Cordillera Day 2008 Synthesis

 Brgy. Poblacion, Baay Licuan, ABra

Daytoy napalabas a dua nga aldaw ket napateg unay para kadatayo amin a dimar-ay ditoy nga okasyon. Inkarigatan tayo nga immay ken nagtitipon ditoy tapno agbibinningay ti kapadasan, ken tapno agpapigsa ti nakem, kapanunutan ken panagkaykaysa tayo nga mangituloy ti militante a pannakilaban para iti karbengan tayo a kas nainsigudan nga umili ken kas Pilipino.

Daytoy maika-24 a panangselebrar ti Cordillera Day ket naaramid iti uneg ti nakaro a krisis pang-ekonomya ken pampulitika iti pagilian a Pilipinas. Itatta ket panawen met lang ti nakaro a pananggundaway ken panagsamsam ti daga, biag ken kinabaknang tayo nga umili iti Cordillera. Kasta met ti kumarkaro a panangidadanes dagiti pasista a terorista iti gobyerno a mangturturay kadatayo.

Ania ti Inaramid ken Inadal Tayo Ditoy?
Babaen kadagiti innadal, bitla, pabuya ken sarsarita idi kalman aginggana itatta nga aldaw, ket limmawag kadatayo dagiti isyu ken kasasaad ti umili iti Cordillera ken ti Pilipino. Linagip tayo dagiti adal iti pakasaritaan ti Abra ket nakita tayo nga ti balligi ket magun-od babaen iti napigsa a panagkaykaysa ken militante a panagtignay dagiti umili.

Nakita tayo nga ti puon ken gapu iti panagrigrigat tayo nga umili ket isu ti agtultuloy a panagkontrol dagiti ganganaet ken agar-ari a dasig iti ekonomya ken pulitika a sistema ti pagilian. Nakita tayo nga ti tungtungpalen ti gobyerno ket ti interes dagiti babaknang imbes nga unaen koma ti interes ken pagsayaatan ti kaaduan a marigrigat nga umili. Limmatak met lang ti kinaawan konsiensia dagiti agturturay a mangkurkurakot ken mangipalpalubos ti panagsamsam dagiti dadakkel a korporasyon ti minas ken terorismo ti estado ni Arroyo kontra kadagiti umili.

Ken naadal tayo nga importante unay ti pannakigayyem kadagiti adda iti ballasiw-taaw, tapno lumawa ti suporta para iti dangadang tayo ditoy Cordillera, ken tapno buklen ti nalawa nga agkaykaysa a prente iti intar dagiti anti-imperyalista a pwersa iti sangalubongan.

Ania Ngarud ti Nagun-od it Cordillera Day 2008?
Babaen iti aktibidad tayo itatta, naurnong ti pigsa ti rinibribo a tattao a nagapu iti nadumaduma a lugar ti Pilipinas ken iti ballasiw-taaw tapno supyaten ti panagdadael ken pananggundaway iti mineral a kinabaknang ditoy Abra. Babaen iti panagpirma tayo kadagiti petition ken resolusyon ti Cordillera Day 2008, naipablaak tayo ti oposisyon ti adu nga umili kontra ti panagminas, militarisasyon ken pasismo ti estado. Babaen iti panag-urnong tayo ditoy, naipakita tayo nga saan nga agul-ulimek ti umili, nu di ket naregta ken militante tayo nga lumablaban para iti karbengan ken pagsayaatan ti kaaduan.

Ania ti Pagbanagan ti inaramid Tayo ditoy?
Babaen kadagiti resolusyon ken petition nga pinirmaan tayo itatta, maipadanon tayo kadagiti maseknan iti gobyerno ti pudno a rikna ken posisyon dagiti umili ti Cordillera maipapan kadagiti isyu a makaapektar kadatayo, kangrunaan ti makadadael a panagminas ken ti terrorism ti estado. Babaen iti Unity Pact, napalawa tayo ti panagkaykaysa ti umili ken napaneknekan tayo nga saan nga agsardeng ti tigayan, nu di ket pumigpigsa pay daytoy, tapno salakniban ti daga, biag ken karbengan dagiti nainsigudan nga umili.

