Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Pagbabago ng Pamunuan at Sistema hindi Pagbabago ng Sistema't (tunay?) kayo-kayo pa rin

Ano ba talaga ang nasa likod ng Pipol Inistiatives at Cha cha? Sino ba talaga ang mastermind, ang nasa likod ng Pipol Inistiatives? Sino ba ang makikinabang sa pagababago ng sistema (kung may pagbabago nga), ang mamamayang Pinoy o ang kasalukuyang nakalukluk sa Malakanyang? Babalatuhan ba, aambunan ba ng kaginhawaan ang tao, si Mang Pandoy, si Mang Juan at si Aling Amelita (Kubrador)?

Batay sa paulit-ulit na propaganda; "Uunlad tayo (let's move on) sa sistemang Parliamento. Wawakasan daw nito ang Oligarkiya na idinulut ng sistemang presidential sa bansa. Matitigil ang Senate(Legislative)-Executive gridlocks. Mawawala na ang konsentrasyon ng pag-unlad sa Imperial Manila."

"May malakas na mekanismo raw ang sistemg parliament na magtanggal ng pamunuan sa gubyerno at magpakulong ng mga may katiwalian at nangurakot. Matitigil ang pamumulitika sa gubyerno. Huhusay ang Hustisya. Magkaroon tayo ng isang responsible na Oposisyon. Patatagin ang sistema ng accountability (pananagutan), palalakasin ang transparency, patitingkarin at isusulong ang interest ng mamamayan."

Huwag n'yo nga kaming pinagloloko! Isang malakihang panlilinlang at mahirap paniwalaan ng isang libong beses, nangangarap ng gising na magkatotoo ang mga ito. Kung mananatili ang mahigit isang daang at siyamnapung (190) pulitiko sa parliamento, kung mananatili sa poder ang mga pagmumukha ni Tainga De Venecia, Pichay, ni Nograles, Villafuerte, Edcel Lagman, Dy, Ortega, Dimaporo, Apostol, Datumanong, Cojuanco, Abante jr, Antonino, Joson, Daza, Ecleo, Susano, mahigit isang daang iba pa at mga TRAPITONG nasa Liga ng mga Gobernador at Punong Lunsod at bayan (ULAP), walang kaduda-dudang mananatili, lalakas, dadami ang Oligarkiya, patron-client-patronage politics (padri-padrino), casique, warlordism, katiwalian at pangungurakot sa bansa.

Sinong maniniwalang matitigil ang pamumulitika, ang kaTRAPOhan sa bansa, kung ang mga dating partidong ala mafia, sindikato, barkadahan, mga pekeng partido (nabubuhay lamang sa tuwing may election) ay patuloy na MANANATILI't mamayagpag sa parliamento. Walang silbe ang pagpapalit ng sistema kung ang mga partidong tulad ng Lakas-CMD, Nationalist People's Coalition (PNC), Kampi, Nacionalista at Liberal (Atienza faction) ang siyang maghahari at patuloy na magiging laman ng ating SAMPLE BALLOT sa tuwing halalan. Ang mga partidong ito ang siyang naging breeding ground ng katiwalian at bad governance.

Huwag n'yo kaming goyoing uunlad ang 'Pinas sa ilalim ng sistemang Parliamento! Sampu (10) sa pinakamahirap, kapuspalad na bansa sa mundo (sabihing na nating mas mariwasa at angat tayo ng kaunti) tulad ng tatlong (3) bansa sa ASIA, ang Cambodia, Bangladesh at East Timor, dalawang (2) bansa sa Africa, Ethiopia at Lesotho sa S. Africa at apat (4) na bansang matatagpuan sa South Pacific Island ang Samoa, Solomon Island, Tuvalu at Vanuatu ay pawang mga Parliamentaryo ang sistema ng paggugubyerno! Halos kakambal natin, hindi nagkakalayo ang krisis na sinasapo ng mga ito sa krisis na kinakaharap natin dito.

Isang bangungut naman kung papangarapin ng Sigaw ng Bayan, Tainga't Ate Glo ang mga bansang super yaman tulad nitong apat na super yamang bansa sa Europa, ang Finland, Germany, Swizerland, Austria at Italy na pawang mga sistemang Parliamentaryo ang gamit. Ang USA ang kaisa-isang pinakamayaman at makapangyarihang bansang may tangan-tangan ng sistemang Presidential na siya namang kasalukuyang pinag-kopyaan ng sistema ng paggugubyerno ng Pilipinas.

Kung mananatiling nasa pwesto ang mga katulad ni siRAULong Gonzales ng DOJ, Norberto 'Saging' Gonzales ng seguridad at sasabihin n'yong iige ang sistema ng hustisya, magkakaroon ng responsible opposition ay isang malaking katatawanan. Wag n'yo ring sabihing mawawala na ang insureksyon at rebelyon, sapagkat nagpapatuloy ang madugong civil war sa Iraq kahit sinasabing may tunay na representasyon ang mamamayan sa Parliamento.

Sino nga ba ang mastermind, ang utak, ang talagang nagtutulak, ang nasa likod ng Pipol Inistiatives? Hindi Pipol, wala sa panig ng mamamayan bagkus ang Palasyo, si Ate Glo, Tainga't political elite ang siyang tunay na tunay na may inisyatiba ng Chacha. Palace Initiative ito at hindi People's Initiatives! Hindi hamak na magkaiba ang PULITIKO sa pipol. 'Wag n'yong sabihing "SIGAW kayo ng BAYAN" at ang interest ng Pipol ay kapareho ng pulitiko. Malayo! Pag-ibahin ninyo ang Mayor, ang Gobernador, at ang Tongresman sa mamamayang Pilipino.

Halimaw, demonyo, predator ang PULITIKO, samantalang biktima, ginahasa, pinag- nakawan, pinagkakitaan n'yo ang PIPOL! Simula't simula pa, nailukluk kayo, nahalal kayo sa mali, bastardaong pamamaraan ng buluk at elitistang sistema ng election. Namili kayo ng boto, nandaya (dagdag bawas), ginamitan ng makinarya, tumawag kayo kay GARCI, namigay kayo ng dilata't noodles at kapirasong bigas, tinakot, nilinlang n'yo ang tao, kinidnap n'yo, hinostage nyo, binaboy n'yo ang tao KAYA KAYO nanalo sa halalan.

Mga pekeng kintawan kayo ng mamamayan. 'Wag n'yong sabihin, tunay na representatibo kayo ng MASA! Mahiya kayo, hindi totoo yan. Kailanman, hindi n'yo ipinagtanggol, pinaglingkuran, pinagserbisyuhan ang inyong mga constituencies (botante). Kailanma'y hindi nakatikim ng tunay na demokrasya, na SIGAW, na boses ang PIPOL.

Maliwanag pa sa sikat ng araw na kasakiman sa kapangyarihan (power sharing within ELITE), magtagal sa pwesto't lumagpas hanggang 2010 at tuluyan ng burahin sa kasaysayan ng 'Pinas ang dayaan, ang bastusan, lokohan, linlangan, katiwalian, krimen sa country ni Ate Glo at kanyang mga alipores. Yung lang at wala ng iba pa!

Political survival para kay Ate Glo ang pakay ng cha cha, hindi economic and political reform, hindi rin ito survival ng mamamayang Pilipino o pipol sa tulad ng ipinopropaganda ng Malakanyang. Iwas pusoy ito sa rehas, sa seldang naghihintay kay Ate Glo, konsolidasyon ng elite at pwersa at durugin, tirisin, all out war, i-marginalized ang political opposition!

Nakapailalim sa disenyong ito ang maitim na balak na hadlangan at all cost ang posibleng landslide victory ng opposition sa 2007 election, makontrol muli ang Tongreso, ikumbert ito bilang Interim Parliament at sawatain ang patuluy na banta ng impeachment complaint ng kanyang mga kalaban.

Pare-pareho tayong naniniwala na totoong nasa malubhang kalagayan krisis ang bansa. Mahirap din sabihing sarado na tayo, ang country sa pagbabago. Alanganin din sabihing hindi makakatulong sa pag-unlad ng country ang Parliamentary System. Bilang advocates ng kaunlaran at demokrasya, may sampung taon ng ikinakampanya ng Institute (IPD) ang parliamenty shift na pagbabago ng paggugubyerno.

Kung tunay na pagbabago ang hanap, kung may natitira pang konsiensya't pagiging makabayan, kung tunay na kinatawan atrepresentasyon ang hanap natin, kung tunay at seryosong Constitutional at POLITICAL REFORM, demokratization ang hanap natin tungong Parliamentaryo, sa tingin ko Constitutional Convention (CONCON) ang daan, ang ruta hindi CON Ashole at Pipol Inisyatib.

Doy Cinco / IPD
August 28, 2006

Saturday, August 26, 2006

Gen Calderon: "i-report sa amin ang Weteng OPs !" Taran.....

Kamakailan lamang (kahapon, Sat Aug 26), nanawagan ang bagong PNP chief Director General Oscar C. Calderon na I-REPORT daw sa kanila ang mga WETENG activities sa bawat lugar. Naglagay pa siya ng mga cell number at telepono na mapagsusumbungan ang mga tao; Patrol 117, TXT PNP 2920, or by calling 726-43-66, 726-43-61, 726-16-08 or 7230401 local 3006, 3306,3506, or 7255115 and 7253179.

Pwede ba, 'wag n'yo kaming pinagloloko, idadamay n'yo pa si Mang Pandoy, si Aling Amelita (Kubrador), si Mang Kulas at si Mang Juan, ang abang mamamayan. Isang gasgas, istilong buluk, sirang plaka, patay malisyang palusot ng pamunuan ng PNP kasabwat ang gubyerno ni Ate Glo! Paalala, palabas pa hanggang ngayon ang pelikulang “KUBRADOR”.
Sabihin na nating alam ni Mang Juan ang wetengan sa lugar, hindi siya tanga, gago, (wala siya sa posisyon, wala siyang lakas ng loob, wala siyang kapangyarihan at resources) upang i-report sa PNP ang wetengang kontrolado mismo ng PNP!!

Kilala ng PNP-AFP, kaututang dila ng PNP-AFP, mga kabalahibo ng PNP, kainuman n'yo, kakumpare n'yo ang mga WETENG Lord mula Hilaga hanggang Timog ng bansa. Sinong gagong nilalang sa mundo ang maniniwalang wala kayong alam diyan sa Weteng operation? Sinong mamamayan ang magpapakamatay na magrereport ng weteng operation sa inyo. Ang alam, ang balita, ang persepsyon ng mamamayan ay kundi man kasabwat, ang pamunuan ng PNP ang siya ngayong direktang nagpapatakbo ng weteng operation sa bansa.

Sino ang mas may kredibilidad, ang mas paniniwalaan ng country, si Lumibao, si Calderon, o si Bishop CRUZ?

Tandang-tanda pa ng mamamayan ang propaganda ni Ate Glo, ilan taon na ang nakalipas. “In two years time, in one year time, wipe out na ang Weteng”. Ang tanong nuon, may naniwala ba? Mas kapani-paniwala pa ng ilang libong beses na "BANTAY SALAKAY" at may basbas-order mula sa Malakanyang ang patuloy na lumalakas na weteng ops sa bansa.

Sa isang bansang mahina (WEAK STATE), lulugu-lugo ang institusyon, prostituted ang institusyon, walang naniniwalang sinusunod, ipinapatupad at seryosong ini-implement ang mga batas. Walang naniniwalang mawa-wipe out ng PNP, ng AFP, sa tulong ni Mayor, sa tulong ni Gobernador, sa tulong ng League of Mayor of the Phil (LMP), ULAP-DILG at Sigaw ng Bayan ang weteng sa country.

Sa totoo lang, hindi na kailangan ng report mula kay Mang Juan ang weteng Ops sa kanilang barangay. Kung report lang ang hanap ng PNP marami itong mapagkukuwaang datos at inpormasyon hinggil sa operation ng Weteng.

Una; hindi na mabilang ang mga Senate-Congressional hearing na naisagawa sa isyu ng weteng (mga exposay ni Bishop Cruz, Sandra Cam at mga dating Cabo ng Weteng), matagal ng identified, positive, kumpleto na ang listahan kung sinu-sino, saan lugar, sino nakikinabang, tumatabo, magkano ang partihan ng intelehensya, kanino iniintrega papataas (palasyo) at lifestyle checking. May naibagsak ng presidente rito.

Pangalawa; bode-bodega na ang litiratura't pananaliksik diyan. Manuod kayo ng Kubrador.

Pangatlo; ilan mga reporter ng Tabloid at ilang broadsheet na ang nagbulgar diyan, ilang broadcaster sa radio ang pakutyang nag-aanunsyo pa araw-araw ng mga tumama sa weteng.

Idilat lamang ang mga MATA, haplusin ang mabantut na hangin sa tabi-tabi at 'wag maghintay na patamain sa weteng. 'Wag ng magmaang-maangan, 'wag sabihing dapat may magreport, maging pro-active, batid na ng lahat kung sinu-sino, kung saan-saang mga lugar at hideout ng weteng lords.

