Military urges town mayors to be extra vigilant

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 2): Military urges town mayors to be extra vigilant
 
A military official on Wednesday called on all mayors in Northern Mindanao and in the Caraga Region, particularly in rebel infested areas, to be extra vigilant.

Maj. Christian Uy, spokesperson of the army’s 4th Infantry Division, made the call in wake of the killing of town Mayor Mario Okinlay of Impasug-ong, Bukidnon on Wednesday morning.

Armed men believed members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA), killed Okinlay in an ambushed while on a medical mission in the remote barangay of Bontongon.

Uy said that town mayors, especially in eastern Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon and all of the Caraga provinces should adopt appropriate security measures.

He said that the assigned Philippine National Police (PNP) escorts of mayors must review their security protocols so that breaches such as what happened to Mayor Okinlay would not happen again.

On April 2013, then Gingoog City Mayor Ruthie Guingona survived, although wounded, in an ambush perpetrated by alleged NPA rebels.

“Right now, their strategy is to terrorize local officials and businesses. They are very cunning, very deceptive,” Uy said, noting that the latest ambush occurred when Okinlay was delivering basic services to his remote constituents.

Okinlay was driving a motorcycle with no passenger security escort when he was sniped in the vicinity of barangay Buntungan at around 8:20 a.m.

Impasug-ong municipal department heads and Okinlay’s security personnel were behind in four-wheeled vehicles because the mayor reportedly liked to drive around town in his motorcycle.

Okinlay was immediately brought to Polymedic General Hospital in nearby Malaybalay City but was pronounced dead on arrival.

The five NPA rebels are now on the run from military and police forces, Uy reported.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=658996

Recruitment for wannabee soldiers continue

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 2): Recruitment for wannabee soldiers continue

The 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) based in Camp General Macario Peralta Jr., Jamindan, Capiz is now calling on interested applicants to join the enlisted force of the Philippine Army (PA).

The 3ID joined the one-day job fair at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol on Wednesday, hoping to recruit more interested wannabee soldiers in Panay Island and in Negros Occidental.

3ID personnel chief Lt. Col. Jonathan Gayas said any applicant who will be recruited this year will be reserved for next year’s quota after they already recruited last month 300 candidate soldiers composed of 285 males and 15 females.

In fact, Gayas said the six-month basic military training of these newly-recruited soldiers has already started on July 1 at the 3ID’s training camp in Jamindan.

Gayas added newly-recruited soldiers will replace those soldiers who were already dead, absence without official leave (AWOL), dismissed and retired.

Interested applicants must possess the following qualifications: (1) natural born Filipino citizen; (2) unmarried and without dependent; (3) has completed the second year of a collegiate course from an educational institution recognized by the government: in case of a male applicant, is a high school graduate who possesses technical or special skills; or, in case of female applicant, is high school graduate who possesses technical or special skills necessary in the performance of non-combatant/administrative duties; (4) must be between 18-26 years old; (5) five feet in height for both male and female; (6) physically and mentally fit for military training.

Applicants are advised to bring their college diploma/vocational course certificate; transcript of record; birth certificate (NSO) and valid Identification Card.

The required qualifications can be viewed at the Philippine Army recruitment website at http://www.army.mil.ph.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=659010

Marine troops capture major Abu Sayyaf camp in Sulu

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 2): Marine troops capture major Abu Sayyaf camp in Sulu

The main camp of the oldest among the remaining Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) commanders fell into the hands of Marine troops following an intense fighting in the hinterlands of Sulu, a top military official said Wednesday.

Second Marine Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Martin Pinto said the troops captured the camp around 3 p.m. Monday in the town of Patikul, Sulu, after inflicting heavy casualty among the Abu Sayyaf brigands that forced the enemies to flee.

Pinto said the fallen camp belongs to the oldest among the remaining Abu Sayyaf, one-armed bandit leader Radullan Sahiron.

He described the fallen ASG camp as "fortified with connecting trenches, well–established firing positions and hundreds of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) emplaced in all approaches.”

Pinto said that the main camp is also surrounded by satellite camps.

However, he said the persistence of the troops to push forward forced the heavily armed bandits to escape and scamper toward different directions, taking along with them an undetermined number of casualties (dead and wounded comrades).

“Our troops had to breach the enemy’s defenses and squeeze themselves to the complex terrain to be able to get close to the objective. Despite the ASG’s terrain advantage, the Marines held their ground and returned fire as they inched their way to the camp, clearing several enemy satellite camps,” he said.

He disclosed that two Marine soldiers suffered minor wounds during the intense fighting but did not release their identities.

He said clearing operation continues within and outside the fallen camp.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=659074

New 1st Infantry Division commander installed

From MindaNews (Jul 2): New 1st Infantry Division commander installed

The 1st Infantry “Tabak” Division, considered the Army’s premier unit, has a new commander, an official said.

Capt. Franco Suelto, Tabak Division’s Public Affairs officer-in-charge, said Maj. Gen. Felicito Virgilio Trinidad Jr. formally handed over his post to Brig. Gen. Gerry Barrientos in simple turnover rites Wednesday.

