“It is part of my religious mission to stand with the poor” – Sr. Patricia Fox.
Mga pahayag mula kay Sr. Pat, mother superior ng Our Lady of Sion Congregation sa Pilipinas. Kamakailan lamang ay naging laman siya ng mga balita sa loob at labas ng bansa dahil sa iligal na pagdakip at pagkulong ng Bureau of Immigration sa kanya.
Si Sr. Pat ay 27 taon nang nagsasagawa ng kanyang missionary work sa hanay ng mga magsasaka at katutubo sa Gitnang Luzon. Pinaparatangan siya ngayong ‘undesirable alien’ ng gubyernong Duterte dahil umano sa kanyang pagsali sa mga ‘political activity’. Ngayon ay nahaharap siya sa posibleng deportasyon. Naglabas na ng kautusan ang Bureau of Immigration na kailangan ng umalis ng bansa ni Sr. Pat sa loob ng 30 araw.
Nakadaupang palad ko si Sr. Pat taong 2014. Ito ang panahong nagkaroon ako ng interes na tumungo sa Hacienda Luisita sa Tarlac upang alamin ang tunay na kalagayan ng mga magsasaka roon. Saaraw ng sabado at linggo kung saan walang trabaho ay nakakadalaw ako sa Hacienda.Minsan sa aking pagbisita ay nataon na nagaganap ang isang Peasant Women International Fact Finding Mission na pinangunahan ng AMIHAN National Federation of Peasant Women at Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura o UMA upang imbestigahan ang direktang pagkamkam sa lupa ng mga Cojuanco-Aquino sa pamamagitan ng tambiolo (raffle draw) lot allocation scheme sa ilalim ng nakaraang gobyerno Aquino.
Ang IFFM ay dinaluhan ng mahigit 20 katao, 8 rito ay observers mula sa iba’t ibang international organizations mula sa mga bansang Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia at Taiwan. Dito ko unang nakita si Sr. Fox. Kapansin-pansin kay Sr. Pat ang pagkamababang loob nito, hindi naiinip sa mga diskusyon na ‘tila palaging kalma at marunong naring magsalita ng tagalog.
Mapalad akong makadaupang palad ang mga taong katulad ni Sr. Pat. Isa sa mga unang taong nagpatunay sa akin, na may mga nilikha sa mundo na handang ialay ang kanilang oras, lakas at talino para iangat ang interes ng mga magsasaka at katutubo, ang uring madalas inaapi sa klase ng sistema o lipunan na mayroon tayo ngayon. Ang kanyang pagsama kung nasaan man ang mga magsasaka at katutubo ay patunay lamang na tinutupad nito ang kanyang sinumpaang tungkulin sa kanyang pananampalataya na kalingain ang mga mahihirap.
Para sa iilan madali lamang manghusga sa kung ano ang pagkatao ni Sr. Pat, madali lamangipagkibit-balikat ang inhustisyang kanyang naranasan sa bayan na kanya mismong minahal lalo na’t kung sa telebisyon at Facebook lamang ang batayan ng kuro-kuro at opinyon. Pero para sa mga taong nakasalamuha ni Sr. Pat at sa mga magsasaka na kanyang walang imbot na pinagsilbihan, hindi matatawaran ang kanyang ipinamalas na pagmamahal para sa mga mamamayang hindi naman niya kadugo o kalahi.
Mabuhay ka Sr. Pat at ang libong taong katulad mo nanagsisilbi sa interes ng mga mahihirap.
Mariing kinukundena ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino sa Pransya (NPSP) ang di-makatarungang deportasyon ng gubyernong Estados Unidos kay Jerome Succor Aba, isang lider Moro at peace advocate sa Pilipinas.
Si Jerome ay ang Vice-Chairperson ng Sandugo (Movement of Moro and Indigenous Peoples for Self-Determination). Kinulong siya ng 28 oras noong ika-17 hanggang ika-18 ng Abril 2018 sa San Francisco International Airport habang pinipigilang makapasok sa loob ng US. Tinanggihan ng mga opisyales ng US ang kanyang karapatang kumausap ng abugado, tinanggihan ding makipag-usap sya sa kanyang mga kaibigan at host sa San Francisco.
Kinumpiska ng US ang kanyang pasaporte at bagahe, ginapos, nilipat-lipat sa limang kulungan, at pinaranas ng pisikal at sikolohikal na pagpapahirap.
Nakatakda sanang dumalo si Jerome sa Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD) for Global Peace with Justice sa Washington DC noong ika-20 hanggang 23 ng Abril. Panauhin din sya sa iba’t ibang pagtitipon sa USA upang magsalita tungkol sa kalagayan ng mamamayan sa Mindanao sa ilalim ng administrasyong Duterte.
