Author: Joe Lampasa

As Christians around the world are into the week-long solemn celebration of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus, armed minions of Duterte government continue to unleash its iron fist against activists, human rights defenders, political opposition and on the Filipino people asserting their rights for food, health services and economic relief in the midst of renewed strict implementation of community lockdown due to rising COVID19 cases. These horrifying events are preceded by killings of those who resisted arrests as claimed by the raiding teams in various provinces in the Philippines.

The series of arrests this Holy Week on trumped charges of leaders from BAYAN (Bagong Alyansang Makabayan), KMU (Kilusang Mayo Uno), KMP (Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas) and AGML (Alyansa ng Magbubukid ng Gitnang Luzon) in Central Luzon are made possible through the search and arrest warrants issued by judicial courts implemented by police and military personnel who stormed the houses and offices of these legitimate non-government organizations. However, these concerned organizations claimed that the evidences found during the raids were planted.
 
The arrest of leaders of progressive peoples’ organizations in Central Luzon are also the same pattern of illegal searches on offices and houses and illegal arrests of leaders and activists in Negros and Panay islands in the Visayas; Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and Rizal provinces in Southern Luzon; Cagayan Valley in North Luzon; and Cagayan de Oro City and Caraga Region in Mindanao to name a few. Even leaders of human rights defenders Karapatan, lawyers, progressive lawmakers and members of religious groups and worst the judge who dismissed the case of arrested and detained journalist on trumped up charges are not spared from this vicious attacks allegedly orchestrated by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict under the command of President Duterte.
 
For us Christians, Holy Week is not only a solemn celebration on how Jesus subdue the power of evil and death and his resurrection. It is also a time to reflect on why Jesus was falsely accused and sentenced to die by the people in power during his time. For in the midst of the people’s economic suffering and political exclusion, Jesus gave the poor the hope and the power to achieve abundant life. “The thief comes only to steal, and kill and destroy: I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10).
 
The works of these activists and leaders such as serving the needy; advocating for the rights of the marginalized sectors for food, land, shelter and jobs; community organizing for community development are very close to the heart of Jesus. These activists and human rights defenders are like the disciples sent by Jesus in our contemporary time: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed  and  helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples,‘the harvest is plentiful but the workers is few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send  out workers into his harvest field’.” (Matt. 9:35-38)

These activist and leaders knew by heart that like the disciples who were reminded by Jesus, they will also suffer persecution. “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the  world,it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have  chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. If they persecute me, they  will persecute you also.” (John 15: 18-20)

The activists and leaders of progressive peoples’ organization that were arrested and those who were killed under Duterte regime are truly servants of the people. Their bravery and willingness to take whatever the cost of the struggle for social change are manifested in the likes of murdered Dandy Miguel of PAMANTIK-KMU in Southern Tagalog who in the midst of death threats received, unselfishly continued to advance the noble cause of genuine trade unionism; worthy to note also is Barangay Chair Julie Catamin who was murdered by motorcycle riding in tandem when she exposed the truth on the planting of evidence by police and military forces during the raids on houses of Tumandok leaders in Panay island in December 2020.
 
The courageous activists in the Philippines, may have been illegally arrested and detained on trumped up charges in the eyes of a selective and manipulated justice system of the powers-that-be in the Philippines and worst disappeared or killed by state security forces, but for the Filipino people these activists and leaders of progressive peoples’ organizations are the true servants of the people.
 
Migrante-Europe calls on the Filipino people around the world to unite with our kababayans in the Philippines in their struggle for the rights to  food, jobs shelter and equal access to health services, freedom and national democracy and for immediate support on economic relief, free mass testing and free vaccine for all.
 
Migrante-Europe appeals to the United Nations, the European Union and other international bodies promoting human rights and shared democratic values to condemn the intensifying repression and hold accountable the Duterte government of blatant human rights violations against the Filipino people.

Enough of state repression and fascist rule! Enough of Duterte!
Makibaka! Huwag Matakot!

