On US Drone, Tubbataha Reef Violations, and Protesting the VFA

ABS-CBN's TV Patrol Bicol interviews Karapatan-Bikol on its standpoint regarding recent incursions of US military on Philippine Territory, and the call for VFA's abrogation.

on crashed US Target Drone

on grounded USS Guardian

The January 25 protest action against VFA

Spreading Dissent

Members of Karapatan, Kabataan Partylist and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas on January 25 held a propaganda action in front of Legazpi City's Pinaglabanan monument to protest the US' and PNoy regime's continuing violation of Philippine sovereignty as demonstrated by the recent smashing of USS Guardian on World Heritage Site Tubbataha Reef. Scrapping the Visiting Forces Agreement and the Mutual Defense Treaty was the group's ultimate call.

To End VFA is to Uphold Sovereignty

News Release

January 25, 2013

Reference: Vince Casilihan

Karapatan-Bikol

"Not a day more!"

Vince Casilihan of Karapatan-Albay has this to press for as regards the recent damaging by USS Guardian of World Heritage Site Tubbataha Reef on January 17. "And we do not only mean that the destructive warship has to be removed from the protected area and its commanders punished in no time. Patriotic and environmentally-concerned Bikolanos demand that no less than the Visiting Forces Agreement has to go," Casilihan clarifies.

As Karapatan leads a protest action in front of the Pinaglabanan Monument in Legazpi City today at 9am, Casilihan expresses the organization’s anxieties. He bewails that each single moment that the government pays no heed to various sectors’ clamor to repeal the VFA, the danger of US military equipment and machinery smashing into Philippine territory heightens at a recurrent basis.  Casilihan said, “Within just under two weeks, Philippine sovereignty has been trampled by the US military, what with the US Navy drone recovered in Masbate in January 6, and just recently the trespassing of the USS Guardian in Philippine waters. Who knows what other US military vessel or aircraft will come crashing in the next days?”

Continuing US defilement of Philippine sovereignty spews out of Masbate waters

News Release

Reference: Vince Casilihan

Karapatan-Bikol

January 8, 2013

The recovery of a crashed US drone on the waters of Brgy. Bagahanglad, San Jacinto, Masbate on January 6 affirms the US imperialists' continuing outright violation of the country's sovereignty.  Vince Casilihan of Karapatan-Bikol deplores the presence of a US drone on Philippine territory as "an incursion of the US to spy on the rich natural resources of the country in its rampage of imperialist plunder."  According to Casilihan, the said drone have most certainly surveyed, at the very least, the lands and seas of Bicol to provide the US valuable data on rich mineral deposits and other natural assets of the region for prospective pillage.

Likewise, Karapatan maintains that the incident amplifies the government's blatant disregard of the Constitution. "For one," Casilihan adds, "drones such as the one found in Masbate are US military weaponry and are launched from the US Navy's advanced nuclear-powered warships. The government clearly violates the Philippine Constitution on provisions in relation to nuclear weapons, and as regards foreign military troops and facilities."

People’s leader survives murder attempt by suspected soldiers

Terror strikes most callously in its victims’ joyous moments.

A wedding anniversary is not at all one occasion for death squads to be considerate. On the night of December 5 in San Pablo, Del Gallego, Camarines Sur, as Barangay Captain Angel Mendoza and his wife Helen prepare their repose from a day’s celebration of their 25^th wedding anniversary, a motorcycle stopped outside the Mendozas’ house and a man’s voice called out Kapitan Angel’s name. Thinking that the man was a belated well-wisher, the barangay captain went out to check his visitor. He was instead met by gunshots.

Badly wounded were Kapitan Angel and his wife Helen. The couple’s niece Shirly Magpantay and husband Norman, who happened to be visiting for the occasion, were also hit. According to a report prepared by the Camarines Sur Ecumenical Movement for Justice and Peace, the bullet that hit Angel on his right arm pierced through his armpit, while Helen suffered a bullet each on her leg and arm, crushing her elbow. The victims were rushed to the Bicol Medical Center in Naga City for treatment.

