On the first anniversary of the unresolved T’boli massacre, Group hits Duterte plan to extend martial law in Mindanao

Press Release

December 3, 2018

On the first anniversary of the unresolved T’boli massacre

Group hits Duterte plan to extend martial law in Mindanao

Quezon City, Philippines – Progressive groups Sanlakas and Partido Lakas ng Masa Partylist staged protest actions at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Armed Forces of the Philippines, Camp Aguinaldo as they commemorate the first year anniversary of the killings of eight (8) lumads now known as TAMASCO (T’boli-Manobo Sdaf Claimants Organization) 8 in Datal Bonlangon, Brgy. Ned, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato.

The group claimed that the unresolved massacre is sufficient grounds to lift martial law in Mindanao since it only serves the interests of land grabbing corporations and not the Mindanaos themselves

On December 3, 2017, the 27th and 33rd Infantry Battalions (IB) of the military conducted ground assault and artillery bombardment on the TAMASCO community in Lake Sebu resulting in the death of its tribal chief Datu Victor Dinyan and his sons and relatives. The military justified the operation as an encounter against armed communist rebels.

“One year since the killings, the murderers remain at large. Worse, it is business as usual for Consunji’s coffee plantation encroaching operations on the T’boli –Manobo ancestral lands. As corporate and military perpetrators get away with cold-blooded murder, the Lumads continue living in fear, harassment and threats to their lives. The killers of TAMASCO 8 must be brought to justice; so must Consunji be driven out of lumad lands,” said Atty. Aaron Pedrosa, SANLAKAS, Secretary-General and PLM Partylist nominee.

Pedrosa adds that martial law in Mindanao has left lumads living in fear and have systematically fallen victim to encroachments on their ancestral domain by agro-industrial ventures and mining corporations.

“Any extension would only mean the perpetuation of human rights violations and ecological plunder of the natural resources which these communities rely on,” he said.

Consunji’s M&S./Silvicultural Industries Inc. (SII) has been granted an Integrated Forest Management Agreement (IFMA) by the DENR which allowed it to run a coffee plantation in ancestral domains claimed by the T’Boli Manobos in South Cotabato and the Dulangans in Sultan Kudarat. Under IFMA 22, Consunji’s coffee business is granted the power to control forest resources within an aggregate area of 27, 530 hectares in Sultan Kudarat alone. A consolidated IFMA under IFMA 18-2007 empowers SII to undertake its coffee business for a period of 32 years even as it invades into TAMASCO ancestral domains.

“The communist bogey and red-tagging have been weaponized by security forces to legitimize its attacks on lumads and vilify legitimate opposition against the land grabbing schemes on ancestral domain. These have been the Duterte administration’s license to kill which affords corporations the protection it needs to operate in tension-filled communities due to indigenous peoples’ resistance,” Pedrosa further explained.

The protesters carried a coffin and mounted a wreath at the DENR Central Office and Camp Aguinaldo symbolizing the unresolved deaths of TAMASCO 8.

“TAMASCO is not an isolated incident. Lumad and indigenous communities are under attack, if not by military forces, by extractive activities like mining or plantations under the guise of forest management sanctioned by the Government. For example, there are currently 104 IFMAs across the country. How many more IPs should be martyred before the Duterte Government acts?”, said Pedrosa.

Citing DENR data, Mindanao has the most IFMAs with a total of 51, followed by Luzon with 40 and Visayas with 13.

According to Pedrosa the problem does not end there. He pointed out that overlapping these IFMAs are mining tenements and coal operating contracts. For Lake Sebu, a San Miguel Corporation subsidiary plans to undertake a large-scale coal mining project.

“We demand the cancellation of all permits issued to agribusinesses and mining and coal mining companies in ancestral domains and an immediate stop to the militarization of IP communities. Stop killing indigenous peoples!”, Pedrosa concluded.

Sanlakas and PLM Party-list joined civil society organizations in the actions under Task Force TAMASCO.