Ania ti Karit Kadatayo itatta?
Ngarud, ti karit kadatayo amin itatta: Ituloy tayo ti laban nga inrugi dagiti ap-appo tayo. Lagipen tayo ti indaton dagiti kakailian nga immuna kadatayo . Suruten tayo ti insuro dagiti lallakay ken babbaket nga limmaban kontra it Cellophil logging, Chico dams, open pit mining, San Roque dam ken dadduma pay nga makadadael a proyekto. Pang-iggeman tayo ti balligi dagiti kakailian tayo nga Itneg, Kalinga, Kankanaey, Ibaloi, Bontoc , Isneg, Ifugao ken dadduma pay nga limmaban kontra kadagiti higante a korporasyon kas iti Cellophil. Paregtaen tayo ti tignayan ti umili aginggana magun-od ti pudno a wayawaya, demokrasya, hustisya ken kappia.

Kas ti imbaga ti maysa a kailian tayo a taga-Abra a nagsao idiay Permanent Peoples Tribunal idiay Belgium idi October 1980. Kuna na: "Haan kayo koma nga maallilaw. Haan kami nga atrasado. Kas iti dadduma pay, kayat mi ti panagdur-as. Kayat mi nga sumayaat ti biag mi - nasaysayaat ng edukasyon, salun-at ken serbisyo pangkagimungan. Ngem kayat mi nga dakami ti mangtengngel wenno mangikeddeng ti panagdur-as ti biag ken daga mi. Kiddawen mi ti rebbengen mi nga agdesisyon para iti pagimbagan ken pagdur-asan mi. Saan mi a bigbigen ti kalintegan ti siasino man a mangtakaw ti dagdaga, bakbakir ken dadduma a rekursos mi. Mamati kami nga husto ti pannakilaban mi. Nakasagana kami nga lumaban ken ited ti biag mi tapno salakniban ti daga mi."
Kas ti inpakita tayo babaen iti panagpirma ken panangaprobar kadagiti petition ken resolusyon itatta, nalawag nga umannamong tayo iti rikna dagiti kakailian tayo a Tingguian.

Ngarud, kas pananggupgop iti dua-aldaw a programa tayo, agkaykaysa tayo man a mangipukkaw:

Cordillera Day 2008 Draws In Support to Local Struggle vs. Large Mines, Militarization

The early rains in April did not spoil the Cordillera Day 2008 celebration, however muddied and ready for plowing the rice fields were in the host community of Brgy. Poblacion, Baay Licuan, Abra. Themed Resist Mining Plunder and State Terrorism Cordillera Day 2008's 3,000-strong delegation from the international, national and regional levels gave concrete support to the local struggles of the host community and the whole of Abra province against large-scale mining and militarization. A resolution was signed backing the earlier petitions of Baay Licuan against Olympus Pacific Mining Inc., Abra Mining and Industrial Corp. (AMIC) and Jabel and the militarization of communities opposed to it. A petition calling for the immediate stop to the massive militarization in Tubo municipality in southern Abra was likewise signed by all delegates. These resolutions will be submitted to concerned government agencies and offices, and the mining company involved.

April 22: Ritual in Capcapo
Cordillera Day 2008 opened with a program and ritual headed by elders of the host community in Capcapo mountain, where Olympus has started drilling in a 4, 300 hectare mine site since February 2007 without the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) of the indigenous communities therein. Prior to this, the said communities had no idea as well of any approved mining claim which was approved by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in 1999. Sustained community opposition pushed the present NCIP to intervene, thus temporarily halting Olympus' operations.

Olympus is still trying to comply with the FPIC requirements as prescribed by Philippine Law (Indigenous Peoples Rights Act), but community leaders, such as those from host organization BALITOK (Baay Licuan Takderan Omnu a Karbengan), are asserting that from the start, their position remains clear and has not changed: that they do not want large-scale mining in Baay Licuan. In a press conference on April 24, BALITOK Chairperson Ernesto Quinto said that what the communities want is to use and manage their own mineral resources through non-destructive means such as traditional small-scale mining.

