Condemn the Aquino regime and AFP for the military occupation and terrorizing of civilian communities in Eastern Visayas

Fr. Santiago “Ka Sanny” Salas
NDFP-Eastern Visayas
Septyembre 28, 2013

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines in Eastern Visayas condemns the Aquino regime and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for the military occupation and terrorizing of civilian communities in the region under Oplan Bayanihan. These violations of international humanitarian law and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) between the GPH and NDFP lay bare the fascist state terrorism behind Oplan Bayanihan's sugarcoating of “peace and development.” There are already residents of some communities who have trooped to the mass media to express their fear and anger at the 8th Infantry Division's impunity. There are certainly more cases that have yet to reach human rights advocates and the media.

Residents of Brgy. Robas, Jaro, Leyte exposed last Sept. 22 over the radio that the “peace and development” team of the 19th IB is currently based in the middle of the barrio in violation of international humanitarian law and the CARHRIHL. Moreover, the soldiers harassed and intimidated the residents that the military would get back at the civilians if something happened in their operations. Indeed, after the New People's Army (NPA) ambushed the soldiers last Sept. 14 at the barrio outskirts,  the soldiers indiscriminately strafed the then unoccupied house of a civilian and even damaged nearby streetlights. After an earlier NPA tactical offensive last December 2012, a habal-habal (motorcycle-for-fire) driver was also summarily executed by the 19th IB on the mere suspicion he participated in the NPA tactical offensive.

Dapat igiit ng mamamayan ang pagtanggal sa pork barrel at ang pagwawakas sa korapsyon at bulok na sistema

Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas
Setyembre 27, 2013

Translation: People must press with demands to abolish pork barrel and end the corrupt and rotten system
Sa nakaraang ilang linggo, ipinahayag ng sambayanang Pilipino ang kanilang disgusto sa malawakang korapsyon sa paggamit sa pondong pork barrel at sa kabulukan ng buong naghaharing sistema. Naglunsad sila ng mga aksyong protesta at nagsagawa ng iba pang anyo ng protestang masa sa iba't ibang panig ng bansa. Ang ilang linggo nang pagtutuloy-tuloy ng mga aksyong masa at inaasahan lalo pang paggulong ng mga ito sa mga susunod pang linggo't mga buwan ay tanda ng lawak ng disgusto at pagkadismaya sa mga pangako ni Aquino ng repormang "mabuting pamamahala."

Nais ng sambayanang Pilipino ang pagtatanggal ng tinaguriang Priority Development Assistance Fund (ang pork barrel ng kongreso), ang Presidential Social Fund at ang iba pang di-nakaprogramang pondo kung saan ang paggasta ay nasa kapasyahan ng naghaharing pangkatin sa Malacañang. Hindi sila nagpalinlang sa pormal na pagtanggal ng PDAF.

People must press with demands to abolish pork barrel and end the corrupt and rotten system

Communist Party of the Philippines
September 27, 2013

Over the past several weeks, the Filipino people have expressed their disgust over widespread corruption in the use of pork barrel funds as well as with the rottenness of the entire ruling system. They have launched protest actions and conducted other forms of mass protest in various parts of the country. That the mass actions have been sustained for several weeks now and are set to further snowball in the coming weeks indicate the extent of the people's disgust and disenchantment over Aquino's promises of "good government" reforms.

The Filipino people have sought the abolition of the so-called Priority Development Assistance Fund (the congressional pork barrel), the Presidential Social Fund and other unprogrammed funds whose disbursement is subject to the discretion of the ruling clique in Malacañang. They are not fooled by the formal abolition of the PDAF.

