February 21, 2015

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

English Edition Vol XLVI No. 4 February 21, 2015 www.philippinerevolution.net

Editorial Intensify people's struggles in the face of the US-Aquino regime's political crisis

serious political crisis is currently shaking the ruling regime as funds to create diversions and a result of disclosures regarding the direct responsibility of prevent the people from casting ABenigno Aquino III and US military officials in the bloody Ma- blame on the US and Aquino for masapano operation on January 25. the deaths of more than 80 people, including 44 special police Aquino's persistent shirking The Aquino regime is now troopers, paramilitary forces, of his accountability and his scrambling to find a way out of Moro fighters and civilians. coverups of the truth have fur- the political crisis through a se- Indicating the depth of the ther enraged the Filipino people ries of measures designed to people's anger at the ruling re- and fired up their desire to oust prevent the truth from coming gime, a number of PNP Special the puppet, corruption-ridden, out and the use of government Action Force (SAF) elements brutal and deceptive regime. who joined the Mamasapano sortie have revealed the truth regarding US military officers' direct hand in training for, planning Despite the tens of millions sibility in planning and under- and executing the operation. of pesos given by Malacañang to taking the operation. The broad These exposés reveal the Aqui- the relatives of the slain police masses refuse to accept Aquino no government's high treason as troopers, it has failed to stifle and his officials' statements it acted as the US military's er- their complaints and grievances and depictions of what hap- rand boy in undertaking the about the abandonment of the pened. This is reflected in the mission to liquidate Zulkifli bin troops who had been besieged in demands made by members of Hir who had a $6 million reward the operation. The families of the Catholic Church hierarchy on his head offered by the US the slain SAF troopers are like- for the Aquino government to State Department. wise in possession of a lot of in- come out with the whole truth. In an attempt to stop the formation that may further Aquino's suppression of the disclosure of classified informa- point to the accountability of truth about Mamasapano and tion that would pin the blame on Aquino, his closest people and his attempts at a coverup are Aquino and the US, the Filipino the US military. fuelling the Filipino people's people were banned from view- The Aquino government con- widespread anger at the ruling ing, and listening to, the ongo- tinues to distort the truth about regime and further stoking calls ing investigation at the Senate the US' role. Aquino's officials by broad sectors to oust Aquino dominated by pro-Aquino and claim that "there is nothing from power. pro-US politicians. Should such wrong" with US military "assist- Demands for Aquino's resig- information be made public, it ance," as if it were not the US nation go far and strong. His se- would certainly be "sanitized" that masterminded the whole vere isolation likewise embold- to avoid further stoking the operation. ens his reactionary political ri- people's anger. Congressional The Aquino government's vals and their cohorts among hearings, on the other hand, persistence in covering up and the military and police top brass have been indefinitely suspend- distorting the truth about the to join people's actions and turn ed out of fear that Aquino's offi- bloody Mamasapano operation their backs on the ruling re- cials would be put on the defen- merely enflames the Filipino gime. A number of religious sive by the questioning, espe- people's desire to go through all leaders have also expressed sol- cially by progressive legislators the pieces of information they idarity with calls to form a dem- who are determined to ferret have dug up and make sense of ocratic council that would take out the whole truth about the them in order to discover, above over once Aquino resigns. Mamasapano incident. all, Aquino and the US' respon- The Filipino people deeply desire to oust the Aquino regime because of its corruption ANG Contents and brutality, its puppetry to Editoryal: Intensify people's struggles in the the US and its deceptiveness. It face of the political crisis 1 has perpetrated myriad crimes Vol XLVI No. 4 February 21, 2015 Advance the Bangsamoro struggle 3 against the people. The bloody Mamasapano operation sparks anger 4 operation in Mamasapano was Ang Bayan is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Hiligaynon, Waray and English US' leading role in Mamasapano 5 but the latest in a long list of editions. US' terrorist intervention in the Philippines 6 transgressions that have It is available for downloading at the Philippine Revolution Web Central Where is Meiring? 8 caused the people's suffering, located at: oppression and repression. AFP's attacks against Moro civilians 8 We must gather the people's www.philippinerevolution.org. Civilian shot, wounded by soldiers 11 anger, forge their unity and un- Soldier killed in Samar 11 Ang Bayan welcomes contributions leash their power through wide- in the form of articles and news. Oil prices soar despite low internat’l prices 12 spread street protests. All sec- Readers are likewise enjoined to send US oil refinery workers strike 12 in their comments and suggestions for tors, groups and personalities the betterment of our publication. You 4 persons illegally detained 13 who are one in their demand for can reach us by email at: PCMC wins right to land 14 accountability from Aquino for [email protected] GMA 7's rights violations to be probed 14 his leading role in the Mamasa- Yolanda survivors stage protests 14 pano operation must be united. The patriotic forces must re- Ang Bayan is published fortnightly by the Central Committee lentlessly expose and assail the of the Communist Party of the Philippines US military for masterminding