Kung sa pakinabang, kung sa dilhensyahan, kung sa RAKITAN at kabigan KAYO-KAYO lang, sinosolo n'yo, MINOMONOPOLYO n"yo, kina-kartel n'yo! Kung trabaho na, kung sakripisyo na't HIRAP AT PASAKIT humihingi na kayo ng saklolo, nagpapa-assist na kayo, gusto n'yong damayan kayo ng country, nananawagan kayo ng SAMA-SAMANG pagkilos! Hindi parehas ang laban.

Ang katawa-tawa, mukhang gusto pang palabasing KASALANAN pa ni Mang Juan, ng kumunidad, (palabasing gusto ng tao, employment yan, kultura na yan!) kung bakit tinatangkilik ito ng mananaya, 'dahil hindi raw ito iniREPORT, nakikipag-tulungan, nakipag-cooperate sa inyo (PNP)!

Nakakapanglupaypay naman yan. Paano makikipag-cooperate , paano kayo pagtitiwalaan, paano kayo igagalang ng tao, ang lalaki at ang dami ninyong mansyon, naka-SUV luxury vehicle pa kayo (magkano lang ba ang monthly wages ng isang Heneral na pulis?). Madalas kayong nakikita sa beerhouse, daming chicas na ka-table, nakikipaglandian sa TAAS, sa palasyo!

Kung nanaisin, kung gugustuhin, kung may “butu sa gulugud” lamang, kung may “political will” ang palasyo at PNP-AFP na durugin, tiris-tirisin at wipe-out ang weteng sa bansa ay kayang-kaya. Ang grupong Magdalo, sa kabila ng kahusayan at experto sa counter INTEL ng mga junior officers, nahuli n'yo, Weteng operation pa,

Kung maipapakulong n'yo ng buhay, kung sasampulan n'yo si Bong Pineda na kumukuya- kuyakoy lamang sa Lubao, Pampanga, BIBILIB ako at buong country. Kung magagawa ng PNP-CIDG na maipakulong ang numero-unong electoral campaign financier ni Ate Glo, diyan lamang mapatutunayang seryoso nga ang PNP na durugin ang salot na WETENG sa country.

Kung mangyari 'yan, ganap ng mawawala ang persepsyong dorobo't kasabwat ang PNP sa mga wetengan. Kung magagawa ni Director General Calderon na maipakulong si Bong Pineda, siguradong papalakpakan siya ng country, maglalaho ang pagdududa at maibalik ang kredibilidad, pagtitiwala't pagtangkilik ng country sa PNP.

Kaya lang ang totoo, may basbas mula sa itaas na maghinay-hinay muna sa anti-weteng operation. Hangga't maari, hangga't pwede maghanap ng mga alibi, palusot (justification) hanggang maiparaos lamang ang nalalapit na 2007 election. Lubhang kailangan ng mga pulitiko (lokal man o nasyunal level) ang weteng money upang muling masustentuhan ang pang-araw-araw na gastusing pamumulitika (kasal, binyag, libing), sustento sa dami ng kabit-asawa nito, tarpuline-streamer ng mga pagmumukha nito sa kanto, pamimigay ng noodles, pagpapainum-for the boys, visibility, name recall at maagang pagtatayo ng makinarya.


Doy Cinco / IPD
August 27, 2006

Friday, August 25, 2006

"Green Highway", walang bilib, Gimik lang !!!

Ewan ko. Pero, hindi sa pagiging makulit o lagi na lamang kontrabida, puna ng puna't hihanapan na lamang palagi ng butas ang bawat programa ng gubyerno at parang wala ng nagawang matino ang gubyerno. Sa kasalukuyang dispensasyon, maaring sabihin nating wala nga talagang ginagawang maayos, sistematiko't direksyon ang gubyerno ni Ate Glo.

Sa tingin ko mali, walang malinaw na impak, hindi tatagal, nagsasayang lang at 'di-sustainable. Wala akong bilib, wala akong nakikitang paghanga o kaseryosohan sa programa ng DENR Sec Angelo Reyes na "Green Philippine Highway Program."

Ang sistema, ang realidad kasi, patsi-patsi, reactive, walang buto sa gulugud, propaganda ang dating. The “Longest daw' in the world at kayang lagpasan ang Great Wall of China, haaaa...... "Wag n'yo kaming pinagloloko!!!.

Ilang tree planting na ang naisagawa ng gubyerno simula pa nung panahon ni Marcos (green revolution) hanggang sa tatlong presidenteng nagdaan. Ilang pondo mula sa World Bank at iba pang International Agencies ang NAKURAKOT, ilang bilyon ang naibulsa. May nangyari ba? Subukang mong bumiyahe mula Manila hanggang Baguio- Appari o hanggang Naga, Cam Sur, bubulaga sa mukha mo ang kalbong kabundukan. 'Wag na tayong magpakalayo-layo, namutiktik ba sa "green"-kakayuhan (kagubatan) ang Metro Manila?

Bago nga kayo magpasikat sa “green highway” na yan, pwede bang asikasuhin n'yo muna ang trahedya ng Oil Spills sa Guimaras, ilang Linggo na ang lumipas wala pa kaming nakikitang inisyatiba ng DENR! Imbis na "green highway" pwede bang taniman n'yo muna ng libong puno ang NAIA 1 at Naia 2, Domestic, Cebu at Davao, ang ating istratehikong mga international Airport. Kung baga sa isang bahay, ang sala muna, ang living room muna. Tignan n'yo ang Kuala Lumpur , Bangkok at Singapore International Airport, isang malaking gubat ang babalagbag sa'yo, isang “gubat sa ciudad”.

Isa pa, yung Edsa, Quezon Av at Commonwealth Av na nga lang sa Quezon City hindi mataniman ng mga Puno, Green Philippine Highway pa, 3,439 km pa ang haba?

Nakita n'yo Highway, hindi n'yo nakita't nagbulag-bulagan kayo sa panot na Kabundukan. Kabundukang kinalbo ng mga elite na politikong ibinoboto pa ng paulit-ulit ng mga tao. Sila ang mga kasapakat sa Malalaking Logging konsesyong nagdulot ng paulit-ulit na malalaking LANDSLIDE sa bansa, bilyung pisong pinsala sa buhay at ari-arian ng mga mamamayan sa S. Leyte, Quezon province, Cordillera region (Baguio City) at sa ibang matataas na lugar sa bansa. Hindi na natuto, bilyung-bilyon piso na ang mga napinsalang komunidad, natabunan, buhay na naibuwis at pinsalang inprastraktura.

Bakit highway? Dahil dito ini-implement ang "road user's tax" (naka-blue t-shirt na may tatak na mukha ni Ate Glo? Dahil dito matatagpuan ang boto at photo OPs? Dahil dito matatagpuan ang mga alipures sa barangay? Mas mahusay pa siguro kung IPINAUBAYA n'yo na lamang yan sa Local Government Units (LGUs) at hindi sa programa ng National Government.

Mas bibilib ako, mas hahanga ako at susuporta sa DENR, kung uusigin, maipapakulong ang sanlaksang mga Illegal Logger may limang dekada na ang lumipas sa buong Kapuluan. Pangalawa, kung may malinaw na patakaran ang gubyerno sa batas na tutupdin at ie-enforce, pagsasabatas ng "Total Logging Ban" sa buong kapuluan habang seryosong inaayudahan ang FORESTRY PROGRAM sa pamamagitan ng Community Based Forest Management (CBFM). Meaning grassroot, community-based ang siyang mas may karapatan mangalaga at mag-ani ng kakayuhan sa kabundukan at sa kapatagan, hindi HIGHWAY.


Doy Cinco / IPD
August 25, 2006

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Double dead nga ang Impeach 2, supalpal naman ang Comelec's ACM!

Kung nailibing ng buhay sa Tongreso ang Impeachment 2 ('di na balita yan at inasahan na'yan ng country), katay, supalpal naman ang inabot ng Macalintal-Malakanyang- Comelec-Mega Pacific tandem sa Korte Suprema!

Ayon sa huling balita (kahapon, Aug 23), sa isang en banc resolusyon (11 pages), ibinasura ng SC ang petition at kahilingan ng abugado ng gubyernong si Romulo Macalintal na payagan ang Comelec at Dept of Science and Technology (DOST) na muling subukan, testingin sa harap ng media't taumbayan ang may 2,000 Automated Counting Machine (ACM) nabubuluk sa bodega ng Comelec. Hindi naman mga bata't tatanga-tanga ang mga nasa SC upang sang-ayunan si Makalintal at labagin ang mga naunang desisyon nito.

Bakit sobra atang ka-agresibo, pakialamero at kamalasakit ni MacaLINTAL sa ACM, Mega Pacific at Comelec? Sa ikinikilos nito, nabibisto tuloy na may kamay at ugnayan ang Malakanyang sa kaso ng ACM at Comelec. Abugado siya ni GMA at hindi ni Abalos at Mega Pacific. Nagdududa ang country, ilang milyon ba ang nasipsip na dugo ng Lintang ito?

Kung walang masusuhulan, babaligtad, kung walang magsisirko, kung hindi magHUHUDAS ang SC at Ombudswoman, walang dahilan upang hindi isunod sa kaso ang accountability ng mga may kagagawan sa karumaldumal na krimeng kurakot-anomalyang kontrata ng COMELEC, ACM at Mega Pacific.

Mahirap i-under estimate ang kampo't galamay ni Ate Glo. Hanggang huling sandali, muling gagamitin ng Malakanyang ang kanyg ALAS, ang lahat ng resources, ang lahat ng makinarya upang mapakinabangan sa 2007 election ang mga makina (naka-hacked?), muling makapandaya at ma-iligtas ang mga galamay-TUTA sa Comelec sa namimintong kahihiyan at kapahamakan.

Sa laki ng pinsalang maaring maidulot (pugut ulo) at bilyon pisong involved dito, madaling unawain kung bakit may mga sunud-sunud na paid AD, propaganda war machine (unknown- PR) tayong napapansin sa MASS MEDIA? Sa linyang “sayang kung di magagamit ang mga makina sa 2007 election,” walang dudang BUMABAHA ngayon ng milyun-milyong PAYOLA sa hanay ng ilang media practitioners, komentarista, TV host, TV Networks at ilang print-broadsheet na pahayagan pumapabor sa Comelec, Malakanyang at Mega Pacific.

Kung nais maibalik ang kredibilidad, pagtitiwala ng country sa Comelec, maibalik ang katiting na paghanga sa SC at Ombudswoman ang mamamayan, dalawa lamang ang kanyang pwedeng targetin ng SC bago mag 2007; una, panagutin, singilin, sibakin, pugutan ng ulo ang mga salarin, i-OVERHAUL (provincial, city level) ang buong institusyon ng Comelec at habulin ang mga Commissioner (Hello Garci contovercy) na kabilang sa pangungurakot! Pangalawa, marecover ng Solicitor General ang bilyong pisong nauna ng ibinayad ng Comelec sa Mega Pacific (MPC).

Nakakapanglupaypay, kawawa naman ang country sa 2007, dahil lamang sa isang institusyong (ginamit muna bago winarat at sinalaula) naglukluk ng pekeng presidente. Maliban sa matutuwa't kikita nnaman ang mga sindikato't mga operador sa halalan, dating gawi, madilim, patayan at magiging mas magulo ang manu-manung bilangan sa 2007 election, kung matutuloy?


Doy Cinco / IPD
August 24, 2006

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Di ako nanunuod ng pelikulang Pinoy, pero try KUBRADOR!

Bihi-bihira lamang ako manuod ng pelikulang Pilipino (taunan pa nga minsan), mga isang beses o baka wala pa nga! Ang siste kasi, kung hindi umaatikabong mga sampalan, suntukan (violence), OA, iyakan – luhaan, corning loving-loving, sumbatan, kasawian, luxurious na pamumuhay-kaginhawaan, nakaka-bad trip at walang kalatuy- latuy!

Pero, 'di naming pinaligtas panuurin at isingit sa masalimuot na iskedyul ang pelikulang KUBRADOR. Tungkol kasi ito sa isang kubrador ng weteng na babaeng kinatauhan ni Amelita (Gina Pareno). Ipinapakita, inilalarawang mensahwe ng pelikula ang tunay na kalagayan-konteksto (hindi lamang sa isang buhay kubrador) ng country, ng ating lipunang punong puno ng mga katanungan; ang matinding karalitaan, (urban poor area, shoot sa Botocan area, near Cruz na Ligas, QC), ang inhustiya't katarungan, ang matira ang matibay (survival), ang imoralidad, ang pamahiing taglay ng bawat tao (kulturang malas-swerte) at ang papel ng PANGUNGURAKOT- korupsyong (awtoridad) nakatanim ng malalim sa ating bansa.

