Official Blog of Rep. Etta Rosales, AKBAYAN

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2006-09-05T13:02:00.000+08:00

Please be advised that the Official Weblog of Rep. Etta Rosales of AKBAYAN is now at http://ettarosales.wordpress.com. Thank you.

On reported bribery of CBCP

2006-07-14T15:27:00.000+08:00

The reported bribery of bishops, followed by a dinner reward by Malacañang that took place before, during and after the two-day conference of the bishops is not only an embarassment to ourselves as a people but equally so to the international community.

It reflects how far we have deteriorated in our moral values and how we have internalized bribery as a way of ife, a way by which Malacañang and others form government relate tot he people in the exercise of authority. Without a grasp of the essence of public trust as a basic Constitutional tenet for public leadership, a morally bankrupt leader will not hesitate to bribe because she has lost public respect, and therefore moral credentials, to exercise authority over the people. She has lost respect for herself and for the ones she bribes. The only thing that matters is to retain her seat as President until 2010 no matter the means.

In exercising authority by a discredited leader, bribery is used as one method. The use of force is another. The late Mr. Marcos became a master of both and lasted fourteen years.

But both are anathema to democracy. Sadly, Malacañang has not learned the lesson of democracy deprived us those fourteen years under marcos. What it is fast becoming a master of are hte insturments Marcos imposed for self-rule. This is the current state of affairs in our so-called restored democratic system of rule. It explains how the use of force, through extra-judicial killings, complement rampant bribery and election fraud to help Malacañang's leaders keep power.

These are the very same reasons the campaign for impeachment should reach every nook and corner of the 42,000 barangays and hte thousands of parishes all over the country. The people deserve to know the truth. The people deserve to make their decision freely and take collective action without the use of force and money. We did it then to get rid of a dictator. We can do it again.

Rep. Etta P. Rosales
AKBAYAN

On the CBCP statement regarding the impeachment complaint

2006-07-12T16:46:00.000+08:00

PRESS STATEMENT ON THE CBCP STATEMENT:
12 July 2006

On 28 June, Bishop Deogracias Yniguez filed an impeachment complaint against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In behalf of Akbayan, my party, I endorsed the same.

As a citizen, the Bishop wanted to walk the way of impeachment, being the Constitutional instrument provided to determine whether or not there is probable cause to impeach the President.

When the CBCP said that Bishop Yniguez had all the right to take initiative in his search for the truth, the bishops were underscoring the right of the bishop as a Filipino citizen to seek the truth in much the same way the Bishop had explained his position.

When the same CBCP collectively decided the other day that the impeachment process in Congress was not the way of seeking the truth, they were merely stating facts about the limitations of the current Congress and its members; that much of what defines the political choices made by members of the House today are determined by concerns parochial and specific to their interests and to what they define as constituent concerns. It is known to all and sundry, although there is no written evidence of this, that what appeared decisive in the votes for or against impeachment last year were the material benefits rewarded to those who voted for the dismissal of the impeachment complaint. In fact, there were some colleagues honest enough to admit that they could not vote against the President considering the fact that a number of projects were provided their districts and jobs were given their constituents. The political value of such decisions is primordial; especially if this will directly benefit the constituents who will look kindly on the representative from whom the material rewards are provided.

The open discussion today on whether or not bags of rice and medicine were given bishops who were conferring these past two days on social and political questions smacks of the same experience. The question on whether or not forty bishops accepted these material benefits intended for the poor is in the same spirit that projects and jobs are provided members of the House specifically to benefit their poor constituents. The issues on whether or not cash was offered by the Palace to the same bishops in conference likewise reflects the same problematic the bishops face with the Palace. That some bishops have openly criticized this Palace behavior and have found it most insulting is precisely the very reason the bishops support individual initiatives to pursue the truth about alleged fraud, cheating and bribery committed by the President.

Hence, the CBCP Statement is not, contrary to views that have come out in the open, in favor of the President; nor is it against impeachment per se and as a process. It asserts repeatedly that it is in favor of the common good, which it feels both Administration and Opposition solons should strive for, "whether Left, Right and Center".

The vision is really in having a Congressional body that would rise above immediate and material considerations. A body where every member defines his vote in accordance with how he values the weight of public trust against the evidence of violations ranging from betrayal of this trust, the commission of election fraud, violations of human rights and bribery committed from the 2004 elections to the present.

The results of last year's impeachment dismayed and disappointed the public and, for this purpose, the Catholic Bishops. It seemed more evident that the common good - which is the relentless search for truth was obstructed by the immediate rewards made available to the members of the House at the time.

"For unless the process and its rules as well as the mindsets of all participating parties, pro and con, are guided by no other motive than genuine concern for the common good, impeachment will once again serve as an unproductive political exercise, dismaying every citizen, and deepen- ing the negative perception of politicians, Left, Right, and Center," CBCP President Angel Lagdameo said.

It was at this time of debate and dialog over the futile exercise of impeachment that reports came out regarding the bags of rice and medicine that freely flowed from Malacanang to the bishops' bailiwicks. It was likewise in this Bishops' Conference where reports came out that envelopes from the Palace were being distributed to the bishops.

What comes out clearer than daylight is the fact that, more than ever, the Filipino people are the ones that must be relied upon ultimately to fight for the common good; given that it is they, the Filipino people, who will benefit best in the pursuit of this good. Let the people and their bishops, priests and nuns knock on every district and party list door of the House in hot pursuit of this common good for the common tao. Contrary to every one's fears, we might yet make the magic 78!

Etta P. Rosales
AKBAYAN

Akbayan rep decries harassment of cross-dresser at Metrowalk resto

2006-07-11T14:59:00.000+08:00

AKBAYAN Rep. Etta Rosales today called for an investigation into discriminatory practices against gays and lesbians in establishments after a bar in Metrowalk allegedly discriminated against a gay impersonator last week.

TV host and comedian Inday Garutay, together with her boyfriend was waiting for her manager and a friend at Aruba restaurant at Metrowalk in Pasig City when she was told to leave the premises for supposedly violating the establishment's "dress code".

"What was Inday Garutay specifically wearing that violated this supposed dress code?" asked Rosales. "Was it the fact that she is a transsexual instead that the restaurant's manager found unacceptable?"

Rosales said Garutay, whose real name is Christopher Borja, had a right to freedom of expression. "If she is happiest when she is in women's clothing and as long as she is not stepping on other people's right, why should it bother Aruba's manager? She has as much a right to their services as anyone else who could pay."

The lady solon is asking for an investigation into the case. "We will file a resolution to look into this matter, and see if a similar trend is also occurring in other establishments around the country." Rosales has also asked for help from the Commission on Human Rights to look into the matter.

Rosales added, "this only highlights the need to pass the bill penalizing discriminatory practices against the gays and lesbian community, Akbayan's House Bill 634. This bill once enacted into law will make it illegal for establishments like Aruba to refuse rendering services on the basis of sexual orientation."

Rosales added that as a result of the incident Garutay also lost a client for a show in Japan. "The hassle that the incident brought on ranges from hurting the dignity of a person to the very tangible material loss of income, and Aruba should be held liable for that."

"There is absolutely no reason why public establishments like schools, restaurants, and other places should refuse entry to people on the basis of gender or how they look, and this discriminating practice has no place in a just and humane society," Rosales said.

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On PCGG obstruction of compensation for Marcos victims

2006-07-01T05:05:00.000+08:00

Claimants 1081 is organized and composed of thousands of class victims who have won in 1995 a class suit against the Marcos estate in a Hawaii District Court amounting to $2 billion. Its main function is to help facilitate the enforcement of the US Court decision for hte thousands of Marcos vicitms brutally tortured, abudcted and/or summarily killed. As current Chair and in its behalf, I strongly urge the PCGG under the leadership of Chairman Camilo Sabio to please withdraw its motion for re-hearing in the US 9th Circuit Court in order to remove the last obstacle to the initial distribution of $2,000 each ott he Marcos victims.

It is the height of political irony that an executive agency like the PCGG should now stand in the way of the government's commitment to help give compensation to victims of human rights violations. The Marcos compensation bill -- BH3315 was passed on third and final reading in compliance with this mandate and commitment. The House bill awaits the Senate's passage of its own version before the bill is made into law.

Where the international community celebrates the victory of the Marcos vicitms won in the 9th Circuit COurt as a historical breakthrough in the enhancement of international human rights and justice, why must the PCGG look darkly, jealously and narrowly on this victory? It uses taxpayers' money in millions of dollars to bar the thousands of Marcos vicitms -- most of them poor and in subsistence living conditions -- from being compensated, no matter how measly the amount, through an American court order.

No amount of money can erase the agony, hurt and suffering of the victims and their loved ones. But society and its government must look kindly and with compassion on them, if only to help them restore their humanity, help bring them back to the mainstream of collective effort for a more humane and understanding society, a society for the poor.

The separate interviews of Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Chief of Staff Michael Defensor, saying they do not wish to obstruct what rightly belongs to the Marcos victims is a welcome respite to the PCGG's apparent obstinate position. We hope that their statements will translate into a withdrawal of the PCGG obstacle in the same spirit the Marcos compensation bill that now awaits immediate passage and final approval.

Rep. Etta Rosales
AKBAYAN

On the Signing of bill abolishing Death Penalty into law

2006-06-25T03:45:00.000+08:00

Death pen repeal is the fruit of historical struggle for human rights advocates and puts the Philippines on the global map, but extrajudicial killings should be solved next.
June 24, 2006

Repealing the death penalty law is the sweet fruit borne of more than a decade of historical struggle for the promotion of human rights in the Philippines. It gives the Philippines a well-deserved niche as one among Asia's leading human rights advocates in the global map. It spells a breakthrough in human rights legislation and makes the country more deserving of its new role in being elected member of the United Nations Human Rights Council this year.

The task of enforcing the spirit and character of the law, however, goes way beyond the ceremonial signing by the President of the law which takes place today, 24 June 2006 in Malacanang.

The abolition of capital punishment addresses the basic right to life and the dignity of the human person. it anchors the entire criminal justice process on the principle of rehabilitative and restorative justice, no matter how heinous are the crimes committed by the offenders of the law. It directs society and its government towards a vision that makes the right to one's humanity a universal reality.

In a country that today suffers from a culture of impunity and violence, where political killings are a daily fare that apparently are beyond the control and competence of those authorized to enforce the law, the enforcement of the repeal of death penalty demands the collective will and direct action of the people themselves, informed citizens who must reach the breadth and spread of every community down to the villlage level. The spirit of the law - which recognizes the humanity and dignity of every person, rich or poor, young and old, Christian, Muslim or Lumad - must be taught in every home, school, church and barangay hall of every community.

This is the only way to fight impunity and violence, a reality that has reached such proportions where it is no longer safe to be in one's home. This is the only way to fight the militarist mindset that appears to dominate state policy on peace and order; a policy that seems to be more preoccupied with witch hunting and red baiting. This is the only way to restore democracy, justice and peace to a beleaguered society hungry for change.

Etta Rosales
Akbayan
House of Representatives

Marcos compromise is not the solution to land reform

2006-06-24T09:07:00.000+08:00

AKBAYAN party-List Representative Etta Rosales today warned against using CARP as an excuse to further entertain the idea of entering into a compromise agreement with the Marcoses regarding their ill-gotten wealth.

"Simply because the bottomline is you cannot take away the criminal liability of the Marcoses, as the Supreme Court has upheld in a 1998 ruling," said Rosales. "and because you'll never get an honest and full disclosure of just how much the Marcoses stole in the first place."

"Extending the agrarian reform program is okay in principle, but the whole gamut of problems starts form the very first step, which is land acquisition," she added. "Government should follow through with its commitment to employ compulsory acquisition as the primary means to acquire lands and redistribute them to send a signal to landlords that govenrment means business when it comes to CARP."

"As long as govenrment doesn't display the political will necessary, landlords will continue to lord it over the rural areas, and for that farmers will pay with their lives," Rosales explained. "Like what happened to Akbayan peasant leaders in Negros Oriental and Davao del Norte."

"The Marcos money rightfully belongs to the farmers, but it should be the just and full amount due them," Rosales added. "and we can only do that if we see to it that the cases against the Marcoses are brought to their logical conclusion and any compromises are done away with."

Explanation of Vote re Abolition of Death Penalty

2006-06-07T11:35:00.000+08:00

(from official transcript of records)

June 6, 2006, 8:25 p.m.
Plenary 2nd Session
Thirteenth Congress

I vote yes for the repeal of Republic Act 7659 abolishing the imposition of the death penalty.

May I just say - express my appreciation to my colleagues here in the House of Representatives because the campaign for the abolition of death penalty goes a long way from the Eleventh Congress. I do remember that in the Eleventh Congress there was a moratorium on the implementation of the death penalty law but the Supreme Court decided to push for the enforcement of the law - Republic Act 7659. And this was brought about precisely because they were convinced by the position of the House of Representatives. There was a list of the Members of the House who felt that in fact the death penalty should be imposed and that the moratorium, if I am not mistaken, should be lifted.

Our colleague who led in mobilizing the members of the House to sign their names to the resolution calling for the lifting of the moratorium was no less than Representative Roilo Golez, and he was able to convince a large majority of us. Meanwhile, still in the Eleventh Congress and later in the Twelfth Congress, we abolitionists filed a bill for the abolition of capital punishment. I do remember that we were able to talk to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and asked her if, during the deliberations for the repeal of the death penalty law, we could have a moratorium. And because we were able to get a majority of the Members of the House to sign the moratorium, including those who actually favored the death penalty law, the President decided, although she did not put it writing, that yes, she would push through with the moratorium which, in all fairness to the President, she has done.

Now, we are voting on Third Reading and we could not have been able to do this without the help and support of the people's organizations, the human rights groups, the NGOs, Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), Coalition Against Death Penalty (CADP), Mamamayan Tutol Sa Bitay (MTB), Amnesty International (AI), other human rights' advocates all along because they were the ones - the workers, you know, silent human rights advocates who kept on tirelessly talking to each and every Member of the House of Representatives from the time of the Eleventh Congress up to today. So I would like to applaud them along with my colleagues because I think that without the people's organizations - who have been behind us - I doubt very much that we would be able to reach this level.

And may I express my appreciation and my thanks to our colleague, Roy, for at least having voted yes in conscience. I look forward to more collective and practical work with him.

Thank you very much. I vote Yes.

(keywords: death penalty human rights Roilo Golez MTB CADP FLAG speeches RA 7659)

PCGG perks and privileges should be looked into

2006-05-24T04:07:00.000+08:00

"I just want to have fun," Abcede says of his cavorting with Imelda Marcos. This is highly insensitive and callous to the high objectives that the PCGG is mandated to uphold. Abcede has single-handedly undermined the mission of his own office with those six careless words, oblivious to the concept of 'conflict of interest', to the detriment of his primary clients - the Filipino people.

Abcede has tainted his position, in violation of RA 6713 prohibiting public officials from soliciting or accepting "any favor in connection with any operation being regulated by, or any transaction which may be affected by the functions of his office." (IRR, Rule X, Section 1[f]). It is the same provision contained, ironically, in a Marcos-era law, Presidential Decree 46, which Abcede is also violating.

And precisely because the PCGG's independence and objectivity has been undermined that AKBAYAN seeks to look into the perks and privileges that PCGG Commissioners receive as contained in House Resolutions 1233 and 1234, which were filed two weeks ago. It is high time to hold Abcede, Sabio and their offices accountable for their actions.

Additionally, to say that those who oppose any compromise agreement with the Marcoses are driven by hatred and a desire for revenge is to patronize and insult the Marcos victims and what they went through during Martial Law.

To do so would also be to turn a blind eye to the Supreme Court ruling of 1998 in Chavez vs. PCGG saying that a compromise agreement entered into with the Marcoses runs contrary to law because "it is a virtual warrant for public officials to amass public funds illegally, since there is an open option to compromise their liability in exchange for only a portion of their ill-gotten wealth."

The PCGG cannot grant immunity to the Marcoses because they are the principal defendants in the spate of ill-gotten cases now pending before the Sandiganbayan. The PCGG can only grant criminal immunity to a person who is a witness to the proceeding according to Executive Order 14-A. Secondly, the PCGG cannot cause the dismissal of cases against the Marcoses because this is tantamount to encroaching on judicial powers. To enter into a compromise agreement would be abuse of power on the part of the PCGG and will only amount to selling out the public's interest for the private gain of a few.

