Statement on the Cybercrime Prevention Act

Hundreds of youth and students led by the League of Filipino Students (LFS) are geared up for student strikes and walkouts for a “strike week” from Sept. 17-21 next week in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of Martial Law. Together with youth organizations like Anakbayan, Karatula, Student Christian Movement of the Philippines, National Union of Students of the Philippines, and Kabataan Partylist, the LFS will launch widespread protests against the repression of their right to education and other human rights under the Aquino administration.

The strikes aim to reiterate the LFS’ call for the junking of the Education Act of 1982, which according to the group paves the way for further commercialization of education. The act was signed by former president and dictator Marcos.

“With the Education Act of 1982 still in place, the state of Philippine education remains the same it was under Marcos. Rising tuition and miscellaneous fees continue to deny the youth of their right to education,” says LFS Vice Chairperson Joaquin Sienes III.

Sienes points out how tuition hikes defeat the purpose of state universities and colleges (SUCs) to provide accessible quality education to Filipinos. In the University of the Philippines (UP), a recent re-bracketing scheme raised the tuition to P1,500/unit from the P1,000/unit since the tuition fee increase in 2007. Meanwhile, students of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) are faced with an additional P500-miscellaneous fee.

The LFS held a protest action in PUP-Sta. Mesa last Tuesday to condemn the 30 years of the act which coincided with the group’s 35th anniversary.

The group also noted how Aquino violates not just the youth’s right to education but also other human rights.

“Student leaders and activists have always been victims of harassment and surveillance by the military since the time of Marcos and still are under Aquino. More than a hundred political killings have been recorded, while cases of enforced disappearances, torture, and other human rights violations continue to rise,” says Sienes.

The youth leader remarked on the irony of someone coming from a family of supposedly victims of Martial Law committing the same atrocities by Marcos.

“Aquino’s administration so far has been a de facto martial law. Just like the mass movement occupied the streets to bring down the oppressive Marcos rule, so should the youth and the Filipino people continue to protest and advance their struggle for their democratic rights,” says Sienes. ###

(via Kabataan Partylist Southern Tagalog)

KABATAAN, IPAGPATULOY ang DIWANG MAKABAYAN
na PINAGLIYAB ng KAMATAYAN ni NINOY!
TUTULAN ang KONTRA-MAMAMAYANG PATAKARAN ni NOYNOY!
HINDI SAYANG ang MAMATAY para sa MAMAMAYAN

     Aug 21, 1983 – pinaslang si dating Senador Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. Bilang kinikilalang oposisyon sa mga palakad ni Ferdinand Marcos, ang kamatayan ng isa sa pinaka batang naging senador ng bansa ay nagsilbing inspirasyon para sa maraming kabataan at mamamayan na bawiin ang kapangyarihan at karapatang ipinagkait ng batas militar. Taong 1986, kanilang napatalsik ang diktador. Hanggang sa kasalukuyan, hindi napapawi sa ating alaala ang sambit ni Ninoy, “The Filipinos are worth dying for.” (Hindi masasayang ang kamatayang alay sa mga Pilipino.)

     Makalipas ang mahigit tatlong dekada, isang anak ni Ninoy ang siyang pangulo ng bansa. Subalit, nananatili ang pagdarahop dulot ng pagpapabaya at pang-aabuso. Malubha pa, higit na naging matingkad ang pagsasamantala sa ating mga kababayan kung kailan napakarami ang nasalanta ng nagdaang pagbagyo, pag-ulan at pagbaha.

