Pahayagan ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas ANG Pinapatnubayan ng Marxismo-Leninismo-Maoismo English Edition Vol. XLI No. 19 October 7, 2010 www.philippinerevolution.net

Editorial Repudiate the US-Aquino regime

enigno Aquino III's much-vaunted agenda of Cojuangco-Aquino family intimidated, deceived and change has lost its appeal among the people. bribed the peasants and farm workers of Hacienda B After 100 days in power, his government is fast Luisita to make it appear that their long-drawn Stock becoming exposed as a puppet regime that is no dif- Distribution Option (SDO) gimmick enjoyed wide- ferent from previous reactionary regimes. In the face spread support, thus enabling them to continue of a series of issues that ex- avoiding the distribution of the hacienda land. Aqui- ploded during Aquino's first no feigned a hands-off policy regarding 100 days in Malacañang, his this scheme. But he has only suc- regime's pro-imperialist, elitist, ceeded in demonstrating his lack shallow, inutile, militarist and rotten of intention to advance genuine to the core character is becoming evi- land reform whether in Haci- dent to the people. enda Luisita or other estates In accordance with a US- in the country. brokered agreement between He has paved the way for Aquino and Gloria Arroyo, further US intervention in ex- the current regime has not change for political, military, eco- shown any seriousness in nomic and financial prosecuting Arroyo for her myriad support from the crimes against the people. Aquino US. He is in favor of promised this to court mass support, allout counterrevolutionary but up to now, the only thing he US military intervention in the has done is to form the Philippines and utilizing the coun- Truth Commission as try as a base for US military domina- an investigative tion in Southeast Asia and the body. The commis- Pacific region. Aquino also fa- sion now faces several legal and vors the permanent presence of other impediments. This pro- US combat troops in the country. He has vides Arroyo and her cohorts a not fulfilled his pledge to take up the issue of wide berth to come up with legal, po- the Visiting Forces Agreement in meeting with litical and other maneuvers to US Pres. Barack Obama. evade prosecution and punish- Despite his statements on “peace,” he has ment. not shown any serious interest in conduct- One month after their ing formal peace talks with the National clan's ascent to power, the Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

Pandering to foreign This issue’s Grand imperialist 5 peasant leaders slain interests at the deception PAGE 3 PAGE 11 highlights... people’s expense PAGE 7 Instead, he has demanded a al budget for 2011 is counterrevo- massive push to the further dena- “ceasefire” as a precondition for lutionary, neoliberal, mendicant tionalization, privatization, liberal- any talks, in violation of The Hague and antipeople. It allocates the ization and deregulation of the Joint Declaration and other agree- biggest portion to debt service and Philippine economy. It is frenzied- ments. His security and military of- practically doubles the budget of ly selling strategic industries, pub- ficials are currently preoccupied the Armed Forces of the Philippines lic utilities and other businesses with their “local peace talks” (AFP) to give further stress to and resources to big foreign capi- scheme which involves nothing COIN. The Depart- talists. Aquino's main con- more than the reactionary govern- ment of Social Wel- cern during his US visit ment talking to its own shadow. fare and Development was to sell to big capi- Aquino's hands are stained in (DSWD) received the hefti- talists hundreds of blood with his orders to extend the est increase in accord- billions of pesos previous regime's OBL terrorist ance with the US' worth of privatiza- campaign even as he readies his design to keep im- tion, invest- own version of this counterinsur- poverished countries ment and com- gency (COIN) operational plan. The and peoples dependent mercial projects in US-Aquino regime turns a deaf ear on doleouts, and the country that have to the people's widespread grievan- likewise enable been made more at- ces against rampant injustice and the DSWD to tractive through vari- violations of human rights. At least play a major role in ous tax exemptions 16 activists have been killed by COIN. On the other and other privileges. armed agents of the state since hand, government sub- The people are being made Aquino came to power. The Morong sidies for farmers to bear the brunt not only of 43 are still in detention despite the and rice consumers the government's bankruptcy flimsy case that has been filed as well as other support and the losses incurred by its de- against them and in the face of for agriculture, public colleges and graded services, but also of the widespread calls in the country and universities, government hospitals high cost of privatization. worldwide for their immediate re- and health programs for the poor, Water companies servicing Met- lease. At least 388 other political housing programs and legal sup- ro Manila are set to hike their fees prisoners continue to languish in port for migrant workers and other this October and fares at the Metro jails and military camps nation- important economic and social Rail Transit and Light Rail Transit wide. needs have all been slashed. will also be raised in November, all The US-Aquino regime's nation- The Aquino regime is giving a in a bid to make them more lucra- tive and attractive to prospective ANG investors. Contents Contrary to one of Aquino's Editorials campaign promises, his regime is Vol. XLI No. 19 October 7, 2010 Repudiate the US-Aquino regime 1 on the lookout for opportunities to Imperialist deception 3 impose new taxes on the people. It Ang Bayan is published in Pilipino, Philippines for sale 5 had planned on collecting the 12% Bisaya, Iloko, Hiligaynon, Waray and Jueteng rooted in rottenness of society 6 English editions. Water rates hiked 6 VAT on toll fees on expressways, It is available for downloading at