Ten Years After, compensation for Marcos victims still in limbo

Ang panukalang bill nga na "Murang Gamot para sa mamamayan," bagamat malapit ng pumasa sa Kongreso, pinaglaruan, kinatay at pinalabnaw, yung Compensation Bill para sa mga biktima ng Human Rights pa kaya! Huwag na tayong umasa pa sa Malakanyang at ruling party (Lakas at Kampi) sa Kamara, wala nga sa listahan ng sampung (10) "priority Bill" ng Malakanyang ang Compensation bill. Sa mga 2010 presidentiables; Senator Mar Roxas, Manny Villar, Ping Lacson, Loren Legarda at VP Noli de Castro na lang ang pag-asa ng mga claimants, sino sa kanila ang tutugon? (Larawan sa itaas: http://www.blogger.com/www.manilatimes.net/.../images/mainphoto.jpgimages/mainphoto.jpg)

Ang alam ko, marami sa mga claimants, kundi man uugud-ugud na, may malubhang karandaman, patuloy na namumulubi sa kahirapan o patay na. Nakakapanglupaypay.

Ngayon dapat patunayan ni Sen Joker Arroyo (malapit kay Ate Glo't Malakanyang) na siya'y kapanalig ng mga biktima ng kalupitan nuong kadiliman ng diktadurang Marcos. Ang isang tanong, nasaan na ang pera, kulang-kulang na ba, may natitira pa ba o nagamit na ba sa PAMUMUDMUD, nawaldas na ba noong nakaraang May midterm election?

Kung sakaling nakulimbat na ang pera o nagkaroon na ng cashunduan ang pamilyang Marcos at Malakanyang, LAGOT si Ate Glo kay Sen Joker Arroyo, lagot din si Secretary Margarito Teves ng Department of Finance, mga galamay ni Ate Glo sa Kongreso at ang gatasang baka ng Malakanyang, ang Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG).
Mabuhay ka Etta, sana dumami pa ang mga katulad mo, ang lahi mo!

-Doy Cinco / IPD
December 18, 2007

by AKBAYAN Party
2007-12-18
AKBAYAN Party expressed disappointment today over the failure of the Philippine Congress to fulfill the ultimate condition of the Swiss High Court for the release of the compensation fund for Marcos victims, as human rights activists marked the 10th year of the release of Marcos money deposited in Swiss accounts to Philippine authorities.
________________________

"The Swiss Federal Supreme Court transferred the Marcos assets on December 10, 1997 to an escrow account. There were two conditions for this transfer: that money be proven to be ill-gotten through due process and that a part of the money must be shared with the victims of human rights violations during the Marcos regime," AKBAYAN Chair Emeritus Etta Rosales clarified. "The first condition was already met when the Philippine Supreme Court ruled on July 15, 2003 that the US$560 million plus is ill-gotten."

"The second requirement, however, is still unfulfilled due to the failure of Congress to enact the human rights compensation bill," Rosales lamented.

Rosales, a torture victim during the Marcos dictatorship, said that the Philippines is obliged to pass the bill. "As a state party to the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention Against Torture, the Philippines is under obligation to provide adequate remedy for the compensation of victims of torture and other human rights violations," Rosales added.

She urged Congress to stop dragging its feet and to expedite the enactment of the human rights compensation bill. "The Marcos victims have waited long enough. While other mechanisms have already recognized their right to get just compensation from the Marcoses through the ill-gotten wealth, the Philippine Congress has been dragging its feet for years," Rosales said.

AKBAYAN in particular expressed concern that a scenario similar to what happened during the previous Congress would be repeated. "The Senate has already approved on 2nd reading its version of the Marcos compensation bill, but House of Representatives still has to approve the bill at the committee level. During the 13th Congress, it was the House of Representatives that effectively killed the bill. We don't want the same thing to happen again," Rosales said.

Monday, 10 December 2007
http://www.akbayan.org/

Bali Climate Conference Ends In Farce

By Patrick O’Connor
The UN-sponsored climate change conference held on the Indonesian island of Bali ended on the weekend without any agreement on combatting global warming other than vague generalities. A last-minute, face-saving communiqué was issued but, at the insistence of the Bush administration and its allies, it made no mention of specific carbon emission reduction targets....

The complete piece is at: http://www.countercurrents.org/oconnor171207.htm

The Bali Deal Is Worse Than Kyoto
By George Monbiot
America will keep on wrecking climate talks as long as those with vested interests in oil and gas fund its political system. (Photo: www3.cw56.com/news/articles/world/BO68470/

Bali Exposes US, Canada And AustralianClimate Racism, Climate Terrorism, Climate Criminals And Climate Genocide
By Dr Gideon Polya
The world must urgently act now by applying Sanctions, Boycotts, Green Tariffs and Reparations Demands against the chief climate racist, climate criminal, climate terrorist, climate genocidal countries Australia, US, and Canada that are acutely threatening the world with ecosystem collapse, climate genocide and indeed an all-encompassing Terracide..

The complete piece at: http://www.countercurrents.org/monbiot181207.htm

What Kind Of Left In Europe?
By Gaither Stewart
17 December, 2007
Countercurrents.org
Trade unions, political parties and grass-roots movements are apparently not enough to obtain new social rules in a new world of inequalities of income and new unemployment caused by dislocation of industry..

The complete piece is at: http://www.countercurrents.org/stewart171207.htm

"Ibang ANGGULO;" SUMILAO Land Issue

Maliban sa Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), mukhang may kagagawan din ang sabwatang Danding Cojuangco, GMA at Local Governments!

Hindi lang ang “Panginoong Maylupang” si Quisumbing at DAR ang litaw sa Sumilao Land issue. Komplikado na, involved at pasok ang sabwatang Danding Cojuangco, ang pinasok na puhunang P2.4 bilyong Monterey Food Corp/MFC-San Miguel Corporation (the Philippines' largest food, beverage, and packaging conglomerate), at ang Office of the President o si Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. (Larawan: http://taroogs.wordpress.com/2007/12/12/sumilao-farmers-or-san-miguel-corparation-kanino-kayo/)

Kung hindi tayo namamali, may papel at sangkot din (political players) ang LOCAL POLITICS o ang local governance. Ang mga maimpluwensya at makapangyarihang mga “nahalal na Mayor, Governador, Congressman, ang papel ng mga ZUBIRIs' at ang 20,000 mamamayan ng Sumilao na mukhang hindi kombinsido sa pakikibakang agraryo ng mga aktibistang magsasaka sa lugar." Sila ang malamang na maging “sagka, babangga at kalaban ng maliit na grupong Higaonon na nakikibakang ariin at kontrolin ang daang hektarya sa SUMILAO."

Sa isyung ito, mukhang nagsasalubong na nga ang hugis, larawan ng uri ng lipunan hindi lamang sa Mindanao maging sa buong bansa. Mula sa lantay pyudalismo (isyu ng LUPA sa WALANG LUPA?) tungo sa hindi na maaawat na isyu ng Kapitalismo o ang lumalaking bilang ng MANGGAGAWANG BUKID sa kanayunan. Ang isyu ng LUPANG AGRARYO (sektor ng magsasaka), ang isyu ng EMPLOYMENT at sektor ng manggagawa (UNYUNISMO) sa kabilang banda kung saan ang ilang sektor sa kanayunan, partikular ang Indigenous People (IPs) ay panigurong madidislocate at mapag-iiwanan.

Hindi lamang sa probinsya ng Bukidnon o sa buong Mindanao (minahan) talamak o penomenom ang isyung ito, maging sa buong kapuluan, mula sa Cagayan Valley Ilocos Region sa Hilaga, Southern Tagalog at Bicol Region, Negros Occ, Samar at Panay sa Kabisayaan. Eto na nga ang pinangangambahan ng marami (ang debate sa hindi makasabay na SOCIAL MOVEMENTS), ang penetration ng GLOBAL CAPITAL (GLOBALIZATION) sa anyo ng Agro-Industrial Projects sa kanayunan at ang moda ng kaunlarang niyayakap ng kasalukuyang naghaharing elite sa Malakanyang.

