PLM Statement on Typhoon Pablo

A total ban on all logging and mining activities!

Implement massive reforestation and a sustainable development plan!

Climate justice now! We demand full reparation from rich countries and their corporations!

Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM) extends full sympathy to the victims of Typhoon Pablo: to the families of those killed and missing, and to the millions suffering from the destruction of their homes and crops and those still waiting for relief. PLM demands answers to serious questions raised by the government’s response to the catastrophe.

These include why, despite the authorities warning of the impending disaster in advance, no concrete evacuation plans were in place; evasiveness about the death toll; delays in getting food and other supplies to survivors and diversion of resources to prevent small-scale looting by desperate survivors rather than providing food.

That both the death toll and the number reported missing have continued to rise days after the typhoon had passed indicates that the government’s response focused more on political spin than life-saving preparations. Pagasa gave warning well in advance. But the government seemed to think it was doing its duty by having President Noynoy Aquino appeared on TV to tell people they should evacuate. In many affected areas that was all. Geologist Mahar Lagmay said that while most people in the affected communities had been aware of the danger, they had not known where to go for safety.

PLM contrasts this response with disaster response in Cuba, which also lies in a cyclone-prone area, but where the UN International Secretariat for Disaster Reduction has noted far lower death tolls. This is achieved by adequate infrastructure, such as buildings and roads; institutionalised and well-resourced response systems, including the ability to activate shelters that are staffed with trained medical personnel; and the integration of hurricane training into the general education system. All of this reflects Cuba’s socialist system, where meeting human needs is prioritised.

We also condemn the large-scale looting of the Philippines by foreign logging and mining companies which contributed greatly to this tragedy.  The government’s condemnation of illegal logging and small-scale gold mining ignores the real culprit. We call for a total ban on logging and mining in Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental, the areas hardest hit by the tragedy. These areas have been devastated by these operations for a long time, and further logging and mining will destroy what’s left of the ecology.

To start the process of rebuilding, we also call on the government to implement massive reforestation and develop sustainable crop agriculture that will provide food security for people in the damaged areas and elsewhere. It’s about time that the country deviates from plantation monoculture of export crops and large-scale mining.

Lastly, we find it ironic that the devastation in Mindanao came in the wake of the UN Conference on Climate Change in Doha, Qatar which again failed to deal with increasing greenhouse emissions by the rich countries. The failed conference locked in the planet for another decade of unchecked gas emissions which bring devastating climate impacts.

While the United Nations has appealed for $65 million aid for the victims of Typhoon Pablo, we believe that we should not have to beg for charity from the rich nations. We hold the rich and imperialist states of the global North responsible and we demand reparations and climate justice.

Dinastiya, tama na! Bagong politika, NOW NA!

Dinastiya, tama na! Bagong politika, NOW NA!

Youth members of the Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM), a newly-accredited national political party, staged a mass action today at the Commission on Election (Comelec) national office in Intramuros, Manila to urge the poll body to declare candidates coming from political dynasties as nuisance.

With its rallying call “Dinastiya, Tama na! Bagong politika, NOW NA!” the group, comprised mostly of first-time voters, slammed the strengthening hold of political dynasties, which is solidly cemented with the candidacy of at least 14 scions of political clans in the 2013 senatorial election.

“These politicians coming from the dynasties are ridiculously circumventing the term limits of their incumbent relatives by running as their heir apparents,” said PLM chair Sonny Melencio. “This is what the constitutional provision banning political dynasties seek to address, but the trapos in Congress and Senate who come from this dynasties will not pass an enabling law for it will dismantle their clout.”

“Our challenge to Comelec is to use its moto propio powers and declare the candidates as nuisance for they just use their surnames as their main selling point, instead of specific platform,” he added.

In the rally, some youth members of PLM impersonated and mocked political dynasties, presenting the Trapo Family, a mock political dynasty wherein all members of said family are shown running at all available elected positions of government. The Trapo Family even showed its pet dog, Bogart, as running for town councilor.

