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Ka Daning Ramos hounded by surveillance, harassment—KMP

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Veteran peasant leader Danilo Ramos and the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) that he leads is worried.

In a statement, the KMP revealed Ramos had been the subject of surveillance and harassment by men suspected to be government intelligence agents in at least two occasions this month.

Motorcyle-riding men had been asking for the whereabouts of Ramos and his residence in Malolos City, Bulacan on January 3 and 15, KMP reported.

“In one incident, one of the men reportedly asked bystanders: ‘Taga-saan ba si Danilo Ramos? Matagal na namin siyang hinahanap kasi terorista siya.’”  (Where does Danilo Ramos reside? We have long been looking for him because he is a terrorist.)

“This dangerous and brazen case of terror tagging poses a direct threat to the life of Ka Daning, his family, and other peasant leaders and members of the KMP and the progressive peasant movement,” the group said.

KMP and Tanggol Magsasaka (Defend Farmers) noted that the surveillance and harassment against Ramos have escalated since last year.

The last case of documented surveillance against the KMP chairperson happened in August 2023, the group added.

The victim and Tanggol Magsasaka immediately submitted reports to and held dialogues with the Commission on Human Rights on last year’s incident, KMP said.

Ramos was a survivor of the Mendiola Massacre of January 22, 1987 and went on to become a long-time KMP secretary general.

He succeeded Rafael Mariano as KMP chairperson when the latter briefly served as Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) secretary in 2016 to 2017.

KMP said despite non-stop harassment against Ramos, the farmer leader remains critical and outspoken on the policies and programs of the Department of Agriculture, DAR and Malacanang that affect farmers and fisherfolk.

The government meanwhile has weaponized laws against the agriculture sector , instead of heeding the plight of farmers and strengthening domestic agriculture, it added.

“We demand a stop to the harassment against Ka Daning (Ramos). We demand a stop to the attacks against farmers and the peasant masses who feed the nation,” KMP in its statement said.

“We call on all democracy-loving individuals and institutions, especially workers, human rights defenders, indigenous peoples’ rights advocates, Church people, environment defenders, and all sectors here and abroad to support Danilo “Ka Daning” Ramos and all farmers fighting against landlessness, injustice, and impunity in the Philippines,” the group concluded. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

Retrenched OFWs in New Zealand sleep in cars, resort to fishing to survive

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It’s been nearly a month since hundreds of Filipino construction workers lost their jobs throughout New Zealand and some are forced into desperate measures to survive.

Migrante Aotearoa said many laid off workers have resorted to fly fishing for something to eat after about 720 fellow Filipinos suddenly lost their jobs when their recruitment company ELE Group collapsed last December 20.

“Yes, many are already doing that,” Migrante Aotearoa confirmed to Kodao.

First Union Network of Migrants general secretary Dennis Maga said that one month after ELE entered receivership, the distressed Filipino workers are already in dire financial hardship.

“[M]any are relying on community food support and waiting for financial assistance from the Philippine Embassy. Two weeks ago, the union reported that some workers were sleeping in their cars due to financial difficulties,” Maga said.

Bills and debts both in NZ and Philippines, mental and emotional stresses are mounting for the ELE workers, Maga added.

READ: 720 New Zealand OFWs lose jobs over Christmas

Distressed OFWs picketing Deloitte headquarters in Auckland, New Zealand (Migrante photo)

Distress call to NZ and PH governments

Along with Migrante Aotearoa and First Union, several of the workers held a picket at the Philippine Embassy as well as outside ELE Group caretaker Deloitte Corporation in Wellington today.

The groups also held meet ups with other laid off workers in Auckland and Christchurch on Friday.

In a statement, the groups said they are asking Deloitte to give the laid-off workers’ final pay and benefits before month’s end.

They demanded as well that the workers are given work immediately and given new work visas by the New Zealand government.

They also asked the Philippine government to expedite its promised financial aid to the workers while they remain jobless.  

“For the NZ government, we reiterate that it’s high time to investigate the practices of labor hire operators that disadvantage and exploit migrant workers,” Migrante Aotearoa said.

The group added that even before ELE’s collapse, they have been receiving reports of employment redundancy, exploitation of migrant workers, visa scams and fake job offers.

“We reiterate calls for the Philippine government through the Philippine Embassy in Wellington and the Department of Migrant Workers in Manila to fast-track the release of financial aid for all ELE workers and give high priority for ELE workers currently in the Philippines to avail OWWA assistance and waive the required application for new Overseas Employment Certificateto be able to return to NZ without further costs and delay,” they said.

In a separate statement, Migrante-International called on the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. government to speed up and increase support for the laid-off workers.

The group is set to hold a dialogue with the Department of Migrant Workers on Monday, January 22 about the plight of the Filipino workers in New Zealand.