Abcede's demeanor is unbecoming, unprincipled and unethical and it bids ill for the strategic direction of the PCGG and its primary mission: to go after plunderers and recover the wealth they amassed which belong to the people. That's the goal of Abcede's office, and the last thing he should be doing is flirting with the very same criminals he should be pursuing. He should be removed from office and made to stay away from any function having anything to do with the Marcoses.

(keywords: PCGG corruption lifestyle check Marcos compromise agreement RA 6713)

Downgrade of case vs. Subic rape servicemen is sellout of justice and sovereignty

2006-04-21T05:03:00.000+08:00

The DOJ decision to downgrade the case against three of the accused in the Subic rape case is a sad development in the pursuit of justice towards a resolution of the situation.

Sec. Raul Gonzales's statement that the compromise is just to "appease the mob" effectively weakens the case as it undermines the substantive aspect of the case, leading to the resignation of a Prosecutor in the panel pursuing the case. What is it about the findings of the prosecutor's office in Olongapo, which found probable cause to file rape charges against all four American servicemen, did the DOJ find objectionable to now assume this position? His actions constitute undue influence over the prerogatives of the Olongapo prosecutor.

Judging from his words, did the DOJ Secretary base his decision out of political convenience and not on the facts at hand? The secretary, once castigated by the Supreme Court for usurpation of authority and now facing a disbarment case, maliciously contorted procedure and the US alone stands to benefit from the decision he made.

From the original finding of a conspiracy to rape, the downgrading to accessories effectively ties the hands of the Prosecutors and allows for bail. But the other accused, especially Platoon leader Chad Carpenter was in a position to stop the crime form being done, but did nothing, which is why all four became principally accused. Now that aspect has been ignored by the DOJ resolution. And when you add the fact that the government has not yet acquired jurisdiction over the persons of the accused because no warrant has been served yet and therefore the trial cannot proceed, it means Carpenter, Duplantis and Silkwood are almost scott-free.

What can be done now is to ensure that the case proceeds as soon as possible. Sovereignty must be asserted with the successful serving of the warrant of arrest. The Visiting Forces Agreement only provides for a one-year timeframe to resolve the case. With almost half that time spent already, what little chance we have of ensuring speedy justice for the rape victim must be protected at all costs.

(keywords: gender Subic rape DOJ Gonzalez VFA women human rights)

AKBAYAN solon insists on legislative action towards full abolition of death pen, not just through commutations

2006-04-18T05:22:00.000+08:00

AKBAYAN Party-List Representative Etta Rosales today said that more than a presidential pronouncement; the death penalty should be abolished altogether through the enactment of a pending law.

Rosales urged President GMA to certify as urgent consolidated House Bill 4826 repealing the death penalty law. "It has been reported out by the Committee on Revision of Laws last October 10, 2005 and is now pending second reading for the period of sponsorship."

"I hope GMA's Easter Sunday message is followed up with legislative action to prove that it is a sincere policy shift," added Rosales "so the ball is now in Congress's hands."

"What we want is a culture of human rights and not of violence," added Rosales. "and yet years of living with the death penalty has not resulted in real security, and instead what we have are extra-judicial killings, vigilantism and a continued breakdown in peace and order."

The lady solon added, "defending life by taking another life is not justice, it is vengeance. What we hope for is restorative justice, not bloodshed."

"Eventually we have to learn that eliminating criminality depends on the certainty of arrest and enforcement of the rule of law, not on imposing a penalty considered to be the worst form of human rights violation," said the AKBAYAN solon. "After all, while we ban the cutting of limbs as totally inhuman and a cruel punishment, the taking of one's life is even more cruel because it is irreversible."

Rosales said that with the President's pronouncement, the urgency should not be lost on Congress. "Congress should act with haste and immediately pass House Bill 4826," she said.

COMELEC is wasting taxpayers' money on signature drive verification

2006-04-04T04:16:00.000+08:00

The Commission on Elections is again playing the part of Malacañang's dummy with its insistence on verifying the signatures collected by the Sigaw ng Bayan movement for a people's initiative. It feels like 2004 all over again with a compliant COMELEC risking charges of contempt, graft and malversation just to complement Malacañang's blessing on the cha-cha train.

But in the absence of an enabling law, any stack of paper containing signatures for proposed amendments to the Constitution should be met with only one response from the COMELEC. They should do nothing, because the SC ruing states that the COMELEC is enjoined from taking cognizance of any petition for initiative on Constitutional amendments pending the passage of an enabling law.

Instead of cleaning up its ranks, providing the general public with answers regarding the lingering questions of electoral fraud in 2004, the COMELEC is playing dedma to the real issues before us, and is instead toeing the Malacañang-sanctioned moro-moro of a people's initiative to divert the people's attention away from Garci, away from the GMA rice scandal, away from the Arroyo men and jueteng, away form the issue of GMA's legitimacy itself.

The COMELEC knows just as anyone else that this case will reach the Supreme Court, and in the absence of any fact that has changed since the 1997 Santiago v. COMELEC decision, the Sigaw ng Bayan initiative is dead in its tracks. The cha-cha train GMA claimed to have left the station is filled with the same pulitikos who, like GMA, are only after protecting their interests until 2010 and beyond. But there are no tracks ahead, and this scheme is bound to get derailed, sooner or later.

The jurisprudence should hold, and one is left wondering why Abalos seems ultra-confident to defend COMELEC's actions before the Supreme Court. Such loud hints invite curiosity since it seems to undermine the capability of the judiciary to act independently.

The COMELEC should be reminded that as an independent government instrumentality, it should uphold and respect the law and existing jurisprudence guiding the discharge of its functions. Before lending legitimacy to a top-down and bogus "people's initiative", the COMELEC is better advised to clean up its act and help shed light on the real crisis we are faced today - the democratic deficit brought about in part by a degenerated electoral system. The COMELEC is only sanitizing and legitimizing a process that will protect the same elite interests and the hold of the current administration and its cohorts.

On the Use of Landmines by NPA forces

2006-03-31T06:23:00.000+08:00

In behalf of AKBAYAN and as member of the Committee on Human Rights, I condemn in the strongest terms possible terms the NPA call to use land mines in their stepped up offensives against the military.

This drastic and desperate call can only mean even more violations f human rights against the civilian population. It is also a gross violation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) signed by both the GRP and the CPP Negotiating Panels in the time of former President Joseph Estrada.

Part II, Article 2 of CARHRIHL states that "(T)he objectives of this agreement are (a)to guarantee the protection of human rights to all Filipinos under all circumstances, especially the workers, peasants and other poor people; (b) to affirm and apply the principles of international humanitarian law in order to protect the civilian population and individual civilians, as well as persons who do not take direct part or who have ceased to take part in the armed hostilities, including persons deprived of their liberty for reasons related to the armed conflict."

One of the treaties related to international humanitarian law is the Ottawa Treaty that bans anti-personnel mines and has been ratified by 82 states last 30 June 1999. This Convention prohibits the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines.

If we are to believe the newspaper report that quotes Roger Rosal as saying that "We can inflict casualties on an advancing enemy force by using landmines, small teams and snipers," he blatantly violates the human rights and international humanitarian law agreement the CPP signed with the Philippine government.

The argument that the NPA does not use contact-detonated land mines (or anti-personnel land mines) but command detonated land mines which is not included in the Ottawa Treaty falls flat on its face as a claim that the CPP adheres to international humanitarian law.

An earlier newspaper report stating that a civilian was a casualty of a contact-detonated land mine planted by the NPA in Puerto Galera is enough evidence that the civilian population is not spared from these armed attacks of the NPA against the Philippine military. To call the incident "unfortunate" is severely insensitive and unmasks the reality that landmines do main and kill innocents. Additionally, in Butuan, 3 soldiers were also killed, allegedly when one of them stepped on a landmine.

Roger Rosals' call to step up armed action against the military regardless of whether this is violative or not of human rights and international humanitarian law recalls a Palparan mindset.

Both Rosal and Palparan apparently come from the same mold - a mold that believes that the only solution to the problems of Philippine society is the use of force - armed, violent and coercive, regardless of the harm they do to the life of the people and their right to dignity, security and self-fulfillment. It is a military mindset that asserts simplistically that "Might makes Right". It belongs to the law of the jungle. Marcos tried it in his time and he succeeded for 14 years. It took a people that grew in courage and enlightenment to finally topple the dictator.

Under present conditions, only a people that is properly informed of their rights against the tyranny of rule - whether through the use of violence or the manipulation of law - must grow in strength and rise to the occasion. AN informed, enlightened and empowered citizenry is the main and only democratic instrument that can ultimately overcome the rule of force with the rule of law. But such a law must be anchored on the rights of the people and must redound to their common good, never to the few who desperately cling to power by the rule of force and the manipulation of law.

If the President and the leadership of Congress claim to still believe in the rule of law, then immediate effort must be made to put a stop to the extra-judicial killings of the Palparan mode against members of party list organizations such as Bayan Muna, etc. Committee Report No. 1009 regarding HR 728 calling for an immediate stop to the extra-judicial killings must be given priority even before we call for recess for the Holy Week.

In the same vein, Congress should prioritize the enactment of House Bill 2675 or the Comprehensive Law on Landmines, which would be in compliance with the country's obligations under two related treaties - the Ottawa Treaty or the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Landmines which we ratified on February 15, 2000 and the 1996 Amended Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines.

LORETTA ANN P. ROSALES
AKBAYAN Representative

On the proposed PCGG compromise with Marcoses

2006-03-23T05:17:00.000+08:00

The Presidential Commission on Good Government cannot enter into any sort of compromise with the Marcoses over the recovery of the ill-gotten wealth amassed by the dictator while in power. Commissioner Abcede's remark that the country should move on is premature and uncalled for given the fact that there has been no closure to the dark days of Martial Law. Instead of moving on, perhaps it is better for Abcede to move out of PCGG instead.

Abcede's 70-30 sharing proposal is a dangerous precedent to all would-be dictators and plunderers telling them that they can get away with stealing and cheating for as long as government is too lazy to lift a finger and go after them.

Abcede should be informed that the Supreme Court had ruled in Chavez vs. PCGG that a compromise agreement entered into with the Marcoses runs contrary to law because "it is a virtual warrant for public officials to amass public funds illegally, since there is an open option to compromise their liability in exchange for only a portion of their ill-gotten wealth."

Additionally, the criminal charges against Imelda Marcos and her cronies are already pending before the courts and what is needed is the political will to bring their prosecution to a decisive closure. Exoneration is not an option. An out of court settlement does not, in the words of the Supreme Court in Chavez vs. PCGG, "does not automatically terminate the criminal proceeding against or extinguish the criminal liability of the malefactor." The Marcoses and those who benefited from the regime must pay for their crimes before closure can be achieved.

Coming from the PCGG one is forced to wonder whether such pronouncements from Abcede reflect the official stand of the office under which the PCGG directly reports. In the light of unanswered questions regarding the supposed illegal use of Marcos wealth for electoral purposes in 2004 and the previously recovered Marcos wealth since 1986 amounting to P5 billion still unaccounted for, the atmosphere becomes gloomy for achieving justice for the Marcos victims and for finally putting a just and lasting closure to the excesses of Marcos.

CA decision over automotive case threatens jobs

2005-07-07T04:46:00.000+08:00

AKBAYAN Party-List Representative Etta Rosales today expressed frustration over the Court of Appeals decision denying an appeal on its February ruling that reversed a 2002 ban on the importation of used vehicles.

"In declaring Executive Order 156 unconstitutional, the CA is putting thousands of workers under the threat of retrenchment and loss of livelihoods over some vague notion that competition redounds to the local automotive industry," said Rosales. "But the figures speak for themselves."

Rosales cited figures explaining that from a high of 162,056 units in 1996 prior to the Asian financial crisis, domestic vehicle sales have plummeted to 88,074 in 2004, a reduction of about 50%.

And yet, records from the LTO on new vehicle registrations show that almost 270,000 units were registered with it in 2004. "Only 88,000 units were sold by Philippine car manufacturers in 2004. What explains the discrepancy of 181,000 units?"

For Rosales, most of these units are cheap second-hand imported cars, a lot of which are smuggled into the country. "Unless you address that problem then the local automotive manufacturing industry will effectively put thousands of workers out of jobs," she said.

"The CA justified its decision saying that competition from imported second-hand cars would be good for consumers, a noble intent belied by the fact that these vehicles do not cater to mass markets," she said.

For Rosales, who delivered a privilege speech on May 9 to inquire into the importation of second-hand vehicles, it is necessary to first protect the local industry for the benefit of the workers, and to weed out the importers engaged in smuggling these vehicles into the country.

"What we need is an industrial policy that caters to the local economy, not to the privileged few looking to save up on a few pesos and the unscrupulous importers making a killing at the expense of workers everywhere," she said.

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PRESS RELEASE
Desisyon ng CA pabor sa imported cars peligro sa manggagawa
July 6, 2005

Nagpahayag ng matinding pagkadismaya ngayon si AKBAYAN Party-List Representative Etta Rosales matapos ibasura ng Court of Appeals ang apela laban sa desisyon nito na nagsasawalang-bisa sa pagbabawal ng pag-angkat ng mga imported na segunda-manong sasakyan.

"Sa pagdedeklarang labag sa Konstitusyon ang Executive Order 156, inilalagay ng CA sa panganib ang kabuhaayn ng libo-libong manggagawa," ayon kay Rosales.

Ayon sa kaniya, mula sa daan-libong bagong otseng nagawa sa bansa noong 1996, bumaba ang bentahan sa halos 80,000 na lamang noong 2004, o halos kalahati na lamang ng mga sasakyang nabebenta sa bansa ay mula sa local na mga pagawaan.

Ayon kay Rosales, ang kapupunan ng mga nabebentang sasakyan sa bansa ay mula sa mga inangkat na sasakyan mula saibang bansa, na ang ilan ay illegal na iniluluwas sa bansa. "At dahil dito, ang mga manggagawa sa mga lokal na planta ang apektado dahil kapag nalugi ang mga pagwaang ito, sila ang unang aalisin sa trabaho."

"Sinasabi ng CA na ang patuloy na pagangkat ng mga second-hand vehicles na ito ay makakabuti para sa mga mangongonsumo, pero ang mga angkat na sasakyang ito ay hindi naman pang-masa," dagdag pa ni Rosales.

Para kay Rosales na nagpatawag ng isang imbestigasyon sa Kongreso sa industriya ng automotive noong May 9, kailangan munang protektahan ang local na industriya para mapangalagaan ang interes ng mga manggagawa. "Kailangan muna nating pigilan ang mga smuggler na ilegal na nag-aangkat ng mga segunda-manong behikulo sa bansa, bago pa natin lubusang buksan ang industriyang ito."

#

DOH should step in to avoid further deaths from cosmetic procedures

2005-07-07T04:37:00.000+08:00

AKBAYAN Party-List Representative Etta Rosales today raised alarm over the reported death of yet another person after undergoing unsafe and unregulated cosmetic procedure.

"This time it's even worse, a private individual with no medical license whatsoever was able to perform an unsafe operation on a hapless victim to enhance his breasts," Rosales declared, recounting reports over a person named Ronaldo Aguilar Jr., dying from complications after availing the services for breast enhancement procedure "from a call center agent and a student, which necessarily raises the question - how did these individuals get their hands on collagen and the necessary implant tools for the sloppy operations in the first place?" asked Rosales.

"An inquiry with the DOH revealed that out of so many surgical clinics in the country, only those operated by Dr. Vicky Belo are licensed," Rosales revealed. "It is scary to think how many people are going under the knife every day under the care of surgeons whose operations are not licensed in the first place," she explained.

Aguilar Jr., experienced complications on June 26 and died five days later, according to news reports.

"While a Congressional inquiry into this matter, as embodied in House Resolution 802 which I authored, is pending, I would implore the DOH to step in and take immediate steps to regulate the industry so as to dissuade consumers from availing of elective cosmetic procedures for beauty enhancement," said Rosales.

"There should be wider information dissemination over the dangers of undergoing such operations, a moratorium should be in place and stiffer penalties should be imposed on unscrupulous individuals trying to profit from such a dangerous enterprise," added Rosales. "I am afraid that the DOH has been remiss as far as this duty is concerned," she said.

