Together with students from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM), Universidad de Manila (UdM), and other youth and student organizations, the LFS organized the activity in solidarity with the rest of the nation staging similar programs of mourning across Metro Manila and the rest of the country.

“While we are deeply saddened by the loss of a fellow iskolar ng bayan, it is not enough that we just mourn for her death. The best way to honor Kristel’s memory is to ensure that no other Filipino youth would be denied their right to education until they are driven to suicide, like what commercialized education did to her,” says Miguel Cruz, LFS Deputy Secretary General.

The LFS has long criticized UPM’s “no late payment” policy and the Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP), as these have only served to justify and disguise the tuition fee increase in the state-run university. Due to insufficient funding from the government, state universities and colleges (SUCs) like UP resort to tuition and other fee increases to generate funds for operation.

Students from PLM expressed their solidarity in the fight for government subsidy after their school budget were slashed by 50%, while students from UdM complain of dilapidated chairs and lack of classrooms especially after their facilities were used to accommodate students from the Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology, another institution thrown into disrepair because of financial constraints. The student council in UdM is also not allocated a budget by the school.

“As much as the UP administration is guilty of Kristel’s death, more so should the US-Aquino government be held accountable for her suicide. Because of Aquino’s Roadmap to Public Higher Education Reform (RPHER), SUCs like UP are encouraged to further commercialize education in compliance to foreign interests,” claims Cruz.

While UPM chancellor Manuel Agulto announced the suspension of the “no late payment” policy last Tuesday in response to massive protest actions, Cruz warned the students about being complacent because of the announcement.

“We must keep our vigilance in preventing Aquino and his local cohorts from implementing other forms of commercialization, as well as ensure that existing anti-people policies like the RPHER is junked. We can only give justice to Kristel’s death by intensifying our struggle for greater state subsidy and our right to quality education accessible even to the poorest of the nation,” reiterates Cruz. ###

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“On this day, we refuse to shed tears because we are hurt, because we are angered by state neglect. Unlike the Aquino government, the Filipino does not feel helpless.  Tapos na ang panahon ng pagluluksa. Ito ay araw ng paniningil at paninindigan sa paglaban.”

The militant organization League of Filipino Students (LFS) together with other students and youth formations in the country declare March 20 as a National Day of Protest for Justice and Rights.

According to LFS, the death of Kristel does not only hold accountable the local UP policies that stifled her right to accessible education. The ‘no late payment policy” and Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP) are consequential schemes of the over-arching neoliberal framework on education and basic social services.

“While it is valid to hold UP Manila administrators’ Agulto and de Luna accountable, that is short of what is just. Aquino is clearly behind the shadow of these administrators trying to evade from any blame, trying to escape from the public persecution,” said Issa Baguisi, National Spokesperson of LFS.

According to LFS, until enacted, the lifting of the “no late payment” cannot be seen as a tactical victory. “The UP administration is using that to pacify and further insult the clamor for accessible education. Together, we remain that STFAP should be scrapped, rollback the tuition. We challenge the Aquino government, to place a moratorium on all tuition and other fees increase now!” asserted Baguisi.

Bogus “programs for the people”

“Under the framework of neoliberalization, the Road Map to Public Higher Education Reform (RPHER) is pushing for the implementation of a socialized tuition scheme similar and patterned after UP’s STFAP. Intensified commercialization is underway for the education sector under Aquino government.

According to LFS, Aquino is a loyal lapdog of US, rigidly implementing economic policies to favor foreign profit-driven interests and consequentially, to the detriment of the welfare of the Filipino people.

At present no less than 25 public hospitals are listed for privatization schemes, this include the Philippine Orthopedic Center. Likewise, the public transportation such as the MRT has recently been opened for private bidders. Notwithstanding, already-privatized services such as energy and water resources are stifling consumers for another wave of price hikes in the coming months.

“If we are to stood up for what Kristel died for, Iskolars ng Bayan and the youth should be resolved to challenge neoliberal policies that endanger not only our right to education, but gravely threatens our right to live and right to live humanely,” added Baguisi.