Suelto said Maj. Gen. Romulo Cabantac Jr., the acting Army commander, presided the turnover of command ceremony held in Camp Major Cesar Sang-an in Barangay Upper Pulacan, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur.

Key military officials and elected government officials attended the event.
Trinidad was designated last June 8 as the commander of the Northern Luzon Command.

 

Suelto said Barrientos pledged to support the government’s peace process as well as uphold respect for human rights.

Prior to his new assignment, Barrientos served as commander of the 102nd Infantry Brigade based in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay and as assistant division commander of the 4th Infantry Division based in Cagayan de Oro City.

The 102nd Infantry Brigade is one of the four brigades under the 1st Infantry Division.
 
As the division commander, Barrientos’ areas of responsibility cover the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay and Basilan and Zamboanga City.

http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2014/07/02/new-1st-infantry-division-commander-installed/

Soldier shot in Zamboanga City

From the Mindanao Examiner BlogSpot site (Jul 1): Soldier shot in Zamboanga City

A government soldier was wounded in a gun attack Tuesday in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines, police said.

Police said the soldier, a member of the army’s Task Force Zamboanga, was driving his pick-up truck with his child as the lone passenger when an unidentified gunman attacked him in the village of Taluksangay. The child was unharmed and rescued by residents.

The soldier was identified only by his rank and name as Staff Sergeant Hassan. Police said the wounded soldier also lost control of the truck and rammed a house, destroying its facade.

The soldier managed to seek help from an army detachment and was brought to the hospital.

No individual claimed responsibility for the attack, but police launched an investigation into the shooting.

http://www.mindanaoexaminer.net/2014/07/soldier-shot-in-zamboanga-city.html

Police file charges vs 2 NPA rebels

From the Mindanao Examiner BlogSpot site (Jul 1): Police file charges vs 2 NPA rebels

Police filed criminal charges against two communist rebels who were captured following a firefight with security forces in the town of Guipos in Zamboanga del Sur province in southern Philippines, officials said Tuesday.

Inspector Dahlan Samuddin, a regional police spokesman, said the cases against Wilfredo Dalumos and Edgar Cadilanza were filed in Pagadian City after soldiers and policemen recovered weapons and explosives from the duo who are members of the New People’s Army.

Samuddin said the two rebels were captured recently by members of the 2nd Maneuvering Company, Regional Public Safety Battalion 9 led by Senior Inspector Nijam Salim and 53rd Infantry Battalion led by Second Lieutenant Michael Paul Caspe in the village of Datagan.

The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines which has been fighting for the establishment of a separate state in the country.

http://www.mindanaoexaminer.net/2014/07/police-file-charges-vs-2-npa-rebels.html

Philippine town mayor killed in ambush

From the Mindanao Examiner BlogSpot site (Jul 2): Philippine town mayor killed in ambush



Google map of Impasug-ong town in Bukidnon province. (Mindanao Examiner)

Suspected communist rebels opened fire on a convoy carrying a town mayor and killing him in a daring assault in the southern Philippine province of Bukidnon, officials said.

Officials said Mayor Mario Okinlay, of Impasug-ong town, was inspecting a medical mission in the town when gunmen attacked his convoy near the village of Bontongon. He was rushed to hospital in Malaybalay City, but died along the way.

The motive of the attack was unknown, but the military was quick to blame the New People’s Army as behind the assault. Police have launched an investigation into the ambush, but no officials would say that the attack was connected to politics or not.

No other details were made available either by the military or the police about the attack.

There was no immediate statement from the NPA - which has been fighting for a separate communist state - on the military’s allegation about its involvement in the ambush.

http://www.mindanaoexaminer.net/2014/07/philippine-town-mayor-killed-in-ambush.html

Bemedalled general takes over 1st Infantry Division in Zamboanga Peninsula

From the Mindanao Examiner BlogSpot site (Jul 2): Bemedalled general takes over 1st Infantry Division in Zamboanga Peninsula



Brigadier General Gerardo Barrientos, Jr., new commander of the 1st Infantry Division in Zamboanga del Sur province, is welcomed upon his arrival at Camp Major Cesar Sang-an in Labangan town on Wednesday, July 2, 2014 in this photo by the Philippine Information Agency in Western Mindanao.

Brigadier General Gerardo Barrientos Jr has formally assumed Wednesday as commander of the 1st Infantry Division in Zamboanga del Sur province in southern Philippines.

Barrientos, who was the assistant commander of the 4th Infantry Division in Cagayan de Oro City in northern Mindanao, replaced Major General Virgilio Trinidad, who now heads the Northern Luzon Command.

Philippine Army acting chief Major General Romulo Cabantac, Jr. presided over the change of command held at the division headquarters at Camp Major Cesar Sang-an in Labangan town.

Barrientos, a bemedalled army officer, was among 48 generals and flag officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, promoted in March along with newly-appointed Philippine Army chief Major General Hernando Iriberri.

