Bicolanos Rally Against Terror of Aquino's Counterinsurgency Campaign

Thousands marched along the streets of Guinobatan, Albay; and  Sorsoganons came together in solidarity with the people of Barcelona; and similar protest action was held in in Bula, Camarines Sur today. These towns represent no less than 20 villages across the region that are currently suffering under the repression of Oplan Bayanihan’s Peace and Development Teams. Today’s protests is spearheaded by Kilusan ng Mamamayan Laban sa Militarisasyon sa Kabikulan (KMLMB), Karapatan Bicol,and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan.  The regionwide mobilization is supported by Bicolanos from various sectors, which Concepcion says “highlights the value of collective strength to match up to the military’s armed attack on civilians.”


“February 25 supposedly marks the people’s triumph against Martial Law. But clearly, democracy remains chained as most of Bicol’s rural villages continue to be under the military’s control,” John Concepcion, Karapatan-Bikol Spokesperson said.

The struggle for life and livelihood intensifies today as thousands of Bicolanos mass up to heighten their fight against the deaths and damages that Oplan Bayanihan has inflicted upon the region. As the nation remembers EDSA I uprising, Bicolanos on the other hand will troop to government offices and military camps to demand the pull-out of soldiers from the countrysides, and call for an end to the government’s deadly counter-insurgency campaign.

The human rights organization exposes that under Oplan Bayanihan in Bicol, no less than 37 civilians have been killed by the military, and an immense loss in agricultural produce has been inflicted by the so-called Peace and Development Teams. “Peasants are being suspected of being New People’s Army supporters and are being killed. Farms are neglected because of fear, hence the worsening of livelihoods, because military operations prove deadly to villagers,”  adds Concepcion.

 

 “We hold the Philippine Army’s 9th Infantry Division accountable for these deaths and damages to people’s livelihoods,” asserts Concepcion, adding that apart from these, the military likewise commits a lot more forms of human rights violations. “PDTs are trained in every way to violate rights,” clarifies Concepcion. “They occupy public structures thus endangering civilians, they commit torture, illegal detention and interrogation, they rape and abuse women, and steal crops and animals, among other. Most of all, they kill civilians,” enumerates Concepcion. He further reiterates Karapatan-Bicol’s demands, “These soldiers must be pulled out immediately to avert any further damage to the people!”

As the deadline for Oplan Bayanihan’s Phase 1 draws near this 2013, Karapatan-Bicol cautions the people. “The government will surely step up its barrage of human rights violations. If we do not carry on with our fight against Oplan Bayanihan, government soldiers will continue to murder our loved ones, and continue to deny us of our living.” But Concepcion directs the most formidable of warnings to no less than the commanders of the 9th ID. “Surely, Bicolanos will not cower in the face of Oplan Bayanihan’s brutality. Keep a sharp lookout on the day when the oppressed people will storm your camps and leave you powerless,” ends Concepcion. ### 

Two Civilians Murdered by Lt Col Andrew Costelo’s 2nd IB

LEGAZPI CITY_Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Costelo’s minions are on a killing rampage. Less than two weeks into his command, and in a span of just two days, Costelo’s 2nd Infantry Battalion has already murdered two civilians. After mauling and shooting to death a farmer in Pio Duran town on February 11, soldiers of the 2nd IB in Brgy Tobgon, Oas matched the crime with another civilian murder in the person of Dalmacio dela Punta.

News reports as well as communications from people’s organizations in the area confirmed that a firefight ensued between government troopers and alleged NPA rebels on February 12, with the 2nd IB suffering casualties.  The victim’s family and other witnesses said that after the firefight, the soldiers arrested dela Punta at a nearby sityo, mauled and dragged him from his house, and peppered him with bullets on the way to the barrio center. He was then declared a New People’s Army rebel killed in the encounter.

The new 2nd IB commander is bloating with lies in his attempt to cover up his soldiers’ crimes - for  the plain truth that dela Punta is a civilian. He was killed in disgust of 2nd IB’s losses in the said encounter. 

It is indignant that such is Costelo’s civil-military operations after all – to systematically kill civilians in order to keep the populace terrorized and subdued, and fabricate lies to hide the atrocity.  And such is the evil of Oplan Bayanihan. The terror and impunity of the failed Oplan Bantay Laya escalates in this next counter-insurgency campaign, along with crooked psywar designs to attempt to blind the people of the AFP’s murderous nature.

Karapatan vows to exact justice for the loathsome murder of Dalmacio dela Punta. A Truth Mission is set to be organized to further expose the brutality carried out by Costelo's men. The 2nd IB's commander can expect no less than a murder case slapped against him and his soldiers.

Powerless as they are, poor peasants can only seek strength from fellow oppressed and exploited people. We call on the just and well-meaning people of Albay to aid in condemning Lt. Col. Andrew Costelo’s unsparing attack against civilians, and the impunity that envelops his counter-insurgency campaign.#

2nd IB Frantically Shooting Civilians

LEGAZPI CITY_Romero Octavo is a former NPA rebel who has decided to lay down his arms and pursue civilian life. From the time Romero settled as a civilian resident of Brgy Rawis in neighboring Jovellar town, he has since survived the daily struggles ordinary peasants confront.  As was his nature, he would assist fellow villagers in their daily endeavors, his efforts be in form of words or direct participation in farm labor. Apart from tending to his land, he joined gatherings that fight for the people’s rights, though this time on the legal front.