Today, LFS will join different youth and students in different campuses in NCR to hold Aquino accountable for implementing US’ command to privatize and commercialize education and basic social services. “Aquino’s puppetry and systematice deprivation of the youth and people does only merit and justifies the militant engagement by the people. There can be no justice until Aquino and his cohorts are held accountable,” ended Baguisi. ###

The League of Filipino Students condemns to the highest extent the statement of the UP administration in response to the death of a freshman Behavioral Science student.

In a press conference yesterday, the UP administration led by UP System President Alfredo Pascual summarized their “investigation” with the following statements:

1) Kristel should be blamed for not complying with the requirements on time,

2) Thus, Kristel’s death does not justify the call to revoke for the “no late payment” policy, and Kristel was not forced to file a leave of absence, she voluntarily filed for it,

3) UPM Chancellor Agulto, finding no fault in the policy and feels no guilt whatsoever over the incident, and

4) Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program must be revised.

“These are adding insult to injury. Malinaw ang demands ng estudyante at makaturangan ang mga kahilingan! Nakakagalit na ginamit ng UP Administration ang press conference para i-justify ang flawed na iskema ng STFAP. Hindi reporma ang sagot! Kailangan ito mabasura kung sinsero ang administrasyon na tuldukan na ang pagpapahirap sa mga kabataan at estudyante,” asserted Issa Baguisi, National Spokesperson, League of Filipino Students.

LFS alongside Iskolars ng Bayan were enraged with the outcome of the press conference.

“The UP Administration in its pursuit of Aquino’s plan of deregulation and privatization of education are nothing less of murderers in this case. They are sloppily trying hard to wipe their hands clean off of the issue by standing by their propaganda that they are “helpless” in tuition increases,” Baguisi said.

Today, leaders of the UPM community will engage the UPM administration to act urgently upon the manifesto signed by the students and UPM community that demands for the rescinding of anti-student policies.

In a facebook statement, UPM USC Chairperson-elect Mariz Zubiri vowed that March 19 will not end without the rescinding of the “no late payment” policy. Professors who attended the interfaith assembly yesterday, demanded the resignation of the proponents of the policy.

According to the organization, if the government fails to serve its mandate, there is nothing left to do but to declare that government a failure.

“We will not fail the youth in the same way that this government has failed them. We are resolute to wage steadfast and intensified struggles against neoliberal policies that legitimize commercialization and privatization of education. This is not only justice for Kristel but justice for the nation’s future. We cannot afford for the hope of the nation to lose all hope. Our hope is in our struggle, in our militant, collective action,” added Baguisi.

The desensitized Aquino government will feel the pain of every youth and student who are dragged by the chains of destitution and desperation with the massive protests that will happen nationwide. Tomorrow different sectors are ready to hold militant actions to hold Aquino accountable for his crimes to the Filipino people. “Bukas ipapataw kay Aquino ang hatol ng bayan!” ended Baguisi. ###

References:

“The UP Manila community is deeply saddened with the death of our kapwa Iskolar ng Bayan reportedly due to failure to settle account and compounded instances of financial challenges within her family,” said Mariz Zubiri, incoming University Student Council Chairperson of UP Manila.

 High Cost of Education and Basic Social Services

Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP) has been implemented in the UP System since 1989 to justify the subsequent tuition increases. In the same year, UP education was raised to P300 per unit and in 2006 it was increased to P1,500.

“STFAP is a nothing but a smokescreen for tuition increases. STFAP whitewashes the need for higher state subsidy because it can always generate income from the students to complement meager educational government subsidy,” according to Issa Baguisi, National Spokesperson of the League of Filipino Students.

In the context of the belt-tightening scheme of the government, UP Manila imposed a policy of “No late payment” which caused students to file Leave of Absence (LOA) if they cannot settle their accounts on time.

“More than poverty, Kristel is a victim of neglect of the Aquino government. She represents the Filipino youth who are compelled to live in deplorable conditions because of Aquino’s economic policies that translate to inadequate jobs, unjust wages, inaccessible education, etc, for the Filipino people,” added Baguisi.