Hindi man ito bumenta sa takilya, marami itong INANING awards sa pandaigdigang kompetisyon, mga film festival (abroad). Bukud sa isang major awards na pinanaluhan Best Film, Best Actress, Best Director at Best Picture mula sa International Critics Jury Fipresci Award, sa 8th OSIAN Cine Fan Festival of Asian Cinema (New Delhi, India), Best FILM sa kompetisyon sa International Critics Jury Fipresci Award sa 28th Moscow International Film Festival (Russia).

Hindi lang yan mga kapatid, global ang dating! Pinanood din ang pelikulang Kubrador sa 11th Pusan International Film Festival (S. Korea), 26th Hawaii International Film Festival, 30th Sao Paulo International Film Festival (Brazil), 27th Thessaloniki International Film Festival (Greece), 37th Vancouver International Film Festival at Toronto Film Festival (Canada).

Kung palabas pa, try KUBRADOR? Ang nakakalungkot, ang shocking, (bukud sa P91.00 / na pala ang bayad sa sine) NILANGAW, inamag-kaunti lamang ang nanuod! Sa aking na-obserbasyon, ilang intelekwal at mga pulu-pulutong na mga istudyanteng na sa tingin ko'y naubligang magsagawa ng report (critique) at tila may kaugnayan sa kanilang kurso, ang mga nakita ko. Mukhang nakakabahala, hindi lang sa mga botanteng (intelegent voters) Pinoy, mukhang malala na rin ang krisis sa level ng kultura't kaalaman? Ewan ko, 'wag naman sana.

Sana 'di kayo mabitin. Nakakapanghinayan lang kung 'di natin mapanood!

Doy Cinco / IPD
August 23, 2006

Monday, August 21, 2006

"Infiltrated na ng mga Komunista ang Media!" Matagal na!

"Infiltrated na raw ng mgkomunista ang Media", ang sabi ni Norbertor “Saging” Gonzales, National Security Adviser ni Ate Glo nung press con sa Sulo Hotel, QC., kahapon.

“TANGA”, hindi na balita yan! Ang balita, ang (broadcast) headline, ang nakaka- pagtaka ay kung wala, kung zero, kung walang narerekrut magpanhanggang ngayon sa hanay ng mass media ang mga komunista, yan ANG BALITA, yan ANG HEADLINE? Kung gusto mong makakita ng maraming komunista SAGING, sa UP (acadecians o students leader), sa U-Belt area, sa NGO community, sa sektor ng simbahan o sa hanay ng civil society, marami kang matatagpuan!

Para sa kabatiran mo, kahit pa nung panahon ni Magsaysay kung saan ay ipinagba- bawal sa batas ang pagiging kumunista ay laganap na, ngayon pa kaya!! Ano yan SAGING, propaganda lang, bagong analysis o bagong tuklas?

Kung bagong tuklas yan o analysis, NAKAKAHIYA, ang engot naman, ngayon mo lang nabalitaan yan! Kawawa naman si Ate Glo, kaya pala sumasablay sa kapopropa, puro TANGA pala ang mga naging adviser! Sa sitwasyon natin ngayon, hindi nakakapag- takang mayroon ng mga komunista sa mass media, mas lalo pa ngayon na kung saan ligal na at ang batas RA 1700 (anti-subversion law) ay hindi na ipinagbabawal ang pagiging miembro, kabilang o pagiging isang (partido) komunista, as long as hindi ka nananawagan at humahawak ng armas para ibagsak ang gubyerno.

Ngayon kung binabalak ni SAGING Gonzales, ni Ate Glo, ng Malakanyang na i-repeal, tanggalin ang RA 1700, tru CHA CHA, (isang bangungut) balik tayo sa 1950s-cold war era- witch hunting, balik tayo sa "banana republic", kenkoyan na naman tayo!

Nagbago na ang mundo! SHOWBIZ na ngayon ang pagiging komunista. Ang daming T-shirt ngayon ni Mao, ni Che Guevarra at mga markings ng Maso't Karet na nabibili ngayon at mabiling-mabili ngayon sa SM Mall, sa bangketa! Iniidolo ngayon si Fidel Castro ng Cuba, ang China at komunistang si Ho Chi Mihn ng Vietnam at nalagpasan na tayo ng komunistang Vietnam sa lahat ng bagay!

Ang isa pang dapat mong malaman, may dynamics, broad at malapad ang kilusang komunista sa Pilipinas (mahigit kumulang na 10 factions lahat)! Mula sa CPP-NPA hanggang sa partido n'yo ni Fr Intengan na anti-komunistang 'di manalo-nalo sa Party List election! May MAOIST, may Leninista, may anarkista, may simpleng Marxista, may Soc Dem, may Independent na mga Kaliwa at many, many more! “Huwag kang TATANGA-TANGA, SAGING”. Mag security (blue guard) guard ka nalang kaya sa IPD?


Doy Cinco / IPD
August 22, 2006

The empire's mirror image. Truth, justice, and the “non-state” question

This time I'm sharing you an excerpt of the inroduction I wrote for the study made by Lutz Oette of Redress (UK-based NGO) titled Not Only the State: Towards Enhanced Protection, Accountability and Effective Remedies. Included as well is Gil “Pamboy” Navarro's personal account as originally published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Much of this piece is taken from my article on CARHRIHL as well as snippets from various articles and developments on the case of Weng Libre, Maximiano Paner, and the other purge victims and how these are somehow related to (or complicated by) our present human rights situation.

The complete study can be found on the following url:
http://www.redress.org/publications/Non%20State%20Actors%209%20June%20Final.pdf

- Bobby

Introduction to Not Only the State

There is one simple but inescapable conclusion illumined by this study: the laws we have right now, and their implementing mechanisms, need to catch up. I have more than a passing interest in the subject of this study....(having) contemplated the various ways by which the abomination of the CPP anti-infiltration campaigns will be remedied. Reading this paper, I realize how laborious that route would be...

The sheer experience of bruality from one's own comrades may have been one of the reasons why most of us refused to talk about it for a very long time. It was much easier to talk about military atrocities than the cruelty of one’s own. Thus the truth was buried for a very long time.

Talking about the experience was difficult enough as it were, finding legal redress was not even imagined. At least not until recently.

In August 2003, we brought together a group of people who were directly or indirectly victimized by the CPP-NPA's anti-infiltration campaigns – former comrades who survived the torture, families who lost a member or two, and compatriots who believe that the thousands of comrades who fell in the wake of these anti-infiltration campaigns must find their due. We formed the Peace Advocates for Truth, Healing and Justice (PATH).

All of our members are involved in various other advocacies and campaigns, but find this particular one far harder and fraught with obstacles. Many of us are human rights workers who never tire of hollering against the State’s abuses – work that is by no means easy, but pretty much cut and dried. It enjoys the luxury of certitude and “political correctness.” Furthermore, legal remedies addressing State-perpetrated violations of human rights and international humanitarian law are very much in place.

The issue of non-State-perpetrated violations however, such as the Philippine communist purges, is much more complex and uncertain. For one, we are hard-put to carry this issue to a government audience, knowing full well that the latter has to equally answer for much. This makes it even harder to invoke state accountability on grounds of “positive obligation,” for even victims of human rights violations by the state can hardly take them to task. As this study puts it: “...states have frequently employed counter-insurgency strategies and outright war to combat these groups instead of resorting to judicial processes. These strategies are themselves often characterised by serious violations of human rights and humanitarian law.”

What adds to the complexity of this issue is that the war is still raging. The end to the violent conflict between the government and the CPP-NPA is nowhere in sight, as such addressing the issue of past violations inevitably gets mired in political manoeuvrings. The government uses it as an effective propaganda ammunition against the rebels, while dispensing with counter-insurgency measures that fall way below human rights and IHL standards. Like at present, left-wing activists are being summarily executed on an almost daily basis, while the government in effect is mouthing: “They had it coming,” or, “Just like in the past, they are killing their own comrades.” In such a situation, the truth suffers, along with justice and accountability.

In addition to this, bringing up the issue remains a dangerous undertaking, simply because the CPP-NPA is still armed and active. They have also categorically dismissed any possibility of reopening the issue, claiming that it is already a closed book. The perpetrators, they say, have either fled the Party or have been rightfully punished. The scores of victims' families who do not know what really happened, and the thousands of dead-and-disappeared, point to the contrary.

The Party, in its long history, have not shown any capacity for undertaking due process and credible investigations that pass accepted international norms. What they have shown thus far is the capacity for dispensing summary executions, a number of which they publicly proclaim, such as the assassination of former Party leaders Romulo Kintanar and Arturo Tabara.

Thus, understandably, most of their victims refuse to raise the issue or bring it to the proper body for fear of courting further harm.

We at PATH have explored various legal options, one is the filing of individual criminal cases against identified lead perpetrators, such as those involved in the OPML in the province of Laguna. As expected, the wheels of justice grind to an almost standstill. Gathering evidence of a crime that happened more than a decade back poses a terrible challenge, including the lack of witnesses willing to testify and the blurring of memory through time. The absence of an anti-torture law in the Philippines also poses a limitation, thus the charges filed are limited to serious physical injuries and serious illegal detention.

The case of Jesse Marlowe Libre is a particular case in point. In November 2005, we at PATH, with the help of forensic scientists and volunteer experts were able to exhume the remains of his parents, revolutionary couple Jesse and Nida Libre. They were falsely suspected as spies and killed by the CPP-NPA in Cebu on September 1985.

The truth behind the disappearance of the young orphan Libre's parents was withheld from him by the movement (they claimed the military killed them). It was only in 2005 when he learned the disconcerting reality upon seeing his parents' skeletons buried together in a mountain gravesite, bearing tell-tale signs of severe torture and violent death. Thus with the exhumation of truth comes the cry for justice.

What are the legal options available to him? We can barely find witnesses willing to testify. Who are responsible? A whole Party organization was involved. What are the levels of accountability? It was a complex hierarchical setup: there were onlookers, guards, interrogators, torturers, executioners, decision-makers, and Party directives. Truth and justice are simply lost in the labyrinth.

Another quasi-legal option is our call for the creation of a Truth and Justice Commission, being aware of the extreme difficulty of filing individual court cases. But Commissions of this sort were successfully done in post-conflict situations, i.e. in countries in transition. We find no precedent of a Truth Commission set up in any country with ongoing conflict, though we are open to setting such a precedent back home.

As we grope around for tenable legal recourse, we welcome any political developments that could offer some promise or possibility of an official, widely recognized probe. Thus when the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (or CARHRHIL, the first out of four stages in the substantive agreement within the ongoing peace talks between the Philippine government and CPP-NPA-NDF2), we asked: “Could this be the avenue we are looking for?”

Sadly, CARHRIHL gives little indication in that direction. The negotiating parties have set up the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) on April 14, 2004 purportedly to monitor each other’s compliance with the stated agreements on human rights and international humanitarian law. But it covers only cases that happened “on or after August 7, 1998,” the official date of the pact. That effectively leaves out the bloodiest and most far-reaching crimes that resulted from the anti-infiltration purges because they happened more than a decade back. It is not retroactive.

Besides, what powers does the JMC actually wield? The most disconcerting feature of the agreement is “the failure of the CARHRIHL to vest the JMC with executory power.” Indeed, all the JMC can do is deliberate on a filed complaint, try to reach a consensus, and then throw it to the “Party concerned” for further investigation.

Nothing in the agreement indicates that either Party can be compelled to investigate. Much less are they compelled to provide reparation for the aggrieved. Indeed, till this day not one of the cases filed with the JMC, whether against government or the CPP-NPA-NDF, has moved an inch beyond their respective filing cabinets.

In short, we have an official “agreement” to respect HR and IHL, with a body to “monitor” compliance, but no teeth to enforce it. All we have is their word, which, going by experience, does not amount to much. All it has accomplished so far is bolster the CPP-NPA's claims to belligerency.

As this paper pointedly observes: “While such developments (i.e. bilateral agreements or unilateral declarations of observance) have the potential to result in greater protection, doubts remain concerning their effectiveness: there is often little external monitoring of agreements or commitments and it is unclear what steps, if any, have been taken with a view to preventing torture.

In the absence of such verification, it is difficult to assess whether the purported steps are genuine attempts to stop torture by members of the group concerned. Claims about steps taken may equally serve as mere gestures to gain enhanced legitimacy by appeasing those who raise human rights concerns without changing the actual practice. Continued reports about torture and other serious violations by non-state actors often appear to point to the latter.”

This paper however does not close the door on pursuing creative “engagements” with armed groups towards convincing them to abide by HR and IHL standards. This suggestion has some merit, and in an ideal setting it would be wise to negotiate with them on these grounds. Armed groups generally operate on the basis of political expediency, thus productively engaging them might entail setting mechanisms that would make it “politically costly” for them not to follow the standards. These mechanisms, however, have yet to be realized.

Human rights violators from the State have to face the entire UNDHR and all international humanitarian laws, while the best recourse for victims of non-State violations remains the common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions, with hardly any enabling mechanisms.