“Ito ang nakakatawa ngunit nakalulungkot na hinaharap para sa aming mga kabataang first-time voters,” commented youth leader Chris Cabrera. “Pinaglalaruan na lang ng mga elitistang pamilyang ito ang kinabukasan namin sa pamamagitan ng pagpapasahan ng kapangyarihan sa kanilang magkakamag-anak lang.”

Virgin Rarang, another youth leader, urged the Comelec to give chance to new politicians who represent the interest of the youth and the masses, instead of selfish family and clan interests.

“Kailangan na talaga silang i-disqualify ng Comelec kasi ang tendensiya kapag magkakamag-anak lang ang nasa pwesto ay yung kanilang sariling kapakanan lamang bilang magkakapamilya ang iniintindi. Paano naman kaming mga mahihirap na nawawalan ng tsansa para pamunuan ang aming sarili,” she stressed.

Aside from the impersonation, hip-hop group BOS Thugz of Navotas performed their original compositions, which are written to criticize and slam the rule of traditional politicians in the country. ###

The roadmap for peace in Mindanao

The roadmap for peace in Mindanao

Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM), a national political party of the marginalized sectors, welcomes the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement as a roadmap for peace in Mindanao.  The agreement is also the first step to end the centuries-old oppression of the Moro people in Mindanao.

Sonny Melencio, chairman of PLM, said, “The signing of the agreement is just the first step towards peace. But to ensure that the fighting in Mindanao will really come to an end, the government has to ensure that the agreement is implemented at every step, and that democracy, based on people’s participation, is enhanced in the Bangsamoro government that will replace the ARMM (Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao).

“We expect the agreement to attract resistance at every step, especially those coming from the Rightist forces in government, and from the trapos who continuously oppose the right to self-determination of the Moro people.”

Melencio identified the possible contention in the formation of the Transitory Commission which will draft the Bangsamoro Basic Law.  Other contentious issues involve the expansion of the present geographical area of ARMM to include more municipalities, barangays and cities in Mindanao. There is also a contention on adding new territories through a resolution of local government unit or a petition by at least 10% of qualified voters in a respective area.

 “The main concern of PLM, however, is to ensure that the Bangsamoro agreement will also enhance the rights and representation of the poor and marginalized sections of the Moro people. In this regard, we are supporting the call for a ministerial form of Bangsamoro government that will have representation based on parties and not on personalities.

“This is to ensure that the ushering of peace in Mindanao, and the economic construction that will commence, will redound to the benefit of the many and not just a few clans and corporations, especially foreign ones,” Melencio added. #

15 October 2012.

PLM: National Political Party of the Marginalized Sectors

PLM: National Political Party of the Marginalized Sectors

The petition for certification of Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM) as a national political party has been approved by the Commission on Elections on September 19, 2012. With this approval, the fight for a national political party representing the marginalized sectors has escalated to new heights. 

This is a confirmation of PLM’s three and half years of existence and its expansion as a political party with a mass constituency and grassroots chapter-formations. PLM members belong to the basic mainline sectors of the Filipino masses, which include workers, farmers, public transport drivers, vendors and the urban poor in the twelve (12) administrative regions in the country. A majority of our members are women.

PLM's growth and expansion is a validation of PLM’s unceasing struggle to dismantle the elite system of political and economic rule in the country, and replace it with full democracy under a government of the masa.

This is an affirmation of the correctness of PLM’s advocacy for a socialist society to supplant the moribund and profit-oriented capitalist system today. PLM’s Plataporma ng Masa is also gaining support from the masses as a concrete and urgent platform for national survival and social justice.

PLM extends its gratitude to all its members, especially the leaders and members of the PLM chapters in the 12 territorial regions in the country; the founding organizations which originally formed the party, from the labor, transport, farmers, urban poor, and youth sectors; and all other individuals, groups and organizations which have extended assistance and support to the party.