Bagamat sinasabing kampi at sumisimpatya ang Simbahan (Jesuit) at NGO-PO community sa NAKAKAIYAK na isyu ng AGRARYO'T pyudalismo, ANG PRAKTIKAL NA TANONG NG MARAMI SA NGAYON, " KUNG sino ang makakapagDEVELOP ng lugar na mapapakinabangan ng komunidad, sino ang may PRUWEBANG (track record) makapagpapaunlad ng bukurin o ng kanayunan sa lugar, dayuhan man 'yan na mamumuhunan, lokal na Negosyante, grupo ng mga magsasaka't katutubo, simbahan o NGOs, kung sino ang makakapag-organisa ng lugar (teritoryal/multi- sectoral), sino ang makakapagpanalo ng Barangay Captain, Mayor at Kongresman sa lugar, sino ang may kontrol ng KONGRESO at Malakanyang, yun ang malungkot na realidad na malamang na makapag-decide sa labanan."

Doy Cinco / IPD
DEcember 17, 2007

Monday, December 17, 2007
Sumilao leaders support agro-industrial project
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/dec/17/yehey/prov/20071217pro1.html

The mayor expects signature campaign will substantiate the community’s approval

Sumilao, Bukidnon: Mayor Marie Anne Baula and local Higaonon leaders threw their support behind an agro-industrial project being built at a 144-hectare lot in Barangay San Vicente as they assailed a 55-member group of alleged farmers, already owners of a nearby 66-hectare Salvador Carlos Estate lot, who are laying claim to the bigger property.(Larawan sa itaas: "Klase ng Factory Farms o ang BABUYAN" ng Monterey)

The Mayor said, that as leaders and representatives of some 21,000 residents of Sumilao, they conveyed to government officials, including President Arroyo, that the project of San Miguel Foods Inc. will help the local economy and provide jobs for majority of the residents of the fourth-class municipality. (Larawan sa ibaba: www.sanmiguel.com.ph/product_per_category.asp...)

“Sumilao is the smallest munici­pality and also the poorest. We mayors are always being challenged not to depend too much on Internal Revenue Allocation for our revenues and add to our income. So this project is a blessing for us,” said Baula, adding that a signature campaign is already being undertaken to substantiate support for the project.

The initial real estate taxes paid for the P2.4-billion project, accord­ing to Baula, already be­nefited Sumilao as it were used to buy land and establish the Sumilao National High School Annex in San Vicente, where some 400 students are enrolled in, as the money was also used to pay the salaries of six teachers.

“It’s not only the revenue to the town but also the jobs and livelihood opportunities it will create for majority of residents of Sumilao. We have to think about the benefit of the majority and the future of the town,” continued Baula. She said the project also augurs well for the farmers as it will ensure better and guaranteed prices for produce like corn and cassava.

Baula said the project went through rigid consultations with the barangays, the municipal council, and the provincial board of Bukidnon. She also noted that the project is located within the agro-industrial zone under Sumilao’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan as the Local Government Code gives LGUs the authority to reclassify agricultural lands to non-agricultural uses, which the Supreme Court upheld in 1998.

Datu Nelson Holongan, 55, and San Vicente chieftain Ronquillo Ligmon, 74, said the claims of these people to be farmer-tillers of the 144-hectare lot and as being Higaonon were unfounded.
“Hindi po mga Higaonon ang karamihan diyan. Mayroon diyang mga Ilonggo at Cebuano at yung ilan na Higaonon ay ginagamit lang po nila [They are not all Higaonon, some are Ilonggo, others Cebuano, the few who are Higaonon agreed to be used],”said Holongan, who as datu of the Higaonan tribe in Sumilao, knows all those from his tribe in the area.

“Ako po ay lider ng 10 barangay ng Higaonon sa Sumilao at hindi po totoo ang sinasabi nilang sila ay katutubo [I am the leader of 10 Higaonon villages in Sumilao and it’s not true that they are all native Higaonon],” continued Holongan.

“Katabi ng lupa ko ang Quisumbing [estate] at hindi ko nakita kahit kailan na nagtrabaho ang mga iyan doon sa 55 years ko sa Sumilao. Hindi totoo yung sinasabi nila na sila ay itinakwil sa kanilang inararong lupa [My property is right beside the Quisumbing estate and I’ve never seen these farmers working in their land in the 55 years I’ve stayed in Sumilao. It’s not true what they claim that they were driven out of their land],” he said.

Holongan confirmed that the said farmers already own the 66-hectare lot at the Salvador Carlos Estate based on Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOA), so he is puzzled why the said individuals were claiming to be farmer-tillers of the land formerly owned by the Quisumbings.

Ligmon said he is disappointed that these people were disrupting the development of San Vicente.

“Hindi ko gusto ang ginagawa nila, nahihiya ako sa ginagawa nila. Sana ay wag nang manggulo yung mga nagsasabi na Sumilao farmers sila [I don’t like what they are doing, and I find it em­bar­rassing. I wish these people claiming to be Sumilao farmers would stop creating trouble],” Ligmon said.

In 1997, the Department of Agrarian Reform issued certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs) to 137 farmers. The grant was contested by landowner Norberto Quisumbing’s application for conversion of the land from agricultural to agro-industrial, in an attempt to evade the land’s redistribution.

"Nananakot!" re Arroyo seeks return of Anti-Subversion Law

Palagay ko, hindi magpo-prosper ang Anti-subversion Law (ASL) o dili kaya'y deklarasyaon ng Martial Law (ML) sa bansa kung sakaling buhayin muli ito ng Malakanyang.
(Larawan: si Marcos (TV) 1972, anunsyong dinidiklara ang Martial Law at suspensyon ng writ of hebeas corpuz)

Una; 'di tulad nuong panahon ni Marcos, devided ang military establishment (ang daming factions) sa bansa. Baka mas maunan pang pabagsakin ng “PATRIOTIC SOLDIER sa AFP” ang Malakanyang kaysa sa protracted war na isinusulong ng CPP-NPA, na lubhang patuloy na nanghihina. Malamang, mas nakapokus sa Magdalo, YOU at iba pang rebeldeng grupo sa AFP ang ASL, mas nakatutok sa political opposition, nakapatungkol sa mga kritiko, kaaway sa pulitika ng Malakanyang ang ASL at ML at ginagawa lamang dahilan o palusot ang mga komunista, ang insureksyon at REBELYON.

Pangalawa; baka pumalag na ang US state department, ang negosyong naka lagak sa Pilipinas (US Chamber of Commerce) at ang United Nation-HUman Rights Commission. Kung matatandaan, “mahigpit” na tinutulan ng mga 'to ang Proclamasyong 1017 ni Ate Glo/Malakanyang noong kasagsagan o nasa bingit ng pagcolapse ang Malakanyang.

Para sa US, kung malalagay sa alangin, unstable condition ang bansa dahil sa pagbabalik ng jurassic na anti-subversion law, ang kanyang agenda sa Pilipinas, ang Global war on Terrorism / Anti-terrorism sa Asia, ang pagneu-neutralisa sa China, ang lumalalang sitwasyon sa Middle East (Iraq-Iran, Afghanistan at Pakistan) at Burma ay lalong malagay sa alanganin. Sa tinging lalong mararadicalized, mapopolarisa at lalong maitutulak sa extremistang tendensiya ang sambayanang Pilipino, lalo na ang panggitnang pwersa.

Pangatlo; 'di tulad sa Burma, relatibong malakas ang civil society sa Pilipinas, ang lumalakas na papel ng media, simbahan at ang Senado na panigurong irereject ang panunupil at pagsikil sa karapatang pantao o civil liberties sa bansa. (kung mag-aala Burma ang Malakanyang) “Mahihirapang magtagumpay sa ngayon ang senaryong Burma sa Pilipinas.” Ewan lang natin?

