Philippine President Duterte's State of the Nation Address (Sona) (tags)
DUTERTE’S SONA – MORE SWEARING THAN ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Kangaroo Court in the Philippine Underground Movement (tags)
It is clear that the Communist Party of the Philippines’ theory and practice of due process is based on the assumption of innocence or diminished criminal culpability when cadres toe the official line, but becomes assumed guilt when cadres raise questions against the central leadership.
Filipinos: LEST WE FORGET! (tags)
We seem to have forgotten that once upon a time, not too long ago, there was this family, the Marcoses, comprised of Ferdinand (now deceased), Imelda (still gallivanting and traipsing the light fantastic in Manila and occasionally, kung maka lusot, overseas), and 3 children, including Ferdinand "Bongbong" Jr who's now running, under Presidential candidate Manny Villar, in the SAME Senatorial slate as political activists (??) Liza Maza and Satur Ocampo.
Political Comeback Marcos Family Alarming – Victims of Martial law (tags)
PHILIPPINES - On April 27, 1977, urban poor leader Trinidad Herrera-Ripuno was arrested in Katipunan, Quezon City by virtue of an arrest and search and seizure order (ASSO) of then President Ferdinand Marcos. She was made to suffer brutal torture, which was meant to break her determination and spirit.
FAILURE OF ELECTIONS IN THE OFFING? (tags)
The Armed Forces of the Philippines has started fielding more than 7,300 soldiers in Metro Manila even as it declared 10 cities in the capital region as election “hotspots.” These with news filtering to PESANTE NEWS that politicians are arming their forces and deliberately ignoring the gun ban. PESANTE NEWS also learned that the airport are packed with supporters of candidates from LA who are trying to get out of Manila due to the situation. The situation turned to the worst when 78,000 PCOS machines cocked out and and there was a call for manual elections to the COMELEC. PGMA's lawyers have formally called for a postponement of elections for the next two weeks.
MORONG 43 RETURNED BY THE POLICE BACK TO THE ARMY CAMP (tags)
The PESANTE NEWS learned today that the PNP refuses to house ‘Morong 38’ . They were asked to return to Camp Capinpin, Tanay. Rizal. In line with an order issued by a Morong, Rizal court, 38 members of the so-called “Morong 43” group of health workers were brought to Camp Crame on board a Philippine Army bus Friday morning. About half an hour later, the Philippine National Police (PNP) promptly sent them back to the military’s Camp Capinpin in Rizal, saying it had no room for them in its crowded detention facility.
As we celebrate the 24th anniversary of the first people power revolution, a historical event which saw the collective power of the Filipino people, permit me to share with you the reflections of a military man, a member of the uniformed service whose institution has been seen more as the enemy of the people, a source of corruption and a protector of a privileged few instead of being the defender of the people. Let me share some of my thoughts on this significant event which inspired me and has led me to a journey of arduous yet just and necessary struggles; a journey marked by persecution and incarceration.
AJLPP CONDEMNS MAGUINDANAO MASSACRE (tags)
The Alliance –Philippines or the AJLPP vehenemently condemned the barbaric massacre in Magunidanao last November 22, 2009 that victimized some members of the Philippine press. Arturo P. Garcia. West Coast coordinator of the Alliance said that "the AJLPP is one with the National Press Club (NPC) and other democratic forces in the Philippines in condemning this senseless act of political violence. " The National Press Club (NPC) and the Alyansa ng Filipinong Mamamahayag (AFIMA) denounced the abduction and massacre of at least 36 persons, including media men, in Barangay Masalay, Datu Abdullah Sangki town in Maguindanao.
FQS 39th Anniversary, Jan 30-31, 1970 (tags)
We the activist from the Kilusang Dekada 70 (KD70) remembers that thirty-nine years ago, on January 30-31, 1970, from the night of January 30 to the early morning of January 31, 1970 fought the Philippine police and army forces who attacked the progressive forces in what is now known in history as the Battle of Mendiola. Four activist were killed and more than 150 were wounded by gunfire and at least 600 others were arrested and jailed in the Camp Crame. Manila became a virtual military camp but the activist were not cowed and the series of mass actions were launched now collectively known as the First Quarter Storm of 1970.