Contact person:

ATTY. AARON PEDROSA

Secretary-General, Sanlakas, +639275924830, 
aaron_pedrosa@yahoo.com

Pagbati mula sa Brgy. Sauyo

picture from facebook

Happy Silver Anniversary, SANLAKAS!

Pahayag laban sa Pasismo ni Duterte

https://www.facebook.com/Sanlakas/posts/ang-bukluran-ng-manggagawang-pilipino-bmp-partido-lakas-ng-masa-plm-at-koalisyon/1201431403326786/

SANLAKAS
Mayo 11, 2018

Ang Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP), Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM), at koalisyong SANLAKAS ay nananawagan sa sambayanan na labanan ang panibagong pagtatangka ni Duterte na hayagang kontrolin ang buong estado, partikular ang hudikatura. Sapagkat ilalatag nito ang mga kondisyon tungo sa hayagan at ganap na diktadura at awtoritaryanismo.

Ngayong Mayo 11, inaasahang maglalabas ng desisyon ng Korte Suprema sa petisyong quo warranto, na magtatanggal kay Maria Lourdes Sereno bilang punong mahistrado ng Korte Suprema.

ANG PAGKONTROL SA HUDIKATURA AY TUTUNGO SA LANTARANG PASISMO

Itanggi man ng Palasyo, malinaw na ang nasa likod nito ay ang naghaharing paksyon nila Rodrigo Duterte. Sinong nakakalimot sa pahayag ng pangulo noong Abril nang sinabihang niya si CJ Sereno na “I am now your enemy”. Wala namang bago sa ganitong maneobra. Si Noynoy ang nagawa pa ngang mapa-impeach si dating chief justice Renato Corona dahil hindi niya isinapubliko ang kanyang mga bank account at statement of assets, liabilities and net worth o SALN. Ganundin ang isa sa mga isyu na ipinupukol ngayon kay CJ Sereno.

Noong 2011, nanawagan kami ng “Disclose All” upang magkaroon ng tunay na reporma sa burukrasya. Hindi lang si Corona ang magsapubliko ng kanyang yaman kundi lahat ng opisyal – laluna ang mga nasa matataas na posisyon. Hindi ito sinunod ng mga opisyal ng gobyerno sapagkat hindi naman totoong paglilinis ang kanilang ninanais kundi ang pagulungin ang ulo ni Corona para humalili ang hukom na mas pabor sa Malakanyang.

Mga ipokritong burukrata! Ang SALN ay hindi naman tunay na nagpapakita sa yaman ng mga opisyal ng burukrasya. Hindi sapat ang SALN. Buksan ang inyong mga bank records – pati ng myembro ng inyong pamilya. Alam naman nating lahat na, liban sa sweldo, ay may mga pribilehiyong kakambal ng kanilang mga posisyon. Magkano ang bawat pirma ng mga hukom sa inyong mga desisyon?

Isa lamang ito sa mga reporma na maaring gawin – hindi lamang sa hudikatura kundi maging sa ehekutibo at lehislatura. Dagdag pa ang pagtitiyak na ang na-aappoint sa Korte ay mula sa merito ng kanyang pagseserbisyo, hindi ng kanyang katapatan sa pangulo ng bansa. Subalit ang kaibhan ng ginagawa ni Duterte ay hindi ito simpleng maneobra para kontrolin ang hudikatura. Dahil kung si Noynoy ay umasa sa mga diumano’y demokratikong proseso para hawakan ang buong burukrasya, si Duterte ay mas brusko. Sa Kongreso, nagwawasiwas si House Speaker Alvarez na tatanggalan ng pondo ang mga tumututol sa administrasyon. Sa Senado, ginamit nila ang kanilang numero para makuha ang posisyon ng Senate President. Sa barangay, susuportahan ang mga kandidatong pabor sa pederalismo. Sa PNP ay mas lantarang nilagay ang mga pulis Davao sa pamunuan ng pulisya.