Pambungad na pananalita sa Kumperensya Hinggil sa Demokrasya, Pagpapasya-sa-Sarili at Paglaya ng Mamamayan,European Parliament, Brussels, BelgiumAng pakikibaka ng sambayanang Pilipino para sa pambansa at panlipunang paglaya

Luis Jalandoni
NDFP Chief International Representative
Setyembre 23, 2013

Translation: The Filipino people’s struggle for national and social liberation

Ang sambayanang Pilipino, tulad rin ng iba pang inaapi at pinagsasamantalahang mamamayan ay naghahangad ng tunay na demokrasya, pagpapasya-sa-sarili at paglaya. Ang malalim na hangaring ay ipinamamalas sa mahabang tradisyon ng pakikibaka laban sa dayuhan at lokal na mga mapang-api at mapagsamantala.

Sa loob ng 333 taon ng kolonyal na paghahari ng Spain sa Pilipinas, mula 1565 hanggang 1898, mahigit 200 pag-aalsa ang inilunsad ng sambayanang Pilipino. Nag-alsa sila laban sa pangangamkam ng lupa, sa pagpapataw ng tributo, pwersahang paggawa at sapilitang pagrerekluta sa aramdong pwersang Espanyol. Ang mga pag-aalsa ay mayroong iba't ibang saklaw at haba. Ang pinakamahaba ay ang 85 taong armadong pag-aalsa ng mamamayan ng Bohol mula 1744-1829.

The Filipino people's struggle for national and social liberation

Opening speech at the Conference on Democracy, Self-Determination and Liberation of Peoples
European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium
 
Luis G. Jalandoni
Chief International Representative, NDFP
23 September 2013

The Filipino people, like all other oppressed and exploited peoples, aspire for genuine democracy, self-determination, and liberation. This profound aspiration has expressed itself in a long tradition of struggle against foreign and local oppressors and exploiters.

During the 333 year colonial rule of Spain over the Philippines, from 1565 to 1898, more than 200 revolts were launched by the Filipino people. They rose up against the grabbing of their lands, the imposition of tribute, forced labor and conscription into the Spanish armed forces. The revolts were of varying scope and length. The longest was the 85-year revolt of the people of Bohol from 1744-1829.

Tropang 31st IB at 903rd Infantry Brigade ng Philippine Army, pinagtatakpan ang palpak at bigo na operasyong militar laban sa BHB

Ka Samuel Guerrero
Celso Minguez Command - NPA-Sorsogon
Setyembre 25, 2013

Muling naglubid ng inembentong kasinungalingan ang 31st IB at ang 903rd Bde ng Phil. Army upang pagtakpan ang kanilang pagkatalo sa palpak na operasyong militar laban sa CMC-BHB. Ang palpak na lakas-batalyon na operasyong militar ng 31st IBPA ay inilunsad sa mga bayan ng Juban, Magallanes at Bulan, Sorsogon mula noong Setyembre 15 hanggang sa kasalukuyan.

Ang sagasa, padaskol-daskol at hambog na pagkubkob ng 31st IB laban sa BHB ay nagresulta sa tatlong labanan. Ang mga labanang ito ay naganap noong alas-4 ng hapon sa Brgy. Dolos, Bulan at alas 9 ng gabi sa Brgy. Lapinig ng Magallanes noong Setyembre 21 at noong Setyembre 22, alas-3 ng hapon sa Brgy. Calmayon, Juban, Sorsogon. Sa mga labanang ito, nagtamo ng malaking kaswalti ang tropang 31st IB. Ayon sa paabot ng isang kaibigan ng Celso Minguez Command na myembro ng Sorsogon Police Provincial Office, umabot sa labingpito (17) ang bilang ng sugatan at napatay sa serye ng mga labanang ito.

Hold Aquino responsible for rights violations in Zamboanga siege, CPP urges

Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines
September 25, 2013

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today urged the Filipino people, especially the people of Zamboanga, to hold the Aquino regime responsible for grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the course of its siege against the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) which employed excessive force, endangered the lives of hundreds of thousands of civilians and caused destruction to property and the people's livelihoods.

The CPP issued this statement as the AFP siege against the MNLF reached its 15th day with no end in sight. The AFP has carried out air strikes, bombings and strafings which have resulted in massive destruction to property and public infrastructure.

