Posts

Bayan Muna gears for Congress comeback, presents veteran lawmakers as top nominees

/in /by

Once the country’s leading partylist, Bayan Muna vows a comeback amid attacks, electoral fraud and the proliferation of “fake partylists” by political dynasties.

Bayan Muna held its 10th national convention and 25th anniversary celebrations in Quezon City today, September 26, announcing veteran lawmakers as its top nominees.

Former representatives Neri Colmenares, Carlos Ysagani Zarate, Ferdinand Gaite and Eufemia Cullamat as well as topnotch human rights lawyer and former student leader Kristina Conti were unanimously affirmed by the convention as Bayan Muna’s first five nominees in the 2025 national elections.

The topnotcher in the 2001 national elections and co-topnotcher in the 2019 partylist elections, Bayan Muna has fielded the most number of representatives in Congress with ten.

Colmenares, Zarate, Teodoro Casino, and Satur Ocampo were full (three)-term congressmen while Cullamat, Liza Maza, Siegfred Deduro, Joel Virador and Crispin Beltran each served single three year terms.

Maza transferred to Gabriela Women’s Party and Beltran transferred to Anakpawis partylists in 2004. Both won seats in the 13th Congress of the Philippines.

Beltran however died from an accident in 2008 while Virador died due to cancer in 2019.

For the first time in eight elections, Bayan Muna failed to win due to intense red-tagging and military operations in its traditional bailiwicks: marginalized communities.

Bayan Muna however gears for a comeback on the strength of its sterling record of numerous pro-people legislation, genuine opposition to anti-people administrations, and honest public record.

“Bayan Muna representatives left Congress as we entered it. We are not corrupt,” Colmenares said.

Bayan Muna’s 10 National Convention delegates and guests. (R. Villanueva/Kodao)

He called on the electorate to consider a protest vote by choosing Bayan Muna, vowing to continue the fight against high utility and oil prices as well as advancing a PHP12,000 minimum monthly wage for workers all over the country and PHP33,000 monthly salary for public sector employees.

Colmenares rallied party members, saying they are against even more fake partylists that resort to electoral fraud and vote buying, on top of stepped up attacks from the military.

“We must campaign as we’ve never campaigned before. There is no tomorrow for us. If we fail to win next year, Bayan Muna ends in 2025,” he said.

Bayan Muna chairperson Satur Ocampo, saluting party martyrs and heroes. (R. Villanueva/Kodao)

Bayan Muna’s convention also honored its 198 martyrs and heroes, many of whom were killed by the military.

“We are now even more resolute in honoring our nearly 200 heroes and martyrs by channeling their spirit to fight for genuine change and ensure our survival and resurgence in the political arena,” Colmenares added.

In an earlier press conference, Bayan Muna said it would support impeachment efforts against Vice President Sara Duterte due to reported graft and betrayal of public trust. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

On the Supreme Court decision on oil price transparency

/in /by

“This is a bold step forward for accountability and to make these oil companies, particularly the big ones, transparent on how these almost non-stop all price hikes resulted in windfall profits while our consumers are now overburdened not only by so much taxes but also of high prices of basic goods.”–BAYAN MUNA executive vice president Carlos Zarate

Image by N. Bacarra/Kodao

Bayan Muna tells Sara: It is France Castro’s duty to ask you questions

/in /by

Bayan Muna said Sara Duterte’s tirade against ACT Teacher’s Party Rep. France Castro at yesterday’s hearing by the House of Representatives for the Office of the Vice President’s proposed 2025 budget was “malicious intrigue and disinformation.”

Bayan Muna executive vice president and himself former congressman Carlos Isagani Zarate criticized fellow lawyer Duterte on her remarks that Castro should not be sitting in ongoing budget deliberations because of her recent conviction of some form of “child abuse.”

Zarate said Rep. Castro’s is simply fulfilling her legitimate role and vital oversight functions as a lawmaker.

