Two-wheeled Vehicle: Driving Aquino Regime’s impunity faster in his remaining Two Years

Two-wheeled Vehicle: Driving Aquino Regime’s impunity faster in his remaining Two Years

Reference: Vince Casilihan, Spokesperson of Karapatan-Bikol

August 28,2014

“Two years left for BS Aquino’s term and yet his ruthless legacy of impunity is as faster as the two-wheeled vehicle to kill progressive leaders under his administration,” Karapatan-Bikol condemns to the strongest possible the extrajudicial killings of the Bicol Coconut Planters Assiociation, Inc. (BCPAI)-Masbate chair and Bayan Muna-Baao coordinator in two provinces in Bicol region this week.

“The ruthless legacy of the butcher Palparan had been driving the whole military unit of the present administration with more guns of human rights violations,” Vince Casilihan of Karapatan-Bikol said. “Their bullets already silenced 52 victims”.

Last August 25 at 12 midnight, BCPAI-Masbate chair Vicente Hugo gunned down along the road of Brgy. Del Rosario, Uson in Masbate. Hugo is also a Brgy. Captain in Arado, Uson who defends the land of the masses against former Congressman Antonio Kho.

“He is supposed to attend the National Consultation on August 27-28 in Guinubatan to report and help solve issues surrounding small coconut farmers like the move to privatize coco levy-acquired assets,” Casilihan said.

The following day, August 26 at 11:30 noon, Bayan Muna-Baao coordinator Librado Adoptante was shot three times in Baao, Camarines Sur by by two unidentified hooded gunmen in motorcycle. Since 2006 til December 2013, the 42th IBPA and CAFGU survey him for counter insrgency program.

“Indeed feeding the ruthless AFP with guns only satisfy their cravings for fresh and progressive blood,” Casilihan stated. “Instead of rendering basic social services, the brutality of Aquino regime’s counter-insurgency program drives the civilians into greater terror and hopeless security”.

Free the True Hero of the Masses, Free KMU-Albay worker Certeza

Free the True Hero of the Masses, Free KMU-Albay worker Certeza

For reference: Vince Casilihan

Spokeperson, Karapatan-Bikol

August 25, 2014

Karapatan-Bikol condemns to the strongest terms the arrest of Hernan Certeza, spokeperson of Kilusang Mayo Uno-Albay (KMU) who joined to fight for the people against Pork Barrel during the national holiday in commemoration of National Heroes Day.

Activist Certeza is currently detained at Police Station in Sto. Domingo. He was arrested in their house about 7:00 pm after the protest rally against Pork Barrel in Albay. 

This only shows how the current administration curtails the freedom of expression and assembly of those who are critical of its policies and programs. The arrest and detention of Certeza is a clear manifestation that there is no genuine freedom in the country and, heroes who fight for it must be silenced and detained.

The arrest of KMU worker Certeza was allegedly for grave coercion during the fight for genuine power service last February 24. There is no crime committed when Certeza and other members were merely asserting their grievance against ALECO privatization which happens under EPIRA law. Certeza took active participation in the campaign against privatization of power industry and manipulation by the Board and NEA through anomalous and questioned Concession Agreement. It must be noted that members and consumers are owners and stakeholders of ALECO and can exercise their rights as such, and thus should not be prosecuted for the same.

What Certeza did is to fight for the people against a fascist and punitive administration that promotes privatization. “We demand that he must be freed now,” Casilihan urged.

National Heroes Day is for true heroes of our country, from past to present. Certeza is one of the true heroes of our country. Let’s end this kind of brutality under the Aquino administration.

A Call for Bicolanos High time to take Initiative: Stand Up and Sign Up!

A Call for Bicolanos

High time to take Initiative: Stand Up and Sign Up!

For Reference: Vince Casilihan, Karapatan-Bikol

                        Ptr. Dan Balucio, BAYAN-Bicol

                        August 25, 2014

Bicol region landed as top performing regional economy in 2013 according to Philippine Statistics Authority. However, “does this rating enough to justify Bicolanos’ current economic status and clears the name of the local officials in their political obligation without any taint of corruption?” BAYAN-Bikol urges people in the region to take initiative. “ If not, if their rights are still violated and being corrupted, it is high time to Stand Up and Sign Up against corruption and Pork Barrel System”.

The economic growth should be felt by majority of its subordinates,” Vince Casilihan of Karapatan Bikol said. “The black and white report is useless because most Bicolanos are still victims of poverty and corruption”.

