As a multimedia group, Kodao publishes news stories, opinion essays, cartoons, photos and others here.

ITANONG MO KAY PROF: Podcast on FQS Commemoration 2015 (Part 1)

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ITANONG MO KAY PROF
Panayam ng Kodao kay Prof. Jose Maria Sison
January 22, 2015

1. Ano po ang ibig sabihin ng First Quarter Storm o FQS ng 1970?

JMS:Pumutok ang First Quarter Storm noong Enero 26, 1970 nang sinalakay ng mga pulis ang mga 10,000 demostrador sa harap ng Kongreso nang natapos ang state of the nation address ni Marcos. Sa unang kwarto ng taong 1970, mula Enero hanggang Marso, bumalikwas ang mga kabataan at iba pang mamamayan para labanan ang mga anti-mamamayan, anti-nasyonal at anti-demokratikong patakaran ng rehimeng Marcos at Estados Unidos. Sa bawat linggo, 50,000 hanggang 100,000 ang nagtitipon sa ibat-iang assembly point sa national capital region, sa Bonifacio Monument sa Caloocan, Tondo, Quezon City, Sampaloc, Pasay, Pasig Makati at ibang lugar.

Nagmamartsa ang mga demostrador at dumadagsa sila sa converging point. Daan-daang libong mamamayan sa dinadaanan ng mga martsa ang nagbibibigay suporta sa mga demostrador. Madalas na dumagsa ang mga nagmamartsa sa Plaza Miranda at pagkatapos tumutuloy sa harap ng Kongreso, ng Malakanyang o embahada ng Estados Unidos. Ang Kabataang Makabayan ang tampok na namuno sa kabataan. Kahit na gumagamit ng dahas ang rehimen para guluhin at supilin ang mga marta at rali, lalong lumalakas ang kilos masa at ang propaganda sa pambansang saklaw at sa mga lokalidad.

(Malaking pasasalamat kay Mon Ramirez sa kanyang mga siniping larawan ng FQS mula sa kanyang pagsasaliksik.)

Farmers decry lack of justice 28 years after Mendiola massacre

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Peasants held an indignation rally at Mendiola to commemorate the massacre that killed 13 and injured many others on January 22, 1987.

In this video, peasant leader and massacre survivor Rafael Mariano recalls how the massacre happened.

It is notable that Corazon Aquino, the late mother of President Benigno Aquino III, was the head of state during the incident. Many participants and survivors of the massacre were peasants calling for the distribution of the Cojuanco-Aquino controlled Hacienda Luisita.

LARAWAN: Mendiola massacre after 28 years

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Mendiola, Manila
January 22, 2015

ITANONG MO KAY PROF: Podcast on POW and peace negotiations

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ITANONG MO KAY PROP
Panayam ng Kodao kay Prop. Jose Maria Sison
January 20, 2015

1. Ano po ang kahalagahan sa usapang pangkapayapaan ng ginagawang pagpapalaya ng NDFP-Mindanao sa mga POW sa kanilang rehiyon?

JMS: Napakahalaga ang pagpapakita ng NDFP-Mindanao ang humanitarian spirit at kagandahang loob ng kilusang rebolusyonaryo sa pamamagitan ng pagpapalaya ng mga prisoners of war. Ipinahayag ng NDFP-Mindanao na ang pagpapalaya ng mga POW ay goodwill measure para sa resumption ng peace negotiations. Pero hanggang ngayon walang maliwanag kung handa na ba ang rehimeng Aquino para sa usapang pangkapayapaan.

2. Umaasa rin po ba ang NDFP Negotiationg Panel na magpapalaya din ng mga political detainees ang GPH bago ang pag-uusap?

JMS: Syempre, umaasa ang NDFP negotiating panel at buong NDFP na mapalaya ang mga NDFP consultant alinsunod sa JASIG at iba pang political prisoner alinsunod sa CARHRIHL. Hinihiling ito ng mga religious at human rights organization at ng sambayanang Pilipino. Dumating at umalis na ang Papa, wala namang pinalaya na mga political prisoners. Maraming disappointed. Dapat palayain ang mga NDFP consultants at malaking bilang ng mga political prisoners bago magresume ng peace negotiations.

ITANONG MO KAY PROF: Podcast on Mendiola massacre

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Panayam ng Kodao kay Prop. Jose Maria Sison
January 20, 2014

TANONG: Ano po ang inyong mensahe sa patuloy na paggunita ng mga magsasaka at iba pang sektor sa Mendiola masaker ng dekada 80? May kabuluhan pa ba ito sa panahon ngayon?