 Fight for a University of the People

Undemocratic access to quality education is rampant under the Aquino government marked by its Road Map to Higher Education Reform that mandates the implementation of a socialized tuition scheme in all State Colleges and Universities (SUCs). In the Polytechnic University of the Philippines for instance, proposals similar to STFAP are now being proposed.

“The only justice that we know of, for Kristel and the youth who have been denied of their access to education, is to resolutely junk educational policies such as “no late payment” and STFAP and intensely struggle for higher state subsidy under Aquino’s administration,” said Baguisi.

According to the organization, before, UP symbolizes the hope of the youth who wanted a chance on a bright future. Now, Aquino has mandated UP to close its door to poor and deserving youth, but forces its door open to those who can pay and subsidize for those who cannot.

“We are ready to hold massive protests next week to hold Aquino accountable not only for the death of Kristel, but for the countless unnamed Filipino youth and people who are on Aquino’s death row, every single day, because of his anti-youth and anti-people policies,” ended Baguisi.  ###

References:

Image from DWIZ 882

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

14 March 2013

The League of Filipino Students (LFS) slams the efforts of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to restrict the campaign mileage of poor and marginalized candidates and partylists while exempting Noynoy-backed candidates from the same regulations.

Kabataan Partylist, the sole youth partylist running for its third term in the Lower House and which banks on sheer volunteerism of its supporters nationwide, were sent several notices by COMELEC because of illegal posters in public places. COMELEC also slammed school-based Kabataan Partylist supporters for showing support in their respective campuses.

Likewise, PISTON Partylist, which aims to represent drivers and public utility vehicle operators, were reminded that their supporters, mostly drivers, are prohibited from posting PISTON campaign materials on their respective vehicles as a sign of support.

COMELEC clearly shows a bias in picking on marginalized partylists and candidates. Yet it provides a leeway for big-time violators who haphazardly hold Facebook contests, or candidates using party-affiliation with Noynoy for campaign mileage. COMELEC even argued Noynoy’s immunity for its inaction on PhilHealth cards being disseminated 200 meters away from an UNA motorcade. Meanwhile, candidates running under the yellow ticket are also using survey media outfit SWS to further project Noynoy-backed candidates.

Elitist election

For the midterm 2013 elections, COMELEC imposed new rules that limit electoral propaganda, and instead prescribed expensive forms that discourage poor electoral candidates.

COMELEC has proposed the use of “common posting areas” for posters and similar campaign materials during the campaign period. However, this regulation would require candidates and partylists put up their own bulletin boards, which does not come cheap especially for those running with a tight budget.

What the COMELEC does not realize is that they are pursuing an elitist electoral campaign; a campaign that favors moneyed and palace-backed candidates and partylists while discriminating those who rely on public support for their sustained campaign. Partylists that represent marginalized groups are downright being discriminated against by COMELEC in its shameless campaign in pursuit of violators while it nonchalantly sits back and turns a blind eye on compounded violations by yellow candidates.

Eluding real electoral issues

While COMELEC is proud of its shameless campaign in pursuit of violators, it is actively eluding questions regarding the automated election system. It is actively whitewashing more relevant issues pertaining to midterm elections and directing public attention to violators and blowing it out of proportions.

IT experts continue to question COMELEC’s competence to hold an automated election, especially when the commission lacks the source code required to run the PCOS machines. The source code is an important set of computer commands which the machines will use to distinguish genuine ballots and reject fake ones, to count votes, and transmit the tally to canvassing centers. Yet COMELEC Chairman Sixto Brillantes is quick to dismiss this concern as a plot to sabotage the elections.

What Brillantes fails to admit is the grave implications of the commission’s unpreparedness. Without it, IT experts, political parties, and even Brillantes himself, has no way of running tests to ensure the code has no flaws and impervious to tampering. Yet this is just an addition to the suspicions in using rewritable memory cards and glitch-ridden PCOS machines to declare a new set of lawmakers and holders of some of the highest offices in the country.

Going Back to Peoples Issues

COMELEC is proud of its pursuit for clean and honest elections by empowering the public to be citizen watchdogs. But what the COMELEC has achieved so far is dumbing the public by reducing the elections as a battlefield to criminalize and publicly persecute violators.

