On Valentine's Day and eve of GPH-NDFP formal peace talks: A call to release all political prisoners

On Valentine's Day and eve of GPH-NDFP formal peace talks:

A call to release all political prisoners

Manila

February 14, 2011

■ Video

Mendiola

Press Release - 13 February 2011

In support of the GPH-NDFP peace talks,
KARAPATAN CALLS FOR RELEASE OF ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS

WITH the formal peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) about to resume this week, the human rights group KARAPATAN calls on the Aquino administration for the unconditional release of all political prisoners in the country.

“This would be a gesture of goodwill on the part of the government,” KARAPATAN spokesperson Jigs Clamor said.

Militant groups and peace advocates will march to Mendiola on Monday to support the resumption of talks between the government and the NDFP.

“If President Aquino could grant amnesty to mutinous soldiers, why couldn’t he grant the release of all political prisoners who fought injustices and oppression? In the interest of fairness and justice, they should be freed immediately and unconditionally,” Clamor said.

There are 344 political prisoners in various detention facilities, 290 of whom were arrested during Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s term, 27 before Arroyo and another 27 since the start of President Aquino’s presidency.

At least 14 political prisoners are in the initial list of NDFP peace consultants covered by the Joint Agreement on Security and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) and are known to have assisted in the peace process, namely: Randy Malayao of Cagayan Valley; Emerito Antalan of Nueva Ecija; Glicerio Pernia of Albay, Jaime Soledad of Leyte; Alfredo Mapano of Misamis Oriental; Angelina Ipong of Misamis Occidental; Maria Luisa Pucray of Agusan del Norte; Edwin Brigano of Davao City; Pedro Codaste of Cagayan de Oro; Eduardo Serrano, Eduardo Sarmiento, Jovencio Balweg detained at Camp Crame; and Tirso Alcantara held in maximum security at Fort Bonifacio.

Alcantara and Brigano were arrested during an official ceasefire declared by both parties over the holidays.

At least two prisoners are also being considered to be part of the NDFP peace process: Ramon Patriarca of Central Visayas and Leopoldo Caloza of Nueva Ecija.

The government peace panel chaired by Alexander Padilla agreed “to work for the expeditious release of detained NDFP consultants and other JASIG-protected persons” during the preliminary talks held last January 14-18 in Oslo, Norway. Ambassador Ture Lundh of the Royal Norwegian Government witnessed the talks.

Formal talks will resume on February 15-21 after six years since the Arroyo administration suspended negotiations with the NDFP. ###

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PUBLIC INFORMATION DESK
publicinfo@karapatan.org

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Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights
2nd Flr. Erythrina Bldg., #1 Maaralin corner Matatag Sts., Central District
Diliman, Quezon City, PHILIPPINES 1101
Telefax: (+63 2) 4354146
Web: http://www.karapatan.org

KARAPATAN is an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, human rights desks and committees of people’s organizations, and individual advocates committed to the defense and promotion of people’s rights and civil liberties. It monitors and documents cases of human rights violations, assists and defends victims and conducts education, training and campaign. It was established in 1995.

NEWS RELEASE
February 14, 2011

For reference: Fr. Dionito Cabillas, Secretary General (09175965859)
Niňo Buenaventura, Media Liaison Officer (0915-2805101)

On the resumption of the GPH-NDFP Formal Peacetalks
SELDA CALLS FOR RELEASE OF ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS

On the eve of the resumption of the formal peacetalks of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GPH) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, the Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto, the organization for former political prisoners, today called for the unconditional release of the 344 political prisoners in 67 jails and detention centers nationwide.

Fr. Dionito Cabillas, secretary general of SELDA, said that the Philippine government should work for the immediate release of the political prisoners, as they are victims of illegal arrests, torture, detention, and were charged with trumped up and fabricated cases.

Based on SELDA and Karapatan’s records, among the 344 political prisoners, 290 were arrested during the Arroyo administration, 27 under the Benigno Aquino administration, and 27 before Arroyo’s term. Thirty one women political prisoners are still in prison, while a minor (at the time of arrest) is still in jail.

