Domestic Workers Group Demands Full Investigation of Filipina's Death

New York-- The Filipina domestic workers support network known as
KABALIKAT, an organizing project of the Philippine Forum, convened
over 75 domestic workers and concerned community members for a forum
last Sunday, April 1, demanding a full investigation behind the
mysterious death of Felisa "Fely" Garcia, 58, a Filipina domestic
caregiver found dead by an alleged suicide in her bedroom last March
14 in the Bronx. The forum gathered community support and featured
live phone-in's with Garcia's US-based lawyer, Atty. Arnedo Valera of
the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON), and daughter
Geraldine Gamboa in Batangas, Philippines.

In a tearful plea for help, Gamboa thanked the Philippine
Forum/KABALIKAT for their direct support, including securing a
pro-bono attorney and raising initial support funds, and conveyed the
Garcia children's burning questions over the mysterious reasons behind
their mother's alleged suicide.

"Our mother was in good spirits days before her death. We had no
reason to question her emotional health or detect that she was
distressed. That is why we are suspicious of the circumstances
surrounding her death. The circumstances suggest foul play," stated an
emotional Gamboa over the phone conference.

According to Valera, Garcia's four children in the Philippines have
maintained that besides a thorough autopsy of their mother's body for
alleged physical and/or sexual abuse, a full investigation of all
parties involved is necessary. Garcia had left a letter for her
landlord stating her "abuse and harassment" at the hands of her
employer.

Autopsy reports are scheduled to be released in two weeks by the Bronx
Medical Examiner's office.

Shortly after receiving an official authorization by the Garcia's
family to act on their behalf, both Valera and Philippine
Forum/KABALIKAT have been been pushing for the family's wishes, while
pressuring for accountability from the Philippine Consulate to
shoulder the necessary expenses for Garcia's medical procedures,
transportation costs back to the Philippines, and other expenditures.

In addition, Philippine Forum/KABALIKAT has agreed to launch the
"Justice for Fely" campaign, which aims to support the Garcia family
demands while raising a minimum of $7000 for funeral costs.

As part of the campaign, a townhall meeting will be convened on
Sunday, April 15th, 2pm at the Philippine Forum's Bonifacio Hall at
54-05 Seabury Street in Elmhurst, Queens (V/G/R to Grand Avenue
Newtown). Representatives from the Philippine Consulate are
specifically requested to appear in order to answer pressing questions
regarding Garcia's case.

"It is unconscionable that the Consulate has not communicated with the
Fely's family. They cannot be left off the hook so easily," stated
Rico Foz, Executive Vice President of NAFCON, who also spoke at the
forum.

Foz heavily criticized the Department of Foreign Affairs' (DFA)
failure to contact Garcia's next of kin until March 29th, nearly two
weeks after Garcia's death.

"If not for the constant pressure coming from Philippine
Forum/KABALIKAT and Migrante International from the ground, we doubt
that the Philippine government would be moved to address this case,"
Foz added.

Foz also criticized the DFA's handling of the Garcia's family, which
did not include a discussion of the case details but rather included
pressuring for the signing of consent forms for the Consulate to have
the body shipped to the Philippines, with the family's exemption from
paying the necessary fees as an incentive.

"The DFA's support to should be unconditional, regardless of consent
forms. It should not offer to pay for the fees as a negotiation to
keep the details of the case under wraps. It is solely their
responsibility to make sure this Philippine national is transported
back to her family back home, even as the family pushes for an
investigation. We are seriously concerned over this type of
politicking with Garcia's family," Foz added.

"Now with the family's authorization, Philippine Forum/KABALIKAT aims
to look after Fely's and her family's interests first and foremost,
rather than the Philippine government's push to close the case," Foz
ended.

NAFCON is a nationwide alliance of Filipino organizations spread over
23 cities. The Philippine Forum, a community service organization in
Queens is a founding member of NAFCON.

The forum also garnered statements of support from allied
organizations including Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FIRE),
Anakbayan, and others.

To make a donation to the Justice for Fely Campaign, make checks to
Philippine Forum, write Justice for Fely on the memo, and mail to
Philippine Forum at 54-05 Seabury Street, Elmhurst, New York 11373.