Elections is an opportune time to discuss, discourse and debate on peoples issues. The people should not be lured by COMELEC’s superficial pursuit for clean and honest elections.

LFS urges students, youth, and the Filipino people to go back to the basics, discuss pertinent peoples issues such as genuine land reform, democratic access to basic social services especially education, just wage, etc.

Unless the people are decisive to pursue debates on peoples issues, the 2013 midterm national elections will be nothing but another instalment to the n^th series of circus politics that has put each and every Filipino in destitute, deprived and marginalized conditions.###

Reference:

Issa Baguisi, Spokesperson: 0949.761.5040

Aries Gupit, Media Liaison: 0935.331.3902

The clamor for government help in relief and rehabilitation escalates almost three months after the devastating tragedy that cost lives in Mindanao due to Typhoon Pablo. With another typhoon in Mindanao, particularly in areas hard-hit by Typhoon Pablo and Sendong, the LFS challenges the Aquino administration to administer genuine and service-oriented relief operations in the area.

“Immediate relief must be given to the people. Soliman should grant the 100,000 sacks of rice due to the victims or risk facing stronger claims for ouster from people fed up with her incompetence,” says LFS Secretary General Mai Uichanco, reminding the DSWD secretary of the 5,000 victims who barricaded a highway in Compostela Valley because of sluggish distribution of relief goods in their community.

Endangered by storms and soldiers

Beyond natural disasters aggravated by huge corporate greed, the greatest dangers threatening the people of Mindanao are extrajudicial and political killings, trumped up criminal charges, and other forms of human rights violations enacted by the government to protect interests of mining and logging operators. At least 6 military battalions and 2 infantry brigades, explicitly named Investment Security Forces (ISF), are deployed as escorts of these corporations in the CARAGA region alone.

“The cases of violations speak for themselves; Aquino is insincere to the plight of the people, especially those in Mindanao,” remarks Uichanco.

The culture of impunity that comes with Aquino’s promise to protect foreign and large-scale investments in the country is pervasive. This also sheds light on the criminal charges placed upon the leaders of the aforementioned 5,000-strong barricade last month which also called for the cancellation of various corporate logging and foreign mining permits.

“The barricades along Compostela Valley were well-warranted given the neglect to give the locals the necessary relief. The people’s call for 100, 000 sacks of rice and continuous rehabilitation and relief over the course of the next 6 months must be met,” asserts Uichanco.

End the claiming of lives by the EO 79

Yet to hold the Aquino government responsible in providing immediate relief is only one side of the coin. The other side is for the people to claim a long-term solution and social justice.

“The care for Mindanao which Pres. Aquino projects does not translate to real and actual service given to the people of Mindanao—especially those in most need,” deplores Uichanco.

According to the youth leader, the ‘battle between man versus nature’ was intensified primarily by Aquino’s Executive Order 79, which legitimized massive mining and logging in the provinces of Davao and Compostela Valley. According to data gathered by Mindanao-based environmental organization Panalipdan, there are already a total of 31 mining tenements, application, and operations in Davao Oriental alone, with another 43 in Compostela Valley.

“Let us not wait for another Pablo to happen. We demand the immediate junking of EO 79, and thus eliminate the hazard to the lives of our countrymen in Mindanao,” concludes Uichanco. ###

The youth group slammed Aquino and the Department of Energy for keeping mum in the face of the price increase of petroleum products.

“Oil prices have increased more than 15 times under Aquino. This administration’s uselessness to prevent oil price hikes has been tested by time, and it shows no sign of changing,” deplores Miguel Cruz, Deputy Secretary General of the LFS.

However, Cruz pointed out how the recent spate of price hikes is no longer a simple case of Noynoying, or inactivity on the part of the government. He explained that the collaboration between the Aquino administration and oil cartels as the main reason behind the rising costs of petroleum products.

“Occasionally, they would announce an insignificant rollback in prices to conceal the fact that the oil industry is already monopolized by these big foreign-owned oil companies. However, the coddling of Petron and Chevron by Aquino on legal and technical grounds only accounts for his protection of these multinational corporations instead of the struggling Filipino people,” exclaims Cruz.