FREE RANDALL ECHANIS AND ALL POLITICAL DETAINEES! (tags)
The recent charades, so called arrest and hospital detention and then the eventual release of Jocjoc Bolante after he was deported back to Manila by US immigration authorities truly reflects the ills of a justice system under rule of the puppet US-Arroyo regime in the Philippines. The Kilusang Dekada 70 vehemently condemns the recent travesty of justice. We ask- why is it so easy for this government play charades and masquaredes in the Congress and in the courts than to listen to the cries for justice coming from victims of enforced disappearance, torture and unjust imprisonme
he executive clemency granted by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to Claudio Teehankee Jr.and other high profile criminals reflects the ills of a justice system under the semicolonial and semifeudal rule of the puppet US-Arroyo regime. We in the Kilusang Dekada 70 asks: how can this government release a man who brutally killed two young people while it continues to detain more than 200 political prisoners on trumped-up charges? Why is it so easy for this government to show mercy to a convicted murderers than to listen to the cries for justice coming from victims of enforced disappearance, torture and unjust imprisonment?
We, Filipino Americans in the United States are aghast at the height of callousness of the Department of Justice as it issues statements that shows its impartiality towards a former government official who is going to be deported by the US government while it wields a heavy hand on a peace consultant of the NDF in the Philippines. We, in the Alliance-Philippines (AJLPP) vehemently condemn the defiance of DOJ and the PNP in its insistence on not transferring Randall Echanis from the Manila City Jail to Camp Crame. This recycled policy of treating political dissidents like common criminals is a worn-out Marcosian tactics being used now by the US-Arroyo regime.
OCAMPO HITS DOJ, PNP FOR EFYING COURT ORDER ON ECHANIS TRANSFER (tags)
Manila--Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo yesterday denounced the Department of Justice (DoJ) and the Philippine National Police for defying a Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) order transferring peasant leader Randall Echanis back to the PNP Custodial Center at Camp Crame. Last Monday, Col. Cesar Magsino, chief custodial group, PNP, a certain Col. Degracia, HQ service and support group, PNP, defied the Manila RTC Branch 32 order by not taking custody of Echanis pursuant to DoJ advice through higher headquarters.
Pesante Hails Transfer of Echanis to PNP Jail- A Tactical Victory (tags)
The Philippine Peasant Support Network (Pesante-USA) hails the transfer of Randal Echanis, yesterday. Echanis, a persecuted leader of KMP, a veterans FQSM student leader and an NDF Peace Consultant PNP was transferred from the Manila City Jail to the PNP Jai. The transfer is a tactical victory in the interest of justice and lasting peace and was a demand of different human rights groups in the Philippines and in the U.S. Pesante Coordinator Arturo Garcia said: “Echanis should not have been transferred to the Manila City Jail from the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, It is just a simple case of persecution and the SOP of the resurging and copycat martial law regime. The US-Marcos regime did the same when they transferred the political prisoners from the detention centers to Muntinglupa National Penitentiary and declared them as “public order violators”
Pesante Hails Transfer of Echanis to PNP Jail- A Tactical Victory (tags)
The Philippine Peasant Support Network (Pesante-USA) hails the transfer of Randal Echanis, yesterday as a victory. Echanis, a persecuted leader of KMP, a veteran FQSM student leader and an NDF Peace Consultant PNP was transferred from the Manila City Jail to the PNP Jai. The transfer is a tactical victory in the interest of justice and lasting peace and was a demand of different human rights groups in the Philippines and in the U.S.
