Tribute to Ka Popoy - by Sanlakas Rep. JV Bautista

TRIBUTE TO A TRUE HERO OF THE WORKING CLASS AND A VALIANT SON OF THE FILIPINO NATION

by Sanlakas party-list Rep. JV Bautista

February 6, 2004

Mr. Speaker, Distinguished Colleagues -

I rise today to pay tribute to a true hero of the working class and a valiant son of the Filipino nation.

Filemon "Ka Popoy" Lagman lived the life of a revolutionary. He saw the ills, the corruption, the injustice, the oppression in Philippine society and sought to change it. In his life, he championed the cause of the masses, particularly the working class. And in his death, he inspired the hundreds of thousands of men and women involved in the parties, mass organizations, and movements that he helped found and organized.

Ka Popoy did not waste even in his youth in his quest for social change. Barely out of his adolescence, he plunged into activism and began to participate in mass actions while a student at the Caloocan High School. Then at age 17, he joined the radical youth organization Samahang Demokratiko ng Kabataan (SDK) while he was an AB Journalism student and a writer for the Philippine Collegian at the University of the Philippines. But his formal university education has to be shelved to heed the call of the revolution.

It was martial law and Ka Popoy saw the Communist Party of the Philippines as the only intrepid and uncompromising opposition to the iron-fisted rule of the elite. Recognizing his talent, the party elected him as Secretary of its Manila-Rizal Regional Committee, and it was during his watch when the country's most important urban center saw the resurgence of the mass movement, marked by labor strikes, student boycotts, and urban poor community organizing. Not too many people know that Ka Popoy Lagman worked closely with the revered nationalist and civil libertarian Senator Lorenzo Tañada in the formation of Lakas ng Bayan or LABAN, the political vehicle in Metro Manila of Ninoy Aquino and the progressive candidates, such as labor leader Alex Boncayao, urban poor organizer Trining Herrera and youth leader Jerry Barican, in 1978 Interim Batasan Pambansa elections.

It was during this time when Ka Popoy Lagman was in fact sowing the seeds of what we would later call "People Power". Allow me to quote from a column written by a former CPP Manila-Rizal Committee cadre who now sits in the Cabinet of the present administration -

"It was on April 1978 that Lagman and the Communist Party of the Philippines' Manila-Rizal Committee he headed spearheaded what really was the prototype of the first People Power in 1986. That was the metropolitan-wide "noise barrage" against the dictatorship. On the eve of the Batasan Pambansa elections, thousand of Manila residents stepped outside their houses banging pots and pans as motorists honked their horns to first shout that now classic protest-cry: "Tama na, sobra na!"

"Lagman missed out on the first People Power, as he had to follow the policy of the communist hierarchy to dissociate from the Cory-led opposition. That was the last straw for him. After debating unsuccessfully since 1986 with the communist leadership, urging it to change the party's tack toward what we call a "People Power" model of revolt, he broke away from the Communist Party in 1992."

"This time around though, he was deeply involved in the second People Power. He had only two weeks to celebrate the victory."

"Many at the second People Power were simply citizens outraged by Estrada's corruption. However, a big part of the militant core of People Power II, especially at its early stages, were from the left - whose evolution in the past few years Lagman had a big role in." (Tiglao, Rigoberto. "Outlook, Ka Popoy Lagman: People Power visionary", February 2001)

Through his relentless organizing and audacious mass mobilizations against the Marcos dictatorship, Ka Popoy Lagman has made a great contribution to the downfall of that regime.

But the most compelling contribution of Ka Popoy Lagman to the historic struggle for social justice and emancipation is his championing the cause of the Filipino working class.

Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas had the following to say of Ka Popoy Lagman -

"Popoy Lagman was a controversial figure, but his work and his activities for which he earned the ire of many, lent vigor, valor and added meaning to the Philippine labor movement. Under Lagman's tutelage, the BMP has proven to be the most militant labor movement. It is obvious that Mr. Lagman wielded strength because his methods were effective, and because many down-trodden people, especially workers, found validity in his cause and a champion in his person."

