MANILA, Philippines – The national alliance GABRIELA welcomes reports of possible transfer of Mary Jane Veloso from Indonesia to the Philippines as a positive development in the 14-year struggle for justice for the Filipino trafficking victim. The women’s group demands Marcos Jr. to pursue all diplomatic channels to secure her transfer and ultimately grant her clemency upon return to Philippine soil.
“Matagal nang ipinaglalaban ng mga kababaihan at mga migranteng Pilipino ang kalayaan ni Mary Jane. Ang posibilidad ng kanyang paglipat sa Pilipinas ay bunga ng patuloy na pakikibaka ng mamamayang Pilipino,” said Clarice Palce, Secretary General of GABRIELA.
The case of Mary Jane Veloso starkly illustrates the plight of countless Filipino women forced to seek work abroad due to the lack of decent and regular jobs in the country. Like many others, she fell victim to human trafficking syndicates that prey on desperate women from impoverished communities.
“Mary Jane is not a criminal – she is a victim of human trafficking and the government’s labor export policy that pushes our women to take desperate measures to support their families,” Palce emphasized.
GABRIELA maintains that Mary Jane deserves clemency on humanitarian grounds, given her status as a trafficking victim and the absence of death penalty in the Philippines. We demand Marcos Jr. to secure her transfer through available legal mechanisms and ultimately granting her freedom to reunite with her family.
“The Filipino people have not forgotten Mary Jane. Her case represents the continuing struggle of Filipino women against trafficking, poverty, and injustice. Now is the time for concrete action to bring her home,” Palce concluded.
GABRIELA call on all women’s organizations and advocates to remain vigilant and continue the campaign for Mary Jane’s freedom. The fight for justice continues until she is finally reunited with her loved ones. ###
Tagumpay na naidaos ang One Billion Rising 2023 sa ilang Tsapter ng Migrante Europe, malinaw at napapanahon ang dalang panawagan at tema ngayon taon Rise For Freedom.
Sa ginanap na taunang programa ng Migrante Cyprus kasama ang mga ilang kababayan, matingkad ang kanilang panawagan sa ating Gobyerno para sa agarang repatriation ng isa nating kababayan kasabay nito ang panawagan nang hustisya sa isang kababayan na pinaslang at inabuso sa Kuwait.
Pinangunahan din ng Gabriela Rome ang OBR 2023 sa Roma Italya, matagumpay na naidaos ang maikling programa sa pamamagitan pagsayaw at pagbibigay ng solidarity message ng ilang Organisasyon kasabay nito ang panawagan : Stop The Killings in the Philippines.
The Human Rights violations in the Philippines have also affected members, collaborators and volunteers of PFTC, partner organization of Altromercato since 1991, on several occasions.
Agreeing with the article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights – “Everyone has the right to freedom of expression” – and with article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights – “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression”, we appeal for the charges to be dropped against the 42 Human Rights activists arrested on May 1, 2020 by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Iloilo City and released on bail on May 2nd, 2020.
The activists were only exercising their Constitutional Rights by meeting at the Jaro Cathedral to demand justice for Jory Porquia, killed at dawn on April 30th, 2020. Altromercato strongly condemned this terrible murder and asks that executors and instigators be brought to justice. On April 30th, 2020, the name of Jory Porquia was added to the long list of victims of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines.
Jory Porquia, longtime activist for the defense of the environment and Human Rights, was also the architect who designed the mills for the organic Mascobado sugar, produced and exported by PFTC. Since 1991 Altromercato sells PFTC’s Mascobado sugar in Altromercatoshops and in several supermarkets throughout Italy and in some European countries.
Jory’s is yet another murder perpetrated to affect the activity of PFTC (Panay Fair Trade Center), a strong network of 5 cooperatives, whose activities benefit over 10,000 families on Panay island in the Philippines. PFTC’s “fault” is having freed many small farmers from the dependence and exploitation of landowners. Not only has PFTC improved the living conditions of more than thousands families on Panay island, but they have also carried out empowerment and awareness-raising programs, highlighting social and political issues and working for a democratic and sustainable development.
