Ka Rosa Guidon, Spokesperson, NDFP-Ilocos Region
The National Democratic Front of the Philippines Ilocos is one with the people in commemorating the 66th year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). While the NDFP maintains that the UDHR only provides minimum standards and a tool of the ruling class to provide the illusion of freedom and democracy, the people, with the revolutionary movement’s guidance, the people can wield this to their advantage.
The promotion, recognition and protection of human rights is first and foremost, the responsibility of the state, thus, demands to resolve all attacks against these rights should be directed to the government. The people, must at all times espouse this fundamental principle to combat all attempts of the reactionaries to water-down human rights issue. On the other hand, revolutionary forces, must firmly grasp that human rights, are not devoid of class. Moreover, NDFP forces should ensure that struggles for human rights are not limited with civil and political but includes social, economic and cultural rights.
Today, we hold Duterte accountable for falling short of his commitments, and his actions that have aggravated the dismal state of human rights in the country. Despite its promised change, human rights violations continue to worsen under the Duterte regime, and points of contention with the revolutionary movement on this matter continue to arise.
He has let the US-designed Oplan Bayanihan (OpBay) takes its course, targeting activists and civilian communities. By assuring government backing for PNP personnel accused of extrajudicial killings in his war on drugs, and appointing Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año, who’s military career is tainted with blood, as Chief of Armed Forces of the Philippines, Duterte has further embolden the armed forces to trample human rights and the rule of law.
In Ilocos, human rights groups recorded 185 cases of rights violations with 33,298 victims in the course of OpBay’s implementation. This is made worst by the execution of Oplan Tokhang that has taken almost 100 lives across the region. Two Tokhang killing incidents in Santiago, Ilocos Sur and one in the City of San Fernando, La Union are not in anyway, related to drugs but political.
In spite of his unilateral ceasefire declaration, Duterte refuse to reign the AFP from conducting forward deployment and operations in New People’s Army guerilla zones. Troops from 81st Infantry Battalion occupied 8 barangays in Sta. Lucia, 6 in Salcedo, 5 in Quirino and 1 in Cervantes all in Ilocos Sur. Besides said encampments, the unit continue to violate International Humanitarian Law by maintaining its battalion headquarter within the residential area in Barangay Bugbuga, Sta. Cruz in the same province. They recruit Civilian Armed Auxiliary in Quirino, Suyo and Sta. Cruz despite the United Nations Human Rights Council recommendation to disband paramilitary formation in the country.
On the other hand, NDFP Ilocos take pride of the discipline displayed by the people’s army, the units operating in Ilocos in particular, for abiding by the CPP’s unilateral ceasefire declaration. The people’s army has again shown its stark difference with the mercenary AFP forces. Through this, the CPP proved its ability to take command of the different NPA commands to avoid armed skirmishes despite continuous provocations from the AFP.
Duterte mocked martial law victims and the spirit of the 1986 people’s uprising by allowing Ferdinand Marcos, Sr.’s burial in Libingan ng mga Bayani. He absolved the Marcoses of their crimes against the people, and aided the revision of history by claiming that no court proved them guilty of legal and moral transgression. His action further pained more than 300 martial victims in Ilocos, who are already suffering from the absence of justice, snail-paced compensation, and curses for speaking of the horrors of martial law right inside the late dictator’s backyard.
He has shown his trapo character by taking part in rehabilitating the Marcoses and favoring a Singson to take the helm of the Governor’s League. These are clear payment for their support last election, an encouragement of patronage politics. His backing for the Singsons and Marcoses reflects his favor for political dynasties and warlords. Duterte’s provision for bureaucrat capitalist is undeniable. The railroading of a new tax scheme for tobacco products suggests that his administration is more concerned in thickening politicians’ pocket than curbing corruption in the tobacco excise tax fund. Worst, officials in league with tobacco companies in exploiting tobacco farmers still occupy their positions in the National Tobacco Administration.
The administration’s economic platform still adheres to neoliberalism, promulgated by the US and other imperialist countries. This parasitic economic system abridged the livelihood and survival of Ilocos farmers by decimating the region’s top agriculture products – garlic, shallots and tobacco, further burying them into debt. Neoliberal programs such as ecotourism has privatized common fishing grounds like the Lingayen Gulf, and forest areas in Ilocos Norte.
But on top of these issues is the regime’s double talk on the peace negotiation with the NDFP. He’s recent action to use political prisoners as trump cards to bend the NDFP into signing a bilateral ceasefire is a gross violation of the letter and spirit of The Hague Declaration, and the Comprehensive Agreement on respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law. The plot of the reactionary faction in his administration to force the revolutionary movement to capitulate or at least scuttle the peacetalks is slowly unravelling.
While the NDFP and democratic forces continue to support his progressive policies and initiatives, they are also mindful that the contradictions between the revolutionary forces and the Duterte regime continue to sharpen.
Mass actions should serve as arena to raise the people’s political consciousness, understanding the importance of the peace negotiations, and embracing the national democratic revolution. Only by strengthening the mass movement and the people’s army can we sway Duterte towards his progressive tendencies. This will reveal who are the true champion of the people, who are the allies and rabid enemies of the people’s movement in current administration, and eventually, the narrowest target of the revolution.
For the people’s liberation and genuine democracy, NDFP Ilocos remains steadfast in leading Ilocandia in asserting people’s rights and demanding social justice, and advancing the national democratic revolution.