But Lt. Col. Andrew Costelo and his 2nd IB death squad denied Romero the chance of returning to civilian life. Costelo’s rabid adherence to AFP Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista's Oplan Bayanihan, being 901st Brigade’s former civil-military operations (CMO) chief, exposes the AFP’s vicious counter-insurgency campaign as being ultimately deadly to civilians. On February 11, Romero Octavo was never able to enjoy the small joys of a village dance, as he was mauled and shot to death by ten fully armed masked men believed to be Costelo’s soldiers. After mercillesly killing Romero Octavo, the murderers got on their motorcyles, in full death-squad fashion, and retreated to the direction of an army camp at nearby Brgy Halabang Puro.

Costelo’s lies  as a CMO implementer secretes from his pores  while he gloats on Oplan Bayanihan’s glorification as supposed peace and development for the people. With Octavo’s killing, Costelo seems to be saying that former NPA rebels have might as well remained hiding in the mountains, because apparently civilians are the primary targets of Oplan Bayanihan. Costelo’s perceptible reasoning in having Octavo killed is that civilians who are vocal in legally fighting for their rights might as well take up arms if only to defend themselves, because apparently Oplan Bayanihan virulently snaps on any sign of dissidence. This seems to be the logic Costelo wants to convey to the people of Albay.

With Lt. Col. Andrew Costelo and his 2nd IB frantically shooting civilians as if these were their armed opponents, peace based on justice would obviously be far-fetched in this province.#

People’s leader survives murder attempt by suspected soldiers

Terror strikes most callously in its victims’ joyous moments.

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

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

Neighbors of the Mendozas confirmed having heard the motorcycle speed away at around 11 PM, following the gunshots. They found eight spent bullet casings for a .45 caliber pistol.

While news reports relate that the police are still investigating the incident and have yet to point to suspects, the people of San Pablo have no puzzles on the perpetrators and their motives in attempting to murder their village chief, and in the end almost carrying out a massacre.

Barangay Captain Angel Mendoza is a well-liked fellow and leader. He was San Pablo’s barangay captain from 1984 to 1994, again from 1997 to 2002, and yet again from 2007 up to the present. The people of San Pablo can suggest nothing in Kapitan Angel’s character and performance that would stoke the ire of anyone. Except, they say, when Kapitan Angel stood up for his barrio constituents against the harassment of the 902^nd Infantry Brigade from 2007 to 2009.

The people of San Pablo and its neighboring barangays in Del Gallego have long been committed in advocating the fight for human rights. They have also gained victories in reducing land rent through legal mass struggles, and are active in joining rallies and mobilizations that advance the people’s interests. It was not unexpected of San Pablo and its neighboring barangays to be focused on by the past regime’s Oplan Bantay Laya. Apparently, the military believes that those who righteously fight for the people’s interests, or simply, those who join rallies, are enemies of the State.

From May 2007 until 2009, San Pablo and its neighboring barangays were occupied by the army’s Special Operations Teams. The soldiers started out with campaigning for congressional candidate Dato Arroyo(which caught the media’s eye), then conducting patrols and operations, in the process intimidating the people, most especially those whom the military suspects of being NPA supporters, or rally participants. A military camp would eventually be set up at neighboring Sta. Rita.

This was what Brgy. Captain Angel Mendoza faced up to when in 2007, he chastised soldiers of the 902^nd IBde on their conduct and warned them that no less than the Barangay Council will file charges against any violation of San Pablo people’s rights. Apart from being barangay captain, Mendoza was then BAYAN MUNA Municipal Coordinator for Del Gallego.

Regardless of his stature as a barangay leader, Kapitan Angel was still subjected to various forms of harassment and intimidation. On November 2007, he was made to grasp an M-16 rifle and was photographed against his will. He was also coerced into betraying his constituents and was told to identify those who supposedly are NPA supporters, to which Kapitan Angel strongly stood up against. Then on 2009, together with his cousin and fellow barangay leader Diego de Torres, Kapitan Angel was once again subjected to interrogation by the soldiers and was pressed to “clear” their names of being NPA supporters and active rally participants.

Through the years of Oplan Bantay Laya’s torments, Brgy. Captain Angel Mendoza has not faltered in protecting his constituents and has remained devoted in his principles of fighting for what is just, even as the government’s counter-insurgency campaign has assumed another name in Oplan Bayanihan. The counter-insurgency fanatics may well be maddened by Kapitan Angel’s stance. This may be as infuriating for the 902^nd IBde to have him killed.

Shortly after the interrogation in 2009, San Pablo lost one of their leaders when Diego de Torres was extra-judicially murdered allegedly by elements of the 902^nd IBde. With the recent events threatening to once again put the barrio in martial plague, the people of San Pablo can only conclude that Oplan Bantay Laya’s Palparan model of killing activists is still being employed under Oplan Bayanihan.  But ultimately, as they are fortunate to still having their barangay captain to fight with them, so are the people of San Pablo most sharpened by collective experience forged by years of Kapitan Angel’s leadership.

EJK victim’s son escapes attempt on his life

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

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


On December 7, such impunity was again bared when gunmen shot at Relly and his companion while at a meal stop on their trip to Manila. Karapatan-Camarines Norte Coordinator Maricel Delen reported that at around 7 pm, she received a text message along with alerts of missed calls from Relly. Through conversations and text messages, the distraught victim narrated how he was able to elude his killers, but was deeply concerned about his companion’s welfare.

