Statement of PANDAYAN on the Assassination of Kahanay Rene Peñas
June 8, 2009
PANDAYAN strongly condemns the violent and treacherous killing of Ka
Rene Peñas, 51 years old, the National Vice-President, Pambansang
Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka (PAKISAMA). PANDAYAN join other
groups to seek justice for our dear Kahanay, Ka Rene Peñas, and
express support and offer our prayers to his wife, Evangeline and his
children, Noland, Jerald, and Wopsyjenn.
Ka Rene was cowardly assassinated by unknown assailants last June 5,
2009, at around 11:00 PM while on his way to his farm in San Vicente,
Sumilao, Bukidnon, while riding a motorcycle with his two companions.
His two companions survived, but Ka Rene did not survive from the
eleven gunshot wounds.
How could an active non-violent advocate whose life was committed to
serving the landless and marginalized farmers killed in such a violent
manner?
As an active non-violent advocate, Ka Rene, in 1997, is one of the 28
farmers who held a hunger strike for agrarian reform. In 2007, he led
the 55 farmers for a 1,700- kilometer walk from Sumilao to Malacañang
for the government to cover the over 144-hectare ancestral land they
claim in Sumilao. In 2008, Ka Rene also led the Banasi farmers in
their 444-kilometer march from Bula to Malacañang, which successfully
reversed the adverse decision made by Malacañang. Ka Rene, once again,
became one of the figures leading hundreds of farmers pushing the
Philippine Congress for CARP Extension with Reform (CARPER).
Ka Rene’s efforts bore fruit as the Senate and the House of
Representatives start today, June 9, 2009, their bicameral discussion
of CARPER. We believe that he continues to witness the victory of the
farmers.
We shall continue to pay homage to Ka Rene by continuing his struggle
to attain an authentic agrarian reform. This is our highest tribute to
him and his family, and our greatest expression of gratitude for what
he has achieved as his contribution.
Justice to Kahanay Rene Peñas!
Justice to all victims of extrajudicial killings!
Justice to all farmers and the Filipino People!
Pandayan para sa Sosyalistang Pilipinas (PANDAYAN)
184 Maginhawa St., Sikatuna Village, Quezon City
Contact person: Boy Nuera / Roy Calfoforo
Contact number: Telefax: 436-6541, CP 0920-9021251
Monday, June 8, 2009
PAKISAMA Statement
PAKISAMA Statement on the Assassination of Renato Penas,
National Vice-President,
Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka
June 6, 2009
PAKISAMA condemns in strongest possible terms the dastardly and cowardly assassination of our leader, Renato Penas (51) last night, around 11 P.M., while on his motorcycle with two companions to his farm in San Vicente, Sumilao, Bukidnon.
While his companions survived, the assassins made sure Ka Rene would not. Crawling after the first volley of fire, he was shot again, and three shotgun bullets fatally pierced his chest and back.
Who could have caused the death of a man whose life was dedicated to serving the landless farmers?
A participant in a 1997 28-day hunger strike for land and a practicioner of active non-violence, Ka Rene rose to be one of the most prominent PAKISAMA leaders over the past two years. As a trained community organizer-paralegal , he led in 2007, the unprecedented but successful 1,700- kilometer walk of 55 farmers from Sumilao to Malacanang to make their claim over a 144-hectare ancestral land covered by the CARP. He figured in 2008 as the organizer-trainer of the successful 444-kilometer Banasi farmers walk from Bula to Malacanang, which reversed earlier adverse decision of Malacanang. During the past two months, Ka Rene was leading farmer groups coming from different persuasions, in a coalition campaign to push Congress to enact the extension and reform of CARP ( CARPER).
On May 30, he went home and was jubilant to learn that CARPER was finally passed by both houses of Congress and would soon be passed into law. But he was not given the opportunity by his assailants to see the fruit of his work.
We demand a speedy and objective investigation of this case. We ask the Arroyo government to demonstrate dispatch and professionalism in solving this crime.
We mourn with the widow and four orphans of Ka Rene and demand an end to the culture of impunity pervading in our society. We pray that Ka Rene would be the last among our leaders to be assassinated. We hope his case would not suffer the fate of two of our colleagues. On November 22, 2009, two hooded men gunned down our former Vice-President for Mindanao Vic Paglinawan in Davao City. On March 9, 2009, Boy Billames, Secretary-General of SAMATIKU, a member-farmer federation in South Cotabato was also gunned down by a hooded assassin. Until now, no suspects have been identified and caught in both crimes.
We call on the Filipino farmers to close ranks and transform to inspiration and courage the martyrdom of our leaders.
Let us continue the fight for agrarian reform and good governance and politics until every farmer owns the land s/he tills, until every citizen is not harmed while peacefully claiming his or her rights.
Justice to Ka Rene Penas!
Justice to all victims of extrajudicial killings!
Justice to all farmers and the Filipino People!
National Vice-President,
Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka
June 6, 2009
PAKISAMA condemns in strongest possible terms the dastardly and cowardly assassination of our leader, Renato Penas (51) last night, around 11 P.M., while on his motorcycle with two companions to his farm in San Vicente, Sumilao, Bukidnon.
While his companions survived, the assassins made sure Ka Rene would not. Crawling after the first volley of fire, he was shot again, and three shotgun bullets fatally pierced his chest and back.
Who could have caused the death of a man whose life was dedicated to serving the landless farmers?
A participant in a 1997 28-day hunger strike for land and a practicioner of active non-violence, Ka Rene rose to be one of the most prominent PAKISAMA leaders over the past two years. As a trained community organizer-paralegal , he led in 2007, the unprecedented but successful 1,700- kilometer walk of 55 farmers from Sumilao to Malacanang to make their claim over a 144-hectare ancestral land covered by the CARP. He figured in 2008 as the organizer-trainer of the successful 444-kilometer Banasi farmers walk from Bula to Malacanang, which reversed earlier adverse decision of Malacanang. During the past two months, Ka Rene was leading farmer groups coming from different persuasions, in a coalition campaign to push Congress to enact the extension and reform of CARP ( CARPER).
On May 30, he went home and was jubilant to learn that CARPER was finally passed by both houses of Congress and would soon be passed into law. But he was not given the opportunity by his assailants to see the fruit of his work.
We demand a speedy and objective investigation of this case. We ask the Arroyo government to demonstrate dispatch and professionalism in solving this crime.
We mourn with the widow and four orphans of Ka Rene and demand an end to the culture of impunity pervading in our society. We pray that Ka Rene would be the last among our leaders to be assassinated. We hope his case would not suffer the fate of two of our colleagues. On November 22, 2009, two hooded men gunned down our former Vice-President for Mindanao Vic Paglinawan in Davao City. On March 9, 2009, Boy Billames, Secretary-General of SAMATIKU, a member-farmer federation in South Cotabato was also gunned down by a hooded assassin. Until now, no suspects have been identified and caught in both crimes.
We call on the Filipino farmers to close ranks and transform to inspiration and courage the martyrdom of our leaders.
Let us continue the fight for agrarian reform and good governance and politics until every farmer owns the land s/he tills, until every citizen is not harmed while peacefully claiming his or her rights.
Justice to Ka Rene Penas!
Justice to all victims of extrajudicial killings!
Justice to all farmers and the Filipino People!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
CONASS RESOLUTION PASSED BY CONGRESS
MASAYA NA SANA AKO DAHIL PARANG MATUTULOY NAMAN ATA ANG AUTOMATION PROCESS. KAYA LANG, IPINASA NAMAN KAGABI NG KONGRESO ANG RESOLUTION PARA BAGUHIN ANG KONSTITUSYON SA PAMAMAGITAN NG CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY! HAAYYY, BUHAY SA PINAS!
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090602-208506/-House-approves-constituent-assembly
House approves constituent assembly
By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 23:32:00 06/02/2009
Filed Under: Charter change, Politics
MANILA, Philippines – Debates dragged for hours but it took only a few
seconds for the House of Representatives to approve a resolution that
would convene Congress into a constituent assembly to amend the 1987
Constitution.
With the “ayes” registering a louder vote than the “nays,” the House
of Representatives late Tuesday approved House Resolution 1109
convening Congress into a constituent assembly to amend the 1987
Constitution.
Even as all the interpellators have yet to speak, Shariff Kabunsuan
with Cotabato City Representative Didagen Dilangalen made a motion to
stop the interpellation period and go on voting. This was immediately
seconded and approved.
Members of the minority registered their objection.
Nueva Vizcaya Representative Carlos Padilla said the country witnessed
a "simple tyranny of the majority" and called the chamber "the worst
Congress in the annals of Philippine history."
“I believe in democracy, but this tyranny,” South Cotabato
Representative Darlene Antonino-Custodio said.
"Have we no shame? Let us stop this farce immediately," Bukidnon
Representative Teofisto Guingona III said.
“We oppose this, this charade… Let us amend the Constitution after the
term of President Arroyo. That is the time to amend the Constitution
of the Philippines. The best way to amend the Constitution is by
constitutional convention,” said former Speaker and Pangasinan
Representative Jose de Venecia Jr.
With the passage Nueva Ecija Representative Eduardo Nonato Joson
likened the country to a woman fighting off a rapist, saying “Huwag po
kuya [Please don’t, sir].”
“Let us not gang rape our Constitution,” he said.
Bayan Muna party list Representative Teodoro Casiño said one of the
sponsors of the resolution had admitted on the floor that the "whereas
clause" in the resolution that prohibits the term extension of the
incumbent president and vice president, senators, congressmen, mayors
and other elected officials whose term will expire in 2010, and that
there would be elections in 2010 was "not binding."
Gabriela partylist Representative Liza Maza asked one of the sponsors,
Cavite Representative Elpidio Barzaga Jr., it was possible under the
resolution to postpone the 2010 elections.
"Everything is possible, but it depends on the sound judgment of our
colleagues," Barzaga said.
La Union Representative Victor Ortega also echoed the same view,
saying that they would rely on "trust" basis in implementing the
“whereas clause.”
Parañaque Representative Roilo Golez said the majority pledged to have
an exhaustive discussion in plenary of the resolution.
"If we cannot trust them [majority] on this very small pledge, how can
the people trust the members of this Congress as constituent
assembly," Golez said.
Representative Luz Ilagan of Gabriela party list called the
proceedings a "night of ignominy" where the administration allies once
again used their numbers to push their agenda.
Quezon Representative Lorenzo Tañada III said he voted against the
resolution because Congress does not need to pass one in its use of
its inherent legislative powers. He added he is also against the
"crass" manifestation that the House alone can act in amending the
Constituion without engaging the Senate.
