Rep. Beltran's position on sin taxes

PGMA wooing private sector's support for her tax bills including the sin
taxes by promising errant corporations and tax evaders tax amnesty

Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran's position on sin taxes
October 27, 2004

1. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's private dinner meeting with Lucio Tan
recently should be considered top-level lobbying, and is only the start of the
President's campaign to gain the private sector's support for her various tax
proposals, and in the case of Lucio Tan, his support for the sin taxes.

In truth, the private sector has no real problem with the tax proposals because
once approved and implemented, they will only pass the taxes on to consumers
via increases in the product prices and related services.

2. Pres. Arroyo will clearly stop at nothing to get the approval for her tax
measures to save her corruption-ridden and financially floundering
administration. Her meeting with the likes of Tan who still carries much clout
in the country's business community marks the beginning of more compromises
with big business, and these compromises will be no doubt at the expense of
consumers, taxpayers, and the entire Filipino people. In exchange for the
support to her new tax measures, President Arroyo has dangled tax amnesty for
big businesses.

3.Tan and the other big business tycoon Pres. Arroyo is keen on courting for her
tax bills are certain to demand amnesties for themselves, as well as other perks
from the government. The administration will turn a blind eye to their corporate
malpractices and abuses in exchange for their support for the tax bills such as
the sin taxes."

4. Our opposition to the new tobacco and alcohol taxes was not so much because
we are opposed to taxing alcohol and tobacco products. These corporations
producing and marketing tobacco and alcohol are peddlers of disease and death,
and we by no means support their businesses, neither do we want to support
alcohol and tobacco users in their vice. We are opposing the sin taxes,
however, because we are certain of what the business monopolies will be getting
in return for their support for the tax measures.

The national government should promote a campaign against smoking and drinking.
By all means, allocations for health services and health education should be
increased to promote awareness of the evils of smoking and drinking. But
imposing taxes on alcohol and cigarettes per se will not really discourage
drinkers and smokers.

It's a quid pro quo deal. GMA will get her tax measures passed - among them the
sin taxes -- the business monopolies who are notorious for not paying their
taxes will get tax amnesty. In short, more taxes for the poor, amnesty for the
rich.

From 1998-2001 alone, the government has lost P85.4 billion annually because of
tax evasion. These delinquent corporations are being left off the hook while
wage and salary workers are not being treated with leniency and in fact will be
subjected to higher taxes.

5. In principle, it is an outrage that the government is burdening the public
with higher taxes when it continues to provide billions in tax exemption
privileges for foreign multinational and transnational corporations in the
country.

Millions of revenues are being lost from the fiscal incentives - outright tax
exemptions, income tax holidays, tax credits and reduced taxes for firms and
industries. The national government itself says that all these incentives are
worth at least P741B in the last five years, and P175B for the year 2003 alone.
The biggest beneficiaries of these exemptions are the tax and duty exemptions
(P152B) and income tax holidays (P5B) granted to export processing zones.

Instead of taxing tobacco and alcohol the government should slash the
incentives it showers so generously on foreign corporations who, in turn, suck
the economy dry by killing local businesses and manipulate product prices at
whim to ensure their superprofit-returns.#

Palace superbody

Office of Representative RAFAEL V. MARIANO

South Wing - 615, House of Representatives
Constitution Hills, Diliman, Quezon City
Tel. No. 931-6397& 931-5001 loc. 7314

NEWS RELEASE
October 22, 2004

References:
Rep. RAFAEL MARIANO, ANAKPAWIS Party-list (0920-4516504)
Jim Fernando, Public Information Officer (0921-3838393)

Palace superbody is “image reengineering” machinery – solon

Anakpawis party-list Representative Rafael Mariano today described
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s newly created Office of External
Affairs (OEA) as an “image reengineering” machinery to save the
administration from increasing political isolation from the Filipino
people.

Reports cited that the OEA is emerging as a “superbody” and appears to
duplicate the work of regular line agencies and forms part of the
President’s policy of political accommodation.

“Aside from being a dumping ground (of presidential appointees) and
bureaucratic duplication, the OEA will serve to repackage the image of
the President,” says Mariano.

“The creation of the OEA is an open admission that the President is
suffering from increasing political isolation and that her policies and
programs does not enjoy people’s participation and support,” Mariano
stressed.

“No amount of public relations and cosmetic surgery can save the
President from increasing political isolation,” he added.

The peasant lawmaker said that “Ms Macapagal’s failure to address the
problems of landlessness, hunger and poverty coupled with the soaring
prices of oil, water and electricity rates, basic goods and services,
and the imposition of unjust taxes could hardly rebuild her worn-out
image.”

“The OEA will surely fail in its so-called job to bring the government
closer to the people and the people closer to the government,” he said.
“This so-called superbody is expected to end up a weakling.” #

Scrap RP's membership dues to the IMF

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release October 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 scores Macapagal-Arroyo's plans to pay off P6.8
Billion in membership dues to the IMF

Anakpawis Representative Crispin beltran today expressed strong criticism anew
for the Macapagal-Arroyo administration for its decision to issue a new
promissory note to cover the P13 billion advances made by the Bangko Sentral ng
Pilipinas on behalf of the national government as payment for its membership
dues to the International Monetary Fund. The promissory note will be issued by
the Department of Finance (DOF). The BSP has paying the government's dues to
the IMF, and is now demanding payment.

The DOF and the BSP have already discussed the matter of IMF membership dues.
The national government originally owes the BSP P6.8 billion in membership dues
that the BSP has been advancing to the IMF on behalf of the Arroyo
administration, but the amount has already doubled in the last year.

According to the Department of Justice, the republic is the member of the IMF,
and thus it is the duty of the national government itself, and not the BSP, to
pay its membership dues to the IMF. Apparently, membership to the IMF is not
by agency, but as sovereign.

"It's an outrage that the Philippines is being made to shell out billions of
hard currency to pay for membership dues to the same finance institution and
pseudo-global alliance that has buried the country deep in debt," he said. "The
P6.8 billion membership dues should be scrapped totally, and the funds diverted
to increasing allocations for health and education."

"It's shocking to know that apart from being forced to pay the whopping P5.9
trillion to multilateral finance institutions the likes of the IMF, we have to
pay for multi-billion membership dues! There is nothing in our government's
membership to the IMF that benefits the Filipino people. Not only should the
Philippines' immoral foreign debts be repudiated, but country should also get
out of the IMF and completely scrap its membership."#

Solon backs farmers' plea

Office of Representative RAFAEL V. MARIANO
South Wing - 615, House of Representatives
Constitution Hills, Diliman, Quezon City
Tel. No. 931-6397& 931-5001 loc. 7314

NEWS RELEASE

October 18, 2004

References:
Rep. RAFAEL MARIANO, ANAKPAWIS Party-list (0920-4516504)
Jim Fernando, Public Information Officer (0921-3838393)

Solon backs farmers’ plea for palay price hikes, warns of “rice crisis”
similar to 1995

Anakpawis party-list Representative Rafael Mariano today backed the
demand of rice farmers for an increase in the farm-gate price of palay
(unmilled rice) from the current P 7 to P12 a kilo and called for
government intervention to avert a “rice crisis” similar to that of
1995.

Farmers groups led by the Alyansa ng Magbubukid ng Gitnang Luzon and the
Lumaban – Timog Katagalugan on Thursday threatened to stop harvesting
the rice crop starting today, in the middle of the harvest season in
what is known as the country’s rice belt. Scores of rice farmers led by
the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) is also set to stage a
camp-out starting tomorrow in front of the Department of Agriculture to
press for the increase in palay prices.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap urged farmers and traders to reach a
speedy and equitable conclusion to the dispute so as not to jeopardize
the country’s food security.

Mariano said that “the government must immediately intervene to the
problem and not limit itself from simply playing as a mediator and
should instead take the lead in asserting farmers’ just and reasonable
demand.”

“If the government is really sincere in addressing the farmers demand,
it should immediately increase the procurement capacity of the National
Food Authority,” he said.

“Raising the NFA’s procurement to at least 25 percent of the annual
palay production could directly influence the prices dictated by
unscrupulous traders at the farm-gate,” he said. “This is only one of
the many doable solutions to increase the farm-gate prices of palay.”

The NFA only buys at least two percent (2%) of the country’s annual
palay production. The country’s national daily consumption requirement
is also increasing steadily. Data from the NFA showed that national
daily consumption in 2001 is 24,600 metric tons (MT); 25,780 MT in 2002;
26,400 MT in 2003; and 27,000 MT for this year.

To ensure its 30-day buffer stock and meet the 27,000 MT daily
consumption requirements, the NFA has resorted to rice importation above
the minimum access volume dictated by the World Trade Organization.

