NR0930: PGMA fears Garcia

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release September 30, 2004
House of Representatives, South Wing Rm 602
931-6615 Ina Alleco R. Silverio, chief of staff
Email: paggawa@edsamail.com.ph, anakpawis2003@yahoo.com
Celphone number 09213907362
Visit geocities.com/ap_news

Who's afraid of Winston Garcia? PGMA's refusal to kick out Garcia from GSIS
indicates that he has power over her . Rep. Beltran

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today said that President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo's refusal to relieve Winston Garcia as president and general
manager of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS)clearly indicates that
Garcia actually has power over the country's head executive. He said that Pres.
Arroyo is deliberately avoiding the scandalous controversies hounding Garcia
and that she is loathe to let him go because Garcia just might say reveal
something damning against President.

"Garcia wields powers unknown to many - even Pres. Arroyo is afraid of him.
Despite the countless and undeniable proof of Garcia's corruption and anomalous
administration of the GSIS, Pres. Arroyo continues to retain him not so much
because she believes that Garcia is the man for the job, but most likely
because she fears him. Garcia is keeping secrets that involve President Arroyo
- secrets that if and when revealed, could be grounds for Pres. Arroyo's
impeachment. Pres. Arroyo knows that she is walking on thin ice when it comes
to the GSIS/Garcia issue. At this point, issues concerning Garcia are Pres.
Arroyo's weakest and most vulnerable spots," he said.

Garcia maintains faux bravery in the face of the avalanche of corruption and
office mismanagement and other executive abuses because he knows he holds PGMA
hostage.

Today, Sept.30, the GSIS funds will be transferred completely to the UnionBank
which ranks 16th based on the total assets of commercial banks, compared to the
LandBank - a government bank, which ranks 3rd among commercial banks in terms
of Total Assets (2nd quarter 2004). UnionBank has only 115 branches nationwide
as opposed to Land Bank's 350 branches (BSP reports, 2nd quarter 2004).
UnionBank has only 94 ATM outlets nationwide as opposed to Land Bank's 448 ATM
outlets.

The veteran labor leader turned lawmaker said that government employees and
pensioners will go up in arms against the fund transfer and the
implementation of the E-card system.

Beltran said that the GSIS is mandated to serve its members through an efficient
and timely method of access to the benefits, but this cannot be done with the
electronic card (eCard) system. The ecard is being promoted to l serve as an
Identification (ID), an ATM, an electronic cash card through which all benefit
payments shall be paid and disbursed by the GSIS; but, Beltran said, its actual
use will be very limited given the limits of the Unionbank.

"GSIS members in the Visayas and Mindanao as well as the provinces in Luzon
where there are no Unionbank branches will not be able to use the ecard. What
- are they suppose to forego their benefits now?. And given the questionable
policies and the irregularities of the GSIS, dare beneficiaries and government
employees further entrust their money to the GSIS under Winston Garcia?"

Beltran also said that the ecard system violates the statute that the GSIS has
an exempt status from tax, legal process and lien as provided in Section 39 of
RA 8291.

"…contribution rates necessary to sustain the benefits under this Act shall be
kept as low as possible in order not to burden the members of the GSIS and
their employers. Taxes imposed on the GSIS tend to impair the actuarial
solvency of its funds and increase the contribution rate necessary to sustain
the benefits of this Act. Accordingly, notwithstanding any laws to the
contrary, the GSIS, its assets, revenues including all accruals thereto, and
benefits paid, shall be exempt from all taxes, assessments, fees, charges, or
duties of all kinds."

There are also aspects of the ecard system that go against with the provisions
of the Bank Secrecy Law (RA 1045, as amended), the Foreign Currency Deposit Act
(RA 6426, as amended), the General Banking Law of 2000 (RA 8791), and the
Anti-Money Laundering Act (RA 9160, as amended by RA 9194).

Finally, Beltran said that the agency and Malacanang itself have miserably
failed to address addressed the massive chaos that has erupted in the agency,
or meet and settle the complaints of hundreds of thousands of government
employees all over the country.

"All charges against Garcia should also be laid at the feet of Pres. Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo who appointed him and continues to support his administration
in the GSIS. It's impossible that the president is oblivious to the charges
leveled against her favorite. She is protecting him for a reason, and this
must also be exposed," he concluded#

NR0929: Alternatives to oil deregulation

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release September 29, 2004
House of Representatives, South Wing Rm 602
931-6615 Ina Alleco R. Silverio, chief of staff
Email: paggawa@edsamail.com.ph, anakpawis2003@yahoo.com
Celphone number 09213907362
Visit geocities.com/ap_news

Rep. Beltran dares GMA administration to implement workable solutions to oil
price hikes; slams Energy Sec. Perez for lawyering for the oil cartel

Anakpawis representative Crispin Beltran today said that President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo will not be able to weather the political blows that will
surely be coming her way once the impact of a new series of bigger oil prices
is felt by the public. He said that the administration cannot and will not be
able to hide behind any excuses and weasel itself away from the blame when the
OPHs hit and the prices of basic commodities and rates of electricity, water
and transportation services begin to increase once more.

"The Macapagal-Arroyo administration has dug the hole it will inevitably fall
in. Instead of heeding the warnings of progressive economists and
industrialists as well as consumers groups to stop the implementation of the
oil deregulation law, Pres. Arroyo continued to coddle the oil companies and
turn a blind eye to their abuses. If immediate progressive and protectionist
reforms were made in the oil industry, the increases in the prices of oil in
the world market would not affect the economy so much," he said.

The veteran labor leader turned lawmaker said that Energy Secretary Vince Perez'
assertion that the public should brace itself for more increases was
infuriating. "Perez has done and said nothing but defend and justify the oil
prices increases. He's essentially an apologist and a lawyer for the oil
companies. He has not presented a single solution to the current situation.
He's spineless and useless when it comes to helping the Filipino people cope
with the oil price hikes. What is he still doing in government service when
he's actually serving the oil companies?"

Beltran even said that Senate President Franklin Drilon and Senator Manuel
Villar have named the cartel of Shell, Caltex and Petron as the culprit
behind successive oil price increases. Drilon even pointed out that to break
the monopoly in the oil industry, the government should seriously study
reacquiring majority control of Petron.

Beltran said that the Arroyo administration to pursue centralized procurement of
imported crude oil and refined petroleum products as a measure to protect the
public from unstable world market prices of oil.

"Under centralized procurement, government is the exclusive supplier of crude or
refined petroleum to oil firms. Government can shop around the world market to
find the cheapest oil, instead of allowing oil firms to source their own
imports," he said. "This set up would also prevent transfer pricing by parent
companies to their recipient companies. It will also allow government to check
or at least minimize profiteering among oil companies in the face of
skyrocketing global petroleum prices."