Relly D. Bermas Jr, together with fellow magkakabod (small-scale miner) and Malaya Barangay Councilman Joselito Oreza, were on their way to Manila after having consulted with Karapatan officers in Daet that afternoon. They were to meet with lawyers in a case conference concerning the extra-judicial killing of his mother. According to Relly, as their bus plies the junction of Maharlika and Quirino Highways, a familiar man boarded. Some meters further, the bus turned for a meal stop at Barangay Tabugon,

Sta. Elena. As Relly alighted the bus along with Joselito and the other passengers, he again noticed two men who were apparently  looking out for someone. Sensing danger, Relly ran off just as he and Joselito were shot at by the two men. He dashed and hid in a  dark foliage away from the meal stop, and only until then was he able to seek help and contact the provincial coordinator of  Karapatan. He still worries of Kagawad Joselito Oriza’s safety.

Who would want Relly killed? He has no questions of who would benefit his silence. After Kapitana Merlyn’s death, Relly confronted 1st Lt. Alfie Lee of the 49th IB with his mother’s murder. He was also strong-minded on filing criminal cases against Kapitana  Merlyn’s alleged murderers.  Since then, soldiers have been asking for Relly’s whereabouts, causing him to fail to attend his mother’s burial for fear of harassment. Even until the 49th IB occupied Brgy. Malaya on November 2012, Peace and Development Teams have likewise been looking for Relly, accusing him of being an NPA supporter, and thereby impeding his livelihood as he has to seek refuge against endangerment from the men of 1st Lt. Alfie Lee. It is noteworthy that 1st Lt. Lee was also the commanding officer of the soldiers responsible for the massacre of the Mancera family, also of Brgy. Malaya.

For the meantime, Relly is far from imminent danger, although word has still to be heard about his companion Councilman Oreza. Nonetheless, Relly remains firm in pursuing his fight against violations of human rights. All the more is he determined to file charges against his attackers. The men and the establishment that have wanted him killed have failed on sabotaging the progress of  the case against the 49th IB, and more so on silencing a man fearless in his fight for justice.#

Beheaded councilman victim of systematic death campaign, says human rights group

(Repost from BicolToday.com/18-Nov.-2012)

By Joey Natividad
Special Correspondent

LEGASPI CITY (BicolToday.com/18-Nov.-2012) – The brutal slay of a village councilman in Guinobatan, this province, was allegedly commited by state security forces to assassinate the victim “under a deceptive ploy of having been killed in a crossfire in an imagined encounter between Army soldiers and New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.”

This was the statement by human rights group, KARAPATAN, after concluding its own fact-finding investigation.

Councilman Ely Oguis of Cabaloaon village, Guinobatan town, dead and beheaded, was found by residents early morning of November 12, this year.

That early morning, residents heard several automatic gunfires that was fired by government soldiers for at least one minute near the area where the beheaded body of Councilman Oguis was discovered later. The gunfires were made to appear that “an encounter between Army soldiers and rebels occurred near the area where the dead councilman was found.”

KARAPATAN spokesman Vince Casilihan. informed BicolToday.com that the killing of Oguis was part of a systematic campaign allegedly done by state forces to eliminate leaders of progressive organizations.

The human rights group said Oguis was a member of Albay People’s Organization, a peasant human rights group that is actively campaigning against militarization of mountain villages and launching protests againsts forms of abuses committed by government soldiers.

“Oguis was already target of harassment before, and that on August 21, last year, he sought the help of KARAPATAN after he was harassed by the military several times, and that he was being coerced to admit that he had links with the rebels.” said Casilihan.

The rights group identified the government’s 2nd Infantry Batallion which has jurisdiction over the area where the councilman was found dead as “responsible for the murder”.

KARAPATAN has been documenting and investigation cases of human rights abuses, mostly committed by state forces, for legal action and presentation before the international community of human rights advocates and organizations.

The Philippines has already acquired a negative rating before the international community for the increasing number of human rights violations and abuses committed by state security forces in its campaign to end the 40-year old internal conflict.[BicolToday.com]

Welgang Transportasyon sa Bicol: Paralisado ang Byahe sa Albay, Sorsogon at Masbate

Update ng CONDOR-PISTON Bicol

Sorsogon,  at Albay umabot na sa  91.5 % ang  paralisasyon ng mga pampublikong transportasyon (mula kaninang alas 9:00 ng umaga).

Sa probinsya ng Albay, 91.75% ang paralisasyon sa transportasyon, samantalang umabot naman sa 92 %  sa  probinsya ng  Sorsogon.

Sa Albay,  100% ang tigil-pasada ng mga bus at van, 92% sa mga jeepney, at 75% sa mga tricycle.  Sa Sorsogon naman, 100% ang tigil pasada ng mga bus at van, 98% ng mga jeep, at 70% ng mga tricycle ang hindi pumasada.

Sa  Naga City, nagsagawa ng picket-rally ang CONDOR-PISTON at BAYAN-Naga, at nag-flanking sa mga gas stations ng  Caltex at Shell Station. Tinuligsa at kinundena dito ang pagka-gahaman ng mga dambuhalang kumpanya ng langis sa  labis-labis na tubo sa patuloy na pagtaas sa presyo ng petrolyo.  Kanila ring binatikos ang sabwatan ng Gobyernong P-noy Aquino at dayuhang kartel sa langis sa ibayong pagpapahirap  sa mamamayan dahil sa 12% EVAT  at Oil Deregulaion Law. Sa Partido Area at Rinconada Area ng Camarines Sur, sumama ang mga Opereytor at Driver sa isinagawang tigil pasada.