2 ANG BAYAN February 21, 2015 the operation in violation of Advance the Bangsamoro Philippine national sovereignty. The workers and the toiling struggle—NDF-Mindanao masses must strengthen their mass actions to hold the US and he National Democratic Front (NDF)-Mindanao called on the Aquino accountable for the TMoro people to further consolidate their ranks and intensify bloody Mamasapano operation. their struggle for self-determination. The call was made by NDF- More important, this demand Mindanao spokesperson Ka Oris after the bloody clash in Mamasa- must be closely linked to the is- pano, Maguindanao on January 25. sues of raising the minimum wage, rollbacks in metrotrain The January 25 attack by samoro areas. fares, prices of oil and other armed troops of the Philippine Ka Oris stressed that the commodities and power and wa- National Police Special Action NDF has a commitment to the ter rates and higher budgets for Force (PNP-SAF) in Barangay Moro people to support their education, health and other so- Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, a struggle for self-determina- cial services. known Bangsamoro stronghold, tion. Thus, both forces can This way, they can unite the was a direct affront to the support each other against a broader ranks of the toiling right to self-determination of common enemy. masses for them to serve as a the Moro people. The NDF-Mindanao called major force in mass actions and The huge number of casual- on the BIFF to brace itself for measures to oust Aquino from ties inflicted by Moro fighters the definite intensification of power and further advance their on the SAF is being exploited military attacks on its ranks. It struggles under the post-Aquino by a number of groups and pol- must strengthen itself and rap- government. iticians to fan the flames of an- idly expand its area of maneu- The New People's Army ti-Moro chauvinism and cover ver to overcome the AFP-PNP's (NPA) must intensify armed up Aquino and the US' respon- encirclement campaign. The struggle and take advantage of sibility in the bloody operation. Bangsamoro areas and social the turmoil within the AFP and The passage of the Bangsa- terrain are fertile ground for PNP officer corps. The biggest moro Basic Law (BBL), developing expertise in guerril- blows must be meted on the offi- a bill resulting from la warfare and people's war. cers and units that have been the peace talks be- The NDF-Mindanao also most brutal and repressive on tween the GPH and called on the Filipino people to the people and in defending the the MILF is likewise unite with the Moro people in rotten Aquino regime. Let us en- in danger of being their struggle for genuine self- courage the disgruntled military blocked. determination and for na- and police officers and rank and Nonetheless, said tional freedom and de- file to turn their backs on the Ka Oris, even if the mocracy, in order for just Aquino regime and join the rev- BBL were enacted into and lasting peace to olutionary movement or cooper- law and implemented, prevail someday in ate with it. growing numbers Mindanao In the coming months, all of Moro people and the NPA commands must launch are expected to entire tactical offensives to contribute join the armed coun- to the people's struggle to end struggle being try. ~ Aquino's rule. This, in conso- launched by the nance with advancing agrarian Bangsamoro Islamic struggles and expanding and Freedom Fighters consolidating organs of demo- (BIFF) and the na- cratic people's government. The tional democratic revolutionary forces must give struggle embodied by their all in order for the protest the NDF, as the BBL is actions and struggles against not designed to resolve the US-Aquino regime to con- the basic feudal and tribute to the all-sided advance semicolonial system ~ of people's war nationwide. prevailing in the Bang-

ANG BAYAN February 21, 2015 3 Mamasapano operation the Philippines in Diliman, Que- zon City and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines at sparks anger and protests noon. In the afternoon, students from the University of Sto. against US-Aquino regime Tomas, University of Manila, San Beda College and UP Manila he bloody US military operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao launched protests, as did resi- using local police forces has sparked widespread anger among dents at the Freedom Park in Tthe Filipino people. Batasan Hills, Quezon City. Demonstrations were also Since the last week of Janu- Mamasapano. launched by students in Baguio ary, a series of protest actions February 4. Hundreds of City; Los Baños, Laguna; Pam- have been launched by progres- members of progressive groups panga; and Legazpi, Albay. sive groups in Metro Manila and allied with the Bagong Alyan- February 8. On the morning other areas of Luzon and Minda- sang Makabayan marched from of Aquino's 55th birthday, mem- nao to demand accountability the foot of Mendiola Bridge to bers of the League of Filipino from the US-Aquino regime and the US Embassy. The activity Students (LFS) and Anakbayan call for its ouster. was timed to coincide with the launched another protest action January 28. Suara Bangsa- 116th anniversary of the Filipi- to reiterate their calls for Aqui- moro launched a protest action no-American War. no's resignation due to his lead- at the Cotabato City Plaza to They also called for the of ing role in the Mamasapano op- demand justice for the civilian expulsion of American troops eration. The protesters brought victims and hold Aquino and the and the abrogation of the Visit- a mock black cake emblazoned US accountable for the bloody ing Forces Agreement (VFA), the with "Noynoy, Resign Now!" in clash at Mamasapano. Enhanced Defense Cooperation yellow. January 31. The Kawagib- Agreement (EDCA) and other At Liwasang Bomifacio, pro- Moro Human Rights Alliance unequal military agreements tests were also launched calling held a press conference to re- with the US. for justice for the slain SAF port the results of its initial in- The policemen who troopers. A vestigations in Mamasapano. It blocked them also had black cultural per- said that there were a number of ribbons pinned to their uni- formance victims of extrajudicial killings forms to symbolize their was pre- and indisciminate firing and that sympathy with their fel- sented to more than 1,500 people had low PNP officers. show soli- been forced to evacuate as a re- February 5. Pro- darity sult of the gunbattle. Among gressive sectors in- with the those killed was five-year old stalled a giant TV victims and Sarah Panangulon who died aft- screen to hold a pub- their fami- er SAF troopers strafed her fam- lic viewing of Aquino lies. ily's hut. Another civilian, Bad- giving a speech in F e b r u a r y rudin Langalan, who was reaction to criti- 14. Up to 3,000 chanced upon by the SAF was cisms of his respon- women and other found bound, his body riddled sibility in Mamasa- sectors joined "One with bullets and his eyes gouged pano. Billion Rising" to de- out. Five civilians also chanced February 6. Various mand Aquino's resig- upon by the SAF praying at a youth and student groups nation. They gathered mosque were killed after being held a nationwide pro- at Liwasang Bonifacio sprayed with gunfire. test action dubbed and expressed February 3. Members of the "Black Friday Protest" to call for through dance their calls for Promotion of Church People's Aquino's ouster for his criminal truth and for accountability Response and Kilusang Mayo accountability in the Mamasa- from everyone guilty of grave Uno launched a "National Day of pano incident. crimes against the people, from Mourning" through a mass at Protest actions were also the pork barrel scandal to the Camp Crame for the victims in conducted at the University of bloody clash at Mamasapano. ~