PRESS RELEASE
DOH kailangan nang kumilos para matigil ang mga peligrosong operasyon sa pagpapaganda
July 6, 2005

Nagpahayag ng pagkabahala si AKBAYAN Party-List Rep. Etta Rosales ngayon ukol sa naulat na pagkamatay na naman ng isang indibidwal matapos sumailalim sa 'breast enhacement procedure' na ikinamatay nito noong katapusan ng Hunyo.

"Nahuli man ang mga suspek na nagsagawa ng operasyon, di pa rin maiwasang maitanong kung paano sila nakakuha ng collagen na ginamit sa operasyon, at ng mga instrumentong ginagamit sa operasyon? Kailangan ng mas mahigpit na pagbabawal mula sa DOH kung gayon," sabi ni Rosales.

"Nakakatakot isipin kung gaano kadami nang mga tao ang sumasailalim sa mga operasyong pampaganda gayong sa dinami ng mga klinikang nagsasagawa ng mga operasyong ito, iyong mga kay Dr. Vicky Belo lamang ang may lisensya," pagdedeklara ni Rosales.

"Habang hinihintay natin ang pagdinig sa Kongreso sa industriyang ito na nakapaloob sa Resolution 802 na ako ang may-akda, pinakikiusapan ko ang DOH na higpitan na ang mga operasyong tulad nito upang mapigil ang mga interesado pa na sumailalim pa sa ganitong mga operasyon," ani Rosales. "Dapat magsagawa sila ng malawakang information drive para malaman ng mga tao ang mga posibleng panganib ng mga cosmetic surgery, dapat munang ipatigil ang ganitong mga operasyon habang wala pang batas na sumasakop sa kanila at mas mabibigat na parusa ang dapat ipataw sa mga nagsasagawa ng mga operasyon ng walang lisensya," ayon kay Rosales.

AKBAYAN solon presses for public playing of Gloriagate tapes

2005-07-01T04:35:00.000+08:00

AKBAYAN Party-List Representative Etta Rosales today expressed fear over possible moves to stop the House inquiry on the Gloriagate scandal saying, "too many questions have been left unanswered, more questions have been raised."

"If the House as a body sincerely wants to ferret out the truth, then it has to play the Gloriagate tapes in public, in full view of citizens to hear them for themselves to judge the veracity of the tapes," said Rosales.

She added that "arguments have been made to let the tapes be played privately so that Atty. Alan Paguia could vouch for its authenticity. But an invited legal luminary, Dean Valdez, has already said that playing them is justified as a constitutionally-mandated official investigation in aid of legislation that may prevail over the statutory limitations imposed by RA 4200."

"A failure to play the tapes in public would be an insult on so many levels," Rosales declared. "For one, it would be a slap in the face of the principle of separation of powers, since it would obviously be in deference to the President's wishy-washy confession on TV the other night," said Rosales.

"On another level, it would be an insult on the right of the general public to information and the right to know," the lady solon elaborated.

According to Rosales, it would be a grave disservice to the public if the investigation were to be stopped because of a looming impasse over the tapes. "If my fellow legislators believe that there is nothing to hide, then there should be nothing to fear from the playing of the tapes," Rosales advised. "since it is on CD, I don't think the quality of recording has been affected, thus the authenticity question seems dilatory and need not take too much of the body's time at this point."

For Rosales the botomline is "Play the tapes. No matter what. The issue is far from resolved, and this is probably the most important step to take towards the resolution of this scandal."

Etta lists 16 “lapses in judgment”, demands more accountability than teary-eyed TV pseudo-confession

2005-06-30T05:34:00.000+08:00

AKBAYAN Party-List Representative Loretta Ann Rosales today pushed for the continued inquiry into the alleged Gloriagate wiretap scandal, saying GMA's admission on TV the other night "appears like an attempt to gloss over the substantive aspects of the conversation contained in those tapes."

Rosales demanded that the Congressional inquiry into the alleged wiretapped conversations proceed, saying "the public has to listen to the tapes to find the truth for themselves."

She added "What is at stake here is the subversion of the people's electoral will, "should they be authenticated they could constitute a betrayal of public trust, which is an impeachable offense," she added.

But Rosales believes otherwise. Within the taped conversations that allegedly contains the President's voice, Rosales said 16 'lapses in judgment' showed more than just mere 'impropriety'. She enumerated them as: threatening the family of a possible whistle blower on poll rigging held by the other camp, the changing of military personnel deputized by Comelec that is not sympathetic to the President; padding of votes from other municipalities that had to be counted; trying to make sure that SOVs and COCs corresponded with each other; possible use of the military in the manipulation of vote counting; delaying the canvassing process, especially with that of the Senate; among others.

For Rosales, "If she was innocent, why take three weeks to respond? Was the script riddled with too many loopholes?"

GMA apology noted, but admission skirts issue of electoral fraud

2005-06-28T04:31:00.000+08:00

AKBAYAN Party-List Representative Etta Rosales tonight said GMA's admission that it was her voice recorded in a wiretapped conversation with a COMELEC official does not end the story of the Gloriagate scandal.

"It's good to note that she finally broke her silence," said Rosales, empathically, but added "but to justify calling up a COMELEC official she still didn't even identify and call it merely a 'lapse in judgment' is skirting the issue at the core of the wiretapped conversations."

According to Rosales, "if the explanation for the tapes were this easy, this convenient, why did it take so long to come out with it?" Rosales added, "It only goes to show the need for more people to listen to more of the tapes, and decide for themselves just how tenuous the President's statements probably are."

For the AKBAYAN solon, GMA's televised apology does not mean the Congressional hearing should now end. "In fact, the House should even speed up its inquiry, and allow for the public to form its own conclusion."

Rosales suggested that Garcillano be immediately summoned to the House inquiry to shed light on his part in the conversations. As for the implications of GMA's admission Rosales advised, "she probably agrees that it was improper conduct, but for some it would be an impeachable offense. That has to be studied and deliberated on now," she explained.

Payola rumors lending credence to efforts at stopping wiretap inquiry

2005-06-28T04:20:00.000+08:00

Is there money going around to ensure that the ongoing inquiry on the alleged wiretap conversations between GMA and a COMELEC official is stopped?

Akbayan Representative Etta Rosales pondered the question as she sought clarification today from House leaders regarding malicious text messages going around that P500,000 was being distributed to House members supportive of GMA and an additional P2 million for each member who would vote down the continuation of the wiretap inquiry led by the Committee on Public Information.

In an open letter addressed to Speaker Jose de Venecia, Rosales said that "black propaganda such as the circulating message will only serve their purpose if the House fails the public in its commitment to push through with the inquiry regarding the tape." She thus urged de Venecia to ensure that the House is able to pursue the inquiry, regardless of Malacañang's pronouncements that the President will speak on a matter "of vital concern" to the nation later tonight.

Rosales expressed concern that dark elements are out to undermine the ongoing investigation. The lady solon however believes that the inquiry should proceed as scheduled, regardless of the President's scheduled speech.

"Regardless of what impact the President's announcement slated for tonight makes, the very thought of another payola making the rounds of the House is disturbing in itself," said Rosales, who in 2000 exposed a payola scandal regarding the passage of the Electricity Industry Reform bill. "We need to assure the public that this is not true, and we can only do that if the House continues the inquiry, and publicly play the Garcillano tapes," she said.

AKBAYAN: Gloriagate tapes should be played in public

2005-06-24T04:33:00.000+08:00

AKBAYAN solons in the House of Representatives today urged the five-committee body investigating the alleged wiretapped conversation between President Arroyo and COMELEC Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano to publicly air the supposed conversations between the two.

"The issue at hand goes right to the very core of our democratic ideals," said Rep. Etta Rosales. "The bottom-line is, people are asking - did GMA cheat in the elections? How can they know if the tapes, the very source of all these contentions, are not available for ordinary people to hear?"

Rep. Mario Aguja, meanwhile, seconded Rosales's suggestion. "Yesterday we saw stiff opposition from some lawmakers when a motion was presented to have the tapes played."

According to the two solons, if the House refuses as a body to listen to the tapes while keeping it out of the public sight, "suspicion among the general public would only deepen and further obfuscate our common task of ferreting out the truth," Rosales said.

"We cannot afford to tie ourselves down to questions of legality and propriety, since the acts supposedly illustrated in the tapes are improper and illegal in themselves. There is a higher purpose at work in this inquiry," said Aguja.

The AKBAYAN solons distributed copies of the alleged conversations as the House began its inquiry into the wiretapped conversations on its third day, wearing pinned CDs on their barong that said "Let's hear the truth".

According to Rosales, "the conversations are in themselves a legitimate public interest, there should be no reason why people should not be allowed to listen to them in a formal setting such as the Congressional inquiry."

Crackdown on activists is violation of freedom of expression, muddles search for truth behind Garci tapes

2005-06-22T04:26:00.000+08:00

The NBI raid on a printing press in Quezon City and the subsequent confiscation of posters depicting caricatures of the President smacks of downright fascism, a draconian response to a Constitutionally-protected right and a desperate attempt to go after perceived opponents instead of facing the charges of electoral fraud head on.

The President cannot afford, under such extraordinary circumstances to keep silent for long. She owes the public an explanation.

But even before that, there are matters of people's rights that have to be addressed. She must halt government forces from swooping down on private businesses and harassing them for printing posters with contents critical of her administration.

Last week, two Akbayan youth leaders were already arrested for posting the very same materials, and from the original charges of violating an anti-littering ordinance, the case was grandly elevated to inciting to sedition.

Uneasy, they say, lies the head that wears the crown. With nothing to hide, why should government agents try desperately to intimidate and activists merely posing a legitimate question: is the President the person recorded in the Garci tapes?

As Chair of the House Committee on Human Rights, it distresses me to see how this government is resorting to raids and arrests as if the anti-terrorism bill were already enacted into law. What more if it had been, then? The government is extending a coercive arm to obfuscate a need to decisively address the Garci tape controversy, and if this pressure extends to the Congressional hearings going down starting today, then whatever shred of credibility the President still has will only be further eroded.

The administration is therefore well advised to let the Congressional inquiry take its natural course, in full view of and 100% before the public. All deliberations must be transparent since the public demands, nay, deserves the truth.

If the President is innocent, not only should she explain herself, she should let the discourse continue, in the streets and in the halls of Congress. Tell the NBI and the police to back off from harassing activists, and desist from using her Congressional allies to derail the House inquiry.

Crackdown on activists is violation of freedom of expression, muddles search for truth behind Garci tapes

2005-06-22T04:17:00.000+08:00

It is time to abolish the death penalty

2005-06-01T04:00:00.000+08:00

As Chairperson of the House Committee on Human Rights, it is but natural that I should take this opportunity as a blessing in that this gathering signifies wide support and an increasing understanding among lawmakers on the need to do away totally with the death penalty as capital punishment.

It is precisely the absence of convincing evidence that the death penalty has deterred crime which even proves the point: that the effective enforcement and speedy delivery of justice that strikes fear into the heart of criminals and other people contemplating violating our laws.

In the face of so much lawlessness and criminality, government must be firmer in its commitment to enforce the law, without fear nor favor, and ensure the dispensation of punishment to erring elements. By this we can truly say that justice is served in this country, and what greater injustice is better resolved than poverty, which lies at the root of almost all heinous crimes?

Poverty is not an abstract, far-off objective. Every single day presents us with an opportunity to take steps, no matter how minute, to get to the bottom of this menace and deter people from going to extreme measures to escape their misfortunes and hunger.

The death penalty is a cruel and inhumane punishment for mostly poor people who are left pretty much to their own defense given the incompetence and prohibitive cost of going through the legal system. The rich and influential on the other hand manage to elude the law and it is this inconsistency that basically makes the death penalty doubly unacceptable.

With my fellow legislators sounding the call for the abolition of the death penalty, we share the aspiration that the Philippines finally stay faithful to its international obligations under instruments such as the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. That life is sacred, holds the key to the very dignity of man and woman, and must therefore be protected and upheld at all costs.

No double standards in pursuit of terrorist threats and suspects

2005-06-01T03:59:00.000+08:00

The case of Luis Posada Carilles will surely test the Philippines' resolve to truly combat terrorism and to show that it can be fair and impartial in its efforts to do its part as a member of the global community to seriously address this menace.

Posada, a well-known operative with documented involvement in activities that are the very least suspicious and at most pinpoint him as a terrorist, is now enjoying relative security in the United States as a detainee for illegal entry. Ironically, he is able to evade the long arm of justice by being incarcerated. But only for charges that fall far too short of the crimes that have been ascribed to him.

The Cuban government has sought the help of the Philippine government to have Posada extradited to Venezuela to stand trial on several charges of terrorism, and it is here that the Philippine government can truly prove that its sincerity in battling terrorism goes beyond the dictates of its close ally.

The only sensible thing for the Philippine government to do is to engage the Cuban and Venezuelan governments in dialogue, get the assurance of the Venezuelan government that Posada will be accorded due process and protected against any violations of his human rights, and make the request available for the US government to accede to international demands that he be turned over to Venezuelan authorities to stand trial.

The Philippines is in a unique position right now, precisely because it heads the Asia Pacific Council on Anti-Terrorism, and is currently enjoying membership in the UN Security Council. It is therefore in a very fortuitous position to help other countries in their pursuit of justice for the thousands of victims of terrorist actions attributed to people like Posada.

The lesson for the country in this episode is how unsatisfactory its own efforts have been in rooting out the causes behind terrorism and implement wider-ranging policy and security reforms otherwise ignored and totally glossed over by its own proposed anti-terror bill which is vague and prone to abuse.

In Posada's case, a failure on the part of the Philippine government to act on this request, or to act accordingly to less than satisfactory result would be an embarrassment we simply cannot afford as a country supposedly serious and intent on crafting a foreign policy independent of any foreign powers, as mandated in our very Constitution.

Rep. Etta Rosales
Akbayan

Pacific Planholders deserve justice, government must rein in pre-need industry

2005-05-26T03:49:00.000+08:00

Pacific Plan cannot renege on its contractual obligations at the expense of the education of thousands of children whose continued enrollment depends on Pacific Plans precisely paying for those plans.

What can be done at this point is for Pacific to engage its planholders in dialogue, as the proposed arrangement in which Pacific will pay off a portion of the payments due schools in which Pacific planholders' children are enrolled seems unacceptable. This is not unexpected since this would present an undue burden on the planholders as consumers expecting nothing less than the faithful and efficient discharge of Pacific's end of the bargain, so to speak.

It is Pacific's obligation to find the resources to pay for those plans.

But in the medium term Pacific would be well advised to open up its books for scrutiny. Did the company exaggerate its actuarial reserve fund estimates? What corporate practices guided its investments in companies like the NAPOCOR which, as early as the 1990s had already shown signs of distress but which Pacific's trustee bank still poured planholders' money into? How exactly did Pacific relate with PBCom, its trustee bank, whose ownership has been shown as tightly entwined with the interests of the Yuchengcos of Pacific Plans?

The rehabilitation plan being offered up for litigation by Pacific should be appreciated in terms of whether it would in the end help the company's planholders or merely rescue its owners from the incompetence of their own management style. SEC's stance on the matter deserves support, but again, too little too late perhaps, had SEC stepped in earlier to stem this mess form even going down in the first place.

Certainly there is the part of government as regulator to be blamed for its lax oversight over Pacific's financial status, and the pre-need industry's over-all picture. Instances such as those involving CAP and Pacific cannot be allowed to happen again. There are other pre-need companies out there reportedly shoring up a tenuous image of stability but in truth are also in danger of collapse just like CAP and Pacific.

At a time when our educational system is already in crisis, we cannot afford to have a distressed pre-need industry to further compound our children and parent's woes. Accountability must be exacted, and the interests of planholders and their children must take primary consideration in settling this issue at the soonest possible time.

Rep. ETTA Rosales
Akbayan

Palparan is glaring example of gross negligence over human rights and continued threats against progressive organizations

2005-05-25T03:48:00.000+08:00

Today I am bringing to the Commission on Appointments my manifestation of opposition to the pending confirmation of Jovito Palparan's reappointment as Major General principally on the grounds that his command responsibility and personal culpability over an entire list of grave and horrible violations of human rights have not been sufficiently addressed.

Gen. Palparan's reputation goes back a long way from his time as a Major serving in areas like Pampanga and Bataan up to his time as Commander of the 204th Infantry Brigade in Mindoro and even up to now that he is Commander of the 8th IB in Samar and Leyte.

