Artists, cultural workers: #StandWithRappler

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The Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP), an organization of Filipino artists and cultural workers, expresses their solidarity with Rappler as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a revocation order of its certificates of incorporation.

Dated June 28 and signed by SEC chairperson Emilio Aquino and four other commissioners, the order reaffirms its decision to revoke the papers of Rappler in their records and system.

For Prof. Lisa Ito, the secretary-general of CAP, the SEC’s order of revocation vs. Rappler is “an attack not only on the institution but [on] freedom of the press and expression.”

Ito urges her fellow cultural workers to #StandWithRappler and other media workers “in holding the line and carrying on the struggle for truth.”

“The SEC’s move to revoke Rappler’s papers is censorship by closure, happening on the cusp of a Duterte-Marcos term. It is an attack not only on the institution but to freedom of the press and expression. We as concerned citizens and cultural workers must stand with media workers in holding the line and carrying on the struggle for truth.” — Prof. Lisa Ito, Secretary-General, Concerned Artists of the Philippines

If BBM wins, ‘the right of the Filipino people to recover P203 billion in estate tax will be gone forever’

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In an online media forum last January 13 by 1Sambayan about the ill-gotten wealth of the Marcos family, former Supreme Court (SC) Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said that if Bongbong Marcos (BBM) wins the presidential elections 2022, the recovery of more than P328 billion worth of the ill-gotten wealth and unpaid taxes of his family may go in vain.

The ill-gotten wealth also includes more than P125 billion worth of assets of the Marcoses.

“That’s really the problem because if Bongbong Marcos becomes president, I do not expect the P125 billion to be recovered, anymore. The first thing he’ll do, he’ll probably abolish the [Presidential Commission on Good Government] PCGG,” Carpio stated.

The PCGG was created by the Executive Order No. 1, which primary task is to recover the ill-gotten wealth of the Marcos family.

Carpio also added a “bigger problem” if BBM wins the elections, concerning his unsettled estate tax of P203 billion.

“He’s the administrator of the estate; he has been ordered by the court to pay; he refuses to pay up to now, and nobody seems to hold him to account for that,” Carpio explained.

Carpio concluded his speech by saying that the issue of the ill-gotten wealth and unpaid taxes of BBM and his family is just one of many reasons why BBM should not be elected as president of the country.

“There’s a bigger problem: he (Bongbong Marcos) owes the government P203 billion for the estate tax. If he becomes president, goodbye na ‘yan. If you do not collect that within five years—you do not send even a demand letter that prescribes—hindi mo na makolekta ‘yan. So he has six years. Hindi s’ya magpapadala ng collection letter against himself. So [the] right of the Filipino people to recover P203 billion in estate tax will be gone forever.” — Hon. Antonio Carpio, Retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice

‘Love means fighting back’

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Despite another fabricated case of terrorist financing charged against her and her co-accused, community journalist and political prisoner Frenchie Mae Cumpio remains steadfast and fearless behind bars.

In celebration of the month of love, KAPATID, a support organization of political prisoners in the Philippines, posted an open letter by Cumpio that she wrote after her unjust arrest two years ago. Cumpio wrote, “love means fighting back.”

“Yes, we could have had a better life like what people would say but remembering the demolition threats among several barangays in Tacloban, the land grabbing cases in Tacloban and Leyte, the illegal arrests of farmers and other activists, the strong Junk STS (socialized tuition scheme) and free education campaign, WE’D STILL MAKE THE CHOICE WE MADE YEARS AGO. Life behind bars is still better than not showing our love for this country,” Cumpio declared.

“Love means fighting back. Life behind bars is still better than not showing our love for this country.” — Frenchie Mae Cumpio, Journalist & Political Prisoner

‘Ipainom mo, iinject mo sa kanila’

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Muli na namang nagbitiw ng mga di kanais-nais na salita si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa isang weekly online program na “Talk to the People” na ipinalabas kahapon.

Sa isang isyu hinggil sa mga nasabat na pekeng medisina, sinabi ni Duterte na ipainom o i-inject ang mga nakuhang droga sa mga nagbebenta nito.

Sinabi rin ng pangulo na wala siyang pakialam kahit pa ikamatay iyon ng mga nagbebenta at kung may magtanong man kung sino ang nag-utos, siya ang sabihin.