Fr Herbert Fadriquela
ChairpersonMigrante-Europe
31 March 2021

Sa pangalan ng Executive Committee at mga kasaping organisasyon ng Migrante Europe ay akin pong ipinapaabot ang aming matinding pagkundina sa marahas na pag raid ng mga elemento ng pulis at militar sa mga aktibista, lider-mangagawa, mga maralitang taga-lungsod, mga lider katutubo, lider mangingisda na nagresulta ng pagkamatay, pagkaaresto at pagkawala ng iba ng mga taong ginawan ng mga gawa gawang kaso kasabwat ang mga korte at husgado. 

Grabe na talaga kalala ang kalagayan ng mga mamayang Pilipino sa ilalim ng abusado, kurakot tuta ng America at sunud-sunuran sa Tsina na gobyerno ni Duterte. 

Ang mabangis na pamamaraan ng gobyerno ni Duterte upang sikilin ang karapatan ng mga aktibista, mga nasa oposisyon, mga human rights defenders, lider ng mga legal na demokratikong organisasyon sa pangalan ng pagtugis sa armadong grupo at paggapi sa kilusang rebulosyonaryo ay hindi katanggap-tanggap sa isang sibilisadong lipunan. 

Kailan naging krimen ang maglingkod sa mamamayan? Kailan naging krimen ang pakikibaka para sa karapatan sa trabaho, kabuhayan, disenteng pabahay? Kailan naging krimen ang pagtataguyod sa karapatang magpasya para sa lupang ninuno? Kailan naging krimen ang pagsingil sa pabayang gobyernong walang ginawa kundi mangutang ng mangutang at hayaang nakawin ang kabang-bayan ng mga kurakot na opisyal, habang ang mamamayan ay gutom, walang ayuda at bakuna sa gitna ng pandemya?

Hindi na sapat na ang mga migranteng Pilipino ay manahimik at hindi makikialam. Hindi na natin hahayaang ang ating mga remittances at buwis ay magamit ng abusadong gobyerno ni Duterte  upang ang ating mga kababayan ay patuloy na apihin, pagsamantalahan, binubusabos, tinatakot, sinisikil ang mga karapatan, inaaresto sa pamamagitan ng gawagawang kaso, pinapatay!

Ang Migrante-Europe, kasama ang mga organisasyong Pilipino at non-Filipino dito sa Europe ay mahigpit na makikiisa sa lahat ng mamayang Pilipino sa ibat-ibang bahagi ng mundo at sa ating mahal na bayang Pilipinas upang singilin ang gobyernong Duterte sa kanyang mga kasalanan sa mamamayang Pilipino. 

Sa mga mahal sa buhay at kasama nang mga naulila ng mga pinaslang na magigiting na lider-mangagawa, mga lider ng maralitang taga-lungsod, mga lider katutubo, mga lider mangingisda: itinuring man silang “terorista” sa ilalim ng hindi makatarungang sistema ng tunay na teroristang gobyernong Duterte, para po sa Migrante-Europe, sila po ay mga martir at ang kanilang walang kapantay na paglilingkod sa mamamayang Pilipino at nakakatiyak po tayo na ang kanilang mga naging gawain at responsibilidad ay malapit din sa puso at misyon ng ating Panginoon HesuKristo: na ang bawat isa ay magkaroon ng buhay na ganap at kasiyasiya. 

Ang sabi nga ng bayaning Andres Bonifacio, ‘Aling pag-ibig pa ang hihigit kaya, sa pagka dalisay at pagkadakila, tulad ang pag-ibig sa tinubuang lupa, aling pag-ibig pa, wala na nga wala.’

Ang buhay at paglilingkod na inialay sa sambayang Pilipino ng ating mga martir ay magsisilbing binhi ng pakikibaka at inspirayon sa mga mamamayang patuloy na titindig at makikibaka hindi lamang upang mapatalsik sa poder ang gobyernong Duterte kundi upang tuluyan ng gupuin ang malapyudal at malakolonyal na lipunang Pilipino na pinaghaharian ng demonyong tagapagtaguyod ng imperyalismo, burakrata kapitalismo at pyudalismo. 