Ang pagkulong, pagmamalupit at deportasyon ng US kay Jerome ay pumigil sa pagsisiwalat sa mamamayang Amerikano ng mga kalagayan sa Mindanao. Nilalantad nito ang papel ng USsa kalupitang dinaranas ng pambansang minorya sa Mindanao, laluna bilang resulta ng pambobomba, pagwasak at pagkubkob sa s yudad ng Marawi gamit ang mga armas at hukbo ng US. Daang libong Maranaw ang nawalan ng tahanan at kabuhayan, lumikas at hanggang ngayon ay hindi pinahihintulutan na umuwi.
Kinukundena rin namin ang iligal na pagdakip at pagkulong ng Bureau of Immigration ng Pilipinas kay Sr. Patricia Fox noong ika-16 ng Abril. Si Sr. Pat ay ang Mother Superior ng Our Lady of Sion Congregation sa Pilipinas at 27 taon nang nagsasagawa ng kanyang missionary work sa hanay ng mga magsasaka at katutubo sa Gitnang Luson. Pinaparatangan sya ngayong ‘undersirable alien’ ng gubyernong Duterte dahil umano sa pagsali sa mga ‘political activity’.
Pinalaya si Sr. Pat matapos ang isang araw ng iligal na pagkulong subalit iimbestigahan pa rin diumano ng gubyernong Duterte.
Ang dalawang magkahiwalay na insidenteng ito’y manipestasyon ng makitid-na-pagiisip at kalupitan ng gubyernong Duterte at Trump laban sa mga kumikilos para sa kapakanan ng mahihirap at inaapi. Bilang mga manggagawang migrante, lubos na nakakabahala sa amin ang ganitong mga balita dahil araw-araw din naming kinakaharap ang ganitong panganib. Ang pag-atake kay Jerome at Sr. Pat ay pag-atake rin sa aming mga karapatan, laluna’t nabibilang din kami sa naghihirap at inaaping sektor dito sa Pransya at ang aming pamilya sa Pilipinas.
Kaya naman nakikiisa kami sa iba pang tagapagtanggol ng karapatan sa buong mundo sa pagkundena at sa panawagan para sa hustisya para kina Jerome at Sr. Pat, at para sa iba pang biktima ng paglabag sa karapatang pantao.
Defend Human Rights Advocates!
Stop Harassing Human Rights Defenders!
Resist Crackdowns!
Today, 17th of March 2018, Migrante Europe joins the millions of Filipino migrants and migrant advocacy groups all over the globe marking the Global Day of Action in commemoration of the 23rd Death Anniversary of Flor Contemplacion.
Flor Contemplacion was a Filipina domestic worker who was convicted by a Singaporean court for the death of Filipina worker Delia Maga and Nicholas Huang, the three-year-old son of her employer, on May 4, 1991.
Despite the protests of about 75,000 Filipino workers in Singapore and the millions of Filipino compatriots at home and abroad, the appeals of human rights groups, the pleas of Philippine church leaders, the personal appeal of then President Fidel Ramos, and the presentation of evidence that may prove her innocence, the Singapore government proceeded with the hanging of Flor Contemplacion on 17 March 1995.
Flor Contemplacion’s death exposed the inhumane conditions of many Filipina domestic workers overseas. It further exposed the inability of the Philippine government to defend and protect Filipino workers abroad. The immediate enactment of the Magna Carta for Migrant Workers or Republic Act 8042 in 1995 allowed the Ramos government to save face amidst the social upheaval created by Flor’s hanging.
More than two decades later, hundreds of thousands of Filipino migrant workers, particularly women domestic workers, continue to confront the same issues: brutal treatment from their employers, long hours of work on slave wages, non-existent or barely existing protection by host countries and the Manila government. Many host countries, especially in the Middle East, turn a blind eye to the slave-like treatment of women domestic workers from poor countries.
The so-called Magna Carta for Migrant Workers is nothing but a piece of paper. In reality, protection and security of Filipinos working and living abroad have not improved in any way in the last two decades. The Manila government is more interested in receiving foreign currency from Filipino migrants than in promoting the rights & welfare of its citizens abroad.
As long as the government continues to promote its Labor Export Policy and sell millions of its labor force abroad instead of implementing genuine land reform, creating industries and decent jobs for Filipinos at home, Filipinos are always at risk of suffering the same fate as Flor Contemplacion and many others who were sent homes in coffins.