“Kahit ang isang first year law student ay alam niya na kapag nakaapila pa sa Court of Appeals o maging sa Supreme Court ang ano mang decision ng Regional Trial Court (RTC), hindi pa ito final at hindi pa maaaring ipatupad,” Zarate stated.

(Even a first year law student knows that if a Regional Trial Court judgement is under appeal before the Court of Appeals or even the Supreme Court, it is not yet final and executory.)

Zarate pointed out that Duterte should know the principle and should not leverage Castro’s case to evade questions about the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP)’s budget, especially its use of so-called confidential funds.

He emphasized the constitutional right and duty of Rep. Castro and other congressional members to scrutinize the budget proposals of all government agencies, including the OVP.

Duterte turned her office’s budget hearing Tuesday upside down by refusing to answer questions from House Appropriations Committee members, even demanding that presiding officer and Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo be replaced.

READ: Makabayan resumes probe of Sara’s past confidential funds expenditure

The OVP is seeking a budget of P2.037 billion for 2025, an increase from the P1.885 billion for this year.

Misuse of funds

Duterte particularly refused to answer questions on how she spent P125 million in confidential and intelligence funds in a matter of 11 days in December 2022.

Zarate pointed that that the Commission on Audit (COA) red-flagged the misuse of P73 million of the confidential funds, ordering the OVP to return the amount to the national coffers.

The COA Notice of Disallowance revealed that at least P69 million of the P73 million involved P10 million for reward payment; P34.857 million for payment of reward (various goods); and P24.93 million for payment of reward (medicines).

COA said that the OVP did not submit documents showing the success of information gathering and/or surveillance activities to support the acknowledgment receipts for around P69 million of payments of rewards in cash, various goods, and medicines.

Likewise, COA said that P3.5 million of the disallowed P73 million “were used for payment for tables, chairs, desktop computers and printers without specifying that they were intended for the confidential operations/activities undertaken by the OVP, non-compliant with the requirement of Item 4.8.4 of the Joint Circular governing use of confidential fund.”

Commission on Audit’s Notice of Disallowance against the Office of the Vice President.

“Kapag humihingi ka ng budget galing sa pondo ng bayan o public funds, kailangang ipaliwanag mo kung saan, paano at bakit mo ito gagamitin, kahit pa pambili mo ito ng office supplies o pambili ng daing na pusit,” Zarate said.

(If you request for a budget from the people’s money, you must explain how, where and why you need it, including office supplies or dried squid.)

Zarate underscored the importance of transparency and accountability in government spending, calling on public officials to justify their use of taxpayer money rather than resorting to deflection and disinformation. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

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

/in /by

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

Huling Yakap ni Nanay Sonya

/in /by

By Carlos Isagani T. Zarate

Namanhid na ang aking mga alaala:

mabilis na nag-agaw ang liwanag

at dilim sa aking gunita — sigaw

ng umalingawngaw na takot

at hambalos ng mainit na mga tingga!

Handa nang manibasib ang mga halimaw;

iwinawasiwas ang pabaong birtud ng poon!

Tanging sandata ay imbing mga kataga,

pananggalang ang mahigpit, mainit,

walang bitiw na mga yakap mo, Nanay!

Subalit sa pagitan ng isang kisapmata,

ang iyong mahigpit na yakap – ang tila pusod

na muling sa ati’y nag-ugnay, sa aki’y

nagbigay ng lakas at buhay — ay pinasabog

ng abuso, kahayupan at kalupitan!