MARAMING MAMAMAYAN ang NAMAMATAY

     May 74,000 pamilya sa Timog Katagalugan  sng nasalanta ng bagyong Gener at hanging Habagat ayon sa impormasyong nakalap ng grupong Southern Tagalog Serve the People Brigade. Hindi pa kasama sa bilang na iyan ang maraming hindi pa naitatala. Samantala, umabot sa 60 ang namatay sa buong bansa . Karamihan ng mga apektado ay mga maralitang naninirahan sa mga tabing-dagat, lawa at ilog. Itinulak sila ng kawalan ng ikabubuhay at mahirap na kalagayan upang manirikan sa mga lugar na ito. Dahil sa kawalang kakayahang tustusan ang papalaking gastusin, lalo silang bulnerableng magkasakit, at maanuran ng bahay, ari-arian at bangka. At habang naging madalas ang suspensyon ng klase, hindi naman tumigil ang pagtaas ng presyo ng pangunahing bilihn. Noong Agosto 7, halimbawa, ay tumaas ang presyo ng gasolina mula ng Php 0.80 kada litro. Nagtaas din ang presyo ng kuryente.

     Habang noo’y nanawagan si Ninoy at ang iba pang kabataan at mamamayan ng isang pamahalaang naglilingkod sa mga Pilipino, ngayon nama’y higit na naging lansakan ang pagpapabaya sa hanay ng mga nanunungkulan na siya dapat magtitiyak na malayo sa kapinsalaan ang kabataan at mamamayan.

PINABABAYAAN ang MAMAMAYAN

     Isang matingkad na halimbawa mismo ang administrasyong Aquino:

1. Hindi niya prayoridad ang paghahanda sa mga sakuna. Pinigilan pa niya ang mga ahensya ng gubyerno sa paggamit ng calamity fund para dito. 
2. Hindi niya pinagbabawalan ang mga kumpanyang nangangasiwa sa mga hydro-electric dams na pataasin nang higit sa kailangang antas ang tubig sa mga ito, na siya nilang kalakaran para mapalaki ang kakayahang lumikha ng kuryente mula sa lakas ng tubig habang di gumagastos nang malaki. Sa gayon, nakatitipid sila habang nakapagpapalaki ng singilin sa pagbebenta ng kuryente. Kaya naman, madalas na umapaw ang mga dam at kailangang buksan ang mga flood gates, na siyang nagpapalubog sa mabababang lugar sa baha. 
3.  Hindi ito nagsagawa ng malakihang operasyon upang tanggalin ang burak sa mga lawa at lagusan ng tubig. 
4. Hindi ito nagsagawa ng signipikanteng pagsisikap upang malawakang matamnan ng puno ang ating nakakalbong kagubatan. 
5. Kinansela nito ang mga proyektong pangkontrol ng baha nitong maagang bahagi ng taon.

MAMAMAYAN ang SINISISI sa KALAGAYANG SILA ang BIKTIMA

     Subalit ang higit na malala, upang pagtakpan ang kanilang kapabayaan ay ipinapasa pa ng mga nasa katungkulan at maging ng mga nasa mass media ang sisi sa mismong mga maralita! Diumano’y sila ang sanhi ng pagkipot ng mga lagusang-tubig at pagbaha. Ang Pang. Aquino mismo, anak ni Ninoy, ay nangunguna sa pagpaparatang sa maralita sa paglubha ng pagbaha. Kaya naman, ang kanyang solusyon ay malawakang demolisyon!

     “I have just received instructions from the President that if push comes to shoves, we will have to blast these houses.” (Katatanggap ko lamang ng atas mula sa Pang. Aquino na kung magkakamatigasan, kailangang pasabugin namin ang mga bahay na ito.) – Ito mismo ang pahayag ni DPWH Sec. Rogelio Singson hinggil sa mga kabahayan ng may 195,000 tirahan sa tabi ng mga lagusang-tubig sa Kamaynilaan at sa paligid ng Lawa ng Laguna. Ang kakatwa, karaniwang ang mga relocation site na iniaalok sa mga maralita ay mga bahain ding lugar, at malayo sa mapagkukunang-trabaho. Samantala, sa pagpapatalsik sa mga maralita sa mga tabing-lawa at ilog ay lalo lamang mabubuksan ang mga lugar na ito sa mga pribadong korporasyon sa ilalim ng public-private partnership program. Karaniwang ang mga korporasyong ito ay hindi pinapatawan ng mahihigpit na regulasyon.