For more information on the Justice for Fely Campaign, contact the
Philippine Forum/KABALIKAT at 718-565-8862 or email
philforum96@yahoo.com. ###

Photos courtesy of Joy Agustin and Philippine Forum

After Satur’s case, Supreme Court should look into mine – Beltran

Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran today
lauded the decision of the Supreme Court to allow the temporary
release of Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo upon the placement
of P100,000 bail bond.

"This is a most just and humane decision which we hope would
eventually lead to Ka Satur's complete release and the dismissal of
all criminal charges against him," Beltran said.

Beltran in the meantime also issued an appeal to the Supreme Court to
lay down a favorable decision on his own pending petition at the SC
calling on the High Court to assume jurisdiction over his case given
the slow movement in the lower courts. The inciting to sedition case
versus Beltran is filed at the Quezon City Municipal Trial Court
Branch 43 while the rebellion case against him ins with the Makati
Regional Tria Court Branch 150.

"My innocence is very easy to prove and the charges against me as well
as the false testimonies used to secure my arrest are also easy to
debunk and expose as pure fabrications. The Supreme Court's higher
authority should be consulted on the veracity of the charges against
me, as well as the illegal manner by which I was arrested. I was
arrested on February 25, 2006 on the basis of a lapsed warrant, on
rebellion charges that have already been dismissed," he said.

Beltran said that his counsels filed its petition for certiorari last
November 2006 but up to now no decision have been laid down. He
expressed hope that given the swiftness of the SC's action on Ocampo's
case, the SC will also deem it fit to address his own petition and
call for justice.

"This is an urgent petition calling on the SC to step into the breach
and impose a TRO on the unjust decisions being laid down by the courts
on the case. With a TRO on the RTC decisions, we can move forward
with other legal moves to that will and should lead to the dismissal
of the charges against me. I hopeful that the SC will see the merits
of the arguments and, more importantly, the moral basis of the
assertions of my innocence." #

PIMENTEL CONDEMNS KILLING OF PRIEST; ASSAILS UNABATED KILLINGS UNDER ARROYO GOV’T

A Catholic priest was shot dead while officiating mass
inside the parish church in a remote town in the
Cordillera region.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr.
(PDP-Laban) today reported the killing of Fr. Francis
Madhu, SVD, who was shot dead while saying mass at
5:30 p.m. Sunday (April 1).

Pimentel condemned the slaying of Fr. Madhu as he
assailed the Arroyo administration over the unabated
extra-judicial killings of leftist activists, and
other personalities who are fighting injustice and
oppression.

"Now they are killing priests. The Arroyo government
is unable to stop extra-judicial killings," he said.

Meanwhile, the minority leader assailed President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for defying the call of the
Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the Catholic
Bishops Conference of the Philippines for the
immediate withdrawal of soldiers from urban poor
communities in Metro Manila.

The President has agreed on the continued deployment
of soldiers in 26 depressed barangays in Quezon,
Manila and Caloocan cities during her visit to the
Baseco Compound Saturday (March 31).

The CHR, headed by Chairperson Purificacion
Quisumbing, called for the pullout of soldiers from
the urban barangays on the basis of the complaints of
residents that they feel their rights to speech and
assembly are being curtailed because of the military
presence.

On the other hand, the CBCP, according to its
president, Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, said the
stationing of soldiers in the urban barangays has the
effect of militarizing these areas.

Pimentel maintained that the deployment of soldiers in
Metro Manila barangays violates the Constitution since
the maintenance of peace and order in these areas is
the duty of the Philippine National Police.

He said it is only in times of extreme violence,
lawlessness and rebellion that the President can order
the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to send
troops to the civilian communities in Metro Manila.

"President Arroyo is militarizing the barangays. She
is under the control of some generals who follow Mao's
dictum: Power grows out of the barrel of the gun.
Another sad chapter in our lives," the minority leader
said.