“Instead of buying locally, the NFA has resorted to dependence on rice
importation,” he said. “Rice importation is also the main reason why the
NFA ranked second in the list of government-owned and controlled
corporations who acquire tremendous losses,” the farmer-lawmaker added.

Mariano also assailed the planned privatization of the NFA saying it
would only result to the country’s import dependence and places the
country’s food security in enormous risk and could lead to an artificial
rice crisis similar to that in 1995 when rice prices jacked up to about
P30 a kilo.

“The privatization of the NFA would lead to the removal of so-called
government subsidy to farmers and consumers by the national government,”
says Mariano adding that “the privatization of the grain agency also
means allowing rice cartels to govern the rice industry as it calls for
the withdrawal of government intervention in the market.”

“Dependence on food importations, the NFA privatization and government’s
negligence to farmers’ demand to raise palay prices could lead to a rice
crisis similar to that of 1995,” Mariano said.

“There’s no production shortfall in 1995 but it is the year when the NFA
did not intervene and did not procure much,” he said.

“The low participation of NFA coupled with low inventory of stocks and
the manipulation of rice cartels are the bases why the crisis occurred
in 1995. The NFA participation is significant because it has been a
practice of rice cartels to monitor the buffer stock of the NFA as a
pricing guide for their stocks. In 1995, when rice cartels observed that
the NFA has low inventory, rice cartels artificially raised prices,”
Mariano said. “The manipulation by rice cartels must be stopped,” he
warned. #

NR1026:Tax measures for tax amnesty

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release October 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

PGMA wooing private sector's support for her tax bills by promising errant
corporations and tax evaders tax amnesty - Rep. Beltran

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today said that President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo's private dinner meeting with Lucio Tan recently should be
considered top-level lobbying, and is only the start of the President's
campaign to gain the private sector's support for her various tax proposals.

"The private sector has no real problem with the tax proposals because once
approved and implemented, they will only pass the taxes on to consumers via
increases in the product prices and related services," he said.

"Pres. Arroyo will clearly stop at nothing to get the approval for her tax
measures to save her corruption-ridden and financially floundering
administration. Her meeting with the likes of Tan who still carries much clout
in the country's business community marks the beginning of more compromises
with big business,and these compromises will be no doubt at the expense of
consumers, taxpayers, and the entire Filipino people," he said. "In exchange
for the support for her new tax measures, President Arroyo has dangled tax
amnesty for big businesses, such as those owned by Tan."

"Tan and the other big business tycoon Pres. Arroyo is keen on courting for her
tax bills are certain to demand amnesties for themselves, as well as other
perks from the government. The administration will turn a blind eye to their
corporate malpractices and abuses in exchange for support for the tax bills."

Beltran said that his opposition to the new tobacco and alcohol taxes was not so
much because he was opposed to taxing alocohol and tobacco products, but because
he is certain of what the business monopolies will be getting in return for
their support for the tax measures.

"It's a quid pro quo deal," Beltran said. "GMA will get her tax measures passed,
the business monopolies who are notorious for not paying their taxes will get
tax amnesty. In short, more taxes for the poor, amnesty for the rich," he said.

The veteran labor leader said that from 1998-2001 alone, the government has lost
85.4 billion annually because of tax evasion. "These delinquent corporations are
being left off the hook while wage and salary workers are not being treated with
leniency and in fact will be subjected to higher taxes," he said.#

NR1026:Retrenchments in RP embassy in Saudi

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release October 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

Rep. Beltran questions DOLE plans to replace RP embassy staff in Saudi; says
GMA austerity measures not being applied in RP offices abroad

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today called attention to reports that
beginning 2005, the 40 labor staff of the Philippine Embassy in Saudi Arabia
will be replaced by new labor staff and officials from Manila who are expecting
to receive US$1,600 per month, or US$600 more than what the locally hired
administrative staff received.

According to reports by the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants, the decision to
retrench the current staff and replace them with new ones was pushed by the
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) with the full concurrence of
Malacanang.

Beltran said this move exposes the DOLE's indifference to the real issues
confronting Filipinos in Saudi, and the Arroyo government's double-standards
when it comes the implementation of its so-called austerity measures. He said
that the move was "arbitrary" and would only serve to "derail the work" of the
current embassy workers who have at least gained headway in exposing the
situation faced by overseas Filipino workers in Saudi.

Beltran pointed out that Filipinos in Saudi Arabia need better-experienced and
committed interpreters and case officers, not "highly paid officials who do not
even have the experience of working in the Middle East."

He questioned the DOLE's arbitrary lay-off plan, saying that there has been no
thorough performance evaluation or assessment conducted concerning all present
labor staff in the Embassy, or of the embassy itself. He said that only a after
a thorough assessment of the performance of the embassy and its staff should
replacements be made, especially among the ranks of the inept officials.

"There are countless complaints coming from OFWs in Saudi, which the DOLE, the
Department of Foreign Affairs and the Arroyo administration have not given
sufficient response to, much less resolved. "OFWs in Saudi need all the support
and assistance they can from the Philippine government. The services of the
embassy to the OFWs in Saudi leave much to be desired - for instance, there
should be more case officers looking into and assisting OFWs who run afoul of
their employers who exploit their economic welfare, or even abuse their human
rights as in the case of Filipinos working as domestic staff. "The Philippine
embassy in Saudi should employ more staff who will attend to the needs of OFWs
in distress."

Beltran echoed the call of OFWs saying that if there's anyone who should be
replaced, it should be Labor Secretary Patricia Sto Tomas and Ambassador
Bahnarim Guinomla."The feedback on the performance of these officials have
been highly negative. They have proven to be inefficient and ineffectual when
it comes to protecting the rights of OFWs. The situation of OFWs in Saudi and
other countries continues to worsen, and our Kababayans are often forced to go
without the slightest help from the Philippine embassy," he said.

Beltran said that labor staff and officials should dare to conduct regular
visits of Filipino workers in the remote dessert areas in Saudi Arabia and
those who are languishing in jail. There are around 900,000 Filipinos in Saudi
Arabia and 1,115 are in jail and among them are 50 minors. There are also 13
Pinoys who are in death row according to a report released by the DFA last
August.#

NR1025:Junk RA9207 or NGC Housing Act

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release October 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

Urban poor decry joblessness, demolitions and lack of services under GMA
administration; demand repeal of National Government Center (NGC) Act RA
9207

Urban poor residents in Quezon City, most particularly those living in the
National Government Center (NGC) today held a big protest in front of Congress
demanding the immediate repeal of RA 9207 or the National Government Center
(NGC) Act. Members various housing associations in the NGC and members of the
Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (KADAMAY) national urban poor organization
trooped to Congress today to support Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran's HB 2800
repealing RA9207. They said that the Arroyo government's NGC Housing Projects
will benefit only few urban poor residents while destroying the homes of
thousands of others.

The NGC is composed of five barangays: Brgy. Holy Spirit, Brgy. Commonwealth,
Brgy. Payatas A, Brgy. Payatas B, and Brgy. Batasan Hills. The implementing
rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 9207 also known as the National
Government Center Housing and Land Utilization Act of 2003 requires the
residents to enlist/apply as beneficiaries of the government's NGCHP (National
Government Center Housing Project) or they will be forcefully evicted from
their homes. RA 9207 was passed by the 12th Congress in year 2003.

Beltran criticized the Arroyo administration and its so-called urban poor
housing agencies to task for brutal demolitions, the latest of which wounded
urban poor dwellers when police units demolished shanties at the Payatas
dumpsite. Also recently, threats of demolitions have terrorized urban poor
communities at the Smokey Mountain mountain dumpsite in Tondo.

The ongoing Philippine National Railways (PNR) railroad modernization program
from Manila to Southern Tagalog and Bicol has also began, starting with the
violent demolition of urban poor dwellings near the railroad tracks in Caloocan
City. If left unchallenged, the Arroyo-approved PNR project will mean more
brutal demolitions and the dislocation of about 10 million urban poor dwellers
living along the PNR tracks.

He also castigated Arroyo for implementing a "sham mass housing program that
actually caters to the middle class and not the urban poor." The Community
Mortgage Program, Beltran explained, actually requires applicants to have jobs
in order to sustain the five-year rent and 25-year amortization periods.
"Thousands of unemployed Filipinos and their families will be permanently
homeless under the CMP. Even if some manage to avail of the CMP, the incessant
joblessness will finish off the prospect for renting and owning a small house,"
he said.

Addressing the urban poor's demand for government to recognize their right to
shelter, Beltran said that the free mass-housing projects for poorest Filipinos
should be implemented with funds from a no-nonsense anti-corruption drive and
from debt relief.