Long live the National Democratic Front of the Philippines!
Long live the Filipino people!
https://www.cpp.ph/hold-duterte-administration-accountable-worsening-rights-violation/
The promotion, recognition and protection of human rights is first and foremost, the responsibility of the state, thus, demands to resolve all attacks against these rights should be directed to the government. The people, must at all times espouse this fundamental principle to combat all attempts of the reactionaries to water-down human rights issue. On the other hand, revolutionary forces, must firmly grasp that human rights, are not devoid of class. Moreover, NDFP forces should ensure that struggles for human rights are not limited with civil and political but includes social, economic and cultural rights.
Today, we hold Duterte accountable for falling short of his commitments, and his actions that have aggravated the dismal state of human rights in the country. Despite its promised change, human rights violations continue to worsen under the Duterte regime, and points of contention with the revolutionary movement on this matter continue to arise.
He has let the US-designed Oplan Bayanihan (OpBay) takes its course, targeting activists and civilian communities. By assuring government backing for PNP personnel accused of extrajudicial killings in his war on drugs, and appointing Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año, who’s military career is tainted with blood, as Chief of Armed Forces of the Philippines, Duterte has further embolden the armed forces to trample human rights and the rule of law.
In Ilocos, human rights groups recorded 185 cases of rights violations with 33,298 victims in the course of OpBay’s implementation. This is made worst by the execution of Oplan Tokhang that has taken almost 100 lives across the region. Two Tokhang killing incidents in Santiago, Ilocos Sur and one in the City of San Fernando, La Union are not in anyway, related to drugs but political.
In spite of his unilateral ceasefire declaration, Duterte refuse to reign the AFP from conducting forward deployment and operations in New People’s Army guerilla zones. Troops from 81st Infantry Battalion occupied 8 barangays in Sta. Lucia, 6 in Salcedo, 5 in Quirino and 1 in Cervantes all in Ilocos Sur. Besides said encampments, the unit continue to violate International Humanitarian Law by maintaining its battalion headquarter within the residential area in Barangay Bugbuga, Sta. Cruz in the same province. They recruit Civilian Armed Auxiliary in Quirino, Suyo and Sta. Cruz despite the United Nations Human Rights Council recommendation to disband paramilitary formation in the country.
On the other hand, NDFP Ilocos take pride of the discipline displayed by the people’s army, the units operating in Ilocos in particular, for abiding by the CPP’s unilateral ceasefire declaration. The people’s army has again shown its stark difference with the mercenary AFP forces. Through this, the CPP proved its ability to take command of the different NPA commands to avoid armed skirmishes despite continuous provocations from the AFP.
Duterte mocked martial law victims and the spirit of the 1986 people’s uprising by allowing Ferdinand Marcos, Sr.’s burial in Libingan ng mga Bayani. He absolved the Marcoses of their crimes against the people, and aided the revision of history by claiming that no court proved them guilty of legal and moral transgression. His action further pained more than 300 martial victims in Ilocos, who are already suffering from the absence of justice, snail-paced compensation, and curses for speaking of the horrors of martial law right inside the late dictator’s backyard.
He has shown his trapo character by taking part in rehabilitating the Marcoses and favoring a Singson to take the helm of the Governor’s League. These are clear payment for their support last election, an encouragement of patronage politics. His backing for the Singsons and Marcoses reflects his favor for political dynasties and warlords. Duterte’s provision for bureaucrat capitalist is undeniable. The railroading of a new tax scheme for tobacco products suggests that his administration is more concerned in thickening politicians’ pocket than curbing corruption in the tobacco excise tax fund. Worst, officials in league with tobacco companies in exploiting tobacco farmers still occupy their positions in the National Tobacco Administration.
The administration’s economic platform still adheres to neoliberalism, promulgated by the US and other imperialist countries. This parasitic economic system abridged the livelihood and survival of Ilocos farmers by decimating the region’s top agriculture products – garlic, shallots and tobacco, further burying them into debt. Neoliberal programs such as ecotourism has privatized common fishing grounds like the Lingayen Gulf, and forest areas in Ilocos Norte.
But on top of these issues is the regime’s double talk on the peace negotiation with the NDFP. He’s recent action to use political prisoners as trump cards to bend the NDFP into signing a bilateral ceasefire is a gross violation of the letter and spirit of The Hague Declaration, and the Comprehensive Agreement on respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law. The plot of the reactionary faction in his administration to force the revolutionary movement to capitulate or at least scuttle the peacetalks is slowly unravelling.
While the NDFP and democratic forces continue to support his progressive policies and initiatives, they are also mindful that the contradictions between the revolutionary forces and the Duterte regime continue to sharpen.
Mass actions should serve as arena to raise the people’s political consciousness, understanding the importance of the peace negotiations, and embracing the national democratic revolution. Only by strengthening the mass movement and the people’s army can we sway Duterte towards his progressive tendencies. This will reveal who are the true champion of the people, who are the allies and rabid enemies of the people’s movement in current administration, and eventually, the narrowest target of the revolution.
For the people’s liberation and genuine democracy, NDFP Ilocos remains steadfast in leading Ilocandia in asserting people’s rights and demanding social justice, and advancing the national democratic revolution.
Long live the National Democratic Front of the Philippines!
Long live the Filipino people!
https://www.cpp.ph/hold-duterte-administration-accountable-worsening-rights-violation/
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