The repeal of the oil deregulation law is just one of the many doable measures
in our goal to nationalize the oil industry. Other policy reforms that can be
undertaken are the following:
· reversal of the privatization of Petron;
· centralized procurement of crude oil and refined petroleum products to arrest
transfer pricing and other unscrupulous practices;
· initiation of commodity swaps through bilateral arrangements;
· establishment of a buffer fund that can help cushion the impact of price
fluctuations in international crude oil; and
· aggressive development of alternative sources of energy

"These are concrete measures that one may expect from an administration that has
the political will to reverse deregulation and consequently go against the
dictates of multilateral creditors like the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The arguments for nationalization must be considered at this point when prices
of petroleum products continue to increase, and as government officials claim
that they cannot do anything to control the prices," he concluded.#

NR0928: Scores hurt at GSIS rally dispersal

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release September 28, 2004
House of Representatives, South Wing Rm 602
931-6615 Ina Alleco R. Silverio, chief of staff
Email: paggawa@edsamail.com.ph, anakpawis2003@yahoo.com
Celphone number 09213907362
Visit geocities.com/ap_news

GSIS security personnel ordered to teargas protestors, scores hurt including
Rep. Beltran; solon accuses Garcia of nepotism

Scores were hurt at 11:30 this morning when the security personnel of the
Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) lobbed two teargas canisters at the
main body of protestors during a rally in front of the GSIS against GSIS
president and general manager Winston Garcia.

Over 200 protestors from the Confederation from the Unity, Recognition and
Advancement of Government Employees (Courage) and the Kapisanan ng Mangaggawa
sa GSIS (KMG) union of GSIS employees and Anakpawis Party-list were peacefully
holding a demonstration in front of the GSIS building in Quezon City when they
were hosed down by two firetrucks.

The strong blasts of watercannons, however, did not deter the rallyists who
stood their ground. Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran had just finished
delivering his speech of support to the crowd when they were hit doused with
water. When it became apparent that the rallyists were not leaving, the
security personnel of the GSIS itself approached the gates and lobbed two
canisters of teargas at the crowd. This caused the rallyists to immediately
disperse as the strong and sharp fumes of the teargas spread. The rallyists
tripped and fell on the pavement as they ran to escape the fumes that stung
their eyes, noses and very skin. Many sustained cuts and bruises, and not a few
threw up violently.

Rep. Beltran strongly condemned the dispersal, but said that he will not file
charges against the security personnel of the GSIS who threw the teargas.
Instead, he said that he is even more determined to push for the immediate
relief of Winston Garcia from the GSIS.

"If there's anyone who should be blamed for all this, it's Garcia. He is
desperately clinging to this post when it's very clear that all he has done is
make a mess of things. Now, apart from single-handedly making the GSIS one of
the most corrupt government agencies, he has made the GSIS a bastion of
anti-labor practices. The attack against the demonstrators this morning is yet
another display of Garcia's arrogance and stubborn refusal to resign in the
face of strong protests against him," he said.

Beltran added more fuel to the bonfire against Garcia, saying that that Garcia
was guilty of nepotism. He filed yesterday HR 290 calling on investigations
into the anomalies and irregularities being committed by the GSIS management
and Board of Trustees when it came to hiring and promotions.

Beltran said that the union of employees KMG question the appointment of a
certain Nita P. Javier as corporate secretary. They pointed out that the
Javier's appointment has long been declared by the Civil Service Commission to
be null and vvoice and the latter's Motion for Reconsideration has been denied.
Up to the moment of the filing of the complaint and up to the moment of the
drafting of this resolution, however, Javier still assumes the position and
receives compensation;

Beltran also alleged that the members of the Board of Trustees appointed
relatives within the prohibited degree of relationship as will be seen in the
following tabulation:

Trustee Relative Relation
Florino IbanezAida NoceteElmer T. Bautista Fulgencio FactoranReynaldo P.
Palmiery Hermogenes ConcepcionElenita MartinezLenie de Jesus Ireen
Ibanez-DimaanoIldebrando F. IbanezIandro F. IbanezMa. Laura Consuelo C.
NoceteAdrian R. BautistaGeronimo P. EstrellaJennifer L. PalmieryAngel T.
Concepcion Jr.Orlando D. TumalaAlex John C. TumalaMa. LS Concepcion DJ
Hernandez DaughterSonSonDaughterSonSon-in-lawDaughter-in-law Nephew
NephewNephewDaughter


"The appointments are nepotic because the appointing authority of the GSIS is
the President and General Manager and the Board of Trustees pursuant to Sec. 45
of RA 8291 (GSIS Charter), which provides that "The President and General
Manager, subject to the approval of the Board, shall appoint the personnel of
the GSIS in accordance with the Civil Service rules and regulations. " It
was also stated in a Supreme Court decision in the case GSIS vs. GSIS Employees
Association, 154 SCRA 236 ruled that: "However weighty they may be,
recommendation cannot control the discretion of the appointing authority which,
in this case, is the General Manager and the Board of Trustees of the GSIS
(underlining supplied)."

In the case of CSC vs Dacoycoy, 306 SCRA 425, the Supreme Court ruled that
"Under the definition of nepotism, one is guilty of nepotism if an appointment
is issued in favor of a relative within the third civil degree of consanguinity
or affinity."

The appointment of members of the Board of Trustees to executives positions in
the GSIS, Beltran said,is also questionable. This, they point out, is
prohibited under Sec. 3 (i) of RA 3019 , as amended, otherwise known as the
Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, which provides the following that
"Directly or indirectly becoming interested, for personal gain, or having
material interest in any transaction or act requiring approval of the Board,
panel or group of which he is a member and which exercises discretion in such
approval , even if he votes against the same or does not participate in the
action of the board, committee, or group.

Beltran questioned the appointment of Trustees Elmer T. Bautista and Reynaldo
P. Palmiery who assumed executive positions as Chief Legal Counsel and Sr.
Executive Vice-President respectively. The employees point out that Trustees
are much interested in securing positions as executives in the GSIS
because as such they will have career positions and regular compensation unlike
when they are only Trustees they receive only per diem and representation and
transportation allowance (RATA).