Ito ang pasalubong natin kay DFA Sec. Cayetano , DOLE Sec. Bello at USEC Mocha Uson, ang ginanap na OFW forum nitong lingo Jan. 28, 2018 ay matagumpay na naipaabot ang ating hinaing at kahilingan kay Sec. Cayetano , Sec. Bello, at napirmahan ang tatlong pahina na naglalaman ng mga mahahalagang isyu na dapat bigyan ng kaukulang pansin at solusyonan ng ating gobyerno.
Hindi rin pinalampas ang pagkakataon ng Migrante Milan para makapagtanong at ipaalala kay Sec. Bello ang usapin sa ibinibida ng gobyerno na independent foreign policy, ang usapin sa land reform at pagpapatuloy ng usapang pangkapayapaan para tugunan ang ugat ng armadong pakikibaka sa pamamagitan ng “CASER”.
Honorable,
Secretary Allan Peter Cayetano
Department of Foreign Affairs
Government of the Republic of the Philippines
28 January, 2018
Dear Hon. Secretary,
Bukas na Pahayag Hinggil sa mga Kahilingan, Panawagan, Pagtutol at Agam-Agam Likha ng mga Kaganapan sa Inang Bayan
“Labis naming ikinagagalak at pinasasalamatan ang inyong pagdalaw sa aming pamayanan migrante dito sa Milan at Italya upang maging daan para maiparating sa iyong kaalaman ang mga nabanggit gaya ng nasa itaas.”
1.) HINGGIL SA KALAGAYAN NG KAPATID NA MIGRANTE, MARY JANE VELOSO.
Hindi na lingid sa inyong kaalaman ang malupit at kawawang kalagayan ni M.J. Veloso na ilang taon na rin nakapiit sa selda sa ibayong dagat sa bansa ng Indonesia sa kasong kinasasangkutan ng “drugs traficking” sang-ayon sa awtoridad ng naturang bansa. Subalit, sa paniniwala ng marami kasama kami migrante,ang naturang akusasyon ay hindi pa rin pumapabor sa ilalim ng “standard legal proceedings” hangga’t ang kanya karapatan umapela sa Korte ay nanatiling ipinagkakait..Dahil dito, hinihiling namin sa inyong Tanggapan at Kagawaran kasama ang panawagan ng sambayanan na mabigyan ng tama proseso at hustisya ang malupit na kapalaran ni M.J. Veloso gaya ng positibong posisyon ng Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) na nakikiisa sa panawagan ng sambayanan;
2.) HINGGIL SA USAPIN ILEGAL NA PANANAKOP NG BANSA TSINA SA SCARBOROGH SHOAL AT BENHAM RISE.
Isa sa mga binitiwan pangako ng Pangulo DU30 during his electoral campaigns ay ipaglaban ang sovereign rights at territorial integrity ng bansa at aniya “kung kinakailangan, pupunta ako roon at itatayo ko ang bandila ng Pilipinas, gagawin ko” Subalit, tila yata nagkamali ng bandila ang itinayo ng ating Pangulo DU30, sa halip na bandila Pilipino, ang bandila ng Tsina ang kanya itinayo.
Ang naturang Shoal at Benham Rise, batay sa United Nation Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLS) ay legal at teritoryal na pag-aari ng Pilipinas at ito rin ang kumpirmasyon ng The Hague Tribunal decision in July 2016. It is an exclusive maritime economic zone of the country and therefore it should be protected not only a question of sovereign rights and territorial integrity but a patrimony of the nation. Kgg na Secretary, hiling namin sa inyo bilang nangunguna ang inyong Tanggapan at Kagawaran sa relasyon panlabas, na ipaglaban ang ating pambansa soberenya at dignidad panteritoryo. Kung hindi pa tayo tututol, baka wala na kami dadatnan pa Inang Bayan during our retirement and final homecoming for good sa dahilan nasakop na ng bansa Tsina ang buong Pilipinas.
3.) MAXIMUM PROTECTION, SERVICES AND WELFARE ACCORDING TO RA 8042 BETTER KNOWN AS MIGRANTS ACT OF 1995.
Hiling namin sa inyo ang makatotohanan at seryosong implemetasyon ng naturan proteksyon, serbisyo at paglingap mula sa inyong Tanggapan, Kagawaran at mga kaakibat na ahensya ng gubyerno gaya ng OWWA, POEA, DOLE atbp. may kagyat na ugnay at kinalaman sa kalagayan ng migrante at kanila pamilya.. Kahit kailan at kahit saan lugar, nananatiling bulnerabile ang migrante di lang sa usapin relasyon sa trabaho, kultura at maging sa immigration policies in every host country. Hwag na natin banggitin pa ang bulnerabileng sitwasyon sa pagitan ng mga pamilya naiwan sa Pilipinas, lalo na..