Ka Popoy Lagman was arguably be the most colorful and effective leader of this generation. His run-ins with the biggest of the tycoons and the most powerful of politicians are legend. Popular columnist Conrado de Quiros documents the following incident -

Lagman, as far as I know, was the first one to stand up before Erap and tell him to his face that he agreed completely with his desire to bring peace and harmony to labor-capital relations, and the best way to do that was to put criminals like Lucio Tan behind bars. This was Labor Day a couple of years ago, during the height of the labor problem at PAL, when the labor leaders were invited to Malacañang. That was real cojones." (PDI, "There's the Rub, Revamp the vision, not the men")

And who could forget that mammoth rally in Ayala Avenue during the height of the protest actions against former President Estrada, when the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) spearheaded a work stoppage and a rally together with the Makati Business Club? In the very heart of the country's premier business district, Ka Popoy Lagman, when asked to speak, defiantly called for revolution and the overthrow of the ruling class.

It is not an overstatement to say that, in the words of Secretary Rigoberto Tiglao, "the strength of unions now owes a lot to Lagman." The urban guerilla group Alex Boncayao Brigade (ABB), named after the LABAN candidate in 1978 for whom Ka Popoy campaigned, was precisely organized as a union's self-defense unit. It was the ABB that became the counterforce against the hired goons and even policemen under the employ of sweatshop owners and unscrupulous big businessmen in Manila. Under Ka Popoy, it veritably leveled the playing fields for the unions.

Ka Popoy Lagman's commitment to the cause of labor led to the founding in 1993 of the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP), now regarded as the most militant labor group in the country. And although Ka Popoy never saw the establishment of the Partido ng Manggagawa - the only party-list of labor with a sitting Representative in these very halls of Congress - the powers of his ideas and momentum of his initiatives has ensured that the workers will have their own voice in parliament.

Ka Popoy Lagman was a political visionary and a pioneer in the involvement of the Left in parliamentary struggle right inside the halls of Congress. In 1994, he helped set up Sanlakas, which, through its organizations of workers, urban poor residents, women, youth, professionals and small entrepreneurs, was able to power its way to the House of Representatives in the 1998 party-list elections, and again in the 2001 elections.

One could only marvel at the energy and vigor with which Ka Popoy Lagman pursued his cause and commitment to the uplift of the struggling Filipino people. Let his own words provide us the insight -

"Mga kasama, magtago ako't mag-underground, ako'y hinahanting. Magligal ako't mag-aboveground, ako'y inuusig. Iisa lang ang gustong mangyari ng gobyerno. Tumigil ako, isuko ang aking prinsipyo."

"Pero ang prinsipyong ito ay dinilig ng dugo; hindi lamang ng libu-libong martir ng kilusang manggagawa. Dinilig ito ng dugo ng aking kapatid at asawa, at ito'y nananalaytay sa aking isipan. At kailanman ay di nila magagawang ito'y ipiit o kitlin sapagkat ito'y dumadaloy sa kamalayan ng lahat ng manggagawang naghihimagsik sa sistemang mapang-alipin." (Isyu, 25 November 1996)

On February 6, 2001, the life of Filemon "Ka Popoy" Lagman was snuffed out by assassin's bullets. The cowardly act was undertaken right inside the campus of the venerable University of the Philippines. As a sure sign of gratitude for the life and work he dedicated to the cause of the workers and the common people, a mammoth funeral march, the biggest since those of the martyrs Ninoy Aquino and Lean Alejandro in the 1980s, brought Ka Popoy's mortal remains to its final resting place.

Mr. Speaker,

It will be three years since Filemon "Ka Popoy" Lagman was assassinated. The dastardly assault happened only two weeks after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was installed to power and only a few days after the First Gentleman Atty. Mike Arroyo personally assured Ka Popoy of his security and safety in the new regime. The director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the then Chief of the Philippine National Police vowed that the criminal perpetrators would be caught and brought to justice. After three years, this government has remained empty-handed.