Higit sa lahat, nagaganap ang pagkontrol ng Ehekutibo sa iba’t ibang saray ng gobyerno kasabay ng malawakang patayan at paglabag sa mga karapatang pantao. Nililikha nila ang klima ng impyunidad para isuko ng mamamayan ang kanilang civil and political rights – alang-alang sa kapayapaan, kaayusan, at pagsugpo sa tinitingnang kaaway ng republika gaya ng mga terorista at durugista.

ANONG KLASENG DEMOKRASYA ANG DAPAT NA IPAGTANGGOL NG TAUMBAYAN?

Sa pagtutol sa quo warranto petition laban kay CJ Sereno, may mga sektor ang nananawagan ng “Defend Democracy” at “Stand with CJ”. Nais naming ilinaw ang aming reserbasyon sa naturang mga panawagan.

Ang umiiral ba ngayon ay demokrasya? Hindi po. Sa araw-araw na buhay ng manggagawa, walang saysay ang pinakapipitagang “demokrasya”. Ang tunay na kahulugan nito ay ang paghahari at pamamayani ng kapasyahan ng nakararami. Majority rule, ika nga. May saysay ba ito sa loob ng pabrika at plantasyon? Wala. Ang nasusunod doon ay hindi ang nakararaming manggagawa o magbubukid kundi kung sino ang may-ari, kahit sila ay minorya lamang sa lipunan.

Dahil ang totoo, ang naghahari sa lipunan ay ang karapatan sa pag-aari (property rights), hindi ang karapatan na mabuhay ng disente’t marangal ang masang anakpawis (right to decent life). At sinuman ang punong mahistrado – kaalyado man o hindi ng Palasyo – hindi magbabago ang mga desisyon ng Korte Suprema. Hindi rin nito papaboran ang mas mabilis na proseso na siyang nagpapaatras sa mga inaapi kapag sila ay nag-aasunto sa pang-aabuso ng mga makapangyarihan sa lipunan.

REHIMENG DUTERTE, KAAWAY NG MANGGAGAWA

Ganunpaman, ang ganitong “pagkakaiba” ay hindi hadlang para sa bigkisin ang pagkakaisa ng mamamayan hindi lamang laban sa pasistang tunguhin ng rehimen kundi sa gobyernong ito mismo na kaaway ng uring manggawa at masang naghihirap. Ginamit lamang ni Duterte ang naipong disgusto ng taumbayan sa pekeng elitistang paghahari na nanumbalik sa bansa matapos ang Edsa Uno, na tinagurian niyang paghahari ng mga “Dilaw”. Nangako siya ng “Change is coming”. Ngunit wala namang nagbago.

Ipinagpapatuloy nito ang neoliberal na doktrinang pang-ekonomya – ang liberalisasyon, deregulasyon, pribatisasyon at kontraktwalisasyon. Aminado pa nga siyang “walang pangil” ang inilabas niyang Executive Order laban sa kontraktwalisasyon noong nakaraang Mayo Uno. Lalong naghihirap ang taumbayan! Ang ipinagmamalaking “build, build, build” ay humantong sa bagong mga buwis na nagpasirit sa presyo ng mga bilihin. Ang TRAIN Package 1 ay isa sa mga mayor na dahilan ng 4.5% inflation rate noong Abril 2018, na siyang pinakamataas na antas sa loob ng tatlong (3) taon.

Subalit ang masakit ang nakolektang buwis – na naiipon pa sa bulsa ng mga retailer bago ibayad sa BIR, ‘di gaya ng withholding tax na awtomatikong kinikaltas sa sweldo ng mga empleyado – ay hindi naman direktang gagamitin para sa “build, build, build”. Ang mga proyektong pang-imprastraktura ay tutustusan ng pautang! 80% sa domestic borrowings, (ibig sabihin, sa BDO, Metrobank, BPI, atbp.) at 20% mula sa official development assistance o mula sa dayuhan.