Sol Santos writes: “...human rights creates obligations on or can be applied to non-state actors like rebel groups, and not just states or governments. The basis for this is the more dynamic view that human rights are meant not just to regulate the state but, more fundamentally, to assert the inherent rights of individuals against all forces, whether state or non-state, which would violate them.”

Poring through this comprehensive study, we at PATH realize that many people in the world find themselves stuck in the same boat. The victims of the former Yugoslavian conflict, the RUF in Sierra Leone, Shining Path of Peru, and so on continue to suffer from a very constricted legal terrain at either national or international levels.

Correcting this is an imperative, if we are to be true to the notion of human rights universality. Thus in the final analysis, we continue to grope, even as crimes against humanity continue to pile up and bury the old ones. Torture and other inhuman acts continue to be committed all over the world, both by governments and armed groups. War and injustice prove to be fertile grounds for these atrocities to breed and multiply. We cannot emphasize enough the urgency of creating new laws and mechanisms that could deter them, or deal with them in a manner that would restore our humanity.

Gil Navarro's Account:

[Extract of article posted on 27 December 2003 Inquirer News Service, as part of Juan Sarmiento's five-part series "CPP Victims Seek Justice, Closure" (PDI, 26-20 December 2003) (INS’s EDITOR'S NOTE: Following is a first-person account of Gil Navarro, a survivor of "Operation Missing Link." He has since left the underground movement.)]
IT BEGAN with an invitation to a labor conference in a guerrilla zone. Our group of five reached a New People's Army camp in Laguna on July 1, 1988. I was then 26 and the secretary of the Communist Party of the Philippines' section organizing committee in Calamba, Laguna.

Three of us were blindfolded and chained and ordered not to talk. The next morning, I noted that there were about 10 cells with prisoners, about 10 meters apart, covered with plastic sheets. After a week, I was presented to Dex, Gerry and Igor, and told to sit at the table. "Starting today, we are dropping you from the rolls of the party because you're a DPA (deep-penetration agent)," Dex said. "That's not true," I protested. "Only the Central Committee can drop me from the rolls."

"Someone has already squealed on you," Gerry said…

Three days passed before I was interrogated again... "Are you going to confess now?" Dex said. "What will I confess?" I said. I could still smile then. They presented someone, a youth organizer from BiƱan, who had supposedly identified me as a spy. He was sobbing. Then he was led away."You son of a bitch. So you're a nut hard to crack!" Dex said. A yellow pad was rolled and used to hit my face. Vlady pointed an M-16 at me and pulled the trigger. The rifle had no bullet. I was then made to sit before a pit three feet deep. "Are you going to confess now?" they asked, a gun pointed at me."What will I confess?" I said. They put bullets between my fingers and squeezed. Someone shoved a fist against my chest bone. I cried in pain. I was also made to squat, and my shin was hit with something hard.

After that day, I was interrogated daily. I was roused from sleep at night. I was slapped repeatedly. The routine lasted a month. Two women took notes of my interrogation. On those nights, I could hear someone's cries and the whirring of a power saw. Sometimes, they deprived me of food. There were moments when I entertained the thought of committing suicide by slashing my wrists with the sharp edge of a tin can, but I couldn't find any.

The anti-DPA campaign was called Operation Missing Link because no one knew how they disappeared. I decided to make up a story after an incident in the second week of August. Someone asked me [after having killed another detainee in front of my eyes]: "Will you be the next? What's your message to your family?" That's when I said yes.

Yes, I was recruited by Tatang's son. Yes, I'm a DPA. They asked about my salary, my network, how I was recruited. I found it difficult to make up something. I merely confirmed what they had told me. I thought that what I was doing was not right, but it was a matter of survival. I told them about Red Sox ("Oplan Red Shank"), a military plan to infiltrate the party, which I had earlier read about in a torn page of the Inquirer that I found at the camp.

Two days later, Igor and Lea made me list down the supposed military spies I knew. They took a picture of me holding a plate with my name on it. Then the series of killings began. Many more were arrested.

I received severe torture at the second camp. With my hands bound, I was made to sit by a big tree. They raised my feet as if I were being made to do a split. Igor pulled at one of my legs and a woman pounded my knee with a coconut shell. "Confess some more!" said Igor, Ken and Dex. Then, before all the people in the camp, Dex took off my underwear. Using a razor, he slit the skin just above my penis four times. The torture lasted for half a day. "Just kill me because I just made up the story.

You won't get anything from me. Call Ken and tell him to kill me," I screamed. Days later, they asked me about some names in Manila. If they were unsatisfied with my answer, Igor would force me to eat a piece of paper. We stayed at the camp for two weeks…At night I could hear screams. I saw people being marched off, with someone carrying a spade and a crowbar.

I was set free on Dec. 8. The then head of the Southern Luzon Commission summoned me and said: "I can no longer shed tears to ask for your forgiveness. Come, let's go to our comrades." Unchained, I went to a group that included those who had also been released, as well as some members of the Central Committee. They sang a song welcoming me back to the party. I cried.

Saturday, August 19, 2006

"In the first place, hindi nila nire-recognized ang Presidente...."

“Bakit namin sila bibigyan ng pondo (pork barrel), in the first place hindi nila nire-recognized ang Presidente, in the second place, gusto nilang ma-oust ang presidente!” - Sec Mike Defensor. (station ID ng ABS CBN News Network – ANC). Super-super astig at grabeng kayabangan ang ipinakita't pagpapahayag nito! Weather-weather na lamang talaga tayo??

Simple lang ang ibig sabihin nito; kung ika'y isang oposisyon o kabilang sa mga aktibistang kinatawan sa Tongreso, kabilang sa pro-impeachment, kasama sa kritiko't bumabatikos sa elihitimong nag-iiskwat sa Malakanyang, kabilang sa social movement, civil societies, kilusang demokratiko't mga militante, kasama ka sa nagra-rally at nagde-demo sa lansangan (parliament of the street) para sa katotohanan at sa mga isyu ng country, aba'y kahit CINCO wala kang matatanggap na PORK BARREL! Ganun talaga!

Ayon sa source, may inilabas na P15.0 milyon/Tongreso (neutral) bago magresume ang Kongreso. Yung iba dito ay nakatanggap ng P30.0 milyon. Inaasahang lalabas pa ang mga natitirang pondo pagkatapos maibasura ang impeachment. Normally, P40.0 milyon ang dapat matanggap ng lahat ng Kongresman (mapa-oposisyon o taga-administrasyon), kaya lang si Ate Glo na mismo ang nagre-release ng pondo (dumadaan sa kanya, personal na nag-aabot ng SARO, special allotment release order).

Ito ba ang kahulugan ng “tapusin na ang mga tunggalian sa pulitika, harapin na ang umuunlad na ekonomiya.....we have to move on, ang sabi ni Gloria sa nakaraang SONA.” Babrasuhin, ipagbabawal at buburahin sa mapa ang oposisyon? Na dapat maging maamong tupa, mabait, masunurin at maging tangang robot ang oposisyon.

Walang dudang ganito nga ang kalakarang pinaiiral ni Ate Glo at kanyang mga galamay, na ang mga hardcore na oposisyon ay dapat malusaw, ang siyang salot sa mundo, ang nanggugulo, ang terorista, ang lahat ng may kasalanan kung bakit lugmok, kung bakit lupaypay at kung bakit stagnant ang ekonomya't pag-unlad ng country!

Kung ginagago ang Kongreso, mukhang ganito na rin ang sitwasyon sa Korte Suprema at sa maraming institusyong itinalaga ng ating Constitution (Constitutional bodies- Comelec, Ombudsman atbapa)?

Ganito rin ba kalala, kalubha nuong panahon ni Mitra, panahon ni Manny Villar, sa panahon ni Tita Cory na kung saan, tinapak-tapakan na lamang, kinakaladkad palabas na lamang, parang batang binabatuk-batukan na lamang, ginagawang tanga, kinakawawa ang oposisyon, pinagdadamutan ng PORK BARREL? Kung luluhud ka naman sa Malakanyang para lamang sa pork barrel, lalabas na parang "may utang na loob ka't kahiya-hiya, at baka sumbatan ka to death ng mga baboy sa Tongreso!

Kung ang pahayag ni Ninyo Bonito Mike Defensor ay isa ng patakaran ng Estado,(tiranny of numbers), walang paggalang at pagrespeto sa demokratisasyon at sinasalaula ang Constitution ay lubahang nakakabahala. Ang Constitution ang nagtitiyak, naggagaran- tiya sa ating demokrasya, Constitution na nagsasaad na may hiwalay, na may check and balance ang bawat sangay ng estado ng Republika ng Pilipinas: Ehekutibo, Lehislatura't Hudikatura.

Umatras tayo, bumalik uli tayo sa patrimonial politics (authoritarian, patron-client relationship - academic terms) o ang tinatawag na personalistic ties ng mga traditional politicians -TRAPO, landlordism, guns, gold and goons! Balik sa dating gawi nuong panahon ng diktadurang Marcos na KBL controled Batasang Pambansa, cronies, padri-padrino!

Naghari ang elite, ang CASIQUE democracy at OLIGARCHY! What's happening to our beloved country? Matagal na nating inani't pinagtagumpayan ito nuong 1986 EDSA revolution!


Doy Cinco / IPD
August 19, 2006

Thursday, August 17, 2006

Ang Amnesty International (AI), si Ate Glo at si Palparan

Ayon sa encyclopedia Wikipedia, ang Amnesty International o kadalasan AI kung tawagin sa NGO community sa Pilipinas, ay isang international Non Governmental Organization (NGO) o pribadong organisasyong nag-aadvocate at nagmomonitor ng paglabag sa karapatang pantao (nakabatay sa Universal Declaration of Human Rights) sa mundo.

Kabilang sa pinakikipaglaban - advocacy nito ay ng pagpapalaya ng lahat ng uri ng bilanggong politikal (anumang pananaw o konsiensyang tangan: Taliban, Hesbolla, Kumunista man o repormista, Kaliwa man siya o Kanan, Bachunin, Maoist o Leninista man, anarkista, kulto, Hamas, Kristiano't Muslim, Atheista man, Hudyo't Zionista, Magdalo/YOUng, Abu Sayaff, MILF, Urban Guerilla man siya), pag-aabolish ng death penalty, torture, at iba pang uri ng pang-aabuso, pagmamalupit at 'di-makataong pagtrato, pwersahang pagdukut at political killings (na siyang putok sa Pinas).

Nilalabanan nito ang lahat ng klaseng human right abuses na isinasagawa ng iba't- ibang grupo lalong-lalo na kung ito'y iniisponsor, kinakandili, kinukunsinti ng isang ESTADO (tulad sa kaso ng Pilipinas). Kasama rin sa adbokasiya nito bukud sa karapatang pantao, ang pagsusulong ng karapatan pang-ekonomya't sosyal at pang-kultura.

Sa pangunguna ng Roman Catholic at mga grupong abugadong kinabibilangan sa Englatera, naitatag AI nuong 1961. Sumunud na taon (1962), lumawak at naitayo ito sa maraming mga bansa; sa West Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Ireland, Canada, Ceylon, Greece, Australia (Amnesty International Australia), the United States (Amnesty International USA), New Zealand (Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand), Ghana, Israel, Mexico, Argentina, Jamaica, Malaya, Congo (Brazzaville), Ethiopia, Nigeria, Burma, at India. May dalawang milyong miembro (2.0 million) ito worldwide.

Si Jessica Soto, na matagal ko ng kakilala since collage days, tubong San Jose City, Nueva Ecija (area ni Gen. Jovito Palparan) ang kasalukuyang executive director ng Amnesty International-Philippines.

Mataas ang pagtingin, prestihiyo at paggalang ng mundo sa AI. Sa kanyang kasaysayan (track record) bilang isang institusyong nagbabandila, nagtatanggol at nagpoprotekta ng karapatang pan-tao, wala itong pinanigan o anumang grupong kinatigan. Puro't dalisay na naistablished nito ang pagiging neutrality at impartiality. Pinanatili nito ang pagiging isang independent, wala ni anumang inpluwensya ng anumang (makapangyaring) gubyerno, political ideology, economic interest at relihiyon.

'Ni minsan, wala itong sinuportahan, kinunsinti, kinampihang gubyerno o sistemang pampulitika sa mundo. Wala itong kinatigan o binatikos na pananaw ng mga biktima na kanyang prinotektahang (karapatan).

Sa kanyang adbokasiya't pakikipaglaban, wala itong pinaligtas o wala itong sinantong mga bansa. Ultimo US, ang Great Britain, ang Rusya, ang Israel, ang China, ang Yugoslavia, Cuba, Nort Korea at iba pang mayayamang bansa at mga umuunlad na bansa sa ikatlong daigdig (diktadurang Marcos) ay nakatikim ng matitinding pagbatikos at PUNA.

