The day started with a forum at the Conference Hall of the St. Peter's Church at the Commowealth. Discussed were the current issues such as the bribery scandal and the NBN contract. Speakers, L-R: Fr. Joe Dizon of Plunder Watch, Dr. Carol Araullo of BAYAN and Fr. Rex Reyes of Ecumenical Voice of Peace and Human Rights in the Philippines.

Press Statement
Nov. 7, 2007

Manila's lies and cover up on US military aid,

 human rights record

BAYAN USA strongly condemns the Arroyo government's latest
lies and act of cover-up on US military aid.

The Arroyo government is lying to the public by claiming that it will get $30 million in US military aid, up from $11-million this year. Malacanang is obviously doing a media blitz based on a US Senate proposal approved two months ago -- a proposal which is not yet even final.

In fact, the US House version only allots $23-million in  military aid for the entire East Asia and Pacific region.

With both Congressional bodies yet to reconcile their differing versions of the budget bills, it thus remains uncertain whether the Arroyo government will get the $30-million that Philippine officials have bandied about.

BAYAN USA has been linked to broad overseas opposition
efforts to lobby US legislators in order to prevent US public funds from going to death squads in the Philippines or misused as endorsement of a government accused of abetting extrajudicial executions.

We likewise deplore the Arroyo government's attempts to
airbrushing its record as a human rights violator.  Malacanang is desperately trying to conceal the adoption by the US Senate of "restrictive language" or preconditions to the $2-million in additional military aid to the Philippines.

The "restrictive language" means that the Arroyo  government's human rights record is now under closer scrutiny by the US Senate, an outcome of strong legislative advocacy coupled with a stronger mass movement outside of Congressional halls.

We urge US Congress to implement stricter monitoring on the
compliance by the Arroyo government on the three preconditions adopted by the Senate, which now includes "a policy of promoting military personnel who demonstrate professionalism and respect for human rights, and investigating and prosecuting military personnel and others who have been credibly alleged to have committed extrajudicial executions or other violations of human rights."

Without the outlining of a strict and tight mechanism for monitoring, the Philippine government will make many more
attempts to twist the facts and spin new media stories to
its favor. After all, even the US government has a long
history of funding overseas dictatorships. The Philippines
remains a strategic location for the Bush administration's
plan to expand the War on Terror into Asia.

Perhaps the ongoing media blitz seeks to cover up the  failure of Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita's feeble attempt to dampen the impact of UN Special Rapporteur Philip Alston's damning report and to conceal the undeniable fact that no one has ever been convicted for the nearly 900 extrajudicial executions under Arroyo's watch.
###

Reference: Berna Ellorin, Secretary-General, BAYAN USA,
email: secgen@bayanusa.org
 

News Release
November 5, 2007
 

Arroyo-de Venecia reconciliation: Palace pushing panic button vs impeachment

Cause-oriented groups pushing for the impeachment of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo today held a protest action in front of the Batasang Pambansa as Congress resumes its session.

Several impeachment complaints or amendments to the existing Pulido complaint are set to be filed this week by various anti-Arroyo groups. Another complaint will be filed by militant groups which will include human rights abuses as one of the principal issues.

Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr. said that Malacañang has pressed the panic button with regards to the impeachment complaint which is why it hurriedly patched up differences with House Speaker Jose de Venecia.

"The move of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to mend fences with House Speaker Jose de Venecia is of course another desperation move in the face of another impeachment complaint. Malacañang is obviously terrified with the prospect that de Venecia may provide the critical votes for the impeachment complaint to be transmitted to the Senate," Reyes said.

"Regardless of the developments with Malacañang and the House Speaker, various groups are still determined to hold Mrs. Arroyo accountable for her misdeeds. We are still determined to file a stronger impeachment complaint despite the overwhelming numbers commanded by the administration," Reyes said.

Reyes said that de Venecia should think twice if he thinks the reconciliation with Mrs. Arroyo would be long term.

"It may be just a temporary truce while there is a pending impeachment complaint. It may be a different story after the majority has voted down the complaint. De Venecia may not be as secure in his position as Speaker," Reyes said.

"We challenge Speaker de Venecia, if he is really for a moral revolution, not to stand in the way of the impeachment complaints. He should not stand in the way of efforts to make the corrupt accountable. Furthermore, we challenge him to investigate the solons who reportedly received bribes and cash gifts from the Palace," Reyes said.
 

Gabriela Rep. Luz Ilagan

A week later, she was wounded in the Batasan bombing

Articles/Columns

■   Multiple Cover-ups by Carol Araullo

■   Aftermath of the NBN fiasco by Carol Araullo

■   Bulatlat: 2007 People’s Impeach Rap Rejected, Militants Gear for Battle on Different Fronts – the SC and the Parliament of the Streets 

Hong Kong OFWs launch Gloria step down petition
11/12/2007 | 03:32 PM

A petition calling on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to resign kicked off this Sunday in Hong Kong, drawing more than 4,000 signatures, mostly overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), on the first day.

To launch the campaign, member organizations of the Gloria Step Down Movement Hong Kong (GSM – HK) stationed themselves in various areas in Central where many OFWs congregate on Sundays.

There are almost 200,000 Filipinos in Hong Kong, mostly domestic helpers.

Dolores Balladares – Pelaez, spokesperson for GSM –HK and chairperson of the alliance United Filipinos in Hong Kong, says that this overwhelming response is evidence of the Filipino migrants’ dissatisfaction and disgust over Arroyo’s rule.

Balladares also went on to shine light on the growing number of cases wherein the Arroyo government has criminally abandoned hundreds of Filipino migrant workers in jail as well as workers abused by their employers or those who have died in their host countries.

Although the government does not provide services for OFWs who are not paying members of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Balladares pointed out cases where the government has neglected even those who had paid.

While historically, OFWs are automatically members of OWWA when they leave the Philippines to work abroad, Arroyo’s administration requires them to renew their membership upon a payment of HK$ 200 per contract.

“They continue to milk us with exorbitant fees yet forsake when we are in need," said Balladares when she pointed out the case of Jocelyn Dulnuan, an OFW slain in Canada but was initially denied aid by the Philippine consulate there.

The GSM – HK also hit the Philippine Consulate General for following Arroyo’s policy of state exaction of OFWs but denying any services to them.

OFWs in Hong Kong are more angered by Arroyo’s false statement that the peso is gaining strength.

“How can she blatantly lie to us when our families cannot even afford rice and other basic needs back home? Prices continue to skyrocket while our remittances continue to plummet." said Balladares. “Christmas will remain bleak" she added “as long as Arroyo remains in power." –

Lea Deocadiz, GMANews.TV

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