Proponents of the measure are in quandary if the House can convene as
an assembly on its own. Several lawmakers, including those form the
majority bloc, said that the Senate should be part of the process of
the constituent assembly.
“It always takes two to dance the Cha cha,” Cebu Representative Pablo
Garcia said during the earlier part of the debates.
By his interpretation, Garcia said HR 1109 was “just an invitation to
both Houses to convene in order to propose amendments to or revise the
Constitution.”
La Union Representative Victor Ortega, chairman of the committee on
constitutional amendments, echoed that the Senate could not be ignored
in the process of convening a constituent assembly.
Camarines Sur Representative Luis Villafuerte said he drafted the
resolution, but Speaker Prospero Nograles was its main author.
Villafuerte had withdrawn his signature to the resolution, saying that
there was no more time to rewrite the Constitution with barely a year
to go before the May 2010 elections.
“I have withdrawn my signature and I’m not supporting this resolution
anymore,” Vilalfuerte said, noting that “there’s a group in the
majority that’s undermining the resolution they are sponsoring.”
Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora questioned the haste with which it was
being discussed in plenary, with only two session days left and with
other key legislation pending for passage.
“Why the short cut? Why not go for the long haul, for the harder
route? Why not eschew the easy path and make the amendments to the
Constitution as important as the role of the committee on
constitutional amendments?” Zamora said.
In the resolution, it was interpreted that voting should be done upon
the three-fourths of “all the members of Congress, not three-fourths
of each House voting separately.”
Proponents of this measure had hoped that this would prompt someone to
question it before the Supreme Court, so that the tribunal could
decide whether voting by the two chambers of Congress should be done
jointly or separately.
“So what is the point of all of this, if there is no justiciable
controversy… if you agree with me that the Senate is part of the
process?” Zamora said.
Proponents of the measure are still in quandary if the House can
convene as an assembly on its own. Several lawmakers, including those
form the majority bloc, said that the Senate should be part of the
process of the constituent assembly.
Earlier in the day, administration allies vowed to use their numbers
to have HR 1109 approved on Tuesday’s session and will study the
option if the House could convene into a constituent assembly even
without the Senate.
Interviewed after presiding over a caucus of the majority, Nograles
said the bloc would pass HR 1109 and then study their next moves.
“After we pass it we will have to study our next moves, study, legal
(study),” he said.
Taking up the constituent assembly resolution was one of the
agreements within the merged Lakas-Kampi-CMD party, despite the
withdrawal of support of Villafuerte, who recently resigned as Kampi
president.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is aware of the plan of the
congressmen, the Speaker said.
“Of course, I will not deny that the President just listened, she did
not say anything, bahala kayo [It’s up to you],” he added.
The constituent assembly resolution was approved in an emergency
meeting of the committee on constitutional amendments Monday so it
could be referred to the rules committee for floor deliberation
Tuesday.
Nograles said HR 1109 would be taken up first before House Resolution
737, which seeks specific amendments to the economic provisions of the
Constitution, because it only needed the vote by a majority while the
latter resolution required three-fourths vote of all members of
Congress since it was introducing specific amendments.
As to the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) extension,
Nograles acknowledged that the pressure was now on the House after the
Senate passed it on third reading Monday night.
He said the House just received a copy of the 78-page document and was
still studying it.
“The options are basically two: first, is the easier option to adopt
their version and it’s finished. The second is to make another version
and go on bicam [bicameral committee meetings] over the holidays,”
Nograles said.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090602-208506/-House-approves-constituent-assembly
House approves constituent assembly
By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 23:32:00 06/02/2009
Filed Under: Charter change, Politics
MANILA, Philippines – Debates dragged for hours but it took only a few
seconds for the House of Representatives to approve a resolution that
would convene Congress into a constituent assembly to amend the 1987
Constitution.
With the “ayes” registering a louder vote than the “nays,” the House
of Representatives late Tuesday approved House Resolution 1109
convening Congress into a constituent assembly to amend the 1987
Constitution.
Even as all the interpellators have yet to speak, Shariff Kabunsuan
with Cotabato City Representative Didagen Dilangalen made a motion to
stop the interpellation period and go on voting. This was immediately
seconded and approved.
Members of the minority registered their objection.
Nueva Vizcaya Representative Carlos Padilla said the country witnessed
a "simple tyranny of the majority" and called the chamber "the worst
Congress in the annals of Philippine history."
“I believe in democracy, but this tyranny,” South Cotabato
Representative Darlene Antonino-Custodio said.
"Have we no shame? Let us stop this farce immediately," Bukidnon
Representative Teofisto Guingona III said.
“We oppose this, this charade… Let us amend the Constitution after the
term of President Arroyo. That is the time to amend the Constitution
of the Philippines. The best way to amend the Constitution is by
constitutional convention,” said former Speaker and Pangasinan
Representative Jose de Venecia Jr.
With the passage Nueva Ecija Representative Eduardo Nonato Joson
likened the country to a woman fighting off a rapist, saying “Huwag po
kuya [Please don’t, sir].”
“Let us not gang rape our Constitution,” he said.
Bayan Muna party list Representative Teodoro Casiño said one of the
sponsors of the resolution had admitted on the floor that the "whereas
clause" in the resolution that prohibits the term extension of the
incumbent president and vice president, senators, congressmen, mayors
and other elected officials whose term will expire in 2010, and that
there would be elections in 2010 was "not binding."
Gabriela partylist Representative Liza Maza asked one of the sponsors,
Cavite Representative Elpidio Barzaga Jr., it was possible under the
resolution to postpone the 2010 elections.
"Everything is possible, but it depends on the sound judgment of our
colleagues," Barzaga said.
La Union Representative Victor Ortega also echoed the same view,
saying that they would rely on "trust" basis in implementing the
“whereas clause.”
Parañaque Representative Roilo Golez said the majority pledged to have
an exhaustive discussion in plenary of the resolution.
"If we cannot trust them [majority] on this very small pledge, how can
the people trust the members of this Congress as constituent
assembly," Golez said.
Representative Luz Ilagan of Gabriela party list called the
proceedings a "night of ignominy" where the administration allies once
again used their numbers to push their agenda.
Quezon Representative Lorenzo Tañada III said he voted against the
resolution because Congress does not need to pass one in its use of
its inherent legislative powers. He added he is also against the
"crass" manifestation that the House alone can act in amending the
Constituion without engaging the Senate.
Proponents of the measure are in quandary if the House can convene as
an assembly on its own. Several lawmakers, including those form the
majority bloc, said that the Senate should be part of the process of
the constituent assembly.
“It always takes two to dance the Cha cha,” Cebu Representative Pablo
Garcia said during the earlier part of the debates.
By his interpretation, Garcia said HR 1109 was “just an invitation to
both Houses to convene in order to propose amendments to or revise the
Constitution.”
La Union Representative Victor Ortega, chairman of the committee on
constitutional amendments, echoed that the Senate could not be ignored
in the process of convening a constituent assembly.
Camarines Sur Representative Luis Villafuerte said he drafted the
resolution, but Speaker Prospero Nograles was its main author.
Villafuerte had withdrawn his signature to the resolution, saying that
there was no more time to rewrite the Constitution with barely a year
to go before the May 2010 elections.
“I have withdrawn my signature and I’m not supporting this resolution
anymore,” Vilalfuerte said, noting that “there’s a group in the
majority that’s undermining the resolution they are sponsoring.”
Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora questioned the haste with which it was
being discussed in plenary, with only two session days left and with
other key legislation pending for passage.
“Why the short cut? Why not go for the long haul, for the harder
route? Why not eschew the easy path and make the amendments to the
Constitution as important as the role of the committee on
constitutional amendments?” Zamora said.
In the resolution, it was interpreted that voting should be done upon
the three-fourths of “all the members of Congress, not three-fourths
of each House voting separately.”
Proponents of this measure had hoped that this would prompt someone to
question it before the Supreme Court, so that the tribunal could
decide whether voting by the two chambers of Congress should be done
jointly or separately.
“So what is the point of all of this, if there is no justiciable
controversy… if you agree with me that the Senate is part of the
process?” Zamora said.
Proponents of the measure are still in quandary if the House can
convene as an assembly on its own. Several lawmakers, including those
form the majority bloc, said that the Senate should be part of the
process of the constituent assembly.
Earlier in the day, administration allies vowed to use their numbers
to have HR 1109 approved on Tuesday’s session and will study the
option if the House could convene into a constituent assembly even
without the Senate.
Interviewed after presiding over a caucus of the majority, Nograles
said the bloc would pass HR 1109 and then study their next moves.
“After we pass it we will have to study our next moves, study, legal
(study),” he said.
Taking up the constituent assembly resolution was one of the
agreements within the merged Lakas-Kampi-CMD party, despite the
withdrawal of support of Villafuerte, who recently resigned as Kampi
president.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is aware of the plan of the
congressmen, the Speaker said.
“Of course, I will not deny that the President just listened, she did
not say anything, bahala kayo [It’s up to you],” he added.
The constituent assembly resolution was approved in an emergency
meeting of the committee on constitutional amendments Monday so it
could be referred to the rules committee for floor deliberation
Tuesday.
Nograles said HR 1109 would be taken up first before House Resolution
737, which seeks specific amendments to the economic provisions of the
Constitution, because it only needed the vote by a majority while the
latter resolution required three-fourths vote of all members of
Congress since it was introducing specific amendments.
As to the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) extension,
Nograles acknowledged that the pressure was now on the House after the
Senate passed it on third reading Monday night.
He said the House just received a copy of the 78-page document and was
still studying it.
“The options are basically two: first, is the easier option to adopt
their version and it’s finished. The second is to make another version
and go on bicam [bicameral committee meetings] over the holidays,”
Nograles said.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
TF2010 MULTISECTORAL CONSULTATION
TASKFORCE 2010 will be conducting a multisectoral consultation workshop in Bicol to figure out a way of drawing in at least 7 most vulnerable sectors to participate in the 2010 elections: the elderly, overseas workers, detainees, indigenous people, internally displaced persons, and the youth/first time voters.
The event is scheduled 2-3 June 2009 at the Arrupe Convention Center, Ateneo de Naga University. The Commission on Elections, Philippine National Police, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Commission on Human Rights are expected to be present in the said workshop.
The ADNU Institute of Politics, Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan, and the Coalition for Bicol Development are organizers of the said workshop.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Salamat sa Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan and TF2010:
MAGPAREHISTRO ASIN MAGBOTO SA 2010!
TAANO TA KAIPUHAN KO NA MAGREHISTRO ASIN MAG-BOTO?
TA DAE AKO MAKAKABOTO SA MAYO 10, 2010 KUN DAE AKO MAPAREHISTRO.