JMS: Makabuluhan ang patuloy na paggunita ng mga mga magsasaka at iba pang sektor ng sambayanang Pilipino sa Mendiola masaker ng 1987. Ang masaker sa Mendiola at sa Hacienda Luisita ay mga karumal-dumal na krimen ng mga asenderong nasa kapangyarihan. Dapat itulak ang tunay na reporma sa lupa bilang daan sa pagkakamit ng hustisya sosyal, demokrasya at pag-unlad ng ekonomiya kaakibat ng pambansang industriyalisasyon. Dapat walang humpay ang kilusang magbubukid at sambayanang Pilipino sa pagdemanda ng tunay na reporma sa lupa.

ITANONG MO KAY PROF: Podcast on Pope Francis and Pnoy

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ITANONG MO KAY PROP

January 20, 2015

Panayam ng Kodao kay Prop. Jose Maria Sison

  1. Ano po ang inyong masasabi sa mga mensahe at pangangaral ni Pope Francis sa mamamayang Pilipino?

JMS: Mainam na may mensahe at pangangaral ni Pope Francis tungkol sa social injustice at corruption. Bale pinaringgan niya ang mga mang-aapi at nagsasamantala gayundin ang mga inaapi at pinagsasamantalahan. Pero bale wala ang mga ganong sermon sa mga nasa kapangyarihan at mga nagsasamtalang uri. Ibig sabihin na makakaasa lamang ang sambayanang Pilipino sa kanilang pagkilos at paglaban sa mga nang-aapi at nagsasamantala sa kanila.

  1. Ano po ang inyong pagtingin sa mga pahayag ni Noynoy Aquino na hindi naman daw siya ang binabatikos ng Papa hinggil sa corruption at tumitinding kahirapan sa Pilipinas?

JMS: Bale linoloko ni Noynoy ang sarili. Maliwanag sa lahat na pinatatamaan siya ng Papa. Sa ngayon, sino ba ang pinakaresponsable sa corruption at tumitinding kahirapan sa Pilipinas. Alam ng lahat na siya ang pork barrel king at siya ang nagtakda ng mga patakaran para pagsamantalahan ang mga anakpawis at sambayanan ng mga dayuhang kapitalista at mga katulad niyang malaking asendero at komprador.

LARAWAN: Mga hanapbuhay sa panahon ng pagbisita ng Papa sa Luneta

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Kapansinpansin ang maraming nagtitinda sa kalsada ng Taft Avenue, sa ilalim ng LRT mismo sa tapat ng Philippine Normal University. Kagaya ng mga nagsisikap na makarating sa pinakamalapit na maaabot nila ang Papa (sa loob ng Luneta,) hindi nila iniintindi kung nababasa ba sila ng ulan o hindi. Ang mahalaga, nakakapagbenta sila ng mga bagay na magpapaalala sa mamamayan kay Pope Francis sa kanyang pagbisita sa Pilipinas. Pagkain man ito o subenir.

Pero higit sa lahat, nakinig man sila o hindi sa mga pangaral at mensahe ni Pope Francis sa Luneta, kabilang sila sa mga hikahos na palaging tinutukoy ng Papa na dapat pagtuunan ng pansin ng pamahalaan. Sila ang dapat na bida sa mga programang pangkabuhayan. Kabilang sila sa malawak na mamamayan na pinagkakaitan ng marangal na pamumuhay dahil sa matinding kurakot at pagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan.

Sa huli, kabilang din sila sa mga dapat na minumulat, inoorganisa at pinapakilos para sa kanilang kapakanan. Huwag kalimutan, milyon din ang bilang nila.

Luneta, Manila
January 18, 2015

 

NDFP peace panel congratulates NDFP-SMR for successful release of POW Coquilla

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MEDIA RELEASE
By LUIS G. JALANDONI
Chairperson, NDFP Negotiating Panel
19 January 2015

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) Negotiating
Panel warmly congratulates the NDFP-Southern Mindanao Region for
successfully carrying out the safe and orderly release of Prisoner of
War (POW) Jose Mervin Coquilla today to foster the immediate
resumption of peace negotiations between the Aquino government and the
NDFP.

In a unilateral exercise of political authority, the NDFP-SMR freed
the provincial warden of Compostela Valley, and suspended its judicial
proceeding against Coquilla also as a humanitarian act, in response to
the pleas of his family and representatives from the Government of the
Philippines (GPH) and well-meaning individuals.

The NDFP-SMR released the POW Coquilla to Third Party facilitators,
peace advocates and media persons.

The NDFP Negotiating Panel welcomes this NDFP-SMR gesture of
compassion and mercy, a message that has been reverberating in the
country with the visit of Pope Francis. We appreciate and support the
calls of people’s organizations and peace advocates to resume GPH-NDFP
peace negotiations to address the root causes of the armed conflict.

We call for the release of political prisoners and NDFP Consultants in
accordance with the GRP-NDFP Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for
Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) and the
Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG).

The NDFP is open to resume peace negotiations with the GPH on the
basis of The Hague Joint Declaration of 1992, the JASIG (1995), the
CARHRIHL (1998) and other binding peace agreements.