Kinilala ang AI sa mundo, nirespeto ng halos lahat ng Human Rights organization ng mundo. Sa katunyan, dahil sa patuloy na pagtatanggol ng karapatang Pantaoo, napa- rangalan at nabigyan ito ng prestihong award ng Nobel Peace Prize nuong 1977, isa ring international na institusyong nagtataguyod ng kapayapaan.

Pasalamat tayo at mayroon isang organisasyong tulad ng AI na nakapagpayanig sa Malakanyang. Kasi, kung sakaling isang lokal na ahensya lamang (CBCP) ito o isang pipitsuging lokal na NGO na nag-ala AI, baka pinulot na ito sa kangkungan, baka kinasuhan, ni-libel, binansagang maka Kaliwa (CPP-NPA) at mga terorista.

Inaasahan at natural lamang na magreact at mag-aalburuto (immediate reaction) sa AI ang mga guilty, ang mga salarin at mga suspect sa Malakanyang. Ang kasabihang "depende kung nasaan panig ka", pro-GMA o nasa anti-GMA side (matutuwa) ay magre-react. Madaling unawain ang mga ito, tulad ng mga reaksyong;

1. "isa itong UNFAIR, dahil may demokrasy ang Pilipinas"; ang gubyerno ay gumagawa ng lahat ng paraan to address ang lahat ng problema ng political killings (extra- judicial killings) sa bansa. Isa raw patunay ay ang pagtatayo ng isang 'Powerful body' na mag-iimbistiga ng patayan sa hanay ng militante at mga journalist". Ano na ang nangyari sa "Task Force Usig" ni Razon?

Ang mabigat na problema, babalik ang isyu ng kredibilidad at pagtitiwala. Ang persepsyon ng country na "blood thirsty, power hungry with an attitude" na ipinupukol ng mga kaaway sa politika ni Ate Glo ay hindi malayong mas paniwalaan ng country!

2. “dinouncing” ang isa ring sagot ni Ate Glo sa AI. Isang patunay daw ay ang pag-pressure nito sa mga law enforcement agency (task force usig?) na “pabilisin” ang lahat ng kaso ng extra-judicial killings. Dagdag pa, binigyan pa nga ng deadline na 10 linggo ang PNP at DOJ na magpakulong ng 10 salarin sa kaso?

Pinaplano rin ni Ate Glo na magtatag ng isang Komisyon o task force (na naman!) na mangangasiwa sa usapin ng mga pagpatay. Isa na namang DEODORANT ito sa mabantot na kredibilidad ng Malakanyang. Anong nangyari sa Konmisyon sa Electoral ni Hilarion Davide, tinigpas ba niya ang mga salarin ng Hello Garci at maanomalyang kontratang Automated Counting Machine sa Mega Pacific? Isang Komisyon / Task Force Weteng ang itinataga ni Ate Glo, may ngyari ba, natigpas ba ang ulo ni Bong Pineda?

Ang mabigat na tanong ngayon ay kung; seryoso ba si Ate Glo na maresolba ang political killings o seryoso itong madurug ang kilusang komunismo sa loob ng 3 taon, kahit madamay at malabag ang karapatang pantao ng country, ng mamamayang Pilipino? Kaya ba nitong maihinto ang political killings, may buto ba ito sa gulugud, kontrolado ba niya ang sitwasyon o wala na itong hawak, kontrol, impluwensya sa military? Mula ng magsimula ang krisis pampulitika't ilihitimong pangulo, nagkaroon ng sariling palo ang AFP.

Sa nakalipas na taon, utus-utusan, tau-tauhan na lamang at sunud-sunuran na lamang siya sa anumang naisin, gawin ng AFP! Isang maliwanag na halimbawa dito ay ang 7th IB ni Gen Jovito Palparan!!

3. "Cry foul" naman ang reaksyon ng PNP. Ayon kay Razon (Deputy Director General ng PNP) puno ng “task force usig”, bakit hindi man lan daw sila kinusap ng AI? Haa! Mahiya ka na rin, sino ka upang intertainin ng AI, isa kang partisan, pusakal na "anti-kumunista" at nakasuso kay GMA! May humabol pang isang galamay, "unfair" ang ikinokak ng Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

4. "hindi totoo at maling sabihing (ng AI) may pananagutan ang gubyerno sa mga nagaganap na political killings", mariing reaksyon naman ito ng Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (PDSP), isang (dulong Kanang) partidong anti-komunista. Nagkamali rin daw ang AI sa pagsusuri nitong "ang political killings ay tatapatan lamang, sasagutin lamang ng isa pang panibong mga killings" o walang dudang may retaliatory attacks sa panig ng armdong grupo. Gago, hindi ba kayo nag-aaral ng kasaysayan?

Idinagdag pa ni Fr Intengan na napaka-dangerous daw ang nasabing pagsusuri ng AI, lalo lamang daw nitong ini-encourage, ginagatungan o pinangungunahan na mas lalala ang pakikidigmang guerilla at pampulitikang sitwasyon sa bansa. (may itinayong SPARU - upang tapatan ang political killings ng maka-kanang gubyerno?) Paring pulpul mag-isip, nag-aral ka ba ng (sociological) history?!

Kung matatandaan (Martes, Aug 15), sinabi ng AI na dumarami, papalala ang insidente ng political killings sa Pilipinas. Pawang mga nasa “maka-Kaliwang” grupo o mga nasa hanay ng militante't progresibong organisasyon kontra sa kasalukuyang rehimen ni Ate Glo ang kalakhang nabiktima.

Ayon kay Tim Parritt, South East Asia researcher ng Amnesty International, isang malaking paglabag, iligal at walang lugar sa mundo ang isinasagawang mga pagpatay. Idinagdag pa nito na isang malaking KAHIHIYAN sa bahagi ni Ate Glo at ng gubyerno ang patuloy na kawalang kalayaan sa pamamahayag ng paninindigang politikal ng mga Pilipino.

Kung nagpaplano ang Malakanyang na "idemolition job" , siraan ang AI o dili kaya'y suhulan, ligawan, gapangin, ipatawag at imbitahan sa Malakanyang (mga kinatawan ng AI) para pasirkuhin, bumaligtad, tulad ng mga nauna nitong ginagawa't istilo sa hanay ng Obispo (CBCP), sa oposisyong sa Tongreso, sa mga weteng witness, Jose Pidal witness, siguradong supalpal at mabibigo ito!!

ANG TANONG NGAYON, sino ngayon ang dapat paniwalaan? Ang AI o si Ate Glo't ang Malakanyang? Sino ang mas-may kredibilidad at may mataas na respeto sa mata ng mundo, ang Malakanyang, ang PNP, si Gen. Jovito Palparan, ang PDSP ni Fr Intengan o ang Amnesty Interntional?

Doy Cinco / IPD
August 17, 2006

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

NPAs (terrorist?) burn ex-comrades’ cargo truck / THE HISTORY OF ALTER TRADE

By Carla Gomez
Inquirer
Last updated 05:34am (Mla time) 08/16/2006

Published on Page A17 of the August 16, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

BACOLOD CITY—New People’s Army rebels set fire on Sunday to a truck loaded with bananas and owned by a company managed by their former comrades in Barangay Tabun-ak, Toboso, Negros Occidental, 144.5 km north of here.

The Toyota Commando truck is owned by Alter Trade Corp. (ATC), which is managed by former members of the NPA who went into the business of exporting muscovado sugar and bananas, police said.

ATC president Norma Mugar said the attack paralyzed company operations as the vehicle served as its “concrete link” to poor banana growers. “It is a symbol of the growers’ hope for a better life from their farming activities,” she said.

ATC buys bananas worth P25,000 from Toboso and Calatrava growers. The fruits are picked up twice a month, she said.

The truck, driven by Noel Bautista, was on its way to Sitio Bato-Bato, Barangay Tabun-ak, Toboso, when it was flagged down by three unidentified men armed with handguns, according to Lt. Col. Jess Manangquil, head of the Army’s 11th Infantry Battalion based in Negros Occidental.

Manangquil said the truck was driven to an isolated area where the three were joined by about 20 of their comrades. The rebels poured gasoline on the truck and set it on fire, Manangquil said. Senior Insp. Romeo Leyte, Toboso police chief, said Bautista and his helper, identified as Ondo Tejones, were unharmed.

In an appeal to priest-turned-rebel Frank Fernandez, alleged head of the Communist Party of the Philippines in Negros, Mugar said, “Please have pity on them (banana growers), especially in these times of economic crisis.”

http://newsinfo.inq7.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view_article.php?article_id=15508
Copyright 2006 Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

------------------------------------------------------

THE HISTORY OF ALTER TRADE

ALTER TRADE CORPORATION is an alternative business enterprise committed to uphold the principles of fair trade and sustainable agriculture. As such, the company places great value on its partners—the farmers and agricultural workers as well as the consumers, and its own staff and employees.

Alter Trade started as a response to the widespread hunger that gripped Negros Occidental when prices of sugar—the single commodity the province’s economy highly depended on— plummeted in the world market in 1984. That same year a series of natural calamities also hit the province, further triggering the famine. Due to the sugar crisis, one out of every four workers employed in the haciendas lost their jobs. Starvation spread among the rural population, severely hitting the children.

Initial action by domestic and international non-government organizations and aid agencies to alleviate the situation in Negros was to provide emergency food and medical relief and dole-out aid to cooperatives and other people’s organizations. Their aim was to provide resources that people can use to develop their livelihood and generate income to feed the hungry, especially in the countryside.

One of the overseas NGOs which responded to the call for humanitarian aid to Negros was the Japan Committee for Philippine Concerns (JCPC). It established a network called the Japan Committee for Negros Campaigns (JCNC) which, in partnership with the Negros Rehabilitation and Relief Center (NRRC), provided financial grants for livelihood projects to a number of communities in the island.

Discussion among Japanese groups supporting the Negros people clarified that the help they will be extending should support a long-term rehabilitation and development plan for self-reliant agriculture in Negros. They believed that the starvation in Negros was basically man-made. They wanted to respond to the crisis by addressing its root cause: social inequity as reflected in the structure of the ownership of land and other means of production. They wanted to help change this exploitative social relation, step by step.

The Japanese began by providing immediate relief to the hungry. Then they helped in their rehabilitation by providing tools and agricultural inputs to make the farm lots that the sugar workers had won in their struggle, productive. And to make them more economically self-reliant the Japanese suggested the setting up of an alternative trading system so that what can be produced from the land by the workers can be marketed efficiently and fairly.

The idea of an alternative trading system, or what the Japanese call people-to-people trade, was first broached in 1986 during a conference in Japan sponsored by Kyoseisha Coop, a large consumers cooperative in Kyushu, the Tokushima Association for the Betterment of Life, a consumers group in Tokushima Prefecture in Shikoku Island, and the Chubu Recycling Citizens’ Group, an influential citizens’ organization in Nagoya concerned with the environment and direct producer-consumer linkages. The conference was held aboard a boat that visited Tokunoshima, one of the Amani Islands south of Kyushu, where local farmers had started to grow bananas of an indigenous variety on a trial basis. Thus, the meeting was called the “banana boat conference.” Invited by the organizers to the conference were consumers’ cooperatives, environmental activists and organic agriculture movements, including the JCNC, who in turn, invited the NRRC. It was here that the trading of muscovado sugar was decided.

In the following months after the banana boat conference, the JCNC, NRRC and some Japanese consumers’ cooperatives worked out an outline of the alternative trading system they envisioned. Leading these discussions were, on the one hand, Mr. Masahiko Hotta, Mr. Yukioka and other members of the JCNC, and on the other hand, Ms. Norma Mugar and Mr. Allan Sy of the NRRC. Their discussions led to the establishment of Alter Trade Corporation (ATC) in 1987.

The company was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission with five original incorporators to engage in both domestic and international trading. It has paid-up capital of P12,500. The company borrowed P50,000 from its Japanese partners to start operations. The five original stockholders also became the initial staff. The number of stockholders later expanded to 13.

The first commodity that was traded by ATC was muscovado sugar. Muscovado, largely seen as a “poor man’s sugar,” was viewed by Alter Trade as an apt statement of its vision to help the poor of Negros. It adopted the brand name Mascobado, “mas” meaning the masses—the ordinary people. Thus, Mascobado means “people’s sugar” to contrast with the sugar produced by the hacienderos and the big multinational milling companies. It was first shipped to Japan in 1987, its initial market were the cooperatives in that country. A year later, trading firms from Switzerland and Germany, and then Italy, that espoused the principles of fair trade, began buying ATC’s sugar.

In 1988, the Green Coop Consumers’ Cooperative Union (a merger of Kyoseisha and another large consumer cooperative also based in Kyushu called Chikuren) led by its managing director Kaneshige Masatsugu, wanted to bring the trading relations between Japan and Negros a notch higher by offering a commodity that can have a wider Japanese market. Mascobado had a limited market in Japan then, thus, it cannot be the symbolic commodity to effectively promote solidarity between Japan and Negros peoples. Green Coop had banana in mind.