"Whoever says that free housing for the poor is utopian is mistaken. We have
sufficient funds but these are sapped by tax evasion and corruption and
non-productive expenses like debt servicing," he said. "The government's
failure to address the housing problem of the urban poor would continue to
cause their marginalization and rebellion against the status quo."

Beltran lamented that past and present mass-housing schemes of the government
have failed to address the problem because "the government has reached that
level when we sold houses to the jobless urban poor and they are sold on
installment basis at usurious rates."

A low-cost mass-housing unit at Montalban, Rizal costs P180,000 per unit. "This
may seem low but it is actually very expensive to our jobless urban poor.
Besides, no genuinely poor person would have that much money to get a house on
outright purchase."

"While the same house would be made available for a 25-year amortization term,
the usurious rates eventually become intolerable to the tenants who are not
provided stable employment opportunities. Under the so-called Community
Mortgage Program, their total monthly installments after 25 years would reach
as high as P400,000," said Beltran.

He said that "this usurious rates slapped on so-called mass-housing for the poor
partly explains why urban poor folk would rather bite the bullet and live under
bridges or beside esteros and even allow themselves to fall prey to squatter
syndicates."

Beltran also called for a moratorium on demolitions of their dwellings not
unless government and interested private sector entities come out with
practical responses to the issue of relocation.#

NR1025: GMA Govt's political accomodation

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release October 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
SCelphone number 09213907362
Visit geocities.com/ap_news

Solon echoes sentiments of government employees against GMA govt's
"double-standards" and "political accommodation" vis-à-vis streamlining on the
one hand; and creation of new offices on the other

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today said that the Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo administration's relentless attacks against the job security
of government employees was creating a restiveness among the rank-and-file of
the bureaucracy. He said that more and more government employees have shed off
the last remaining shreds of loyalty to the government because of its plans to
implement massive retrenchment among the ranks of government employees.

Beltran pointed out that many government offices are slated for abolition,
privatization, mergers, transfer, reorganization and rationalization which
would result in the lay off of tens of thousands of employees. Almost on a
daily basis, Pres. Arroyo issues Executive Orders to implement these lay-offs,
most recent of which is EO 366 or the rationalization of the functions and
operations of the agencies under the Executive Branch of the government.
Recent estimates reveal that 300,000 to 420,000 government workers will be
affected by the administration's streamlining efforts.

"Government employees have every right and reason to become disloyal and
outraged at the government. While tenured rank and file employees are being
targeted for lay-off, early and forced retirement, the President is creating
new offices and appointing new officials," Beltran said.

Since July this year, eight (8) new offices were created with 10 new
cabinet-level positions appointed to wit: Office the Presidential Adviser on
Job Generation headed by former DA Secretary Luis Lorenzo Jr., Office of the
Cabinet Officer for Provincial Events - Conrado Limcaoco, Offcie of the
Political Adviser - Gabriel Claudio, Office of the Communications Director -
Silvestre Afable, Presidential Adviser on Revenue Enhancement or PARE - Narciso
Santiago and the Office for External Affairs - Eduardo Pamintuan (former NHA
General Manager).

New Presidential advisers and consultants were also appointed such as
Presidential Adviser for New Government Centers (Rodolfo del Rosario, former
Davao del Norte Governor), Presidential Adviser for Rural Electrification
(Francisco Silva, former NEA Chief), Pres'l. Adviser for Trade and Development
(Rodolfo Severino, former Sec. Gen. Of the ASEAN), Pres'l. Adviser for Region
VI (Raphael Coscolluela) and Pres'l. Assistant for Transport and Tricycle
Concerns (Ariel Lim).

Beltran echoed the sentiments of government employees that the Arroyo
Administration was shamelessly using "double standards" and being "political
accommodating to its allies" at the expense of the employees. "So much for the
fiscal crisis and the supposed depleted reserves of the bureaucracy. While
pushing for streamlining and austerity measures, the executive is creating new
offices and even allocating millions of funds for its operations to accommodate
individuals and groups who rallied behind her in the May 2004 elections," he
said.

Beltran cited the new Office of External Affairs, which according to reports
duplicates the functions of other government agencies such as the Department of
Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the
National Anti-Poverty Commission.

Beltran said that Pamintuan's underlings at the OEA have no credible backgrounds
to justify their new positions. These are the same people behind the Kasimbayan
and Pro-Gloria machinery- of the administration during the elections where
millions of government funds where diverted to."

The veteran labor leader also said that Jun Santiago's appointment as PARE
(Presidential Adviser on Revenue Enhancement) is also politically motivated.
PARE is the office created to supposedly help govt find ways to ease current
fiscal crisis". Santiago is the husband of Senator Miriam Santiago who defected
to the administration's ticket before the election and a kumpare of President
Arroyo who is Ninang to their adopted children.#

NR1021:Ombudsman trial vs Garcia should be prioritized

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release October 21, 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
SCelphone number 09213907362
Visit geocities.com/ap_news


Military court trial hearing AFP's Carlos Garcia no longer necessary; after
Congress wraps up its findings, focus of investigations should be at the
Ombudsman's - Rep. Beltran

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today said that Malacanang was doing an
'overkill' on the corruption issue involving former Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP) comptroller Gen. Carlos Garcia by ordering a military court
trial against him, apart from the ongoing investigations of Congress and the
charges filed at the Office of the Ombudsman.

Beltran said that there should be focus in the investigations against Garcia,
and the focus should be at the Office of the Ombudsman. He said that the
findings of the Congressional investigations should be immediately taken into
account and that the Committee in charge should make recommendations regarding
Garcia and the accusations against him.

"There is sufficient evidence Garcia - and he himself knows that if he opens his
mouth he will be crucifying himself and more importantly , his cohorts. It has
become apparent that he has not acted on his own and that he is not the only
one in the AFP who has accumulated millions of ill-gotten wealth. By not
speaking up, Garcia is not only protecting himself - he is protecting his
partners in crime and their respective offices," he said.

The veterab labor leader said that since Congress cannot compel Garcia to answer
crucial questions, the logical next step would be to take him to the Office of
the Ombudsman and have him immediately tried by the proper criminal and
judicial authorities. "Otherwise the investigations will just be going around
in circles - Garcia will just continue to cite his right to protect himself
from self-incrimination," he said.

"All this is beginning to smell strongly of delaying tactics. The longer Garcia
is able to stall his interlocutors and hinder the process of investigations,
the greater the chances that he and his partners and cohorts will be able to
cover their tracks and destroy the paper trail of their corrupt dealings," he
said.

"There should be focus. There is no more need for a court martial or a public
trial. What is severely needed here is strong and genuine political will on
the part of Malacanang and the Ombudsman 's to get to the root of the case and
expose Garcia and whoever else he is protecting through his silence and
essential refusal to cooperate," he concluded.#

NR1021:NLEX toll rates hiked by 388%

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release October 21, 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
SCelphone number 09213907362
Visit geocities.com/ap_news

Rep. Beltran calls Lopez company's 388- 510 percent increase in toll rates in
the Northern Luzon Expressway highway robbery

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran expressed vehement opposition to the
plans of the Manila North Tollways (MNTC) Corp, new operators of the 83.7-km
North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) to impose a 388% percent increase in toll rates.
The MNTC has announced that the rate increase will be imposed once the
ehabilitation work in the entire stretch in completed in December. The
corporation is justifying the increase by saying that the road improvements
aims to provide safety features such as efficient traffic management, lighting,
cameras and strict enforcement of traffic rules to reduce the number of
accidents.

The basic toll rates for Class 1 vehicles - cars, jeepneys, mega taxis and vans
- plying the route to Marilao, Bulacan, to Sta. Ines, Pampanga, will be pegged
at P2.49 km from Marilao to Sta Ines, and a flat rate of P42 from Balintawak to
Marilao. These vehicle will pay P200 for the whole stretch of the NLEX. This
is a whopping 388 percent increase from the current rate of P41.

Class 2 vehicles - buses and light trucks - will pay P500 for the whole stretch,
or 510 percent more than the present P82 toll rate. Class 3 vehicles, or heavy
trucks, will pay 288 percent more at P600 from the current P123.

MNTC is 70 percent owned by the Lopez group (of Meralco and Maynilad)
corporation's First Philippine Infrastructure Development Corpororation. The
other shareholders are Egis Trans and Leighton Asia Ltd. The MNTC has
constructed additional 138 additional new-lane kilometers increasing the number
to 433 to accommodate more vehicles and reduce traffic congestion.

Beltran said that there was no doubt that the improvements the MNTC is making
to the NLEX will benefit motorists; but, he added, the terrible downside was
that they will be made to pay through the nose for all the improvements for
years to come.

