Abono has short sense of history and twisted account of facts

Ka Daning of Bayan member-organization Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas risked life in testifying about the fertilizer scam in a Senate inquiry.

The party list Abono claimed in an article by the Inquirer that they have been consistent in fighting for the rights and interests of farmers. Calling it unfair to be branded “dubious” even though they are aligned with Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

It is really funny when Abono asks where the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) was “when we (Abono) were fighting for fertilizer subsidy and price support for palay.” Bayan and KMP exposed how fertilizer subsidy for farmers was diverted to Gloria’s 2004 electoral campaign, a.k.a the fertilizer scam. Where was Abono when KMP’s Ka Daning risked life and limb to testify in the Senate?

Peasant Activist Randy Echanis Released

After nineteen long months, Randy Echanis will be having his first break from detention with the Supreme Courts order granting him provisional release for six months. Friends and family celebrated his temporary freedom in a gathering at the BAYAN office immediately after his release from Camp Crame. Click for Kodao’s News Video.

Melissa tells her story of abduction and torture

In this two part video, listen to Melissa Roxas as she narrates the story of her abduction and torture by alleged members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines last May 19-25, 2009. Earlier today, she held a press conference (4:30 PM June 27, Los Angeles timezone) to describe the human rights abuses she endured while being held for six days in an alleged military camp. The press conference, which was held at the Echo Park United Methodist Church in Los Angeles, California was streamed live over the internet.

Melissa Roxas, an American human rights advocate of Filipino descent, is the first known American citizen to have become a victim of abduction and torture in the Philippines, a country which has drawn international condemnation for state-sponsored human rights atrocities. She is a member of BAYAN USA and HABI ARTS, a cultural group also based in the United States.

You can watch part two here.

Indignation vs Con-Ass

Here’s Kodao Productions’ coverage of the indignation rally last wednesday, June 3, 2009 against the passage of the Constitutional Assembly at the House of Representatives.

“Hundreds of militant activists trooped to the House of Representatives to denounce the passage of a resolution calling members of congress to convene into a constituent assembly to change the Philippine Constitution.

Pursue Justice for Melissa, Juanito and John

From Joel P. Garduce’s notes.

Pursue justice for Melissa Roxas, Juanity Carabeo, and John Edward Handoc through to the end!

The unprecedented surfacing of abducted activists MELISSA ROXAS and JUANITO CARABEO, who were kidnapped by likely state security forces along with still-missing JOHN EDWARD HANDOC (who was misreported earlier to have been surfaced already) was a clear democratic victory for freedom-loving Filipinos–and their mass movement–who dared come together in various ways (including raising a collective hue and cry right here in Facebook) to condemn the terrorist acts against the three.

Melissa was tortured by the military

Here’s an update on the abduction of Fil-Am activist Melissa Roxas and companions Juanito Carabeo and John Edward Handoc. Bayan and Karapatan held a press conference earlier today showing Melissa’s affidavit and announcing her filing of the Writ of Amparo.

Fil-Am activist surfaced; New case of abduction

In a Twitter post a few minutes ago, Bulatlat.com reported that US citizen Melissa Roxas, a Fil-Am activist abducted by suspected death squads of Arroyo regime, has been surfaced. Her two companions, Juanito Carabeo and John Edward Handoc, are still missing though. Bulatlat follows-up on the abduction with this article.

About two hours ago, Bulatlat.com reported a new case of abduction. “Mario Espiritu,organizer of peasants and workers in Mindoro Oriental, has been reported missing by Karapatan-Southern Tagalog” reports Bulatlat in an earlier Twitter post. “Espiritu,52, has been missing since May 23, Glen Malabanan of Karapatan-ST told Bulatlat.com. A quick reaction team has been sent by Karapatan-ST to search for Espiritu. The team is now in Mamburao, Mindoro Oriental.”