QC-CBD: Boon to foreigners, bane to the people 7 but was stymied by intense opposi- the Philippine Revolution Web Central Demolition halted 8 tion to the move and cases filed by Education budget suffers further cuts 9 located at: the people in court. Victorious tactical offensives www.philippinerevolution.net The country and the entire Ang Bayan welcomes contributions 1003rd Brigade punished 10 in the form of articles and news. 8th ID victories belied 10 world were witness to Aquino and Readers are likewise enjoined to send Fascist state on a rampage his administration's grave incom- in their comments and suggestions for 5 peasant leaders slain 11 petence during the hostage-taking the betterment of our publication. You 80 days, 8,000 victims 12 crisis in Manila on August 23. From can reach us by email at: Protest for land reform 12 [email protected] start to finish, the incident was a demonstration of failure and disor- Ang Bayan is published fortnightly by the Central Committee ganization that culminated in the of the Communist Party of the Philippines death of eight foreign tourists as 2 ANG BAYAN October 7, 2010 well as the hostage-taker. It thor- Editorial oughly exposed the rottenness and incompetence of the ruling system and the Aquino adminis- Grand imperialist tration. An investigative commit- tee has recommended filing the appropriate charges against at deception least ten police and government officials, but has nonetheless he United Nations set in the year 2000 the so-called Millennium faied to zero in on Aquino's ac- Development Goals (MDG)—eight targets purporting to resolve countability. T poverty and concomitant global problems by 2015. Ten years Aquino has appointed corrupt after, it is clear that the MDG has no other objective but to serve as officials to his cabinet and other window dressing for neoliberalism and cover up the brutal onslaught of high-ranking positions. These are imperialist globalization and aggression. mostly payback for political debts, US imperialism put up the Mil- been pushing for decades. especially for the huge amounts lennium Challenge Account (MCA) The MDG is now one of the in- invested in his electoral cam- as its own instrument in pushing struments being used by imperial- paign. He has turned a blind eye for the MDG. The MCA is being ist countries to keep poor coun- to the glaring cases these officials utilized to fund so-called poverty tries backward, unindustrialized, are embroiled in, among them the alleviation programs as well as mendicant and subjugated. illegal numbers game jueteng. He projects to uplift the low quality Through this, the imperialists has defended the guilty and ma- of life of people living in impover- deflect the people's attention ligned those who have exposed ished countries. Such assistance is from the root causes of their pov- them. These controversies have granted on condition that the erty and shift it to shallow indica- exposed the factional conflicts donees implement the imperialist tors of poverty and socio-econom- within his government and under- policies of privatization, liberali- ic problems. Meantime, imperial- scored the fractiousness and dirty zation and deregulation and do ists are able to continue with political maneuvers, the infirmi- not default on their debts. It is their plunder as they divert the ties of the executive and Aquino's these same policies people with such lofty targets. failure to govern. that the International Even as they give doleouts, Aquino's demonstrated pro-im- Monetary Fund monopoly capitalists further perialist, pro-landlord and anti- and World Bank tighten their hold on worldwide people stance in these issues por- (IMF-WB) have food production and supply sys- tends even greater suffering for tems. As it is in the Philippines, the masses of the Filipino people many countries are now depend- in the remaining years of the US- ent on food imports while the old Aquino regime. Now that the emp- feudal and semifeudal land mo- tiness of Aquino's promises and nopoly exists and foreign imperi- the shallowness of his political alists along gimmickry are being exposed one with their after the other, the people have local co- no recourse but to wage revolu- conspirators tionary and militant struggle to in agribusiness, defend and advance their inter- ests. The people will surely rise to resist and repudiate the rotten- ness of the US-Aquino regime and the entire ruling semicolonial and semifeudal system that has been oppressing and condemning the country and the Filipino people to suffering. ~ ANG BAYAN October 7, 2010 3 mining and logging lord it over. Doleouts are provided for pri- mary education but governments Eight points of deception slash budgets for public education he imperialists through the United Nations set in 2000 the fol- as part of the austerity measures Tlowing targets for countries to achieve by 2015. It is absurd dictated by the IMF-WB. World- that the problems they purportedly want to resolve are the very wide, almost half of the youth of problems that are being exacerbated by imperialist neoliberal poli- high school age are unable to go to cies worldwide. school. Simultaneously, the priva- tization and commercialization of 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger education is being pushed. Schools 2. Achieve universal primary education are made to serve as molders of 3. Promote gender equality and empower women personnel whose skills are appro- 4. Reduce child mortality rate priate to the needs of multination- 5. Improve maternal health al corporations. 