Category: Regional

NFSW-North Negros Statement

Reference: Aldren Aloquina, November 7, 2018

The leaders and members of the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) in North Negros condemn the killing of people’s lawyer, Atty. Ben Ramos. The sugar workers of North Negros mourn the passing of a truly dependable friend and comrade. Amid our bereavement, and despite these vicious attacks against our ranks, the peasants of Negros are ever determined to continue the struggle for social justice.

The relatives and survivors of the Sagay massacre and other Negros peasants who have become victims of the brutal repression carried out by the local government and the US-Duterte regime, have lost a fierce defender of their rights. As Secretary General of the National Union of Peoples’s Lawyers (NUPL) in Negros Island, Atty. Ramos was a close ally of peasants and farm workers oppressed by anti-people laws, policies and programs.

Farmers run to Atty. Ramos to help them face the countless charges fabricated by landlords and the state. They could call him anytime whenever they need to consult him on rights cases, legal remedies, trainings and legal clinics, and other concerns that require his expertise. We had Atty. Ramos by our side in our call to implement genuine land reform; he was with farm workers, peasants and the people long-deprived of owning the land they till.

The death of Atty. Ramos will bring forth more allies and defenders of the peasants. His was a profound death, a death so heavy, it is deeply grieved by the farmers and the people. Unlike the lives of those who serve only their selfish interests, such as those behind the fatal shooting of Atty. Ramos, the massacre of Sagay 9, and the deaths of other peasants who became victims of extra-judicial killings (EJK). The lives of the culprits are worthless to the people; their deaths are light as a feather.

Under the US-Duterte regime, the killings have become normal fare in the news, and Negros is not spared. The killing of Atty. Ramos is now included in the long list of EJKs in the country. The struggling masses and their supporters have become easy targets of state agents, their various armed groups and hired guns. The perpetrators are allowed to run free and evade responsibility with impunity.

If this government can neither respond to nor defend the interests of the peasants and the people, where would those oppressed by the state itself run to for help? If this government cannot dispense justice, whom must the people turn to?

Along with the people calling for justice for the Sagay 9 massacre, we also call for justice for Atty. Ben Ramos and all victims of EJK. The people of Negros shall continue the struggle for justice!

Justice for Atty. Ben Ramos! 
Justice for Sagay 9!
Justice for all victims of EJK and the fascist US-Duterteregime!
Sugar workers, peasants and the people, unite!
Makibaka! ‘Wag Matakot!

More than 100,00 have yet to return to school since end of hostilities in southern Philippine city over a year ago, UN says

Bong Sarmiento, Cotabato Philippines
October 12, 2018

A church organization in the southern Philippines is appealing for help to ensure thousands of schoolchildren affected by last year’s conflict in the city of Marawi get an education.

Almost half a million people were affected by the five-months of fighting that ensued after extremist gunmen attacked the city in May last year.

More than a year after the end of the conflict over 100,000 children have yet to return to school, according to the United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Duyog Marawi, a church initiative, started early this year an alternative learning school called “School of Hope” for children forced to drop out of school because of the conflict.

“This is where we plant the seeds of dialogue, peace, and resilience for a new generation of Meranaw,” said Brother Reynaldo Barrido, executive director of the organization, referring to the predominantly Muslim population of Marawi.

“We are hoping that Christians around the country will support the school,” said Barrido.

The “School of Hope” is part of Duyog Marawi’s Protection and Children Education in Marawi, which aims to integrate peace education, psychosocial support, and skills training for students.

The organization has also established “child-friendly spaces” at seven evacuation centers where children are provided with play therapy, reading and writing classes, and food.

Duyog Marawi is the response of the Prelature of St. Mary in partnership with Redemptorist missionaries to help “heal the wounds” inflicted by the war on civilians.

Almost a year after the end of the conflict only 21,000 children have enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in the city and in neighboring conflict-affected areas.

In Marawi, 20 out of the 69 public schools were destroyed in the conflict.