Pang-apat; kung seryoso ang Malakanyang na resolbahin ang krisis sa politika, sa halos mahigit pitong dekadang insureksyon at rebelyong sa bansa, "political hindi military solusyon ang tugon, ang tamang linya o ang pagbabahagi ng kapangyarihan at representasyon. "DEMOKRATIZATION" ang direksyon at hindi ang DIKTADURYA'T authoritarianism (panunupil at pagsikil sa karapatan ng tao). Ito ang napatunayan, pruweba't karanasan sa MUNDO, sa maraming mga bansa lalo na sa Ikatlong Daigdig (3rd World Countries)."

Mukhang "nananakot" ang Malakanyang. Tama na muna ang dada, ituloy na lang ni Ate Glo ang napipintong CRACKDOWN sa hanay ng civil society, sa hanay ng simbahan, sa NGO-PO community, ang censorship at pagsasara ng Media establishment, ang Calibrated Pre-emptive Response (CPR), ibalik uli ang 1017, ipanumbalik ang Anti-Subversion - Martial Law at mapruwebahan niya ang tunay na hinahanap ng bansa.

Nakakalimutan ng Malakanyang "na ang anti-diktaduryang pakikibakang sinimulan ng Grupong Kaliwa't makabayang pwersa nuong dekada saisenta at setenta (60s-70s) ay sila-sila rin ang nakinabang (Edsa Revolution)."

Magsisilbe lamang isang fertilizer ang ASL sa rebelyon at insureksyon, lalo niyang pina-aaga at pinalalalim ang sarili nitong hukay.
Magkaugnay na balita't pagsusuri: Panukalang paatras; http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/dec1707/main.htm

Doy Cinco / IPD
Dec 15, 2007

Pati FRAT, mulat na rin

Pati mga brods ko na dating hindi nakiki-alam sa national politics, na dating (1970s) pinagsususpetsahang nakalinya sa maka-kanang tendensiyang pananaw, na dating involved sa rumble-hazing, nakapokus lamang sa serbisyo publiko o community services, friendship at leadership development ay "LIBERAL" na rin kung mag-isip, "OUST GMA na rin."
(Larawan sa taas:Ang pagpapatalsik kay Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ang naging sentro ng mensaheng nais iparating ng mga neophytes ng Alpha Phi Omega fraternity sa kanilang tradisyunal na "Oblation Run" kahapon sa University of the Philippines (UP) sa Diliman, Quezon City. (Mike Perez / http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/dec1507/main.htm)

Baka naman, pati APO ay iugnay na rin, paghinalaan na ring mga "destabilizer-terorista," pagsuspetsahang may LINK sa Al Qaeda, Abu Sayaff at Jemaah Islamiya, sa CPP-NPA, ang bagong katagang ipinalit sa subersibo at komunista noong panahon ng COLD WAR (dirty war), lalo na't pinag-aaralan ng mga gunggung sa Malakanyang na ibalik muli ang ANTI-SUBVERSION LAW 1700?
Happy Anniversary, Congrats, mabuhay kayo mga bata!

Doy Cinco / IPD
Batch '78
Sigma Chapter
December 15, 2007

1 Comment -
Show Original Post
violent dispersal said...
Doy, Hindi mga neophytes ang nag-0 oblation run. Only full members can participate in the said ritual. Anyway, mabuhay! Happy Anniversary!Long live Royal Blood! Emman
8:58 PM

Monte Oro consortium wins TransCo bidding

Lugi na naman tayo....MALAKING KICKBACK ito!
Tulad ng inaasahan at palagiang kalakaran, bilang bayad utang, ang malapit sa Malakanyang, kay Ate Glo, sa kamag-anak incorporated ang naka-corner ng bidding sa TRANSCO.

Ang super bilyunaryong si Enrique Razon jr, ang puno ng International Container Services Inc. (ICTSI) at siya ngayong nangunguna sa Monte Oro group, ang manager ng administration Team Unity noong nakaraang May senatorial elections, ang pinaghihinalaang mastermind sa PAMUMUDMUD ng daan-daang milyong piso sa Malakanyang "ang nagDAOG, ang nagwagi't magnaNAKAW sa pag-aari ng Gubyerno't taumbayan."

- Doy / IPD
December 12, 2007

Reuters
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/topofthehour.aspx?StoryId=102205

A consortium, including China's State Grid Corp won control of the Philippine power grid on Wednesday with a $3.95 billion bid, the biggest privatisation in the country's history.

The winning offer for a 25-year licence to run the grid narrowly beat the only other bid of $3.905 billion from a consortium led by San Miguel Energy, a unit of Philippine food and drinks giant San Miguel Corp.

China State Grid Corp had teamed up with Philippines' Monte Oro Grid Resources for the auction.

Manila has been trying since 2003 to privatise the management
of the National Transmission Corp (Transco) to boost state finances and modernise its creaking power sector. Wednesday's auction was the fifth attempt and the second this year.

Political uncertainty and doubts about the predictability of profits tripped up previous sale efforts but a new tariff system for Transco, in operation since last year, is supposed to make the 25-year licence more lucrative for investors.
The grid, which needs about $850 million over the next five years for upgrades and expansion, was valued at 138 billion pesos.


Ang TRAHEDYA ng TRANSCO PRIVATIZATION
Doy Cinco / IPD
Dec 6, 2007
Sa isang pangkaraniwang mamamayan o PAMILYANG PILIPINO, tatlo (3) lamang kung baga ang maaring sinyales kung bakit ibinebenta ang sariling ari-arian; Una, bangkarote o NALULUGI na. Panglawa; MAG-AALSA BALUTAN na't magma-migrate na ito sa Canada, sa US o Europa at ang pangatlong katwiran, ang kabaliwan, may pang-kupit o balaking pangungulimbat upang tugunan ang pamumudmud, bisyo, ang kapritcho (pambili ng shabu-pang-adik o pang-inom) sa buhay.

Kung totoong umuunlad tayo, kung totoong may 6.0% GNP growth rate na nairihistro ang bansa nung unang quarto ng kasalukuyang taon, hindi ata consistent, bakit biglang naiiba ang ihip ng hangin at balak ng ibenta ang kabang yaman-asset ng bansa sa mga dayuhan. Ang ipinangangalandakang anunsyo ni Ate Glo sa mga nakaraang ay base raw sa magandang economic fundamentals, pamumuno, magandang koleksyon at higit sa lahat ang fiscal reform na ipinatupad ng E-VAT.

Ang nakaka-intriga, sa kabila ng sinasabing pag-unlad ng ekonomya, “bakit kailangang ibenta ang mga asset ng gubyerno? Ang nakakalungkot, ang mga ibebenta pa ay yaong pang mga kumikitang empresa at hindi ang mga liability at naluluging mga kumpanyang pag-aari't asset ng gubyerno. Isang maliwanag na uri ng pagtataksil sa country ang nasabing pagbebenta.”

Ang buong artikulo: http://doycinco.blogspot.com/2007/12/ang-trahedya-ng-transco-privatization.html

Pulse Asia survey: Pangulong Arroyo pinaka-corrupt

Hindi na balita ito. Ang headline, ang balita ay kung nawala na sa tatak ng Malakanyang at sa mga pulitiko ang pangungurakot at katiwalian! "Ang dapat na kasunod na tanong, hahayaan na lamang ba ito o patuloy na maghahanap ng katugunang solusyon? (larawan: http://carryabigsticker.com/)

Tatanggapin ba ng mamamayan, lalo na ng middle class ang hindi pagbabayad ng buwis o pagreject sa RESIBO (pagbili ng komoditi), hindi pagpa-file ng income tax bilang isang anyo ng protesta, pasibong (peaceful na pagbabalikwas) pakikibaka o civil dis-obedience laban sa Malakanyang?"

Kung nakayanang mapigilan ng Malakanyang (sa laki ng pansuhol at teknolohiya) ang KUDETA, sawatain o pagpapalo-paluin ang rally-demonstrasyon at pipol power, ineutralisa ang insureksyon at rebelyon, mailibing ng 3 beses ang impeachment sa KAMARA at mandaya (Comelec controlled/dagdag bawas) sa tuwing election, baka sa paraang civil dis-obedience, bumigay na ang Malakanyang sa kahilingang reporma't pagbabago ng sistema.

