or gender. One of such case is that of a 65-year old Filipina who was kicked in the head in New York. On the same day, a male Asian-American was found unconscious in the city’s subway. According to the New York police, hate crimes in the city rose from 2 to 28 in 2020. For the first few months of 2021 alone, it rose to 30.

Stop AAPI Hate, a non-go vern ‐ the cause for the rise in Asian- supposedly are carriers of diseases. mental organization, recor ded 3,800 American hate crimes. When the This was compounded by the view hate incidents against Asian-Ame ‐ pandemic fist hit, Trump renamed that these foreign workers were rican in 2020. One of the most recent Covid-19 as the “China virus,” “stealing” jobs in the country. In is the shooting in three Asian-Ameri‐ “Wuhan virus” and even “Kung flu” the following years, this was made can businesses in Atlanta last March which fanned the flames of the worse by the myth that all Asian- 17. Six, out of eight, shot were extant xenophobia of some sections Americans are “hard-working, meek Asian-American women. of the American society against at smart or good in maths” which The real number of hate inci‐ Asian-Americans. make them serious competition in dents is higher as most of these, like Xenophobia against Asian- scoring limited jobs. intimidation, cursing and discrimi‐ Americans is rooted in decades of At present, there are around 20 nation, are not reported by Asian- discrimination in the health systemn million Asian-Americans in the US. Americans. Many hate crimes are against Asians, particularly the Chi‐ The largest group are of Chinese also reported as ordinary crimes. nese. Betweeen 1910-1940, the US descent, followed by Filipinos and Many blame previous US presi‐ outrightly banned the entry of Chi‐ Indians. Other groups are Viet‐ dent Donald Trump’s statements as nese workers into the US as they namese, Korean and Japanese.

"Do not rely on the US to defend the Philippines"—CPP

he Philippines should not rely on the US to defend the West Philippine will demonstrate and reinforce US TSea against Chinese encroachment. This was the Party’s statement on control over the doctrine and oper‐ the opening of the 10-day Balikatan 2020 last April 13. ations of hte AFP. It will intensify its counterinsurgency operations which The annual US and Philippine against China’s invasion of the victimizes the Filipino people. army joint exercises are currently Philippine seas through its militia “The Balikatan this year is being held in various parts of Luzon ve ssels, Coast Guard, and big fi ‐ made more contemptuous in the with fewer participants (736 Filipino shing vessels. face of the AFP’s war of suppression soldiers and 225 American) com‐ In fact, Balikatan is one the US in the countryside,” according to pared to previous iterations. key activities to train the AFP as the Party. In contrast, the AFP’s The US is making it appear that support its units in its overseas op‐ long reliance on the US army has through Balikatan, the Philippines erations, particularly in the Asia-Pa‐ made it incapable of defending the can count on the US in its fight cific. As in the past, the Balikatan nation’s territory on its own.

10 April 21, 2021 ANG BAYAN