The arrest of the forty-two peaceful activists, Elmer Forro, Mary Adrivene B. Dalida, Julrod Prino, Meriam Agbas, Mars Geraneo, Vivian Asong Apolinar, Alma Sumague, Rea D. Ogoy, Ana Marie G. Primalion, Ruth O. Alinsangao, Jocelyn S. Gabion, Pergerie P. Panila, Sheba Q. Babac, Dave I. Cordero, Sharon Rose Nabua, Tessie C. Garachico, Inecitas A. Ruedas, Ruben P. Obrero, Ronalyn G. Pronelos, Bonifacio M. Casipong, Edgardo A. Salarda, Saturnino Pitos, Jose Ely Garachico, Valiant Pabelona, Arjie Ertaleza, Krisma Nina Porquia, Crimson Labinghisa, Gabyel Rei T. Guillen, Randy Vergara, Marites Pinolan, Jean Tondo, Paz Garachico, Kervin Bonganciso, Bryan Bosque, MC Mace Sulayao, Marco Sulayao, Nelson Licoto, Ma. Preva Lhuz Cerdanio, John Marlon Jacar, Arnel Catedrilla, Lucia Fernandez, Francisco, Angelo Karlo Guillen, is a violation of citizens’ Constitutional Right to peaceful assembly and to freedom of expression.
These events occurred on the same day workers worldwide celebrated International Labour Day, and while the Philippines and the whole world are in the grip of the Covid19 pandemic. In compliance with the protocols to contrast the Covid19 pandemic, the activists duly observed “social distancing” rules and were exercising their Constitutional Right to a peaceful assembly, affirming their freedom of speech and expression.
The Bill of Rights guaranteed by the Philippine Constitution in 1987 establishes that: “No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.”
Sign this appeal in order to ensure that the forty-two peaceful Human Rights activists will be cleared, thus permitting them to go back to their work, their duties and their commitments to Human Rights.
The International Migrants Alliance – Europe (IMA-Europe) – a grassroots-led regional formation of organizations of and migrants, immigrants, refugees and displaced peoples – joins the world in its fight to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic exposed not only the flawed global health care systems of even the highly industrialized countries and their satellite states, but also laid bare the bankruptcy of capitalist neoliberalism and the need for system change. The inevitable collapse of financial markets and loss of jobs, personal incomes and life savings are causing untold anguish and panic around the world. A deep global depression is imminent.
file foto of Jon Bustamante
We salute all the health workers and other frontliners, substantial numbers of whom coming from migrant and immigrant communities, who daily expose themselves to the risk of infection to serve those in need. We express our highest respect for those who have already fallen in the course of their service, and we mourn for the tens of thousands who have succumbed to the sickness.
Among the victims of this pandemic are destination countries with a dense population of migrants, refugees and displaced people. Grassroots organizations and their service providers from these communities are calling for access to social and health services and protection for these vulnerable groups most often overlooked by government policies responding to the COVID-19 crisis.
Many migrants, refugees and displaced peoples are also left to their own devices to procure personal protective equipment that can protect and safeguard their health, if they even have the means to get it. With the ‘users pay’ in place even on health services, they shoulder the expenses for individual protection given their meager salary and the increasing support they have to send to their families back home who are also facing similar difficulties due to the pandemic and government policies or lack of it.