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases Free health programs for moth- 7. Ensure environmental sustainability ers and infants are offered, but 8. Develop a global partnership for development public hospitals and health servi- ces in general are allowed to go to pot. In the name of guaranteeing changes in global climates and It covers up imperialist wars of “intellectual property rights,” im- wreaking havoc on the lives of aggression and the squandering of perialist companies are able to many peoples. huge resources, the continued exis- maintain atrociously high prices of Mountains, bodies of water and tence of colonialism and neocolo- medicines, thus depriving millions entire land masses have been com- nialism and monopoly capitalist of people of access to affordable pletely destroyed by mining, log- greed which have condemned most medicines. Almost nine million ging and other plunderous opera- countries and the majority of the children younger than five years of tions that are accompanied by world's population to endless age die annually, mainly because of widespread abuse, brutality, evacu- bondage and oppression. malnutrition, the spread of pre- ations, destruction of liveli- It is currently the duty of the ventable diseases and lack hoods and other violations of revolutionary and progressive for- of clean water and sanita- the rights of the local popu- ces the world over to expose the tion. lation. emptiness of this gradiose imperi- Declarations The MDG does not have alist scheme that is the MDG. The have been any genuine intention of impoverished peoples of the world made on the solving poverty, hunger, wide- who comprise the majority must be need to pro- spread dis- made aware of this scheme, and tect the envi- ease and their attention and actions focused ronment, but corruption. on the need for a decisive solution the MDG is ut- It pays no to injustice and oppression which terly useless heed to de- are rooted in the rottenness of so- in the face of mands for so- cieties ruled by imperialism. the destruc- cial justice and In every corner of the globe, tion wrought by mo- basic changes that the wherever are found the poor, the nopoly capitalists progressive forces and deprived, the subjugated and op- whose only interest is to people's movements have pressed, revolutionary struggle and plunder and extract super- been clamoring for worldwide. widespread mass movements must profits. Monopoly capital- In fact, the MDG is nothing be thoroughly advanced against ist companies in the fields but a grandiose scheme and imperialism and reaction. There of energy, manufacturing, transpor- propaganda offensive of monopoly must be massive, allout and con- tation, industrial agriculture, min- capitalism to halt the advance of tinuing education, organizing and ing and construction, among oth- the progressive forces and people mobilization of the majority for na- ers spew destructive chemicals against imperialist neoliberal glo- tional and social liberation and all- without letup, causing dangerous balization. rounded development. ~ 4 ANG BAYAN October 7, 2010 Philippines for sale

ike a businessman desperate to make a sale, Aquino declared in his five-day visit to the US that the “Philippines is now open for busi- L ness,” as if this is the first time it has been so. Aquino offered programs and ments that would create projects under his government's 43,000 new jobs Private-Public Partnership (PPP) to in the next three foreign investors at bargain-base- years. He failed to mention that ment prices. He lured them by pro- many of these had already viding tax incentives and various been pledged in the other privileges. The PPP, said past. One example Aquino, will serve as the main en- is AES Corporation's gine in propelling the economy and additional investments of up to $1 a key factor in the fight against billion next year in the Masinloc poverty. coal-fired plant in Pangasinan to Up to $17 billion worth of pro- double its power-generating capac- jects under the PPP were opened ity. The pledge had actually already by this “regime of privatization” to been announced as early as 2007. maintains an expansive and con- foreigners. Among them are pro- Aquino also witnessed the sign- solidated base, and which govern- jects for road and airport construc- ing of the agreement to provide ment forces find hard to traverse tion, train systems, power genera- $434 million in assistance from the because of the lack of roads. Thus, tion, water distribution, irrigation Millennium Challenge Corporation “clearing” the area and construct- and construction of schoolbuild- in the US, which in turn came from ing a road network becomes crucial ings. Ten of these projects worth the US government's Millennium in implementing the “counterinsur- $4.5 billion were auctioned off by Challenge Account (MCA). gency” program. Aquino in the US. Aquino is also The MCA provides aid on condi- The Department of Social Wel- putting up for sale export process- tion that the recipient allows fur- fare and Development (DSWD) has ing zones, business process out- ther US intervention in the coun- already been implementing the Ka- sourcing, tourism, mining, elec- try's economy, politics and military, pitbisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Com- tronics, housing and agricultural including the implementation of prehensive and Integrated Delivery projects. COIN under US military guidance. of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) Aquino also begged the Obama Although MCC conditionalities do in tandem with the AFP in target regime to pass the Save Our Indus- not explicitly mention their “coun- barrios to “soften” the locals for tries Act and give preferential terinsurgency” character, MCA pro- coming military campaigns. The treatment to the Philippines espe- grams and projects purposely focus AFP makes no bones about the KA- cially in the importation of gar- on areas where the people's armed LAHI-CIDSS projects being part of ments sewn in the Philippines out revolutionary resistance is believed efforts to “neutralize” areas where of US-made materials. Although to be strong. In the Philippines, the NPA and CPP are strong. garments remain the Philippines' this is focused mainly in areas Way back during the Arroyo re- second biggest export, it has suf- where the New People's Army is gime, the MCC, Organisation for fered a 67% drop from its peak in said to be strong. Economic Cooperation and Devel- 1960-70 and is now down to an in- Two-hundred fourteen million opment (OECD) and World Bank come of less than a billion dollars dollars ($214 million), almost half (WB) had already been supporting annually. of the fund, has been allotted for programs combining “poverty alle- Although the achievements the construction and repair of a viation” and “counterinsurgency” claimed by Aquino were no differ- 200-kilometer road network for the in the countryside. One of the main ent from those of previous puppets whole of Samar island that will programs funded was KALAHI- of US imperialism, he boasted up- connect 15 municipalities. The CIDSS. At the start of October, the on his arrival that a number of US project has been given priority be- WB approved a $59.1 million loan corporations had pledged $2.4 bil- cause the AFP claims that Samar is to supplement funds for KALAHI- lion worth of additional invest- one of the islands where the NPA CIDSS. ~ ANG BAYAN October 7, 2010 5 Jueteng rooted in rotten society

