Ang Totoong Kahulugan ng MECQ/GCQ/MGCQ: HANAPBUHAY MAGIGING "HANAP-PATAY" DAHIL SA KAPALPAKAN NI DUTERTE SA COVID-19

BMP-PLM-SANLAKAS Polyeto MAYO 14, 2020

(Maari rin basahin dito: bit.ly/PolyetoMay142020)

Ang Totoong Kahulugan ng MECQ/GCQ/MGCQ:

HANAPBUHAY MAGIGING "HANAP-PATAY" DAHIL SA KAPALPAKAN NI DUTERTE SA COVID-19

DALAWANG buwan nang gutom at bilasa ang mamamayang pwersahang tumigil sa trabaho dahil sa lockdown. Kwarantina na una’y sa Kamaynilaan lamang hanggang sa sumaklaw sa buong Luzon, at kinalauna’y ipinataw sa buong kapuluan.

Ngayon, nag-anunsyo na ang Palasyo na paluluwagin ang mga restriksyon. Mula sa ECQ ay magiging MECQ, GCQ, MGCQ . Marami ang nag-akala makakahinga na sila ng maluwag. Tila sinasabi, “Sa wakas, makapaghahanapbuhay na. Mas mainam ang nagtatrabaho kaysa naghihintay sa walang kasiguruhang ayuda”.

Naiintindihan natin ang desperasyon ng maraming Pilipino. Subalit nagpapayo tayo ng paghuhunos-dili sa ating mga kauri at kababayan: huwag maging kampante at huwag maliitin ang banta ng COVID19.

Tayo ay nagtatrabaho para sa ating mga mahal sa buhay. Para tugunan ang kanilang pangangailangan. Maraming Pilipino - laluna sa sahurang manggagawa - ay ginagawang tiisin ang mababang sweldo, kontraktwalisasyon, at di-makataong kondisyon sa pagtatrabaho. Ito ang desperasyong inaasahan ng rehimeng Duterte at mga kapitalista para diumano’y “paandarin muli ang ekonomya”. Desperasyon para huwag nating pansinin ang peligrong dulot ng pandemyang COVID19, alang-alang sa kakarampot na sweldo habang nililikha natin ang tubo para sa kapitalista, ang interes para sa bangkero, ang renta para sa kapitalistang landlord at maging ang buwis para sa pamahalaan.

Nais nating ipaalala sa manggagawa’t mamamayan na kailangang patuloy na igiit ang "Kaligtasan, Kabuhayan, Kapakanan at Kapangyarihan para sa manggagawa't mamamayan". Kung hindi natin patuloy na ipaglalaban ang sumusunod na kahilingan, ang mangyayari sa atin ay HANAP-PATAY hindi hanapbuhay!

MASS TESTING, REKURSO AT PASILIDAD PANGKALUSUGAN: Nananatiling bulag tayong lahat sa totoong kalagayan sa kontaminasyon ng COVID19. Patuloy ang pagdami ng bilang ng kaso habang 'di maasahan ang datos na inilalathala. Sa kasalukuyan, mahigit 11,000 ang naitalang kaso ng COVID19 kung saan mahigit 2,000 pa lamang ang nakakarecover at 750 na ang namatay. Kinakailangang matukoy kung sino ang mga may-sakit para mabukod sila at mapigilan ang paghawa sa iba pa. Makupad pa ang inilulunsad na “mass testing” sapagkat tatlumpu (30) pa lamang ang DOH-accredited testing center sa bansa. Sa dalawang buwan na lumipas, 0.1% pa lamang ng buong populasyon ang dumaan sa naturang eksaminasyon. Asahan nating tataas pa ang bilang ng mga kaso habang tumataas ang kakayahan sa mass testing at pagluluwag para sa "ekonomya".

