Labor Day 2007: GMA rolling stores poor alternative to announcement of a substantial and across-the-board wage increase

Monday April 30, 2007

Labor Day 2007: GMA rolling stores poor alternative to announcement of a substantial and across-the-board wage increase

Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran today anticipated Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's Labor Day message and said that the president should not even begin to say that workers' economic woes have lessened in the last year. He said that the Department of Labor and Employment's (DOLE) move to send out GMA rolling stores tomorrow to sell workers and the families basic commodities at cheap prices does not, by far, compensate for the Arroyo government's failure to implement a substantial and across-the-board wage increase for private sector workers.

"Workers will not be forgetting Pres. Arroyo's call to veto the bill legislating a P125 across-the-board wage increase. Workers have not received a genuine wage increase in six years, and even those increases were not across-the-board and many companies did not implement it," he said. The last wage increase was granted by former Pres. Joseph Estrada at P25.50.

Beltran also said that the imposition of the expanded value-added tax that raised the taxes on basic commodities and services by as much as 12 percent also severely cut into the budgets of workers' families and their already meager wages. He said that workers have not tasted the supposed benefits of the EVAT, but their wages have already been many times over cut down in real value because of the depreciation in the peso's exchange value.

"Because of various regressive taxation schemes imposed by the government, workers' take-home pay has been severely reduced. High electricity rates also take a large of their wages – so much for Pres.Arroyo's promise of lower utility costs," he said.

"Workers are forced to continue making sacrifices in the name of the Arroyo administration's fiscal programs, but they receive nothing in return. Wages continue to depreciate because of regressive taxation on goods and services. Workers' job security is also under attack because of the continued trend towards contractualization and other forms of labor flexibility. Workers are also the victims of the government's campaign of extra-judicial killings targeting the progressive party-lists as workers along with farmers and urban comprise the bulk of the party-lists' members and officials, " he said.

The veteran labor leader turned legislator that primary in Anakpawis Party-List's legislative agenda is raising workers' wages as well as the salaries of rank and file government employees. He said that in Anakpawis' miting de avance tomorrow, May 1 International Labor Day, Anakpawis will announce it's continued commitment to raising workers' wages through legislation and not through the Regional Wages and Productivity Boards.

"The Macapagal-Arroyo government's focus when it comes to labor is to send as many Filipinos abroad as OFWs. This is not genuine job creation. Employment continues to drop while more and more of the country's new graduates are forced to leave the country to find employment as low-skilled workers."

"We hope that Pres. Arroyo will not be patting herself on the back for her supposed achievements in improving the lives and welfare of Filipino workers. There is love lost between the Arroyo administration and labor as workers in the militant labor movement stand against the administration's anti-labor policies which in turn spoil and pamper big business and foreign investors," he said. #

Ka Bel hopes to be released tomorrow in time for Tuesday's Anakpawis Miting de Avance

Sunday April 29, 2007

Ka Bel hopes to be released tomorrow in time for Tuesday's Anakpawis Miting de Avance

Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran today said that he is still expecting to be released in time for the May 1st Labor Day celebrations to be spearheaded by the Kilusang Mayo Mayo (KMU) and Anakpawis Party-List. May 1 will also be the miting de avance of Anakpawis which Beltran continues to lead its chairman and first nominee.

"I am still hopeful that I will be able to attend the Labor Day rallies on Tuesday. I hope that the Supreme Court will lay down a decision favoring my immediate release on bail by tomorrow, Monday, April 30. Even it's a photo-finish release, it doesn't matter, so long as I'm released in time for the miting de avance," he said.

The activist lawmaker has been incarcerated on charges of inciting to sedition and rebellion since February 25, 2006. He was detained for two months in Camp Crame before he was transferred to the Philippine Heart Center in April 25, 2006 because of high blood pressure. If he is not released by May 1, it will be the second Llabor Dday rally he would've missed in the last 45 years. He was Kilusang Mayo Uno's founding secretary general when the militant labor group was established in 1980, but has been an active union leader since the 1950s.

Beltran's lawyers led by Atty. Romeo Capulong have already filed a motion for bail at the Supreme Court as well as a separate motion seeking temporary release on May 1. If the former motion is granted, the second will be rendered moot.

Beltran said that he wishes to be able to speak at Anakpawis' miting de avance and personally thank all those who have supported the campaign for his release. If released, Beltran will also help welcome the various senatorial candidates Anakpawis is endorsing. He said that besides being a miting de avance, May 1 will also be a venue to further galvanize the public into heightened vigilance.

"Anakpawis will be mobilizing its ranks of supporters and sympathizers not only to vote on May 14, but to guard and protect their votes. This election has the potential to be one of the dirtiest electoral exercises second only to the presidential polls in 2004. The campaign machinery of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration is clearly geared not only to promote its candidates but to secure the chances of their victory even through fraudulent means. The continuing accreditation of the Palace-backed and funded party-lists also pose a serious threat against the legitimate progressive party-lists. The involvement of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the election process and their presence in the urban centers also serve to intimidate voters and supporters of candidates not with the Arroyo administration. All these are ingredients in a recipe for massive fraud and the disenfranchisement of voters sympathetic to the opposition," he said. #

The AFP can never be a spokesperson for clean elections; awareness campaign just a cover for urban militarization and AFP operations against PPLs

Friday April 27, 2007

The AFP can never be a spokesperson for clean elections; awareness campaign just a cover for urban militarization and AFP operations against progressive party-lists

"Through the Armed Forces of the Philippines' so-called voters' awareness campaign, voters are being pressured into supporting candidates of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration. The AFP should not have any role in a strictly civilian exercise. The military's involvement in the polls is a violation of electoral law, as well as a subversion of civilian authority."

This was the stand of Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran over assertions of the AFP that it will continue with its education and public awareness campaign supposedly to help ensure clean elections on May 14. Beltran said that the Comelec should not have allowed the AFP leeway to conduct this campaign.

"Guarding the elections against fraud is not the job of the military. Neither is issuing sermons on whom Filipinos should vote for. They should not have a role in this civilian exercise. Malacanang and the Comelec should once more be taken to the task for allowing this to happen. The military should not be allowed to influence voters much less pressure them into supporting government candidates or voting against those who are critical of the Arroyo administration. The AFP should leave the elections and the electoral process alone. The AFP can never be a spokesperson for clean and honest elections," he said.

Beltran said that Maj. Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino, head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) National Capital Region Command, was trying to justify urban militarization by projecting his troops as information disseminators for clean elections.

"This is such an empty and transparent ploy. Dolorfino must think that he is being clever. The only campaign the AFP is conducting in the urban centers is one against the progressive party-lists and the candidates of the Genuine Opposition. The AFP's continuing presence in the NCR is to inhibit the efforts of the progressive party-lists to reach more voters," he said.

Beltran said that Anakpawis and its supporters will be attending and monitoring these supposed information talks the AFP will be conducting. "We want to hear what kind of information and election advice Dolorfino and his troops intend to dole out to the civilian populace," he said. #

PGMA should spare Gonzalez from bringing more embarrassment to himself and make him retire

Thursday April 26, 2007

PGMA should spare Gonzalez from bringing more embarrassment to himself and make him retire

Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran today said that because Malacanang itself was not keen on laying down sanctions and disciplinary, administrative action against justice secretary Raul Gonzalez, there was no genuine hope that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will be able to do anything about Gonzalez.

We expect that Sec. Gonzalez will once more get away with all his outrageous remarks and comments. He has Malacanang's backing, and so long as Gonzalez is firing bullets in defense of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration and its Team Unity, Gonzalez will remain untouchable. Gonzalez has no iota of shame left in his body, and this is all to the benefit of Malacanang," he said.

"Since it appears that he will only listen to her and her alone, Pres. Arroyo should subject Gonzalez to a thorough scolding: after all, he has been speaking and acting like a spoiled and petulant child. His conduct has been most unbecoming of a government official and the head of an important institution," he said.

Beltran, however, said that if Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo wants to save herself from the continued embarrassment of having an official in her cabinet who continuously reflects badly on her, she should push for Gonzalez' retirement. "He has won for himself an infamous reputation even among members of the international human rights and diplomatic communities. . There is no more hope that he will be able to change his tact and take on controversial political issues wherein Malacanang is being pushed against the wall. Sec. Gonzalez should be saved from himself, at least because he will leave government service with the most tainted and disreputable reputation," he said.

"Since Sec. Gonzalez will not resign on his own volition and on for health reasons, for political expediency he should be made to retire. Pres. Arroyo must spare Sec. Gonzalez from bringing more embarrassment to himself. She should at least do this personal favor for Gonzalez and save him from himself." #

Solon reiterates call for court-martial of Army commander in 9-year old's brutal killing in Compostela

Thursday April 26, 2007

Solon reiterates call for court-martial of Army commander in 9-year old's brutal killing in Compostela

Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran today reiterated his call for court martial against Army Brig. Gen. Carlos Holganza and elements of the 101st Infantry Brigade which he commands. Holganza and soldiers of the 101 st IB are responsible for the brutal slay of nine-year old Grecil Buya in Compostela Valley.

"Holganza is now backtracking on his previous statements that he stands firmly behind his men that Grecil was an NPA combatant and hence a legitimate target. He should be made accountable for Gecil's death and all the pain and anguish her family has been subjected to because of the ordeal. The soldiers deliberately shot and killed Grecil and it was not result of an accidental shooting," he said.

Beltran, 74 and a grandfather and great-grandfather, said that the Holganza should be court-martialed. "He has even taking to criticizing Grecil's father Gregorio for being brave enough to seek justice for his er slain little girl. Was Holganza really expecting Gregorio to cooperate with the military? With the same soldiers and unit that shot and killed their daughter, and branded her an NPA fighter? Is Holganza really that naïve and stupid?"

The activist lawmaker said that the national leadership of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) should at the least issue a public apology to Grecil's family and make sure that they receive financial indemnification. He also demanded that AFP chief of staff Hermogenes Ebdane personally see to that Holganza is court-martialed and the rest of his unit subjected to investigations.