In Capcapo, the elders butchered a pig during the ritual, declared vigilance against Olympus and other attempts of destructive projects in their ancestral domain. Blood from the butchered pig was spread in all seven drilled holes in the mountain to symbolically seal the said statement.

April 23: Recalling the CRC struggle and the current fight against Olympus
In the opening on April 23, leaders of BALITOK, Baay Licuan Indaka Salakniban (BLIS) and representatives of the barangay welcomed the delegates after a militant ecumenical prayer led by different church leaders and elders from the Cordillera Elders Alliance (CEA). The history and current situation of Baay Licuan was extensively discussed as well by Anton Valera of BLIS. These messages and inputs were culminated when Fr. Cirilo Ortega shared the victorious struggle of the Tingguians against the Cellophil Resources Corporation in the 1970s, owned by Marcos' cronies and backed by the Marcos government.

Workshop discussions with concrete resolutions on current regional and national issues took place in the afternoon on the following topics: Basic Mining Education and the Cordillera Mining Situation, Exchange of Experiences on Mining and Militarization Struggles, Small Scale Mining as an Alternative, On State Terrorism, Optimizing Legal Remedies, International Remedies (UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples) and Basic Documentation, Importance of Lobbying and Internationalizing our Campaign, Building International Solidarity in Support to the Cordillera Peoples' Struggle, and the Children's Workshop.

The workshop groups yielded resolutions against large scale mining, for small-scale mining as an alternative, for to support internationalizing and lobbying Cordillera indigenous peoples' campaigns, among others. The workshop on building international solidarity resulted to the formation of CPA Friends Abroad, with an initial membership from the workshop group. As an output, the children's workshop presented a skit depicting the Tingguians' anti-Cellophil struggle.

Caucuses (women, peasants, elders, youth, migrants, drivers) were conducted in the evening. The caucuses with Binongan elders, specifically facilitated by CEA yielded to yet another historical result with the constitution and adoption of a Unity Pact against large and destructive mines (Katulagan ti Panglakayen, Mananakem, Papangat ti Tribo ti Binodngan Kontra iti Higante ken Makadadael a Minas). Clad in their traditional and indigenous attire, the Binodngan elders, including women and representatives of the youth presented the sealed pact in the afternoon of April 24. It is initially signed by 200 elders and is currently being circulated among other Binongan elders.

Video documentaries were shown later in the evening, featuring Cordillera-produced Toxic Gold (Sabidong ti Balitok), That the Mountains May Chant the Truth, Agno, Cordillera Day: A People's Struggle, and other documentaries produced by other regions. Throughout the day, solidarity messages from friends, partners and advocates from the international to local communities were read. Bp. Leopoldo Jaucian of the Diocese of Abra also imparted his message of solidarity to the Cordillera Day 2008 delegates. Gongs were played by the host community and other provincial delegates throughout the program, followed by community dancing.

April 24: Resist Mining Plunder and State Terrorism!
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN or New Patriotic Alliance) Chairperson Dr. Carol P. Araullo delivered her keynote speech in the morning of April 24, highlighting the successful anti-Chico dam struggle also at the time of the Marcos dictatorship, and relating it to the continuing struggle of Cordillera indigenous peoples for right to ancestral domain and right to self determination. The Cordillera Day background and rationale, and the nature of this year's celebration was shared by CPA Secretary General Windel Bolinget.

The Dap-ayan ti Kultura iti Kordilyera (DKK) had the delegates' undivided attention with the staging of The Untold Story of Gatan. More solidarity messages were read and imparted, followed by a press conference with leaders of CPA-Abra (KASTAN), BALITOK, CPA, Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamayanng Pilipinas (KAMP) and BAYAN.

After resolutions and petitions were shared in the afternoon, the Abra delegation impressed the delegates with its cultural presentations ranging from the kullilipan and uggayam, takik, and tadek. Community dances ensued as gongs were played by the host community. Though heavily militarized and bombed, a delegation from Tubo municipality asserted to attend the 24th Cordillera celebration and imparted through kullilipan the history of militarization and interest of large mines in their hometown, and the massive human rights violations in Dilong Valley.