PLM will now step up its activity for the coming 2013 elections. PLM will intervene as a national political party by fielding and supporting local candidates at the grassroots level. As of today, PLM is already running councilors in Marikina City and Taytay in Metro Manila, a mayor in GMA, Cavite, and a vice-mayor in San Pablo City. PLM is also calling for the unification of the progressive party lists in the country, and will give concrete backing to party list organizations which adhere to PLM’s platform and beliefs.

Mabuhay kayong lahat, mga kasama! Mabuhay ang PLM!

Sonny Melencio

Chairperson

Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM – national political party of the marginalized sectors)

Corona Conviction is not a Deterrent to Corruption

PRESS STATEMENT

May 30, 2012

Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP)

Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM)

SANLAKAS

Corona Conviction is not a Deterrent to Corruption

Malacanang and its paid hacks in media are now making a mountain out of a molehill. They say that the conviction of Renato Corona by the impeachment court is a triumph of democracy and a cleansing of the bureaucracy. Nothing could be farther from the truth. 

The telenovela that was the impeachment of Corona ended with a predictable and lackluster climax, leaving the masses unentertained and not craving for more. The single and simplistic moral lesson of the story: “tell the truth in your SALN”. 

Despite the long proceedings, the Senate could only prove one fact: Corona did not properly disclose his dollar deposits in his SALN. Hence, its verdict rested on the sole issue of “non-disclosure”, covered by Article 2, which it raised to a “culpable violation of the Constitution”.

In so doing, the complaint, reduced to Articles 2, 3 and 7 during the deliberations, was further narrowed down to “non-disclosure” (Article 2, paragraph 2.2). It did not determine if such cash assets were ill-gotten or acquired illegally, leaving unanswered the people’s questions on “ill-gotten wealth”, “court decisions for sale”, “misconduct and corrupt practices”, etc., etc. The result was a “narrowing down” not to focus on more substantial issues; the case was watered down to insignificance. 

The respondent’s admission of non-disclosure was enough for the prosecution and the senator-judges to obtain a guilty verdict. They did not use Corona’s waiver of his dollar deposits to put such bank accounts under scrutiny. Hence, it is clear as daylight that the real intention of the impeachment court was not to expose and punish immoral conduct and corrupt practices in government but to merely remove Corona in the Supreme Court, to replace an Arroyo crony with an Aquino lackey in the judiciary.

If the impeachment court truly wanted to cleanse the bureaucracy, it should have let the sun shine in the dark and shadowy corridors of power. Let the people know how Corona acquired his millions of dollars; how Lucio Tan compelled the Court to flip-flop on the FASAP (Flight Attendants and Stewardesses Association of the Philippines) case; how much perks and privileges are given by PAL to members of the Supreme Court. 

But it did not; the impeachment court stopped in its tracks. It did not go beyond the question of non-disclosure. To the people, especially the workers and the poor, we believe that they did so because further investigation would reveal their modus operandi, the prevalent malpractice of officials in the bureaucracy who use their power and influence for economic and personal gain. 

Hence, the conviction of Corona would not be a deterrent to corruption since no “crime” other than “non-disclosure” was established. While government officials should properly disclose their properties in the SALNs, a statement of how much one owns is not enough. Public accountability requires public scrutiny on how such wealth was acquired. Therefore, we reiterate our demand for DISCLOSE ALL, for the full disclosure of all bank records and financial transactions by all government officials – a political reform that would test the Constitutional provision on “sovereignty”, if all power and authority truly resides in and emanates from the people. #

Disclose All or Resign All! Genuine Cleansing of the Bureaucracy not a Telenovela of Elite Infighting

PRESS STATEMENT

Mayo 23, 2012

Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP)

Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM)

Sanlakas

Disclose All or Resign All!

Genuine Cleansing of the Bureaucracy not a Telenovela of Elite Infighting 

We have said it before and we will say it again. Give the Filipino people a chance for real reforms and meaningful cleansing of the rotting bureaucracy.

