Monday, April 13, 2020

Harry Roque returns as Duterte's spokesperson

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 13, 2020): Harry Roque returns as Duterte's spokesperson (By Azer Parrocha)



Human rights lawyer Harry Roque (File photo)

Human rights lawyer Harry Roque will return as spokesperson of Presidential Rodrigo Duterte more than a year after he stepped down to run as senator.

Outgoing Presidential Spokesperson and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo confirmed the news in a text message to reporters on Monday.

“Yup, Harry Roque will be back to his previous post. I’m still the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel. I will be performing the same role as the President’s chief lawyer and issuing statements as such,”
Panelo said.


Asked why Roque was reappointed, Panelo said: "The present crisis requires a new tack in messaging.”

Panelo said Duterte has offered the position of presidential spokesperson to Roque “who, in turn, has accepted the same.”

“The Office of the President welcomes Secretary Roque back to the Cabinet and wishes him all the best as he assumes the role of the Chief Executive's spokesman, a post he has already held in the past,” Panelo said.

In a text message to reporters, Roque said he will be taking oath as presidential spokesperson at 7a.m. on Tuesday.

Duterte appointed Roque in October 2017, replacing outgoing Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella.

Roque stepped down as Presidential Spokesperson in October 2018 to run for a seat in the House of Representatives under Luntiang Pilipinas party-list.

He, however, later decided to run for a Senate seat against the advice of Duterte, who thought that he had a slim chance of winning.

He eventually withdrew from the senatorial race during the 2019 mid-term elections due to health reasons.

In the same year, he made headlines after serving as lawyer of the whistleblowers in the alleged Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) kidney dialysis fund scam.

Roque, a former House Deputy Minority Leader, earned a reputation for defending the marginalized sector.

He represented the victims in the 2009 Ampatuan massacre, the rape victims of the World War II, the kin of murdered transgender Jennifer Laude and the family of murdered broadcaster Gerry Ortega.

He was also a law professor at the University of the Philippines who specialized in constitutional law and public international law for 15 years.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1099615

Air Force to construct Covid-19 patient care centers

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 13, 2020): Air Force to construct Covid-19 patient care centers (By Priam Nepomuceno)



BUILDING PATIENT CARE CENTERS. Troops from engineering construction teams of the Philippine Air Force assist in building the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) patient care centers on Sunday (April 12, 2020). Each facility will be equipped with a nurse station, comfort room, shower room and a 15-bed capacity that can also accommodate suspect and probable Covid-19 patients. (Photo courtesy of Air Force Public Affairs Office)

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) engineering construction teams are building additional patient care centers to augment the capacity of hospitals caring for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases.

In a statement released on Sunday, Maj. Aristides Galang, PAF spokesperson, said construction teams from the 355th Aviation Engineer Wing have been tapped for the project.

He said construction of the facilities commenced last week at the following locations: AFP Health Service Command, Camp Victoriano Luna, Quezon City; Air Education, Training and Doctrine Command, Fernando Air Base, Lipa City; and Bulacan Medical Center and Sacred Heart Hospital, both in Malolos City, Bulacan.

Galang said each facility is expected to be completed within six days and equipped with a nurse station, comfort room, shower room, with a 15-bed capacity.

He added these facilities will also accommodate both suspect and probable Covid-19 patients.

The construction of these centers is set to increase in the next coming days as the government prepares for the mass testing against Covid-19, Galang said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1099641

Sunday, April 12, 2020

Abu Sayyaf bandit surrenders in Sulu

From the Sun Star-Zamboanga (Apr 11, 2020): Abu Sayyaf bandit surrenders in Sulu

AN ABU Sayyaf bandit, pressured by continuous military offensive, has recently surrendered to government authorities in the province of Sulu, officials said Saturday, April 11.

Lieutenant Colonel Alaric Avelina Delos Santos, Army’s 41st Infantry Battalion commander,
identified the Abu Sayyaf surrenderer as Hadji Mali Sulayman, a resident of Bato-Bato village, Maimbung, Sulu.


Delos Santos said Sulayman has surrendered to his command Monday and has turned over a Garand rifle.


Delos Santos presented Sulayman to Colonel Ignatius Patrimonio, Army’s 1102nd Infantry Brigade commander, at the command’s headquarters Camp Bud Datu in the village of Tagbak, Indanan, Sulu.

Sulayman revealed that he decided to surrender due to the hardship brought by military’s relentless operations.

Sulayman also disclosed that the government’s humanitarian efforts weakened their support from the civilians that restrained their movements as well as constricted their ability of gathering foodstuffs, information and other logistical supplies.

Meanwhile, Patrimonio welcomed Sulayman back to the mainstream society and calls for other Abu Sayyaf bandits “to submit themselves under the care of the government.”

“I encouraged other members of the ASG (Abu Sayyaf Group) to abandon your terroristic acts and return to the folds of law for you to enjoy and live a peaceful life with your families,” Patrimonio said.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1852137/Zamboanga/Local-News/Abu-Sayyaf-bandit-surrenders-in-Sulu

CPP/Ang Bayan: State agents kill peasant leader in Surigao

Propaganda article from the English language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Apr 7, 2020): State agents kill peasant leader in Surigao

Amid the Covid-19 crisis, state elements gunned down peasant leader Nora Apique, 66, while on her way home in Barangay Patong, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur on March 31. She was a leader of the Kahugpungan sa mga Mag-uuma sa Surigao del Sur, a local chapter of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas.

Apique served as the chairperson of the Municipal Agrarian Reform Committee (ARC) and was a member of the Provincial ARC. She participated in caravans of KMP-Caraga to Metro Manila to demand free irrigation. Apique was the 249th peasant killed under the Duterte regime.

Meanwhile, police and 3rd Special Forces Battalion elements arrested Manobo leader Gloria Tomalon in Barangay Diatagon, Lianga on March 16. She is known for actively participating in campaigns against the operation of five multinational companies at the Andap Valley Complex that plunder their ancestral lands. Tomalon is a sister of Bayan Muna Rep. Eufemia Cullamat.

Police and 6th IB elements also arrested civilian Leon Tacduro at Sitio Kipopo, Barangay Keytodak, Lebak, Sultan Kudarat on March 16.