Nakakabahala ang magiging second at third wave ng kontaminasyon na maaring magdulot ng pagbagsak sa ating naghihingalo nang health care system. Kulang ang mga pasilidad pang-kwarantina. Nasa mahigit 11,000 lamang ang dedicated hospital beds, tiyak na kulang kung mangyayari ang second wave. Isang libo lamang ang kwarto para sa para sa malubhang mga kaso(ICU). Gayundin ang mechanical ventilator, na kailangang sa paghinga ng may malubhang pulmonya dulot ng COVID19. Napakarami ring ospital ang nagrereklamo sa kakulangan ng suplay sa PPE (personal protective equipment), na lubhang peligroso sa ating mga medical frontliner.

AYUDA SA LAHAT: Mananatili ang mga restriksyon sa ilalim ng MECQ, GCQ at MGCQ. Sa kabila nito, halos lahat ng industriya ay papayagan nang magbukas. Sa MECQ, kalahati (50%) lamang ng mga empleyado ang maaring pumasok sa pabrika, opisina, at iba pang lugar ng pagtatrabaho at di pa rin pahihintulutan ang pampublikong transportayon. Sa GCQ, ito ay nasa tatlo sa bawat apat na empleyado (75%). Sa MGCQ, papayagan ang panunumbalik sa full operation (100%).

Ibig sabihin, sa maraming establisyemento, ang ipapatupad ng mga employer ay rotasyon o pagbabawas ng araw ng trabaho sa isang linggo. May ilang industriya din ang siguradong magtatanggal ng manggagawa o magsasara gamit ang dahilan na pagkalugi.

Sa GCQ at MGCQ, papayagan ang pampublikong transportasyon ngunit limitado lamang ang maaring sumakay sa dahil sa physical distancing na tiyak kabawasan sa kita ng mga tsuper. Dagdag rito, ang mga lumang jeepney na hindi nagpailalim sa mga kooperatiba o korporasyon ay di na papayagang bumiyahe. Ang mga bus na di modernisado ang pagbabayad ay 'di rin makakabyahe. Samakatuwid, daan libong mga tsuper at konduktor ay wala pa ring kikitain. Bagsak din ang kita ng iba pang nasa informal sector - manininda sa bangketa at palengke, maliliit na mangangalakal, atbp., dahil bukod sa marami mananatiling ipagbabawal, ang kanilang kabuhayan ay karugtong ng ekonomikong aktibidad ng mga sumasahod na mababawasan o matatanggal sa trabaho.

Ang masakit, nabawasan o nawalan man ng kinikita, lahat tayo ay bubulagain ng due date ng mga nabibinbing bayarin dahil matatapos na ang ekstensyon sa pagbabayad ng upa, tubig, kuryente, internet, atbp. Ang masaklap pa, ang mga 'di nakatanggap at nakatanggap ng SAP sa labas ng Kamaynilaan, Cebu City at probinsya ng Laguna, ay di na bibigyan ng ikalawang bugso na malinaw na ipinangako ni Duterte at nakasaad sa kanyang Bayanihan o BAHO Act.

Samakatuwid, ang netong epekto nito ay pangkalahatang pagbagsak sa sahod at kita ng manggagawa, sa formal at informal sector. Makatarungang igiit pa rin “ayuda para salahat”. Hindi lamang dahil obligasyon ng gobyerno ang unahin ang kapakanan ng kanyang mamamayan. Mas lalong higit, ang anumang muling pagpapaandar sa ekonomya ay dapat naikinukunsidera ang paggawa, nasiyang pangunahing panlipunan at pang-ekonomyang pwersa ng ating lipunan.

BALIK TRABAHONG LIGTAS: Sigurado tayong maraming employer ang lalabag sa inutos na mga patakaran para sa “occupational health and safety” ng kanilang mga manggagawa. Dagdag gastos kasi ang turing dito ng mga kapitalista. Kaya naman, krusyal na usapin sa balik-trabaho (hindi balik-probinsya dahil ang kalakhan ng trabaho ay nasa sentrong urban ng Region 3, Region 4A, NCR, Region 7, at iba pa) ay ang responsibilidad ng gobyerno na mapasunod ang mga may-ari ng negosyo sa patakaran at ang karapatan ng manggagawa na magreklamo sa magiging paglabag dito ng mga kapitalista. Subalit sa DO213 ng DOLE, sinuspinde ang lahat ng inspeksyon, hearing sa labor cases, atbp., sa buong panahon ng kwarantina. Dahil anuman sa MECQ, GCQ, o MGCQ ay quarantine areas, hindi makakapagreklamo ang mga manggagawa sa buong bansa!