he prevalence of jueteng nationwide is a recurring issue. It perme- and its wide extent give jueteng ates all levels of society as it is abetted by corruption in the gov- operators a significant role in elec- T ernment and the police. The Senate and the House of Representa- tions and governance. No govern- tives have conducted numerous inquiries into the issue where courageous ment official lasts in office without witnesses revealed the involvement of top police officers and officials in getting involved in jueteng. the national and local governments. The revolutionary movement Archbishop Oscar Cruz recently ery village. They are hundreds of fights jueteng through painstaking disclosed that some personalities thousands of unemployed finding organizing, educating and con- close to Benigno Aquino III receive “employment” in jueteng. ducting propaganda work among monthly payolas of `5-8 million Jueteng operations earn up to the people, raising their cultural from jueteng operators. He re- `38 billion annually. A system is in level and carrying out agrarian rev- vealed to the Senate that one of place for the sharing of jueteng olution and other means of improv- these officials is DILG Usec. Enrico money among bet collectors ing the people’s livelihood. The Puno. He also revealed that Aquino (kubrador), local “group leaders” problem is increasingly being cousin and top campaign contribu- (kabo) and lottery winner solved as revolutionary demo- tor Antonio “Tonyboy” Cojuangco drawers (bolero) up to the cratic power replaces the old asked him to “go easy” on his ex- operators, the police and rotten rule and as the posé. national and local govern- people’s politics and The revelations of Archbishop ment leaders. PNP and DILG livelihood develop in Cruz and other whistleblowers have officials receive up to `300 revolutionary areas. once again cast the spotlight on million every year. Jue- However, as jue- jueteng, demonstrating its wide- teng operators are now teng is systemic and spread operation and how it bene- using the Small Town deeply rooted in so- fits corrupt officials from the bot- Lottery (STL) to cam- ciety, it can only be com- tom to the top rungs of the bu- ouflage their illegal pletely eradicated in the reaucracy at the expense of the gambling operations. course of revolutionary people. Fearing its impact on his The great number struggle and the decisive government, Aquino is trying in of people involved in overhaul of the rotten sys- vain to downplay the issue. He re- jueteng operations tem. ~ fused to sack Puno despite clear evidence of his involvement and his offer to resign. Water rates to be hiked anew The prevalence and rampant etro Manila residents will again have to bear the brunt of wa- operation of jueteng reflect the Mter rate increases this October. Starting October 9, a regular rottenness of the ruling social sys- consumer of the Manila Water Company will have to pay an addi- tem. While it is illegal, the opera- tional `0.10 per cubic meter while a Maynilad Water consumer will tion of jueteng is untouchable be- also have to pay for an additional `0.09 per cubic meter beginning cause of the deep involvement and October 10. bribery of government and police The water service companies justified the increases, saying that officials at different levels. the peso's value had inflated vis a vis the US dollar. They passed on No good comes out of jueteng to their consumers the resulting higher interest on their external and other forms of gambling. It is debt. like opium to the poor. Jueteng op- Opposition to the new fee hikes is mounting as these compa- erators exploit the people’s pover- nies are known to have previously defrauded their consumers by ty and willingness to cash in on prematurely increasing charges to raise capital for still unimple- even the most fleeting relief. mented projects. The projects include the rehabilitation and im- Its operation is systematically provement of Wawa Dam, Angat Dam and Laiban Dam; the Laguna laid out and reaches the most re- Lake Treated Bulk Water Project; and the Earthquake Contingency mote villages. Dozens of bet col- Project. ~ lectors openly ply their trade in ev- 6 ANG BAYAN October 7, 2010 The Quezon City-Central Business District project Boon to foreigners, bane to the people

he Quezon City-Central Business District or QC-CBD is an infrastruc- Ayalas (Ayala Holdings Inc.) who ture program being pushed by imperialist international banks to have bought a 29.1-hectare sec- T transform a strategic location in Quezon City into a commercial tion of the North Triangle for `22.1 center for foreign and local capitalists. It is now aggressively being billion. The Gokongwei family pushed by the Aquino regime at the expense of urban poor residents in (Robinsons Land Corporation) has the area who stand to lose their livelihoods. acquired 15 hectares, while Lucio A World Bank plan. The World East and North Triangles and the Tan is said to have invested `15 Bank (WB) laid out the plan for the Veterans Memorial Medical Center billion for the QC-CBD. Henry Sy for establishment of the QC-CBD as for the QC-CBD. It also included the his part has been expanding his SM early as 2005. The WB also enlist- Quezon Memorial Circle