4 ANG BAYAN February 21, 2015 The US' leading role in the sacked SAF commander, per- sists in claiming that the US role Mamasapano gunbattle in Mamasapano was confined to the conduct of a medical mission he leading role played by the US government in the firefight at to evacuate SAF casualties. Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao on January 25 has The SAF officer-informant Tbecome clearer in the course of time. said that an American known as "Allan Konz" was the actual An unnamed officer of the in the counter-terrorism cam- leader of the operation. At the PNP Special Action Force (PNP- paign in the Philippines. Accord- time of the fighting in Mamasa- SAF) has admitted that the US ing to the documents made pano, Konz was at the 43rd SAF government provided the need- available through Wikileaks, it is Company command post in ed logistics, including the money the US government that plans Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao that was paid to members of the covert operations undertaken by with PNP-SAF Director Nape- Moro Islamic Liberation Front the military, police and other ñas. It was Konz who dictated (MILF) who served as guides to Philippine security forces. the operation's every move. Also enable the PNP-SAF commandos In a confidential message with Konz at the command post to close in on their targets Zul- coded "09MANILA2271," the were eight civilian-clad Ameri- kifli bin Hir alias Marwan and US Embassy in Manila endorsed can soldiers. Abdul Basit Usman, who have approval for a $34.1 million AFP officers have likewise combined bounties on their budget from the US government disclosed that it was a US drone heads worth $9 million from the for various pieces of equipment that pinpointed the location of US State Department. It was al- to be used in the counter-ter- the 84th SAF Company. A video so the US that provided the rorism campaign in 2010. of the Mamasapano clash funds and intelligence for the Nonetheless, the US Embas- viewed on the morning of Janu- operation to neutralize Marwan. sy has remained tight-lipped on ary 25 by Aquino and selected La Vista del Mar Beach Re- this burning issue, which obvi- US officers inside the US Drone sort. US forces chose and pro- ously tramples on Philippine Facility at Edwin Andrews Air- vided special training to the sovereignty and independence. base in Zamboanga City was al- 84th SAF Company which served Even its puppets in the Philip- so taken by the drone. as the assault force in the oper- pines are scrambling to cover up US decision. From the begin- ation against Marwan. The oth- the US' direct role in military ning, the US-designed operation er SAF units were to serve as operations in the Philippines. In called for a limited role for the support forces, including the fact, hearings at the Lower AFP. Whatever coordination 55th SAF Company which was House of Congress have been there was, was confined to intel- wiped out in Mamasapano. suspended after progressive ligence work. Napeñas was The US likewise provid- legislators delved into the US therefore lying when he said at ed a training facility and Aquino's ac- the Congressional hearing that for the 84th SAF countability for it was he who decided not to co- Company at the La the Mamasa- ordinate with Vista del Mar Beach pano clash. the military or Resort in Barangay Up to now, the MILF be- Upper Calarian in PNP Dir. cause he Zamboanga City. Getulio The resort is owned Napeñas, by the family of Zamboanga the City Rep. Celso Lobregat. Wikileaks reports. The SAF officer's statements jibe with the confidential transmis- sions from the US Embas- sy to Washington, D.C from 2005 to 2010 con- cerning the US' major role

ANG BAYAN February 21, 2015 5 did not trust them. In fact, he US terrorist was concealing the role played by the US in the operation. intervention The plan, as drafted, provided for reinforcements for the in the Philippines SAF should contingencies arise. This would be coming from the here is nothing new or surprising about current disclo- 300 other SAF forces who were sures regarding the direct and leading role played by the part of the mission, the mecha- US in the bloody clash at Mamasapano, Maguindanao. nized unit of the Philippine Army T Ever since the US designated the Philippines as the "second which was located a mere three front" in its "war on terror" in October 2001, it has widely and kilometers from Mamasapano deeply intervened in the country's internal affairs without let- and artillery support. During the up. In connivance with the puppet government, the US has un- actual fighting, however, the US bridledly violated Philippine sovereignty as well as internation- shifted gear and gave orders to al and local laws and regulations. the reinforcement units to stand down. Since the early 2000s, the the Dos Palmas resort in Pa- Meanwhile, local residents US has been invoking the lawan in November 2001. interviewed during a fact-find- specter of "terrorism" in the Beginning 2003, some ing mission led by Gabriela Philippines to justify the en- 600-900 American soldiers Women's Party and Suara Bang- try and continuing presence under the Joint Special Oper- samoro on February 8-11 said a of its "counter-terrorist" ations Task Force Philippines week prior to the fighting, they troops in the country. The (JSOTF-P), a unit under the saw a drone (which they called a Abu Sayyaf bandit group, US Pacific Command, were "small airplane") circling four which was formed by former stationed within Camp Nav- villages of Mamasapano. It US forces who joined subver- arro, a military camp of the flickered in the dark and flew at sive activities in Afghanis- AFP Western Mindanao Com- a low altitude—almost hovering tan, was linked by the US to mand. above rooftops. The drone flew Al Qaeda and other groups In February 2002, the US more frequently over Barangay accused of perpetrating the sent 1,300 troops to Basilan Tukanalipao on the night of Jan- terrorist attack on New York using the mantle of Balikatan uary 24. City on September 11, 2001. 02-1, the first joint military During the actual operation In 2005, the US included exercise launched in Minda- on January 25, forty-four SAF in its list of "terrorists" the nao. Among them were 160 troopers were killed—nine from New People's Army, the Com- troops from the Joint Special the 84th Company and 35 from munist Party of the Philippi- Operations Command the 55th Company. Also among nes and Prof. Jose Maria Si- (JSOC), the US president's those killed were the two MILF son. In 2002, the US planned so-called "private army" members who served as guides on declaring the Moro Islam- which he unleashes for the and 13 paramilitary elements. ic Liberation Front as terror- extrajudicial killing of indi- The MILF leadership claimed to ist as well, believing that it viduals arbitrarily declared have lost 18 fighters. Seven ci- had even broader links with as terrorist as well as their vilians were also killed. Jemaah Islamiyah compared civilian supporters. A national newspaper re- to the Abu Sayyaf, but decid- To make their presence in ported on February 5 that sur- ed to drop it from the list and civilian communities palata- viving SAF elements were or- attempt to entrap it into ble and to cover up the bru- dered to extricate the American agreeing to a ceasefire of in- tality of their operations, the troops first from the scene of definite duration and enga- US military poured in funds the fighting. Nonetheless, Tu- ging in peace talks. for civilian and infrastruc- kanalipao residents reported US military intervention ture projects. According to a helping carry the body of a slain was massive during opera- report by US ambassador to American soldier to a green US- tions against the Abu Sayyaf the Philippines Kristie Ken- AID helicopter that landed in which was behind the kidnap- ney, American forces were the area immediately after the ping of 20 individuals from involved in at least 255 vari- gunbattle. ~