Mga kauri at kababayan! Manatiling kritikal at mapagmatyag sa mga nangyayari sa lipunan. Huwag hayaang ang panunumbalik sa trabaho o paghahanapbuhay dahil sa MECQ, GCQ, MGCQ ay mauwi sa pangkakanya-kanya at pagsasawalang-kibo. Trilyon-trilyon ang pondo ng gobyerno para tugunan ang COVID19 (mula sa pagkonsentra ng pera sa Executive dulot ng BAHO Act hanggang sa bilyong dolyar na grant at loan na nakuha ng gobyerno sa World Bank (WB) at Asian Development Bank (ADB). Kung tayo ay mananahimik, ang napakalaking pondong ito ay mapapakinabangan ng mga burukrata sa gobyerno. At kahit hindi tayo nakinabang dito, tiyak na kasama ang manggagawa’t mamamayan sa pagbabayad at pagtustos sa naturang pondo sa anyo ng buwis. Ang siste, ginawang rason ang kalusugan ng mamamayan para magkamal ng pondo subalit hindi naman ginamit ang pondo para labanan ang salot na COVID19 na banta sa kalusugan ng mga Pilipino.

Ituloy ang pangangalampag para sa ating kaligtasan, kabuhayan, kapakanan at kapangyarihan. Mag-ingay at singilin ang rehimeng Duterte sa mga kapabayaan, kapalpakan, at karahasan nito sa manggagawa’t mamamayang Pilipino. #

MASS TESTING PAIGTINGIN!

AYUDA PARA SA LAHAT IPAGPATULOY!

BALIK-TRABAHONG LIGTAS PARA SA MANGGAGAWA!

SERBISYONG PANLIPUNAN HINDI PANGGIGIPIT at KARAHASAN!

PANAGUTIN ang REHIMENG DUTERTE!

BMP – PLM – SANLAKAS

Mayo 14, 2020

Statement: Live the spirit of Bayanihan ang Unleash the Power of the Organized Masses

A CHALLENGE TO THE DUTERTE REGIME:

LIVE THE SPIRIT OF BAYANIHAN AND UNLEASH THE POWER OF THE ORGANIZED MASSES

The President appeals for Bayanihan to combat the menace of COVID 19. But asking the people to timidly stay at home and practice physical distancing belies the true spirit of Bayanihan.

Bayanihan is not just about cooperation nor simply conforming to rules. It is more about solidarity and action of the people to overcome enormous challenges in life such as the COVID 19 pandemic.

Much has been said about the weaknesses of current government efforts to effectively fight the growing COVID 19 epidemic. More than oneness and adequacy in our government efforts, the colossal task of defeating an invincible adversary like the COVID 19 can only be accomplished by both government and the people willing to survive and return to their normal daily lives.

The urgency to end and be victorious against the current health challenge will need more than funds but physical power. Our front liners have been extended to its limits. Doctors and other health workers have succumbed to infections and died. Even our state forces have been likewise susceptible to the dreaded disease. The protracted war against COVID 19 is taking its toll on the health and lives of all of those in the frontline. No one is safe and imperishable at this time unless we truly flatten the curve.

Hence, we call on the Duterte government to live up to the true spirit of Bayanihan. Unleash the enormous power of the organized masses in the community. The workforce of the organized masses is society’s reserve army against such social menace. Unleash it and utilize it to supplement our current frontline. A community based-approach that taps the reserved force of the organized working people can help government effort to effectively combat COVID 19 at the community level. Much can be done at the community level to augment our front liners. All is needed is to unleash it and make it part of our social warriors against the epidemic.

