BY BULATLAT
Posted 7:04 p.m., July 17, 2008

A group opposed to the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) has said the Supreme Court decision upholding the secrecy of the negotiations on the said deal will set a dangerous precedent on future economic pacts that the Philippines will enter into.

In a statement, the No Deal! JPEPA said that the Supreme Court, with its decision on the trade deal, legitimizing the marginalization of ordinary Filipinos from having access to pertinent information on economic treaties such as the JPEPA that will have a deep impact on their interest and livelihood.

"This will embolden the executive branch to enter into more trade and investment agreements and make commitments without due regard to their harsh effects on various sectors, especially the poor and marginalized," No Deal! JPEPA said. "Trends indicate that bilateral trade and investment agreements are on the rise in recent years, with the Philippines having pending negotiations with the European Union, the U.S., China and others aside from its economic deal with Japan."

The coalition also hit executive secretary Eduardo Ermita's statement that international agreements "should be handled with care" and with "confidentiality."

"These diplomatic concerns should be secondary only with the paramount concerns of the people about their interest and livelihood and of the country's national patrimony and sovereignty," the group said. "Public access to information on economic treaties under negotiations is indispensable to protect the public and national interests."

No Deal! JPEPA said the High Court's decision undermined the fundamental right of the people to know the "compromises" that the executive department is making on their behalf. Many of the questionable and controversial provisions of the JPEPA stemmed precisely from the lack of transparency and prior consultation with the concerned sectors, the group noted.

No Deal! JPEPA has been lobbying with the Senate for the rejection of the JPEPA, saying that it will have negative effects on the country's long-term economic development and sovereignty, livelihood of Filipino workers, fishermen and farmers; that it violates the Constitution, and that it will have disastrous environmental impacts. The coalition added that the supposed benefits of the JPEPA such as increased access of Filipino nurses and health workers as well as commodity exports to the Japanese market are "over-hyped claims" to justify what it describes as an "indefensible treaty."

No Deal! JPEPA's conveners are former Vice President Teofisto Guingona, Fr. Rudy Abao, MSC; the late Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) Rep. Crispin Beltran, Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano, Nitz Gonzaga of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU or May 1st Movement), Fernando Hicap of Pamalakaya, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan or New Patriotic Alliance) chairperson Dr. Carol Pagaduan-Araullo, Jossel Ebesate of the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW), Connie Bragas-Regalado, chairperson of Migrante International; Clemente Bautista Jr., national coordinator of the Kalikasan-People's Network for the Environment (Kalikasan-PNE), Rechielda Extremadura of Lila Filipina, Arman Albarillo of Bayan-Southern Tagalog, Roy Velez of Bayan-National Capital Region; Ed Cubelo, Toyota workers union president; Sonny Africa of IBON Foundation; and Prof. Roland Simbulan of the University of the Philippines (UP) in Manila. Its spokesperson is Arnold Padilla. Bulatlat