Foremost among these was the abduction and summary execution of Eden Garcellanaand Eddie Gumanoy in Mindoro from last year in which the House Committee on Human Rights which I head had already pinpointed Palparan's culpability as commanding officer of the military in the area and as head of Task Force Banahaw. We subsequently recommended his relief and immediate delivery to the proper authorities so that he can respond accordingly to the charges leveled against him over his role in these killings.

But to my surprise, here he is now before the CA and is about to be rewarded with another star in his rank despite his shady record. We have to remind the Commission and government in general that the military, its officers and personnel are under duty stemming from our commitments to international instruments such as the Geneva Conventions that in times of conflict, non-combatants are afforded rights to be free from intimidation, harassment and physical harm. Palparan, as commanding officer of various military units has been unable to stop.

And in fact, with all these documented cases which I elaborate upon in my manifestation, it would seem that wherever this Palparan goes, there is sure to be a long list of human rights violations following him.

Mr. Palparan's record shows a lack of faithful adherence to the principles and tenets of human rights law and international humanitarian law in the performance of his duties as a soldier and as an officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines that the high standards of this military organization require. I respectfully submit that this reflects a certain quality in Mr. Palparan as a soldier and as an officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines that this Honorable Commission cannot ignore, and, on the contrary, should seriously examine and consider in passing upon his qualifications, character and fitness for reappointment to the grade of Major General.

I fear that with Palparan's continued service and presence in our military ranks puts at risk the right of legal and above-ground progressive organizations to organize and mobilize against repressive government policies.

Government has no business rewarding such a character with a recognition he does not deserve, and a promotion that seems stained with the blood of innocent civilians exercising their legitimate right to air grievances and seek redress from government.

Rep. ETTA Rosales
Akbayan

House Committee on Human Rights to tackle activists killings on Tuesday

2005-05-24T03:47:00.000+08:00

The recent murder of Bayan Muna Coordinator Eddie Dimaano in Pamplona, Camarines Sur provides yet another glaring example of just how dangerous it has become to be critical of government. Not only are journalists being silenced, threatened and killed, so are activists working for legal and above-ground organizations engaged in legitimate advocacy and protest actions.

Government must quickly move to arrest these acts of violence. In the context of government's mad pursuit for the enactment of an anti-terror bill, it becomes appalling to think that no measures are being taken to bring the perpetrators to justice. Given reports that most suspects in the slaying of activists are military or police personnel one is hard pressed to think how government could be silent on state terrorism while it pushes for an anti-terror bill so loosely and vaguely crafted so as to be open to abuse.

It is for this reason that the House Committee on Human Rights will launch an immediate investigation into the killing of Leftist activists on Tuesday, May 24 at the House of Representatives. Military and police officers will be summoned along with other relevant government agencies such as the Commission on Human Rights to ascertain just exactly what can be done to protect the legitimate right of an individual to associate and organize with progressive organizations.

We will also ask the Executive what it has done so far to stop these killings. It is disturbing to note that even as the killings and harassments continue, some officers, like Brig. Gen. Jovito Palparan continue to make their way up the military ranks. Palparan, head of the 8th IB in Samar and Leyte is still yet to answer for his culpability in the spate of killings that happened in Mindoro during his watch in that province. In his recent posting his role has also been questioned in the harassment of legal, leftist activists and organizations, including AKBAYAN members and partners.

Malacañang cannot afford to keep a blind eye to the death of activists like Eddie Dimaano. It must realize that the Philippines is signatory to some 29 international instruments on human rights and the International Humanitarian Law that compels states parties to provide protection to non-combatants in situations of internal armed conflict between government forces and rebel groups. Dimaaano is reportedly the eighth member this year of Bayan Muna and the 54th casualty of the organization and its allied parties gunned down since its engagement in electoral politics. This alarming situation reflects the blatant violation of the tenets of international justice and humanitarian law reminiscent only of the days of dictatorship and martial rule.

Rep. ETTA Rosales
Akbayan
Chair, Committee on Human Rights

Coco levy funds must be audited to ensure transparent use for coconut farmers’ benefit

2005-05-19T03:45:00.000+08:00

The public character of the coco levy funds has been established in a 2001 Supreme Court ruling, affirming that the funds were collected in the exercise of the government's police and taxing powers. The Sandiganbayan should therefore expedite the resolution of coco levy related cases pending before it through a summary judgment, instead of the piecemeal resolutions it is handing out.

Parallel to such efforts however, we must ascertain just how the agencies at the forefront of managing the coco levy funds are doing their jobs. Because just like the Marcos money in government's hands now, fears have been expressed that the coco levy is also being allocated for purposes that are less than noble.

To resolve questions regarding the use and allocation of the funds, an audit should be put in place. The last time that an audit report was made available on the coco levy funds was back in 1986, which showed that the total coco levy collection had reached P9.7 billion. Today the levy has reached more than P100 billion from all the interests and the dividends earned form its investments.

Yet no single agency of government appears to be in charge of administration over these funds. It is precisely because of this that we have issues involving the coco levy funds, including the proposed P8.4 billion Agusan del Sur project which is still being pushed despite so many questions being raised about its validity. Secondly, we have officials of the CIIF who are yet to be held accountable for the dispensation of their functions given that they are enjoying privileges that are excessive while coconut farmers continue to languish in poverty with the coco levy cases still up in the air.

This becomes even more important after yesterday's hearing of the House Committees on Agriculture and Good Government where House Resolution 736 was deliberated to look into the management and utilization of the coco levy funds. It also became apparent from this hearing that there is an urgent need to see to it that the coco levy cases pending before the Sandiganbayan are resolved at the soonest time because this is the first important step needed in assuring that the public character of the funds can be asserted once and for all, so that the road can be paved for its actual utilization for the benefit of coco farmers.

MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS SHOULD BE MADE PERMANENT BY ABOLISHING DEATH PENALTY ALTOGETHER

2005-05-18T03:44:00.000+08:00

The granting of reprieve to 21 Death Row convicts scheduled for execution is a commendable decision, and in this regard the Executive made the right decision. But while the temporary relief from lethal injection gained by these convicts is to be welcomed, what is much better is for the de facto moratorium on the implementation of the death penalty to be formalized while Congress deliberates on the bills seeking for its abolition.

In this regard, what would be best is for the President to certify as urgent House Bill No. 1320 that I, together with the two other Akbayan representatives, Reps. Mario Aguja and Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel, filed in July 2004 for the abolition of the death penalty. There are a number of other similar bills pending in Congress. A similar bill was approved by the Committees on Human Rights and Revision of Laws in the 12th Congress.

Abolition of the death penalty promotes restorative justice and gives the offender the opportunity to reform and to be able to contribute to the good of society. The death penalty is the worst form of human rights violation as it violates the very freedom of life, in its finality and irreversibility. It deprives an offender of this opportunity to be rehabilitated and reintegrated into society. A possible miscarriage of justice becomes irrevocable.

Abolition of the death penalty would also put the Philippines in line with the other 120 countries that have taken the progressive course of abolishing the death penalty in their jurisdictions and adopting the more humane path of restorative justice.

Journalists need all support they can get from government, but not through guns

2005-05-12T03:43:00.000+08:00

One death is enough. To have five journalists in the first five months of the year alone die violently because precisely of the work they do is absolutely unacceptable.

These killings, of which the cold-blooded murder of Aurora journalist Philip Agustin of the Starline Times Recorder is only the latest, are unforgivable in a country in which freedom of the press is a constitutionally guaranteed right. From a rights perspective, the killing of journalists constitute a patent violation of the right to information, and an attack not just on the individual, but against society and the rule of law.

But before proposals to arm journalists gain headway even as some supposed progressive party-list groups would suggest, I vehemently object to such a proposal. To do this is to give a nod to the culture of violence that perpetuates these killings. We cannot allow for more bloodshed. Giving journalists guns puts them at even greater risk. What we need are speedy resolutions, quick and reliable apprehensions and assured incarcerations of those behind these killings. We need to teach local warlords and their goons and hired killers that to kill journalists assures them of jail time.

Akbayan has filed House Resolution 702 last April 6, which directs the House Committee on Human Rights, which I head to look into these killings. Upon referral, we will schedule this hearing within the month.

But more importantly, government must demonstrate a sincere resolve to seek out and punish those who believe their position and power allows them to get away with the murder of journalists everywhere.

The Committee to Protect Journalists say that 8 journalists were killed in the country in 2004 alone, making the Philippines second only to war-torn Iraq in terms of numbers of journalists being killed because of the work they do.

Dismantle billboards along roads and highways

2005-05-12T03:41:00.000+08:00

The cardinal rule of driving is 'keep your eyes on the road'. So what are billboards along highways there for? I would like to get the side of the Outdoor Advertising Association of the Philippines (OAAP) and the MMDA on this because I am particularly worried that the presence of these gigantic advertisements on our roads poses a safety risk to drivers, commuters and the general public.

Immediately, I am thinking that we should start with the billboards with sexy content, or those containing material that advertise liquor, cigarettes and other vices. I am also calling for the dismantling of billboards featuring scantily clad women and men because on so many levels these types of advertisements are objectionable. Not only do they promote a commercialist notion of fashion and beauty, they are branding sex as a commodity and associating sex with particular products and this is culturally horrible. On a more basic level they are cheap and distracting, and this is where my concern over road safety comes in.

There is a greater need to engage the advertising industry in constructive dialogue to find ways by which we can address this issue. But for now I insist that initially, these sexy and/or sexist billboards be brought down immediately. The rest we will act upon after consultation with stakeholders.

I am seriously considering filing a bill expressly prohibiting putting up billboards along roads, highways and other major thoroughfares. We will also inquire with the MMDA regarding what figures we have over road accidents to find a correlation with these advertisements, and we will also find out whether the MMDA has received feedback from motorists regarding such advertisements. We should not wait for accidents to happen before we take action on this. Such billboards are already increasing in numbers and having too many of them on our streets, even along MRT posts, may be creating a danger for our motorists.

Mga billboards sa highway, dapat tanggalin
May 11, 2005

Ang pangunahing alituntunin sa pagmamaneho ay dapat siguruhing nakatuon ang atensyon ng nagmamaneho sa daan. Kaya't nakapagtatakang napakaraming billboards ang nagsusulputan sa mg akalsada. Bakit sila nandoon?

Mapanganib ang ganitong sitwasyon dahil nakakabaling ng atensyon ang mga billboards na ito, kaya't maaaaring tumaas ang insidente ng mga aksidente sa ating mga kalye at mga highway. Lalo na yaong mga billboards na naglalarawan ng mga halos hubad na babae at lalaki.

Kakausapin ko ang MMDA at ang Outdoor Advertisers Association of the Philippines (OAAP) ukol sabagay na ito at sana ay maintindihan din nila na kailangang pangalagaan natin ang seguridad ng mga nagmamaneho, kanilang mga pasahero at ng publiko. Hindi sapat na sabihing porke't wala pang nagaganap na aksidente ay hindi na tayo gagawa ng mga hakbang tungkol dito dahil maski sa ibang bansa ay hindi pinapayagan ang ganitong mga advertisements.

Pinagiisipan ko ang maghain ng panukalang batas upang I-regulate ang ganitong mga billboards. Ngunit simulan na natin agad sa mga billboards na pa-sexy at may mga kababaihan at lalaking halos nakahubad na.

Kkaausapin din natin ang industriya sa advertising upang hingin din ang tulong nila upang mas epektibong mapagsabihan ang kanilang mga kasapi sa pagpapalabas ng ganitong mga advertisements.

Cheap imported cars putting workers out of jobs

2005-05-10T03:36:00.000+08:00

The House of Representatives needs to look into the influx of cheap imported cars into the country. What is most worrying is how these vehicles have affected the job security of thousands of workers who depend on the industry for a living.

The automotive industry employs about a hundred thousand people, the overwhelming majority of them involved in making parts and components (40,000) and another significant portion working in assembly and distribution (16,000).

But from sales at a high of 162,056 units in 1996 prior to the Asian financial crisis, domestic vehicle sales have plummeted to 88,074 in 2004, a reduction of about 50%.

And yet, records from the LTO on new vehicle registrations show that almost 270,000 units were registered with it last year, even though only 88,000 units were sold by Philippine car manufacturers. What then is the reason for the discrepancy of 181,000 units? Most of these units consist of cheap second-hand imported cars, a lot of which are smuggled into the country. In other words, it is so easy to acquire such vehicles within freeports and to bring them into use within the country.

But what is the other side of the story?

A few years back, a consumer who purchased a converted van figured in an accident when he lost control of the vehicle and rammed into an oncoming truck when he was negotiating a turn in the road. It turned out that the joint of the steering wheel and the steering shaft were incompetently converted, and the steering wheel did not turn properly at that crucial moment when it should have.

Moreover, the law provides that only vehicles meeting substantial requirements in compliance with emission standards in their countries of origin shall be imported into the country. Are these second-hand vehicles compliant with emission standards? Does the government have the capability to ensure that such vehicles are indeed compliant with emission standards?

I propose that the House of Representatives look into the matter carefully before the continued influx of these used car imports kill the local automotive industry and put thousands of workers out of jobs. Already we have a combined 7,470 workers retrenched as of this year. That represents about 10% of the total employment in the automobile assembly and distributing sector. We are yet to ascertain how the importation of these cars are affecting the car parts manufacturing sector and how much job loss is accruing there.

But now, there is an imperative for government to quickly respond to the issue and see to it that the problem of cheap imported cars - smuggled or not - is decisively addressed.

Rep. ETTA Rosales
Akbayan

Death from cosmetic procedure calls for regulatory control

2005-05-09T03:37:00.000+08:00

It is saddening to be informed of the death of Ms. Gleceria Tan after undergoing an enhancement procedure. We have reason to believe that similar botched operations may have gone on in the past, even if they did not result in deaths. But we must look into the cosmetic surgery business and find ways to ensure that those who go through these types of procedures are well aware of the risks they face.

We are interested to know what regulations cover cosmetic procedures, and who is in charge of overseeing the operations of these beauty clinics. It is a multimillion-peso industry, some of its practitioners are well known and the trade is endorsed by celebrities. But as the death of Ms. Gleceria Tan shows, there is another side to this issue.

I have earlier posed a question on whether a ban on such procedures, including liposuction would be appropriate until such time government could ascertain what regulations are in place to protect consumers. The Department of Health responded to my inquiry and I was told that in their discussion with the Philippine Medical Association, the necessity of legislation was brought up. And in the meantime that the specifics of this legislation is being discussed, I am calling now for a moratorium on such procedures and I will call on an inquiry on this subject, to find out what controls should be in place. With this I hope the unfortunate loss of lives will be prevented.

Mga operasyon sa pagpapaganda, dapat kontrolin

Nakakalungkot isiping sa pagnanais makatulong sa pamilya, namatay si Bb. Gleceria Tan dahil lamang sa di maayos na operasyon sa pagpapaganda ng katawan. Naniniwala akong may mga ganitong sitwasyon nang nakalagpas lamang sa atensyon ng publiko, kaya't kailangang tignan ng maigi ang industriya ng cosmetic surgery, upang maipaabot din sa publiko na ang ganitong klase ng mga operasyon ay di lamang mahal, kundi delikado pa.

Ano'ng mga regulasyon ang sumasakop sa cosmetic surgery at mga doktor na nagsasagawa nito? Paano natin mapu-protektahan ang mga tumatangkilik ng ganitong serbisyo? Milyon-milyong piso ang kinikita ng industriya at ito ay popular, dahil madaming artista din ang nageendorso ng ganitong mga serbisyo. Kaya kailangan lamang na siguruhing protektado ang mga pasyente.

Dati na akong nagtanong kung dapat bang i-ban ang ganitong mga klase ng procedure, at sabi ng Department of Health sa akin, nakikita din nila ang pangangailangan upang magpasa ng panukalang batas na maglalagay ng sapat na regulasyon sa industriyana ito. Ngunit habang inihahanda pa lamang ang panukalang batas na ito, mananawagan ako ng moratorium sa ganitong mga procedure at magpapatawag ng imbestigasyon upang mapag-usapan din ang isyu kasama ng mga ahensya ng gubyerno at mga duktor mula sa industriya. Sana, sa ganitong paraan maiwasan na antin ang mga susunod pang Gleceria.