Kaya lang, "sinong mag-aala-KATIPUNAN, magpapakabayani, ang may buto sa gulugod na aktibista, organisasyon, Kilusan, political party o oposisyon ang mamumuno't mangunguna sa kampanyang ito? " ang isa at huling tanong, may kahandaan na ba ang mamamayan, kataasan ng kamulatan at paniniwala sa labanang ito?

- Doy / IPD
December 12, 2007
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryID=102109
Martes, Disyembre 11, 2007

Lumabas sa resulta ng bagong survey mula sa Pulse Asia na naniniwala ang maraming Pilipino na si Pangulong Arroyo ang pinakatiwaling presidenteng naupo sa Malacañang.

Nanguna si Gng. Arroyo sa survey na ginawa ng Pulse Asia kung sino sa mga naging presidente ang pinaka-corrupt. Pumangalawa si dating pangulong Ferdinand Marcos at pangatlo si dating pangulong Joseph Estrada.

Ayon sa Pulse Asia, 1,200 ang respondent na tinanong nila mula sa iba't ibang lugar sa bansa. Buong ingat daw nilang ibinigay ang mga tanong para di magkaroon ng bias ang mga respondent.

Pinilit pa ngang baligtarin ang tanong. “Tinanong naman namin, ‘sa mga presidenteng ito sino ang least corrupt?" So, binalanse ho namin iyan,” ayon kay Anna Marie Tabunda, executive director ng Pulse Asia.

Sagot naman ng Malacañang, pawang mga perception lamang at walang matibay na datos ang survey. Pinababayaan na lamang daw ng palasyo ang mga ganitong impormasyon na wala namang basehan.

Si dating senador Sergio "Serge" Osmeña ang nagpakomisyon ng survey. Taga-oposisyon si Osmeña pero pinagawa daw niya ang survey para sa lahat ng political parties, bagay na binatikos din ng palasyo bilang biased.

Human Rights Day

HR group: GMA worse than Marcos
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Local%20News&p=54&type=2&sec=2&aid=2007121021
Monday, December 10, 2007

The Human Rights situation in the country under the administration of President Arroyo is worse than that during Martial Law years, a Church-based group today said. (Larwan sa kaliwa: When lying on paper human rights can hurt Simone Verza Italy; good50x70.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/38-w... )

The Ecumenical Voice for Peace and Human Rights (EVPHR) said it sees “hypocrisy” in the current administration that claims to be upholding rule of law when it is at the same time involved in various human rights violations.

Fr. Joe Dizon, convener of EVPHR, said in an interview human rights violations supposedly committed by the Arroyo administration are more “extensive” than those by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

“She (Arroyo) will easily surpass Marcos in violating human rights because at least Marcos had the decency to declare Martial Law while she is still pretending to follow the rule of law. She just reiterates it again and again. That is her hypocrisy,” Dizon stressed.

The priest recalled about 1,000 victims of political killings during the two decades of Martial rule in the country. The Arroyo administration, on the other hand, only has six years so far but has been reportedly involved in 800 “liquidations.”

“That figure covers only extra-judicial killings and does not include yet enforced disappearances, calibrated pre-emptive response at state of emergency arrests,” he lamented.

Yesterday, the leader of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), Archbishop Angel Lagdameo lamented the Human Right situation in the country and has offered prayers for victims of violations.

Lagdameo said it is unfortunate that “in a democratic country such as ours, the prime culprits of human rights violations are the public servants and elected officials.” --Edu Panay

TORTURE: Normal practice?

Hindi na natuto ang mga awtoridad. Hanggang ngayon, “normal practice sa tactical interogation ng PNP/AFP ang TORTURE." Sa kabila ng mga nakasaad sa Saligang Batas na ipinagbabawal ito, naging bahagi na ng kalakaran, naging tatak na sa PNP ang magpahirap o magtorture (sophisticated) ng mga suspek "makuha" lamang ang inpormasyon pulpol o makakanta man lamang ang isang suspek.

(Ang ilang halimbawa; kaso ng dating Mayor na si Jamiri, ang suspek sa Congress blast at si Prinsipe Velasco (NDF), inuugnay sa Manila Pen stand-off at ang limang pro-ERap (Erap 5) activist, ang ilan sa hindi mabilang na halimbawa ng mga TORTURE na ipinatupad ng mga awtoridad)

Kaya't hanggang ngayon, simula't sapol na ginawa ng diyos (panahon ni Marcos) na paanunsyo ng PNP/AFP sa isang insidente, walang naniniwala, palagiang may pagdududa sa persepsyon ng mga tao, walang tiwala, walang bilib, kundi man ZERO, questionable ang kredibilidad.

Ang epekto, ano mang pahayag ng buguk na "operador- tactician" na si Sec Puno, (PNP chief Razon at NCRPO chief Barias) na kesyo “political vendeta ang Congress blast, poso negro theory sa Glorietta IV blast, propagandang military junta govt na pakay ni Sen Trillanes, crackdown daw ng media kung maaagaw ng Transition govt ni Sen Trillanes at grupong Magdalo ang gubyerno, total denial on political killings, ang palagiang pag-uugnay sa Abu Sayaff / JI, CPP-NPA at terorismo, ect..." suntuk sa buwan, WALANG NANINIWALA! (Larawan sa itaas: Sec Puno at NCRPO chief Barias)

Bukud pa sa normal practice na pagtatanim (planting) ng ebidensya, sa tindi ng torture o pagpapahirap sa mga bihag (hal. pagpitpit ng bayag, pagsunog ng maseselang organ ng katawan), hindi maiwasang maging normal na rin sa mga suspek na amining ng tuluyan ang ano mang ipinaa-amin sa kanila ng berdugo (torturer), hanggang akuing na ang pumatay kahit kay Jose Rizal at Andres Bonifacio. Sapagkat mayorya ng bigat (mahigit otsenta porsiento, 80%) ng conviction o testimonya ng bihag o suspek nakasalalay o nakabatay sa sanaysay - salita ng suspek at hindi sa masusing inbestigasyon o matitibay na ebidensyang (scientific) tulad ng mga malalimang isinasagawang inbestigasyon ng mayayamang bansa (CSI).

Doy Cinco / IPD
December 8, 2007

Human Rights Day
http://www.malaya.com.ph/dec10/edit.htm
December 10, 2007
Editorial

‘The government cannot just ignore Melo, Alston and the Supreme Court.’
The government continues to play deaf and blind to continuing human rights abuses, insisting that a) the killings of disappearances of critics and activists are the handiwork of communist rebels, and b) the abuses committed by state agents are aberrations that are not sanctioned by authorities.

These claims fly in the face of the findings of the Melo Commission which holds the military responsible for a number of extra-judicial killings brought to its attention and of Philip Alson, UN special rapporteur on extra-judicial killings, who went beyond pinpointing responsibility of individuals by looking into the policies and programs of this administration which gave way to widespread abuses of human rights.

Additionally, recent Supreme Court initiatives to strengthen court rules in order to address rights violations also serve as an indirect recognition that government and its agents are primarily responsible for the killings and abductions.

The Supreme Court, for one, is no longer satisfied by simple denials by the military that persons covered by petitions for a writ of habeas corpus are in its custody. The High Court has introduced the writ of amparo to determine the factual validity of allegations of illegal arrests and detention. It is also set to introduce the writ of habeas data to bring to light information related to rights violations.

The government cannot just ignore Melo, Alston and the Supreme Court. It already stands indicted and its specific defenses are as good as demolished. It cannot seek refuge in the fact that the abuses are taking place in the context of an ongoing rebellion.
Some quarters say Gloria Arroyo has lost control of the military, the reason her directives to end the killings have not been heeded and her pronouncements reiterating the government’s respect for fundamentals rights have been mocked. Only the military stands in her way of being overthrown. Hence, she has become a prisoner of the military mindset.

It’s an attractive explanation, but it presumes that the interests of Gloria and the military are incongruent. It is also belied by the record. It was Gloria who ordered the military to crush the rebellion before she steps down. The communist rebellion has been with us since Crisanto Evangelista set up the communist party in the 1930s. Even before that, the country’s history was regularly punctuated by armed uprisings by the dispossessed.