Tomalon at Tacduro were both accused of being members of the New People’s Army and were slapped with trumped up criminal charges.

In Davao de Oro, 11 peasant Lumads were illegally arrested by 71st IB troopers at Sitio Manggapaluway, Pantukan on March 30. The victims were on their way home from hunting wild boars when they were arrested.

In Negros Occidental, elements of the 94th IB ransacked houses in Barangay Luz, Guihulngan City and illegally arrested peasant Teodoro Bolhano, a resident of Barangay Budlasan, Canlaon City on April 3. Military operations also continue unabated in Sitios Kambairan and Sampungan in Barangay Trinidad, Guihulngan City.

Meanwhile, 44th IB troopers ransacked the house of a Lumad peasant identified as Boy Tupaw in Barangay Cianan, Godod, Zamboanga del Norte during the last week of March. Soldiers stole his cash savings and shot his chickens.

[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippines and is issued by the CPP Central Committee. It provides news about the work of the Party as well as its analysis of and views on current issues. Ang Bayan comes out fortnightly and is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon and English.]

https://cpp.ph/2020/04/07/state-agents-kill-peasant-leader-in-surigao/

CPP/Ang Bayan: AFP bombing spree in Bukidnon, Davao amid Covid-19 ceasefire

Propaganda article from the English language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Apr 7, 2020): AFP bombing spree in Bukidnon, Davao amid Covid-19 ceasefire

The Armed Forces of the Philippines is on a bombing spree and continues to carry out focused military offensives in the Bukidnon-Davao border area amid the Covid-19 ceasefire. Based on field reports by the NPA-Bukidnon Subregional Command, Philippine Air Force (PAF) units under the 4th ID used an FA-50 fighter jet to indiscriminately drop five 500-pound bombs near two Lumad communities in Barangay Mandahikan, Cabanglasan on March 27.

Three bombs were dropped at around 9 a.m. and two more at 2 p.m, traumatizing Lumad children and residents. The airstrike severely damaged the environment which serves as the primary source of food and livelihood of the Lumads in the area.

After two days, using attack helicopters, the military dropped at least 10 rockets in the same barangay at noontime. Rounds were also fired from artillery cannons installed at an adjacent barangay in Loreto, Davao del Norte. A Cessna surveillance aircraft flew overhead the whole day after the airstrike. The military also deployed an additional column of soldiers at Sitio Miyaray to conduct combat operations.

Meanwhile, two columns and three armored fighting vehicles were deployed at Sitio Tapayanon, Barangay Gupitan, Kapalong, Davao del Norte. On March 24, elements of the 60th and 56th IB attacked an NPA unit at the said area. The military made it appear that the attack was staged by the NPA although it was clear that they were carrying out offensive combat operations as evidenced by the fact that they have prepositioned artillery units to back up their ground troops.

The military also raided an NPA encampment in Little Baguio, San Fernando, Bukidnon on March 29 at 2 a.m.

Residents reported that military troops continue to operate in Barangays Kibongcog and Poblacion, San Fernando; Barangay Concepcion, Valencia; Santa Filomena, Quezon; Barangays Bulonay and Kalabugao, Impasug-ong; Barangays Busdi, Caburacanan, Manalog, Saint Peter and Zamboanguita, Malaybalay City; and Barangay Poblacion, Cabanglasan.

Soldiers also installed two artillery cannons in Sitio Nursery, Barangay Concepcion and another in Sitio Salaysay in Barangay Santa Filomena.

The said areas have been subjected to continuous aerial surveillance since the last week of March.

[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippines and is issued by the CPP Central Committee. It provides news about the work of the Party as well as its analysis of and views on current issues. Ang Bayan comes out fortnightly and is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon and English.]

https://cpp.ph/2020/04/07/afp-bombing-spree-in-bukidnon-davao-amid-covid-19-ceasefire/

CPP/Ang Bayan: NPA Covid-19 response: Mass clinics, food aid and production

Propaganda article from the English language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Apr 7, 2020): NPA Covid-19 response: Mass clinics, food aid and production

In response to the call of the Communist Party of the Philippines to launch health campaigns to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, the NPA-Central Negros (Leonardo Panaligan Command) extended medical services to at least 1,000 farmers during the last week of March. NPA medics paid close attention to the elderly and pregnant women. They conducted check-ups and distributed herbal medicines for fever, cough and colds. They also distributed vitamins to improve the masses’ resistance against diseases. At the same time, they educated the masses about the pandemic.

Members of the barrio health committee, Makibaka and Kabataang Makabayan helped in conducting the mass clinic.

In Bicol, around 260 individuals from three barangays received rice from the NPA during the last week of March. The said barrios were affected by the food crisis brought about by the regime’s lockdown. The NPA unit and mass organizations supervised the the distribution of emergency aid. The funds used by NPA in the relief operations were revolutionary tax collections.

NPA units in Panay, Quezon and other areas also launched information drives.

These efforts are in line with the CPP’s call to immediately help those in need. At the same time, the Party advised all its forces to carry out emergency food production and intensify economic work in revolutionary territories. The CPP issued the call amid Duterte’s restrictive lockdown in Luzon and other parts of the country which is causing severe problems on the people.

In reality, the lockdown is not just in Luzon. Many local governments have imposed enforced quarantines and closed their borders. Businesses, transportation, schools, churches and other socio-economic activities have been shut down. Because of this, majority of the people have lost their income and are having a hard time buying food, medicines and other basic needs. In some provinces, only churches give out aid. Aid from local government units, if there is any, is distributed at snail pace. The people are yet to receive any subsidy from the national government.

The Party called on all NPA units to plan out emergency food production to cultivate palay, camote and other root crops, bananas, maize, pechay and other vegetables and crops that can be harvested in the short-term.

It also advised its forces to launch economic conferences to assess their needs and supplies, and their production potentials, and come up with specific plans to cover the rest of the year.

The Party also called on landlords to allow the use of their land for emergency food production without rent. It urged landlords to extend financial assistance, use of facilities and other resources. The Party also urged all local and international agencies and organizations to extend all forms of assistance to help the masses in emergency food production efforts.