⚫️ Utilize our organized communities to make masks, gloves and makeshift protective gear. Supply them with materials and procure it for our mass consumption;

⚫️ Organize community laundry washers to provide service to our front liners;

⚫️ Utilize organized workers in the community to augment our barangay forces, in maintaining not only peace and order but ensuring that we maintain effective social distancing and quarantine;

⚫️ Create community kitchens in every community not only to feed our frontlines but also our poor people;

⚫️ Tap our displaced workers to act as logistics volunteers to ensure more efficient deliveries of goods and services;

⚫️ Encourage farmers and fishers’ groups to engage in community gardens for local food production; and,

⚫️ Task our LGUs to utilize our stranded construction workers to build quarantine facilities.

More can be said and done if you unleash this potent force sitting in our communities The spirit of BAYANIHAN is the spirit of united collective action. The true spirit of Bayanihan is believing in the capacity and power of the people.

Meanwhile, as to funding requirements, we suggest that the employers sector - especially the top ten billionaires that is collectively worth P1.6 trillion - to finance the anti-COVID drive. You were the first to benefit during times of economic prosperity. Is it too much to ask for you to be first to sacrifice in times of crisis? Do consider the proposal of purchasing billions worth of zero interest government securities. The odds are not even a loss nor a breakeven (tabla-talo). You own most firms that produce the people's needs and facilitate the circulation of money and commodities. All of this will eventually end up to line your pockets but before it does, it will trickle down to feed and cater to the needs of a hungry and quarantined population. #

Emergency powers for COVID19: The same politics of plunder and patronage but dressed in surgical masks and protective equipment

PRESS STATEMENT

March 23, 2020

BMP - SANLAKAS - PLM

Emergency powers for COVID19:

The same politics of plunder and patronage but dressed in surgical masks and protective equipment

Today, March 23, we are expecting Congress to hold a special session and grant emergency powers to Duterte as requested by Malacañang. 

The supermajority in both Houses will ensure that the president will have his way, not out of deep concern for a people who face uncertainty due to the COVID19 pandemic but from a deeply-ingrained SOP (standard operating procedure) of opportunism and political patronage.

The crux of the request is for the Executive to juggle funds and cancel appropriations made by Congress in the FY 2020 budget, in an attempt to immediately channel finance into decisive steps to address COVID19, which includes the take-over of health services and facilities. 

We would leave the determination of this usurpation of the legislative power of the purse to the lawmakers, or to the Supreme Court, if the request, once accorded, is taken to the judiciary for interpretation for violations to the Constitution.

For the toilers and the propertyless, the question is “ Would the granting of emergency powers, as requested, lead to expedient and effective measures to address the health crisis”? Not really.

The president does not need more power to address this issue. Much power and privilege is already concentrated in his hands as chief executive. 

Even without changing the budgetary appropriations, Duterte could easily initiate the massive mobilization of logistics, finances and personnel to diligently follow the procedures by global health experts on how to combat the COVID19 scourge. He had the power to impose a travel ban from Wuhan/Hubei from as early as January. He had the discretion to declare a health emergency as suggested by the Health Department in latter February. 

He could have done all this but he did not; downplaying the virus as a little fire to be put out by his urinary excretions.

Then, in early March, he hurriedly imposed a quarantine/lockdown for NCR then and Luzon, without preparing the prerequisites for the successful implementation of his drastic presidential order (transportation and protective equipment for frontliners, income replacement and subsidies for temporarily displaced workers from the formal and informal sectors, steady flow of basic needs, etc).

Too much power yet too lacking not just in political will and decisiveness but more so in genuine concern to the safety and welfare of the Filipino people.

The regime may counter that this request for “emergency powers” represents a sudden turnaround from its past blunders (though they are too egotistical and arrogant to admit to mistakes).