"Clearly it's the infamous and greedy profit-motive that's at work here, and not
public service. There's no debate that the MNTC has invested billions in
improving the NLEX; but it's appalling and horrible that it is such in a
tearing hurry to recoup all its expenditures by imposing a gargantuan increase
in toll rates," he said. "The NLEX improvements will not be enjoyed at all by
motorists once they realize that they'll be paying a minimum of 388% increase
just to pass through the NLEX," he said.

The veteran labor leader said that the immediate impact of the toll rate hike
would be increases in bus fares and other transportation costs which would all
be saddled on consumers and the public utility vehicle-using public. He said
that it already costs an arm and a leg to travel from Manila to Bulacan one
way, "Now the transport fares will even be more painful on the budget," he
said.

Beltran said that the national government should make moves to purchase the NLEX
from the MNTC and stop the privatization of both the NLEX and the Southern Luzon
Express Way. He said that the concessionaire-relationship between the
government and the MNTC was abusive, and the public is the most being
exploited.

He also said that at the onset, the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) should thumb
down the MNTC's proposal for a rate increase. He also said that a temporary
restraining order should be laid down against the MNTC's toll increase - "At
the least, it should 2 years before the MNTC is allowed to jack toll rates.
There's no way that the MNTC will not be able to recover every single centavo
in spent on the NLEX improvements within a year of operations on the current
rates alone. It's unjust that it wants to recover its expenses so quickly.
It's literal high-way robbery," he said.#

NR1019:GMA's EO absorbing NPC debts

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release October 19 , 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

Solon scores PGMA's Executive Order 370 calling on Finance Department to
absorb P200B Napocor debts

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today decried what he termed as the
national government's inconsistency and hypocrisy in its manner and means of
dealing with the fiscal crisis.

Tuesday last week, October 12, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued
Executive Order 370 authorizing the Department of Finance to assume P200
billion of the National Power Corporation's (NAPOCOR) debts. Pres. Arroyo
approved the 'direct assumption by the national government of a portion of
financial obligations" of Napocor beginning December 31 in compliance with the
Electric Power Industry Reform (EPIRA). The DOF is now authorized to make the
necessary steps in transferring half the Napocor's P400 B debts to the
government.

"President Arroyo keeps exhorting everyone to scrimp and save, and has even told
Filipinos to make do with food coupons instead of demanding jobs and housing;
but now here we hear that the government is willing and even eager to absorb
P200 billion in debts! Where are the funds going to come from to pay off these
debts but from taxpayers? It's evident that all these austerity measures are
directed towards paying off debts the Filipino people did not benefit from -
debts that are highly anomalous and have even yet to be comprehensively
audited," said Beltran.

Beltran said that Pres. Arroyo's decision to have the government absorb
Napocor's debts is clearly influenced by the foreign investors in the power
sector and the IMF-WB and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). This, he said that
benefit transnational power players, including the local American Chamber of
Commerce.

"Napocor's privatization and the sale of the National Transmission Corporation
(TRANSCO) have hit snags because of the billions-worth of financial losses the
Napocor has accumulated through the years. Malacanang and its financial
advisers are crossing their fingers that by absorbing Napocor's debts, the
Napocor will become more sellable and attractive to investors," he said.

The veteran labor leader pointed out that the national government is not about
to change its target of achieving a balanced budget by 2009, but that it admits
that the key to achieving the target is Congressional approval of several
revenue measures estimated to raise some PhP50 billion for the government. The
funds, he said, will be partly utilized to pay off Napocor's debts.

"From whatever angle, through all the financial jargon and economic legalese, it
becomes evident that it is the consumers and taxpayers who will inevitably bear
the burden of additional taxes and other payments, just so the national
government can accumulate the necessary funds enough to pay off the NAPOCORS's
debts. This clearly makes the government's decision to absorb Napocor's PhP200
billion debts highly repugnant," he concluded.#

NR1018: On the re-enactment of the 2004 budget

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release October 18 , 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

Re-enactment of 2004 budget for health, housing and education translation of
lack of responsiveness of GMA administration for the poor

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today said that if Congress only
intends to reenact the 2004 budget next year, then it's certain than the
problems of the basic sectors and working people will also continue to worsen,
and there will be no relief in sight for the mounting health, housing and
education problems of the poor. He said that the least Congress can do is to
increase allocations for health, education and housing and make sure that the
allocations go to public schools, public hospitals and subsidized, socialized
housing for the poor.

"Not only are the allocations for health, housing and education miniscule, they
are also being funneled into department operations and functions that do
not immediately and concretely benefit the poor sectors very much need of
these services," he said. Beltran said that going through the budgets of the
aforementioned agencies, he said that it was clear how twisted the priorities
of the national government are , and how the health, education and housing
agencies and departments are also geared not towards providing necessary
services to the Filipino people, but more towards profiteering and
privatization.

"If there will be no changes in the budget, then it's only proof of the lack
of responsiveness and concern of the national government for the plight of
the poor. A major overhaul of the national budget is very necessary -
starting off with the scrapping of the automatic appropriation clause for
foreign debt payments," he said. "The allocations for health, housing,
education and agriculture should also be re-prioritized. Public services have
been severely cut down, and majority of Filipinos do not benefit any from
the national budget," he said.

Beltran said, however, that since there was no plan to reenact a new budget,
all the new tax measures and proposals being pushed by Malacanang should be
scrapped. "Since there will be changes in the allocations or no re-allignment
of funds for basic services, there should be no more tax measures," he said.

In the meantime, he also said that the line-budgetting of solons' Priority
Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) should be opposed. "This will be a mere
perpetuation of the grandscale deception of the Filipino people. The PDAf
should be abolished in its entirety - but instead of doing this, the
line-budgetting tact is being proposed. This is no different from giving the
PDAF wholly to the various districts - only here there is eve n less certainty
that the funds will be allotted for basic social services of the people in the
various constituencies. This line-budgetting is just a deceptive tactic if its
not going to result in the genuine re-alignment of the funds towards education,
health, housing and agriculture," he said. "

He also said that the line-budgetting tact should also be thrown back to the
Office of the President. He said that the Office of the President should
also be subjected to line-budgetting, and the president itself should be
tasked to line-budget the appropriations for foreign debt payments.

Beltran said that the Commission on Audit's (CoA) report on the detailed
Statement of Income and Expenses for the 2003 fiscal year of the Office of the
President (OP)contained eyebrow-raising facts and figures which belie the
executive's assertion that her government has been saving and scrimping and
that it's opposed to corruption.

Beltran said that according to the CoA report, President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo's office has the record of having the biggest unliquidated
cash advance since the administration of former dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos.
While the accumulated cash advance from the time of Marcos down to the
government of ousted president Joseph Estrada totaled P160 M, the OPS under
PGMA has accumulated P626M in unliquidated cash advances in 2003 alone. #

NR1018:GMA as commander in chief of PNP, AFP

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release October 18 , 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

PGMA as commander-in-chief of the armed forces is deliberately trying to
keep to the sidelines over raging issues of corruption in the PNP and AFP;
implications on the presidency serious - Rep. Beltran

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today said that Malacanang's call
against corruption has fallen flat on its face because of the executive's
lack of sincere and strong political will to route out the corrupt high-ranking
officials in the civilian, police and military bureaucracy.

Beltran said that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo continues to call for
investigations into the financial and performance records of officials now
being accused of corruption, but she has yet to issue a stronger stand against
these erring officials. "None have been suspended, and none have been fired.
The rigmarole of placing new appointments in the key government posts has also
been exposed - the President is only recycling individuals, including those
who have been accused of graft and corruption and other abuses of power," he
said.

Beltran said that the President's jelly-fish, wishty-washy attitude as
president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces only strengthen
suspicions that the paper trail of all the corruption schemes and scams now
being exposed in the PNP and AFP lead to Malacanang.

"As commander-in-chief of the armed forces, the rank and file look up to
Pres. Arroyo to put an end to the systemic corruption in the PNP and the AFP;
but the president chooses to stay safe and in the sidelines. This is a
definite sign that Pres. Arroyo knows how serious the exposes are, and of their
implications on her office and leadership," he concluded.#

Beltran said that latest reports exposing a widespread payroll racket in the
Philippine National Police (PNP) are more than enough reason to conduct a
thorough revamp in the PNP leadership. He said that President Arroyo's refusal
to overhaul the PNP leadership from top to bottom guarantees that corruption
will never be taken out of the PNP. This, he also said, also goes for t he
corruption within the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)."Lifestyle checks
are so weak a response to this sewer of a problem. Criminal actions must be
pursued against those who are accused of massive corruption," he said.