In these difficult times, especially worrisome are the conditions of undocumented migrants who were already vulnerable even before the outbreak. Members of the IMA-Europe have reported that undocumented migrants in Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, Belgium and in other European countries where there is a highly militarized response to the crisis, fear being accosted and/or arrested on the streets for not having the proper identification, stay and work permits if they need to go to work or buy their provisions. This compounds their fear and anxiety of losing substantial ‘no-work no-pay’ income and the threat of losing their jobs.
file foto of Jon Bustamante
But because of the pandemic, there is now an even more urgent crisis in the shortage of health workers and a dire need for them in many European countries including Germany, Spain, Italy and the UK. Deals are being brokered between many sending countries and EU member states to bring in nurses and health workers, farm and other frontline workers in order to respond to the shortage. And yet when they are brought in to do the same kind of job as local workers, they are paid less. They are also required to go through stringent requirements before they are given resident and citizenship rights. At the same time, discrimination, xenophobia and hate crimes are being fanned by rightist groups especially against Asian migrant and refugee communities who are unfairly profiled as virus carriers.
In the UK, Ireland and Spain, undocumented migrant workers and asylum-seekers, including those with professional medical training are already being recruited to work in care homes and hospitals in response to the medical emergency. In recognition of the vulnerable situation of these workers, Portugal*1 granted full citizenship rights to all migrants and refugees to allow them access to health care and financial aid during the pandemic. A similar call for temporary regularization of undocumented migrants is being made by French parliamentarians.
As we face the pandemic, we need to strengthen the solidarity among migrants, refugees and displaced people with workers and the local population in receiving countries and in the sending countries. We need to continue the fight not only against the virus but also against forced migration, capitalist exploitation, and imperialist plunder and aggression.
file foto of Jun Bustamante
We need to call on policy-makers to ensure that during this pandemic, vulnerable communities of migrants, refugees and displaced people are protected and afforded social and welfare assistance in recognition of their sacrifices and contribution towards alleviating the current global health crisis. The International Migrants Alliance (IMA)-Europe calls on all solidarity allies and friends of migrants, refugees and displaced peoples to demand –
– Regularization and full citizenship rights for all migrant workers, refugees and displaced peoples in the pandemic frontlines of Europe, ensuring their access to equal workers’ rights and social and welfare benefits, NOW!
– Equal access to health care, social and welfare assistance to communities of migrant, refugee and displaced peoples during the pandemic!
– The right to family reunification of migrants, refugees and displaced people!
– Universal right to health and public health for all and not for private profit!
– Bailout WORKERS, not multinational corporations!
– Sign and ratify ILO ( International Labor Organization) Domestic Workers Convention 189!
LONG LIVE INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY!
International Migrants Alliance (IMA) – Europe Zaria Galliano Chairperson
*1 Schengen Visa Info, 2020. Portugal Grants Migrants and Asylum Seekers Full Citizenship Rights During COVID-19 Outbreak, www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/portugal-grants-migrants-and-asylum-seekers-full-citizenship-rights-during-covid-19/ Accessed, 13 April 2020.
The migrants (regular and irregular), refugees, asylum seekers and displaced peoples are the most vulnerable population in our global society.
The current COVID-19 pandemic moved us to organize the April 28 Coalition (an alliance of 65 different groups and delegates championing migrants and refugees welfare) to pursue the collective call for the “Regularization and/or granting of full citizenship rights for all migrants (regular and irregular), refugees, asylum seekers and displaced peoples.”
The following are our calls for European legislators/lawmakers, to:
(1) Legislate the regularization and/or granting of full citizenship rights for all migrants (regular and irregular), refugees, asylum seekers and displaced peoples.
(2) Ensure the provision of health assistance and other social services regardless of immigration status and address homelessness and food insecurity.
(3) Stop the immigration detention and deportation of individuals and families.
(4) End the global inequalities—within and among nations.
On 22 April 2020, PhilHealth Circular No. 2020-0014 entitled “Premium Contribution and Collection of Payment of Overseas Filipino Member” was officially made public. This is in fulfillment of President Duterte’s Universal Healthcare Law which was signed on 20 February 2019 which sets mandatory coverage to all Filipinos under the country’s National Health Insurance Program. At this time, an online petition initiated by OFWs opposing Philhealth’s mandatory collection has already garnered 237,780 signatures and is poised to muster more support in the coming days.