Sanlakas calls for the immediate reopening of the investigation of the killing of Filemon "Ka Popoy" Lagman. Sanlakas demands concrete results from the NBI and the PNP, and calls on these agencies to bring the criminal perpetrators to the bar of justice in the next 30 days or else the heads of these agencies should step down.

Mr. Speaker, Distinguished Colleagues -

It is but fitting that the story of the life and passions of Filemon "Ka Popoy" Lagman, one of the greatest social revolutionaries of our times, a true hero of the working class, and a gallant son of the Filipino nation, be told in this chamber of deputies. For though his mortal life may have shortened by the enemies of revolutionary change, his ideas and commitments lives on in the countless people whose lives his works has touched. They are in Sanlakas, they are in Partido ng Manggagawa, they are in KPML, ZOTO, and many other mass organizations; they are spread out in the four corners of the country, making sure that the dreams of a better society for the workers and the marginalized Filipinos would someday become reality.

(This privilege speech was delivered by SANLAKAS Party List Representative JV Bautista on February 2004 at the House of Representatives in commemoration of the 3rd Death Anniversary of Filemon "Ka Popoy" Lagman.)

Why we walked out on Bush?

Why we walked out on Bush?

October 18, 2003

Rep. JV Baustista, Sanlakas

Rep. Renato Magtubo, Partido ng Manggagawa

Before all else, let us say that we were mere messengers with a simple message of peace. That is we called upon President Bush to stop his wars of aggression and for him to bring US troops back to their families.

It an urgent message that the parliament of the streets wished the regular parliament to hear out and take notice of. It was a message that we brought to the attention of President Bush, the Filipino people and the citizens of world through dignified protest within the halls of Congress.

First, we ask anyone who criticizes us for staging a protest within the halls of Congress if our message of peace is wrong.

And finally, we ask them if silently hoisting two small banners writ with "Stop your wars Mr. Bush" and "Bring your troops back home" for a few seconds and then gracefully walking out of the session hall just before Bush started his speech was improper and impolite.

We do not believe that we disgraced the peace-loving Filipino people by our dignified protest for we did it in solidarity with the urban poor living in front of the House of Representatives whose houses were demolished, the victims of toxic wastes left at the former US bases, the world war two veterans who have not been paid their due and the workers and farmers who have been ravaged by unfair trade policies of the US.

We missed out on nothing by walking out just before Mr. Bush spoke. As far as we are concerned, it was not just Laura Bush who did the storytelling but also her husband who regaled the joint session with a fairy tale of Filipino-American friendship.

We are ready to face the consequences of our acts-even as we believe that hoisting banners and walking out just before Bush spoke was well within the limits of dignified protest. If the leadership of the House of Representatives will see fit to file a case against us with the ethics committee and decide to expel us, we will welcome it as the price to pay for being messengers of peace. We will be more than happy to return to being street parliamentarians.

Sanlakas Rep. JV Bautista speech, 10-08-2003

Maliliit na Manininda ng Kamaynilaan: Dapat bang Kamuhian o Dapat Tulungan?

October 8, 2003

Mr. Speaker, I rise here today on a matter of personal and collective privilege on the issue of our hapless street vendors, many of whom have suffered and continue to suffer inhumane treatment from the hands of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and their respective local government units. 

Mr. Speaker, bago ko isa-isahin ang mga reklamo at karaingan ng maliliit nating manininda dito sa Kamaynilaan, nais kong iparating sa inyo na narito ngayon sa bulwagang ito ang kanilang mga kinatawan mula sa Metro Manila Vendors Alliance (MMVA). They have asked this humble representation to speak on their behalf and they would be very hopeful and happy to listen to what would be our collective response to their plight.

