Hardships and perils due to government incompetence - Ang Bayan
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Pahayagan ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas
ANG Pinapatnubayan ng Marxismo-Leninismo-Maoismo
English Edition
Vol. LI No. 10
May 21, 2020
www.cpp.ph
EDITORIAL
Hardships and perils
due to government incompetence
T he Filipino people are undergoing grave hardships and face perils as a
result of the Duterte regime's failed response to the Covid-19 pan-
demic. Millions of Filipinos are facing not only the continued threats of
Covid-19, but also the burden of economic measures that worsen the crisis
brought about by decades of neoliberal policies.
examined. According to data, more
than 80% of those infected are
asymptomatic or experience only
mild symptoms. The regime and the
capitalists are taking advantage of
workers' desperation to work and
Over the past days, Malacañang After two months without earn wages. Workers are made to
has allowed the opening of offices wages or income, workers are very report to work if they have to walk
and factories, after a more-than- keen on returning to work. The several kilometers under the heat of
60-day lockdown. Duterte is rushing toiling masses were plunged into the sun or get stuck in hours of
to reboot the economy which he poverty and hunger under the lock- traffic because of left and right
shut down in March in the face of down. This is a result of sorely limi- checkpoints of abusive police and
the rapid depletion of government ted funds and the slow and the soldiers.
resources, worsening problem of chaotic system of aid distribution. Recently, the Duterte regime
hunger and rising people's anger. Despite their eagerness, they also admitted it has no plans of carrying
Because of the failed measures of fear that once they gather in facto- out mass testing. Even amid the
the Duterte government, the Philip- ries or shops, the virus will again pandemic, it insists on its policy of
pines is still far from controlling the quickly spread. not providing enough funds for
Covid-19 pandemic. Many fear that Duterte is veritably exposing health and giving control to the
the country's health system will be workers to danger when it did not capitalists.
unable to cope once the virus obligate capitalists to provide them Thousands of nurses and doc-
spreads again and the number of testing services and required that tors were infected by Covid-19 in
infected and hospitalized shoots up. only those with symptoms should be hospitals due to the failure to pre-pare enough protective equipment. does not show the actual extent of enough capital to fund local scien-
It was already in the middle of the the pandemic. It does not actually tists and researchers to manufac-
pandemic when funds were alloted know how many are asymptomatic ture enough equipment for testing
for purchasing these. and were not brought to hospitals. the virus and other needs to fight
Despite claiming to push the It is fine that some local offi- the pandemic.
program to "test, trace and treat," cials have taken measures to have It is more occupied with its
the Duterte government has not al- their residents tested. However, scheme to establish a fascist dicta-
loted enough funds and is relying on without national coordination in torship. It has the military and po-
big capitalists to buy necessary such testing efforts, knowledge of lice in command of the govern-
equipment and run laboratory oper- the pandemic will be limited to one ment's pandemic response. It is
ations. Even in the face of the pan- barrio or town, and efforts will only busy suppressing complaints rather
demic, capitalists still compute be wasted. than addressing them. A number of
their profits. Because he really has no idea, people who have expressed disgust
Testing is being done only on Duterte is resorting to disinforma- ("kill Duterte") have been arrested,
people who are already sick, people tion, giving false assurances, scare- and ABS-CBN has been shut down.
they have gotten in contact with, mongering and threatening people. The police are getting away with
and arriving Filipino migrant work- In the end, it blames the people for their abusive punishment of people
ers. However, in times of pandemic, the continuing spread of the virus for "misdemeanors.” It uses terror
mass testing including those without to justify the imposition of more to silence everyone. Now, even the
symptoms or not suspected to have restrictions on the pretext of fight- funds under the "social ameliora-
been infected is needed as the key ing the pandemic. tion program" (SAP) will be given to
strategy to determine where the The Duterte regime is slow and the dirty hands of the AFP, to make
virus is spreading in order to isolate dimwitted in facing the Covid-19 sure, there will be no more com-
the infected, treat the sick and pro- pandemic. It has chosen not to fund plaints.
tect those who are not yet ill. mass testing, contact tracing and To the Filipino people, we must
Because there is no mass test- isolation. It is prioritizing its loan- not merely bear the burden of
ing and testing capacity is low, the driven infrastructure projects, the Duterte's failed response and abuse
regime remains blind to the real ex- purchase of helicopters, cannons of power. Duterte and his officials
tent of Covid-19 infections in the and bombs, and pocketing shares in must be held accountable for caus-
country. Its data is incomplete and these contracts. It has not provided ing gross hardships and suppression
of the people's rights during the
ANG Contents lockdown. They must be made re-
sponsible for their failure to carry
Editorial: Hardships and perils due to out necessary health measures for
Vol. LI No. 10 | May 21, 2020 incompetent government 1
the country to defeat the pandemic.