Balangon and Mascobado trading have impacted significantly in the development of an alternative trading system that seeks to change the socio-economic system prevailing in the country, especially in Negros. The commodities have truly become a symbol of solidarity between Filipinos and Japanese, as well as other peoples, who are concerned with the environment and in changing the exploitative social relations prevailing in the Philippines. The demand for non-plantation bananas in Japan has grown continuously since the beginning. Demand has always exceeded supply. Mascobado demand has also been growing steadily in Japan and Europe.

In Mascobado and Balangon the Japanese introduced the concept of the Self Reliance Fund (SRF) to embody the spirit of solidarity within the people-to-people trade system. The SRF, a surcharge of a few yens per kilogram of Mascobado or per 13 kilogram box of Balangon that was added on to the regular price of the commodity, was a conscious contribution by Japanese consumers to finance social development projects in Negros. The SRF was slowly phased out as Alter Trade business and social development work started taking roots in the communities.

The SRF are managed by different groups, namely, the Negros Council for Peace and Development (NCPD); the People’s Agricultural Agenda for the 21st Century (PAP 21), a Negros NGO; Panay Banana Growers; Bohol Banana Growers; and the Northern Luzon Banana Growers.

In 1992, ATC established the Alter Trade Manufacturing Corporation (ATMC) to handle sourcing of raw materials, milling as well as its packing operations. Five years later, in 1997, ATC established another subsidiary, the Diversified Organic Enterprises, Inc. (DOEI) to handle the production of organic fertilizer. In that same year, the Alter Trade Foundation, Inc. was established to provide credit to small farmers engaged in the production of organically-grown Balangon and Masbobado.

In all, the Alter Trade Group employs 376 full-time staff and provides services to more than 5,000 farmer-beneficiaries nationwide.

----------------------------------------------------------------

August 15, 2006

Dear Friends,

We write you once again to ask for your help.

Last Sunday, August 13, 2006, some 20 armed men belonging to the New People’s Army torched one of our trucks loaded with Balangon that we had just purchased from our partner-beneficiaries. The incident happened in Sitio Bato-bato, Barangay Tabun-ak, Toboso, Negros Occidental. The reason is that we refused to give in to their demand for so-called revolutionary tax.

Five years ago, we sought your help on the same problem. That time we received a letter from the Communist Party of the Philippines-Negros Island Regional Party Committee demanding that “P30 million [be] turned over to the Party treasury.” The said letter urged us to “take positive response to the will of the Party” and reminded us that “whatever action [we] take will be dealt with accordingly by the Party.”

We brought the matter up to Philippine authorities, foreign governments who are involved the GRP-NDF peace process, and to you our partners in the fair trade movement. Because of your intervention, the CPP-NPA-NDF did not pursue their demand but warned us that the problem is not over yet because they will get back at us “as soon as the situation allows.” Maybe the situation now has allowed them to get back at us, with the breakdown of the peace talks.

ATC's profits from its operations are used to provide production assistance to its growers, set-up alternative livelihood to the communities. It is therefore impossible for ATC to accede to the CPP's demand for payment of P30 million (which is more than US$600,000) because there simply is no budget for such. Acceding to this demand would mean depriving the thousands of farmer-beneficiaries of the support they expect from the company. We just could not sacrifice the farmers’ welfare, thus, we have decided not to give in to the demand of the CPP.

We could not of course fight these armed groups the way they fight—through armed violence. What we could only do is ask them to drop their demands, to show them that what they are asking and doing will not only harm the Alter Trade Corporation but also the poor farmers we are serving. However, as in the previous encounter, we believe that the voice of Alter Trade alone will not be loud enough for them to listen. We again need all the support we can muster so that together we can convince their leaders to reconsider their demand. We need you to write the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and ask them to help us. The GRP is now trying to revive the peace talks with the CPP-NPA-NDF and we believe that the problem we have stated is an important issue that should be tackled in the peace talks.

Too, we need you to write the CPP-NPA-NDF leaders to try to convince them that what they are doing to us is not right. We also need you to write the Royal Norwegian Government, who is involved in the talks as a neutral third party, to bring up the matter with both the GRP and the CPP-NPA-NDF.

Please send them e-mails, letters, fax and telegrams. Below are their e-mail and slow mail addresses, telephone and fax numbers:

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
President of the Republic of the Philippines
New Executive Building
MalacaƱang Palace Compound,
J.P. Laurel St., San Miguel, Manila
Phone: +63 2 564-1451 to 80; +63 2 735 8005
Fax: +63 2 736 1010; +63 2 929 3968
E-mail: corres@op.gov.ph

Hon. Jesus Dureza
Secretary
Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
2404 Tektite Tower, Exchange Road
Ortigas Center, Pasig City
Phone: +63 2 636 4765
+63 917 793 0086
Fax: +63 2 929 8149

Mr. Luis Jalandoni
Chairman, NDF Panel
NDF International Office
P.O. Box 19195
3501 DD Utrecht, The Netherlands
Phone: +31 30 23 10 431
Fax: +31 30 23 22 989
Email: ndf@ndfp.cjb.net

The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
7. Juniplas 1, P.O. Box 8144 Dep, 0032
Oslo, Norway

The Embassy of the Royal Norwegian Government
Ambassador
21F Petron Mega Plaza Bldg.
358 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave.
Makati City, Philippines
Phone: +63 2 886 3245 to 49
Fax: +63 2 886 3244

We urgently need your support. Please help us.


Sincerely yours,



Norma G. Mugar
President

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Meat preservatives may cause cancer -- US study

Meat preservatives may cause cancer -- US study
Agence France-Presse
Last updated 10:12am (Mla time) 08/16/2006

WASHINGTON -- The humble hot dog, and other meats preserved with nitrites, may cause genetic mutations known to cause cancer, said a study out Tuesday. The University of Nebraska Medical Center began their study off-campus.

"We bought at a supermarket large batches of hot dogs," lead researcher Sidney Mirvish told Agence France-Presse.

"We examined the hot dogs -- wieners, frankfurters or sausages -- because they are a widely consumed nitrite-preserved meat and because of the proposed linkage of such products with colon cancer," the study said.

The researchers used water to extract compounds in the hot dogs, and found apparent N-nitroso compounds, the study said. The scientists put the water extract in contact with salmonella bacteria, which before long showed a significant mutation of its genetic code.

"Most N-nitroso compounds are carcinogenic in laboratory animals," according to the study, "And these compounds are likely risk factors for the induction of several types of human cancer."

"Sodium nitrite is added to certain meat and fish products as a preservative," the study said. "If we show that's bad, they might change the manufacturing method of hot dog," the study said.

Not so, said an industry group. The American Meat Institute said the study did not at all represent the reality of hot dog manufacture.

They said the level of nitrites in the Mirvish study was much higher than what is used in today's meat products. The study should not be used to place the hot dog into question, said James Hodges of the institute.

Copyright 2006 Agence France-Presse. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://newsinfo.inq7.net/breakingnews/world/view_article.php?article_id=15554

The legitimacy crisis and its effects

edwintabora123@yahoo.com
We have to move on…

Tapusin na ang mga tunggalian sa pulitika, harapin na ang umuunlad na ekonomiya…we have to move on, ang sabi ni Gloria sa nakaraang SONA.

Sa pakiramdam ng mga taga-Palasyo at mga tapat na alipores ni Gloria, tapos na ang laban at sila ang nanalo kung kaya dapat ng magpatuloy…magpatuloy ang muntik ng maudlot na pagpapasasa sa kayamanan at kapangyarihan.

Grabe ang kayabangan sa mga pahayag na binibitawan ni Ermita, Bunye at Defensor, tila ba mga leon na habang apak ang natalong kalaban ay buong ingay na ipinapaalam na sila ang hari, sila ang malakas, sila ang nagmamay-ari ng lahat ng nasa kanilang kaharian.

Matapos na ipangalandakan ni Gloria sa kanyang victory speech (SONA), na laban siya sa lahat ng gustong kumontra ay nagbigay ng pasubali na bakit pa bubuhayin ang mga isyung nilampaso na at inaayawan na ng mamamayan, sayang lang ang oras, magsama-sama na lang tayo. (translation: sumunod kayo sa amin, talo kayo)

Kung kaya inilatag nila ang mga parametro kung paano mamuno, pabuya sa mga masunurin at walang sariling pagpapasya at sa mga kumokontra naman ay kaso, kulong o kamatayan ang pagpipilian. Syempre pa ang matinding balakid kung bakit hindi siya maka-move on ay ang isyu ng legitimacy, ang tagumpay na tinutuntungan ng kanyang pamamayagpag ay kumunoy ng negatibong opinyon ng mayorya ng taumbayan…hindi si Gloria ang pangulo ng Pilipinas.

Umiiral sa kasalukuyan ang batas militar. Ang mga tagumpay na inani ng taumbayan sa pakikibaka laban sa pasismo at diktadura ni Marcos ay unti-unti ng nawawala.

Ang kongreso ay kahalintulad na ng Batasang Pambansa noon ni Marcos, sunud-sunuran sa kung ano ang ipag-uutos o kagustuhan ni Gloria. Luma na ang impeachment, huwag na itong patulan, ibasura sa pinakamabilis na panahon.

Pag-aalaga, pagtatanggol sa ‘crony’, tuta, alipores, ‘fall guy’, uso na naman, iba nga lang ang mga pangalan at apelyido.

Pag-aangat sa mga posisyong militar na ang pangunahing panuntunan ay kamag-anak o kaya ay higit pa sa tuta ang loyalty. Nagpakawala ng mga rabid na anti-komunista, may bagong anyo ang mga death squads ngayon, naka-bonnet, naka-motor. Nagmamalinis ang mga nakaupong opisyal ngayon ng AFP at PNP, malakas ang kontrol nila sa ngayon, napapasunod o kailangang ipagtanggol ni Gloria ang pagmamalabis at paglabag sa karapatang pantao.

Ang Supreme Court ay puno ng mga piling tao ni Gloria, kahit na tumindig laban sa EO 464, CPR at PP1017, hindi rin ito pinansin ng iskwater sa palasyo, tuloy pa rin ang pagdurog sa mga kilos-protesta, hindi pa rin dumadalo sa mga pagdinig na ipinapatawag ng senado ang mga opisyal ng gobyernong maaaring magbigay linaw sa mga katiwalian, tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang pagyurak sa ating mga karapatan at pagbale-wala sa mga prosesong demokratiko, wala na ang death penalty pero patuloy ang pagdami ng extra-judicial killings, bale-wala na ang mga batas.

Ang mga taga-COMELEC na nasangkot sa Hello Garci ay nananatili at gumanda pa ang mga posisyon, kasabay sa pag-angat din sa posisyon ng mga Garci Generals sa AFP at PNP, ano pa ang maaasahan natin sa mga prosesong elektoral na magaganap, eh ano pa nga ba kundi bigyan ng panibagong basbas si Gloria at mga kampon, sa lokal na eleksyon man o sa isasalaksak sa lalamunan nating plebisito para sa PIG (People’s Initiative ni Gloria).

Talamak na muli ang huweteng at iba pang pang-masang sugal, mas tumindi ang smuggling, mula sibuyas, illegal drugs, high tech equipments at maging mga foreigners na iligal na pumapasok dito sa Pilipinas, kontrolado ang sindikato. Sa ngayon hindi na midnight cabinet ang nagpapasya sa mga iligal na gawain, kundi ang the other cabinet ni Jose Pidal.

Ang sinimulan noon ni Marcos na pagpapadala ng mga manggagawa sa ibayong dagat para maibsan ang kawalang hanap-buhay dito sa atin ang siya ngayong bumubuhay sa ating ekonomiya. Ang mga padalang remittances sa mga naiwang kapamilya na umaabot na sa 30 milyong Pilipino ay mistulang anesthesia sa malalang karamdaman na dulot ng kahirapan.

We have to move on…maghihintay pa ba tayo ng panibagong 14 na taon ng diktadura, maghihintay na naman ba tayo ng panibagong Ninoy na papatayin ng mga nagpupumilit sa kapangyarihan…kailangan nating kumilos, mag-organisa, magpalakas, magpalitaw ng mga alternatibong lider. Sa pagmamayabang ni Gloria at mga kampon, may mga pagkakamaling lilitaw, sa mga pagkakamaling ito mapapakilos natin ang namamanhid ng katawan ng taumbayan, dito natin kailangang maging handa…

Sulong Akbayan!
edwintabora123@yahoo.com

Restore P2B cut to rights victims !

Joker to palace: Restore P2B cut to rights victims / Govt to increase payment for victims of martial law to P10B ??

SEN. Joker Arroyo yesterday demanded that MalacaƱang restore the P2 billion that it slashed from the original P10 billion allocation for human rights victims in a proposed measure that President Arroyo certified as urgent early this year.

"This is close to my cause. I want this answered," Arroyo told Cabinet officials led by Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. during a Senate briefing on the proposed P46.4 billion supplemental budget.