He previously commanded the 102nd Infantry Brigade in Zamboanga Sibugay province.

http://www.mindanaoexaminer.net/2014/07/bemedalled-general-takes-over-1st.html

‘Mad bomber’ to sow terror in Mindanao

From the Manila Times (Jul 1): ‘Mad bomber’ to sow terror in Mindanao

GOVERNMENT forces beefed up security forces in Mindanao following reports that a mad bomber would blow up several local offices here this month.

Ustadz Pendie Colano, chairman of the Selatan State Revolutionary Committee of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), identified the foreign-trained bomber as Abdul Basit Usman, alleged leader of Jemaah Islamiyah. He will reportedly carry out his “mission” together with two Pakistani and two Indonesian nationals.

Colano said the mad bomber would be joined by members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) headed by former Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Commander Ameril Umbrakato.

A BIFF insider who requested anonymity said Basit and his four companions have long planned blowing up several government offices since the Ramadan in 2012. They had to postpone their plans because of heavy government security.

He added that a number of MILF followers under the leadership of MILF Chairman Ibrahim Murad Al Haj would help Basit carry out his plans this month.

Region 12 Central Mindanao Philippine National Police Chief (PNP) Chief Superintendent Lester Camba, Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos City) regional police director, could not be reached for comment. Even General Santos City Police Senior Superintendent Froilan Quidilla refused to comment on the matter.

Colano said the previous series of bomb explosions in Maguindanao were the handiwork of Basit since no one else would dare plant explosives in nearby military installations.

“This holy month of Rama–dan is the time Basit and his four companions from Pakistan and Indonesia would strike. This will give the Muslim rebels and communists insurgents the opportunity to sow widespread fear and panic in various parts of Mindanao,” according to a reliable informant.

Government soldiers carrying machine guns mounted on military trucks have been sent to several areas in Maguindanao and in various military detachments in North Cotabato, Cotabato City, South Cotabato and Soccsksargen in preparation for rebel attacks.

Marines have also been deployed at private and government power installations like the National Power Corporation, Globe Telecom and Smart Communications as well as other potential targets of Basit’s group.

Checkpoints have also been established in all possible entry and exit points of the rebels, especially in the provinces of Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, Sarangani and General Santos City.

http://www.manilatimes.net/mad-bomber-to-sow-terror-in-mindanao/108226/

Japan military changes pacifist stance

Posted to the Manila Times (Jul 1): Japan military changes pacifist stance

TOKYO: Japan on Tuesday loosened the bonds on its powerful military, proclaiming the right to go into battle in defense of allies, in a highly controversial shift in the nation’s pacifist stance.

After months of political horsetrading and browbeating of opponents, conservative Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said his cabinet had formally endorsed a reinterpretation of rules that have banned the use of armed force except in very narrowly-defined circumstances.

“I will protect Japanese people’s lives and peaceful existence. As the prime minister, I have this grave responsibility. With this determination, the cabinet approved the basic policy for national security,” Abe told a press conference.

“There is a misunderstanding that Japan will be involved in war in an effort to defend a foreign country. But this is impossible. It will be strictly a defensive measure to defend our people,” he added.

Abe has faced down wide–spread public opposition to the move, which climaxed at the weekend when a middle-aged man attempted suicide by setting himself on fire.

While the move to allow so-called “collective self-defense” needs parliamentary approval, the control of both chambers that Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party enjoys renders this a formality.

Abe had originally planned to change Article 9 of the US-imposed constitution, which was adopted after World War II and renounces “the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.”

But unable to muster the two-thirds majority he needed in both houses and unlikely to get an endorsement from the public in the required referendum, he changed tack, using what opponents say is sleight of hand to alter what the clause means.

Supporters say the reinterpretation is necessary because of the worsening security situation in East Asia, where an ever more confident China is pushing its territorial claims and an erratic North Korea is threatening stability.

Under the new definition, Japanese troops will be able to come to the aid of allies—primarily the US—if they come under attack from a common enemy, even if Japan is not the object of the attack.

Examples pushed by the Abe camp have included a missile attack by North Korea on US forces in Guam; they say the shift would allow Japanese troops to shoot down the missile as it passes overhead, something presently not allowed.

Horror of war

 China has warned against the move, saying it opens the door to remilitarization of a country that is not sufficiently penitent for its actions in World War II.

Just ahead of the announcement Beijing said Japan was guilty of “stirring up troubles on historical issues.”

“It’s only natural for us to wonder if Japan is going to change its path of peaceful development that it has long pursued after the Second World War,” said a foreign ministry spokesman.

The Japanese administration rebuts this, saying the change will allow it to promote a notion which it has dubbed “proactive pacifism.”

But that will not entail involvement in military adventures overseas, such as in Afghanistan.

