REPOST from the MILF: Ulama group condemns bombing in Davao city

Ulama group condemns bombing in Davao city 
Gandhi Kinjiyo, Luwaran

The National Ulama Conference of the Philippines (NUCP) expressed condemnation to the culprit behnd the explosion at the night market along Roxas avenue in Davao city on Friday (Sep 2) night killing 15 and injuring 69 innocent civilians.

“We strongly condemn this act of terrorism,” said Prof. ALih Sakaluran Aiyub, NUCP Secretary-General posted in the social media.
“We, the National Ulama Conference of the Philippines, mourn with the whole nation on the terrorist bombing in Davao City that killed 15 and wounding 69 innocent civilians,” Aiyub said.
The NUCP Secretary-General said their organization expressed deepest sympathies and condolences to the bereaved families.
“Let us pray together for safety, sobriety and unity. Let us be one nation in facing the challenges and in working together for the eradication of terrorism in our midst,” Aiyub said.
President Rodrigo Duterte declared the state of lawlessness in the nation following the unfortunate incident.
The action is geared to increase coordination among the security sector of the government and intensify initiatives to secure the public.
Following the incident, authorities advised the public to be vigilant. There will be more checkpoints that will be installed to help secure the public and vital installations.
NUCP is an organization of Ulama with nationwide membership which engages in peace advocacy activities. It also serves as a voice of the Muslim ummah to speak on issues affecting the Muslim citizens in the country.
http://www.luwaran.com/home/index.php/news/22-davao-region/876-ulama-group-condemns-bombing-in-davao-city

REPOST: Freedom from Debt Coalition's (FDC) Statement on the Return of Pork Barrel in the 2017 Budget

The original statement is here.

1 September 2016
NOT ANOTHER TRAPO BUDGET FOR 2017
MANILA, Philippines – While recognizing the need to ensure that the
 national budget prioritizes social development particularly the
 people’s welfare, the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) yesterday
 criticized the Duterte administration for using this as a convenient
 excuse to justify the P80-million allocation for pet projects of each
 legislator.
“The proposed 2017 national budget, with its provision for lawmakers
 to identify projects for budgetary funding, reeks of traditional or
‘trapo’ politics that perpetuate patronage relations between public
 officials and their constituents,” FDC Vice-President James Matthew
 Miraflor said.
Miraflor pointed out that the Supreme Court decision on the Priority
 Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and the distinct and separate roles
 of the Executive and Legislative branches in the budget process are
 clear and should not be undermined by mere technicalities.
“The Duterte administration must stop in its attempt to further weaken
 the integrity of the budget process just to ensure the loyalty of its
 allies in Congress and maintain the ‘supermajority’ through political
 favors involving public funds,” Miraflor added.
Earlier, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno defended before the Senate
 the P80-million allocation for each solon saying that part of the job
 of the legislators is to “bring home some bacon” and that they would
 not be involved in the post-enactment implementation of the national
 budget.
“Instead of trying to go around Constitutional restrictions, members
 of the Development Budget Coordinating Council and backers of this
 repackaged PDAF should look into improving the budget formulation
 process. There must be something wrong with the government’s
 priorities and allocations if they still have to set aside a
 substantial portion of the budget and leave this to the discretion of
 members of Congress, otherwise, it’s pure and simple accommodation
to the whims and caprices of the trapos in our midst,” Miraflor said.

https://www.facebook.com/centerforpeoplesmedia/posts/1784340421850308:0

The revolution goes from strength to strength! One Breath Left hits 1,000 page views!





Joint Statement on the Resumption of the Formal Talks link

Link to the joint statement following the recently concluded peace talks between the CPP and the Duterte government is here.

RPST: “WORKERS AND UNION RIGHTS… STILL BEING VIOLATED AND IGNORED”

PRESS RELEASE
27 August 2016

“WORKERS AND UNION RIGHTS… STILL BEING VIOLATED AND IGNORED”

Since Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III took office last July, he has issued several memorandums to DOLE officers to strictly implement labor law compliance. This is in accordance to the directives of President Rodrigo R. Duterte to protect the interests and welfare of the Filipino working class, both at home and overseas.

To this end, on July 15th Bello convened the Department Of Labor and Employment (DOLE) directors and heads of agencies for a workshop to address the contractualization issue. Bello subsequently stated in a July 19th order that “DOLE is not allowing the use of short-term employment contracts, whether these are through direct hiring by employers/principals or through contracting out, that is contrary to the provisions of the law.”

On July 25, Bello issued another memorandum saying that DOLE is determining how to reduce “endo” practice by 50 percent this year. He said the goal to reduce the number of establishments that are practicing “endo” is part of the Department’s effort to realize the plans of Pres. Rodrigo R. Duterte to abolish the unlawful contractualization scheme, which he described as an unfair labor practice as well as a tool for the exploitation of Filipino workers.