Operasyong haras inilunsad ng BHB laban sa 2nd IBPA

Florante Orobia
Binamera Command - NPA-Albay
Setyembre 24, 2013

Inilunsad ng isang tim ng Bagong Hukbong Bayan ang operasyong haras laban sa tropa ng 2nd IBPA na nagpapatrolya sa Brgy. Maninila, Calamig, Albay nitong Setyembre 24, 2013, alas-10 ng umaga. Ang isang iskwad ng 2nd IBPA na naglulunsad ng "patrol operation" ay nagsilbing 'security force' ng isang 'civil-military operation' (CMO) na inilunsad ng 2nd IBPA kasabay ang PNP at Phil. Navy sa parehong baranggay.

Ang civil-military operations sa anyo ng 'medical mission' na inilunsad sa Brgy. Maninila ay bahagi ng yugto ng konsolidasyon ng operasyong SOT o PDT (Peace and Development Team). Inilulunsad ng 2nd IBPA ang SOT o PDT sa ilang kulompon ng mga baranggay sa saklaw ng mga bayan ng Camalig, Daraga at Jovellar mula Hunyo 2013 hanggang sa kasalukuyan. Ang mga 'civil-military operations' ay naglilinlang sa mamamayan sa pamamagitan ng mga pakitang-taong aktibidad na nagkukunwaring nagbibigay ng serbisyo sa mamamayan ngunit sa katotohanan ay nagsisilbi sa layuning pang-kombat at 'intelligence gathering' ng tropang militar.

Lehitimong target militar ng Bagong Hukbong Bayan ang alinman sa tropang 2nd IBPA na nagpatrolya at naglunsad ng 'civil-military operations' sa Brgy. Maninila, Camalig, Albay.

RCTU on Victorious Coca Cola Strike: Take back the power of strikes! Amplify our fight for our economic and political rights!

Fortunato Magtanggol
Revolutionary Council of Trade Unions (Southern Tagalog)
September 24, 2013

The Revolutionary Council of Trade Unions-National Democratic Front-Southern Tagalog (RCTU-NDF-ST) salutes the workers under the Unyon ng Manggagawang Driver, Forklift Operator, at Picker (UMDFP-IND) of the Coca Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc. – Sta. Rosa Plant for a victorious strike launched in May. The collective action that was directed at the heart of the capitalist’s interests has once again proven that workers are indeed the decisive force in production.

As the memorandum of agreement nears implementation this October, the RCTU-NDF-ST reminds and urges workers to fearlessly fight the worsening working conditions under the US-Aquino regime, take back the power of strikes, and track the revolutionary road that will bring them genuine victory in the fight for a society without capitalist oppression.

On Pork Barrel Scam: Aquino, mastermind of corrupt agencies and officials

Fortunato Magtanggol
Revolutionary Council of Trade Unions (Southern Tagalog)
September 24, 2013
 
The Revolutionary Council of Trade Unions-Southern Tagalog (RCTU-ST), an allied organization of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), joins the Filipino people in calling for the abolition of all forms of pork and ending of a systemic corruption, and names Benigno Simeon Aquino III as the ‘biggest mastermind of corrupt agencies and officials’ under his administration.

On March 2013, Benhur Luy, whistleblower of the 10B pork scam, fertilizer funds scam, and Malampaya funds scam, was rescued from illegal detention in a condominium unit. Apparently, Janet Napolesm who is now being criticized and detained for being involved in the billion-worth pork barrel scam, held Luy captive. Napoles is behind a number of fictitious NGOs are where a huge chunk of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), popularly known as the Pork Barrel Fund, has been allocated for years.

Confront Obama’s visit with protests

ANG BAYAN, 21 September 2013

CPP Ang Bayan

Download PDF in Pilipino The Filipino people must stand firmly and confront with mass protests the visit of US imperialist chieftain Barack Obama on October 11-12 and the planned signing of an agreement allowing the US military to more thoroughly use the Philippines as a military base.