TA SA PAAGI KAN PAGBOTO SANA AKO MAGKAKAIGWA NIN BOSES SA PAGPILI KAN MGA LIDERES KAN SAKUYANG NASYON.
TA AN MGA MANGYAYARING AKTIBIDADES NA PULITIKAL SA MINASUNOD NA ANUM NA TAON, MAY DIREKTANG EPEKTO BAKO SANA SA SADIRI KO KUNDI SA SATUYA GABOS.
SI ISAY AN PUWEDENG MAGPAREHISTRO?
KUN IKA SARONG CIUDADANONG FILIPINO
KUN IKA DISE-OTSO (18 YEARS OLD) ANYOS-PATAAS BAGO O SA MISMONG ALDAW KAN MAYO 10, 2010.
NAG-IISTAR O RESIDENTE KAN PILIPINAS DAE MABABANG SARONG TAON (1 Year) ASIN NAG-IISTAR SA SAIMONG SIYUDAD O MUNISIPYO SA LAOG NING ANUM NA BULAN (6 Months).
NUARIN ASIN SAIN PWEDE MAG-ORAR O MAGREHISTRO?
AN REHISTRAYON O PAG-ORAR NAGPUON KAN December 2, 2008 ASIN MATAPOS SA October 31, 2009 (Lunes hanggan Sabado, regular na oras kan pag-oopisina puon alas otso nin aga (8:00 AM) hanggan alas singco nin hapon {5:00 PM} ) kabali an mga opisyal na aldaw ning bakasyon na kaibanan sa mga aldaw na puon lunes hanggan biyernes sa opisina kan lokal na Election Officer sa Distrito, Siyudad, o Munisipalidad kun sain nakaistar an aplikante.
SAIN AKO PUWEDE MAGKUA NIN APPLICATION FORMS?
An mga Application Forms (CEF-1A) makukua nin libre sa opisina kan lokal na Election Officer sa saindong lugar.
ANU-ANO AN KAIPUHAN KONG DARAHON?
Mga Balidong dokumento, halimbawa:
1.Employee’s I.D.
2.Student’s I.D./ Library Card
3.GSIS/SSS I.D.
4.Passport, Postal I.D., NBI/PNP Clearance
5.Senior Citizen’s I.D.
ANU-ANO AN MGA KWALIPIKASYON KAN MGA TAONG MATAO NIN ASISTENSIYA SA MGA APLIKANTENG DAE NAKAKABASA ASIN DAE NAKAKASURAT SIRING MAN SA MGA APLIKANTENG BALDADO ASIN IGWANG KAKUNDIAN?
Irinsiya o sadiring tawo kan aplikante, tawong pinagkakatiwalaan kan aplikante o an Election Officer kan nasambit na lugar.
Apuwera kan Election Officer, tulong beses (3 times) sana mapupwedeng magtao nin asistensiya sa mga aplikante an sarong tawo.
Kaipuhan na an tawong matao nin asistensiya sa mga aplikante nasa tamang edad, ibig sabihon dise otso anyos pataas. (18 years old and above).
PARA SA MGA DAE NAKAKABASA ASIN NAKAKASURAT NA APLIKANTE SIRING MAN SA MGA APLIKANTENG BALDADO ASIN IGWANG KAKUNDIAN:
An aplikante masumpa sa presensya kan Election Officer.
Magurang, pinsan, tiyaon o tiyoon, pamangkin o tawong kaibahan sa harong na pigtitiwalaan o election officer sana an mapupwedeng mag-assister sa pagkumpleto kan application form kan aplikante.
Makusog na babasahon kan Election Officer an mga impormasyon na pig-laag kan aplikante sa saiyang application form tanganing masiguradong an mga nasabing impormasyon tama asin daeng salto.
An aplikante makaag kan saiyang thumbmark o kung sa ano man na kadahilanan dae mapupwede na makapaglaag nin thumbmark an aplikante, an aplikante mapupwedeng maglaag nin anuman na klaseng marka na minahali sa nasabing aplikante mismo.
An tawo na mataong asistensiya sa nasabing mga aplikante, ma-akompliser man nin tulong (3 copies) kopya nin Sertipikasyon o Pagpapatotoo asin an nasabing mga dokumento iiiba sa na-akompliser na application form kan aplikante na saiyang pig-asisteran.
PA-NO MAGPAREHISTRO?
Step 1 - Magduman sa Opisina kan Election Officer sa saindong lugar o sa mga establisadong satellite office. Ipahiling/Ipresentar an saimong balidong/lehitimong dokumentong nagpapamidbid kan saimong totoong pagkatao.
Step 2 – Mag-akompliser nin tulong kopya (3 copies) nin application forms gamit an sadiri nindong surat kamot.
Step 3 – Mag-sumpa sa atubangan kan saindong Election Officer.
Step 4 – Kukuanon an saimong Demographic/Biometric data gamit an Data Capturing Machine.
Step 5 – Magpirma sa COMELEC logbook.
Step 6 – Kuanon an acknowledgment receipt asin proof of filing of registration.
Para sa saindong mga kahaputan, kontakon sana an minasunod:
TASK FORCE 2010 Secretariat c/o Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan, Loyola House of Studies, Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights Quezon City. Landline: (02) 426-6101 local 3440-3441, Telefax: (02)426-5968, Email: tf2010secretariat@gmail.com
INSTITUTE OF POLITICS, 2nd Floor, Administration Building, Ateneo de Naga University, Naga City. Landline: (054) 4722368 local 2013, Telefax: (054) 4739253, Email: ip9@hotmail.com
MAGPAREHISTRO ASIN MAGBOTO SA 2010!
TAANO TA KAIPUHAN KO NA MAGREHISTRO ASIN MAG-BOTO?
TA DAE AKO MAKAKABOTO SA MAYO 10, 2010 KUN DAE AKO MAPAREHISTRO.
TA SA PAAGI KAN PAGBOTO SANA AKO MAGKAKAIGWA NIN BOSES SA PAGPILI KAN MGA LIDERES KAN SAKUYANG NASYON.
TA AN MGA MANGYAYARING AKTIBIDADES NA PULITIKAL SA MINASUNOD NA ANUM NA TAON, MAY DIREKTANG EPEKTO BAKO SANA SA SADIRI KO KUNDI SA SATUYA GABOS.
SI ISAY AN PUWEDENG MAGPAREHISTRO?
KUN IKA SARONG CIUDADANONG FILIPINO
KUN IKA DISE-OTSO (18 YEARS OLD) ANYOS-PATAAS BAGO O SA MISMONG ALDAW KAN MAYO 10, 2010.
NAG-IISTAR O RESIDENTE KAN PILIPINAS DAE MABABANG SARONG TAON (1 Year) ASIN NAG-IISTAR SA SAIMONG SIYUDAD O MUNISIPYO SA LAOG NING ANUM NA BULAN (6 Months).
NUARIN ASIN SAIN PWEDE MAG-ORAR O MAGREHISTRO?
AN REHISTRAYON O PAG-ORAR NAGPUON KAN December 2, 2008 ASIN MATAPOS SA October 31, 2009 (Lunes hanggan Sabado, regular na oras kan pag-oopisina puon alas otso nin aga (8:00 AM) hanggan alas singco nin hapon {5:00 PM} ) kabali an mga opisyal na aldaw ning bakasyon na kaibanan sa mga aldaw na puon lunes hanggan biyernes sa opisina kan lokal na Election Officer sa Distrito, Siyudad, o Munisipalidad kun sain nakaistar an aplikante.
SAIN AKO PUWEDE MAGKUA NIN APPLICATION FORMS?
An mga Application Forms (CEF-1A) makukua nin libre sa opisina kan lokal na Election Officer sa saindong lugar.
ANU-ANO AN KAIPUHAN KONG DARAHON?
Mga Balidong dokumento, halimbawa:
1.Employee’s I.D.
2.Student’s I.D./ Library Card
3.GSIS/SSS I.D.
4.Passport, Postal I.D., NBI/PNP Clearance
5.Senior Citizen’s I.D.
ANU-ANO AN MGA KWALIPIKASYON KAN MGA TAONG MATAO NIN ASISTENSIYA SA MGA APLIKANTENG DAE NAKAKABASA ASIN DAE NAKAKASURAT SIRING MAN SA MGA APLIKANTENG BALDADO ASIN IGWANG KAKUNDIAN?
Irinsiya o sadiring tawo kan aplikante, tawong pinagkakatiwalaan kan aplikante o an Election Officer kan nasambit na lugar.
Apuwera kan Election Officer, tulong beses (3 times) sana mapupwedeng magtao nin asistensiya sa mga aplikante an sarong tawo.
Kaipuhan na an tawong matao nin asistensiya sa mga aplikante nasa tamang edad, ibig sabihon dise otso anyos pataas. (18 years old and above).
PARA SA MGA DAE NAKAKABASA ASIN NAKAKASURAT NA APLIKANTE SIRING MAN SA MGA APLIKANTENG BALDADO ASIN IGWANG KAKUNDIAN:
An aplikante masumpa sa presensya kan Election Officer.
Magurang, pinsan, tiyaon o tiyoon, pamangkin o tawong kaibahan sa harong na pigtitiwalaan o election officer sana an mapupwedeng mag-assister sa pagkumpleto kan application form kan aplikante.
Makusog na babasahon kan Election Officer an mga impormasyon na pig-laag kan aplikante sa saiyang application form tanganing masiguradong an mga nasabing impormasyon tama asin daeng salto.
An aplikante makaag kan saiyang thumbmark o kung sa ano man na kadahilanan dae mapupwede na makapaglaag nin thumbmark an aplikante, an aplikante mapupwedeng maglaag nin anuman na klaseng marka na minahali sa nasabing aplikante mismo.
An tawo na mataong asistensiya sa nasabing mga aplikante, ma-akompliser man nin tulong (3 copies) kopya nin Sertipikasyon o Pagpapatotoo asin an nasabing mga dokumento iiiba sa na-akompliser na application form kan aplikante na saiyang pig-asisteran.
PA-NO MAGPAREHISTRO?
Step 1 - Magduman sa Opisina kan Election Officer sa saindong lugar o sa mga establisadong satellite office. Ipahiling/Ipresentar an saimong balidong/lehitimong dokumentong nagpapamidbid kan saimong totoong pagkatao.
Step 2 – Mag-akompliser nin tulong kopya (3 copies) nin application forms gamit an sadiri nindong surat kamot.
Step 3 – Mag-sumpa sa atubangan kan saindong Election Officer.
Step 4 – Kukuanon an saimong Demographic/Biometric data gamit an Data Capturing Machine.
Step 5 – Magpirma sa COMELEC logbook.
Step 6 – Kuanon an acknowledgment receipt asin proof of filing of registration.
