Marcos-Araneta blamed for harassment of Bulacan farmers

The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP, Peasant Movement of the Philippines) and its local chapter Sandigang Samahan ng Magsasaka (organization of farmers or SASAMAG) in Tungkong Mangga, San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan denounced Nov. 13 the Marcos-Araneta clan for the alleged repeated harassment of the farmers in the area.

“It seems that after their initial deal with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo regarding Rep. Imee Marcos’ boycott of the impeachment vote, the Marcos-Araneta clan is now launching an all-out drive to harass and eventually evict the peasants in the 311-hectare land the farmers have been tilling for decades,” said KMP internal deputy secretary general Willy Marbella.

Marbella said that they have been receiving reports of soldiers operating in the area. Manuel Edano, SASAMAG secretary-general, received at least two death threats this November alone. The first was through a letter dated Nov. 2 stating, “Kung ayaw mong may masamang mangyari sa iyo tigilan mo na ang pagsuporta sa teroristang komunista. Habang maaga pa mag-isip-isip ka na kung ayaw mong matulad sa mga nauna (If you do not want anything bad to happen to you, stop supporting terrorist-communists. Think, while it is not yet too late, if you don’t want to suffer the same fate as those who preceded you).”                                                                                               

The next threat was sent Nov. 11 through a text message: “Pare paunahan na lang tayo balita ko armado kakampi mo tibayan ng dibdib pare (Let us see who gets to kill the other person first.  I heard that your supporters are armed.  Let us see who has the guts). ”

Edano said that even if they have already reported it to the barangay (village) captain, the harassment continued. On Nov. 11, more than 200 banana trees planted by the peasants were cut down by still unknown persons.

“Although these acts were done to sabotage our livelihood and cow us into submission,” Edano said “we will not stop until justice is served and we own the land we till.” Bulatlat

* * *

Bayan Muna urges in-depth investigation of Diwalwal tragedy

The Bayan Muna (People First) party-list chapter in Southern Mindanao Region (SMR) urged authorities Nov. 12 to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation regarding allegations that the Sunshine tunnel explosion that killed 32 miners was not a mere accident.  The group said the fire that gutted houses in Barangay Ngan a week before the explosion could be a related incident.

Bayan Muna-SMR Spokesperson Jeppie Ramada urged law enforcers to look into the possible involvement of groups with vested interests in Sunshine tunnel.  Ramada said that they have received reports linking the fire and the explosion to an attempt to hasten the take-over of the tunnel by a large company.

Ramada also said that the fire and the explosion are “intended to weaken small-scale mining operations in Diwalwal to pave the way for the entry of large-scale mining.” He said that “the noxious incidents in Diwalwal are implications of Arroyo’s revitalization of the mining industry at the expense of the people and national patrimony.”

Bayan Muna noted that government studies cite millions of metric tons of gold, limestone, carbon and copper in the Agtunganon Range where Diwalwal nestles, which makes the area highly viable for large-scale mining investments. Bulatlat

* * *

At least 15 OFW ‘mysterious deaths’ since 2002 remain unsolved – Migrante
 
Migrante International said Nov. 10 there have been at least 15 cases of “mysterious deaths” of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) since 2002, all of which remain unsolved.

Ivy Bautista, a 27-year-old domestic helper, was slain Sept. 27 in Santander, Spain. Her body was discovered on the third floor of her employer’s home with a kitchen knife penetrating her neck.  The report of the Spanish police concluded that she committed suicide.

Migrante identified the other OFWs whose deaths remained unresolved as Magdalena Martinez, Grace Aguilar, Juanita Lajot, Maricon Gatapia, Catherine Bautista, Louella Montenegro, Divina Beth Urbi, Veneranda Pana, Janet Paradillo, Nelsa Villarta, Racquel Pascual, Alfrand Magcanan, Isla Gwen, and Nimia Pintor and her two children.

Since OFWs leave the country for their family’s survival, “stories of suicide or even accidental deaths are dubious,” said Migrante International secretary-general Maita Santiago.  Santiago said in most cases, “the OFWs repeatedly complained about maltreatment or held fears about their safety before they died.”

She also said, “The DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) and the Arroyo government tried to bury the quest for justice even before these OFWs were buried.” Migrante accused Philippine government officials of criminal neglect when it comes to addressing cases of abuse and foul play committed against Filipino migrant workers. Bulatlat

* * *

Bayan condemns overkill in Ortigas shootout

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan or New Patriotic Alliance) officials called on the Philippine National Police (PNP)  Nov. 10 to “seriously examine the prevailing ‘culture of impunity’” that resulted in similar incidents like the recent shooting of three suspected carjackers in Ortigas last Nov. 7.

Bayan officials were ”deeply disturbed and enraged” at the video footage showing members of the PNP Traffic Management Group shooting suspects that were allegedly already hors d’combat.

“Carjackers or not, nobody deserves that kind of treatment,” said Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes, Jr. “This clearly exposes the culture of impunity within the Philippine National Police.”

Reyes also warned that common people have a lot to be worried about if indeed this was the prevailing conduct within the police and military establishments. He also said that it was not the first time that the PNP has been involved in a rubout or massacre.

“The problem may be institutional and orientational,” he added. ”The way the incidents keep getting repeated, this is not just a case of incompetence or ignorance of the rules of engagement.” According to Reyes, the PNP in the past was linked to the Kuratong Baleleng rubout case, the Hacienda Luisita massacre and the siege of the Air Transport Office tower resulting in the death of former Air Transportation Office chief Panfilo Villareal, Jr. Bulatlat

* * *

Bayan Muna Solon to probe ’dubious’ oil exploration in Tañon Strait

Bayan Muna Rep. Joel Virador filed House Resolution 1005 urging the committees on natural resources and energy of the House of Representatives to investigate the alleged dubious approval of oil exploration activities in Tañon Strait in the Visayas Region despite being declared a protected area under Republic Act 7686 or the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) law.

Citing data from the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR-R7), the Tañon Strait is among the country’s top fishing grounds producing huge quality fish stocks which include blue marlin and tuna. It is also one of the chosen conservation areas by the World Wildlife Fund, where at least 10 out of 21 known species of whales and dolphins are found including the bottlenose and long-snouted spinner dolphins, false killer whale and the short-finned pilot whale.

Aside from possible violation of the NIPAS law, incidents of human rights violations against fisherfolk in the area have also been reported involving Japan Petroleum Exploration Co. Ltd. (JAPEX) and the Canada-based Forum Exploration Inc. (FEI). The two firms have been granted a 25-year contract to extract and produce oil from Tañon Strait.

Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya or National Federation of Fisherfolk Organizations in the Philippines) also reported that small fisherfolk and other nearby residents said they are already experiencing the harmful effects of the exploration, including fish kill, destruction of fishing nets and dangerous obstructions caused by pipes and cables.

The group also reported that JAPEX and FEI allegedly banned fishing and shell picking along Tañon Strait. Without consulting the local fisherfolk, those caught fishing around the exploration area threatened with a fine with P20,000 ($367.51, based on an exchange rate of P54.42 per US dollar) to P60,000 ($1,102.54).

Fishers’ harvest has also been reported to have been reduced by 80 percent, from around 20-30 kilos to only three to five kilos a day, since the oil exploration started in May. Bulatlat  

© 2005 Bulatlat ■  Alipato Publications

Permission is granted to reprint or redistribute this article, provided its author/s and Bulatlat are properly credited and notified.