Sa probinsya ng Masbate, umabot sa 80 porsyento ang paralisasyon ng transportasyon sa ilang malalaking bayan.

Welgang transportasyon  ang organisadong tugon  ng mamamayang Bikolano sa patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng produktong petrolyo at sa kawalang konsensya at pagiging manhid ng rehimeng US-Aquino sa kahilingang ng sambayanan na ibasura ang 12% Evat at ipawalang bisa ang Oil Deregulation Law.

Ang welgang transportasyon na ito ang kulminasyon ng sama-samang pagkilos ng mamamayang Bikolano laban sa Operation Pacific Angel 12-1 na isinagawa ng US Armed Forces (USAF) at Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) sa Albay, na magtatapos sa araw na ito.#

(Reference:Ramon Rescovilla, CONDOR-PISTON-Bicol./11:00 ng umaga, Marso 10, 2012)

Welgang Transportasyon sa Bicol

Laban sa Ganid na mga Kumpanya sa Langis at Sabwatang US-Aquino

SAGAD NA SA BUTO ang pagkaganid sa tubo ng mga dayuhang monopolyo sa langis at ng gubyernong Aquino habang nagbibingi-bingihan ito sa kahilingan ng mamamayan na kontrolin ang presyo ng langis at tuluyang pagbasura sa Oil Deregulation Law.

Dalawang taon na ang administrasyon ni P-Noy sa Malakanyang subalit  mas matinding hirap at sakit ang dinaranas ng mayoryang mamamayan. Noong 2011, mayroong P9.00 na overpricing mula sa 44 beses na pagtaas sa presyo ng mga produktong petrolyo.  Ngayong 2012, sa loob lamang ng 2 buwan ay 7 beses ng nagtaas ang presyo nito na umaabot na sa kabuuang P5.45/litro sa gasolina at P3.15/litro sa diesel.

Nagduduet ang mga tagapagsalita ng Shell, Petron, Caltex at gobyerno sa paglulubid ng mga dahilan para mailusot ang pagtaas ng presyo ng mga produktong petrolyo. Nandyang gamitin ang galaw ng presyo sa world market, ang panahon ng taglamig, at tensyon sa mga bansa sa Gitnang Silangan.

Subalit ang mga ito ay walang mayor na epekto sa presyuhan ng mga produktong petrolyo.  Ang totoo, kontrolado ng mga monopolyo ang lahat ng proseso sa industriya ng langis mula eksplorasyon, produksyon, pagrerepina hanggang pagtitinda. Kung gayun, nagagawa nilang manipulahin ang paggalaw sa suplay at demand na papabor sa kanilang interes.  Sa bawat pagtaas ng presyo ng langis, bilyong kita ang naibubulsa ng mga kartel at gobyerno habang ang mga mamamayan ay patuloy na nasasadlak sa kahirapan at kagutuman.

Noong 2011, ang magkakasamang tubo ng limang pinakamalalaking kumpanya ng langis sa bansa ay umabot sa $136.8 bilyon na halos katumbas ng 60% ng buong ekonomiya ng bansa. Ito ay napakalinaw na $16 milyong tubo kada oras! Habang ang gobyerno naman ay tumatabo ng P11.9 bilyon kada taon o P38 milyon kada araw mula sa 12% VAT sa langis sa average na P48.00 presyo ng krudo kada litro na kinikunsomo ng 220,000 jeepney units sa buong bansa.

Samantalang ang mamamayan ay kumakalam  ang sikmura dahil sa patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin, utilidad at serbisyo. Nananatili ding  nakapababa ang pasahod ng mga manggagawa. Sa rehiyong Bikol, nakapako na sa September 2010 Wage Order #14 ang minimum wage na P247.00. Masama pa, mas maraming manggagawa ang nalalabag ang karapatan dahil sa hindi pagpapasahod ng tama, walang mga benepisyo at kontraktwal.

Habang ang mamamayan ay nananawagan na ibaba ang presyo ng langis at mga bilihin, tunay na reporma sa agrikultura at itaas ang sahod ng mga manggagawa, busy naman si Aquino sa pakikipag-showbiz sa Corona impeachment trial at pag-entertain ng mga tropang Amerikano.

Ngayon ang huling araw ng Operation Pacific Angel 12-1, isang joint military exercise ng Estados Unidos at Pilipinas sa ilalim ng Visiting Forces Agreement na nagkukubli sa tabing ng Humanitarian at Disaster Relief Operations.  Ipinatutupad ito ng 13^th US Air Force na direktang pinamumunuan ng US Pacific Command na inistablisa noong January 13, 1943 upang tiyakin ang pang-ekonomya at pampulitikang kontrol ng Estados Unidos sa mga bansa sa Asya-Pasipiko gamit ang superyuridad sa militar.

Kamakailan lang ay inapruba din ni Aquino ang presensya ng 4,700 sundalong Amerikano na malayang maglibot sa bansa ayon sa disenyong itatakda ng gobyernong Pilipinas sa ilalim ng Oplan Bayanihan na sa balangkas naman ng US Counter Insurgency Plan.

Panlilinlang sa mamamayan ang mga pahayag na pagtulong lamang ang sadya ng mga tropang Amerikano sa Bikol at sa buong bansa. Ang dahilan ng pagpapalakas ng tropang Amerikano sa Pilipinas at sa buong Asya Pasipiko ay ang kontrolin ang mga bansa sa rehiyon bilang  bagsakan ng mga sobrang produkto mula sa kanilang bansa para ibsan ang kanilang krisis sa pinansya at ekonomiya habang pinapahigpit pa ang kontrol sa pag-angkin ng mga hilaw na materyales, minerales at murang lakas paggawa.