6 ANG BAYAN February 21, 2015 ous civic and humanitarian "Operation Balikatan" a suc- with pursuing the Abu Sayyaf). projects from 2006 to 2009. cess in July 2002. The "rules of engagement" These projects included 193 In February 2003, the US drafted by the US and the Phil- road repairs and the construc- military sent in more troops in ippines state that the American tion of ports, clinics, schools the face of a series of bombings soldiers embedded within Phil- and water systems. The US also in civilian centers in late 2002, ippine battalions would per- conducted various propaganda which the US claimed was the form "non-combat" roles. campaigns under MIST (Mili- handiwork of the Abu Sayyaf. Nonetheless, they are allowed tary Information Support Among the soldiers sent by the to retaliate when shot at, a sit- Team), disseminating photo- US to the Philippines were uation intrinsic to a military graphs, writings and comic more than 350 special opera- operation. books and airing radio and tel- tives in Sulu and 450 troops in Aside from the more promi- evision advertisements to im- Zamboanga who directly joined nent operations involving prove the image of their troops AFP combat operations in the American forces, the US has al- as well as that of the AFP in area. so been involved in smaller but Moro civilian communities. These troops were support- more extensive operations in The US likewise sent 300 ed by warships bearing 1,000 other parts of Mindanao. There engineering troops to under- soldiers from the US Marines, have been at least 23 docu- take civic-military projects 1,300 from the US Navy, attack mented cases where American such as road repairs in Basilan. helicopters and combat planes, troops openly joined AFP com- Documents from the US which were strategically posi- bat operations in Basilan, Sulu, Congress state that "Operation tioned at the Sulu Sea. On top Tawi-tawi, Sultan Kudarat, Balikatan" involved embedding of this, the US brought in mili- Zamboanga and Maguindanao two-man teams of American tary equipment, including P-3 from 2002 to 2008 alone. Many soldiers in combat operations surveillance aircraft which are of these operations, which of selected AFP companies but used in sea were launched against the Mo- without being subordinate to warfare (and ro Islamic Liberation Front, re- the latter's command. "Opera- whose use no sulted in the deaths of civilians tion Balikatan" peaked on June longer and the destruction of their 7, 2002, after the US discov- had communities. ered Abu Sabaya's (Aidam Ti- any- In April 2008, American lao) Zamboanga camp, where thing troops were spotted at an AFP the kidnap victims were being to do tactical command post in Ba- held. rangay Ngan, Compostela, Using "rescue operations" Compostela Valley. They were as cover, the US led Filipino providing technical support to troops in attacking the camp AFP troops who were maneu- with the help of its surveillance vering against the New and attack drones. People's Army (NPA) in Two weeks after the bloody the area. operation that resulted in the Since 2010, there have death of two Abu Sayyaf cap- been a number of instan- tives, Filipino operatives killed ces where direct US inter- Abu Sabaya while he was es- vention was exposed. caping off the coast of Zam- Among them was the so- boanga City. Sabaya, who then called Zamboanga Siege had a $5-million bounty on his of September 2013 where head offered by the US, was lo- US forces provided direc- cated through his satellite tion and combat support phone which, unknown to him, to AFP troops and a prior had been supplied by the CIA. attempt to liquidate Mar- Two US Navy ships carrying a wan through the use of team of US Navy Seals, a "smart bombs" in Feb- branch of the JSOC, supported ruary 2012 in Jolo, Su- the operation. The US declared lu. ~

ANG BAYAN February 21, 2015 7 Where The AFP's vicious attacks is Meiring? against Moro civilians