“There will be no change at all in our principle not to allow the dispatch of forces abroad,” Abe said.

http://www.manilatimes.net/japan-military-changes-pacifist-stance/108256/

MILF: Editorial -- Opportunity knocks only once

Editorial posted to the MILF Website (Jul 1): Opportunity knocks only once

Opportunity knocks on your doorsteps only once,” a famous adage always says. Do we believe in this?  We don’t know for others, but for us we do believe.
  

An opportunity is like running water in the river which will never return if you let it go. An opportunity that already knocked at you will never again knock same as the way it is. If it will knock again, it will be different.

Most of the time, the same opportunity will never come back. If it will and is the same as is, then you must be one of the luckiest persons. But we all know that life is not only about luck. According to some experts, luck is only 10% of success. That means, 90% of success depends on people.

The greatest opportunity for the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to settle the right to self-determination struggle of the Bangsamoro people is after they signed the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) in March this year. This agreement is an honest compromise between independence that the MILF always desires and government preference for token autonomy as in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). We do not know of any other framework agreement or any time in the future that this rare chance of a breakthrough will avail itself: most likely not in the lifetime of the current leadership of the MILF nor within the term of office of the next president sitting in the Palace.

If the two Parties do not grab this opportunity or if they fail by their own making, the future might change dramatically, not in the liking of the MILF, because it has already adopted a policy of staying engaged in the path of peace. But there are other armed groups or even the enviers who feast on the failure of the peace efforts.

But even without wanting to wash their “dirty linen” in the open, people’s minds are already wandering to suspect the comments made by the Office of the President (OP) especially its legal team on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) crafted by the MILF-led Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) as causing the delay. 

We do not want to confirm or deny this suspicion. The government and MILF have not opened much on this. The reason is not only for modesty sake, we are sure, but more importantly, it is the only right course of action.

Be this as it may, but what is threatening in this particular instance is the tightening timeline. The two parties have agreed to submit the BBL--- an agreed version, we believe --- to Congress on July 28 in time for the State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) of President Benigno Aquino III. In a negotiation, even a disagreement on a single verb or word takes hours for the Parties to settle. How much more for a thick document such as the BBL?

Let us just hope for the best and pray that they overcome their differences. After all, they have no other option except to agree.

http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/editorial/item/1064-opportunity-knocks-only-once

MILF: FSD, UNYPAD conduct campaign on UXOs risk education at combat zone areas

From the MILF Website (Jul 1): FSD, UNYPAD conduct campaign on UXOs risk education at combat zone areas



The Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (FSD) in partnership with the United Youth for Peace and Development (UNYPAD) Sulu provincial chapter conducted an education awareness campaign on the risk of Mines and Unexploded Ordnance or UXOs at Barangay Kaunayan, Patikul, Sulu on June 21, 2014.
  

The activity was facilitated by Mr. Carradine M. Abdulpatta, FSD facilitator, and a member of UNYPAD Sulu provincial chapter.

Jun Muha, Sulu Provincial Chairman Chapter of UNYPAD said, “Through proper coordination with barangay officials, community leaders and other stakeholders in the community, this activity was made possible.”

Mrs. Sitti Iyna Tani, Barangay Chairwoman of Kaunayan said, “Perhaps it is just a coincidence that while we are holding this activity, there is a military operations going on in nearby barangays.”

“We actually heard loud explosions from military artilleries but we still managed to conduct the activity,” Chairwoman Tani pointed out.

According to Mr. Muha, there are 17 women, 21 men and 13 Children participated in the awareness campaign. Patikul is known as Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) stronghold.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have conducted several surgical military operations in this area to run after ASG members resulting to deaths and wounding of some members of both sides and displacements of civilians.

In a separate development, Mr Ammier Dodo, advocacy officer of the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS) reported that during the fierce firefight between government troops and ASG members on June 21 at Buhanginan, Patikul, there were massive displacement of 70 families from Barangay Kantitap, 200 families from Barangay Kabantukas, and 270 families from Barangay Kanagi.

“So far only the DSWD distributed relief assistance to the IDPs,” Mr Dodo said.

“But those were not enough for their needs,” he said.  “They still need more assistance such as food, clothing, medicines and temporary shelters from other humanitarian organizations”, Mr Dodo pointed out.

According to Mr. Dodo, “Barangay Kanagi is the nearest community to a Philippine Marines camp and the villagers are restricted to go out a kilometer away from its perimeter radius to avoid any untoward incident,” he disclosed.

Meantime, the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) according to Mr. Muha were still in dire need of assistance especially during this month of Ramadan. “For the moment, it is really hard for them to return to their normal life due to that incident,” Mr. Muha said.

http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/1065-fsd-unypad-conduct-campaign-on-uxos-risk-education-at-combat-zone-areas

CPP: The Filipino people are not amused by King Aquino’s spectacle

Propaganda statement posted to the CPP Website (Jun 30): The Filipino people are not amused by King Aquino’s spectacle

Communist Party of the Philippines

 

Pork Barrel King Benigno Aquino III is putting up a public spectacle to entertain the people and draw away attention from his own culpability in the entire bureaucrat capitalist scam to rob the people.

