Wednesday, July 31, 2013

CRIMINAL DISPLAY OF OPPULENCE

By Belarmino Dabalos Saguing, Rome, Wednesday 01.08.2013




Janet Lim Napoles





There are legitimate, worthy NGOs that must be differentiated from the bogus ones when videos and screen grabs of the lavish lifestyle of one Jeane Napoles make the rounds of social media and stir anger across all sectors of society? The Napoles family’s exhibitionism of their wealth, whether or not they are under scrutiny for the plunder of public money. Of course, now that their mother Janet Lim-Napoles is involved in the P10B scam it becomes an insult to the people. No amount of explaination from her could erase its criminality. The mother, Janet Lim-Napoles, the woman allegedly at the heart of the pork barrel scam where at least P10 billion in Priority Development Assistance Fund have been diverted to nonexistent NGOs.


To make matters worse, one of the sisters, Jo Christine Napoles was slated by the OFW Family Club Partylist who won two congressional seats in the last partylist election, as second nominee. Nobody, but nobody could accept her, least of all the long suffering OFW as their representative. OFWs has billions of funds stashed in OWWA which has been allegedly targeted by corrupt officials.


An investigation into the allegations against Napoles and the lawmakers who are supposed to be on partying terms with her is expected to be commenced soon, but this is not expected to bring us any closer to the entire truth about what really goes on in the pork barrel system. After all, the same lawmakers are the ones privy to the system, and it is our guess that they will not willingly detail how exactly they spend the millions placed under their discretion every year.


The people by now is in open warpath against the PDAF. Pork barrel must be abolished immediately and completely. In the meantime, we can only entertain ourselves with the tasteless pursuits of the new rich the likes of Napoles and grit our teeth in anger at this young woman’s gall to bare her material conquests for which she never worked.
























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THE WAR TERROR (US GUISE TO DOMINATE THE WORLD)








The US present terror tactics to fight terrorism is not the result of 9/11. It began many long years ago. Its blueprint was laid actually in 1948



From Korea, Vietnam and Afghanistan, to the CIA sponsored military coups in Latin America and Southeast Asia, the objective has been to ensure US military hedgemony and global economic domination, was initially formulated under the “Truman Doctrine” ( by the then State Secretary George Keenan in 1948). Despite significant policy differences, successive Democratic and Republican administrations, from Harry S. Truman to George W. Bush to Barrack Obama, have carried out, and still carrying out this global military agenda.



The entire “Post War Period” is marked by extensive war crimes resulting to the death of more than 10 million people. This figure does not include those who perished as a result of poverty, starvation and disease.


War crimes are the result of the US state and foreign policy apparatus. We are dealing specifically with individual war criminals, but with a process involving decision makers acting at different level, with a mandate to carry out war crimes, following established guidelines and procedures.


What distinguishes the present US War crimes and violations of international conventions  in relation to historical record of US sponsored crimes and atrocities, is the concentration camps, targeted assassinations, torture chambers and even spying on the privacy of indivuals are now considered as legitimate forms of intervention, which sustain the “global war on terrorism” and support the spread of Western Democracy.






STATE TERRORISM HAS BECOME A “LEGITIMATE” AMERICAN WEAPON IN COMBATTING GLOBAL TERRORISM!























OFW FAMILY CLUB PARTYLIST RUNS AGAINST THE INTERESTS IF OFWS AND THEIR FAMILY

By Belarmino Dabalos Saguing, Rome, Tuesday 31.07.23013

News Items : Napoles' daughter flaunts family's wealth    http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/07/29/13/napoles-daughter-flaunts-familys-wealth

                        Napoles does not represent OFWs – Migrante; Why is OFW Family Partylist now “shopping” for nominees?    http://migranteinternational.org/?p=3240

 





OFW Family Patylist must be trying hard to commit political suicide in trying to place Jo Christine Napoles daughter of a lady who get super rich with pork barrel money from corrupt senators and congressmen, as their second nominee. Napoles is the daughter of Janet Lim Napoles of JLN Trading that is recently implicated in a P10-billion pork barrel scam. Seneres’ children, according to reports, were the ones who elected Napoles as nominee because “she is a long-time friend”.


The said Patylist is now in a very interesting situation of fishing around for nominees after their other nominees has resigned for a variety of resons and substitutes are rejected by COMELEC as irregularities because they are not included the list of nominees submitted prior to the elections.


The OFW Family Partylist now has a very questionable position as the representative of OFWs worldwide. The original set of nominees submitted by former Ambassador Roy Seneres, Sr., were himself as first nominee, his son Seneres, Jr. as second nominee, his daughter Hannah Seneres Francisco as third nominee and seaman Melchor Rosales as fourth nominee.