Makibaka, Huwag Matakot!

Fr Herbert Fadriquela
Chairperson
Migrante-Europe
March 10, 2021

Migrante-Europe strongly condemns the raid by government forces on a Lumad Bakwit school at the University of San Carlos-Talamban Campus in Cebu city, resulting in the arrest of 25 people, including 2 teachers and 2 Lumad elders.

Migrante-Europe stands with the Lumads who are under attack because of their strong opposition against plunder of the environment and development aggression in their communities the form of mineral extraction; land-use conversion of ancestral land into corporate-agribusiness producing cash-crops for export and food that do not address the food security of the Filipino people; illegal logging by big foreign and local businesses that are made sacred and protected by the Duterte government. The Lumads of Mindanao and other indigenous peoples in many parts of the country have been victims of violence through intensified operations of the military in their communities; rampant red-tagging and vilifying of their community leaders and members; desperately filing of trumped up charges in court; illegal raids; and extra-judicial killings.

Today, government security forces who are constitutionally mandated to protect the Filipino people has once again wield its iron fist rule by perpetuating the same attack and persecution to our Lumad brothers and sisters in remote villages and communities even as they seek sanctuary in the cities.

Through the raid of the Lumad Bakwit School in Cebu City in the guise of rescue operation using the parents of the indigenous students, the fascist Duterte government once again showed its divide and rule tactic of creating an atmosphere of disunity among the community and family household of indigenous peoples. Migrante-Europe, however believes that such a ploy will never succeed because the rights to land, resources and livelihood of every indigenous people is the greatest unifying interest of the indigenous peoples community who fully understand that the people and community that are united will never be defeated.

We call on the Filipino diaspora around the world to unite! Let us journey in solidarity with our indigenous peoples in the defense of the their ancestral lands and their right to determine their community development.
 
Hands Off Environmental Activists!
Hands Off Lumad rights defenders!
Makibaka! Wag Matakot!

Rodney Pasion
Secretary General
Migrante-Europe
February 15 2021

Migrante-Europe strongly condemns the attacks of the Philippine government security forces aided by a judicial court against the Tumandok in Tapaz, Capiz and Calinog, Iloilo in the island of Panay that resulted to summarily executions of 9 persons and the arrest of 17 others on December 30, 2020. 

Every day, the Tumandok and many indigenous peoples leaders and organizations in the Philippines feel that they are at the mercy of the government and its armed forces. The Tumandok and indigenous peoples organizations are constantly being monitored by the government security forces and local government units especially on how they stand on issues that caused the loss of their sources of livelihood and the displacement of their communities from their ancestral domain due to development aggression such mining and extractive industries, construction of dams, land use conversion of their ancestral lands into multi-national agri-business corporations, etc. 

Filipino migrants in Europe and around the world can easily relate and fully understand the current situation of Tumandok and other indigenous peoples of being uprooted from their ancestral lands because many of us Filipino migrants were forced to leave our family, our community, our beloved country in our hope and dreams of providing bright future to our love ones. Like the Tumandok and other indigenous peoples communities whose mineral-rich ancestral lands are target for exploitation and plunder by the Philippine-government backed greedy corporations, Filipino migrants are milking cows of the government thru state exactions of the corrupt-ridden and tyrant Duterte regime. 

Today, the number of Filipino migrants that had lost hope to the anti-people president are increasing and growing day by day. The political promise made by Duterte almost 5 years ago for creation of jobs in the home country and to address forced migration and put basic changes to the life situation of Indigenous peoples and Filipino migrants and the Filipino people in general never came into reality. The changes that most of our kababayans are confronted with everyday especially in the home country are the worsening human rights violations, unbridled corruption, plunder of economy and destruction of environment, selective justice system, total submission of the Philippine government to the wishes of its US and Chinese masters. 