Together with young and professionals from religious community, Legal community, Academic community, Small Business community and other sectors across the Philippines, progressive organizations in Bicol region  assert their call to all Bicolanos through the initiated a protest and signature campaign against Pork. “Be part of the historic movement against Pork Barrel System! We must join force to pass a law and let the perpetrators be accountable,” they agreed.

People’s demand for accountability and transparency, which were promised by the President, are never been happened under his term. Philippines is still the most corrupt country. According to United Nations Development Program, roughly 13 percent of the country’s annual budget is lost to corruption each year.

Aquino administration fails to prosecute and punish corrupt officials, especially its president. Just like their boss, Local corruption also remains rampant. One rampant sample of corruption is the implementation of President BS Aquino’s unconstitutional Disbursement Acceleration Program or DAP. It is a form of presidential pork barrel declared as savings.

More than Php 144 billion projects funded by DAP that are questionable priority projects. It only served as well of corruption according to Dan Balucio of BAYAN-Bicol. “The economic growth of Bicol only refers for pro-imperialism and self-interest political patronage”.

Aside from rampant human rights violations in the region, there are also overfishing, widespread corruption and uncooperative local executives. There had been instances where commercial fishing vessels were sighted operating within the 15-kilometer economic zone reserved for municipal fishers along the Ticao-Burias Pass of Masbate City.

There are also road scam in Bicol funded by PDAF and DAP. “Even the Supreme Court already declared PDAF and DAP unconstitutional, the informal practice of pork barrel system still remains through “Congressional Insertions” and allocating funds for the government agencies to be their connivance in the system,” Balucio said.

We need a law that will directly criminalize those who enact lump sum discretionary funds and are involve in any way with creating and dispensing pork barrel,” Casilihan stated. “To require transparency, accountability proper budgeting and auditing proceduresm, we need a law”.

With that, it is high time to gather the power of the people to propose and enact such pro-people Act, an anti-imperialist but national democratic.

People’s Initiative on August 25 is a nationwide drive to collect 6 million signatures to stop President Benigno Aquino III’s discretionary powers over all lump sum funds. Under the people’s initiative law, signatures of at least 10 percent of the total voting population, of which every congressional district must be represented by at least 3 percent of its voters, are need for an initiative to succeed. Bicol region consists of 16 congressional districts.

Let’s Abolish all forms of Pork Barrel! Join the wider and stronger protest against US-Aquino regime. Bicolanos must support and join us to campaign People’s Initiative Against Pork Barrel System.  

Be A Hero of the new Generation and be part of the broad alliance of agents of change!###

Ceremonial Turnover: Masking new “Palparan” under Aquino regime

Ceremonial Turnover: Masking new “Palparan” under Aquino regime

August 18, 2014

Reference: Vince Casilihan

Spokesperson Karapatan-Bikol

During the ceremonial turnover of rifles at Camp Aguinaldo, the incumbent Lord of Butchers blessed his dark army with more power. Indeed, it is now undeniable: the different face of Aquino regime, and its difference from the face of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s Army under counter insurgency program.

Retired Major General Palparan’s ruthless legacy is strengthened, armed with high-quality battle equipment and prioritized by BS Aquino III. It is like “take these, we will train armies stronger than Palparan,” Vince Casilihan of Karapatan Bikol said.

Under Aquino’s four years in power, Karapatan-Bicol documented 373 incidents, 1,424 cases of human rights violations in Bicol region. These violations have attacked 16, 240 individuals, 50 of whom are victims of extrajudicial killings.

Under his watch also since he assumed the highest post in the land last June 30, 2010, there are four massacres recorded in the region.

According to Karapatan-Bicol there were 17 persons killed in four massacres, two in the seventeen fatalities were minors. The massacres were committed in Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur and in Masbate.

The Mobo Massacre happened on September 7, 2010 in Sitio Irong-Irong between the boundary of Mapuyo and Mabuhay, Mobo, Masbate. The suspects were the elements of 9th Infantry Division, Philippine Army based in Armeña, Uson, Masbate.The victims were  Vicente Flores, 41 years old, Richard Oliva, 44 years old, Jonathan Monacillo, 21, years old and Melecio Monacillo.

Villadima Massacre happened last February 4, 2011 in Villadima, Libmanan, Camarines Sur . The victims were  Pedrito Bico, 54,Christian Bico, 28, Arman Queto 34 years old, Cipriano Gamier, 35 years old, Fernando Lopez, Tiolo Corral.

Mancera Massacre happened last February 25, 2013 in Sitio Mapatong, Malaya, Labo, Camarines Norte. The victims were identified as Benjamin Mancera, 54 years old, Michael 10 years old and Richard Mancera, 7 years old.