Seneres, Sr. said that when the partylist won two seats in the recent mid-term elections, both the Seneres children and Rosales were asked to resign, to be replaced by Juan “Johnny” Revilla and Napoles. After the elections, Seneres ousted Revilla as second nominee because of his US citizenship and said that Napoles would take his place as the partylist’s second-seater in Congress.  Comelec did not allow Napoles to “move up” as second nominee because her name was not included in the partylist’s list of official nominees. Revilla, on the other hand, is also under attack for his dubious track record. He is the project manager of Placewell Manpower, a recruitment agency contracted by the Comelec to man PCOS machines in the 2010 elections.


According to reports, Placewell Manpower was one of three companies that won the contract from Smartmatic-TIM to supply 50,000 IT technicians responsible for operating 82,000 PCOS machines in the May 10, 2010 presidential elections. It is also one of the most notorious recruitment agencies involved in countless cases of illegal recruitment, contract substitution and other contract violations against OFWs,


The facts appears to point out that OFW Family Partylist is a partylist of relatives and friends. This is particularly questionable especially since the Comelec has been particularly strict with its requirements for some partylist groups last elections.


All these regularities indicates that OFW Family represents the Seneres family, and its friends whose interest runs against the, the interests of OFWs around the world and their family, and must be renamed Seneres Family and corrupt recruiting agency partylist.



VVV













US GOVERNMENT ALL OUT FOR MANNING’S HEAD

By Belarmino Dabalos Saguing, Rome, Tuesday, 31.07.2013

News Item :Julian Assange says Bradley Manning verdict is 'dangerous precedent' as whistleblower faces 136 years in prison despite aiding the enemy acquittal  http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/julian-assange-says-bradley-manning-verdict-is-dangerous-precedent-as-whistleblower-faces-136-years-in-prison-despite-aiding-the-enemy-acquittal-8738615.html

Pvt. Bradley Manning

Bradley Manning, the former military intelligence analyst who gave classified information to the anti-secrecy site WikiLeaks in 2010and is facing charges of aiding the enemy, anhd many other charges from spionage, to computer fraud and theft of classified informations.


He was acquitted of aiding the enemy, the gravest charge laid against him by the US government. He was, however, found guilty of 19 other charges including espionage, theft and computer fraud.


 The acquittal on the aiding the enemy charge was a large if somewhat symbolic victory for the defence and to Manning supporters worldwide. All the other guilty verdicts - including six on charges of espionage - still mean that Manning faces spending the rest of his life in prison. 


According to Julian Assange of Wikileaks fame, “The verdict is a dangerous precedent and an example of national security extremism. It is a short-sighted judgment that cannot be tolerated and it must be reversed.”


"The government kept Bradley Manning in a cage, stripped him naked and isolated him in order to break him, an act formally condemned by the United Nations Special Rapporteur for torture. This was never a fair trial," Assange said from inside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, his home for more than a year.

Press freedom advocates had warned that a guilty verdict on aiding the enemy could have cast a chill on journalists trying to hold governments to account and on would-be whistle-blowers.  But there was still widespread dismay among civil liberties groups over the full array of the other guilty verdicts.


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Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Pope Francis: Back home away from home

 By Belarmino Dabalos Saguing, Rome Italy 30.07.2013
                                                                                                                                                            News item :  Pope Fancis draws three million to Rio's holy sea  http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/pope-sides-with-brazils-youth-in-calls-for-change/story-e6frg6so-1226687299874
 
At the Copacabana beach, Brazil
POPE Francis left Brazil yesterday after leading a giant beach mass for three million pilgrims, ending his historic trip with pleas for a humbler church.

The first Latin American-born pontiff flew back to Rome hours after addressing a sea of faithful who waved flags, danced and chanted "Long live the Pope!" on the shoreline of Copacabana Beach.

But by now, many understood. His true home in not in the pomp and ceremony of the palaces of Vatican. His true home is among the inhabitants of slums of the poor people. He just have the misfortune of being elected Pope.

In his farewell remarks at the airport, the Pope revealed that during his visit to Brazil's revered Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida he had "implored Mary to strengthen you in the Christian faith, which forms part of the noble soul of Brazil, as indeed of many other countries".


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Pinoy Weekly - Tula - BALADA NI JONAS BURGOS, NALIGAW SA “DAANG MATUWID”


Posted: 30 Jul 2013 08:29 AM PDT



Mga Kasama:


Ever Gotesco Commonwealth Ave.