Over the past ten days, King Aquino has effected the incarceration of two senators—Ramon Revilla Jr and Jinggoy Estrada—and their cohorts accused of pocketing kickbacks from pork barrel funds amounting to hundreds of millions of pesos. Another accused senator is set to be arrested in the next few days. To the great displeasure of the Filipino people, King Aquino has extended ruling-class courtesy to his fellow bureaucrat capitalists, in having the two arrested senators confined in comfortable dormitory-like rooms. Similar elite courtesy is expected to be extended to the elderly Enrile.

The arrest and detention of the politicians accused in the pork barrel scam were carried out by the Aquino regime soon after the involvement in the pork barrel scam of its key officials, namely Budget Secretary Florencio Abad and Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, was exposed; and disclosures that Aquino himself had close personal relations with accused pork barrel queen Janet Lim-Napoles.

Since March, the Aquino regime has been conducting negotiations with Napoles in order to have her stand as witness against the anti-Aquino politicians involved in the pork barrel scam. Its self-serving aim is to draw attention away from the involvement of Aquino and his officials in the pork barrel system of disbursing funds to preferred politicians.

Last June 12, at least 10,000 people marched through the streets of Metro Manila demanding the complete abolition of the pork barrel system. They demanded that King Aquino be made liable for the corrupt system of disbursing public funds under the Disbursement Acceleration Fund (DAP)—the presidential pork barrel—which Aquino disbursed to senators in his effort to ensure votes for the conviction and removal of former Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona.

King Aquino’s men have downplayed the significance of the June 12 demonstration. They ignore the fact that many of the prime movers of the large anti-pork barrel demonstrations of last year are now openly expressing discontent over the perpetuation of the pork barrel system under the Aquino regime. An increasingly broad segment of the Philippine middle class is becoming disenchanted amid worsening corruption in large government contracts being granted to big oligarchs supportive of the ruling Aquino clique. They continue to swell the ranks of the toiling masses who long have seen through the illusion of Aquino’s “matwid na daan”.

Aquino’s yellow army of media and public relations specialists has become wary of the rising tide of anti-Aquino protests, especially the participation of the middle class in street actions. Hoping to preempt the mounting anti-Aquino protests, Malacañang orchestrated the filing of plunder charges against senators Revilla and Estrada and their arrest and detention.
However, the Filipino people are not amused at the public spectacle being whipped up by Malacañang, knowing well that the pork barrel system remains in full operation under the direct control of King Aquino.

Numerous groups have questioned the constitutionality of King Aquino’s DAP pork barrel before the Supreme Court. It earlier promptly issued a populist decision against the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). Several months have already passed since. They Filipino people are increasingly becoming impatient over the failure of the Supreme Court to issue a decision on the DAP.

With Aquino’s appointee at the helm, the Supreme Court is expected to declare the DAP constitutional. To decide otherwise would to make Aquino vulnerable to impeachment. It is clearly wary of the people’s dissatisfaction over such prospects. It has been recently bared that Aquino’s appointees at the Supreme Court leaked a draft of its decision on the DAP to the Social Weather Stations (SWS) in order to measure public reaction to its decision. More than anything else, the upcoming Supreme Court decision on the DAP will be a political decision that seeks to serve the stability of the ruling Aquino regime.

The Filipino people are incensed that the 2015 budget submitted by Malacañang which is lined up with pork barrel funds. As has been the practice under the PDAF, Aquino’s budget department has asked congressmen and senators to list down projects which they would endorse. As before, Malacañang is set to allot P200 million for every senator and P70 million for every congressman.

King Aquino’s 2015 budget also implements the so-called Bottom-Up-Budgeting (BUB) system, devised by Aquino, in order to dangle pork barrel-type funds to local government units. It is reported that as much as P20 billion will be allotted for to such pork barrel funds to ensure the loyalty of local government officials.

Aquino’s adamant defense of the DAP, the PDAF-like allocations and BUB system in the 2015 budget show that he indeed is the Pork Barrel King. The Filipino people must continue to take hold of the initiative. They must not allow the Aquino regime to simply hoist one spectacle after another. They must wage all out political struggle by relentlessly opposing the DAP and the pork barrel system and exposing widespread corruption. Indeed, the Filipino people stand on solid ground in fighting to oust the Aquino regime.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/statements/20140630_the-filipino-people-are-not-amused-by-king-aquino-s-spectacle

CPP/NDF-KM: Labanan ang Pagtaas ng Matrikula sa UP! Ibasura ang STS! Tutulan ang Kumersiyalisasyon ng Edukasyon

NDF/KM propaganda statement posted to the CPP Website (Jul 1): Labanan ang Pagtaas ng Matrikula sa UP! Ibasura ang STS! Tutulan ang Kumersiyalisasyon ng Edukasyon

Ma. Laya Guerrero
Spokesperson
KM National Executive Committee

 

Mariing kinukundena ng Kabataang Makabayan ang pagtataksil ng gobyerno ni Aquino sa karapatan ng kabataan na magkaroon ng de-kalidad at abot-kayang edukasyon sa bansa. Ipinatupad ni Aquino at ng pamunuan ng UP ang mas mashol at kontra-estudyantent patakarang Socialized Tuition Scheme na nagtaas ng matrikula sa pamantasan sa P1,500 kada yunit.