Cruz noted how the government is always quick to attribute the skyrocketing prices of oil to political unrest in the Middle East and the fluctuating price of oil in the international market, and the the Oil Deregulation Law (ODL) serves only to allow oil cartels in setting their own prices so they can supply oil to the country. Yet despite the the law being abused by oil companies to the detriment of the ordinary citizen’s welfare, the government has shown no qualms about keeping the ODL.

The deregulation of the oil industry has already resulted to countless oil price hikes since the ODL came into effect on February 10, 1998. The LFS proposed national industrialization and utilization of the Philippine’s own resources for the country’s needs as a sustainable alternative to dependence on foreign oil cartels.

“The LFS is one with the rest of the Filipino public in the outrage over the nonstop oil price hikes by Aquino and the ODL. We call on everyone to join the people’s protest on the third week of March to express our dissatisfaction with Aquino’s governance and to demand for the immediate junking of the ODL,” says Cruz. ###

In the new elementary school curriculum under the K to 12, DepEd excluded Science from those grade levels supposedly to make learning “more enjoyable and child-friendly.” However, the LFS is disturbed by this course of action from the very department tasked to ensure and improve the quality of Philippine basic education.

“Instead of coming up with ideas on how to advance education and making it accessible to every Filipino youth, the DepEd has chosen to deny them of their right to learn.  The only achievement of DepEd’s illogical decision would be to get every Filipino youth dumbed down to their level of reasoning,” quips Kayong Garduce, K to 12 spokesperson of the LFS-High School.

Garduce questioned the validity of Education Secretary Armin Luistro’s conclusion that the inclusion of science makes studying less enjoyable. According to the youth leader, the Philippines would actually benefit much from a more scientific education considering the country requires intensive development of its industries if it is to become self-reliant.

“Yet the K to 12 opts for a more watered-down version of scientific learning. It is clear then that the future of the Philippines and the Filipino people was not what Aquino had in mind when he adopted this flawed education program,” explains Garduce.

The LFS has been one of the most vocal critics of Aquino’s K to 12 program. The youth group cites the reorientation of education, from being an essential component of nation-building to a mill churning out semi-skilled laborers for export to other countries, as one of its main points why it disapproves of the K to 12.

“The LFS reiterates the call for the junking of the K to 12 in favor of a nationalistic, scientific, and mass-oriented education accessible to every Filipino youth. The Aquino administration is already running out of excuses in establishing the K to 12 in the curriculum of basic education. We call on every Filipino who refuses to be manufactured as mindless slaves for foreign countries to take to the streets and decisively rid our schools of the K to 12,” says Garduce. ###

LFS kay Aquino: “Tama nang palusot! Panagutin ang US, Ibasura ang VFA!”

Isang buwan matapos ang pagsadsad ng USS Guardian sa Tubbataha Reef, walang usad sa imbestigasyon, at lalong wala ring usad sa pagtanggal sa nasabin barko. Wala ring malinaw na plano si Aquino sa pagpapanagot sa US. Sa katunayan, patuloy niyang pinapayagan ang port calls at pinoprotektahan ang among US sa ilalim ng Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

Ang interes ng gobyernong Aquino ay pagtakpan at patakasin ang US sa mga responsibilidad nito sa pagkasira sa Tubbataha.

“Unang-una pa lang, hinayaan ng gobyerno na makatakas ang US Navy na sakay ng USS Guardian; pangalawa, hinayaan lang ni Aquino na hindi makapaglunsad ng sariling imbestigasyon ang Philippine Coast Guard matapos ang insidente; pangatlo, walang papel sa imbestigasyon ang Pilipinas kundi mga miron at lubos na pinauubaya ito sa kamay ng may-sala, ang US,” ayon kay Issa Baguisi, tagapagsalita ng Save Tubbataha Reef Network.

Militanteng sinugod ng League of Filipino Students ang US Embassy ilang beses matapos ang insidente dahil malinaw para sa organisasyon ang pananagutan ng US sa usapin. Ayon sa grupo, kapwa kailangan singilin si Aquino na naturang insidente.