Habang papunta sa gawing Hacienda Luisita
Niyaya ni Major Harry Baliaga na magpalamig muna
Sa Ever Gotesco ng mapanuksong waytres
Niyakag upang kwentuhan ng
kung anong

nangyari

Kina Sherlyn Cadapan at Karen Empeño
at mga saksi

At ang masuyong Binibining Melissa Roxas
Ngunit sabi ko’y nais kong hanapin, taluntunin
Ang matuwid na landas na makatarunga’t marapat

Sundin iyon hanggang umabot sa Sabah
at Batanes

Kahit liku-liko at baku-bako, walang kailangan
Sumakay sa bangka at itanong sa bangkero
“Magmula sa laot sagad hanggang pampang

Turan mo sa akin ang hampas ng sagwan?”
Ngunit naligaw po kami sa pulong Tubbataha
Di na nakarating sa safe-house ng Ampatuan–
Pinilit tumawid sa
baluktot na


daang
matuwid”


Patungong EDSA at madugong Mendiola
Kung saan 13 multo’t sina Olalia-Alay-ay ang nag-aabang
Hayun kumakaway si Heneral Palparan
Mula sa Morong at Mindorong di na mapagtaguan
Lumiko sa mabahong Batasan at SONA ni P’Noy
Sangkatutak na trapong dinastiyang pumapalakpak
Sa palpak na pagkukunwari’t walang-hiyang dahas
Sa biktima sa Commonwealth Ave, demolisyo’t minahan


Kung sakaling na-miss ninyo ako’y ipagpatawad
Huwag itanong kay Uncle Sam o sa Abu Sayyaf
Baka hulihin kayo ng mga sirena ni Major Baliaga
Pagkat daang matuwid sadyang
tabingi’t balakyot


Di na naabot ang Luisita’t napadpad sa Atimonan
At nadukot ang nagbalatkayong mutya ng Makiling
Nagkalat ngayon sa daang matuwid ng Malakanyang


Buto’t kalansay ng katarungang desaparecido — Alay-ay!


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Seeing wrong things with the wrong eyes

By Belarmino Dabalos Saguing, Rome, Italy 30.07.2013



News  item : Palace praises cops, blasts foreigner in SONA rally - German protester bully and acting superior over Philippine Authority http://ph.austronesia.net/?q=Palace-praises-cops-blasts-foreigner-in-SONA-rally.html

The palace people saw it all wrong. They were looking through the eyes of fascist.

 Firstly, the manifestation was peaceful and became violent because the police became violent (as ordered by whom?)

 Secondly, of course, the European protester is superior… he came from where police are present in protest rallies to protect the rally from the intrusion of outsiders to commit violence and was indignant to see the police doing the other way around.

 I myself is in a country where political and protest manifestations happens very often and the police are there not to beat the people who participate in rallies but to protect them from violent people.  The conduct of the Filipino police are unbecoming. I wonder who thought them to be like that.

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Monday, July 29, 2013

Pinoy Weekly - ‘Rebolusyonaryong’ Santo Papa?


Posted: 29 Jul 2013 12:20 AM PDT


Kumakalat ngayon sa social media ang larawang ito ni Pope Francis kasama ang isang Gustavo Vera ng No Chains at La Alameda Argentina. Hawak nila ang isang t-short mula sa No Chains na kampanya na dinisenyo ni Andrew Florentino ng progresibong grupo ng mga artista na Ugatlahi Artist Collective.


Kumakalat ngayon sa social media ang larawang ito ni Pope Francis kasama ang isang Gustavo Vera ng No Chains at La Alameda Argentina. Hawak nila ang isang t-shirt mula sa No Chains na kampanya na dinisenyo ni Andrew Florentino ng progresibong grupo ng mga artista na Ugatlahi Artist Collective.’


Slumdog Papacy?

Matapang, radikal, at — para sa mga konserbatibo sa loob at labas ng Simbahang Katoliko — nakakagulat, ang mga salitang binitawan ni Pope Francis, o sinipi sa kanya ng midya, bago at sa mismong pagbisita niya sa bansang Brazil kamakailan. Ito ang unang papal visit ng bagong Santo Papa sa labas ng Roma, at marami ang nag-abang sa sasabihin niya. Lalo pa’t naging laman ng balita ang bansang bibisitahin niya dahil sa serye ng dambuhalang mga protesta kontra sa neoliberal na mga polisiyang nagpapahirap sa mga mamamayan ng Brazil.


