Artists, Activists Jam in Night vs Political Persecution

Published on May 9, 2009

The Artists’ Response to the Call for Social Change and Transformation (Artists’ ARREST), the Kilometer 64 Poetry Collective, and the Free Randall Echanis Movement (Freedom) organized last May 5 a cultural political event titled “Enemy of the State” at the Conspiracy Bar and Garden Cafe in Quezon City. Conceptualized following the recent arrest of National Broadband Network (NBN) scam star witness Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada, the activity was held to denounce what its organizers described as “political persecution” against Lozada and others who have exposed and opposed the “wrongdoings” of the Arroyo administration – including peasant leader Randall Echanis.

BY ALEXANDER MARTIN REMOLLINO
CULTURE
Bulatlat

Paano kaya patatahimikin
Ang naghihiyaw na damdaming
Likas sa taong mapagmahal?
Paano mo hihimukin ang tapang na nawawala sa bawat sandaling
Aalagwa ang iyong kagandahan sa aking harapan?
Rekomendasyon ko?
Ay naku, susmarya!
Ninenerbyos pati ako.

Bumentahe ka na lang:
Eksena ngayon, eksena mamaya
Rumekta ka bigla.
Di hamak na
Uungasin mo silang lahat.
Gumaling ka man o mapansin
Obligadong magsumikap ka para ibigin.

Vincent Michael Borneo, media liaison officer for the Office of House Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna (People First) Rep. Satur Ocampo, performed this poem of his, titled “Unang Sulyap” (First Glance), at what was an avowed political event at the Conspiracy Bar and Garden Cafe in Quezon City last May 5. After his performance, he gave away the real message of what, at first reading, would appear to be a love poem by calling attention to the first letter of each line – which, put together, would form a slogan against retired Army Gen. Jovito Palparan, Jr.

Palparan, now a representative of the “party-list” group Bantay (Watchdog), earned notoriety for the human rights violations that were perpetrated in his areas of assignment as a military officer.

The event, organized by the Artists’ Response to the Call for Social Change and Transformation (Artists’ ARREST), the Kilometer 64 Poetry Collective, and the Free Randall Echanis Movement (Freedom), was titled “Enemy of the State”. Conceptualized following the recent arrest of National Broadband Network (NBN) scam star witness Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada, the activity was held to denounce what its organizers described as “political persecution” against Lozada and others who have exposed and opposed the “wrongdoings” of the Arroyo administration – including peasant leader Randall Echanis.

Lozada was arrested in connection with the July 4, 2008 perjury case filed against him by former Presidential Chief of Staff Mike Defensor. He had testified under oath, at a Senate investigation, that Defensor had offered him P50,000 ($1,112 at the July 2008 exchange rate of $1=P44.95) to retract his statement that airport and police personnel had abducted him upon his arrival from Hong Kong on Feb. 5, 2008.

A technical consultant on the NBN deal between the Philippine government and China’s ZTE Corporation, Lozada testified at Senate investigations early last year on the controversial contract – confirming that it was overpriced by $130 million and adding detail to earlier allegations by businessman Jose “Joey” de Venecia III. He also disclosed that presidential spouse Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo was involved in backchannel negotiations on the NBN deal. He confirmed the involvement of former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Benjamin Abalos in the contract, as well as his attempt to bribe Romulo Neri – who was director-general of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) during negotiations on the project.

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