Pimentel also held the view that the President is
legally and morally bound to comply with the order of
the Commission on Human Rights on the troop withdrawal
from Metro Manila barangays since the CHR is the
independent constitutional body tasked with upholding
and safeguarding the human rights of Filipinos.
-o0o-

Bayan Muna dares all partylist groups to publish nominees’ list

Partylist frontrunner Bayan Muna today challenged all the other 90
partylist groups accredited by the Commission on Elections to publish
their list of nominees for partylist representative "in the spirit of
truth and transparency".

"While the Comelec refuses to respect the right of the electorate by
refusing to release the complete list of nominees, we urge all
partylist groups to publish the names of all their nominees in the
spirit of truth and transparency, and in accordance with the people's
right to know," said Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño.

According to Casiño, "we would like to start the ball rolling by again
releasing Bayan Muna's list of nominees."

Bayan Muna's nominees, in order of nomination by the party's National
Convention, are the following: Satur Ocampo, Casiño, Neri Javier
Colmenares, Elpidio Pulmano, Atty. Alfonso Cinco IV, former Rep.
Siegfred Deduro, Roman Polintan, Bayani Cambronero, Hope Hervilla,
Prof. Cynthia Lumbera, and Atty. Joven Laura.

"All our nominees are leaders of Bayan Muna, each with a long history
of fighting with, for and alongside the marginalized and
underrepresented sectors, and coming from both Metro Manila and the
regions," said Casiño.

Said Casiño: "Genuine partylist organizations that adhere to the
Partylist Law and decisions of the Supreme Court have nothing to hide.
Secrecy is the refuge of fake partylist groups which the Arroyo
administration formed and establish to bastardize the partylist system
and to pack the next Congress with sycophants."

"We hope the Comelec will reconsider its questionable policy. The
people have a right to know who the nominees are, especially now that
the Arroyo administration has made it an objective to obliterate the
political opposition, including potential endorsers to a third
impeachment complaint against the President."

Casiño reminded the public that "the desperation to protect Mrs.
Arroyo from impeachment comes from the partylist groups' track record
of throwing their support to this constitutional weapon against
impeachable officials."

Fifteen partylist solons endorsed the first impeachment case against
Arroyo in 2005. Last year, twelve partylist solons voted in favor of
the second impeachment complaint also against the President.

"This is one big reason transparency becomes important," said Casiño.
"The administration wishes to destroy the partylist bloc by inserting
fake partylists composed of junior spokespersons and defenders of the
President." ###

“Gloria imports genetically engineered rice!”-KMP

The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), the Asian Peasant
Coalition (APC) and the ANAKPAWIS party list group lambasted the
Macapagal-Arroyo regime for letting the entry of
genetically-engineered (GE) rice in the Philippines.
According to Danilo "Ka Daning" Ramos, concurrent secretary general of
KMP and APC, "Contamination of the domestic rice supply by GE rice
varieties which have not been earlier approved for commercial releases
in the US has been found and documented in the Philippines, Japan and
China. Field releases of GE rice for research and development purposes
have been conducted here and China as well,"
"The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Philippine
Rice Research Institute (Philrice) has done experiments on yellow stem
borer-resistant rice (Bt rice) which eventually failed. The
Philippines is the only country in Southeast Asia that has allowed a
field experiment on GE rice. The IRRI and Philrice are taking
advantage of the low level of awareness of Filipinos regarding GE rice
by conducting surveys projecting that we are ready for these
products," added the peasant leader.
Meanwhile Ka Willy Marbella, internal deputy secretary general of KMP
and ANAKPAWIS party list nominee said that, "In August 2006 the US
rice supply was contaminated by the Bayer Crop Science's Liberty-Link
GE rice, LLRICE601, a GE variety not approved for commercial release
in the US. The company was so quick in exporting it that it has
reached Japan, Europe and even the Philippines especially its LLRICE62
variety,"
"The Macapagal-Arroyo regime did nothing about it and is even
promoting it even if it would have adverse effects on the health of
its citizens and to the environment as well. We should also be careful
on the hand-outs the government is giving out especially rice, because
the regime is trying to dispose of this rice quickly. It is using the
hunger of Filipinos to cover up its mistakes by giving contaminated
dole outs to the people which would cause health problems to the end
user. This should be roundly exposed and opposed by the citizenry,"
ended Marbella. # # #

________________________

LAW ENFORCERS NOT HELPLESS IN GOING AFTER TERRORISTS EVEN IF HSA IS SUSPENDED

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Nene" Q. Pimentel,
Jr. (PDP-Laban) today said the campaign against
terrorism will not be impaired even if the
Anti-Terrorism Act, officially called Human Security
Act of 2007, is suspended during the election period.