Here are just some of the reasons why OFWs and many Filipino migrants have expressed strong disapproval:
The mandatory 3% is only the first phase of a tiered payment computation which is set to increase year by year reaching 5% in 2024. This is in addition to all the other enervating state exactions imposed by the Philippine government.
Citing Hongkong as an example where OFWs have a minimum salary of HK$ 4630 (Php 30,095), the total contribution for 2020 would amount to HK$ 1,667 which is equivalent to Php 10,835.50 (Php30,095 x 0.03 x 12 months). By 2024 and onwards, upon implementation of the 5% increase on the monthly contribution, this would spike up to HK$2,778 or Php 18,057 yearly.
This increase overburdens OFWs who are already troubled by retrenchments and loss of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic and recession. An overwhelming number of OFWs are not even covered by President Duterte’s DOLE-AKAP cash aid program and repatriated OFWs have been crying out on the government for steady and efficient amelioration.
OFWs are already covered by existing insurance and healthcare programs in their host countries which renders Duterte’s mandatory Philhealth coverage as useless for Filipino migrants abroad. Why charge them yet again?
Since regular contribution to Philhealth is part of OEC requirements, no OEC will be issued to OFWs who are unable to complete their Philhealth payments. Duterte broke his campaign promise of removing the OEC requirement.
Members who fail to make payment after the due date will be required to pay all missed contributions with monthly compounded interest.
Corruption in Philhealth: President Duterte himself has claimed last year that a whopping Php 154 Billion has been lost to Philhealth’s ghost patients and deliveries funneled mainly to profit-oriented private healthcare facilities. Why are OFWs and Filipino migrants being forced to shoulder government losses caused by corruption?
Subsidizing private profit: While underfunded public healthcare and medical facilities are fast deteriorating, mandatory Philhealth collections are bound to benefit profit-oriented private healthcare facilities as public hospitals are engulfed by the government’s privatization program.
Our Demands:
Stop the mandatory Philhealth premium exaction.
Enforce a moratorium on all state exactions at this period of the COVID-19 pandemic and recession.
Remove punitive penalties.
Junk OEC.
Establish a genuine universal health care program through free medical and health services.
Enhance and strengthen the public health care system in the Philippines.
Instead of building more pro-people infrastructures for public health services and establishing a genuine universal health care program where medical and health services are free, President Duterte is clinging on to neoliberal economic policies that extort money from the public to fill the coffers of big private entities. This in itself is legalized theft that preys on our already overburdened Filipino migrants. Our opposition to this unjust state exaction, will not merely be a writing on a piece of paper. Migrante International encourages everyone to join our kalampagan and other forms of online protests to oppose the Duterte government’s mandatory Philhealth exaction.
We, Filipino migrants, affixed our organizations name herewith, to signify our support to the content and demands written on this position paper and to express our strong and collective opposition to the mandatory collection of Philhealth contributions.
