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This issue’s highlights... Protests against OPH PAGE 3 Unionist, journalist, latest EJK victims PAGE 6 The US will not bring Libya to its knees PAGE 10 Pahayagan ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas Pinapatnubayan ng Marxismo-Leninismo-MaoismoANG English Edition Vol XLII No. 7 April 7, 2011 www.philippinerevolution.net Editoryal Further invigorate mass struggles against the US-Aquino regime posals to raise toll fees in exressways and fares in Metro Manila's public train system. These issues starkly demonstrated Aquino's lopsided priorities in favor of cronies and fellow big businessmen and their objective of raking in profits. He also clearly demonstrated his utter lack of concern for the people's welfare and their desire to rise above their abject poverty. Worse, he even bought an expensive race car “for relaxation”. This underscored how strikingly different and alienated he was from ordinary people whose im- poverishment makes the task of meeting their families' daily needs an arduous struggle. The prices of gasoline and other petroleum products have been rising on an almost weekly basis for more than three months now, spurring hikes in the prices of food and other basic com- modities. Already inadequate wages and salaries of workers, rank and file employees and ordinary folk have become even more insufficient. In spite of this, the Aquino regime has done nothing to relieve even slightly the L ast week's protest actions against the relent- less increases in the prices of gasoline and other petroleum products have brought to the fore the growing protest movement against the antipeople and pro-imperialist policies being implemented by the Aquino regime. Tens of thou- sands of people joined street demonstrations in major cities nationwide. The breadth and intensity of these demonstra- tions in the country's major urban areas reflect the depth and strength of the people's anger against the policies and systems being imple- mented by the Aquino regime. They signal not on- ly the worsening social crisis but more so, the growing number of people who have been taking a stand against the increasingly heavier burdens being wrought by this crisis. The continuing mass actions by the people against rising oil prices are part of the mass struggles that have steadily been gaining strength since last year. Just a few months after Aquino took power, he stoked the people's anger with the nearly simultaneous imposition of poli- cies that added to their burdens and worsened their poverty and suffering. The people's hopes for change with the new government were instantly dashed when Aquino showed that he had no plans at all of addressing the people's demands. Just a few months after taking the seat of power, Aquino showed everyone who his real “bosses” were. Kowtowing to the dictates of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, he slashed the budgets for education, health and other services and approved pro- Ang Bayan is published fortnightly by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines Ang Bayan is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Iloko, Hiligaynon, Waray and English editions. It is available for downloading at the Philippine Revolution Web Central located at: www.philippinerevolution.net Ang Bayan welcomes contributions in the form of articles and news. Readers are likewise enjoined to send in their comments and suggestions for the betterment of our publication. You can reach us by email at: angbayan@yahoo.com Vol. XLII No. 7 April 7, 2011 Contents Editorial: Intensify mass struggles against Aquino regime 1 Protests against oil price hikes PALEA strike 4 Victorious tactical offensives NPA-Mindanao leads 5 TOs in Laguna, Bts, Capiz 6 Punish the 39th IB 7 Latest victims of latest EJK 8 Morong 43 files case vs. GMA 9 Prison diary 10 AFP, most corrupt agency 11 US will be defeated in Libya 11 ANG 2 ANG BAYAN April 7, 2011 people's hunger and suffering. It gave oil companies free rein to raise their prices, especially since every price increase gives the government a windfall in tax collections. Aquino turns a blind eye to the people's true situation and turns a deaf ear to their cries and grievances. He has taken pains to justify his shunting aside of the workers' demand for higher wages. He mocks the people by saying that prices have not really been rising that fast in a desperate attempt to rationalize his objections to the demand for a `125 increase in the daily wage. Doctored surveys are even now unable to obscure Aquino's rapidly dwindling popularity. Amid the intensifying crisis of the ruling semicolonial and semifeudal system, the reac- tionary US-Aquino regime's in- utility, incompetence, puppetry and fascism are rapidly unfold- ing. The vigorous protest actions of the past few months are signs of a bigger storm of mass strug- gles in the coming months and years. Aquino can no longer rest easily