MAKABAYAN, a Deception for 2010 Elections "How Should the Public Guard Itself?"

The very essence of a democratic state like the Philippines is the right given to the people to choose candidates to run for public office which can be exercised only through elections. Elections are important events to the life of every Filipino because it is where they can express their sovereign will and exercise their sacred Constitutional right of suffrage which once exercised could best decide the future of our country. They are powerful acts in putting individual in charge of our future and who can best guard our fate because of positions of powers we put them in. But, the failure to exercise these rights may cause for the emergence of tyrants who can rob our basic and fundamental rights. Of course, this will happen if we allow every attempt to vitiate our right by individuals and groups hungry for power. But, how can we best protect these rights from deception? Will we allow that these rights be subjected to abuses?

Still a year to go, the 2010 elections have been exploited by some ambitious politicians and groups dreaming to be in power. This is very obvious when even our party list representatives who purportedly the representatives of their marginalized sectors, initiated the formation of a coalition called the MAKABAYAN with anti-government elements for the alleged “genuine change” in the government. They used the so-called “people’s movement for change” to misinform the public and to make it appear that their cause is in accordance with the long yearning of the Filipino people for a change. But, in truth and in fact, the “movement for change” is a mere attraction to catch attentions of other anti-government elements particularly the political oppositions to coalesce with them purposely to topple the government.

But, what seems to be alarming is the involvement of Reps Satur OCAMPO, Teddy CASIÑO and Liza MAZA in the formation of the MAKABAYAN. When we look at these individuals we immediately come to think of the CPP whose ultimate objective is to topple the government for the establishment of communism in the Philippines. This has been an established fact that the CPP is employing deceptive tactics to attain its ultimate goal of seizing the state power. The connection of the MAKABAYAN with the CPP is evidenced when CPP Founder Joma SISON delivered a solidarity message during the MAKABAYAN launching in Apr 2009. This showed that the MAKABAYAN is a CPP-sponsored organization whose agenda, although being carried out legally, is injurious and detrimental to the State and the Filipino people.

Well, it was not surprising because the proponents of MAKABAYAN are known militant personalities. We already knew who OCAMPO, CASIÑO and MAZA are. They are our Congressmen fond of street actions using the peoples’ money as their pork barrel in supporting concerted actions against the State. They are using their positions and our own money to destroy our own country just to push their personal agenda. What more can they do if they are already in the Senate? Will we allow them to continue stepping into our endowed rights and interests?

We all know that these individuals are “talkers” who did nothing good to our country. OCAMPO was even suspected as one of the brains in the multiple murder case in Leyte. So, why we should continue to believe them? They are tormentors attempting to grab democracy from the Filipino people. Obviously, they laugh when they won at the House of Representatives for the third times. But now, they can no longer entice us because Filipinos are not idiots to continuously trusting OCAMPO et al because of their obvious connections with the CPP. It’s time to put an end to their enticement and let our voice be heard in 2010 elections. We must not tire of guarding our democracy and preserving our freedom because they have been susceptible of falling into the hands of traitors.

CPP-NPA PANIGURADONG DOBLE KARA SA PEACE NEGOTIATIONS

Maugong ang balita na ang peace negotiations na balak simulan sa pagitan ng gobyerno at ng Communist Party of the Philippines kasama ang armadong grupo na New People’s Army sa dadating na Agosto ay isang pakana lamang upang “utuin” ang administration ni Arroyo. Sa kagustuhan kasi ng gobyerno na makamit ang tinatawag na “lasting peace” sa ating bansa at patuloy na umusad na ang ating ekonomiya ay handa itong maniwala at bigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga tulad ng CPP at NPA sa usapang pangkapayapaan. Ngunit, hindi nila alintana na ang kanilang kausap ay doble kara pala.

Matagal nang nakabinbin ang peace talks sa pagitan ng dalawang kampo pero hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin ito tuluyang umuusad dahil patuloy pa ring nagpapakita ang mga rebelde ng kanilang kawalan ng respeto sa karapatang pantao ng mga sibilyan. Isang halimbawa na lamang ay ang pinakahuling atake na inilunsad ng mga ito sa bayan ng Toboso sa probinsya ng Negros Occidental nitong July 13 kung saan mahigit sa 30 armadong rebelde ang nagpaulan ng putok sa isang Isuzu Canter truck na sinasakyan ng mga sibilyan. Dahil dito ay tatlong estudyante ang agarang namatay sa insidente habang ilan sa kanilang iba pang mga kasamahan ay lubhang nasugatan.

