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Open letter to nationalist, pro-people AFP and PNP troops
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OPEN LETTER

By OMAR IBARRA
Spokesperson, NPA Western Agusan Norte-Agusan Sur Subregional Command
26 February 2015

Warm greetings!

The recent turn of events challenges you to make a stand.

The near-annihilation of the 84th SAF-PNP troops in Maguindanao shows the division and dissension of your ranks in the Armed Forces of the Philippines and and Philippine National Police. This is how it
happened: under US orders for the capture of an alleged terrorist
under the framework of its “war on terror”, your commander-in-chief, Benigno Aquino III, violated your chain of command and all due processes, through a faction of generals led by General Purisima.

Despite the ongoing ceasefire and peace negotiations between the
government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front, Aquino ran over all agreements to implement the US
orders. Now, he and his officials exhaust all efforts to wash their
hands of culpability after wasting the lives of 44 SAF personnel.

This incident clearly indicates the ineptness of your commander-in-chief in mobilizing your forces. He only complies with the dictates of his imperialist master and his local instigators. Now it has resulted in endless bickering and finger-pointing among military and civilian officials, and has undermined the morale of the whole organization of AFP and PNP.

Even in areas of the New People’s Army, particularly here in Front
88, Aquino uses you under the design and in furtherance of the
interests of US imperialism and local ruling classes.

You are aware that the AFP and PNP brings, not genuine peace and
development, but terrorism to our area in order to pave the way for
the entry of the foreign company, Metro Luxury Mining.

Aside from combat operations, your psy-war and intelligence activities under COPD have intimidated the lumad and peasant masses here. They are further terrorized by the activities of your counterrevolutionary paramilitary groups such as Bagani Force in La Paz, Loreto and San Luis, and Wild Dogs or BULIF in Esperanza and Las Nieves. These have resulted in the forced evacuation of families in their hundreds in a score of communities in San Luis, for several weeks now. Can you then say that you are waging a war against terrorism when your government itself sows terror against the people in furtherance of foreign economic interests?

We are aware that most of you, like us, come from the poor classes,
and that you are only forced to become soldiers and policemen because of the lack of better employment opportunities so you can feed your families. It must be made clear, however, that your service only
benefits a few foreign and local exploiters, while you suppress the
just struggle of the poor.

While you are being used as pawns in this war, you are also used by
your senior officials in enriching themselves. Taking for instance the so-called modernization programs of AFP and PNP. Have you benefited from the billions of pesos of funds allocated for these? Are you aware of the modus operandi concerning the Balik-Baril program where higher military officials pocket most of the funds allocated for fake NPA surrenderees and recycled firearms?

Despite the massive defeat in Maguindanao, should you trust your lives to Aquino as commander-in-chief after he denied culpability in such failure and failed to express sympathy to the families and loved ones of those killed?

Aquino has a lot to answer for, not only to you soldiers and policemen but to the whole Filipino people who are victimized by US imperialism’s economic and political aggression. His puppetry to
foreign interests and dictates, as well as his state terrorism against his own people, gives a push to intensifying calls for his ouster from Malacañang.

While the movement for the ouster of Aquino rages, we appeal to your
nationalist and humanitarian stand. You have a significant role in the removal of an inept president from power as exemplified by your
withdrawal of support from Marcos and Estrada. Arroyo, on the other
hand, was almost ousted when soldiers and policemen mutinied against massive corruption, violence and fraudulence.

Thus we encourage you to take the side of the broad people, especially the poor, against the trampling of our integrity and dignity as Filipino people by US imperialism. While you are serving the reactionary government, we implore you to avoid abusing the human rights of the masses, respect the people’s call for the withdrawal of COPD troops and their struggle against CADC and big mining and other foreign corporations.

Most importantly, you should make a stand and make common cause with the people’s call for the ouster of your commander-in-chief, Benigno Aquino III.

People’s Hearing focuses on US intervention in Mamasapano debacle

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Witnesses at the “People’s Hearing on Mamasapano” organized by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and held last February 20 at Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila recall accounts by residents of Mamasapano, Maguindanao of the presence of United States personnel and war materiel in the botched operations.

In this video, an alternative journalist, a congresswoman, and a university professor establish foreign intervention at what is turning to be the biggest political crisis that hit the Benigno Aquino government. All three were members of the fact-finding mission that interviewed relatives of civilian victims in Mamasapano two weeks after the incident.

