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Maza to DMW: Help OFWs in Lebanon, stop looking for papers!

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A former lawmaker condemned the slow and bureaucratic response of the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. government to pleas by distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) caught in Israel’s escalating military actions in Lebanon.

As the Zionist army of Israel has started its ground military operations into Lebanon, former Bayan Muna and Gabriela representative Liza Maza demanded that the Philippine government start top-level talks with Lebanon to allow Filipinos to be flown home without delay.

In a statement, Maza revealed that the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is more concerned about finding out if an OFW is “properly documented” than providing help to all Filipinos in the war-torn country.

Maza said that many OFWs, including those whose passports are being withheld by employers, are being left behind due to stringent DMW regulations that only allow repatriation for workers with “proper documentation.”

This has left many migrant workers helpless as they await rescue while bombs continue to rain down in Lebanon, she said.

‘Documentation, clearances’

In a statement Wednesday, the DMW said it has repatriated 430 OFWs and 28 dependents so far, failing however to mention the time frame of the repatriations and whether it has done so after Israel’s latest military incursions into Lebanon.

It also admitted that it is only providing assistance to “documented” OFWs.

“The MWO (Migrants Welfare Office)-Beirut is also arranging the repatriation of additional 63 OFWs with complete documentation and clearances to leave Lebanon,” it said.

The agency also did not say if it has plans of sending planes to Beirut to fly OFWs home, only blaming cancelled commercial flights in September for the failure of distressed Filipinos to flee Lebanon.

DMW said it is assisting 63 OFWs until the next outbound flights on October 11 and 22.

Maza however said that DMW’s response is condemnable.

“Puro requirements at burukrasya ang pinapairal. Nagmamakaawa na ang mga kababayan natin,” Maza said.

“Put your act together, DMW. Naiipit na sila sa sigalot doon. Marapat na kumilos na ang gobyerno ng Pilipinas para pabilisin ang pagpapauwi sa ating mga kababayang nanganganib ang buhay!” Maza fumed.

In an online news briefing Tuesday by Migrante International, Kristina, an OFW based in Lebanon, tearfully recounted her situation during an online press briefing.

“Kailangan pa ba namin mag-live ng bombahan dito para paniwalaan kami? Giyera na rito,” she cried, highlighting the urgency of the situation as Israeli airstrikes draw nearer to residential areas.

Kristina said Manila managed to send planes to repatriate OFWs during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, but has so far failed to act with the same decisiveness this time.

Maza emphasized that the situation requires immediate diplomatic intervention and top-level negotiations with Lebanon to ensure the safe and rapid exit of Filipinos, regardless of passport status.

“Dapat magkaroon na ng top-level usapan, gobyerno sa gobyerno, nang makauwi na agad ating mga kababayan. Gusto na nilang lumikas. Huwag na nating antayin na may mamatay pa mula sa ating mga OFW,” she said.

Zionist war

Last week, Israel remotely detonated electronic gadgets it later bragged killed several Hezbollah top leaders and fighters.

Subsequent Israeli missile attacks also killed Hezbollah leader Hashan Nashrallah and his deputy Ali Karki.

Tel Aviv also fired missiles into Yemen.

This week, Tel Aviv sent tanks into Lebanese territory, reigniting a full blown war against Hezbollah.

On Tuesday night, Iran sent nearly 200 missiles into Israeli-occupied Palestine, in retaliation to several military attacks by Tel Aviv.

Maza said Tel Aviv is disproportionately targeting civilians and infrastructure in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Iran, Yemen and Syria.

“The Zionist state is the imperialist tool for this ongoing war, and it continues to wage destruction across the region, leaving countless civilians in its wake,” said Maza

Given the increasingly dangerous situation, Maza is urging the Philippine government to take decisive action and prioritize the safety of OFWs.

“Many of these individuals have risked their lives due to unemployment in the Philippines, only to become trapped in a conflict area,” she said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

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

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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)

Maza resigns; last NDFP-nominated member leaves Duterte Cabinet

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The last of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP)-nominated members to the Rodrigo Duterte Cabinet has tendered her irrevocable resignation today, August 20

National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Lead Convenor Liza Maza announced she is leaving the Duterte government after deeper reflection on the events of the past weeks, including the double murder charges she faced with three other former Makabayan bloc representatives like herself.

“I am announcing that I have tendered this morning my irrevocable resignation as Secretary and Lead Convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission,” Maza said in a pres conference.

She said that while the fabricated and baseless murder charges were eventually dismissed, the revival of these cases and the issuance of warrants of arrest under a seeming crackdown on activists like her took its toll on her work at the NAPC.

“I realized that similar attacks by the anti-reform, rightist, and militarist forces in our society will continue to undermine my leadership of this agency. As such, I simply can no longer work under these circumstances,” she said.

