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Saving Mary Jane Veloso

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Militant groups led by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) trooped to the Indonesian embassy in the Philippines and kept vigil to save the life of Mary Jane Veloso wrongly convicted and sentenced to death on drug charges. The execution was stayed at the last minute thanks to the support of migrant workers and peoples from at least 120 countries. Migrante International and the Philippines Chapter of the International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS-Phils) were among those who initiated calls for the campaign.

Indonesian Embassy
Makati City, Philippines
April 28, 2015

Celebrating NDF@42

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Highlights of the the 42nd anniversary of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) celebrated at the U.P. Bahay ng Alumni on April 25, 2015. NDFP international representatives Louie Jalandoni and Coni Ledesma led the event signifying the growing local and global mass support for the Philippine revolutionary movement.

Launch of Louie Jalandoni’s illustrated bio

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Snippets from the book launching of “Louie Jalandoni: Revolutionary” (An Illustrated Biography) with reviews made by Dean Roland Tolentino, National Artist Dr. Bien Lumbera, and Fine Arts Prof. Lisa Ito. Written by Ina Alleco Roldan Silverio, Art Direction by Renan Ortiz with illustrations and graphics from Fernando Argosino, Neil Doloricon, Bobert Elyas, Mervin Malonzo, Enrico Maniago, and Max Santiago. Published by the International Network of Philippine Studies, The Netherlands, 2015.

US intervention in Venezuela and Ph denounced

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Local affiliates of the Philippines Chapter of the International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS-Phils) led by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) picket the US embassy in Manila to denounce the intensifying US intervention in Venezuela and the on-going US-Ph Balikatan military exercises. They demanded the repeal of Obama’s March 9 Executive Order vilifying Venezuela as a security threat to the US while, in the Philippines, protesters called for the junking of the US-Ph Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). The protest is part of the Global Solidarity Campaign with Venezuela.

ITANONG MO KAY PROF: Podcast on Peace Talks – GPH and NDFP & GPH and MILF

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Panayam ni Ms. Sonia Capio ng Kodao Productions kay Prof. Jose Maria Sison, NDFP Chief Political Consultant hinggil sa kalagayan ng usapang pangkapayapaan sa pagitan ng GPH at NDFP at GPH at MILF.

April 9, 2015

Mga Tanong para sa peace talks sa pagitan ng GPH at NDFP at GPH at MILF

1. Ano po ang update sa usapang pangkapayapaan sa pagitan ng GPH at NDFP? Matutuloy pa rin po ba ito bago pa matapos ang termino ni Pangulong Noynoy Aquino?

JMS: Patuloy na handang makipag-usap ang NDFP. Pero ang GPH ang hindi handa. Kung gayon, nagiging malabo na ang resumption ng formal talks ng GPH  at NDFP.  Sabi ng Malakanyang na nakabuhos ang atensyon nila sa pagtutulak ng BBL at paghahabol ng peace with  MILF.

Hanggang ngayon walang maliwanag na negotiating panel at chairman ng GPH para makipag-usap sa NDFP.  Lumilitaw na sa buong panahon  ng rehimeng Aquino wala talagang interes sa peace talks kundi paggamit ng dahas laban sa kilusang rebolusyonaryo.

2. Ano po ang inyong masasabi sa usapang pangkapayapaan sa pagitan naman ng GPH at MILF? Tila nagkahati-hati po ang mga pananaw ng mga nasa pamahalaan at matindi ang mga banggaan sa usapin ng Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) at ang kawastuhan kung dapat pa bang ituloy ang pakikipag-usap nila sa MILF o hindi na.

JMS: Sa loob at labas ng GPH, lumakas ang sumasalungat sa BBL dahil sa Mamasapano at constitutional issues. Tiyak na maraming susog ang gagawin sa Kongreso, laluna sa Senado, hanggang sa posibleng ayaw na ng MILF ang lalabas na final draft ng BBL.

Kahit tanggapin ng MILF ang anumang BBL na aprubahan ng Kongreso, may mga magdadala pa rin ng constitutional issues sa Korte Suprema. Baka mauuntol ang BBL hanggang maubos na ang termino o buhok ni Penoy Bugok.