[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippines and is issued by the CPP Central Committee. It provides news about the work of the Party as well as its analysis of and views on current issues. Ang Bayan comes out fortnightly and is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon and English.]

https://cpp.ph/2020/04/07/npa-covid-19-response-mass-clinics-food-aid-and-production/

CPP/Ang Bayan: NPA celebrates 51st anniversary

Propaganda article from the English language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Apr 7, 2020): NPA celebrates 51st anniversary

The New People’s Army (NPA) celebrated its 51st anniversary amid the Covid-19 health crisis. Red fighters and people gathered at temporary encampments in various areas.

More than 2,000 farmers attended celebrations held by the NPA-Central Negros (Leonardo Pacsi Command). The NPA staged cultural presentations that paid tribute to the noble contributions of the people’s army in the island. They also paid tribute to victims of Oplan Sauron and relentless extrajudicial killings in the island. The people’s army also held a mass clinic on the same day.

Red fighters from NPA-Negros (Apolinario Gatmaitan Command) wore face masks during the celebration to symbolize its solidarity with the Filipino people’s fight against Covid-19. The celebrations centered on informing the masses about the pandemic and on the importance of maintaining a healthy diet to improve the body’s resistance against diseases. The NPA-Negros also launched Ispading, the literary folio of the revolutionary movement in the island.

More than a hundred Red fighters and residents from nearby barrios gathered in a guerrilla front in Bicol. The highlights of the program include dances, songs and solidarity messages of revolutionary organizations. They celebrated the anniversary with the theme, “Frustrate the US-Duterte regime’s war of suppression! Further strengthen the New People’s Army and comprehensively advance the people’s war!” Speeches by Red fighters centered on responding to the Covid-19 pandemic and preparations for the imminent crisis it may cause in the countryside.

In a state­ment, the NPA-Bukidnon called on the people’s army and the masses to intensify their resistance amid relentless focused military operations in the province. Last year, it documented a total of 72 tactical offensives which resulted in 152 soldiers killed and 94 wounded. According to Ka Dereka Magtanggol, provincial spokesperson of the NPA, the AFP has dropped at least 84 bombs and fired 395 artiller rounds in the mountains of the province since 2018.

NPA units from the regions of Southern Tagalog, Panay and Bicol, and from the provinces of Kalinga, Abra and Mindoro also issued their respective statements.

[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippines and is issued by the CPP Central Committee. It provides news about the work of the Party as well as its analysis of and views on current issues. Ang Bayan comes out fortnightly and is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon and English.]

https://cpp.ph/2020/04/07/npa-celebrates-51st-anniversary/

CPP/Ang Bayan: Release 609 political prisoners!

Propaganda article from the English language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Apr 7, 2020): Release 609 political prisoners!

KARAPATAN CALLED FOR the immediate release of 609 political prisoners in the country, especially the elderly and sick. This is to take them away from the congested and vulnerable conditions in prisons during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The call was renewed when United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet called on governments to release prisoners to decongest jails. Iran, Brazil and other countries responded to this call.

The group also launched the #SetThemFree and #FreePoliticalPrisonersPH campaigns in social media. Earlier, churches including the National Council of Churces of Philippines and the Archdiocese of San Carlos also called for the release of political detainees.

Majority (209) of political prisoners arrested under Duterte are farmers who were accused of being members of the New People’s Army.

[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippines and is issued by the CPP Central Committee. It provides news about the work of the Party as well as its analysis of and views on current issues. Ang Bayan comes out fortnightly and is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon and English.]

https://cpp.ph/2020/04/07/release-609-political-prisoners/

CPP/Ang Bayan: Looming food shortage

Propaganda article from the English language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Apr 7, 2020): Looming food shortage

Widespread food shortage is becoming imminent in the National Capital Region (NCR) and across the country. Many farmers and businessmen incurred high income losses because of Duterte’s militarist and restrictive lockdown. Many were forced to stop production. The situation is bound to get worse with Duterte’s plan to extend the lockdown until April 30.

Agricultural supply became increasingly scarce due to the lockdown. Contrary to the regime’s order to allow the transportation of food products and cargo, trucks that carry food and meat products are hampered at checkpoints.

These past few weeks, tons of vegetables were left to rot, dumped or fed to animals as farmers were unable to sell their produce. Many farmers were compelled to sell their products at extremely low rates. Pechay farmers for instance, sold their produce at P3/kilo, way below the P60/kilo suggested retail price (SRP).

Farmers from Benguet and Mountain Province, provinces which primarily supply Metro Manila with vegetables, incurred highest losses. They have long been suffering from low farmgate price. Now, majority of traders stopped buying their produce as they could not transport these into markets. Despite efforts of some local governments to buy their produce, a large portion of their harvests were not sold.

Poultry farmers in Central Luzon and Calabarzon, regions that supply almost half of the total supply of chicken meat and eggs across the country, are also unable to sell their produce due to the lockdown. This has sparked a poultry glut in the region which further pulled down farmgate prices.

According poultry farmers, the farmgate price of chicken dropped to P30-P50/kilo which is lower than their P70/kilo cost of production. Ironically, the market price of chicken in Metro Manila increased due to limited supply. Recent reports indicate that the average price of chicken in Metro Manila has reached P160/kilo, higher by P30 than the P130/kilo SRP. They are also unable to sell chicken eggs which are also just left to rot.

On top of these, more than 800 container vans containing perishable goods such as vegetables, fruits, meat and medical supplies are stuck at ports in Manila.

Meanwhile, multinational companies in export-processing zones threatened to move their operations to other countries if they will not still be allowed to re-open and operate. They challenged the regime to allow limited operation of their factories. However, they have not offered any comprehensive compensation program or safety measures for their workers. Their operations, which are primarily concentrated in enclaves, were put to a stop due to the lockdown.

[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippines and is issued by the CPP Central Committee. It provides news about the work of the Party as well as its analysis of and views on current issues. Ang Bayan comes out fortnightly and is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon and English.]

https://cpp.ph/2020/04/07/looming-food-shortage/

CPP/Ang Bayan: Where is the people’s money?

Propaganda article from the English language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Apr 7, 2020): Where is the people’s money?

