"Punish violators among the military!" – Bayan Muna Partylist

Media Release
20 March 2010

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"Punish violators among the military!" – Bayan Muna Partylist

“Human rights violations and the smear campaign against progressive candidates and partylists will never stop unless those who violated the law get punished.” This is the stern warning of Atty. Joven Laura, 3rd nominee of Bayan Muna Partylist, to the new Army Chief Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit with regards to the military’s obligation during the elections.

According to Laura, reminding the Armed Forces of the Philippines of their duty is not enough; “If Bangit is really serious in enforcing the military’s obligation in the elections, he should immediately order to investigate cases of violations by military elements,” he adds.

Meanwhile, Bayan Muna Partylist Rep. Teddy Casiño states that, “Partisan activity is not only campaigning for a candidate but also against a candidate.” Casiño cites the actual cases of harassment and intimidation by elements of the military on progressive candidates and partylists as a clear violation of the military’s obligation not to engage in partisan politics. Such cases involve the different forms of harassment and intimidation by elements of the military like what a certain Maj. Arnaldo Manjares did to inflict harm and intimidate volunteers of Makabayan in Sorsogon City, and units of soldiers in full battle gear doing house-to-house campaigns in different parts of Metro Manila, Southern Tagalog and Mindanao against Satur Ocampo, Liza Maza and progressive partylists such as Bayan Muna.

The latest incident of harassment occurred in the municipality of Lezo, Aklan, wherein two men riding a motorcycle threw two vintage apple-type hand grenades at the house of Councilor Fernando Baldomero. Baldomero is the the provincial chair for Bayan Muna Partylist in Aklan and also the provincial coordinator for the Makabayan Coalition. Of the two grenades that were thrown at the residence of Baldomero, only one exploded. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident. Baldomero was the host of Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares’ sortie during his visit in Aklan.

“We condemn the continuous harassment and threats to the lives of the supporters and volunteers of progressive groups. Gen. Bangit should ensure the safety of Bayan Muna members and its congressmen, and ensure any soldiers involved in partisan political activities are punished,” Rep. Neri Colmenares said.

According to Casiño, Colmenares and Laura, Bayan Muna will not have second thoughts in filing cases against military and police elements who participate in electoral partisan activities and human rights violations.###

Military Partisan Activities More Blatant in the South

Media Release
March 20, 2010

Military Partisan Activities More Blatant in the South

Bayan Muna partylist 3rd nominee Atty. Joven Laura is calling the attention of Army Chief Maj. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu to “look into these cases of harassment and intimidation by his men on local leaders of Bayan Muna and other progressive partylists in Mindanao.”

In South Cotabato, the military is a step more blatant in their partisan activities. The 27th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army speakers have been airing their smear campaign against the progressive groups over radio accusing the latter of being legal fronts of the CPP/NDF/NPA. In the barrios, they have been conducting meetings to tell the people not to vote for the progressive partylists such as Bayan Muna and also against Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza.

Since January, the 27th IB- PA has been conducting surveys to gather information especially from active members of Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Anakpawis, and Kabataan including supporters of Ocampo and Maza. They also gathered people in a barangay plaza to show a video documentary portraying the progressive partylists, Ocampo and Maza as members and supporters of the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New Peoples Army.

A number of local leaders in Barangays San Isidro and Sto. Niño in Koronadal City were subjected to different forms of harassment and intimidation by elements of the 27th IB-PA in February this year. The local leaders have already filed a complaint with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) against the 27th IB-PA and its Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. Joshua Santiago.

Santiago is also involved in the harassment and intimidation of local leaders of peoples organization in Koronadal Cty in 2009.

Laura adds that, “Mapagu should immediately take action about these harassment cases and put a stop to all the violations against members and supporters of Bayan Muna and other progressive partylists and organizations.”

“If something happens to any of our members and supporters, there will be no one else to blame,” Laura warns Mapagu. ###


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Militar, mas Garapal ang kampanya Laban sa Bayan Muna sa Mindanao

Nananawagn si Bayan Muna 3rd nominee Atty. Joven Laura kay Army Chief Maj. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu upang “imbestigahan ang mga kaso ng panliligalig at pananakot ng kanyang mga tauhan sa mga lider ng Bayan Muna at iba pang progresibong partylist sa Mindanao.”

Sa South Cotabato, mas garapal ang ginagawang partisan activities ng militar. Ang mga tagapagsalita ng 27th Infantry Battalion ng Philippine Army ay nagsasalita na sa radyo laban sa mga progresibong grupo at inaakusahan ang mga progresibo na mga “front” lang daw ng CPP/NDF/NPA. Sa mga baryo, naglulunsad sila ng mga pulong-pulong upang sabihin sa mga tao na huwag iboto ang mga progresibong partylist tulad ng Bayan Muna at gayundin sina Satur Ocampo at Lia Maza.