n May 2002, the Davao City arious reactionary forces have been invoking the death of Ipolice arrested Michael Ter- 44 elements of the PNP Special Action Force in Mamasa- rence Meiring, an active agent V pano, Maguindanao on January 25 to propagate anti-Mo- of the US Central Intelligence ro chauvinism and call for all-out war against the Moro people. Agency (CIA), after a bomb he was making exploded in his They have been spreading or in the process of pursuing room at the Evergreen Hotel. distorted versions of history the Abu Sayyaf and the Bang- Contrary to his claims that to demonize all Moro forces samoro Islamic Freedom a grenade had been lobbed at as terrorists, and depict them Fighters (BIFF). him, the police found two metal as the masterminds behind Under the Marcos regime. cases containing explosives in- some of the bloodiest massa- The most heinous attack per- side his room and an identifica- cres in the history of the Moro petrated by the AFP in the tion card purporting that he struggle. history of suppressing the was a member of the Moro Na- In fact, ever since the US- Moro struggle is the burning tional Liberation Front (MNLF). Marcos dictatorship com- of Jolo City on February 7-8, Meiring had been a frequent menced the massive anti-Mo- 1974. At least 10,000 Mus- traveller to the Philippines for ro war in the 1970s, the lims, Christians and Chinese the past ten years. In 1992, he Armed Forces of the Philip- residents were killed when the was posted with the National pines (AFP) and other state- city burned down due to re- Bureau of Investigation in Ma- supported forces have unhesi- lentless AFP bombardment nila. tatingly killed or injured un- from land, sea and air. In pur- It is believed that Meiring armed civilians. Every reac- suing MNLF forces that had had been planning to bomb the tionary regime after Marcos occupied certain parts of Jolo hotel that day to create terror- used varying combinations of City, the AFP used cannons of ist hysteria in Davao and put violence and deception to the Philippine Navy and jets, the blame on the MNLF and suppress the Moro people's Tora-Tora planes and helicop- other Moro groups. Balikatan struggle for self-determina- ter gunships of the Philippine 01-1 was then being launched, tion. Air Force and other AFP serv- which at first was confined to Hundreds of thousands of ices. They targeted and the island of Basilan. (It even- Moro civilians have been vic- burned down the Tulay tually included Zamboanga, timized by the AFP's military Mosque, the Chinese Pun Tai after the US had pinpointed campaigns. On many occaions, Kung Temple, the Notre Dame Abu Sabaya's location). state forces bombed and un- Cathedral and the entire city The police were still prepar- leashed artillery fire, killing ing to charge him when agents civilians or causing from the US National Security their massive dis- Agency and the Federal Bureau placement. In of Investigation whisked Mei- many instan- ring out of the hospital where ces, soldiers he was confined after the "ac- mercilessly cident." The US agents quickly rained bullets brought him back to the US de- on civilians in spite the warrant of arrest and retaliation for hold departure order that had losses suffered in been issued against him. In fighting with 2004, a television network was armed Moro move- able to trace his whereabouts ments like the Moro to Houston, Texas where he National Liberation had been blissfully living with Front (MNLF) and his wife, using the surname Van the Moro Islamic Lib- de Meer. ~ eration Front (MILF)

8 ANG BAYAN February 21, 2015 center. As the fire raged, 80% tacks against the Moro forces trajudicial killing, illegal ar- of Jolo City was reduced to waned after the MNLF entered rest, harasment, torture, food ashes by February 8. This into a ceasefire agreement blockades, arson and other spurred the diaspora of tens of with the Corazon Aquino re- transgressions common to mili- thousands of residents to other gime in 1987. In a series of de- tary operations. parts of Mindanao, to neigh- ceptive maneuvers, the MNLF's To keep the Moro people di- boring Sabah, Malaysia and to surrender was effected in 1994 vided, the Estrada regime used Luzon and the Visayas. Con- by the succeeding regime of Fi- MNLF integrees in the AFP to trolled by the Marcos dictator- del Ramos, which was also able attack the MILF. It also formed ship, the mass media sup- to negotiate a ceasefire with vigilante groups to stoke reli- pressed the truth regarding the the MILF in 1996. gious and other differences. burning of Jolo. When the US-Estrada re- Under the US-Arroyo re- Following are some of the gime took power, however, gime, which took over after the most striking cases under the openly armed attacks by state Estrada government, AFP at- Marcos regime: forces resumed against the tacks against Moro communi- June 1971. Combined for- Moro people with the revoca- ties intensified in 2008, after ces of the Philippine Constabu- tion of the ceasefire and the MILF armed resistance re- lary and Ilaga paramilitaries declaration of all-out war sumed due to a Supreme Court attacked civilians praying in a against the MILF in March decision declaring the Memo- mosque in Manili, Carmen, 2000. The Estrada government randum of Agreement on An- North Cotabato, killing 70 Mo- deployed 70% of the AFP's for- cestral Domain (MoA-AD) ille- ros, including women and chil- ces against the MILF to crush gal. The MILF and the Arroyo dren. its known strongholds in Min- government had signed the November 1971. Forty Moro danao. MoA-Ad as part of the peace civilians were killed in Kaus- Months of relentless at- process they had begun anew. wagan, Lanao del Norte in the tacks led to the forcible dis- It was in this period that the so-called Tacub Massacre. placement anew of 500,000 number of displaced persons in September 1971. Elements Moro people who were cramped Moro areas reached unprece- of the 15th IB massacred 1,776 in evacuation centers in Cota- dented heights. In 2008, the Moro civilians praying at the bato, Maguindanao, Lanao del Philippines was second among Tacbil Mosque in Malisbong, Norte and Lanao del Sur. Thou- countries with the most num- Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat. sands of civilians were killed, ber of evacuees worldwide Moro girls were taken aboard a including those victimized by (600,000), according to the In- Philippine Navy ship where the AFP's bombing and artillery ternal Displacement Monitor- they were gang raped. attacks which it conducted ing Center, a non-government October 1977. Up to 700 without letup. Not organization under the Norwe- Moro civilians were slaughter- a few fell vic- gian Refugee Council. ed by AFP soldiers in Patikul, tim to other By May 2009, the number Sulu in retaliation for the human persons forced to deaths of Brig. Gen. Teodulfo rights vio- evacuate had bal- Bautista and 34 of his men. lations looned to 750,000 February 1981. Up to 2,000 like in various Minda- residents of Pata Island in Jo- ex- nao provinces lo, Sulu were massacred by the due to the reactionary military after 124 AFP's pursuit soldiers under the 31st IB were operations killed in the island. Throughout the 1970s until the fall of the Marcos dictatorship in 1986, up to 500,000 Moros were either killed or forced to evacuate from their homes. US-AAquino regime 1 to US- Aquino regime 2. Armed at-