Signed:
Migrante International
Migrante Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Gabriela Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Migrante Qatar
Gabriela United Arab Emirates
Migrante Seattle, USA
Migrante Portland, USA
Migrante Napa-Solano, USA
Migrante Daly City, USA
PAWIS East Bay, USA
PAWIS San Jose, USA
Migrante Los Angeles, USA
Migrante Long Beach, USA
Migrante Orange County, USA
Migrante New York, USA
Migrante New Jersey, USA
Migrante Youth New York, USA
Migrante Chicago, USA
Migrante Washington D.C., USA
Migrante Manitoba, Canada
Migrante BC, Canada,
Migrante Alberta, Canada
Migrante Ontario, Canada
Migrante Ottawa, Canada
Alberta Care Workers Association, Canada
Kabisig Society of Fort Saskatchewan
Philippine Migrant Society of Canada (PMSC)
PINAY, Canada
Association of Filipino Parents, Quebec, Canada
Filipino Indigenous Association of Quebec, Canada
Aklanon Association
Anakbayan Europe
Campaign for the Human Rights in the Philippines, United Kingdom
Europe Network for Justice and Peace in the Philippines
Federation of Domestic Workers Association (FDWA), UK
Filipino Ecumenical Migrants Ministry – IFI,
FOA-Au Pair, Denmark
Gabriela Germany
Gabriela London
Gabriela Roma
Gabriela Switzerland
Kabalikat Netherlands
Kanulungan Filipino Consortium, UK
Makabayang Samahang Pilipino (MkSP), Netherlands
Migrante Austria
Migrante Bologna, Italy
Migrante Como, Italy
Migrante Denmark
Migrante Europe
Migrante Firenze, Italy
Migrante Iceland
Migrante Ireland
Migrante Mantova
Migrante Milano
Migrante Netherlands Amsterdam
Migrante Netherlands Den Haag
Migrante Utrecht
Migrante UK
Migrante Zurich
Milan OFW Kapitbisig
Nagkakaisang Pilipino sa Pransya
Pinay sa Holland – Gabriela
Promotion of Church People’s Repsonse Europe
Samahan ng mga Kabataan sa Netherlands (SAMAKA-NL)
Sentro Pilipino Chaplaincy (SPC)
Ugnayang Pilipino sa Belgium (UPB)
Umangat Migrante
The Right Reverend Antonio N. Ablon, Iglesia Filipina Independiente
Fr. Aris Miranda, Camillan Task Force
AOTEAROA – NEW ZEALAND
MIGRANTE Aotearoa New Zealand
MIGRANTE Aotearoa – Palmerston North
MIGRANTE Aotearoa – Christchurch
PINAY Aotearoa – New Zealand
Migrante Builders Aotearoa
Union Network of Migrants (UNEMIG), AUSTRALIA
MIGRANTE Australia
Lingap Migrante – Western Sydney Australia
Migrante North Hornsby, Sydney Australia
Migrante South West – Sydney
Philippines Australia Women’s Association
Migrante Kultura
Migrante Melbourne
Migrante Melbourne East
Migrante Melbourne North – Samahang Tatak Pinoy
Migrante Melbourne Northeast
Migrante Melbourne West
Migrante Perth, Australia
Advance League of People’s Artists (ALPA), Australia
AnakBayan Sydney
AnakBayan Melbourne
BAYAN Australia
Gabriela Australia
Gabriela Greater Sydney
Gabriela Victoria
Gabriela Perth
Philippines Studies Network in Australia (PINAS)
Promotion for Church People’s Response (PCPR) Australia
United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK)
Abra Migrant Workers Welfare Association
Association of Concerned Filipinos
Cuyapo OFW Association Hong Kong
Filipino Friends
Filipino Lesbian Organization
Filipino Migrant Domestic Workers Union
Filipino Migrants Association
Filipino Women Migrant Association
Friends of Bethune House
Likha Filipino Migrants Cultural Organization
Luzviminda Migrante
Migrante Naguilian
Migrante Pier
Migrante Shatin
Migrante Tamar
Migrante Tsing Ti
Migrante Tsuen Wan
Migrante Yuen Long
Migranteng Artista ng Bayan
Organic Cultural and Environmental Organization
Philippine Independent Church Choir
Pinatud A Saleng Ti Umili (PSU)
Pangasinan Organization for Welfare, Empowerment and Rights
Samahang Migrante
Sta Maria Migrants Association
Women of Philippine Independent Church – WOPIC Antique
Filipino Migrant Workers’ Union (FMWU)
FMWU City Hall Chapter
FMWU Chater Garden Chapter
FMWU Chater Road Chapter
Abra Tinguian Ilocano Society
Annak ti Maeng Tubo-HK
Baggak Cultural Group
Bangued Migrants Workers Association
Bucay Migrants Workers
Bucloc Overseas Workers Association
Ganagan San Juan Association
Lacub Migrants
Lagangilang Overseas Association
Langiden Migrants Organization
Lapaz Migrants Association
Licuan-Baay HK Association
Maeng Tribe of Abra Luba-HK
Malibcong Migrants Association
Timpuyog Ti Tayum
BAYAN Hong Kong & Macau
Cordillera Alliance Hong Kong (CORALL)
GABRIELA Hong Kong
Gabriela Hong Kong Bank
Filguys Association
Filipino Lesbians Organization (FILO)
Promotion of Church Peoples’ Response (PCPR) – Hong Kong
KAFIN Saitama – Migrante
MIGRANTE Japan
MIGRANTE Macau
KASAMMAKO – Katipunan ng mga Samahan ng Migranteng Manggawa sa Korea
New Era Foundation
Pag-Iribang Bicolnon in Korea
TERESA
Osan Migrants Centre
MIGRANTE Taiwan
ACTION – Association of Concerned Filipinos in Thailand
Como, Italy – Three members of Migrante-Europe, Stella Matutina of ICHRP-EU (Germany), Victor Salloman of Umangat Rome (Italy), and Prof. Alex Pasion of Migrante Como (Italy), spoke up in front of the of the numerous parishioners during the Liturgical Celebration for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, last Sunday, 08 December.