Terror bill, aksaya lamang ng panahon

2005-05-05T03:34:00.000+08:00

Di dapat pagaksayahan ng oras ng House of Representatives ang anti-terrorism bill na nakahain sa mga committee on Justice and Foreign Affairs. Di na dapat ang pagrebisa o ang pagtanggal ng anumang probisyon ang pagtuunan ng pansin lalo na't sa panukalang batas na ito ay tila nakahanda na ang legal na batayan para sa tumitinding pasismo ng ilang ahente ng gubyerno lalo na sa mga pulis at militar.

Hindi isang batas sa terorismo ang kailangan kundi ang mahigpit at mahusay na implemetasyon ng mga kasalukuyang batas tulad ng Revised Penal Code upang mahusay na malabanan ang ibang mas importanteng problema gaya ng kriminalidad, bawal na gamot, jueteng, pagpuslit ng mga angkat, problema sa mga warlords at mga vigilante, pamamaslang sa mga dyornalista, harassment sa mga Muslim, pamamaslang ng mga aktibista, at ang pangkalahatang pagbagsak ng kaayusan at seguridad.

Ngunit ang kasalukuyang bersyon ng anti-terror bill ay nanghihimasok lamang sa pribadong buhay ng mga mamamayan, at naglalagay sa panganib sa madaming karapatan ng mga tao, tulad ng pamamahayag, pagsapi sa mga organisasyon, at malayang paglalakbay at paggalaw. Paano naman kaya maipapatupad ng wasto ng mga pulis at militar ang batas na ito gayung napatunayan na naman na madaming beses na silang pumalpak laban sa mga banta ng terorismo?

Ang dapat pagtuunan natin ng pansin ay ang mas konkretong hinaing ng mga mamamayan: pagkain sa bawat lamesa, trabahong di lamang kontraktwalat por piyesa, mahusay na paglaban sa korupsyon upang maitawid ang mga rekurso ng gubyerno patungo sa edukasyon at kalusugan, atbp. Sa naghihirap nating bansa, di na natin kailangan ng isang batas na magpapalawak lamang ng takot.

Dagdag singil ng NAPOCOR, kasama ang bayad sa mga maanomalyang kontrata

2005-05-04T03:33:00.000+08:00

Dapat magpaliwanag ang Energy Regulatory Commission sa pagpayag nitong taasan ng NAPOCOR ang singil nito sa kuryente simula nong Abril 26 ng P1.0354/kWh.

Ang desisyong ito ay insulto sa mga mahihirap na siyang magbabayad sa dagdag singil sa kuryente sa harap ng patuloy na tumataas na singil sa tubig, presyo ng pagkain, at presyo ng krudo. Lalo na't kung isiiping sa likod ng desisyong ito ay ang pagpayag ng ERC na bawiin ng NAPOCOR mula sa mga mamamayan ang mga bayad nito para sa mga maanomalyang kontrata tulad ng sa Casecnan at San Roque Multi-Purpose Project.

Sa Section 32 ng EPIRA, ang mga kontratang maaari lamang ikonsidera ay yaong mga aprubado na bago mag-Disyembre 31, 2000 at ang Casecnan at San Roque Project ay parehong lagpas na sa takdang panahon na ito.

Ang Casecnan at San Roque ay mga magastos na proyekto sa irigasyon na naaprubahan lamang dahil sa power generation components ng mga ito. Ang Casecnan, isang proyektong di naman pinlano ng gubyerno ay mayroong mga government guarantees habang sa San Roque, ang NAPOCOR ay ngangutang mula sa mga banko sa mga komersyal na interes nang walang pahintulot ng NEDA kaya lalong tumaas ang gastos para dito.

Sa Section 68 ng EPIRA, itinatakdang masusing imbestigahan ang mga IPP contracts gaya ng sa Casecnan at San Roque. Ngunit ang desisyon ng ERC ay nagpapakitang hanggang ngayon ay pasan pa din ng mga mamayan ang gastos sa mga maanomalyang kontratang ito. Dapat tugisin ang mga may sala sa likod ng mga kontratang ito

#

Yorac is invaluable loss, leaves big shoes to be filled

2005-04-29T03:32:00.000+08:00

The resignation of PCGG Chairperson Haydee Yorac is a disappointing development in our aspirations for good government. Yet she does deserve a break and a means to support her medical expenses. But the underlying issue is that government must find an equally suitable and competent replacement. For four years Yorac stood as a champion of public interest during her stint in PCGG. Definitely, frustration was a big part of this decision.

She steered the timely recovery of the US$683 million escrow account and lent her unwavering support for the passage of the house bill providing compensation to the victims of human rights violations under the dictator. She was very helpful in the ongoing efforts to recover the coco levy funds, resolutely chasing after the suspected plunderers who dipped their hands in the funds before the courts of the Sandiganbayan.

Whatever policy difference she may have had with Malacañang over the handling of government shares in San Miguel will have to be closely scrutinized, in the light of recent reports over controversies in the management of the Philippine Coconut Authority and the coco levy funds which we are also investigating through House Resolution 736

At a time of never-ending crises in governance, the worst that could happen for government is to lose respected figures like Yorac. We have high-ranking personalities being linked to jueteng, the plunder charges against Estrada are proceeding at a snail's pace, etc. The few good men and women in public positions are becoming a rare and endangered species, like Gel Valbuena. Reform-oriented officials like Yorac are falling prey to choleric turn-overs and dismissals everywhere. We can't afford to lose more and more good public servants like Yorac.

Yorac's cooperation has been instrumental as well in our ongoing inquiry through House Resolution 593, into the spending of the recovered escrow account, which has purportedly gone into unscrupulous and inappropriate usage, including a private coconut mill in Quezon, ghost irrigation projects, etc.

Now more than ever we need someone beyond reproach and with a steadfast resolve to protect the interest of millions of farmers, Marcos victims and the general public. The PCGG is mandated with recovering all the money that were stolen from the public coffers and identify culpability of those cronies who benefited from such thievery. If government again fails to install a PCGG Chair who is as well-respected as and perhaps even more competent than Yorac, then the gains made during her four-year stint will surely be lost. And we cannot afford that.

#

THE SECOND BETRAYAL OF COCONUT FARMERS: Cocofarmers to lose billions and a board seat from the non-exercise of rights in SMC

2005-04-29T03:26:00.000+08:00

AKBAYAN Party-List Representative Loretta Ann Rosales today expressed grave concern over the pronouncement of the Arroyo government that it has decided not to subscribe to the 1 for 10 rights offer at San Miguel Corp. thereby allowing the dilution of the 27% coco levy stake in the food and beverage conglomerate.

"It's unfortunate that this decision comes at a time when we are commemorating the anniversary of EDSA 1," said Rosales, "because the sequestration of shares at SMC was a significant gesture of government protection in favor of the public's interest in a company in which shares were bought using coconut levy funds," she explained.

"While the government boasts of borrowing US 1.5bn in bonds for 25 years, it is amazing how it can not even find, and hardly exerted any effort to fund, P4.85bn for the rights issue if only to protect the interest of the millions of coconut farmers. Given that the rights are priced at a 5% discount, then the farmers stake stands to lose at least P2bn after the stock price adjusts ex-rights. Moreover, in the long term, the block would lose the intrinsic premium since the combined stake of government if maintained at 41% (together with SSS and GSIS) and sold would have allowed the buyer to control the company. That would be the bigger tragedy," explained Rosales.

"What the farmers gained in the courts, they are losing in the corporate boardroom. The 27% will be reduced to 24, effectively losing 1 board seat. Interestingly, with 240m B shares, this is now the single block of shares not yet controlled by Kirin and that would be available to foreign investors", Rosales added.

Rosales said that in its decision, government should be reminded that it is maintaining its presence in SMC to make sure that the interests of coconut farmers are protected in its boardroom.

"Backing out of the rights offer would have some political repercussions especially now that the wheels of justice seem to be turning in favor of the coconut farmers," stressed Rosales, referring to a Supreme Court ruling declaring the coconut levy funds as public funds and the subsequent Sandiganbayan ruling last year awarding to government a 27% stake in San Miguel.

According to Rosales, "since the rights issue appears to be going on already, the government should do everything within its powers to defend the farmers. Short of this, then there would be no other recourse but to perhaps ask the Supreme Court for a TRO to stop it since it is grossly disadvantageous to the interest of the coco farmers for whom the government seems to be doing a poor job in managing the coco levy funds." #

Rosales decries new round of electricity rate increases; calls for review of EPIRA

2005-04-27T05:58:00.000+08:00

The power industry is in a mess today, as can be exemplified by among other things, the continuous increases in electricity prices.

The implementation of EPIRA has been characterized first by skyrocketing NPC losses, and now by skyrocketing tariff. The passage of the EPIRA did not prevent NPC's losses from growing. From a deficit of P8.2 billion in 2001, the NPC's deficit surged to P21.7 billion in 2002, P66.6 billion in 2003, and an estimated P100 billion last year. (Manasan, 2003; Highlights of 99th LEDAC Meeting, 24 October 2004) Apart from the national government, the NPC is the biggest contributor to the country's consolidated public sector deficit, and thus accounts considerably for what is presently regarded as a fiscal crisis.

We need to take remedial action to address the failure of the IPP review to substantively comply with the requirements of Section 68 of EPIRA which mandates a thorough review of all IPP contracts. It also says that in cases where contracts are found to have grossly disadvantageous provisions, a case may be filed through appropriate government agencies for culpable officials.

The IPP review found that among others, some IPP contracts are evidently more costly to the government, certain IPP contractors have exhibited high rates of return on investment and short payback period and there have been amendments and additions to several power purchase agreements and energy conversion agreements without passing through due process.

But instead of civil and criminal prosecution, what we had instead was renegotiated terms which yielded savings of US$ 1.036 billion in present value, or translating into only 10 centavos per kilowatt hour reduction up to 2011, hardly making any dent in electricity prices.

A 2002 World Bank survey of 50 firms shows 52 % are retreating, and only 3 firms continue to be interested in investing in power. While investment in electricity has increased in 2003, it is still far below the peak investment level in 1997. Within this context, one cannot expect to believe government's pronouncements that the privatization scheme for the power sector is well on track and there is no reason to be worried.

I believe that the public interest will be better served if we exercise caution and early on make drastic adjustments in the privatization plan. Specifically, EPIRA should be amended to allow NPC to continue to operate as a generation company subject to the same safeguards against abuse of market power. This should give government a useful benchmark in financing, investment, and pricing to complement the market structure.

These are some of the issues and solutions that I urge the House of Representatives to urgently look into so that we can do out part as legislators to help resolve and address with finality the mess that is the power sector.

Dismissal of Gel Valbuena will open inquiry into usage of coco levy funds

2005-04-15T04:57:00.000+08:00

It is incomprehensible to think that whistleblowers and crusaders against government excesses have only two things happen to them: for journalists like Marlene Esperat who exposes graft and corruption through the media, one is to get killed. For reform-oriented officials like Gel Valbuena, they are fired from office.

Today we will file a resolution seeking an investigation into the Agusan Reserve Area Development Project to shed light on the alleged MOU between the PCA and the United Coconut Planters Bank, the Coconut Industry Investment Fund and Cocofinance. The expose itself attending this MOU blocked the implementation of the said project for now, so it is not proper to say Valbuena should pay the price simply because the project is not yet under way.

It is true that the government should put in place a definite and comprehensive program in place for the benefit of the coco farmers, and the Gel Valbuena issue complicates this need as this sends a signal that vested interests are asserting themselves to get their hands into the coco levy funds.

Valbuena's supposed blocking of a housing project in Mulanay Quezon is being clarified as a misunderstanding, with research work reaching our office citing PCA officials such as Deputy Administrator Danilo Cleto, Dennis Calub and PCA Region IV officer Ed de Luna saying that no such project under the PCA was in place during Administrator Coronocaion's term. I am told that even Mulanay's mayor himself doesn't know about this supposed project. So we have to find out how exactly coco farmers perceive Valbuena's term in PCA.

In the end, we are all interested in seeing a vibrant coconut industry back on its feet, with the coco levy funds at the center of that growth, being used for the benefit of the millions of coco farmers. The resulting mess from the proposed Agusan Reserve Area Development Project and the sacrifice made out of Valbuena will be the platform from which we will ascertain which government officials are truly out to protect either the coco farmers' interests or only their own.

Marcos money for Agrarian Reform and HR victims under threat of depletion

2005-04-14T04:49:00.000+08:00

AKBAYAN, acting on reports that a significant portion of the recovered Marcos money had been spent for undertakings other those for which it was intended, filed House Resolution 343 to look into the disbursement of the said money that was transferred from the PNB into the National Treasury and the DBM which subsequently released portions of the money to DAR.

The DAR contends that P8.8 billion had actually been spent for land acquisition and for high impact interventions for program beneficiaries development. Of P5 billion spent for LAD, P3 billion was spent for surveys, beneficiaries' identification, production of EPs and CLOAs. Unfortunately, from the hearing of the Oversight Committee today, April 13, it appears that there is no available breakdown of the said amount, particularly the amount of P2B, which would be left after deducting expenses of P90 millionfor an estimated 3,352 hectares acquired under CARP.

Secondly, the anomalous implementation of the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani hybrid rice program falls outside of the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council mandate of a 70:30 distribution scheme between LAD and program beneficiaries development. The GMA rice program comes under attack because there have been reports of failure to deliver seeds and delays in the release of funds even with a DBM SARO specifically citing a PARC Resolution dated April 27, 2004 stating the purpose of the program, which is strictly confined to seed acquisition? Which contractor won the bidding for the seeds? Why the unexplained bidding process? Where is the masterlist of project beneficiaries, if any?

Third, the oversight committee hearing under Rep. Danilo Suarez shows just how important it is now for the House of Representatives to immediately discuss and pass the Marcos Human Rights Violations Victims compensation bill, as the inclusion of all recovered Marcos money into the Treasury's general fund opens up the possibility of an accounting figure in which the Marcos money would appear to be present only in paper, but in reality would be under a non-existing account. As long as the Marcos money stays in a general fund, it would be easy for the government to use these funds, further delaying the government's responsibility to provide for the compensation of the Marcos victims, especially the 9,539 victims who won a class action suit in Hawaii who should be prioritized.

Rep. Etta Rosales
AKBAYAN

Questionable figures question the unquestionable: pressure on PCA Chief puts coco farmers’ interests at risk

2005-04-13T04:44:00.000+08:00

Philippine Coconut Authority Chief Gel Valbuena is not one to be pushed around. She has a lot of ideas that deserve further consideration, and in her rejection of a proposed P8.4 billion project in PCA property in Agusan del Sur, the interests of millions of coconut farmers are protected against a dubious proposal which will draw from the levy exacted from them in the first place.

Instead of pressuring Valbuena, why not ask the DA to explain its mad pursuit of a multi-billion project that in the words of Valbuena "will be concentrated in a single town"? This proposed project would not even make coconut farmers stakeholders even as its implementation will be sourced from the coco levy. The thinly-veiled implication of Sec. Yap's statements indicate more than just displeasure that under Valbuena's watch, the PCA thumbed down the Agusan del Sur project which he himself is reportedly vouching for.

In her words, Valbuena wants transparency and participation. For such intentions, one cannot understand why there is so much heat coming Valbuena's way, even all the way from Malacañang.

The League of Provinces of the Philippines, under Bohol Governor Eric Aumentado correctly saw through the impetuosity of the proposal. Why channel such a huge amount into one area when there are a dozen coconut-producing provinces in the country, which could certainly make better use of such an amount? The NAPC Farmers' Council is itself standing resolutely behind Valbuena, as is the PCA structure and other stakeholders. Taking her out would deny the government a chance to truly effect reforms in the coconut industry and protect the coco farmers' interests.

Albuena, it seems is only after the judicious use of the coco levy funds. Especially since her revelation comes at a time when we are yet raising issues on the questionable disbursement of the Marcos money allocated for agrarian reform. The GMA Rice Program, similar in some respects to features of the proposed Agusan del Sur project has been questioned for some concerns: Why have there been reports of failure to deliver seeds and delays of the release of funds even with a DBM SARO specifically citing a PARC Resolution dated April 27, 2004 stating the purpose of the program, which is strictly confined to seed acquisition? Which contractor won the bidding for the seeds? Why the unexplained bidding process? Perhaps Sec. Yap should also explain this, as the DA issued the guidelines for the project implementation.

It is precisely because of the highly irregular GMA rice program that crusading journalists like Marlene Esperat, whose murder we are also investigating in House Resolution 702, because she exposed wrongdoings related to the GMA rice program.