“The sudden retrenchment of our kababayans in New Zealand again exposes the folly of the Philippine government’s labor export program. The Philippine government has the responsibility to create decent jobs at home, which is possible only through land reform and national industrialization,” Migrante International said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

Distressed OFWs and supporters picketing the Philippine Embassy in Wellington. (Migrante photo)

Filipina mom, who fled Gaza with 7 children, reunites with Palestinian husband in UAE

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She asks help from Good Samaritans who may have extra laptops to spare for her daughters’ school requirements

by Angel Tesorero / Khaleej Times

The Filipina mother and her seven children who escaped war-torn Gaza recently are now back in the UAE.

They took a circuitous route – evacuating first in Manila with help from the Philippine government back in November last year – before arriving in Dubai last week. The family has settled in a temporary one-bedroom apartment in Ajman, the present accommodation of the 44-year-old Palestinian father who works in Dubai.

Three girls – aged 13, 11 and 9 years old – have been enrolled at an Arabic-curriculum school in Ajman. But since the family is practically starting from scratch – after everything they had were turned into rubble in Gaza – the mother, Marlene, 45, has reached out to ask help from Good Samaritans who may have extra laptops to spare for her daughters who are now in Grades 8, 6 and 4.

“Sorry for asking,” the mother apologetically wrote in a WhatsApp message sent on Wednesday. “The kids are doing fine and they are back in school. But they need a laptop for their school requirements. I hope there is someone who has an extra laptop or smart tablet to spare for my daughters,” she added.

Bright kids

Marlene’s children are very studious. In fact, her eldest daughter, who is 15, won full scholarship from Aiglon College, an international boarding school in Switzerland, before the war escalated in Gaza in October last year.

“She is now waiting for her student visa and she will finish senior high school in Switzerland,” Marlene proudly said.

Two of his younger sons – aged 7 and 6, who are supposed to be in Grades 2 and 1 – however, have yet to find a school. “All nearby schools are already full,” Marlene said.

“The kids now have a routine. My daughters are picked up by the school bus at 6am and they are home by 3pm,” Marlene shared, adding: “Even my youngest, who is 3, has started reading alphabets and counting numbers.”

Finding peace

Marlene continued: “Yes, my children are now all safe but the horrors of war still haunt them. They are still struggling to find peace.”

“Because we live near the Sharjah Airport, there were many times my seven-year old would anxiously run to me after hearing the sound of airplanes. ‘Are we being followed by Israeli fighter planes?’ – my son would ask me,” added Marlene, who earlier said: “Even the sound of the metallic electric fan brought my young son to tears as it sounded like attack drones.”

Marlene and her seven children left their home in Deir Al Balah in Gaza that was bombed twice, with nothing but a single emergency bag containing all their passports. Miraculously, no one died in the attacks and no one was seriously injured, except for a shrapnel that hit Marlene near her abdomen.

Marlene’s in-laws, aged 75 and 73, decided to remain in Deir Al Balah because they couldn’t endure the 20-km journey to the Rafah border in Egypt. “They have surrendered their fate to God. When our house was bombed for the third time, my 73-year-old mother-in-law just lay down on the floor and prayed,” she said.

Although a big challenge, Marlene has maintained communication with her in-laws and relatives in Gaza. “But the situation in Deir Al Balah is getting worse by the day. My sisters-in-law are trying to move to Rafah to find a way to cross the border. They heard Deir Al Balah will be next after the intensive military operations in Khan Younis and Nuseirat,” she added.

Still grateful

On the bright side, Marlene is thankful that she has reunited with her husband. She also thanked the individuals and institutions that helped her family, including the Philippine-Palestine Friendship Association (PPFA) which took care of them when they were in Manila.

Marlene is now looking for work – her last job was as a secretary at a printing company in Sharjah before her family moved to Gaza in 2020. She said: “All my kids, except the eldest, were born in the UAE. That’s why they are not strangers here.”

Home is always Gaza

For Marlene’s children, however, home is always Gaza. She had earlier said: “Moving to Gaza turned out really good for my children. It was there that they truly found a home. They always felt they belonged. They were happy living with their cousins, they went to school and made new friends. They were happy… until the war happened.”

“My children maintained contact with their cousins,” Marlene continued, adding: “Just two days ago, they had a video chat and children will always be children. Despite the raging war, you can feel the innocence and simple joy in them.

“I heard their conversation and they were all laughing. My children’s cousins also had a simple request: ‘Please send some chocolates and chips, even small candies or any sweets.” #

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This report is original to The Khaleej Times where the author is a senior deputy editor.

Groups slam media security chief for red-tagging ahead of UN expert’s visit

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Media groups and rights defenders condemned government’s top media security official, calling his allegation that a jailed journalist is active in terrorist groups a classic example of red-tagging.