There is no way to end the insurgency in a matter of three to five years. The military knows this, but it determined to carry out its commander-in-chief’s wishes. The result is zoning reminiscent of the Japanese occupation, food blockades, checkpoints and restrictions on travel, demonization of the Left and wholesale identification of dissent with communist rebellion and, yes, killings and abductions.

A meaningful International Human Rights Day to all. If it’s possible at all in this country.

Police witness tortured to link Hataman to Batasan bombing

http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20071206hed6.html
Gerry Baldo, Charlie V. Manalo and PNA
12/06/2007
One of the alleged masterminds in the Batasan Pambansa Complex bombing yesterday accused the Philippine National Police (PNP) of torturing its witness to force him to execute an affidavit that would link him and another political figure from Mindanao in the bomb blast.(Larawan: Batasan Blast en.epochtimes.com )

Anak Mindanao party-list Rep. Mujiv Hataman, in a privilege speech, noted that former Tuburan Mayor Hajaron Jamiri had been severely tortured by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in order to implicate him and former House Deputy Speaker Gerry Salapuddin in the Nov. 13 blast that killed Basilan Rep. Wahab Akbar and four other legislative employees.

Police witness tortured to link Hataman to Batasan bombing
Gerry Baldo, Charlie V. Manalo and PNA
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20071206hed6.html
12/06/2007
One of the alleged masterminds in the Batasan Pambansa Complex bombing yesterday accused the Philippine National Police (PNP) of torturing its witness to force him to execute an affidavit that would link him and another political figure from Mindanao in the bomb blast.
(Hajarun Jamiri, former mayor of Lamitan town in Basilan, claimed that he had been “tortured” by police into admitting to the assassination of Basilan Rep. Wahab Akbar. On Monday, he showed pictures to “prove” it. Photo By Jessie C. Laureta / http://www.manilatimes.net/ )

Anak Mindanao party-list Rep. Mujiv Hataman, in a privilege speech, noted that former Tuburan Mayor Hajaron Jamiri had been severely tortured by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in order to implicate him and former House Deputy Speaker Gerry Salapuddin in the Nov. 13 blast that killed Basilan Rep. Wahab Akbar and four other legislative employees.

The party-list lawmaker’s brother Jim, who lost to Akbar in the May congressional elections, was also implicated. “According to the relatives of Jamiri, he was beaten up, electrocuted and made to suffer different forms of torture just to pin down and implicate them,” Hataman said.

The lawmaker, armed with a picture of Jamiri, said it is clear that the markings of torture are all over the hands, nipple and various parts of the body of the police witness. Hataman said as of press time Jamiri is being examined by a medico legal doctor to prove that he has been tortured.

He also appealed to the CIDG to stop the alleged practice of torturing witnesses even as he called on Jamiri to come out and expose the police.
The complete piece is at: http://www.anakmindanao.com/content/view/149/1/

Suspect in Batasan Bombing retracts statement implicating Rep.Mujiv Hataman
Suspect says Hataman, Salapuddin not involved in blast
ABS-CBN News Online
National (as of 12/4/2007 3:07 AM)

Former mayor Hajaron Jamiri has withdrawn an earlier statement he made that Anak Mindanao party-list Rep. Mujiv Hataman and ex-Basilan congressman Gerry Salapuddin were involved in the blast at the Batasan Pambansa complex that killed Rep. Wahab Akbar and three congressional aides on November 13.

Jamiri's lawyer told ABS-CBN News correspondent Dominic Almelor Monday night that his client was forced to sign the affidavit linking Hataman and Salapuddin to the blast.

The lawyer added that Jamiri has likewise absolved Jim Hataman, the congressman's brother, of involvement in the bomb attack. Director General Avelino Razon, chief of the Philippine National Police, meanwhile, said he has yet to be informed of the development.

A hearing has been scheduled for December 10. Jamiri's lawyer said they will file a counter-affidavit before the court on that date.

Jamiri was tagged among the suspects in the blast that also injured 12 people.
The complete piece is at: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=101271

PNP executing script to nail me to Batasan blast - Hataman
By: Fidel Jimenez
GMANews.TV
12/04/2007 | 09:16 PM
A party-list lawmaker, one of two high profile personalities tagged as masterminds behind the November 13 blast at the Batasang Pambansa, slammed Tuesday the result of the investigation of the Philippine National Police- Criminal Investigation Group (PNP-CIDG) into the attack.

In his privilege speech, Anak Mindanao Rep. Mujiv Hataman, said he believes that police investigators are executing a “script" to implicate him in the explosion that blew to death five people including his political rival, Basilan Rep. Wahab Akbar.

“We all witnessed the incident and how authorities swiftly caught the suspects in Payatas (Quezon City). And how lucky the authorities were when all the [pieces of] evidence that they said were used in plotting the bomb attack are found in the supposed hide out," he said.

But like a telenovela, Hataman said there should be mysteries in the script just like the death of one of the suspects, Abu Jandal, an alleged bomb maker, and the confession of Ridwan Indama, the man who allegedly conspired with the supposed masterminds.

“If only they were still alive, this telenovela is already finished and the truth has come out. But what if the ‘director’ who is all behind this things wanted a different ending?" Hataman asked.
The complete piece is at: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/71409/ PNP-executing-script-to-nail-me-to-Batasan-blast---Hataman

CIA Destroyed Torture Tapes
Kahit ang Amerika na nagbabandila kuno ng demokrasya sa mundo, nalalagay sa matinding kahihiyan. Dahil itong Bush government at CIA, total denial din sa TORTURE.

By Joe Kay
The revelation that the Central Intelligence Agency destroyed at least two video tapes depicting the torture of prisoners held by the United States underscores the brazen criminality of the Bush administration. Aside from the torture itself, the elimination of evidence of brutal interrogation exposes top CIA and government officials to obstruction of justice charges.
The complete piece is at: http://www.countercurrents.org/kay081207.htm

Media’s way

Nuong nakaraang Linggo, kitang-kita ng buong mundo ang tahasang PAGYURAK, paglabag sa karapatan ng malayang pamamahayag sa bansa. Limampung (50) mga journalists, kasama ang ilang malalaking broadcast journalist na kabilang sa Abs-CBN Network, ang walang habas na pinosasan, pinag-aaresto, trinatong mga terorista, tinakot at parang ipis na tiniris-tiris (PNP-AFP) dahil lamang sa salang pagsubaybay sa “pagbabangon at pag-aalsang" isinagawa sa pangunguna ni Senator Trillnes, Brig Gen.Danilo Lim at ilang Junior Officers ng AFP sa Manila Pen. (Larawan sa taas: www.abs-cbni.com/.../dzmm_prog_desc_bandila.html)

Hindi pa nakontento sa mahigit siyamnapung (90) mga media practitioners na pinaslang, sinalvaged dahil lamang sa pagtatanggol ng demokrasya, sa kalayaan sa pamamahayag na ipinaglaban matapos maibagsak ang diktadurang Marcos noong Edsa 1 1986 people power revolution.
Ayon sa National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), bukud sa malupit na cersorship na pinairal sa Philippine media, "ang garapalang pagsasara ng Philippine Tribune, ang kaliwa't kanang LIBEL suit, ang pananakot sa Newsbreak, ABANTE at iba pang mga pahayagan" ay palatandaan lamang na handang gumamit ng kamay na bakal ang Malakanyang, mailigtas lang si Ate Glo't manatili lamang sa poder kapangyarihan sa Malakanyang. Sa kabuuang 90 napaslang, limampu't tatlong (53) casualty rito ay sa ilalim ng rehimen ni Ate Glo.

Bagamat walang diklerasyon ng "emergency rule," ang pangitain at anino ng Martial Law ay nananatiling nakakubabaw sa country. Walang dudang may tendensiyang pasista't authoritarian ang naganap na "Gestapo" type na assault sa Manila Pen kung saan ang "Estado ng Kapulisan (police state)" at AFP ang mukhang nanaig at hindi ang rule of law. Kung patuloy na bubusalan, kokontrolin, hahawakan sa leeg ang kalayaan sa pamamahayag, ang karapatan ng mamamayan sa inpormasyon (tunay na kaganapan) at patuloy na tatakutin ang MEDIA, mukhang "babalik ule ang sikat na panawagang nuong panahon ng diktadurya, ang "pasista ng estado, ibagsak!"