Ano ang koneksyon ng buwis at utang? Ang pagtaas ng koleksyon sa buwis ay para bigyang kumpyansa ang mga pinag-utangan na mayroong kapasidad ang gobyerno para makapagbayad ng utang. Ang resulta, ang outstanding debt ng bansa ay P6.652 trilyon noong 2017, na pinakamataas sa kasaysayan. Kaya’t lagpas-tao na ang pagkalubog natin sa utang! Tax, tax, tax na. Debt, debt, debt pa! Iyan ang build, build, build.

INDEPENDYENTENG KILUSAN NG MASA

Sa umiigting na bangayan ni Duterte at Sereno, ang mga empleyado ng Korte ay nananawagan din ng pagbibitiw ng punong mahistrado. Sinasalamin nito ang isang matinding suliranin. Nagagamit ang mga ordinaryong masa sa paksyunal na bangayan ng mga elitista. Walang pinag-iba noong Edsa 1986, nang magamit ang taumbayan para patalsikin ang diktadura at umakyat sa poder ang anti-Marcos na paksyon ng mga kapitalista’t asendero.

Ang masa ay hindi dapat magpagamit bilang pambala ng kanyon sa alitan ng mga elitista. Ang tunay na demokrasya ay makakamit ng taumbayan sa independyenteng kilusan ng mamamayan. Umaasa sa pagkilos ng masa, hindi sa sinumang pulitiko o anumang mga institusyon gaya ng mga militar o ng Estados Unidos (na maaring napuno na sa pagkiling ni Duterte sa Tsina). Lalaban hindi lamang para palitan ang rehimen kundi para sa malawakang mga reporma para sa masang Pilipino.

Labanan ang pasismo ni Duterte! 

Tunay na Demokrasya ng Mayorya ng Mamamayan! #

Duterte’s Quo Warranto Against Sereno: A Fascist Raid of the Judiciary

Duterte’s Quo Warranto Against Sereno: 

A Fascist Raid of the Judiciary 
(Sanlakas Statement, April 18, 2018)

The Duterte Government is leading a frontal attack against judicial independence unleashing its full might to unseat a duly-appointed Chief Justice in the guise of a quo warranto petition.

President Rodrigo Duterte in declaring CJ Maria Sereno as his enemy and giving marching orders to unseat her, declared himself at odds with the Constitution, another arrogant tyrannical display of power. The message is clear: not even the Constitution, to which the President swore an oath to protect as Chief Executive, is reason enough to stop a looming fascist rule if the President abetted by the entire machinery of the State wills it.

The Constitution is clear in providing for impeachment as the only mechanism to exact accountability for an erring Chief Justice. Duterte’s supermajority in Congress has already set in motion the impeachment proceedings for Sereno. But for a Government hell-bent in railroading charter change and federalism, the impeachment is anathema to the mad rush to secure a Duterte Supreme Court - a Court that would submit to the whims of a self-styled tyrant. Quo warranto against the Chief Justice if granted would circumvent the constitutional requirements outlined for impeachable officials.

A quo warranto petition revisits the authority enjoyed and wielded by the holder of an office over the allegation of usurpation or intrusion of the same. It must be filed within a year from when the cause of action arose and by the party claiming to be entitled to the office. These are absent in CJ Sereno’s case. The petition contravenes the Constitution and defiles every known legal principle enunciated no less by the Supreme Court.

More than legalese, the clear and present danger besieging the Supreme Court is no doubt a writing on the wall for our system of separation of powers and its corollary checks and balances, albeit flawed. If Duterte and his lapdogs succeed, the people would be left with institutions subservient not to their sovereign interests but to the dictatorship of a Marcos-wannabe.

We are,thus, left to defend our freedoms, our rights from the inescapable and undeniable consequence of powers concentrated on one man and his accessories in both Congress and the High Court.

Today, we make a stand:

Fight the fascist raid on the judiciary!

No to quo warranto against the Chief Justice!

Fight Duterte’s rush to fascism!

Maligayang ika-24 na anibersaryo, SANLAKAS!