The P200-billion financial aid allocated by Duterte regime is not only insufficient but its coverage is also limited. This was exposed during the regime’s first batch of distribution of the P5,000-P8,000 aid to appease the hunger and poverty caused by the militarist lockdown. To make do with the budget, the regime imposed a quota system on local government units.

In Valenzuela, the aid coverage is limited to only 95,000 families or 61% of the total 155,000 families residing in the city. The city mayor griped against how the DSWD identify beneficiaries and asked how the other 60,000 families will survive without aid.

In other cities in the National Capital Region (NCR), less than half of the total number of families will be given aid. In Manila, for instance, only 185,000 (43%) out of 435,237 will receive aid; and 77,764 (49%) out of 160,000 in Parañaque.

The situation is even worse in provinces outside NCR. Local officials are now struggling to bridge the large gap.

They are asserting that all families and not just the poor are affected by the month-long lockdown and need aid and compensation. Many workers and employees, whether regular or contractual, lost their sources of income and jobs. They have no other means to source funds but from the subsidy being distributed by government.

Data by the reactionary government indicate that only P100 billion was distributed by DSWD as of April 3. Around P100 million was allocated to DOLE to aid workers who lost their jobs; and another P100 million to DOH to aid patients with various illnesses. DOST was given P52 million for the production of test kits. Meanwhile, almost the same amount (P52.3 million) was allocated to the PNP under vague terms. If summed up, these allocations are already more than half of the P275 billion promised by Duterte.

The people have been waiting for proper aid and compensation for more than two weeks now. Many are already going hungry. They are enraged at the slow distribution of aid especially since Duterte used this as a pretext to demand that he be granted emergency powers. Duterte is putting the blame on local officials and are accusing them of corruption and being slow. However, the people clearly see that it is Duterte and his military-led Inter-agency Task Force that who are inutile and incapable of handling the current public health crisis.

[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippines and is issued by the CPP Central Committee. It provides news about the work of the Party as well as its analysis of and views on current issues. Ang Bayan comes out fortnightly and is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon and English.]

https://cpp.ph/2020/04/07/where-is-the-peoples-money/

CPP/Ang Bayan: Lockdown rouses anger, esprit de corps

Propaganda article from the English language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Apr 7, 2020): Lockdown rouses anger, esprit de corps

The lockdown has failed to prevent the breakout of the people’s outrage over the regime’s blunders in facing the Covid-19 crisis.

On April 1, residents of Sitio San Roque, Ba­ra­ngay Ba­gong Pag-a­sa, Quezon City protested to demand quick distribution of food aid. More than 6,000 re­si­den­ts live in the said community, majority of whom are odd jobbers who survive on daily incomes. The local government in the area has long sought to evict residents to pave way for the construction of malls and other commercial establishments.

Instead of addressing their plight, police personnel dispersed the peaceful rally and arrested 21 protesters. They were detained and threatened to be kept in jail until the lifting of the lockdown. In a video broadcast that evening, Duterte ordered the PNP to shoot anyone who will “resist.” His marching order has further stoked the people’s raging anger.

The call #OustDu­ter­teNow immediately trended on social media after his speech. Many artists and known personalities expressed their support for the call and delivered aid for the poor. Many contributed to raise money to bail out those arrested (P15,000 each or P315,000). The police was compelled to release the 21 on April 6. However, the community was again attacked by the PNP on the same day. They violently demolished the residents’ community kitchen.

On the same day, the police demolished a barricade in Ba­rangay Didipio, Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya which residents put up to prevent OceanaGold from sneaking in its fuel tanker. On top of lockdown restriction, OceanaGold operates illegally as the local government has already suspended its operations.

Spontaneous protests were also launched by the people to demand immediate aid. In Iloilo, residents protested in front of the DSWD Region VI headquarters on April 3. Tricycle drivers also trooped to the office of Gov. Edgar­do Tal­la­do in Ca­ma­ri­nes Nor­te.

Meanwhile, residents of Ba­ra­ngay Muzon, Tay­tay, Rizal trooped to their barangay hall twice (March 24 and April 2) to demand that they be given aid.

Online protest

Many sectors, especially the youth and professionals, expressed their raging anger against Duterte through the internet as going out and assembly are restricted. They continuously criticized the government’s failure to provide health workers with sufficient face masks, ther­mal scan­ners and other per­so­nal pro­tective equip­ment (PPE).

In social media, they criticized the regime for giving special priority to senators and congressmen in testings amid the shortage in test kits. The calls #No­toVIPTesting and #MassTes­tingNowPH trended as people demanded to prioritize doctors and nurses, and suspected Covid-19 positive individuals. The conduct of mass testing is among the basic recommendations of the World Health Orga­niza­ti­on. The regime announced it will start conducting mass testing on April 14 but only for those who have symptoms and for health workers.

The call #Na­sa­an­Ang­A­yu­­da (Where is the aid?) also trended, demanding the regime’s accountability over the slow distribution of aid and the extremely limited budget allocation.

Netizens also criticized the harassment by Duterte’s henchmen against Vice Pre­si­dent Le­ni Rob­re­do and Pasig City Ma­yor Vico Sot­to who, contrary to the national government, were lauded for their initiatives to help health workers and those adversely affected by the lockdown. Atty. Chel Diok­no, who volunteered to provide legal assistance for people being harassed by the NBI, also received wide support after being harassed and insulted by Duterte.

On April 5, the call #Defend­Press­Freedom also trended in defense of Jos­hua Mo­lo, editor-in-chief of Dawn, the student publication of the Uni­versity of the East, who was threatened to be arrested and coerced to publicly apologize for posting anti-Duterte statements in Facebook.

Esprit de corps in beating Covid-19

In the absence of adequate government assistance, aid poured out from various groups and individuals to help health workers and the poor. This is while local government units are struggling to make do with limited resources to help their constituents survive.

Through the #Ba­ra­ngayDa­ma­yan campaign initiated by Ka­da­may, the group conducted relief drives in various urban poor communities. The Ki­lu­sang Mag­bu­bu­kid ng Pi­li­pi­nas launched the campaign Sa­gip Ka­na­yu­nan (Save the countryside) to aid farmers from Ba­ta­ngas at Bu­lacan. It also conducted the campaign Bag­sak-Ahon Gu­lay Sa­le to help farmers from Bulacan to sell their produce online. Kilusang Mayo Uno also launched a relief drive for workers in Ca­lo­ocan and Que­zon City under the campaign #Tu­long­Obrero (aid workers).