Kung ganitong klase ng demokrasya ang papairalin ng palasyo, lalabas na mas matindi pa tayo sa Burma, Afghanistan at North Korea. Tulad nuong panahon ng Martial Law, nuong diktadurang Marcos, kung saan ang unang tinamaan ng kalupitan at pang-aabuso ng estado ay ang kalayaan sa pamamahayag (media control at censorship), ang kinalabasan, imbis na bumuti ang sitwasyon at kapanatagan, mas lalong lumala, mas tumindi ang sitwasyon, ang ligalig at nanaig ang extremismo, ang rebelyon at insureksyon.

Hindi na natututo sa kasaysayan ang Malakanyang. Ang tanong ng marami ngayon, sino ang tunay na TERORISTA at nagpapairal ng DESTABILIZATION?

-Doy Cinco / IPD
Dec 8, 2007

COMMENTARY
Media’s way
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/opinion/view_article.php?article_id=105458
Cebu Daily News
Last updated 01:29pm (Mla time) 12/07/2007
Journalists, particularly broadcast journalists, have received a thumping from the public for protesting their being rounded up and questioned after the Peninsula Manila caper. More often than not, you hear media critics thunder, “Why? They were warned, so now they complain? What are they, special?”

Fr. Joaquin Bernas, SJ, from whom most sensible people take their cue on the correct approach to exploring constitutional questions, says: The media have no special rights, because any freedoms they can claim are freedoms to which all citizens are entitled. This is not an extremist opinion.

Cornell University Law School’s Wex Site says, “Despite popular misunderstanding, the right to freedom of the press guaranteed by the First Amendment is not very different from the right to freedom of speech. It allows individuals to express themselves through publication and dissemination. It is part of the constitutional protection of freedom of expression. It does not afford members of the media any special rights or privileges not afforded to citizens in general.”

What is guaranteed, then, is that the freedom we’re all entitled to, is a freedom members of media are firmly entitled to, too, even if the ordinary citizen doesn’t engage in exercising those freedoms on a constant basis, the way the media do. If the media are entitled to special treatment, it comes, as developed by American jurisprudence, anyway, from the development of the idea that what media are entitled to, as a special protection, is freedom from what’s called “prior restraint” on the part of the authorities.

The problem, of course, is that freedom from prior restraint is something still being developed, both in the United States and in our own legal thinking. The evolution of this doctrine necessarily involves, not blind, unthinking submission to the authorities, but challenging the authorities, which of course tends to upset those who uncritically accept, say, our colonial and undemocratic Revised Penal Code.

The arguments of journalists, I think, basically rely on another part of the Bill of Rights, namely, Section 7: “The right of the people to information on matters of public concern shall be recognized. Access to official records, and to documents and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions, or decisions, as well as to government research data used as basis for policy development, shall be afforded the citizen, subject to such limitations as may be provided by law.” And also, on Section 17: “No person shall be compelled to be a witness against himself.”

Now, you may be irritated by our local media, but let me ask you, why did the BBC correspondent stick it out to the end, too, along with the NHK correspondent and the camera crew of the Associated Press? What were they thinking that was so different from the natives? – Manuel L. Quezon III, Inquirer

ANG TRAHEDYA ng TRANSCO PRIVATIZATION

Tiyakang malulugi ang bansa ng kulang-kulang P250.0 bilyon sakaling ibaligya (Waray version ng ipagbili) ng Malakanyang ang TRANSCO. Sa kabilang banda, limpak-limpak naman ang kikitain sa anyo ng kickback ang mga suspect sa Malakanyang at ilang kinatawan sa Kongreso.

Ayon sa Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC), "sa loob ng dalawampu'tlimang (25) taon, kikita lamang ang gubyerno ng P129.0 bilyon, kumpara sa kikitaing P375.0 bilyon kung patuloy na patatakbuhin ito ng gubyerno. Kahit maipagbili pa ito ng $6.0 billion (alanganin), tiyakang lugi pa rin ang country." Kung magtatagumpay ang maitim na hangarin ng Malakanyanag na maibaligya sa halagang $3.0 bilyong ang TRANSCO, bukud sa inaasahang hagupit at hambalos latigong pagtaas ng singil sa koryenteng mararanasan ng mamamayang Pilipino, banta rin ito sa seguridad ng bansa, ito'y mauuwi lamang sa multi-bilyong dolyar na "pambayad utang idinuot ng ilang taong kapalpakan ng mga proyekto at kontratang elektripikasyong isinagawa ng mga dorobo't tarantado sa Malakanyang."

Alalahaning kumikita ng P15.0 bilyon taun-taon ang TRANSCO (dapat pa ngang parangalan, tularan, gawing modelo ang kumpanya't mga managers nito) at ang gubyerno na maaring gamitin pambalanse sa taas ng singil ng kuryente (ikatlo sa pinakamataas sa ASIA) at pagawaang pambayan para sa mamamayan at kung maibabaligya ito, saan tayo pupulutin, sa kumunoy ng pagtataksil at kahihiyan?

Kung totoong umuunlad tayo't may 6.0% GNP growth rate na nairihistro sa kasalukuyan ang bansa, base raw sa magandang economic fundamentals, pamumuno, magandang koleksyon at higit sa lahat ang fiscal reform na ipinatupad? Hindi ata consistent, bakit biglang naiiba ang ihip ng hangin at balak ng ibenta ang kabang yaman, pag-aari/asset ng bansa sa mga dayuhan.

Ang nakaka-intriga, sa kabila ng sinasabing pag-unlad ng ekonomya, “bakit kailangang ibenta ang mga asset ng gubyerno? Ang nakakalungkot, ang mga ibebenta pa ay yaong pang mga kumikitang empresa at hindi ang mga liability at naluluging mga kumpanyang pag-aari't asset ng gubyerno. Isang maliwanag na uri ng pagtataksil sa country ang nasabing pagbebenta.”

Ganitong-ganito ang malungkot na kinahinatnan sa pagbenta ng ating mga kampong militar (Fort Bonifacio) na ayon sa dating Presidente Ramos, ang kikitain ay gagamitin daw sa AFP modernization plan. Walang nangyari, nanatiling antigo ang armory ng AFP. Sa kaso ng PETRON, ibinenta sa mga Arabo at tuluyang nawalan ng kontrol at panabla ang Estado sa patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng langis na aabot na sa $100.0 / bariles sa susunod na taon.

Dahil sa patakarang sinusunod na "privatization," mukhang marami pang nakapilang ibebentang asset ang Malakanyang sa mga susunod na mga taon. May kautusan din ang Malakanyang sa PCGG na makipagcashundo na sa mga Marcoses (ang mahigit ilang bilyong pisong iligal na yaman ng mga Marcoses, PNOC at SMC) upang tapusin na raw ang mahabang usaping “wala raw pinatutunguhan” . Inagawan pa ang mga biktima ng human rights sa kanilang kompensasyong nagkakahalaga ng $10.0 bilyon.

Kung maisasakatuparan ang pagbebenta sa TRANSCO at ilang ari-arian ng gubyerno hindi malinaw at garantiyang mareresolba ang problema ng liquidity ng Malakanyang sa loob ng dalawang taon (2007-10) lalo na sa inaasam-asam nitong mga "Mega-projects" nito sa bansa. Bukud sa TRILYONG pisong utang nito, huwag kalimutan ang taguring valedictorian sa pangungurakot sa Asia ang Pilipinas, magpapatuloy ang pamumudmud, ang suhulan at mga kickback sa mga galamay ng palasyo.