Along with Maza, former social work and development secretary Judy Taguiwalo and agrarian reform secretary Rafael Mariano were nominated to the Duterte Cabinet by the NDFP.

Taguiwalo and Mariano were no longer re-appointed by President Duterte after they were rejected by the Commission on Appointments.

Maza explained that Duterte’s total cancellation of its peace talks with the NDFP last August 14 was her biggest reason for resigning.

“The decision killed my remaining hopes that the peace talks would result to substantive social and economic reforms that would end widespred poverty in the country as well as the ongoing civil war,” she said.

She added that the cancellation of the talks signals that policies that are counter to reforms for the poor as well as militaristic mindset and attitude are primary to the government.

Maza said that her resignation is not a surrender of the pursuit of meaningful reforms that she has embarked on in her two years of leading the NAPC, which she said has always been her life’s work as an activist and legislator.

“[N]or am I succumbing to the reactionary forces who have long wanted me out of this post. Rather, it has become clear to me that this pursuit will be better served with me working outside of government,” she said.

Among Maza’s biggest achievements as NAPC lead convenor was the publication of the 100-page “Reforming Philippine Anti-Poverty Policy – Going Beyond, Moving Forward” roadmap that sought “meaningful debates on poverty eradication instead of mere poverty alleviation.”

Maza said during its launch in January that among the book’s proposals are the development of Philippine industries, review of international economic deals, regulation of foreign investments for development, state-directed financing for development, and more progressive taxation.

She said then she hoped that President Duterte would support their proposals.

Maza, in her statement today, said that poverty eradication may no longer be possible under the Duterte administration.

“I joined the Cabinet more than two years ago with high hopes of helping to facilitate meaningful socioeconomic and political reforms from within the government, when the President was initially engaged in the peace negotiations that can potentially bring these about,” she explained.

“His latest pronouncement, however, on finally terminating the talks brings me to the conclusion that these reforms may no longer be possible under the current administration,” she said, adding she believes “genuine change cannot happen when the old forces of fascism and corruption, and the defenders of elite and foreign interests, are consolidating their position in government.”

“I have found it best to resume fighting from among the masses for this genuine change, which, as ever, has been the only real way to make sure that it will happen,” Maza concluded. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

Makabayan 4 blame military and police for ‘trumped-up charge’

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After the dismissal of the double murder charge against them by a Nueva Ecija court, four former Makabayan Coalition representatives condemned government’s security cluster for what they call a mere case of political persecution against dissenters.

National Anti-Poverty Commission lead convenor Liza Maza and fellow former Makabayan representatives Rafael Mariano, Teddy Casiño and Satur Ocampo were welcomed in a gathering in Quezon City last August 14 after warrants of arrest against them were withdrawn.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmHQPdNv7EE

Court dismisses double murder charges vs Makabayan 4

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The Palayan Regional Trial Court (RTC) dismissed the double murder case against National Anti-Poverty Commission lead convenor Liza Maza and her fellow former Makabayan bloc representatives Satur Ocampo, Teddy Casiño and Rafael Mariano.

In a decision dated August 8, Palayan City RTC Acting Presiding Judge Trese D. Wenceslao ordered the dismissal of the cases and quashed the warrants of arrest against the four.

“[C]onsidering that the evidence on hand absolutely fails to support a finding of probable cause against the accused-movants, the Motion for Reconsidetion (of the Order dated July 11, 2018 with Prayer to Quash Warrants of Arrests) is hereby GRANTED,” Judge Wenceslao ordered.

“Consequently, the Warrants of Arrest issued on July 11, 2018 under Criminal Case Nos. 1879-P and 1880-P against Saturnino C. Ocampo, Liza L. Maza, Teodoro A. Casiño and Rafael V. Mariano are QUASHED. The instant cases are DISMISSED as to the said accused-movenats,” he added.

Wenceslao, however, ordered that the arrest warrants against more than a dozen others who did not ask the court for reconsideration stand.

Dispositive portion of Judge Wenceslao’s decision. (Photo by Renato Reyes Jr.)

The four opposition leaders were ordered arrested by Judge Evelyn Atienza-Turla last July 11 after reversing her 2008 decision that the case does not meet her standards in finding probable cause.

Atty. Rachel Pastores, counsel for the four accused, said the case is pure harassment as the complaint was not even subscribed before a public prosecutor before it was filed.

“The complainants swore before the Philippine National Police and not to a public prosecutor. It was irregular,” Pastores said.

A Cleotilde Peralta and an Isabelita Bayudang alleged Ocampo, Maza, Mariano, Casiño and 18 other activists met in 1998 to plan the assassination of former Bayan Muna (BM) members who have left the party.

Peralta said her husband was ran over and killed in 2001 while Bayudang said her husband was shot to death in 2004 upon orders of the four accused and others.