The solidarity night ensued, where cultural presentations from Cordillera provinces, other regions and abroad were staged until the early morning of April 25. The delegation left in a caravan towards the capital town of Bangued.

The struggle of the Binongan indigenous peoples in Baay Licuan, and other issues confronting the Abra indigenous peoples has gained concrete support in Cordillera Day 2008. The CPA remains in solidarity and with them as greater conflicts are expected after Cordillera Day was successfully held and projected the particular issues affecting the communities therein.

Cordillera Day 2008 was successful and meaningful through the continuing support and solidarity of advocates, partners and friends, including new commitments in the advocacy of Cordillera indigenous peoples' struggle for self determination.

Today as before, we rally with our Tinggian brothers and sisters against the aggressive invasion into their homeland. We remember their fierce resistance in the 1970s against the Cellophil Resources Corporation (CRC), a logging operation backed by the Marcos dictatorship. Let us be resolute in the pursuit of our struggles, as we observe Cordillera Day 2008.

A Tinggian who testified against Cellophil during the Permanent Peoples Tribunal in Antwerp, Belgium in October 1980, said: "Don't mistake us. We are not backward-looking people. Like others, we want development and we want to improve our lives and the lives of the next generations; we want better education, better health and better services. But we want to control this development in our land and over our lives. And we demand a share both in decision-making and in the benefits of development. We do not recognize the right of the Marcos regime, or the World Bank, or anyone else, to steal our lands, forests and other resources. We do not recognize their right to dictate to us or to exploit us. We believe in the justness of our struggle. We are ready to fight and defend our land with our lives".

And so we shall be in the continuing defense of our land, life and resources.

Agkaykaysa a lumaban para iti pagilian! Fetad to Defend the Cordillera Homeland!

Scrap the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and the National Minerals Policy!

No to large mining in the Cordillera! No to the plunder of our resources and patrimony!

Cancel the MPSA of JABEL and AMIC and Revoke their MOA with Olympus!

Stop Extrajudicial Killings and Militarization in the Cordillera!
Junk WTO! Agriculture out of WTO now! Importasyon ti Nateng, Isardeng! Importasyon ti bagas, Isardeng!

Oust Gloria Macapagal Arroyo!

 
If not immediately confronted, such impacts could happen in Abra, one of the mining hotspots in the region. In Abra alone, there are 14 Exploration Permit applications under process, three approved Mineral Production and Sharing Agreements and one Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) application. The FTAA applied for by Lindsay Resources covers 14 municipalities in Abra and the municipalities of Balbalan and Pasil in Kalinga province.

Meanwhile, the right of the indigenous people in Baay-Licuan to free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) was grossly violated by Olympus Pacific Minerals. This Canadian mining company did not secure FPIC from the Binongan people prior to exploration and drilling in their ancestral domain at Capcapo mountain. The people had no prior knowledge that there was a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) approved and issued to the local subsidiaries in April 1998. Now, the communities are opposing the mining exploration of Olympus and its local conduits AMIC and Jabel, which continued to operate despite petitions filed by the communities as early as March 2007. Olympus only stopped its operations in August 2007 due to sustained community opposition forcing the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to defer all exploration activities due to lack of FPIC. The affected communities are now stepping up their opposition with the continuing submission of petitions since March 2007 to the NCIP regional and provincial offices and local government units.

The dredging of the Abra River is also underway with the operations of Abra Rio Sand and Gravel, Inc., a local subsidiary of Australian company Rio Dorado, which has admitted mining interests in the communities of Baay Licuan, Lacub, Malibcong, Tubo, Tineg, Bucay, Bucloc and Tayum.

Cordillera Day 2008: Resist Mining Plunder and State Terrorism!