Photo credit: Inquirer News

November 16, 2017
DENR, Visayas Ave., Quezon City

Background

Residents of Manicani island led by Protect Manicani Island Society, Inc. (PROMISI) have been struggling for years to fight mining operations in the very small island in Guiuan, Eastern Samar. Mining in Manicani was suspended in 2002 because of the complaint filed by the Diocese of Borongan related to the reports of violations and conflict in Manicani but the DENR continued to issue permits that allowed the removal of nickel ore stockpiles in Manicani which resulted into protest actions and legal battles including a Cyberlibel case filed by Hinatuan Mining Corporation (HMC) against PMPI for a press release covering one of the protest actions in Manicani. One of the protest actions also led to the death of one local advocate, a mining engineer and imprisonment of two Manicani residents.

Supported by PMPI, PROMISI filed a Petition for Continuing Mandamus against the DENR for its failure to implement the suspension order. Early this year, PROMISI also filed for attempted murder against their perpetrators in one of the protest actions that it conducted.

PMPI also facilitated PROMISI’s submission of petitions against HMC’s application to renew its mining permit. These were submitted to all barangay councils in Manicani, the Sangguniang Bayan of Guiuan, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Eastern Samar, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) both in the regional and central office, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) also both at the national and regional office. Even the Diocese of Borongan have submitted petitions for non-renewal of HMC’s mining permit to the same offices mentioned above.

However, despite the petitions submitted, all four barangays in Manicani endorsed HMC’s application for renewal. PROMISI submitted an opposition to the Sangguniang Bayan for the resolution citing irregularities in the processes of the barangay councils. The SB of Guiuan opted to endorse the application also for renewal without due consideration of the opposition from PROMISI. A few weeks later, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Eastern Samar followed suit and endorsed the same application for renewal.

These developments prompted protest actions and media briefings organized by PROMISI, PMPI, and the Diocese of Borongan. Another protest action against the LGUs and DENR were organized by PROMISI, PMPI, Diocese of Borongan and other support groups in the ground – CSGI/LAMRAG, Sanlakas, PMCJ, ATM with support also from

NASSA-Caritas, TFDP, and AMRSP. PROMISI went into a camp-out at the DENR Region 8 office and later travelled to the DENR central office in Manila when they learned that the approval depends on the central office and not the regional office. The Manicani residents arrived last November 10 and are currently camping out in front of the DENR gates.

Activity Rationale

Spending at least a day with PROMISI is an expression of solidarity and support for PROMISI’s struggle to protect its island from total destruction brought about by mining operations. It can be recalled that Manicani was among those areas badly hit by Typhoon Yolanda and is still recovering at present. It is a very small island yet HMC’s mining contract covers the entire island limiting rehabilitation efforts and island development initiatives being implemented by partners of Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc. – Tao Pilipinas, Medical Action Group, INAM, COM, Pecojon, SIBAT, SIKAT. It is also a protected area that forms part of the Guiuan Protected Seascape and Landscape. Furthermore, there are environmental protection mechanisms that include local ordinances banning large scale mining in Eastern Samar and in Manicani island. However, the island remains vulnerable due to threats of mining. While the mining contract expired last October 28, 2017, new mining applications are likely to be filed soon and PROMISI is encamped outside the DENR national office compound to ensure that no more mining applications will be approved.

For more details, please refer to the attached PMPI Statement of Support for no mining in Manicani Island which was also submitted to the DENR and MGB.

Activities for the Day

09:00 am – 10:00am Radio guesting with Veritas of key PROMISI leaders (arranged

by Sanlakas)

10:01 am – 11:00am Misa sa Kampuhan to be officiated by Fr. Pol Yazar 11:01 am – 12:00am    Kwentuhan with Manicani campers

12:01 am – 01:30pm Camp picnic

01:31 pm – 03:00pm Health hours with INAM (for confirmation) 03:01 pm – onwards          Kantahan sa Kampuhan

Organizers:

PMPI, TFDP, AMRSP

Banana farmers and workers today trooped to the office of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to press the latter to award thousands of hectares of land taken away from them by Antonio Floirendo’s Tagum Development Corporation (Tadeco).