and parts City in the North Avenue area even ed the Asian Development Bank of Quezon Avenue and the Univer- before the entry of the Ayalas and and contracted Japan’s ALMEC sity of the Philippines campus al- other big capitalists. Corp. to complete and detail the ready being leased to foreign com- Construction firm New San Jose plan. The projected cost of the panies. Builders Inc. (NSJB) reaped its project then was $3 billion. In ex- Buildings for businesses, share early, bagging a contract change for WB funding, the bank banks, residences, private offices from the NHA to occupy the North shall have a direct hand in the and institutions, call centers and Triangle area for `50 million. It project by giving policy advice, tourism are planned to be built at has built a transport terminal and a technical assistance and invest- the QC-CBD. batching plant without paying the ment support. The QC-CBD will serve as a NHA. Gloria Arroyo issued Executive world trade and business hub like NSJB is owned by Jerry Acuzar, Order 620 in 2007 designating the Ayala Commercial Center and brother-in-law of Executive Secre- 250.6 hectares of land covering the other commercial centers in the tary Paquito “Jojo” Ochoa, who country. It is was then Quezon City administra- projected to tor. Then city mayor Feliciano Bel- become a monte was a partner of NSJB in the center of garbage collection business and al- gravity in so profited from the Quezon City Metro Mani- hall sidewalk project. It is also la and at- NSJB that purchased the land in tract broad Montalban, Rizal where it built markets houses for the relocation of the owing to North Triangle residents. its strate- Eviction of poor residents. gic loca- The project is going to affect tion. 24,500 families in the area. Hous- Big-com- es have already been demolished prador and bu- and commercial establishments like reaucrat-capi- the Trinoma Mall at North Avenue talist inter- have been built here. The Metro- ests. Big bour- politan Manila Development Au- geois com- thority (MMDA) has carried out op- pradors will erations to clear the sidewalks in benefit the the North and East Triangles. most from the Meanwhile, the UP-Ayala Techno- QC-CBD proj- hub was built in Commonwealth ect. They in- Avenue on part of the UP Diliman clude the campus despite opposition from ANG BAYAN October 7, 2010 7 students and teachers. The Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (KADAMAY), Confedera- Mass action averts North Triangle tion of Unity for the Recognition and Advancement of Government demolition Employees (COURAGE) and small ollective action by the residents of Sitio San Roque, Barangay businessmen are firmly against the CBagong Pag-asa in North Triangle, Quezon City successfully pre- project. KADAMAY says the QC-CBD vented the attempt of National Housing Authority (NHA) personnel will only serve the interests of big to demolish their homes for the implementation of the QC-CBD proj- capitalists and will be a bane to ect. the poor who will be driven out of The residents began setting up barricades as early as September their homes and lose their liveli- 22. They lighted candles outside their houses, with some of them hoods. holding a vigil to prevent the police and NHA demolition teams KADAMAY opposes the planned from entering the area. Others fortified their homes. Mass meetings relocation of the residents to Mon- and discussions were held to explain the importance of defending talban, Rizal as it will take them the livelihood of the poor and resist the demolition. away from their jobs and schools. The residents massed up the following day to stop the demoli- Moreover, the relocation site lacks tion, getting out of their homes and barricading the streets. The water and electricity and the hous- mass action swelled up to Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA), es that have been built there are where the people linked arms and put up obstacles to block the po- substandard. The families to be re- lice. located are only given token as- Violence erupted when the demolition teams forced their way in sistance comprised of `1000 cash, and destroyed some houses. Some policemen threatened residents five kilos of rice and a few canned with their guns. Those manning the barricades were hosed down goods and packs of instant noo- with water. Seven residents were injured and two were arrested. The dles. They will have to pay `300 to people resorted to throwing stones at the NHA personnel to stop `1000 pesos a month for their re- the destruction of their houses. location housing. At around 3:00 in the afternoon, the Regional Trial Court Branch KADAMAY added that the 3,000 226 issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against the demo- families which the NHA claimed to lition. Even Benigno Aquino III who was then in the US was com- have voluntarily relocated have re- pelled to order the NHA to temporarily stop the demolition. The turned to the North Triangle be- poor residents have vowed to remain on guard and block any at- cause of lack of jobs at the reloca- tempt to demolish their homes. ~ tion site. KADAMAY asserts that if the residents are to be relocated, the site should not be outside Que- businesses, even government offi- tion of such hospitals in the area zon City so as not to take the poor ces will be transferred to the so- as the National Kidney Institute, residents from their jobs, schools called National Government Center Lung Center of the Philippines, and livelihood. in Batasan Hills. The offices in- Philippine Heart Center, Veterans Transfer of government offi- clude the National Housing Author- Memorial Hospital and the Philip- ces. To clear the way for the build- ity, Sugar Regulatory Administra- pine Children's Medical Center. The ing of infrastructure for foreign tion, Bureau of Internal Revenue cost of services in these hospitals and at least ten other agen- has begun to shoot up beyond the cies. The project will also means of the poor. Areas and number possibly affect the campus of The organization of govern- the Philippine Science High ment employees