Pimentel was reacting to the statement of National
Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales that the
anti-terrorism campaign has been rendered inutile as a
consequence of a provision in the HSA suspending the
effectivity of this law one month before and two
months after the May 14 national elections.

He said law enforcers can still rely on the Revised
Penal Code in applying legal sanctions against terror
suspects while the HSA is suspended. As a matter of
fact, he said almost all the criminal offenses
punishable under the HSA are already covered by the
Revised Penal Code.

"National Security Adviser Gonzales seems to believe
that it is only through the Anti-Terror Law that we
can fight terrorism. He doesn't know that there are
other laws that can do so even if the HSA is suspended
during the elections," Pimentel said.

"His blinders bode ill for the nation. GMA needs a
deeper thinker as national security adviser, not a
hollow schemer."

Pimentel stressed that the safeguards against
violation of human rights were inserted into this
legislation to ensure that it is not abused by law
enforcers in view of present condition when
extra-judicial killings of activists and other
personalities are rampant.
-o0o-

Reply of Nene Pimentel to charges on alleged misuse of Franking Privilege

MALICE, IGNORANCE OF LAW & FACTS
CAUSED BASELESS CHARGE

[Reply of Nene Pimentel to charges on alleged misuse
of Franking Privilege, Senate, Pasay City, April 2,
2007]

The complainant is absolutely wrong. He is acting out
of malice and of ignorance of the law and facts. But
first, let us discuss his

Ignorance of law and facts

Fact 1. I do not mail letters – official or personal -
from my office. Neither does my son, Aquilino Pimentel
III, have anything to do with mailing any kind of
letters from my office.

Fact 2. In my office, letters are mailed under the
authority of a director in my office that is under
instruction that my franking privilege should be used
only in accordance with law.

Fact 3. Before letters are mailed, the law requires
that a responsible person should certify that the
letters fall within the coverage of the franking
privilege law. In my office, that person is the
director in charge of mailing.

Fact 4. When I first heard that some letters were
mailed under my franking privilege that could be
misconstrued as a misuse of it, I immediately had a
fast investigation conducted.

The results were:

(1) The director in my office in charge of, among
other things, mailing matters, used his own discretion
of mailing the questioned letters under my franking
privilege.

(2) A non-lawyer, he believed that the contents of the
questioned letters were not purely partisan or
political. In fact, parts of the letters stressed the
need to prevent dagdag/bawas, the need to safeguard
the integrity of the election process, the need to
uphold the Rule of Law. These are matters that are
essential to the maintenance of clean elections and
are fundamental to good governance; things that I, as
a senator, consider it a part of my duty to share with
my constituents.

(3) Being a decent man, and realizing that the matter
could be misconstrued as a violation of the franking
privilege law and used as an electoral campaign issue
by my political opponents, the director resigned and I
accepted the resignation.

Fact 5. The postage stamps fees were duly paid upon my
orders [Acknowledgement Receipt] March 26, 2007.

It is, thus, clear that neither I nor my son committed
any corruption here or violation of any law.

Malice

What is clear here is that the complainant acting out
of base motives is trying hard to charge me and my son
with a crime that is not borne out of the facts in a
vile attempt to discredit me and my son.

The complainant who used to work with me resents and
has vowed to bring me down politically for the reason,
among other things, that I did not back him up as a
candidate for mayor of Cagayan de Oro city in the 2004
elections.

He is also the lawyer of Virgilio Garcillano of the
Hello Garci fame, who I would like to see punished in
accordance with law and who he is trying to save by
any means from the latter's complicity in the massive
electoral fraud committed in the 2004 elections.