Actress Angel Locsin also spearheaded a donation drive and provided various hospitals in Luzon with isolation tents to help these establishments to accommodate more patients with Covid-19 symptoms. Many other artists and workers also volunteered to raise aid.

Many Filipinos donated to help procure more face masks and other medical needs in hospitals. Many restaurants, food stalls and ordinary citizens donated food, while others volunteered to give free transportation and delivery services, among others.

[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippines and is issued by the CPP Central Committee. It provides news about the work of the Party as well as its analysis of and views on current issues. Ang Bayan comes out fortnightly and is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon and English.]

https://cpp.ph/2020/04/07/lockdown-rouses-anger-esprit-de-corps/

CPP/Ang Bayan: The Covid-19 pandemic has become more than just a health concern

Propaganda article from the English language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Apr 7, 2020): The Covid-19 pandemic has become more than just a health concern

From being a health crisis, the situation brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic has rapidly developed into an economic, social and political crisis. More and more get infected and die in the Philippines and across the globe. Simultaneously, more and more Filipinos suffer from hunger, disease and other hardships brought about by Duterte’s lockdown imposed without comprehensive, sufficient and immediate health and economic measures in place.

The Duterte government is too slow to implement much needed mass testing as an immediate measure to contain the spread of the disease. Three weeks since the lockdown, only more or less 19,000 individuals have been tested while this has to be extensively conducted in communities. Despite the powers given Duterte to realign public funds, only a small amount was allocated to support health workers and aid public hospitals to keep up with the pandemic. The government is acting too slow amid supply shortages and is relying on initiatives by the private sector. Corruption is exposed with its procurement of overpriced equipment.

The longer the lockdown, millions more are made to suffer from hunger by the government. The budget allocated is way too insufficient to compensate all those who lost their jobs and income. The distribution of aid came very late and many are yet to be compensated. Officials of various agencies are passing the buck. It has become stark that the Duterte government is incompetent and incapable of leading amid the crisis. Many are dependent on the quicker and more extensive aid provided by volunteers, mass organizations, private associations and other groups.

Duterte is using an iron fist in facing the public health crisis. He has deployed police personnel and soldiers at the frontline and in command of the government’s machinery to address the health crisis. He further suppressed the people’s right to speech and assembly. Duterte openly threatened anyone who will not abide by his rules and “incite chaos” with a shoot to kill order. Duterte imposes terror while the masses are distressed and left hungry by the lockdown and negli­gent government.

The longer the lockdown, Duterte’s incompetence and incapability to rule and comprehensively address the people’s plight is further exposed. Millions of toiling masses and the middle class are becoming more desperate because of hunger, scarcity and depletion of their savings and loss of livelihood.

In the countryside, the peasant masses are driven to deeper poverty by roadblocks preventing the free flow of farm produce, and restrictions on transportation and food purchase. Despite Duterte’s ceasefire declaration, AFP and PNP counterinsurgency operations continue unabated and have intensified. At least 146 barangays are currently occupied by the military. In some areas, soldiers conduct house-to-house inspections without wearing face masks to prevent the spread of the disease. Under the guise of fighting the spread of Covid-19, soldiers mounted checkpoints to restrict travel and prevent people from tending their farmlands and buying food.

To beat and contain the pandemic, the Filipino people need to stand up, act collectively and work together to prevent the spread of the disease and demand the go­vern­ment to provide aid in this time of crisis. At the same time, they must defend their rights and welfare that are being trampled upon by the regime’s militarist solution.

They must continue to demand an end to the lockdown and for implementation of measures such as mass screening and testing in communities in order to immediately contain and prevent the spread of the virus. Thousands of health workers and volunteers must be mobilized, trained, and provided with sufficient funds and equipment. Now is the time to clamor for the strengthening of public hospitals instead of undermining these under the policy of spending cuts on health services.

While Duterte’s lockdown is in place, the people must demand the quick distribution of sufficient aid for all. They must hold the Duterte regime accountable for its slow, insufficient and non-transparent distribution of aid.

Amid the lockdown, the collective aspirations of the people are primarily gathered in urban and rural poor communities. The people’s hardships are concentrated in these areas. Communities must creatively act to collectively express the entire nation’s plight and demands. They must act in their numbers to fight and surmount Duterte’s threat to suppress all mass actions.

To face the Covid-19 pandemic and in response to the United Nation’s call for a “global ceasefire,’ the Party declared a ceasefire on March 26 that will remain in effect until April 15. We directed NPA units to focus on providing health services in barrios despite being continuously disrupted by AFP operations and raids which have resulted in at least seven armed encounters. Amid relentless AFP offensives, the Party reminded all NPA units to uphold their discipline in maintaining sec­re­cy to deny the enemy an opportunity to attack and to ensure wide latitude for the NPA to continuously provide services to the masses. Organizations and forces in the countryside must be mobilized to assert economic demands and plan for increasing food production in preparation for the imminent shortage due to the lockdown and production stoppage.

While Duterte insists on his fascist dictatorial methods, he continues to isolate himself from the people. Duterte stinks even more because of the Covid-19 crisis brought about by his regime’s failures. His regime is shaken by crumbling support. Every time his dirty mouth opens and with his every misstep, he further enrages the people and fires up their courage. He has at times gave in to people’s demands to ease the situation. It remains to be seen whether he can stop the people’s anger from boiling over or if he will be totally engulfed by the people’s burning anger.

The heavy impact of the Covid-19 in the Philippines exposes the rottenness and fundamental contradiction of the ruling semicolonial and semifeudal system. It revealed the incapacity of the ruling state to address the plight of the people. The need for revolutionary change to establish a new people’s democratic system that will uphold the interests of the Filipino people has become ever clearer.