4.) MGA USAPIN HINGGIL SA TRAIN LAW, CHA-CHA, TOKHANG, EJKs, HUMAN RIGHTS VILATIONS, CON-ASS, PEDERALISMO, MARTIAL LAW WITH PLANNED EXTENSION AND REV-GOV.
Ang pag-iral at pagtataas ng presyo ng mga bilihin lalo na iyong sa parte ng basic commodities, pagtaas ng mga taxes ay malupit na nakapataw sa araw-araw na buhay ng mamamayan lalo na sa hanay ng maralita at di rin nakaligtas ang mga pamilya ng migrante habang sa kabilang banda, walang nagaganap na pagtaas ng sahod ng manggagawa, pesante, mga kawani ng gubyerno lalo na ang ating mga guro o dili kaya’y garansiya batas mula sa lehislatura o gubyerno, at kung mayroon ma’y ito’y para lamang sa AFP at PNP..This one leaves and provokes a big question…bakit nga kaya?
Ang “Tokhang”, EJKs at Human Rights Violations, kailanma’y di umiiral sa isang sibilisadong lipunan bagkus ito’y pangkaraniwang nagaganap sa ating bansa at lipunan at kalimitan ang nabibiktima ay pawang mga “street-level” suspects maliban pa mismo mula sa pamilya ng OFW o migrante at nakakalungkot isipin na batay sa stats, umaabot na sa 17 libo ang bilang ng bikitma sa paraang EJKs (killings/salvaging w/o judicial process maliban sa utos mismo ng Pangulo DU30). Dagdag pa, ang mga biktima ng EJKs sa hanay ng mga progresibo organisasyon gaya ng pesante, manggagawa, aktibista, human rights activist at mga lider katutubo..Kung susumain, ang lahat ng biktima ng EJKs ay mga grabe at matitinding paglabag sa karapatan pantao.
Hinggil sa napipintong CHA-CHA, CON-ASS, REV-GOV, PEDERALISMO at Martial Law extension, ang aming interpretasyon ay malinaw na indikasyon may tunguhin diktadurya masahol pa sa panahon ng diktadurya Marcos; at sa huli,
5.) ANG PANAWAGAN “RESUMPTION OF PEACE TALKS”.
Thru your good and respective Department, we the OFWs on global level call on both panels, the GRP and the NDFP to go back at the negotiating table and start anew and without delays the resumption of peace talks that is on stalled status after the successful 5th round of talks. Both panels must sincerely respect and adhere to agreements forged and signed bilaterally starting from The Hague Joint Declaration of 1992 and onward declarations and agreements. We have only one common goal and mission with such peace talks. “To find a solution to address the root causes of the decades armed conflict in the country”.##
Thank you for your kind attention with hope of fruitful visits with us in Milan and Italy..
For reference:
Nicolas “ka Mike” B. Montemayor, President
Milan-OFW Kapit Bisig(KB), Migrante Europe
Migrante Italy & Chapters
Milan, Bologna, Firenze, Mantova, Rome
OFW Forum January 28, 2018 Milan-OFW Kapit Bisig(KB), Migrante Europe, Migrante Italy & Chapters Milan, Bologna, Firenze, Mantova, RomeOFW Forum January 28, 2018 Milan-OFW Kapit Bisig(KB), Migrante Europe, Migrante Italy & Chapters Milan, Bologna, Firenze, Mantova, RomeOFW Forum January 28, 2018 Milan-OFW Kapit Bisig(KB), Migrante Europe, Migrante Italy & Chapters Milan, Bologna, Firenze, Mantova, RomeOFW Forum January 28, 2018 Milan-OFW Kapit Bisig(KB), Migrante Europe, Migrante Italy & Chapters Milan, Bologna, Firenze, Mantova, Rome
LONDON – Migrante-Europe condemns in the strongest possible terms the murder of Father Marcelito “Tito” Paez, Central Luzon coordinator of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP-CL), earlier today, 04 December 2017. Father Tito was driving along a road in Jaen town, Nueva Ecija, at around 8:00 pm Manila time, when he was attacked by armed assailants on a motorcycle. He was rushed to a hospital in San Leonardo town but died while being treated.
Earlier today, Father Tito facilitated the release of political prisoner Rommel Tucay from the Nueva Ecija Provincial Jail in Cabanatuan City. Tucay, an organizer of the Peasant Alliance of Central Luzon (AMGL) was arrested from his house in March this year by elements of the 56th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army.