Altermidya and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFOMS) executive director Paulino Gutierrez’s attack against journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio also proves the absurdity of his agency’s continued existence.

In his January 4 “Paul’s Alarm” column on JournalnewsOnline, Gutierrez wrote, “Nais din niyang (United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression and opinion Irene Khan) malaman ang sitwasyon ni Franchie (sic) Mae Cumpio, na kasalukuyang naka-detine sa Palo Provincial Jail sa Leyte dahil sa aktibo nitong papel sa lokal na teroristang grupo ng mga komunista.” (She also wants to know about Franchie (sic) Mae Cumpio’s situation, who is currently detained at the Palo Provincial Jail in Leyte because of her active role in the local terrorist group of communists.)

Altermidya said the official’s allegation is exactly what they mean about red-tagging: government officials linking civilians to alleged communist groups without proof.

“May we remind Mr. Gutierrez that Ms. Cumpio is contesting the charges filed against her in court and has yet to be convicted. There is absolutely no point for anyone, more so a high government official, to forget that ‘everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law,’” Altermidya said in a statement.

In a separate statement, the NUJP said Gutierrez’s accusation highlights precisely how red-tagging has become institutionalized in the Philippines and has become undeclared policy.

“It also shows the absurdity of having a body created for media security in a government task force that actively puts journalists’ security at risk by accusing them of being enemies of the state,” NUJP said.

The group added that Gutierrez’s allegation violates not just the constitutional presumption of innocence but also the Journalist’s Code of Ethics.

Human rights group Karapatan also slammed Gutierrez, saying the official’s red-tagging of Cumpio is hypocritical.

“Here is a big example of the government’s so-called ‘promotion of human rights,’ and yet, the Philippine government is already vilifying human rights defenders and press freedom defenders because they have tagged them as enemies of the state,” Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said.

Braggadocio gone wrong

Ironically, Gutierrez wrote about Khan’s official 10-day visit to the Philippines starting next week in his column, disclosing he is ready to meet with the UN expert on press freedom and freedom of expression.

Gutierrez added it is a significant personal honor for him to lead the country’s preparations for Khan’s visit as chief of the only government agency in the world dedicated to media worker’s rights.

Altermidya however said Gutierrez’s attack against Cumpio is emblematic of their complaints to the UN expert.

“It is exactly this kind of information that we wish Ms. Khan would closely look into in her investigation into the Philippine situation,” Altermidya said.

“The statement of USec Guiterrez highlights the urgency of our appeal to Ms Khan to conduct a thorough investigation on the continued vilification of journalists, affecting the exercise of press freedom and the people’s right to know,” Altermidya said.

Karapatan said that government agencies involved in the visit of the UN Special Rapporteur are the same agencies engaged in red-tagging, terrorist-labelling, filing of trumped up charges, and other forms of violations.

Special jail visit to Frenchie Mae

In his column, Gutierrez revealed that Khan wishes to visit Cumpio in jail.

The youngest journalist in prison in the world today, Cumpio was arrested in February 2020 when she was 20 years old.

A former editor of the student publication University of the Philippines Vista in Tacloban, Cumpio was a broadcaster with Manila Broadcasting Company’s Aksiyon Radyo station in Leyte at the time of her arrest.

She was also the executive director of alternative media outfit Eastern Vista and manager-in-training of Radyo Taclobanon, a women-led disaster resiliency community radio station project in Supertyphoon Yolanda-hit Eastern Visayas.

“Indeed, she is the very Frenchie Mae Cumpio mentioned in laureate Maria Ressa’s Nobel Peace Prize speech,” Altermidya said. # (Raymund B. tVillanueva)

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DISCLOSURE: Altermidya’s statement was issued with the author as reference, being the group’s chairperson. He is also a former NUJP officer. Kodao and the author were Cumpio’s trainers for the Radyo Taclobanon project.

On USec. Paul Gutierrez’s red-tagging of journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio

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AlterMidya, January 17, 2024

Altermidya takes strong exception to Undersecretary Paul Gutierrez’s accusation and red-tagging of our member, Ms. Frenchie Mae Cumpio.  

In his January 4 “Paul’s Alarm” column on JournalnewsOnline, the Presidential Task Force On Media Security (PTFOMS) executive director wrote, “Nais din niyang (United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression and opinion Irene Khan) malaman ang sitwasyon ni Franchie (sic) Mae Cumpio, na kasalukuyang naka-detine sa Palo Provincial Jail sa Leyte dahil sa aktibo nitong papel sa lokal na teroristang grupo ng mga komunista.” 

This is exactly what we mean by red-tagging: a senior government official linking civilians to alleged communist groups without proof. May we remind Mr. Gutierrez that Ms. Cumpio is contesting the charges filed against her in court and has yet to be convicted. There is absolutely no point for anyone, more so a high government official, to forget that “everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.” 