“Their cases are no different from the case of the Morong 43, all ‘fruits of the poisonous tree.’ Some have been in jail for more than five years already and all are victims of the vilification and legal offensives of the Arroyo government and the state military and police forces against legitimate organizations,” Cabillas added.

He urged the immediate release of the detained NDFP consultants and other persons protected by the Joint Agreement on Security and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) as a sign of goodwill in the continuation of the peacetalks and for humanitarian reasons.

Cabillas cited Angelina Bisuna Ipong, a peace consultant and a lay missionary in Mindanao, who was tortured, sexually abused and is on her 6th year of detention and Randy Malayao, a peace consultant from Cagayan Valley, who was abducted and tortured in 2008. Both Ipong and Malayao are among the 14 peace consultants who are still detained. Ramon Patriarca and Leopoldo Caloza are also among the NDFP consultants whose releases are being sought. Patriarca and 2 political prisoners from Bohol and Cebu will commence in their fasting from February 15 to 21, 2011, to call for the immediate release of all political prisoners (please see their press statement below).

NDFP CONSULTANT

DETAINED AT

Angelina Bisuna Ipong

Provincial Jail, Oroquieta City

Glicerio Pernia

Legaspi Provincial Jail

Eduardo Serrano

Camp Crame, Quezon City

Eduardo Sarmiento

Camp Crame, Quezon City

Jovencio Balweg

Camp Crame, Quezon City

Randy Malayao

BJMP, Ilagan, Isabela

Emeterio Antalan

Nueva Ecija Provincial Jail, Caalibangbangan, Cabanatuan City

Edgardo Friginal

Nueva Ecija Provincial Jail, Caalibangbangan, Cabanatuan City

Jaime Soledad

Leyte Provincial Jail, Palo, Leyte

Alfredo Mapano

Misamis Oriental Provincial Jail, Cagayan de Oro City

Tirso Alcantara

Fort Bonifacio

Ma. Luisa Purcray

Agusan del Norte Provincial Jail, Butuan City

Edwin Brigano

Compostela Valley Provincial Rehabilitation Center

Pedro Codaste

BJMP, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon

One Week Fasting to Press for the Release of All Political Prisoners in the Country

This coming February 15-21, 2011, we the undersigned political prisoners will hold another fasting to pursue our just call for the release of all political prisoners.

By subsisting on water and 5 biscuits a day for one week, we wish to call on President Noynoy Aquino to:

1. Order Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to immediately draft the necessary mechanisms to review all cases being faced by the 350 political prisoners still languishing in the various detention facilities all over the country. Three weeks ago, DOJ Secretary De Lima was quoted in answer to calls for the review of the cases filed againsts political prisoners as having said, “ We have thought of that but we haven’t had the time to really put mechanisms in place!” (NPA Leader not a peace talk adviser, insist Gov’t, PDI Jan 24, 2011).

2. Instruct the negotiating panel of the Government of the Philippines (GPH), now in Oslo Norway resuming its formal peace talks with the National Democratic Front (NDF) to uphold the validity of past GPH-NDF signed agreements including those made in 2001, 2004, and 2009 urging the immediate release of scores of political prisoners based on legal grounds and humanitarian considerations.

More than one month has passed since the last day of the so-called military rebels implicated in the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny, 2006 Fort Bonifacio stand-off and 2007 Manila Peninsula seige was freed from detention. Yet the plight of political prisoners remain in limbo. Why is this unfairness of double standard and discrimination being done by President Aquino upon political prisoners? Must the President refuse to right the injustice inflicted to political prisoners and their families by the past Arroyo regime? As the principal beneficiary of the broad anti- Arroyo sentiment of the people which political prisoners helped form and for which they got arrested, tortured and detained, is it not incumbent upon the Aquino presidency to effect the immediate freedom of political prisoners?

As we approach the 25th anniversary of the 1986 EDSA 1 People Power uprising, we remember Ninoy as a political prisoner who staged hunger strikes to attain his freedom and resist Marcos’ tyranny, and Cory as having immediately and unconditionally released political prisoners upon assuming the presidency, must we remember Noynoy as the son with an unjustly different legacy?