We must not remain silent. On the
NPA-Bukidnon attacks abusive soldiers 3
Ang Ang Bayan is published contrary, we must express with all
NPA harassment vs. 20th IB 3
in Pilipino, Bisaya, Iloko, our might and manifest in various
No mass testing 4
Hiligaynon, Waray and English. ways our anger and protest against
Balik proobinsya, landgrabbing 4 Duterte's failed and oppressive
Ang Bayan welcomes
contributions in the form Party, travel amid lockdown 4 measures.
of articles and news items. Regime railroads neoliberal measures 6 Continue to demand the na-
Readers are encouraged What will happen to Filipino businesses? 6 tional government to mount a mass
to send feedback and Solidarity amid distress in Samar 7 testing program as key response to
recommendations Education conference in Negros 7 the Covid-19 pandemic. Continue to
for improving our newspaper. Duterte purchases P2.4-B artilleries 8
push for strengthening the health
system, especially the public hospi-
Bayan Muna seeks Meralco probe 8
tals and laboratories across the
Sorsogon massacre 9
instagram.com/prwcnewsroom country, hiring more nurses and
Militarization in Surigao del Sur 10
health workers and raising their
@prwc_info Mass protests amid lockdown 10 wages. Fight for necessary subsi-
NDFP supports UN's appeal 10 dies for food, medicine and medical
cppinformationbureau@gmail.com
attention to take care of the health
of the elderly who are vulnerable to
Ang Bayan is published fortnightly by the Central Committee Covid-19.
of the Communist Party of the Philippines Hold the Duterte regime ac-
2 May 21, 2020 ANG BAYANcountable for the gross lack and to enable them to pay wage hikes. cially those which trample on peo-
slow distribution of aid under the Genuine land reform must be ple's rights and damage the envi-
now two-month lockdown. Expose pushed as the only way to bring life ronment.
and denounce how Duterte's bour- to the rural economy. Denounce The Covid-19 crisis has brought
geois comprador partners are ex- widespread land-use conversion for to the surface the extreme rotten-
ploiting the pandemic to earn prof- infrastructure and tourism pro- ness of the semicolonial and
its and evade taxes in the name of jects, plantations and mining, and semifeudal system. It has exposed
helping and giving donations. the push for growing commercial the country's dependence on im-
Workers must demand health timber and fruits. Demand free land ported material and equipment. It
measures in factories and offices. distribution and subsidies for food has exposed the crisis-ridden and
They must push for wage increases, production and building local indus- unproductive economy.
a national minimum and hazard pay tries for processing of local agricul- Because of the hardship and
for work during the pandemic. They tural products. oppression under the Duterte gov-
must fight as well for regular jobs Fight measures that worsen op- ernment's failed response, it is but
and for their right to unionize and pression including additional taxes just for the Filipino people to de-
collective bargaining. In the face of to pay the government's almost $4 mand Duterte's resignation or the
the crisis brought about by the pro- billion additional loans. Expose and ouster of his incompetent govern-
longed lockdown, the small capital- condemn the "infrastructure" plan ment. This is the most effective way
ists can unite with workers to push that will further pull the country for the Filipino people to fight and
the government for emergency funds deeper into debt and crisis, espe- defeat the Covid-19 pandemic.
NPA-Bukidnon attacks abusive soldiers NPA-Northern Samar
harasses notorious 20th IB
THE NEW PEOPLE'S Army (NPA)-Bukidnon mounted suc-
cessive military offensives against abusive soldiers in the THE NEW PEOPLE'S Army (NPA)-Northern Samar
province from May 5-14. Four fascist soldiers were killed mounted three successive harassment operations
while two others were wounded. against 20th IB soldiers who have long been
On May 11, Red fighters sniped at elements of the wreaking havoc in Barangay San Miguel, Las
60th IB at 56th IB at Sitio Tapayanon, Barangay Man- Navas.