Target sa US ang napakalaking reserba ng langis na matatagpuan sa Spratly Island. Kung nagawa ngang gyerahin ng US ang Iraq, Afghanisyan, Libya at Iran para sa langis, tiyak magagawa nya ito sa Tsina na itinuturing na banta sa kanyang ekonomiya.  Sa nagbabadyang gyerang ito, kakaladkarin ang Pilipinas sa panguguna ni Aquino na kanyang numero unong tuta sa bansa sa ngalan ng lalo pang monopolyong kontrol sa langis.

Ngayon, higit kailanman, kailangan nating manindigan upang ipagtanggol ang soberanya ng ating bayan. Magkaisa tayong mga mamamayang Pilipino at tutulan ang tumitinding panghihimasok at pandarambong ng Estaos Unidos. Igiit natin ang tuluyang pagbuwag ng kontrol ng monopolyo sa langis sa pangunguna ng imperyalistang Estados Unidos at pagbabasura ng Oil Deregulation Law. Igiit ang programang pang-ekonomiyang malaya sa kontrol at impluwensyang dayuhan.  

MAKIISA AT LUMAHOK

WELGANG TRANSPORTASYON

MARSO 10, 2012

12:01 UMAGA – 12:00 HATANGGABI

Labanan ang Overpricing sa Langis

Tanggalin ang 12% VAT sa Langis!

Ibasura ang Oil Deregulation Law!

Labanan ang Sabwatang US-Aquino-Kartel sa Langis!

Gabriela-Bicol Tutol sa US Troops sa Albay:Mahigit 7,500 Lumahok sa Koordinadong Martsa-rali Albay

Gabriela-Bicol Tutol Presensya ng US- Troops:
Mahigit 7,500 Lumahok sa Koordinadong Martsa-rali  sa Bikol

Muling  nanawagan ang Gabriela Bicol para palayasin ang mga sundalong Kano sa Bikol. Koordinado ang isinagawang martsa-rali sa  iba’t ibang lugar sa Bikol. Mahigit 2,500 ang nagmartsa sa mga lansangan ng Albay at  Legazpi City;  may 1,500 katao ang nagrali sa Sorsogon City; nagtipon din ang 500  katao sa Plaza Quince Martires sa Naga City; at 3,000 ang mobilisasyon sa Masbate City.


Kanilang isinigaw: Ibasura ang VFA (Visiting Forces Agreement). Dahil sa  VFA, nanatili at tuluy-tuloy na presensya ng US troops sa Pilipinas kahit walang pormal na base militar.Ito ay bahagi ng psychological warfare upang masanay umano ang mga Pilipino sa presensya ng mga Kano sa alinmang parte ng bansa,pahayag ng Secretary General ng Gabriela Bicol na si Jen Nagrampa.

Sa panabing na humanitarian services,malayang nakakapasok ang mga Kano sa ating bansa gamit pa ang mga rekurso at pasilidad ng  mamamayan.Malinaw na ang mga aktibidad na ito ay nakabalangkas sa Oplan Bayanihan na nakabatay sa US Counter Insurgency Guide kung kaya gagawan itong bonggang media projection upang ipresinta umano ang “kawang gawa”nila at ilihis sa tunay na sadya ng mga Kano dito sa ating rehiyon.

Ayon pa kay Nagrampa, malawak ang ginawa nating kampanya noong 2009 upang tutulan ang Balikatan exercises dahil may kalakip itong operasyong militar sa pamamagitan ng paniniktik at surveillance sa mga kalupaan at karagatan ng Bikol. Matatandaang may mga bahay ang binomba noon sa Balanac, Ligao city at may mga kababaihan at bata ang nasugatan at nasawi dahil sa pinatinding military operation.Kasaysayan mismo ang makakapagsabi ng napakaraming kaso ng paglabag sa karapatang pantao,pagpatay sa mga sibilyan gayundin ang panggagahasa,prostitusyon at at iba pang karahasang sekswal ng militarista at mapang-abusong tropang Kano.

Hirap na ang buong bayan dahil sa di maampat na pagtaas ng presyo ng langis, mga pangunahing bilihin,at kawalan ng serbisyo.Subalit walang alternatibong solusyon ang gobyernong US-Aquino upang maibsan ang hirap at gutom ng mamamayan,mas lalo pang ibininukas sa interbensyon ng US upang pagsamantalahan at huthutin ang yaman ng ating bansa.Sadyang inililihis ni Noy-noy ang isyu ng kahirapan sa impeachment ni CJ Corona upang pagtakpan ang kahinaan at pagiging tuta ng kanyang rehimen sa US dahil sa mga pabor at pagkilingnya sa mga kumpanya ng langis at pakikisangkot sa gyera na inilulunsad ng US,paliwanag ng Gabriela-Bicol.

Aniya, ito ay tahasang panghihimasok at paglabag sa pambansang soberanya at konstitusyon ng ating bansa.Ang pananatili at pagpasok ng mga sundalong Kano sa Bikol ay aksyong agresyon lalo pat sila ay military at hindi mga sibilyan. Bakit hindi na lang mga propesyunal tulad ng mga doctors, nurses o engineers, o kaya naman ay idaan sa mga private institution o NGOs kung ang layunin ay humanitarian services?