ITINUTULAK ang MAMAMAYAN sa NAKAMAMATAY na KALAGAYAN

     Masasabi pa ngang hindi lamang basta pabaya ang administrasyong ito, kundi responsable pa nga sa pagbaha. Taliwas sa opinyon ng ilan na ang nagdulot ng pagbaha nitong buwang ito ay ang mga maralita, iba ang ipinapakita ng katotohanan:

1. Patuloy ang lantarang pagkalbo at pagpatay sa ating kagubatan ng mga korporasyon sa pagmimina at pagtotroso na patuloy na ineengganyo ng administrasyong Aquino na mamuhunan sa ating bansa, bagamat wala naman silang signipikanteng kontribusyon sa ating ekonomya. 
2. Patuloy ang pagpapalit-gamit ng lupa para sa mga plantasyon, subdivision, eco-tourism projects at rancho ng mga dayuhang kumpanya at mga malalaking haciendero tulad ng pamilyang Cojuangco-Aquino. Lalo lamang nitong pinupwersa ang mga taga-kanayunan na lumikas at mapadpad kahit sa mga lugar na peligrong bahain.
3. Kalakaran din ng administrasyong ito ang pagpapababa ng sahod at kawalang programa para sa katiyakan ng empleyo, kaya lalong maraming Pilipino ang naghihirap at nagiging bulnerable sa mga sakuna. Sa madaling salita, ang administrasyong Aquino pa ang nagtutulak ng pagkawasak ng kapaligiran at kabuhayan nating mga Pilipino, at ng kinabukasan ng kabataan.

     Mahigit tatlong dekada na ang nakalilipas mula nang paslangin si Ninoy. Bilang kabataan, ating ipagpatuloy ang diwang makabayan na pinagliyab ng kanyang kamatayan. Ating hamunin ang administrasyong ito na tigilan ang pagpapabaya, pang-aabuso at pagbabaling ng sisi sa mamamayang dapat ay kanyang pinaglilingkuran.

League of Filipino Students - UPLB
August 08, 2012
News Release

LOS BAÑOS, LAGUNA - Various student organizations and people’s party-lists conduct a relief and rehabilitation mission under the banner of Serve the People Brigade (STPB) as part of the celebration of the upcoming International Youth Day on August 12.

The STPB is an initiative providing immediate relief to the provinces of Southern Tagalog, particularly Laguna. Stationed at the Vega Center in Los Baños, it primarily seeks to collect relief goods and to invite volunteers for the relief distributions.

“The youth of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and nearby communities launched this project to relive the true essence of bayanihan among the Filipino youth.” Allen Lemence, League of Filipino Students-UPLB spokesperson, and one of the coordinators of the STPB said. He also added that this activity serves as a clear manifestation that the mobilizing force of the people, when spearheaded by the youth, can surpass even the fiercest storms.

As of 7:01PM today, Lemence said that the STPB had a total of 133 walk-in donors, financial donations amounting to more than 15,000Php, and 200 relief packs in four multi-cabs full of clothes and goods. The STPB also had more than 100 volunteers today who helped in publicizing the endeavor, packing relief goods, going house-to-house to solicit goods and other resources.

The relief distribution in Mabitac, Laguna and Barangay Tadlac, Los Baños is scheduled tomorrow. More than a thousand families will receive the relief packs.

“Given the overwhelming support of the UPLB community and nearby communities, the STPB is in need of more donations and more volunteers in the relief distributions for the upcoming days. More so, we call on UPLB students to come out, help and continue upholding the mark of every Iskolar ng Bayan in serving the people.” Lemence concluded.

The STPB is expected to continue receiving donations and relief goods for the whole month of August. #

For inquiries on how you can donate or volunteer, you can contact the STPB secretariat at 0915 276 8715.

Pahayag ng pambansang tanggapan ng League of Filipino Students sa paggunita ng ika-anim na anibersaryo ng pamamaslang kay Rei Mon “Ambo” Guran, tagapagsalita ng LFS sa Aquinas University of Legazpi. Ibinahagi nitong ika-31 ng Hulyo, 2012 sa Bulan Freedom Park sa Bulan, Sorsogon.