Pahayag ng Bayan sa pagdinig ng Kongreso at Senado sa Mamasapano encounter

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Panayam ng Kodao Productions kay Renato Reyes Jr., Secretary General ng Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) hinggil sa kanilang pananaw tungkol sa nagaganap na hearing sa Kongreso at Senado ng Mamasapano Encounter

ITANONG MO KAY PROF: Podcast on the senate hearing on the Mamasapano encounter (Part 3)

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

February 10, 2015

3. Mararamdaman ang galit at biased na kaagad na pagtingin ni Senator Alan Peter Cayetano laban sa MILF at BIFF at gusto pa niyang pag-awayin ang dalawang grupo para patunayan ang sinseridad sa usapang pangkapayapaan ng MILF sa pamahalaan. Sinabi rin niyang kinakanlong ng mga grupong ito si Marwan. Ano po ang inyong masasabi dito?

JMS: Malamang na sumasakay si Cayetano sa Christian chauvinism o sa mga ready-made bias laban sa mga Muslim. Pero kailangang magpaliwanag ang MILF at BIFF kung si Marwan ay kinukupkop nila. Sa personal na tingin ko, mahirap na sabihin na naroon si Marwan sa Mamasapano dahil walang corpus delicti o bangkay ni Marwan ngayon. At malamang na nagsisinungaling ang FBI tungkol sa DNA analysis para lamang tulungan nito ang propaganda ni Aquino.

Tanggap naman ng FBI na wala silang sample ng DNA ni Marwan mismo kundi ng mga supposed relatives niya. Sabi ng MNLF na nasa Lanao si Marwan at wala siya sa baryo ng Mamasapano na sinalakay ng SAF. Siyanga pala, bale sina Aquino, Purisima at SAF ang sumalakay sa baryo ng Mamasapano. Sabi pa ni Napeñas na SAF ang nagmasaker ng 250 katao sa Mamasapano. Paanong may kasalanan ang MILF. Hindi pwede.

ITANONG MO KAY PROF: Podcast on the senate hearing on the Mamasapano encounter (Part 2)

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

February 10, 2015

2. Parang maaabswelto pa yata si Purisima bilang operator ng
Oplan Exodus at madidiin ng husto si Napeñas. May komento po ba kayo sa bagay na ito?

JMS: Si General Napeñas talaga ang piniling maging fall guy para pagtakpan ang responsabilidad nina Purisima at Aquino. Pero nasabi na niya dati na si Purisima ang nasa command at calling the shots mula sa kanyang White House sa Camp Crame. Sabi rin niya sa Senado na si Purisima ang nagdala sa kanya kay Aquino sa Pangarap (house niya). Kalokohan talaga na pinalilitaw ng mga alipures ni Aquino sa Senado at media na walang pananagutan sina Aquino at Purisima.

(Photo/Gen.Purisima?Interaksyon.com)

ITANONG MO KAY PROF: Podcast on the senate hearing on the Mamasapano encounter

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

February 10, 2015

1. Sa senate hearing kanina, malaking pansin na wala sinuman sa
mga heneral ng PNP, SAF at AFP na nagtukoy na kasama nila sa operasyon sina President Noynoy Aquino at ang US, o kung ang mga ito ay may papel sa Mamasapano encounter. Ano po ang inyong pagtingin sa ganitong kaisipan ng mga kasundaluhan at kapulisan ng pamahalaan?

JMS: Ang US ang nagmamando kay Aquino mismo sa pinakamataas na antas. At si Aquino naman ay sadyang umakto sa labas ng chain of command ng PNP at AFP. Sapat na sa kanya na si Purisima at Napeñas ang inuutusan niya. Siya lang ang makakapagpakilos sa suspendidong PNP chief na Purisima at halos 400 kawal ng SAF nang walang pakialamanan ang PNP officer in charge na si General Espina.

Si Aquino at Ochoa ang madalas na may contact sa mga Amerikano na nasa Joint Staff. Nasa US drone command base sila sa Zamboanga City. Lantaran ang pakialam ng US sa Oplan Wolverine o Exodus. Binalak at ginawa ang oplan sa balangkas ng tinaguriang war on terror ng US. Ang US ang naghahabol kay Marwan at may alok pang malaking reward money. Merong US drone na nagsubaybay sa assault team. May Amerikanong namatay sa operation. At Evergreen helicopter ng CIA at mga American officers ay kitang kita sa retrato ng retrieval operation sa mga patay at sugatan ng SAF.

(Photo/Gen.Napenas/Interaksyon.com)

ITANONG MO KAY PROF: Podcast on people’s sentiments against Mamasapano operators

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Panayam ng Kodao Productions kay Prof. Jose Maria Sison hinggil sa damdamin ng mamamayan sa Mamasapano encounter

February 6, 2015

1. Kagaya ng dapat asahan sa sinapit ng SAF 44, nahahati ngayon ang saloobin ng mga pamilya at kaibigan ng mga nasawi. Hindi pa rin malaman ng mga tao ano ang tunay na saloobin ng mga natira pang SAF commandos dahil nang humarap si Pnoy sa kanila ay wala man lang kumibo kahit isa. Ano ang inyong obserbasyon hinggil ditto?