So Malacañang is well advised to get off Valbuena's back and let her do her job. I strongly suggest Malacañang listen to the LPP and consider their position on the matter before pursuing the Agusan del Sur project. There are heads that deserve to roll in the continuing neglect of the agriculture sector, but it definitely should not be Valbuena's.

Rep. Loretta Ann P. Rosales
AKBAYAN

Dispersal violates freedom of assembly and redress, bill on freedom of assembly will be filed in Congress

2005-04-09T05:40:00.000+08:00

The violent dispersal attending the legitimate and peaceful exercise of assembly and redress of yesterday's activists at the Inter-Parliamentary Union is a condemnable act against the rights of the people to bring their grievances before the lawmakers and policy makers attending the said conference.

To remedy the situation, AKBAYAN is in the process of filing a house bill that will address the preposterous "no permit, no rally" policy of the police when it comes to public assemblies and rallies.

Under the said bill, it shall be the duty of the local chief executive to issue a permit, which will be considered granted if not acted upon within five days from receipt. Since a permit is primarily a ministerial duty, this bill takes away the prerogative to deny permits, except in cases where there is a clear and convincing evidence of threats to public order and safety.

Under this bill, it will be clearly stated that the only role of the police will be to coordinate the flow of traffic and to make sure pedestrians are not inconvenienced. The police will be disallowed to interfere in the conduct of rallies, unless the organizers themselves are unable to police their own ranks.

This bill strengthens the people's rights to expression and assembly by putting the burden of responsibility for disallowing an assembly on the police and the local government unit instead of the organizers. This bill overhauls Batas Pambansa 880 which has been time and again misused by the police to interpret that the lack of a permit justifies a violent dispersal of a rally.

Hopefully this policy initiative will help define the proper responsibilities among different groups - police, rallyists and the local government, to help ensure the unhampered exercise of a constitutionally guaranteed right. A government doing its job has nothing to fear from protestors in the street. Maximum tolerance should therefore always prevail, especially at a time when we have foreign guests in the country.

Rep. Loretta Ann P. Rosales
AKBAYAN

RP Legislators join efforts to step up pressure on Myanmar junta

2005-04-03T06:38:00.000+08:00

Lawmakers from the Senate and the House of Representatives are joining international efforts to pressure the military junta governing Myanmar to relax its grip on power and allow for the restoration of democracy in that country.

At the launching of the Philippine Caucus of Legislators on Myanmar, key leaders of Congress banded together and resolved to press for two advocacy items. One is the immediate and unconditional release of freedom fighter Aung San Suu Kyi and, two, the recall of Myanmar's chairmanship of ASEAN in 2006 in the absence of democratic reforms, which was a condition for its acceptance into the regional grouping.

AKBAYAN Party-List Rep. Etta Rosales, who was one of the convenors for the meeting said it was important for lawmakers to step in and bring the matter of Myanmar to the attention of government "since the SPDC continues to hold Nobel laureate Suu Kyi under house arrest, to harass Burmese ethnic minorities and to commit human rights violations up to today."

Rosales said the group was opposing Myanmar's chairmanship of ASEAN next year, saying, "This would serve the military junta a platform from which it could legitimize its hold on power while the Burmese people continue to suffer from the continued violation of their rights to association, movement, expression and beliefs."

The Philippine Caucus is the local expression of the ASEAN inter-Parliamentary Caucus on Myanmar (AIPCM), which is conducting the campaign at the regional level. Similar caucuses have been established in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. Sen. Aquilino Pimentel, Vice-Chairman of the AIPCM, delivered the welcome remarks, reiterating his stance that the Philippines should take the lead role in urging ASEAN to reconsider its position on Myanmar.

Former President Corazon Aquino also sent her solidarity message, expressing her disappointment "not only over the continued incarceration of freedom fighter Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners by the ruling military junta, but over the continued atrocities and the general climate of repression and impunity in that country," she said in a prepared speech.

Congressmen from the Liberal Party also lent their support for the gathering, vowing they would support the Burmese cause, according to Rep. Neric Acosta.

The Philippine Caucus on Myanmar set its meeting in time for the Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting, as the group, together with the AIPCM will also push for the IPU's adoption of a resolution taking on the group's positions on Burma.

RP is already on list on “Worst Places to be a Journalist”

2005-03-31T06:37:00.000+08:00

We condemn in the most horrified and saddened terms the killing of crusader and journalist Marlene Esperat whose exposes earned her a death warrant from a yet unidentified gunman last Thursday. This latest case of a journalist slain in line with the work they do again shows that government has been remiss in its duties to ensure and protect press freedom. The least government could have done was provide Esperat with adequate support, and was obliged to act on complaints against corrupt and inefficient officials.

These killings, of which the cold-blooded murder of Esperat is only the latest, are unforgivable in a country in which freedom of the press is a constitutionally guaranteed right. From a rights perspective, the killing of journalists constitute a patent violation of the right to information, and an attack not just on the individual, but against society and the rule of law.

It seems the lack of transparency and accountability in government is now being measured through the number of journalists being killed and silenced to cover the tracks of wrong doers.

It was only in November of last year when photographer Gene Boyd Lumawag was shot to death in Sulu, and the following day, a radio station manager in Aklan was also shot to death and a third case was reported in Quezon City. On February 28, mediaman Arnulfo Villanueva was also found dead in Naic. To be a journalist in the Philippines is to have a bull's eye on one's head all the time.

We vow that through the House Committee on Human Rights, an investigation into the series of media killings and harassments in recent months will be launched and will be given top priority.

We will look into what policy interventions can be done to help address this culture of violence being perpetrated against journalists.

We have to eradicate the lack of transparency and accountability in government at all levels, which is the only way genuine freedom of the press can be truly exercised without fear neither favor of anyone. A Freedom of Information Act, as proposed in House Bill 3580, may be a start. This bill imposes a general duty to disclose to make available and accessible to the public and the media records including contracts, transactions, decisions, research data and official writings related to the performance of public duties. Sec. 27 of the said bill also provides for protection to whistleblowers.

We are also looking into how we can improve and maximize the Witness Protection Program to enable credible and poor witnesses to come forward and help solve crimes.

But most of all, government must demonstrate a sincere resolve to seek out and punish those who believe their position and power allows them to get away with the murder of journalists everywhere.

It has been reported that since the restoration of democracy in 1986, more than a hundred cases of violence perpetrated against journalists have been tallied, but we are yet to ascertain just how many have been resolved or resulted in the conviction and incarceration of perpetrators. The Committee to Protect Journalists say that 8 journalists were killed in the country in 2004 alone, making the Philippines second only to war-torn Iraq in terms of numbers of journalists being killed because of the work they do.

Rep. Loretta Ann P. Rosales
AKBAYAN Party-List

On the Bicutan Bloodbath

2005-03-17T06:36:00.000+08:00

The swift and decisive action of the police and government on the standoff at the Camp Bagong Diwa jail in Bicutan would have been laudable had it not been for the fact that at its wake 23 people were left dead from the assault magnifying the horror of the killing of three jail guards and 2 suspected ASG members yesterday.

Contrary to Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye's statement that the crisis is over, the incident raises serious questions that still have to be answered. First of all, did the negotiations bog down to an unsalvageable level that the use of force was the only option left for the government forces? Was the force used necessary, given that out of the dozen or so hostage-takers, less than 10 were supposedly armed?

The incident bears no imprint of maximum restraint being used to the highest extent possible to minimize the loss of lives. It seems this bloodbath seeks to cover up authorities' failure to heed intelligence reports of a planned jailbreak.

From conversations with DILG Secretary Reyes we get the sense that the direction was to teach them a lesson, in which case it must be stated that these inmates, no matter how unimpeachable the evidence may have been against them, are still to be convicted of the crimes they are charged with by a competent court of law. Only four, the ringleaders, were confirmed ASG members. The rest were still suspects awaiting trial.

It seems that it was not clear to the police that the idea should have been to isolate those responsible for the armed outbreak, and which ones of the prisoners were innocent of participating in the jailbreak.

I would suggest that the Commission on Human Rights step in immediately and take a second look at this bloody mess and ascertain whether the police acted within the reasonable bounds of the law in the ensuing assault that brought an end to the hostage-taking in Camp Bagong Diwa.

Should proof of human rights violations be established, the PNP will have to answer for the swift justice of violence it employed against these suspected Abu Sayyaf members. Otherwise it will only convince the public that this operation, touted as a "success" by Malacañang, only proves that the government is just as ruthless in its pursuit of the enemy it seeks to defeat. And that in itself will not win the war against terrorism.

Continuing slaughter in Hacienda Luisita must be stopped, perpetrators brought to justice

2005-03-15T06:31:00.000+08:00

AKBAYAN Party-List Representative Loretta Ann Rosales today expressed disgust over reports that a priest had been slain in Tarlac. Rosales appealed to Malacañang to step in and ensure the continued safety of activists in the region.

"Obviously, the Hacienda Luisita problem is far from being resolved," said Rosales "and it is incumbent upon the authorities to help pacify the situation through a resolute investigation and finding the perpetrators of these killings," she added.

The lady solon also said that the killing of Fr. William Tadena, as well as those of Councilor Abel Ladera and Marcelino Beltran sends a strong signal about the human rights situation in Tarlac, and measures have to be taken in order to maintain peace and order in the region.

"We would be very interested to know what government has done to resolve the ongoing labor dispute in Hacienda Luisita, as this is being pointed as the root of all these killings, Rosales explained. "For as long as that dispute is left hanging in the air, discontent will continue to brew in Tarlac, and we might see more people falling prey to violent elements who want to sow terror and division as means of addressing the Hacienda Luisita question," Rosales warned.

Joint Statement: Bilateral talks with Myanmar dictator undermines that country’s democratic aspirations

2005-02-23T05:21:00.000+08:00

The State Visit of Myanmar Prime Minister Soe Win to the Philippines comes at a time when calls for the suspension of its Chairmanship of the ASEAN Summit in 2006 are already gaining ground. The timing is suspicious. Is the military junta in Yangoon trying to project an image of equal footing with other democratically-elected governments?

Myanmar's junta is fabled worldwide for its atrocities, not the least of which is the repression of workers' rights to form unions and collectively bargain. Reports of forced labor and inhumane treatment of prisoners have not stopped coming from inside that country. Year after year, thousands of activists are jailed in Myanmar. The press is stifled, restrictions extend to the simplest act of purchasing and using fax machines. The Internet is off-limits to everyone except government agents. And worst of all, the democratically elected government leaders of the 1990 general elections are either in exile, under arrest and in prison, or dead. Its most prominent leader, Suu Kyi, continues to languish in house arrest.

The more business partners Myanmar finds, the more emboldened it becomes to stay put, keep its hold on power and walk all over the democratic rights of the Burmese people.

It is for this reason that Akbayan Representatives initiated the filing of House Resolution 593, which is now co-authored by 131 other Representatives. The number includes House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Antonio Cuenco of Cebu's 2nd district and all 21 other party-list representatives.

This resolution deals with Myanmar insofar as its impending Chairmanship of ASEAN is concerned. We need to remind government that Myanmar has not kept true to its promise of introducing reforms specified by ASEAN as terms for its entry into the organization. More than seven years later, however, Myanmar is still ruled by the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), the military junta that continues to reject the overwhelming victory of the NLD in the 1990 elections.

The filing of House Resolution 593 comes amid efforts by ASEAN parliamentarians to form and develop an ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC). Here in the country we are finding ways of gathering more support from our fellow parliamentarians to urge the government to send out a stronger signal against Myanmar's efforts at legitimacy.

We would like to reiterate the obvious: the Philippines is no stranger to dictatorships, and we remind the President that it was having foreign governments conferring a mantle of confidence and legitimacy to a regime seeking out trade agreements while oppressing its own people that helped prop up that dictatorship. Engage Myanmar on a multilateral platform, lest we find ourselves lending credence to the SPDC's rule to the detriment of the Burmese people.

Loretta Ann P. Rosales
Mario Joyo Aguja
Ana Theresia Hontiveros-Baraquel
AKBAYAN party-list

Majority of solons nix Myanmar Chairmanship of ASEAN, calls for democratic reforms and release of Suu Kyi

2005-02-17T05:59:00.000+08:00

134 members of the House of Representatives, a clear majority, today lent their support to calls for the Philippine government to "strongly urge the ASEAN to reconsider Myanmar's chairmanship of the 2006 ASEAN Meeting" pending tangible democratic reforms, the restoration of the duly elected government of 1990 and the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other members of the National League of Democracy (NLD).

House Resolution 593, authored by Akbayan Representatives Loretta Ann Rosales, Mario Aguja and Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel was supported by around 130 other Representatives. The number includes House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Antonio Cuenco of Cebu's 2nd district and all 21 other party-list representatives.

In the resolution Rosales and the rest of the co-authors reminded government that in 1997, Myanmar committed to abide by certain principles of democratic governance specified by ASEAN as terms for its entry into the organization. "More than seven years later, however, Myanmar is still ruled by the state Peace and Development Council (SPDC), the military junta that continues to reject the overwhelming victory of the NLD in the 1990 elections," Rosales explained.

Rosales also said that the SPDC also continues to hold Nobel laureate Suu Kyi under house arrest, to harass Burmese ethnic minorities and to commit human rights violations up to today. The 134 solons stressed in Resolution 593 that unless democratic reforms are instituted in Myanmar, its 2006 Chairmanship will permanently undermine ASEAN's political, diplomatic and economic future.

The filing of House Resolution 593 comes amid efforts by ASEAN parliamentarians to form and develop an Inter-ASEAN Parliamentarians Caucus for Myanmar (IAPCM). This new group includes Rosales, Senate Minority Floor Leader Aquilino Pimentel of PDP-Laban and Rep. Erin Tañada of the Liberal Party. It aims to increase advocacy efforts among legislators to restore democracy in Myanmar and is scheduled to go to that country soon to directly lobby with SPDC leaders for democratic reforms and the immediate release of Suu Kyi.

The IAPCM is busy organizing local caucuses among fellow parliamentarians towards strengthening the role of ASEAN in promoting and protecting democracy in the region. The IAPCM met last November in Kuala Lumpur and in Jakarta recently, and plans to hold its next meeting in time for an IPU meeting in Manila, to strategize and draw up further plans to complement and support a roadmap of democracy in Myanmar.

Trafficking victimizes women, erodes human rights

2005-02-11T07:35:00.000+08:00

It seems that even with the passage of RA 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking Law of 2003, we are yet to begin a serious crackdown on traffickers and ensure the safety of our women and children from this form of exploitation and human rights violation.

The Anti-Trafficking Law is a beneficial law for thousands of women and children as it provides protection for the 'trafficked' person and emphasizes culpability on the part of the trafficker, those who had a hand in their recruitment and subsequent victimization.

But what exactly ails our country that three years into the passage of the law, we have not had the desired deterrence we sought? Why, if the problem was that urgent that we had to legislate to correct this social aberration, are we faced with an almost nonexistent track record in cracking down on this problem?

Part of the problem is in the political will to really go after the big-time traffickers. This crime is a multi-million peso enterprise, one regrettably capitalizing on the desire of a lot of our citizens to seek greener pastures in urban centers or abroad.

At the same time, it seems our judicial system is ill equipped to face the daunting sensitivity of the phenomenon. The stigma of 'consenting victims' has to be eradicated at the same time we are educating our law enforcers and our court officers - lawyers, judges and personnel. It is not exactly a different story elsewhere. When it comes to crimes committed against women and children, our courts really has their work cut out for them.

What we need is a broad united front to confront this menace. Our cause-oriented groups have to find a common ground with various allies - shipping companies, airline companies, the police, the judiciary and relevant government agencies to effectively fight this organized crime.

The legislature in its dispensation of its oversight function can help our sector exact accountability from our government as regards the implementation of RA 9208 and to dig deeper into the various factors that hinder us from effectively addressing this problem.

(Cebu)

Doubts over spending of Marcos money will persist in absence of public accounting

2005-02-11T06:37:00.000+08:00

If the President is to be really believed that the Marcos money is intact, both those intended for the human rights violations victims of Martial Law and the millions of CARP beneficiaries, then it should disclose all the relevant documents that would tell us where each centavo went.

After the US$ 683 million was transferred from the Philippine National Bank, the government kept mum on just what had happened to the money. The transfer occurred in March 2004, a few months before the elections.