Mahigpit na pagkakaisa ang mga Bikolano upang tutulan at ilantad ang joint military exercises ng USAF at AFP sa Bikol. Huwag tayong mabulag at malinlang ng pagpapakatuta ng gobyernong ito na maulit ang paglapastangan sa mga makabayang Pilipino na nagmamahal at nagtatanggol ng soberanya at kasarinlan, panawagan ng Gabriela-Bicol.#

Photos Motorcade Against Operation Pacific Angel 12-1

Motorcade against Operation Pacific Angel 12-1 held today March 5, 2012 in Daraga and Legazpi City

ANG OPERATION PACIFIC ANGEL 12-1 AY ISANG MAPANILANG LOBO NA NAKASUOT NG BALAT-TUPA!

ANG OPERATION PACIFIC ANGEL 12-1 AY ISANG MAPANILANG LOBO NA NAKASUOT NG BALAT-TUPA!

Matapos ang malawak at matinding pag-ayaw ng mamamayang Bikolano at Sorsoganon sa US-RP Balikatan war exercises noong Abril 2009, muli na namang nagtatangka ang imperyalistang US na ipaskil ang presensyang militar at palagiang pananatili nito sa Kabikulan sa pamamagitan ng US Operation Pacific Angel.

Ang opisyal na titulo ng proyektong ito ay Pacific Angel 12-1: Strengthening Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Capabilities. Ito diumano ay isang magkasanib na ehersisyo (joint exercise) ng United States Armed Forces (USAF) at Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) na gaganapin sa Kabikulan.

Isasagawa ang naturang proyekto sa tatlong paaralan sa Legazpi City at sa isang lokasyon sa Sto. Domingo, Albay mula Marso 5 hanggang 10 nitong taong 2012. Magsasagawa umano ito ng mga “medical mission” at “engineering civic action program” upang “sanayin” ang mga NGOs at LGUs sa “humanitarian and disaster operation skills”.

Sa unang malas pa lang, lubhang kaduda-duda na ang mga organisasyong militar na tulad ng USAF at AFP ay magsasagawa ng mga “makataong proyekto” na katulad ng ipinangangalandakan nila sa Operation Pacific Angel.

Ang modernong kasaysayan ng digmaan sa buong daigdig ang magpapatunay sa kahayupan at kalupitan ng mga sundalong Amerikano sa mga mamamayan ng Pilipinas, Byetnam, Iraq at Afghanistan. Ang kasaysayan naman ng Pilipinas ang magpapatunay sa kahayupan at kalupitan ng AFP sa mamamayang Pilipino sa ilalim ng mga kampanyang militar na tulad ng mga OPLAN Katatagan at mamamayan sa panahon ng diktadurang rehimen ni Marcos, Lambat Bitag 1,2,3 at 4 at Kaisaganaan ng magkasunod na rehimeng Cory Aquino at Fidel Ramos, Makabayan at Balanghai ng rehimeng Estrada, Oplan Bantay Laya 1 at 2 ng rehimeng Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at ngayon ay ang mapagkunwari at mapanlinlang na OPLAN Bayanihan ni Noynoy Aquino. Walang krimen sa listahan ng mga kamuhi-muhi at mala-demonyong paglalapastangan sa karapatang pantao na hindi nagawa ng USAF at AFP.

Ang medical mission at engineering civic-action program na sinasabi ng Operation Pacific Angel ay ginawa na ng US-RP Balikatan dito sa ating lalalawigan noong 2009. Isang kaputol na bahagi ng lansangan ang pinatungan ng graba sa Guruyan, Juban at isang araw na medical mission ang isinagawa sa Tughan Elementary School, sa bayan din ng Juban. Liban dito, ay wala nang iba pang nagawa ang isang buwang civil-military operations(CMO) ng Balikatan. Ang malaking panahon ng CMO ay ginugol sa paniniktik sa hanay ng mga mamamayan at sa pangangalap ng mga datos at impormasyon tungkol sa kalupaan at likas na yaman ng Sorsogon na gagamitin nila sa panunupil sa mamamayan at sa pagdarambong sa ating likas na yaman sa hinaharap. Mas malamang na ganito rin ang mangyari sa Operation Pacific Angel ngayong Marso 2012.

Kung talagang ang layunin ng USAF at AFP sa Operation Pacific Angel ay makatulong sa mga mamamayan sa pamamagitan ng medical mission at engineering civic-action, bakit hindi na lang nila ipagkaloob ang mga pinansyal at materyal na pangangailangan ng proyekto sa Department of Health, Department of Public Works and Highways, LGUs at NGOs at hayaang ang mga ito na lang ang mag-asikaso sa implementasyon ng naturang proyekto? Batay dito, ay maaaring sabihin na may mga nakatagong agenda ang Operation Pacific Angel bukod sa lantad na medical mission at engineering civic action program na sinasabi nila.

Ang Operation Pacific Angel ay tumutuntong sa Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), Mutual Logislitcs Support Agreement (MLSA) at iba pang mga tratado at kasunduan sa pagitan ng Amerika at Pilipinas. Subalit, ang mga kasunduang tinutungtungan nito ay labag sa Saligang Batas ng Republika ng Pilipinas sa pamamagitan ng soberanya at integridad ng mamamayang Pilipino.

Ang tunay na layunin ng Operation Pacific Angel ay pabanguhin ang nakasusulasok na Gawain ng mga armadong pwersa ng Estados Unidos at takpan ng maaamong maskara ng bangis, marahas at mapanalakay na mukha nito nang sa gayon ay maging katanggap-tanggap sa mga Sorsoganon ang pinapakana ng Estados Unidos na permanenteng pananatili ng tropang militar nito sa ating lalalwigan at rehiyon. Higit sa lahat, ang Operation Pacific Angel ay isang mapanilang lobo na nakasuot ng balat-tupa.