UPDATE: Melissa Roxas was tortured by the military

Campaign to surface Melissa, Juanito, and John Edward

UPDATE: Melissa Roxas was tortured by the military

Please join the Facebook cause for the campaign to surface Melissa Roxas, Juanito Carabeo and John Edward Handoc, the three activists abducted by the military in La Paz, Tarlac last May 19, 2009. Join the FB cause by clicking here.

You can also sign the online petition addressed to US President Barack Obama; US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie A. Kenney; US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton; US Senator Barbara Boxer; and California State Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg.

Bayan calls on Gov’t to surface Fil-Am activist

Melissa Roxas, a Fil-Am activist was abducted by the military last May 19 with Juanito Carabeo and John Edward Handoc.

Re-posting an urgent news release from BAYAN (sent today) regarding the military’s abduction of Melissa Roxas, a Filipino-American activist doing volunteer work in the Philippines. (see Facebook cause and online petition for the campaign to surface the three activists here)

UPDATE: Melissa Roxas was tortured by the military

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan is calling on the Arroyo government, the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to immediately surface Melissa Roxas, an American citizen of Filipino descent, and a member of BAYAN-USA and the cultural group Habi Arts based in Los Angeles, California.

Roxas was abducted last May 19 at around 1:30 pm in Sitio Bagong Sikat, Bgy. Kapanikian, La Paz, Tarlac. She was with two other volunteers, Juanito Carabeo and John Edward Handoc.

Ka Bel: Working Class Hero

Mula sa PinoyWeekly (www.pinoyweekly.org)

Above is a slideshow of Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran’s photos taken by photographer Boy Bagwis and Pinoy Weekly. I am reposting Jeffrey Ocampo’s Pinoy Weekly article about Ka Bel as a tribute to a dedicated representative in congress and the Filipino people’s working class hero.

Bicolanos despise Teodoro ad in Pacquiao-Hatton fight

From Tessa Lopez, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan – Bikol, forwarded by Vince Casilihan.

Teodoro ad in Pacquiao fight, done in bad taste

As with most Filipinos, we enjoyed the Pacquiao-Hatton fight last Sunday even if it was quite short and it had a lot of commercials. But what really is irritating and is almost surely anomalous is the supposed infomercial of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) which has Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro giving tips on disaster by spelling out his surname.

This is an ill-disguised campaign gimmick for his 2010 presidential bid and it is at the expense once again of the Filipino people, because it was funded from the taxpayer’s coffers. Here in Bicol where calamities always occur, we take it as an insult that Teodoro is using our plight as well as the people’s money to push for his election. We hope that this is immediately investigated and that Teodoro be held accountable.

Palparan should be in jail, not in congress

For Facebook users who still haven’t joined the cause please click here to do so. As of 12:29 AM, April 28, the Facebook campaign against the “butcher-general” Jovito Palparan has already registered 1,493 members. In parallel with the street protests, the online campaign was launched immediately after the Supreme Court ruling that made Palparan a member of the House of Representatives.

Bicolwide Transport Strike: 85% Paralysis

Daraga, Albay (Photos courtesy of Vince Casilihan)

According to Joel Ascutia, President of Condor-Piston the transport group that led the regional transport strike, as of 6 AM, paralysis of transportation in the Bicol region registers as follows: 90% of jeepneys and 90% of tricycles in Albay; 70% of jeepneys, 60% of tricycles, 40% of vans, and 50% of buses in Sorsogon; 80% percent of jeepneys and multicab vans in Iriga, Camarines Sur; and 70% of jeepneys, vans, buses, and 50% of tricycles in Camarines Norte.

Bicolwide Transport Strike

Bukas April 27, 2009 maglulunsad ang Condor-Piston ng isang regionwide transport strike sa Bicol. Maliban sa pagprotesta sa LTO Department Order # 2008-39 at 2008-38, na nagtaas ng 200%-1,200% multa sa mga violations at nagtataas sa halaga sa pagkuha ng lisensya ng mga driver at konduktor, nilalabanan pa ng mga tsuper at operator ang pagsasamantala ng mga kartel sa presyo ng produktong petrolyo, at ang mga batas na Oil Deregulation Law at 12% Value Added Tax.