Sa isang kisapmata, ang iyong humulagpos na yakap

at nabubuwal na hapong katawan aking nasilayan;

gusto kung sumigaw: ‘Wag mo akong bitawan, Nanay,

higpitan mo pa ang iyong mapag-aruga , mapag-adyang

mga yakap — labanan natin. Ang dilim!

caritaz. 21 disyembre 2020

(The poet is a third-term Bayan Muna Representative to the Philippine Congress)

Artwork by Aurelio Castro III (Used with permission)

Rep. Carlos Zarate’s summation on the ABS-CBN franchise renewal

/in /by

09 June 2020, House of Representatives — Speaking in behalf of representatives in favor of the embattled media network’s bid for a fresh franchise, Rep. Zarate called on the rest of the members of the House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Franchises to vote for the people.

Zarate recounted several testimonials from ordinary people on how the mass media, particulary ABS-CBN, have served at the forefront during disasters and calamities, providing vital information for Filipinos in country and abroad.

He added that almost all Filipinos are affected by the ABS-CBN shutdown, as they depend on the network for news, current affairs and other pulic services.

“Bakit natin paparusahan at supilin maging ang karapatan ng pamamahayag at karapatan ng ating mga mamamayan sa malayang daloy ng impormasyon?” Zarate asked. (Video from the HOR page)

Duterte gov’t targets Makabayan reps with trumped-up charges, regional parliamentarians report

/in /by

Four Makabayan bloc representatives were targets of trumped up charges and other forms of harassments by the Rodrigo Duterte government, a regional group of parliamentarians reported.

The ASEAN (Association of SouthEast Asian Nations) Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) said ACT Teachers Party Representatives France Castro and Antonio Tinio, Anakpawis Representative Ariel Casilao and Bayan Muna Representative suffered various forms of harassment under the Duterte government, along with Senators Leila de Lima, Antonio Trillanes and Risa Hontiveros and Ifugao Representative Teddy Baguilat.

“A key tactic of President Duterte’s administration to silence criticism has been the use of trumped-up criminal charges against lawmakers,” APHR said, adding the eight opposition lawmakers faced politically motivated criminal charges since June 2016.

Rep. Castro charged with ‘kidnapping’

APHR reported that Castro was detained last November 28 while participating in a National Solidarity Mission (NSM) to provide school supplies and food to indigenous Lumad communities in Mindanao.

Castro and 17 others, including former Bayan Muna representative Satur Ocampo collectively known as the “Talaingod 18” were initially charged with “kidnapping and failure to return a minor” under the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.

The charges were later downgraded to “other acts of child abuse” under Republic Act 7610 and all 18 people were released on bail on 1 December, but the investigation into the case is ongoing.

“The case appears politically motivated, as the delegation escorted the minors from the village at the request of their parents, in order to protect them from potential abuse by paramilitaries,” the APHR said.

“Given the paramilitaries’ history of abuse towards indigenous communities in the region, which has often included attacks on schools, it was reasonable to assume that their safety was at risk,” the group added

Reps. Tinio and Casilao charged with ‘child abuse’

ACT’s Tinio and Anakpawis’ Casilao also suffered harassments, APHR said, after attending a rally in Davao City last October 23 to protest the imposition of martial rule in Mindanao.

APHR said the peaceful rally was attended by children and youth belonging to Lumad communities.

“On the day of the rally, Sara Duterte, the President’s daughter and current mayor of Davao City, posted pictures on social media of Antonio Tinio and Ariel Casilao attending the demonstration.

“You take [minors] out of school to put them in the streets to conduct your rallies. Again, you do not deserve to be in Congress. When will the House of Representatives ever kick you out,” the younger Duterte wrote.

On 4 December, Davao City police charged Antonio Tinio and Ariel Casilao with “other acts of child abuse” under Republic Act 7610, the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

The APHR however said the charges appear entirely baseless.

“There is no evidence of the participants ‘influencing’ the youth to be ‘angry and resent the present government’ as claimed in the subpoena filed by the Davao City Prosecutor’s Office,” the APHR said.

The group added that even if Tinio and Casilao indeed influenced the young rally-goers, the alleged act would hardly constitute “other acts of neglect, abuse, cruelty or exploitation”, as defined by RA 7610.