Good intentions done through brutal experiment

Mr. Speaker, mula nang ipatupad ng MMDA ang kanilang clearing operations laban sa mga sidewalk vendors sa Kamaynilaan noong Hulyo 2002, sa bisa ng MMDA Resolution No. 02-28 Series of 2002, naging kalbaryo na ang buhay ng ating mga kapatid na vendors. Ito ay dahil idinaan ni Chairman Fernando sa pwersa at dahas hindi sa mapayapang negosasyon ang pagpapatupad ng naturang MMDA Resolution. Kaya ngayon sa mata ng mga vendor, ang malinis at kahanga-hangang imahe ni MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando ay napalitan ng isang Hitler.

From July 2002 up to now, Mr. Speaker, the Metro Manila Vendors Alliance has recorded untold cases of physical assault from MMDA operatives ranging from harassment to extreme use of force that resulted to serious physical injuries to the death of three vendors. Sa katunayan, sa Cubao ay may kaso pa ng naputulan ng kamay dahil sa paglaban sa operatiba ng MMDA na armado ng samurai. Also, an estimated 2-3 million pesos worth of commercial articles were confiscated by MMDA personnel that resulted to economic dislocation of vendors.

Wala ring pinipili ang pandarahas ng MMDA, Mr. Speaker. Babae at lalaki, matatanda, buntis at bata ay pare-pareho ang trato sa kanila. From Monumento to Baclaran, from Fairview to Taft, and from Cubao to Divisoria, these helpless vendors, numbering tens of thousands including their families, suffered the same fate under Bayani Fernando's brutal regime in MMDA. Up to now, they are still waiting for justice.

Marami pang mga kaso ng karahasan, Mr. Speaker, na hindi nakareport dahil takot din ang mga vendor na magpa-blotter sa mga pulis. Tinitiis nila ang kalagayang ito, tinatanggap nila ang kaapihang ito, dahil ito na ang nagisnan nilang buhay bilang vendor - ang mabuhay sa pamamagitan ng pagtitinda sa gitna ng peligroso at marahas na pagtrato sa kanila ng mga nasa awtoridad. 

Sanlakas in defense

Mr. Speaker, habang nagaganap ang karahasan ng MMDA laban sa mga vendors, ang aking organisasyong kinakatawan, ang Sanlakas, ay hindi nangiming sila'y suportahan sa kabila ng suportang tinatanggap naman ni Chairman Fernando mula sa nakatataas na uri ng ating lipunan. Ngunit ito ay hindi dahil wala kaming konsepto ng kalinisan at kaayusan sa ating mga lansangan. Hindi dahil sinasang-ayunan namin ang paglabag nila sa batas. Hindi dahil kunukunsinti namin ang kanilang kamangmangan sa iba pang paraan ng paghahanapbuhay. 

Like Chairman Fernando, we also are yearning to live in an ideal, peaceful, orderly and livable city of men, women and children not only in Metro Manila but also in all urban centers nationwide. However, accomplishing such great task, we believe, requires not a brutal man but a benevolent leadership this country has yet to find.

Mr. Speaker, simple lang ang aming dahilan sa pag-aalala sa kalagayan ng ating maliliit na vendor. Ang kaharap nating problema ay isang masamang realidad -- ang realidad ng kahirapan na nagtulak sa ating mahihirap na kababayan na suungin ang peligrosong paraan ng paghahanapbuhay. Bakit lalo pa natin silang pinahihirapan? Gayung kahit ganito ang napili nilang buhay, naghahanapbuhay sila ng marangal. Maaaring sa mata ng batas ang kanilang paraan ng hanapbuhay ay iligal pero sa konsepto ng hustisya sila ay hindi perwisyo sa ating lipunan. Maging sa buhay ekonomiya ng bansa, sila ay hindi pabigat kundi'y nakakatulong pa sa pamahalaan na walang kapasidad na magbigay ng pormal na empleyo sa milyun-milyong walang hanapbuhay. 