Sa isang pangkaraniwang mamamayan o PAMILYANG PILIPINO, tatlo (3) lamang kung baga ang maaring sinyales kung bakit ibinebenta ang sariling ari-arian; Una, bangkarote o NALULUGI na. Panglawa; MAG-AALSA BALUTAN na't magma-migrate na ito sa Canada, sa US o Europa at ang pangatlong katwiran, ang kabaliwan, may pang-kupit o balaking pangungulimbat upang tugunan ang PAMUMUDMUD, ang bisyo, ang kapritcho (pambili ng shabu-pang-adik o pang-inom) sa buhay.

Isang malaking TRAHEDYA ang pagbabaligya ng TRANSCO. Wala na bang matinong ginagawa ang Malakanyang? Bakit hindi ibenta ang COMELEC, PCGG, ang KONGRESO at ang Malakanyang, ang mga inutil at NALULUGI, ang tunay na pabigat sa bayan.

Naka-iskedyul ng bitayin o i-prequalify sa bidding (subastahan) ang TRANSCO/mamamayan sa susunod na linggong parating (Dec 12); Kung hindi mapipigilan ng mga bayani at makabayang mambabatas sa Kongreso, isang European company (Italian), isang Bombay (India), isang Intsik ule, isang US company at dalawang lokal na kumpanya, si Ate Glo, mga kasabwat na lokal na MAKAPILI sa Malakanyang/Kongreso ang susuwertehen at makikinabang.

Related stories:
"Transco deal inahente ni GMA--Jamby" http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/dec0807/main.htm
"Madrigal drags Arroyos into alleged TransCo bidding irregularities:" http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryID=101776

Doy Cinco / IPD
December 6, 2007

Venezuela's Social Democracy Hits A Speed Bump

By Stephen Lendman
As expected, his opponents were gloating, but one pollster struck a positive note saying: "This defeat has two sides to it for Chavez. He came out the loser after a tough plebiscite campaign but he also gets rid of the accusation that he is a dictator." Chavez earlier said and repeated he would accept the results of the vote, and he stands by his word. It proved the process is open, free and fair unlike elections in many other so-called democracies that aren't. The struggle indeed continues with powerful popular support backing it.
The complete piece is at : http://www.countercurrents.org/lendman041207.htm

comments: 1. Taroogs said... "hirap lang kasing i-reconcile na progresibo pero parang nagiging trapo naman..." :-(

2. Korek ka jan Taroogs, bagamat "maganda ang intensyon," ang ginamit na pamamaraan, proseso, may pagka-UNDEMOCRATIC," napaghahalatang may pakay na "authoritarian rule". Ang kagandahan lang sa Venezuela, hindi tulad sa Pilipinas, "walang Abalos, Bedol, Ampatuan, at "hello Garci controversies," hindi brinaso ang COMELEC, walang pamumudmud ng atik.

Letter to Congresswoman Daza: We're Watching You!

Friends and Comrades:

As I'm sure you all know, Congresswoman Nanette Castelo-Daza from District 4 of Quezon City went along with GMA's Europe junket. Within District 4 lie the University of the Philippines, as well as barangays Sikatuna, Teachers' Village East, Teachers' Village West, and UP Village, basically the hub of the NGO community.

As a center for politically aware and active people, we should make efforts to influence our local congressional representative. We often focus on other initiatives and forget to hold our own local politicians accountable. And so, this is an opportunity for us to let Daza know, "Hey, we're paying attention and we're watching you." (Not to mention that it would be really embarrassing if the perceived Mecca of Filipino political reforms can't control their own Congresswoman.)

So I've written this letter and I urge you to print it out, sign it, distribute it to your organization and friends to sign, and send it (or even give it back to me and I'll send it). If anyone's in or around the IPD office you can sign it at my desk. THIS IS NOT JUST FOR RESIDENTS, as people who work and study in District 4 also make contributions to the district and thus have some rights. And if you want to change the message to something less, well, nice, please feel free.

Remember, this is just a small step whose point is to let Daza know "We're watching you, don't think you can't be held accountable."

Cecilia Pe Lero
Institute for Popular Democracy
28 Mapagkawanggawa cor. MagitingTeachers' Village Diliman,
Quezon City PHILIPPINES 1101
928-0082
0920-587-0470 (m)

Huwag na kayong BUMALIK! (Europe Junket TRIP)

Sa kabila ng sinasabing priority bill at panawagang "MURAng gamot PARA SA MAMAMAYAN o “Cheaper medicine bill”, kung saan ang mayaman at mahirap sana ay parehong makikinabang, nagawa pang magpasarap ang mga kawatan /kinatawan sa Kongreso. Sa kabila ng libu-libong mamamayang Pilipino ang namamatay araw-araw ng wala sa panahon, dahil sa sobrang kamahalan ng gamot, sa kabila ng kaliwa't kanang kontroversy, ang suhulan sa Malakanyang breakfast meeting at katiwalian, nagagawa pang magliamerda sa Europe, (Spain, England at France) ang ating mga “hinalal” sa Kongreso. (Editorial Cartoon:http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/dec0507/main.htm)

Ito ang mga hindi mabilang na halimbawa, ang "nagpapatototoong" “pagsisilbe nga sa bayan ang pakay sa pulitika ng mga pulitiko.” Ito ang karaniwang bukang bibig ng mga nagnais tumakbo, hanggang sa nailukluk at naipwesto sa Kongreso. Ang tanong, may tangang Pinoy pa bang naniniwala pa sa mga pulitiko? Kung baga, sa persepsyon ng mamamayan, walang bago, hindi na balita at parang namanhid na ang tao sa araw-araw na ginawa ng diyos na laman ng pahayagan, sa TV, sa radyo, internet at sa BLOGs ang suhulan, pangungurakot,ang pagsisinungaling, katiwalian at JUNKET ng Malakanyang at Kongreso.

May mahigit dalawang daan (200) na pawang mga kaututang-dila ni Ate Glo ang mga naisama sa trip, ang partidong Kampi at Lakas. Maliban sa mga Cabinet officials (executive department), kasama rin ang ilang malalaking negosyante, tatlong senador, mahigit 35 Kongresman, ang kani-kanilang mga asawa't pamilya, boyfriend at girlfriend (listahan sa baba). Halos mapuno ng buong barkada't delegasyon ang PAL charter flight (250 total passenger capacity) na papasada sa Spain, France at United Kingdom. Ayon sa apologetic na si Sec Ignacio Bunye, “KKB o kanya-kanyang bayad naman daw ito.” (Larawan sa itaas: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/topofthehour.aspx?StoryId=101341)

KKB man ito o bahagi ng pork barrel, ang Europe trip ay isang executive affairs at hindi in-AID of legislation. Kahit ano pang palusot ni Sec Bunye, ang sigurado, "may $9,000 ang magagastos ng bawat isang pulitiko sa biyahe (P400,000.00). Hindi pa kasali rito ang $1,000 hotel accomodation at food allowances at $3,000 pocket money bawat isa sa kanila. Ang dokumentadong baon ng bawat isa, $13,000. Ayon sa mga pahayagan, may P50.0 milyon ang kabuuang magagastos ng Malakanyang sa buong biyahe sa Europa.

Siguradong hindi pa kasama rito (undocumented) ang iba pang gastos sa gimikan, pagsho-shoping, pamamasyal sa red light district o side trip na kanilang papasadahan sa loob ng isang Linggong pamamalagi sa Europa. Kaya't pinapaniwalaang hihigit sa $25,000 o P1.0 milyon ang tantyang magagastos ng bawat isa kanila. Ang suma total, aabot ng P100-200.0 milyon ang mawawala na naman sa kabang yaman ng bansa. Ayon sa ilang inpormante, Chicken para sa Malakanyang ito kung ikukumpara sa "P5.0 bilyong warchest na gagastusin (Cha-Cha), masawata lamang ang tangkang KUDETA ng mga kaaway sa pulitika."

Pero ayon sa isang kasamahan nila sa Kongreso, si Cong Joson ng Neuva Ecija, “dahil isa itong un-official trip, maaaring blowout o PABUYA ito ni Ate Glo sa matagumpay na pagkakalibing, pagkatay ng huling isinalang impeachment sa Kongreso may ilang linggo na ang nakalipas." Maaari rin namang bumakas ang ilang PADRINO o may nag-isponsor na mga Multi-National DRUG companies na siyang target sana ng panukalang batas na cheaper medicine bill, "kapalit ng pagbinbin, pagpapalambot hanggang sa pagbabasura ng panukalang batas.”