SGD. ALBERTO M. ACERDIN SGD. RAMON M. PATRIARCA
Danao City Jail (Cebu) Danao City Jail (Cebu )

SGD. FLORENCIO QUINIO
Tagbilaran District Jail (Bohol)

--
The Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA) - Philippines is an organization of former political detainees in the country. Founded in December 4, 1984, SELDA was initiated by former political prisoners during the Martial Law period. It works for the unconditional release of all political prisoners and humane treatment of those who are still in detention; for the advocacy on the conditions of political prisoners, the fundamental reasons for their arrest and detention, and their struggle for justice; mobilization of resources for political prisoners and their families; legislative actions on the indemnification and rehabilitation of political detainees; and promotion of partnerships and solidarity with organizations for the freedom and welfare of political prisoners and victims of tyranny.

NEWS RELEASE

February 14, 2011

As the GRP-NDF peace talks resume

Human rights lawyers support calls for release of all political prisoners

In the light of the impending resumption of formal peace talks between the Government o the Philippines (GPH) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) in Norway, the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL), a bar association of human rights lawyers in the Philippines, strongly supports the calls for the unconditional release of all political prisoners in the country.

Atty. Julius Garcia Matibag, NUPL National Spokesperson, stated that they are joining the calls of all peace-loving Filipinos for the unconditional release of all political prisoners. “The Aquino government should look at this as an outstanding opportunity to demonstrate good faith and goodwill in its quest for the resolution of the armed conflict in the country. It is also a basic issue of justice.”

Atty. Matibag added that the NUPL would support a principled general, unconditional and omnibus amnesty for all political prisoners. There are 344 political prisoners in the country, 290 of which were arrested during the regime of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and about 14 of them are reportedly NDFP consultants covered by the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG).

“We are likewise hoping for the success of the peace negotiations. We are looking forward to finding a genuine resolution of the roots of the armed conflict in the Philippines” added Matibag.

Peace advocates are set to march to Mendiola on Valentine’s Day to demand the release of political prisoners and show their support for the resumption of the GPH-NDFP peace talks even while political prisoners are staging a fasting too in this regard. # # #

Reference: Atty. Julius Garcia Matibag, NUPL National Spokesperson

Contact Number: 09279293089

*NEWS RELEASE*
13 February 2011
Reference: Cristina Palabay, Convenor, Tanggol Bayi-Karapatan (0917-5003879)

*Arroyo’s accountability on killings of women human rights defenders urged
to be pursued in GPH-NDFP peacetalks *

* *

“The struggle for peace based on justice continues. Arroyo should not only
made to answer for charges of corruption in the military, she should be made
accountable for the extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and many
atrocious human rights violations under her administration.”

Thus said Cristina Palabay, convenor of Tanggol Bayi-Karapatan, as the
organization of women human rights defenders urged the Government of the
Republic of the Philippines (GPH)and the National Democratic Front of the
Philippines (NDFP)to put as an agenda in the upcoming peace talks the need
to attain justice for the victims of human rights violations under the
Arroyo government. The organization issued the call, as the formal peace
negotiations between the GPH and the NDFP will resume on February 15, 2011.

Palabay also issued the call, recalling that this February 13 is the seventh
year anniversary of the extra-judicial killings of Mindoro Vice Mayor Juvy
Magsino and Leima Fortu, the acting secretary general of Karapatan-Mindoro
Oriental, who are two of the 153 women human rights defenders who were
victims of summary executions under the Arroyo regime.

Magsino and Fortu, both human rights defenders were reportedly killed in
2004 by members of the 204th Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army which
operated in the Mindoro province under the tutelage of Gen. Jovito Palparan,
the renowned military general called by activists as “the butcher.” Magsino
was also a human rights lawyer and Chairperson of Mindoro for Justice and
Peace, and a vocal critic of the increasing military deployment in the
island province. As a human rights defender and local government official, she
had made statements about the alleged suspected involvement of the IBPA
Commanding officer in extrajudicial executions in April 2003. Fortu is a
teacher by profession and also worked as a volunteer at Mindoro for Justice
and Peace.