Pinakamataas na pagpupugay at mapanlabang pagbati!

Sa pag-alaala natin sa ika-anim na taong paggunita sa kamatayan ng ating kasamang si Rei Mon “Ambo” Guran, binabalik-tanaw natin ang kanyang naging buhay at pakikibaka sa hanay ng mga masang estudyante at mamamayan bilang isang masugid na tagapagtaguyod ng kanilang interes at ng mga prinsipyo ng ating liga. Isa sa mga prominenteng lider-estudyante sa rehiyon ng Bikol, ang araw ng pagkawala ni Ka Ambo ay naging isang madilim na kasaysayan ng ating mapagpalayang kilusan. Ngunit sa kanyang pagkawala ay hinding-hindi malilimot ng kabataan at mamamayan ang kanyang prinsipyo, paninindigan, at adhikain na mananatiling buhay sa alaala ng buong sambayanan.

Sa gitna ng tumitinding krisis na nararanasan ng mamamayan, isinilang si Ka Ambo at namulat sa gitna ng malakolonyal at malapyudal na sistemang panlipunan. Walang pag-iimbot na inalay niya ang kanyang oras, panahon, at kanyang buhay; niyakap niya ang hirap, sakripisyo, at maging ang kamatayan alang-alang sa pagtataguyod ng interes ng kabataang Pilipino at ng buong mamamayan. Walang pag-iimbot siyang nag-organisa, nagmulat, at nagpakilos laban sa numero unong ugat ng kahirapan: ang Imperyalismong Estados Unidos.

Sa ilalim ng rehimeng US-Aquino, unti-unting nailalantad ang katangian ni Noynoy Aquino bilang isang pangulong tagapaglingkod at tagapagtaguyod ng interes ng imperyalistang EU at ng mga kauri nito bilang isang pangulong haciendero. Sa dalawang taon pa lamang ng panunungkulan nito sa kapangyarihan ay papatindi ang pasistang atake ng rehimen sa mga mamamayan sa ilalim ng Oplan Bayanihan na pagpapatuloy lamang ng madugong Oplan Bantay Laya ng nakaraang rehimen. Ito ang malinaw na programang kontra-insurhensya ng reaksyunaryong estado laban sa hanay ng patuloy na lumalakas na rebolusyonaryong kilusan. Pinasasahol pa ito ng higit pang panghihimasok ng mga tropang Kano sa bansa sa ilalim ng Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), na subok sa karanasan at kasaysayan ng pananatili ng baseng Kano sa bansa ay napakarami nang ginawang paglabag sa karapatang pantao ng mga mamamayang Pilipino. Maging sa kasalukuyan, alam natin na walang ibang layunin ang mga ito kundi paghusayin ang reaksyunaryong hukbo ng estado sa pamamagitan ng paglunsad ng mga exercises laban sa kanyang mga mamamayan at sa pagsupil sa lumalakas na hanay ng rebolusyonaryong kilusan.

Ngunit sa kabila ng pasistang atake ng estadong ito ay hindi nangimi ang malawak na hanay ng kabataan at mamamayan na magpursigi sa pagsulong sa pambansa-demokratikong kilusan sa kalunsuran at kanayunan. Katulad ni Ka Ambo, dapat tayong magpakatatag sa gitna ng hirap at sakripisyo.

Sinasabi natin na marahas ang digma, ngunit mas marahas ang dahilan nito. Dapat tayong higit na magpursigi at magpunyagi sa pagsusulong at pagpapalawak ng ating pambansa-demokratikong hanay, tungo sa libu-libo hanggang sa milyun-milyong kabataan at mamamayan na tatahak  at magpapatuloy sa nasimulang pakikibaka ni Ka Ambo. Siya ay isa sa magsisilbing huwaran at ilaw sa landas na tatahakin ng kabataan at mamamayan tungo sa landas ng pagrerebolusyon—tungo sa higit na pagwawakas at ganap na pagpapabagsak sa imperyalismo, burukrata-kapitalismo, at pyudalismo hanggang sa maitaguyod ang isang sosyalistang lipunan na magwawakas sa tanikala ng kahirapan at kawalan ng hustisya.