However, the Marawi case is a starker revelation to the devastating effects of granting “emergency powers” to Duterte. The so-called restoration of the war-torn city did not materialize. The billions of rechanneled funds and foreign aid now untraceable. Emergency powers ultimately lead to brazen and unashamed plunder since the normal procedures of transparency, audit, and accountability are deemed inapplicable in ‘emergency situations’.

The legislators, mostly in the House supermajority, would not oppose the reallocation of the budget for the COVID crisis, through the emergency powers of the chief executive. They know too well that it would be coursed to local government units “through the intercession of their good offices to their almighty Tatay”. 

This is the same politics of plunder and patronage. Though this time with Duterte in front, handing out relief goods, wearing a surgical mask to hide his blush of shame for past misdeeds and blunders.

Yet, for the sake of the people, we propose the following adjustments to two major measures in the fight against COVID19: (a) social distancing and proper hygiene: not by draconian measures that regard the masses as the problem but by encouraging mass participation and initiative to dispel the view that Filipinos are inherently undisciplined, (b) mass testing in critical areas and eventual isolation, recovery and treatment of patients (which necessitates a rejection of VIP testing for its wasteful use of scarce and much-needed test kits, testing should prioritize frontline workers due to their proximity to the deadly virus) and (c) requisition of private facilities such as hotels and hospitals to serve as quarantine or isolation centers for those who have tested positive for the COVID-19 where proper medication and care can be afforded to them.

However, we call on our kauri and kamanggagawa to stretch ourselves, go beyond narrow struggles for economic gain, and tackle the questions of politics and governance to the millions of Filipino workers, as they face the ineptitude of the ruling clique (which will literally kill us all), the weak rival elitist faction, the looming economic slowdown locally and globally, and a pandemic that highlights all the contradictions of the prevailing capitalist global order. #

Tugon ng Rehimeng Duterte sa COVID - 19: Gutom, Pangamba para sa taumbayan

Tugon ng Rehimeng Duterte sa COVID - 19: 
Gutom, Pangamba para sa taumbayan

Sa patuloy na papataas na bilang ng mga Pilipinong tinatamaan ng COVID-19, isinailalim ni Pangilonh Duterte ang buong bansa sa Code Red Sub-level 2. Sinuspinde ang pagpasok at paglabas sa National Capital Region (NCR) at pinairal ang “lockdown”. Magpapatupad ng “mandatory quarantine “ sa mga lalawigang may 2 o higit pang bilang ng mga kumpirmadong kaso ng COVID – 19. Inatasan ang mga tanggapan ng gobyerno na magpatupad ng suspension sa normal na pasok sa trabaho , at magtalaga ng mga iskeletal na grupong magtitiyak ng paggampan sa mga trabaho. Iminungkahi sa pribadong sektor ang pleksibleng pagpasok sa kanilang mga tanggapan. At ang pwersa ng kapulisan at militar ay gagamitin sa pagpapatupad ng kautusang ito ng Pangulo.

Wasto ba ang solusyong ito ng gobyernong Duterte?

Pagputok pa lamang ng balita tungkol sa COVID – 19 nakita na ang kawalan ng sistematiko at komprehensibong programa ng Gobyernong Duterte sa pagharap dito. Dahilan upang di maging angkop ang pagpapatupad ng “quarantine” kahit itinuring ng “pandemic” ito.. (pandemic- paglaganap ng isang karamdamang dulot ng kontaminasyon ng “virus” na sumaklaw na buong bansa o daigdig).

Ang ginawa ng administrasyon na pagbawas ng 10 bilyong piso sa taunang badyet pangkalusugan ay pagpapakita ng kawalang pagpapahalaga sa usapin ng kalusugan ng mga mamamayan. Isang aksyon na awtomatikong naglalagay agad sa atin sa panganib sa mga panahong tulad ngayon. Ang maling hakbang na ito ng Ehekutibo ay malaking salalayan sa mabilis na paglala ng COVID -19 sa bansa. Dahilan din kaya nagbabalak na naman mangutang ang gobyerno para tustusan ang mga gastusin sa pagharap sa isyung ito. Sa dakong huli, ang doble-dobleng pasaning ito ay ang mamamayan muli ang magpapasan.