Arroyo said he was surprised to learn that after certifying as urgent the P10-billion measure that would benefit human rights victims, the President ordered it slashed to P8 billion. The amount would be taken from the recovered ill-gotten Marcos wealth.

The bill is pending in both chambers.

The senator said that during a committee of the whole session last January, then budget secretary Romulo Neri gave the assurance that this would be corrected and could be re-funded from the balance of P5 billion that would also be sourced from the Marcos wealth.

Andaya, however, said the P5 billion could not be realigned for the human rights victims since it was already earmarked for the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

Senate finance chair Sen. Franklin Drilon said this was also his understanding. "I will confirm this, your honor," Andaya said. Arroyo, nevertheless, said he hoped that Andaya would honor the commitment made by Neri.

"I will honor it as long the Senate would approve P1 billion for the CARP this year," Andaya said. He added: "We can also increase it to P10 billion but adding P2 billion would mean subtracting from the CARP."

An irked Arroyo said the CARP beneficiaries "did not suffer, did not die" during martial law to entitle them to the lion’s share of the recovered Marcos loot.

"They were not killed and tortured. Let’s be fair," Arroyo said. – Dennis Gadil

http://www.malaya.com.ph/aug15/news7.htm


Govt to increase payment for victims of martial law to P10B
http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php?news=1746
By Ronnie E. Calumpita, Reporter

HERE’S good news for nearly 10,000 human-rights victims of martial law.

At a Senate hearing on two supplemental budgets on Tuesday, Budget Secretary Rolando Anadaya Jr. announced that the government is considering to restore to P10 billion the compensation meant for the human-rights victims under the martial rule of the late President Marcos.

The government had earlier reduced the payment from P10 to P8 billion, from the alleged P35-billion ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses.

“But this will mean reducing the fund for the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program,” Andaya told the Senate Committee on Finance. Sen. Joker Arroyo pointed out that the P10 billion was the original amount President Arroyo ordered for the human-rights victims.

Andaya said former Budget Secretary Romulo Neri informed the Senate Committee of the Whole at a previous hearing on the national budget that the government was restoring P2 billion for the human-rights victims.

He urged the senators to pass Senate Bill 1745 to amend Republic Act 6657, the CARP law, to expedite the compensation of the human-rights victims. The law requires all ill-gotten wealth, such the P35-billion recovered from Swiss banks, to be earmarked for the agrarian reform fund.

“He [Andaya] promised P10 billion,” Arroyo said in an interview. “Let’s see how MalacaƱang will react to the promise because if Mala-caƱang will not react we will have to debate the restoration.”

Senate Bill 1745, authored by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and Sen. Serge OsmeƱa 3rd, is scheduled for the next plenary deliberation.

The House of Representatives in June approved House Bill 3315, the Human Rights Compensation Act, principally authored by Akbayan Party-list Rep. Etta Rosales, that allotted P8 billion for the victims.

Rosales said she will support the P10 billion allotment in the bicameral conference.

Monday, August 14, 2006

Eh Ano ngayon kung wala kaming CEDULA ?

Ginagamit pa pala hanggang ngayon ang CEDULA sa counter insurgency! Ayon sa nasagap kong balita, sa layuning masawata daw ang mga NPA, isang kawawang mamamayan ang pinalamon ng cedula, pinaglakad ng naka-brief ng mga tropa (AFP) ni Palparan sa isanagawang operasyon sa ilang baryo sa Nueva Ecija. Nakadiklara ang carfew sa mga lugar at maramihang pagpupulong ng mga taga-baryo ang ipinapatupad ng mga sundalo, hindi ng mga halal na opisyal ng bayan.

Nasa Burma ba tayo, nasa North Korea o nasa Baghdag, Iraq? Anong ginagawa ng mga trapong Tongresman, ng Gobernador, Mayor at barangay captain sa mga lugar na ito? Buti pa si Gob Josie de la Cruz, kahit 'di rin makaporma, pumipitik ng kaunti kay Palparan, sa Nueva Ecija, nagmukhang tanga, inutil si Joson! Hindi nakakapagtaka na Batas Militar, kamay na bakal at ang kontrol ng military over civilian ang siya ng kalakaran na rito!

Ang nakakapagtaka, bakit walang mga labanan, enkwentro sa pagitan ng tropa ni Palparan at NPA sa mga liblib na lugar at kabundukan? Ilan taon na si Palparaan sa Central Luzon, wala pa tayong nakikitang napapatay na NPA regular o Kumander si Palaparan! Ganito ba ang pag-agaw ng "hearts and mind" ng pulasyon? Ayon kay Palparan, bago man lang magretiro (taong kasalukuyan), mabura niya sa mapa ang NPA sa Central Luzon! Talaga, Manong?

Eh ano ngayon kung wala kaming CEDULA? Grounds ba 'yan upang arestuhin n'yo, ikulong ninyo ng basta-basta na lamang si Mang Pandoy, kahit walang ipinapakitang WARRANT of ARREST at pagtalima sa karaptang Pantao ng mamamayan? Mapupuno (milyon Pinoy ang walang cedula) ang lahat ng bilangguan ng PNP kung gagawin n'yong patakaran sa military yan? Kung sabagay, kailan ba tayo nagkaroon ng "RULE of LAW" o iginalang man lang ang Constitution?

Bakit, ang cedula ba ang naggagarantiya, ang kikilatis upang makilala ang isang tao, kung ito'y Pilipino o hindi, kung ito'y isang law abiding citizens o mga masasamang elemento-kriminal, kung ang taong ito'y taga ibang planeta, kung ito'y rapist, kung ito'y tao at hindi hayop, kung ito'y isang komunista at hindi repormista, kung ang taong ito'y hindi isang simpatisador ng NPA? Hindi cedula ang magpapahina ng insureksyon at lalong hindi ang cedula ang magkukumbinsi sa tao upang paniwalaan si Ate Glo!

Diyos por santo naman, panahon pa ng Hapon yan, panahon pa ng Katipuneros, panahon ng Hukbalahap at Metrocom ni Marcos yan, lumang istilo, GASGAS na! Information Technology na tayo at Globalization. Maraming kaparaanan upang masugpo ang insureksyon, pero hindi ganyan ka sablay, ka palpak!

Huwag ninyong GAGUHIN, gawing TANGA, takutin o kaya-kayanin na lamang ang mga taga- baryo, ng dahil lamang sa isang kapirasong papel na CEDULA! Optional na lamang ngayon ang cedula. Hindi na siya kailangan!

Ang cedula ay ginagamit na lamang sa mga business transaction, paghahanap ng trabaho o sa iba pang mga legal na usapin. Hindi na ito ginagamit upang kilalanin ang isang tao. Pagpasok mo sa isang embassy, sa mga opisina, sa isang gusaling pribado o pampubliko, sa parking lot ng SM Mall, sa mga sinehan, Library, NAIA airport (domestic at International), sa mga PIER, MRT at Mega Train, hindi cedula ang ipinapakita, bagkus mga ID na (SSS, PAG-IBIG, GSIS, Voter's ID) o driver's licence!

Kung para sa mga “TAGA-LABAS”, isang aktibista o kalaban ng gubyerno, chicken lang ang CEDULA, sa kabilang banda kay Mang Pandoy, wala siyang panahon o interest sa Cedula, wala nga siyang pitaka!

Baka ang kalabasan ng mga pangyayari, mas sa militar matakot ang masa, bumaligtad ang sitwasyon, naintriga ang mga taga-baryo, suportahan at sumapi na nga ng tuluyan sa mga NPA!

'Di hamak na malaki ang inilakas ng NPA sa nagdaang dalawang taon, kung ikukumpara nung panahong dumanas ito ng matinding ideolohiyang krisis panloob, may isang dekada na ang lumipas. Kaya lang, sa istilong ganyan, PINALALAKAS n'yo, binigyan n'yo ng bitamina ang nanglulumong insureksyon, pinararami n'yo ang mga kasapi ng Hukbo at partido.

Kung patuloy na paniniwalaan ang Anti-komunistang si Norberto “Saging” Gonzales at Fr. Intengan ng Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (PDSP) na "para masugpo ang CPP-NPA", dapat gamitan ng dahas, kamay na bakal, isang "all out war" laban sa insureksyon? Magpatingin muna kayo sa MENTAL, positibong may lagnat kayo sa utak!

Kung maniniwala tayo sa PDSP, na hindi manalo-nalao sa Party List election, mas may isang libong beses na magkatotoo rin na MAS MAUUNA PANG MAREKRUT SA insureksyon ang mga bagong graduate ng PMA, mga Junior Officer ng AFP, mga bagong miembro ng Special Action force ng PNP, mga kabataan sa UP at PUP at mga intelekwal sa academic community, hanay ng simbahan at sa civil society group sa tabi-tabi na mahikayat sa CPP-NPA?

Kung mananatili si Palparan at dadami pa ang mga Palparan sa bansa, mas mabibigyang katwiran o reason for being ang isyung matagal ng ipinaglalaban ng mga KOMUNISTA, 'ang pasismo ng estado, ang burukrata kapitalismo, imperyalismo at pyudalismo' na hinalaw at ibinatay sa doktrina't bibliya ng SND at LRP (struggle for national Democry) ni Joma, Walang dudang pinagtatawanan na lamang si Palparan, natutuwa at pinasasalamatan.


Doy Cinco / IPD
August 14, 2006

Saturday, August 12, 2006

'Di solusyon ang isang mapang-aping "ANTI-TERRORISM BILL" - Rep. Benasing Macarambon

Muling nakiparte, nakisakay , naki-eksena ang Malakanyang sa panibagong yugto ng terorismo matapos ang nabulilyasong atake sa Heathrow Airport sa London. May panibagong dahilan na naman si Ate Glo upang muling isalang sa Tongreso at SENADO ang inaamag na “anti-terrorism bill” .

Isang nationwide security alert ang ipapatupad at isang miting-convention ng global anti-terrorism ang pagungunahang ii-sponsor ng Malakanyang para sawatain daw ang teroristang atake at posibleng spill over nito sa Pilipinas? Kailangan pa bang imemorya yan, bakit ba, para kanino, sino ang poprotektahan at babantayan, saan galing at sino ang apektado at nag-uutus? Sino nga ba talaga ang terorista, sino ang tunay na terorista ng country?

Mas asikasuhin n'yo muna ang 'Pinas bago ang iba! Ayusin n'yo muna ang malalang kalagayan ng kriminalidad sa buong bansa, resolbahin ang kaso ng 700 political killings, human rights violation at usigin ang lumalakas na WETENG sa buong kapuluan na garapalang pinatatakbo na ng iyong mga PULIS (PNP)! Unahin n'yo muna ang nanlulumong Strong Republic, tumitinding pangungurakot at masidhing kahirapang (kawalan ng hanap buhay) tinatamasa ng country. Ito ang sanhi, recruiter at pinag-uugatan ng terorismo ng country! 'Yan muna ang unahin bago yung agenda ni Bush (global anti-terrorism)!

Tulad ng dati, nag-oover acting (OA), papaypayan, mag-ke-create ng isang nakakatakot na invironment (senaryo ng pangamba) sa bansa ang Malakanyang. Sasamantalahin ang sunud-sunud na broadcast headline ng Cable News Network (CNN-US) at iba pang maka-Kanluraning pahayagan upang ibando at isulong ang “anti-terrorism bill” na kakaibang bersyon, ang layuning isalba (survival) ang ilihitimong nag-uukupa sa Malakanyang (Ate Glo), imarginalized ang kilusang demokratiko, durugin ang lehitomong oposisyon, puntiryahing ang hanay ng mga aktibista't militante.

Ayon kay Senador Nene Pimentel, "habang nananatili sa Malakanyang si Ate Glo, tulad ng Pipols initiative ni Gloria (PIG) malabong maipasa nila ang Anti-Terrorism bill dahil walang kaduda-dudang hindi sa mga tunay na terorista ito gagamitin." Sa isang panayam na lamang kahapon kay Ate Glo, hayagang sinabi nito na ang mga "leftist- TERRORIST" ang nasa likod daw ng IKALAWANG IMPEACHMENT na nakasalang ngayon sa Tongreso.

Super-super lapad at ang layo ng pagkakahambing! Sinong gago na namang spin doc ang nakapang-uto kay Ate Glo? Can you imagine, from Al Qaeda to Rep. Peter Cayetano ng United Opposition (UNO)! Meaning, from Bin Laden equals Abu Sayaff equals JI equals NPA, Bayan Muna equals Black and White Movement, from Akbayan at Laban ng Masa equals CBCP to legitimate united opposition (UNO) sa Tongreso, mga TERORISTA!

Sa totoo lang, siya mismo ang orihinal, ang tunay na terorista sa bansa. Napatunayan ito sa halos limang (5) taon niyang pamamayagpag sa kapangyarihan. Kahit 'di pa nga naipapasa ang batas, may de facto anti-terroristang patakarang ipinatutupad na ang Malakanyang laban sa mamamayan Pinoy, anu pa kaya kung makalusot na ito sa Senado, eh 'di talagang civil war na nga tayo!