Free Filipino Political Prisoner Randall Echanis Now (tags)
The Alliance-Philippines (AJLPP) and all its allied organizations in North America expresses deep and serious concern over the continued detention of a ranking officer of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP)or the Peasant Movement of the Philippines- Randall Echanis and demand his immediate release. On Tuesday, KMP Deputy Secretary for internal affairs Randall Echanis was transferred from the Palo Provincial Jail in Leyte to the Camp Crame Detention Center. An AJLLP coordinator commented that “members are happy that at least he was transferred to Camp Crame in Manila from Hilongos Leyte.” Updates were received that at around 7 a.m., some 30 supporters of Echanis, peasant activists including his wife Erlinda, son Ramill and daughter Amanda, and other relatives and friends, trooped to the EDSA gate of Camp Crame to greet his arrival.” The AJLPP seriously believes that Echanis, was falsely charged for murder in connection with mass graves discovered in Hilongos, Leyte. Like other NDF peace consultants who are languishing in jail, they are being unjustly targeted by the US-Arroyo regime. AJLPP fully supports position of the KMP chair Paeng Mariano and the Echanis family that the imprisonment of Echanis, was meant to “preserve the illegitimate, immoral and evil reign of President Arroyo.”
The Alliance-Philippines (AJLPP) and all its allied organizations in North America expresses deep and serious concern over the continued detention of a ranking officer of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP)or the Peasant Movement of the Philippines- Randall Echanis and demand his immediate release. On Tuesday, KMP Deputy Secretary for internal affairs Randall Echanis was transferred from the Palo Provincial Jail in Leyte to the Camp Crame Detention Center. An AJLLP coordinator commented that “members are happy that at least he was transferred to Camp Crame in Manila from Hilongos Leyte.” Updates were received that at around 7 a.m., some 30 supporters of Echanis, peasant activists including his wife Erlinda, son Ramill and daughter Amanda, and other relatives and friends, trooped to the EDSA gate of Camp Crame to greet his arrival.” The AJLPP seriously believes that Echanis, was falsely charged for murder in connection with mass graves discovered in Hilongos, Leyte. Like other NDF peace consultants who are languishing in jail, they are being unjustly targeted by the US-Arroyo regime. AJLPP fully supports position of the KMP chair Paeng Mariano and the Echanis family that the imprisonment of Echanis, was meant to “preserve the illegitimate, immoral and evil reign of President Arroyo.”
Missing sisters and missing credibility (tags)
The daughters of slain Filipino peasant activist Eddie Gumanoy – Rose Anne, 21, and Fatima, 17 – were traveling to the city of Cavite on the morning of July 3 when they realized they were being followed. They sent a text message to their mother Maria to meet them at a mall in Muntinlupa, but the two sisters never arrived. They later sent a second text message saying they had been intercepted by soldiers. The family and members of the human rights group Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights) thus began looking for the two women. On July 4, they went to the office of the Intelligence Services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines at Camp Aguinaldo, which denied that the military was holding Rose Anne and Fatima. They also filed a complaint with the Philippine National Police in Camp Crame in Quezon City. That afternoon army spokesman Col. Ernesto Torres denied that the military had abducted Rose Anne and Fatima, but did admit that the two women were under the care of the army. He refused to disclose where they were, however, stating that the young women had voluntarily sought protection from the military as they were afraid of Karapatan.
Rebolusyonaryong pagpupugay kay Navy Capt. Danilo "Ka Dan" Vizmanos (tags)
Nagpupugay ang buong rebolusyonaryong kilusan kay retired Capt. Danilo "Ka Dan" Vizmanos, masugid na anti-imperyalista at demokratang intelektwal, tapat na lingkod at aktibista para sa bayan, tunay na kawal at bayani ng rebolusyon at sambayanang Pilipino. Pumanaw si Ka Dan noong Hunyo 23 sa edad na 79 sa sakit na prostate cancer. Si Ka Dan ay nagsilbing maningning na halimbawa ng mga upisyal ng pasistang militar na tumatalikod at nagtatakwil sa imperyalismo, sa papet na reaksyunaryong estado at sa pasistang hukbo nito. Taos-puso niyang niyakap ang mga demokratiko at rebolusyonaryong simulain, lubusang pumanig sa rebolusyon at mamamayan, at puspusang lumahok sa kanilang pakikibaka. Huwaran siya sa katatagan sa prinsipyo, pagiging makatotohanan, masipag, pursigido, mapagkumbaba, at malapit sa mga kasama at sa mamamayan. Itinatanghal siya at pinararangalan ng sambayanang Pilipino.