on his throne in the re- maining years of his term amid the rapidly erupting struggles of an angered people. Conditions are exceedingly favorable for the expansion and intensification severalfold of the revolutionary mass move- ment in the countryside and cities. There are a myriad issues that can raise the people's con- sciousness about the basic prob- lems and the rottenness of the prevailing system. The US- Aquino regime's refusal to ad- dress the people's grievances and resolve their problems teach them the need to tread the path of struggle. There is basis for the work- ers' movement and the move- ment of the toiling masses to gain vigor and surge forward. There is a strong cry for decent wages and permanent employ- ment as against widespread job- lessness and labor flexibiliza- tion, for higher wages and low- er prices, for housing and other social services. In their respective factories and communities, the toiling masses are confronted with a mass of problems that drives them to organize and take ac- tion. They must be reached, aroused, organized and mobi- lized. They must be united through various forms of organ- izations, unions or associations and linked through alliances and movements. Their day to day issues must be linked to the struggles of their sector and the entire people. Their struggle must be focused against the rul- ing US-Aquino regime. The youth and students can play a key role in the qualitative invigoration of the democratic mass movement. The youth and student movement has been in- tensifying since last year, with the growing momentum of struggles against tuition fee hikes and measures taken by the US-Aquino regime to slash the budget for education and other social spending. There should be continued efforts to expand political edu- cation to raise the conscious- ness of the youth and students on society's problems and their roots. There must be active ef- forts to counter various tenden- cies towards petty bourgeois thinking that are being propa- gated among their ranks in or- der to block their involvement in social issues. The youth must be mobilized in a powerful movement to “serve the people” involving tens of thousands of them trooping to factories and com- munities in the cities and vil- lages in the countryside in order to learn from and to help in arousing and mobilizing the toiling masses. They must con- sciously become involved in molding public opinion through the internet, cellphones, the mass media and other means. A broad anti-Aquino united front is emerging based on the strength of the movement of democratic sectors. There is growing involvement from more and more personalities and groups from the middle strata who are disgruntled with the continually worsening social cri- sis and the ruling regime's fail- ure to present solutions to the people's problems. It will not be long before Aquino pays dearly for his inutile, corrupt, antipeo- ple, fascist and puppet rule. It will not be long before he is swept away and swallowed by the giant wave of people's struggles. ~ 3ANG BAYAN April 7, 2011 The Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Na- tionwide (PISTON) led the “Transport Caravan” dubbed the National Day of Action Against Oil Price Hikes. It was held on March 31 and joined by 3,000 protesters and 200 jeeps and FX taxis. Progressive organizations and congressmen also partici- pated in the mass action. The caravan took off from the Quezon City Circle and proceeded to- wards the Universi- ty of Sto. Tomas in Manila before the protesters marched to Mendiola. PISTON secretary-general George San Mateo strongly criti- cized the fact that oil prices had risen ten times since January. San Mateo charged that the big foreign oil cartels have been raking in almost `370 million daily because oil prices have been ovepriced by `7.50 per liter. Since the Oil Deregulation Law (ODL) took effect in 1998, oil prices have risen by 653%. They demanded that Aquino junk the ODL because it was the cause of runaway oil prices. They also demanded the abroga- tion of the expanded value- added tax imposed on petroleum products. Other cities in the country were practi- cally paralyzed when drivers launched transport strikes. In Angeles City, the transport strike effect- ed almost 100% paralization, with more than 20,000 drivers joining it. Fourteen jeepney or- ganizations and 208 tricycle drivers' associatons participated in the protest action. In Davao City, 94% of more than 10,000 Coordinated protests against oil price hikes D rivers in Metro Manila launched a caravan to protest the suc- cessive oil price hikes. The caravan was accompanied by transport strikes and demonstrations in other cities nation- wide. drivers stopped plying their routes. According to the Transport in Mindanao for Solidarity, Inde- pendence and Nationalism (TRANSMISSION), they success- fully paralyzed transportation in a number of the island's cities. Up to 100% joined the transport strike in the cities