Conclusion

The charges are absolutely without merit and must
necessarily fall because:

1. Without knowing the facts, the complainant
recklessly charges me – and drags my son in the
process - for the alleged misuse of the franking
privilege of my office; and

2. He is motivated by malice in his desire to hit back
at me for my not backing up him up his disastrous bid
for mayor of Cagayan de Oro in the elections of 2004
and for my persistent calls for the incarceration of
his client, Virgilio Garcillano, who he wants to save
at all costs.

Beltran on third day of second round of fasting; calls for sympathy and support for Tagaytay 5 who are on hunger strike

Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran is now
on his third day of fasting, but it was not for his own health or
welfare that he sounded the alarm but for fellow political detainees
collectively known as the Tagaytay 5. Beltran began his first round of
fasting late March in protest of his continuing detention, the arrest
of Bayan Muna Satur Ocampo, and the continuing attacks against members
of progressive party-lists and people's organizations. This second
round is in solidarity with and in support of the Tagaytay 5.

The Tagaytay 5 or Riel Custodio, Axel Pinpin, Aristides Sarmiento,
Enrico Ybanez and Michael Masayes embarked on a hunger strike which
began on March 6, 2007. As of April 2 reports, the political
detainees' health have visibly worsened and they are all severely
weakened. All have are victim of abduction, arbitrary detention,
incriminatory machinations, torture, inhumane treatment at the hands
of the Philippine National Police (PNP). As a consequence of the
hunger strike, Pinpin and Custodio have now become bed-ridden and
unable to get up.

The five men where traveling along Ligaya Drive, Brgy. Sungay,
Tagaytay City when they forcibly arrested by an estimated 30-40
elements of the PNP. For seven days they were kept blindofolded and
hogtied; interrogated without the presence of legal counsel,
physically abused and threatened with electrocution and summary
execution. They have since then been charged as members of the New
People's Army (NPA) when their credentials as members and staff of the
Katipunan ng mga Magsasaka sa Kabite (or Kamagsasaka-Ka) and the
Cavite Farmers Consultative Council (CFCC) right up to the time they
were arrested.

"The Macapagal-Arroyo administration continues to flout civil and
human rights and remains a staunch supporter of the Armed Forces of
the Philippines and the PNP's escalating attacks against civilians and
activists. As of Dec. 2006, the Arroyo government keeps 232 political
prisoners, and refuses to heed the call of human rights groups that
these civilians be immediately released. The case of the Tagaytay 5 is
yet another glaring proof that this government will resort to the most
inhumane and devious tactics to criminalize activists," he said.

Beltran, 74, is second-time political detainee. The first time was
under the Marcos dictatorship when he was detained for two years after
the August 13, 1982 Crackdown on the militant trade union movement.
Now he is a detainee under the Arroyo regime, charged with inciting to
sedition and rebellion. He has been detained for 14 months now since
he was arrested February 25, 2006 on the anniversary of EDSA People
Power 1. He was originally detained in Camp Crame but because of high
blood pressure, diabetes and other related illnesses, he was
transferred to the Philippine Heart Center where he is under 24-7
guard by elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group
(CIDG).

"If it had not been for the strong assertion of human rights and cause
oriented groups on my behalf, I would have been forced to remain as a
political detainee in Camp Crame. I have no illusions that I would
have been treated with special care while under the direct custody of
the PNP; ironically, it has been my unstable health that has kept me
alive because I have to doubts either that my life would've been cut
short had I been detained in Camp Crame."

"It is then with deep anger and outrage that I protest against the
continuing detention of the Tagaytay 5 and the rest of the political
prisoners all over the country. On a daily basis they are subjected to
various forms of torture, ranging from physical, mental and emotional.
Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo must be made to take responsibility for
the inhumane treatment the PNP subjects the political detainees to,
particularly the Tagaytay 5."