Ka Dan, Captain Danilo Vizmanos, PN (Retired), 79 (tags)
The First Quarter Storm Network (FQSN)-USA pays tribute to retired Navy Captain Danilo “Ka Dan” Vizmanos, military officer turned political activist, who died Monday night (June 23) at the age of 79. Ka Dan Vizmanos had fought martial law and crusaded against the United States military bases in the Philippines, among other patriotic causes. A Philippine Navy captain, a graduate of the famous US Merchant Marine Academy and an expert in submarine warfare, he joined the national democratic movement, blazing a trail for others like him in the military to follow. Upon the declaration of martial law
A daughter's wish for her missing father on FATHER'S DAY (tags)
I wish I could personally greet you a Happy Father’s Day and give you a really big hug. But how can I? Ever since you were abducted, my only contact with you is in my dreams. Oh, how I wish I would see you and say “Happy Father’s Day, Tatay!” Nanay and I will surely remember you as I visit her today in jail in Camp Crame. You must have heard by now (through your captors or if you have access to news) that Nanay has also been abducted and surfaced after three days (nine months after you were abducted and disappeared). You must have been so worried for her. You need not be, worried though because we are all taking care of her. Even in detention, she makes good use of her ti
Before Trillanes was Vizmanos, the ‘original rebel soldier’ (tags)
efore the likes of Antonio Trillanes IV, there was Danilo “Ka Dan” Vizmanos, the quintessential “young rebel officer” who fought against martial law and continues to wage the good fight. A retired Navy captain, Vizmanos resisted Ferdinand Marcos’ dictatorship despite torture, crusaded against US military bases on Philippine soil, and campaigned to terminate the RP-US Balikatan war games in the South. “Ka Dan is the original rebel soldier,” said Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretary general Renato Reyes Jr.
MY EXPERIENCE OF IMPRISONMENT AND TORTURE (tags)
I have been informed that the International Action Committee Stuttgart, an organization in which Turkish, Palestinian and German people work together, is holding this forum to commemorate Political Prisoners Day. Thus, I have been invited to speak on my experience of imprisonment and torture in the Philippines, together with two other former political prisoners who shall speak about their own experiences in Turkey-Kurdistan and Palestine. I thank the organizers for inviting me. And I wish to express my warmest greetings of solidarity to all those who are present and to all the people in organizations that are represented here. I have strongly wished to be with you tonight. But unfortunately, the Dutch authorities do not issue travel papers to me for attending this forum. We have to resort therefore to the audio-visual techniques that are available to us. As instructed by the organizers, particularly by Ms. Elsbeth Sureau, I intend to present to you the following: 1. a summary of my imprisonment and torture, 2. the reasons for imprisonment and the political situation then obtaining in my country, 3. the protest and resistance within and outside prison, and 4. the perspectives. I shall use 15 minutes to speak and let the German translation run for another 15 minutes. I shall answer your questions in the open forum.
Military, police raise coup d’etat alarm anew (tags)
With the prospect of an extension of the term of Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff, Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr., as the day of his retirement nears and with the Palace already preparing for the negative points as a result of this, both the AFP and the Philippine National Police (PNP) leaders, along with the Defense and Interior chiefs, again raised the alarm on coups and destabilization moves by alleged rebel soldiers, saying moves are afoot to topple President Arroyo and her government, claiming that they obtained the information gathered by the intelligence community.