dahikan, Cabanglasan. Their presence in the barrio has A soldier was killed in a sniping operation
long been causing grave hardships and abuses against the mounted by Red fighters against a temporary
masses. Two soldiers were killed in the offensive. military encampent in the area on May 9. In re-
A day earlier, another NPA unit sniped a detachment taliation, the soldiers strafed two peasant houses
of the 8th IB at Sitio Miaray, Barangay Mandahikan. Two at Zone 7 in the said barangay. Residents were
soldiers were killed and two others were wounded. forced to flee because of this. Red fighters fired
Meanwhile, Red fighters also ambushed two intelli- at the soldiers again that evening.
gence agents of the 8th IB in separate incidents. On May A day earlier, Red fighters and the people's
10, Red fighters ambushed a CAFGU element in Barangay militia harassed a military encampment which
Busdi, Malaybalay City. The said element served as guide they constructed just a few meters away from a
of the 8th IB in its combat operations. school. Two soldiers were seriously wounded.
On May 13, another intelligence agent was killed in The 20th IB has been conducting Retooled
Barangay Indalasa, Cabanglasan. The said agent was be- Community Support Program (RCSP) operations
hind the forced "surrender" of Lumad Talaandigs and the in San Miguel and adjacent barrios Perez, Quirino
killing of two members of peasant group Ogyon in Caban- and San Francisco. The unit has not withdrawn
glasan. its forces even when the Duterte regime declared
A unit of the NPA-Bukidnon also harassed a de- its ceasefire. Soldiers continue to perpetrate
tachment of the CAA in Barangay Bolunay, Im- cases of harassment and force civilians and even
pasug-ong on May 14. The same detachment barangay officials to surrender as members of
was also harassed by the NPA on May 5. the NPA. They travel in-and-out of the barrios
Units of the NPA in the Panay island also and approach residents without taking
harassed a military detachment in Barangay precautions to prevent the spread of
Anhawan, Janiuay, Iloilo on May 12 and an- Covid-19 such as wearing face masks or
other CAFGU detachment in Barangay observing physical distancing. They also
Barasan, Igbaras in the same province on spearhead gatherings such as the conduct of
May 3. cockfights.
ANG BAYAN May 21, 2020 3Without mass testing, we cannot defeat Covid-19
F rom the outset, the World Health Organization (WHO) pushed for mass
testing as the key to defeating Covid-19. Its officials said, "we cannot
fight fire with blindfolds on." Mass testing must be used expeditiously to de-
for almost a month waiting for
their test results.
All in all, only 170,027 individ-
termine where the virus is spreading in order to break its transmission. Until ual have been tested, or 0.15% of
there is no vaccine, this is the strategy which the WHO favors more than the Philippine population (or 1,546
"physical distancing," of separating people from each other which results in per million. This is far from the
more economic and health problems. recommendation of testing 2% of
the population. This is small com-
Thus, Malacañang's admission Its April 30 target of 8,000 pared to the 2,681 tests per million
that it has no mass testing program daily tests was achieved only in in Vietnam, and 14,691 tests per
caused widespread people's out- mid-May. It claims this will be million in South Korea.
rage. Malacañang even twitted ramped up to 30,000 before the At least 2.2 million individuals
mass testing as a "wrong term" be- end of May, but according to the would have to be tested in the
cause it claims it is impossible to DOH's May 17 data, it has not yet country within a short period of
test everyone. For two months, reached 10,000 daily. There are time. Even with the end-May tar-
Duterte destroyed the economy and only 30 laboratories. These are get capacity, it will still take 70
drove people into the hunger and choking because of the large num- more days to complete this. At this
poverty without exerting any effort ber of tests. Because of its slow pace, the country will fail to keep
to strengthen the government's ca- pace, more than 25,000 Filipino in step with the spread of the
pacity for mass testing. migrants were stuck in Manila Bay virus.
Landgrabbing at the core Government officials
continue to party
of “Balik Probinsya” and travel amid lockdown
L
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL Region Po-
andgrabbing in the cities and countryside is at the core of the
lice office was widely criticized for
Duterte regime’s Balik Probinsya (Back to the Provinces) pro-
hosting a birthday bash for its chief,
gram. Rodrido Duterte and his lackey Christopher Go is peddling
Debold Sinas, on May 8. Even Rodrigo
the program as a solution to the congestion in Metro Manila during
Duterte himself drew flak after trav-
the Covid-19 pandemic. But this program is neither new nor origi-
eling home to Davao City on May 16
nal.
despitestrict restrictions on air travel
Every government from Marcos to Benigno Aquino had its own
and going outside areas under "en-
version of the “back to the province” program. For decades, the
hanced community quarantine."