This was the very same concern we had earlier raised in filing House Resolution 343 in the context of our recognition that the fulfillment of the Constitution's social justice clause does not end with the installation of farmer beneficiaries but well into the provision of needed agricultural support and the further acquisition of massive lands that remain in the hands of big landlords in places like Negros, Davao, Bondoc Peninsula and Mindanao. Simply put, CLOA holders must be protected, their ranks increased. That has always been our call.

But allegedly, P12 billion of the total P28 billion for the CARP has been spent, including cash advances of P2.7 billion that went to LBP for the year 2003 and P2.2 billion for the office operations of DAR and other CARP implementing agencies. A clear violation of a Presidential Agrarian Reform Council Resolution directing a 70-30 proportion for spending the CARP-allocated Marcos money between land acquisition and high-impact intervention. Is this true? Certainly questions like this have to be answered.

It doesn't help that movements within the DAR bureaucracy have taken place making it difficult to make inquiries. Former DAR OIC Jose Mari Ponce, efficient and transparent in his dealings, had been transferred to the Cagayan Industrial Authority. A certain Director Geoffrey Galang who works for the finance department of the PARC has also been reportedly replaced. We'd like to know if this is correct? The Finance Officer of the DAR ascertained to be a Thelma Vinuya and the Chief Accountant, named Charlie Reyes have either resigned or been transferred. Where are these people?

House Resolution 343 seeks to call them before the House Committees on Agrarian Reform, Human Rights and Good Government and account for how the money has been spent. These people are those directly responsible for the budgeting and accounting within DAR and they should be around to answer these questions. #

Not Joining Walk-Out on VAT bill is not tantamount to support

2005-01-29T06:00:00.000+08:00

AKBAYAN Party-List Representative Loretta Ann Rosales today decried malicious news spreading through text messages falsely accusing her and other legislators like Quezon Rep. Erin Tañada of voting in favor of the value added tax bill, which was passed by the House of Representatives 126-11 last Wednesday night.

"Just to make it clear, I was one of those 11 who decided to stick it out through the entire session," clarified Rosales. "And AKBAYAN had been consistent in its call that the real problem has been plugging the loopholes in the collection and administration of the tax system," she added.

"Let it be stated for the record that at 3:15 a.m., I cast my dissenting vote to the VAT bill. And that is a fact," said Rosales.

"Whoever is behind this 'text attack' is obviously grossly misinformed, or would like the public to think that AKBAYAN, and me specifically, have reneged on our vow to closely watch the tax measures proposed by Malacañang," Rosales said.

"While we respect the right of other legislators to walk out of the session because of the patent railroading that went on, we didn't want to add to the drama anymore," Rosales explained of her decision to stay put. "We wanted to register our opposition to the measure up to the last minute, and if that meant no media coverage then so be it," Rosales added.

"We do not know who is behind the text attack nor the motivation, but it was specifically aimed at me and Erin Tañada," said Rosales. "But sad to say they were wrong, and whatever the reason behind such misinformation is, the records will prove that we never turned our back on the people's interests," she said.

LTTE: re Rep. Mariano's attacks on Marcos bill

2005-01-13T03:32:00.000+08:00

The recent Inquirer article on left-wing solons fighting over the rights compensation bill (January 8, 2005) is an excellent opportunity to correct an apparent misunderstanding of the bill through assertions made by neophyte Rep. Rafael Mariano, obviously oblivious of the process the bill had gone through since the filing of two separate bills on the rights compensation by Akbayan and Bayan Muna in the opening of the 13th Congress.

Two versions of the bill (Akbayan's HB 1319 and Bayan Muna's HB 2962) have been filed and consolidated into Committee Report 117 on House Bill 3315, which was entered into the Record of Business of the House Journal in plenary session before Congress went into recess last December 17.

The Committee members who signed the Committee Report, which contained the consolidated compensation bill included, among others, Reps. Satur Ocampo, Joel Virador, and Liza Maza, who are current members of the Committee on Human Rights. Mariano is a co-author of the Bayan Muna bill.

To set the record straight, the consolidated bill underwent a series of deliberations both at the technical working group and Committee levels. In every Committee and TWG meeting, Bayan Muna and Selda, together or separately, participated in all deliberations of Committee and TWG meetings. PCGG Chair Haydee Yorac was present in both the TWG and Committee meetings to guide us on some technical and legal issues involving the bill.

One of the contentious issues involved the "automatic" inclusion of the 9,539 class suit claimants and direct action plaintiffs who won $1.9 billion in compensatory and exemplary damages in the Honolulu Court back in 1995. Chair Yorac correctly advised the Committee that there cannot be a conclusive presumption that the plaintiffs in the Hawaii case are HRV victims for purposes of the bill. They have to go through the process of screening by the Compensation Board to be set up under the bill. Even in the Hawaii case itself, fake or redundant claimants were discovered.

The challenge that Mariano must instead focus his attention to is the immediate passage of the bill, and helping ensure that the Compensation Board, once constituted dispenses with its duties with speed and justice. That would be a healthier exercise of his authority as an elected official instead of swinging with fiery, but misleading and empty rhetoric against other legislators just doing their jobs.

Rep. Loretta Ann P. Rosales
AKBAYAN

Etta: Peace Panel should look into landlord and NPA collusion in Bondoc Peninsula

2005-01-08T05:30:00.000+08:00

The plight of helpless peasants in Bondoc Peninsula in Quezon province provides a test case to measure the sincerity of both the government and NDF panels in upholding the provisions of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Law (CARHRIL).

The NDF will have to answer for the charges brought before it by Reymundo Tejino Jr., a farmer-leader against the Maria Teresa de Leon Command (MTDLC) of the NPA for violations of the Geneva Convention against unarmed civilians it has harassed, coerced, threatened, robbed and in the case of Reymundo Tejino, murdered.

Government, for its part, should show the political will necessary to implement agrarian reform in the Bondoc Peninsula, by compulsorily acquiring the landholdings illegally claimed by the Uy family, and calling on the NDF to ensure that the NPAs desist from meddling in farmers' efforts to place their lands under CARP coverage.

The situation in the area reveals the urgency of the farmers' plight. Out of the 1,542 residents (or about 268 households) in the estimated 3,500 hectares, within San Narciso, 98% eke out a living as share tenants with a 60%-40% sharing arrangement in favor of the landowner. Organizing themselves into several people's organizations, these farmers have tried several times to boycott the usurious sharing arrangement with the Uys, but in some instances, it was even the NPAs which told them to keep paying the landlord.

In the course of their struggle, four farmer leaders have already been killed. These were Edwin Vender on June 8, 1998, Roding Romero on October 3, 2003, and Felizardo Benitez on March 20, 2004, all in the hands of goons hired by the landowner Uy. The NPA, self-proclaimed protectors of the poor and marginalized and which supposedly draws strength primarily from the ranks of peasants, do not even think these murders are an issue, since these farmers are AKBAYAN members. Viewing these farmers as counter-revolutionaries justified their grisly slaying of Reymundo Tejino on February 3, 2003. The same danger is now faced by Dioscoro Tejino Jr., Reymundo's brother who is also a farmer leader.

Aside from the murder of Tejino, the NPAs also committed the following abuses: threats and intimidation; assassination attempts against farmer leaders; robbery; threatening a six-year old boy to crawl at gunpoint; acting in collusion with the landowner in harassing farmers and depriving them of their means of livelihood. The NPA believes such actions are justified because these farmers dare to seek agrarian reform independently of their leadership, and it is this daring which they cannot afford since it erodes the credibility of their revolution. The farmers, on the other hand, assert their right to the kind of land reform and development path that they envision.

The combined difficulties of an oppressive landlord on one hand, and on the other, a coercive NPA unit which views with contempt their choice to petition their lands for CARP coverage make the struggle for agrarian reform a truly dangerous endeavor in San Narciso in the Bondoc Peninsula.

Last August 1, 2004, the NPA-MTDLC issued a statement declaring legal farmers organizations and NGOs as legitimate targets of the revolutionary action, in view of these people's steadfast agrarian reform struggles in contrast with the NPA's agrarian revolution model of land redistribution after seizure of state power and in the meantime, toeing the line of the 60-40 or 50-50 sharing arrangements with the landowners.

Groups like the Association of Religious Superiors of Women in the Philippines (AMRWSP) have already come out with statements calling on the government to make haste in alleviating the plight of the Bondoc Pen farmers. They have also called on the NPA to allow for peace in the area, where the farmers who refuse to support them only want to finally own the land they have been tilling for years.

The case of small coconut farmers in Bondoc Peninsula is a glaring blemish on the moral high ground pretension that the CPP-NDF continually seeks to project in its peace talks with the government. It shows that the revolutionary forces of the CPP are no better than the government it denounces when it comes to their capacity to commit the same atrocities they are only quick to condemn.

Dioscoro Tejino, Reymundo's brother has filed a case with the Joint Monitoring Committee of the Negotiating Panel for the Peace Talks between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front. His complaint deals with the insistent threats to his life being made by the NPA. Tejino is an unarmed civilian, who is protected from harm by International Humanitarian Law, which forms the framework for the GRP-NDF's CARHRIL. The Peace Panel should look into this matter, and the Bondoc Peninsula struggle as a whole, which has already been the subject of a Congressional inquiry in the 12th Congress.

Unfortunately, the CPP's founding Chairman, Jose Maria Sison, who now goes under the title of Chief Political Consultant for the Negotiating Panel of the NDF conveniently forgets to address the Bondoc Pen situation in his tirades against more prominent members of the progressive movement outside the orbit of the CPP-NDF. Sison denies the existence of a CPP hit list, countering that the revolutionary movement he founded does not assassinate ideological opponents. But the case of Bondoc Pen farmers illustrates in the most concrete terms how such a policy can be nothing but a lie. Once convinced that a perceived opponent is guilty of a crime, it becomes only a matter of time before a hit squad is dispatched to eliminate such a threat. The issue may prove tricky and difficult for known figures, but forces on the ground such as the Tejinos, poor and little known, proves an easy target for the NPA.

Regardless of the source, violence has no part to play in the struggle for agrarian reform. The government bears the ultimate responsibility of ensuring that lands long due for acquisition and redistribution should go to farmers at the soonest possible time. No shedding of blood for land is necessary. Recalcitrant landlords of the criminal kind such as those of the Uys and their henchmen should be made to answer for their transgressions. At the same time, private entities with no clear accountability like the CPP-NPA should be held against their proclaimed adherence to standards of humanitarian law and human rights.

Rep. Loretta Ann P. Rosales
AKBAYAN

AKBAYAN solons call for debt relief to tsunami and disaster-struck countries

2005-01-07T05:19:00.000+08:00

AKBAYAN party-list legislators in the House of Representatives today spearheaded a resolution campaign among solons to support international calls for immediate debt cancellation to Asian countries devastated by the killer tsunamis that have killed more than 150,000 people and left 5 million homeless and dislocated.

Rep. Loretta Ann P. Rosales said that the resolution, now signed by 31 solons but is still going through the rounds, seeks to call for the total cancellation of the foreign debt of tsunami-disaster countries, especially from among the hardest hit in South and Southeast Asia such as Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, India and parts of Malaysia.

"These countries have some of the highest levels of poverty in the world, such as Bangladesh, which ranks a low of 138th and India which ranks 127th out of 177 countries on the UNDP's Human Development Index," Rosales explained. "Indonesia, which bore the brunt of the casualties in conflict-laden and poverty-stricken Aceh ranks 111th on the HDI," she added.

Further, Rosales adds, these are the very same countries - India, Indonesia, Maldives and Bangladesh who also figure prominently in a list of low-income countries with debt sustainability problems, having GNP averages not so far off the threshold of USD765 a year," she said, "It is unimaginable that despite this massive tragedy, foreign creditors led by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund would expect that debt repayments be made as if it was business as usual."

Rosales said several donor Western governments such as those of Germany, Canada, Britain and France have already agreed to discuss the possibility of freezing debt repayments from these countries "at a forthcoming conference which President GMA is herself attending," Rosales said, "and it would be a most welcome move on the part of our government to show commitment to convincing the WB and IMF that in the twin burdens of disaster and debt, debt must give way to allow disaster-struck countries to get back some semblance of normalcy," she said. "Naturally, given our own recent experience with disasters, particularly those of the typhoons that battered the country late last year, the Philippines knows only too well the problem of managing a disaster and paying off loans," she added.

Rosales, together with fellow AKBAYAN representatives Mayong Aguja and Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel, said the resolution calls on the government to support a debt-for-rehabilitation and disaster management swap with the IMF and WB. "There is an opportunity now for indebted governments everywhere to show creditors that the debt problem is placing an added burden to poor countries everywhere like the Philippines," Rosales said. "Disasters which can in part, as in the case of the Philippines, be traced to policies tied to IMF-WB loans in the first place," she said.

On the proposed executive clemency for ex-Congressman Jalosjos

2005-01-06T07:26:00.000+08:00

How soon we forget that one rich and influential political figure had already beaten the odds and got away with a medical treatment in Hong Kong even as he faces charges on a non-bailable offense! Now here comes another political figure, a scion of a backward political clan who is in the spotlight for possibly getting away with a crime he has not even shown remorse for.

He is already receiving more than his fair share of special treatment in incarceration, but what makes Jalosjos so special that the idea of a clemency seems so urgent now, at this time? "What is the story behind the story?" one is forced to ask.

So often do we see the poor and the powerless suffer even more terribly for what seems like lesser crimes than the one Jalosjos has been convicted of - statutory rape - and yet do we see any semblance of credible and thorough reforms in our judicial system, including the terrible conditions of our prisons? The law should be upheld to hold all individuals equally responsible for their transgressions against the rights of other human beings. A clemency for a rich and powerful man like Jalosjos essentially tells us that there are two sets of laws working in this country - one for the poor, and another one, riddled with "if"s and "but"s for the influential.

Rep. Butz Aquino's comment that Jalosjos's victim should be asked if she was willing to forgive Jalosjos before a pardon is considered is also ill-advised. Statutory rape is not a crime of passion but a crime against one of our society's cherished principle. That a person in a position of power, like Jalosjos, does not enjoy any privilege to abuse his discretions to violate a girl-child's right against sexual predation, an abuse so rampant and difficultly addressed in a society in which victims are often forced by stigma and fear to hide behind the pains they have gone through.

Under no condition is Jalosjos even eligible for a clemency. He has a long way to go to serve out the required one-third of his two life sentences, and neither is his "medical condition" so extraordinary as to warrant the same special treatment that Estrada undeservedly got.

Estrada's escape from the rule of law is more than enough cause for outrage. Jalosjos should not compound the idea that you can get away with a crime if you have the right connections. Let him stay in jail.

AKBAYAN solon calls on ASEAN to suspend Burma in absence of reforms; supports unconditional release of Suu Kyi

2004-12-07T06:17:00.000+08:00

AKBAYAN Party-List Representative Loretta Ann P. Rosales today echoed calls for democratic reforms in Burma after the announcement that freedom fighter Aung San Suu Kyi would continue to be detained for one more year.

Rosales, who attended an ASEAN-level workshop on Burma among members of parliaments from across the region said "If the military junta ruling Burma is serious in paving a roadmap for eventual democracy in the country then it should start with the unequivocal and unconditional release of Suu Kyi." According to Rosales, this is the only means by which the junta can show it is sincere in its declarations that it was willing to introduce reforms in Burma.

The lady solon said that the proposed National Convention scheduled for next year, at around the same time that Burma is set to assume Chairmanship of the ASEAN, "will only be meaningful and relevant if the National League for Democracy and Suu Kyi are in that process, and if the international community is convinced that the process is not a farce."

Rosales also added, "should Burma fail to show proof that it is serious in instituting reforms then its membership in ASEAN should be reviewed and be suspended."

The lady solon said that such proof would include the drafting of a new Constitution and the conduct of free and fair elections by middle of next year. Otherwise, Rosales added, "ASEAN has no business relinquishing leadership to Burma."

During the ASEAN-level workshop on Burma, which was attended by parliamentarians from Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, the Philippines and Singapore, Rosales joined Senator Aquilino Pimentel in also calling on the United Nations Security Council to convene a Special General Assembly to immediately deliberate on the Burma situation. (30)

Hacienda Luisita violence unwarranted, workers’ plight must be investigated

2004-11-18T07:16:00.000+08:00

An immediate inquiry has to be called to look into the events leading to the gruesome incident at Hacienda Luisita. As Chair of the House Committee on Human Rights we recognize the legitimate interests of the hacienda workers seeking the full realization and protection of their rights. The events at Hacienda Luisita regrettably exemplify the most violent lengths to which labor rights are either realized or stunted.