"Ubusan ng kapital"

What these vendors find more revolting, Mr. Speaker, about Chairman Fernando's prescription in addressing the vendor's problems is his theory of "ubusan ng kapital". Confiscating vendors' commercial articles or setting them on fire to drain their capital is not only a violation of human rights but also a gruesome display of brutality, which is Hitler's trademark. In his ingenious theory, Mr. Speaker, Chairman Fernando believes that sidewalk vending will stop once peddlers run out of capital. Well, that might be true for a person who only makes vending for fun but not for a person who vends for life. Perhaps, Henry Sy can leave his mall business for another but not for Ka Pedring who lives on street vending for all his life. 

Mr. Speaker, nagtugumpay ba ang teoryang ito ni BF? According to Mr. Neil R. Lina, the City Market Administrator of Quezon City, in his memorandum to Mayor Feliciano Belmonte dated September 10, 2003: "The number of registered vendors reduced only in books but not in the streets."

Let me quote him in full: "Problems and complaints have arisen against the alleged abuse of authority by MMDA operatives. Cases after cases have been filed against these people, Bayani Fernando included. As a result of their indiscriminate and uncoordinated clearing operations with the city counterparts, the number of registered vendors in the city has been greatly reduced. Many of them refuse to go back to the office to renew their permits, however, some have continued to vend in spite of the risk of being demolished. Our record shows that there are about 10,000 to 12,000 vendors in the city of which 6,000 are registered. After a series of demolition jobs by the MMDA the number of vendors who are renewing their permits considerably dropped, but nevertheless you would see many of them back on the streets again and again."

Along this fact, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Lina also noted some negative effects on the "indiscriminate, brutal, inhuman and barbaric acts of MMDA personnel", and I quote: 

1. "Many of our vendors who have faithfully paid and complied with our requirements have been victimized involving loss of hundreds of thousands of pesos in capital. Goods and even cash sales were confiscated but not returned;

2. MMDA continues to defy the permits we are issuing. Thus, the vendors' trust and confidence in our effort to require them to pay our vending taxes and fees is diminished;

3. Because of this, many of registered vendors have stopped renewing their permits from us. Hence, the reduction and slump in revenues. Last year 2002, was our highest collection of P5.021 million. This year's collection could have been bigger had not for MMDA's abuses. As of June 2003, we just collected P3.714 million; 

4. Even though vendors are aware of the previous written proposal by the City Market Administrator to the Mayor to declare alternative vending sites, the image of the city has been marred since the vendors do not see it implemented. They perceive lack of support to their business or a relocation site where their trading will be unhampered by threats of demolition is a failure on the part of the City Government."

Mas malamang, Mr. Speaker, ganyan din ang nangyayari sa maraming syudad sa Metro Manila. Marahil, dahil sa inaasahang mangyayari, kung bakit hindi sumang-ayon sa naturang ordinansa ng MMDA ang mga lungsod ng Maynila, Mandaluyong at Caloocan. Sila ay nagpapatupad ng sariling vending program na may konsultasyon sa mga manininda. 

Disorder to anarchy

Mr. Speaker, ganyan kadalasan ang nagiging resulta ng Hitler na pormula sa paglutas ng problema. Sa halip na maayos nang mapayapa ang problema lalo lang itong nauuwi sa anarkiya. Sa halip na maorganisa sa isang programa ang mga vendor at maipatupad ang disiplina, itinulak sila ni Fernando sa pagtitinda sa paraang gerilya. 

Hindi nagkulang ang mga manininda na ipaabot ang kanilang hinaing sa mga kinauukulang ahensya ng pamahalaan. Sa katunayan, humarap na sila sa Pangulo, sa National Anti-Poverty Commission, sa Commission on Human Rights at sa kanilang mga mayor, sa layuning ayusin sa paraan ng negosasyon ang kanilang kalalagyan at ang kabutihan ng syudad. Tanging si Chairman Fernando ang hindi humaharap sa kanila para makipag-usap. 

Lastly, Mr. Speaker, I urge this august body to make forceful recommendations to concerned agencies to urgently and finally come to a viable solution to address the problems of our hapless vendors. A moratorium on clearing operations would be a good start that must be followed by positive negotiations both in the national agencies level as well as in the local levels. 