also opposes the of families affected School. The buildings and QC-CBD project because it serves San Roque (16,000) land to be vacated by these the interests of foreign investors Brgy. Central (5,000) offices will be leased or sold instead of public service. They are Pinyahan (2,000) to private investors. also concerned that the transfer of Palanas (1,000) In line with the “medical government offices will be used as San Isidro (500) tourism” program, plans are a pretext for the mass dismissal of underway for the privatiza- government employees. ~ 8 ANG BAYAN October 7, 2010 support for the mass actions in the Aquino orders further cuts in Philippines. Walkouts were held at UP Dili- meager education budget man, UP Manila, Polytechnic Uni- versity of the Philippines and PNU he Aquino regime has slashed the meager education budget, con- with the support of students from trary to its claims of prioritizing education. several private schools as well as T such groups as the League of Fili- The regime allocated only universities and colleges has pino Students, Student Christian `23.4 billion for the 112 state uni- dropped from 87.74% in 2000 to Movement and Anakbayan. versities and colleges for 2011. 67.35% this year. They gathered at the University This is 1.7% lower than the `23.8 Student walkout. The NUSP led of Santo Tomas before marching to- billion allotment in 2010. a walkout on the National Day of wards Mendiola. The students set Pres. Benigno Aquino III out- Action of Youth and Students on on fire an effigy of Aquino in Qui- rightly declared that he is gradual- September 24 to protest the educa- apo. Police barricaded the area ly cutting down subsidies for edu- tion budget cuts. with barbed wire to prevent the cation in order to push state uni- Some 1,500 students walked students from proceeding to Mala- versities and colleges to generate out of their classes in Metro Mani- cañang. their own funds. The regime is la. Youth and students also held si- Protest at the Batasan. On Oc- gearing for the further commercial- multaneous mass actions in Ilocos, tober 5, several students led by the ization and privatization of public Central Luzon, Los Baños, Bicol, NUSP held a protest action inside schools. Tacloban, Iloilo, Bacolod, Cebu and the halls of Congress, expressing Topping the list of schools af- Davao. The Los Angeles, California their anger for the cuts in the mea- fected by the budget cuts are the chapter of Anakbayan expressed ger education budget. Guards im- University of the Philippines mediately restrained (20.11% or `1.39 billion), Philip- the students and pine Normal University (23.59% or forced them out of `91.35 million), Aurora State Col- the building. They lege of Technology (22.21%), Ce- were met outside by rilles State College (21.95%), Uni- students who were al- versity of Southeastern Philippines so holding a protest (20.03%) and Bicol University action at the gate. ~ (18.82% or `88 million). No funds were allotted for the purchase of new equipment as well as the re- FBI cracks down on antiwar pair, construction and improve- ment of facilities. activists According to the Kabataan Par- ty, funds raised by state universi- series of raids by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on ties and colleges shot up from Ahouses of activists opposed to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars `1.16 billion in 2000 to `7.78 bil- and supporting the struggle of the Palestinian and Colombian peo- lion this year and this has covered ples have drawn strong condemnation. The attacks were conducted an increasing part of their expens- on September 24 in the states of Illinois and Minnesota in the US. es. Data also show that in the last The US Department of Justice's Joint Terrorism Task Force con- decade, students shouldered only ducted the raids the same day warrants were issued to search the 6.6% of the budgets of state uni- activists' houses and compel them to face a grand jury. The target- versities and colleges. They now ed activists had released political statements defending the strug- provide 22.1% of their schools’ gle of the Palestinian and Colombian peoples. The longtime organ- budgets by paying higher tuition izers have also denounced the US' wars of aggression and its repres- and other fees. The National Union sion of other countries. They are leaders of organizations like the of Students of the Philippines Twin Cities Anti-War Committee, Palestine Solidarity Group, Colom- (NUSP) said the government’s bia Action Network and Freedom Road Socialist Organization. ~ share in the total funds of state ANG BAYAN October 7, 2010 9 VICTORIOUS NPA OFFENSIVES NPA metes punishment on 1003rd Brigade he New People's Army 1st Pulang Bagani Com- 95,000 hectares. The affected areas include the pany (PBC) staged a harassment operation mineral-rich uplands of Davao City, Davao del Norte T last October 5 against the patrol base of the and Bukidnon. More than half of the applications 1003rd Brigade of the Philippine Army 10th Infan- are for Paquibato District. try Division in Paquibato Proper and Paradise Em- To silence opposition against largescale min- bac. Red guerillas also harassed the same troops in ing, the 1003rd Brigade has been launching in- Barangay Fatima last September 1. These barangays tensified combat operations. There have been are under Paquibato District of Davao City. more than 1,000 victims of human rights viola- The military actions were launched to mete tions in a month, including civilians Julius Ta- punishment on soldiers of the 1003rd Brigade who mondes and Reynaldo Labrador who were mur- have been deployed in the area to ensure unimped- dered by soldiers. ed exploration activities of big mining companies. The 1st PBC launched ten tactical offensives Since last year, 11 applications have been filed at against the 1003rd Bde from July to September in the Mines and Geosciences Bureau covering over response to persistent requests from residents. ~