JMS: Natural na galit ang mga kawal at opisyal ng SAF kay Aquino. Alam na alam nila na si Aquino at si Purisima ang nagbigay ng go-signal sa pagpasok ng SAF sa teritoryo ng MILF. Alam din nila na si Aquino ang nagbigay ng stand down order para hindi matulungan ng 315 SAF ang mga napalaban na 77 SAF.

2. Ano po ang inyong masasabi sa mga nananawagan na magbitiw na sa pwesto ang pangulo? Sa inyong pagtingin, gagawin po ba ito ni Noynoy?

JMS: May malakas na katwiran ang mga nagdedemanda ng resignation ni Aquino. Dapat managot siya sa mga krimen niya. Habang nagtatagal na presidente si Aquino, marami pang krimen ang magagawa niya, sa korupsyon at abusadong paggamit ng pwersang militar. Syempre, ayaw magresign si Aquino. Pero sapilitang magresign na siya kung napakalakas na ang mga kilos masa laban sa kanya. Posibleng mas gustuhin niya na magresign kaysa mapatalsik na basag ang ulo niya.

ITANONG MO KAY PROF: Podcast on Pnoy and Purisima’s role in the Mamasapano tragedy

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Panayam ng Kodao Productions kay Prof. Jose Maria Sison hinggil sa papel nina Presidente Noynoy Aquino at General Alan Purisima sa Mamasapano tragedy.

1. Ano po sa inyong pagtingin ang krimen nina Aquino at Purisima
kung meron man, sa naganap na Mamasapano encounter? May pagtingin po kasi ang mga tao na sila ay magkaibigang matalik at mahihirapan na idiin ng isa ang isa sa kasalanan nito sa SAF 44.

JMS: Dahil lamang sa utos at tulak ng mga Amerikanong imperyalista, hindi na nakapag-isip nang matino si Aquino. Krimen ni Aquino na ginamit niyang planner at implementer ng Oplan Wolverine ang suspendidiong PNP chief na si Purisima. Krimen nilang dalawa na ipinahamak nila ang SAF dahil sa walang koordinasyon sa MILF, sa PNP central command, sa Army at sa Air Force. Isinubo nila ang mga biktima sa tiyak na kamatayan. Gugulatin mo ba ang mga waring tulog na may baril sa sarili nilang baryo? Tiyak na makikipagbarilan ang mga iyon.

2. Nagresign daw si Purisima sa serbisyo o sa pagiging PNP chief. Pero sinasabi naman niya na hindi siya nagkocommand at wala siyang kasalanan. Bakit po kaya siya nagresign kung wala siyang kasalaman?

JMS: Nagresign na si Purisima dahil naramdaman na niya ang galit ng bayan at isip din niya na sa pagresign titigil ang mga protesta ng masa at siya naman ay mababalik sa pwesto kung magtestigo ang mga kabig niya sa SAF na hindi siya nagcommand sa Oplan Wolverine kundi si Napeñas lamang. Si Aquino naman ay pakunwaring tumatanggap ng responsabilid dahil akala niyang paraan lamang ito para tumigil ang mga kilos protesta.

“Hand-washing” groups say of PNoy’s 2nd Mamasapano speech

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Activist groups led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan trooped to Mendiola earlier tonight to hold a public viewing of President Benigno Aquino’s second national address regarding the Mamasapano debacle that killed dozens last January 25.

Aquino cover-up
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The second address to the nation about the Mamasapano incident by President B.S. Aquino last Friday was more of the same glib BS.

To the fallen 44’s relatives, the self-proclaimed “Father of the Nation” said he feels for them just as if he had lost 44 of his “children”.  SAF Director Napenas is being set up as the definitive fall guy in keeping with Aquino’s habit of blaming everyone else but himself and his inner circle for any failures in his administration.  Aquino accepts the resignation of suspended PNP Director Purisima, Aquino’s BFF (best friend forever), for reasons known only to him.

Aquino vows to get Usman (the other “terrorist” that got away) and cajoles the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to please help or at least “do not interfere” (as in, don’t shoot our police when they come after him).  He then threatens the full might of the state against unspecified groups “who have lost their way”, presumably the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), in a bid to satisfy those whose idea of justice is to get even through “all-out war”.

At the outset and in conclusion Aquino plays the “peace” card. The SAF commandoes attacked the MILF stronghold to achieve “peace”. (No, they were not just serving warrants of arrest for Marwan and Usman.)  Aquino considers the MILF “brothers on the path to peace”. (Too bad the ceasefire agreement integral to the GPH-MILF peace talks was breached by the Marwan operation, unleashing untold deleterious consequences on the peace process).  And a “widespread and lasting peace” should be the primary focus of one and all.  (Truth, accountability and justice are all secondary or perhaps even irrelevant.)