Ang pagtaas ng matrikula sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas at iba pang State Colleges and Universities (SUCs) sa bansa ay tulak ng mga neoliberal na patakaran sa edukasyon. Ang pamamayagpag ng STS, kasama ang iba pang patakaran tulad ng Academic Calendar Shift at K to 12 ay dapat suriin bilang bungkos na atake ng neoliberal na opensiba sa edukasyon at gayundin, atake sa oryentasyon ng kabataan bilang pwersa ng pagbabago at pag-asa ng bayan.

Mito ng Sosyalisasyon

Unang ipinatupad noong 1989, kasabay ng STFAP ang naging pagtaas ng matrikula sa pamantasan mula sa P40 kada yunit tungo sa P300 kada yunit. At noong 2007, sa pagpapalit ng braketing ng diskwento sa matrikula, itinaas naman ang matrikula mula sa P300 tungo sa P1, 000 kada yunit.

Marso 2012, nang mapabalita ang pagpapakamatay ng isang freshman mula sa UP Manila, puspusang nalantad ng mga pagkilos ng mga estudyante ang malawak na disgusto laban sa bulok na patakaran ng STFAP. Malinaw ang mga panawagan ng mga estudyante na ibasura na ang STFAP dahil bigo itong gawing demokratiko ang akses sa edukasyon ng mga kabataan.

Ngunit, sa halip na dinggin ang makatarungang panawagan na ito, tusong nireporma ang STFAP tungo sa STS na nagtaas sa matrikula sa Unibersidad mula P1, 000 tungo sa P1,500 kada yunit.

Ang patarakan ng STS ay nagpapakalat ng maling ideya hinggil sa “sosyalisasyon.” Pilit nitong pinaniniwala ang estudyante at mamamayan na makatarungan ang distribusyon, o pagkakahati-hati o apropriasyon sang-ayon sa kakayanang magbayad ng matrikula. Ang sosyalisasyon sa ilalim ng STS ay postura lamang, ang aktwal na programa ay mas sistematikong huthutan ng pera ang mamamayan, mas pumiga ng kita mula sa kanila (pumalo sa P1.2BN ang kinita na ng UP mula sa pagtataas ng matrikula at iba pang bayarin sa mga nagdaang taon), at lalo pang pasahulin ang sistema ng kumersyalisasyon ng edukasyon sa bansa.

Malinaw na ang STFAP at ang STS ay pagtatabing lamang sa hangarin na itaas ang matrikula at iba pang bayarin sa pamantasan. Higit dito, binibigyang-matwid ng patakarang ito, ang patuloy at papasidhing kumersyalisasyon ng edukasyon. Hangga’t nakakapamayani ang kumersyalisasyon, patuloy na titindi ang pagtataas ng matrikula at pagpapabaya ng estado sa sektor ng edukasyon.

Kontra-Estudyanteng Student Code, Inaprubahan ng mga Rehente

Kapwa kailangang labanan ang kontra-estudyanteng student code na inaprubahan ng Board of Regents ng pamantasan noong ika-30 ng Hunyo.
Nilalaman ng student code na ito ang batayang mga paglabag sa karapatang mag-organisa, magpahayag at magprotesta. Ilang taon na din nanawagan at lumalaban ang mga Iskolar ng Bayan na ibasura ang student code na ito. Lubhang tuso at mapanganib ang mga probisyon na nagbabawal sa “breach of peace.” Sinasaklaw nito ang simpleng pagbabawal sa pag-iingay hanggang sa pagbabawal sa mga protesta at pagkilos sa loob ng pamantasan. Sa gayon, ito ay bulnerable sa abuso ng administrasyon at maaaring abusuhin para busalan ang mga estudyante, lalo pa’t kung nagpapahayag ang mga ito ng mga pananaw na kritikal sa lipunan.

Sa esensiya nilalayon ng student code na supilin ang mga batayang karapatan ng mga estudyante para di-umano disiplinahin ang mga ito. Pero sa aktwal, ito ay pagkitil at pagwawalang-bahala sa batayang karapatan na napagwagian sa mga makasaysayang sagupaan, tulad na lamang noong dekada ’70 na nagluwal sa MND-LFS Accord kung saan kinilala ng estado ang batayang karapatan ng mga estudyante sa organisasyon, publikasyon, konseho, atbp. Ang pakikibaka na ito ay kinilala kahit ng mga reaksiyunaryong institustyon at itinatak sa mga pahina ng Konstitusyon ng bansa at pandaigdigang kasunduan kahit ng United Nations.