Magmula pa Enero ngayong taon, nagsasagawa na ang 27th IB-PA ng sarbey upang mangalap ng impormasyon lalo na mula sa mga aktibong miyembro ng Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Anakpawis at Kabataan, kasama na rin ang mga tagasuporta nina Satur Ocmpo at Liza Maza. Iniipon din nila ang mga taumbaryo sa plasa upang magpalabas ng bidyo kung saan inilalarawan ang mga progresibong partylist at sina Ocampo at Maza bilang mga kasapi at tagasuporta ng Communist Party of the Philippines at New Peoples Army.

Ilang mga lokal na lider sa mga barangay ng San Isidro at Sto. Niño sa Koronadal City ay sumailalim sa iba’t ibang porma ng panghaharas at pananakot ng mga elemento ng 27th IB PA noong Pebrero ngayong taon. Nagsampa na ng reklamo ang mga nasabing lider sa Commission on Elections (COMELEC) laban sa 27th IB-PA at sa Commander nitong si Lt. Col. Joshua Santiago.

Sangkot na rin si Santiago at ang kanyang yunit sa harassment at pananakot sa mga lokal na lider ng peoples organization sa Koronadal City noong 2009.

Sinabi ni Laura na, “Dapat agad gumawa ng aksyon si Mapagu tungkol sa mga kaso ng harassment na ito at ihinto ang lahat ng paglabag sa karapatan ng mga kasapi at tagasuporta ng Bayan Muna at ng iba pang progresibong partyli st at organisasyon.”

“Kung may mangyaring masama sa alinman sa aming mga kasapi at tagasuporta, wala nang iba pang mapagbibintangan,” ang babala ni Laura kay Mapagu. ###

Bayan Muna - PUP Chapter's Solidarity Message

BAYAN MUNA PARTYLIST (PUP Chapter) is one with the students of PUP and our friends in the fight to stop tuition fee increase. The students' walk-out today and continuing protests against the PUP administration's proposals to implement a more than 1,500% tuition hike from P12 to almost P300 per unit only show the students' resolve to stop any fee hike for the sake of future students of the university.

We are vehemently opposed to the administration's proposals to increase tuition in PUP precisely because any fee increase will make education a costlier commodity, and thus will deprive more youth of the chance to get quality education in the tertiary level. At present, education has become a privilege only for those who can afford it.

Majority of Filipino youth can no longer afford a college education. The PUP remains as one of the very few universities left in the country that offer relatively affordable tuition per unit, after the University of the Philippines System earlier increased tuition, its other fees and rebracketted its STFAP.

The administration's proposals to increase tuition in PUP, beginning with incoming freshmen, are clearly shameless, insensitive, unjustifiable and unacceptable, however which way we look at the issue. If they have no other proposal favorable to students, it would be for the best that they resign their posts so that new administrators may be able to take charge and offer alternative remedies.

We strongly stand and believe that education is a right and can be made accessible to all, regardless of socio-economic status. Quality education need not be costly for students, especially in state colleges and universities, if only the national government allocates sufficient budget for education.

BAYAN MUNA PARTYLIST has consistently fought for the youth and students' rights and welfare. To stop tuition hikes, our representatives in Congress filed resolutions and bills that respond to the youth and students' needs, such as House Bill 2440: An Act Imposing A Three Year Moratorium On Tuition And Other Fee Increases On All Educational Institutions.

We have called on the president, fellow legislators, and proper government agencies such as the CHEd and DepEd, to do what it takes to prevent tuition hikes and to make quality education accessible to more youth. And we have eventually reached a certain degree of success. Our House Bills have been deliberated in Congress yet some representatives kept stalling the bills' approval until the 14th Congress adjourned. Therefore we will continue the legislative actions for the youth when the next Congress opens after the polls, now with Representatives Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza to represent us in the Senate in the future.

Representative Teddy Casino said before in the Plenary, "... It is not enough to have a moratorium on fee increases in our SUCs. As important will be a substantial increase in their budgets. I expect that in the next budget hearings, the Executive will present a budget that increases the SUCs share by 30-50% of their existing budgets."

He also challenged Congress to "immediately act on pending measures that seek to regulate tertiary education and ensure its affordability in order to guarantee the youth's right to an accessible, if not free and quality education. The President should also certify these as urgent..."

We have every reason to continue the fight for our right to education here in PUP, in the streets and in the halls of Congress and the Senate.

FOR THE STUDENTS WE REMAIN,
Bayan Muna Partylist (PUP Chapter)

YOUTH RISE UP!
PUP Community Unite!
Stop Tuition and Other Fee Increases (TOFI)!
Moratorium on all TOFI Now!