Hustisya para kay Ka Ambo Guran!

Hustisya para sa lahat ng biktima ng pampulitikang pamamaslang!

Wakasan ang Oplan Bayanihan sa ilalim ng Rehimeng US-Aquino! 

Four days ago, Benigno Aquino III pronounced his third State of the Nation Address (SONA). On the same day 22 years ago, on July 23, 1990, Corazon Aquino delivered her 4th SONA and declared the historic eviction of US military bases in the Philippines.

Times may have changed and the people have changed too, if only for the worse. At least, such is the case with the Aquinos.

Both the Lower and Upper Houses resumed sessions on the day of the SONA, promising the legislation of priority bills soliciting the “creation of goods and services in a playing field that is intentionally made fair to all.” This could only mean the possible railroading of charter change (cha-cha) whether through a constituent assembly or constitutional convention.

In recent history, charter change has been met with criticism and dissent by the Filipino people. Both the Ramos and Arroyo administrations’ cha-cha proposed to change the type of government to extend their respective terms. Ramos’ cha-cha also proposed for “socio-economic reform to respond to the higher standards of human development and security promulgated by the United Nations in terms of water, food, health, shelter, income, livelihood, education, environment, opportunity, and safety.” In other words, it aimed to make surgical amendments in the Philippine Constitution to accommodate the imperatives of globalization at the time.

First and foremost a US Command

Talks of amending the Constitution were revived during the first week of July when Senate President Enrile urged the Congress to reconsider the configuration of the national budget to accommodate the demands of war in the context of persistent Chinese incursions. Enrile shamelessly called a review of the budget for education to augment the needs of the military should war come to the fore, while projecting Aquino as indifferent towards the matter.

However, US Ambassador Harry Thomas has already proposed charter change to allow for the full implementation of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in August last year. TPP aims to reduce member countries into a single trading community, making it subservient to US trade dictates towards its culmination of having all trade tariffs removed by 2015.

For five years the US economy has been experiencing a protracted recession after the notorious bank bailout. With its declaration of the American Pacific Century, it is desperate to leech off from the rich reserves of cheap labor, natural resources, and even richer consumer market in the Asia-Pacific.

Intensify hard-selling of country’s economy

Even without the cha-cha, the Aquino government is just as successful in hard-selling the country’s economy. He has done so with his flagship program Public-Private Partnerships and the recently legislated Executive Order 79 more commonly known as the Mining EO.

In his third SONA, Aquino boasted the 6.4% growth rate from the implementation of 1 out 10 PPP projects, owing much of the success of private sector spending. According to DBM Secretary Abad, the government could have added 2 more additional points to this growth if the rest of it were bid out. For 2012, a total of 22 PPP projects will be bid out, but these projects shamelessly include supposed state-funded social services such as health, education, transportation, and power among others.

Recently, Aquino approved the Mining EO which euphemistically boasts of invoking “responsible mining” when in fact, EO 79 is no different from the existing Mining Act of 1995.  It brags of a mining moratorium (or prohibits issuance of new mining permits after the EO implementation) while allowing the continued denudation of the environment by 771 mining companies issued with permits, and does not decisively cover those who can do the same with just applying for exploration permits.

Peddling the country’s sovereignty

A day after Aquino’s third SONA, the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) between our country and Australia which legalizes the bilateral defense and military cooperation between the two countries was ratified. It was approved in cognizant with the provision in the Constitution that permits such treaties so long as they are approved by the Senate.