Noong nakaraang linggo, ibinalita ng Wall Street Journal ito: ang paghayag ni Pope Francis ng pag-aalala sa malawakang disimpleyo sa kabataang manggagawa. Sabi niya, sa wikang Ingles: “May panganib na magkaroon tayo ng isang henerasyon na walang trabaho. Nakukuha ang personal na dignidad mula sa pagtrabaho,” sabi umano niya. Hindi man tuwirang sinabi ng Santo Papa (o hindi binanggit sa ulat ng WSJ), pero mistulang kritika ito sa malawakan, pandaigdigan at kapitalistang praktika ng kontraktuwalisasyon sa paggawa. Sabi sa ulat ng WSJ, binatikos ni Pope Francis ang mga merkado sa paggawa dahil itinuturing nitong disposable ang lakas-paggawa ng kabataan.


Nitong huling mga araw, pareho pa rin ang naging tono ng pampublikong mga pahayag ng Santo Papa. Kaalinsabay ng World Youth Day na nagaganap sa Brazil, sa unang araw niya sa naturang bansa, sinabi niya ito (sa wikang Ingles, salin ng manunulat):

“Kayo, minamahal kong kabataan, ang may taglay ng espesyal na sensitibidad (sensitivity), pero madalas kayong mawalan ng gana sa mga balita tungkol sa korupsiyon ng mga tao na naghahanap ng sariling ganansiya sa halip na naghahangad ng kabutihan ng karamihan…Huwag kayong hinaan ng loob; huwag kayong mawalan ng pag-asa. Maaaring magbago ang reyalidad…
“Walang sinumang kayang manatiling manhid sa kawalan-ng-pagkakapantay-pantay sa mundo. Walang tumatagal na pagtatag-ng-kapayapaan (peace-building), at walang nakakamit na pagkakasundo at kaligayahan, sa isang lipunang pinababayaan, isinasantabi o nagtatangi sa isang bahagi ng lipunang ito.”


Coverage ng US corporate media sa bisita ni Pope Francis sa BrazilCoverage ng US corporate media sa bisita ni Pope Francis sa Brazil


Maaaring sabihin ng ilan na umaangkop lamang ang Santo Papa sa reyalidad ng bansang binibisita. Rebelyon ang tenor ng kabataan sa Brazil, at sa kanyang mga pahayag (ayon sa ulat na ito), mistulang hinimok pa niyang “magrebelde” ang kabataan. Siyempre, sa konteksto ito ng “pagpapalaganap ng mensahe ng Panginoon,” pero madalas na niyang idinidiin ang mensaheng ito ay ang pagyakap sa mahihirap at inaapi. At hindi lamang sa salita niya inihayag ang mensaheng ito: Iniulat sa midya ang pagbisita niya sa favelas, o slum areas (kung sa Pilipinas, informal settlements squatter areas) sa unang araw ng kanyang pagdating sa Rio de Janeiro. Kahit ang popular na Santo Papa na si John Paul II, sa dalawang beses na bisita niya sa Pilipinas, hindi nakatuntong sa Smokey Mountain, Tondo, o ano mang lugar ng mga maralita sa bansang ito.


At kung hindi pa kayo kumbinsido sa tapang ng kasalukuyang lider-relihiyoso ng Simbahang Katoliko, pansinin na rin ang mga pahayag ni Francis noong nagbukas ang kongreso ng Diocese of Rome, halos dalawang linggo na ang nakararaan. Sa kanyang talumpati (na hindi inihanda, sabi ng isang Katolikong website), ilang beses niyang binanggit ang salitang “rebolusyon”. Sa konteksto ito ng paglulunsad ng “rebolusyon” ni Hesus para ipalaganap ang kanyang mensahe ng pag-ibig sa sangkatauhan. Pero binigyan-diin muli ni Pope Francis na ang mensaheng ito ay ang pakikipagkaisa at pagyakap sa mahihirap.


Malinaw na may kakaiba sa bagong Santo Papa: mas matapang sa paghayag ng opinyon sa itinuturing niyang mga problema ng lipunan, mas bukas sa pagbabago (bagamat malayo pa bago maging “bukas” sa maraming kontrobersiyal na isyu), mas pulitikal. Hitik ang kasaysayan ng simbahang Katoliko ng apostoles nito na bumaba sa kanilang pulpito para makilahok sa aktuwal na panlipunang mga pagbabago. Nariyan, siyempre, ang arsobispo ng El Salvador na siArsobispo Oscar Romero, na nagsalita kontra sa mga paglabag sa karapatang pantao noong dekada ’70 sa kanyang bansa, at pinaslang dahil dito. Naging tanyag na progresibong manunulat at rebolusyonaryo ang Katolikong pari sa Nicaragua na si Ernesto Cardinal. Sa Latina Amerika naging tanyag ang “liberation theology” na kinakatawan ng mga tulad nina Romero at Cardinal, at mga tagasuporta nila sa loob ng simbahan.