Tunay na solusyon, Hindi Militarisasyon!

Ang pagmomobilisa ng mga pwersa ng kapulisan at militar bilang pangunahing bahagi ng pagtugon diumano sa pagkalat ng COVID – 19 ay tatak na ng administrasyong ito. Di maiiwasang sumagi sa isipan ng mamamayan na sa ganitong balangkas din ng gobyernong Duterte umiiral ang madugong gyera sa droga, at kampanya laban sa mga anila ay mga progresibong organisasyon. Gagamitin naman ngayon upang pastulin at kontrolin ang mga galaw ng mga naninirahan sa kalakhang Maynila. Kailanman ay di magiging solusyon ang mitarisasyon sa suliraning pangkalusugan ng mga mamamayan.bagkus ay isa itong pagbabalewala sa mga araw-araw na suliraning kinakaharap ng mamamayang Pilipino gaya ng kagutuman, kawalan at kakulangan ng mga batayang pampublikong serbisyo. Ang kaparaanang ito ay mas kaparusahan at hindi pagresolba at katugunan sa umiiral na usapin.

Ampaw na pahayag ni Duterte.

Sa halip na pag-asa ay dagdag na agam-agam at mga katanungan ang hatid ng pahayag ni Pangulong Duterte sa kahihinatnan ng buhay ng milyong Pilipino: Magagawa ba ng gobyernong bigyan ng kakayanan ang mamamayan upang mapigilan ang papalalang kontaminasyon? May katiyakan ba na ang mga presyo ng mga batayang bilihin at kalakal ay di itataas ng mga negosyanteng nais magkamal ng limpak na tubo sa mga ganitong sitwasyon? Mayroon bang karampatang proteksyon ang malaking bilang ng mga manggagawa na umaasa sa kakarampot nilang kita sa bawat araw na mawawala sa kanila dulot ng “lockdown”? Paano isasagawa ang konsepto ng “ social distancing” sa mga komunidad ng maralitang lungsod, mahahabang pila sa MRT, LRT at PNR na karaniwang sinasakyan ng mga manggagwa? At marami pang katanungan na sa halip sagutin ay pinalala pa ng administrasyon.

Imbes malinawan lalo pang naguluhan at nalagay pang lalo sa alanganin ang mamamayang Pilipino, mga isyung sa sandaling di wastong maaksyunan ay magbubukas pa ng mas maraming suliraning higit na malala kaysa sa COVID – 19!!

Signed: Atty. Aaron Pedrosa

Duterte’s COVID-19 Response: Pandora’s box of hunger, insecurity

SANLAKAS Statement

March 12, 2020

Duterte’s COVID-19 Response: Pandora’s box of hunger, insecurity

President Rodrigo Duterte during his live telecast address to the nation, placed the Philippines under Code Red Sub-level 2. The National Capital Region (NCR) is on lockdown. Travel in and out of the NCR has been suspended. Provinces with at least 2 confirmed COVID-19 cases shall be placed under mandatory quarantine. Work in Government offices is suspended with a proviso on maintaining a skeletal workforce. Flexible work arrangement is enjoined on the private sector. To enforce the President’s order, referred loosely by him as a Resolution, the police and military are being called in.

While quarantines are normally resorted to in the event of a pandemic, in the context of the Philippines, sans a programmatic approach, this may present more of a hazard rather than a solution.

Slashing P10 Billion from the health budget under the 2020 General Appropriations Act is symptomatic of the lack of priority to the health situation of the populace. This is potentially deadly in the context of a pandemic. The sudden surge of COVID-19 contamination is an immediate aftermath of this Executive misstep. For this, the Government plans to borrow funds to support its COVID interventions. In the end, the people are being double-billed for their own treatment.