(Bagong Alyansang Makabayan - Sorsogon; Santos St., Polvorista, Sorsogon City)
Marso 5, 2012

Larawan: Interbensyong Militar ng US

Motorcade Protest Laban sa OPERATION PACIFIC ANGEL 12-1

Inilunsad kaninang umaga  Marso 5, 2012 ng Mamamayang Bikolano ang "Motorcade Protest Laban sa OPERATION PACIFIC ANGEL 12-1" upang ilantad ang tunay na layunin ng humanitarian mission at disaster relief operation na isasagawa sa Sto. Domingo, Daraga at Legazpi City sa lalawigan ng Albay bilang bahagi ng joint military exercises ng United States Armed Forces (USAF) at Armed Forces of the Philippines sa bisa ng Visiting Foces Agreement (VFA).

Nagsimula ang pagtitipon sa Kimantong, Daraga,Albay  bandang alas 9:00 ng umaga. Umikot ang 24 sasakyan mula sa sektor ng magsasaka, kababaihan, kabataan at mga organisasyon sa ilalim ng Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Bikol sa kahabaan ng Rizal Street ng Daraga at Legazpi City. Nagtapos ang motorocade protest sa pamamagitan ng isang programa sa harap ng Camp Simeon Ola.

Dinaluhan ang aktibidad ng mga tagapagsalita ng iba't-ibang sectoral na organizations sa rehiyon at mula sa mga lalawigan ng Albay, Sorsogon at Camarines Sur.

MAMAMAYANG BIKOLANO MAGKAISA, 

LABANAN ANG INTERBENSYONG MILITAR NG US!

IMPERYALISMO IBAGSAK! 

ISULONG ANG PAMBANSANG KALAYAAN AT DEMOKRASYA!

OPERATION PACIFIC ANGEL 12-1 MAPANLINLANG, ILANTAD AT LABANAN

Ang Operation Pacific Angel 12-1 ayon sa CRS-AFP ay isang “joint humanitarian and disaster relief operations” na isasagawa ng United States Armed Forces (USAF) at Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) sa Marso 5-10, 2012. Medical and Dental Mission at Engineering Civic Action Program ang gagawin upang sanayin daw ang mga NGOs at LGUs sa “Humanitarian and disaster relief operations skills”. Mga piling lugar sa Albay ang paglulunsaran nito dahil kilala diumano ang probinsya sa “civil-military disaster risk management partnership at climate change adaptation initiatives.”

Sa biglang tingin, simpleng serbisyong panlipunan lamang gaya ng medical and dental mission, pagkumpuni ng mga silid aralan at water system ang tampok na mga aktibidad. Subalit, sa karanasan sa isinagawang RP-US Balikatan exercises noong 2009 sa Bikol at sa joint military exercises na isinagawa sa ibang dako ng bansa, kakambal ng civil military operations ay ang mga gawaing surbeylans at paniniktik gamit ang mga drones o unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
 

Anumang publicity gimmick ang gawin ng USAF at AFP ay di mapapasubalian ang pagpoposturang makatao at pagkakawanggawa ng Operation Pacific Angel ay naglalayong ilihis ang mamamayan sa tunay nitong layunin– gawing katanggap-tanggap sa mga mamamayang Pilipino ang pananatili ng presensyang militar ng Estados Unidos sa bansa.

Ano sa esensya ang Operation Pacific Angel?

Ito ay isang operasyong militar ng US Pacific Air Forces Command (PACAF) na taunang ginagawa ng US Pacific Command (US PACOM) sa mga eryang saklaw nito sa Asya. Naglulunsad ito ng mga serbisyo sa pormang humanitarian mission kasabay ng pagsasagawa ng civil-military operations at intelligence operations upang makabisa ang kalupaan, kalawakan, karagatan, himpapawid at cyberspace.
 

Ang 13th US Air Force na nakabase sa Hickam Air Force Base sa Hawaii ay direktang kalahok dito. Misyon ng 13th US Air Force na planuhin, i-command at kontrolin, ideliber at i-assess ang air,space at information operations sa Asia-Pacific. Nakatalaga ito sa surveillance sa panahon ng walang giyera at maging sa mga mayor na operasyong kombat. Ang 13th US Air Force ay nasailalim ng US Pacific Command.
 

Ang US Pacific Command ay isang “United Combat Command of the Armed Froces of the United States”. Ang area of operation (AOR) nito ay sumasaklaw sa halos kalahati ng buong mundo at sumasakop sa 36 mga bansa kabilang na ang Pilipinas. Ang Commander ng US PACOM ay direktang nagrereport sa US Secretary of Defense at sa US President. Ang US PACOM ay estratehikong nakatalaga upang panatilihin ang dominasyon ng imperyalismong Estados Unidos sa Asia-Pacific Region at protektahan ang “US sphere of influence” sa Asia.

Itinatakda ng US Defense Strategy 2012 at US Department of Defense Cyber Strategy ang mga estratehikong gabay sa pandaigdigang dominasyon ng imperyalismong US sa Ika-21 siglo sa harap ng mga limitasyon sa badyet dulot ng krisis sa ekonomiya. Layunin ng US Military Strategy na tiyakin ang kakayahan ng US na lubos na hadlangan at talunin ang alinmang kalabang estado sa pamamagitan ng paggamit ng dominasyon ng US sa lahat ng larangan at pagsanib ng kapangyarihang militar sa lahat ng larangan.
Ang Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) at Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) ay nagtitiyak ng pananatili ng permanenteng presensyang militar ng US sa Pilipinas kahit walang permanenteng US military base dito.