Pero di hamak na mas malakas at mas marami ang mga konserbatibo (suportado, at sinusuportahan, ng malalaking negosyo at kapitalistang mga gobyerno) sa loob ng Simbahang Katoliko. Isa sa maraming matingkad na halimbawa ng pagsuporta ng mga pinuno ng simbahan sa mapanupil na mga rehimen ang sinasabing pagsuporta nito–o kahit pa sabihing pag-kibit-balikat nito–sa rehimeng Nazi sa Germany at Europa noong Ikalawang Digmaang Pangdaigdig (Panoorin ang pelikulang “Amen” ng progresibong direktor ng pelikula na si Costa-Gavras). Hanggang ngayon, makapangyarihan ang mga puwersa ng reaksiyon at konserbatismo sa loob ng simbahan.


Sa gitna ng kalagayang ito ng Simbahang Katoliko, natutuwa ang maraming progresibo sa mga pahayag ng kasalukuyang Santo Papa. Sa maraming pagkakataon, tumiwalag siya sa mga protocol, umiwas sa nakagawiang praktika ng mga nauna sa kanya, para ipakita na maka-mahihirap siya, na bukas siya sa pagbabago (kahit hindi pa sa lahat ng kailangang pagbabago). Maaaring public relations na hakbang lamang ito, para bumawi ang simbahan mula sa katakut-takot na mga kontrobersiya, mula korupsiyon hanggang sex scandals, na kinasangkutan nito. Maaari rin naman na, sa wakas, natatangay na ng hangin ng pagbabago ang simbahan. Maaaring sinsero ang Santo Papa sa lumalalang kahirapan at pagsasamantala sa bansa–pero hindi pa siya handang yakapin ang radikal na pagbabagong itinutulak ng mga liberation theologian.


Anu’t ano man, dapat kaisa tayo sa pagbibigay-pugay sa mga pahayag at aksiyon ni Pope Francis. Kailangang kailangan ng mga naghihirap at inaaping mamamayan ng mundo ang boses at pakikilahok niya.




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Pinoy Weekly - Karapatan calls for CHR chair resignation

Pinoy Weekly


Posted: 29 Jul 2013 09:35 AM PDT


CHR Chair Etta Rosales (PW File Photo)CHR Chair Etta Rosales (PW File Photo)


Human rights group Karapatan today called for the resignation of Etta Rosales as chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), saying that Rosales has been remiss in her duty as chair of the commission by virtually acting as a spokesperson of police and military institutions.


Karapatan cited the latest remarks of Rosales in media reports blaming protesters in the violent dispersal of the rally during President Aquino’s State of the Nation Address (SONA).


“Instead of conducting CHR’s own investigations on the many incidents of police brutality in rallies and barricades during demolitions, Ms. Rosales, in many occasions, only resorted to victim-blaming, ” said Marie Hilao-Enriquez, chairperson of Karapatan.


The group said that instead of fulfilling her mandate, in many instances Rosales allegedly justified violations committed by state security forces against activists and protesters.


Enriquez took exception of Rosales’ statement condemning the participation of Dutch activist Thomas von Beersum who was caught in photos shouting to a policeman.


Despite of the denial of a permit from the Quezon City government and thousands of security forces blocking Commonwealth Avenue, protesters pushed through with their march.


“We negotiated with the PNP (Philippine National Police). They treacherously started to push and beat our colleagues. The brutal police action prompted many of us, including foreign activists like Beersum, to express indignation. Rosales was quick to blame us, acting as the PNP spokesperson, instead of doing her job of investigating what actually transpired,” Enriquez said.


Aside from the SONA dispersal, Enriquez also chided Rosales for condemning urban poor residents of North Triangle, Quezon City who supposedly threw feces at police and demolition teams.
Enriquez accused Rosales of ignoring the forcible eviction and the consequent economic displacement of poor residents in the area.


“When poor people are left with no other choice but to defend their survival, it is just to exercise their legitimate right to protest. Ironically, Rosales chose to dispense with the role of the Aquino government, the local government, the Ayalas and the PNP in driving away the urban poor in North Triangle from their homes and livelihood to make way for big business interests,” added Enriquez.


Karapatan also scored the CHR for the issuance of clearances for the promotion of human rights violators and Arroyo generals such as Brig. Gen. Eduardo Año and Brig. Gen. Aurelio Baladad.