Ironically, Mr. Gutierrez’s column was about the arrival of Ms. Khan who is set to visit the country in an official visit starting next week. Much of the highlight of our submissions to the UNSR office contains precisely this kind of wanton and mindless vilification, harassment and intimidation of journalists. It is exactly this kind of information that we wish Ms. Khan would closely look into in her investigation into the Philippine situation. 

In his column, Mr. Gutierrez declared that he is ready for the challenge of Ms. Khan’s visit. We think not. If he bothered to carefully prepare for the visit, he would have surely found out that Frenchie Mae was an active broadcaster with MBC’s Aksyon Radyo in Leyte at the time of her arrest with several other human rights defenders on February 2020. She is the executive editor of alternative media outfit Eastern Vista and a former editor of the University of the Philippines-Tacloban Vista student publication. She was also manager-in-training of the Radyo Taclobanon, a women-led disaster resiliency community radio station project in Supertyphoon Yolanda-hit Eastern Visayas. Indeed, she is the very Frenchie Mae Cumpio mentioned in laureate Maria Ressa’s Nobel Peace Prize speech.  

The statement of USec Guiterrez highlights the urgency of our appeal to Ms Khan to conduct a thorough investigation on the continued vilification of journalists, affecting the exercise of press freedom and the people’s right to know. #

Tagumpay, bagong antas ng paglaban ng marinong Pilipino

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Ni Nuel M. Bacarra

Sa kahabaan ng T.M. Kalaw sa Maynila, maraming paikut-ikot, paroo’t parito. Maraming nagtitinda. Maraming tao. Dito rin karaniwang nagsasama-sama ang mga aplikanteng marino, sa tapat ng Luneta Seafarers Welfare Foundation, isang foundation umano na ngayon ay nagsisilbing boarding house. Para sa mga progresibong organisasyon, tamang lugar ito para maiparating sa mga naghahanap ng trabaho sa ibang bansa sa pamamagitan ng pagpi-piket at pagpapapima ng petisyon para sa kapakanan nilang mga marino.

Sa ingay ng tila nagka-karerang mga motorsiklo at iba pang sasakyan sa kahabaan ng lansangan noong Byernes, pinangibabaw ng mga tagapagsalita sa piket ang kanilang mga panawagan sa naroroong mga marino umaasang makasampa sa barko. Nangangalap sila ng pirma para sa petisyong tanggalin ang probisyong bond execution ng Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarers na pinagtibay ng Senado at Kongreso noong Disyembre 13 ng nakaraang taon. Naghihintay na lamang ito ng pirma ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. para maipatupad bilang batas.

Ito ang una sa serye ng mga planong kilos protesta at pangangalap ng pirma para sa petisyon ng mga progresibong organisasyon ng mga marinong tutol sa bond execution.

Nauna nang ibinasura ng Senado sa panukala nito ang escrow account at fiduciary provision dahil na rin sa pursigidong paglaban ng mga asosasyong Concerned Seafarers of the Philippines, Association of Marine Officers and Ratings (AMOR) at Cavite International Seafarers Association.  Tinanggal ang mga ito dahil malinaw na pagkakait ito ng benepisyo na ipinaglalaban ng mga marino. Mga probisyon itong pabor sa may-ari ng barko at manning agency. Sa esensya, ito ay malinaw na pagbimbin sa pinansyal na benepisyong dapat nilang makuha. Kahit ideklara ng National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) ang desisyong pabor sa marino, kapag nag-apela ang inirereklamong ahensya, doon mabi-bimbin ang kumpensasyon sa pamamagitan ng escrow account at fiduciary provision. Ang apela ay maaari pang umabot hanggang sa Korte Suprema.

Ipinalit naman dito ang probisyong bond execution na mas malala kaysa dalawang nauna. Ang mga marinong magsa-sampa ng kaso sa NLRC, ay maglalagak ng cash bond (awtomatiko at sapilitan) taun-taon hanggang di natatapos ang kaso. Hindi pa malinaw o kung ilang porysyento ng kumpensyon inilalaban ng isang marino ang halaga ng cash bond. Anila, malamang wala nang magsasampa ng reklamo laban sa kumpanyang may-ari ng barko o manning agency dahil sa halip na makuha nila ang nararapat na kumpensasyon, sila pa ang mamumulubi sa taunang gastos gastos para sa cash bond. Kumpara sa escrow at fudiciary provision, higit na mapagsamantala ito dahil mismong sa mga marinong nagsampa ng kaso manggagaling ang cash bond at, hindi tulad ng dalawang naipagtagumpay nilang ipatanggal sa panukala, na mga kumpanya o manning agency ang maglalagak ng pondo.