Beltran said that the candidates of Macapagal-Arroyo's Team Unity
should be defeated in the May elections because they will only
perpetuate Macapagal-Arroyo's rule as a condoner of human rights
violations and a protector of human rights violators and masterminds
of extra-judicial killings. He said that he will continue to fast for
the entire duration of the Holy Week in protest of the worsening human
rights situation in the Philippines.#
--

GMA, military emboldened by Cardinal Rosales’ views on political killings

As GMA congratulated the military for 'job well done,' PCPR also
expressed concern that the 'blessings' of a bishop my have emboldened
Malacañang to ignore criticisms from church, multisectoral groups,
media and international human rights groups on the issues of political
killings and urban militarization.

In a 3-page Lenten message entitled "A CALL FOR THE CHURCH LEADERS AND
LAY FAITHFUL TO DEFEND LIFE AT ALL COST," PCPR noted, "Many of us were
shocked and disappointed when Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales was recently
quoted on his view on the wave of extra-judicial killings under Arroyo
as 'mere specks of blood' compared to the number of political murders
and human rights violations committed during the term of the late
dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Apparently, the latest pronouncements of
Cardinal Rosales effectively emboldened Arroyo to congratulate and
give her go-signal for the military to continue their unwanted
presence and operations in Metro communities. The military is equally
emboldened to deny accountability even as they further engage in
extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances, warrantless arrests
and other atrocities."

Reference: Fr. Jerry Sabado, OCarm – PCPR Spokesperson

Amie Dural – PCPR Secretary General

Contact: 410723 Email: pcprnatl@gmail.com
***

A CALL FOR THE CHURCH LEADERS AND LAY FAITHFUL

TO DEFEND LIFE AT ALL COST

Lenten Message, April 3, 2007

Many of us were shocked and disappointed when Cardinal Gaudencio
Rosales was recently quoted on his view on the wave of extra-judicial
killings under Arroyo as 'mere specks of blood' compared to the number
of political murders and human rights
violations committed during the term of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Apparently, the latest pronouncements of Cardinal Rosales effectively
emboldened Arroyo to congratulate and give her go-signal for the
military to continue their unwanted presence and operations in Metro
communities. The military is equally emboldened to deny accountability
even as they further engage in extra-judicial killings, enforced
disappearances, warrantless arrests and other atrocities.

Spectators can simply watch the flow of 'mere specks of blood.' But we
believe that the heart of a true Christian must be outraged at every
single act of atrocity such as when a life is taken away to suppress
the activist stance of a poor farmer, worker, youth, a human rights
defender, and so on. This Holy Week, we enjoin the faithful to also
remember and pray for justice for the victims of modern-day
persecution as an integral part of remembering the passion and death
of Jesus Christ.

Of all people, we wonder how a pro-life advocate could reduce the
lives of more than 830 victims as 'mere specks of blood.' Apparently,
since no Catholic bishop or priest has yet become a victim of
extra-judicial killing, Cardinal Rosales is not alarmed that in the
post-Marcos regimes, the Arroyo regime has claimed the lives of church
people who were deeply engaged both in their pastoral duties and
social ministries. They reached out to serve and help improve the
lives of our poorest brothers and sisters, how can they be mere specks
of blood?

Is it morally correct to remain spectators when there is already an
overflow of 'mere specks of blood?' If Cardinal Rosales has the
passion for Pondong Pinoy and environmental advocacy, why not join the
people's outrage at the staggering number of poor victims of
extra-judicial killings under Arroyo. Not a few of the victims were
environmental activists, and poor peasants and indigenous peoples
affected by large-scale mining and other destructive commercial
projects.

In such a predominantly Catholic nation like ours, the views as well
as actions or inactions of the church leaders like Cardinal Rosales
certainly weigh heavily on the millions of Filipino faithful. As
proven in national events, the stand of the Cardinal or the Catholic
Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on various issues will
either lead the faithful to decisive actions, or inactions.

So far, the CBCP under the leadership of Archbishop Angel Lagdameo has
spoken on the issue, though not as strongly as the Protestant leaders
belonging to the National Council of Churches in the Philippines
(NCCP), especially from the NCCP member churches – the United Church
of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) and the Iglesia Filipina
Independiente (IFI), whose clergy and lay members became victims of
political killings.

We also note of course that apart from the CBCP's official statements
as a body, there have been strong statements from the likes of
Archbishop Oscar Cruz who called for accountability of the Arroyo
government. How we wish for Cardinal Rosales to have the same stance
instead of defending the perpetrators!