The Protests in the News

                                       
                           
                                       Baretang Bicol - GMA

                                       

                                       TV Patrol Bicol - ABS-CBN

Albayanos Commemorate International Human Rights Day

Today's streets welcomed the march of Albayanos as they face up to the government's assault on the people's rights.

No less than 1,500 Albayanos from all over the province massed up at Daraga Park at around 9am today where the 7-km march to Legazpi City's Pinaglabanan Monument commenced, sending out along the way the people's indignation at the cruelty and terror of Oplan Bayanihan.

(Elsewhere in the region, Bicolano masses likewise took to the streets to condemn PNoy's anti-people counter-insurgency program. Around 400 militants held a protest rally at Daet, Camarines Norte; Masbate drew a 6000-thick mobilization; while both Camarines Sur and Sorsogon each recorded 1500 march participants.)

Rights worker cries harassment

Repost from Philippine Daily Inquirer

By Oliver Samson
Inquirer Southern Luzon

6:21 am | Sunday, December 9th, 2012

SORSOGON CITY—A leader of the human rights group Karapatan in Sorsogon on Friday called on the military in the province to stop its “continuous psychological harassment” against him and instead charge him in court if he has committed any crime.

Teodorico Escanilla, Karapatan spokesperson in Sorsogon, said one case of harassment involved soldiers aboard a military truck stopping in front of his house in Barcelona town and asking his neighbors if he lived there, showing his picture to the people.

Escanilla, who also has a radio program that tackles human rights issues and concerns of the poor, said the soldiers knew him and where his house was but brandished his picture to neighbors as if he was a wanted man.

He said he knew he has been branded by the military as a member of the New People’s Army but he insisted he “never took up arms.”

“They can file a complaint regarding my activities as a human rights worker, if there is any, before a court,” Escanilla said.

He pointed to the 31st Infantry Battalion (IB) as responsible for the harassment.

Lt. Col. Teody Toribio, head of the 31st IB, denied the accusation, however. But Toribio admitted he had heard about reports linking Escanilla to rebel activities.

Toribio said he was willing to discuss human rights issues with Escanilla.

EJK victim’s son escapes attempt on his life

Brazenness has typified extra-judicial killings in desperation of muzzling their victims. Relly Bermas of Barangay Malaya, Labo, Camarines Norte has once again confronted this maddening truth as he has narrowly broken away from his killers.

Exactly four months ago, Relly’s mother Merlyn was shot dead in broad daylight by suspected elements of the 49^th Infantry Battalion based in Camarines Norte. Merlyn was then Barangay Captain of Malaya, Labo, a staunch human rights advocate and was a vital witness in the case against 49^th IB’s massacre of the Mancera family.

PASISTANG REHIMENG US-AQUINO, ITAKWIL AT LABANAN!

Press Statement
December 08, 2012

Reference: John Concepcion
Karapatan-Bikol Spokesperson
Cellphone Number: 09108258398  
Landline Number: (054) 4956191


Todo-todong giyera ang inilunsad ng rehimeng US-Aquino laban sa mamamayang Pilipino mula sa pinatindi at mapanlinlang na kontra-insurhensiyang programang “OPLAN BAYANIHAN (OPB)”. Inakala ng mag-among US-Aquino na kaya nilang ikubli ang terorismo laban sa sibilyan sa pamamagitan ng “conditional cash transfer (CCT)” na ginagawang pambulag sa kawalan ng programang kapaki-pakinabang. Ipinagmalaki rin niya ang pagtaas diumano ng ekonomya mula sa nakamit na 6.4% mula sa target daw na 7.8%.

“Bravo!” Ang sigaw ng kanyang mga tutang gutom na gutom sa negosyong inilaan ni PNoy na tinatawag na “Public-Private Partnership” o PPP. Ang programang ito ang naging dahilan ng kabi-kabilang demolisyon ng maralitang lungsod para bigyan daan ang lokal at dayuhang negosyo. Nagtaasan din ang bayad sa SLEX at NLEX, maging ang upa sa MRT at LRT mula ng ito ay isa-pribado.