ANG BAYAN February 21, 2015 9 against the MILF. At least 50 farmers, with some of them no government's refusal to al- civilians were killed in these shot while they were already low them to return to their operations, including four chil- aboard boats to escape the fir- communities. Close to 200 of dren in Datu Piang, Maguin- ing. The children were shot in them have died from various danao who were slain on Sep- the head. In spite of this, the ailments. Prostitution, the ille- tember 8, 2008 in an air strike AFP absolved the Marines of gal drug trade and other by the Philippine Air Force. The any wrongdoing, contrary to crimes have become rampant in children were then aboard a the results of investigations the evacuation centers because dugout canoe with their par- conducted by other groups, in- of the lack of livelihood. ents and were on their way to cluding the Commission on Hu- The signing of the Compre- an evacuation center when man Rights. hensive Agreement on the they were strafed by the AFP Under the regime of Benig- Bangsamoro by the MILF and combat plane. no Aquino III, the Government the Aquino government on Jan- In the first half of May of the Philippines (GPH) re- uary 24, 2014 was taken by the 2009, close to 30,000 people sumed talks with the MILF and AFP as a signal to concentrate evacuated from Datu Piang signed the Framework Agree- its attacks on the BIFF. The when the AFP conducted non- ment in October 2012, with in- BIFF was formed in 2008 when stop air bombardment and un- tensive negotiations beginning Moro forces who did not be- leashed mortar fire on alleged in July 2013. This angered the lieve that the aspirations of the MILF camps. Worse, the mili- MNLF under Nur Misuari be- Bangsamoro could be achieved tary blocked humanitarian or- cause a new accord would su- by the MILF-GPH agreement ganizations, including the In- persede its 1994 agreement broke away from the MILF. ternational Committee of the with the GPH. From January 27 to Februa- Red Cross from delivering food In September 2013, some ry 2, 2014, the AFP launched to the evacuees. 250 MNLF forces arrived in Operation Darkhorse and re- Meanwhile, civilians were Zamboanga City to rally lentlessly attacked various ar- also indicriminately killed amid against the peace agreement eas in the Autonomous Region AFP pursuit operations against being forged by the MILF and in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Abu Sayyaf bandits under the the Aquino government. The Western Mindanao and Central Arroyo government. On Febru- Zamboanga Siege occurred Mindanao believed to be BIFF ary 4, 2008, seven people, in- when 5,000 AFP and PNP for- strongholds. Up to 48,200 Mo- cluding two children, two teen- ces swooped down on the ro people were forced to flee agers and a soldier on furlough MNLF, sparking a 20-day bat- because of continuous AFP air were killed by attacking ele- tle. The AFP used high-pow- strikes and artillery fire on ci- ments of the Philippine Marines ered firearms, helicopters and vilian communities. in Ipil, Maimbung, Sulu. The armored personnel carriers, When the AFP resumed pur- victims were simple seaweed and rained bombs and bullets suit operations against the on Zamboanga BIFF in November 2014, up to City's coastal villa- 400 people were forced to ges. The AFP attacks caused evacuate in North Cotabato. the displacement of By the end of 2014, there 120,000 people and the were 44,000 evacuees in the destruction of some 10,000 ARMM; 38,200 in Western houses. Twelve civilians Mindanao; and 9,300 in Cen- were also killed and 75 tral Mindanao due to AFP mili- Moros wounded. tary operations against the The civilians' suf- BIFF. fering did not end Currently, the AFP is using with the Zamboanga the MILF as its proxy in pursu- Siege. By December ing the BIFF. Since February 2014, there were 13, up to 15,000 persons have 35,000 refugees still lan- evacuated from six barangays guishing in cramped and in Pikit, North Cotabato and unsanitary evacuation two barangays in Pagalungan, centers due to the Aqui- Maguindanao due to clashes

10 ANG BAYAN February 21, 2015 Civilian shot, wounded shells on an area considered sacred by the Lumad. More by soldiers than 40 families were forced to flee towards Barangay Kiben- civilian suffered a gunshot wound to the arm after soldiers ton, Impasug-ong. strafed a group of foreign tourists who were birdwatching at Meanwhile, an M14 rifle and Aa mountainous area in Barangay Dalwangan, Malaybalay rounds of ammunition were City, Bukidnon, at around 8 a.m. of February 13. seized from a soldier of the 59th IB who was meted punish- The civilian, who was identi- because they ment in a sparrow operation in fied as Carlito Gayamara was were demoral- Sitio Tamala, San Marcelino, guiding seven foreigners in a ized due to a General Nakar, Quezon in the forested area of Mt. Kitanglad. recent harass- afternoon of February 8. Despite their cries that they ment operation The soldier who was were civilians, the military con- by the NPA. identified as Ben Floro tinued strafing them for more Two days pri- was assigned to the Intelli- than ten minutes. or, two soldiers gence Section of the 59th IB. The soldiers did not even were killed and He was part of the combined help bring Gayamara to hospi- five others forces of the 59th, 1st and tal, and left him to shoulder his wounded when 16th IB who continually medical expenses. Worse, to Red fighters under conduct military opera- evade responsibility, they the Mt. Kitanglad tions in the towns of In- claimed that Gayamara was hit Subregional Com- fanta, General Nakar and the in the crossfire between the mand sniped oper- Polillo Group of Islands in AFP and the New People's Army ating troops of the northern Quezon. Their opera- (NPA). In fact, no unit of the AFP Special Forces tions wreak havoc on the peo- NPA was in that area at the Battalion in a nearby ple in these areas, especially time. area. In reaction, the Dumagat and Remontado The soldiers indiscriminate- the military un- natives and the peasants ly rained bullets on the tourists leashed 12 artillery and fisherfolk. ~