At a forum in St. Scholastica's College on March 9, 2006, Archbishop
Cruz stressed that human dignity, human rights and human life are
inter-related. When a person's dignity and rights are violated, the
essence of life is violated; and the moment a person's life is
violated as in the cases of extra-judicial killings, human dignity
and human rights are totally disregarded. Archbishop Cruz strongly
criticized the Arroyo government on the issue of political killings,
noting the case of one of the victims, Bishop Alberto
Ramento – whom he described as his poor friend whose sando always had
holes. After expressing his disbelief that the activist bishop was
killed by plain thieves, he went on to denounce the government's
efforts to deny its hand on the killings of hundreds of
administration critics. And since no Catholic bishop or priest has
yet become a victim of extra-judicial killing, he also managed to
joke, 'I volunteer to be
the next ... I'm old and single...'

Meanwhile, another positive action came from Bishop Broderick Pabillo
who joined people's organizations and the Inter-Faith JPIC Network to
look into the situation of some barangays in Tondo that are currently
affected by urban militarization. During the
dialogue with the barangay chairman at the barangay hall (the second
floor of which was occupied by soldiers), Bishop Pabillo witnessed the
resistance of the military representative to face the questions raised
on the real intent of their presence in urban
communities. When the barangay chairman spoke on behalf of the
soldiers, saying that they are there for immersion, trying to explain
away their usual rounds during the day and sometimes even late at
night, the bishop wondered if it ever was normal to engage the
residents in late night immersion. As to the complaints of the
residents regarding the presence of the military in their community,
when the barangay chairman commented that people who are not guilty of
doing anything wrong should not be afraid of the
soldiers, the bishop replied that if they [the soldiers] are not
guilty of doing anything wrong, then why do they refuse to come down
and "face us here"?

Bishop Pabillo also graced the launching of the Inter-Faith JPIC
Network on March 6, 2006 at the Redemptorist Rudy Romano Hall, where
he also shared a message of solidarity with the struggles of our urban
poor brothers and sisters. His presence in these two events and his
succeeding public pronouncements against urban militarization gave us
a fresh image of a down-to-earth church leader who immersed among the
poor, and that is certainly worthy of emulation.

Indeed, the Church as a major opinion-shaper can either move the
faithful to join militant actions towards meaningful social change, or
leave the faithful in the confines of their individual pursuit of
personal salvation. On the one hand, church pronouncements and
actions that challenge government corruption, human rights violations
and perennial
neglect of the poor, greatly cultivate the moral grounds for the
faithful to be persuaded into supporting the people's actions. On the
other hand, the faithful must be wary of church pronouncements that
attempt to sanctify the wrongdoings of the state and merely echo the
pronouncements of military officials and of the infamous (in)justice
secretary. Thus we must also criticize our church leaders when they
fail to denounce injustice. Ultimately, our discernment, prayers and
actions must always be founded on the people's aspirations for truth,
justice and meaningful social change.

Under Arroyo's undeclared martial rule, the Church must defend life
and civil liberties at all cost. We must be vigilant of even more
repressive measures against administration critics, including the
recently signed anti-terrorism bill, renamed 'Human Security Law,' and
the proposed restoration of the Anti-Subversion Law. Let us
collectively stand in defense of human dignity, human rights and human
life. We must not be mere spectators while our brothers and sisters
are being attacked by assassins under Oplan Bantay Laya II, an
anti-insurgency program launched by the military against critics of
the fraudulent president. We pray that the millions of faithful will
be moved to speak out and act in solidarity with the victims long
before the 'mere specks of blood' turn into a bloodflow of tragic
proportions beyond our power to plug. We continue to hope that more
Bishops will raise their voices in denouncing the state policy that is
behind the killings and the growing urban militarization, and help
generate more pressure on the Arroyo government to immediately cease
in its political assassination plots.