Through the invitation of Don Giusto Della Valle, the Rector of Parrocchia San Martino di Rebbio, Como, the three representatives of Migrante Europe mentioned the two historical events that took place in the Parish: 2nd Assembly IMA Europe and 2nd Congress Migrante Europe.
Prof. Alex Passion (Migrante Como)
Alex, a university professor, shared the significance of the International Migrant’s Alliance (IMA) and Migrante Europe Congress to migrants, refugees and displaced peoples. He explained further that poverty is the root cause of forced migration of the majority of Filipinos. Violent conflicts forced people to attempt dangerous border crossings, while the impact of climate change is already being felt in many parts of the world, as prolonged droughts, desertification, and more frequent natural calamities are already eroding livelihoods and leading to displacement. He also reminded the parishioners not to accept the current narratives coming from the right-wing governments including those from Italy, that migrants are a threat to national security and employment (job-stealing).
Victor Salloman (Umangat Rome)
Victor spoke about the Photo Exhibit of the victims of the Drug War and how Duterte’s “drug war” is affecting the Filipino people of which mostly the poor. Stella shared how everyone was not safe, including church people. At least three Italian missionaries were killed defending the rights of indigenous peoples in the Philippines, and she also shared the dangers of red-tagging of genuine defenders of human rights in the country.
The “Speak Up Event” on Migration and Human Rights Situation in the Philippines that took place in the Parrocchia San Martino was warmly accepted by the congregation, and thanks to the generosity of the Rector Don Giusto Della Valle and the community.
The Speak Up Event and the Photo Exhibits in the Parish were organized by the Migrante Milan Como in collaboration with Migrante Europe and IMA Europe.
Sa ngalan po ng UMANGAT-MIGRANTE, GABRIELA ROME, ITALIAN FILIPINO FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION, kami po ay lubos na nagpapasalamat sa lahat ng mga sumuporta at dumalo sa ating isinagawang pagpapalabas ng TAO PO.
Sana po ay patuloy nyo kaming samahan sa patuloy ng panawagan ng pagpapahinto sa mga nagaganap na Extra Judicial Killings sa ating Bansa at paghingi ng katarungan para sa lahat ng biktima ng extra judicial killings.
STOP THE KILLINGS! JUSTICE FOR ALL THE VICTIMS OF EXTRA JUDICIAL KILLLINGS!
The Migrante in Austria adds its voice to expresses disgust to the conduct of the 2019 election. Reports have reached us of dubious technical glitches, a portent of the Duterte administration’s evil maneuvering. There was a 7-hour lull in showing the public the result of the computerized counting. But when the COMELEC presented the result, early morning of on Tuesday, May 14, they showed a 92.89 percent completion of counting only to show an hour later a 49.76 percent completion. There are other reports of technical glitch. More than 1,600 SD cards were found defective at the time of election. Also, there are 961 vote-counting machines reported defective.