"The AFP has long taken to executing civilians, but this is the first time that it will be directly taken to account for the deliberate killing of a child, a strictly non-combatant civilian. It was not an accidental shooting, it was a impaired sense of judgment. They shot and killed the Grecil even as they saw that she was a mere child, and then afterwards insisted that she had a gun with her. Even if in the remotest possibility that Grecil was with the NPA, under no circumstances should the soldiers shoot her because there are strict guidelines pertaining to child warriors and their circumstances," he said. #

Ka Bel hopeful that court will grant him bail after Malacanang says it will not contest his release

April 26, 2007

Ka Bel hopeful that court will grant him bail after Malacanang says it will not contest his release

Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran today said that he was eagerly awaiting the decision of the courts regarding his long-standing motion for release. He said that based on Malacanang's commitment that it will not oppose his motion for bail, he expects that the courts will issue a favorable decision and allow his release. His counsels led by Atty. Romeo Capulong filed the motion for bail filed Wednesday, April 25.

"I do not resent being released on humanitarian grounds because I am, after all, 74. I would, however, very much prefer to be released on the grounds of my complete innocence and demand political indemnification for my illegal arrest and 14 months of detention. I hope that the courts will give me my liberty and grant me bail."

"Fourteen months is a long time to be detained on false charges and fabricated testimonies. Even one day is too long," he said. "I owe my release to the thousands of Filipinos and friends of the Filipino people who have supported me and the campaign for my freedom. It is their continued expressions of unflagging support that have sustained me and my family through this injustice. I am forever in their debt, and I vow to continue the work I was forced to leave behind when I was illegally arrested and detained."

Beltran singled out the various people's organizations allied with Anakpawis Party-List and the Free Ka Bel Movement (FKBM) for tirelessly campaigning for his release. He thanked the various senatorial candidates who spoke out in defense of his release. He also said that he was deeply grateful to members of the international human rights and diplomatic community for their letters, resolutions and petitions pressing for his release. He also thanked members of the media who continue d to write stories and reports about him and his stands on issues even when he was under detention.

Beltran said that he will not take any time for rest if and when he is released. "I spent 14 months cooped up in one room; the first two months in Camp Crame, and the rest at the Philippine Heart Center. I have had all the rest I could ever use or need. The weakening of my health and body has been directly related to the stress of being illegally arrested and unjustly detained. I expect to recover my full health as soon as I am outside these walls and free to once more participate in the parliament of the streets and in legislative arena," he said.

The veteran labor leader and activist lawmaker said that as Anakpawis' first nominee in the party-list elections, he want to continue pressing for the passage of a P125 across-the-board wage increase for workers, a P3,000 across-the-board salary hike for government employees; and help campaign for the an end to the worsening civil, political and human rights situation.

The 74-year old Beltran said that there was still so much to be done. "My second stint as a political detainee has further driven home the realization that there is so much more work to be done by way of bringing genuine peace, justice and progress in the Philippines. I would like to think that somehow my incarceration has further exposed the necessity to assert for human and political rights against the face of intensifying political repression of the government. I am grateful to every single individual who supported my release; but I would still dare to be bold enough to ask for their continuing support when it comes to safeguarding the May 14 elections against fraud and violence," he said.

Beltran also seeks to join the rest of Anakpawis officials and nominees in Anakpawis' miting de avance on May 1 International Labor Day. #

Drastic fall of progressive party-list in SWS surveys can only be a result fo foul play and Malacanang manipulation

Wednesday , April 25, 2007

Drastic fall of progressive party-list in SWS surveys can only be a result of foul play and Malacanang manipulation

Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran today said that there was no other way to explain the drastic fall in the survey ratings of the bloc of progressive party-lists but for one reason: the Social Weather Station has given in to pressure from Malacanang to compromise its findings in favor of party-lists funded by the Macapagal-Arroyo government and in favor of candidates of Team Unity.

"The SWS's crediblity has recently been under attack from TU and Malacanang because of its major foreign research partners has supposedly pulled out. It's highly unlikely that the popularity and acceptability of the bloc of progressive party-lists led by Bayan Muna, Anakpawis and Gabriela Women's Party (GWP) could fall so drastically without there being foul play. In any case, these latest SWS survey results all the more puts the pressure on us and our supporters to heighten vigilance and protect our votes in May," said Beltran.

"Our national membership and mass base will not take these latest survey results lightly. Malacanang's party-lists are hardly visible in the media or campaign trail and it's quite questionable how they could just so suddenly shoot to the top of the surveys. Something stinks badly here," he insisted.

Anakpawis secretary-general Cherry Clemente in the meantime issued the charge that Malacanang and its fraud operatives were behind the drop in the survey ratings of Anakpawis and its sister parties.

"Malacanang's front party-lists are the ones now taking the lead in the surveys and this is nothing to rejoice over. These party-lists supported and backed by Malacanang are nothing but mouthpieces for the administration, Their main function if most tragically they win in May will be to parrot the stance of Malacanang on all major economic and political issues, nevermind if they attack the welfare of the marginalized sectors they supposedly represent."

"We take these latest survey results as a challenge to protect our votes. It's a statistical impossibility for us to fall so drastically in the ratings given the strength of the support we are receiving at the grassroots level. Our campaign is of a genuinely national scope and we penerate deep into the grassroots level of the major marginalized sectors. We are even more determined to protect and defend our votes in May and make sure than none of them are credited to Malacanang's party-lists," she said.

In the meantime, Anakpawis Rep. Beltran said that he hopes to be released before May 1, 2007 International Labor Day when Anakpawis Party-List holds in miting de avance. Beltran's legal counsels led by Atty. Romeo Capulong of the Public Interest Center filed for a motion for Beltran's temporary release on May 1 .Beltran is Anakpawis' chairman and first nominee. The motion was filed the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150.

Anakpawis is endorsing senatorial candidates Loren Legarda, Manny Villar, Joker Arroyo, Alan Peter Cayetano, Francis Escudero, Aquilino Pimentel III, Francis Pangilinan and Ralph Recto. These candidates have been invited to join Anakpawis in its miting de avance on May 1.It has been clarified, however, that Anakpawis is still open to endorse four more candidates and as opened its miting de avance to all other senatorial candidates.

One of the most crucial factors justifying Anakpawis' endorsement of candidates is their support for the campaign for Beltran's release and the dropping of the trumped-up charges against him. #

Ka Bel aims for freedom in time for May 1, International Labor Day celebrations as government makes commitment to no longer block his motion for bail

Wednesday , April 25, 2007

Ka Bel aims for freedom in time for May 1, International Labor Day celebrations as government makes commitment to no longer block his motion for bail

Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran today expressed hope that he will be released on bail before May 1, International Labor Day, just in time for Anakpawis Party-List's miting de avance at the Liwasang Bonifacio. He has been under detention since February 25, 2006 on charges of inciting to sedition and rebellion. He has consistently denied both charges and accused the government of illegal and unlawful arrest using a 22-year old warrant.

Beltran's counsels led by Public Interest Law Center (PILC) president Atty. Romeo Capulong has long before included a prayer for the granting of bail in Beltran's petition for certiorari at the Supreme Court, and another certiorari petition at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court. Counsels have said that it is now up to the courts to lay down a decision granting approval for the motion for bail and to stipulate the amount. Beltran's lawyers have issued the prayer for the swift resolution of the charges against him.

"If necessary, we will yet again file a separate motion for bail. In whichever case, we hope that the courts will immediately allow me to post bail and to leave my detention hospital room at the Philippine Heart Center," said Beltran.

It has been reported that National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales has said that the government will no longer block any moves for Beltran's release on bail. This following dialogues with representatives of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) led by Canadian Sen. Sharon Carstairs and IPU secretary general Anders Johnsson. Various senatorial candidates including Joker Arroyo, Chiz Escudero, Alan Peter Cayetano, Aquilino Pimentel, Loren Legarda, Ralph Recto and Gringo Honasan have called for Beltran's release. His case is also being closely followed by Amnesty International and various other international church and human rights organizations all over the world.

"We hope that the government will be true to its word and transmit this commitment to the courts at the soonest possible time. As for the courts, they should see that the charges against me are weak and probable cause has not been established. I hope that they will lay down a decision allowing my release at the soonest possible time," Beltran said.

Fellow Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano in the meantime said that it was high-time that his detained colleague be granted his freedom however temporary so he (Beltran) can still participate in the electoral campaign and make the rounds in the regions and provinces.

"Ka Bel has been sorely missed on the campaign trail and his release will be a big morale booster for our members and supporters especially in the light of the continuing attacks in the form of political repression and extra-judicial killings against us and our members," he said.

"Workers and farmers led by Anakpawis Party-List couldn't wish for anything more than to see Ka Bel walk free and be one with them during our miting de avance on May 1, International Labor Day. Our victory in the party-list elections in May will be all the sweeter with Ka Bel free and the charges against him dropped. Along with the representatives of Bayan Muna and Gabriela Women's Party, we seek to continue performing our mandate as lawmakers of the people and the true representatives of the marginalized sectors in congress," he said. #

Senator Arroyo wants Trillanes, Beltran set free

AFTER HONASAN’S RELEASE
Senator Arroyo wants Trillanes, Beltran set free

By Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.
Inquirer
Last updated 01:44am (Mla time) 04/24/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- Malacañang should also let Genuine Opposition senatorial bet Antonio Trillanes and Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran to post bail and campaign, after the Makati Regional Trial Court allowed independent senatorial candidate Gregorio Honasan to walk out of his cell.

The call was made by TEAM Unity senatorial bet Joker Arroyo who was incensed at what he called the preferential treatment granted to Honasan whom the administration was reportedly courting.

Honasan had denied that he had struck a deal with the government and said the grant of his bail was a legal process, which his family and lawyers fought for.

