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After the Mamasapano Tragedy: Bayan March for Truth and Accountability
Expressing outrage over what they called the serious crimes of the President, groups under the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan today marched to Mendiola and the US embassy to demand truth and accountability in the Mamasapano incident.
US Embassy, Manila
February 4, 2015
US role in Mamasapano exposed
A protest rally in front of the US embassy in Manila on February 4, 2015 exposed the role of the United States in the deadly covert operations in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. The January 25 commando raid and the ensuing 12-hour battle left 44 Special Action Force (SAF) troops, 18 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters and at least seven civilians dead. Among the speakers at the rally are Makabayan Coalition President Satur Ocampo and Amirah Ali Lidasan, Secretary General of the Moro Christian People’s Alliance (MCPA). US forces were seen by witnesses in the operations. Protesters demand justice for the victims, Pres. Aquino’s resignation and the abrogation of US military pacts, notably the US-RP Mutual Defense Treaty, the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). The rally was led by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) and local affiliates of the International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS).
AQUINO, RESIGN!
Press Statement
February 4, 2015
We, party list representatives from the Makabayan bloc, add our voices to the mounting call for Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III to resign.
Aquino must resign! The President must resign for the sake of the nation, to save our nation from further disasters, moral bankruptcy, and massive poverty.
President Aquino is unfit to rule and has betrayed public trust. This is evident in the bloody Mamasapano fiasco and the unconstitutional Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) as affirmed by the most recent Supreme Court decision.
Aquino lost his moral ascendancy and legitimacy to govern when he lied to the people on his responsibility and accountability in the botched police operation that led to the deaths of 44 police, 18 Moro fighters and 8 civilians. He covers up the role of United States and the unlawful participation of suspended PNP Chief General Allan Purisima. He broke the chain of command and violated the required coordination in the peace agreements with the MILF. The blood of the fallen SAF 44 and 26 Moros are on his hands.
Aquino refuses to admit that he kowtowed to US’ instigation in the “Oplan Wolverine”, gave the go- signal to the highly dangerous police operation in Mamasapano without coordinating with the MILF, and sanctioned the illegal involvement of US military forces and suspended PNP Chief General Allan Purisima.
Aquino’s hand in the unconstitutional DAP was affirmed with the final ruling of the Supreme Court. He and Abad authored DAP and used billions of people’s money as “pork barrel” — to bribe senator-judges to impeach Corona, provide compensation for landlords including his family, fund his pet projects, and give patronage to favored politicians. With DAP, Aquino took away precious funds intended for social services for the people and the benefits of government employees.
Under Aquino’s administration, poverty has worsened, “pork barrel” funds became bigger, gross violations of human rights continued, the country became a big US military base, and calamities became disasters.
We must not wait for another transgression or disaster to happen. Give the nation a break, a chance for renewal. Aquino, resign! ###
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References: Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Javier Colmenares, 09178350459
Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate
Gabriela Women’s party list Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan
Gabriela Women’s partylist Rep. Emmi de Jesus
ACT Teachers party list rep. Antonio Tinio
Anakpawis party list Rep. Fernando Hicap
Kabataan partylist Rep. Terry Ridon
Panalangin para sa mga namatay sa Mamasapano, Maguindanao
Sa pangunguna ng Promotion of Church People’s Response
Nag-alay sila ng panalangin para sa hustisya at katotohanan patungkol sa mga biktima ng Mamasapano, Maguindanao.
Ginanap ito sa Camp Crame noong Pebrero 3, 2015.
KMU: Dagdag pasahe sa MRT&LRT, pabigat sa bayan
Protest-action
MRT North Avenue Station
February 2, 2015
ITANONG MO KAY PROF: Podcast on Mamasapano encounter
Panayam ng Kodao Productions kay Prof. Jose Maria Sison hinggil sa madugong sagupaan sa pagitan ng SAF at MILF sa Mamasapano, Maguindanao noong January 25, 2015.
February 1, 2015
Ano ang inyong masasabi sa pahayag ng FBI na walang kinalaman ang US sa naganap na Mamasapano encounter?
JMS: Nasa katangian at papel ng FBI na magsinungaling tungkol sa covert operations o lihim na operasyon nito. Mahaba at malalim ang pakialam ng FBI sa proyekto na hulihin o patayin si Marwan at Usman. Nahahalata naman ito sa lantarang pagtanggap ng FBI na sila ang bahala sa reward money at sa DNA analysis. Pero may kinalaman din ang FBI sa pagsasanay sa Special Action Force, sa intelligence at pagsasagawa ng Oplan Wolverine.
May papel ang FBI sa porma ng bilateral police cooperation. Pero kasangkot din ang iba pang ahensya ng Amerikano,tulad ng US Army Special Forces. US Army facility ang GPS surveillance at real-time monitoring sa communications gadget na ipinain kay Marwan at mga aide niya. At malamang na si US Ambassador Goldberg o ang CIA station chief ang nag-utos kay Aquino.
Ayon sa mga tao sa baryong pinangyarihan ng sagupaan, may blue-eyed na Amerikanong sundalo na nakita nilang patay. At nakunan naman ng retrato ang Amerikanong sundalo mula sa Joint Staff Special Operations Task Force. Kasama sila sa pagtingin, pag-usisa at pagkuha sa mga bangkay ng mga sundalong SAF. Lumabas ang mga retrato sa mga peryodiko.
Bayan presses gov’t to come clean on Mamasapano debacle
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan chairperson Dr. Carol P. Araullo presses President Benigno Aquino to come clean on event surrounding the debacle that killed at least 44 police commandos last January 25.
Araullo reacts after Aquino addressed the nation Wednesday night in a speech that Bayan says lacked forthrightness. She said that the peace process between the government and the Bangsamoro people should continue despite this incident.
Bayan calls for accountability on the Mamasapano incident
Militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan condoles with the bereaved families of those killed at the Mamasapano, Maguindanao incident last January 25 that killed dozens of police commandos, Moro rebels and a civilian. It also calls for an impartial investigation on the real nature of the incursion by the police and urges accountability for the terrible loss of lives, including the possible involvement of foreign forces in its planning.
Reports say as many as 64 Philippine National Police-Special Action Force commandos, along with four MILF rebels and a civilian were killed in a gun battle that lasted as long as 11 hours. Government authorities claim the police were in the area to effect a warrant of arrest against two “high value targets” which the United States have identified as “international terrorists.” The MILF, for its part said, they had no choice but to defend themselves from the incursion that was in violation of their ceasefire agreement with the government.
In this video, Bayan spokesperson Teddy Casiño issues their initial statement on the incident.
2014 IBON Yearend Birdtalk
2014 IBON Yearend Birdtalk
Political and Economic Briefing
UP College of Education, Diliman
January 23, 2015
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