Ito ba'y isang pamamaraan ng pagba-bonding sa pagitan ng Malakanyang at Kongreso, blow-out ba ito o bayad utang? Ayon sa marami, "ito na ang pinakamalaking delegasyon at pinakamagastos na junket trip sa kasaysayan ng Kongreso at Presidential entourage trip na pinangunahan ng Malakanyang sa bansa."

Habang nagpapasarap ang mga pulitiko, libong Pinoy ang namamatay dahil sa sakit araw-araw at kakulangan ng hospitalization , milyong Pilipino ang naninirahan sa 'di maayos na kalagayan, walang maayos at mapanganib na paninirahan, kawalan ng serbisyo't pangkagalingang bayan tulad ng; maiinum na tubig, kawalang kuryente, kakulangan ng transportasyon, 'di kalidad at walang edukasyon. Habang may naka-ambang pagbitay sa isang kababayan sa Kuwait, may milyong Pinoy at padre de pamilya ang naitulak maging super katulong at ipinasubo sa Middle East, sa Africa, Asia at sa Europa para lamang sa DOLYAR at maipangsalba sa ekonomiya.

Ang malungkot dito, mukhang sila na lamang ang hindi nakaka-alam na sila (Kongreso) ang pinakabuluk, pinaka-heavily criticized political institution sa bansa. Sa kabila nito, sila pa rin ang bida, sikat, sila pa rin ang pinapupurian, ipinagmamalaki, itinuturing “political machinery, pag-asa ng bayan at katuwang” ng Malakanyang sa kapangyarihan. Sila ang bumubuo ng halos karamihan (150) sa Kongreso na nasa ilalim ng Partidong Lakas-CMD, KAMPI at ilang maliliit na partidong masugit na kaalyado ng Malakanyang. Sila ang larawan ng pulitiko, sila ang tumatabo buwan-buwan sa anyo ng pork barrel, cash gift, pakimkim, token at good-will mula sa Malakanyang, sa mga Chineses TAIPANs, sa mga Multi-National Companies (MNCs), mula sa gambling Lord at Drug Lord.

Sila ang mga pekeng kinatawang nailukluk dahil sa padri-padrino, DAGDAG/BAWAS special operation, dahil sa Kasal, Binyag, Libing (KBL) at Guns, Gold at Goons. Sila ang mga political clan, dinastiya o mga OLIGARKIYANG may ilang dekada't henerasyong may hawak ang kapangyarihan at kabang yaman ng Pilipinas.

Ayon kay Cong Boyet Gonzales ng Mandaluyong (Lakas) sa isang “orientation seminar" sa mga baguhang Kongresman (14th Congress) kamakailan lamang, "ito ang klase ng trabaho natin, ang mga perks at benepisyo, mga junket sa trip abroad, paggastos ng pork barrel” at ito ang, "ang pinakamagandang hanapbuhay sa balat ng lupa (the best job in the world)."

HUWAG NA KAYONG BUMALIK!
Kasama sa Europe Junket Trip;
1. Ang buong pamilya ng Macapagal Arroyo (Mike Arroyo, mga anak at asa-asawa nila't mga apo (business class).
2. 3 Senador; si Sen Miriam Santiago (larawan) , Angara at Zubiri
3. Mga Cabinet officials; Finance Sec Peter Favila, DA Sec Arthur Yap, Press Sec Igncio Bunye at iba pa (Business Class)
4. Mga isang daang (100) mga Negosyante (Philippine Chamber of Commerce)
5. Ilang Gobernador (ULAP officials)
6. 35 District Rep, mga pamilya't kani-kanilang boyfriend at girlfriend; Pangungunahan ni Deputy Speaker Amelita “Girlie” Villarosa ng Occ Mindoro (larawan sa ibaba at astig nung exposay ng pamumudmud ng P500,000.00 sa Malakanyang) ang buong delegasyon sa Kamara; Ang mga kasama sa LAKWATSAHAN ay ang mga sumusunod;

Representatives Victoria Reyes of Batangas, Rodolfo Antonino ng Nueva Ecija, Nanette Castelo Daza ng (4rt) Quezon City, Zenaida Angping ng Manila, Representatives Reylina Nicolas ng Bulacan, Ma. Milagros Magsaysay ng Zambales, Mary Ann Susano ng (2nd) Quezon City, Rizalina Seachon ng Masbate, Herminia Ramiro ng Misamis Occidental, Trinidad Apostol ng Leyte, Rachel Arenas ng Pangasinan, Antonio Cerilles ng Zamboanga del Sur, Reynaldo Uy ng Samar, Roger Mercado ng Southern Leyte, Albert Garcia ng Bataan, Monico Puentevella ng Bacolod City, Abraham Mitra ng Palawan, Arnulfo Go and Datu Pax Mangudadatu ng Sultan Kudarat, Monica Prieto Teodoro ng Tarlac, Anna York Bondoc at Aurelio Gonzales ng Pampanga, Ferdinand Martin Romualdez ng Leyte, Danilo Suarez ng Quezon province, Mark Mendoza ng Batangas, Del de Guzman ng Marikina, Carmen Cari ng Leyte, Sharee Ann Tan ng Western Samar, Maria Isabelle Climaco of Zamboanga City and Carissa Coscolluela ng party-list group na Buhay.

Kung iniisip ng Malakanyang na malaki ang puhunang ipapasok (bilyong Piso) ng mga tusong negosyanteng mga European countries sa bansa, simple lang ang hinala't responde ng mamamayan diyan, "tulad din 'yan ng mga mamumuhunang ZTE-Broadband, Cyber ED kickback na sila-sila lang ang makikinabang."
"Mag-TNT at Huwag na kayong bumalik, pabigat lang kayo sa bayan!"

Related Story: "Senators hit European junket of congressmen:" http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20071204132

Doy Cinco / IPD
December 3, 2007

Mga 'UZI' sa Manila Pen

"Too late the heroes. " Panahong sarado ang lahat ng mga sikat na Mall, mga fast food centers at mga opisina ng malalaking gusali sa Makati. Tatlong staff ng IPD ang aali-aligid sa Ayala Av, malapit sa Manila Peninsula; ganito ang chikahan, "nasaan ang restorant, nagugutom na'ko, ang sabi ng isa, 'di ba tayo naliligaw, ang sabi naman nung nakatingin sa harap at tugon ng kanyang ka-departamento, naji-jingle na ako, saan kaya pwedeng simimple? Ang sabi ng nakasalaming, pasok ka ng Manila Pen, teka muna, teka, may payong ka bang dala?
(Photos: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Pictures\Sample Pictures , mga pass-7:00 ng gabi)


Mga Photogs, sa nawarat na Main Lobby ng Manila Pen (kasagsagan/ inaabangan ang media at civil society pipol sa loob ng Manila Pen na isasakay na sa BUS tungong Bicutan): ''may namumudmod ng P100,000.00 sa loob.... dalian n'yo't baka maubusan tayo! ''
(Photo: amateur shoot ni May)






Background, Simba/Light Combat Vehicle: ang ginamit na pang-assault at pang-penetrate sa lobby ng Manila Pen: "Magkano kaya ang bawat isa nito (Simba/APC)? Magandang iuwi ito't gamitin sa probinsya, panghakot ng palay sa bukid namin sa Cagayan?"








"WALA BANG LOOTING, bitin? "Tama na nga mga Photo Ops na'yan, low bat na digicam ko. Nasaan si Mama Tina, umuwi na tayo....."







MMDA bus: "BIYAHENG TAGUIG," sakay ang mga naarestong civilian volunteers at media pipol. "Pare, kilala kita, pa-autograph naman oh...may bakante pa bang upuan, nandiyan pa ba si Sen Trillanes? Mga demolition crew ito, may squaters na gigibain sa Taguig!"


Joke, joke, joke...
- Doy Cinco / IPD
November 30, 2007