“Because perpetrators of these killings have yet to be made accountable and
Arroyo remains scot-free, the culture of impunity continues to reign. In
fact, the killings of women human rights defenders have commenced under the
Aquino government. Benita San Jose and Demilita Largo, two Dumagat women
members of the indigenous people’s partylist Katribu, were gunned down in
July 19, 2010 in Rodriguez, Rizal. Thirty one women political prisoners and
human rights defenders, including peace consultant and lay missionary
Angelina Ipong, are still under detention,” Palabay asserted.

--
Tanggol Bai is an association of women human rights defenders in the
Philippines to advance *women’s rights as human rights. *Tanggol Bai is
formed to further develop the capability of women human rights defenders to
protect and advance women’s, human and peoples’ rights while giving special
attention to the rights of WHRDs; to provide a venue by which WHRDs can give
mutual assistance to one another especially to those who are facing
immediate threats; provide information and facilitate HR education to WHRDs
to even better sensitize them to violations of political, civil, economic,
social and cultural rights; through common effort, enable WHRDs to
effectively forward policies and legislations, fight for their rights and
generate resources for the needs of their human rights advocacy; and network
with other human rights organizations in the country and abroad.

==




NEWS RELEASE 14 February 2011 REFERENCE: Joms Salvador, GABRIELA Deputy Secretary General (09189182150) Because Valentine’s Day should also be love for human rights, GABRIELA demands release of women and all political prisoners A year ago, Jane Balleta spent Valentine’s Day inside Camp Capinpin in Rizal along with the rest of the Morong 43 who were illegally arrested under the suspicion of being communist rebels. Two months after majority of them were freed, and a day before the government resumes formal peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front (NDF), Jane joined people’s organizations in a march to Mendiola calling for the release of other political prisoners. Holding a vibrant red placard in the shape of a women’s sign, Jane, together with other women under the militant group GABRIELA, called on the Aquino government to work for peace that is based on social justice. According to the group, the Aquino government’s first step to show its sincerity of pursuing genuine peace should be to free all political detainees who remain unjustly languishing in jail. “The Aquino government should show that it respects human rights by rectifying the grave abuses done by the past regime. Like what it has done for the Morong 43 and the Magdalo, it should release all political prisoners, including the three remaining members of the Morong 43,” said Balleta, who now works full time as health worker under GABRIELA’s Services Department. “Like the Morong 43, majority of the more than 300 political prisoners were incarcerated under Arroyo’s presidency. Their strong opposition to the corrupt and fascist regime unjustly landed them in jail, slammed with trumped-up charges and treated like common criminals. If Aquino is sincere in rectifying those mistakes, and following daang matuwid (straight path), he should exhaust all means to release all political prisoners. He should not be selective in facing the issue of political repression,” said Joms Salvador, GABRIELA Deputy Secretary General. “We hope that the resumption of peace negotiations between the government of the Philippines and the NDF paves the way for the freedom of those unjustly imprisoned for defending the rights of Filipino women and other marginalized sectors,” stated Salvador. GABRIELA reiterated that among those who remain in jail are women detainees, including peace advocate Angie Ipong, now 66 years old, who was illegally arrested in March 2005 in Western Mindanao. She was charged with rebellion and murder. According to Angie’s account, she was tortured, sexually molested and humiliated by her captors. “In our country where poverty and disenfranchisement is rampant, there are sisters, daughters, wives and mothers who choose to stand up for the rights of Filipino women and other marginalized sectors. Some of us were jailed for choosing this this path. There’s no straighter daang matuwid than the path towards freeing political prisoners and truly addressing poverty,” stated Salvador. GABRIELA is also set to have simultaneous protest actions in Munoz market and other places in the metro this afternoon mainly to urge the Aquino government to address the problem of skyrocketing prices and utilities that burden women and their families.### Public Information Department GABRIELA National Office (+632) 3712302