Para sa saindong mga kahaputan, kontakon sana an minasunod:
TASK FORCE 2010 Secretariat c/o Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan, Loyola House of Studies, Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights Quezon City. Landline: (02) 426-6101 local 3440-3441, Telefax: (02)426-5968, Email: tf2010secretariat@gmail.com
INSTITUTE OF POLITICS, 2nd Floor, Administration Building, Ateneo de Naga University, Naga City. Landline: (054) 4722368 local 2013, Telefax: (054) 4739253, Email: ip9@hotmail.com
Monday, May 11, 2009
The heat is on!
For your information:
The ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC), and the Ateneo School of Government will be bringing together four senators, a Cabinet Secretary, and a governor--all said to be eyeing a run for the presidency in 2010--at a leadership forum on May 11, a year before the scheduled May 10, 2010 presidential race.
Anchored by Tina Monzon-Palma and Ricky Carandang, the two-hour forum will be held on Monday, 7 p.m. at the Leong Hall of the Ateneo de Manila University, Katipunan, Quezon City .
It will be aired live on ANC.
The ABS-CBN news website, http://www.facebook .com/l/;abs- cbnnews.com, will also be hosting a live chat during the event.
The confirmed guests as of May 8 are: Senators Franc is Escudero, Richard Gordon, Panfilo Lacson, and Mar Roxas; Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio; and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.
As of posting, ANC is still awaiting confirmation from Vice President Noli de Castro, and Senators Manuel Villar and Loren Legarda.
The anchors will have a short one-on-one with each of them. Then the guests will be asked questions from a l is t submitted by ANC’s content partners and viewers who emailed and texted the is sues that they want addressed.
The ANC Leadership Forum is part of ABS-CBN's multi-platform launch of " Boto Mo , I-Patrol Mo : Ako Ang Simula," the countdown to the 2010 presidential elections.
The ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC), and the Ateneo School of Government will be bringing together four senators, a Cabinet Secretary, and a governor--all said to be eyeing a run for the presidency in 2010--at a leadership forum on May 11, a year before the scheduled May 10, 2010 presidential race.
Anchored by Tina Monzon-Palma and Ricky Carandang, the two-hour forum will be held on Monday, 7 p.m. at the Leong Hall of the Ateneo de Manila University, Katipunan, Quezon City .
It will be aired live on ANC.
The ABS-CBN news website, http://www.facebook .com/l/;abs- cbnnews.com, will also be hosting a live chat during the event.
The confirmed guests as of May 8 are: Senators Franc is Escudero, Richard Gordon, Panfilo Lacson, and Mar Roxas; Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio; and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.
As of posting, ANC is still awaiting confirmation from Vice President Noli de Castro, and Senators Manuel Villar and Loren Legarda.
The anchors will have a short one-on-one with each of them. Then the guests will be asked questions from a l is t submitted by ANC’s content partners and viewers who emailed and texted the is sues that they want addressed.
The ANC Leadership Forum is part of ABS-CBN's multi-platform launch of " Boto Mo , I-Patrol Mo : Ako Ang Simula," the countdown to the 2010 presidential elections.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Change Politics Movement!
FOR THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED!
JOIN THE CHANGE POLITICS MOVEMENT (CPM) UPCOMING ACTIVITIES:
1. TRAINERS' TRAINING FOR CPM ORGANIZERS
8-9 May 2009, Ligao City
(Free Board and Lodging, pay for your own transportation expenses)
2. NATIONAL LAUNCHING AND WORKSHOP ON CHANGE POLITICS MOVEMENT
10 May 2009, Naga City (and 8 other key cities nationwide)
8:00 am
For inquiries, contact us: 09085128803/ 09175560087
ip9@hotmail. com/cbdbicol@yahoo. com
JOIN THE CHANGE POLITICS MOVEMENT (CPM) UPCOMING ACTIVITIES:
1. TRAINERS' TRAINING FOR CPM ORGANIZERS
8-9 May 2009, Ligao City
(Free Board and Lodging, pay for your own transportation expenses)
2. NATIONAL LAUNCHING AND WORKSHOP ON CHANGE POLITICS MOVEMENT
10 May 2009, Naga City (and 8 other key cities nationwide)
8:00 am
For inquiries, contact us: 09085128803/ 09175560087
ip9@hotmail. com/cbdbicol@yahoo. com
Monday, May 4, 2009
TASKFORCE 2010 in Camarines Sur
TASK FORCE 2010 is a consortium and partnership between and among various election watchdogs aiming to push for the needed reforms in the electoral process and even in the COMELEC in order to restore credibility to the whole exercise and to ensure that there will be a clean, honest, peaceful, and credible elections in 2010 and beyond.
TF2010 gives priority to ensuring that the following vulnerable sectors of our society are given utmost attention in the exercise of their sovereign electoral rights: (1)detainees, (2)first time voters/youth, (3)elderly, (4)indigenous people, (5)internally displaced persons, (6)differently-abled persons, and (7)migrant workers.
As a national network, membership of TF2010 included organizations such as the Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan(SLB), Parish Pastoral council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines(CEAP), National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace (NASSA), Teachers and Employees for Change, Education, Reforms and Solidarity (TEACHERS, Inc.), First Time Voters Network (FTV), Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA), Citizens Coalition for ARMM Elections (C-CARE), Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC), Association of Major religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP), Christian Convergence on Good Governance, Inc. (CCGG), Confederation of Independent Unions in the Public Sector (CIU), Institute for Political and Electoral Reforms (IPER), La Salle Justice and Peace Commission, Philippine Society of NSTP Educators, Inc. (PSNEI), Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM), VoteNet, and the Caucus of Development NGOs (CODE-NGO).
Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan (SLB), based in the Ateneo de Manila University, serves as secretariat for the national network. In Bicol Region, the Ateneo de Naga University Institute of Politics is the secretariat and coordinating center for the TF2010 activities.
TF2010 was launched in the Camarines Sur area last April 22, and in the Albay area last April 25. A regional multisectoral consultation and launching is expected to be done May 2-3 at the Ateneo de Naga University.
The venue...
The venue...
Atty. Noriel Badiola of the COMELEC explains the ageny's preparations:
The participants are grim and determined...
Mr. Duke Dolorical of the SLB explains TF2010:
TF2010 gives priority to ensuring that the following vulnerable sectors of our society are given utmost attention in the exercise of their sovereign electoral rights: (1)detainees, (2)first time voters/youth, (3)elderly, (4)indigenous people, (5)internally displaced persons, (6)differently-abled persons, and (7)migrant workers.
As a national network, membership of TF2010 included organizations such as the Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan(SLB), Parish Pastoral council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines(CEAP), National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace (NASSA), Teachers and Employees for Change, Education, Reforms and Solidarity (TEACHERS, Inc.), First Time Voters Network (FTV), Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA), Citizens Coalition for ARMM Elections (C-CARE), Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC), Association of Major religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP), Christian Convergence on Good Governance, Inc. (CCGG), Confederation of Independent Unions in the Public Sector (CIU), Institute for Political and Electoral Reforms (IPER), La Salle Justice and Peace Commission, Philippine Society of NSTP Educators, Inc. (PSNEI), Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM), VoteNet, and the Caucus of Development NGOs (CODE-NGO).
Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan (SLB), based in the Ateneo de Manila University, serves as secretariat for the national network. In Bicol Region, the Ateneo de Naga University Institute of Politics is the secretariat and coordinating center for the TF2010 activities.
TF2010 was launched in the Camarines Sur area last April 22, and in the Albay area last April 25. A regional multisectoral consultation and launching is expected to be done May 2-3 at the Ateneo de Naga University.
The venue...
The venue...
Atty. Noriel Badiola of the COMELEC explains the ageny's preparations:
The participants are grim and determined...
Mr. Duke Dolorical of the SLB explains TF2010:
Change Politics Movement!
There is a growing clamor among civil society leaders to take back politics from the control of politicians and bring it back as an instrument for governance and development. As a start, there were initial discussions of a partisan involvement in the 2010 elections. An emerging initiative is the Change Politics Movement (CPM) which aims to rally its members around a criteria and process for selecting candidates which they will eventually support and campaign for. Initially, the following criteria serves as a basis of unity for those joining the CPM:
CHANGE POLITICS MOVEMENT:
CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
1 May 2009
AVOIDING PITFALLS
In drawing up the criteria for selecting a presidential candidate, we would like to avoid the following pitfalls:
• “All-or-nothing” approach in viewing candidates’ commitment /responses to our desired principles and practices
• Inordinate sectoral/localized bias to the neglect of broader, cross-cutting, national agenda
• Formulation of principles/practices in broad “motherhood” terms that fail to provide concrete basis by which to assess prospective candidates’ capacities to assume the country’s highest public position
FRAMEWORK IN FORMULATING/ORGANIZING CRITERIA FOR SELECTING CPM’S PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
The basis for to assessing and eventually selecting CPM’s presidential candidate shall consist of three categories:
1. Integrity and Track Record
By their past actions and choices, we shall know them. Presidential aspirants don’t come to our attention in a vacuum or with a clean slate. Whether in public or private roles, they have made choices, championed causes (or not), selected the company they move in, steered their career (and family) in certain directions. We cannot and should not rely just on promises for future action. By their past, they have given us a strong indication of how they will run the country and where they will take it. Thus, our first category of criteria is Integrity and Track Record.
2. Immediate, Strategic Agenda to Stop the Slide and Restore the Philippines in the Track of Democratic Reform and Good Governance
The next President has the difficult task of leading the country out of what is arguably its darkest period in recent history. The next President needs to have a firm sense of how s/he will pull the country out of its current morass and restore it in the direction of Democratic Reform and Good Governance in a period of extreme challenges confronting the entire globe. Without abandoning our specific sectoral agenda, we need to be able to push for the next President to boldly undertake a strategic national agenda which will address immediate, lynchpin issues and problems necessary to reverse the grievous impact of the past years of mis-governance and abuse and, thus, allow the space and momentum to build towards sustainable reform and development outcomes. Thus, our second criteria-category is the candidates’ proposed Immediate, Strategic Agenda for the presidency.
3. Capacity to Win Power for Reform
For a candidate’s good track record to be put behind and realize his/her bold reform agenda, however, the candidate will have to win the elections. S/he will have to be able to seriously engage in a national electoral contest for the highest position in the land. Thus, our third category is the Capacity to Engage in National Electoral Contest – the Capacity to Win Power for Reform.
CHECK-LIST ON CRITERIA FOR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE (PC)
1. Integrity and Track Record
1.1 Character and Credibility
• Has the PC held positions requiring public trust and credibility?
• Has the PC been implicated in corruption or grave public scandal? What about the PC’s family members or close associates?