Soldier killed in NPA harassment operation in Samar

soldier was killed and several others wounded they are still recovering from calamity. Up to six Ain harassment operations conducted by the columns of the 87th IB and 82nd DRC are cur- New People's Army (NPA) in response to massive rently conducting operations in Basey town, af- AFP military operations in Samar province this fecting the barangays of Mabini, Manlilinab, February. Rizal and other interior villages. The soldiers According to initial reports, the NPA Jorge have been camping out inside the village, which Bolito Command (JBC) harassed operating enemy is prohibited by international humanitarian law troops in Sitio Burabod, Barangay Mabini in Basey and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect town, killing a sergeant from the Division Recon- for Human Rights and International Humanitari- naissance Company (DRC) and wounding another an Law or CARHRIHL. The military has also been enemy soldier. Earlier, on February 12, Red fight- restricting the people's movements, thereby af- ers from the JBC harassed soldiers on operation in fecting their farming activities. Sitio Bagti, Barangay Mabini, wounding a still un- Hundreds of residents organizedly evacuated determined number of enemy soldiers. The com- and headed to the Basey municipal hall to make rades suffered zero casualties during these fire- their anger known to the local government. They fights. likewise called for the release of Elpidio Romanca The tactical offensives are the NPA's re- and Artemio Estueta, both farmers who have been sponse to complaints by the people against the illegally arrested despite the absence of cases filed US-Aquino regime's militarization at a time when against them. (See related article on p. 13) ~

ANG BAYAN February 21, 2015 11 Oil prices soar meted to $11 per barrel. Should crude oil prices rise, they will despite low prices likely do so only slightly in late 2015. in the international market Call for bigger rollbacks in the prices n solidarity with the Filipino people, the Communist Party of the of petro- Philippines (CPP) condemned the huge back to back hikes in the l e u m Iprices of petroleum products this February. This was done de- products. spite the global oversupply of crude oil, the continuing surplus pro- The over- duction and the low prices of crude oil prevailing on the whole in the all reduc- international market. tions in the prices of pe- On February 10 and 17, pri- fazed and has not reduced troleum pro- ces of petroleum products production. Crude oil pri- ducts in the soared twice. Gasoline prices ces may even be fur- local market these past months shot up by `3.65 per liter, die- ther reduced due to have been sorely inadequate. sel by `3.45 and kerosene by their volatility. Thus, implementing a new se- `2.15. Oil companies invoked There is an ries of oil price hikes would be the rising prices of crude oil in existing baseless. the international market de- oversupply The small increase in crude spite the fact that their oil similar to oil prices and projections of a stocks had been purchased ear- the situa- possible price recovery were ly on at cheaper prices. tion pre- immediately invoked by local Crude oil prices in the inter- vailing in subsidiaries of foreign oil com- national market have been on a 1998 when panies (especially the Big generally downward spiral for crude oil prices plum- 3—Pilipinas Shell, Chevron Phil- about eight months now. The ippines and Petron) to effect current price of crude oil which a huge price hike. If the esti- stands at $52-55 per barrel is mated 50% reduction in only 50% of its price of $108 crude oil prices in the past per barrel in June 2014. Prices eight months is to be re- fell to $45.50 per barrel begin- flected, diesel should cost ning last January. only `22-23 per liter and gas- Even before prices were oline, `27-28 per liter. jacked up recently, local market The amount that the prices of petroleum products oil monopolies fail to should already have been re- shave off from the pri- duced by `2.00 more. According to the Interna- tional Energy Agency and other US oil refinery workers strike oil industry experts, crude oil prices will likely continue their p to 4,000 workers in more than nine oil refineries in Cali- downward trend towards less fornia, Kentucky, Texas, Washington and Ohio in the US than $60 per barrel. No deci- U struck on February 1. The refineries are owned by British Petro- sive measures have been taken leum-Shell in the US and comprise 15% of the US' entire capac- to reduce crude oil production, ity. supply continues to outstrip de- The strike led by United Steelworkers was sparked by the mand, and the dollar remains companies' arrogant abandonment of the workers in the middle stable. of negotiations. The workers were demanding a wage hike and Despite pressure from the the implementation of policies to protect workers' health. US and the Organization of Pe- The US strike was among the factors cited in the rise in oil troleum Exporting Countries prices. ~ (OPEC), Russia remains un-