		NEWS RELEASE 14 February 2011 REFERENCE: Gert Libang, GABRIELA Deputy Secretary General Sa Araw ng mga Puso, Kababaihan nagprotesta sa pagmahal ng presyo ng mga bilihin, pasahe yutilidad Sa araw ng mga puso, lahat ay nagmamahalan—presyo ng bilihin, singil sa tubig, kuryente at pamasahe. Kaya sa halip na magdiwang, isang kilos-protesta ang isinagawa ng kababaihan upang iparating ang kanilang hinaing laban sa patuloy na pagsirit ng presyo ng mga bilihin at yutilidad. Sa iba’t-ibang palengke at mga matatataong lugar sa Kamaynilaan, sabay-sabay na nagtayo ng protest centers ang mga kababaihan ng GABRIELA upang ipanawagan sa administrasyong Aquino ang pagkontrol sa presyo at pagbabasura ng dagdag pahirap na E-VAT. “Sawi ang puso ng kababaihan dahil sa ilalim ng bagong administrasyon, lalong lumalala ang kanilang pagtitiis. Sa gitna ng pagsirit ng presyo ng mga pangunahing bilihin katulad ng asukal, mantika at tinapay, pinahintulatan pa ng gobyerno ang dagdag singil sa kuryente at tubig,” pahayag ni Gert Libang, GABRIELA Deputy Secretary General. Isang linggo matapos tumaas ang singil sa pasahe sa jeep ay sumambulat sa mamamayan ang bagong balitang tataas ang singil sa kuryente. Noong Pebrero 7 lamang ay inanunsyo ng Meralco ang pagtaas ng kanilang generation charge kada kilowatt hour. Bukas, Pebrero 15, ay ang nakatakdang implementasyon ng dagdag-singil sa tubig. Sa darating na Marso 1, ipapatupad naman ang dagdag-singil sa MRT/LRT. Sa harap ng palengke ng Munoz Market, isa sa itinakdang lugar ng protesta, nagtipon-tipon ang mga maralitang kababaihan upang hikayatin ang iba pang mamimili na iparinig ang kanilang hinaing. Sa halip na masusuyong kanta ng pag-ibig sa araw ng mga puso, isang malakas na pangangalampag ang isinagawa ng grupo bilang protesta sa anila’y lumalalang pang-ekonomiyang kalagayan ng kababaihan at mamamayan. Ayon kay Libang, ang isinasagawag pangangalampag ng kababaihan ay tugon sa patuloy na pananahimik at kawalang-aksyong administrasyong Aquino sa usapin ng presyo at iba pang bayarin. “Ang isang lapad ng mantika na mabibili ng P14 noong nakaraang taon ay P30 na ngayon. Kung noong 2009 ang isang kilo ng asukal ay P39, umaabot na ito ngayon sa P65. Sa kalagayang walang pagtaas ng sahod ng mga manggagawa, namimilipit na sa paghihigpit ng sinturon ang mga kababaihan,” salaysay ni Libang. “Sa gitna ng nakakabahalang pagtaas ng mga presyo, tila hindi nababahala ang ating gobyerno sa kalagayan ng mamamayan. Kampante itong tatanggapin ng taumbayan ang mga pagtaas bilang natural na galaw ng merkado. Kaya palalakasin ng kababaihan ang pag-iingay upang iparating kay Aquino na gampanan ang kanuyang tungkulin at gamitin ang kapangyarihan upang kontrolin ang presyo,” dagdag ni Libang. Maliban sa pagkontrol ng presyo, ipinapanawagan ng grupo ang dagdag sahod sa mga manggagawa at pagbabasura ng mga batas katulad ng E-VAT at mga proyektog Public-Private Partnership (PPPs). Anila, ang PPPs, na masugid na isinusulong ni Aquino, ay hindi nakakatulong sa mamamayan dahil dulot nito ay mataas na bayarin gaya na lamang ng naging karanasan sa MRT/LRT at SLEX/NLEX. Maliban sa Munoz Market, may mga protesta ring isinagawa sa Gagalangin at Pritil sa Manila, Batasan-Commonwealth sa Quezon City, at Alabang. Ayon sa grupo, sa pamamagitan ng pag-iingay at pagpirma sa kanilang mga resibo ng may tatak ng mga panawagan, nagiging alerto ang mga mamimili na ipaglaban ang kanilang batayang karapatan. Dagdag ng grupo, lalo nilang paiigtingin ang kampanya habang papalapit ang Pandaigdigang Araw ng Kababaihan sa Marso 8. ### Public Information Department GABRIELA National Office (+632) 3712302