Father Tito belongs to the Diocese of San Jose City and was the former parish priest of Nampicuan and Guimba towns, in Nueva Ecija province. He is well known for his progressive advocacies. In the 1980s he was one of the leaders of the Central Luzon Alliance for a Sovereign Philippines (CLASP), which campaigned for the removal of the US military bases in Central Luzon and other parts of the country. He also took active part in the campaign against the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant.
For leading church activities for the poor and other victims of human rights violations, Father Tito had been threatened and harassed by elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and paramilitary groups under past governments, especially that of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Father Tito is the first Roman Catholic priest to be assassinated under the Rodrigo
Duterte government. In addition, human rights group KARAPATAN reported as of October 2017 that there are 104 cases of political killings, four massacres, 20 incidents of forced evacuation among the Lumads, and 17 aerial bombings under the Duterte administration.
We call on the Duterte government to uphold the rule of law and go after these dastardly armed elements targeting the civilian population. We demand that the perpetrators of these heinous crimes be identified, arrested, prosecuted and punished to the full extent of the law.
We express our deepest sympathies to the family, friends and colleagues of Father Tito. The legacy of his service to the poor and downtrodden will live on in the hearts of the people.
We call on migrant Filipinos and friends of the Filipino people in Europe to heighten our vigilance against the ever-increasing brutality of the Duterte government. Let us join the Filipino people in the home country and in many parts of the world on 10 December 2017, the International Human Rights Day to condemn the increasing fascist character of the Duterte government. Let us gather in front of the Philippine Embassies and Consular Offices in the countries in Europe to continue raising our voices against these atrocities. With our linked arms, let us strengthen even more our solidarity with the Filipino people in their continuing fight for genuine democracy, economic and social development and national liberation.
Justice for Father Marcelito “Tito” Paez!
Justice for all victims of political killings in the Philippines!
Justice for all victims of human rights violations in the Philippines!
Isang taon matapos ang unang State of the Nation Address ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, kaming mga migrante dito sa Pransya ay nananatiling nakaantabay sa ganap na pagbabagong ipinangako ng bagong administrasyon.
Malayo man sa bansa, kasama kami ng sambayanang Pilipino na nakatutok upang makinig sa ulat ng Pangulo sa kasalukuyang kalagayan ng bansa. At katulad ng iba pang sektor ng lipunan, umaasa kami na ang mga migrante ay mabibigyang pansin din sa SONA at maging tapat ang gubyernong Duterte sa mga ipinangako nito para sa amin at sa aming mga pamilya.
Sa kasalukuyan, nakakapangamba ang balitang may babayarang ₱700 piso para sa bagong lunsad na iDOLE OFW card. Bagama’t tiniyak ni Sec. Bello ng Department of Labor and Employment na libre ito. Hindi maiaalis ang pangamba ng OFW hanggat hindi pa nailalabas ang implementing guidelines sa pagkuha ng OFW card. Kung susumahin, aabot sa ₱5 bilyon ang makukulekta ng gubyerno kapag pagbayarin ng OFW ID card ang mahigit 10 milyong Pilipino na nagtratrabaho sa ibang bansa. Dapat na ilaan ito para sa benepisyo ng migranteng Pilipino.
Naghihintay pa rin ang bawat migrante ng tapat na serbisyo mula sa gobyerno, na pagsilbihan ang interes ng migrante at ng kanyang pamilya. Bawat migrante ay nagaasam pa ring makapiling ang kanilang pamilya, makauwi sa bansa na may disenteng trabaho at nakabubuhay na sahod. Sa nagaganap na kaguluhan at karahasan sa bansa, malawakang korupsyon, kawalan ng sariling lupang sasakahin, hindi mapigilang labor contractualization, kawalan ng trabaho, napakababang pasahod, napakataas na presyo ng batayang bilihin at patuloy na pagsira sa ating likas na kayamanan, malayo pa ang inaasam na makauwi ang migranteng Pilipino.
Kaya naman nananawagan kami kay Pangulong Duterte na mahigpit na tutukan ang paglutas sa mga ugat ng kahirapan at kaguluhan sa bansa, upang sa gayon ay maramdaman ng bawat Pilipino ang inaasam na pagbabago. Nananawagan din kami sa kapwa migranteng Pilipino na patuloy nating itulak ang ating mga interes at kahingian sa gubyernong Duterte.
Filipino migrants’ alliance Migrante-Europe today expressed their strong disapproval of the new identification card to be issued by the Philippines’ Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), saying that the IDs will not be issued free of charge, contrary to previous DOLE statements.
It was earlier announced by DOLE Secretary Silvestro Bello III that the OFW ID, which will be called iDOLE, will be given “to all bona fide OFWs at no cost”.
“This will serve as the OFW’s Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC)… so they don’t have to go to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA),” he added.