• What is the reputation of the people who are most closely associated with the PC?
• Has the PC been transparent in his/her transactions, whether in public office or in a private capacity?
• Has the PC ever been caught lying, cheating, stealing or applying double-standards in public or private transactions?
• Can we trust the PC to do what s/he says and to give us the real picture on the problems facing the country?
• What is the PC’s track record in human rights, including respect for women and children within his/her immediate circle of association?
• Has the PC demonstrated a love of country and value for the common good above the interests of one’s family or close associates?
1.2 Competence
• What positions has the PC held up to now? Have these positions provided sufficient experience and preparation to run an entire country?
• Has the PC had dealings of any sort with the bureaucracy? With what result?
• How about the PC’s dealings with public agencies? The private sector? The NGOs? The basic sectors or people’s organizations? Did s/he promote meaningful participation of these sectors in his/her previous positions in government or in the private sector?
• What has been the PC’s experience in bringing about multi-sectoral discourse and consensus?
• Has the PC had any experience in foreign policy? Has s/he had experience in dealing with the security sector?
• What is the PC’s background in economics and/or finance?
1.3 Leadership and Politics
• If the PC has previously been engaged in politics, what has been the PC’s party record? Is s/he a good party person, respecting and strengthening change politics practice within the party?
• Has the PC’s family or close associates ever taken advantage of the PC’s position of power or authority, whether in public service, the private sector, or civil society?
• Has the PC faced important crisis situations? How did the PC fare? Was s/he able to take the lead and inspire others to face and overcome the crisis?
• Does the PC have a constituency base among the basic sectors, including minority and marginalized groups? Is his/her relationship with the constituency empowering or patronage-based?
• Has the PC been able to inspire and mobilize citizens to correct a particular injustice in his/her area of responsibility?
1.4 Position Taken on Issues
• What position, if any, did the PC take on the following issues, especially within the last 3-5 years?
Political Reform (especially Electoral Reform and Decentralization/Local Autonomy)
Good Governance (especially Anti-Corruption, Anti-Presidential Abuse of Power)
Fiscal Reform
Asset Reform (specifically, Agrarian Reform, Urban Land Reform, Fisheries and Aquatic Reform, and Ancestral Domain Rights)
Environment and Sustainable Agriculture (especially Mining and Sustainable Farming Practices)
Human Rights (specifically, the issue of Extra-Judicial Killings and Martial Law –like Abuses by the military and the police)
Peace and Development (especially on issues of Equitable Budget for Mindanao, Resource Use for Mindanaoans, and Bangsamoro/Lumad Right to Self -Determination)
• Aside from the list above, what other issues has the PC championed? What have been the hallmarks of the PC’s public advocacy in the course of his/her career or voluntary engagement?
2 Immediate, Strategic Agenda for the Presidency
Considering the current dismal state of Philippine democracy and governance, the following are the strategic, lynchpin issues which the next President should address. We will therefore ask the PC how s/he intends to address the following agenda within his/her “first 100 days,” without requiring any new legislation or constitutional revisions/amendments:
2.1 To immediately stop the plunder of public coffers (e.g., How will the PC handle GMA, her family and cohorts?)
2.2 To rebuild and strengthen democratic institutions (e.g., What is the PC’s plan with regard constitutional bodies? What is the PC’s proffered policy on presidential appointments? How will the PC restore checks-and-balance within the executive and across the three branches of government? How will s/he balance respect for the autonomy of the LGUs and ensuring their compliance with national laws/priorities esp. on asset reform, people’s participation and anti-corruption.? How does s/he view civil society/basic sector participation in established governance bodies, especially NAPC, Presidential Agrarian Reform Commission (PARC), National Commission on IPs (NCIP) and the local development councils?)
2.3 To raise sufficient resources and ensure proper allocation and spending of public resources for priority programs (e.g., What is the PC’s plan for raising public revenues and what are the priority programs on which public resources will be allocated? How will s/he ensure transparency and accountability in the management of the national budget?)
2.4 To raise productivity (especially in the rural areas) and ensure fair distribution of assets of production, benefits and public funds (e.g., What is the PC’s plan for raising national productivity, especially in the countryside? How will the PC ensure that the costs and benefits of development will be justly shared? How will s/he push asset reform in his/her “1st 100 days”, specifically distribution of CARPED landholdings, delineation of municipal waters, issuance of Certified Ancestral Domain Titles, the proclamation of urban lands for the urban poor?)
2.5 To ensure social protection for the poorest and most marginalized sectors and communities (e.g., What is the PC’s proposed program to protect the poorest and weakest from the onslaught of the global economic recession? Where will the funds come from and how will s/he make sure that the programs reach the intended beneficiaries?)
2.6 To set the foundation for restoring the peace track with armed parties (e.g., Does the PC have a plan with regard the government peace panels and OPAPP? What about the reports of the UN Human Rights Rapporteur, the Melo Commission, and the Commission on Human Rights?)
3 Capacity to Win Power for Reform
Objective measures will be used to assess the PC’s capacity to seriously engage in the electoral contest for the highest position in the country which will be held within one year of the launching of CPM. These measures will include looking at the PC’s –
• Level of public recognition on a national scale
• Actual and potential extent of support constituency
• Access to or capacity to raise needed funds
• Actual presence of organized support and machinery in different parts of the country
• Alliances with other political forces
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED TO JOIN OR TO KNOW MORE ABOUT CHANGE POLITICS MOVEMENT, POST YOUR COMMENTS OR INQUIRIES IN THIS BLOGSPOT.
DONT AGONIZE! ORGANIZE!
CHANGE POLITICS MOVEMENT:
CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
1 May 2009
AVOIDING PITFALLS
In drawing up the criteria for selecting a presidential candidate, we would like to avoid the following pitfalls:
• “All-or-nothing” approach in viewing candidates’ commitment /responses to our desired principles and practices
• Inordinate sectoral/localized bias to the neglect of broader, cross-cutting, national agenda
• Formulation of principles/practices in broad “motherhood” terms that fail to provide concrete basis by which to assess prospective candidates’ capacities to assume the country’s highest public position
FRAMEWORK IN FORMULATING/ORGANIZING CRITERIA FOR SELECTING CPM’S PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
The basis for to assessing and eventually selecting CPM’s presidential candidate shall consist of three categories:
1. Integrity and Track Record
By their past actions and choices, we shall know them. Presidential aspirants don’t come to our attention in a vacuum or with a clean slate. Whether in public or private roles, they have made choices, championed causes (or not), selected the company they move in, steered their career (and family) in certain directions. We cannot and should not rely just on promises for future action. By their past, they have given us a strong indication of how they will run the country and where they will take it. Thus, our first category of criteria is Integrity and Track Record.
2. Immediate, Strategic Agenda to Stop the Slide and Restore the Philippines in the Track of Democratic Reform and Good Governance
The next President has the difficult task of leading the country out of what is arguably its darkest period in recent history. The next President needs to have a firm sense of how s/he will pull the country out of its current morass and restore it in the direction of Democratic Reform and Good Governance in a period of extreme challenges confronting the entire globe. Without abandoning our specific sectoral agenda, we need to be able to push for the next President to boldly undertake a strategic national agenda which will address immediate, lynchpin issues and problems necessary to reverse the grievous impact of the past years of mis-governance and abuse and, thus, allow the space and momentum to build towards sustainable reform and development outcomes. Thus, our second criteria-category is the candidates’ proposed Immediate, Strategic Agenda for the presidency.
3. Capacity to Win Power for Reform
For a candidate’s good track record to be put behind and realize his/her bold reform agenda, however, the candidate will have to win the elections. S/he will have to be able to seriously engage in a national electoral contest for the highest position in the land. Thus, our third category is the Capacity to Engage in National Electoral Contest – the Capacity to Win Power for Reform.
CHECK-LIST ON CRITERIA FOR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE (PC)
1. Integrity and Track Record
1.1 Character and Credibility
• Has the PC held positions requiring public trust and credibility?
• Has the PC been implicated in corruption or grave public scandal? What about the PC’s family members or close associates?
• What is the reputation of the people who are most closely associated with the PC?
• Has the PC been transparent in his/her transactions, whether in public office or in a private capacity?
• Has the PC ever been caught lying, cheating, stealing or applying double-standards in public or private transactions?
• Can we trust the PC to do what s/he says and to give us the real picture on the problems facing the country?
• What is the PC’s track record in human rights, including respect for women and children within his/her immediate circle of association?
• Has the PC demonstrated a love of country and value for the common good above the interests of one’s family or close associates?
1.2 Competence
• What positions has the PC held up to now? Have these positions provided sufficient experience and preparation to run an entire country?
• Has the PC had dealings of any sort with the bureaucracy? With what result?
• How about the PC’s dealings with public agencies? The private sector? The NGOs? The basic sectors or people’s organizations? Did s/he promote meaningful participation of these sectors in his/her previous positions in government or in the private sector?
• What has been the PC’s experience in bringing about multi-sectoral discourse and consensus?
• Has the PC had any experience in foreign policy? Has s/he had experience in dealing with the security sector?
• What is the PC’s background in economics and/or finance?
1.3 Leadership and Politics
• If the PC has previously been engaged in politics, what has been the PC’s party record? Is s/he a good party person, respecting and strengthening change politics practice within the party?
• Has the PC’s family or close associates ever taken advantage of the PC’s position of power or authority, whether in public service, the private sector, or civil society?
• Has the PC faced important crisis situations? How did the PC fare? Was s/he able to take the lead and inspire others to face and overcome the crisis?
• Does the PC have a constituency base among the basic sectors, including minority and marginalized groups? Is his/her relationship with the constituency empowering or patronage-based?
• Has the PC been able to inspire and mobilize citizens to correct a particular injustice in his/her area of responsibility?
1.4 Position Taken on Issues
• What position, if any, did the PC take on the following issues, especially within the last 3-5 years?
Political Reform (especially Electoral Reform and Decentralization/Local Autonomy)
Good Governance (especially Anti-Corruption, Anti-Presidential Abuse of Power)
Fiscal Reform
Asset Reform (specifically, Agrarian Reform, Urban Land Reform, Fisheries and Aquatic Reform, and Ancestral Domain Rights)
Environment and Sustainable Agriculture (especially Mining and Sustainable Farming Practices)
Human Rights (specifically, the issue of Extra-Judicial Killings and Martial Law –like Abuses by the military and the police)
Peace and Development (especially on issues of Equitable Budget for Mindanao, Resource Use for Mindanaoans, and Bangsamoro/Lumad Right to Self -Determination)
• Aside from the list above, what other issues has the PC championed? What have been the hallmarks of the PC’s public advocacy in the course of his/her career or voluntary engagement?