of Iligan and Valencia, 98% in Cagayan de Oro, and 80% in Malaybalay; 95% in Butuan City; and 90% in Gingoog City. Jeepney, taxi, tri- cycle, bus and even habal-habal (passenger motorcycles) drivers joined the strike. In Bacolod City, drivers un- der the United Negros Drivers Operators Center (UNDOC) ral- lied in solidarity with the cara- van. They demanded that the Department of Energy remove the `5 being slapped on the price per liter of petroleum products, resulting in prices higher than those in Metro Manila. In Roxas City, the Hug- pong Transport conducted a noise barrage at around 3 p.m. Drivers in Sorsogon and Legazpi City also launched a protest ac- tion in preparation for the huge mass actions slated for April 13. PAL workers determined to strike Workers of Philippine Air Lines once more declared their deci-sion to push through with their strike after the lapse of the mandatory prohibition period imposed during ongoing hearings by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on their dispute with management. They are strongly opposed to the outsourcing of 3,000 work- ers to Air Philippines, which is also owned by Lucio Tan. Prior to this, the majority of PAL workers had already voted in fa- vor of the strike. The Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) expessed its solidarity with the PAL workers and their decision to strike. The KMU also assailed the Aquino regime for conspiring with Lucio Tan. Aquino's meddling in PAL com- prises blatant intervention in order to preempt the planned labor stoppage and implement antiworker policies like the con- tractualization scheme, said the KMU. The KMU also expressed con- cern about the leadership of Gerry Rivera and the Partido ng Manggagawa over the Philippine Air Lines Employees Assocation (PALEA). The progressive labor center said that Rivera was en- dangering the workers' interests. A labor leader, said the KMU, should not announce when a strike will be held. The KMU al- so cited Rivera's other errors in dealing with the labor tensions at PAL, such as calling on Aquino for assistance and prais- ing the latter for his decision to intervene. Said the KMU, such interven- tion may create havoc in the workers' struggle. It cited Rivera's record of conniving with the former Estrada regime in 1998, when a 10-year mora- torium on a collective bargain- ing agreement (CBA) was im- posed. This gave Tan the oppor- tunity to earn millions while PAL workers' wages were pegged at a low level, said the KMU. ~ 4 ANG BAYAN April 7, 2011 VICTORIOUS TACTICAL OFFENSIVES the environment against indis- criminate logging, mining and the destructive operations of agribusiness plantations. As fighters for a just and lasting peace, it demonstrated its high level of discipline and political consciousness by strictly abiding by the 25-day ceasefire from December 16, 2010 to January 3, 2011 and from February 15 to February 21, 2011.” The ceasefire was brazenly vi- olated by the US-Aquino regime's security forces. But despite the 42 incidents of provocative vio- lations by mercenary forces in Mindanao, the NPA fighters exer- cised humility in bearing arms in compliance with the ceasefire and in creating the most favor- able conditions for the peace talks between the GPH and the NDFP, added Ka Oris. Meanwhile, according to of- ficial reports from the Secretari- at of the Southern Tagalog Re- gional Committee, the NPA Mt. Amandewin Command under the Leyte Party Committee in East- ern Visayas and the Panay Party Committee, not only were they were able to defeat the vicious Oplan Bantay Laya (OBL I and NPA-Mindanao takes the lead in armed struggle P artial reports received by Ang Bayan (AB) show that Mindanao has been taking the lead in advancing the armed revolution- ary struggle in the country. Their efforts paid off due to their strict adherence to the call to “Rely on the masses, wage antifeudal struggles, daringly launch tactical offensives and fulfill our fighting tasks!” From only 39 guerrilla fronts in 2009, the island now has 44 guerrilla fronts, with almost half of them company-strength. More platoons and companies have also been formed. Under strict guidance from the Com- munist Party of the Philippines, NPA units enjoy widespread mass support and continue to achieve victories. In 2010 alone, the NPA was able to launch 200 tactical of- fensives, seize 200 high-pow- ered firearms and annihilate the equivalent of a battalion-size enemy force (about 300). In the first quarter of 2011, it was able to launch more than 50 tactical offensives, seize 40 firearms (22 of them high-powered rifles), kill the equivalent of a compa- ny-size enemy force and wound about 50 enemy troops. Said NDF-Mindanao spokes- person Jorge “Ka Oris” Madlos, the NPA was able to contribute a 10% increase in the number of villages it operates in, in Min- danao. The organized masses un- der various revolutionary mass organizations also grew by 12%. Organs of political power were set