Aquino takes pains to paint Marwan as an extremely evil and dangerous man, wanted by both Indonesian and Philippine governments for mass bombings and for leading an Al Qaeda-linked terrorist group in the region.  The description of Marwan as the alleged “Bin Laden of Asia” or Southeast Asia is exaggerated media hype; such is not what is stated even in FBI dossiers.

In fact there is no conclusive evidence till now that Marwan, Jemaah Islamiya, the ASG or any Moro/Islamic “terrorists” are behind the bombings in Mindanao and the National Capital Region.  Let’s not forget the US fellow Meiring who accidentally set off a bomb in his hotel room in Davao but was whisked out of the country by US authorities beyond any investigation by local police. Let us also call to mind the Magdalo mutineers who pointed to their superiors as having ordered them to throw grenades at public places and implicated then AFP Chief Angelo Reyes and ISAFP head Victor Corpuz in the insidious plots to sow mayhem.

Based on a mere FBI certification (which the public, by the way, cannot independently verify) that DNA tests indicate it is Marwan the SAF commandoes had killed in their assault, Aquino declares Oplan Wolverine a “triumph” albeit with a “heave price”.  To many observers, it seemed a foregone conclusion that US lab tests would show the SAF teams got their man.  A negative result would have meant the entire Marwan operation was an unmitigated failure.

But even assuming that the FBI claim is true, does one dead “terrorist” justify the illegal command by a suspended general; the unnecessary deaths of 44 SAF, 18 MILF, 2 BIFF and 6 civilians; and the outright violation of the ceasefire agreement between government and the MILF that had held without incident for the past two years?

Marwan’s supposed demise is being used in the same way Osama Bin Laden’s supposed death was used: to falsely claim that the world is safer from terrorism because of the US-led “war on terror”; to justify draconian anti-terror measures violative of people’s democratic and human rights; and to deodorize the atrocities perpetrated in the name of countering terrorism through imperialist wars of intervention, aggression and occupation.

Aquino crows that many lives have been saved because Marwan has been neutralized.  The question begs to be asked, were many lives saved by the killing of Bin Laden (assuming that he is indeed dead if we believe the US claim hook, line and sinker)?  Has “terrorism” ended with the killing of these leaders? Let us recall that in 2001, US troops joined the AFP in Balikatan war exercises directed against about 300 members of the homegrown Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).  The Philippine armed forces then said they had reduced the ASG to a few score men. Nowadays, authorities concede that the ASG appears to be continuously growing like the proverbial amoeba despite one counterterrorist campaign after another.

The truth is, in a bid to follow the orders of his US bosses to go after Marwan in this fatally flawed operation (also out of Aquino’s sheer incompetence, narrow-mindedness and arrogance) Aquino gambled the entire peace process with the MILF.  Aquino is now scrambling to salvage what is left of efforts to legislate the Bangsamoro Basic Law that hangs on the brink of interminable delays if not potential defeat.

The Aquino regime is carrying on the policy and practice of the previous Arroyo regime of blind, uncritical support for the so-called war on terror and compliance with US dictates.  This is not the first time the result has been at the expense of peace negotiations.  In the case of the GPH peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), the US designation of NDFP Chief Political Consultant and the CPP-NPA as “terrorists” with the full collaboration of the Arroyo regime resulted in years of delays in the talks until the end of the Arroyo term.

What is critical at this point is to unmask the continuing efforts to cover up the truth and evade accountability by: 1) fudging Aquino’s critical role in the bungled operation as Commander-in-Chief,  particularly his criminal abuse of authority in disregarding the chain of command; 2) reducing the bloody fiasco to operational lapses and bad decisions of the commander-on-ground in order to shift the blame to him; 3) denying Purisima’s role as an illegal commander in order to shield Aquino and Purisima; 4) encouraging an anti-MILF hate campaign to also shift the blame on the MILF while making loud noises about wanting to push the peace process forward; 5) going through the motions of filing cases against the MILF and BIFF commanders to appease those who are crying for MILF and BIFF blood; 6) trying to appease the relatives of 44 SAF by means of financial assistance and false paeans to them as heroes; 7) continuing blackout regarding the US role in Oplan Wolverine; 8) claiming the Marwan kill  with US complicity so that operation is not exposed as a complete failure.

Aquino and Purisima are both criminally liable.  At the minimum, Aquino should resign while Purisima’s resignation should not allow him to escape criminal liability.

There must be no impunity for the Mamasapano bloodbath. #


Published in Business World

9 February 2015