Ani Chief Engineer Rey Tranate ng AMOR: “Para lang sila may magagawang batas sa atin, para hindi sila mapahiya, ang mga kongresman at senador, gumawa talaga sila ng paraan para tayo gipitin. Ito ngayon iyong cash bond na tinatawag. Magba-bond muna ang seaman bago ilaban ang kaso. Milyon ito. Sa ganito, wala nang maki-claim. Papalakpak ang tenga ng agency kasi wala nang magrereklamo. Mapupunta lahat sa agency. Itong mga agency ang yumayaman dahil doble ang kita nila. Kumikita na sila sa sweldo natin na may kaltas sila. ‘Pag kayo ay nagkasakit at di kayo nag-claim, sila rin ang magki-claim sa benepisyo niyo!”

Ilan sa mga nagprotestang marino sa Maynila noong nakaraang Biyernes. (Nuel Bacarra/Kodao)
Petisyon

Kapos ang Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarers sa mga probisyong dapat sumalamin sa pangangilangan ng sektor. Kaya tulad ng naipagtagumpay nilang pagpapatanggal sa ilang probisyon, bukod sa bagong probisyong higit na maglalagay sa kanila sa ibayong kahirapan, kalakip sa petisyon nila ang iba pang kahilingan. Kabilang dito ang mga sumusunod:

  1. Isama ang mga mangingisda (fisher) na pumapalaot lampas sa saklaw ng Pilipinas, gayundin yung mga marinong nagtatrabaho sa mga lokal na kumpanya na bumibyahe sa mga isla ng Pilipinas. Ang paggigiit na isama ang mga mangingisda ay bahagi ng probisyong nakasaad sa Maritime Labor Convention ng 2006 kung saan kabilang ang Pilipinas na nagtibay dito noong Agosto 20, 2012.
  2. Tanggalin ang limitasyon sa edad. Malaking problema rin ng mga eskperyensyadong marinong 40 o 50 anyos kahit angkop ang pisikal na pangangatawan at kwalipikado pa silang maglayag dahil prayoridad ang mas mga batang marino. Ang batayan ng empleyo ay ang kaangkupang magtrabaho. Ayon sa Department Order 130 Series of 2013 ng Department of Labor and Employment, nakasaad sa Rule III, Section 1 nito na, “Hindi pinapayagan ang sinumang wala pang 18 taong gulang na magtrabaho sa barko.”. Walang nakasaad na maksimum na edad.
  3. Tanggalin ang libu-libong bayarin para makapagtrabaho sa barko. Sa karanasan ng mga marino, umaabot ng halos ₱83,000.00 ang gastos sa mga pagsasanay sa loob ng halos tatlong buwan. Hindi pa kasama rito ang gastos sa akomodasyon, pagkain at pamasahe.
  4. Tanggalin ang blacklisting o watchlisting. Kapag nagreklamo ang isang nag-aaplay na makapagtrabaho sa barko bakit matagal ang proseso, nanganganib din ang kanyang katayuan magtrabaho dahil maaari siyang maisama sa blacklist o subaybayan ang rekord sa pagtatrabaho.
  5. Ipatupad ang mga nakasaad sa International Maritime Convention. Ipatupad ang regularisasyon sa trabaho. Iginigiit din nila ang kasiguruhan sa trabaho sa pamamagitan ng malinaw na probisyon kaugnay sa pagtanggal sa kontraktwalisasyon.
Ambag sa lipunan

Tinatayang 90% ng kalakalan sa daigdig ay mahigpit na nakasandig sa paglalayag ng mga barkong naghahatid ng produkto sa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo. Malaki ang kontribusyon dito ng mga Pilipinong marino mula pa noong kalakalang Galeon hanggang sa kasalukuyan. Ang kasanayan nila sa pagmantine at operasyon ng mga barko ay kritikal na pangangailangan ng kalakalan sa mundo. Dahil sa pulu-pulong katangian ng bansa, natural na tendensya na ang paggamit sa karagatan sa anumang uri ng paglalakbay at pagnenegosyo.

Ang Pilipinas ang may pinakamalaking bilang ng mga nagtatrabahong marino sa buong daigdig. Noong isang taon, aabot sa 14% ng mga seafarer sa buong mundo ay mga Pilipino.

Kabilang sila sa hanay ng mga Pilipinong nangingibang bansa o Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW). Ayon sa Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA), umaabot sa 750,000 ang bilang nila sa buong bansa. Subalit halos kalahating milyon o dalawang katlo lamang ang naeempleyo o nakakasakay sa barko taun-taon. Ang natitirang sangkatlo ay nag-aaplay na lang sa mga inter-island na lokal na barko, ang iba ay aplay dito, aplay doon habang ‘di natatanggap sa trabaho.

Taun-taon ay mayroong gumagradweyt na halos 25,000 estudyante pero halos 20% lamang sa kanila  ang nakapagtatrabaho sa mga barko.