Garcia himself in a report published in Businessworld (September 24, 2004)
defended his appointment of his own sister and executive assistant Carolyn
Garcia Empemano, saying that that the appointment of family members and
relatives to confidential positions in the government was "an accepted
practice among top government officials."#

NR0928:Oppose MTPDP 2004-2010

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release September 28, 2004
House of Representatives, South Wing Rm 602
931-6615 Ina Alleco R. Silverio, chief of staff
Email: paggawa@edsamail.com.ph, anakpawis2003@yahoo.com
Celphone number 09213907362
Visit geocities.com/ap_news

Rep. Beltran opposes Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP)
2004-2010 and Government plans to 100% open the local media industry to
foreign corporations

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today slammed the thrust of the
government to aggressively pursue laws and policies that will attract foreign
investors, even at the expense of local industries and small businesses.
According to the draft of the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP)
2004-2010 released by the Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the
provisions in the constitution providing legal, administrative and
constitutional barriers to foreign investments will be removed.

"The 2004-2010 MTPDP is a blueprint for greater economic disaster. It will sink
the Philippines to even deeper poverty, destroy local industries and further
attack the wages, job security and benefits of the working people. Instead of
generating secure employment and ensuring that workers will receive living
wages, the MTPDP is directed towards assisting foreign corporations and their
partners in the big business groups in the country further drain the country's
financial and natural resources," he said. #

At the onset, Beltran said that the plans of the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
administration to 100% open the country's media industry to foreign
investors. It has been reported that the government is pushing to open possibly
newpapers and radio and television networks to foreign ownership, as well as
further liberalize related industries such as telecommunication and information
and communication technology.

The Arroyo administration is pushing for the amendment of the
Build-Operate-Transfer and its implementing rules and regulations to erase the
requirement of 60% Filipino ownership for companies bidding for government
projects.

Under Article XVI, Sec 11 of the Charter, "the ownership and management of
mass media shall be limited to citizens of the Philippines or to corporations,
cooperatives or associations, wholly owned and managed by such
citizens."

"Government wants to mangle the Constitution and remove the remaining
protectionist provisions in it. This is yet another serious threat to the
remaining vestiges of independence the country has. Foreign corporations must
not be allowed to take control of the national media. The media is one of the
most crucial and important pillars of society and influences the culture,
education and even personal values of Filipinos. While it is true that the
country's media still has a long way to go to improve and thus be able to
truly reflect and report genuine social realities and create profound impact
on the direction the country will take, it w ill not help to allow foreign
corporations to gain a foothold in monopolizing the industry. Foreign
ownership will mean the influx of even more aspects of foreign culture that
go against the progressive Filipino values, habits and traditions," said
Beltran.

Beltran said that apart from the potentially destructive sociological
implications of allowing foreign corporations to monopolize Philippine media,
the implication on the job security of media workers and practitioners are
also tremendous. "Contractualization is already rampant in the local media, and
media workers are being denied just wages and benefits. Media networks already
use the 'talent system' wherein writers, cameramen, propsmen and other
technical staff are hired on a contractual basis and given lower wages
compared to their counterparts who are regulars. Foreign media corporations
such as those in the United States and Britain are even more notorious in
using this 'talent system,' and if allowed to fully own networks in the
Philippines, they will take full advantage of the already unfair labor
flexibility schemes here," he said. #

NR0927: Pension fund owners vs Garcia

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release September 27, 2004
House of Representatives, South Wing Rm 602
931-6615 Ina Alleco R. Silverio, chief of staff
Email: paggawa@edsamail.com.ph, anakpawis2003@yahoo.com
Celphone number 09213907362
Visit geocities.com/ap_news

Rep. Beltran leads filing of Malversation, Oppression charges vs GSIS'
Garcia at Ombudsman's Office; files HR 286 in Congress

Today, September 27, 2004, Monday at 10:00 am, pension fund owners represented
by COURAGE, officials of the GSIS union (KMG) and Anakpawis Representative
Crispin Beltran filed a case against Government Service Insurance System (GSIS)
President and General Manager Winston Garcia at the Ombudsman's Office, located
at Agham Road, Diliman, Quezon City. Today, he also filed HR 286 calling for
investigations into the unfair labor policies Garcia implements against GSIS
union members.

Beltran challenged Garcia to face the countless accusations against him and not
hide behind his main patron and protector Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. He
said that Garcia maintains faux bravery in the face of the avalanche of
corruption and office mismanagement and other executive abuses because he knows
he is PGMA' s favorite. He said that apart from mismanaging the GSIS and
swindling millions of government employees of their rightful benefits, Garcia
is also a notorious violator of employee rights.

"Garcia is tyrannical and despotic in running the GSIS. Under him, the employees
of GSIS have been subjected to various political indignities and their economic
welfare severely undermined. Garcia has reportedly released a board resolution
cutting the salaries of rank-and-file employees by 10% to supposedly contribute
to the national government's efforts to stem the fiscal crisis," Beltran said.

"Garcia has made the lives of GSIS employees actively denouncing his
mismanagement of the agency unbearable by slapping various administrative
charges against them, and barring them from entering the agency premises," he
said.

Beltran said that so far, none of the charges and complaints filed against
Garcia at the Office of the Ombudsman and the Civil Service Commission (CSC)
have prospered or even just given a formal hearing because Garcia enjoys the
protection of Malacanang itself. He said that Garcia continues to abuse his
authority at the GSIS and his transgressions worsen because Malacanang gives
him leeway.

"I am willing to meet Garcia head on, even in court. Garcia has thrown his
weight around for too long, and the pile-up of casualties resulting from his
abusive management style and corrupt administration of the funds has hit the
roof: millions of government employees and beneficiaries are loudly demanding
his ouster from the GSIS," he said. Beltran said that he will file corruption
and abuse of authority charges against Garcia at the Ombudsman's and the
Civil Service Commission apart from pushing for congressional investigations.

Last Sept.24, leaders of COURAGE, KMG and Rep. Beltran were harassed by
truncheon-wielding officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and
security personnel of the GSIS and barred from entering the GSIS building in
Quezon City. Velasco who was earlier illegally dropped from the roll by Garcia
on flimsy charges was granted a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) from the
Court of Appeals, which Garcia blatantly defied. Velasco has been active and
vocal in his opposition and condemnation of Garcia's administration and
mismanagement of the GSIS.

"While the most vocal critic among the employees of the GSIS were slapped with
administrative cases, suspensions and dismissals, he promoted to managerial
positions few employees who are neither fully qualified nor credible; and
manipulates employees to publicly make it appear that the GSIS employees are
still supporting him.