Social media accounts of our families and friends who participated in the last election have posted their grievances. One of the trends of grievances is a report that they received the election ticket but it reflects the candidate they did not vote for. Another is of report that the party-list they have elected reflected zero-votes on the precincts where they casted their vote.
Within the constitutional framework, it is through the election, as a democratic process that the choices of the people to leadership post are registered and heard. It has an element of sanctity because what makes a human is their right to self-determination, and exercise of free-will. Such reports of election rigging are a denial of the Filipino people’s right to participate in this democratic process. We will not let this pass sitting down. For many OFWs like us here in Austria and Hungary, election is the tool and mechanism to speak and be listened upon. We desire meaningful change in a hope that one of these days we can confidently go back home assured of food on our tables, free medical services for our aging parents, and free education for our young ones, exactly the very pretexts of our migration.
It is not hard to imagine who is the hand in all of this. Duterte himself reveals himself the master of divisiveness and confusion, and of thievery and murder. He allied himself with criminals and thieves like Imee Marcos, Bong Revilla, Jinggoy Estrada, among others whose Philippine courts of justice have not cleared of graft and corruption charges. He surrounds himself with blood-thirsty yes-men like Bato dela Rosa, Bong Go, Albayalde among others. His core is also revealed by whom he disenfranchised. He halted the peace talks between GRP and NDFP. He launched fake news portals red tagging human rights workers. He killed the dissenting farmers, indigenous peoples, and church people. Those are portentious of election fraud.
The blatant use of government resources to campaign for Duterte’s candidates was coupled with dispatching AFP and PNP to terrorize and harass voters, volunteers and progressive organizations campaigning for Makabayan partylists and candidates. Scores of our Makabayan coordinators and campaigners were illegally arrested and killed during the campaign period. This is aim to ensure that no progressive party lists under Makabayan will not get sufficient votes to garner seats in Congress.
On the day of election, the PNP themselves distributed newspapers containing black propaganda against senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares and the Makabayan bloc was a flagrant violation of Election laws.These reveals the kind of man Duterte is. In an attempt to consolidate and monopolize power he resorted to rigging the election. But it is self-serving and only perform to heed the interest of China and the US, to the detriment of the Filipino people whose suffering, and murder has become a normal course in life. No wonder that after the initial result has been counted, many in the Philippines have searched (through google) for places to migrate.
We cannot accept the process and result of this election. This election is dirty, as dirty as the mouth of Duterte. We are joining in the clamour for truth. We add our voices of dissent because the Filipino people and their constitution has fallen victim once again, for many times over to the criminal Duterte administration. We are refusing to be victims this time. We demand accountability.
Furthermore, Migrante Austria will continue to oppose the regime’s state exactions and labor export program. We will also continue to campaign for the Peace Talks being pursued by the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) to address the issues on CASER (Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms) especially the genuine agrarian land reform and national industrialisation. We shall also press on in demanding decent jobs and secured lives back home.
Our defense of democratic rights does not end after the casting of our ballots. We will pursue strengthening the will of the Filipino to fight for full national independence, democracy, development through genuine agrarian land reform, national industrialisation, social justice and cultural progress. Further, fostering the solidarity and mutual support between the Filipino people and other peoples to unite in defeating and resisting Duterte’s tyranny!
Trabaho sa Pinas, hindi sa labas!
Stop the attacks!
Oust the US-Duterte regime!
Reference:
Michael Garlan
Secretary General
Migrante Austria
17 May 2019
Migrante Europe joins the global protest to condemn the barbaric killings of 14 farmers during the pre-dawn raids of Philippine National Police in Canlaon City and Manjuyod and Sta. Catalina towns in Negros province last Saturday 30 March 2019.
No one deserves to be killed in such a barbaric, inhuman and perverted manner! Not to these helpless poor farmers! We demand an immediate independent investigation and immediate freedom for those arrested!