“Kapag masyadong marami nang [nakumpiska na pekeng medisina], ang suggestion ko doon sa NBI at CIDG, yung kalahati ng nakuha nila, ipainom [sa sellers], dahan-dahan. We are interested to know what [will] happen to the idiots, if they are given the drugs. Ipainom mo, iinject mo sa kanila. Kung mamamatay, eh di, sorry. Kung magtanong sila kung sinong nag-utos nito, sabihin mo si Duterte.” — Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, Republika ng Pilipinas

‘Ninanais din natin na mapasama ang champion ng karapatan ng mga manggagawa’

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Malugod na tinanggap ng Makabayan Coalition ang ginawang pag-endorso ng 1Sambayan kay dating Bayan Muna Chairman Atty. Neri Colmenares sa Senado at sinabing malaking hakbang ito para labanan ang panunumbalik ng mga Marcos at pananatili ng mga Duterte sa pwesto sa darating na eleksyon.

“Aktibo naman si Atty. Neri sa 1Sambayan and even before that ang kanyang track record. Sa katunayan, ninanais din natin na mapasama hindi lang si Neri na dalhin ng 1Sambayan kundi ang champion ng karapatan ng mga manggagawa na si Ka Bong Labog na nasa ilalim ng Koalisyong Makabayan.” — Rep. Carlos Zarate, Bayan Muna Partylist

‘Who is this politician trying to influence the Comelec?’

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Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) welcomed Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rowena Guanzon’s stand to disqualify Bongbong Marcos from running as president.

“We welcome the position taken by Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon in the matter of disqualification of Bongbong Marcos on the grounds of moral turpitude,” BAYAN said.

The group also raised concerns over the claim of Guanzon about a politician trying to delay the issuance of Comelec’s decision after knowing her stand on the issue.

“Who is this politician trying to influence the Comelec? Shouldn’t there be an investigation by the en banc and shouldn’t this politician be cited for contempt?” BAYAN asked.

“She is correct in citing Marcos Jr’s repeated failure to pay taxes and the corresponding fines as her basis to disqualify him from the presidential race. We raise concern over Guanzon’s claim that a certain politician was trying to delay the issuance of a decision by the Comelec First Division after learning of her vote to disqualify Marcos. Who is this politician trying to influence the Comelec?” — Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN)

‘In the first place he is not qualified to be one’

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“Let us respect Isko’s declaration that he is not a communist because in the first place he is not qualified to be one. We should look at him as a high bureaucrat capitalist dedicated to preserving the present anti-national and anti-democratic ruling system and serving the exploitative interests of foreign monopolists, big compradors and landlords, unless he becomes enlightened and proves himself otherwise.” — Jose Maria Sison

‘Any presidential candidate is obliged to excel at exposing and condemning Duterte’

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“Aside  from presenting a program of national independence, people’s democracy,  development and just peace, any presidential candidate who wishes to present himself or herself as genuinely opposition is obliged to excel at exposing and condemning Duterte’s grave crimes of treason, tyranny,  mass murder, plunder and mass deception and aggravation of the crisis of  the semicolonial and semifeudal ruling system.” — Jose Maria Sison, Chairperson Emeritus, International League of Peoples’ Struggle

‘Wala silang pagrespeto sa akin at sa aking katribu’

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“Wala silang pagrespeto sa akin at sa aking katribu dahil tingin nila sa akin ay walang kakayahan upang mag-pasya. Naging lider ako ng aking katribu dahil alam nila na ako ay may kakayahan na mamuno upang depensahan ang aming lupain. Nagreresolba ako ng problema sa aming komunidad dahil alam nila na mapapadali ang pag-aayos. Alam kong hindi mapagkakatiwalaan ang mga susundo dahil sila ang dahilan ng aming pagbakwit at sila din ang protektor sa mga kompanyang gustong mandambong sa aming mga lupang ninuno.” — Bai Bibyaon Ligkayan Bigkay, Lider Lumad sa Pantaron Mountain Range

‘We commit ourselves to the highest standards of journalism to serve the oppressed’

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“We, the member student publications of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines, strongly call and urge every campus journalist to join us in commemorating the evils witnessed by the nation during the Marcos dictatorship. In honor of our brave predecessors Liliosa Hilao, Leticia Ladlad, Ditto Sarmiento and Antonio Tagamolila, we will never forget the horrors that the Marcos regime tried to hide but never succeeded. We commit ourselves to the highest standards of journalism to serve the oppressed and exploited masses. We won’t and will never forget!”