“Dahil sa patuloy na pagpapatupad ni Aquino ng VFA at iba pang di-pantay na tratado at kasunduang militar sa pagitan  ng US-PH, malayang nakakagalaw ang tropang ‘Kano sa bansa, pumpahimpapawid ang mga drones, dumadaong ang mga barko sa guise ng port calls—malayang nayuyurakan ang dignidad at soberanya ng bansa,” giit ni Miguel Cruz, deputy secretary general ng League of Filipino Students.

Malinaw na ang pagsadsad ng USS Guardian ay pinahintulutan ng Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

“Kung tunay na sinsero si Aquino sa pagpapanagot sa US, dapat matapang niyang ibasura ang Visiting Forces Agreement,” ani Cruz.

Nauna nang pahayag ng LFS na tuldukan ang mga port calls sa bansa. Taktikal na panawagan din na magkaroon ng isang independent investigative committee.

Nanawagan ang LFS sa lahat ng makabayang Pilipino na patuloy na pagbantayan ang galaw ng US sa bansa at magkaisa para tuluyang ibasura ang VFA, ang susi sa patuloy na pandudusta sa soberanya ng bansa.

“Kailangang natin panagutin si Aquino sa pagpapahintulot sa pambubusabos ng US at panggagahasa nito sa ating kalayaan.” ###

Mark Twain on the Philippine-American War of 1899
October 15, 1900
The New York Herald

Unang buwan pa lamang ng taong 2013, walang pagtatanggi nang pinakita ni Aquino ang kanyang pagpapakatuta sa patuloy na pagtapak sa pambansang soberanya ng Estados Unidos ng Amerika (US) sa pamamagitan ng interbensyon nito sa bansa. Sinimulan ito ng balita na isang US Unmanned Aerial Vehicle o mas kilala bilang US Drone ang natagpuan sa karagatan ng Masbate. Hindi pa man lubos na nakakapagpaliwanag si Aquino at ang US hinggil sa usapin na ito, sumambulat na ang pagsadsad ng isang US Navy Warship sa Tubbataha Reef na tinaguriang national treasure at isang World Heritage Site. Sa mga insidenteng ito, hindi maikakaila ng gobyerno ang malinaw na paglabag sa pambansang soberanya na sa katunayan ay resulta ng mga di pantay na kasunduan na kinapapalooban ng ating bansa tulad ng Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) at Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT).

Sa katunayan, ilan lamang ito sa mga resulta sa naganap na Strategic Defense Dialogue noong Enero 2012, sa pagitan ng Pilipinas at US. Ito ay naglantad sa pagkapapet ng gobyernong Aquino sa pagpayag nito sa plano ng US. na dagdagan at pangmatagalang magdeploy ng tropang Amerikano sa ating bansa.

Walang ibang idudulot ito kung hindi ang papatinding panghihimasok ng US sa internal na mga usapin sa ating bansa, ang mas mahigpit na pagkontrol sa ating ekonomiya upang isulong ang mga bangkaroteng polisiyang neo-liberal, ang pagkamkam sa yaman ng ating bansa, at ang paggamit sa papet na gobyernong Aquino sa pansarili nitong imperyalistang interes sa rehiyon.

Isang siglo makaraan ang henosidyo (genocide) ng Amerika sa panahon ng Digmaang Pilipino-Amerikano (ng itinatag ang imperyalistang kapangyarihan ng US mula sa dugo ng mamamayang Pilipino sa una nitong digmang agresyon sa Asya-Pasipiko) ibinabandila sa kasalukuyan ng US ang American Pacific Century upang buhayin ang nasa krisis nitong ekonomya at mapanatili ang paghahari sa mundo. Ito ang nasa likod ng agresibong pagbabago ng estratehiyang pang-militar ng US – sa pamamagitan ng pagkontrol ng pamilihan ng rehiyon upang makapagpiga pa ng mga dambuhalang tubo at makordonan ang lumalakas na ekonomiya ng karibal nitong bansang Tsina.

Kaya naman inilabas ang praymer na ito upang:

1. magsilbi sa malawakang propaganda-edukasyon sa hanay ng mga kabataan at mamamayan para sa pagpapalalim ng kaalaman sa  masidhing panghihimasok ng US sa bansa at sa Asya-Pasipiko.

