hindi na lansangan
ang kaulayaw mo
sa pagbabaybay
ng mga taludtod.
ngunit,
putik at bota na
ang kapareha
sa pagbubuo ng mga saknong.
gamitin mong metapora
ang masukal na terayn
at pagkubli sa talahib.
at mapangahas mong
ibigkas sa kaaway
ang iyong obra–
hanggang sa ito’y
kumitil ng kanyang buhay.
Dec. 27, 2008
Mt. Province
NEWS RELEASE
17 December 2008
For Reference: REP LIZA MAZA 0920-9134540
LANDLORDS, TO BENEFIT MOST FROM CARP EXTENSION
“This joint resolution simply spells six months more of misery for landless peasants,” Thus said Gabriela Womens Party Representative Liza Maza who dubbed the move to extend the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program as a “grand sham, a sarswela of landlords meant to give peasants false hopes of land distribution, when all their proposal contains is an extension of a program that has proven to be an utter failure.”
“The ill-designed Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) of this government which has proven its futility for the past 2 decades will only worsen the problem of landlessness. The CARP never guaranteed the peasants’ rights to own the land they till. In fact, big landlords made use of the same law to evade land distribution, strengthen their control over vast tracts of agricultural lands,” said Maza.
The Gabriela solon explained, “The existing CARP which the resolution extends for another six months provides loopholes to big landowners like the Arroyos. The existing CARP allowed the conversion of lands, various exemptions and exclusions and schemes such as the Stock Distribution Option, all of which have been used by big landowners to retain ownership of haciendas and agricultural lands.”
Militant lawmakers are instead pushing for HB 3059 or the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill which will provide for free distribution of all agricultural lands to farmer beneficiaries.
“Let us instead enact a genuine land reform program that provides for measures that will secure the lands of peasant-beneficiari es from re-confiscation and encourages the establishment of cooperatives, services and other forms of agricultural assistance to help beneficiaries improve their productivity. Let us instead enact a program that will distribute land to the tillers, for free and move towards putting an end to land monopoly and bondage in this country.”
Press Statement
06 December 2008
References:
Jonna Baldres, Secretary General, Anakbayan New York/New Jersey, anakbayan_nj@ yahoo.com
Jeff Rice, Secretary General, Anakbayan Seattle, edjop82@gmail. com
Lyle Prijoles, Chairperson, League of Filipino Students-San Francisco State University, Lfs.sfsu@gmail. com
Progressive Filipino Youth in US Protest Criminalization of ST 72
Once again, the crackdown on activists and leaders of progressive organizations come at a full speed and at increased proportions as the state holds these human rights defenders accountable for false and trumped-up charges, arresting and detaining them at indefinite lengths of time. The most recent of whom are the 72 activists from the Southern Tagalog part of the Philippines — including chief legal counsel of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU or May 1st Movement), Atty. Remigio Saladero, and among the youth, Anakbayan Southern Tagalog Secretary-General Pedro Santos Jr, and former provincial coordinators for Anakbayan-Cavite Karen Ortiz and Sheryll Villegas — who have been accused of murder and arson.
Thanks to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, her ever-loyal cabinet members National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales and Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales who head the Inter-Agency Legal Action Group (IALAG), the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Philippine National Police who are all working together to arbitrarily pin down those whom they believe are members of organizations they tag as communist fronts.
Aside from the case of our Anakbayan brother and sisters from Southern Tagalog, the Filipino youth and students from other regions have not been spared from these acts of criminalization and demonization. During the second half of this year, some student leaders and members of Anakbayan and League of Filipino Students (LFS) from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) were also falsely charged with rebellion and frustrated murder and had been openly accused as NPA recruiters and communists for explicitly criticizing and opposing tuition hikes and other anti-youth and anti-student policies implemented by the Arroyo regime. Accounts of these accusations can be seen in videos and comic strips produced and distributed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines who hold fora and symposia through the ROTC (Reserved Officers Training Corps) and who roam freely inside campuses across the country.
In Jose Rizal University (JRU), 19 students were suspended by the administration for leading a protest action against the Value Added Tax (VAT) — some of whom are also members of Anakbayan-JRU.
Here in the US, we can recall what happened last June at the Philippine Independence Day parade in New York, wherein young members of the Kappa Pi Fraternity who joined the contingent of the progressive alliances BAYAN-USA and National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) in voicing out against the government’s malpractices had also been falsely charged, almost got arrested and constantly bullied all throughout the event by the New York Police Department (NYPD).
Even the blind can probably see through these false accusations and connect the dots to conclude that Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo definitely has a hand on all these cases of silencing and criminalizing those who speak the truth.