Karapatan opposed the appointments of Año, who is among the accused in the disappearance of Jonas Burgos, and Baladad who is among those responsible for the illegal arrest, torture and detention of the 43 health workers known as “Morong 43″ in 2010.


“We have strong reason to believe that the CHR and Ms. Rosales granted the said generals with clearances without considering the standing cases in court against them. The CHR denied our request for access to the clearance documents which they issued–a clear violation of the right of the people to information and access to public documents,” Enriquez asserted.


Karapatan accused the CHR and Rosales as implementers of Oplan Bayanihan which has allegedly resulted to countless human rights violations.



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Human Rights Abuses in the Philippines : OBL, the Arroyo link

Source: Migrante Partylist Italy Chapt. Powerpoint based on the Primer SABWATANG TERORISTA Praymer Hinggil sa Papel ng Gobyernong US sa Patakarang Todo-gera ng Rehimeng Arroyo by Bagong Ayansang Makabayan (BAYAN), Oct. 2006




Introduction

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was among the first heads of state to declare full support to the Bush government.


Ex Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

The US has mentioned the Philippines as the second front in the “global war against terrorism”. John Negroponte, US Director for National Intelligence, has remarked that “The US and the Philippines are close partners in the international war on terrorism.


John Negroponte

Negroponte is also the head of US Counter Terrorism Center that controls 15 espionage agencies including CIA and FBI. He became a controversial figure when he gave the consent on the use of death squads in Latin America in the 80s
This June, 2006, Arroyo declared an all-out war against the “left” in general, and against the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and New People’s Army (NPA) in particular.



How does the US support Arroyo’s all-out war?


The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is being trained and funded by the US Government.
The Philippines is the biggest beneficiary of US foreign military assistance. The US has set aside $38 million in 2001, $114 million in 2003, and $164 million in 2005 for the AFP.
In the concentration of US military education and training support, the Philippines is second in the world and top in Asia. The Philippines receives a subsidy of $2.7 million under the US International Military Education and training Program.
In Asia, the Philippines is also top in receiving surplus defense articles with a total costs of $148 millions.
From the beginning, the AFP has been dependent on the US for its training. After World War 2, the Joint United States Military Advisory Group (JUSMAG) was created to furnish military training to the AFP. Also, the US maintains military bases in Clark and Subic Bay until the expiration of Military Bases Agreement in 1992.


Why does US troops continue to  remain in the Philippines?

The Philippines is important to US political and economic interests.
After the expulsion of military bases, the presence of US troops returned to the Philippines through a series of agreements which, except for the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), are unratified by the Senate.

The VFA was implemented in 1999. It consents the “visit” of US troops for unspecified frequency and in any unspecified part of the country, for the so-called Balikatan Joint Military Exercises with the AFP.



Aside from Balikatan, other joint trainings are being carried out or planned. –the “Kapit Bisig” is in operation for the period from the second half of 2006 to 2007. The Cooperation Afloat and Readiness Training (CARAT) exercises between Philippine and US Navies has just been terminated this August, 2006. According to Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz, the AFP and American military planners are preparing a 5-year plan of activities for 2007-2011.

Also, the creation of Security Engagement Board (SEB) was pushed thru to allegedly, respond in untraditional dangers. Thus, US troops could now enter into the country to intervene in cases such as epidemics, calamities and transnational crimes, and others. The scope of US entry into the country was even more widened by the SEB.

During the heat of US aggression in Iraq, the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA) was implemented. The MLSA permits the use of Philippine seaports and landing facilities for US troops in this war of aggression.

The Non-Surrender Agreement was signed to ensure that the Philippines cannot file charges against US soldiers. Under this agreement, the Filipinos are barred from filing suits against US troops in any National or International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity or other war crimes. *

*  Cases of US soldiers committing crimes in the Philippines had actually occurred, and, except for one,  in no other circumstances had they been brought to justice. The exception was the case of the 3 marines which was brought to court recently for rape and one of them was sentenced to imprisonment. He was spirited out of the prison and taken away from the Philippines by the American authorities. This was well covered by the press.