3. Ano po ang inyong pagtingin sa Bangsamoro Basic Law o BBL?

JMS: May constitutional issues na nakasalang sa  Kongreso ng GPH. Hanggang ngayon, walang pinal na anyo ng BBL dahil susugan nang susugan pa yan sa Kongreso. Habang wala pang pinal na anyo ng BBL, mahirap mangahas ng opinion ng pagkatig o pagtuligsa sa kabuuan ng BBL.

Kaguma members hold lightning rally

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Members of Katipunan ng mga Gurong Makabayan or Kaguma held a lightning rally at Litex Market this morning to celebrate the underground organization’s 44th Anniversary. Wearing teachers uniforms, they called on the people to further support the National Democratic Revolution and the campaign to oust President Benigno Aquino for his crimes against the people.

Kaguma is an allied organization of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, Which celebrates its own 46th anniversary on April 25.

ITANONG MO KAY PROF: Podcast on the Congress hearing on the Mamasapano incident

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Panayam ng Kodao Productions kay Prof. Jose Maria Sison hinggil sa naganap na Congress hearing tungkol sa Mamasapano incident.

ITANONG MO KAY PROF
April 9, 2015

1. Sa kabuuan, ano po ang inyong masasabi sa katatapos pa lang na hearing sa Kongreso hinggil sa Mamasapano incident?

JMS: Lalong lumiliwanag na si Aquino ang nag-utos na isagawa ang Oplan Exodus at siya rin ang nag-authorize sa suspendidong Heneral na Purisima bilang kasama niya sa pagmando kay Napeñas at inako nilang dalawa ang koordinasyon sa loob  ng PNP at sa AFP.

Nagtaksil si Aquino sa mga pinaslang na 44 na police commando dahil hindi siya kumilos para iligtas ang mga ito magmula nang 7 a.m. hanggang 12 noon kung kailan naipit at napalaban ang SAF 44 hanggang naubos.

Tama ang sabi ni Napeñas na si Aquino at Purisima ang dahilan ng kawalan ng saklolo at pagkamatay ng SAF 44. Tama rin ang pagtutuon ni Congressman Neri Colmenares sa katotohanan na hindi kumilos ang commander-in-chief para iligtas ang mga pinaslang.

2. Nabasa nyo po ba ang 20 tanong na inihanda ng Makabayan bloc para sa Congress hearing? Bakit po kaya hindi ito sinang-ayunan ng nakararaming kongresista na ipadala man lamang sa palasyo para mabasa ng pangulo at bahala na siya kung sasagutin niya ang mga ito o hindi?

JMS: Binasa ko nang masinop ang 20 tanong. Tama ang panimulang tanong kung bakit inauthorize ni Aquino si Purisima na magcommand kay Napeñas. Tama ang tanong kung bakit si Aquino ay walang ginawa para pakilusin ang Army at iligtas ang mga kawawang police commando. Tama ang tanong kung bakit hindi nag-utos si Aquino ng fly over sa maisan.Tama ang tanong tungkol sa pag-utos ng US kay Aquino.

Ang mga kongresista na nagharang sa 20 tanong ay naglantad sa sarili bilang mga utusan at kasabwat ni Aquino sa katiwalian. Alam naman ng sambayanan na mga 90 por syento ng Lower House ay mga garapal na magnanakaw sa pork barrel.

3. Ano po kaya ang nagtutulak kay Pnoy na umiwas sa mga pagtatanong hinggil sa kanyang responsibilidad sa Oplan Exodus? Magkakaroon po ba kaya ng magandang bunga ang Congress hearing kahit wala ang pangulo?

JMS: Ayaw ni Aquino na sagutin ang 20 tanong dahil lalong malalantad ang kriminal na pananagutan niya sa pagpaslang sa mga mga police commando ng SAF gayundin sa kanyang pagsisinungaling sa bayan. Ayaw din ni Aquino na lalong malantad ang pag-utos ng US sa kanya.

Mahirap sabihin na makakagawa ng final report ang Lower House para ilantad ang buong katotohanan at pananagutin si Aquino dahil mayorya sa Lower House ang mga  kasabwat ni  Aquino sa pangungurakot, mas malamang na white wash or yellow wash ang mangyayari.

4. Sa panahon ng mga pagtatanong hinggil sa kondukta ng dapat ay tulungan na nangyari sa pagitan ng PNP-SAF at AFP, para mailigtas ang SAF 44, meron pong ilang magkakaibang paliwanag ang dalawang pwersa ng pamahalaan na maaaring mauwi sa matinding di pagkakaunawaan kung ito ay isasawalang bahala lamang. Ano po ang inyong pagtingin sa bagay na ito?

