April 29, 2011

Umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan today welcomed news reports of the resignation of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, just days before the impeachment trial at the Senate.

“It is a development most welcome. The option to resign has been a valid one from the day the impeachment complaints were filed. The challenge now is for the Aquino government to appoint an Ombudsman that will file the necessary plunder charges against Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. GMA should be next to be held accountable,” said Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr, also a complainant in the impeachment against Gutierrez.

“We would have wanted to present evidence on how the Ombudsman not just delayed but in fact sabotaged the investigation on the fertilizer scam. In a way, her resignation shows the strength of the allegations and evidence against her,” Reyes said.

Reyes, along with Mo Mary John Mananzan of Pagbabago, Danilo Ramos of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, Ferdie Gaite of COURAGE, Atty. Edre Olalia of the National Union of People’ Lawyers, and Terry Ridon filed the second impeachment complaint in 2010. The Bayan complaint included as basis for the impeachment the Ombudsman’s inaction on the fertilizer scam, inaction on the Euro Generals case and whitewash of the Mega Pacific scam.

The grounds for impeachment in the Bayan complaint were believed to be the strongest among the articles of impeachment and form the first three articles out of the total six.

“We wil continue the fight for accountability of public officials. There is yet no closure in the fertilizer fund scam or other major cases of corruption under the Arroyo government. We hope to see the next ombudsman take on these cases and file the necessary plunder charges. The next Ombudsman should also look into the human rights cases long gathering dust at the office,” Reyes added.

“We would like to congratulate the people who participated in the campaign, the various organizations and watchdog groups, the public prosecutors and the private lawyers who worked on the impeachment case,” Reyes said. ###

Press Statement
April 28, 2011

Bayan opposes any plan to revive or restore US forces and bases in Subic or any other former US military base. The Filipino people gained a historic victory in 1991 when the Philippine Senate rejected a new bases treaty with the US. The return of US forces in Subic is a step backwards for Philippine sovereignty.

Philippine sovereignty has already been undermined by the Visiting Forces Agreement which allows the unhampered entry of an unlimited number of US troops for an unspecified length of stay, with undefined objectives. This has paved the way for the permanent stationing of US troops in Mindanao. The VFA is not a basing agreement and cannot be used to justify the return of US bases as what is being implied by some quarters. The basing of US troops in Mindanao is proof of how the VFA’s broad provisions are being abused by the US.

Philippine sovereignty is further undermined by the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA) which was renewed under the Arroyo administration. This allows US forces to use civilian and military facilities such as Subic and Clark.

The two agreements provide for the virtual basing of US troops sans any treaty ratified by the Senate. The Philippine government has willingly allowed this subversion of our sovereignty in exchange for so-called US military aid.

We call on the Aquino government and the Philippine Senate not to allow the return of US forces in Subic under any circumstances. Let us not be a staging ground for US interventionist acts in Asia and the world. Let us not see a return of the social costs of hosting US bases and troops.

What is needed now is an honest review of the VFA towards its eventual abrogation. The interest of natioanal sovereignty requires nothing less. ###

With the inclusion of former Arroyo allies in the panel of public prosecutors in the impeachment trial of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, the umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) challenged the panel “not to think twice about exposing and linking GMA in Merci’s impeachment”.

Bayan secretary general and impeachment complainant Renato M. Reyes, Jr. said that the people will be closely monitoring the preparations and performance of both the public prosecutors and private lawyers involved in the impeachment.

“There should be no doubt in the minds of the public prosecutors that the impeachment of Merceditas Gutierrez is aimed at going after Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. We expect nothing less from the panel, even if some of them are indentified with the previous regime. The strength of the impeachment rests on this premise. It is on this basis that the public has thrown its support behind efforts to remove Merci,” Reyes said.

“Some of the articles of impeachment will establish Merci’s role as protector of the Arroyos. The strongest case against Merci and Gloria is the anomalous fertilizer fund scam. The Ombudsman has yet to file a case against any of the ringleaders,” Reyes added.

Reyes was complainant in the second impeachment complaint against Gutierrez last year. The complaint includes Gutierrez’s inaction on the fertilizer fund scam, inaction in the “Euro generals” issue and her whitewash of the anomalous Mega Pacific deal. These now form the first three out of the six articles of impeachment against the Ombudsman.