In this time of severe economic and political crises, the Arroyo administration never fails to flaunt its true color. That in order to cling to power, it will never bow down to its staunch critics, up to the point of striking against all those who get in the way, even those who stand up for what is just and right. This only shows that in the Philippines — and even right here in the belly of the beast — fighting for one’s rights and speaking against the wrongful deeds of the Philippine government will put one deep into the grave. And for the US government to support and give more funds to the Philippine government taken from taxes paid by the American people will only ensure continuous support for this absurd and savage cause.
As we, the Filipino-American and im/migrant youth, look ahead with the establishment of a new US president, we remain vigilant; that the grave mistakes of the previous administration in support of our government back home be not allowed to creep back into the free and peaceful society that our forefathers have envisioned for us.
We, Anakbayan, now with over 7 chapters across the US, and the League of Filipino Students-San Francisco State University (LFS-SFSU), vow to militantly defy state terrorism by the fascist Arroyo administration on all sectors of Philippine society, unwaveringly expose all forms of violations against human rights, and unceasingly fight for justice for all the victims who had fallen into the hands of this unparalleled brute that is the Arroyo regime.
DEFEND THE ST 72!
FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS AND DETAINEES!
NO TO CAMPUS MILITARIZATION IN THE PHILIPPINES!
NO TO CRIMINALIZATION OF THE FILIPINO YOUTH!
NO TO US MILITARY AID TO THE PHILIPPINES!
JUSTICE FOR ALL VICTIMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AND POLITICAL REPRESSION!
DEFY STATE TERRORISM!
OUST GMA!
This is in reply to “Open Letter to the Philippine Collegian and Its Readers” by the Armed Forces of the Philippines
November 3, 2008
PRESS STATEMENT
OPEN LETTER TO THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES,
AND ALL DEMOCRACY-LOVING YOUTH AND CITIZENS
The Armed Forces of the Philippines is resurrecting martial law in schools, universities and communities through its program of campus and urban militarization.
This move is clearly meant to silence, harass and repress youth and students who are committed in the fight for meaningful social change.
This is the very reason why the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) stands by its position that the entry and intervention of the military in our schools through the launching of fora and symposia under the guise of ‘information dissemination’ is aimed solely to sow intrigue and division among youth and students and to demonize youth organizations critical of anomalies in government. This is the most accurate depiction of the present situation in our schools, universities and communities at present and there is no other way to perceive it.
We are not for a minute swayed by the diplomatic pitch of the AFP’s ‘Open Letter to the Philippine Collegian and Its Readers.’ Its contents and allegations could not be any farther from the truth.
If the AFP really appreciates student activism as a right and freedom, why are they the prime suspects in the forced disappearance of Karen Empeno, Sherlyn Cadapan, Jonas Burgos and James Balao?
If this were true, what explanation could the AFP give for the results of the investigation conducted by United National Special Rapporteur for Human Rights Prof. Philip Alston on rampant extra-judicial killings of activists and journalists? Why did elements of the military and its intelligence personnel have to infiltrate a peaceful protest action at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP)-Sta. Mesa on August 29 to maliciously take photos and harass students who participated in the rally? Was it not the military that shot our colleague and human rights advocate Benjaline “Beng” Hernandez from Ateneo de Davao point-blank in the face in a legitimate fact-finding mission in Arakan Valley last April 5, 2002?
Was it not the military who filed false rebellion charges against the editor-in-chief, student council president and five other students of PUP-Lopez, Quezon who did no crime but to oppose policies affecting their basic rights and freedoms? Since when has student activism, which the AFP claims to accept and appreciate, become an act of rebellion?
Unlike the AFP’s tactics, these incidents are not mere accusations, these are clear and present desperate moves of the military and its “commander-in- chief” to discredit, vilify and malign critical youth and student organizations.
This tactic of the AFP is not new. In 2005, a powerpoint presentation entitled, “Knowing Thy Enemy” released by the military for viewing in campuses and communities named organizations, including our Guild, as “enemies of the state” and baselessly tagged them as “communist fronts.” It is precisely through this twisted interpretation that the AFP seems to gather license to harass, repress, torture and kill with impunity. Where now does the profession to accept activism figure in this scenario?
Because of these, the AFP is sowing an extraordinary “paranoia” – not aimed towards activists but towards any visible AFP element in any area. Kaya’t huwag kayong magtaka kung bakit natatakot ang mga mamamayan sa inyong presensiya; inosente lang ang tanging may karapatang magtaka. And, sadly, the AFP could not convince anyone that it is innocent of the many atrocities hurled at it.
Lastly, we are proud of our activism. We do not and will not apologize for standing up for what is democratic and just. We maintain that it is the AFP, this government and its overly corrupt, militarist and tyrannical ways that are forcing youth and students to take up arms.
The College Editors Guild of the Philippines will never apologize for writing about the real situations in society and for the advancement of the youth and people’s rights. To write is already to choose, and we choose justice, democracy and freedom of expression.