"The President is being very careful and considerate when it comes to
addressing issues of corruption involving the armed forces. She is most
likely well aware of how volatile the situation is when it comes to the rank
and file of the police and military. There is deep demoralization within the
ranks, and for all the calls for sobriety, it will not be surprising if there
will be uprisings from the ranks who are sickened and disgusted by the corrupt
leadership and the executive's refusal to step in and take decisive action," he
said.

Finally, Beltran said that it was not so much the scourge of terrorism that
the national government should address, but the alarming level of corruption
in the topmost levels of the bureaucracy. "The days are over when top
officials of the government can sound high and mighty in saying that they are
at the forefront of the fight versus corruption and their propaganda desk
project campaigns saying that it's the small-time racketeers in the
bureaucracy that are to blame. These days, it's the heads of the most
influential agencies and departments who are in the firing line for their fat
paychecks, and unexplained wealth," he said.#

NR1016: AP coordinator killed in Leyte

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release October 16 , 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

Anakpawis coordinator in Leyte killed last night for defending consumers,
workers' rights

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today expressed outrage over last
night's cold-blooded killing of 40-year old Samuel Bandila, Regional
Coordinator of Anakpawis National Political Party-Southern Leyte, in Barangay
65 Pio de Legaspi. He was on the way home from the picketline of protesting
employees of the Leyte Metropolitan Waterworks District Employees Association
(LMWDEA). Bandilla was also an organizer of Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU)-Tacloban,
and head of the Popular Struggles Department of the local chapter of the Bagong
Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN).

Bandilla was killed in the midst of the strong campaign of the LMWDEA against
water rate increases and other anti-people, anti-consumer resolutions and
decisions of the Philippine Association of Water Districts (PAWD). The LMWDEA
launched their strike yesterday morning, October 15, in protest against the
illegal firing of 26 employees of the PWAD.

Pandilla had just left the strike area with three other officials of the LMWDEA
on board a tricycle, when they were overtaken by two men on a motorcyle. The
two men fired their gun on Bandilla and his companions and fled.

Bandilla was declared dead on arrival at the St. Paul's hospital after
sustaining two bulletwounds on the nape and on the head. Once of his
companions, Bernie Deavaras who is treasurer of the LWMDEA, was rushed to the
Intensive Care Unit and is in critical condition. The two others who were with
them have not been hurt, but are currently in the protective custody of human
rights and people's organizations because they are witnesses to the crime. They
describe the killers as dark-skinned, medium-built - around 5'7 ft in height,
and middle-aged, in their forties. They say that they will be able to identify
the killers if presented in a line-up.

The LMWDEA has issued a statement condemning the crime, and said that it's
possible that PAWD president Engr. Ranulfo Feliciano has something to do with
the killing. Bandilla has been very vocal in exposing the alleged corruption of
the latter, and has earlier distributed documents to the local media documents
pointing to the purported corruption of Feliciano.

Immediately after the shooting, two employees of Feliciano - Jose Raagas and
Arnel Salentes were seen passing the scene of the crime, also on board a
motorcyle. They stopped at the scene shortly, then immediately left towards
the direction taken by the gunmen.

"Whoever this Engr. Ranulfo Feliciano is, he will have to be made to explain
what part he might have played in this killing. The murder of Samuel Bandilla
is political in nature - he was killed in his defense of the political and
economic rights of consumers and workers in Leyte," Beltran said. "It's an
outrage that yet another political activist has been killed in the conduct of
his advocacy."

Beltran said that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) should coordinate
with the LMWDEA , Anakpawis and other human rights groups in Leyte and
investigate the killing. He said that the campaign Bandilla led against water
rate increases, illegal retrenchment and other anti-consumer, anti-worker
policies of the local water is all-too connected to the comprehensive fight of
all Filipinos against the national government's privatization policies and
anti-labor stance.

Bandilla in the sixth Anakpawis coordinator killed since November 2003. The
other Anakpawis leaders were killed by the military, but none of the
perpetrators have been brought to justice.#

NR1016:Demoralization in the PNP, AFP

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release October 16 , 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

Fat paychecks, undeserved perks in top levels of AFP, PNP demoralize
lower-salaried rank-and file police and soldiers; Malacanang's battle vs
corruption empty propaganda

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today said that the scandalous reports
of the fat paychecks, allowances, perks and other benefits being enjoyed by
the higher-ranking officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and
the Philippine National Police (PNP) and former Defense secretary and now
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) chief Angelo Reyes are sure
to exacerbate the already widespread demoralization among the rank-and-file of
the AFP and the PNP.

Beltran said that the exposes regarding the corruption in the military and
police institutions is making ordinary police officers and soldiers question
the integrity of their top officials, as well as the credibility of the
Macapagal-Arroyo government. He said that it was ironic and insulting at
the same time that even that Malacanang and its allies in Congress appeal to
the rank-and-file to keep themselves in-check and allow themselves to be
manipulated by the reports, the reports keep getting worse and worse, and the
arguments of corruption more and more convincing.

"Malacanang and its allies exhort the rank-and-file of the AFP and the PNP to
remain loyal when as the days pass it's becoming evident that corruption really
does envelop the very same institutions the executive wants the PNP and AFP men
and women to be loyal to," he said.

Beltran said that the scandalous reports of excessive and undeserved paychecks
of the higher officials give the smaller criminals in uniform a twisted reason
to remain corrupt in their own small-scale way. He said that for years, various
police sergeants and captains and low-ranking police and military officials
have been charged with running or protecting the jueteng or drug syndicates in
collusion with local government officials. Now, recent reports expose
small-time these rackets are. How can there be reforms in the PNP and the AFP
when the topmost levels can't even be cleaned out of corruption?"

Beltran expressed strong disagreement with the assertion of Malacanang
spokesperson Ignacio Bunye that the corruption allegations against DILG's Reyes
were made-up and were being issued as mere propaganda calls.

"What's a flimsy and empty propaganda call is Malacanang's declaration that
it's against corruption and that it is sincere in the fight to have it wiped
out from the bureaucracy," he said. "Angelo Reyes is yet another Malacanang
favorite who will always be protected by the President. Reyes is an effective
henchman of Malacanang in its campaign of subservience to the US' military
dictates; nevermind that he utilizes the shadiest and underhanded tactics.
His latest deployment in the DILG gives him greater power as he will also have
the PNP and the AFP at his beck and call. Now, with his clout in Malacanang
tried and tested, Reyes is certain to perpetrate even worse acts of corruption.
He can be certain, however, that he will in the watchlist of every
anti-corruption watchdog group apart from being the target of human rights
organizations," he concluded.#

NR1014:No to court-martial for Garcia

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release October 14 , 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

PGMA's order of court martial against AFP's Garcia prelude to whitewash and
cover-up; court-martial is actually protection for Garcia and his yet-unknown
bosses and cohorts - Rep. Beltran

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today said that President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo's order to have former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
comptroller Carlos Garcia was the ultimate sign that Malacanang and the AFP
were hellbent on white-washing the investigations against Garcia, and thus
cover up all the other military officials and other government civilian
officials who are involved in the corruption scam of ill-gotten wealth.

"Why is Garcia being placed under court martial? The charges against him are not
military in nature and do not immediately concern his duties as a military
official.He is being accused of amassing ill-gotten wealth and perpetrating
acts of corruption - these are crimes that fall under the jurisdiction of the
Office of the Ombudsman, and not the military court," he said

"Pres. Arroyo's stepping in is not to help resolve the case or go to the root of
the spate of corruption-crimes in the AFP but to control the damage and shut
Garcia up . If Garcia is placed under court -martial, all other investigations
against him and other officials involved could be put to a halt. Garcia should
be hauled off to criminal court at the Ombudsman's and not protected via court
martial," he said.#

NR1014: PAGC investigation vs Garcia not enough

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release October 14 , 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

Winston Garcia investigation at the PAGC might end up nowhere and the most
he'll get is a slap on the wrist - Rep. Beltran

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today said that President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo's decision to have Government Service Insurance System (GSIS)
president and General Manager Winston Garcia investigated by the Presidential
Anti-Graft Commission (PCAG) was simply not enough given the gravity of the
charges against Garcia. He said that that the PAGC cannot lay down any
criminal charges against Garcia if and when found guilty of corruption and
abuses. "the most that Garcia can get from the PAGC is a slap on the wrist, a
harmless reprimand. This would be added insult to the serious injury suffered
by GSIS employees and members," he said.

Beltran said that the president's comparison between the cases of Garcia and
the Social Security System's former president Vitaliano Nanagas who was ousted
or former Tourism Secretary and now senator Dick Gordon were was illogical.