Mula 2017-2022, halos 1.6% ng Gross Domestic Product (GDP, kabuuang produkto at serbisyong nalikha sa isang takdang panahon) ang kontribusyon ng mga marino sa bansa. Noon 2022 lamang, nagpasok sila ng $6.715 bilyon sa bansa o halos 20% ng kabuuang remitans ng mga OFW, ang mga tinaguriang bayani ng kasalukuyang panahon. Sa pagtatapos ng 2022, umabot sa 8.9% ng GDP ang kabuuang remitans ng mga OFW sa bansa. At sa pagtaya ng Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, 22% ng kabuuang remitans ng mga OFW ay mula sa seafarers.

Ayon pa kay Pres.. Marcos Jr.: “We are proud of our maritime heritage and our title as the Seafaring Capital of the World…We will always be grateful to our seafarers for what they have brought to our country.” (Ipinagmamalaki natin ang pamana sa pandaragat at ang ating pinanghahawakang titulong Pandaigdigang Kabisera ng mga marino. Lagi nating kinalulugdan ang ambag ng ating mga marino sa bansa.”) Ang pagpapasa ng isang Magna Carta para sa mga marino ay sinertipikahang kagyat ng pangulo sa kanyang State of the Nation Address noong Hulyo 2023. Kaya nagkumahog ang mataas at mababang kapulungan ng Konggreso.

Sa petisyong inihahapag ng mga organisadong marino para sa pagbasura sa bond execution at iba pang kahingian, bitbit nila ang pag-asa ng tulong mula sa masang Pilipino at sa uring manggagawa sa kabuuan.  Tulad ng masinsin nilang pagkilos laban sa probisyong escrow at fiduciary na naibasura, buo ang loob nilang panghawakan ang mga tagumpay na ito para isulong ang tunay na Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarers na tunay aariin nilang kanila dahil bunga ito ng kanilang sama-samang pakikibaka. #

Groups slam ‘EDSA-pwera’ video as deceitful, misleading

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Survivors of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s martial law dubbed as deceitful and misleading the advertisement alleging the 1987 Philippine Constitution is to blame for the country’s poverty and the government’s corruption.

The group Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses and Martial Law (CARMMA) in a statement said the “EDSA-pwera” (left-out) campaign that seeks amendments to the Constitution said personalities behind it are also “grossly anti-people.”

“What they think of as witty wordplay is not only misleading but deceitful,” CARMMA in a statement said, adding that the ad also falsely claims that Marcos Sr.’s dictatorship was an era of economic prosperity in the Philippines.

Released as signature-buying sprees for a so-called people’s initiative for charter change have been reported, the ad said it is time to discuss amendments to the 1987 charter—also called the EDSA Constitution after the 1986 People Power uprising that ousted the Marcos Sr. dictatorship.

The ad, placed by the firm Gana Atienza Avizado Law, claims the Constitution encouraged neglect of social services, corruption and gross profiteering while prohibiting foreign ownership of lands and businesses, thus preventing economic progress.

But CARMMA said that while the 1987 Constitution does not fully represent the interest and demands of the people, the claims made in the video are a misrepresentation of the real problems of the people.

“In fact, this provision in the 1987 constitution was included to remedy the Marcos dictatorship’s unhampered exposure of the Philippine economy to foreign plunder, to the detriment of local production, especially manufacturing. This, coupled with the Marcos clique’s own rapacity, bled our country dry,” the group added.

Former Senate President Vicente Sotto III, a supporter of the People Power uprising, also called the video “untruthful and inaccurate,” adding the charter is not the problem but the people who implement it.

Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman, whose activist brother Atty. Harmon Lagman was disappeared under the Marcos dictatorship, also criticized the video, saying “”The ad is crudely crafted and there is nothing substantial conveyed in the message.”

“The ‘EDSA-pwera’ Charter Change ad campaign is part of the Marcos family’s continuing demonization of the EDSA People’s Power Revolution which ousted the Marcos dictatorship and helped install the ‘Cory Constitution’ or the present 1987 Philippine Constitution,” Lagman said. 

Meanwhile, the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives said they are considering asking Congress to conduct investigations if public funds have been used in the production and broadcast of the video and signature-buying activities in Albay and Sorsogon provinces.

Gana Atienza Avizado Law said the ad is a private initiative by their “small law firm,” assisted by an advertising agency.

Website abogado.com.ph said the law firm counts among its clients political big-wigs such as the Romualdezes who are cousins with president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

UN report urges PH: Stop ‘misusing’ anti-terror measures vs. clergy, activists

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A United Nations (UN) special mandates report raised serious concerns over repeated allegations of the Philippine government’s misuse of counter-terrorism and anti-money laundering laws against members of the clergy and other activists.   

Six UN Special Rapportuers said it received reports of arbitrary arrest, enforced disappearance, killing, and filing of fabricated charges against civil society activists from 2019 to 2023, spanning the second half of the Rodrigo Duterte government and the first year of the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. administration.