On Ken Burns “The War “ Documentary (tags)
On December 7,2007 will be the 61st anniversary of the Second World War for the United States. It is just fitting and proper that a TV documentary series by Ken Burns, The War- was made for this event. December 7 was called “ the day that will live in infamy “ by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was the day the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The Japanese surprise attack crippled the US Asiatic fleet and almost decimated the American fleet in the Pacific. Until now, for 61 years, the Equity bill is still languishing in the US Congress. Because of Republican Party bitter opposition, the Equity bills both in the Congress and the Senate is in limbo and the veterans are denied of what should be rightfully theirs
MILF given one week to surrender ambushers (tags)
---THE Armed Forces on Wednesday gave the Moro Islamic Liberation Front seven days to surrender its fighters that took part in a bloody battle with Marines in Basilan last week. Another Marine battalion will be deployed to the island province, which is also a stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf. The Armed Forces Public Information chief, Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro, said the additional battalion will beef up troops going after Moro rebels who ambushed a group of Marines in Tipo-Tipo town.
PHILIPPINES : Election death toll climbs past 100 (tags)
With just days before May 14, the number of lives lost in election-related violence has breached 100. Camp Crame, the Philippine National Police headquarters, reported that 102 people have been killed and 105 wounded since the election period began on January 14. Camp Crame also said a total of 147 election related violent incidents or ERVIs have been reported.
Gunitain ang Ika –21 taon ng Pag-aalsa ng Masa sa EDSA na Nagpatalsik sa Diktadura (tags)
“Lumalaon bumubuti, sumasama kaysa dati!” Ito ang malungkot na kasabihan ng komunidad ng mga Pilipino-Amerikano sa Estados at ng masang Pilipino sa Rebolusyong sa EDSA na naganap noong Pebrero 21-25, 1986 para sa mga tao at grupong umangkin sa pagpapabagsak ng diktadurang US-Marcos. Dati-rati, sisidlan ng tuwa at karangalan sa mga Pilipino sa Amerika ang rebolusyong Pebrero o Rebolusyong EDSA. Ngunit ngayon, tulad sa Pilipinsa lumipas ito ng hindi man pinapansin o binibigyan ng pagdiriwang o pag-alala ng mga grupo at personalidad na umaangkin dito Ngunit ang pinatunayan ng EDSA, hindi dapat huminto ang masa sa paghahangad lamang ng pagbabago sa liderato o sa estrakturang pamlipunan. Ang simpleng pagapapalit ni Marcos at Aquino at Estrada tungo kayA rroyo ay di na dapat maulit pa! Upang ganap na mabago ang sistema, kailangan ang ganap at tunay na pagbabago sa sistemang sosyal upang makamit ng sambayanan ang tunay na reporma at pagbabagong sosyal. Dapat pa nating pag-ibayuhin ang pakikibaka, maging inspirasyon sa ating ang naganap na rebolusyon sa EDSA na kaya nating baguhin ang lipunang Pilipino gaano man ito katagal at kahit gaano kalaki man ang sakripsiyo na kailangan nating gawin.