For years, Migrante International and migrants advocacy groups had been fighting for the scrapping of the OEC (Overseas Employment Certificate). The OEC was a requirement for every OFW who leaves the country, burdening them with additional unjust and excessive costs.
In August 2016, the POEA finally scrapped the OEC for returning OFWs and those hired through an employment agency’s in-house recruitment facility.
The so-called iDOLE was launched on 12 July. Bello described the ID as a major initiative of the Duterte administration in addressing the needs of the OFWs and the best gift of the president to migrant Filipinos.
“The processing of the iDOLE would be shouldered by the employers; hence, OFWs need not pay for the cost of the ID, which would be delivered by PhilPost to their respective addresses,” DOLE announced in a statement.
“We are disappointed that we need to pay for the OFW ID! Is this the ‘best gift’ that Duterte has for us?” decried Fr. Herbert Fadriquela Jr, Chairperson of Migrante-Europe.
On 15 July, it was reported that Filipino migrant workers in the United Arab Emirates tried to apply for the OFW ID through the online iDOLE portal https://ofw.idole.ph/. They were surprised to find out that they were being charged PhP501 pesos plus PhP200 pesos for delivery fee (PhP700 is about €13).
OFW ID card (e-Card) 2002
Overseas Filipinos still recall that in May 2002, the POEA began to issue OFW e-Cards to Filipinos who went back home on vacation. The e-Cards can also be used as ATM cards in the Philippines. The then government of President Gloria Arroyo justified that the e-Cards will speed up the delivery of services and benefits to the OFWs. To get an e-Card, overseas Filipinos were encouraged to renew their payments for the OWWA membership and avail of the benefits immediately.
However, many believed that the e-Card was just one way of legitimizing the $25 OWWA membership fee, which has become mandatory for OFWs. This was despite the provisions of
Republic Act 8042 which clearly state that an OFW can opt not to be a member of the OWWA.
“We can do without a new OFW ID. We urge all member organizations of Migrante-Europe and other concerned migrant groups to reject the OFW ID and to join our call to end state exaction on overseas Filipinos!” Fr. Herbert concluded.
Isang daan at labing siyam na taon mula nang ideklara sa Kawit, Cavite ang kasarinlan ng Pilipinas. Kalayaan na kung saan magpahanggang sa ngayon ay nanatiling salitang salat sa tunay na kahulugan. Nakawala ang ating mga kamay sa pagkakagapos sa pamamahala ng dayong Kastila subalit itinali naman ang ating mga leeg sa kontrol ng mananakop na mga Amerikano. Ibinenta ng isang mananakop ang ating pagkaalipin saisa pang mananakop sa pakikipagtulungan ng mga elitistangnagkunwaring mga may malasakit sa kapakanan ng taong bayan. Pinatay, pinarusahan, kinulong at itinuring na mga rebelde ang mga tunay na rebolusyonaryong Pilipinong lumalaban. Binaluktot ang mga aral at kwento ng kasaysayan at itinuturing na mga bayani ang mga takwil na elitistang masugid na naglingkod sa dayuhang pamumuno.
Independensya, kasarinlan at kalayaan, mga salitang makalipas ang isang daan at labing siyam na taon ay nananatiling mga salitang may kanya kanyang kahulugan sa bawat administrasyon ng gobyernong naluklok sa kapangyarihan. Ang kahulugan ng kalayaan sa malawak na mamamayang naghihirap ay kaiba sa kahulugan ng maliit na minoryang nakakadama ng kaginhawaan.Ang kalayaan para sa mga naghahari sa lipunan ay kaiba sa kalayaan ng mga pinaghaharian. Ang pagbibigay kahulugan sa salitang ito ang isa sa pinag-uugatan ng kahirapan ng malawak na sektor ng lipunang Pilipino kabilang tayong mga migrante sa labas ng bansa.
Mismong si pangulong Duterte sa panahon ng kanyang kampanya ay kumilala sa pangangailangang makawala tayo sa dikta at kontrol ng Amerika. Ibinabandila ang kanyang Independent Foreign Policy ngunit magpahanggang sa kasalukuyan ay patuloy ang pakikialam sa atin ng Amerika sa pamamagitan ng mga mapagkunwaring mga kasunduan at tratado tulad ng Mutual Defence Treaty, Visiting Forces Agreement, at Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement. Sinusuhayan ito ng mga ayuda at utang pinansyal sa ating bansa na pangunahing pinakikinabangan ng mga burukrata kapitalistang mga namumuno sagobyerno.