The US Covert Operations in the Philippines

•          US troops are involved in intelligence, psychological and combat operations of the AFP.
•          It was uncovered in 2002 by an international fact-finding mission in Basilan the shooting to death of Buongbuyong Isnijal a Moslem civilian by Reggie Lane, an American soldier. Lane was in operations with Filipino soldiers and policemen.
•          Michael Meiring, a CIA operative was arrested in May 2002 in Davao city , with bombs and other explosives in his person. Before an investigation was launched, Meiring was quickly taken away by FBI agents. According to an investigative report by Manila Times, Meiring was involved with CIA operations with Abu Sayyaf.
•          Vice Admiral Mateo Mayuga himself has said that the Fleet Marine Tandem has been the contribution of the US Navy to the internal security operations of the AFP.
•          The CIA has been operating in the Philippines for a very long time.
•          In book titled “IN OUR IMAGE” by Stanley Karnow, as early as the 1950s, the CIA under the command of Gen. Edward Landsdale and Charles Bohannan was already using the death squads against the Partido ng Bayan and the Hukbalahap rebels.
•          It was not even a secret to most that the dictatorship of the Marcos regime was supported by the US. President Corazon Aquino’s Low Inten-sity Conflict (LIC) was also of American doctrine. Under Aquino’s regime, more than 50 vigilante groups has sown terror in the whole country.
•          Ramos’ Oplan Bantay Bitag and Estrada’s Oplan Makabayan are all counter-insurgency programs approved by the US.     


The US role in the use of death squads in the Philippines

•          As was said before, it was the US who brought the concept of the use of death squads in the Philippines.
•          As of now, the Cabinet Oversight Committee for Internal Security (COC-IS) of the Philippine government,  is the primary tool of the US in implementing their suppressive and repressive policies. The COC-IS is composed by the Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz, AFP Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon, and Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales.                                             
•          It was the COC-IS who laid the suppressive and murderous policies of the Arroyo regime. They were the architects of the Oplan Bantay Laya (OBL), the bloody counter-insurgency program of the present regime. They also were the brain behind the implementation of the Proclamation 1017, Calibrated Preemptive Response (CPR) and the Executive Order 464.
•          Ermita and Negroponte worked together in Vietnam. In his visit to Manila last December 2005, Negroponte conferred with Ermita and other ranking officials of Malakanyang. In an interview with the daily Philippine Star, Ermita admitted that he gave a report regarding the neutralization of the government’s targets.                     
•          In this period (2005), 534 civilians were already killed under the US-Arroyo regime. After Negroponte’s visit, the ballooning rise in the numbers of victims was frighteningly noticeable. By September 2006, the listed number victims of political killings has reached 752.*
•          Although not a member of COC-IS, General Jovito Palparan Jr.** plays a special role. Aside from the killings and the militarization in the countryside, it was him who propagated the communist hysteria among the public and the Media to give a cause for the murders. He took the Infantry Advanced Course at the US Army Infantry School in 1989. He also commanded the Filipino troops delegation in Iraq in the same period when Negroponte was serving as US Ambassador to Iraq.


*   The number of victims of political killings in August, 2007 was 853 and still rising.
**  Gen. Palparan was nicknamed “the Butcher” by the villagers in the countryside because people die whenever he and his troops are around.


The similarities between Oplan Bantay Laya and the Phoenix Program of US in Vietnam

►   The objective of both the OBL and the Operation Phoenix is the destruction of the revolutionary forces lined against the US imperialists. Their thrusts are aimed to devastate the so called political infrastructure of the revolutionary movement. They accomplish this by murdering the unarmed leaders of the national democratic movements.
►   Operation Phoenix has a fixed monthly quota of 1,800 murders. Whole civilian communities were massacred  by US troops. The US State Department admitted that within a period of only two and a half years, 35,708 civilians were butchered and kidnapped under the CIA’s Phoenix Program.                      
►   Both the OBL and Operation Phoenix were aimed at priority areas. OBL has 13 areas in 7 regions. Based on the data furnished by Karapatan the three regions that has the most numerous number of political killing victims were inside the priority areas. For the period from January 2001 to May 2006, 146 were killed in Southern Tagalog; 120 in Central Luzon; and 84 in Southern Mindanao.
►   Another attribute common to both OBL and Phoenix is the intensified intelligence operations. In Vietnam, the CIA established the Combined Intelligence Center that prepares the political order of battle. With the OBL, the AFP has the sectoral watch list of leaders and members of organizations suspected as being front of the communist. This is mirrored in the power point presentation Knowing the Enemy and the book published by the Northern Luzon Command titled Trinity of War. In both document, all organizations that they consider as communist fronts or influenced by the communists are listed as targets.                            
►   The placement of check points to control the movements of the population done by CIA in Vietnam and is being practiced in the Philippines. During the US war of aggression in Vietnam, all Vietnamese with the age of 15 and above are required to register and to display an identity card. In the areas indicated in OBL particularly in Bulacan and Nueva Ecija, the populace are forced to exhibit their cedula (residence tax certificate). Pres. Arroyo has even issued an order for the implementation of a unified identification system for all citizens in all transactions with any government agency. The introduction of Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) which is an efficient method of spying on the citizens was suggested and being studied.