But Arroyo had a different view. “The government should already release Beltran and Trillanes on bail because it is so wrong, unfair, unequal when three candidates have been in prison and one of them is set free,'' said Arroyo in a press conference in the Senate.

“Whenever there is an unequal application of law, I always react with anger. You will wonder why I am part of TEAM Unity and yet I am saying this because I see the unfairness of it all,” said Arroyo who still recalled Honasan's failed coup attempts during the Aquino administration where he served as executive secretary.

“Trillanes is on the other side and is my opponent but I would like him to campaign because Honasan has been set free,'' Arroyo added.

Arroyo said that what he was questioning was not the law but government's policy.

“Everyone who runs must be given the chance to campaign. If Honasan was not allowed to post bail, there should have been no issue, but once they released Honasan, then there is an issue,'' said Arroyo.

Arroyo claimed that the crimes that Beltran and Trillanes were charged with were the same as Honasan’s -- attempt and conspiracy to overthrow the government.

Since Beltran and Trillanes were charged with capital offenses that were non-bailable, Arroyo suggested that the government lower its charges against the two to allow them to file bail. “The prosecutors can do that anytime,'' Arroyo said.

Gonzalez should be censured and suspended for bribing baranggay officials; he should inhibit himself from all cases involving the progressive lawmaker

Tuesday , April 24, 2007

Gonzalez should be censured and suspended for bribing baranggay officials; he should inhibit himself from all cases involving the progressive lawmakers

Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran today reacted to reports that Justice secretary Raul Gonzalez is allegedly bribing baranggay officials in Iloilo to support and campaign for Team Unity. He said that Gonzalez must be censured and charged for influencing and bribing local officials.

"Gonzalez may be using money out of his own pocket, but bribery is bribery, and vote buying is vote buying. If all his uncouth declarations and undiplomatic conduct against visiting foreign dignitaries have been tolerated by the Macapagal-Arroyo government, this latest admission that he's actually paying off baranggay officials to support Team Unity cannot be dismissed. This goes way beyond subjective offense, this is a criminal act and Gonzalez should at least be suspended from office for this," he said.

The activist lawmaker said that Gonzalez is using his position and influence to peddle Malacanang's campaign not only to suppress civil liberties and democratic rights in the country, but to ensure that the administration will secure an ill-gotten victory in the May14 polls. He said that Gonzalez is Malacanang's official 'loose cannon' but because the Macapagal-Arroyo government benefits from Gonzalez' various shenanigans, it gives Gonzalez free reign.

In the meantime, Beltran also slammed Gonzalez anew for the latter's charge that the temporary release through bail of senatorial candidate Gringo Honasan should not happen again in his (Beltran's) case. Beltran said that he will still file a motion for bail 'and Gonzalez has no right to deny me of that right. The government has no case against me, at least none will stand up in a genuinely objective legal arena."

"Gonzalez has really made it personal. He must see himself as some kind of twisted crusader protecting the Macapagal-Arroyo administration and preserving it in all it's corrupt and illegitimate glory. Sec. Gonzalez is one of the biggest reasons why no genuine progress can be achieved in the government's supposed campaign to fight human rights violations and attacks against civil liberties and democratic rights. He is a regular campaigner for political repression."

"Sec. Gonzalez has long before abandoned all objectivity and sense of fair play when it comes to dealing with legitimate critics of the Macapagal-Arroyo presidency. He is already twisting and manipulating the law and using false and fabricated charges, evidence and testimonies to pin the progressive lawmakers including myself. I have been detained for 14 months and denied my rights as an elected lawmaker and a civilian. Gonzalez has thrown the principle 'innocent until proven guilty' down the toilet and replaced it with 'guilty unless you can prove yourself innocent and if you can go through a maze of fabricated charges.'"

Finally, Beltran said that Sec. Gonzalez should be made to inhibit himself when it comes to the cases involving the progressive lawmakers of Anakpawis, Bayan Muna and Gabriela Women's Party (GWP). "He is no longer in his right thinking mind when it comes to us and our party-lists. He has been rendered fully incapable of fair and objective thinking, and his legal expertise and authority has been severely compromised in his desperation to protect the Arroyo administration."#

Comelec chair Abalos should not stand by as party-list law and party-list system are manipulated and bastardized

Tuesday , April 24, 2007

Comelec chair Abalos should not stand by as party-list law and party-list system are manipulated and bastardized

Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran today said that the Commission on Elections is being bureaucratic when it justifies its refusal to investigate the allegations that the Arroyo government is funding several party-lists running in the May 14 elections by saying that no one has filed any official complaint.

"The Comelec has the duty and responsibility to investigate such reports and allegations because they have a serious import on electoral law. As important is the necessity for the Comelec to have the foresight and initiative to investigate such reported anomalies with or without any one filing an official complaint. The Comelec's explanations for not taking action on these reports is bureaucratic at best; but one cannot help but think that the Comelec is trying to inhibit itself from investigating this maldevelopment of bogus party-lists because of pressure from Malacanang itself," he said.

The activist lawmaker said that the Comelec should be more responsive to the issue of government-funded bogus party-lists and not wait for the filing of any formal complaints.

"The issue is serious and grave enough to warrant a full-blown investigation. It's unthinkable why the Comelec should be so dismissive to tackle this matter head on. This is a serious case of potential electoral fraud and disenfranchisement of genuine party-lists. Also, Malacanang and several of its agencies and officials also stand being accused of corruption and false representation if they're proven to be behind the fielding of these fake party-list groups," he said.

"We hope that Chief Comelec commissioner Benjamin Abalos will not be remiss in his duty and merely stand by as the party-list law and the party-list system are manipulated and bastardized. The participation of these fake party-list groups funded by Malacanang are anomalous and illegal, and it serves only the interest of Malacanang, not the marginalized sectors.," he concluded.#

Beltran reiterates intent to file motion for bail, demands immediate liberty even as his wife says they can only afford to pay P1,000 in bail money

Monday April 23, 2007

Beltran reiterates intent to file motion for bail, demands immediate liberty even as his wife says they can only afford to pay P1,000 in bail money

Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran insisted that he and legal counsels have once before applied for his bail but has been turned down because the charges against him are said to be non-bailable.

"Neither the lower courts hearing my case nor the Department of Justice have acknowledged the evidence I and my lawyers have presented as proof of my innocence of the charges. The Macapagal-Arroyo government has no case against me because from the very beginning, my arrest my illegal, the warrant was fake, and the accusations fabricated and backed up with faulty arguments and full-blown lies. I was detained and I continue to be detained and denied my freedom and liberty because Malacanang and the Department of Justice are imposing pressure on the lower courts and stopping them from declaring that my arrest and detention constitute miscarriage of justice and a violation of countless laws," he said.

The activist lawmaker turned legislator said that Malacanang and its various spokespersons including Eduardo Ermita and Sergio Apostol are trying to make it appear that the government is in no way responsible for my arrest, "But who are they trying to fool? They known straight up that the government genuinely has no credible, believable case against me. All the evidence, all the testimonies against me are fake. The government is the once committing a serious, grievous and continuing crime against my person and my family by keeping me in detention."

Beltran said that that the Arroyo government should immediately drop all charges against him and have him released. "It has been almost 15 months since I was arrested and first detained. I have been previously denied bail. It's an outrage that the likes of Ermita and Apostol keep harping that I will most likely be denied bail yet against because I am guilty of rebellion. The government has proven nothing, and it will never be able to establish my guilt regarding its rebellion and sedition charges against me," he said.

"We will file a motion for bail, and I demand that the motion be granted and I be immediately released.

In the meantime, Rep. Beltran's wife Rosario Soto-Beltran scorned the idea of surrendering thousands of pesos in bail money, saying that they could ill afford it but can only afford to give P1,000 in bail money.

"Saan pa kami kukuha ng pampiyansa? Naubos na ang pera sa pambayad sa ospital – baon na kami sa utang sa Philippine Heart Center. Napaka-sahol ng ginagawa ng gobyerno sa asawa ko. Kami ang pinagbabayad sa pananatili niya sa PHC. Ngayon naman kung magpapyansa kami, baka ang ipataw ay P100,000 din o mas malaki pa. Mga P1,000 lang ang kaya naming ipampyansa. Mahirap lang kami, at ubos na ang pera dahil sa bayad sa ospital. Inosente si Ka Bel, sinungaling ang gobyerno at peke ang mga akusasyon laban sa kanya. Lahat ito ay paglapastangan sa karapatan niya, at hindi makakailang pruweba ng pampulitikang panunupil," she said.#

Comelec should stop dilly-dallying on the issue of the fake and government-funded party-lists and remove them from the official list

Saturday April 21, 2007

Comelec should stop dilly-dallying on the issue of the fake and government-funded party-lists and remove them from the official list participating in the May 14 polls

Anakpawis Representative and political detainee today said that the Commission on Elections should stop dilly-dallying on the issue of fake and government-funded party-lists and take action to immediately disqualify these.

"May 14 is just around the corner but the Comelec has yet to resolve the issue of these government-funded party-lists. The legitimate and progressive party-lists Anakpawis, Bayan Muna and Gabriela Women's Party as well as their sister groups Kabataan Party and Suara Bangsa Moro are being harassed and subjected to disqualification charges because they are advocating for genuine representation of marginalized groups in Congress. We will not allow these fake party-lists which are actually fronts for the Macapagal-Arroyo administration to take over the party-list system and secure seats in congress by cheating and buying their way to victory with the help of Malacanang," he said.

The activist lawmaker exclaimed against the bastardization of the party-list system and said that illegitimate party-lists supportive of an illegitimate presidency have no right to claim representation in congress.

"They are making a mockery of the advocacies of the marginalized sectors. They intend to secure seats in congress to edge out those who truly serve the interest of the poor. The Comelec should waste no more time and settle this issue once and for all. The bogus party-lists must be disqualified and stricken off the official list of party-lists participating in the May 14 polls," he said.