Patuloy na hinahadlangan ang implementasyon ng mga makabayang programa tulad ng pamamahagi ng lupa. Sinasagkaan at kinukutya ang mga progresista at makabayang lider na siyang mga karapat-dapat na namumuno sa gobyerno tulad nina Gina Lopez, Sec. Judy Taguiwalo, at Sec. Rafael Mariano. Nilalait ang mga organisasyong masang nagsusulong ng kanilang mga lehitimong kahilingan sa batayang karapatan ng libreng pabahay, edukasyon at sahod. Maging tayong mga migrante ay pinaiikot sa pamamagitan ng planong doblehin ang singil sa ating pasaporte kapalit nang pagtugon nila sa matagal na nating kahilingang gawing 10 taon ang bisa nito.
Patuloy na namamayagpag ang dominasyon ng Imperyalismong Amerika sa pamamagitan ng mga neoliberal na patakaran sa ekonomiya ng bansa. Dahilan kung bakit patuloy na nakapako ang sweldo at nananatiling kontraktwal ang ating mga kapatid na manggagawa sa Pilipinas kung saan dumarami ang nagsisilikas sa ibang bansa upang maghanap ng magandang kinabukasan para sa kanya kanyang pamilya. Neoliberalismo ang nagtatali sa dapat sanay maayos na distribusyon ng budyet ng bansa kung bakit kulang ang pensyon ng ating mga magulang upang makabili ng gamot o ang mataas na gastos sa pagpapaospital.
Tagos hanggang pulitika ang dominasyong ito. Ang usapang pangkapayapaan na dapat sana’y magluluwal ng paglutas ng mga batayang suliranin ng mamamayang Pilipino sa pamamagitan ng Comprehensive Agreement on Socio Economic Reforms ay patuloy na sinasabotahe. Lumilikha ng mga kaganapan upang yanigin ang kaayusan ng ating bansa, tulad ng paglikha ng mga kaguluhan sa pamamagitan ng pagpapalaganap ng terorismo. Dalubhasa ang Imperyalismong Amerika sa larangang ito kung saan ginamit sa napakaraming bansa na tumutol sa kanyang dominasyon.
Hangga’t ang salitang KALAYAAN ay hindi buo at ganap angkahulugan, ang salitang ito ay patuloy na aalingawngaw sa kawalan tulad ng naunang sigaw ng ating magigiting na rebolusyonaryong ninuno na nagbuwis ng buhay mula nuong naunang ika-isang daanlabing siyam na taon at higit pa.
KAMTIN NATIN ANG TUNAY NA KALAYAAN !IPAGLABAN ANG ATING MGA KARAPATAN !
IGIIT ANG NAGSASARILING PATAKARANG PANLABAS ! WAKASAN ANG DIKTA NG DAYUHAN !
Para po sa may mga katanungan o nagnanais na makipagtalakayan, kayo po ay aming inaanyayahan na dumalo sa ika – 18 ng Hunyo 2017 sa Parco Conca de oro sa ganap na ika – 2 ng hapon.
Ugaliing Makinig sa UGNAYAN sa HIMPAPAWID – tune in sa www.radiocittaperta.it tuwing Lingo 11:00am – 12noon
Migrants in Rome with Ma Jai, Global Council member ICHRP.
Migrante Europe today expressed alarm on the declaration of President Rodrigo Duterte of a 60-day Martial Law and the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus in the whole island of Mindanao, after deadly armed clashes erupted between the troops of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the terrorist Maute group on Tuesday, 23 May 2017.
“Under military rule, the just and lasting peace we aspire for shall recede farther away,- more human rights abuses and violence would reign in our land!” decried Migrante Europe Chairperson Father Herbert Fadriquela, Jr.
Filipinos will never forget the dark ages of Marcos’ Martial Law. Church leaders, lay persons, student activists, human rights advocates and innocent civilians were subjected to numerous human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, illegal arrests, imprisonment, forced disappearances and torture. The violations were rampant, carried out with impunity, with the perpetrators remaining unpunished to this day.
Military abuses in Southern Mindanao
According to a research by Protection Cluster, a United Nations-supported initiative of government and non-governmental groups, military offensives under the guise of anti-insurgency operations] have resulted in numerous alleged serious human rights abuses, and that military operations in the Mindanao areas are “one of the main driving factors of displacement amidst armed conflict.”
In 2016, tens of thousands of families have been displaced in Mindanao because of high levels of militarization in the area in pursuit of the AFP´s counter-insurgency operations. Women, children, and the elderly who have fled their homes and communities have been enduring very poor living conditions in makeshift evacuation camps with inadequate food, medical care, and sporadic electricity supply. Many have been sick, one child has died from dehydration.
