BAYAN CONDEMNS INCREASED MIL DEPLOYMENT

May 29, 2010

Press Release

Davao City --- Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) registers its strong condemnation towards the ongoing military deployment in Southern Mindanao Region and seeks for the immediate pull out of the military troops under the 10th Infantry Division.

BAYAN asserts that only the big multinational corporations will benefit from the presence of the military as it would implement the clearing operations necessary prior the actual operation of the mining corporations.

"Additional military troops, particularly the 71st IB which was just recently deployed in Compostela Valley, will speed up the implementation of multinational mining projects in this mineral - rich province and will undoubtedly result to the intensification of human rights violations in the region," said John Birondo, spokesperson of BAYAN.

"Military presence in remote lumad and peasant communities have time and again caused trauma, violence and various forms of rights abuses against the people especially to the children who are the most vulnerable victims of the military's all-out-war," said Birondo.

The group is alarmed over the likely internal displacement of lumads and farmers in areas targeted for mining and military operations.

“Military presence in so-called development areas will put the lives of the civilians in grave danger,”Birondo said.

“With the upcoming administration, we challenge the government to put an end to large scale foreign mining and realign its programs instead to national industrialization and genuine agrarian reform which are the ultimate fundamentals to a strong and pro-people development”, Birondo said.

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Bayan: people’s movement for genuine change continues

Press Release

May 19, 2010

Davao City – Responding to persistent reports of widespread electoral fraud, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said the people's movement will continue to strengthen to end systemic and centuries-old practice of corruption, abuse of power in Philippine politics and foreign domination.

“The recently concluded national elections, with all the flaws and taints of electoral fraud, have failed to assure our people of a moral and principled governance. The process alone was a manifestation of a rotten political system in the country dominated by old elite and traditional politicians,” Bayan-SMR spokesperson John Birondo said.

“As far as the monitoring of Kontra Daya is concerned, vote buying and harassment hounded the elections. As millions of voters were disenfranchised, the entire electoral process is not yet cleared from allegations of massive electoral fraud and the alleged corruption by no less than the officials of the COMELEC, “Birondo noted.

Bayan also belittled the military's General Holganza’s claim of defeat for local and national bets of the progressive bloc. “The people’s movement will never be defeated. With or without the elections, the struggle for justice and equality will continue to bring thousands of protesting people in the streets,” Birondo stressed.

“What is more evident is the fact that the military failed to cause the defeat of progressive partylist organizations. We also welcome the fact the “butcher” retired general Jovito Palparan have failed, so far, to sow violence in the city and prevent volunteers and activists from freely campaigning for progressive candidates,” Birondo said.

“Our representation of the people’s true voice recognizes no boundaries. We shall continue advancing the people’s agenda for land rights, just wages, housing, education, and basic social services no matter what,” Birondo added.

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Bayan to sue military of electioneering

PRESS RELEASE

April 14, 2010

Davao City- In a picket rally led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan today (April 14), the militant group revealed that they plan to sue the 69^th IB of the Armed Forces of the Philippines for culpable violation of the Omnibus Election Code which prohibits members of the AFP from directly or indirectly participating in any election campaign.

Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code states the prohibition of any member of Armed Forces of the Philippines, or any police force, special forces, home defense forces, barangay self-defense units and all other para-military units that now exist or which may hereafter be organized who, directly or indirectly, intervenes in any election campaign or engages in any partisan political activity, except to vote or to preserve public order, if he is a peace officer.

“ There is indeed a clear violation of the law here perpetrated by the members of the AFP. We will be submitting a formal complaint to our legal department in our national office for immediate legal action,” John Birondo said, Bayan Southern Mindanao Regional Spokeperson.

Birondo likewise pointed that the military violated the Article IX-B, Section 2(4) of the 1987 Constitution and Section 55 of the Administrative Code of 1987, which states that “No officer or employee in the civil service shall engage, directly or indirectly, in any electioneering or partisan political campaign” and “No officer or employee in the Civil Service including members of the Armed Forces, shall engage, directly or indirectly, in any partisan political activity or take part in any election except to vote nor shall he use his official authority or influence to coerce the political activity of any other person or body”.