Ano ang kahalagahan ng Pilipinas/Bikol sa estratehikong interes ng US sa Asia-Pacific?

Nagsisilbi sa estratehikong interes ng imperyalistang US ang Pilipinas. Hindi lamang sagana sa pinagkukunan ng murang hilaw na materyales, murang lakas paggawa at pamilihan ng mga labis na produkto at kapital ang Pilipinas. Mahalaga ang Pilipinas upang mapanatili ng US ang kanyang political, economic and military interest sa Asya. Mahalagang makabig ng US ang Gobyernong P-Noy Aquino at mailayo sa impluwensya ng Tsina na itinuturing nito na banta sa kanyang hegemonya sa rehiyon.
Bigo ang RP-US Balikatan Exercises noong 2009 dahil sa militante at makabayang paglaban mamamayang Bikolano. Nailantad ang totoong hangarin nito. Muling sinusubukang linlangin ang mga Bikolano upang lumabas na katanggap-tanggap sa kanila ang presensyang militar ng US sa ating bansa.
Ang Operation Pacific Angel ay bahagi ng pagpapatupad sa Oplan Bayanihan na dinesensyo mismo alinsunod sa US Counter Insurgency Guide of 2009.

Ano ang ating paninindigan kaugnay ng Opertation Pacific Angel?

Hindi ang panlipunang serbisyo dulot ng humanitarian mission ang tinututulan natin. Ayaw natin at tutol tayo sa joint humanitarian mission ng USAF at AFP sapagkat ito ay kinakasangkapan sa interbensyong US sa ating bansa. Layon nitong maging katanggap-tangap ang presensyang militar ng US sa ating bansa. Ang pananatili ng presensyang militar ng US sa Pilipinas ay pagsasala-ula sa pambasang soberanya at sa ating Konstitusyon.

Kung nais magsagawa ng humanitarian mission ang US idaan nila o ipagkatiwala nila ang pagsasagawa nito sa mga organisasyong sibiko at NGOs at huwag gagamitin sa anumang porma ng operasyong militar.

Ilantad at Labanan, Operation Pacific Angel 12-1!
Tutulan ang agresyong militar ng US!
Palayasin ang US Troops sa Bicol!
US TROOPS OUT NOW!
IBASURA VFA/MDT!

_____________________________________
BAGONG ALYANSANG MAKABAYAN-Bikol

Karapatan- Bikol: “Operation Pacific Angel 12-1, a prelude to US military expansion in PH”

News Release

March 5, 2012

                

Karapatan- Bikol: "Operation Pacific Angel 12-1, a prelude to US military expansion in PH"

Bicol militants under the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Bikol  (BAYAN-Bikol) and Karapatan-Bikol hit the United States and Philippine government for trying to pass off Operation Pacific Angel 12-1 as a "joint humanitarian  and disaster relief operations" to be conducted by the United States Armed Forces (USAF)  at Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) starting today to March 10, 2012. 

Supposedly medical and dental missions as well as engineering civic action programs are to be conducted to train NGOs and LGUs in "humanitarian and disaster relief operations skills. These will be conducted in selected areas in Albay being known as   "civil-military disaster risk management partnership at climate change adaptation initiatives."

"At first glance, it may seem to be a simple social service program like medical and dental missions, repair of classrooms and water systems as among the highlights of the activity. But based on our experience with the RP-US Balikatan exercises in 2009 and other joint military exercises conducted in other parts of the country, these are always paired with surveillance operations and spying with the use of drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Whatever publicity gimmick is done by the USAF and the AFP, it cannot be denied that their humanitarian posturing in Operation Pacific Angel is programmed to divert the attention of the people from its real purpose and that is to make the presence of US troops in the country more acceptable.           

This is in the light of developments that Philippine defense and military officials confirmed a Washington Post report last January that the two countries were negotiating a deal that would increase cooperation between the two militaries, but stressed that the tension in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) over the disputed Spratly Islands was only part of the equation. Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said the terms of such an agreement would still be dictated by the Visiting Forces Agreement, which allows the periodic visits of US troops for joint training and exercises.

"We must expose and oppose this new scheme of the US and the Aquino administration to further trample on our sovereignty. We are not against humanitarian and civic missions but these should be coursed through legitimate NGOs and LGUs. There should be also no strings attached. We must be wary of these gimmicks of the US, a few medicines and repaired classrooms are definitely not worth our sovereignty,"

Operation Pacific Angel 12-1 is conducted by the US Pacific Command (US PACOM) in its areas of responsibilities in Asia spanning 36 countries. It supposedly launches humanitarian services but at the same time launch civil-military operations and intelligence operations to memorize the terrain, space, sea, air and cyberspace of the target area. The 13th US Air Force based in Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii is a direct participant to the operation. Its mission is to plan, command and control, deliver and assess air, space and information operations in the Asia-Pacific. It is tasked with surveillance when there is no war and even in major combat operations. It is directly under the US Pacific Command. # # # 

(Reference: John Concepcion, Spokesperson, Karapatan-Bikol; Fred Mansos, Bayan-Albay)

2009 Photos: Protests Against US-RP Balikatan  in Bicol