NPA belies alleged victories of the 8th ID he Efren Martires Command (EMC) of the New People's Army (NPA) According to initial reports ob- in Eastern Visayas has belied claims of victories by the Philippine tained by the EMC from guerrilla T Army 8th ID in the face of a string of losses suffered by the mili- fronts, the NPA in the region was tary in NPA tactical offensives. able to launch 51 tactical offen- Maj. Gen. Mario Chan, 8th ID does not have permanent bases. sives against 8th ID troops, police chief, had boasted that the mili- In fact, the military's bragga- and other armed elements of the tary had seized several abandoned docio is only a coverup for its loss- reactionary government from Janu- NPA camps in Samar, resulting in es in the hands of the NPA and the ary to September, resulting in 74 what he said was the imminent de- relentless resistance waged by the dead and 25 wounded on the ene- feat of the revolutionary forces. revolutionary people, said Manuel. my side. The NPA, on the other According to Comrade Karlos Manu- The EMC spokesperson said that it hand, lost ten comrades and suf- el, EMC spokesperson, the military is mass support that is decisive in fered six wounded. The NPA was al- has nothing to brag about because each victory, and not military so able to seize 18 firearms. the NPA, being a guerrilla army, strength alone. These tactical offensives were successful in spite of the reaction- ary government's much bigger mil- Opposition mounts to pension reforms in France itary force. OPPOSITION to pension reforms pushed by French Pres. Nicolas Despite the 239 additional sol- Sarkozy has intensified. Last October 2, up to 2.9 million French diers deployed by the 8th ID in the people took to the streets to denounce the globalization policy three Samar provinces, the BHB is which, among others, calls for raising the retirement age of work- certain of victory not only due to ers from 60 to 62 years old. its armed strength and correct Around 200 protest rallies were launched in France, according to strategies and tactics, but because the Confederation Francaise Democratique du Travail (CFDT or of the people's continuing support. French Democratic Confederation of Labor), one of the biggest The EMC said it was concerned not workers’ federations in the country. This was despite heavy rainfall so much for itself but with the peo- in the western part of the country and various repressive acts bar- ple because the addition of mili- ring workers from taking part in the protest actions. ~ tary troops will only result in more cases of human rights violations. ~ 10 ANG BAYAN October 7, 2010 FASCIST STATE ON A RAMPAGE 5 peasant leaders killed by the military he killings and repression of leaders and activists of progressive or- ing from a serious illness. ganizations continue without letup under the US-Aquino regime. September 23. The military T Five peasant leaders became the latest victims of extrajudicial kill- desecrated the bodies of five activ- ings from September up to the first week of October. Personalities criti- ists who met a tragic death when cal of the Aquino government have also been targeted for harassment. the vehicle they were riding collid- October 1. Military men killed rante had received several death ed with a ten-wheeler truck in Pig- peasant leader Rene "Toto" Quiran- threats, prompting him to seek gatan, Alcala, Cagayan. The fatali- te, 48, in Sitio Amomoyong, Baran- help from the mayor and town ties were Salvador Doniego, Bene- gay Trinidad, Guihulngan City, Ne- council of Guihulngan. In 2007, he dicto de Leon, Ileen Robles and gros Oriental. Quirante is the vice was detained on a fabricated rebel- two others who remain unidenti- chairperson of KAUGMAON, an af- lion charge but was released one fied. Two of their companions were filiate of the Kilusang Magbubukid and a half months later due to lack seriously injured. All of them were ng Pilipinas (KMP). He is the 14th of evidence. members of Anakpawis in Cagayan victim of extrajudicial killing under September 24. Elements of Valley. Accused as NPA, their bod- the US-Aquino regime and the 41st the 39th IB arrested and tortured ies were not attended to but were victim of political killing in Negros Eliseo "Ka Bimbo" Tada, an ailing merely lined up at the back of the island. Red fighter. He was arrested at Da- Alcala town hall. The military also Quirante was attending a peas- tu Danwata, Malita, Davao del Sur refuses to allow relatives of the in- ant consultation and slept over at while being brought to a hospital. jured to visit them at the hospital. the house of Romeo Gador at Sitio Subjected to torture, he was pre- September 21. The military Amomoyong when some 30 soldiers sented to the media as a surrender- harassed Kelly Delgado, 34, secre- of the 11th IB attacked them at ee and forced to confess that he tary general of Karapatan-Southern around 2 a.m. The soldiers dragged participated in an NPA tactical of- Mindanao. At around 10 a.m., the them out of the house and tortured fensive in Akboal, Upper Suyan, Philippine Army 1003rd Brigade led them. Sarangani last September 21. But by Brig. Gen. Eduardo del Rosario Quirante was shot three times this is impossible as the place and Datu Ruben Labawan held a in the head while Gador was freed, where he was arrested was too far press conference at Apongcola, An- according to Fred Caña, secretary away from the site of the NPA at- da Street, Davao City. Labawan is general of Karapatan-Negros. Qui- tack and he had long been suffer- a military agent and the brains be- hind the fake “pangayaw” (tribal war) in Paquibato, Davao City. The 80 days, 8,000 victims general accused Delgado of master- minding an alleged plan to liqui- p to 90 cases of human rights violations victimizing around date Eastern Mindanao Spokesper- U8,000 individuals in Mindanao were documented by the 80th son Lt. Col. Randolf Cabangbang, day of Benigno Aquino III's administration, according to National citing a witness' affidavit that Del- Democratic Front-Mindanao spokesperson Jorge Madlos. gado had ordered three New Peo- In Southern Mindanao Region (SMR) where over 12 battalions ple's Army members to implement have been deployed, 42 cases of