up, and various types of al- liances were organized, expand- ed and consolidated. As a true people's army, it has made major contributions to the struggle for genuine agrari- an reform. Hundreds of thou- sands of people have benefited from the reduction of rent for land and farming equipment; the reduction of usurious rates; higher wages for farm workers; and campaigns waged to pro- mote health, culture, literacy and other services. It protected to the Senate, among the other cases filed against Gutierrez was her failure to charge Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her hus- band Jose Miguel Arroyo for their involvement in the anom- alous Philippine National Broad- band deal. She likewise delayed investigation on the death of Ensign Philip Pestaño, who was killed to prevent him from ex- posing anomalies in the Philip- pine Navy. The report also cited the ombudsman's low conviction rate. The Senate will try Gutierrez once it resumes its sessions in May. ~ A number of the cases against Gutierrez were filed by the Bagong Alyansang Mak- abayan (BAYAN) way back in Au- gust 2010. Led by its secretary- general Renato Reyes, BAYAN charged Gutierrez for her inac- tion on the `1 billion fertilizer fund scam, the `6.9 million Eu- ro Generals scandal and the anomalous `1.3 billion contract involving Mega Pacific. Gutier- rez disregarded the Supreme Court's decision nullifying the contract entered into by Mega Pacific Corporation and Commis- sion on Elections chair Ben- jamin Abalos. In the final report submitted by Congress' justice committee Congress approves Gutierrez's ouster Congress voted 212 to 46 on March 22 to impeach OmbudsmanMerceditas Gutierrez. The report of Congress' Committee on Jus- tice has been transmitted to the Senate, which will be acting as a court to try Gutierrez. At least two-thirds or 16 votes will be need- ed in the Senate to punish Gutierrez and remove her from office. 5ANG BAYAN April 7, 2011 VICTORIOUS TACTICAL OFFENSIVES NPA military actions in Laguna, Batangas and Capiz B ack to back tactical offensives were launched in March by forces of the New People's Army Nilo Hatol Command (NHC- NPA) in Laguna in response to the people's longstanding de- mand to punish landgrabbers and those who blatantly violate the rights of workers, peasants and the people in general. It was also in celebration of the NPA's 42nd founding anniversary. The NHC-NPA raided on March 24 a poultry farm owned by brothers Manuel and Rodrigo Co in Sitio Saksak, Barangay Juan Santiago, Sta. Maria, Lagu- na, seizing 18 shotguns and five VHF radios from security guards. They also earlier raided the com- pound of the Dole Philippines- Banana Plantations, Inc. in Mag- dalena, Laguna, confiscating a shotgun and a pistol. These companies were raided because of their violations of the policies of the People's De- mocratic Government (PDC) on the protection of the environ- ment, the rights of employees as well as other rules and policies of the PDC. These tactical offensives also belie claims by the AFP-PNP that they have significantly weak- ened the revolutionary move- ment in Laguna province. In Batangas, a squad-size mass work unit under the Edgar- do Dagli Command coura- geously fought it out on March 23 with a regular platoon of the 730th Combat Group under the Philippine Air Force (PAF) that attempted to annihilate it. The PAF unit was based in Sitio Palico, Barangay Biliran, Nasugbu, Batangas. Edgardo Dagli Command spokesperson Apolinario Matien- za said that the encounter took place at 4 a.m. Instead of being annihilated, the NPA squad was even able to inflict casualties on the enemy, killing one and wounding nine others. Aside from the forces that di- rectly encircled the NPA, battal- ion-size assault forces of the PAF encircled the entirety of Mount Batulao and nearby villages at the foot of the mountain. But with the NPA deeply rooted among the masses and with sev- eral victories in agrarian revolu- tion and armed struggle, the masses embrace and cherish their beloved army. The com- rades were able to escape the enemy encirclement without in- curring any casualties. In Capiz, an NPA unit under the Jose Percival Estocada Jr. Command arrested Cpl. Joebert Glindro, alias Mino, in Barangay Artuz, Tapaz, Capiz. He was killed while resisting ar- rest and attempting to escape, said Ka Jurie Guerrero, spokesperson of the Jose Percival Estocada Jr. Com- mand. Mino was an active, notorious and vicious operative of the Mil- itary Intelligence Battalion of the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army. He had a long list of murder cases and viola- tions of human rights against the people and the revolutionary movement. Among Mino's biggest crimes were the abduction of Renante Lerona, a political detainee who had already been acquitted by the Regional Trial Court in Mam- busao in 1997; the abduction of Balis Castor, a civilian youth from Katipunan, Tapaz, Capiz, on August 18, 2007; a raid on an NPA