Promotion of Church People's Response (PCPR)

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DAVAO TODAY
Davao City, Mindanao, Philippines
http://www.davaotoday.com
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Holy Week challenge to GMA: ADMIT, REPENT for SINS against the nation

As Malacañang expressed confidence for Team Unity candidates' victory
in the May 2007 elections, the Promotion of Church People's Response
(PCPR) called on Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to publicly admit and
repent for her sins this Holy Week.

"The Holy Week is a time to engage in solemn prayers, reflections,
fasting and other traditional ways of repenting and asking the Lord's
forgiveness for our sins. Repentance should be a humbling act for
those who are willing to admit misdeeds. But for those who are
unwilling, we will never see any sign of repentance. To date, there is
no sign of admittance and repentance from the part of Mrs Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo, Virgilio Garcillano, Gen. Hermogenes Ebdane and all
other conspirators on the massive fraud in the 2004 elections. Instead
of repentance, the Arroyo camp is arrogantly engaged in constant
denial and cover-up of cheating, stealing and political killings,"
PCPR noted.

"Why is GMA confident of victory for administration candidates? As in
the 2004 elections, the Arroyo camp is confident for having access to
needed resources and machinery in favor of administration candidates.
Malacañang will not think twice in launching another season of
electoral fraud to prevent an opposition win that could spell a
successful impeachment against Arroyo," Fr. Jerry Sabado, OCarm – PCPR
Spokesperson noted.

***

GMA, military emboldened by Cardinal Rosales' views on political killings

As GMA congratulated the military for 'job well done,' PCPR also
expressed concern that the 'blessings' of a bishop my have emboldened
Malacañang to ignore criticisms from church, multisectoral groups,
media and international human rights groups on the issues of political
killings and urban militarization.

In a 3-page Lenten message entitled "A CALL FOR THE CHURCH LEADERS AND
LAY FAITHFUL TO DEFEND LIFE AT ALL COST," PCPR noted, "Many of us were
shocked and disappointed when Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales was recently
quoted on his view on the wave of extra-judicial killings under Arroyo
as 'mere specks of blood' compared to the number of political murders
and human rights violations committed during the term of the late
dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Apparently, the latest pronouncements of
Cardinal Rosales effectively emboldened Arroyo to congratulate and
give her go-signal for the military to continue their unwanted
presence and operations in Metro communities. The military is equally
emboldened to deny accountability even as they further engage in
extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances, warrantless arrests
and other atrocities."

Reference: Fr. Jerry Sabado, OCarm – PCPR Spokesperson

Amie Dural – PCPR Secretary General

Contact: 410723 Email: pcprnatl@gmail.com

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DAVAO TODAY
Davao City, Mindanao, Philippines
http://www.davaotoday.com
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Star endorsers should focus on platforms not friendship - Kabataan Partylist

DAVAO CITY - Instead of highlighting the friendship between them and
the candidate politicians, showbiz personalities should help
the voters in knowing the platform of their "friend" politicians.

In reaction to a lot of showbiz personalities who are campaigning for
certain politicians, Kabataan Partylist stressed that there is a need
to avoid personality politics in choosing the right candidate.

"We know for a fact that showbiz personalities have a big influence on
the choices the voters make because of their appeal and charisma. That
is why most politicians want to seek their "help" every
election period," Karla Hyasmind Apat said.

Apat the Vice-president for Mindanao of Kabataan Partylist pointed the
crucial role of star endorsers in the coming elections.

"We want to remind the famous personalities who will raise the
arms of politicians to focus on helping the voters in making good
decisions. They should not let themselves be used as instruments of
deception that is a campaign which is solely based on personality
politics," Apat said.

The group believes that the showbiz personalities should not bank on
the friendship they share with the politicians.

"It doesn't mean that if a politician is a friend of an award winning
star he can already serve well," Apat said.

"The showbiz stars should stress that instead of saying a lame reason
of: "kaibigan ko kasi siya" making it appear that they are only doing
the endorsement out of favor. They should highlight the credibility of
the
politician, their stand on pressing issues and how the candidate could
help the country," Apat said.#

For reference:
Karla Hyasmind Apat
VP for Mindanao
0919.570.9285

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DAVAO TODAY
Davao City, Mindanao, Philippines
http://www.davaotoday.com
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