reactionary state has been attempting to evict poor communities
Duterte and his police's violation
from Metro Manila to free up prime real estate for bourgeois com-
of their own lockdown rules is a gross
pradors and their foreign counterparts.
insult to millions of people who are
Under Duterte’s Balik Probinsya, the poor will be given land in
already suffering from hunger and
the provinces that is already occupied by settlers and minorities.
prohibited from going out. These vi-
These include the 15-hectare public land to be granted to each re-
olations were committed while mil-
turning family that is to be planted with trees under the National
lions of people are locked up in their
Greening Program. The said program covers farms and ancestral
homes under the guise of combatting
lands targeted for expansion of commercial tree plantations.
Covid-19. Police brutalities against
Instead of Balik Probinsya, the urban poor demands the prompt
ordinary people who violate quaran-
construction of affordable and decent housing as a solution to
tine protocols continue unabated.
congestion in Metro Manila and other city centers. It should ad-
The most recent incident saw worker
dress their clamor for jobs, wage and income increase and social
Ronald Campo mauled by two police
services, instead of throwing them to the countryside where
elements in General Trias, Cavite on
poverty rates are even higher and there are no jobs. To address the
May 12. Campo had to be rushed to
migration of people to the cities, the rural economy must be devel-
the hospital after sustaining severe
oped by free distribution of land and setting up agriculture-related
injuries.
industries in the provinces.
4 May 21, 2020 ANG BAYANRegime railroads neoliberal measures
as pandemic response
T he Duterte regime is exploiting the Covid-19 pandemic to railroad the
enactment of neoliberal reforms that it has long been pushing for. It
repackaged the said measures under the PH-Progreso (Philippine Program for
corporate taxes, it imposed heavier
taxes on the poor. Invoking his
emergency powers, Duterte issued
Recovery with Equity and Solidarity), a proposed program which purportedly an executive order which imple-
aims to boost the economy which has been gravely devastated by the lock- mented a 10% tax increase on im-
down. The program primarily covers the old scheme to cut the corporate in- ported crude oil and petroleum
come tax and the implementation of infrastructure projects under the Build, products. This is expected to result
Build, Build (BBB) program. in oil price hikes which will be
shouldered by the people in the
Even before the onslaught of the Higher Quality Opportunities (Tra- coming months.
Covid-19 pandemic, the economic baho) Bill, which later on became
growth in the Philippines has been the Corporate Income Tax and In- Trillions of funds for BBB
slowing down for three years al- centives Rationalization Act To give a new push to the slow
ready. The economy nosedived as a (CITIRA) which is now pending be- implementation of the BBB pro-
result of the lockdown and the im- fore the Senate. The CITIRA is the gram, the regime repackaged its in-
plementation of restrictions on pro- second tax reform package which frastructure projects under the PH-
duction and service activities. In foreign businesses, particularly US Progreso as a strategy to purport-
Metro Manila alone, 53% of enter- companies, have long lobbied for. edly create new jobs to address the
prises in the service sector were Under the new Corporate Re- massive unemployment crisis. In
forced to close due the lockdown. covery and Tax Incentives for En- line with this recommendation,
Approximately 73% of manufacturing terprises (Create) Bill, the corpo- Duterte's minion filed the Covid-19
operations in the national capital, rate income tax will be lowered from Unemployment Reduction Economic
Calabarzon and Central Luzon were 30% to 25%. It will also give the Stimulus (CURES) Bill in Congress.
also stopped. The import-export and president the authority to tailor-fit Through this, the regime will
transportation sectors were put to a tax incentives and exemptions for ensure that the P1-trillion funds
halt. Because of this, nearly 23.7 big companies. The regime aims to appropriated for BBB will remain
million workers are in danger of los- implement the reform as early as untouched, while allocating an ad-
ing their jobs. More than 400,000 July by railroading the passage of ditional P500 billion that will be
small and medium enterprises also the said bill before the Congress sourced from loans and funds that
lost their incomes and are in danger closes its session on June 5. will be collected by the Bangko
of closing due to bankruptcy. The Based on conservative esti- Sentral. The P1.5 trillion fund,
economic managers of the Duterte mates of the National Economic which will be disbursed in three
regime recently admitted that the Development Authority, the reac- stages (P500 billion per year from
local economy shrank by 0.2% during tionary state will lose about P259 2021-2023) will be apportioned by
the first quarter of the year, the billion in corporate taxes until 2022 Duterte and his supermajority.