Birondo,who also serves as convenor of the Kontra Daya, an electoral watchdog revealed that there are already several complaints against the military not only in the region but all over the country.

Kontra Daya is a broad network of various organization and individuals; religious, artists, concerned citizens, activists, youth and students, lawyers, IT experts, and teachers who are committed against election fraud and the failure of election.

Earlier, Makabayan or Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan which is composed of the progressive candidates and partylists likewise bared cases of harassments and direct involvement of the military in campaigning against the progressive groups in Pantukan, Compostela Valley, Baganga, Davao Oriental and other parts of the region.

Birondo presented to the public and to the members of the media pictures which he took himself during a forum conducted by the elements of the 69^th IB at the Philippine College of Technology on April 6.

“The military conducted to batches of forum at a school. We also have a recorded audio of what transpired during the said forum, ” Birondo said.

In the said forum, the military urged the students of PCT not to join or support the progressive partylist groups which they said are "New Peoples Army fronts" and which purportedly use their respective “pork barrel” from Congress to support the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Representative Liza Maza of Gabriela and a senatorial candidate of Makabayan challenged the COMELEC to conduct a probe on the matter.

She pointed that “The malicious linking of progressive party-lists to the CPP-NPA is an old issue that has yet to be proven by those who seek to destroy the credibility of individuals and groups--individuals who aspirte to continue serving the people in and out of government," Maza said.

Maza said that Gabriela, Bayan Muna, and Anakpawis have not been receiving their respective Priority Development Assistance Fund – more commonly known as the “pork barrel” – since 2004 due to them as they are critics of the Arroyo administration.###

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Bayan moves for disqualification of bogus partylists

Press Release

April 9, 2010

Davao City – Gearing for bigger moves, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan led here today a protest action against the entry and attempt for re-election of bogus partylists created and supported by Gloria Arroyo and the first family. Bayan and various groups will contest the false representation of such partylists through the filing of disqualification cases sometime next week.

The initial list of bogus partylists that will face disqualification charges are Ang Galing Pinoy, 1-Utak, Ang Kasangga, Batang Iwas Droga (BIDA), KABAYAN, PACYAW, Association of Labor and Employees (ALE), Abot Tanaw, APOI Partylist, BANTAY True Marcos Loyalists, Aangat Tayo, Abono Partylist, Abante Tribung, Alliance of People’s, ANAD. Organizations (APO), Makabansa (ATM), and ARARO.

“We are moving for their disqualification as the representations that they claim on behalf of the country’s marginalized sectors are all made-up. Their sole raison d' etre is to protect and promote the interest of the next Congress under the eminent leadership of the Congresswoman in the making Gloria Arroyo,” Bayan spokesperson John Birondo said.

“The attempt to realize House seats for these bogus partylists is part of a grand plan to ensure perpetuation of Gloria Arroyo’s top post in Malacanang. Gloria’s congressional bid is not the be all and end all of everything. The moves to change the country’s form of government from presidential to parliamentary will pave Gloria’s way to prime ministerial post, and she needs as many allies as possible to make this plan a done deal,” Birondo added.

Bayan cited for instance the parylitst bid of Pampanga representative Mikey Arroyo and recently resigned energy secretary Angelo Reyes who was nominated by transport group 1-Utak. Other groups believed to be associated with Arroyo are PACYAW which counts as its nominees Tourism Asst. Secretary Janet Lazatin and businessman Reynaldo Pineda, both allies of Arroyo from Pampanga. APO partylist has former Ilocos congressman Salacnib Baterina as its first nominee.

“We maintain that the partylist system can still be utilized by the marginalized sectors if only the marginalized sectors fight and struggle to avail of this right and privilege. We support groups that truly represent the marginalized sectors. It is ideal and effective in so far as the experiences of progressive partylists have led to the representation of pro-people agenda in the Lower House,” Birondo said.

“We are pushing for the disqualification charges as it has become evident that the partylist system is being exploited by politicians, big business interests, high-ranking military officials and Arroyo allies for their selfish interests,” Birondo stressed.

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