2. mailantad at mapatibay ang mga kongkretong batayan sa pagyukod ng tutang rehimeng Aquino sa panghihimasok ng US sa bansa.

3. maihapag at mapagkaisa ang mga kabataan at mamamayan para sa pagpapalakas ng kilusang masa laban sa tumitinding interbensiyon ng US sa bansa.

Higit kailanman, ngayon ang panahon upang patibayin ang pagkakaisa ng kabataan at mamamayan upang labanan ang iskema ng pagpaparami ng tropang ng US sa bansa at nang papatinding panghimasok ng US sa Pilipinas, maging sa Asya-Pasipiko.

ANG BALIKATAN AT MAS MASIDHING PANGHIHIMASOK NG US

Ang BALIKATAN exercises ay isang programa ng “joint military exercises” sa pagitan ng pwersang militar ng Pilipinas at ng Estados Unidos.

Natigil pansamantala ang joint military exercises sa pagitan ng mga taong 1992-1998 matapos na mapatalsik ang base at tropang Amerikano sa bansa dahil sa lakas ng protesta ng mamamayan at boto ng Senado noong 1991. Ngunit, nanumbalik ito nang pirmahan ni Estrada ang Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) noong Mayo 27, 1999.

Ang VFA ay ang ligal na batayang ginagamit ng papet na gobyerno ng Pilipinas upang pahintulutan ang pagpasok mga tropang militar ng Amerika sa ating bansa. Sa gitna ng napakalakas na protesta, bingi-bingihang pinatupad ang VFA kahit pa ito’y labag sa Konstitusyon ng Pilipinas at nagwawalang bahala sa lahat ng tagumpay ng mamamayan sa kilusan sa pagpapaalis ng tropang Amerikano sa bansa.

Upang mailusot ang BALIKATAN noong 2001, ikinakatwiran ng gobyernong Arroyo na kailangan diumano ito upang i-modernisa ang Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at upang maging handa sa anumang panlabas na banta o pananalakay sa bansa. Itinuturo ng gobyerno ng Pilipinas na ito ay bahagi ng Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) na nilagdaan noong 1951 sa pagitan ng US at Pilipinas.

Ikinatwiran din ng administrasyon ni Bush at Arroyo na kailangan ang Balikatan Exercises upang masugpo ang kriminal na grupong Abu Sayaff Group (ASG) sa Basilan, Mindanao na sa katotohanan ay bahagi ng giyerang agresyon ng US na nagkukunwaring giyera laban sa terorismo.

Nilagdaan din ang Mutual Logistics and Support Agreement (MLSA) sa pagitan lamang ni Gen. Diomedio Villanueva na chief of staff ng AFP at Adm. Dennis Blair bilang commander-in-chief ng USAF Pacific Command. Ito ay upang suhayan ang mas matagal na pananatili ng tropa ng US at ang walang sagkang paggamit ng mga pasilidad-pangmilitar sa Pilipinas. . Upang maiwasan ang papalakas na protesta, pinalabas ng rehimeng US-Arroyo na ito’y isang “arrangement” lamang at hindi labag sa Konstitusyon ng Pilipinas na nagbabawal sa permanenteng presensya ng dayuhang militar, at mga dayuhang kagamitang pandigma sa bansa. Sa katunayan, ang MLSA ay bagong pangalan lamang ng Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement (ACSA) na hindi naipasa dahil sa matinding protesta ng mamamayan sa gobyernong Ramos.

Ang mga makaisang-panig na mga kasunduang ito—VFA, MLSA na nakatuntong sa MDT sa pagitan ng Pilipinas at US ay ipinagpapatuloy ng gobyernong Aquino.

Sa kasalukuyan, may tinatayang 600 US Special Forces sa Camp Navarro sa Zamboanga. Walang kontrol ang AFP sa Camp Navarro sa loob ng Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P) Headquarters na nagmimistulang bagong base ng US sa bansa. Ipinagbabawal din ang pagpasok ng sundalong Pilipino at kahit na inspeksyon ng gobyerno ng Pilipinas sa mga kagamitan at pasilidad-militar ng US na nakalagak dito.