worst in more than two decades. should the tax cuts be implemented. The BBB projects will not create
In response, the World Bank- Multinationals and companies that sufficient and long-term employ-
trained economic managers of the rake in billions of profits in the ment opportunities. In the past, the
regime announced the PH-Progreso country will primarily benefit from much touted program has only con-
proposal on May 14. Several associ- this reform. tributed one-fourth of the total
ated bills have been filed in Con- Relatedly, Duterte ordered the employment in the construction
gress. Bureau of Internal Revenue to issue sector. Corrupt government offi-
an order to provide tax exemptions cials are competing over the imple-
Lower taxes for big capitalists and incentives to big companies mentation of these infrastructure
The PH-Progreso aims to rail- that responded to his call for dona- projects as this is where they
road the lowering down of taxes on tions amid the pandemic. Under the source their massive kickbacks.
corporations as an incentive to for- said regulations issued on April 6, Even amid the pandemic and in-
eign capitalists who wish to invest the total amount of financial and tense hardships experienced by the
in government programs. This was material donations given by corpo- people, the ruling classes continue
originally proposed under the Tax rations will be fully deducted from to prioritize profiteering to further
Reform for Attracting Better and their gross incomes. While cutting their self-serving interests.
ANG BAYAN May 21, 2020 5What will happen to Philippine businesses?
N el owns an internet shop in Metro Manila. She has 10 computers in her
garage which she rents out to gamers from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Her cus-
tomers pay a peso for every four minutes or P15/hour for games. Nel says she
of loans. The Department of Trade
and Industry is giving out loans
from P200,000 to P500,000 but
can earb P1,300-P1,500 a day or P20,000 to P25,000/month, after subtract- only registered businesses are
ing payment for electricity which can reach P12,000 and the P3,000 internet qualified. Enterpreneurs estimate
fee. that this will only cover rent, elec-
tric and water utilities, payment to
When the lockdown was im- small and medium enterprisess in unpaid debts incurred during the
posed, she was forced to close shop the Philippines in 2018. These com- lockdown, and to suppliers for ma-
as gaming stations were deemed not prise 99.5% of all establishments in terials spoilt due to the lockdown.
essential. She lost her income as she the country. A great majority of During the 2-month lockdown,
relied on what gamers pay her ev- these (90%) are micro or enter- small and medium enterprises have
eryday. But even as she stopped op- prises which has nine workers or used up their emergency funds to
erations, she still had to pay her less and up to P3 million in capital. pay their workers. The regime’s
electricity and internet bills. Her Almost half of these micro enter- promise of P5,000 to P8,000 wage
meager savings were soon depleted prises (427,101) are in wholesale subsidy was too little and late. On
as she provided for her family’s and retail; repair of vehicles and April, only 120,000 applications
daily needs. As she was not ca- motorcycles,as well as all personal were approved by the Department
tegorized as one of the “poorest of and household items. Next biggest of Labor and Employment. The
the poor,” she was not included in is in the accomodation/food-related agency terminated its subsidy when
the regime’s list of food and finan- subsector (125,396); and third in it ran out of funds.
cial aid beneficiaries. the manufacturing subsector Across the nation, 2.7 million
Like Nel’s shop, hundreds of (103,590). Most small manufactur- workers stand to lose their jobs.
thousands of stores, eateries, par- ers are in the food business, such as This include 11.5 million self-em-
lors, barbers and other small busi- bakeries. These businesses are ployed or those who own their
nesses closed shop during the lock- wholely- or majority-owned by Fil- businesses, 5.7 million in the infor-
down. Thousands of professionals ipinos. These are oftentimes ma- mal sector and 10.1 million non-
like consultants, lawyers, musicians naged and operated by families. regular wage and salary earners.
and other self-employed lost their Most affected are businesses in Government agencies estimate
income. Small hotels and resorts, Luzon which make up two-thirds of that around 436,000 businesses
eateries and restaurants catering to the total number of micro, small and were force to shutdown by the
local and foreign tourists were or- medium-sized enterprises, and lockdown. Only 117,000 big and
dered closed. which employs 3.8 million. small essential businesses were al-
According to the reactionary The Duterte regime issued aid lowed to operate.
state’s data, there are 998,342 for small businesses but in the form To avoid closures, the state
needs to pour P79 billion subsidy
per month for small and medium-
sized businesss. This includes P53.5
billion compensation for 10.7 mil-
lion workers and P26 billion for
businesses in the informal sector.