The US interests in the pushing through of the Anti-Terror Bill

•          The US government has a primary interest in the implementation of an anti-terror law in the Philippines and in other countries. After the 9/11, the US became more aggressive in their interventions in internal affairs of other countries in the name of the so called “war against terrorism”. The US is using the  unconventional fronts such as the Asia Pacific Economic Council (APEC) and Association of South East Asian Nations in their military oriented maneuvers. 
•          The US Patriotic Act was enacted at once after the 9/11. This law includes repressive and suppressive provisions particularly against the immigrants from all countries. Under the US persuasions, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia has passed their own anti-terrorism legislation and other similar mechanisms.
•          In this context, Pres. Arroyo was hurrying the works for the enactment of the Anti-terror Bill (ATB) that should be passed before the ASEAN Conference on December 2006 in Cebu City.* She is persevering to be the US number one puppet to save her regime which by now is in agony.

*  The Anti-Terror Bill was passed by the Philippine Congress in February 2007 and ratified by the Joint Congress and Senate Session last July 2007 under the title of “Human Security Act” (HSA), over the mass opposition and protest of Filipinos both in the country and abroad.

•          Under the ATB, the progressive organizations could be tagged as “terrorists” organizations, everyone who criticize or oppose her regime and the imperialist US could be suppressed under the so-called struggle against terrorism. Even the legitimate protests could be punished under this law. And the violations of human rights could worsen.


The essence of US global war against terrorism

•          The global war against terrorism is terrorism in itself. For its imperialist motives, the US is sowing terror around the world.
•          By the year 2005, the US has 386,000 troops stationed in 150 countries around the world including 70,000 in Asia alone.
•          Also, the US has the biggest arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in form of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. The US is the only country in the world with a history of using a nuclear bomb against another country in the second World War.
•          The US is creating new enemies when the Cold War ended, to justify their aggressions and interventions against other countries. After attacking Iraq for inexistent weapons of mass destruction, and Afghanistan because of Bin Laden, US has tagged North Korea, Venezuela and Cuba as “the Axis of Evil”.
•          In the successive Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR2001 and 2006), it appears that US has now a strategic leaning on the orient, from Europe towards Asia. The US Pacific Command (PACOM) has designated Southeast Asia as the frontline of the global war against terrorism.
•          The US is also carrying out bilateral military exercises with Thailand (Cobra Gold), Japan (Keen Sword), South Korea (Ulchi Focus Lens) and Australia (Talisman Saber).
•          The truth is, the real targets of these US measures are the democratic, patriotic and anti-imperialist groups and individuals not only in the Philippines but in the whole world as well.
•          The growing economic crisis of the US imperialism is launching its militarism. It cannot continue further with its own crisis of over-production that makes the US more ferocious in intensifying its plundering of other country’s wealth.


What should be done

•          All efforts should be exerted to expose the role of the imperialist US in the suppression and repressions of the Filipino people. Studies should be launched in schools, communities, factories and other places. To utilize all forms of actions to manifest our analyses.
•          It is necessary to gather together all patriotic groups and individuals to protest against the US interventions in all fields of actions.
•          All efforts should be made to oust the puppet Arroyo. Her ousting could be a severe blow to US imperialism.   




Translated from
SABWATANG TERORISTA
Praymer Hinggil sa Papel ng Gobyernong US sa Patakarang Todo-gera ng Rehimeng Arroyo
Bagong Ayansang Makabayan (BAYAN), Oct. 2006
Bibliography
Ralph McGehee – CIA and Operations Phoenix in Vietnam
http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwhr.126.html  - RP Biggest Beneficiary of  US Military Aid in Asia
Ana Marie Pamintuan – US Intel Director: JI Terrorists Using RP as Sanctuary, Philippine Star
Bobby Tuazon – Macapagal-Arroyo’s “Silent War” Against the Left. Bulatlat.com
Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research (EILER) – Human Rights Abuses in the Philippines, Shades of El Salvador, Vietnam
Abner Bolos – Death Squads, The CIA and Political Killings in Central Luzon.
Alexander Martin Remolino – Palparan’s Path: Trail of Blood, Child Victims
Institute of Political Economy (IPE) – Briefing Paper on US Imperialism in Southeast Asia and ASEAN
US RP Navies Start Today War Exercises in Subic, Other Areas
Ralph McGehee – CIA Support of Death Squads
KARAPATAN Power Point – The Human Rights Situation
Ecumenical Movement for Justice and Peace, Power Point – Oplan Bantay Laya

Translations and Power point adaptation by
MIGRANTE PARTY LIST Italy Chapter