“We express our serious concern over the allegations of judicial harassment, office raids, targeted financial sanctions, asset freezing and other administrative sanctions against religious groups, Indigenous Peoples and organizations,” the experts also said.

In a report dated October 10, 2023 but only made public this week, the experts also expressed concern over the Philippine government’s over-broad definition of terrorism in its law, Republic Act 11479.

 “We note with concern that there appears to be an observable trend in the Philippines, whereby individuals and groups associated with churches, who are living out their faith through development and humanitarian work, have been linked by the government to CPP-NPA-NDFP (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines),” the report reads.

“We also express serious concern about the seemingly broad and unchecked executive powers implicated by the allegations—particularly the discretion of the Anti-Terrorism Council to designate individuals and organizations as “terrorist” and the Anti-Money Laundering Council to adopt targeted financial sanctions thereafter,” it added.

The experts said the Philippine government has also employed its counter-terrorism financing oversight powers in a broad and arbitrary manner against non-profit organisations and individuals, including the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines.

The UN experts said it looked into reports on of 24 victims who included two bishops and other clergy, a journalist, indigenous rights advocates, lawyers, non-profit organizations and other human rights defenders.

The report said the Duterte government filed a reply to UN in 2020, assuring the international community of its compliance to international human rights standard but still urged Manila to provide those it charges with crimes “all appropriate legal safeguards.”

The experts’ findings were submitted to the UN Human Rights Council by UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism Fionnuala Ní Aoláin.

Aolain was joined in the report by Irene Khan, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; Clement Nyaletsossi Voule, Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; Mary Lawlor, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; José Francisco Cali Tzay, Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples; and Nazila Ghanea, Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief

“We are concerned that such measures risk obstructing the delivery of vital and well-protected humanitarian, human rights and development services,” they said, adding such moves violate the Philippines’ human rights obligations under international law. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

Filipina mom flees Gaza with 7 children, hopes to reunite with Palestinian husband

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By Angel L. Tesorero / Khaleej Timesby Angel Tesorero

Marlene and her seven children successfully evacuated war-torn Gaza last November and are back in her home country. Like other evacuees, they were given $1,400 in cash aid by the Philippine government and were housed in a hotel for a couple of days upon arrival in her home country.

While safe from the rockets and bullets of the zionists, Marlene finds its hard to take care of her children aged  15, 13, 11, 9, 7, 5 and 3 years old alone. Her Palestinian husband Amjad is in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as an expat who wishes to bring the entire family to join him soonest.

Money running out

When the Philippine government’s temporary shelter to Gaza evacuees ended, Marlene was assisted by the Philippine-Palestine Friendship Association (PPFA) to look for accommodations elsewhere. They are renting a room in Cavite Province and the aid money they received is already running out.

“Worse, the children are still traumatized by the war,” added Marlene, noting, “Even the sound of the metallic electric fan brought my young sons to tears at night because it sounded like drones. My second child also wakes up in the middle of the night and cries. They are afraid of fireworks and the sound of airplanes.”

The children and their mom were living with Marlene’s in-laws in Deir Al Balah (a city in central Gaza Strip) when Israel escalated its attacks. Escaping heavy bombardment, they hurriedly left the house with nothing but the clothes they were wearing, mismatched slippers, and a bag containing their passports.

Emergency kit

“The bag was our emergency kit – I had prepared it a long time ago because, in the past two years, I have experienced four intermittent conflicts and airstrikes, and I was told by neighbors to put all our passports in one bag and run whenever we hear a warning siren,” she added.

No one died in the shelling, but Marlene was hit by a shrapnel near her abdomen. Marlene and the kids sought refuge in Rafah, southern Gaza, on October 15. The in-laws, aged 75 and 73, decided to stay behind.

The situation in Rafah was no different and after two weeks, they moved back to Deir Al Balah, only to experience another airstrike. Marlene and the kids were again lucky and escaped alive. They then moved back to Rafah until the border with Egypt was opened and the first batch of refugees were evacuated.

Marlene and her seven children arrived in the Philippines on November 10 last year. Her in-laws decided to remain in Deir Al Balah because even the 20-km journey to Rafah was too much for them.

Marlene shared: “My in-laws said they were ready to face any fate that befell them. When our house was bombed for the third time, my 73-year-old mother-in-law just lay down on the floor in fear. She could not run, her body was trembling. She laid down and prayed. Thankfully, my father-in-law arrived and dragged her safely out of the house. The five-floor building was leveled to the ground with only one room remaining, where the two of them are now staying.”

Schooling disrupted

The schooling of the six younger children was entirely disrupted by the punitive war, that has so far claimed more than 22,000 lives and displaced 90 per cent of the Palestinian population.