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National Democratic Front of the Philippines
Southern Mindanao Region
Press Statement
January 19, 2015

Detained BJMP warden is released for humanitarian reasons

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) Southern Mindanao releases today Jose Merven Coquilla, who is under the custody of the New People’s Army Comval-North Davao South Agusan Subregional Command, as a unilateral exercise of political authority, humanitarianism, and to help propel for the immediate resumption of the Government of the Philippines (GPH)-NDFP peace negotiations.

Prior to his arrest on December 23, 2014 in Panabo City, complainants filed a case against him at the People’s Democratic Government for corrupt practices, and for planning, aiding, abetting and conspiring in the commission of ferreting drugs inside the jail, of tolerating the cruel treatment and violence among inmates, and of neglecting sick prisoners of the reactionary Provincial Rehabilitation Center of Compostela Valley in his capacity as its Provincial Jail Warden since Sept. 18, 2000.

Coquilla was accused of practicing unreasonable policies for jail visits. Family of inmates are prohibited from conducting face-to-face interaction with their loved ones.

He allegedly tolerated rampant illegal drug trade inside the jail. Jail guards and visitors freely sneak in illegal drugs for inmates, as body searches for visitors are not being done.

Complainants from the jail also said that medical care for sick inmates is inadequate. While they are admitted in separate cells, sick inmates carrying contagious diseases or not are all placed in the same cells. Those with serious ailments are not immediately brought to the hospital. There are reported deaths as a result of the lack of medical treatment. Those who are lucky to be brought to the hospital have to contend with inadequate medicines.

A People’s Court constituted by the People’s Democratic Government ordered the arrest of Coquilla so that legal and judicial processes are applied and the above-mentioned allegations are substantiated. If evidence warrants, the process progresses to prosecution, trial and judgment. Upon his arrest, the People’s Democratic Government formed an investigating body to formally receive the complaints and conduct a preliminary investigation to determine the participation and culpability of respondent Coquilla. The body was tasked to determine whether there was prima facie evidence to establish Coquilla’s commission and commission with impunity of such criminal acts.

As a head of a state apparatus that is an armed security machinery of the reactionary government, Coquilla is being held liable for allegations of crimes that hurt citizens whose freedom of movement is already absent by virtue of their incarceration and those who are victims of the unjust reactionary Philippine judicial system that arbitrarily detained them.

The arrest, custody and investigation of Coquilla are all in line with the cause of revolutionary justice, governed by the laws of the People’s Democratic Government and in accordance with international rules of war.

Information have been obtained pointing to a specific violation of Coquilla and those under his command responsibility of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL), specifically, Part III Respect for Human Rights, Article 2, Nos. 4,5,7,11 and 20, which provide the “right not to be subjected to campaigns of incitement to violence against one’s person,” “right to liberty, particularly against unwarranted and unjustified arrest and detention,”, “right not to be subjected to physical and mental torture and other inhuman, cruel or degrading treatment, detention and punishment,” “right to access to basic services and health care.”

Because he supervises a facility that houses political detainees, charges were also levelled against Coquilla for violating No. 6, Article 4, Part IV of CARHRIHL which provides that “All persons deprived f their liberty for reasons related to the armed conflict shall be treated humanely, provided with adequate food and drinking water, and be afforded safeguards as regards to health and hygiene, and be confined in a secure place.”

The NDFP-SMR, however, suspended its judicial proceedings against Coquilla as a humanitarian act in response to the pleas of his family and representatives from the GPH and well-meaning individuals, and as a gesture of compassion and mercy—a message that is reverberating in the country with the recent visit of Pope Francis.

The suspension of revolutionary judicial process over respondent Coquilla is also a unilateral exercise of political authority of the NDFP, as an act of goodwill for the immediate resumption of peace negotiations between the GPH and the NDFP.

As such, the case of Coquilla is being archived.

The release of respondent Coquilla, however, does not preclude the revolutionary forces from subjecting him to future arrest and detention if the masses file new charges against him and if he is found to be unremorseful.

The NDFP-SMR has ordered the NPA Comval-North Davao South Agusan Subregional Command to carry out the safe and orderly release of Coquilla to be witnessed by Third Party facilitators, peace advocates, and the media.

(Sgd.) Rubi del Mundo
Spokesperson
NDFP-SMR

“Stand with us,” People’s Organizations Implore “People’s Pope”

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On the last day of Pope Francis’ pastoral visit to the Philippines people’s organizations joined millions of Filipinos at the University of Santo Tomas and Rizal Park to ask for his continued solidarity in their fight for social justice. The organizations expressed joy at the Pontiff’s stand against corruption and “glaring…scandalous social inequality,” as well as justice for the poor.

Workers, peasants, women, urban poor, indigenous peoples, migrant Filipinos, transport workers, and many others marched from Liwasang Bonifacio to Rizal Park with images of saints, displayed placards and distributed leaflets to highlight what they believe are the Pope’s pro-people messages.

January 18, 2015