2 Immediate, Strategic Agenda for the Presidency
Considering the current dismal state of Philippine democracy and governance, the following are the strategic, lynchpin issues which the next President should address. We will therefore ask the PC how s/he intends to address the following agenda within his/her “first 100 days,” without requiring any new legislation or constitutional revisions/amendments:
2.1 To immediately stop the plunder of public coffers (e.g., How will the PC handle GMA, her family and cohorts?)
2.2 To rebuild and strengthen democratic institutions (e.g., What is the PC’s plan with regard constitutional bodies? What is the PC’s proffered policy on presidential appointments? How will the PC restore checks-and-balance within the executive and across the three branches of government? How will s/he balance respect for the autonomy of the LGUs and ensuring their compliance with national laws/priorities esp. on asset reform, people’s participation and anti-corruption.? How does s/he view civil society/basic sector participation in established governance bodies, especially NAPC, Presidential Agrarian Reform Commission (PARC), National Commission on IPs (NCIP) and the local development councils?)
2.3 To raise sufficient resources and ensure proper allocation and spending of public resources for priority programs (e.g., What is the PC’s plan for raising public revenues and what are the priority programs on which public resources will be allocated? How will s/he ensure transparency and accountability in the management of the national budget?)
2.4 To raise productivity (especially in the rural areas) and ensure fair distribution of assets of production, benefits and public funds (e.g., What is the PC’s plan for raising national productivity, especially in the countryside? How will the PC ensure that the costs and benefits of development will be justly shared? How will s/he push asset reform in his/her “1st 100 days”, specifically distribution of CARPED landholdings, delineation of municipal waters, issuance of Certified Ancestral Domain Titles, the proclamation of urban lands for the urban poor?)
2.5 To ensure social protection for the poorest and most marginalized sectors and communities (e.g., What is the PC’s proposed program to protect the poorest and weakest from the onslaught of the global economic recession? Where will the funds come from and how will s/he make sure that the programs reach the intended beneficiaries?)
2.6 To set the foundation for restoring the peace track with armed parties (e.g., Does the PC have a plan with regard the government peace panels and OPAPP? What about the reports of the UN Human Rights Rapporteur, the Melo Commission, and the Commission on Human Rights?)
3 Capacity to Win Power for Reform
Objective measures will be used to assess the PC’s capacity to seriously engage in the electoral contest for the highest position in the country which will be held within one year of the launching of CPM. These measures will include looking at the PC’s –
• Level of public recognition on a national scale
• Actual and potential extent of support constituency
• Access to or capacity to raise needed funds
• Actual presence of organized support and machinery in different parts of the country
• Alliances with other political forces
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED TO JOIN OR TO KNOW MORE ABOUT CHANGE POLITICS MOVEMENT, POST YOUR COMMENTS OR INQUIRIES IN THIS BLOGSPOT.
DONT AGONIZE! ORGANIZE!
Friday, May 1, 2009
FSGO on Jun Lozada
From the Pandayan e-group:
29 April 2009
STATEMENT ON THE ARREST OF JUN LOZADA
We, the Former Senior Government Officials (FSGO), condemn in the strongest terms the arrest of Engineer Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada, over flimsy and concocted perjury charges filed by PNR General Manager Michael T. Defensor against him. His arrest stands in stark contrast to the freedom and impunity enjoyed by such allies of the current regime accused of far greater offenses -- Jocelyn “Joc-joc” Bolante, Benjamin Abalos, Romulo Neri, Hernando B. Perez, Virgilio Garcillano, Jesus Martinez, Eliseo dela Paz, and others of similar notoriety.
The minions of the current regime find it all too easy to persecute to the fullest all those who expose its abuses, and oppose its corruption and bad governance. Whistleblowers are harassed and hounded, even as obvious prevaricators and practitioners of corruption are protected, promoted, and highly rewarded. What kind of message do we thus send to our people -- that good is punished and evil rewarded?
How have we as a people come to this state of things?
We call on Mike Defensor to stop posturing as if he is the aggrieved person, even as he was clearly a participant in the cover-up of what became an aborted abduction of Jun Lozada. What moral values does he hope to impart to his young children with his vain and obstinate defense of injured pride, while participating in the cover-up of gross abuses against our people and our laws?
Jun Lozada’s persecution demonstrates how truth has been sacrificed at the altar of immoderate greed. We enjoin all sectors of our society to protest Lozada’s incarceration in the strongest terms, and show to the world that we are not helpless in fighting for our rights and freedoms, that we have not, as a people, surrendered to evil.
Refer to:
Vicente Paterno
Former Minister of Industry
Cell no. 09177957974
Karina David
Former Chair of the Civil Service Commission
Cell no: 09178343733
Teresita (Ging) Quintos Deles
Managing Trustee
International Center on Innovation, Transformation
and Excellence in Governance (INCITEGov)
Tel (632) 9144059 / Telefax (632) 6341334
Mobile (63917) 8070864
www.incitegov. org
29 April 2009
STATEMENT ON THE ARREST OF JUN LOZADA
We, the Former Senior Government Officials (FSGO), condemn in the strongest terms the arrest of Engineer Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada, over flimsy and concocted perjury charges filed by PNR General Manager Michael T. Defensor against him. His arrest stands in stark contrast to the freedom and impunity enjoyed by such allies of the current regime accused of far greater offenses -- Jocelyn “Joc-joc” Bolante, Benjamin Abalos, Romulo Neri, Hernando B. Perez, Virgilio Garcillano, Jesus Martinez, Eliseo dela Paz, and others of similar notoriety.
The minions of the current regime find it all too easy to persecute to the fullest all those who expose its abuses, and oppose its corruption and bad governance. Whistleblowers are harassed and hounded, even as obvious prevaricators and practitioners of corruption are protected, promoted, and highly rewarded. What kind of message do we thus send to our people -- that good is punished and evil rewarded?
How have we as a people come to this state of things?
We call on Mike Defensor to stop posturing as if he is the aggrieved person, even as he was clearly a participant in the cover-up of what became an aborted abduction of Jun Lozada. What moral values does he hope to impart to his young children with his vain and obstinate defense of injured pride, while participating in the cover-up of gross abuses against our people and our laws?
Jun Lozada’s persecution demonstrates how truth has been sacrificed at the altar of immoderate greed. We enjoin all sectors of our society to protest Lozada’s incarceration in the strongest terms, and show to the world that we are not helpless in fighting for our rights and freedoms, that we have not, as a people, surrendered to evil.
Refer to:
Vicente Paterno
Former Minister of Industry
Cell no. 09177957974
Karina David
Former Chair of the Civil Service Commission
Cell no: 09178343733
Teresita (Ging) Quintos Deles
Managing Trustee
International Center on Innovation, Transformation
and Excellence in Governance (INCITEGov)
Tel (632) 9144059 / Telefax (632) 6341334
Mobile (63917) 8070864
www.incitegov. org
Kaya Natin! on Jun Lozada
Got this from the C4CC e-group:
Kaya Natin! Statement on the Arrest of Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada
We, the leaders of Kaya Natin! A National Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership lament the arrest of NBN-ZTE Star Witness Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada. It is very disheartening to see that the person who risked his and his family's life to tell the truth about this controversial government transaction is now being branded as a liar. More disheartening is the fact that those who perpetuated this said anomalous transaction has not been held accountable for their actions thus, denying the Filipino people the justice that it deserves. These actions send the Filipino people a wrong message when it comes to the impartiality of our present justice system. This will also discourage other future whistleblowers from coming out in the public to expose other corrupt practices present in our current government.
As a movement composed of well-meaning government leaders, we believe that good governance in our country will only be achieved if those who perpetuate graft and corruption practices in our government be held accountable for their actions. Thus, we call on the Ombudsman to act swiftly and with impartiality in prosecuting those who have taken part in this said scandal.
We continue to extend our support to Jun Lozada in his quest for the Truth and in his fight against graft and corruption in our government.
Finally, we encourage every Filipino who believes in the Truth and in Good Governance to join our online campaign to support Jun Lozada by sending an email to him at filipinosfortruth@ gmail.com .
Signed:
Hon. Eddie "Among Ed" Panlilio - Governor, Pampanga
Hon. Jesse Robredo - Mayor, Naga City
Hon. Sonia Lorenzo - Mayor, San Isidro, Nueva Ecija
Hon. Teddy Baguilat, Jr. - Governor, Ifugao
Hon. Fermin Mabulo - Mayor, San Fernando, Camarines Sur
Hon. Florante Gerdan - Mayor, Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya
Hon. Gloria Congco - Fmr. Mayor, Cabiao, Nueva Ecija
Kaya Natin! Statement on the Arrest of Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada
We, the leaders of Kaya Natin! A National Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership lament the arrest of NBN-ZTE Star Witness Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada. It is very disheartening to see that the person who risked his and his family's life to tell the truth about this controversial government transaction is now being branded as a liar. More disheartening is the fact that those who perpetuated this said anomalous transaction has not been held accountable for their actions thus, denying the Filipino people the justice that it deserves. These actions send the Filipino people a wrong message when it comes to the impartiality of our present justice system. This will also discourage other future whistleblowers from coming out in the public to expose other corrupt practices present in our current government.
As a movement composed of well-meaning government leaders, we believe that good governance in our country will only be achieved if those who perpetuate graft and corruption practices in our government be held accountable for their actions. Thus, we call on the Ombudsman to act swiftly and with impartiality in prosecuting those who have taken part in this said scandal.
We continue to extend our support to Jun Lozada in his quest for the Truth and in his fight against graft and corruption in our government.
Finally, we encourage every Filipino who believes in the Truth and in Good Governance to join our online campaign to support Jun Lozada by sending an email to him at filipinosfortruth@ gmail.com .
Signed:
Hon. Eddie "Among Ed" Panlilio - Governor, Pampanga
Hon. Jesse Robredo - Mayor, Naga City
Hon. Sonia Lorenzo - Mayor, San Isidro, Nueva Ecija
Hon. Teddy Baguilat, Jr. - Governor, Ifugao
Hon. Fermin Mabulo - Mayor, San Fernando, Camarines Sur
Hon. Florante Gerdan - Mayor, Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya
Hon. Gloria Congco - Fmr. Mayor, Cabiao, Nueva Ecija
Monday, March 16, 2009
VOTERS EDUCATION AND SATELLITE REGISTRATION FOR THE YOUTH AND FIRST TIME VOTERS
Since the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP), Parish
Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting(PPCRV), and the National Movement
for Free Elections (NAMFREL) entered into a Memorandum of
Agreement(MOA) with the Comission on Elections(COMELEC) to help attain honest, peaceful, and meaningful 2010 elections, several activities were already undertaken jointly or separately by these institutions.