Price control for basic commodities
is needed. Payments for loans, rent
and utilities should be deferred. The
chain of supply should be ensured.
Agricultural products need to be
bought in a timely manner and at
reasonable prices. Loans should be
with zero interests. Most signifi-
cantly, steps should be taken to en-
sure the health of all returning
workers, especially as the Covid-19
threat lingers.
6 May 21, 2020 ANG BAYANSolidarity amid distress in Samar
P easants from Northern Samar collectively faced the problem brought
about the limited financial aid appropriated by the Duterte regime for
those affected by the Covid-19 crisis. Through their revolutionary mass or-
government from interfering, espe-
cially as local government officials
prohibit initiatives that are not in line
ganization, they ensured that every family from barangays Ipil-ipil and with their aid distribution protocols
Langka (not their real names) would be aided. even if such benefit the people.
Organizations from other bar-
In Barangay Ipil-ipil, only 38 cal Party branch guided the organi- rios are already replicating the aid
out of 64 pamilya were on the list of zation in coming up with the distribution intitiative. Meanwhile,
beneficiaries had received an aid decision. A local NPA unit also the revolutionary mass organization
worth P5,000 to P8,000 under the helped in forging the unity of vil- in Barangay Ipil-ipil is already pre-
Social Amelioration Program (SAP). lagers. paring to spearhead other cam-
As in other barangays, local officials The organization ensured the paigns against Covid-19 including
were obligated to impose a quota secrecy of the meeting and aid dis- food and herbal medicine produc-
system. tribution to prevent the municipal tion. (From Larab, May 9, 2020.)
Members of the peasant
organization in Barangay
Ipil-ipil, however, de-
cided that all families
must receive financial
aid, whether or not their
names are listed. To
achieve this, the benefi-
ciaries pooled together
the amount they received
and divided it to all fami-
lies in the barrio. Of the
P190,000 they were able
to pool together, each
family was able to receive
an aid of P2,368 each. They
included in the central fund
the P68 provided by the
barangay captain for their fare
to and from the town center to buy Cadres conduct education conference in Negros
basic supplies for villagers.
In Barangay Langka, 12 families THIRTY EDUCATION CADRES from various guerrilla fronts, staff
were not included in the quota that organs and underground mass organizations participated in the first
was imposed by the local govern- education conference of the Party in Negros. The conference was
ment. Through the organization's conducted early on first quarter of the year in a guerrilla front.
guidance and education campaign, The conference discussed and assessed their experiences in
the beneficiaries decided to contrib- implementing the Party's education program in previous years. It
ute P600 per family to raise funds stressed the importance of establishing Red Schools in various levels to
for distribution for non-beneficia- serve as a machinery in advancing education work.
ries. Each cadre explained the need for an "assiduous, systematic and
In Barangay Ipil-ipil, the orga- extensive conduct of studies on the three-level Party course...[and] on
nization conducted a mass meeting courses and lessons under the curriculum of the National Democratic
to explain to residents why they School.”
need to help their neighbors who The cadres were determined to advance education work after
are non-beneficiaries. The organi- forging a stronger unity during the conference. The conference was
zation also helped barangay officials launched with the help of a unit of the New People's Army which secured
in administering the funds to pre- the area amid the conduct of nonstop military combat operations in the
vent corruption. Members of the lo- island. (From Ang Paghimakas, May 2020.)
ANG BAYAN May 21, 2020 7Duterte regime, to purchase What
equivalent to any
of the following:
P2.4-B artilerie systems amid crisis
T he Duterte regime, last May 12, issued a notice to proceed with the
procurement of the artillery systems worth P2.4 billion from Israeli
company Elbit Systems amid the continuing economic crisis brought
160 M
facemasks
P 2.4
about by Covid-19. (₱15/mask)
The contract covers the pro- thousands of missiles, weapons, billion?
curement of two ATMOS 2000 and other war matériel which are can get
155mm/52 Caliber Self-propelled also part of the contract. Loren- you? 1.9 M
Howitzer Systems, two batteries, zana said that the regime is more Covid-19 PCR tests
with six mobile firing units each, inclined to procuring cheaper (₱1,240/test)
and associated support systems. helicopters from Turkey.