The President himself has warned company owners practicing “endo” in the country.

In his speech during the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting in Malacanang last August 5, President Duterte said, “I’m telling this to you. I’m just issuing a warning. You choose: Stop contractualization or I kill you. You know why? I can utter things like that. I am [the] President. I have immunity. I can summon you. I will shoot you [and order] ‘Bring him to the funeral parlor. You’re making me angry.’’

But the strong warning of the President seems to land on deaf ears. Why?

As of this writing, the Center for People’s Media (CPM) gathered several cases of harsh treatment of employees by their employers.

According to a recent Facebook posting by Julie Alipala last August 23, the Koronadal Commercial Corporation (KCC) Mall in Mindanao continues to violate certain worker rights.

“Listening to Brigada news under Nonong Santiago where salesladies, cashiers narrated labor related abuses committed by KCC officials. Bibigyan ka ng panty, bra, uniform tatak #KCC tapos deducted sa sweldo, kinakapkapan pati mga maseselan at pribadong bahagi ng kanilang katawan. Pag di ka nakagamit ng #KCC underwear, you are automatic absent or deduction sa sahod. Worst, their PhilHealth and SSS ay hindi nireremit ng management. Some worked for 9 months pero lahat sila contractual,” reads the post.

Another harassment and abuse case was recently experienced by a saleslady in Landmark, Trinoma, Quezon City. “Marie Anne” (not her real name) alleges she was threatened by her manager to end her contract just because she failed to purchase an item she apparently reserved.

“Nag reserve po ako nang item na dapat ay bibilhin ko nung araw na iyon (August 18, 2013) ngunit sa kadahilanang kapos sa oras, hindi ko na nagawang bilhin kaya po nung pagdating ko sa trabaho hawak na nang manager ko yung item nay un. Kinausap nya ko na mali at bawal ang ginawa ko,” Marie Anne narrated to Center for People’s Media.

Marie Anne said, she is still willing to pay for the item, but her manager concluded otherwise.

“Nag-usap kami ng manager ko, pero ang pinalalabas nya eh nanakawin ko yung ni-reserve ko. Kaya ang gusto nyang mangyari, tapusin na ang kontrata ko agad. Marami na syang nagawan ng ganito gaya sa akin. Dinadaan nya sa pagtataray, ipipilit nya yung gusto nya at kung magpaliwanag ka, hindi ka nya papakingan,” Marie Anne said.

The workers of Yokohama Tires Philippines, Inc. in the Clark Free Zone, Mabalacat City, Pampanga are yet another target of unfair labor practices, claims union member Alex, who refused to be identified for fear of losing his job.

According to Alex, before the union was recognized as the sole and exclusive bargaining agent of Yokohama Philippines by winning the Certification Election (C.E) in August of 2015, at least five of their union officers were harassed and terminated without due process. Until now the case is pending in the National Labor Relation Commission (NLRC).

“Nalaman kasi ng management na yung isang opisyal namin ang namuno para mabuo ang unyon, kaya lumabas yung bribery issue. Binigyan siya ng memo tapos after one week termination,” Alex said.

Alex is lucky he is still in the company, unlike “Nap” who was a contractual employee through an agency, the Consolidated Building Maintenance, Inc. (CBM) as a delivery pizza for 13 years, without ever becoming regularized. Worse still, after 13 years of labor, his service was terminated together with 19 other contractuals.

“Sinubukan po kasi kaming tulungan ng Philippine Pizza Inc. Employees Union (PPIEU) na mag file ng case for regularization, pero imbis na bigyan pansin ito ng management at ng DOLE, dismissal ang aming nakuha,” Nap said.

Nap says the union is attempting to bargain with the Philippine Pizza Hut Inc., owned by the Araneta family, for around 300 remaining contractual workers of the CBM agency to become permanent employees. Thus far their effort had been denied.

These are just a few of the cases CPM has witnessed, and there are many more Filipino workers who have suffered the similar fates.

The question we must ask is, how long must workers wait to be recognized as permanent employees and given their rights as stated under the Philippine Labor Code, so recently affirmed by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III and President Rodrigo R. Duterte? END

https://www.facebook.com/centerforpeoplesmedia/posts/1781205558830461

RPST: WORKERS RESTLESS AS CAMPAIGN PROMISE TO ABOLISH CONTRACTUALIZATION STILL NOWHERE IN SIGHT

Beyond Human Rights

I

As Leftists, how should we approach the struggle for human rights? Currently we live in a society where killings have become the norm. Anybody can just kill, as long as he is in a possession of a marker and a cardboard. Likewise, anybody can just be killed.

Sectors of the Philippine Left have so far led the staunchest opposition to the killings. As early as July, the coalition In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement or iDEFEND was formed. iDEFEND describes itself as "a coalition of non-government organizations, people’s organizations, individual HRDs, human rights lawyers, religious sector and members of the academe." 