12 ANG BAYAN February 21, 2015 ces of petroleum products is added to their 4 persons illegally detained superprofits. The whole time wo farmers and two minority women were illegally arrested by the mil- Aquino has been in Titary and remain in detention. power, he has advocat- ed oil price hikes and Samar. Elpidio Romanca and Ar- The cousins, who are both mem- retained the Oil Dereg- temio Estueta, both civilian resi- bers of the Dumagat tribe and resi- ulation Law, despite dents of Barangay Mabini, Basey, dents of Barangay Umiray, General strong calls for its ab- Samar were arrested by soldiers of Nakar, Quezon are accused of being rogation. He has the 87th IB in November last year involved in the alleged abduction by feigned helplessness in and this January. the New People's Army of Lino Her- the face of the Big 3's Romanca is a former member of nandez, a retired soldier, in Baran- dictates regarding local the New People's Army (NPA) who gay Tinucan, Tanay, Rizal on Sep- oil prices. He has also was continually harassed by the tember 26. retained the 12% value- military despite having returned to The victims were arbitrarily added tax on petroleum civilian life. As a survivor of ty- picked up when they were chanced products. phoon Yolanda, he is a beneficiary upon by combined forces of the Power rate hike. De- of the International Committee of 16th and 59th IB who were con- spite the continually the Red Cross. In spite of his civil- ducting military operations. dwindling oil prices ian status, he was pursued, wound- On January 7, the DOJ ordered these past eight ed and arrested by soldiers on No- a reinvestigation of the case be- months, the Manila vember 17 in Sitio Bagti, Barangay cause their arrest has been proven Electric Company im- Mabini. to be illegal due to the absence of posed a power rate hike Estueta, 68, was illegally ar- an arrest warrant. of up to 84 centavos rested by soldiers in Sitio Burabod, Sorsogon. The military has been per kilowatt-hour Mabini on January 31. Despite his intimidating Elena Gacos Estañol, a (kWh) this February. advanced age, three truckloads of village councilor of Barangay San This is equivalent to an soldiers came to arrest him. He was Jose, Bulusan, Sorsogon who is the additional `167.85 in one of the community leaders who sole witness in the abduction of Ed- the electric bills of av- spoke out against the Aquino re- win Anuran, a former NPA member erage consumers using gime's criminal negligence when ty- who has yet to be surfaced by his 200 kWh monthly. phoon Yolanda struck. He is also an military abductors. In this regard, vari- advocate of genuine agrarian re- Estañol and Anuran were both ous progressive group form and a critic of the Aquino gov- abducted on January 30 in Baran- launched a series of ernment's failure to gay Sta. Cruz, Casiguran, Sorso- protests at the Meralco implement it. gon. The military held Estañol for offices in Southern Ta- Neither Romanca almost 24 hours be- galog and Metro Mani- nor Estueta has fore releasing her. la. The protests were been surfaced As the lone witness held in Sta. Rosa, Lagu- by the AFP. to the abduction, na and Taytay, Rizal on Q u e z o n . she can prove that January 27; at the Me- Marites Mar- it was reactionary ralco office in Pasig quez, 43 and her government troops City on January 28; and cousin Rosario Lo- who abducted them in Calamba, Laguna and reto, 37, remain in and continue to detain Antipolo City on Febru- detention in Lucena Anuran. Estañol said ary 3. Other mass ac- City despite an or- that she is hesitant to tions were held in Ca- der by the Depart- testify in the habeas lamba and in Cainta, ment of Justice corpus case that Anu- Rizal on February 10, (DOJ) to release ran's family wants to file coinciding with the One them due to the illegality of their because the military has been Billion Rising protest.~ arrest. threatening her and her family. ~

ANG BAYAN February 21, 2015 13 Yolanda survivors PCMC wins right to land stage protests OFFICERS, employees, patients and supporters of the Philip- SOME 2,000 victims of superty- pine Children's Medical Center (PCMC) succeeded in asserting phoon Yolanda trooped to the Sa- their right to obtain the title to the land on which the hospital mar provincial capitol in Catbalo- stands, which they have long been asking from the government. gan City to demand the implemen- In a Memorandum of Agreement signed on February 5 by rep- tation of relief and rehabilitation resentatives of the PCMC, National Housing Authority and the programs by the Aquino govern- Department of Health, the 3.7-hectare lot was awarded to ment which they have long been what is considered the biggest public children's hospital in the awaiting. Led by People Surge, an country. alliance of typhoon survivors, the Last year, the hospital was served an eviction notice to protesters said that during their pave the way for the Quezon City Central Business District long wait, the number of deaths project which would have displaced more than 300 employees has even grown due to typhoons and 55,000 patients. Since then, the hospital has launched Ruby and Senyang. mass actions to fight the eviction. It has also demanded that In Catarman, Northern Samar, the Aquino government provide bigger budgets for public hos- some 2,000 members of People pitals and put a stop to all forms of privatization of social serv- Surge had earlier launched a pro- ices. test rally in late January. The vice The PCMC was built in 1980 to serve as the central hospital governor was forced to meet with for indigent children. Most of its patients suffer from serious them after the provincial governor illnesses like leukemia, kidney diseases and cancer. In 1986, it hid himself from the victims. The was subjected to corporatization and suffered gradual budget Yolanda survivors said that despite cuts. In October 2014, it received only `26 million in subsidies, the promises made to them by the which is lower than the `43 million it received in February of government, they have yet to re- the same year. ceive such assistance. Meanwhile, in Iloilo City, mem- GMA 7's violation of employees' rights bers of Paghugpong sang mga Ma- to be probed ngunguma sa Panay kag Guimaras (PAMANGGAS) camped out in front GABRIELA Women's Party Rep. Emmi de Jesus filed a resolution of the office of the Department of at the Lower House of Congress to investigate violations of la- Social Welfare and Development bor law by the GMA 7 management. On February 10, represent- (DSWD)-6 on February 16-20 to atives of the Talent Association of GMA (TAG) went to Con- demand financial assistance from gress to seek help after many of them were fired from their the government for Yolanda vic- jobs. Some of them had been working for the company for more tims without conditions. than ten years but have not been conferred regular status. They are up against DSWD In December, 52 TAG members no longer had their work Memorandum Circular No. 24 Se- contracts renewed and did not receive their salaries. They also ries of 2014 which delimits the re- complained about the lack of benefits from the Social Security cipients of assistance. The memo- System (SSS), Pag-Ibig and Philhealth. They also do not enjoy randum excludes families earning sick leaves, maternity leaves and holiday pay and are not pro- `15,000 or higher per month and vided medical services by the company. those living within the 40-meter According to De Jesus, this is a form of labor contractuali- danger zone. The latter are also zation and repression against the GMA 7 workers. She said that being evicted. In January, a series media workers must enjoy proper and decent livelihoods since of protests against the memoran- they play a big role in providing news and information to the dum circular were launched by Rise people. De Jesus also assailed the Aquino regime for its failure Up-Aklan in Kalibo and Hugpong to protect workers and for the continuously worsening contrac- Capiznon in Roxas City. tualization in the country.

14 ANG BAYAN February 21, 2015