Beltran also supported the calls of other progressive parties for investigations into confidential memorandum of assistant secretary Marcelo Fariñas II, designated in the document as the head of the OEA special concerns group (OEA-SCG), sent to Malacanang and the office of Pres. Arroyo.

Fariñas, head of the Office of External Affairs special concerns group of the office of the President, wrote to lawyer Erlyn de Leon, special assistant to the President and close confidante. The memo sought Palace funding for these party list groups that would be supported by the Palace.

"These well funded party list organizations shall actively campaign for 40 seats in Congress with the foremost objective of gathering additional votes in the House of Representatives for another round of impeachment against the President," the memorandum dated Oct.16, 2006 said.

The OEA proposal further said that the administration and its allied civil society organizations should have a comprehensive counter-plan with the objective of frustrating this "grand plan" of the Left and the opposition.

"What other proof does the Comelec need? It's no secret that Malacanang is out to quash the progressive party-lists and undermine our chances of once more topping the party-lists elections. Our leaders and members are being killed, and the representatives including myself are being libeled and labeled as criminals. Despite all this, it's being consistently revealed in all the surveys that the progressive party-lists are a shoo-in in May, and it is only through massive electoral fraud and illegal disenfranchisement of our millions of supporters that we will not win."

"The fake and government-funded party-lists must not be allowed to participate in the May elections. The Comelec will be aiding and abetting in a serious violation of electoral and constitutional law if it allows these fake party-lists endorsed and funded by Malacanang to run," he concluded.#

US solon asks Arroyo to free Anakpawis’ Beltran

US solon asks Arroyo to free Anakpawis’ Beltran

INQUIRER.net
Last updated 12:00nn (Mla time) 04/21/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- An American congressman has written President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to appeal for the release of leftist lawmaker Crispin Beltran, who has been detained for more than a year on rebellion charges for his alleged role in a supposed plot to topple the government.

In a letter dated April 18, coursed through Philippine Ambassador to Washington Willy Gaa, Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) asked Arroyo to “please consider allowing [Beltran] the freedom to be at home with his friends, family and community.”

“While I understand the Philippine judicial system is currently moving forward on Mr. Beltran’s case and will ultimately judge the merits of the charges brought against him, I urge you to free him during this time while he has yet to be convicted of any crime and his health is deteriorating,” Smith wrote in the letter, a copy of which was obtained by INQUIRER.net.

Smith, a member of the US House of Representatives’ Armed Forces and Foreign Relations committees, said he was “concerned by the allegations that Mr. Beltran is being unfairly detained at the Philippine Heart Center.”

“As I am sure you are aware,” he wrote Arroyo, “it is widely believed among the international labor and human rights communities that the charges brought against…Beltran are legally weak and unsubstantiated.”

Smith also referred to allegations that Beltran’s “arrest and detention are politically motivated, a result of the government’s opposition to his progressive political belief and social activism.”

Beltran is one of two representatives of the Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) party-list groups and is one of six members of the House from the country’s major leftist bloc, all of whom are facing the same rebellion charges.

The leftist solons and the party-list group they represent -- the other two are Bayan Muna (People First) and Gabriela -- are regularly tagged by the government and military as “legal fronts” of the communist rebel movement.

Scores of members of the party-list groups have also fallen victim to the extrajudicial killings that continue to sweep the country and have earned the Arroyo administration increasing criticism both at home and abroad.

Bayan Muna’s Satur Ocampo has also been charged with multiple murder for his supposed role in the execution of suspected government spies by communist rebels more than two decades ago. He has been allowed to post bail on the normally non-bailable charge by the Supreme Court.

A fact-finding mission from the Inter-Parliamentary Union arrived in the country this week to investigate the perceived persecution of the leftist solons and their party-list groups. The mission’s members have also called for Beltran’s release.

In his letter, Smith acknowledged Beltran’s reputation “for his work on behalf of Philippine workers and the underprivileged.”

“I applaud his contributions to the international labor community and hope that he is given due respect at this time in his life,” he said.
Nonoy Espina

Beltran thanks IPU officials for pleading on behalf of his freedom; says Arroyo government turning him into a political martyr

Friday April 20, 2007

Beltran thanks IPU officials for pleading on behalf of his freedom; says Arroyo government turning him into a political martyr

Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran gave his personal thanks to the officials of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and its Human Rights Committee as they visited him in his hospital detention room this afternoon at the Philippine Heart Center. IPU Human Rights Committee vice chair Canadian Sen. Sharon Carstairs, IPU secretary-general Anders Johnsson and human rights committee secretary Ingeborg Schwarz visited Beltran as part of the IPU's fact-finding mission into the political repression against progressive lawmakers in the Philippines.

Beltran said that despite the refusal of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration led by its officials such as Justice secretary Raul Gonzalez and Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita have refused to give in to the IPU's appeals for his release, he remains grateful to the IPU for speaking on his behalf. He also said that he remains hopeful that justice will still be served in his case and he will soon walk free.

"I am grateful to Mr. Johnsson, Sen. Carstairs and Ms. Schwarz for pleading my case with the Macapagal-Arroyo administration. As officials of an international institution upholding the human and political rights of parliamentarians, they have not failed me or my colleagues in Anakpawis, Bayan Muna and Gabriela Women's Party. My only hope is that the IPU will continue to take an interest and concern regarding my case and expose to the rest of the international community the worsening attacks against activist lawmakers in the Philippines."

Anakpawis officials in the meantime led by Rep. Rafael Mariano and secretary-general Cherry Clemente gave a token of appreciation to the IPU officials, a framed certificate.

In the meantime, the 74-year old Beltran reiterated his innocence of the sedition and rebellion charges against him, and once more denounced the illegal and unlawful circumstances that surrounded in arrest in February 25, 2006. He said that the warrant the arresting officers showed him as the one issued him 25 years ago concerning charges of rebellion laid against him by the Marcos dictatorship. The charges were dismissed in 1986 by Judge Edurado Tutaan of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Tutaan of the QC RTC Branch 84. He was also cleared by the Philippine Constabulary/Integrated National Police (PC/INP) and the court. The government prosecutor assigned to his case was incumbent Department of Justice secretary Raul Gonzalez.

"I am an innocent man being denied my liberty and rights. By refusing to release me, the Macapagal-Arroyo adminisration daily affirms its reputation as a politically repressive government. What has been done to me and what continues to be done against me is political repression, an act of a burgeoning dictatorship. It is my hope that Filipinos as well as the rest of the international community will be made aware of what is being done to me and see it as an attack against civil liberties and political rights in the country. The Arroyo government is making a political martyr out of me, the same way the Marcos dictatorship made a martyr of labor leader Felixberto Olalia," he said.

Olalia was arrested on August 12, 1982 on charges of rebellion. He was 78. He died December 3 the following year while under house arrest.

Rep. Beltran's wife Mrs. Rosario-Soto Beltran in the meantime denounced anew the heartlessness of the Arroyo government. "Inosente ang asawa ko. Kailangang siyang palayain dahil ligal ang ginawang pag-aresto sa kanya, at peke ang lahat ng testimonya ng mga testigo laban sa kanya. Nalalantad lang lalo ang kabulukan ng sistema ng batas sa kasong ito ni Ka Bel dahil mismo ang proseso ng batas ay binabaluktot ng gobyerno para lang hwag siyang palayain." #

Beltran thanks IPU officials for pleading on behalf of his freedom; says Arroyo government turning him into a political martyr

Friday April 20, 2007

Beltran thanks IPU officials for pleading on behalf of his freedom; says Arroyo government turning him into a political martyr

Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran gave his personal thanks to the officials of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and its Human Rights Committee as they visited him in his hospital detention room this afternoon at the Philippine Heart Center. IPU Human Rights Committee vice chair Canadian Sen. Sharon Carstairs, IPU secretary-general Anders Johnsson and human rights committee secretary Ingeborg Schwarz visited Beltran as part of the IPU's fact-finding mission into the political repression against progressive lawmakers in the Philippines.

Beltran said that despite the refusal of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration led by its officials such as Justice secretary Raul Gonzalez and Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita have refused to give in to the IPU's appeals for his release, he remains grateful to the IPU for speaking on his behalf. He also said that he remains hopeful that justice will still be served in his case and he will soon walk free.

"I am grateful to Mr. Johnsson, Sen. Carstairs and Ms. Schwarz for pleading my case with the Macapagal-Arroyo administration. As officials of an international institution upholding the human and political rights of parliamentarians, they have not failed me or my colleagues in Anakpawis, Bayan Muna and Gabriela Women's Party. My only hope is that the IPU will continue to take an interest and concern regarding my case and expose to the rest of the international community the worsening attacks against activist lawmakers in the Philippines."

Anakpawis officials in the meantime led by Rep. Rafael Mariano and secretary-general Cherry Clemente gave a token of appreciation to the IPU officials, a framed certificate.

In the meantime, the 74-year old Beltran reiterated his innocence of the sedition and rebellion charges against him, and once more denounced the illegal and unlawful circumstances that surrounded in arrest in February 25, 2006. He said that the warrant the arresting officers showed him as the one issued him 25 years ago concerning charges of rebellion laid against him by the Marcos dictatorship. The charges were dismissed in 1986 by Judge Edurado Tutaan of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Tutaan of the QC RTC Branch 84. He was also cleared by the Philippine Constabulary/Integrated National Police (PC/INP) and the court. The government prosecutor assigned to his case was incumbent Department of Justice secretary Raul Gonzalez.

"I am an innocent man being denied my liberty and rights. By refusing to release me, the Macapagal-Arroyo adminisration daily affirms its reputation as a politically repressive government. What has been done to me and what continues to be done against me is political repression, an act of a burgeoning dictatorship. It is my hope that Filipinos as well as the rest of the international community will be made aware of what is being done to me and see it as an attack against civil liberties and political rights in the country. The Arroyo government is making a political martyr out of me, the same way the Marcos dictatorship made a martyr of labor leader Felixberto Olalia," he said.