Furthermore, after no less than 5 years of being shelved in the Senate, the SOVFA was railroaded in the context of Chinese incursions and in consideration of Australia as the US’ “deputy partner” in the Asia-Pacific region. The Senate approval of SOVFA follows the narrative of series of US-PH top official engagements for the past 1stquarter, the deployment of troops in Balikatan last April, the deployment and operations of combat drones, possible deployment of spy planes, the construction of a private defense contractor in Subic, and the construction of a coast watch radar to monitor the West Philippine Sea.

For the longest time, US has been hawking the South China Sea, drooling over its economic guarantees assured by its mineral resources and its strategic position in trade. While building its economic leverage against China through forcing TPP among nations in the region, US has found a good military outpost in the Philippines legalized by the Mutual Defense Treaty, Mutual Logistics Support Agreement, and Visiting Forces Agreement, among others.

The US$30B military aid coherent with the “modernization” of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Defense Capability Upgrade and Sustainment of Equipment Program of AFP is tantamount to US-PH egging China to a war over territorial claims. In his SONA, Aquino meekly appealed to public emotion that this is merely protecting our backyard, but since Aquino has permitted the intervention of US through different disguises in the form of the Balikatan Exercises, ministerial meetings, port calls of US nuclear submarines, his double talk is nothing but warmongering.

Hands Clean, Head above the Clouds, 106 Applauses

Aquino is still elated, with the impeachment of the chief justice, the facade of a “no strong opposition,” that will translate to the alignment of previously contending political parties into a merger, a creditor status—the summation of his two years that was good enough for 1 and a half hour of lying and 106 applauses of his political allies.

Aquino can pretend to be lukewarm towards the issue. Aquino’s cohorts are standing in the line of fire, taking bullet after bullet for the administration’s inutile maneuvers that compromise the welfare of the people. At this point, the US-Aquino regime is whitewashing possible political motives behind amending the constitution by stressing on relaxing the economic provisions.

Aquino’s “daang matuwid” is nothing more but a fast lane of the puppeteers and the profit-driven. It has been used for whoremonging the people and warmongering among the people.

While Aquino keeps his head above the clouds and wipes his hands clean, the people, on the other hand, have their feet flat on the ground, with left fists clenched in the air. Being the basic masses who feel the full brunt of Aquino’s neoliberal puppetry, the LFS enjoins the Filipino youth to link arms with the rest of the Filipino people in taking to the streets and continuing the national democratic struggle to free the nation from the oppressive rule of the US-Aquino regime.


(via lfs.ph)

In a press conference held at the UP College of Law, the League of Filipino Students (LFS), joined by UP Student Regent Cleve Arguelles, USC Councilor Aryanna Canacan, CONTEND Secretary General Prof. Sarah Raymundo, NNARA Chairperson Bianca Luna denounced Aquino’s condescending statements in his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) that maligned the massive student protests that fought for higher budget in the last quarter of 2011.

“For the second time around, we will not hesitate to call NoyNoy ‘a man with no sense of history.’ We are appalled how he bravely discredits mass protests, when in fact, it was the street parliament that lamented the death of his father, ousted a dictator, and seated his mother in presidency,” said LFS Chairperson Gemma Canalis.

According to the militant youth organization, Aquino also seems to have forgotten the people’s interests following the hastened passage of the PH-Australia Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA), Arroyo’s release on a mere P1M bail, and talks of pandering the economy to foreign capitalists with the make-or-break talk of Charter Change on Monday.

“Aquino boasts of not being content with ‘forgiving and forgetting’ in his SONA, but he has already done the exact opposite just a few days after he pronounced it. He has forgotten national sovereignty when he continued to allow foreign military troops to enter the country; he has not only forgiven and forgotten all of Arroyo’s crimes to the people but is inutile enough to repeat them; he has forgotten to industrialize the Philippines for self-sustenance in his clamor for foreign investors ready to plunder the country,” says Canalis.

The LFS evoked the 1986 People Power and other victories earned by the collective action of the mass movement, and called on the people to participate in future protest actions to expose Aquino’s puppetry to capitalist dictates, particularly those of the US.