Among the victims of the bloody massacre were Edgardo Avelino, 59, farmer, a resident of Sitio Carmen, Brgy. Panubigan, and chairperson of Hukom (Hugpong Kusog Mag-uuma sa Canlaon); his younger brother Ismael Avelino, 53 habal-habal (tricycle) driver, a resident of Sitio Carmen, Brgy. Panubigan and a member of Hukom and the Nagahuisang Mag-uuma sa Panubigan Namapa; Melchor Pañares, 67, farmer, a resident of Sitio Tigbahi, Brgy. Bayog; and his son Mario Pañares, 46, also a farmer; Rogelio Ricomuno, 52, farmer, a resident of Sitio Manggata, Brgy. Masulog-1; Ricky Ricomuno, 28, farmer; Gonzalo Rosales, 47, farmer and a resident of Proper Brgy. Pula; and Genes Palmares, 54, farmer, a resident of Proper Brgy. Aquino.
Habal-habal driver and peasant leader Franklen Lariosaand Anoj Enojo Rapada were killed in Sta. Catalina town. In Manjuyod,among those killed were Velentin Acabal of Brgy. Kandabong and Sonny Palagtiw of Brgy. Pansiao, both barangay captains in their villages; Steve Arapoc and Manulo Martin.
Fifteen others were arrested, including local Gabriela leader Corazon Javier, and Azucena Garubat, treasurer of Nagahuisang Mag-uuma sa Panubigan.
But in interviews with human rights workers, the families of the killed and arrested described scenes like what Metro Manila’s poor have witnessed in three years of President Rodrigo Duterte’s harsh crackdown on street peddlers and users of narcotics.
Filipinos in Milan
Police officers had their faces covered and, in at least one attack, wore eye shades in the dead of night. They ordered other people out of their homes. Suspects were already cornered, unarmed, and then shot dead as soon as kin were out of sight.
The husband of the arrested treasurer of Nagahuisang Mag-uuma sa Panubigan, Azucena Garubat, claimed cops planted two grenade launchers in their home. The local office of rights group Karapatan gave ABS-CBN News access to their notes.
San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, whose diocese covers the affected towns, said some of those killed belong to the church’s mission station in Masulog. A lay minister of Canlaon parish was among those arrested and some were not shown warrants.
OFW in Belgium
End the harassment, persecution, illegal arrest and killing of human rights defenders, organized farmers and workers. Immediate freedom for those illegally arrested!
The crackdown against farmers under Duterte government intensifies.
More than 50 human rights defenders – mostly peasants or indigenous persons – have been killed since President Duterte assumed office in June 2016.
On August 23, 2017, Mr. Roger Timboco, a member of the peasant group KAMMAO (Kahugpungan sa mga Maguuma sa Maco ComVal), was shot dead in Mawab, Compostela Valley. Four days later, a member of Abante, a local organization of small-scale miners, Mr. Lomer Gerodias, was shot dead in Maragisan, also in Compostela Valley. Both killings were believed to have been carried out by Philippines soldiers and two others, Mr. Jezreel Arrabis and his wife Ms. Delia Arrabis, both members of the Farmers Association in Davao City on September 2, 2017.
In October 2018, armed men opened fire on a group of sugar cane farmers who were occupying part of the plantation in the city of Sagay, Negros Occidental killing nine, and then set three of the bodies on fire. Those who were killed were members of a farmer’s union, the National Federation of Sugarcane Workers; among them were three women and two minors.
UMANGAT Migrante Rome
The “Sagay 9” massacre was the eight massacres under the Duterte government, according to the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (Peasant Movement of the Philippines). This horrifying incident brought the number of farmer victims of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines in the last two and a half years to 172, 109 of whom were victims of extrajudicial killings related to land struggles and conflicts. Thirty-three of the 109 were killed in 2018, making the Philippines the deadliest country in the world for people fighting for their right to land and resources.
Justice for Negros 14! We stand with the farmers! Bigas hindi bala! For reference:
Revd Fr. Herbert Fadriquela Jr. Chairperson, Migrante Europe [email protected]