BALITA \| February 14, 2011 Sa araw ng mga puso Kabataan , nagprotesta laban sa ‘nagmamahal’ na mga bilihin Reference: Terry Ridon, 09155310725 Nagprotesta laban sa walang humpay na pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin, batayang serbisyo at pamasahe ang mga kabataan mula sa League of Filipino Students at Anakbayan sa Nepa-Q Mart, Cubao ngayong araw. “Malinaw na ang ibig sabihin ni Noynoy sa bukambibig niyang ‘sa mga minamahal kong kababayan’. Minahalan na nga ang pamasahe, ang presyo ng pagkain, batayang bilihin, at serbisyo. Mahal na mahal nga.“, ani Terry Ridon, pamabansang tagapangulo ng LFS. Ani Ridon, sinasadya ni Noynoy ang pagmamahalan ng mga bilihin. “Halatang sinasadya dahil buong giliw na dinedepensahan ng gubyerno ni Noynoy ang mga pagtaas. Kesyo dikta daw ng pandaigdigang merkado. Sa aktwal, ang pagkiling ni Noynoy sa interes ng mga dambuhalang negosyante ang dahilan ng mga pagtaas.” “Bakit nga ba walang puknat ang pagtaas ng presyo ng langis? Dahil sa Oil Deregulation Law na hinahayaan lang ang ‘Big 3’ o ang Shell, Petron at Caltex na magtaas kung kalian nila gusto. Kaya rin nagtaas ang pamasahe at ang presyo ng iba’t ibang bilihin. Bakit ba magtataas ng pasahe sa MRT at LRT? Dahil kailangan ni Noynoy ang pera ng taumbayan para ibayad sa utang ng gubyerno sa mga pribadong kumpanya katulad ng Fil-Estate.”, sabi ni Ridon. Dagdag ni Ridon, ang mga utang na ito ang lumobo dahil sa makaisang panig na kontrata na pinasok ng mga nakaraang administrasyon sa balangkas ng Private-Public Partnership o PPP. “Hindi ba sinabi ni Noynoy na ang PPP ang magiging pangunahing pamamaraan ng gubyerno para iahon ang bayan sa kahirapan? Kitang-kita kung paano nilalansi ng gubyernong Aquino ang taumbayan para sa mas malaking tubo ng mga pribadong kumpanya.” “Wala ka bang puso? Habang nagtataasan ang presyo ng bilihin, ang kalakhan sa mga Pilipino ay hindi magkandamayaw sa pagkakasya ng sahod para sa gastusin araw-araw.”, sabi ni Vencer Crisostomo, Pambansang tagapangulo ng Anakbayan. Dagdag ni Crisostomo, matinding matindi ang galit ng mga kabataan kay Noynoy dahil bukod pa sa mga pagtataas, nagbibingi-bingihan pa ito sa kaliwa’t kanang isyung kailangang tugunan. “Ang mga manggagawang kakarampot ang kita, isama mo na ang mga karaniwang sundalo sa AFP, ay mangiyak-ngiyak sa milyon-milyong pisong buwis galing sa kanilang sa VAT at income tax na winawaldas lang ng mga namumunong opisyal sa AFP at gubyerno.” “Kitang-kita kung paano lalong ilulugmok ni Noynoy ang taumbayan sa kahirapan. Sa direksyon na tinatahak ng gubyernong Aquino, hindi magtatagal ay sasabog ang galit ng mamamayan dahil sa kanyang lantarang pagpapakatuta sa mga lokal at dayuhang korporasyon.”, ani Crisostomo. Ani Ridon at Crisostomo, ang mga kabataan mula sa mga paaralan at komunidad sa buong Kamaynilaan ay naghahanda na para sa isang malawakang boycott, kungsaan libo-libong magmamartsa patungong Mendiola, sa Pebrero 28. “Sa buong daigdig ay sumasambulat na ang galit ng mamamayang ginugutom ng sistemang pinapanatili mo. Noynoy, gutom na ang mga Pilipino.”, pagtatapos ni Crisostomo.###