Isabuhay ang Diwa’t Esensiya ng Pagiging Iskolar ng Bayan

Ang pagtatayo at pagkalinga sa pampublikong paaralan at pamantasan sa bansa ay katumbas ng pagtitiyak ng pwersa ng bayan na may pagtatangi sa pagtatayo ng mga pambansang industriya, maglilinang sa pambansang kultura, magtataguyod ng ekonomiyang malaya’t nakakatindig-sa-sarili.

Ang patuloy na pag-abandona ng estado sa sektor ng edukasyon ay buod ng kanyang pagpapabaya sa kinabukasan ng bayan. Ang patuloy na pagpapatupad ng neoliberal na patakaran ay nagtutulak din ng denasyunalisasyon, lalo na sa hanay ng kabataan.

Plano pa ngayon ng rehimeng US-Aquino ang mas laganap na pagpapabaya, pagsasara, pagiging financially independent ng maraming SUCs sa bansa sa ilalim ng programa nitong Road Map for Public Higher Education Reform o RPHER. Kaakibat nito ang pagpwersa sa maraming kabataan na mag-aply sa mga Student Financial Assistance Programs (STuFAPs) ng CHED para di-umano ay makatamasa ng edukasyon sa kolehiyo.

Ginagawa nitong pansarili ang interes sa edukasyon, sa halip na kolektibo at pambansang interes. Tinutulak nito ang mga kabataan na magkumpetisyon para sa kani-kanilang akses sa edukasyon upang mabulag ang mga ito sa katotohanan ng pagpapabaya ng estado. Sa huli, masasaid ang politikal na kamalayan ng kabataan na kalingain ang kanyang sariling bayan, at sa halip, magtrabaho para sa pansariling kasaganaan at kaginhawaan.

Ibinabalik natin ang batayang oryentasyon ng kabataan bilang isang sandatang pinapanday para maging armas ng pagbabagong-panlipunan. Sa gitna ng mga atakeng ito, dapat magkaisa ang kabataan at direktang tunggaliin ang mga patakarang ito. Dapat yanigin ng mga dumadagundong na hakbang ng pagkakaisa ang estado para kilalanin ang pwersa ng kabataan. Dapat mapagpasyang suuingin ang mga welgang pangkampus at mga walk-out para ipamalas ang malawak na disgusto ng kabataan, isanib sa iba’t ibang isyu ng mamamayan at ilundo sa ika-apat na SONA ni Aquino. Dapat puspusang ilantad ang arogansiya at kapabayaan ni Aquino sa kabataan at mamamayan, at gawin itong bala para kitilin ang bulok at naghaharing sistema.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/statements/20140701_labanan-ang-pagtaas-ng-matrikula-sa-up-ibasura-ang-sts-tutulan-ang-kumersiyalisasyon-ng-edukasyon

CPP/NDF-KM: Ikasa ang malawak at masidhing paglaban sa 830% pagtaas ng matrikula sa PUP; Ibasura ang neoliberal na patakaran ng Rehimeng US-Aquino sa edukasyon

NDF/KM propaganda statement posted to the CPP Website (Jul 1): Ikasa ang malawak at masidhing paglaban sa 830% pagtaas ng matrikula sa PUP; Ibasura ang neoliberal na patakaran ng Rehimeng US-Aquino sa edukasyon

Ma. Laya Guerrero
Spokesperson
KM National Executive Committee

 

Naglalagablab sa galit ang mga Iskolar ng Bayan ng Politeknikong Unibersidad ng Pilipinas matapos matuklasan ang panukala ng pamunuan ng pamantasan na itaas ang matrikula sa P100 kada yunit mula P12 kada yunit. Hindi pa kasama ang miscellaneous fees na aabot sa P3, 000 at iba pang bayarin tuwing enrollment na aabot sa P555. Sumatotal, huhuthot ng halos P5, 655 ang PUP sa bawat estudyante na may kabuuang 21 yunit kada semestre.

Katumbas ito ng pagtataboy ng PUP sa mga anak ng maralitang magsasaka at manggagawa na halos igapang na ang pag-aaral ng kani-kanilang anak, sa panahon na hindi maampat ang pagtaas ng presyo ng batayang bilihin tulad na lamang ng pagkain, habang nakapako sa di-nakabubuhay ang sahod.
Sa isang sulat na pirmado mismo ng presidente ng pamantasan, iginigiit nito sa BOR ang standardization (o pagkakapare-pareho) ng halaga ng matrikula sa mga sumusunod na programa:

1. Baccalaureate Program: P3, 000 kada semestre;
2. Associate Program: P1, 500 kada semestre
3. 3-Year Diploma Program: P250/yunit (hindi pa kasali ang miscellaneous fees)

Kasama rin sa mungkahing maaprubahan ng Board of Regents- ang pinakamataas na kapulungang nagpapasya sa mga polisiya ng pamantasan- ang 830% pagtaas ng matrikula sa mga sumusunod na kampus: Cabigo (Nueva Ecija), Calauan (Laguna), General Luna (Quezon), Pulilan (Bulacan), San Juan City, San Pedro (Laguna), Sta. Maria (Bulacan), at Sta. Rosa (Laguna). Mula sa P12/yunit ang mga estudyante sa mga kampus na ito, kapag naaprubahan, ay magbabayad na ng P100/yunit simula sa susunod na akademikong taon.