“The charges further violate the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, which is guaranteed in the Philippine Constitution to all citizens regardless of age,” the APHR said.

The parliamentarians reminded that this right is also protected by international treaties to which the Philippines is a state party, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention of the Rights of the Child.

“[The treatises] explicitly enshrines the right of children to take part in peaceful assemblies. The case appears to be part of a wider effort to harass the Makabayan bloc and their affiliated social organisations, the APHR said.

Rep. Zarate charged with organizing rally ‘without permit’

Zarate was slapped with charges of violations to the Marcosian Public Assembly Act of 1985 on January 30, 2018 stemming from a rally he attended on November 13, 2017 against the visit of US President Donald Trump to Manila during the 31st ASEAN Summit.

Zarate and others were charged with conducting the rally “without permit.”

The rally was violently dispersed by the police with water cannons and sonic alarms, injuring several protesters. The police claimed some of its personnel were also injured when the protesters tried to push through the barricade.

The charges were dismissed by the Manila Prosecutors’ Office on 8 May 2018.

“The charges appear to have been baseless and part of the wider effort to judicially harass members of the Makabayan bloc,” the APHR said.

“The charges under Articles 148 and 158 of the Revised Penal Code were based on contradictory testimony of the police officers, while Carlos Zarate denied involvement in any form of violence during the demonstration,” the group added.

The APHR pointed out that, under international standards, freedom to assemble peacefully should generally not require seeking permission from authorities because this could be misused to suppress legitimate protests.

The four Makabayan parliamentarians are APHR members.

A common pattern

The APHR said that while the charges against the four Makabayan parliamentarians as well as against de Lima, Trillanes, Hontiveros and Baguilat have been filed under different laws – including charges for “drug trafficking”, “kidnapping”, “child abuse” and “inciting to sedition” – the cases all fit a common pattern.

“These lawmakers appear to have been targeted for opposing the President’s policies, and in particular the widespread extrajudicial killings under the guise of the ‘war on drugs,’” it said.

“They have also often been singled out because of their defence of human rights and their attempts to protect their constituents from human rights violations, whether in the context of the anti-drug campaign or other administration efforts, such as the push to reinstate the death penalty,’ the APHR said.

The APHR is a group of South East Asian lawmakers committed to promoting human rights, democracy and justice in the region. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

‘Gigising sa manananggol ng bayan’

/in /by

“Ang dugo ni Ben Ramos ay gigising sa mas marami pang mananggol ng bayan, sa mga manananggol para sa interes ng bayan.”–Rep. Carlos Zarate, Bayan Muna

Meme by Carlo Francisco

Bayan Muna proposes free funeral services for ‘extremely poor’ families

/in /by

Bayan Muna called for the fast-tracking of a bill aimed at giving substantial discounts for funeral services for the poor.

As high inflation rates affect even the dead, House Bill 3028 should be immediately passed to give indigent families a 50 percent discount in funeral services, Bayan Muna explained.

Authored by Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate, the proposed measure aims to alleviate the rising costs of services due to the Rodrigo Duterte government’s Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law, the group added.

“Hindi lang mga buhay ang nasasagasaan ng TRAIN, pero pati mga patay na rin. Sa minimum ay tumaas ng P1,000 ang funeral services sa ngayon, hindi pa kasama dito ang kabaong, lupa sa sementeryo at mismong pagpapalibing,” Zarate said.

“Our bill also mandates that dead persons belonging to ‘extremely poor’ families should be given free funeral services,” he added.

The government announced that inflation rates in the third quarter of the year has risen to more than six percent, driving prices of goods and services higher.

Bayan Muna said the House of Representatives shall tackle the proposed measure when it resumes its session this month.

“We hope that the House leaders would also fast track the bill’s passage so that poor families would not have to shell out more just to bury their loved ones. They are already grieving from their lost, it is doubly tragic that they should also be burdened to bury their dead,” Zarate said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)