Bagong Alyansang Makabayan - Antipolo City

Statement | Truth prevails, the Abra de Ilog Philippine National Police (PNP) will never fool the people

The Abra de Ilog Philippine National Police (PNP) recent post on mass reporting the social media pages of Southern Tagalog Exposure and Peoples Rising for Climate Justice is a clear attempt to censor the truth in the struggle of the Mangyan-Iraya for their land and rights in Sitio Malatabako, Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro.

It is only evident through this desperate act of the PNP that they are the one causing distress and terror in the community. In Southern Tagalog Exposure's coverage in Sitio Malatabako, the PNP themselves are the ones who are torturing, illegally arresting, and working hand-in-hand with the private goons of the Pieceland Corporation. The photos clearly show that state forces are fully armed with guns, sowing fear in the communities.

During the Learning and Solidarity Mission these past days, the community and delegates continue to experience various forms of harassment and intimidation at the hands of the PNP and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). We have reported instances in which surveillance drones and unidentified men were seen following community members and delegates. The distress that state forces are causing only instill fear to the community in holding these kinds of activities.

In the face of these violent acts, the Mangyan-Iraya community continues to persevere to fight for their land and rights. The community also filed complaints in the Commission on Human Rights regarding the harassment they faced from the Abra de Ilog PNP and goons of the Pieceland Corporation.

These experiences by the community only prove that what our newsroom covers is not mere 'fake news'. Rather, as an alternative media outfit, we are working to expose the harsh realities that the corrupt system continues to perpetuate on marginalized communities.

Southern Tagalog Exposure vehemently condemns these attacks from the Abra de Ilog PNP and their attempts to censor the truth. We also call on the wider community of journalists and alternative press workers to fight against the state-sanctioned attacks on press freedom. In the face of this outright harassment, our newsroom firmly asserts that there will be justice in truth and the voices of the people will prevail.

Only one day away! Register for webinar on Filipino people’s struggle against corruption

Register at https://www.ichrp.net/Oct14Webinar

Date and time: October 14 at 5pm Pacific, 8pm Eastern / October 15 at 8am Philippines

Join the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) for a webinar this coming October 14/15 about the anti-corruption protests, and the connections between this issue and the broader plunder and extraction from the Philippines by local and foreign elites – plunder that acutely affects the peasant farmers of the Philippine countryside. Our webinar will feature speakers from the people’s movement in the Philippines, from the peasant movement, as well as members of ICHRP and information on our campaign to support peasant farmers this month. Speakers will include:

Maria Sol Taule, Lawyer with Karapatan
Teddy Casiño, Former Congressman with Bayan Muna
Peter Murphy, Chairperson of ICHRP

Register at ichrp.net/Oct14Webinar

Walang puwang ang pananahimik.

GROUPS BEHIND LUNETA RALLY PLAN BIG ACTIONS FOR OCT. 17 AND 21

Groups that spearheaded the massive protest in Luneta last September 21 are gearing up for more mass actions in the coming weeks to sustain public pressure and demand accountability in the ongoing flood control and corruption scandals.

Youth groups are set to lead a major rally and march to Mendiola on October 17 to highlight the demand for transparency and accountability from top government officials. “The youth refuse to be silent while billions in public funds are stolen. We will bring our voices to the gates of power,” the organizers said.

On October 21, farmers’ groups from flood-affected communities and those impacted by substandard and anomalous farm-to-market road projects will lead another large mobilization at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila. They will be joined by a broad range of multisectoral organizations protesting what they described as an “obvious cover-up” now taking place in Congress and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).

The planned mass actions were finalized during a meeting of the Kilusang Bayan Kontra Kurakot held last Saturday. The gathering was attended by more than 100 individuals representing over 60 organizations nationwide. The groups vowed to sustain their coordinated efforts in the weeks ahead and said that bigger nationwide actions, like that earlier announced on November 30, would happen if the government continues to evade accountability.

“These actions are part of our growing people’s movement against corruption and neglect. The government cannot sweep this under the rug,” the convenors.

“Ang taumbayan ay hindi titigil. Hindi ito isang protesta lang. Isang kilusan ito laban sa korapsyon at kawalang pananagutan,” the group said. #

Palatandaang may pag-asa pa.

ON THE SUSPICIOUS BOMB THREATS IN SEVERAL SCHOOLS

The suspicious bomb threats in several universities could be intended to derail anti-corruption protests and prevent students and teachers from marching together with people’s organizations and building a strong unity for accountability and justice.

Only corrupt bureaucrats and their minions would desperately try to undermine the people’s expression of rage and clamor for change. We should expose their malicious intent by demonstrating our resolve to pursue accountability despite their underhanded tactics.

We wish to sustain the anti-corruption fight and we are prepared to overcome all odds and obstacles, including those who are conspiring to undermine the protests.

Resist the scare tactics. Stop the bomb threats. Bombard the offices of corrupt politicians and contractors. Makibaka, huwag matakot!

Tuwing Oktubre ay buwan ng mga magbubukid.

Nagbubuklod, nagkakaisa, at malakas ang panawagan para sa lupa, pagkain at hustisya. Lumalaban sa pangangamkam at pagpapalit gamit ng lupa at pandarambong sa mga kalupaan at kalikasan.

Mula Norte hanggang Kabisayaan, aktibo ang mga pakikibakang magbubukid na nananawagan ng mas mataas na presyo ng produktong bukid, mas mababang gastos sa pagsasaka at mas mataas na sahod at kita ng manggagawang bukid at pagtigil ng militarisasyon sa kanayunan.

Narito ang ilan sa mga pambansang aktibidad ngayong October Peasant Month. Sumama at makiisa sa mga magsasakang lumilikha ng pagkain!

Call for donations.

URGENT APPEAL

Dear friends,

Since the violent dispersal of the September 21 protest, at least 70 individuals remain detained at the Manila Police District and other police stations across the city. Many of them are youth, students, PWDs, workers, and members of urban poor communities who do not have the resources to post bail.

Karapatan is currently facilitating monetary donations to secure their bail and immediate release. While we were able to raise some funds earlier, case information released yesterday confirmed that we still urgently need to raise more. The minimum bail is ₱18,000 per person.

We appeal to your kindness and solidarity to help secure their release so they can return home to their families. Karapatan, together with the NUPL and our paralegal teams, continues to work tirelessly to fulfill all requirements and processes for their freedom.

You may send your support by scanning any of the QR codes below.

Thank you for your continued support and solidarity.