One of the activities identified in the MOA is the campaign to educate and encourage the registration of the youth, particularly those who will be voting for the first time. Thus, in Bicol Region, the Ateneo de Naga University hosted a VOTERS EDUCATION AND SATELLITE REGISTRATION FOR THE YOUTH AND FIRST TIME VOTERS last Friday, 13 March 2009 at the Xavier Hall, Ateneo de Naga University.
In the 10am - 12nn forum, the resource speakers Comissioner Leonardo Leonida of the COMELEC and Mr. Lito Bunag of the PPCRV Special Projects Office provided inputs for the guidance and encouragement of first time voters.
In the satellite registration conducted by COMELEC from 8am - 5pm, at least 150 first time voters from Naga City were allowed to register as regular voters.
The activity also served to jumpstart the campaign for the holistic formation of students towards active and responsible citizenship thru participation in the 2010 elections.
Voters Education Forum for 1st Time Voters: 10AM-12NN
Friday, 13 March 2009, Xavier Hall, Ateneo de Naga University
Satellite Registration for 1st Time Voters (Naga City): 8AM-5PM,
Friday, 13 March 2009, Xavier Hall, Ateneo de Naga University
Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting(PPCRV), and the National Movement
for Free Elections (NAMFREL) entered into a Memorandum of
Agreement(MOA) with the Comission on Elections(COMELEC) to help attain honest, peaceful, and meaningful 2010 elections, several activities were already undertaken jointly or separately by these institutions.
One of the activities identified in the MOA is the campaign to educate and encourage the registration of the youth, particularly those who will be voting for the first time. Thus, in Bicol Region, the Ateneo de Naga University hosted a VOTERS EDUCATION AND SATELLITE REGISTRATION FOR THE YOUTH AND FIRST TIME VOTERS last Friday, 13 March 2009 at the Xavier Hall, Ateneo de Naga University.
In the 10am - 12nn forum, the resource speakers Comissioner Leonardo Leonida of the COMELEC and Mr. Lito Bunag of the PPCRV Special Projects Office provided inputs for the guidance and encouragement of first time voters.
In the satellite registration conducted by COMELEC from 8am - 5pm, at least 150 first time voters from Naga City were allowed to register as regular voters.
The activity also served to jumpstart the campaign for the holistic formation of students towards active and responsible citizenship thru participation in the 2010 elections.
Voters Education Forum for 1st Time Voters: 10AM-12NN
Friday, 13 March 2009, Xavier Hall, Ateneo de Naga University
Satellite Registration for 1st Time Voters (Naga City): 8AM-5PM,
Friday, 13 March 2009, Xavier Hall, Ateneo de Naga University
Ehem! Anticorruption Workshop in Iriga City
The Ateneo de Naga University Institute of Politics conducted with the Coalition for Bicol Development(CBD) and the Local Governent Unit of Iriga City the Ehem! Anticorruption Workshop last Feb. 20-21, 1009 at the Masosu Spring Resort. The IP Executive Director Mr. Renne Gumba was the main resource speaker and facilitator of the two-day workshop attended by non-government and peoples organizations (NG0s and POs) of Iriga City. Ehem! is a training manual produced by the Jesuits in the Philippines, intended primarily to enhance personal commitment to combatting corruption. Since its publication, Ehem! trainings have been conducted for government agencies, private and even religious organizations in the local and national level.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Schools to mobilize for 2010
Citizens participation in the electoral exercise is hardly a walk in the park. For instance, it is projected that for the 2010 elections, PPCRV and NAMFREL will need at least 500,0000 volunteers from all over the country to do the tasks of voters education, pollwatching, and quick count.
That is why I was so glad when I learned that educational institutions are mobilizing on a national scale for the 2010 elections. The COCOPEA and CEAP have inked a memorandum of agreement with the COMELEC, PPCRV, and NAMFREL.
Among others, the agreement intends to help ensure a clean and credible registered voters list; and to conduct voters education nationwide to encourage registration among first time voters. This is will be pursued in the spirit of collaboration in the following areas: (1)promotion of voters registration, (2)voters education, and (3)recruitment and deployment of volunteers.
Aside from ensuring a reliable pool of trained volunteers for citizens participation in the 2010 elections, this initiative will encourage a more coordinated and systematic learning experience among students of various schools and universities toward active citizenship.
That is why I was so glad when I learned that educational institutions are mobilizing on a national scale for the 2010 elections. The COCOPEA and CEAP have inked a memorandum of agreement with the COMELEC, PPCRV, and NAMFREL.
Among others, the agreement intends to help ensure a clean and credible registered voters list; and to conduct voters education nationwide to encourage registration among first time voters. This is will be pursued in the spirit of collaboration in the following areas: (1)promotion of voters registration, (2)voters education, and (3)recruitment and deployment of volunteers.
Aside from ensuring a reliable pool of trained volunteers for citizens participation in the 2010 elections, this initiative will encourage a more coordinated and systematic learning experience among students of various schools and universities toward active citizenship.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Keep it up?
The wonders of technology!
I have witnessed its potential in transforming our electoral culture as early as 2003 when Ateneo de Naga University run several demonstrations of the software “Botong Pinoy”, a fully-automated voting system developed by Mega Computers.
You register as a voter by being physically present and having your identity determined through biometrics, characteristics which are spectacularly unique to each individual. This will include fingerprint, retina of the eyes, etc. This process is supposed to purge the voters list of “flying voters” intentionally doing multiple registration in several localities, and even those who pose as someone else registering several times under different identities.
In the election day itself, wonders of the touch screen technology with the voter simply touching the colored picture of the candidate he/she is voting for. And at the end of the voting process, he/she just confirms the choices entered and receives a print out similar to those issued by ATM machines, confirming the accuracy of the votes noted by the machine.
Most important, the vote you cast immediately gets counted and it takes less than a day to count total votes and determine the winners!
How excited I was then of the transformation it will cause the country’s electoral process!
But after two national elections and the 2010 elections drawing nearer, I am growing to be a lot more wary of the government’s ability and sincerity in pursuing modernization of our elections!
First, it(the national government) had chosen to invest millions of pesos in the purchase of counting machines which ended up rusting in some warehouse.
Second, it has refused to fast track the modernization law then, taking it up only when the 2007 election day was a stone’s throw away.
Third, it has failed to initiate the computerization process early enough and thus ended up panicking over such pursuit before the 2010 elections. I wonder if the COMELEC will have the ability and time needed to bid out, purchase, install the computer network nationwide, and train its personnel nationwide for the computerized elections.
But let us keep our fingers crossed.
If it doesn’t happen, we have always been known for being a patient and tolerant people anyway. Much as we may desire to push the government to work harder and faster, it seems we cannot! Much as we may desire to shame those who scheme to get elected into position, it seems we cannot! Worse, much as we may desire to act together and work for the common good, it seems we cannot!
But even if we cannot, its a wonder we still keep our fingers crossed...
I have witnessed its potential in transforming our electoral culture as early as 2003 when Ateneo de Naga University run several demonstrations of the software “Botong Pinoy”, a fully-automated voting system developed by Mega Computers.
You register as a voter by being physically present and having your identity determined through biometrics, characteristics which are spectacularly unique to each individual. This will include fingerprint, retina of the eyes, etc. This process is supposed to purge the voters list of “flying voters” intentionally doing multiple registration in several localities, and even those who pose as someone else registering several times under different identities.
In the election day itself, wonders of the touch screen technology with the voter simply touching the colored picture of the candidate he/she is voting for. And at the end of the voting process, he/she just confirms the choices entered and receives a print out similar to those issued by ATM machines, confirming the accuracy of the votes noted by the machine.
Most important, the vote you cast immediately gets counted and it takes less than a day to count total votes and determine the winners!
How excited I was then of the transformation it will cause the country’s electoral process!
But after two national elections and the 2010 elections drawing nearer, I am growing to be a lot more wary of the government’s ability and sincerity in pursuing modernization of our elections!
First, it(the national government) had chosen to invest millions of pesos in the purchase of counting machines which ended up rusting in some warehouse.
Second, it has refused to fast track the modernization law then, taking it up only when the 2007 election day was a stone’s throw away.
Third, it has failed to initiate the computerization process early enough and thus ended up panicking over such pursuit before the 2010 elections. I wonder if the COMELEC will have the ability and time needed to bid out, purchase, install the computer network nationwide, and train its personnel nationwide for the computerized elections.
But let us keep our fingers crossed.
If it doesn’t happen, we have always been known for being a patient and tolerant people anyway. Much as we may desire to push the government to work harder and faster, it seems we cannot! Much as we may desire to shame those who scheme to get elected into position, it seems we cannot! Worse, much as we may desire to act together and work for the common good, it seems we cannot!
But even if we cannot, its a wonder we still keep our fingers crossed...
Monday, February 9, 2009
politics - we can't live without it!
Politics refers to any persistent pattern in human relations which involves to a significant extent power, influence, or authority.
As such, our daily life is a political experience. The act of convincing our kids to pursue a university course, the process of deciding wheteher to go out with our friends or not, the decision to desist from harming others even if we are so pissed off. All these, and a lot more, are political affairs.
But many social scientists would be largely preoccupied with institutions and processes, particularly on the macro level. Thus governance and electoral politics would be at the center of everyone's consciousness whenever politics is brought up in a discussion.
Unfortunately, this only laid down the foundation for people to believe that politics is bad and to be avoided-even if to their mind, it is clear that electoral politics and governance issues are the major concerns.
An equally unfortunate consequence of this situation is when people and institutions start to announce: we dont want to have anything to do with politics! we are not a political organization! One doesnt have to be an expert to discern the message: indifference and apathy to politics is beneficial.
But we are not supposed to forget the fact that politics will always have both a personal dimension and a social dimension. Thus even those institutions who are supposed to cater to the individual person, and his/her soul, are actually doing something political.
So can we really do away with politics? Maybe not. It is deeply embedded in our actions and emotions, both on the personal and collective level. And can we afford to be indifferent to politics? Maybe not. Because there is so much at stake!
As such, our daily life is a political experience. The act of convincing our kids to pursue a university course, the process of deciding wheteher to go out with our friends or not, the decision to desist from harming others even if we are so pissed off. All these, and a lot more, are political affairs.
But many social scientists would be largely preoccupied with institutions and processes, particularly on the macro level. Thus governance and electoral politics would be at the center of everyone's consciousness whenever politics is brought up in a discussion.
Unfortunately, this only laid down the foundation for people to believe that politics is bad and to be avoided-even if to their mind, it is clear that electoral politics and governance issues are the major concerns.
An equally unfortunate consequence of this situation is when people and institutions start to announce: we dont want to have anything to do with politics! we are not a political organization! One doesnt have to be an expert to discern the message: indifference and apathy to politics is beneficial.