Bayan also affirmed their endorsement of the National Union of People’s Lawyers as private counsels in the impeachment trial. “The NUPL has helped us prepare the impeachment complaint as well as the evidence and the witnesses vital for the trial. They have been with us since the beginning and are now at the forefront of various legal efforts to make GMA accountable,” Reyes said.

“We also suggest that the impeachment spokespersons should include lawmakers who have a solid track record in fighting the abuses of the past administration. Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casino, who endorsed our complaint, would make a good addition to the group,” he added.

The impeachment complainants vowed to be active in supporting the trial of Gutierrez. The Senate is expected to convene as an impeachment court on May 9.

“We are, in effect, the clients in this case. We the people the ones are being represented by the public prosecutors. We’ll be watching them, and we will help them secure a victory,” Reyes said.

“This is not just a battle among politicians or a fight between bigshot lawyers and law firms. This is a fight between the people longing for good governance, and the forces that are out to preserve corruption and impunity,” Reyes added.

Bayan and complainant Pagbabago headed by Mo. Mary John Mananzan, are working with various groups and preparing for a mass action on May 9 as the Senete resumes its session. ###

Multisectoral group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) today said that the latest oil price hike has wiped out the soon to be given fuel subsidy as it challenged President Benigno S. Aquino III to fire his economic managers for giving him the wrong advice amid the unabated oil price hikes and worsening condition of the people.

BAYAN issued the statement as oil companies again increased the pump prices of petroleum products for the 12th time this year. Starting today, diesel and gasoline will be more expensive by P1.50 per liter while kerosene will go up by P1.40.

With the P1.50 per liter increase in the price of diesel, the daily fuel cost of jeepney drivers has gone up again by P45 (based on their average daily consumption of 30 liters). The Pantawid Pasada, on the other hand, will provide a subsidy of only P35 per day and will not even be available until next month.

“It’s almost a year now since Aquino became President. But in terms of economic policies, we have not seen a substantial change from the anti-people and dole-out programs of the Arroyo administration. Case in point is issue of escalating oil prices and the response of Aquino, as advised by his economic managers, to implement a Pantawid Pasada, instead of addressing the more important issues of the deregulation, VAT and profiteering of the oil firms”, said Renato Reyes, secretary general of BAYAN.

BAYAN and other groups have been campaigning for the scrapping of the Oil Deregulation Law or Republic Act (RA) 8479 to control oil prices as well as the removal of the 12 percent value-added tax (VAT) on oil to immediately bring down the pump price of petroleum products by as much as P7 per liter or more.

Meanwhile, a recent survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed that poverty and hunger are worsening with 10.4 million families considering themselves as poor and 4.1 million families experiencing hunger. BAYAN blamed the series of oil price hikes as it cited a study by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) which found out that for every 10 percent increase in fuel prices, 160,000 Filipinos are added to the number of poor.

Yet, Aquino’s economic managers prefer dole-out measures as they continue to reject the snowballing public clamor to scrap the VAT and control the price of oil. BAYAN said even as a dole-out measure, the Pantawid Pasada is severely lacking. (End)

Multisectoral group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) today said that the latest oil price hike has wiped out the yet to be implemented fuel subsidy, even as it challenged President Benigno S. Aquino III to fire his economic managers for giving him the wrong advice amid the unabated oil price hikes and worsening condition of the people.

BAYAN issued the statement as oil companies again increased the pump prices of petroleum products for the 12th time this year. Starting today, diesel and gasoline will be more expensive by P1.50 per liter while kerosene will go up by P1.40.

With the P1.50 per liter increase in the price of diesel, the daily fuel cost of jeepney drivers has gone up again by P45 (based on their average daily consumption of 30 liters). The Pantawid Pasada, on the other hand, will provide a subsidy of only P35 per day and will not even be available until next month.

“It’s almost a year now since Aquino became President. But in terms of economic policies, we have not seen a substantial change from the anti-people and dole-out programs of the Arroyo administration. Case in point is issue of escalating oil prices and the response of Aquino, as advised by his economic managers, is to implement a Pantawid Pasada, instead of addressing the more important issues of the price deregulation, VAT and profiteering of the oil firms”, said Renato Reyes, secretary general of BAYAN.