Beltran said that there are also are documented cases wherein Garcia has
attempted to bust the union. On June 25, 2004, Garcia issued Order No.
64-04-A, appointing the Secretary General of the KMG as the union's
representative to the GSIS Personnel Selection/Promotion Board for the first
and second levels. This implies that the union representatives is either the
President of the KMG or his duly authorized representative. The oath-taking of
the new officers of the KMG was supposed to take place on June 30, but a
Memorandum from the Sr. Vice-President for Field Operations was issued,
canceling all travel authorities for officers of the union from the branches
who were scheduled to attend the activities. On the same day, a memo was also
issued prohibiting employees from participating in any union activities during
office hours. This was a clear violation of the union's collective negotiating
agreement (CNA);

On the first day of office of the KMG president Velasco, he was issued a
memorandum stating that he was being assigned to the GSIS branch offices of
Zamboana, Iligan and Cotabato City;

Since 2001, GSIS employees joined by employees from other government agencies
have been denouncing the various anomalies in the GSIS. Apart from countless
documented anomalies directly involving Garcia, they cite a performance
evaluation made by former Finance Secretary Isidro Camacho who reported to
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself that Garcia is inefficient and has
mismanaged the funds of the GSIS. It has been reported that among the reasons
behind Camacho's resignation is his disgust over Malacanang's decision to
ignore his findings regarding Garcia and his way of running the GSIS.

Beltran also said that the GSIS is now in the process of closing a deal with
the Department of Foreign Affairs for a Php50 billion loan for the purchase of
lands abroad for the agency's embassies. Earlier, a Php1 billion agreement with
Union bank was sealed in May for an "E-card" project that is set to fail anew
given the resistance of the members especially the retirees and pensioners who
have difficulty using automatic teller machine (ATM) cards. The deal is also
being questioned by COURAGE and allied people's organizations not only because
Union bank is owned by Aboitiz Group which has business linkages with Garcia;
but also because money from trust funds such as those of the GSIS as stated by
law should be placed only in government depository banks such as the Land bank
and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).

"Garcia has defended his leadership of the government employees' fund by saying
that it was during his term that the financial institution posted billions of
income. COURAGE however, belied this assertion, saying that hundreds of
thousands of GSIS members will attest that it was under Garcia, the GSIS'
service to its main clients has severely deteriorated, and that that the agency
is now on the brink of bankruptcy; This Garcia admitted publicly that the agency
may run short of fund by 2005," he explained further.

"The reason behind the supposed income was that the premium contributions of
GSIS' 1.5 million members were increased several times while the benefits were
reduced. Garcia instituted policies that made the security of loans and claims
from the GSIS more inaccessible to the beneficiaries.

"Garcia's more than half a million monthly salary and other millions of benefits
including his unliquidated cash advances is enough reason for him not to give up
his post, at the expense of the fund members who deserve better services and
bigger package of benefits; Moreover, salaries of GSIS rank and file employees
were reportedly cut by as much as 10%."

Finally, Beltran said that given Garcia's record as GSIS PGM, he should have
long been removed from the GSIS as charges against him mounts; But the fact
that he remains in office is highly questionable. There is no credible check
and balance system in the GSIS because other GSIS officials and the members of
the GSIS board of trustees is composed mainly of individuals directly connected
to him and Malacanang. Together, they have been running GSIS like their own
kingdom, living lavish lifestyles at the expense of the fund beneficiaries.
Those among the rank and file employees who are brave enough to oppose their
edicts are slapped with administrative charges or summarily, arbitrarily
dismissed," he concluded.#

NR0927: Beltran agrees with ERC's Albano

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release September 27, 2004
House of Representatives, South Wing Rm 602
931-6615 Ina Alleco R. Silverio, chief of staff
Email: paggawa@edsamail.com.ph, anakpawis2003@yahoo.com
Celphone number 09213907362
Visit geocities.com/ap_news

Rep. Beltran agrees with ERC' Albano that it's EPIRA that's at the core of
problems in the ERC and electric industry

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today said that he has nothing personal
against former Isabela Congressman Rodolfo Albano when he (Beltran) said that
investigations into the Energy Regulatory Board (ERC), its functions and its
officials should be made. Beltran has called on Congress to immediately conduct
investigations into the running of the said agency and assess its
performance, given the relentless series of increases in electricity rates and
the anomalies in the National Power Corporation (Napocor) which also involve
the ERC. Beltran said that the since the Energy Regulatory Board (ERB) was
reorganized into ERC by virtue of of the EPIRA Law in 2001, ERC's performance
has been going dowhill.

Albano was quoted in a newspaper saying that he is entitled to his huge salary
of P105,000 monthly because the EPIRA says so. Albano
also said that "As usual, Beltran is ignorant of what's happening."

Beltran said that contrary to Albano's allegation, he (Beltran) is very much
aware of what's happening. "It's precisely this awareness that pushes me to
call for investigations into the ERC, including the high salaries and perks
being enjoyed by its high officials. Through the years, the ERC has become a
reliable provider of stamps of approval for Meralco and the National Power
Corporation when they petition for rate adjustments. That's one issue that
has to be looked into. The matter of high salaries of government executives -
often undeserved and scandalous given the economic crisis and the supposed call
of Malacanang for austerity measures - is another," he said.

Beltran expressed agreement with Albano that if there is anyone to blame, it
should be the Macapagal-Arroyo administration and its first pet law,the
Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA). He said that he has already filed
HB 2531, or an Act Repealing RA 9136, the EPIRA of 2001. Beltran voted against
the passage of the EPIRA during his first term as congressman under Bayan
Muna party-list.

"Apart from the fact that the EPIRA has legalized the relentess increases in
electricity rates and facilitated the full full and disastrous privatization
of the electric industrym, I believe there is basis to question the law
(EPIRA) and what it says about the salaries and perks of the ERC executives.
How do they justify the massive increase in the salaries when the ERB turned
into the ERC? What, is the rule "Change "B" to "C" and add a P50,000 to the
salaries of the exec?"

Position ERB ERC
Chairman 30,000 107,000
Commissioners 27,000 90,000
Executive Director 25,000 75,000
Director 23,000 61,000
Chief 21,000 51,000
Supervisor 19,000 41,000
Officer III 16,000 31,000

Beltran also determined specific areas wherein the ERC should investigated,
among them the various functions and duties it has either failed to perform or
twisted in their implementation. Primary among them the verification and
Confirmation of Purchased Power Adjustment (PPA).He pointed out that all
Distribution Utilities (DUs) composed of 19 Private Utilities (PUs) and 119
Electric Cooperatives (ECs)in the country are required to submit to then ERB
their monthly computation of PPA together with sample customer bills for
verification and confirmation. ERB/ERC then issues Orders confirming if these
DUs are collecting the right PPA charges from consumers.

"But let's make an accounting now. How many Orders has ERC issued? The ERC
should be made to present data of this from 1996 to present. Any overcharging
by these DUs by a mere centavo multiplied by the kilowatt hour sold would amount
to millions especially since it it has been years since PPA charges were
accounted for," he said.