Mr. Speaker, small vendors are not our enemies in the streets. They are dignified people who make their living out of the shameful failure of our government to provide them decent lives. Hindi ba't sa halip na kamuhian at ipagtabuyan, sila ay dapat tulungan ng pamahalaan? 

Maraming salamat, Mr. Speaker.

A Sanlakas poem

Come forth all you who are tired,
all you who have grown weary.

You who suffer by the heavy hand
of exploitation and stand aghast
at the avarice of the few.

You who know that every voice
that has been allowed to speak,
a thousand others have been muted
by want and constraint.

You who have been numbed
by the growling of your stomach
as you fed the latest
statistics on growth.

You who have been shamed
and angered by the fate
of our people in a world
that would not acknowledged
our dignity.

You who feel the emptiness
of an existence drawn only
to the self and to the profit
while the world and its
life pass by you.

Come forth, Filipinos,
and raise the call!

For these times
are not for those
who will remain weak
but rather for those
who would be strong;
not for those
who would hide in fear;
but for those
who show themselves resolute;
not for the hopeless,
but for those
who will continue to dream.

Our people's hope

Our people's resolve

Our people's strength

Sanlakas

(This poem was published at the front page of Maypagasa magazine, the official publication of Sanlakas, Vol. 2, No. 1, October-December 1999)

SANLAKAS

SANLAKAS

In Filipino, SANLAKAS means “pinag-isang lakas ng mamamayan” the collective strength of the people.

It is a national COALITION composed of sectoral and people’s organizations united in the struggle for social change.

In 1998 until 2004, SANLAKAS has been engaged in the legislative arena as a PARTY LIST ORGANIZATION representing the marginalized sectors in congress, articulating their perspective and initiating actions to ensure that national laws and policies will serve their best interest.

By making the most of every possible opportunity to promote the people’s agenda and engaging the various stakeholders in every possible venue- from the ‘parliament of the street ‘, to the House of Representative, up to the Supreme Court – SANLAKAS has made its presence felt. 

It has carved its own niche in the national political landscape as staunch advocates for the promotion of human rights and social justice. 

SANLAKAS shares every Filipino’s dream of a peaceful, progressive and democratic nation, where every person regarless of age, gender, ethnic, cultural, social, political and economic background:

1. Has a fair chance of ensuring that they and their families will have jobs and reliable means of securing resources that will enable them to put food on the table, send their children to school, seek appropriate health care services where needed, live in decent affordable housing and clean, safe, and secure communities.

2. Has the opportunity to participate in community development efforts that foster self-reliance and collaboration as well as empower citizens to build a genuine ‘power powered’ democracy from the grassroots up to the national levels of government. 

3. Has access to the full measure of legal protection through the fair and consistent enforcement of pro-people laws.

4. Has reason to hope that the goal of an improved overall quality life can be attained TODAY rather than in some uncertain future, and can be had by all Filipinos rather than just the few who own the wealth and rule the land

SANLAKAS shares our people’s vision and believes that to uphold social justice, to protect and promote human rights we must dismantle all forms of exploitative political, economic, social and cultural barriers such as:

=> The exclusion of workers, farmers, fisher folk, the urban and rural poor from crucial policy and decision-making processes and governance structures.

=> The exploitation and oppression of women at home, in the workplace, the media and other socio-cultural contexts; discrimination against gays and lesbians and other individuals by virtue of their sexual orientation.

=> The blatant disregard for and continuing violation of the rights of the Moro people, lumads and other indigenous peoples and the continuing policy of war to quell their centuries’ old resistance to domination, their struggle for peace in their own ancestral land.

To work for genuine political reforms at all levels of government and sustain people’s active participation in national development, we must promote and affirm our principles:

• That a genuine democratic government is one where political power truly resides in the hands of the majority of our people.

• That decentralized and autonomous local governance structures should be strengthened by promoting principles of transparency and accountability among all who hold public office.