Olalia was arrested on August 12, 1982 on charges of rebellion. He was 78. He died December 3 the following year while under house arrest.

Rep. Beltran's wife Mrs. Rosario-Soto Beltran in the meantime denounced anew the heartlessness of the Arroyo government. "Inosente ang asawa ko. Kailangang siyang palayain dahil ligal ang ginawang pag-aresto sa kanya, at peke ang lahat ng testimonya ng mga testigo laban sa kanya. Nalalantad lang lalo ang kabulukan ng sistema ng batas sa kasong ito ni Ka Bel dahil mismo ang proseso ng batas ay binabaluktot ng gobyerno para lang hwag siyang palayain." #

Ka Bel condemns slay attempt against Southern Tagalog and human rights advocate Delfin Mallari

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Ka Bel condemns slay attempt against Southern Tagalog and human rights advocate Delfin Mallari

Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran expressed condemnation for the shooting of Philippine Daily Inquirer correspondent in Southern Tagalog Delfin Mallari, saying that the shooting could very well be politically-motivated.

"Sonny is a journalist with a firm sense of social justice and an advocate of human rights. His reports and commentaries reveal his humane and humanitarian advocacies even as they are objectively written and delivered. There is strong basis to allege that his shooting was politically motivated and intended to either discourage his espousal of activist causes or completely silence him. We are much relieved to hear that he survived the attack and pray for his recovery. We extend a hand in comfort to his wife and family," said Beltran.

Beltran said that it was more than likely that the Armed Forces of the Philippines Regional Special Action Force (RSAF) in Southern Tagalog are behind the slay attempt. He said that Mallari has been consistent in exposing the spate of extra-judicial killings in the region including the continued harassment members and officials of progressive party-lists and militant people's groups at the hands of the AFP and its RSAF.

"Sonny is human rights advocate and he has been active in exposing the human rights violations in ST. This has earned him a hateful reputation among the military and paramilitary forces in the region who are the frequent targets of his reports and commentaries."

The veteran labor leader turned legislator in the meantime said that it was evident that the Macapagal-Arroyo administration is not acting on any of its promises that it will put an end to the attacks against journalists and freedom of the press in the country. He said that the slay attempt against Mallari and the recent murder of radio reporter Mark Palacios in Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija give lie to the government's assertions that it is addressing the issue of violence against journalists.

"The Macapagal-Arroyo administration has not declared an all-out war against freedom of the press and members of the media in words, but its deeds are more than enough to prove that it is in fact undertaking an attack against the Philippine media. One the one hand Pres. Arroyo frequently exhorts the media to focus their coverage on events and developments that do not put her administration in a bad light; on the other hand we have her husband the First Gentleman filing libel charges left and right against journalists. The extrajudicial killings and harassment of journalists also continue unabated," he said. #

Ka Bel elated over opportunity to personally present his case to Inter-Parliamentary Union officials

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Ka Bel elated over opportunity to personally present his case to Inter-Parliamentary Union officials tomorrow 230 PM

Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran today reiterated his gratitude to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the members of its delegation to the Philippines led by IPU human rights committee chair Canadian senator Sharon Carstairs, IPU secretary-general Anders Johnson, and IPU HR committee secretary Ingeborg Schwarz.

"I am most grateful to the IPU for its continuing concern for the plight of progressive lawmakers in the Philippines. I am also touched by Sen. Carstairs' expressions of concern for my health and welfare," Beltran said. "I am certain that their call for my immediate release will all the more bring international attention to the worsening human and political rights situation in the Philippines," he said. "I am elated that finally, I will be able to present the circumstances surrounding the case to a body who swears to be fair and objective, and acknowledge my right to defend myself."

The IPU mission members are set to visit Beltran tomorrow at 2:30 pm in his detention hospital room at the Philippine Center. Beltran's wife Rosario Soto-Beltran as well as officials of Anakpawis party-list including Rep. Rafael Mariano will also be present. Beltran said that he will share with the IPU officials the circumstances surrounding his arrest last year and the rigmarole of court proceedings that have taken place since then.

"There is no basis to have my case arraigned, but more than enough reasons to have the charges against me dropped and myself released from incarceration. I am being detained by the Macapagal-Arroyo administration purely out of political spite and repression," he said.

Government prosecutor Raul Gonzalez

The 74-year old Beltran lamented the Quezon City Municipal Trial Court 43 and the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150's refusal to acknowledge the illegal process that was utilized to facilitate the government's arrest of his person last year, February 25. Beltran was arrested on a rebellion charge that was already dismissed in November 1986 by Judge Eduardo Tutaan of the QC RTC Branch 84. He was also cleared by the Philippine Constabulary/Integrated National Police (PC/INP) and the court. The government prosecutor assigned to his case was incumbent Department of Justice secretary Raul Gonzalez.

"The charges laid down against me 25 years ago have been resurrected, and the same warrant was used to justify my arrest. The least Sec. Gonzalez could do is admit that he is aware these particular circumstances that I'm talking about and admit that the warrant used against me last year was already dismissed along with the rebellion charges," he said.

The activist lawmaker said that he has no intentions of meeting the same fate as Kilusang Mayo Uno founding chairman Felixberto Olalia who expired while under the guard of the PC-INP, under house arrest in his home in Quezon City. Eight after he was arrested on August 13, 1982, Olalia's detention weakened his heart and respiratory system, making him more susceptible to heart disease. Ka Bert died on December 3, 1983.

"I am an innocent man who has done nothing but serve the Filipino people through militant advocacy of workers' rights and social justice issues. The Macapagal-Arroyo government has denied me my rights as an elected lawmaker, and denied me my liberty for the last 14 months. In the name of justice and the truth, I demand that the charges against me be immediately dropped and the Arroyo government issue an apology to myself, my family, to Anakpawis Party-List and the broad constituency of workers, farmers, and urban and rural poor whom we serve," he said. #

Let the Macapagal-Arroyo government dispute the World Bank's findings about worsening poverty in the Philippines

Tuesday , April 17, 2007

Let the Macapagal-Arroyo government dispute the World Bank's findings about worsening poverty in the Philippines

Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran today said that even one of the international financial institutions largely to blame for poverty and hunger in the world can see that the situation in the Philippines is lamentable. He challenged the Macapagal-Arroyo adminsitration to dispute the studies of the World Bank and defend its own economic programs in tha face of the expose that as of survey year 1997, percentage of the population below the poverty line was 36.8 percent."This percentage, no doubt, has increased since then," he said.

"The World Bank manipulates global finances and negotiate with governments around the world to gear their economic priorities towards privatization, liberalization and deregulation; but now even the WB is worried about the state of things in the Philippines. One cannot miss the irony in that, and Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo should take heed, being an economist herself," Beltran said.

Recently, the World Bank released a study saying that at least 14.8 million Filipinos try to survive on less than $1 a day.

"There is no truth to the claims of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration and its candidates for the senatorial elections under Team Unity that the country's economy is improving. Whatever improvement the economic indicators are suppsoedly registering do not translate into actual, tangible improvement in the lives and welfare of majority of Filipinos. The economy remains largely backward, and what progress the Arroyo government credits itself for achieving for the country is reserved for the less than two percent of the population, the same sections who own big businesses and large land-holdings, and those who have partnerships with foreign investors," he said.

"The problems of homelessness, joblessness, hunger and malnutrition remain largely unsolved because the twisted economic priorities of the government do not include them. Budgetary spending goes to foreign debt servicing, military modernization, and corrupt practices in the bureaucracy," he added.

The veteran labor leader turned legislator said that the worsening economic crisis is also at the core of the never-to-be-resolved political instability in government.

"So long as even the most basic of social reforms are not implemented adequately and efficiently to cover the needs of the large majority of Filipinos, then there will always be political instability. The main barrier that stands between providing what Filipinos need not only to survive but to improve and develop as well-rounded individuals is corruption in the ruling system of government, and continued obeisance to foreign economic and political dictates," he concluded.#

IPU will have a compelling report to deliver to its 116th assembly regarding plight of progressive lawmakers in the Philippines

Monday , April 16, 2007

IPU will have a compelling report to deliver to its 116th assembly regarding plight of progressive lawmakers in the Philippines

Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran today said that all efforts will be done to make sure the Inter-Parliamentary Union will have a compelling report on the plight of progressive lawmakers and the party-lists they represent.

The IPU will hold its 116th assembly in Bali, Indonesia later this month after it sends a three-person fact-finding team to the Philippines beginning April 18. The team will be comprised of Sen. Rosario Green of Mexico, Sen. Sharon Carstairs of Canada and Ingeborg Schwarz, the IPU human rights committee secretary. Carstairs is vice president of the IPU's committee on human rights of parliamentarians. The IPU officials are set to visit Beltran in his hospital detention room at the Philippine Heart Center on the afternoon of the 18th, and before they leave on the 20th. Consultations with Beltran's family and legal counsels are also scheduled.

"The Philippine government continues to project itself as a democracy, but its actions betray it. The democratic space allowed for expressions of legitimate political dissent in the form of legal and constitutionally-protected forms has become severely limited since Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo came to power."

"Legislators who do not choose to swing and dance to the tune of the administration are branded government destabilizers and even terrorists. The bloc of progressive party-lists led by Bayan Muna, Anakpawis and Gabriela Women's Party has been viciously attacked and our legislators subjected to various forms of harassment and political persecution. We are being branded as criminals, and our rights as duly-elected representatives of marginalize sectors disregarded and violated."

"The IPU's fact-finding mission could not be taking place at a better and more opportune time. It's the last leg of the campaign season, but the IPU delegation will still be able to see how the politics of patronage still holds sway over the Philippine electoral system. They will also see how the party-list system which was supposedly established to strengthen the representation of the marginalized sectors of Philippine society in congress is being twisted and corrupted. In the meantime, the fact that I remain incarcerated 14 months on false charges and false testimonies is also a testament to the Arroyo government's determination to weaken and crush the progressive party-lists by criminalizing their representatives," he said.