We gather this Cordillera Day 2008 to strengthen our unity, reaffirm our commitment and carry on the militant struggle of our people in defense of land, life and resources. We mark the 24th Cordillera Day with greater resolve to resist mining plunder and state terrorism and to fight for and secure our individual and collective human rights against the backdrop of a regime clinging to power through state terror and hell-bent on the sellout of our national patrimony. At this time of severe national crisis, we resist mining plunder and state terror, and intensify our struggle for self-determination and genuine national democracy.

 demands immediate release of NDF peace consultant Elizabeth Principe
condemned the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for the abduction of Elizabeth Principe, a peace consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and demanded her immediate release.

Principe, 56, was abducted last November 28 by eight armed men in black special forces uniforms along P. Tuazon Avenue in Cubao, Quezon City and forced into a vehicle. The AFP later acknowledged that operatives of the Cagayan Valley-based Philippine Army 5th Infantry Division arrested Principe, but only after her release was demanded by the NDFP.

CPP spokesperson Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal echoed earlier statements by NDFP negotiating panel chief Luis Jalandoni that Principe is covered by the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) that provides for the free and unhindered passage and travel of negotiators, consultants and other personnel of both peace panels and protects them from surveillance, harassment, searches, arrest, detention, prosecution, interrogation and other similar action.

The CPP also demanded that the AFP respect Principe’s rights under the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL), which was also duly signed by the NDFP and the Philippine government.

Rosal pointed out that even as formal peace talks await continuation, the JASIG remains

in force and should be respected and adhered to by the Arroyo regime.

“Principe’s abduction is the latest in a string of abductions of peace consultants and personnel of the NDFP being carried out by the fascist AFP. The Arroyo regime has once again exhibited outright contempt for human rights and wanton disregard for peace agreements.”

Rosal added that such continuing abductions depict the utter incorrigibility of the Arroyo regime even in the face of United Nations Human Rights Commission Special Rapporteur Philip Alston’s damning report that definitively pinpoints the Arroyo regime’s policies and the AFP’s “counterinsurgency” strategy as the framework within which the spate of killings and enforced disappearances are being perpetrated.

“The CPP and all revolutionary forces hold AFP commander-in-chief Gloria Arroyo responsible for Principe's abduction and any harm that may befall her while under custody of her military abductors,” added Rosal.

The CPP spokesperson also reiterated its call for the AFP to immediately acknowledge custody of all other NDFP peace consultants and personnel previously abducted and demanded the release of those who have not yet been summarily executed. Among those who remain missing to date are NDFP peace panel consultants Leo Velasco, Prudencio Calubid and Rogelio Calubad and their staff as well as civilians abducted with them. The AFP has consistently refused to acknowledge responsibility for their disappearance.

Ang TRG ba ay hakbang pasulong tungo sa pagbagsak ng bulok na sistema o tungo sa sosyalistang rebolusyon?

Lubusan ang paniniwala ng Kaliwa na ang TRG ang siyang daan para sa tunay na pagbabago ng lipunan batay sa "balanse ng pwersa" sa tunggalian ng uri sa Pilipinas.

Ano ba ang TRG?

Ito ay isang transisyunal na gobyerno para maitayo ang isang makabayan (anti-imperyalista o anti-globalisasyon) na pamahalaan. Isang gobyerno na bubuo sa mga kondisyon para sa isang "demokratikong" lipunan. At mula dito ay "mabubuo ang lakas ng uri at ng masa" para sa sosyalistang rebolusyon sa hinaharap.

Hindi dudurugin ng TRG ang kapitalismo kundi pauunlarin ito sa Pilipinas para sa sosyalistang rebolusyon. Ito ang esensya ng linyang TRG.

May ilang mga "pragmatista" pa nga sa hanay ng Kaliwa na nagsasabing kung hindi kakayanin ang TRG kasama ang burges na oposisyon pero nasa "pamumuno" ng mga Kaliwa ay TG muna sa ilalim ng pamumuno ng burges na oposisyon. Ibig sabihin, TG taposTRG, hanggang sa sosyalistang rebolusyon. Ang mahalaga daw ay naoorganisa at nasasanay ang uri at ang masa sa pakikibaka kasama ang isang paksyon ng burgesya.