But we are not supposed to forget the fact that politics will always have both a personal dimension and a social dimension. Thus even those institutions who are supposed to cater to the individual person, and his/her soul, are actually doing something political.
So can we really do away with politics? Maybe not. It is deeply embedded in our actions and emotions, both on the personal and collective level. And can we afford to be indifferent to politics? Maybe not. Because there is so much at stake!
Friday, February 6, 2009
shapin up, holdin on
The year 2009 may be described in terms of the plans and preoccupation of the people. In the Philippine social context, the 2010 elections, economic difficulties, corruption, and the drive for charter change are among the prominent issues that will be in the limelight.
A look into these issues in terms of the actors involved brought to mind an interesting theme: shapin' up, holdin' on. On one hand, a group of people is quite busy preparing for an electoral exercise. On the other hand is a group of people dreading the approach of the exercise and their descent to oblivion.
The year 2009, it seems, will be a year for hardworking individuals and organizations. Those who want to grab power and those who want to stay in power.
A look into these issues in terms of the actors involved brought to mind an interesting theme: shapin' up, holdin' on. On one hand, a group of people is quite busy preparing for an electoral exercise. On the other hand is a group of people dreading the approach of the exercise and their descent to oblivion.
The year 2009, it seems, will be a year for hardworking individuals and organizations. Those who want to grab power and those who want to stay in power.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
ANTI-CHACHA MOVEMENT CONVENES IN NAGA CITY
The core group of corncerned individuals and organizations opposed to charter change convened last December 2, 2008 at the Naga City Peoples Council(NCPC) office. The group conducted a motorcade/noise barrage along the major streets of Naga City. It was followed by a planning session wherein upcoming activitites and the coordinating structure of the group was finalized.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Hunger Striking Farmers and Bishops Rebuke Joint Resolution on CARP Extension
Emancipate Farmers from the Gridlock of Political Indecision:
Hunger Striking Farmers and Bishops Rebuke Joint Resolution on CARP Extension
(A Statement Issued by the Hunger Striking Farmers and Bishops)
The hunger striking farmers and bishops are united in their analysis and rejection of the joint resolution being proposed by the House of Representatives and the Senate. The farmers and bishops are not swayed by this palliative measure which contravenes the Constitution and does not respond to the call of the farmers.
The said resolution supposedly resolves to maintain "the status quo" on the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law as "its effectiveness extends until June 30, 2009". Setting an expiration date for the CARL is contrary to the constitutional mandate on the continuous implementation of the agrarian reform program until all agricultural lands in the country are covered and distributed to the landless farmers. Neither a resolution nor a law can terminate a program mandated by the Constitution. The Joint Resolution shows the pale resolve of our legislators to perform their mandate. It clearly exposes that the vested interests of the landed in government take precedence over the Constitution and the welfare of the farmers and over national accord.
While the Joint Resolution seeks to extend the implementation of land acquisition and distribution, it does not provide any funds for agrarian reform implementation aside from what is provided in the proposed 2009 National Budget. Without the Agrarian Reform Fund (ARF), the GAA budget is too limited even for a minimal acquisition and distribution of land under CARP. The farmers and bishops demand a more definite decision of extending financial support for CARP and institutionalizing needed reforms which are provided in HB 4077 and SB 2666.
It is ironic how the legislators complain about defective program implementation when the effective implementation of CARP had been historically blocked by interests of influential landowners, among who are members of Congress. The legislators cannot repeatedly ignore the command of the people and the law. They should not be allowed to feign blamelessness and claim non-accountability. Had they willed to do so, the legislators could have studied and incorporated the amendments proposed by the farmers during the past six months. They already bought time the last instance they proposed a similar resolution in June. As expected, such bogus measure resulted in the cessation of all land acquisition and distribution processes as the Department of Agrarian Reform could not boldly implement the very core of this supposed centerpiece program of the government.
What makes this second attempt different from the previous one such that it will suddenly ensure that the DAR will continue fulfilling its duty? The only difference is that this time things are worse as some legislators contemptuously insist on striking down compulsory acquisition without which the program will be at the mercy of landowner volunteerism. As such, CARP would be rendered virtually futile. The very reason for the need to reinforce CARP is the recalcitrance of owners of big landholdings—mostly families of powerful public officials- and the lack of support services to fuel agricultural production.
How could the legislators claim that they need material time to "study and generate consensus on appropriate amendments" and at the same time insist on eliminating the most critical components of the program? Do the legislators think they can convince the farmers that this resolution is being proposed to better the program and not to facilitate its termination? Do the legislators think the bishops cannot perceive that this measure is nothing but a quick fix meant to mislead? The Joint resolution is obviously being devised to merely placate the hunger strikers who demand accountability from the legislators who failed to take decisive action on the CARP extension with reforms in the last six months.
The farmers are convinced that the consensus the legislators contemplate is obviously that which will be acceptable to the landowners' bloc. The bishops discern that what is lacking in this situation is not material time but compelling resolve. And such resolve will not ferment in six months or a year. Such consensus ought not to be the consideration; it is the farmers' predicament which is of concern. In the final analysis, what is inevitable and what would surpass all this filibustering is the imperative of responding to the farmers who feed our nation, fulfilling the constitutional fiat and the policy behind agrarian reform. For the hunger strikers, the problem is not lack of material time but the acute lack of political will and resolve from the country's political leadership to ensure the compliance to the Constitutional mandate of pursuing agrarian reform until its completion.
The agrarian reform program was enshrined in the Constitution to address poverty and promote food security. It is a revolutionary and comprehensive measure which caters to the poor and will never see fulfillment unless the implementers of the law are forced to will themselves to submit to it. The legislators have been given sufficient time to respond and yet we find ourselves at this standstill yet again. It is high time to rouse them to action, to give them reason to accede to the imposition of law and national conscience.
17 December 2008
Hunger Striking Farmers and Bishops Rebuke Joint Resolution on CARP Extension
(A Statement Issued by the Hunger Striking Farmers and Bishops)
The hunger striking farmers and bishops are united in their analysis and rejection of the joint resolution being proposed by the House of Representatives and the Senate. The farmers and bishops are not swayed by this palliative measure which contravenes the Constitution and does not respond to the call of the farmers.
The said resolution supposedly resolves to maintain "the status quo" on the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law as "its effectiveness extends until June 30, 2009". Setting an expiration date for the CARL is contrary to the constitutional mandate on the continuous implementation of the agrarian reform program until all agricultural lands in the country are covered and distributed to the landless farmers. Neither a resolution nor a law can terminate a program mandated by the Constitution. The Joint Resolution shows the pale resolve of our legislators to perform their mandate. It clearly exposes that the vested interests of the landed in government take precedence over the Constitution and the welfare of the farmers and over national accord.
While the Joint Resolution seeks to extend the implementation of land acquisition and distribution, it does not provide any funds for agrarian reform implementation aside from what is provided in the proposed 2009 National Budget. Without the Agrarian Reform Fund (ARF), the GAA budget is too limited even for a minimal acquisition and distribution of land under CARP. The farmers and bishops demand a more definite decision of extending financial support for CARP and institutionalizing needed reforms which are provided in HB 4077 and SB 2666.
It is ironic how the legislators complain about defective program implementation when the effective implementation of CARP had been historically blocked by interests of influential landowners, among who are members of Congress. The legislators cannot repeatedly ignore the command of the people and the law. They should not be allowed to feign blamelessness and claim non-accountability. Had they willed to do so, the legislators could have studied and incorporated the amendments proposed by the farmers during the past six months. They already bought time the last instance they proposed a similar resolution in June. As expected, such bogus measure resulted in the cessation of all land acquisition and distribution processes as the Department of Agrarian Reform could not boldly implement the very core of this supposed centerpiece program of the government.
What makes this second attempt different from the previous one such that it will suddenly ensure that the DAR will continue fulfilling its duty? The only difference is that this time things are worse as some legislators contemptuously insist on striking down compulsory acquisition without which the program will be at the mercy of landowner volunteerism. As such, CARP would be rendered virtually futile. The very reason for the need to reinforce CARP is the recalcitrance of owners of big landholdings—mostly families of powerful public officials- and the lack of support services to fuel agricultural production.
How could the legislators claim that they need material time to "study and generate consensus on appropriate amendments" and at the same time insist on eliminating the most critical components of the program? Do the legislators think they can convince the farmers that this resolution is being proposed to better the program and not to facilitate its termination? Do the legislators think the bishops cannot perceive that this measure is nothing but a quick fix meant to mislead? The Joint resolution is obviously being devised to merely placate the hunger strikers who demand accountability from the legislators who failed to take decisive action on the CARP extension with reforms in the last six months.
The farmers are convinced that the consensus the legislators contemplate is obviously that which will be acceptable to the landowners' bloc. The bishops discern that what is lacking in this situation is not material time but compelling resolve. And such resolve will not ferment in six months or a year. Such consensus ought not to be the consideration; it is the farmers' predicament which is of concern. In the final analysis, what is inevitable and what would surpass all this filibustering is the imperative of responding to the farmers who feed our nation, fulfilling the constitutional fiat and the policy behind agrarian reform. For the hunger strikers, the problem is not lack of material time but the acute lack of political will and resolve from the country's political leadership to ensure the compliance to the Constitutional mandate of pursuing agrarian reform until its completion.
The agrarian reform program was enshrined in the Constitution to address poverty and promote food security. It is a revolutionary and comprehensive measure which caters to the poor and will never see fulfillment unless the implementers of the law are forced to will themselves to submit to it. The legislators have been given sufficient time to respond and yet we find ourselves at this standstill yet again. It is high time to rouse them to action, to give them reason to accede to the imposition of law and national conscience.
17 December 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Anti-chacha mobilization in Naga City
BUSINA LABAN SA CHACHA! BUSINA PARA SA DEMOKRASYA!
COALITION FOR A CITIZENS CONSTITUTION (C4CC-NAGA CITY)
Tuesday, 2 December 2008
SCHEDULE:
4-5pm
Assembly of participants: Social Action Center, Liboton St.
5pm
Motorcade to Plaza
5:30pm
BUSINA sa PLAZA
6pm
Motorcade to Liboton
6:30pm
Planning/dinner of C4CC core group
COALITION FOR A CITIZENS CONSTITUTION (C4CC-NAGA CITY)
Tuesday, 2 December 2008
SCHEDULE:
4-5pm
Assembly of participants: Social Action Center, Liboton St.
5pm
Motorcade to Plaza
5:30pm
BUSINA sa PLAZA
6pm
Motorcade to Liboton
6:30pm
Planning/dinner of C4CC core group
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