"If the likes of National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales and justice secretary Raul Gonzalez had their way, each one of the progressive lawmakers will be in jail and disqualified from participating in the elections. They want human rights violators and killers like Jovito Palparan and his party-list to win. The government is also fielding its own party-lists in the malicious effort to corner the party-list system and make it serve the government's agenda in the legislature."

Beltran exhorts senatorial candidate Joker to be 'the good Arroyo'

Tuesday March 27, 2007

Beltran exhorts senatorial candidate Joker to be 'the good Arroyo'

A former client of senatorial candidate Joker Arroyo today said that the voting public's less than enthusiastic response to his latest bid to return to the senate might well be likely a result of the public's disappointment with his decision to run under the administration banner. "Many are also surprised with the line that Sen. Arroyo is taking on the issue of extrajudicial killings and the international attention the issue has been getting. People expect more Joker – after all, he's the 'good Arroyo," said Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran.

Arroyo was one of the Beltran's lawyers from 1984-1986 when Beltran was a political detainee under the Marcos dictatorship. Now, Beltran is again a political detainee and has been under detention since February 25, 2007.

Beltran himself said that he was very surprised and disappointed with Joker's stance on pressing political issues such as human rights and the extrajudicial killings. He said that Joker's vote in support of the Human Security Act or the anti-terrorism law was also tragic.

"He became known as a human rights lawyer and a civil rights defender; but now his stance seems to vary from day to day. It's most unfortunate that he has chosen to side with the Arroyo administration and defends its from ultimate responsibility and criminal liability for the extrajudicial killings. Many see him now as an apologist for the Arroyo government, and it has caused much confusion in how voters perceive him. If he didn't want to join the Genuine Opposition, he should have gone independent instead of throwing his lot with Team Unity and his infamous namesake of an illlegitimate president," said Beltran.

Beltran said that it the supporters and sympathizers of the progressive party-lists Anakpawis, Bayan Muna, and Gabriela Women's Party are not encouraged to include Joker in the list of candidates they will vote for in the senate elections. "However much we want to support and endorse Arroyo's candidacy, it's become difficult for us because of his inconsistent stand on human rights and the extra-judicial killings. Many were shocked to hear him defend the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Arroyo government itself from culpability. It was a disappointment," he said.

"Joker would win more votes and once more secure a seat in the senate if he once more takes up the cudgels for human and civil rights in the Philippines. This is what the Filipino people expects of him."

Finally, the veteran labor leader turned legislator said that it was it was not too late for Joker Arroyo to disaffiliate himself from Team Unity and take a more correct and humane, internationalist stand on the issue of extrajudicial killings.

This morning, Beltran was allowed by the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 under Judge Elmo Alameda to attend the Comelec hearing on the disqualification case filed by members of Akbayan Party-List. Beltran is Anakpawis Party-List's chairman and first nominee. Other nominees are Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano who also stands as party president; Kilusang Mayo Uno secretary general Joel Maglunsod, Pamalakaya chair Fernando Hicap, and president of the Confederation for the Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE) Ferdinand Gaite. #

Beltran will not enter any plea during this afternoon's arraignment of sedition charges against him

Monday March 26, 2007

Beltran will not enter any plea during this afternoon's arraignment of sedition charges against him

Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran today said that he will not enter any plea in this afternoon's hearing of the sedition case against him at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 43. The said court headed by Acting Presiding Judge Thelma de los Santos had denied Beltran 's motion to quash the government's move to proceed with Criminal Case No. 132943 or the case charging him with sedition.

"I will not plead to anything. I do recognize the legitimacy of the charges against me. I was arrested based on a long-lapsed warrant; the testimonies against me are all fabricated, and the witnesses are all completely lacking in credibility. Let the court declare a plea on my behalf because I will not. I have been detained for over a year on a rebellion charge that has already been dismissed; and on the strength of testimonies that are patently false. This is a serious miscarriage of justice, "he said, defiant. He said that all charges against him should be dismissed because of glaring legal technicalities and the blatant perjury of the witnesses.

Beltran, 74, has been on a 'freedom fast' since Thursday morning as has been subsisting solely on soda crackers and water. He embarked on his fast in protest against his continuing incarceration as well as against the arrest of Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo. He will be attending this afternoon's arraignement on an essentially empty stomach.

"The Macapagal-Arroyo government continues to deny millions of Filipinos justice. The constantly worsening conditions of poverty, hunger and joblessness are grave injustices that remain unresolved. Add to these the escalating attacks against the human rights and civil liberties of Filipinos and what we have is a criminal government. My continuing incarceration is further proof that there is no democracy in the Philippines against the Macapagal-Arroyo administration. The Arroyo government is now completely utilizing and relying on underhanded and downright dirty means to silence its critics. The victims, however, will not be silent. We will not be silenced and continue to expose and protest against Pres. Arroyo's burgeoning dictatorship," he said.

The activist lawmaker and detainee said that his legal counsels led by Public Interest Law Center (PILC) president Atty. Romeo Capulong, Atty. Rachel Pastores and Atty. Amylyn Sato intend to file a motion for certiorari on the sedition charges against him. "I cannot be charged with both sedition and rebellion. The more serious crime should absorb the lesser crime; I, however, am innocent of both charges. I have an elected lawmaker since 2001 and done nothing but take full advantage and use of the parliamentary arena to further the cause of the poor and marginalized sectors which the progressive party-lists represent," he said.

Beltran challenged Department of Justice secretary Raul Gonzales to personally read and review all the testimonies supposedly proving Beltran's guilt. "If there's any sense of logic, reason and justice in Sec. Gonzales, he himself would concede that all the testimonies against me are fabrications. Himself a lawyer, he will easily see that all the evidence prove nothing of my supposed guilt but point towards by innocence of the charges. All I am guilty of is actively denouncing the abuses and corruption of the Macapagal-Arroyo presidency, and all that is within my rights not so much as a lawmaker, but as a Filipino living in a supposedly democratic society," he said.

In the meantime, the veteran labor leader turned legislator lauded the decision of the Permanent People's Tribunal to declare the Macapagal-Arroyo government guilty responsible for the extrajudicial killings and disappearances in the country.

"The Arroyo government cannot continue to ignore the growing number of institutions and internationalists expressing condemnation for the worsening human rights situation in the Philippines. Pres. Arroyo's stubborn insistence to stand by and defend the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and their paramilitary groups only exacerbate the crime of sanctioning the wide-scale execution of political activists and human rights advocates," he concluded.#

Commission on Human Rights must keep cases against Palparan open so long as justice is not given to the victims

Wednesday March 21, 2007

Commission on Human Rights must keep cases against Palparan open so long as justice is not given to the victims

Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran today decried the declaration of a

Commission on Human Rights fact-finding mission that there is no direct evidence linking Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan and other officers under his command to the series of extrajudicial killings in Central Luzon when Palparan was stationed there as regional military commander. Commissioner Eligio Mallari iIn a 20-page resolution recommended that the cases filed by human rights groups against Palparan and other officers of the 7th Infantry Division be dismissed in the absence of prima facie evidence.

"Two decades after the downfall of the Marcos dictatorship, everyone save for members of the Marcos family acknowledges that Marcos was the mastermind behind abduction, torture and cold-blooded execution of thousands of civilians. It's highly unlikely that Marcos himself took a gun to shoot the victims, but he ordered the crackdown against political activists and critics of his administration. Nobody contests that Marcos was the over-all perpetrator in all the human rights violations and extrajudicial killings of activists that took place under his regime."

"The same logic should also apply to Jovito Palparan. He was the one who put together the initial blueprint and formula for Oplan Bantay Laya, and the soldiers under his command obeyed him. He may not have actually shot any of the victims, but he had direct knowledge of how and why they were killed because he ordered their executions," he said. "Palparan's public and media declarations justifying the execution of human rights advocates, members of the progressive party-lists Bayan Muna, Anakpawis and Gabriela Women's Party and members of people's organizations under the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) are well documented."

Beltran said that the Commission on Human Rights may well be under pressure from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to absolve Palparan. He said that the CHR would be bringing shame to itself and endangering its own credibility if it bows to this pressure .

"We still hope that the CHR will take a firmer stand on this issue of extrajudicial killings and not be afraid of Palparan or the AFP. It is understandable if members of the CHR fact-finding mission in Central Luzon are in fear for their own lives if they declare Palparan criminally liable for the killings; but as human right workers, they have the duty and responsibility to seek justice for the victims of the killings," he said.

"The CHR should not dismiss the cases against Palparan because none of the extrajudicial killings perpetrated in Central Luzon under his watch have been given justice and proper resolution. These are unsolved cases, and the perpetrators are still at large. So long as justice has not been given the victims and their families, the CHR must keep these cases open and under investigation," he concluded.#

Macapagal-Arroyo, her officials and their families should all try living on P350 a day

Wednesday March 21, 2007

Macapagal-Arroyo, her officials and their families should all try living on P350 a day

Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran today said that Malacanang's advice to Filipinos to cut down on luxuries like texting and smoking if they don't have enough money for food was an outrage.

"Again, the Macapagal-Arroyo government's callousness exposes itself. It's an outrage that Pres. Gloria Arroyo and Sec. Ignacio Bunye should continue to blame Filipinos for their poverty when in fact it it's the government's abject failure to provide enough jobs, higher wages and adequate, accessible social services available to the people that worsens their poverty and hunger," he said.

Beltran challenged Pres. Arroyo and Sec. Bunye to live on the wages that ordinary workers or government employees receive. "Let's see how far they'll be able to stretch P350 a day," he said. "Even if most Filipinos totally do away with texting, drinking and smoking, what's left of the measly wages and salaries they receive is still far from being enough to fight off hunger and poverty."

"Malacanang is trying to deflect blame from itself for its failure to implement economic programs that genuinely address the issue of poverty of majority of Filipinos, but the arguments its using lame and insulting. It's not texting, smoking or drinking that makes people poor – its high taxes, high costs of electricity, water and housing; it's lack of job opportunities; it's low wages that are not commensurate to the labor they turn in."