Ang ugat ng ganitong pananaw ay nagmula sa pagtingin na nahahati ang mundo sa dalawang kampo: Una, kampo ng nabubulok na kapitalismo at kailangan na agad ang sosyalistang rebolusyon. Ito ay ang abanteng kapitalistang mga bansa. Ang ikalawa ay ang kampo ng binansot o pinipigalang kapitalismo o "mala-pyudal, mala-kolonyal" dahil sa imperyalismo. Obhetibong uunlad pa daw ang kapitalismo kung maputol ang kontrol ng imperyalismo. Ito ay ang mga bansang atrasado sa third world countries gaya ng Pilipinas.

Bagamat kinikilala ng Kaliwa na burges ang TRG kabilang na ang demokrasya at anupamang pulitikal na institusyon nito, para sa kanila ito ay kailangan para sa pagbabago ng lipunang Pilipino dahil isang atrasadong bansa ang Pilipinas. Nilagyan lang nila ng "rebolusyonistang" lenggwahe ang kanilang burges na linya: "nasa pamumuno" ng uring manggagawa na para sa kanila ang ibig sabihin ay nasa pamumuno ng "partido komunista" o ng Kaliwa. Ibig sabihin, isang burges na pakikibaka na inako ng uring nais ibagsak ang burges na sistema at kaayusan! Ito ang rurok ng kahibangan ng Kaliwa sa Pilipinas: ang uri na may istorikal na misyon na ibagsak ang burges na sistema, ang uri na mortal na kaaway ang burgesya ang aako ngayon sa burges na pakikibaka at itayo ang isang tunay na burges na kaayusan sa bansa dahil sa katwirang may mga labi pa ng pyudalismo ang Pilipinas at hindi pa lubusang umunlad ang burgesy na demokrasya sa bansa.

Ang linya ng proletaryado sa 19 siglo, sa panahon ng pasulong na kapitalismo kung saan ay supporting actor lamang ang uring manggagawa sa burges na rebolusyon noon laban sa pyudalismo at sa mga labi nito ay kinaladkad ng Kaliwa sa panahon ng dekadenteng kapitalismo na nagsimula sa pagpasok sa 20 siglo, partikular sa pagputok ng unang imperyalistang pandaigdigang digmaan sa 1914 subalit sa panawagang matamis pakinggan pero walang katotohanan: "burges na rebolusyon o pakikibaka sa ilalim ng pamumuno ng uring manggagawa."

Ang resulta: SUBSTITUTIONISM ng mga partido ng Kaliwa sa independyenteng kilusang manggagawa. Ang mga partido ng Kaliwa ang umaako na mismo sa "kilusang manggagawa".

Ang TRG ay hindi hakbang pasulong kundi isang kadena na itatali ng Kaliwa sa leeg ng uring manggagawa para sa uring mapagsamantala.

Sa musmos kung isipan noon hindi kita maintindihan. ang bawat salita, galaw at ang iyong idoloheya ang pinakamalaking tanong sa aking gunita. ano at sino ka nga ba talaga?

Sa paglipas ng panahon ay unti-unti kitang nakilala, napamahal sa aking puso at diwa. ang iyong hangarin ay siyang napunla sa isipan kung musmos ay naging mula't na. lumisan man ako sa aking sariling bansa rebo ay aking dala-dala, ikaw at ikaw pa rin aking naaalala.

Hanggang sa ako ay humihinga prinsipyo't ideya mo ay di mawawala, kamatayan man ang katumbas paglalaban at ilalaban kita. ala daw mapala at kinabukasan saiyo, ngunit para sakin ikaw at nasa iyo ang bukas ko, kaya ipinapangako ko mula sa kaibuturan na aking puso na ikaw ay pakamamahalin ko.

Live on TV (sa government channel) ang unang araw ng imbestigasyon ng Senado kung saan dumalo ang mga membro ng Gabinete ni Arroyo na may kaugnayan sa anomalosong mahigit $300 million ZTE Contract.