The said system has a maxi- Philippine Ambassador to Isolation for
mum range of 41 kilometers and Washington Jose Romualdez said 106,909 individuals
a fire rate of 3 rounds/15 sec- in an interview last May 13 that (₱22,449/14 days)
onds on burst mode, 5 the UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter
rounds/minute on rapid mode, which the regime purchased last
and more than 80 rounds per year from the US are set to be
16,752
hospitalization
hour on sustained mode. delivered soon. The contract for for moderate cases
The procurement program the procurement of 16 heli- (₱143,267/patient)
was made under the AFP mod- copters was signed earlier last
ernization program which aims to year for P1.21 billion. The heli-
boost Duterte's arsenal in a vain copters were bought from PZL
3,052
hospitalization
attempt to fulfill his ambition to Mielec a subsidiary of Lockheed for severe cases
decimate the armed revolution- Martin, one of the biggest de- (₱786,384/patient)
ary movement before the end of fense companies and part of the
his term. US military-industrial complex. 1 month salary
The use of oversized cannons Meanwhile, the BRP Jose Rizal is 124,863
and helicopter gunships only re- also set to be delivered to the contact tracer
sults in indiscriminate destruc- country on May 23. The ship was (₱19,221/month)
tion of communities and the en- purchased along with the BRP
1 month salary
vironment, endangers people's Antonio Luna by the regime from
lives and livelihood, and causes Hyundai South Korea for P18 bil- 74,876 nurses
(₱32,053/month)
psychological trauma especially lion.
on children.
The first set of artillery sys-
tem is expected to be delivered in
Bayan Muna seeks Meralco probe
2021. BAYAN MUNA IS seeking an investigation into the sudden spike in the
Relatedly, the Defense Secu- bills charged by the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) on consumers in
rity Cooperation Agency (DSCA) Metro Manila over the past two months.
of the US Department of State As meter reading activities was suspended since March, Meralco
approved last April 30 the based its billing on the average consumption of consumers from Decem-
Duterte regime's request to buy ber 2019 to February 2020. Actually, however, this has not been fol-
six AH-64E Apache Attack Heli- lowed as in the case of one consumer whose bill drastically spiked from
copters and other war matériel P2,672 in March to P9,358.52 in May.
and services worth P75 billion. Bayan Muna pointed out that Meralco is clearly exploiting the pan-
Defense Sec. Delfin Loren- demic to accumulate more profits while "crucifying consumers." Relat-
zana noted that the price of heli- edly, the group called for the junking of the Electric Power Industry Re-
copters is too high and said that form Act which is being used by Meralco to monopolize the power
the regime could not buy these. industry and continually impose rate hikes. The most recent hike was
However, he made no mention of the P0.105/kilowatt hour rate hike imposed in April.
whether they will still buy the
8 May 21, 2020 ANG BAYAN31st IB, 9th SAF massacre 5 farmers in Sorsogon
F ive farmers were massacred by soldiers and police troops SEMPO-style
(Synchronized Enhanced Management of Police Operations) in Barangay
Dolos, Bulan, Sorsogon on May 8. The victims were Jeric Vuno, Jerry Palanca,
SEMPO-style, in the early morning
of May 10. The victims were identi-
fied as peasant leaders Leovino Ju-
Robert Villafuerte, Raymundo Tañada and Jaime Tañada. Jaime Tañada was suf- longbayan, Virgilio Vidal, Marcelo
fering from the infirmities of old age while Villafuerte was mentally challenged. Vidal, Doroteo Bautista, July Ju-
longbayan and Roilan Tenorio.
The perpetrators made it appear also attacked the neighboring ba- Meanwhile, elements of the
that the farmers were Red fighters, a rangay of Calpi. They ransacked the 85th IB arrested farmer Leoben
claim which was vehemently belied residences of the Abuyog, Golimlim Holeto at a checkpoint in Lopez,
by residents. According to witnesses, and Estiller families. They mauled Quezon on May 4. Holeto was on his
soldiers ransacked seven houses in Jeffrey Godala and Jojo Palanca, way home after undergoing a medi-
the barrio, and arrested and hogtied and two other Estiller minors. The cal surgery when he was appre-
all male residents. Soldiers mauled soldiers also stole the residents' hended together with his mother.
the barangay officials who attempted money, cellphones and other per-
to rescue the victims. sonal belongings.
The soldiers brought the five SEMPO was first conducted in
victims at the backyard where they Negros in 2018-2019 wherein at
were shot. The cadavers of the vic- least 35 peasants were killed. The
tims bore marks of torture. The operations were then spearheaded
massacre was perpetrated by the by Police MGen. Debold Sinas, cur-
31st IB, 9th Special Action Force rently the chief of police in Metro
Battalion, Provincial Mobile Force Manila.