Gunitain ang Ika –21 taon ng Pag-aalsa ng Masa sa EDSA na Nagpatalsik sa Diktadura (tags)
Ngunit ang pinatunayan ng EDSA, hindi dapat huminto ang masa sa paghahangad lamang ng pagbabago sa liderato o sa estrakturang pamlipunan. Ang simpleng pagapapalit ni Marcos at Aquino at Estrada tungo kayA rroyo ay di na dapat maulit pa! Upang ganap na mabago ang sistema, kailangan ang ganap at tunay na pagbabago sa sistemang sosyal upang makamit ng sambayanan ang tunay na reporma at pagbabagong sosyal. Dapat pa nating pag-ibayuhin ang pakikibaka, maging inspirasyon sa ating ang naganap na rebolusyon sa EDSA na kaya nating baguhin ang lipunang Pilipino gaano man ito katagal at kahit gaano kalaki man ang sakripsiyo na kailangan nating gawin. Tulad ng dati:
New GMA's Appointments: Ebdane to DND, Nachura to SC (tags)
Malacañang formally announced yesterday the appointment of former public works chief Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. as the new defense secretary, ignoring recommendations for a civilian to head the sensitive post. Ebdane, 58, replaces Avelino Cruz, who quit unexpectedly in November, fueling speculation of a rift in President Arroyo’s Cabinet over moves to change the Constitution. Also at Malacañang yesterday, Chief Justice Reynato Puno announced Mrs. Arroyo’s appointment of Solicitor General Antonio Eduardo Nachura as Supreme Court associate justice. Ebdane was reportedly the one who brought out of the country former elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano at the height of the vote rigging controversy involving Mrs. Arroyo. Ebdane denied the accusations
Cory Aquino to join Dec. 17 Anti Charter Change rally at Luneta , Philippines (tags)
After the serties oftropical storms, a new political storm is brewing in the Philippines. The Icon Of Filipino People Power whose constiution of 1987 is named after ( The Cory Constitution of 1987) --the target of the US-Arroyo regime charter change yesterday said she would take part in the Church-led prayer rally on Dec. 17 to protest the Palace-backed move by administration congressmen, since withdrawn, to amend the 1987 Charter through a constituent assembly (Con-ass). In a brief statement, former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino also called on the people to join the rally at the Rizal Park . She said in a statement: “I will join the prayer rally on Sunday at the Luneta to express my moral outrage at the attempt of administration congressmen to foist their processed idea of Charter change upon the nation by turning Congress into a constituent assembly,”
PPNP, AFP, agencies to meet on counterinsurgency (tags)
Pesante-USA/AJLPP reported this news about the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other government agencies will be meeting to coordinate their efforts to combat the communist insurgency, newly installed PNP Director General Oscar Calderon said Thursday. Calderon said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, at a meeting, instructed the PNP and AFP to create a joint plan to combat communist rebels.
2 leftists killed in wake (tags)
The blood of leftist militants just won’t stop flowing. A week after men on a motorcycle gunned down former New People’s Army leader Sotero Llamas in Albay province, a lone assassin wearing a bonnet over his head shot dead a Bayan Muna member and a leader of a farmers’ group during a wake on Sunday night here. Bayan Muna’s David Costuna, 48, and Arcadio Macale, 60, president of the local Barangay Agrarian Reform Council, were the 19th and 20th militants murdered around the country in the past two months. Their deaths brought to 228 the total number of activists assassinated since President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assumed office in 2001, according to an Inquirer tally.
The War Against the People: US Scholars Denounce Killings and Calls for a World-Wide Actio (tags)
Northampton, MA - The Critical Filipina and Filipino Studies Collective (CFFSC) condemns the growing spate of killings and human rights violations of political activists, peasant rights advocates and sympathizers, lawyers and priests in the Philippines. The Philippine military is targeting and murdering leftist activists and civilians under the pretense of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo regime’s “War on Terror.” The U.S.-backed Arroyo regime’s campaign of surveillance, abduction, torture, and execution is a campaign of terror against the Filipino people.
UPDATE - NOW ON ITS 30TH DAY, HUNGER STRIKE OF ERNEST BARRAQUIAS JR. REFUSES TO BE INTRA (tags)
Hunger Strike of the discoverer & whistle-blower of seized drugs distribution worth hundreds of millions by high-ranking police generals & drug lords in the Philippines. The country is ranked by the latest United Nations report to be the 3rd biggest producer & exporter of the methampetamine hydrochloride, called “shabu”, but commonly called “meth”, “ice”, “crack” in the United States where the instantly addictive illegal substance is becoming extremely popular in the West Coast & Southern States. The Philippines is also an acknowledged major transshipment of the said drugs to other countries. Assasination attempts and persecution on him.
did the CIA form Abu Sayyaf? (tags)
there is evidence that abu sayyaf, the philippines al-qaida, was created by the CIA