Mga kababayan, we can no longer find justice and peace as long as the Duterte government is in Malacanang. Hence, we call on the Filipino people back home and in our host countries here in Europe to unite. We call on our friends and allies and all justice and peace-loving European individuals and organizations for solidarity support and be with us as we confront the tyrant Duterte until victory! 

Justice for Tumandok Massacre Victims!

Itigil ang mga atake sa Pambansang Minorya!

Itigil ang Pamamaslang! 

Defend the Ancestral lands and the right to self-determination of Indigenous Peoples!

Makibaka! Huwag Matakot!

Fr Herbert Fadriquela

Chair

Migrante-Europe

January 26, 2021

We at Migrante Austria raise our fists on International Labor Day 2020 to salute the workers of the world, who continually shed sweat and blood for the rest of society.

The most impoverished, marginalised and excluded groups who do not have access to good quality basic goods and services: food, housing, basic amenities like water and energy, health services, education and social protection are the most vulnerable during this crisis. We call attention to the conditions of undocumented migrants who were already vulnerable even before the outbreak. They have no access to social and health services and more often than not, they are excluded from government policies in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

The COVID-19 pandemic has inevitably exposed the deep-rooted inequalities that exist within countries and globally. The endless weeks of layoffs and lockdowns have made clear that poor and working-class bear the brunt of the crisis.

• Accessible health services to all regardless of our jobs and immigration status
• Protection of labour and human rights, job security and from discrimination
• Inclusion of all migrants and refugees in all national, regional and international policies addressing COVID-19.
• Socialized health care program for all people and fight against neoliberal agenda privatising health care system
• End to militarization and fascism

In the case of the Philippines, we see that the Labor Export Policy of the Philippine government has, for decades now, systematically  and mandatorily made millions of Filipinos slaves abroad. Owing to this policy, thousands are leaving the country everyday. Our migrant workers should be considered heroes, the dollars they send contribute to the economy and help finance the expenses the past and the present administrations.

The lives of Filipino migrants are characterized by uncertainty at this time. Keeping alive the family left in the Philippines is a big problem. Lockdown is catastrophic because there is no financial assistance and systematic plan. The president of the Philippines held a press conference but nothing substantial came out of it – only intimidation, swearing and lies!

What the people want to know is: WHERE IS THE HELP!? WHERE ARE THE BILLIONS THAT HAVE BEEN CORRUPTED!? WHERE IS MASS TESTING? WHERE IS THE CONCRETE GOVERNMENT PLAN?

1. Hence, we call on President Duterte and his government agencies to provide financial relief and medical attention to all OFWs under quarantine who were sent home. Without financial aid and medical attention for OFW’s, quarantine shelters are nothing but plain detention facilities. They have also  families to support and without any income, the hunger and hardships being experienced by their loved ones add up to their distress, and

2. The Duterte government is hell-bent on mandatorily extracting Philhealth collections even at this period of crisis. Its terrible greed is more than likely to outlast this pandemic. In this light, we demand to stop extracting collections on  Philhealth, OEC , SSS contributions, OWWA fee, POEA documentation fee, etc.

3. We support the workers’ major demands for the Labor Day protest such as: Solusyong Medikal, Hindi Militar and Ayudang Sapat Para Sa Lahat, Mass Testing, Hindi Mass Arrest.

4. Further, we call on the government to provide immediate relief to all workers as only about 300,000 were given financial aid out of 2million displaced workers!from the President’s report on the 5th week of ECQ,

5. We also underscore the need for income guarantee for all workers, as millions do not have income with the prevailing ‘no work, no pay’ system!

6. In this light, “ECQ or no ECQ, tuloy ang Laban! No threat of Martial Law will stop us from reaching out to the largest sector of workers. We will make sure Duterte will hear the loudest bang of our hammers and the clamor of workers across the country!. We are ready to hold noise barrages in their respective homes and localities.