The impeachment of Corona is not enough. The process is a spectator sport for the Filipino masses who are neither senator judges nor members of the prosecution and defense panels. More so, it is atelenovela of elite infighting being used by the Aquino regime to consolidate its control of the state and to advance its economic interests.

In impeachment proceedings, the masses are being induced to take sides between two oppressors. They are made to choose the lesser evil among rival camps of the ruling elite, which is nothing more than a choice between hell and purgatory.  By so doing, it fosters the illusion of democracy, of people’s participation in the affairs of the State.

But while the impeachment process is patently limited in its scope and objective and is being utilized by factions of the elite to pursue their self-serving economic and political agendas, it would inevitably open more meaningful questions. Its narrowness and limitation would provide exact arguments for the necessity of genuine and widespread reforms, and for other means of political activity that ensure public participation in the cleansing of the bureaucracy.

Hence, upon the opening of impeachment proceedings against Corona, we issued the “Disclose All” slogan, the demand for the full disclosure of all financial records and transactions by all government officials.

The beleaguered chief justice – who is more an astute politician than an honorable judge – knows this Achilles heel of the impeachment process. Hence, Corona is now piercing the veil of Noynoy’s anti-corruption pretense in order to save his skin as he challenges Senator Drilon and the 188 signatories of the impeachment case to “disclose all”. Truly, crooks know when to speak the truth to hide a lie.

We are neither “pro-Corona” nor “pro-Noynoy”. Both politicians are personifications of the social evil of a corrupt bureaucracy under an elite democracy. If government officials want to dispel public mistrust, they should let the sun shine into dark places. The broad masses of the people, not just the workers and the poor demand the public scrutiny of their private wealth.

If they could not “disclose all”, then they should all resign. And if the demand for “full disclosure” is continuously not met, the cry for “Resign All” would transform from an appeal for delicadeza into a call of action for their ouster. #

PLM statement on the deteriorating Philippine-China relations

Philippine-China Relations: Why Isn’t Diplomacy Working?

We are extremely concerned at what appears to be a deteriorating situation between the Philippines and China regarding the dispute over the Spratly Islands and the Scarborough Shoal. China is definitely stepping up its bullying and is now targeting our economic interests – tourism and agricultural produce – to make us accede to their claims. To make matters worse, belligerent protests, attended by flag burning, have erupted in the Philippines, in China, and in other parts of the world, targeting embassies and consulates of the contending countries. These are happening despite both governments’ brandishing their commitments to a diplomatic solution.

We demand to know why the diplomatic efforts are not working despite statements by Chinese and Philippine foreign diplomats that they are pursuing the talks and remain in contact with each other. We call on the Aquino government to be transparent about our diplomatic effort and explain to us what’s going wrong. We call for open diplomacy so that the whole nation is informed and we can all prepare for better or for worse in this deteriorating situation.

However, we reiterate that a diplomatic solution, rather than belligerent protests, is the best way to protect our national interests in this conflict.  We also urge protesters from both sides to stop burning each other’s national flags; we do not believe that this kind of nationalist posturing serves the national interests of any nation.

We also note that the Aquino government was following a policy of involving the United States government in the dispute, hoping that the US would back us to the hilt. This was a mistaken strategy. We warned then that the US would ultimately protect only its national interests and not ours. Now the US seems to be backing off from its commitment of support in case we are attacked by a foreign country.  Is the deteriorating situation today also the result of this strategy gone wrong?

While we condemn China’s bullying, we continue to call for a calm response, i.e., a negotiated, diplomatic solution to the problem. We maintain that an independent foreign policy, especially one that does not pit the US and other foreign powers against our neighbors, will genuinely serve our national interests today and in the years ahead.

To help in moving forward to a peaceful solution to the conflict, the Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM) is organizing a peace gathering at the Peace Bell in Quezon City Memorial Park next week. We have deliberately chosen a non-government symbol in order to emphasize the need for a diplomatic and peaceful resolution to the conflict.