JMS:  Maliwanag naman na si Aquino ang may kasalanan dahil sa stand down order niya. May utos siyang huwag saklolohan ang SAF 44 para iwasan daw ang labanan ng Army at MILF. Isa pa, nabuwisit si Aquino sa SAF dahil nakatakas si Usman. Naging dahilan na ito para maging mababaw ang pansin ni Aquino sa mga update at hindi na niya sapol ang kalagayan na mauubos na yong SAF 44.

5. Ano po ang inyong masasabi sa partisipasyon ng Magdalo Party List sa Congress hearing ng Mamasapano?

JMS:  Malamang na susundin nila ang pagsipsip kay Aquino, tulad ng ginagawa ni Trillanes sa Senado at sa press releases niya.  Itatambak nila kay Napeñas at SAF ang sisi sa pagkapaslang ng mga kapwa nilang SAF.

6. Ano po ang inyong pagtingin sa kahihinatnan nina Purisima at Napeñas sa imbestigasyon ng nabigong Oplan Exodus?

JMS: Baka sa katapusan, sina Purisima at Napeñas at SAF lang ang babatikusan ng final report ng Lower House.  Posible ring si Napeñas lamang ang tatambakan ng sisi dahil sa kung pananagutin nila si Purisima magiging tampok din ang katotohanan na si Aquino ang may pinakamabigat na kasalanan.

Si Aquino ang  nag-authorize sa isang suspendidong heneral na maging taga-utos kay Napeñas.  Hindi niya inisip na wala sa katayuan si Purisima na makipagcoordinate sa loob at labas ng PNP.  At kriminal na nagpabaya naman si Aquino kahit siya na ang umako sa koordinasyon bilang commander-in-chief.

MIGRANTE: Save the Life of Mary Jane Veloso

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Mary Jane Veloso is a 30-year-old Filipina mother-of-two sentenced to death by the Indonesian Supreme Court in April 2010 for drug trafficking.

Veloso’s case was submitted for judicial review but her appeal was rejected by the Indonesian Supreme Court last March 26, 2014. News reports state that Indonesia is preparing to transfer Veloso from the city of Yogyakarta to the maximum security prison in Nusakambangan Island of Central Java to await execution by firing squad.

Veloso was a domestic worker in Dubai from 2009 to 2010. She left Dubai and came back to the Philippines after her employer attempted to rape her. On April 22, 2010, she was illegally recruited by her kinakapatid (daughter of her godfather) to work as a domestic worker in Malaysia. When she arrived in Kuala Lumpur, the same person told her that the job was not available anymore and that she would instead be transferred to Indonesia. It was there that she found out that she was tricked into carrying luggage containing 2.6 kilos of heroin.

The Indonesian government plans to execute 10 convicted foreign drug traffickers, including Veloso, all at once. Their cases have drawn international flak for Indonesian Pres. Joko Widodo after he rejected pleas by the United Nations and various governments for their clemency.

UN Special Rapporteur Christof Heyns on extrajudicial executions had also appealed to Wododo to stop the executions on the basis that the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reported information that suggests that Veloso and her 14 other fellow accused were convicted after unfair trials. The same report attested that all of them did not receive sufficient legal services or the right to translators, and had no legal representation at all stages of their trials.

Upon her arrest at the Jogjakarta airport, Veloso was not provided proper legal assistance. She was only provided a student translator during the course of her trial. She did not understand any of the proceedings.

Veloso’s case is yet another case of the Philippine government doing a little, too late. She was arrested in 2010 and was not assigned a lawyer until the last minute. Had it not been for the international criticism that accompanied her fellow foreign inmates’ cases, it can be argued that the Philippine government would have once again opted to keep her case hush to evade public censure. Such had been the Philippine government’s tact, it had so far failed to show transparency or accountability for failing to save the lives of Filipinos on death row.

Should Veloso’s execution push through, she would be the eighth Filipino executed under the present leadership of Benigno Aquino III, the most number of executions of Filipinos on death row under one regime since the Philippine labor export policy was implemented in the 1970s.

Veloso was a victim of large-scale international drug syndicates, of circumstance and of government neglect. The series of unjust executions of Filipinos on death row should be put to a stop.