Nakakalungkot na ang gobyerno ay handang ipatupad muli ang Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) para patunayan ang kanilang sinseridad na makamit ang kapayapaan sa bansa pero ang mga NPA ay patuloy pa ding sumasalakay sa ibat-ibang parte ng bansa. Pati mga inosenteng sibilyan ay kanila nang inaatake ng walang kalaban-laban. Paano tayo maniniwala na kapayapaan ang hangad nila kung ganito ang kanilang pakikitungo sa ating gobyerno? Hindi ba ito ay isang konkretong halimba na sila ay doble kara?

Paano mapapatunayan ni Jose Maria Sison, Luis Jalandoni at Fidel Agcaoili na susundin ng mga NPA ang alituntunin sa peace negotiations at sa panahong magdeklara ng pagkakasundo ang dalawang kampo kung ngayon pa lamang ay hindi nila mapasunod ang mga rebelde? Tulad na din ba sila ng mga MILF na may mga paksyon na direktang kumakalaban sa kanilang liderato at ngayon ay naglulunsad na ng sarili nilang mga operasyon? Ito ay hindi imposible dahil may umiikot din na bulong-bulungan na may kumokontra mula sa kanilang hanay sa gaganapin na peace talks at mas gusto na tuluyang maglunsad ng kaliwat-kanang pag-atake hindi lamang sa mga sundalo kung hindi pati na din laban sa mga sibilyan.

Ito ba ang klase ng mga grupo na dapat bigyan tiwala ng ating gobyerno?

Peace Talk for NDF-GRP, Justice Denied for NPA Victims?

The resumption of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees or (JASIG) to create a conducive arena for the Communist Party’s National Democratic Front (NDF) to participate on the peace talks was more of a “prostitution” of democratic rights other than “foundation” of unison minds. How could the state trust the Reds’ sincerity on peace when it is by far asking for a negotiation while its armed guerilla fronts continue to sow fear across the country.

People are not ignorant to notice how the CPP-NPA-NDF made-sue of the peace talks to recuperate their troops. Back in Leyte, civilians are far more horrified during the course of the negotiations other than the declared all-out offensive. At time of affirmed stand-down, the rebels move freely from one barangay to the next without the fear of being caught. They utterly believe that the military were emasculated during the course of the entire bargaining agreement that they simply won’t move a muscle. By that time, civilians are quietly harassed. Their homes were looted. Their young and able sons were recruited. Their barangay halls are turned into open-Communist workshops were NDF personalities preside the onset mass “Marxist baptism”.

The conditions now were no different to the ones we had before. The GRP-NDF is settling the Netherlands while the cadres look for possible ways to point the fist blame of the talks’ violation to the military. Come to think of it, how could we possibly convince ourselves that they were sincere with their peaceful resolve when the Communist Party in the country are on “full alert” or else “armed” and ready?

In fact, on July 8th the CPP-NPA scored big time in its various armed engagements specifically the extortion-related harassment of the personnel working for JERA Construction in Brgy. Nadawisan, Cataingan, Masbate after its management declared a no-negotiation policy on its set-up revolutionary taxes collection. Furthermore, last July 6th around (30) armed NPA guerilla fighters harassed the resident of Sitio Kalampigan, Brgy. Guilanhguilang, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. They even made a “statement” among the civilians by opening fire on Jimmy Yabut, who was later rushed to the N. Mindanao Medical Center.

Other than that, about (20) other armed NPA rebels under Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC) disarmed and took-over the Sta. Josefa Municipal Station in Agusan del Sur last July 1st. The said rebel-group successfully robbed the MPS with around five (5) high powered firearms. The attack came despite the indiscriminate altercations and bombings threats in the said region by the armed Moro Islamic Liberation Front. So far, the CPP-NPA was pretty good at helping the MILF cold-blooded commanders.

JASIG is the best excuse to have all these crimes swept under the rag. It would be “ready-to-eat” parlay where the CPP-NPA hopes to escape the long arms the law.