Beltran also said that the ERC should also present data regarding the Napocor's
Fuel Purchased Cost Adjustment (FPCA).He said that Napocor was also required by
ERB then to submit receipts of their fuel purchased (diesel, bunker fuel oil)
used to run the generation plants that used these fuels for verification and
confirmation. "Is the ERC still confirming these fuel purchases which forms
part of the Power Purchased Cost Adjustment (PPCA) ? Let them show the
confirmation data. Orders issued by ERC are public documents and should be
subjected to congressional scrutiny."

"If what Sec. Vincent Perez has said at the recent Senate hearing is correct,
that ERC has already granted five (5) rate increases to NAPOCOR, how did these
happen? The procedure that ERB followed then for granting or denying rate hike
petitions was to grant provisional authority to increase rates after proper
evaluation was made and subject to final evaluation after an audit was made as
to the impact of the rate increase. If the provisionally granted rate increase
was too much, then consumers should be given refunds. This was what happened in
the case of MERALCO in a 1994 rate increase for which the Commission on Audit
found to be too much during its audit. The ERB then issued the final authority
reducing the rate granted thereby resulting in a refund last year after the
Supreme Court decided with finality. So, how could NAPOCOR get successive rate
hikes if the previous ones has not yet been audited and finally evaluated? It
would take at least a year's data after a rate increase is granted to evaluate
it's financial impact on the petitioner and ERC began granting rate hikes only
in 2002," he said.#

NR0927: Beltran agrees with ERC's Albano

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release September 27, 2004
House of Representatives, South Wing Rm 602
931-6615 Ina Alleco R. Silverio, chief of staff
Email: paggawa@edsamail.com.ph, anakpawis2003@yahoo.com
Celphone number 09213907362
Visit geocities.com/ap_news

Rep. Beltran agrees with ERC' Albano that it's EPIRA that's at the core of
problems in the ERC and electric industry

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today said that he has nothing personal
against former Isabela Congressman Rodolfo Albano when he (Beltran) said that
investigations into the Energy Regulatory Board (ERC), its functions and its
officials should be made. Beltran has called on Congress to immediately conduct
investigations into the running of the said agency and assess its
performance, given the relentless series of increases in electricity rates and
the anomalies in the National Power Corporation (Napocor) which also involve
the ERC. Beltran said that the since the Energy Regulatory Board (ERB) was
reorganized into ERC by virtue of of the EPIRA Law in 2001, ERC's performance
has been going dowhill.

Albano was quoted in a newspaper saying that he is entitled to his huge salary
of P105,000 monthly because the EPIRA says so. Albano
also said that "As usual, Beltran is ignorant of what's happening."

Beltran said that contrary to Albano's allegation, he (Beltran) is very much
aware of what's happening. "It's precisely this awareness that pushes me to
call for investigations into the ERC, including the high salaries and perks
being enjoyed by its high officials. Through the years, the ERC has become a
reliable provider of stamps of approval for Meralco and the National Power
Corporation when they petition for rate adjustments. That's one issue that
has to be looked into. The matter of high salaries of government executives -
often undeserved and scandalous given the economic crisis and the supposed call
of Malacanang for austerity measures - is another," he said.

Beltran expressed agreement with Albano that if there is anyone to blame, it
should be the Macapagal-Arroyo administration and its first pet law,the
Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA). He said that he has already filed
HB 2531, or an Act Repealing RA 9136, the EPIRA of 2001. Beltran voted against
the passage of the EPIRA during his first term as congressman under Bayan
Muna party-list.

"Apart from the fact that the EPIRA has legalized the relentess increases in
electricity rates and facilitated the full full and disastrous privatization
of the electric industrym, I believe there is basis to question the law
(EPIRA) and what it says about the salaries and perks of the ERC executives.
How do they justify the massive increase in the salaries when the ERB turned
into the ERC? What, is the rule "Change "B" to "C" and add a P50,000 to the
salaries of the exec?"

Position ERB ERC
Chairman 30,000 107,000
Commissioners 27,000 90,000
Executive Director 25,000 75,000
Director 23,000 61,000
Chief 21,000 51,000
Supervisor 19,000 41,000
Officer III 16,000 31,000

Beltran also determined specific areas wherein the ERC should investigated,
among them the various functions and duties it has either failed to perform or
twisted in their implementation. Primary among them the verification and
Confirmation of Purchased Power Adjustment (PPA).He pointed out that all
Distribution Utilities (DUs) composed of 19 Private Utilities (PUs) and 119
Electric Cooperatives (ECs)in the country are required to submit to then ERB
their monthly computation of PPA together with sample customer bills for
verification and confirmation. ERB/ERC then issues Orders confirming if these
DUs are collecting the right PPA charges from consumers.

"But let's make an accounting now. How many Orders has ERC issued? The ERC
should be made to present data of this from 1996 to present. Any overcharging
by these DUs by a mere centavo multiplied by the kilowatt hour sold would amount
to millions especially since it it has been years since PPA charges were
accounted for," he said.

Beltran also said that the ERC should also present data regarding the Napocor's
Fuel Purchased Cost Adjustment (FPCA).He said that Napocor was also required by
ERB then to submit receipts of their fuel purchased (diesel, bunker fuel oil)
used to run the generation plants that used these fuels for verification and
confirmation. "Is the ERC still confirming these fuel purchases which forms
part of the Power Purchased Cost Adjustment (PPCA) ? Let them show the
confirmation data. Orders issued by ERC are public documents and should be
subjected to congressional scrutiny."

"If what Sec. Vincent Perez has said at the recent Senate hearing is correct,
that ERC has already granted five (5) rate increases to NAPOCOR, how did these
happen? The procedure that ERB followed then for granting or denying rate hike
petitions was to grant provisional authority to increase rates after proper
evaluation was made and subject to final evaluation after an audit was made as
to the impact of the rate increase. If the provisionally granted rate increase
was too much, then consumers should be given refunds. This was what happened in
the case of MERALCO in a 1994 rate increase for which the Commission on Audit
found to be too much during its audit. The ERB then issued the final authority
reducing the rate granted thereby resulting in a refund last year after the
Supreme Court decided with finality. So, how could NAPOCOR get successive rate
hikes if the previous ones has not yet been audited and finally evaluated? It
would take at least a year's data after a rate increase is granted to evaluate
it's financial impact on the petitioner and ERC began granting rate hikes only
in 2002," he said.#

NR0926: Anomalies in the ERC

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release September 26, 2004
House of Representatives, South Wing Rm 602
931-6615 Ina Alleco R. Silverio, chief of staff
Email: paggawa@edsamail.com.ph, anakpawis2003@yahoo.com
Celphone number 09213907362
Visit geocities.com/ap_news

Anomalies also abound in the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC); agency
approves rate increases for consumers, high salaries for own executives and
officials - Rep. Beltran

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today trained his sights on the Energy
Regulatory Commission (ERC) and said that Congress should immediately conduct
investigations into the running of the said agency and assess its
performance, given the relentless series of increases in electricity rates and
the anomalies in the National Power Corporation (Napocor) which also involves
the ERC. Beltran said that the since the Energy Regulatory Board (ERB) was
reorganized into ERC by virtue of of the EPIRA Law in 2001, ERC's performance
has been going dowhill.