human rights violations were doc- the plan. He also claimed that Ka- umented, victimizing 7,721 individuals. rapatan and Bayan Muna are front In North Eastern Mindanao Region (NEMR), 41 cases of human organizations of the NPA. Karapa- rights violations were reported, with 286 families or 1,252 individ- tan has obtained reports that Del- uals as victims. Most striking among these was the evacuation of gado has been targeted for assassi- 300 families from several villages in Surigao del Sur, Agusan del nation under the government's Norte and Surigao del Norte due to intensified military operations. counterinsurgency program. He fa- In Far South Mindanao Region, seven cases were reported, ces a string of trumped-up cases which included rape, theft and illegal arrest last July and August. and is included in the 10th ID's or- der of battle (OB). ANG BAYAN October 7, 2010 11 FASCIST STATE ON A RAMPAGE September 21. Criselda Cabangon-David, 27, act- disappeared. ing editor of the weekly Ang Diaryo Natin, has been The military also harassed and tried to prevent his included by the AFP Southern Luzon Command in its family, barangay officials, and representatives of non- OB. According to a military informant, David is listed governmental organizations from finding his body. as an NPA officer in Quezon province. David founded Valdez went up to a nearby mountain around 10 a.m. the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines to cut bamboo poles for the repair of their kitchen (NUJP)-Quezon chapter and serves as its secretary when he was accosted by the military who accused general. She was also a student leader and campus him of being a member of the New People's Army. journalist at Enverga University in Lucena City. She is Meanwhile, two more farmers were harassed and known for her fearless articles against abusive persons accused as NPA members by military troops. "Niel" and supporting peasants fighting for their right to was cutting bamboo when he was nabbed by patrol- land. ling soldiers. He was threatened and accused of being September 13. Soldiers of the 36th IB abducted NPA. "Ben", 60, who was grazing his cow also had the Renato Deliguer and Agustino Ladera, fisherfolk from same experience. He strongly belied military accusa- Marihatag, Surigao del Sur. Their families received re- tions that he was NPA, but was nonetheless detained ports that they had been brought to the PNP station for four hours. in Tandag, Surigao del Sur, but police officers denied September 7. Elements of the 9th Infantry Divi- having them in custody. The 36th IB has cooked up an sion massacred four members of the Masbate People's opposite story, falsely claiming that NPA members ab- Organization. Vicente Flores, 41; Richard Oliva, 44; ducted the two fisherfolk. Melecio Monacillo, 45; and Jonathan Monacillo, 21, September 12. Elements of the 50th and 86th IB were resting in the house of a friend in Mobo, Masbate killed Elmer Valdez, 33, a farmer and resident of Con- when they were shot to death with automatic rifle conig East, Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur. His decomposing fire. The military concocted a story that they were body was found in a shallow grave three days after he NPA guerrillas killed in a gunbattle. ~ 10-day protest action for land reform armers began a ten-day protest action on September 29 to press solve the decades-long Hacienda the Aquino administration to implement land reform. The last day Luisita rift. Before the deadlock, F of protest on October 8 will coincide with the 100th day of the the HLI had announced on Septem- Aquino administration. ber 14 that it was open to distrib- "100 days of Noynoy Aquino men. The farmers returned the fol- uting 4,100 hectares of the total Useless to Farmers!" said a placard lowing day to continue their pro- 6,543 hectares of Hacienda Luisita. while members of the Kilusang test. The HLI management's alleged Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and Meanwhile, Lito Bais, acting openness, however, was condi- its allied organizations burned 100 president of United Luisita Workers' tioned on land valuation estimates pictures of Aquino in front of the Union (ULWU) and Felix Nacpil, of at least `1,000,000 per hectare Department of Agrarian Reform president of the Alyansa ng mga set by a real state assessor it had (DAR) in Quezon City last Septem- Manggagawang Bukid sa Hacienda commissioned instead of the Land- ber 29. It symbolized the farmers' Luisita (AMBALA) called for vigi- bank's valuation of `167,000 per opposition to the policies of the lance over maneuvers of the Aqui- hectare. It was proof that the Coju- current antipeasant and antipeople no government favoring the Coju- angco family was not interested in government, said Antonio Flores, angco-Aquino family in the light of distributing the land as it would be KMP spokesperson. the suspension of the September impossible for the farmers to afford Last October 6, farmers 27 Mediation Panel hearing. such a huge amount. marched from DAR to Mendiola The three-member Mediation A week before the deadline, the where they were forcibly dispersed Panel was formed by the Supreme Mediation Panel stopped the hear- by the police. At least seven rally- Court in the first week of Septem- ing when AMBALA members and ists suffered head injuries after be- ber to conduct a series of hearings their lawyer Joebert Pahilda walked ing hit by baton-wielding police- within 30 days purportedly to re- out, saying the HLI was merely ma- 12 ANG BAYAN October 7, 2010 nipulating the proceedings. AMBA- LA petitioned the Supreme Court to discontinue the hearing and imme- diately order the distribution of the hacienda lands in accordance with the decision of the Presiden- tial Agrarian Reform Council. The Supreme Court, however, dismissed AMBALA's motion and continued with the hearing. A few days after, Farmworkers Agrarian Reform Movement (FARM) members and their lawyer Christian Monsod also walked out. The court was then compelled to stop the hear- ings which had already become pointless. ~

ANG BAYAN October 7, 2010 13