Martial Law in Mindanao: Duterte’s War on Peace

Martial Law in Mindanao: Duterte’s War on Peace -SANLAKAS

June 6, 2017

On May 23, 2017, clashes erupted between militants belonging to Maute Group, which pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS), and the government security forces in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. This escalated to the burning of schools and establishments including a Catholic Church and the taking of hostages that included a priest and worshippers. Within hours, President Rodrigo Duterte, who was on official visit to Russia, placed the entire island of Mindanao under martial law by issuing Proclamation 216.

Immediately the next day, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) declared that the situation was under control. But even with this declaration, Duterte, upon his arrival from Russia, not only threatened to be harsh in the exercise of his martial law powers which he likened to that of Ferdinand Marcos in the 1970s, he threatened to plunge the rest of the country under military control.

But there is more to Marawi than just quashing a much-hyped terrorist incursion.

Government troops were not in Marawi in an offensive military operation against Maute. Rather, they were there to capture Abu Sayyaf leader, Isnilon Hapilon, one of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI’s) most wanted with a $5M bounty on his head. What should have been an arrest setup developed into a large-scale military operation. The scenario brings to mind the events of January 2015, infamously tagged as the Mamasapano Tragedy, where the pursuit to capture Zulkifli Abd Hir aka Marwan, also in the FBI Most Wanted List, left a bloody trail in its aftermath and imperiled the fragile peace negotiations between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Government. In both instances, US interests seem to be the underpinning impetus – to arrest individuals under its Most Wanted List in its continuing War on Terror. It would seem that once again, the Philippine Government placed its security forces at the behest of US War on Terror.

Hundreds are now fleeing Marawi seeking refuge in nearby areas. But flight from the staccato of gunfire and explosions in the City will not guarantee security or safety. The Mindanao-wide imposition of martial law legitimizes wholesale and widespread human rights violations arising from warrantless arrests and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus. Using Marawi as a pretext, Duterte has threatened to impose martial law in Visayas and Mindanao.

With the excesses and abuses committed by police authorities in Duterte’s War against Drugs, the military solution to the Marawi crisis does not provide reassurance nor the semblance of security. Our grim historical experience should restrain the Commander-in-Chief from being quick to impose Martial Law. Characterizing it to be at par with the the Marcosian military rule only fans the fears and misgivings as to the adherence to the constitutional limitations to its implementation – faithfulness to due process, rights against unreasonable searches and seizures and warrantless arrests and detention, among others. Note that Section 18, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution strictly confines the basis for the declaration of Martial Law to only two grounds: (1) when there is invasion or rebellion, and (2) when public safety requires it. Covering up a failed anti-terrorist operation is not one of the grounds.

At a time when the Government has yet to compensate all Martial Law victims under the Marcos Dictatorship as mandated under Republic Act (RA) 10368 or the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition At of 2013, it is disturbing that we have another Martial Law in Mindanao declared by the country’s first Mindanaoan President.

Martial Law is incongruent to the on-going peace talks between the Government and the MILF-Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and between the Government and the New People’s Army (NPA), as known strongholds of the rebel groups face impending militarization with the enforcement of Duterte’s 60-day Martial Law. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana justified the imposition of Martial Law to resolve security problems in Zamboanga, Sulu, Tawitawi and Central Mindanao which are not only limited to terrorism but also encompass insurgency.

Sanlakas calls for the immediate lifting of Martial Law in Mindanao and for the Duterte Government to desist from liberally exercising its martial prerogatives to further its security agenda. While to the Government, mobilizing the military and militarizing its anti-terrorism campaign may seem the most expedient option, to the ordinary citizen, especially in conflict-ravaged areas of Mindanao, it means sparking renewed armed tensions, clashes and instability. It means displacement of communities and families. It means igniting anti-Moro sentiments. It means undermining peace in Mindanao by waging war against it.

End Martial Law in Mindanao!

No to Martial Law!

Oppose fascist rule!

No to US War on Terror!

Defend and uphold people’s rights!