[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippines and is issued by the CPP Central Committee. It provides news about the work of the Party as well as its analysis of and views on current issues. Ang Bayan comes out fortnightly and is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon and English.]

https://cpp.ph/2020/04/07/the-covid-19-pandemic-has-become-more-than-just-a-health-concern/

CPP/Ang Bayan: COIN Operations during Covid-19 pandemic

Propaganda article from the English language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Apr 10, 2020): COIN Operations during Covid-19 pandemic



Download: Data sheet of COIN operations (as of April 10)

[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippines and is issued by the CPP Central Committee. It provides news about the work of the Party as well as its analysis of and views on current issues. Ang Bayan comes out fortnightly and is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon and English.]

https://cpp.ph/2020/04/10/coin-operations-during-covid-19-pandemic/

CPP/NDF-ST: AFP is spreading false information

NDF-Southern Tagalog propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Apr 11 , 2020): AFP is spreading false information

MARCO VALBUENA
CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER
COMMUNIST PARTY OF THE PHILIPPINES
APRIL 12, 2020


There is absolutely no truth to the false information irresponsibly being circulated by the AFP that members of the NPA took away distributed relief goods in some villages in Balangiga, Samar. Even the local barangay captain and police officers interviewed by the media deny that there were such incidents in their areas. This false information is being circulated by government broadcast media and websites.

It is despicable and condemnable how the AFP has resorted to outright lies and perverse propaganda at a time that the Filipino people are confronted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The AFP desperately wants to discredit the NPA’s public health campaign to raise people’s awareness and enable them to adapt the necessary measures to prevent the spread of the Covid-19. The NPA’s information drive, mass clinics, and other activities are well received by the masses, especially in the rural areas. There are also efforts to raise food production to prepare for an imminent shortage.

We anticipate the AFP to come up with more lies against the NPA in the days to come. The objective is to justify its counterinsurgency drive relentlessly carried out despite Duterte’s ceasefire.

https://cpp.ph/statement/afp-is-spreading-false-information/

CPP/NDF-ST: Tulad ni Ponzio Pilato, hugas-kamay si Duterte sa kriminal na kapabayaan at pananagutan sa pagkalat ng Covid-19 sa Pilipinas–NDF-ST

NDF-Southern Tagalog propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Apr 11 , 2020): Tulad ni Ponzio Pilato, hugas-kamay si Duterte sa kriminal na kapabayaan at pananagutan sa pagkalat ng Covid-19 sa Pilipinas–NDF-ST

PATNUBAY DE GUIA
NDF-SOUTHERN TAGALOG
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC FRONT OF THE PHILIPPINES
APRIL 11, 2020

Sa harap ng malakas na suporta sa kampanya sa social media para patalsikin si Duterte, nagkukumahog ang mga Dutertards na sistematiko at orkestradong pabanguhin si Duterte sa publiko at iiwas siya sa anumang mabigat na pananagutan at pagkakasala sa kriminal niyang kapabayaan sa naging mabilis na pagkalat ng sakit ng Covid-19 sa bansa. Umaabot na sa 4,428 ang nagkasakit ng Covid-19 sa Pilipinas at 247 dito ang namatay kabilang ang 21 doktor na nasa frontline ng paglaban sa epidemya.

Sa halip na epektibong makontrol ng militaristang lockdown at sapilitang community quarantine ang pagkalat ng Covid-19 ay ibayo lamang bumilis ang paglawak ng impeksyon dahil sa kawalan ng matinong solusyong medikal at nakalatag na episyenteng sistema para lutasin ang krisis sa pampublikong kalusugan at sawatain ang paglawak ng impeksyon ng pandemya.

Kaliwa’t kanang abala ang mga propagandista at alipures ng Malacañang sa paglalabas at paglalathala ng mga pahayag para ipagtanggol at purihin ang usad-kuhol, inutil at pabaya nilang among si Duterte. Kabi-kabila ang mga pahayag nila sa publiko na nagtatakip at pinabubulaanan ang mga kapalpakan ng rehimeng Duterte sa pagharap sa nakamamatay na Covid-19. Sukdulan ang paglulubid nila ng kasinungalingan para baluktutin at manipulahin ang mga tunay na datos upang ibangon ang bagsak at lugsong imahen ni Duterte sa taumbayan.

Dapat na mariing kondenahin ng taumbayan ang pinakamasahol na pagtatangka ng mga kaalyado at alipures ni Duterte na gumawa ng mga maniobra upang mailayo ang sisi at maiiwas sa anumang pananagutan si Duterte sa ibayong paglubha ng krisis sa pampublikong kalusugan at pinsala sa kabuhayan ng pandemyang Covid-19 sa sambayanang Pilipino. Isa-isahin natin ang mga kasinungalingang inilalako ni Duterte at ng kanyang mga tagapagtanggol:

Sapat ang pondo ng gubyerno para tustusan ang kampanya laban sa Covid-19. Ito ang ipinagyayabang ni Duterte sa harap ng publiko. “Huwag kayong matakot, maraming kwarta ako,” pagyayabang niya. Pagkaraang mabilisang ipasa ng sunod-sunurang Senado at mababang kapulungan ng Kongreso ang Bayanihan to Heal as One Act (BaHO-A) para bigyan ng emergency power si Duterte na galawin ang badyet ng gubyerno para sa taong 2019 at 2020 at makalikom ng Php 275-bilyon, nananatiling mabagal pa sa usad ng kuhol ang paghahatid ng serbisyo at subsidyo sa 18 milyong pamilyang Pilipino na nagugutom at nawalan ng hanapbuhay dahil sa militarista at anti-mamamayang lockdown at enhanced community quarantine na sapilitang ipinataw sa Metro Manila at buong Luzon.

Subalit hindi na mapagtakpan pa ng anumang pagsisinungaling at papuri kay Duterte ang hirap na dinaranas ng taumbayan dahil sa pinatutupad na kamay-na-bakal na lockdown. Kulang na kulang ang pondong inilalaan ng gubyerno bilang ayuda sa mga apektado ng lockdown sa buong Luzon.

Ayon sa Ibon Foundation, sangkatlo lamang sa 18 milyong benepisyaryo ang nahatiran ng halagang Php 26.3 bilyong tulong ng pambansang gubyerno mula sa Php 250 bilyong pondong nakalaan para sa kanila. Ang DSWD ay nakapagbigay lamang ng 190,217 food packs at cash transfer sa 3.7 milyon benipisyaryo ng 4P’s at 1.2 milyong benipisyaryo sa ilalim ng conditional cash transfer.