"Malacanang is advocating that Filipinos make do with meager resources while almost daily there are reports of corruption within the higher offices of government, including the executive branch. The Philippines ranks among the most corrupt nations in the world because of the Arroyo government's own inherent corruption, yet the government has the gall to tell Filipinos to cut down on their spending. The twisted budgetary policies and priorities of the Arroyo administration ahs also left majority of Filipinos denied of the most basic services such as health, education and housing. Ordinary Filipinos do not benefit from government programs which are mostly akin to the distribution of alms and dole-outs," he insisted.

Beltran said that most Filipinos already have been forced to make do without so many necessities to ensure that they and their families are able to live decently.

"Everyday is a battle of survival for most Filipinos. Widespread unemployment and underemployment is one of the bigger social problems the Arroyo government has failed to arrest and address. Those fortunate to be employed, in the meantime, are forced to make do with subsistence wages and salaries. The Macapagal-Arroyo government is to blame for the over-all deteriorating quality of life of Filipinos," he said. #

Human Rights advocates and civil liberarians should push for removal of Bert Gonzales from office

Tuesday March 20, 2007

Human Rights advocates and civil liberarians should push for removal of Bert Gonzales from office

Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran today said that civil libertarians and human rights advocates – including leaders in the Catholic Church and other religious formations -- should push for the immediate removal from office of National Security adviser Norberto Gonzales. He said that it was high time that Gonzales' record and advocacies, campaigns and justifications for them be subjected to scrutiny because Gonzales is 'a dangerous man and should not be allowed to be in government.'

"The man is incapable of objectivity and his judgment is severely impaired by his hatred of the progressive party-lists and their advocacies. He is a modern day Rasputin in the Macapagal-Arroyo cabinet, and his solutions to political crises serve to exacerbate the problems. He has become a powerful man in the Arroyo government, and his advice to the president having been accepted and implemented has resulted to the over 838 extrajudicial killings and the continuing harassment against progressive party-lists, their supporters and their very representatives in congress," he said.

"Even as Pres. Arroyo herself stands to be the highest official most accountable for the continuously worsening human rights situation in the country, the likes of Norberto Gonzales should also not be allowed to escape accountability. Gonzales works insiduously and maliciously, spreading lies against the progressive party-lists and goading the Armed Forces of the Philippines to escalate their attacks against political activists and human rights advocates," he said.

News reports confirm that Gonzales and other members of the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (PDSP) were the most adamant in pushing for Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo's transfer to Leyte. Gonzales is also the strongest advocate for the persecution of the other progressive lawmakers and their disqualification from the May 2007 polls.

"Gonzales is pushing for the persecution of progressives and he advocates the manipulation and twisting of laws in the implementation of this agenda. He's a vicious anti-human rights advocate, but he cannot substantiate his charges against the progressive party-lists against whom he carries a personal vendetta. He is a dangerous man who has the ear of the president, and so long as he occupies a position in government, the extrajudicial killings will continue and remain a national policy. Working in a killer triumvirate with Armed Forces chief of staff Hermogenes Esperon and Defense secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Gonzales is hell-bent on initiating a full-scale pogrom against progressives and their supporters," he said.

Senatorial candidates challenged to explain stands on problems of hunger and widespread joblessness

Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran today said that despite Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's assertions that the economy has made an effective turnaround and is on the way to progress, latest statistics on humger incidence insist otherwise. According to the latest Pulse Asia Survey, hunger remains at a record-high 19 percent, with 3.4 million households saying they experienced starvation at least once in the past three months.In Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon, hunger incidence worsened.

"Senatorial candidates should be prodded to give their economic platforms to address hunger and joblessness because these are among two of the biggest problems affecting a large majority of Filipinos. It's a higly unsound employment policy that the Arroyo govenrment is implementing now because it mostly relies of finding overseas jobs for Filipinos instead of local job generation. Joblessness means hunger and poverty," he said.

"Hunger incidence is still pegged at two-digit percentages because joblessness is still on the rise. The Arroyo government has been unable to create more jobs for Filipinos, but pushed thousands more outside the country to work abroad. Wages also remain pegged at P350 in the NCR, but figures from the National Wages and Productivity Commission state that a family of six members in the NCR needs at least P721 a day to meet its food and non-food needs," he said.

Citing stats from IBON Foundation, Beltran said that employment and underemployent are still at critical levels. Underemployment still remains high at 21.5% or some 7.2 million Filipinos still looking for additional work.

"Add this to the 2.8 million unemployed Filipinos and we have 10 million workers, or close to a third of the labor force, who are either jobless or if employed, still looking for more work," he said. As of January 2007, there were 309,000 domestic household help jobs created, as against only 74,000 manufacturing job," he concluded.#

IPU to visit detained lawmaker Beltran as soon as the delegation arrives on the 18th

Sunday , April 15, 2007

IPU to visit detained lawmaker Beltran as soon as the delegation arrives on the 18th

Officials of the Inter-parliamentary Union (IPU) are set to visit Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran in his detention hospital room at the Philippine Heart Center on the afternoon of April 18, 2006. Beltran said that he was very much looking forward to their visit and expressed hope that the IPU's continuing interest in his case would add pressure for his release and the dismissal of the sedition and rebellion charges against him. IPU officials are also set to meet with Beltran's legal counsel, family members and officials of Anakpawis party-list including fellow Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano.

"My arrest and continuing detention is a black and white, clear-cut case of political repression. The government has no concrete or credible proof that I plotted with members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to overthrow Pres. Arroyo in late February last year. In the meantime, the court hearings have dragged on and were held very far and between. I've spent more than a year of my life incarcerated on false charges and fabricated testimonies. I am hopeful that the IPU will take my side and use its diplomatic authority to recommend my release," he said.

The veteran labor leader turned legislator, now 74 years old, said that the Macapagal-Arroyo administration refusal to release him even on the grounds that he is already a senior citizen reveals the government's callousness and extreme lack of compassion.

"Of course my release should not hinge on the fact that I'm 74 years old but on the fact that I am innocent of the charges the government has laid down against me. A fair, objective and unbiased investigation and review of the facts and circumstances surrounding my arrest and continuing detention will reveal that the government had me arrested out of a malicious intent to weaken the advocacy of the progressive party-list that I represent. I am guilty of nothing but being vocal in my criticism against the government's anti-poor and anti-people economic policies and its relentless attacks against the civil, political and human rights of the Filipino people," he said.

Beltran demanded that the various government officials including those in the police and the military as well as the Department of Justice (DOJ) will not lie when asked by the IPU about his case. In any case, Beltran said, the documents and other evidentiary materials will reveal who is saying the truth and who's lying.

"Sana maging tapat sila at hwag magsinungaling. Hwag nilang bolahin ang mga taga-IPU. I was arrested on February 25 on a 15 year-old rebellion charge that had lapsed and been dismissed long before. I have not plotted with or even spoken to a single member of the disgruntled group of soldiers about Pres. Arroyo. I was arrested for purely political reasons and not because I committed any crime against the government. Freedom of dissent and freedom of expression are rights guaranteed by the Constitution, but Pres. Arroyo and her various henchmen have long begun to abolish these bit by bit," he said.

The IPU delegation investigating the worsening repression against progressive lawmakers will be led by Sen. Sharon Carstairs of Canada and the IPU's secretary general, Anders B. Johnsson of Sweden. Carstairs is vice president of the IPU's committee on human rights of parliamentarians, which is headed by Senator Franklin Drilon. The Geneva-based IPU counts 143 national parliaments and seven regional parliamentary assemblies.

While in the country, the IPU leaders will conduct dialogues with House Speaker Jose de Venecia and Representative Bienvenido Abante Jr., human rights committee chairman; justice secretary Raul Gonzalez; defense sec. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr; interior and local local government sec. Ronaldo Puno; National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzalez; Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Calderon; Armed Forces chief General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr.; Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr.; and Commission on Human Rights chair Purificacion Quisumbing.

AFP chief of staff Esperon should order AFP command in Panay to surface and release abducted activists

Friday, April 13, 2007

AFP chief of staff Esperon should order AFP command in Panay to surface and release abducted activists

Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran today demanded that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) local command in Panay island immediately surface and release alive and unharmed the leaders of Anakpawis Party-list they abducted yesterday. He challenged AFP chief of staff Hermogenes Esperon to surrender the officials and commanders of the AFP command in Panay and have them take account for the shooting and abduction of the activists.

Anakpawis National Council Member and Panay Coordinator Nilo Arado, human rights advocate and Bayan Muna Regional (Region VI) Coordinator Leeboy Garachico, and Ma. Luisa Posa-Dominado were attacked yesterday by unknown armed operatives while they were on their way from the province Antique.

A vehicle overtook the pick-up where the militant leaders were riding, shot Garachico on the neck and forcibly took Arado and Posa-Dominado. Garachico is currently confined in a hospital in Panay, while Arado and Dominado are still missing.

Arado is a respected peasant leader in Panay, is the Secretary-General of Paghugpong sang mga Mangunguma sa Panay kag Guimaras (PAMANGGAS – a Panay-wide alliance of farmers).

Beltran, who also is Anakpawis National Political Party chairman, said that Arado's abduction and the attempted murder of Garachico are without doubt the doings of the AFP. He said that Esperon immediately order the AFP local command in Panay to surface Arado and Posa-Dominado.

"We won't hear any more of the AFP's lies. The military is directly behind these atrocities. All of Esperon and Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's declarations that the military institution respects human rights are all out and out lies. The continuing harassment and violence the leaders, members and supporters of the progressive party-lists are subjected to are the doings of the AFP and their paramilitary arms. We demand that Esperon and Pres. Arroyo herself order the release of Arado and Luisa, and take responsibility for the attempted slay of Leeboy," he said.