Cries of protest must reverberate against the Aquino regime's all-out subservience to the US government. The Filipino people must protest the rapid degradation of Philippine sovereignty under the Aquino regime, which has exhibited utter obsequiousness to the foreign policy dictates of the US government in support of the US' strategic aim of "pivoting" towards Asia.

Since declaring this shift, the US has been forging various arrangements with the Aquino regime and the governments of Japan, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, India and others to allow US warships to routinely dock in their countries and have access to air and seaport facilities.

Rise in mass protest against Obama October visitAng Bayan in Video

Video
Ang Bayan
September 23, 2013

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lb-PW9-hTQA

The Filipino must firmly stand and rise up against the visit of US imperialist chieftain Barrack Obama on October 11-12 and the planned signing of the framework agreement to allow the US military to more thoroughly use the Philippines as a military base.

The CPP calls on the Filipino people to raise their voices in protest over the all-out subservience of the Aquino regime to the US government in providing the US military unrestricted access to Philippine facilities. The CPP urges the Filipino people to protest the rapid degradation of Philippine sovereignty under the Aquino regime. The Aquino regime has exhibited utter obsequiousness to the foreign policy dictates of the US government in support of the US’ strategic aim of “pivoting” towards Asia.

Detachment sa Lantad, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental, gireyd sa NPA, 12 ka armas nasakmit!

Allan Juanito
NPA- North Central Mindanao Regional Command
Setyembre 23, 2013

Malampuson nga nareyd sa New People’s Army- Eastern Misamis Oriental- Northeastern Bukidnon Subregional Command ang CAA-Army Detachment sa Sitio Lantad, Brgy. Kibanban, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental, Setyembre 22, 2013 mga bandang ala 1:00-3:00 sa kaadlawon. Nasakmit sa pag-atake ang 12 ka haypawer nga armas ug uban pang kahimanang militar. Sa maong pag-atake, lima ang patay ug laing upat pa ang nasamdan sa tampi sa pasistang tropa. Sa pikas bahin, walay kaswalidad nga nahiagoman ang panig sa NPA.

Bunga sa tukma nga paniktik ug suporta sa mga masa, namaksimisa sa mga kauban ang bulhang nga bahin sa detachment kung asa walay nagbantay. Surpresa nga nasulod sa assaulting unit sa NPA ang kinural nga detachment ug ang mga nakalitang Cafgu ug regular nga sundalo walay nahimo gawas sa paghapa. Apan dunay pipila kanila ang nakasukol busa nahigayon ang sinukliay og bala.

Pag-release kang Cpl. Salman Abas – POW sa NPA sa Agusan del Sur

Ka Cesar Renerio
NDF-North Central Mindanao Region
Setyembre 22, 2013

Ubos sa pagmando ug pagpadangat sa order of release sa National Democratic Front- North Central Mindanao Region, gipahigayon karong adlawa ang pagrelease kang Corporal Abas.   Niadtong Agosto 8, 2013, naaresto  si Corporal Abas sa Km.25, Side-2, Mahayahay, San Luis, Agusan del Sur sa gimontar nga NPA checkpoint samtang nagpadulong sa detachment sa Binicalan kung asa nag-duty siya isip assistant cadreman ni Benhur Mansulonay.  Gihuptan siya sa usa ka yunit sa New People’s Army sa Front 88 isip prisoner of war sulod sa kapin usa ka bulan.

Pagkubkob ng 31st IBPA, matagumpay na binigo ng Bagong Hukbong Bayan

Samuel Guerrero
Celso Minguez Command - NPA-Sorsogon
Setyembre 22, 2013

Matagumpay na binigo ng isang yunit ng Celso Minguez Command - Bagong Hukbong Bayan ang kubkob ng 31st IBPA nitong Setyembre 21 at 22 ng kasalukuyang taon. Mula pa Setyembre 15, 2013, tuluy-tuloy na naglunsad ng 'batallion-size' na operasyong kombat ang 31st IBPA upang kubkubin ang yunit ng BHB sa mga 'interior baranggays' ng bayan ng Juban, Magallanes at Bulan, Sorsogon.