“Government cannot go on pleading helplessness in the face of one of the worst economic crisis to his the country. The dole-outs and other stop-gap measures are definitely not enough. The Palace economic team has been staunchly opposed to measures that would provide long-term benefits for the people,” Reyes said.

BAYAN and other groups have been campaigning for the scrapping of the Oil Deregulation Law or Republic Act (RA) 8479 to control oil prices as well as the removal of the 12 percent value-added tax (VAT) on oil to immediately bring down the pump price of petroleum products by as much as P7 per liter or more.

“Aquino’s economic managers prefer dole-out measures as they continue to reject the snowballing public clamor to scrap the VAT and control the price of oil. They fear the loss of government revenues from the VAT. Well if this is indeed a new government, then it should find ways to generate revenues without burdening the people. If it is serious and effective in fighting corruption and tax evasion, then there will be no need for the VAT on oil,” Reyes said.

“When he was running for president, Aquino promised to solve the P150 billion annual tax leakage problem of the government. Recovering just half of this leakage will allow government to do away with the VAT on oil. The government however prefers the VAT because it offers easy revenues even when government slackens in its anti-corruption and anti-tax evasion drive,” Reyes added.

Meanwhile, a recent survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed that poverty and hunger are worsening with 10.4 million families considering themselves as poor and 4.1 million families experiencing hunger. BAYAN blamed the series of oil price hikes as it cited a study by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) which found out that for every 10 percent increase in fuel prices, 160,000 Filipinos are added to the number of poor. ###

Multisectoral group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) condemned the killing of its local leader in Batangas at dawn today, which brought the total number of assassinated activists to 43 under the Aquino administration.

A report from BAYAN’s chapter in Batangas said that its Chairperson Kenet Reyes was shot dead by still unidentified gunmen at early morning today. Reyes was also the barangay captain of Barangay Maguihan in Lemery, Batangas.

“President Aquino has repeatedly assured the public that he will not tolerate the human rights atrocities against leaders and members of progressive organizations perpetrated by the previous Arroyo administration and state security forces. Yet the killings of activists continue under his watch. We can’t help but have serious doubts on the sincerity and resolve of this government to once and for all stop the extrajudicial killings and bring the perpetrators to justice”, BAYAN secretary general Renato Reyes said.

Kenet Reyes is the 43rd activist killed since Aquino took over Malacañang last July 2010 or a rate of one activist being killed every week. Before he was killed, Reyes alerted his colleagues that the local Philippine National Police (PNP) has deployed a unit at the barangay hall to supposedly ensure peace and order in the area.

Prior to his election as barangay captain, Reyes was also a former youth activist with Anakbayan and a member of the People First Coalition and the Bayan Muna partylist group.

“With the rate of the killings under Aquino, it’s turning out that the supposed matuwid na daan is stained by even more bloodshed and violence against activists and human rights advocates. If the government claims that it’s doing something to address the killings, their efforts are obviously not enough. The impunity with which the killings are being carried out under Gloria persists”, Reyes added.

The umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan today questioned the economic programs of the Aquino government in the light of skyrocketing prices and increasing incidence of hunger and poverty.Oil prices are again expected to rise this week by as much as P1.50 per liter according to oil companies.

“Soon we will be approaching the first year of the Aquino regime. So far, its response to the people’s problems can be summed up in one word: ‘pantawid’. The Aquino government’s dole-out economics will not result in long-term reforms and improvement of the conditions of the lives of the people,” said Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr.

“Aquino has continued the Conditional Cash Transfer or Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program of the Arroyo government. Now it has the Pantawid Pasada for drivers to allegedly ease the impact of high oil prices. These are not real solutions to poverty and unemployment,” Reyes said.

Bayan said that the “tuwid na daan” promised by Aquino has only resulted in “pantawid” programs. The group lamented that no meaningful wage increases have been implemented while the Aquino government continues to resist the calls for the removal or reduction of the VAT on oil and power.

” The Aquino administration is just reacting to long-term problems with temporary, “band-aid” solutions. This is quite obvious by now. We have a government of ‘adhocracy’—addressing deep-seated problems with ad hoc solutions,” Reyes said.