Company of PNP Sorsogon and in- In Batangas, police elements
telligence units. also illegally arrested six residents
Simultaneously, the same units of Barangay Coral ni Lopez, Calaca,
Militarization in Surigao del Sur terrorizes Lumads
R esidents were terrorized upon the arrival of soldiers and police in their
communities at Km. 16 and Han-ayan in Barangay Diatagon, Lianga,
Surigao del Sur last May 19. According to residents, several soldiers entered
in their combat operations. The vic-
tims are residents of Barangay Deit
de Turag, Silvino Lobos. Residents
the Lumad school which is being administered by Alcadev (Alternative Learn- also reported that soldiers assaulted
ing Center for Agriculture and Livelihood Development) in Han-ayan while another resident of the village. Sol-
others entered the houses of residents in search of the leaders of diers also coerced a resident of
Malahutayong Pakigbisog Alang sa Sumusunod (MAPASU). They also looked Barangay MacArthur, Las Navas to
for Alcadev coordinator Maricres Pagaran, Fr. Raymond Ambray and Lianga serve as guide in their operations
councilor Sammy Dollano. Earlier that day, the police arrested resident Eric last April 18.
Enriquez.
Using fighter jets, the military Meanwhile, farmers from North-
dropped four bombs near the com- ern Samar also reported various
munity at around 3 a.m. on May 12. cases of human rights violations
Five artillery rounds were also fired perpetrated by elements of the 20th
at the same area. IB while conducting military opera-
On the succeeding four days, tions in their communities amid the
drones and helicopters were flown Covid-19 crisis. From April 7-18,
overhead across the community. soldiers harassed, threatened and
Leaflets stating "surrender now or coerced at least six farmers
be infected with Covid-19" were and a six-year-old child
dropped from helicopters. to serve as guides
ANG BAYAN May 21, 2020 9Mass protests amid lockdowns
L
NDFP, armed
ockdowns have failed to stop people from mounting mass protest actions movements support
across the globe to condemn mounting human rights violations, and UN's appeal
worsening poverty and unemployment amid the onslaught of the Covid-19
pandemic. THE NATIONAL DEMO-
CRATIC Front of the Philip-
In Lebanon, thousands of citi- communities to protest in Chile. pines (NDFP) signed on May
zens marched on the streets on Noise barrages were also mounted 5 a joint petition which
April 27 to oppose the drastic eco- in El Salvador. In Colombia, urban called on governments to
nomic downturn and the lack of aid poor residents who lost their jobs heed the United Nation's
amid the pandemic. They said that also protested in their respective (UN) call for a temporary
they could die from hunger due to communities. These spontaneous global ceasefire and release
the negligence of the government protests since March are being of political prisoners. UN
than from the disease itself. spearheaded by semiproletariats. said that these are impor-
Two thousand individuals In France, 250 workers formed tant measures in the fight
protested in Israel while maintain- a human chain last May 11 to con- against Covid-19.
ing a two-meter distance from demn the lockdown which continues The petition was signed
each other last April 19 to con- to result in violence and worsening by the NDFP, member or-
demn the anti-democratic mea- forms of inequality. ganizations of the Resis-
sures implemented by the Ne- In Belgium, health workers tance and Liberation
tanyahu regime. Among these are condemned their government's in- Movements Network, Inter
are the restrictions on assembly utility in addressing the Covid-19 Alia, The Basque Move-
and the conduct of mass surveil- crisis. On March 16, they turned ment, The Peace Dialogue
lance. their backs on Belgium's prime min- Delegation-National Liber-
In Latin America, protest ac- ister upon her arrival at a hospital. ation Army-Colombia, The
tions erupted from various commu- They criticized the implementation Kurdistan National Con-
nities to demand adequate aid. Ur- of health budget cuts and low wages gress, armed ethnic orga-
ban poor residents went out of their for health workers. nizations in Myanmar, the
Euro-Burma Office, and Dr.
Sai Oo of the Union Peace
and Dialogue Joint Com-
mittee of Myanmar.
However, the group
said many governments
refuse to heed the UN's call
for a global ceasefire, and
instead exploited the situ-
ation to intensify their re-
pressive policies. They also
noted that those who were
freed in several countries
are criminals who were
convicted of grave criminal
charges.
10 May 21, 2020 ANG BAYANYou can also read