Unang nabigo ang pagkubkob ng isang kumpanya ng 31st IBPA sa nakahimpil na yunit ng CMC-BHB sa Brgy. Dolos, Bulan, Sorsogon nitong Setyembre 21, 2013, alas-4 ng hapon. Sa aktwal na labanan, dalawang elemento ng 31st IBPA ang agad na napatay dahil napasabugan sila ng mga bombang 'command-detonated' habang papalapit sa pusisyon ng mga kasama.

Rebolusyon ang tubag sa Martial Law

Jorge “Ka Oris” Madlos
NDFP-Mindanao
Setyembre 21, 2013

Atol sa ika-41 ngatuig sa paghandum sa Balaod Militar karong adlawa, saksi kita sa nagapadayon nga pasismo ug kalapasan sa tawhanong katungod sa tibuok nasud ubos sa dili-deklaradong balaud military pinaagi sa Oplan Bayanihan sa rehimeng US-Aquino III.  Human mapalagpot si Marcos, gipadayon sa tanang misunod nga mga rehimen ang palisiya sa pasismo aron mapabilin ang ilang bangis nga paghari.  Busa sa panahon man ni diktador Marcos o sa kasamtangang reaksyonaryong rehimen,  tukma ang awhag nga armadong rebolusyon ang tubag sa balaud military tungod kay taliwala niini nga kahimtang dili maangkon sa katawhang Pilipino ang katilingbanong hustisya ug tinuod nga kalinaw.

Partikular sa Mindanao, tungod sa mga clearing operations sa AFP sa kabukiran alang sa mga kompanya sa mina ug plantasyon, napugos pagbakwit ang mga mag-uuma ug lumad gikan sa ilang mga komunidad ug yutang kabilin. Kanunay silang nahasi ug nalisang sa paturagas nga pagpanganyon ug pagpamomba sa kahanginan sa  AFP, pagpangdagmal ug pagpangdaot sa mga tanom. Kabahinniiniang  COPD aron maghimog saywar ug pagpang-intriga sa mga masa sa mg akabaryohan.

Martial Law continues under the US-Aquino regime

Cesar Renerio
NDFP-NCMR
September 21, 2013

Today is the 41st year since the declaration of martial law, marking the 14-year dark period of our nation’s history under the fascist US-Marcos dictatorship. We also call to mind the heroic anti-dictatorship struggle of the Filipino people, who offered many lives and endured countless hardships, that culminated with the overthrow the infamous dictator in a people’s EDSA uprising in 1986. The heroes of the anti-dictatorship struggle, including those nameless and faceless martyrs from the ranks of the oppressed and exploited classes, are memoriaized in the hearts and minds of each Filipino carrying on the torch of resistance against the undeclared martial law of the incumbent US-Aquino regime.

Oplan Bayanihan is the US-Aquino regime’s counterrevolutionary program with an ambitious aim of totally quelling the people’s revolutionary struggle by the end of his term. Under Oplan Bayanihan, the AFP, paramilitary forces and the PNP are constantly strengthened in order to repress the people. Intelligence, psy-war and massive military combat operations in the countryside are being intensified. In urban areas, the presence of armed police and military forces, armed security guards and SCAA is maintained; demolition teams violently tear down entire urban poor communities; and authorities chase poor vendors outside marketplaces or on sidewalks. Even peaceful rallies and demonstrations expressing the people’s legitimate grievances and issues are countered with police brutality.