"The closer the elections come, the harder the military will attack the ranks of supporters and leaders of the progressive party-lists. We ask the leadership of the various religious formations to call intensify their call to the government that it immediately stop its brutal campaign of extrajudicial killings and abduction of activists and human rights activists," he said.

Beltran also reiterated the call to senatorial candidates to speak out against the continued attacks against the progressive party-lists. "The attacks against us are attacks against the wide constituency we serve and represent. More than undermining the economic rights of Filipinos and burying them under the mountain of worsening poverty, the Macapagal-Arroyo government is guilty of massive human rights violations. Macapagal-Arroyo ahs brought back the dark days of the Marcos dictatorship when the military ran amok and arrested, abducted and executed civilians on the basis of their being sympathetic to activist causes. The administration's continuing disrespect and violation of the Filipino people's political rights is a thousand times worse than its already weighty crime of stealing from the people through corruption," he said.

Solon decries arbitrary removal of 1.13 voters' names from official Comelec list; demands Comelec explain the methods it used to verify the names

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Solon decries arbitrary removal of 1.13 voters' names from official Comelec list; demands Comelec explain the methods it used to verify the names

Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran today said that the Commission on Elections should not have removed more than one million supposedly unqualified voters from the official voters list for the May polls.

The Comelec has removed some 1.13 million names from the from the list including the so-called "flying voters" and double registrants. According to reports, the National Capital Region (NCR) posted the highest number of deleted unqualified voters with 73,430 while in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) some 6,059 were removed from the list.

"The Comelec should reveal the means and methods it employed to verify and cross-check the names of voters it removed from the official list of voters. Did the Comelec even bother to consult or inform those whose names they removed? That's over a million names, and that well translates into a million votes. The previous election in 1994 already witnessed the disenfranchisement of countless Filipinos voters who aimed to vote against Macapagal-Arroyo; now there's the big possibility that a large percentage of the 1.13 million names the Comelec arbitrarily removed are those of active voters, but now their votes would no longer be counted," he pointed out.

"What will the Comelec do when the owners of these 1.13 names actually show up at the precincts and find that they have been disenfranchised, their names nowhere in the list of voters?"

Beltran said that the progressive party-list groups Anakpawis, Bayan Muna and Gabriela Women's Party along with two others Kabataan Party-List and Suara Bangsa Moro also stand to be victimized by the removal of over 1.13 million names from the official voters' list.

"In the 2004 polls, many of our supporters in the National Capital Region and the Mindanao region complained that they were turned away at the voting precincts because they were supposedly unregistered. We don't see it as a harmless coincidence that it's the areas where we have a strong following that many voters are being disenfranchised," he said. "We are already being targeted for fraud, and the beneficiaries will be the fake party-list groups funded by the Arroyo government."

Beltran, Anakpawis National party chairman and first nominee, said that the Comelec should not discard the 1.13 names yet and create an immediate back-up list and records that should be on constant stand-by. "Before the Comelec rids of any names, it should first make the effort of verifying and cross-checking the names and make sure that these people are aware that they are being threatened with disenfranchisement. A lesson we have learned in the 2004 elections is that the powers-that-be in Malacanang utilized more sophisticated means of cheating by directly tampering with the election returns, and no longer merely relying on flying or dead voters. It is not delisting of names that will protect the May polls, but the eagle-eye monitoring and guarding of the election paraphernalia, the actual voting process, the tabulation in the precincts and the transfer and surrender of election returns," he concluded.

Voters' distrust for GMA, her officials should be transformed into vigilance during May polls to safeguard votes, election returns from fraud

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Voters' distrust for GMA, her officials should be transformed into vigilance during May polls to safeguard votes, election returns from fraud

Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran today said that Pulse Asia's recent survey results revealing the public's low level of trust for key officials and supporters of the Arroyo administration were not surprising. President Arroyo and former President Fidel Ramos have public distrust ratings of 41 and 43 percent, respectively. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr and Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos also have low trust ratings.

"Many Filipinos have become cynical when it comes to the government and its officials, especially in the last six years under Macapagal-Arroyo. Official government pronouncements such as those declaring a state of national recovery for the economy are received with indifference because Filipinos neither see nor experience any improvement in their economic lives. As for the peace and order situation, it continues to worsen in the same way that the human rights situation also deteriorates. The government itself does not give Filipinos any reason to trust it, much less have faith in it," he said.

Beltran said that the May polls draw closer, Filipinos will be even more cynical of the chances of the elections being a genuinely democratic exercise practiced and implemented with honesty and credibility.

"As more surveys revealing the public's sentiment against the Arroyo government, its officials and its candidates are released, the greater the pressure is on the administration to cheat and rig the elections. We hope that this strong distrust for the government and key officials will push more Filipinos to be watchful and vigilant by guarding the polls, from the actual process, to the canvassing, and the turnover of the election results to the Comelec."

"It's already impossible for the Macapagal-Arroyo administration to win back the trust of majority of Filipinos. It has completely lost all credibility when Pres. Arroyo herself was exposed of rigging the results of the presidential elections in 2004. The election season has refreshed voters' memory of the 'Hello, Garci' scandal and Arroyo's Team Unity is also tainted. The only way that Team Unity can score a clean and honest victory is if there were no other candidates running against its slate and people has no alternative," he said.

Detained lawmaker demands court-martial for commander and members of AFP's 101st IB behind killing of 9-year old in Compostela Valley

Tuesday , April 10, 2007

Detained lawmaker demands court-martial for commander and members of AFP's 101st IB behind killing of 9-year old in Compostela Valley

Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran today demanded justice for the slain nine-year Grecil Galacio who was killed in cold blood by the Armed Forces of the Philippines' 101st Infantry Brigade in Compostela Valley. Grecil had just finished Grade 2 at the Simsimen Elementary School. He said that the national and international human rights community should condemn Grecil's killing.

Last March 31 as Grecil was pacing between her parents' house and the nearby river, she was shot by members of the 101st IB. A bullet went through her right elbow and another bullet entered her skull, practically oblitering it.

Beltran demanded the immediate sacking of Brigadier General Carlos Holganza, commander of the 101st IB who defends the brutal shooting of the child by saying that it was part of a legitimate encounter with communist insurgents. He charged AFP chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon to immediately court-martial Holganza as well as all the members of the 101st IB.

"These men deserve to rot in jail for killing an innocent child and subjecting her family to such terrible depths of anguish. In the twisted logic and blind desperation of the AFP to defeat the New People's Army (NPA) it has long taken to targeting innocent civilians including children and justifying their execution as part of the anti-insurgency campaign. Grecil's killing should not be allowed to be swept under the rug, the child's death must not be allowed to be dismissed as yet another statistic in the military's long list of victims," he said.

Beltran, a grandfather and great-grandfather, said that the brutality of the AFP's 101st IB deserves national and international condemnation. He also said that Holganza should be pilloried for his lackadaisical justification for Grecil's killing.

"Where's their proof? How dare they shoot and kill civilians without clear, concrete and indisputable proof that she was a member of the NPA? There are international laws governing the involvement of children and minors in liberation movements and armed revolutionary groups including the NPA. Holganza is trying to justify the fatal mistake his men made by hiding behind the allegation that Grecil was an NPA and that the NPA have child soldiers," he said.

"The main problem with the AFP is not only is its leadership rotten with corruption, its ranks have become nothing but unthinking, unfeeling killing machines who have no respect for civilian authority much less the life of civilians. Esperon should be burdened with the responsibility of investigating this brutality of the AFP troops. He should not be allowed to simply take the word of Holganza that the shooting was all in the line of duty," he said. #

GMA's various courts, commissions and instrumentalities to supposedly address extrajudicial killings are oriented to absolve Palparan

Tuesday , April 10, 2007

GMA's various courts, commissions and instrumentalities to supposedly address extrajudicial killings are oriented to absolve Palparan

"Palparan's every triumph is a tragedy for the Filipino people's fight for justice and human rights. Sec. Gonzalez' decision to absolve Palparan affirms the belief of many that the Macapagal-Arroyo administration is incapable of meting justice for the victims of the political and extra-judicial killings."

This was the reaction of Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran regarding Gonzalez' decision to clear retired Major General Jovito Palparan Jr. over the murder of Edilberto Napoles Jr. and the frustrated murder of Ruel Landicho on May 28, 2002.

"The Macapagal-Arroyo government and its agencies continue to absolve Palparan and the pattern has been set. It's become evident that the instrumentalities and quasi-judicial bodies that Pres. Arroyo keeps putting up in supposed response to the demands of the international human rights community are actually oriented towards clearing Palparan. The various courts and commissions Pres. Arroyo has established are nothing but venues wherein Palparan can wash himself of the blood of the human rights advocates and political activists he ordered executed," he said.

Palparan was charged at the Regional Trial Court of Calapan, Oriental Mindoro, but State Prosecutors Glenda Cabello-Marin, Melvin Abad and Sebastian Caponong finding no probable cause to indict Palparan and M/Sgt. Rizal Hilario.

Records show that Napoles and Landicho on May 2, 2002 received a text message from a Bayan Muna staff named Ramir de la Cruz telling them that soldiers had barged into the Bayan Muna office in Barangay Lumangbayan, Calapan. When Napoles and Landicho arrived, they entered into a debate with five soldiers headed by Hilario, spokesman of the Army's 204th Infantry Brigade which Palparan commanded. Twenty-six days later two men, identified later as Aniano Flores and Larry Aparato, allegedly broke into the Bayan Muna office and shot Napoles and Landicho.

"Palparan has the full support and backing of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration. It's clear that so long as Pres. Arroyo remains in power, Palparan will also be protected and immune to criminal prosecution. As for Sec. Gonzalez, the extreme animosity he bears for the progressive party-lists and their lawmakers has rendered him incapable of meting out justice, and it's most likely that he will always discriminate against the victims and families of Palparan because they're all affiliated with the progressive party-lists and their allied people's organizations. Gonzalez has become a notorious Palparan groupie, joining Pres. Arroyo and National Security adviser Norberto Gonzales," he concluded. #