Leading Filipino intellectual and iDEFEND leader Walden Bello has provided the clearest theoretical guide on how to struggle for human rights in his article "An Administration in Search of an Opposition," which was originally published in the Rappler.

This piece is meant to comment on Bello's "An Administration in Search" essay, and proposes a different view on how the Radical Left can effectively struggle for human rights under Duterte's killing regime.

II

According to Bello, human rights should be defended because these are the foundation for all other sorts of rights. Without recognition of such "basic" rights as the right to life, freedom, and due process, the attainment of other rights such as the right to be free from poverty and to a life with dignity cannot follow.

Accordingly, Bello said an Opposition movement to Rodrigo Duterte should come from the position of defending human rights. In his condluding words, "a strong opposition based on the defense of universal human rights is the best way to ensure the future of Philippine democracy."

There are a number of potential problems with this formulation, especially from the standpoint of an openly radical Socialist and anti-Capitalist politics. But then, this is perhaps precisely the first point of divergence.

In his writings, Walden Bello often champions progressive values in front of a broad political audience. Even in his essential work on political economy, The Anti-Development State, Bello has avoided talking directly about Socialism. This is understandable, considering that even in his Rappler piece, Bello argues that even concepts supposedly as basic as "human rights" are far removed from the Filipino consciousness. How much more socialism? Thus, even while critiquing the neoliberal economic framework of Capitalism, Bello's recommendations end up taking the form of pro-"Economic Development" and "Democracy" rhetoric.

But we all understand that economic development under Capitalism is economic development only for the ruling elites. And a formally "democratic" (neo)liberal regime cannot guarantee an appreciation for human rights among the public. Something else is needed.

III

But perhaps the key difference between the Bello formulation and other radical Leftist assessments is one around the notion of universality and the supposed inherent sacredness of "human rights." Bello appears to approve of this latter type of formulation.

A radical Leftist take on this question can go like this:

Human rights are not innate or universal or true at all times and at all places. They do not in fact belong to human beings just by the mere fact of being born. Human rights are not attributes belonging to human beings which the community is then encouraged to observe and respect.

Rather, a more effective use of the concept would be to present human rights as exhortations for each and every single member of society to recognize -- and struggle for -- the betterment of their fellow members in society.

Formulated this way, we do not have "innate" rights. What we have is a promise -- or a conviction -- that the community will be able to provide us with a world that will allow each of us to reach our full potential as human beings. But what guarantees this promise is nothing else than the social and political order we have built for ourselves to realize these very goals.

Without a society that guarantees the betterment of each and every single member, no human rights can exist. And without a politics that allows us to distinguish the oppressor and the oppressed in society, no human rights consciousness can advance.

At present, this politics is the politics of Socialism.

IV

Thus, a more effective human rights campaign in the country can be carried out with a reinvigoration of radical Leftist politics. This is the sort of politics that will categorically state that the achievement of life's fullness under Capitalism is a dead end.

Given that the overwhelming characteristic of the Philippine society is grave economic inequality, a meaningful struggle for human rights must place poverty – by the destruction of the capitalist order which  propagates this inequality – at the forefront of its agenda.

What actually killed any appreciation of human rights in this country is the mass poverty that our people suffer day by day. In a society where poverty riots, people will not value life. In such a society, life is in fact cheap. That the mass of Filipinos do not find the daily loss of life alarming speaks directly of the value of life to them. In a situation of mass poverty and misery, what difference would it make if some scalawag that has taken a bit of drugs will be gunned down by the police, when people who don't do drugs don't have much of a life to show for anyway?

In struggling for positive rights -- the main content of Socialist politics -- we can most effectively give life to the notion of human rights. From a strategic standpoint, this would also make more sense to the Filipino masses as it speaks more closely to their own day-by-day concerns. Instead of telling them to recognize such a grand concept as “human rights,” we can show them that the very struggle for a decent wage, for regular employment, for land reform, for an end to discrimination -- constitute the very best promise of the human rights concept.

Besides, arguing only for fundamental rights makes the Left no different from bourgeois liberals who campaign just as tirelessly as the Left in this arena. And yet, as Bello himself said in a recent interview with Jacobin Magazine, the Left should exercise caution not to fall into the trap of being led by the traditional bourgeois elites in being in opposition to Rodrigo Duterte.

Already, we are seeing the increasing voice of entities like the Church, the New York-based Human Rights Watch, and, sadly, the Americans and other international "human rights groups" – actors who have not uttered a peep about the mass social inequality that has plagued our country for years. (Indeed, actors who may have directly or indirectly contributed to our society's present state.)

The proposal is thus to aim for a socialist society where poverty is not the overruling factor that determines an individual's life, where one can attain not only the dignity of living as, but also living with fellow human beings whose lives are not determined by the contingencies of want. Hopefully, by this, we can revive a new struggle for Socialism.