• That national development can only be achieved through a sovereign economy that:

=> Is free from foreign domination and exploitation;

=> Strives for a balance between agricultural and industrial development;

=> Ensures the equitable allocation of resources and social wealth;

=> Promotes ecologically sound, environmentally protective and sustainable practices in the production, marketing and distribution of goods and services.

•That genuine international solidarity must be based on non-interference, mutual cooperation, and peaceful co-existence among nations and among peoples, therefore:

=> Onerous treaties such as the existing military agreements with the United States have no place in our foreign policy

=> All just international conventions, agreements and treaties such as those dealing with human rights, war crimes, environmental protection and the like must be adhered to and complied with to the letter and spirit.

=> A policy of non-alignment must be adopted, denouncing any forms of war or aggression being waged by other nations against other sovereign nations.

=> Proactive and vigilant effort on the part of the government is needed to protect and promote the rights and welfare of migrant Filipino workers.

SANLAKAS is committed to translating the rhetoric of principles and convictions into concrete actions by:

=> Conducting educational programs, research and information campaigns on current national and local issues as well as global concerns affecting the people.

=> Organizing the people in communities and workplaces and building their capacity to serve as active and responsible members or leaders in their own communities by instilling the values of unity and cooperation.

=> Mobilizing the people and other stakeholders to initiate appropriate actions and innovative activities in response to specific issues or policies affecting their ranks.

=> Legislative advocacy and lobbying work to ensure that the voice and demands of marginalized sectors are amplified and heard in Congress.

=> International solidarity work through linkages and participation in global social movements.

Sanlakas History - recorded at Green Left Weekly, issue 123

Philippines progressives set up coalition

Wednesday, November 17, 1993 - 11:00

By Reihana Mohideen, Green Left Weekly

MANILA — SANLAKAS (People's Solidarity for Democracy and Freedom), a broad coalition of organisations campaigning for national freedom and democracy, held its inaugural convention here on October 29.

The coalition is being built by the activists of the old Manila branch of BAYAN. Twenty-four organisations representing trade unions, urban poor, churches, youth groups, women, consumer groups, market vendors, drivers, human rights organisations, non-government organisations and other community sectors attended the convention.

The new socialist organisation MAKABAYAN is also playing an important role in SANLAKAS. The mass base of SANLAKAS represents more than 100,000 members.

Sonny Rivera, the newly elected president of SANLAKAS, described the goals and campaign perspectives of the new organisation. "We have a major agenda that we put forward during our formation, namely the industrialisation of the economy as a solution to unemployment and underdevelopment.

"By this we mean a Philippines-oriented industrialisation as against heavy reliance on foreign investment. For this to succeed, we also believe that simultaneously there should be genuine agrarian reform, with democratisation of land ownership and access to land."

Rivera spoke of the need for a "democratic coalition government" in which the "basic sectors can participate and which guarantees access to the masses and the observance of human rights, gender equality and so on". These demands constitute the basic program of SANLAKAS.

The organisation also has the perspective of campaigning in elections. "The consensus is that we actively support progressive candidates in elections if not fielding candidates ourselves. In the main we will support those candidates who commit themselves to the cause of national freedom."

Rivera emphasised the democratic nature of the SANLAKAS project. "We believe in democratic pluralism. This includes respecting any opposition inside the organisation, namely respecting the rights of the minority to oppose policy and campaign for their views. We will have a great degree of tolerance to opposing views."

As for the differences with the national BAYAN organisation, Rivera stressed: "We are open to collaboration with groups such as BAYAN national. We are ready to unite with them on the basis of principles. It is an organisation that many of us in SANLAKAS have built for many years. It will be a welcome scenario if we can come up with a working relationship in pushing forward a national agenda. Unfortunately, they seem to treat us like enemies. We don't treat them as enemies."

The organisation will be publicly launched at a November 30 rally, a commemoration of Andres Bonifacio, a leader of the 1896 revolution against Spanish rule. The group will put out a newspaper campaigning for its goals.

From GLW issue 123

- See more at: http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/5163