“While no less than 106 applauses elated Aquino in his most recent SONA, we will make sure the resounding march of the people united in the streets will haunt him in his coming days. For unlike Aquino, the youth and the rest of the Filipino nation will neither forgive nor forget the likes of him who have oppressed them for years,” warns Canalis. ###


(via lfs.ph)

The League of Filipino Students (LFS) condemns in the highest possible terms the granting of bail to Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on the electoral sabotage case filed against her earlier today. The LFS would like to call out the Aquino administration’s accountability in its failure to file a strong plunder case against Arroyo, in addition to multiple charges of human rights violations.

The current US-Aquino regime’s has shown no initiative in making Arroyo pay for her crimes against the people. While an arrest warrant is pending the former president at the Sandiganbayan, the long time it took before such a case was filed against her made detaining Arroyo questionable on legal grounds. The probability of Arroyo coming clean from the charges filed against her is a testament to the Aquino administration’s culture of impunity towards their fellow representatives from the ruling class, and no different from what happened with former presidents Marcos and Estrada.

Just days after his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) and already Aquino is swallowing his words. Vaunting that he won’t just “forgive and forget” the people’s oppressors, the turn of events just days after his SONA show otherwise. Indeed, like the rest of his speech, his words remain hollow and his rhetoric exposed as nothing but mere lip service in a desperate attempt to win over the people long frustrated with his rule.

The ruling class can no longer cover up their connivance with each other in an attempt to protect each other’s interests that are the opposite of what the people demands. The LFS vows to continue arousing, organizing, and mobilizing the youth and the rest of the people to expose and oppose these local ruling elites, and make sure that the likes of Arroyo pay for their crimes against the people when the current administration fails to.


(via lfs.ph)

A day after they rushed to the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR) to protest Aquino’s newly-signed Executive Order (EO) No. 79, members of the League of the Filipino Students (LFS) marched to Mendiola to press on their condemnation of the new EO on the mining industry.

The militant youth group criticized the EO for “adopting the same pro-imperialist provisions in the Republic Act 7942,” otherwise known as the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.

“While players in the mining industry welcomed the signing of the new EO, the rest of the nation took to the streets to condemn it. Clearly, we can see whom this mining EO really is for,” says LFS Chairperson Gemma Canalis.

Canalis called out the Aquino administration’s insincerity in promoting the mining industry for national industrialization.

“In addition to widespread destruction of the environment, large-scale mining operations benefit only huge foreign mining companies on the pretext of national development,” she explains. “Even the proposal for increased government revenue from mining operations will be pending legislation, and therefore gives no assurance of increased proceeds to the government.”

The youth leader claimed that in signing the EO, Aquino only further cemented his status as a lapdog of huge foreign capitalists.

“This EO disregards the moratoria imposed by local government units (LGUs) that regulate mining operations in their respective areas, and even pushes these LGUs to act in accordance with the new mining EO to further accommodate the mining companies,” says Canalis.

The LFS called for the junking of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and advocated the People’s Mining Bill authored by progressive partylist groups as an alternative.

“Mining is an integral industry in developing the Philippines. However, instead of bidding our reserves to foreign capitalists and huge mining companies as encouraged by the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, our mining industry should be directed in accordance to the needs of the Filipino people and national industrialization,” Canalis says. 


(via lfs.ph)

(from Anakbayan-UPLB)

Pinakamataas na pagpupugay ang ipinapaabot ng  ANAKBAYAN-Timog Katagalugan kay Armando “Ka Arman” Albarillo, dating coordinator ng Bayan Muna at Pangkalahatang Kalihim ng Bagong Alyansyang Makabayan – Timog Katagalugan (BAYAN-TK).