		PRESS RELEASE February 14, 2011 ‘Broken-hearted’ women hold V-Day protest in streets DAVAO CITY – Broken-hearted due to price hikes best describes the women on this day. This was the statement made by the urban poor groups of women in a protest rally held today in the city. Hundreds of urban poor women attended the alternative street celebration of Valentine’s Day. In a skit played by protesting women in front of the Rizal Park, they projected P-noy as cupid who targets women’s heart with sky rocketing price increases and economic policies that do not benefit the poor. According to Salma Lumandong, Spokesperson of Kababayen-ang Kabus Nagkahiusa Batuk sa Krisis (KaKaNa), “Wala ra man mi namrublema sa pagsaka sa presyo sa bulak ug mga tsokolate karong Valentine's Day, apan halos adlaw-adlaw nagbaguod mi sa grabeng pagsaka sa presyo sa mga palaliton ug sa pletehan.” KaKaNa hits the high prices brought by the recent increases in oil price. For Corazon Espinoza of Samahan ng Maralitang Kababaihang Nagkakaisa (SAMAKANA) the government can somehow immediately revert the effects of the successive increase in oil price if it removes the E-VAT on basic commodities and services. “Kung paminawon ra sa gubyerno ang among ginaduso nga wagtangon na ang E-VAT sa batakang panginahanglan sa katawhan, makahatag gyud kini og hinanali nga alibyo sa kababayen-an,” Espinoza said. Samakana, an affiliate-organization with the progressive women's organization GABRIELA, is supporting the House Bill 1383 filed by Gabriela Women's Partylist Representatives Luzviminda Ilagan and Emerenciana de Jesus. “We are urging the government officials to immediately pass House Bill 1383 which will strengthen the protection for consumers by amending the Price Act,” Espinoza said. The group also appeals in the upcoming resumption of peace talks which will take place on February 15 to 21. “Hinaot nga tubagon sa gubyerno ang mga importanteng hisgutanan sa peace talks hilabina kay kay mahitungod kini sa interes namong mga kabus,” Espinoza said. The upcoming GPH-NDF peace talks will be discussing socio-economic reforms, the 2nd in the 4th substantive agenda. “Samot nagkalisod among kinabuhi ug nagkaos-os ang among panginabuhian, giatiman sa gobyernong Aquino ang interes sa mga dagkong kapitalista,” Lumandong said.##






	Dylan - the Valentine Day birthday boy, 3 years old Happy birthday, Dylan!


Video Clips

Dr Beng Reyes of HEAD www.youtube.com Mendiola rally for the release of all political prisoners on the eve of the resumption of the formal peace negotiations between the GPH and NDFP, Feb. 14, 2011		Evan Hernandez of HUSTISYA www.youtube.com Mendiola rally for the release of all political prisoners on the eve of the resumption of the formal peace negotiations between the GPH and NDFP, Feb. 14, 2011
Fr Dionaito Cabillas of SELDA www.youtube.com Mendiola rally for the release of all political prisoners on the eve of the resumption of the formal peace negotiations between the GPH and NDFP, Feb. 14, 2011		Gabriela's Joms Salvador www.youtube.com Mendiola rally for the release of all political prisoners on the eve of the resumption of the formal peace negotiations between the GPH and NDFP, Feb. 14, 2011
Karl Ramirez sings Panata/Makibaka www.youtube.com Mendiola rally for the release of all political prisoners on the eve of the resumption of the formal peace negotiations between the GPH and NDFP, Feb. 14, 2011		BAYAN Secretary General Renato Reyes www.youtube.com Mendiola rally for the release of all political prisoners on the eve of the resumption of the formal peace negotiations between the GPH and NDFP, Feb. 14, 2011


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