Hence, the imposition of Martial Law in the midst of the government counter-insurgency program “Oplan Kapayapaan,” shall only aggravate the already critical condition of human rights in Mindanao.
Since President Duterte came into power in July 2016, KARAPATAN has already documented 55 victims of political killings, and numerous illegal arrests and detention of human rights defenders and peace advocates, with the most recent arrest and detention on 11 May 2017 of Iglesia Filipina Independiente (Philippine Independent Church) Bishop Carlos Morales along with his wife Maria Teofifina Morales, driver Sadome Dalid, and NDFP Peace Consultant Rommel Salinas at a military checkpoint in the village of Gango in Ozamis City.
Salinas was later identified as a rebel leader and consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) in the ongoing peace negotiations with the Duterte government. He was arrested on trumped up charges of destructive arson, murder, frustrated murder, attempted murder and robbery. Meanwhile, Bishop Morales has been charged with “illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.”
Migrante Europe, church organizations and global peace advocates groups condemned the unjustifiable arrest and detention of Bishop Morales and called for the unconditional release of Morales and all political prisoners.
May 28 call to “Global day of action against Martial Law in Mindanao”
The recent attack of the terrorist Maute group in Marawi City that killed and injured security forces, and held a priest and several people hostage is condemnable.
But placing Mindanao under military rule cannot be seen as a justifiable nor a proportionate action in relation to the circumstances. Putting the entire island under the authority of known human rights violators Gen. Eduardo Año and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, will only escalate more the violations and abuses against women, children, political activists, indigenous leaders, and human rights defenders.
“Migrante Europe is one with the people of Marawi and Mindanao in condemning terrorists like the Maute group and in aspiring for just and lasting peace in the entire country. We call on peace loving Filipinos, migrant organisations, friends and allies to join us in our appeal to President Duterte to withdraw his suspension of habeas corpus and lift his declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao,” concluded Father Herbert.###
Migrant Filipinos in Europe strongly rejected the announcement on Thursday of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that new passports with a 10-year validity will be twice as expensive as current passport fees.
“We are certainly YES to the new 10-year validity of Philippine passports, but certainly NO if OFWs are to be burdened by the DFA proposed double fee. That is unjustifiable and exorbitantly high! Passport should not be used as moneymaking scheme!” said Migrante Europe Chairperson Father Herbert Fadriquela.
In a report on Thursday, May 18, Ricarte Abejuela, Passport Director of the DFA Consular Affairs justified the plan to double the fees because the materials to be used for the new passports will be more costly and the number of pages will be increased.
Passport fee overpricing
For many years, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have been complaining about the excessive fees and unjustifiable requirements for passport applications and passport renewals.
In 2007, the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) filed a complaint before the Ombudsman against officials of the DFA for corruption in connection to the over pricing of the e-passport contract. The CEGP petition had since been the basis for congressional inquiries and investigations on the P857 million e-passport deal.
In July 2010, Migrante International called on the Aquino administration to investigate the overpricing of e-passport applications in light of allegations that the contract entered into by the DFA for the procurement of new e-passport is illegal and tainted with corruption.
10-year passport approved
On Monday, May 8, the Philippine Senate approved on the third and final reading the bill extending the validity of Philippine passports from five to 10 years. The House of Representatives approved a similar measure in February. The proposed law is seen to immensely benefit OFWs.
Under the proposal, regular passports shall be valid for a period of 10 years. Those 18 years old and under, however, shall be issued passports with a five-year validity.
The DFA could not say yet when the 10-year validity would be implemented, as it still has to issue the Implementing Rules and Regulations after the bill is signed into law.
Migrante says NO to double price of 10-year passport
Migrante Honkong applauded the news that the 10-year validity of passport was approved by the Senate. They said that this is a proposal included in the “Hongkong OFWs Agenda for Change” which they submitted to the Duterte Government last year. But they are firmly opposed to the plan to double the price of passport fees.
In Italy, Filipino migrants are determined to block this DFA plan. They started posting slogans and calls in their facebook accounts, urging kababayans to reject and take a stand against this new scheme to fleece OFWs of their hard-earned income.
“We urge our kababayans, member organizations and allies to remain vigilant in the fight to defend our rights and welfare,” concluded Father Herbert.###
REFERENCE:
Revd Fr. Herbert F. Fadriquela Jr.
Chairperson, Migrante Europe
Chaplain to the Filipino Community
Diocese of Leicester
Church of England
Mariing kinukundena ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino sa Pransya (NPSP) ang di-makatarungang deportasyon ng gubyernong Estados Unidos kay Jerome Succor Aba, isang lider Moro at peace advocate sa Pilipinas.