COLLEGE EDITORS GUILD OF THE PHILIPPINES
BUKAS NA LIHAM SA SANDATAHANG LAKAS NG PILIPINAS
AT SA MGA ESTUDYANTE AT MAMAMAYAN
Ibinabalik ng presensya ng mga unipormado at armadong miyembro ng Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas (SLP) sa aming mga pamantasan at komunidad ang panglaw ng Batas Militar.
Lumilikha ito ng labis na takot upang makisangkot ang mga estudyante at mga kabataang pag-asa ng bayan para sa isang makabuluhang panlipunang pagbabago.
Kaya nananatili ang College Editors Guild of the Philippines at mga estudyanteng Pilipino sa aming posisyon: Ang pagpasok ng mga sundalo sa aming mga paaralan upang di umano ay maglunsad ng isang forum o symposium para sa “information dissemination” ay walang ibang pakay kung hindi busalan at siraan ang iba’t ibang organisasyong bumabatikos sa gobyernong nasasadlak sa sandamakmak na anomalya. At ito ay isa mga “pinaka-accurate” na nagaganap sa panahong tulad ngayon, sa panahong dinarahas o di kaya ay pinapaslang ang mga lumalaban.
Ang diplomatikong tono ng bukas na liham sa Philippine Collegian, ang opisyal na pahayagan ng mga mag-aaaral ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas-Diliman at sa mga mambabasa nito na pinakakalat ng SLP ay malayung-malayo sa katotohanan.
Kung talagang kinikilala ng SLP ang aktibismo bilang karapatan at kalayaan, bakit ang mga militar ang itinuturo ng mga kaanak nina Karen Empeno, Sherlyn Cadapan, Jonas Burgos at James Balao na dumukot sa kanila?
Kung totoong kinikilala ninyo ang aktibismo, bakit maging ang imbestigasyon na ginawa ni United Nations Special Raporteur for Human Rights Propesor Philip Alston ukol sa pagpaslang sa mga aktibista at maging sa mga mamamahayag ay miyembro din ng SLP ang pinagpapaliwanag? Bakit kailangang pumasok ang mga sundalong nakasibilyan sa Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP)-Sta. Mesa noong ika-29 ng Agosto at kunan ng larawan at video ang isang programa ng mga mag-aaral doon laban sa dagdag na bayarin? Hindi ba’t kasamahan n’yo rin ang bumaril sa mukha ng aming kapwa manunulat pangkampus at human rights advocate na si Benjaline “Beng” Hernadez mula sa Ateneo de Davao na nagsasagawa noon ng fact-finding mission sa Arakan Valley noong April 5, 2002?
Hindi ba’t ang mga militar mismo ang nagsampa ng kasong rebelyon sa aming kasamahan na punong-patnugot ng PUP-Lopez at sa presidente ng konseho ng mga mag-aaral doon na wala namang ibang ginawa kung hindi tutulan ang mga polisiyang nakaapekto sa kanilang mga karapatan at kalayaan? Kailan pa naging rebelyon ang aktibismo na inyong “kinikilala?”
Hindi namin kayo inaakusahan, bagkus ay tahasan naming sinasabi na kayo sa SLP at ang desperado ninyong “commander-in- chief” ay naninira sa aming organisasyon at sa marami pa, upang makapanatili lamang sa ninakaw na posisyon.
Pinatutunayan ito ng powerpoint presentation na may titulong “Knowing Thy Enemy” na inilabas ng SLP noong 2005 na kung saan ay isinama ninyo ang aming organisasyon at marami pang ligal na samahan at maging organisasyong pangsimbahan sa listahan ng tinatawag ninyong communist fronts. Nasaan ang sinasabi ninyong pagkilala sa aktibismo?
Dahil sa inyong mga pinnaggagawa, lumilikha kayo ng isang pambihirang “paranoia.” Kaya’t huwag kayong magtaka kung bakit natatakot ang mga mamamayan sa inyong presensiya; inosente lang ang tanging may karapatang magtaka. At kalian man ay hinding-hindi matatawag na inosente ang taong lagi’t laging nadadawit sa mga di-makataong gawain?
Hindi ba’t ang kabuktutan at ang karahasan ng pamahalaang inyong pilit ipinagtatanggol, ang pangunahing dahilan kung bakit may mga kabataan at estudyanteng nagpasyang humawak ng armas?
Hinding-hindi kami hihingi ng paumanhin sa patuloy naming pagsusulat upang ipagtanggol ang mga mamamayang patuloy na pinagkakaitan ng karapatan at kalayaan, upang ibalita ang inyong di-makataong pamamaraan.
Kami, sa College Editors Guild of the Philippines ay mananatiling kaaway ng isang isang sistemang mapang-api, dahil ang pagsusulat ay paghahanap ng katarungan at isang lipunang may ganap na kalayaan.