Samantala, ayon din sa Ibon Foundation, nasa 0.8% ng 10.7 milyong manggagawa mula sa pormal na sektor ang nabigyan pa lamang ng tulong ng DOLE sa pamamagitan ng Covid-19 Adjustment Measures (CAMP) habang nasa 1% naman ng 5.2 milyong non agricultural informal earners ang natulungan ng DOLE sa pamamagitan ng work for pay scheme. Nahiling pa ang DOLE ng karagdagang Php 5 bilyong pondo para matugunan ang pangangailangan ng mga manggagawang naapektuhan ng lockdown sa Luzon.

Kaya naman, makaraan ng ilang araw lamang, nagbago na agad ng tono si Duterte. Aniya, “Walang pera ang gubyerno at ang Php 275 bilyon pondo para sa paglaban sa Covid-19 ay hahanapin at kokolektahin pa. Naghambog pa na isusubasta nya ang mga ari-arian ng estado at mga pampublikong yutilidad para makalikom ng sapat na pondo ang kanyang gubyerno para tulungan ang mga mahihirap.

Ang Pilipinas ang kauna-unahang bansa na nagpatupad sa buong mundo ng lockdown at travel ban sa China. Ito ang malaking kasinungalingan, lantarang panlilinlang at malinaw na pagbubuhat ng sariling bangko ni Duterte sa kanyang pahayag sa publiko noong madaling araw ng Abril 9, 2020. Aniya, “dahil sa maagap na pagpapatupad ng lockdown kaya mas maliit ang mga nahawahan at nagkasakit ng Covid-19 sa Pilipinas.”

Ang katotohanan, ayon sa pahayagang Deutshe Welle, nagpatupad ang Italy ng lockdown noong March 9 at sinundan ito ng Spain ng tinatawag nilang “general confinement order” noong March 14. Ang France naman ay nagpahayag ng “strict nationwide lockdown” noong March 17. Ang Belgium ay March 18. Pinatupad naman sa Pilipinas ang lockdown, una sa NCR noong Marso 15 at sa buong Luzon noong Marso 17. Samantala, ang probinsya ng Hubei sa China ay isinailalim sa total lockdown noong January 23, 2020.

Sukdulan ang kapal ng mukha ni Secretary Salvador Panelo na tahasang baluktutin ang tunay na pangyayari para lamang gawing bida sa mata ng publiko si Duterte bilang kauna-unahang lider sa mundo na maagap na nagpatupad ng total ban sa pagpasok ng mga dayuhang Chinese mula sa syudad ng Wuhan, probinsya ng Hubei sa China. Sa katunayan, habang ang ibang mga bansa ay nagpatupad na ng pagsasara ng kanilang hangganan at travel ban sa China, pinahintulutan ng rehimen ang pagpasok ng 500,000 turista mula mainland China kung saan ang 14,000 ay nagmula sa Wuhan.

Sinabi pa ni Panelo na kung hindi naging maagap na nagpatupad ng travel ban si Duterte ay marami pa sanang nakapasok sa bansa na Chinese na may dalang coronavirus. Agad naman itong sinang-ayunan ni Heneral Carlito Galvez ang chief implementor ng National Action Plan on Covid-19.

Pero ayon sa lathala ng mga pahayagan, ang Republic of Marshall Islands ang unang nagpatupad ng total travel ban mula China noong Enero 24, 2020. Sumunod ang North Korea noong Enero 25, ang Hongkong noong Enero 27 at Singapore noong Enero 29. Ang Afghanistan, Bahamas, Trinidad at Tobago ay nagpatupad ng travel ban noong Enero 30 habang ang Vietnam ay noong February 1. Noon ding Enero 31, isinara ng Russia ang lahat ng pasukan at labasan sa hangganan nito sa China.

Samantala, noong Enero 31 lamang, inanunsyo ni Panelo na magpapatupad ang bansa ng travel ban sa mga manggagaling sa probinsya ng Hubei, China pero noong Pebrero 2 lamang pinalawak ang travel ban sa buong mainland China kasama ang Hongkong at Macau. Isinama pa ang Taiwan pero binawi din agad dahil sa protesta at banta ng gubyernong Taiwanese na gagantihan ang Pilipinas.

Ang Pilipinas ang may pinakamababang rate of infection kumpara sa mga mayayamang bansa. Ito ang malaking kasinungalingan at panloloko ni Secretary Duque ng DOH.

Ayon kay Duque, dalawang (2) infection lang sa kada 1 milyong populasyon ng bansa ang nangyayari dahil daw ito sa maagang pagpapatupad ni Duterte ng absulutong travel ban at ng enhanced community quarantine or lockdown.

Isang tahasang pagsisinungaling at pagbabaluktot sa katotohanan ito. Batay sa pinakahuling ginagawang pagmonitor ng worldometers.info sa Covid-19 infection sa buong mundo, 40 sa kada 1 milyong populasyon ang rate of infection ng Covid-19 sa Pilipinas batay sa 24,500 na naisagawang pag-eeksamen o katumbas ng 224 sa kada 1 milyon ng populasyon. Tiyak na mas mataas pa dito ang tunay na datos dahil simula’t sapul ay wala namang ginawang Covid-19 mass testing sa bansa ang DOH bunga ng kakapusan ng mga testing kit at kawalan ng matinong paghahanda ang DOH at gobyernong Duterte.

Pinagtatakpan at binabaluktot ni Duque at ng rehimeng Duterte ang katotohanan na kaya mataas ang rate of Covid-19 infection sa mga kapitalistang bansa ay dahil maagap na nagpatupad ang mga bansang ito ng Covid-19 mass testing sa kanyang populasyon kung kaya maagang natutukoy ang lawak na inabot ng pagkalat ng impeksyon ng pandemya.

Ang US na may rate of infection na 1,520 sa bawat isang milyon ng populasyon ay nakapagsagawa ng-2,538,888 na Covid-19 test o 7,670 sa kada isang milyon. Ang Spain na may 3,385 na kaso kada milyon ay nakapagsagawa ng 355,000 na testing o 7,593 kada milyon. Ang Italy na may 2,441 na impeksyon sa kada milyon ay nakapagsagawa ng 906,864 test o 14,999 bawat milyon. Ang France na may 1,913 impeksyon bawat milyon ay nakapagtala ng 333,807 test o 5,114 kada milyon.