The victims in the Gata Massacre are Julio Rivera Lubiano, 31 years old, Rene Rivera Lubiano, 28 years old, Salem Elpa Virtus, 24 years old and Jessie Altamera Brondia, 35 years old. 

The massacre of four local gold panners in the Sitio of Pawikan, Barangay Gata, Lahuy Island, Caramoan, Camarines Sur last March 22, are additional figures of crime in the region committed by the state against civilians under Aquino.

The Filipinos need basic social services, not guns. “They only use that to kill them ,” Vince Casilihan stated. “The mercenary reactionary and fascist orientation of the AFP under Aquino should be the one be killed”.

The fundamental buttress in perpetuating power is intensified under Aquino according to Vince Casilihan. The new face of Gloria’s Oplan Bantay Laya under Aquino’s counter insurgency program tagged Oplan Bayanihan bloats human rights violations not only in Bicol region.

The brutal counter-insurgency campaign in the region must put to end with stronger protest. We will be more vigilant for the new “Palparan” face targeting the welfare of the people. 

Casting Spells, the ‘Ilusyunado’ finally affirms his ambitious nightmare

Casting Spells, the ‘Ilusyunado’ finally affirms his ambitious nightmare

August 14,2014

Vince Casilihan

Karapatan-Bikol Spokesperson

The ‘Ilusyunado’ finally affirms his ambitious nightmare of requesting the people to grant his unjustified term extension reiterating he did well in his first term. For possible term extension, BS Aquino’s rhetoric speech casts spells to the people and now to the judiciary opening the idea of amending the Constitution describing it as ‘limitless’ powers of the Supreme Court.

Karapatan-Bikol protests on Aquino’s plans for term extension, change the constitution and for castrating the Congress and the Supreme Court. “Mainly because of his anti-people policies, there is no clamor for him to stay beyond 2016,” Vince Casilihan said.

With declining rating since 2010, “He is delusional if he thinks otherwise, too arrogant,” Casilihan stated that the president exhausted mass media publicity and paid surveys in order to manipulate public opinion, cover up its own crimes and beautify its image.

Expressing his concern in pursuing Charter Change could result in some of the “anti-people, pro-imperialist provisions. “He wants all the powers for himself, sitting as the chief executive leaving at least, the Supreme Court as his collegial body” Casilihan said.

“Corruption is innate in a country ruled by big landlords and businessmen, along with their lackeys, who exploit power and public money to gratify their greed,” Casilihan added. “What we have at the moment is a rival camp commanding the key to the country’s coffers”.

“He said listening to his ‘bosses’ really meant asking the landlords how the ‘imperialist reforms’ he had started would remain beyond his six-year term,” Casilihan said. “What he calls judicial reach means evading the check and balances of true pro-people government”.

“The expiration of his contract as president is now overdue, no more extension,” Casilihan urgess the people to join them in opposing an emerging dictatorship. “Join us in protest of Aquino's continuing defense of the DAP, congressional pork and the entire rotten pork barrel system”.###

 

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Butcher Palparan under NBI custody, Human Rights Justice still questionable

Butcher Palparan under NBI custody, Human Rights Justice still questionable

Reference: Vince Casilihan

Spokesperson:Karapatan Bikol

Finally retired Army Major General Jovito Palparan who was the country’s most dark force threatening the innocent lives since 2006 was arrested. He was captured under the Police Task Force Tugis early 3 am, Tuesday in Sta. Mesa, Manila. However the dark force still breathe, can still scape in the bars of Justice with Task Force Tugis’s hidden desire to gain minimal sufferings of their army.

 

Karapatan-Bikol still urges to let the “Butcher” suffer to the highest content of punishment equal to his violated human rights. He murdered and abducted several human rights defenders and activists such as Sherlyn Empeno and Karen Cadapan, Jonas Burgos and other human rights violations in the country.

When ordered to be arrested with the 2006 abduction of two UP students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño, Butcher Palparan started to hide in 2011. The failure of Aquino Administration to capture him greatly affirms us Filipinos that Justice is still questionable under his administration and implements anti-people state.

Aquino’s offer of P2 million reward for his arrest is not enough to solve the rampant human rights violations under Palparan’s command and in Aquino administration. Still the state protects him despite his violation. According to an Army official, evidence gathered were not sufficient for his prosecution which is a joke.

The surface of Palparan is only an indication to improve his decreasing social rating and to implant to the minds of the people that his term extension is justifiable.

It is already overdue, Palparan must sentenced and they should follow the rule of law religiously. We call for the genuine justice for the victims under the Butcher Palparan and in Aquino administration.

Justice to all victims of Extrajudicial Killings!

Justice to all victimes of enforced disappearances!