Such violence is to be condemned, and there is a need to sort out the facts in order to ascertain just how the Constitutionally-mandated right of agricultural workers to peacefully assemble and seek redress for grievances was patently violated in this case.

Hacienda Luisita represents a very significant case at hand not only because of the size of this landholding but also because of its apparent symbolism, associated as it is with one of the country's most eminent political clans.

The violent dispersal of the picket at Hacienda Luisita as shown on television cannot and should not be easily dismissed as a random act of violence. We must collectively seek out the historical foundations for the workers' unrest in Luisita and take a closer whether the stock option scheme has worked or not to truly bring about the supposed benefits due the hacienda workers. Does retrenchment of these hacienda workers mean that they have lost their stock options as well? This only means that the scheme must be scrutinized, especially what it means for a supposedly losing enterprise such as Hacienda Luisita.

In the longer term, however, we must use this opportunity to look into the poverty situation in the rural areas, because at the root of disputes such as those in Hacienda Luisita is the continuing stagnation of the countryside from inequities in land distribution and lack of economic opportunities.

US elections underscore need for RP to modernize its own polls

2004-11-17T07:15:00.000+08:00

A party-list lawmaker today said that the foremost lesson to be gleaned from the US elections is that the only way to remove doubts about the results over an election is to modernize the electoral system.

"While it may be true that there have been isolated incidents of snafus in the US elections like missing registrants and machines breaking down, no widespread irregularities were reported matching the highly contested episode that happened in Florida four years ago," AKBAYAN Party-List Representative Loretta Ann Rosales said.

"The fact alone that in a few hours the results were known, totally eliminating the long-drawn manual counting which has in our case, delayed the results, reflects the indispensability of an automated process in elections," Rosales explained. She said that because polls are computerized in the US, "the process is less prone to cheating and other glitches that fester backward election systems like the one we have in the Philippines."

Rosales lamented that the planned modernization of the elections has been botched time and again by the Commission on Elections. "Our own election body is inept and susceptible to influence that it cannot independently take on its job of modernizing the country's electoral system." Rosales recalled cases in the past when for instance, the COMELEC allocated P1 billion for what was charged as an unnecessary project for voters' validation, and its failed attempts at procuring computers for use in elections that were later found defective and prone to manipulation.

As for the results of the US elections, Rosales also said "On the other hand, the US election was characterized by exorbitant spending, which should not be emulated, yet the modernized US system helps cultivate a political culture in which the losing candidates learn to accept defeat without rancor and bitterness. "Our own politicians should learn the value of grace and tact in the face of defeat," Rosales said, reiterating the often-repeated saying that in the Philippines nobody loses, candidates just get cheated.

As for a Bush victory, Rosales fears "Another four years for Bush might mean further uncertainty over the rule of international law, and an increased campaign against terrorism along the warped terms that Bush uses to define it."

"The Arroyo administration should take this opportunity to take steps to define a foreign policy that does not blindly follow the US lead, especially with a Bush presidency again," Rosales advised. "We are low on Bush's list right now after the fallout from Angelo de la Cruz's abduction in Iraq, and the President should seize this moment to contribute to the strengthening of multilateral efforts against terrorism instead of kowtowing again to Bush," she said.

House Committee on Human Rights approves bill on Marcos victims

2004-11-11T05:10:00.000+08:00

The legislative mill inches a step closer to providing justice to the thousands of victims of human rights violations under the Marcos regime.

This, as the House Committee on Human Rights, chaired by AKBAYAN Party-List Representative Loretta Ann Rosales approved the consolidated bill providing compensation to victims of Martial Law, which sets aside a portion of the recovered Marcos money for activists and other civilians who were tortured, imprisoned, and those who disappeared between January 1, 1969 and February 25, 1986.

According to Rosales, "The bill does not only set out to provide monetary compensation, but equally, it also says that other forms of non-monetary restitution under the principle of restorative justice will also be sought for the restitution of victims, such as psycho-social therapy, rehabilitation etc.," she said. The bill also includes provisions on the documentation of human rights violations, which Rosales says, "will greatly aid in the process of closure and healing, as this mechanism would allow for such atrocities to be part of public record and part of institutional memory."

Rosales said that the ease with which the bill was processed was aided in part by the active participation of PCGG Chairperson Haydee Yorac as well as Commission on Human Rights Chairperson Purificacion Quisumbing, who were vigilantly contributing from the technical working group up to the committee hearings.

The Akbayan solon added that it was the President herself during the meeting of the lady legislators in Malacañang the other day who promised that she would act to have the bill enacted into law before the end of the year. "We hope the legislature can take this cue, for enacting the bill into law would certainly be a welcome holiday gift for the victims," Rosales said. As a result of that commitment, the President certified House Bill 1319 as urgent, recognizing the need to push for the rights of those who suffered fighting the Marcos dictatorship.

"From the very beginning we have been clear that the bill is not only about money, but a recognition by the State of the importance of keeping in line with the principles laid out in various international instruments such as the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Prevention of Torture," Rosales said. "A principle that is underpinning the very essence of HB 1319," she added. (30)

There is no excuse for delay in ratification of ICC treaty

2004-10-12T01:12:00.000+08:00

Today I reiterate my call on the government to immediately transmit the Rome Statute Establishing the International Criminal Court to the Senate for its ratification.

It is such a sad footnote to our continuing struggle for the realization and protection of human rights that the Rome Statute continues to languish at the Security Cluster of the Cabinet. Apparently the government is hesitant to pass it on to the Senate because it knows the United States is aggressively campaigning against the ICC and for protection to its military troops.

But the truth is, more than half the world's population is now enjoying protection from the most heinous of crimes under international law, such as genocide, crimes against humanity and other war crimes under the ICC. In this court, we exact accountability not from states, but individuals who are found guilty of violating human rights.

The ICC becomes relevant for the Philippines when it is considered as a measure by which the country can help promote human rights among the community of the world's nations. Peace is the underlying principle that we seek to achieve with the ICC. It would be wise for our foreign policy decision-makers to follow in the lead towards justice and peace, especially in a world of increasing violence and conflicts.

As Chair of the House Committee on Civil, Political and Human Rights we will continue to actively involve ourselves with the ICC struggle, and spearhead efforts at the country-level to have the Rome Statute ratified by the Philippine government.

We will continue our work in the House of Representatives and the Senate to solicit wider support from our colleagues to support the ICC towards our common aspiration of never seeing the likes of another Rwandan murder spree, or another Yugoslavian genocide. At the same time, the ICC can serve as a refuge for peoples with no recourse left at the local courts for redress of grievous offenses such as crimes against humanity, which are perpetrated against a distinct sector or class of people in a systematic manner.

The abuses committed at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, is an example. Which explains why the US is bent on blocking the ICC, and makes it clear why the government is lukewarm towards the ICC, since it is still awaiting from signals from the US.

Rep. Loretta Ann P. Rosales
AKBAYAN Party-List
Chairperson, House of Representatives Committee on Civil, Political and Human Rights

Joint Statement: On NDF Negotiator Luis Jalandoni’s attacks against AKBAYAN

2004-08-24T05:09:00.000+08:00

The CPP-NDF's renewed attacks on AKBAYAN only serve to once again highlight the dangerous and narrow mindset that the CPP-NDF has adopted in dealing with progressive forces like AKBAYAN, which have been upfront and vocal of their criticism of the CPP-NDF's excesses.

Even as AKBAYAN consolidates as a political party, expands and strengthens its electoral performance, the CPP-NDF desperately tries to paint a picture of AKBAYAN as being outside the progressive movement. But outside of the CPP-NDF, hardly anyone accepts such an intolerant and arrogant assertion.

We have said it before and we say it again: the CPP-NDF has no exclusive franchise on progressive politics and the articulation of the masses' interests. Its long practice, in fact, has put the question of its "progressive politics" in question.

The truth is, it is AKBAYAN's consistency in denouncing excesses and abuses on the part of the government as well as the CPP-NDF, which makes us a target of the CPP-NDF's wrath. This is the reason why they have considered AKBAYAN leaders and members as fair game for armed retaliation. They have already taken on this line of argument when they killed several AKBAYAN peasant leaders in Bondoc Peninsula and an Akbayan Barangay Captain in Jabonga, Agusan del Norte.

The CPP-NDF refuses to accept legitimate criticism against practices that violate the tenets of human rights and international humanitarian law, which they claim to adhere to. They resort to extravagant and farfetched conspiracy theories to combat other progressive forces, especially AKBAYAN. Instead of focusing on issues and programs, they would rather violate the sanctity of an individual's home by putting up threatening posters on the gates, as they have done with Rep. Etta Rosales back in May. Likewise, they would rather kill local AKBAYAN leaders who fight for good governance and social justice through peaceful and legitimate means.

It is the principles of pluralism and tolerance, which are not catchwords but breathing, everyday practices which AKBAYAN lives up to, which allows us to thrive despite harassment from the CPP-NDF. We believe that it is only in the open market of ideas that one can truly prove the worth and tenacity of one's ideas, and never through machismo and violence.

The CPP-NDF must accept that a critique of its human rights record, not only from AKBAYAN but also from respected groups like Amnesty International, does not automatically make one a front for the military. Instead of accusing, the CPP-NDF is well advised to look itself in the mirror and evaluate its history of violence and prejudice against those who do not share its views. Instead of its continued silence the CPP-NDF should instead answer the issue raised in Amnesty International's Human Rights Report if it is truly sincere in its pursuit of peace and social justice.

It is sad that the CPP-NDF has to resort to gutter-level attacks against Hontiveros as a person instead of battling our representatives on the basis of issues. Nevertheless, we challenge the CPP-NDF to take stock of its political positioning, especially in regard to the stalled peace talks. Its declaration, and subsequent retraction of an offer to enter into a coalition government with the current administration smacks of blatant opportunism, which one would not expect of a party genuinely interested in peace talks as a process to resolve the long-standing ills of society.

Its refusal to be accountable for its continued practice of extortion through the NPA's permit-to-campaign fees and its violent interference in elections, which it claims it does not believe in reveal an inconsistency in the CPP-NDF's stance that it faithfully adheres to the principles of freedom of expression, movement, association and thought.

The murder of poor, landless peasant and village leaders who seek social reforms through peaceful legitimate means, that reveal cracks in the movement that are not only damaging but totally incompatible with the very basic principles and foundations that the CPP-NDF were earlier supposedly built upon.

Rep. Loretta Ann P. Rosales
Rep. Mario Joyo Aguja
Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel
AKBAYAN Party-List
House of Representatives

On the Party-List Representation to the Commission on Appointments

2004-08-17T05:15:00.000+08:00

AKBAYAN Representative Loretta Ann P. Rosales says that AKBAYAN welcomes and supports the election of party-list representatives to the Commission on Appointments (CA) and the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET) as mandated by the Constitution. Rosales clarified news reports out over the weekend over the supposed choice of party-list representatives to the CA and the HRET.

"It is about time to carry out the constitutional provision on the inclusion of the party -list representative in the CA and the HRET. AKBAYAN welcomes the move to realize this provision now. We believe, however, that for the process to be effective, selection of the PL representative must be inclusive and participatory. Nonetheless, we will support the party-list representative in the CA and HRET regardless of who may be chosen."

Reacting to rumors that AKBAYAN was not invited in the discussion for the party-list representation in the tribunal and the CA, Rosales clarified that indeed, Akbayan and other party-list groups were not invited in the initial round of the selection process. She pointed, however, that the bigger issue is the PL representation itself rather than who gets to sit in the bodies.

"I think the more urgent concern is the unity of the party-list groups. We, in Akbayan support those party list members who participated in the selection process. We also hope that beyond this process, discussions among the party-list groups will be more inclusive as has been the practice under the party -list caucus for the past six years."

In an open letter addressed to the members of the House of Representatives, Rosales called on the party-list lawmakers to unite and support such a move so that the party-list groups may be in a better position to address long-term issues particularly the amendment of the party-list law. ***

Paglaglag ng US sa Pinas mula sa Iraq, “blessing in disguise"

2004-08-10T06:07:00.000+08:00

Ikinatuwiran ni AKBAYAN Party-List Representative Loretta Ann P. Rosales na ang paglaglag ng Estados Unidos sa Pilipinas mula sa Coalition of the Willing sa Iraq ay isang 'blessing in disguise' na dapat ay ikatuwa at ipagmalaki ng bansa.

Ayon kay Rosales, "Ang giyera sa Iraq ay napatunayan nang ibinase sa kasinungalingan." Dagdag pa ni Rosales, "Ayon sa pagaaral ng US Senate Committee on Intelligence, walang matibay na ebidensyang nakitang maguugnay kay Saddam Hussein sa mga grupong terorista, at walang nakitang weapons of mass destruction sa Iraq hanggang ngayon. Kaya nga ang karamihan mismo ng mga Amerikano ngayon ay nagiisip na ang giyera sa Iraq ay hindi na kinailangan talaga."

"Kahit gaano kasama si Saddam Hussein, ang United Nations sa ilalim ng prinsipyo ng pandaigdigang batas at hindi ang Estados Unidos lamang ang may karapatang pasukin ang Iraq," paliwanag pa ni Rosales.

Para kay Rosales, nararapat lamang na tumayong mag-isa ang bansa sa kaniyang patakarang panlabas at itigil na ang pagsunod sa polisiya ng Estados Unidos. "Sa ganitong paraan, mas mapo-protektahan natin ang buhay at interes ng milyon-milyon nating mga kababayan di lang sa Gitnang Silangan kundi saan man sa mundo kung saan may banta ng terorismo."

Idinagdag pa ni Rosales "Mas mabuti nang inilaglag tayo ng Estados Unidos mula sa Coalition of the Willing dahil sa ating pagnanais na isalba ang buhay ng isang tao kaysa naman patuloy nating isugal ang buhay ng ating mga kababayan para sa isang giyerang ilegal at imoral."

"Blessing in disguise ang pagtanggal sa atin mula sa Coalition of the Willing dahil ngayon, pwede nang itama ng gubyerno ang maling polisiya nito na bulag na sumuporta sa giyera sa Iraq. Mula ngayon, dapat sundin nito ang mga polisiyang panlabas na maglalagay sa interes ng ating mga OFW nang higit sa lahat," ani Rosales.

35 solons push for diplomatic protest against Australia for comments on Iraq pullout decision

2004-08-05T07:41:00.000+08:00

AKBAYAN Party-List Representatives Loretta Ann Rosales, Mario Aguja and Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel today filed House Resolution 88 which calls on the Executive Department to register a strong diplomatic protest against the remarks made by Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and Prime Minister John Howard on the issue of Philippine pull out from Iraq.

Rosales had earlier strongly denounced Canberra’s comments on the pullout as its top officials accused the Philippines of emboldening terrorists to take more hostages after the country pulled out of Iraq following the abduction of Angelo de la Cruz.

“It is not enough that the government rebuke Downer and Howard’s remarks, we must register a strong and formal opposition to such insults as it undermines and disrespects our sovereignty,” Rosales said. HR 88 is urging the Executive, through the DFA, for the recall of the Philippine Ambassador for “consultations on the matter towards a review of the Philippine Foreign policy.”

Hontiveros-Baraquel for her part added , “Letting the Australian remarks pass by with no specific action on our part has only solicited the same condescending remarks from other countries such as Singapore which also belittled the wisdom of our pullout from Iraq.”

Aguja said that the war in Iraq has been founded on lies. “The war in Iraq remains unpopular and dubious to most Americans, the support our government had been misplaced all along, so a pullout was not a dishonorable exit from a justified war, but a justified exit from a dishonorable war.”

House Resolution 88 is expected to draw more signatures in today’s session of the Lower House. HR 88 states that “blaming the Philippines for the surge in kidnappings in Iraq and the fresh wave of threats against Australia have no factual and logical basis,” and that the criticisms of the two Australian officials seem “intended to deflect domestic pressure from a home-grown inquiry into Australia’s policy towards Iraq.”

The office of Rep. Rosales today sent an official letter to the Department of Foreign Affairs seeking an update on the DFA’s Aide Memoir to Ambassador Ruth Pearce and a clarification of the agency’s earlier pronouncement about issuing a formal protest to the Australian government. ***