According to Billy Cabintoy, Secretary General of the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries One Movement (AOM), the 28,816-hectare banana plantation of the Tadeco of the Floirendo family, a then Marcos crony, is a clear example of how legitimate agrarian reform beneficiaries are robbed of their rights to till their own land through various schemes such as leaseback, leasehold, contract growing and agri-business venture agreements (AVAs).

Not one of more than 1,890 ARBs in the Floirendo plantation benefit from the use of their land. They either remain plantation workers enduring slave-like conditions or laid-off when they complain and assert their rights.

A number of them have been harassed and barred from entering their lands. Blood has even spilt on their lands as some of their leaders have been killed by private armies of the Floirendo family.

In early May of this year, the DOJ had ruled that the Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) between the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and Tadeco first inked in 1969 was illegal. The Commission on Audit (COA) later reaffirmed this by stating that the deal was unconstitutional and called for the filing of criminal charges against former officials of the DOJ and the BuCor who approved the deal with TADECO.

But other than the above, Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) under the WADECOR Employees Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association, Inc., Checkered Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries and Employees Multi-purpose Cooperative, PAHECO Employees Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association, Inc., and Linda District Employees Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association, Inc. have already won their cases at the DAR and even up to the Supreme Court.

Only the immediate installation of the ARBs would provide justice to them. This can only be done if the DOJ which is a member of the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council (PARC) strongly recommends that it revoke the Joint Venture and various Agri-business Ventures Agreements (AVA) that the Floirendo’s had not only with BuCor but with the ARBs as well.

Michelle Campos faces an uphill struggle amid threats from mining firms, armed groups and even the president himself

[Michelle Campos, a 19-year old Manobo tribal woman, leads her community in asserting their rights to education and self-governance. (Photo by Mark Saludes)]

Mark Saludes, Tandag Philippines UCAN  November 8, 2017

Michelle Campos was excited to go home after weeks away from her tribal village of Han-ayan in the southern Philippines.

During the two-hour trip through the mountains, the 19-year-old Manobo woman was all smiles.

“You’ll know you’ve reached the village when your ass is already numb,” she laughed.

The trip was filled with laughter as the motorcycle she was riding plied along a winding trail of mud, rocks, and fallen tree branches.

Campos had been in the capital Manila for several months to lobby for recognition of tribal rights and to protest against alleged abuses committed by soldiers in her community, including attacks on tribal schools.

Her father, Dionel, and two other elders in her tribe were killed in 2015 by militiamen allegedly backed by government security forces.

The tribal leaders were accused of promoting communism through an alternative learning center that has been supported by the Catholic Church.

After her father’s death, Campos became the face of the tribe’s struggle for justice. She carried on the campaign for an educational system that is sensitive to the culture of indigenous peoples.

The young woman is herself a product of the Alternative Learning Center for Agriculture and Livelihood Development, one of the tribal schools that were accused by President Rodrigo Duterte of “spreading subversive ideas against the government.”

Importance of education

The president’s allegation was not new. In the 1970s, church workers who introduced education programs in tribal communities were also accused of being communist rebels.

Campos’ uncle, Datu Jalandoni Campos, recalled how Catholic priests told the community about the importance of education to fight discrimination.

In was in the late 1970s when Tandag Diocese launched its Tribal Filipino Apostolate that introduced literacy and numeracy programs in tribal communities.

It took more than a decade for the program to transform into an independent learning system under the non-government group Tribal Filipino Program of Surigao del Sur.

“It was the enthusiasm of the community to give children quality education that built these schools,” said Bishop Emeritus Ireneo A. Amantillo.

Campos said it was through the efforts of church leaders and the several NGOs that schools were built in 18 communities.

In 2002, the Department of Education recognized the tribal schools and even named them as having the “most outstanding literacy programs” among NGO-run learning institutions.   Continue reading