That the Government intends to deploy police and military to carry out its Resolution is characteristic of Duterte who is fixated on military solutions. The same killing machine driving the President’s bloody drug war and anti-insurgency campaign is now being unleashed to herd millions of Metro Manila residents. A military solution to a health problem overlooks social realities that the masses have to endure on a daily basis - hunger, poverty, lack of basic social services. The approach is more punitive rather than preventive and remedial.

Sorely lacking in the address are more important questions to the everyday lives of millions of Filipinos: will the Government capacitate the people against continuous contamination? Will prices of basic goods and commodities be controlled against quarters who are capitalizing on COVID-19 to amass superprofits? What protection shall be put in place to protect millions of workers who in their hand to mouth existence will be deprived of their wages as a result of the lockdown? How will social distancing be translated in the slums, in the long queues at LRT, MRT and PNR stations? These and many more.

Instead of clarity, more questions arise. What is certain is that with all these left unaddressed, it opens up a Pandora’s box that is deadlier than COVID-19.

Signed: Atty. Aaron Pedrosa

Joint Statement of Sanlakas, BMP and PLM on the ABS-CBN issue

Joint Statement of Sanlakas, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino and Partido Lakas ng Masa

The Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, Partido lakas ng Masa and Sanlakas condemn the Duterte Government’s heavy-handed attempt to silence and shut down ABS-CBN.

This is the latest in a series of aggressive frontal attacks on media institutions to intimidate them into at the very least tamed reportage and at most, submission, eroding the people’s right to a free press. To date, 112 cases of attacks and threats have been documented under the Duterte Administration including at least 13 killings of journalists. The Philippines holds the record of among the world’s deadliest countries for media. That the attacks on media workers and institutions are increasing can only be attributed to the undeterred hostility of the Government towards media as highlighted by the moves to shut down ABS-CBN.

In plain view, the Duterte Government is cementing the path towards authoritarianism the hallmarks of which include media censorship. Shutting down ABS-CBN sends a chilling effect to all media institutions signaling an imminent scenario where socio-political realities of the day are defined by Malacanang’s propaganda gurus and spin doctors. Unlike Marcos who needed martial law to achieve this, Duterte is unleashing the entire might of the government - his supermajority in the House of Representatives, the Solicitor-General and his Supreme Court - towards this end.

In the process, 11,000 workers will be displaced. This could spell poverty and hunger to tens of thousands of Filipinos who rely on their breadwinner to ensure food on the table. In Duterte’s fascist arm-twisting of ABS-CBN fueled by his personal vendetta against the company, the workers and their families have been reduced to mere sacrificial lambs - the unavoidable collateral damage to the Government’s malevolent designs against media.

We lend our unconditional support to the struggle of ABS-CBN workers for continued and secure employment. This struggle for job security is intertwined with the defense of democratic rights as the threat of displacement comes from a regime that seeks to quell civil rights and political freedoms, not only in retaliation for the non-airing of Duterte's campaign ads in 2016 but also to prepare for its electoral plans in 2022.

It is in situations like these when the horrors of contractualization are brought to the fore. Thousands of contractual workers, in the event of ABS-CBN’s shutdown, will be booted out of work without the benefits enjoyed by their regular counterparts. We, thus, reiterate our call to regularize all workers, provide increase in wages and salaries, implement safe and humane conditions of work, and ensure the rights of workers to unionize and bargain collectively with the ABS-CBN employers.

It is worth noting that the Duterte cronies are salivating over the purchase of ABS-CBN and the equities of Lopez holdings, and with the House approval of total foreign ownership to "public service", including wire and wireless broadcast comminication, the stage is set for the total, unfettered, and open subjugation of mainstream media by foreign monopolies.

It is highly ironic that 34 years after the 1986 People Power that ousted a dictator, we are again up against an aspiring tyrant, who is in desperate attempt to have formal absolute power over the entire state apparatus. The little that was gained by a people's uprising that was hijacked by the anti-Marcos elite, is now being taken back by the Duterte regime. The sacrifice of the martyrs of the anti-dictatorship struggle will not be in vain. Onward with the struggle for democracy. Resist the attacks on press freedom. Uphold workers' rights. ###