A press statement by the National Democratic Front of the
June 20, 2016
A new ruling regime will be in place on June 30 with the
proclamation of president-elect Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. On that day,
the National Democratic Front-Eastern Visayas calls on the people to come out
to support the positive overtures of the incoming Duterte regime, as well as to
present their basic problems and assert their interests.
Rodrigo Duterte has stirred great expectations by appointing
progressives to some posts in his Cabinet, promising to release all political
prisoners and resume the peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the
Philippines (NDFP), and crusading against crime and corruption. At the same
time, the NDF-Eastern Visayas is mindful that Duterte’s election does not mean
doing away with the reactionary ruling system, and that he is surrounded by
reactionaries of various stripes as well as US
Nevertheless, the revolutionary movement is open to alliance
with the Duterte regime so the people can avail of benefits that can improve
their conditions, as well as allow them to organize and strengthen the
democratic mass movement. The revolutionary movement in Eastern
Visayas furthermore supports the NDFP’s efforts to secure the
release of the detained peace consultants and all political prisoners, resume
the peace talks, and reach with the Philippine government an agreement on
socio-economic reforms.
Human rights advocates, peace advocates and the church
people in Eastern Visayas have the moral high
ground to call on the incoming Duterte regime to honor its vow to release all
political prisoners and resume the peace talks with the NDFP. The political prisoners
in Eastern Visayas have been languishing in
jail for years on trumped-up charges that treat them as common criminals and
not as prisoners by reason of the armed conflict. Eastern
Visayas also continues to struggle with militarization and the
culture of impunity for human rights violations including media killings under
the outgoing Aquino regime.
The survivors of super typhoon Yolanda must avail of the
incoming regime to strengthen their struggle for justice against the criminal
negligence of the Aquino regime, as well as demand the junking of the
corruption-ridden Yolanda rehabilitation and reconstruction program that favor
the big business cronies of the outgoing regime and not the urban and rural
poor who suffered the most. They and the victims of other calamities can call
on the incoming progressive social welfare secretary, Dr. Judy Taguiwalo, for
the long overdue assistance that were denied them under the previous
administration. In the latest calamity to befall the region, at least 44 people
recently died from a mere diarrhea epidemic – a bitter reminder of the
reactionary government’s historical neglect of Eastern
Visayas .
The peasants of Eastern Visayas
welcome the appointment of the progressive Rafael Mariano to the agrarian
reform department of the incoming Duterte regime, and assert their calls for
genuine agrarian reform. They are also calling for the return of the coconut
levy funds stolen by the Marcos regime, irrigation, and other agricultural
support such as against pest infestations that currently afflict coconut, abaca
and rice in the region.
Meanwhile, the workers and government employees in the
region look forward to the incoming Duterte regime’s commitment to end labor
contractualization, while pushing for the ending of other anti-labor policies
such as the two-tier wage system. They also assert the P16,000 wage and salary
increases and P25,000 for teachers, and the social security pension increase
that was denied by the Aquino regime.
The youth and students must urge the incoming Duterte regime
to scrap the K+12 program that is leading to massive dropouts. They must call
for greater subsidies to state universities and colleges and a free,
nationalist, scientific and mass-oriented education system.
Furthermore, the people of Eastern Visayas call on the
incoming Duterte regime to scrap the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement,
Visiting Forces Agreement and other unequal agreements with the US US
It is also fine and well that the incoming Duterte regime
vows to campaign against crime and corruption, especially the menace of illegal
drugs. The NDF-Eastern Visayas urges Duterte to live up to his tough words and
crack down on the Ong political dynasty in Northern Samar that, according to
investigation by the New People’s Army, is behind the widespread illegal drugs
trade in the province. The newly elected second district congressman, Edwin
Ong, is believed to be the biggest drug lord in the province, with the backing
of his uncle, the reelected governor Jose Ong, Jr. If the Duterte regime wishes
to curb the illegal drugs trade, it is best to go after big fish like the Ong
dynasty and their police and military protectors, which will effectively also
do away with the small fry.
In the final analysis, it is not enough for the people to
passively take the incoming Duterte regime’s words and actions. They must
continue the tasks of arousing, organizing and mobilizing to press for as well
as defend their basic democratic rights. The armed revolutionary movement must
also remain steadfast, take advantage of any ceasefire to consolidate and to
conduct propaganda and education to win over the masses to the national
democratic cause, and intensify the people’s war at every opportunity. After
all, having peace talks with the incoming Duterte regime is not an end in
itself, but still a long and arduous journey towards a just and lasting peace.
http://www.samarnews.com/news2016/jun/d686.htm
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.