Bu-lat-lat (boo-lat-lat) verb: to search, probe, investigate, inquire; to unearth facts Volume 2, Number 24 July 21 - 27, 2002 Quezon City, Philippines |
GMA's
“Strong Republic” a Rehash of Marcos' “Bagong Lipunan” President Arroyo, a fisherfolk leader said during last week’s People’s Summit II, “is reversing the history’s verdict on Marcos and ex-President Joseph Estrada by reviving the brutal regime of Marcos and the corrupt administration of Estrada through the ‘Strong Republic.’” By
GERRY ALBERT-CORPUZ The
militant fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya)
last week said the president's chosen "Strong
Republic" theme for Her second State of the Nation Address (SONA) is
a rehash of Marcos' concept of “New Society.” According
to Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap, the theme implies three significant
thrusts of the regime: 1) the grand comeback of U.S. colonial forces under
Balikatan exercises and Mutual Logistics and Support Agreement (MLSA); 2) the
open use of repressive measures against critics and perceived foes; 3) the
all-out implementation of neo-liberal policies at the expense of domestic
industries. "Ms.
Arroyo is reversing the history's verdict on Marcos and ex-President Joseph
Estrada by reviving the brutal regime of Marcos and the corrupt administration
of Estrada (through the) Strong Republic,” Hicap stressed. President
Macapagal said
her SONA will delve on her targets and prospects for the next year,
saying ' “milestone reports” about her administration's performance will be
presented during the SONA. Eight
cabinet secretaries yesterday presented their departments' accomplishments
against the targets set by Arroyo in 2001.
The president said her speech would open with how she gets inspiration
from the past presidents, especially her father, the late president Diosdado
Macapagal. But
Pamalakaya secretary general Manolito Serrano belittled the president’s
“milestone reports,” describing them as products of doctored economics and
falsified statistics.”
"Definitely, the people will resist Ms. Arroyo’s living
theater,” he said. Serrano
said Ms. Arroyo’ adherence to globalization forced down farmgate prices of
locally produced agricultural products by an average of 7.4 percent. Prices of
palay, sugar cane and coconut fell to 5%, 6% and 32%, respectively, as a result
of massive dumping of foreign agricultural products. People's
Summit II Billed
as a conference on the true State of the Nation, militant groups led by Bagong
Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), party list Bayan Muna and Kilusang Mayo Uno held
People’s Summit II to consolidate the people's collective assessment and
judgment on the Macapagal-Arroyo administration.
“Bayan
is calling for Ms Macapagal's ouster… this is the beginning of Gloria's
end,” Bayan secretary general Teddy Casiño told Bulatlat.com. Casiño
said the People's Summit is a prelude to the mobilization on July 22. According
to the Bayan leader, the alliance hopes to gather around 30,000 to 40,000
activists at the Batasan Complex in time for Ms. Arroyo’s second SONA.
Bayan's
Casiño said the militants' alternative SONA is a nationally coordinated
activity with mass actions in Cebu City, Davao City, Iloilo City, Legaspi,
Bacolod, Baguio and other key cities nationwide. More
than 400 people from trade unions, rural groups, urban poor associations,
consumer organizations and networks of professionals attended the People Summit
II. The
participants were divided into three workshop groups which are: the current
economic situation; the resurgence of intervention and imminent aggression US
colonial forces under Balikatan; and the rising political repression under the
Macapagal-Arroyo government. Resource
persons for the People Summit II included Bayan Muna representatives Crispin
Beltran and Satur Ocampo, labor leader Joel Maglunsod, Lolita Donato of People
Opposed to Warrantless Electricity Rates (Power), former Navy captain Danilo
Vizmanos and student leader Apolinario Alvarez of Anakbayan. Bayan
Muna's Ocampo said “the Arroyo government cannot win…support.” In fact,
Ocampo said, the regime has only earned the people's ire. The
party list congressman said the steep plunge in the president's ratings is an
indicator of government's failure to reach out the masses. Ocampo also expressed
concern about the president’s move to intensify political repression against
groups which are exposing and opposing her anti-national and anti-people
policies. “We
must find effective ways to expose and thwart armed attacks against progressive
elements,” he added. Maglunsod
of KMU held Ms. Arroyo responsible for the massacre of jobs in the last 17
months. He said 409,000 people joined the ranks of jobless Filipinos from 4.46
million in 2001 to 4.87 million this year.
He said unemployment rate shot up to 13.9% as compared to 13.3 percent
last year, while almost six million Filipinos are currently underemployed. For
his part, KMU chair and Bayan Muna representative Crispin Beltran said Arroyo
has not done any meaningful reforms for Filipino workers. He said the president
refused to heed calls for a P 125 across-the-board daily wage increase for
private sector workers and P 3,000 monthly pay hike for government employees. “Some people close to the president asked our workers to give Ms. Arroyo a chance. Yes, we did, but she blew all her chances to institute meaningful reforms for the people. Definitely, we cannot tolerate her pro-imperialist program, her political opportunism and avant-garde corruption and her policy of state repression and campaign of terror against ordinary people", Beltran said. Bulatlat.com We want to know what you think of this article.
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