The Moro people must continue to wage armed revolution as well as open militant mass movement in the struggle for the right to self-determination

Jorge "Ka Oris" Madlos
NDFP-Mindanao
September 20, 2013

Another grim chapter of the Moro people’s struggle is about to close as the combined, far-superior reactionary armed forces of the US-Aquino regime supported by US surveillance and logistics subdued and successfully vanquished the outnumbered, ill-equipped, ill-supplied forces of the MNLF, which relied only on very minimal mass support.  What is supposed to be just a show of force by Nur Misuari -- using the MNLF forces to dramatize his long lost cause and get concessions from the GPH and the Arab world to grant them their share of crumbs in the on-going “peace process” between the GPH and the MILF -- is now added to the Bud Daho, Bud Bagsak, Jabiddah and Buldon carnages.


The reckless and futile attempt of Nur Misuari and the overkill reaction of the Aquino regime cost not only billions of pesos in damage to properties and the economy in general, but, more appallingly, the lives of nearly a hundred innocent civilians and MNLF forces, including GPH mercenary troops, displacing over a hundred thousand people.

The shameless, calculated carnage perpetrated by the Aquino government, designed to divert the national attention away from the pork barrel scandal, only partly succeeded because the people’s ire against the complicity of the current regime is too reprehensible to be buried by the state’s display of ruthlessness in Zamboanga City.  We condemn the US-Aquino regime’s naked militarist brutality, particularly in handling the Zamboanga crises with an overly huge number of both AFP and PNP troops. We also condemn the GPH’s aerial bombing and strafing by military aircraft against the MNLF fighters who were clearly among the civilians, demonstrating the Aquino government’s disregard for the safety of the civilians and violating the Protocols of War.

Nur Misuari cannot wash his hands and deny his role in the fiasco, especially not when his own ambitions have gamely trifled with the lives of heroic Moro forces, and have disingenuously planted false hopes on the minds of the Moro people over what he declared last August 12 as “Bangsamoro Republic.”

The US military intervention thru its spy drone and logistical support during the siege was a gross violation of the Filipino people’s sovereignty. The US, we imagine, is only too happy with this development because it lends credence to its increased presence in the country and in the Asia-Pacific region, further bolstering its chances to push, without much impediment, its interests in Mindanao, especially in Moro areas. This scenario, if anything, assures Benigno Aquino’s US imperialist boss control of the island’s natural resources, such as the Liguasan marsh, as well as unconstrained facility and basing rights in both land and sea.

Until the reactionary regime provides the condition requisite for genuine autonomy or self-determination of the Moro people, history would only repeat itself. The reactionary regime’s divide-and-rule tactic would merely delay the fruition of the true aspirations of the Moro people, and we are most certain that, should the GPH succeed to encumber one group, others would rise in its place to continue the struggle to resolve the fundamental problems of the Moro people. It could be recalled that the MILF split from the MNLF, and presently, the BIFF from the MILF, which occurred for the reason that the MILF, quite similar to how it gauged the MNLF before it, has thrust under compromise the demands and interests of the Moro people.

Unless it becomes clear that the struggle of the Moro people is part of the national-democratic revolution and, united, they take this path, all the 13 different Moro tribes will continue to remain vulnerable to the divide-and-rule tactic of the US-Aquino regime.  And while the Moro leadership continues to ignore genuine agrarian reform advocacy on Bangsamoro land and refuse to fight against foreign intervention, particularly US intervention, vast numbers of the Moro people can never be consolidated to march as one. If the Moro struggle remains cut off from the entire national struggle, this will only give the reactionary regime the leverage to further isolate the Moro people’s struggle from the wide support of the entire Filipino nation.

Under the reactionary rule of the current regime, no other solution for the Moro problem is more feasible other than for the Moro people to launch a combination of both revolutionary armed struggle and open militant mass movement in order to reap the widespread support of the Bangsamoro as well as the entire Filipino people.

On one hand, those who have unabashedly abandoned armed struggle and yet continue to claim being revolutionaries have only found the surest way to isolate themselves from the rest of the Moro people. On the other hand, the use of terrorist tactics in achieving political goals, especially by using or targeting innocent civilians as what have happened in Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato and other parts of Mindanao, will never earn the support of the Moro people and the other sectors of the Filipino people; such methods will only sorely fail.