Beltran determined specific areas wherein the ERC should investigated, among
them the various functions and duties it has either failed to perform or
twisted in their implementation. Primary among them the verification and
Confirmation of Purchased Power Adjustment (PPA).He pointed out that all
Distribution Utilities (DUs) composed of 19 Private Utilities (PUs) and 119
Electric Cooperatives (ECs)in the country are required to submit to then ERB
their monthly computation of PPA together with sample customer bills for
verification and confirmation. ERB/ERC then issues Orders confirming if these
DUs are collecting the right PPA charges from consumers.

"But let's make an accounting now. How many Orders has ERC issued? The ERC
should be made to present data of this from 1996 to present. Any overcharging
by these DUs by a mere centavo multiplied by the kilowatt hour sold would amount
to millions especially since it it has been years since PPA charges were
accounted for," he said.

Beltran also said that the ERC should also present data regarding the Napocor's
Fuel Purchased Cost Adjustment (FPCA).He said that Napocor was also required by
ERB then to submit receipts of their fuel purchased (diesel, bunker fuel oil)
used to run the generation plants that used these fuels for verification and
confirmation.
"Is the ERC still confirming these fuel purchases which forms part of the Power
Purchased Cost Adjustment (PPCA) ? Let them show the confirmation data. Orders
issued by ERC are public documents and should be subjected to congressional
scrutiny."

"If what Sec. Vincent Perez has said at the recent Senate hearing is correct,
that ERC has already granted five (5) rate increases to NAPOCOR, how did these
happen? The procedure that ERB followed then for granting or denying rate hike
petitions was to grant provisional authority to increase rates after proper
evaluation was made and subject to final evaluation after an audit was made as
to the impact of the rate increase. If the provisionally granted rate increase
was too much, then consumers should be given refunds. This was what happened in
the case of MERALCO in a 1994 rate increase for which the Commission on Audit
found to be too much during its audit. The ERB then issued the final authority
reducing the rate granted thereby resulting in a refund last year after the
Supreme Court decided with finality. So, how could NAPOCOR get successive rate
hikes if the previous ones has not yet been audited and finally evaluated? It
would take at least a year's data after a rate increase is granted to evaluate
it's financial impact on the petitioner and ERC began granting rate hikes only
in 2002," he said.

Beltran also said that the salary and compensation of ERC officials should also
be looked into. "ERC is neither a government-owned-or-controlled-corporation
(GOCC) or a government finance institution (GFI), but the salaries are
exorbitant.

Position ERB (in pesos) ERC
Chairman 30,000 107,000
Commissioners 27,000 90,000
Executive Director 25,000 75,000
Director 23,000 61,000
Chief 21,000 51,000
Supervisor 19,000 41,000
Officer III 16,000 31,000

The Chairman to Director have RATA (Representation and Travelling Allowances),
discretionary funds and exclusive use of government vehicles. The retirement
package for the Chairman and Commissioners include a hefty lump sum for 5 years
and a lifetime pension equivalent to that of the last salary received.
Commissioners Ibay and Alindada whose terms have already expired are already
qualified to receive this package after only serving ERC for less than 3 years.
This is aside from the pension they will receive from the GSIS. Regular
government employees have to serve a minimum of 15 years to qualify for a GSIS
pension," he said.

Finally, Beltran said that the ERC cannot be expected to be impartial to the to
petitions of the Napocor when two of its current commissioners, Comm. Alcordo
and newly appointed Comm. Raouf Tan comes from NAPOCOR. "There is sufficient
basis to look into the ERC's management and administration and have the
Department of Budget and Management as well as the Commission on Audit examine
its records," he concluded.#

NR0926:PGMA coddling Winston Garcia

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release September 26, 2004
House of Representatives, South Wing Rm 602
931-6615 Ina Alleco R. Silverio, chief of staff
Email: paggawa@edsamail.com.ph, anakpawis2003@yahoo.com
Celphone number 09213907362
Visit geocities.com/ap_news

Fire GSIS' Garcia for abusing his powers as GSIS president, general-manager;
PGMA should be chided for coddling, protecting her favorite

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran in a presscon this morning in Quezon
City challenged Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) President and
General manager Winston Garcia to face the countless accusations against him
and not hide behind his main patron and protector Pres. Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo. He said that Garcia maintains faux bravery in the face of the
avalanche of corruption and office mismanagement and other executive abuses
because he knows he is PGMA' s favorite. He said that apart from mismanaging
the GSIS and swindling millions of government employees of their rightful
benefits, Garcia is also a notorious violator of employee rights.

"Garcia is tyrannical and despotic in running the GSIS. Under him, the employees
of GSIS have been subjected to various political indignities and their economic
welfare severely undermined. Garcia has reportedly released a board resolution
cutting the salaries of rank-and-file employees by 10% to supposedly contribute
to the national government's efforts to stem the fiscal crisis," Beltran said.

"Garcia has made the lives of GSIS employees actively denouncing his
mismanagement of the agency unbearable by slapping various administrative
charges against them, and barring them from entering the agency premises," he
said.

Beltran said that so far, none of the charges and complaints filed against
Garcia at the Office of the Ombudsman and the Civil Service Commission (CSC)
have prospered or even just given a formal hearing because Garcia enjoys the
protection of Malacanang itself. He said that Garcia continues to abuse his
authority at the GSIS and his transgressions worsen because Malacanang gives
him leeway.

"I am willing to meet Garcia head on, even in court. Garcia has thrown his
weight around for too long, and the pile-up of casualties resulting from his
abusive management style and corrupt administration of the funds has hit the
roof: millions of government employees and beneficiaries are loudly demanding
his ouster from the GSIS," he said. Beltran said that he will file corruption
and abuse of authority charges against Garcia at the Ombudsman's and the
Civil Service Commission apart from pushing for congressional investigations.

"Garcia's records is one of the most spotted and corrupt among all government
appointees and officials. He should have long been removed from the GSIS
because of the consistently mounting charges against him, and the fact that
he remains in office is highly questionable. There is no credible check and
balance system in the GSIS because other GSIS officials and the members of the
GSIS board of directors is composed of either his relatives or individuals
directly connected to him and Malacanang. Together, they have been running GSIS
like their own kingdom, living lavish lifestyles at the expense of the fund
beneficiaries. Those among the rank and file employees who are brave enough to
oppose their edicts are slapped with administrative charges or summarily,
arbitrarily dismissed," he said.