Samantala, ang Germany na may 1,458 na impeksyon sa kada milyon ay may 1,317,887 naisagawang test o 15,730 bawat milyon; at ang UK na may 1,086 na impeksyon sa bawat isang milyon ay nakapagtala ng 316,836 test o 4,667 sa bawat 1 milyon ng populasyon.

Natural na mababa ang tantos ng impeksyon na nadidiskubre sa bansa dahil sa limitadong kapasidad ng gubyerno na sabayan at maramihang mag-eksamen ng mga pasyenteng pinagsususpetsahang nahawahan ng Covid-19. Kulang na kulang ang mga testing kits at maging ospital na pagdadalhan para masuri ang mga kinuhaan ng swabs na mga pasyente. Kung tutuusin, wala pang nagaganap na mass testing sa bansa. Ang tinututukan pa sa kasalukuyan ng gubyerno ay ang pag-eeksamen sa malulubhang kaso ng coronavirus infection at pagpaparami ng bilang ng ospital na magsasagawa ng pag-eeksamen.

Sa pag-aaral na isinagawa ng UP, ang tayang rurok na aabutin ng impeksyon ng Covid-19 sa NCR sa Hunyo 2020 ay nasa 140,000 hanggang 550,000.

Ayon sa pagsisiyasat ng Rappler, nahuhuli ang Pilipinas pagdating sa kapasidad sa pag-eeksamin. Nitong Abril 4, 2020 nasa 48 persons under investigation (PUI’s) kada milyong tao ang naisasagawa sa bansa. Noong March 20 ay 12 PUI’s kada milyon. Ang South Korea, madali nilang napababa ang infection sa Covid-19 dahil sa nagawa nilang mag-eksamen ng 6,148 kada milyong tao. Sa pinakamatinding tinamaan ng pademyang Covid-19 sa Europa, ang Germany ang may pinakamababang naitalang namamatay sa Covid-19 na 33 sa bawat isang milyong populasyon bunga ng malawakang ginagawang pag-eeksamen sa hanay ng populasyon.

Noong April 4 inanunsyo ng retiradong Heneral na si Carlito Galvez na 6,000 indibidwal na ang nasuri pero ang sabi naman ng Department of Health (DOH) noong April 2 ay nasa 5,000 pa lamang.

Mapanlinlang din ang datos na 24,500 na ang naisagawang pag-eeksamen ng DOH. Hindi ito katumbas ng 24,500 katao na naeksamen dahil bawat taong nagpositibo sa Covid-19 ay kailangang dumaan sa tatlong ulit na pag-eeksamen bago maideklarang magaling na. Sang-ayon sa DOH, sa Abril 14 pa sila nakatakdang magsagawa ng “massive testing” at ito ay para lamang sa mga PUI’s at PUM’s na may sintomas, high risk patients tulad ng manggagawang pangkalusugan, mga buntis, may diabetis at cancer.

Sa kabila na limitado lamang ang bilang ang naeeksamen sa bansa na nalantad sa impeksyon ng Covid-19, sumusunod sa Malaysia ang Pilipinas sa may pinakamaraming nahawahan at nagkasakit ng Covid-19 sa south-east Asia at pumapangalawa sa Indonesia sa maraming namamatay. Ito ang tunay na mga datos na inililingid sa kaalaman ng publiko ng rehimeng Duterte.

Sadyang gagawin lahat ng mga gabinete ni Duterte ang pambabaluktot sa mga datos at impormasyon para lamang mawala ang atensyon ng publiko sa tunay na isyu ng kawalang kakayahan at kainutilan ng pamahalaang Duterte sa paglaban at pagsugpo sa Covid-19. Pipilitin nilang pabanguhin si Duterte at palabasin siyang tagapaligtas ng bayan.

Nais pa nilang gawing bayani at palabasing mahusay na lider si Duterte sa kabila ng mga grabeng kapabayaan ng rehimen na matugunan ang kakulangan sa medical supplies ng mga pribado at pampublikong ospital, kakupusan sa mga personal protective equipments (PPE’s) ng mga nasa frontline, malaking kakulangan sa testing kits, at quarantine and sanitation facilities. Ganundin sa mga naantalang pamamahagi nito ng mga food packs, perang subsidyo at marami pang ibang tulong na dapat agarang ipinagkakaloob ng gubyerno lalo na sa mga mahihirap at bulnerableng sektor ng lipunan.

At upang mapagtakpan ang mga kapalpakan at kakulangan ni Duterte, isinisi ngayon ng mga alipures at propagandista ng Malacañang sa mga Local Goverment Units (LGU’s) ang problema kung bakit mabagal at kulang pa sa kalahati ng mga nakalistang benepisaryo ang nabibigyan ng tulong ng pambansang gubyerno.

Paano nga naman aasahang magiging episyente ang paghahatid ng tulong at serbisyo sa nagugutom na mamamayan kung pinamamahalaan ito ng mga hinirang ni Duterte na mga retiradong heneral ng AFP at PNP na mas sinanay sa sining ng pagpatay at karahasan at hindi sa pagsagip at pagligtas ng buhay?

Huwag tayong palilinlang. Huwag tayong padadala sa paghuhugas kamay ni Duterte at sa pinatutupad na sistematiko at orkestradong paghahasik ng mga kasinungalingan ng kanyang mga gabinete, propagandista, alipures at mga trolls. Si Rodrigo Roa Duterte at wala ng iba ang pangunahing may responsibilidad at pananagutan sa nangyayaring labis na kagutuman at kapighatian ng sambayanang Pilipino. Marapat lamang na patuloy tayong magpursige at walang lubay na isagawa ang iba’t ibang anyo at paraan ng paglaban para patalsikin sa pwesto ang korap, kriminal inutil, pabaya at pasistang rehimeng US-Duterte. ###

https://cpp.ph/statement/tulad-ni-ponzio-pilato-hugas-kamay-si-duterte-sa-kriminal-na-kapabayaan-at-pananagutan-sa-pagkalat-ng-covid-19-sa-pilipinas-ndf-st/