“No wonder Aquino is shocked at the poverty and hunger statistics. Either they do not know what is happening or they are denying reality,” he added.

Bayan called on Aquino to make clear his programs for unemployment and poverty, and to go beyond short-term solutions. “We will be waiting for his announcement on May 1, even as we press on with the demand for higher wages, the removal of the VAT, and the junking of the oil deregulation law. We’re also calling on the government to embark on a true development program that focuses on land reform and national industrialization towards a self-reliant economy,” Reyes added. ###

Today the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (New Patriotic Alliance or Bayan) is picketing the US Embassy in Manila to show our solidarity and support to the big mass actions being organized by the United National Anti-War Committee (UNAC) in San Francisco and New York to condemn the neglect and oppression that the American people suffer under the Obama administration amid the raging economic crisis and costly foreign military campaigns being waged by the US government.

UNAC’s call to end poverty and plunder in the US and elsewhere and to end the wars of aggression perpetrated by US imperialism and its cohorts is being supported by almost 500 mass organizations, non-government organizations (NGOs), and institutions in the US, including Bayan’s US chapter and its women and youth organizations, as well as by various groups in other countries.

Bayan is inspired to know that within the belly of the beast there is an increasing number of groups and mass organizations that are working together to confront the crisis wrought by imperialism which has caused massive displacements of workers, huge cutbacks in health and education budgets, and the foreclosures of homes. It is enraging that while millions of ordinary Americans lose their jobs, social services and benefits, and shelter, trillions of dollars in people’s taxes are being funnelled to bailout big banks and companies. Worse, these banks and companies do not even generate production and employment but simply use the bailout funds to shore up their so-called book profits.

This has angered an ever growing number of American people who are now fighting back this grave injustice. And more than ever, the people of the world who stand for social justice, sovereignty, democracy, and against imperialist domination and oppression are in support of the struggle of the American people. As the International League of People’s Struggle (ILPS) states: “Their struggle is of crucial global importance, they are in a position to strike at the very heart of the world capitalist system and at the very center of imperialism from which crisis, plunder and war are generated and unleashed.”

We strongly condemn the repressive measures being used by the US government against groups, mass organizations, leaders and organizers of the American people such as the raids on homes of anti-war activists being carried out by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), police terrorism against Latin Americans, Asians, and Afro-Americans who belong to the working class, and the attacks against migrant workers by racist groups.

Bayan and its allied organizations support the call of the UNAC to end US wars that destroy the lives of millions of people and their properties and infrastructures. We also join the UNAC and other anti-US war groups in the world in condemning the wars launched against the resisting people of Iraq, Afghanistan, Turkey, Colombia, and India. Bayan has been demanding an immediate halt to the air strikes launched by the US and its allies against Libya in the guise of “saving the civilian populace” but in reality is another interventionist campaign to install a puppet regime and control the world’s oil resources. Bayan has consistently supported the struggle of the Palestinian people for their right to their homeland and their struggle against US-Israeli Zionism.

The Philippines, meanwhile, has remained a semi-colony of US imperialism that serves the needs of American monopoly capitalists for market and source of raw materials and cheap labor through liberalization, deregulation, privatization, and other policies of imperialist globalization. This has perpetually shackled millions of Filipinos to an ever deepening poverty and chained the domestic economy to permanent crisis and backwardness. Our country has become practically a large US military base through the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) that allows American troops to build facilities and interfere in domestic armed conflicts while at the same time making US soldiers virtually immune from our criminal justice system. The Obama administration continues to shower the corrupt and brutal Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) with millions of dollars in military aid even as it scrimps on the social services and benefits that American workers desperately need amid the economic crisis.

Bayan believes that only through the united efforts of the all oppressed and exploited peoples of the world that we shall one day defeat US imperialism and all its machinations to squeeze the working people dry for superprofits and strengthen its global domination by using its military might.

We reiterate our unity with the UNAC in its effort to unite the American people in the struggle against US imperialism and in its efforts to support the struggles of peoples in other countries against the same enemy.

Long live UNAC! Long live international solidarity! Defeat US imperialism! #