Beltran said that the agency and Malacanang itself have miserably failed to
address addressed the massive chaos that has erupted in the agency, or meet and
settle the complaints of hundreds of thousands of government employees all over
the country.

"All charges against Garcia should also be laid at the feet of Pres. Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo who appointed him and continues to support his administration
in the GSIS. It's impossible that the president is oblivious to the charges
leveled against her favorite. She is protecting him for a reason, and this
must also be exposed," he concluded.#

NR0925: Beltran to file charges against GSIS' Garcia

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release September 25, 2004
House of Representatives, South Wing Rm 602
931-6615 Ina Alleco R. Silverio, chief of staff
Email: paggawa@edsamail.com.ph, anakpawis2003@yahoo.com
Celphone number 09213907362
Visit geocities.com/ap_news


Rep. Beltran calls GSIS' Garcia's bluff; will file corruption charges against
Garcia at the Ombudsman's and Civil Service Commission (CSC)

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today said that there was much more to
accusations of corruption against Government Service Insurance System (GSIS)
president and general manager Winston Garcia than the 11 missing artworks.
The overpaid executive is currently under fire because of the loss of 11
valuable artworks from the GSIS museum. The artworks are valued at 1.4
million.

"Garcia is responsible for more than just missing paintings, pottery or other
artpieces. The crimes he has committed as president and general manager of the
GSIS are much more infamous; and it is for these that he should be hauled
off to court and punished with imprisonment. Under Garcia, the GSIS has become
the biggest milking cow of the Macapagl-Arroyo administration and has lost
millions of funds it is supposedly managing for themillions of government
employees who are its main beneficiaries.

Beltran laughed off the threats of Garcia that he will file charges against
solons who dare accuse of mismanaging the GSIS and his (Garcia's) challenge to
solons that they file charges against him at the Ombudsman's. He said he is
willing and even eager to call Garcia's bluff. He said that in the coming week
he will personally file corruption charges against Garcia at the Office of the
Ombudsman, and similar complaints of executive abuse at the Civil Service
Commission (CSC).

"Big words for a man who hides behind the President of the Republic. There are
already several cases filed against Garcia at the Office of the Ombudsman,
but so far none of them have prospered because Garcia is protected by Pres.
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself. Garcia enjoys the protection of the
President who considers him a favorite," he said. Beltran said that Pres.
Arroyo should stop protecting Garcia and immediately relieve him from office,
as well as support for investigations into Garcia's mismanagement of the GSIS
funds and other abuses.

"Garcia enjoys the life and lifestyle of pompous royalty because he is
protected by Malacanang. He has been throwing his weight around the GSIS and
abusing his authority for his own economic, financial gain at the expense
of the GSIS employees and all government employees who are the rightful owners
and beneficiaries of the GSIS funds. "

At the onset, Beltran said that Garcia should be investigated on the following
grounds:

1) Several anti-employee GSIS resolutions resulting in the lay-off of rank and
file employees who spoke up against other GSIS executive board resolutions
affecting release of funds for beneficiaries;
2) Nepotism in the hiring of board members
3) Garcia's various loans and withdrawals from the funds which up to remain
unaccounted for an unaudited, among them a P1 million salary loan.

"The infamous details of these se issues will come out fully in the coming
days. I challenge Garcia to stop hiding behind Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
and face investigations on his own."#

NR0925: On surrender of Oakwood mutineers

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release September 25, 2004
House of Representatives, South Wing Rm 602
931-6615 Ina Alleco R. Silverio, chief of staff
Email: paggawa@edsamail.com.ph, anakpawis2003@yahoo.com
Celphone number 09213907362
Visit geocities.com/ap_news


Oakwood mutineers' capitulation a victory for the corrupt leadership of the
AFP - Rep. Beltran

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today expressed disappointment over the
capitulation of the leaders of the Magdalo group, saying that it was a betrayal
of the ideals of the younger and more upright members of the Armed Forces of
the Philippines (AFP) who have yet to give up their demands for reforms in the
AFP and the entire military bureaucracy. Beltran said that the leaders of the
Magdalo group's capitulation will all the more contribute to the deterioration
of the AFP and strengthen the grip of corruption and demoralization in the
military bureauracy and leadership.

"They should apologize more to the Filipino people who believed their exposes
and accusations of corruption against the AFP leadership. It is bad enough that
these young men who for a brief and shining moment took a strong and dignified
stand against the deeply-ingrained corruption in the military retracted on
their accusations against the likes of Gen. Angelo Reyes and Brig. Gen. Victor
Corpus and former PNP Director General Hermogenes Ebadane Jr., but they also
vowed to work with the national government in its supposed campaign against
corruption," he said. "They gave up more than their principles - they sold out
to the very government that betrayed their ideals."

The veteran labor leader said that the even as he did not agree with the means
utilized by the former mutineers, he recognized the legitimacy of their demands
when they launched their actions last year.

"They were instrumental in throwing light upon the moral degradation and
corruption eating away at the AFP, and exposing why precisely the AFP can
never be called the army of the Filipino people. What these young officers did
last year was a milestone in the struggle for reforms in the military and could
have led to the further exposure and eventual relief of the most corrupt
officials of the AFP. It's just too bad that they chose to retract their
statements the way they have," he said.

Beltran said that he was certain that Malacanang has made an offer to the
young officers could not refuse. He said that he was highly skeptical that
Malacanang will not eventually give amnesty to the Magdalo leaders and the
other officers who joined the Oakwood mutiny. "Most likely Malacanang wants to
appear both magnanimous but stern in announcing that the officers will not be
given amnesty. Eventually, however, the real deal will be revealed and the
amnesty will be granted. Malacanang is desperate to secure the military's
support and will go to great lengths to bribe or buy off all possible
dissidents within the AFP's ranks."