Si Ka Arman ay mula sa pamilya ng mga magsasaka sa San Teodoro, Oriental Mindoro. Nang maghasik ng lagim si Jovito Palparan sa kanilang lugar, naging biktima ng pampulitikang pamamaslang ang mga magulang ni Ka Arman sa bisa ng Oplan Bantay Laya ni Gloria Arroyo. Maging si Ka Arman at kanyang kapatid ay hindi naging ligtas sa pandarahas ng mga militar. Dahil sa matinding militarisasyon, napilitan silang lumikas ng Mindoro. Naging internal refugee si Ka Arman at kanyang pamilya sa sariling bayan. Naghanap siya ng hustisya para  sa kanyang mga magulang. At doon, nakasalamuha niya ang iba’t ibang organisasyon na nagpaliwanag sa kanya ng tunay na kalagayan ng lipunan. Higit pa, mas naging malawak ang kanyang mundo nang makasama at makasalamuha niya ang mga manggagawa, magsasaka, maralitang-lungsod, kabataan at iba pang sektor ng lipunan na, katulad niya, ay pinagkaitan ng mapayapa, marangal at masaganang buhay.

Sa kanyang patuloy na pagkilos, natutunan niya kung ano ang ugat ng kahirapan ng mga mamamayan. Naging mas malinaw sa kanya na ang pang-aapi at pagsasamantala ng mga naghaharing uri ay bunga ng bulok na sistemang panlipunang malapyudal at malakolonyal at patuloy na pangingibabaw ng imperyalismong Estados Unidos. Kasabay ng paghahanap niya ng hustisya para sa kanyang mga magulang, pinili niyang humanay sa mga inaapi at pinagsasamantalahang sektor ng lipunan upang kolektibong makibaka para sa kanilang mga lehitimo at demokratikong interes.

Taong 2008, siya at ang 71 pang biktima ng paglabag sa karapatang-pantao ay sinampahan ng gawa-gawang kaso tulad ng arson, multiple murder at multiple frustrated murder. Kabilang sila sa tinaguriang Southern Tagalog 72 (ST-72), kung saan sinampahan din ng gawa-gawang kaso ang isang lider kabataan na si PJ Santos (mula sa ANAKBAYAN-TK). Dahil dito, nakikita nating ang mga biktima ang sila pa ngayong pinalalabas ng estado na kriminal at salot sa lipunan. Samantala ang mga naghaharing uri, katulad ni Gloria Arroyo ay patuloy na namayagpag bilang pangulo ng bansa hanggang 2010. Dahil sa kaliwa’t kanang banta sa kanyang buhay, nagpasya si Ka Arman na maglow-profile.

Di kalaunan ay tuluyan na siyang sumapi sa Bagong Hukbong Bayan. Mahigit tatlong taon ding hindi narinig ang kanyang tinig sa mga lansangan. Lingid sa kaalaman ng lahat, siya ay patuloy na nag-organisa at naglingkod sa masang magsasaka sa kanayunan. Nasa kanya ag lahat ng dahilan upang mag-aramas. Batid niya na ang hustisya ay makakamtan lamang sa pamamagitan ng pagtangan ng armas.

Noong Hunyo 30, marami ang nabigla sa balitang si Ka Arman ay nasawi sa isang engkwentro sa San Narciso, Quezon. Ayon sa mga nakalap na balita, wasak ang kanyang katawan dahil sa tama ng bala. Wala na rin siyang braso nang makita ang kanyang mga labi. Hinayaan din ang kanyang walang buhay na katawan sa lupa, kasama ang sampu pa niyang mga kasamahan habang naarawan at naulanan sa isang buong maghapon at magdamag. Kahit sa kanyang kamatayan ay hindi pinalagpas ng mga militar ang pambubusabos sa kanyang katawan.

Nabuhay at namatay si Ka Arman nang buong-pusong naglilingkod sa sambayanan. Hindi matatawaran ang kanyang naging ambag sa pambansa-demokratikong adhikain ng mga mamamayan.      Isang inspirasyon ang naging buhay ni Ka Arman sa lahat ng mga kabataan. Nawala man ang kanyang pisikal na anyo, mananatili at tatanganan ng mga kabataan ang mga aral at ambag niya sa nagpapatuloy na laban ng mga mamamayan.

Dakila ka, Ka Arman!
Ang iyong simulain ay ipagpapatuloy ng sambayanan!