"Garcia is a different individual altogether. The charges against him have
strong basis and his abuse of power well-documented. Pres. Arroyo's defense of
her fair-haired boy is an attack against the thousands of GSIS members and
government employees, and she should support investigations against him not
just in the PAGC but by the Office of the Ombudsman. And it's not enough either
that Garcia be investigated - he should be immediately suspended, even fired
from his post," he said.

Beltran said that Garcia was an indefensible official: the charges against him
are countless, and under him the GSIS has deteriorated.

"Millions of the GSIS funds have been squandered on artworks and media adds.
Garcia himself has cordoned off millions for himself to buy a Volvo and a new
house. As a public servant, he has broken the entire code of ethical public
service. He used his post to enrich himself, undermine the GSIS funds, and
justify the privatization of the agency which would inevitably lead to its
destruction," he said.

Beltran challenged Pres. Arroyo to prove her sincerity in going after corruption
and sack Garcia. He also said that Pres. Arroyo should make it known to Congress
that investigations against Garcia should also be pushed all the way and
resolved at the soonest possible time.

"He is not an indispensable official. He has done more damage than good to the
GSIS, and Pres. Arroyo can and should be held accountable for the losses of
the GSIS and the grievous inconvenience Garcia's resolutions and edicts have
caused the GSIS members," he concluded.#

NR1014:Hold Angie Reyes' appointment

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release October 14 , 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

Like ex-comptroller Garcia, DILG secretary Reyes should be questioned for his
shocking wealth; Reyes appointment should be put on immediate hold - Rep.
Beltran

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today said that Department of Interior
and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes' appointment should be put on the
backburner if not completely turned down in the wake of the shocking reports
that he has accumulated assets worth P18M. Beltran said that Reyes has
previously been accused of corruption, but none of the accusations have been
thoroughly investigated because he was a Malacanang favorite. He said that even
as Congress in investigating former AFP comptroller Carlos Garcia, Reyes should
also be sworn in and questioned.

"He should be asked quite bluntly: how is it that military men make so much
money and where does the money come from?"

"Perhaps now Malacanang would reconsider re-appointing Reyes to another
sensitive post. He's one of the most recycled government officials and at the
same time one of the most vilified - and with basis," he said. He added that
it does come as a shock the way Reyes has managed to accumulate all that wealth
in the last two years when it's well-known that he has mainly been a government
official. "Now he ranks with the likes of Winston Garcia of the Government
Service Insurance System (GSIS) and other heads of
government-owned-and-controlled operations (GOCCSs) who are supposedly
government officials but with private-sector salaries," he said.

The veteran labor leader pointed out President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo should
put more meat into her words that she wants to overthrow corruption in her
government by removing officials who are already tainted with corruption. He
said that the President has already 'recycled' Reyes from being secretary of
defense, to head of the national disaster coordinating council, and now she's
made him DILG chief.

"Clearly, like Winston Garcia, Reyes is a favorite with the President, although
in the case of Reyes it's not very clear yet as to why the President sees him an
indispensable. Reyes has been accused of masterminding the series of bombing
attacks in Davao and Mindanao, apart from being tagged as a ringleader of
corruption in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Now there are
documents that could lead the way to unearthing the truth about Reyes and his
corruption. The question is, will Malacanang protect Reyes once more and
dismiss the allegations?"

In the meantime, Beltran also said that for a moment he could pretend that Reyes
was not guilty of accumulating ill-gotten wealth. "And since he's wealthy enough
- a regular multi-millionaire - then he shouldn't stay in public service and
leave the government bureaucracy once and for all. It's highly suspicious that
someone as wealthy like Reyes should want to remain in government when he is
already making millions. Unless the real reason for continuing in government is
precisely to make more millions, protect his wealth, and cover-up whatever
illegal schemes or means he is using to amass those millions," he said. #

NR1013:Rep. Beltran questions SSS policies

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release October 13 , 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

SSS hikes contributions without expanding/improving benefit packages;
billions spent on operating expenses should be audited - Rep. Beltran

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today trained his sights on the Social
Security System (SSS), questioning its recent resolutions to hike contributions
by 22% and grant amnesty for delinquent, short-term loans to allow members to
settle their liabilities without paying the penalties during the amnesty period
October 2004 to September 30, 2005. He also questioned the billions the agency
spent on operating expenses.

"To support the agency and maintain the lifestyle of its executives, and in
anticipation of higher electricity costs, telephone and water rates, and costs
of gasoline and fuel etc and the suspension of subsidies from the national
government, the SSS intends to increase members' contributions by 22% gradually
over a six-year period without expanded/improved benefit packages for private
sector workers and self-employed persons. The SSS tries to justify that the
contribution increase is to advance and expand assistance to the pension fund's
25,375,636 individual members and the 723,350 employers; it should be pointed
out that the latter do not receive any benefits from the SSS, and without
improved benefit packages, the members will not actually benefit any," he said.

Beltran also said that the amnesty is unfair to members who did not avail of
any loan from the agency. He said that if these liabilities are legitimate and
actually from SSS members, collection would not be a problem at all because
these accounts can be easily collected later on through deductions against the
initial pensions of retires as is usually done by the agency. "If the SSS is in
such a haste to generate money, why will it write off penalties and clean the
agency books of these collectible accounts? There will be less initial pension
money to disburse when these delinquent accounts are deducted from the initial
pensions of retirees - unless these loans were availed of by debtors who are
not SSS members. If this is the case, it would be in the interest of the SSS
members to know who the SSS administration has been loaning the funds of the
agency to," he said.

Beltran said that the SSS employee-force is enough to handle the books on
overdue accounts of members. He said that the SSS should just continue
computing the interest and penalties, compounded yearly until the members
retire. The process will generate income to the agency at a rate higher than
the rate of return on earnings it reports to the media.

In the meantime, the veteran labor leader questioned the compensation of the SSS
chairman and president. "According to newspaper reports. The SSS chairman gets
an annual salary plus allowance of P6,100,000 and the President gets a monthly
salary of P500,000. The rest of the SSS' top officials get equally fat monthly
salaries. The prevailing monthly salaries of the officers are exclusive of
fringe benefits plus bonuses amounting to much more than their monthly salary
rates.

There are 4,067 SSS employees as of March 2004. Many of them are political
appointees with top positions, but with limited terms at the pleasure of Pres.
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Beltran also questioned the total operating expenses of the agency.

Expenses (In billions)
Benefits paid to SSS members
Retirement pension P9.101
Death benefits 7.496
Disability assistance 1.503
Members Benefits 1.203
Funeral grants 0.938
Financial help to members (w/illnesses) 0.743
Others (not specified) 0.743
Operating expenses P2.717 billion.

"It appears that since 88.554% of the expenses of the agency was spend for the
various benefits of SSS members, it is assumed that the payroll, allowances,
perks, etc of SSS employees would be the biggest item forming part of the
agency's operating expenses, but it's not. The P2.717 billion used up for
operating expenses is questionable. Assuming that the 4,067 employees of the
SSS has not increased since March 2004, and that the lowest monthly average
rate of each employee except the Chairman and president is P17,000,00, the
supposed money spent for the payroll of SSS employees for the six-month period
is calculated only at P421 million," he pointed out.

Chairman - (P6,1000,000 annually divided by 2) P3,050,000; President( P500,000
monthly x 6) P3,000,000; employees (4,065xP17,000x6 months) 414,630,000.
This all amounts to only P420,680,000 without the allowances.

Other expenses attributed to the agency's operating expenditures are the
following:
1. Travelling & transporation; 2) electricity and water bills; 3)Telephones and
communication; 4)Gasoline and Fuel; 5) Car repairs, insurance and registration
fees; 6)Professional and consultant fees including other outside services;
7)Advertising and promotions; 8)Repairs and maintenance of building, computers
and other office equipment; 9) Office supplies and stationary; 10)Depreciation
of buildings; 11) Depreciation of motor vehicles ; 12) depreciation of
furniture and fixtures; etc.

"Workers now doubt the SSS and the benefits it offers. The SSS bpension cannot
provide fpr the the daily and medical needs of pensioners. In short, workers
who became members of the system in 1957 and assured of receiving reasonable
pensions when they retired now question the mantle of social protection the SSS
is saying it provides. On the other hand, the Trust Executives and the managers
including the stewards of the pension fund run the SSS as if they own it,
knowing that the SSS charter was fashioned and made to the effect that the
salaries and compensation of the executives, managers, etc. are exempt from the
coverage of the law on salary standard set for government officials. They can
adjust their monthly salary rates and other compensation, to the rates
comparable with that for the same position in the private sector," he
concluded.#

NR1012: Urban poor seeks VP de Castro's help

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release October 12 , 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

Quezon City urban poor seeks Veep Noli de Castro's help to address housing
problem; ask his support against National Govenrment Center Act and its
repeal

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today lauded the efforts of
vice-president Noli de Castro to hear the grievances of the urban poor and
listen to their arguments against the National Government Center (NGC) Act or
Republic Act 9207 or the NGC Housing And Land Utilization Act of 2003. Beltran
has filed HB 2800 calling for the immediate repeal of the said law, saying that
it was anti-poor and causing the massive dislocation of thousands of Quezon City
residents within the scope of the NGC area composed of five barangays: Brgy.
Holy Spirit, Brgy. Commonwealth, Brgy. Payatas A, Brgy. Payatas B, and Brgy.
Batasan Hills.

