Saturday, September 10, 2016
REPOST: PLM statement on 'state of lawlessness'
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Thursday, September 8, 2016
REPOST: There’s More to It Than Meets The Eye: Full Statement of the Sanlakas Coalition on the Davao Blast and the State of Lawlessness
Sanlakas condemns in the strongest possible terms the bombing that rocked Davao City last September 2, 2016 snatching the lives of 14 and wounding 67 others. The Davao blast is an affront to humanity, a barbaric assault that should prod us to mobilize against the killing of peoples for whatever cause. Justice should be served to all victims. We should tremble with indignation against such dastardly acts committed to sow terror.
But we should not lose sight of the forces at play. The Abu Sayyaf Group, whose radical Muslim members were trained by the Central Intelligence of America (CIA) and enlisted in the Afghan War of the mid 1980s side by side with Osama bin Laden, was formed in 1989. It has since then been tagged as culprit behind attacks and bombings including kidnappings. Then former Senator Aquilino Pimentel in his speech before the Senate in 2000 was correct in pointing out that the CIA has sired a monster.
The monster is now being played up as one would a bogeyman in reminding Philippine Administrations of the country’s vulnerability to “terrorist attacks”. In 2003, the Philippines threw its support to the US-led War of Terror. Sanlakas cannot help but surmise the location of the “bogeyman” in the upcoming meeting between President Rodrigo Duterte and US President Barrack Obama in Laos – to secure the unwavering commitment of the Duterte Administration in the War.
At the Laos meeting, Sanlakas expects that the two leaders would also talk about the territorial dispute in the South East Asian Seas where despite the recent ruling recognizing the Philippines’ claim against China, no aggressive pronouncement has been issued by the Duterte Government against the latter.
There is more to the blast than meets the eyes. And in the context of the on-going peace talks between the MILF-MNLF and GRPh, there is more to lose than gain by stoking anti-Moro sentiments or attributing blame on the Moros. This may not be the case now but given our collective stereotypes and historical biases against our Moro brothers and sisters, Sanlakas cautions the public against the evils that paranoia can create that could blind reason, that could derail the fragile peace process that seeks to reaffirm the right of the Moros to self-determination.
Sanlakas likewise cautions the Duterte Administration in approaching the Davao blast sans the overarching realities that have defined the country’s geopolitical landscape.
While the calling out powers of the President has been deemed the most benign of all powers under the Section 18, Article 7 of the Philippine Constitution, its execution leaves much room to fret. The state of lawlessness allows the president to call on the mighty Armed Forces on the pretext of assisting law enforcement agencies to address lawless violence. This in itself could result in the militarization of our cities, of our neighborhoods, of our barangays to ward off the proverbial bogeyman.
This could result in the militarization of the President’s War on Drugs. Like skating on thin ice, this could open the floodgates to more human rights violations as a consequence of the excesses in resorting to a military solution to the Davao blast.
We call on President Duterte to be mindful not to fall into the trap of the War of Terror which has in many ways than one invaded the rights of peoples yet failed to stamp out acts of terror. We urge the President to hold the perpetrators of the Davao blast to account and serve justice where it is due.
Justice to the victims of the Davao blast!
No to the US-led War of Terror!
Respect the people’s rights!
https://www.facebook.com/Sanlakas14/posts/832782533525010
But we should not lose sight of the forces at play. The Abu Sayyaf Group, whose radical Muslim members were trained by the Central Intelligence of America (CIA) and enlisted in the Afghan War of the mid 1980s side by side with Osama bin Laden, was formed in 1989. It has since then been tagged as culprit behind attacks and bombings including kidnappings. Then former Senator Aquilino Pimentel in his speech before the Senate in 2000 was correct in pointing out that the CIA has sired a monster.
The monster is now being played up as one would a bogeyman in reminding Philippine Administrations of the country’s vulnerability to “terrorist attacks”. In 2003, the Philippines threw its support to the US-led War of Terror. Sanlakas cannot help but surmise the location of the “bogeyman” in the upcoming meeting between President Rodrigo Duterte and US President Barrack Obama in Laos – to secure the unwavering commitment of the Duterte Administration in the War.
At the Laos meeting, Sanlakas expects that the two leaders would also talk about the territorial dispute in the South East Asian Seas where despite the recent ruling recognizing the Philippines’ claim against China, no aggressive pronouncement has been issued by the Duterte Government against the latter.
There is more to the blast than meets the eyes. And in the context of the on-going peace talks between the MILF-MNLF and GRPh, there is more to lose than gain by stoking anti-Moro sentiments or attributing blame on the Moros. This may not be the case now but given our collective stereotypes and historical biases against our Moro brothers and sisters, Sanlakas cautions the public against the evils that paranoia can create that could blind reason, that could derail the fragile peace process that seeks to reaffirm the right of the Moros to self-determination.
Sanlakas likewise cautions the Duterte Administration in approaching the Davao blast sans the overarching realities that have defined the country’s geopolitical landscape.
While the calling out powers of the President has been deemed the most benign of all powers under the Section 18, Article 7 of the Philippine Constitution, its execution leaves much room to fret. The state of lawlessness allows the president to call on the mighty Armed Forces on the pretext of assisting law enforcement agencies to address lawless violence. This in itself could result in the militarization of our cities, of our neighborhoods, of our barangays to ward off the proverbial bogeyman.
This could result in the militarization of the President’s War on Drugs. Like skating on thin ice, this could open the floodgates to more human rights violations as a consequence of the excesses in resorting to a military solution to the Davao blast.
We call on President Duterte to be mindful not to fall into the trap of the War of Terror which has in many ways than one invaded the rights of peoples yet failed to stamp out acts of terror. We urge the President to hold the perpetrators of the Davao blast to account and serve justice where it is due.
Justice to the victims of the Davao blast!
No to the US-led War of Terror!
Respect the people’s rights!
https://www.facebook.com/Sanlakas14/posts/832782533525010
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
Too radical for Duterte
Someone should really write a nice, well-written, article with a theme like this: "A more kickass anti-imperialist position goes far beyond criticizing American leaders for their 'human rights' jabs, and instead focus on how, even now, Global Capitalism (and its excesses) is clearly on a roll at the behest of the American empire."
She/he can start by this awesome Dutertenomics bullet point: All macroeconomic policies of the previous administrations, especially Aquino, will be maintained.
She/he can start by this awesome Dutertenomics bullet point: All macroeconomic policies of the previous administrations, especially Aquino, will be maintained.
Sunday, September 4, 2016
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
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
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
Thursday, September 1, 2016
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.
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