Beltran said that even if the Magdalo leaders have given up, he was certain that
there are still strong currents of dissent and disgust within the military rank
and file. "Since the Oakwood incident, there has been no visible reform within
the AFP. Not one of the legitimate demands made by the mutineers was met,
and none of the issues they brought forth was settled. If anything, things in
the military have gotten worse. Reyes, Corpus and Ebdane are still in
positions of power and corruption's roots are still firmly planted in the AFP.
It will not be surprising if there were be more uprisings from within the
military denouncing the corruption and lack of genuine effort to clean up the
bureaucracy on the part of the national government," he said. #

NR0920: Napocor and power outages

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release September 20, 2004
House of Representatives, South Wing Rm 602
931-6615 Ina Alleco R. Silverio, chief of staff
Email: paggawa@edsamail.com.ph, anakpawis2003@yahoo.com
Celphone number 09213907362
Visit geocities.com/ap_news

Rep. Beltran decries Malacanang, DoE threat of power outages in
2005 if Napocor rates are not hiked

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today slammed Malacanang and the
Department of Energy (DoE) anew for its current campaign to generate public
fear over a supposed looming power crisis to be characterized by massive
blackouts. Beltran said that The DoE through secretary Vince Perez was hyping
the threat to justify the imposition of higher electricity rates of the
National Power Corporation (Napocor). The DoE has recently released a report
that Luzon will start experiencing outages in 2008, while Visayas and Mindanao
in 2005. The DoE says that at least $6.5 billion in investments is needed to
meet escalating power demands.

"Sec. Perez is lying through his teeth. Upon orders of Malacanang and
pressure from foreign business monopolies eyeing the country's electricity
industry, the DoE is resorting to lies and exaggerated figures to justify
higher electricity rates and the privatization of the Napocor," he said.
"Perez is looking for the surest, fastest way to come up with funds with which
to pay off the debts of Napocor and convince investors that the debt-ridden
corporation is still financially viable. He is getting his pointers from the
American Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (AmCham), and acting as their
spokersperson. It's clear that Perez is only parroting the AmCham."

The veteran labor leader turned lawmaker said that Perez is exaggerating the
possibility of power outages to twist the public's arm into paying higher
electricity rates. "Perez is blackmailing consumers that unless they pay
higher electricity rates, there'll be hell to pay and the country will be
plunged into darkness. It's impossible to find any sense or logic in Perez'
reasoning - he has resorted to scare tactics just to do Malacanang's bidding."

"There will be no power outages if the national government doesn't want to have
power outages. Make no mistake - the ones issuing the threats of blackouts are
the same ones who will be behind the outages."

Beltran said he does not buy Perez' explanations, and called for the immediate
recall of the energy secretary. "Perez' reasoning has become more and more
twisted. He's the fully-fledged spokesperson of foreign investors and the local
shareholders of Napocor.
Perez is crowing over the supposed confidence foreign investors have shown after
the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) approved Napocor's petition to raise its
rates by an average 98 centavos per kilowatt hour starting September 26. The
provisional authority granted Napocor represents a 40% increase from its
previous rates.

Beltran said that the public should not give in to Malacanang and the DoE's
blackmail. He said that if Pres. Arroyo and Perez want to pay ofdf Napocor's
debts, then they should do so out of their own pocket. "The Filipino people
will not be further bled to pay off Napocor's losses. The anomalies in the
electricity firm have victimized taxpayers and consumers terribly enough, and
there's no way that consumers will be convinced that the only way to stave off
power outages is to fork out more money for the firm," he said.

Beltran has already filed HR18 calling on Congress to intervene in the
national government's decision to absorb Napocor's P500 billion debt.

"From whatever angle, through all the financial jargon and economic legalese, it
becomes evident that the government is forcing consumers and taxpayers to
shoulder Napocor's debts other payments by having them pay higher electricity
rates. This is highly repugnant," he said.#

NR0920:Struggle against fascism and corruption

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release September 20, 2004
House of Representatives, South Wing Rm 602
931-6615 Ina Alleco R. Silverio, chief of staff
Email: paggawa@edsamail.com.ph, anakpawis2003@yahoo.com
Celphone number 09213907362
Visit geocities.com/ap_news

Marcos victims' fight for justice and indemnification also a fight against
current administration's corruption and attacks against the people's welfare
- Rep. Beltran

In a presscon today, Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran said that he
continues to stand with other victims and survivors of the Marcos dictatorship
in pushing for indemnification from the Philippine government and the heirs of
former dictator, ousted president Ferdinand E. Marcos. He also said that the
cases of corruption that were filed since EDSA 2 have yet to be settled, and
these cases involved former Marcos cronies and members of the former First
Family.

"The past cannot be erased and must never be forgotten. Marcos was a president
that brought the nation to its knees economically and politically; but up to
present day his scions and former cronies wield influence and power. The fight
for justice and indemnification for the victims of martial law is also a
struggle against continuing and ever-worsening government corruption and
military abuse."

He said that the lessons of the anti-fascist struggle are very much alive, and
should be used in opposing the current government's burgeoning fascist
tendencies and inherent corruption. He said that it was his greed and
corruption that pushed Marcos to impose martial law. "The same with the
current administration wherein Pres. Arroyo and her police and military
forces are using brute force to quell dissent against the govenrment's
corruption and anti-people policies."

Beltran said that the human rights victims of the dictatorship have not given
up on their struggle for indemnifaction, "And we will continue to do so to the
last breath. The monster who was Marcos and the evil he has wrought for 20
years have yet to fully exposed, or at least exposed and condemned enough.
Up to present day, Marcos heirs have yet to acknowledge the crimes the former
strongman committed against the Filipino people; and their former cronies such
as tycoon Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco also continue to enjoy their ill-gotten
wealth. Succeeding administrations have done very little by way of bringing the
Imelda Marcos to justice, and taking back the wealth they have stolen. The
impact of martial law echo to present day, and reveal the sorry plight of human
rights in the country," he said.

The veteran labor leader turned legislator is among the thousands of workers
and peasants who were imprisoned and tortured during the dark days of martial
law. Beltran escaped from prison in 1984 two years after he thrown in there
for treason and sedition.

In the meantime, Beltran said that it was important that the new generation
of Filipinos be made aware of what martial law is and what happened when the
US-Marcos administration implemented it for 20 years. "Whatever democratic
space and civil liberties we have now is directly a product of struggle of
millions of Filipinos who stood up against the Marcos dictatorship and vowed
to fight against any and all attempts to impose martial law again. The Filipino
youth must be taught about the years during the Marcos dictatorship, and be
made vigilant against the slightest threat against civil, democractic and human
rights," he said.

"The current human rights situation under Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
continues to worsen and the administration has all the potential of turning
into an outrighly fascist government. Thousands of human rights activists and
civilians allied with people's organizations defending the economic and
political welfare of the Filipino people are targets of the neutralization
campaign of the military and police. The brutal abduction and killing of
members of Bayan Muna, Anakpawis and Gabriela Women's Party are more than
enough proof of the fascist tendencies of the administration. The killing of
journalists also continue unabated, and the suspects also often point to the
police and military," he said. #

Welcome to Anakpawis News Releases!

This is the new News Release channel for Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) National Political Party. The old website is at http://www.geocities.com/ap_news.