Marlene and Amjad’s children, except the eldest, were born in the UAE, and have studied in Ajman’s Al Hikmah School (except for the 5-year-old and 3-year-old, who have yet to enter school). The family lived in Sharjah until 2020, when they visited Gaza and got stranded there because of the pandemic. Their UAE residence visas lapsed and only Amjad was able to return after finding work in the country in 2021. Since the kids can only speak Arabic and English, they cannot attend a Philippine school.

However, it was not all bad news for Marlene. Her eldest daughter, who is a very bright student, bagged a scholarship at a university in Switzerland, where she will continue her senior high school education until college.

Return to homeland

“But living in Gaza turned out good for my family, because it was there that my children truly found a home,” Marlene said poignantly, adding: “They felt they belonged, they were happy living with their cousins, they went to school and made new friends. They were happy. Until the war happened.”

Amjad is now working on bringing his entire family to the UAE. He said he sought assistance from charity organizations and school authorities to help send his children to school.

He is also praying that one day the family will be able to return to their homeland. #

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This report was original to the Khaleej Times where the author is a senior deputy editor.

Si Ineng at si Labuyo: Tala’t mga Tula

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A love letter from prison

by Rosario Gonzalez

Benito Quilloy’s second book, “Si Ineng at Si Labuyo: Tala’t mga Tula,” is a timely and informative read that captures a nation’s history through a family’s story and 16 poems. Nearing 70 now, Quilloy has been languishing in jail for more than six years on trumped-up charges.

The union of two different individuals in the person of Ineng and Labuyo, Quilloy’s parents, who were constantly bickering but deeply cared for each other, takes center stage in the first piece in this book. With nine offsprings, the couple faced life’s difficulties and challenges confident that their love and strong family values of education, respect for people, hard work and honesty will steer them towards the right direction. 

Ineng was only 17 when she married Labuyo, ten years her senior. It was the end of the Second World War when they had their first child. All of their nine children were delivered by the same local midwife.

Both Ineng and Labuyo were unable to finish elementary, although the latter was allowed to teach despite this. Labuyo also became a farmer, fisherman, carpenter and baker. When he got married, he engaged in business, at one time, owning three supermarkets in Los Banos. And here is where Quilloy’s knowledge of history and self-deprecating humor comes into play. He wrote how the American colonial economic policy for the Philippines led to the downfall of their business. He described how the almost reversal of their family fortune resulted in the change of their lifestyle – from a household that can afford to hire help to one that depended on their individual labor for the household to be kept running. But it was also the most critical point in their family history that strengthened their character and developed them into responsible, kind and compassionate human beings. The nine children of Labuyo and Ineng learned their most valuable lessons while growing up as the country grappled with the challenges of being a colony of the most powerful country in the world, even after having been granted its so-called independence.

Life after school and getting married for the Quilloy children was also not a walk in the park.  It has melodrama written all over it, including the heart breaks and revelations. Yet humor is always present mixed with the ability to be flexible and accepting of the flaws of loved ones.

Quilloy, as the only one among the siblings who expressed a desire to be a doctor, was also resigned to the fact that their parents will not be able to finance his education. He remained their principal marketer and family cook up until he worked full-time fighting for peasants and human rights.

With his unjust incarceration, Quilloy was provided the chance to work on both his prose and poetry. It was poetry that initially attracted him in jail as he tried to find ways to ward off boredom, longing and loneliness. He eventually fulfilled his longtime dream to write the story of his parents as a tribute and sign of gratitude to them.

The 16 poems that are in the book, “Si Ineng at Si Labuyo: Tala’t mga Tula,” continue to speak of his love and admiration for his parents. It also tackles the following: life and art, call for real democracy, justice and peace, longing for love and life in the New Year, social transformation, fear of losing a loved one, love and intimacy, people’s struggle, tribute to health frontliners, people’s struggles and victory, and his continuing service to the people.

Quilloy is steadfast in his belief in the people’s capacity to chart their own destiny. This shows in his poems which trace a long line of adherents for social transformation as well as his own contribution which he believes is even strengthened by imprisonment. His everyday thoughts of sadness highlight his humanity, a fact that prison life can aggravate. But his optimism and political conviction does not waver. 

Quilloy cannot see himself as anything but a believer for what we all aspire for — freedom, equality and genuine democracy. His mantra of service to the people remains, and the reader cannot but agree with him. 

Benito Quilloy, along with another development worker, Rita Espinoza were forcibly taken by about ten elements of the Criminal and Investigation Detection Group – Philippine National Police (CIDG-PNP) in Kabankalan, Negros Occidental in October 19, 2017. They are presently detained at the Butuan City Jail in Agusan del Norte. #

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Those interested in buying a copy of the book, priced at P350 each, may email [email protected] or message 09772882428. (Kindly identify yourself when sending a text message)