Sa loob din ng limang taon sa trono, nagmistulang “killing fields” ang country (higit sa 2,000 aktibista't mga sundalo, kapwa Pilipino ang napapatay). Kaliwa't Kanan ang terorismo. Ang ESTADO na siyang dapat mangalaga at magpatupad ng “RULE of LAW” ang siya pang pangunahing lumalabag sa karapatang pantao (ginawang bayani, modelo at inaknoledge pa si Gen Palparan).

Ang Universal Declaration of Human rights ng United Nation at mismo ang sariling 1987 Constitution na naggagara-tiya sa kalayaan sa pamamahayag, pagkilos at pag- oorganisa ay niyurakan, binababoy at hindi kinilala!

Dahil sa Calibred Pre-emptive Response (CPR), 464, 1017 at GO #5, Emergency powers (state of national emergency), tinerorized at patuloy na tiniterorista (Palo Ng Palo- PNP ni Querol) ng Malakanyang ang mga oposisyon, rally at demonstrasyon. Itinuturing mga terorista ang matatahimik at lehitimong mga kilos protesta ng mamamayan. Nagawa pa nitong sabihing (siRAULo), “kung nuon, pupwede (pipol power, withdrawal of support at kung mananalo), ngayon, 'di na pupwede”! Mahirap talagang magkaroon ng Rule of Law sa isang BANANA REPUBLIC!

Hindi tayo papatulan at malabong targetin ng mga “international terrorist” (batay sa buguk na pananaw ng Malakanyang). Una; hindi nating inabuso, inapi, kinawawa't pinagsamatalahan ang mga MUSLIM sa kabuuan, lalo na ang mga Palestino't Lebanese sa Gitnang Silangan. Ang nakakaiyak, bilang Super Maids, biktima pa nga tayo ng pang-aabuso't kaapihan.

Ang alam nating maaring puntiryahin ng Al Qaeda ay si BUSH at si BLAIR ng Estados Unidos at Great Britain. Tone-tonelada ang bigat ng kasalanan ng US at UK sa mga Arab countries kung ikukumpara sa abang kalagayan ng Pilipinas na ang tanging kasalanan lamang ay madalas nauuto't nanlilimus ng abuloy sa gubyernong Amerikano (maisabatas ang Visiting Forces Agreement - VFA).

Para igalang at irespeto tayo ng MUNDO, simple lamang ang katugunan at hiling ng mamamayan Pilipino; Una; mangibabaw ang interest ng OFW sa Gitnang Silangan. Pangalawa; pumanig, humanay at makiisa sa mga bansang nakapaloob sa “Non-Alligned Movement (NAM), Organization of Islamic Country (OIC-'observer'status ang Pilipinas), tumalima sa mga patakarang pinagkaisahan ng ASEAN at katigan ang panawagan ng Vatican. Pangatlo; ikundina ang suporta't agapay ng US at Britanya sa walang habas na pag-uukupa, pagyurak, pang- aabuso, pang-aapi't pagsasamantala't malawakang pagdurug sa bansang Lebanon at Palestino ng Zionistang Israel. Pang-apat; panahon na upang pagnilay-nilayan ang ilang dekadang foreign policy ng Pilipinas (burikak) na nirere-echo lamang ng Malakanyang mula kay Uncle Sam.

Kaya't korek si Lanao del Sur Rep. Benasing Macarambon (pro-administration politicians) ng sabihin niyang "Hindi solusyon ang isang MAPANG-APING BATAS (ANTI- TERRORISM BILL)!"


Doy Cinco / IPD
August 13, 2006

Ano ang gagawin sa mga STREAMERS (tarpuline) ng Pulitiko sa kanto?

Hindi ko lang alam kung tama o masyado na tayong pikon, bad trip o desperado na sa mga demonyong pulitiko. Tama man ito o mali, matagal ko nang gustong proyektuhin ang pagbaklas ng mga political streamer (tarpuline) na parang kabuting paparami ng paparami habang papalapit na ang 2007, nakabitin sa halos lahat ng mga strategic na kanto, sa mga kawad, pader at sa mga lansangan o highways. Nakakapang-lupaypay talaga, parang nakikipag-kompetensya pa sa mga commercial ADS.

Sa mga pulitiko, ito raw ay pag-aanunsyo, pagbibigay mensahe at pagpapa-abot-alam na may ginagawa sila, buhay pa rin sila, na silay nagmamalasakit sa mga tao? Taran....tdo, mga TRAPO! Ang aga n'yong mamulitika, 'wag n'yo nga kaming pinagloloko!

Una, sa mga “proyekto na isinagawa raw ng mga PULITIKO na pawang mga INFRASTRUCTURE (waiting shed, tapal ispalto-overlay na good for 3 years lang) lamang. In the first place, kinurakot n'yo lamang 'yan at paano kayo nakakasiguro na kailangan nga ng tao ang mga proyektong 'yan, kinunsulta't pinulong n'yo ba ang komunidad?

Magsimula tayo kay Ate Glo: isang malaking mukha nito at 3 pang pulitiko na streamer- tarpuline ang nakabalagbag sa kahabaan ng Commonwealth Av. Sila raw ang may proyekto ng Road widining at pagpapaganda ng Commonwealth Av. Isang tarpuline (mukha) din ang makikita sa loob ng UP campus, proyektong Dormitory na hanggang ngayon ay di pa rin naookupahan ng mga bata.

Tong Nannete Daza (4rt District QC-last termer, pwede bang 'wag ka nang tumakbo?): di mabilang na Tarpuline (mukha)na nagsasaad ng kanyang accomplishment, ang pagpapatayo ng barangay Hall, sphalt overlaying, waiting shed, deepwell-poso, day care at ibang projects na dapat trabaho ng mga ehekutibo. Gumawa ng batas ang trabaho n'yo hindi POSO! Diyosko day, bwisit!

Tong Anna Susano (2nd District QC-1st termer): proyektong Maynilad water. Trabaho dapat ito ng isang Mayor at Barangay Captain! Ano na bang batas/bill ang nagawa mo? Sa District 4, pare-parehong mga pulitiko sa KONSEHO, Babes Malaya, Bong Suntay- District 4 at sa 3rd District ang matandang Defensor, ang tatay ni Mike. Ang ganitong larawan ay di lang sa QC makikita, laganap ito mula Appari hanggang Jolo,Mindanao.

Dito sa lunsod ng Quezon kung saan matatagpuan ang may pinakamalaking IRA at koleks- yon sa buwis, makikita rin ang may pinakamalaking squatter sa Pilipinas. Kaya tuloy; apat na distrito't tongrespipol, apat na pulitiko-TRAPO, apat na kurakot, apat na engot, apat na nakasukob sa palda ni Ate Glo. Minamalas talaga ang QC. Kailan pa kaya tayo magkakaroon ng AKTIBISTANG kinatawan sa distrito, maliban sa Party List?

Isa pa, hindi nila kwarta ang ginamit dito, sa anyo ng buwis, pera ito ng mga tao. Wala silang karapatang upang angkinin ang mga proyekto! Dapat nilang malaman na sila'y mga servants (tagapaglingkod) at hindi HARI. Pangalawa, ang mga streamers na PAGBATI kuno; “Congrat sa mga Newly Graduates, Happy Fiesta, Happy New Year, Happy Valentines" at iba pang mga propaganda gimmicks ay pagsasayang lamang ng pera ng country. Malinaw na electioneering at nagsisimula na nga ang pangangampanya para sa 2007. Isang maagang pamumulitika na dapat isuka at 'di iboto mamamayan.

May karapatan ang mga tao na sirain at tanggalin ang mga basurang yan! Hindi lang sa sinisira nito ang landscape ng kapaligiran ng komunidad, dinudumihan, binabastos ang intelehente ng country, nakakadistorbo, nakakapanglito, nakaka-distrack sa mga motorista at higit sa lahat, winawaldas nito ang salapi ng country.

Malayo pa lang, kita mo agad ang nakabalagbag na malaking mukha ng pulitiko sa kanto! Can you imagine na parang sila na lamang ang bida, parang sila ang tagapag-ligtas ng bansa, parang pinalalabas na malaki ang utang na loob ng mamamayan sa kanila at gusto pa atang palabasin na kung 'di dahil sa kanila, parang magmumukhang kawawa't, pinabayaan nila ang kanilang constituencies -botante? Ungas!

Ang totoo, mga pekeng kinatawan kayo ng mamamayan (pulitiko)! Kailan man, hindi kayo ang tunay na representate ng mamamayan. Ang totoo, kayo ang tunay na SALOT ng bayan, mga inutil at nagpahirap sa matagal na panahon (deka-dekada) sa country. Kailan ma'y hindi nakatikim ng tunay na demokrasya (dahil sa balota?) ang country.

Kasal, Binyag, Libing (KBL) lamang ang mga ito. Nanalo dahil sa pandaraya't maagang pamumulitika, namili ng boto at namigay ng noodles at expire na gamot, nailukluk dahil ginamitan ng electoral machinery at naki-sukub sa palda ni Ate Glo. Nailukluk dahil nakipagsabwatan sa COMELEC (Garci-election officials - vote buying) sa halagang P50.0/kada boto.

Kailan maipagbabawal ang pagkakabit ng mga STREAMERS? Ano ang gagawin natin sa mga STREAMERS, lalo na ang mga makikintab na tarpuline? Ngayon natin hinahamon si Bayani Fernando ng MMDA na pagbbaklasin niya ang mga STREAMERS na ito. Bukud sa marami ang kumita sa (bilyon) maanomalyang kontrata sa Automated Counting Machine (ACM) ng Comelec, ilan bilyung piso rin ang (libung class room din ang katumbas) nagagastos, nawawaldas dahil lamang sa walang kalatuy-latuy, tusu na propagandang "NAME RECALL" sa kada election! Kailan mababago at mairereporma ang mabantot, buluk at elitistang sistema ng election (Omnibus Election Code) sa bansa?

Siguro, sa mga nagmamaalasakit na (aktibong) mamamayan, kung may panahong pa tayong makapag-jogging (isang umaga), sungkitin, sirain, ibasura kahit dalawa man lang na streamers kada Linggo. Kung magagawa natin ito, palaga'y ko naman (mababaw man ang kaligayahan?), kahit paano, nakakapag-eduka't nakakatabla rin tayo sa mga pulitiku.


Doy Cinco / IPD
August 12, 2006

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Few Filipinos believe there is democracy; most see oligarchy in control

http://www.malaya.com.ph/aug10/news8.htm

Few Filipinos believe there is democracy in the Philippines and the level of public expectations in the country is at its lowest since July 2002, a June 24-July 8 survey of Pulse Asia shows.

The survey, which had 1,200 respondents, showed that 41 percent of Filipinos believe that the nation is run by a powerful few and that ordinary citizens cannot do anything about it. An equal number (41 percent) are undecided about the character of the country’s political regime.

Belief that the country is run only by a powerful few is highest in Metro Manila (55 percent), Mindanao (44 percent), Luzon (37 percent), and Visayas (35 percent). Most of the elite Class ABC (48 percent), followed by Classes D and E (40 percent each) also agree.

Only 17 percent disagree that the country is controlled by a powerful few. Forty-one percent are also undecided over the test statement that there is a big possibility that Filipinos will completely lose faith in peaceful means of promoting democracy. Thirty percent disagree and 29 percent disagree.

Despite the country’s problems, 50 percent of Filipinos still reject martial law as a way to resolve crises.

However, public disagreement on the use of martial law to solve the country’s woes dropped from 67 percent last year to 50 percent this year.

The Philippines attained its lowest level of public hopefulness since 2002, with only 49 percent saying that they are still hopeful about the Philippines. Thirty percent are undecided as to whether the country is indeed hopeless.

In July 2005, the level of hopefulness was at 69 percent. Between March and July 2006, the percentage of Filipinos expressing optimism about the Philippines declined by 10 percentage points.

"Longer-term year-on-year comparisons suggest some weakening of public optimism, with those agreeing with perceptions of national hopelessness and those expressing indecision on the state of the nation increasing by 10 percentage points," Pulse Asia said.

Three in10 Filipinos (30 percent) said they would migrate and live permanently in another country if they had the chance. This translates to about 14 million adult Filipinos.

A slightly bigger number (37 percent) would rather stay in the country while 32 percent are undecided but not ruling out the possibility of migration. Year-on- year, the percentage of Filipinos who don’t want to migrate dropped from 52 percent to 37 percent, the lowest since July 2002.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said many Filipinos who have been to other countries, including the US, are realizing that there is still nothing like the Philippines. He said the sentiment is felt mostly by Filipino and Asian retirees.
"It’s a free country. Everyone is free to think what they want to think…In the Philippines you are free to be poor but you are happy," he said. – Regina Bengco