Ginisa ng mga senador ang mga membro ng Gabinete sa ZTE Contract. Sa panlabas, (sa kanilang mga pananalita) makikita kaagad na depensiba ang mga bataan ni Arroyo habang ang mga `magigiting' na senador ang nagpa-impress sa mata ng publiko na `tagapagtanggol' ng kapakanan ng taumbayan. Halimbawa: Si senador Richard Gordon na dating mayor ng Olangapo sa panahon ng diktadurang Marcos at masigasig na tagapagtanggol ng US Military Bases dahil malaki daw ang maitutulong nito sa kaunlaran ng bansa ay naging `tagapagtanggol' ng interes ng bayan laban sa interes ng mga kapitalistang Tsino. Si senador Juan Ponce Enrile, dating Ministro ng National Defense ng diktadurang Marcos at isang malaking kapitalista (bantog sa karahasan ang kanyang malaking kompanya ng logging sa Northern Luzon at Mindanao) kung saan ginamit ang kanyang posisyon noon hanggang ngayon para sa kanyang negosyo ay `kinondenna' ang paggamit ni Jose de Venecia III sa posisyon ng kanyang ama na si Speaker Jose de Venecia.

Sa esensya, ang nais ipakita ng estadong kapitalista kakutsaba ang institusyong lehislatibo sa publiko ay ganito: `walang sinasanto ang demokrasya at ang mga batas nito'. Gamit ang media laluna ang government channel, lumilikha ito ng impresyon na `kalahok' ang publiko sa imbestigasyon ng Senado. Nakakatuwang moro-moro ng buong uring burgesyang Pilipino (administarsyon man o oposisyon). Pero dapat bang sumabay sa pagtawa ang malawak na naghihirap na masa sa komedya sa susunod pa nilang imbestigasyon hinggil sa ZTE?

Tinanggal ng PLDT management ang 575 empleyado nito. Ang dahilan: redundancy. Ikalawang batch na ito ng maramihang tanggalan magmula 2002 kung saan mahigit 500 manggagawa ang tinanggal sa taong iyon.

Hindi ito simpleng union busting dahil ang tanggalan ay hindi lang nangyayari sa mga kompanyang may unyon kundi kahit sa mga walang unyon. Ang tanggalan at kontraktwalisasyon ay manipestasyon lamang ng kawalang kapasidad ng kapitalismo na ipasok sa bilangguan ng sahurang pang-aalipin ang paparaming tao. Ang kontraktwalisasyon ay isang maniobra ng mga kapitalista sa buong mundo (sa atrasadong mga bansa man gaya ng Pilipinas o sa abanteng mga bansa tulad ng Estados Unidos) para itago ang katotohanan na nasa permanenteng krisis na ang kapitalismo at wala ng kinabukasan ang uring manggagawa sa ganitong sistema.

Kahit saang bahagi ng mundo laluna sa abanteng mga bansa, nakibaka ang mga manggagawa laban sa mga atake ng uring kapitalista sa kanilang kabuhayan. At isa sa mga ito ay ang tanggalan ng manggagawa.  

Prof. Jose Maria Sison would be released from the National Penitentiary in Scheveningen, The Hague in the Netherlands around 6:30 p.m. (Philippine time) today, Sept. 13, according to Connie Ledesma, a member of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace panel.

In a statement posted at the website of the Dutch Justice Ministry, the court said that there are no "sufficient indications that the accused [Sison], while living in the Netherlands, committed the offenses he is charged with, in deliberate and close cooperation with the perpetrators in the Philippines." It added, "Neither do they [charges] contain sufficient concrete indications that the accused incited others to commit these serious offenses,"

Sison was arrested on August 28 and was charged with ordering the killings of Romulo Kintanar and Arturo Tabara. The New People's Army, armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), has admitted the killings.

However, the Dutch court also said, "…there are many indications in the files which support the point of view that the accused is still playing a leading role in the Central Committee of the CPP as well as in the military branch of the CPP, the New People's Army (NPA)."

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) welcomed the development but said the persecution of Sison may not be over yet. The group will continue to hold a mass action tomorrow, Sept. 14, to celebrate Sison's release and to warn the Dutch, U.S. and Philippine governments against further violating Sison's rights.