Beltran said that the vice-president has already shown a measure of sincerity in
hearing out the demands of the urban poor when he instructed officers of the
NGC and the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDDC) to
dialogue with Quezon City residents affected by the NGC's demolition
operations. He also said that the vice-president has also been approached for
his aasistance on how to fight housing syndicates that within the government
housing institutions that unscrupulously exploit the urban poor.

"Vice-president de Castro's efforts are worth noting. He was voted into office
by many urban poor residents who believed in his stands supporting and
defending the poor in the program "Magandang Gabi, Bayan" which he used to
host. It's to be hoped that the vice-president will carry the cause of the
poor and disenfranchised, and defend their right to decent, affordable
socialized housing and necessary social services," he said.

Beltran said that the housing crisis primarily results from the people's lack
of purchasing power to build or buy their own houses. Around 4.5 million
Filipinos are unemployed and among those considered employed are actually mere
unpaid family workers. In addition, at least 17.5% of the labor force is
underemployed. Those who are employed, on the other hand, still do not earn
enough to get access to housing since the current minimum wage is only P250
(NCR) while the daily cost of living is P552.96.

He pointed out that a glaring case of urban poor plight and the government's
negligence is what is happening to residents of the NGC. Alternately muddy and
cogon grass-choked, snake-infested, and with no electricity or water
facilities within the area except for a river and a deep well, the NGC used to
be a no-man's land. Through the years, however, NGC Payatas has become home to
thousands of families who have been driven from their own homes by the Marcos
dictatorship's military operations in the provinces.

"The people of NGC Payatas have occupied the area for almost 20 years now.
Through their efforts, the once uninhabitable place was transformed into a
community. While a large portion of the population became laborers and
quasi-laborers, some tilled the lands and planted root crops, vegetables and
fruit-bearing trees such as banana. Years passed and they shaped the place into
a full-blown community - with roads and streets, chapels, and markets. Today,
however, the people of NGC are in danger of losing their homes for the second
time, their homes. The implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act
No. 9207 also known as the National Government Center Housing and Land
Utilization Act of 2003 requires the residents to enlist/apply as beneficiaries
of the government's NGCHP (National Government Center Housing Project) or they
will be forcefully evicted from their homes," he said.

Beltran urged Vice-president de Castro to take up the cudgels for the urban poor
of Quezon City and all homeless Filipinos and bat for higher budget allocations
for genuine socialized housing that takes into consideration the people's
capacity to pay, costs of living. "The profit-motive should be taken out of
the picture when it comes to providing for decent, livable houses for the
poor," he concluded. #

NR1012:Corruption sinks GMA satisfaction ratings

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release October 12 , 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

Is the military top brass gagging Garcia? Because of corruption issues, GMA
satisfaction ratings dipped from 26% to 18% - Rep. Beltran

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today said that the top brass of the
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) were most likely in a fluster over how to
cover up the massive controversy that erupted over the allegations of corruption
in the AFP as seen in the case of unexplained wealth of former comptroller Maj.
Gen. Carlos Garcia. He said that keeping Garcia from the attending the
Congressional investigations was one of the moves of the AFP top brass to
control the damage the expose has made. "As we speak, Garcia is being briefed
in the top offices of the AFP," he said.
"If he is able to make his explanations to the media via interviews, then
Garcia can most certainly make his statements and explanations under oath."

Beltran lauded the various members of the AFP who were coming out to speak
against the rampant and deep-seated corruption in the institution. He said,
however, that these concerned AFP members should not resort to staging coup de
etats, but instead address their plea directly to the Filipino people. He said
that they should not be afraid to name names and expose the criminals in
uniform and their cohorts in the civilian bureaucracy.

"There are already various charges of corruption against many ranking officials
in the AFP, but none of them have really come to fruition because of the
numerous tactics and strategies being used by the AFP leadership in collusion
with the other high ranking officials in the other branches of government," he
said. "So far, it's only the media who is acting as a watchdog against
corruption by reporting the exposes made by concerned individuals and people's
organizations."

Beltran said that the national government is hardly even flexing its muscles in
the fight against corruption, seeing as it has not even made any decisive
action against the president and general manager of the Government Service
Insurance System (GSIS) Winston Garcia. He also said that Malacanang has not
comprehensively cleaned out its cabinet and has only recycled its officials,
many of them with pending cases filed against them at the Office of the
Ombudsman.

"How then can Pres. Arroyo's so-called battle against corruption become credible
when she refuses to rid her own cabinet of officials who are tainted with
corruption?" he said.

The veteran labor leader cited the results of a survey conducted by the Center
for Issues and Advocacy (CIA) and the Data Advisors Inc., and Proberz
Consultancy that the president's satisfaction ratings during her first 100 days
in office have dipped by 18 percent because of the various corruption issues
that have erupted in the last weeks.

The CIA study was conducted from September 22 to October 5, covering 2,400
respondents nationwide. It stated that from the 26 percent positive ratings
the presidency has gotten during the second quarter(reported by the Social
Weather Station), the ratings have gone down to 18%. Eighty percent
respondents agreed that there is graft and corruption in government, while only
18% said that was none. Seventy -nine percent of the respondents also said
that there is widespread graft and corruption in national government agencies.

The survey results also showed that a huge majority or 73 percent think that the
economy has worsened under the Macapagal-Arroyo government. #

NR1009: Call to abolish Congress--a challenge for it to change its orientation

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release October 9, 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


CALL TO ABOLISH CONGRESS: A CHALLENGE FOR IT TO CHANGE ITS ORIENTATION AND
STOP ANTI-POOR LEGISLATIONS - REP. BELTRAN

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today said that the call to abolish
Congress is a challenge for it to change its orientation and stop anti-people
legislations.

The fact that HOR wants to mangle and twist the constitution to legalize the
attacks against the nation's economic sovereignty and political independence is
highly anti-people. What is Congress now is but an instrument of the ruling
elite to perpetuate a system that keeps the majority in deep poverty in a small
minority rolling in ill-gotten undeserved wealth.

"The challenge is for Congress to prove its worth in the eyes of the people by
passing laws like the nationalization of a minimum wage, nationalization of
oil, electricity, water, and medicine industries. At present, however, Congress
is pushing for the Anti-terrorism law, Charter Change, new tax measures and
attrition against government employees; it is clearly working against the
people," he said.

Meanwhile, Beltran made it clear that there was no contradiction between his and
fellow Anakpawis Representative Rafael Mariano's views on the issue of
abolishing Congress.

"Let me reiterate: the proposal is attractive if and only if the P67.7 billion
in savings would be directly used to increase the allocations for agriculture,
agrarian reform, the budgets of public schools, state universities, and public
hospitals, as well used for the creation of genuinely subsidized housing for
the urban poor. But knowing the orientation of the Macapagal-Arroyo
administration, all savings would be directed towards debt servicing and
military modernization. This makes the proposal odious."

A careful look at the statements of the two Anakpawis representatives shows that
there is actually no contradiction. Mariano's call for Congress to be replaced
is possible only after this present corrupt and reactionary Congress is
abolished. "The present Congress is useless for, instead of advancing the
interests of its constituents, it serves the interest of foreign multilateral
finance agencies - the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, to name
a few - which dictate wrong policies to our government. Abolishing the
Congress is a hopeless attempt to cap the present economic crisis, and like the
food-coupon system, will not do the people any good in the long run if the basic
economic framework of trade liberalization and privatization remains."

As regards Majority Floor Leader Prospero Nograles' labeling of Beltran as a
hypocrite, Ina Silverio, Beltran's chief of staff said, "Ka Bel is not a
hypocrite. He believes working in Congress is an additional venue to ventilate
people's issues. He was elected by the masses using neither guns, goons, nor
gold. He is a labor leader - a representative of the toiling masses first and
foremost, not just a congressman." Moreover, she said all the bills,
resolutions, privilege speeches and positions on various issues are all
pro-people, clearly disproving Nograles' accusations.

She further said that Congress is nothing but "a clearing house for vicious
edicts against the people and that Ka Bel is there to expose these and report
to the Filipino people."