In 2016, however, Peralta and Bayudang were found liable for damages in a civil suit and were ordered to pay P325,000 to Ocampo by Quezon City RTC Branch 95.

The QC RTC said Peralta and Bayudang lied when they alleged BM was already existing in 1998 when it was in fact created only in 2000.

The two complainants were ordered to pay damages to Ocampo, but have yet to abide by the court decision.

The two complainants have not appeared in court since then.

Peralta and Bayudang’s petition to have Bayan Muna disqualified using the same allegations was also dismissed by the Commission on Elections in 2008. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

 

Groups gather to defend Makabayan 4

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Various groups gathered last Saturday, August 11, to defend the four former Makabayan Representatives, Satur Ocampo, Liza Maza, Teddy Casiño and Rafael Mariano.

Lawyers explained that the double murder case used as basis for the issuance of warrants against the four were baseless, as proven by two earlier decisions by a trial court and the Commission on Elections.

Family members of the accused also spoke against what they call the political persecution of political dissenters by the Rodrigo Duterte government. (Video by Joseph Cuevas)

Hinggil sa persekusyon ng Makabayan 4

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“Nagaganap ang political persecution kapag iyong mga nasa kapangyarihan tulad ni Duterte at mga kasapakat niya ay gustong patigilin at supilin ang mga nagsasabi ng katotohanan.”–Prof. Jose Maria Sison, International League of Peoples’ Struggles chairperson.

 

Groups launch #DefendSecLiza campaign

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Various groups launched a campaign to defend National Anti-Poverty Commission lead convenor Liza Maza in a press conference in Quezon City last Monday, August 6.

Saying they are composed of groups outside the Makabayan bloc, they said they want to show that support for Maza is wide and committed in defending the embattled Cabinet secretary from political persecution.

Maza, along with former Makabayan representatives Satur Ocampo, Teddy Casiño and Rafael Mariano were issued warrants of arrest by a Palayan City Regional Trial Court for alleged murders committed nearly two decades ago.

The accused and their supporters, however, claim that the cases were trumped up, as proven by earlier decisions by the QC RTC and the Commission on Elections. (Video by Joseph Cuevas)

Itanong mo kay Prof: Political persecution sa mga lider-aktibista

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Sa episode na ito ng Itanong mo kay Prof, ipinaliwanag ang ibig sabihin ng political persecution at bakit target nito ang mga progresibong lider tulad nila Liza Maza, Satur Ocampo, Rafael Mariano at Teddy Casiño.

Judge who ordered arrest of Satur et. al. inhibits, prosecutors mum

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Nueva Ecija public prosecutors refused to comment on a motion for reconsideration on double murder charges and warrants of arrests against four activist leaders at a hearing in Palayan City Friday morning, August 3.

Lawyers of National Anti-Poverty Commission lead convenor Liza Maza and fellow former Makabayan bloc representatives Satur Ocampo, Rafael Mariano and Teddy Casiño told reporters in a press briefing outside the Palayan Regional Trial Court (RTC) that the prosecutors had no comment when asked about the motions.

“When the public prosecutors were asked to comment on the motion for reconsideration, they simply submitted it to the judge’s discretion,” Public Interest Law Center (PILC) managing counsel Rachel Pastores said.

“This made the hearing very quick; travel time from Manila to here was in fact longer,” Pastores added.

Dozens of activists travelled to Nueva Ecija early Friday morning and held a picket in front of Palayan City RTC Branch 40 to support the four leaders.

August 1, 2018 inhibition order by Judge Evelyn A. Atienza-Turla.

Judge Evelyn Atienza-Turla inhibited herself from the case since last August 1 and the case was raffled off to Judge Trece Wenceslao instead.

Turla issued arrest orders against the four last July 11 stemming from a 2006 double murder charge against them.

The judge, who told the public prosecutor in July 2008 that the case did not meet her standards, reversed herself and said in an order that she now finds probable cause to proceed with the trial against the four accused.

Pastores said they are hoping that the court would decide on their motion within 10 days as the arrest order is “unjust and without legal basis.”

The double murder charge stemmed from a complaint by a Cleotilde Peralta and an Isabelita Bayudang who alleged that the four activist leaders met in 1998 to plan the assassination of former Bayan Muna (BM) members who have left the party.

Peralta said her husband was ran over and killed in 2001 while Bayudang said her husband was shot to death in 2004 upon orders of the four accused and others.

In 2016, Peralta and Bayudang were found liable for damages in a civil suit and were ordered to pay P325,000 to Ocampo by Quezon City RTC Branch 95.

The QC RTC said Peralta and Bayudang lied when they alleged BM already existed in 1998 when it was in fact created only in 2000.

Peralta and Bayudang’s petition to have Bayan Muna disqualified using the same allegations were also dismissed by the Commission on Elections in 2008. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)