Sa kasalukuyan may 4 na mga kampus sa ilalim ng PUP na naniningil nang labis sa P12 kada yunit. Sa Binan, Laguna halimbawa, umaabot ang matrikula sa katakut-takot na halaga ng P5, 000 kada semestre. Sa Bansund, Mindoro Oriental naman, aabot sa P2, 500 kada semestre ang matrikula. Habang ang Parañaque at Sabayan, Mindoro Occidental kampus naman ay naningil ng P1,500 kada estudyante, kada semestre.

Nais di-umano ng pamunuan ng PUP nag awing pare-pareho ang sinisingil na matrikula sa lahat ng pamantasan. May bentahe sa ilang kampus, ngunit mas mapanalasa sa mas marami. Malinaw na ang pakanang standardization na ito ay pagtataas ng matrikula.

Ang mungkahing pagtataas ng matrikula ay kaakibat ng iba pang bayarin tulad na lamang ng SIS fee, PE Uniform fee, at bungkos ng miscellaneous fees na layong paghuthutan ang mga estudyante.

Ang pagkakanlong ni Aquino sa isang kumersyalisadong tipo ng edukasyon ay nagbibigay-katwiran sa di mapatid na lubid ng mga bayarin sa mga pamantasan.

Agad na umalingawngaw ang panawagan para sa protesta sa loob ng PUP at maging sa social networking sites. Ilang mga estudyante ang nagpahayag na handa silang lumaban para panatilihing P12/yunit ang matrikula sa pamantasan.

Agad naman na-depensiba ang pamunuan ng PUP, at naglabas ng pahayag na hindi itataas ang matrikula, sa katunayan, ay ibaba ito sa nasabing mga kampus na labis ang singil sa P12/yunit.

Ngunit hindi ito sapat para maapula ang galit ng mga estudyante. Tuloy ang protesta ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan! Pangunahin para tiyakin na hindi masisilat sa kabataan ang abot-kayang edukasyon na ilang-ulit na nilaban sa mga makasaysayang protesta, ngunit, lalo’t higit para sa malawak na hanay ng kabataang Pilipino na patuloy na nakikibaka laban sa kumersyalisadong tipo ng edukasyon.

Pinanday ang mga Iskolar ng Bayan ng PUP ng mga aral ng kilusang demokratiko simula pa dekada ’70. Sila rin mismo ay nakapagpamalas ng mapagpasyang pagsagupa sa balaking itaas ng 2000% ang matrikula noong 2010. Dumulo ang galit at disgusto ng mga estudyante sa pagsusunog ng mga sira-sirang silya at iba pang bulok na pasilidad ng pamantasan, dahil sawang-sawa na sila sa kapabayaan ng gobyerno sa kabataan. Kinasuhan ang mga lokal na lider estudyante noon, pero hindi ito naging hadlang para lalong sumidhi ang mga protesta hanggang sa ganap na pagtatagumpay nito.

Malinaw na dahil sa matalas na aplikasyon ng linyang masa, nabuklod ang mga estudyante sa iisang panawagan, at iisang disenyo ng paglaban. Kasabay nito, ang libo-libong bilang ng estudyante na napapabatiran ng matalas na pagsusuri laban sa pamamayagpag ng neoliberal na patakaran sa edukasyon. Mahusay ang pamumuno ng mga lider ayon sa ikid ng sitwasyon at maagap na nakikipagkaisa sa malawak na hanay ng estudyante. Nagdisenyo rin ng iba’t ibang mukha at anda-andanang pagpapakilos para mamulat ang marami lalo na ang napanghuhuling bahagi ng populasyon ng estudyante.

Sa pagsisindi sa serye ng protesta ngayong araw, muling hinahamon ang kabataan at Iskolar ng Bayan na matalinong pamunuan ang laban na ito. Ang mahigpit na pagtangan sa linyang masa at estilo ng paggawa na nakaugat sa masa ay pundamental sa inaasam na pananagumpay.

Ang pagsabak sa laban at ganap na pananagumpay ay isang hakbang pasulong sa magiging ambag ng kilusang kabataan at estudyante sa nagpapatuloy at sumisidhing paglaban, paglalantad at pagtatakwil kay Aquino. Malaking ambag ito sa pagsisindi ng dumadagundong na mga kilos-protesta sa lansangan sa batayan ng kataksilan ni Aquino sa kabataan at bayan, sa pananatili nito bilang tapat na tuta ng Imperyalistang Estados Unidos.

 http://www.philippinerevolution.net/statements/20140701_ikasa-ang-malawak-at-masidhing-paglaban-sa-830-pagtaas-ng-matrikula-sa-pup-ibasura-ang-neoliberal-na-patakaran-ng-rehimeng-us-aquino-sa-edukasyon