"Congress is so near Payatas but it can't even help the people there. Even
within the very halls of the House there are numerous unfair labor practices
against the employees. Now who is the real hypocrite?" ###

NR1011:On AFP's lobbying work

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release October 1 1, 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 questions lobbying practices of the AFP; supports investigations
into Garcia's unexplained wealth and Robles' allegations

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today questioned the practice of
allowing the Armed Forces of the Philippines to conduct lobbying in the House
of Representatives. This he floated in the wake of the reports another Garcia
is involved in corruption schemes, this time involving the Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP) and certain unnamed legislators. Beltran expressed agreement
with reports that full-blown Congressional investigations should be made into
the records and dealings of Maj.Gen. Carlos Garcia , a former AFP comptroller
now facing investigations for alleged unexplained wealth running millions of
pesos. He said that by investigatring Garcia, a paper trail could be
established that will lead to his unknown bosses.

"Without debate, lobbying especially when done by cause oriented groups and
people's organizations is legal and aboveboard; but given the fact that
effective, thorough and shall we say convincing lobbying can only take place
with the use of a lot of cold, hard cash makes the practice odious. If the AFP
already has millions to spread around in pursuit of its various legislative or
military agenda, then that's one more reason why the budget for defense should
be slashed," he said.

Beltran said that it came as an unpleasant surprise that the AFP still conducts
its own lobbying campaign. "The AFP already has reliable spokespersons in
Congress who support its legislative agenda and even defend the various
atrocities committed by the AFP against civilians in the conduct of its
operations in the provinces. The AFP lobby is clearly to further jack the
budget for the AFP and ensure smooth and swift approval for the various
appointees it's pushing for various positions. Who the solons the AFP approach
should also be made known - the so-called AFP patrons," he said.

The veteran labor leader turned legislator said that there was clearly a lot of
unexplained wealth floating around, changing hands in the higher offices of the
military and civilian bureauracy. He also said the explanation that Garcia's
task to handle money as 'lobby fund' to convince senators and congressmen to
approve certain contracts or appointments was legal was 'unconscionable.'

Beltran said that the accusations against Garcia were serious and if the truth
ferreted out, could well rock the AFP and even Congress to their very
foundations. "Yet another mystery man who seems to be running major errands
for very powerful and influential people who are in the military and the
legislative branch. Garcia should be made to give his full testimony and the
investigations not left hanging unresolved. We're talking about millions of
pesos here, and as to how he managed to get his hands on such wealth is highly
intriguing. Who is he running errands for and what exactly are his functions
for his as-yet-unknown bosses?," he said.

Malacanang in the dark?

He also said that the expose regarding Garcia and the revelations made by
retired Navy Commodore Rex Robles that US authorities were investigating two
generals and three Cabinet-Level officials apart from Garcia for supposedly
maintaining massive bank accounts in the US should be investigated to the last.
He called on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Pres. Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo herself to demand reports from the appropriate US authorities
regarding the unnamed Filipino military and cabinet officials being
investigated for unexplained wealth.

"Since there is the illusion that the US treats the Philippines as a close
friend and ally, then it should only be expected that the US authorities
would have already made it known to Malacanang and the AFP who these officials
are. Otherwise, Malacanang should speak out against being kept in the dark over
such a shocking and controversial issue," he said.#

NR1008b:GMA's new wealth program for the country's exploiters

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release October 8, 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

MACAPAGAL-ARROYO-DE VENECIA NEW WEALTH STRATEGIES BLUEPRINT FOR ECONOMIC
DISASTER AND CATACLYSM - REP.BELTRAN

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today said that President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo's adoption of five strategies from the 12-point new wealth
package being pushed by Speaker Jose de Venecia only means the country will
never ever get out of the fiscal mess, "at least never while Macapagal-Arroyo
remains president," he said.

"There is no hope to be had under the administration of President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo," he said. "As an economic expert, her expertise is geared
towards parceling off the nation's resources to the highest bidder but at
losing prices. The 13th Congress, operating under this new-wealth program and
Malacañang's fiscal-relief formulas will only promulgate and pass measures that
will attack the job security, wages, welfare and over-all well-being of majority
of the nation's poor."

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) is set unveil the
administration's "road map to fiscal strength for fighting poverty" on Monday.
President Arroyo listed six strategies for wealth creation: privatization of
the National Power Corp.; mobilization of investors for Mt. Diwalwal gold mine;
exploration and development of more oil and gas wells; re-launching of massive
reclamation projects; a major nationwide reforestation program; and creation of
Hong Kong-type enclaves to capture long-term investors.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri said the President picked these
measures because of their "strong potential'' in generating massive foreign
investments and boosting confidence in the economy.

"Instead of a road map to fiscal strength for fighting poverty," the de
Venecia-Macapagal-Arroyo plan looks like a blueprint for economic destruction.
A rundown of the strategies already shows that whatever new wealth the
government will unearth or discover will not benefit the Filipino people as the
government intends to entice foreign investors and corporations in the mining,
oil and electricity business to the country with these resources. The
government is preparing to further open up the country to the wholesale plunder
and exploitation of foreign multinational and transnational corporations. They
will drain the nation dry, leaving the country's oil wells, mines and forests
dry and empty husks," he said.

"The environmental impact will also be cataclysmic." The veteran labor leader
said challenged Malacañang to instead implement radical economic reforms that
will protect the economy and thus the people's welfare.

"A 180-degree turn must be made from the liberalization, deregulation and
privatization policies. The removal of the remaining protectionist provisions
of the Constitution to accommodate and legalize the 100% involvement and
ownership of foreign firms in the crucial sectors of the economy such as
finance, banking, telecommunications and mining will further rip the economy
apart and plunge the Filipino people into greater economic misery and
starvation," he concluded.#

NR1008a:The pros and cons of abolishing Congress

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release October 8, 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

IF ALL SAVINGS THAT WILL COME FROM ABOLISHING CONGRESS GOES DIRECTLY TO
HEALTH, EDUCATION, AGRICULTURE AND HOUSING FOR THE POOR, WHY NOT? - REP.
BELTRAN

Anakpawis Representative Crispin B. Beltran today expressed a measure of
agreement with the proposal of lawyer Romulo Macalintal that the country go
"Congress-less" from 2007 to 2010 in order to save at least P67.7 billion that
could help the country squeeze itself out of financial difficulties.
"If the P67.7 billion in savings would be directly used to increase the
allocations for agriculture, agrarian reform, the budgets of public schools,
state universities, public hospitals, as well used for the creation of
genuinely subsidized housing for the urban poor, then the proposal is
attractive. But knowing the orientation of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration,
all savings would be directed towards debt servicing and military modernization.
This makes the proposal odious. There are heavier reasons the
Pinoy-on-the-street could think of for abolishing Congress," he said.
The veteran labor leader said that he found nothing tragic or insulting about
the idea of abolishing Congress per se. "So far, in my experience as a
Congressman, the House has not approved any legislative measure that has
directly served the interest of the Filipino people. The laws passed by
Congress such as the Electric Power Industry Act (EPIRA) of 2001 and the
National Government Center Act (NGC) of 2002 for instance have created untold
damage to the economic welfare and housing security of millions of Filipinos.
Legislative measures aiming to alleviate the people's poverty such as a P125
wage hike and a P3,000 salary increase for government employees are either
thumbed down or completely ignored," he said.
Beltran said that for many Filipinos, Congress is but a pit full of snakes and
crocodiles where the rich, powerful and influential fight over the nation's
wealth. "I doubt very much that Congress will be very much missed if it were
abolished. It has not exactly been an institution reflecting the ideals of the
Filipino people to defend economic and political sovereignty, and pass laws
that will protect the poor and working people's welfare against the abuse,
exploitation and plunder of big foreign and local business," he said. "Many
even consider Congress a leading bastion of corruption," he said.
Finally, Beltran said that the proposals on how to help save the country from
the ever worsening fiscal crisis were getting 'wackier and wackier.'
"I would like to hear Malacañang propose that all high-ranking government
officials sell their mansions, luxury cars and other assets to contribute to
the dwindling national coffers. A ban on subsidized foreign travel of
government executives would also be most welcome."
"Malacañang is avoiding the true causes of this fiscal crisis and its disastrous
impact on the lives of the constituency. The palliative measures that are being
proposed such as the coupon system and now the abolition of Congress will not
do the people much good in the long run if the basic economic framework of
economic liberalization and privatization remains. The Arroyo administration's
dog-like loyalty to the tenets of globalization and its subservience to the
dictates of foreign multilateral finance agencies such as the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) are at the core of the
worsening disaster which is the Philippine economy and fiscal situation," he
concluded. ###