Historic Moment in the Continuing Quest for Truth, Justice and Genuine Democracy

May 30,2012 

More than two-thirds (2/3) of the senators have convicted Renato C. Corona. He is now to be removed from the post as chief justice and be permanently barred from holding any public office or position. 

The present House of Representatives and Senate have done their sole duty and authority to initiate impeachment and to try and decide on impeachment complaints against an impeachable official. This one against Corona is the first-ever impeachment process that reached conclusion. 

The judgement, which is indeed momentous and have wide and far-reaching implications, was not only expected but was demanded by the people even before the House of Representatives initiated the impeachment of Corona. 

This small and partial victory of removing Corona from the post, which was arrogated for him by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and which he assumed, is still to be pursued into its finality. Until Corona and his ilk comply and submit to the Senate’s decision, this episode is not closed. 

We should remain vigilant. The actuations and latest statements of Corona and his lead counsel are doubtful and suspicious. Corona has said that he accepts the verdict “if it would be for good of the people”. But before accepting the verdict, Corona first denounced the impeachment process as having been dominated by political manoeuvrings and re-asserted that his conviction is product of a conspiracy. 

His acceptance of the verdict is doubtful and betrays ill intentions. He has earlier filed a petition before the Supreme Court to stop the impeachment process. His walk-out last May 22 also proclaimed that he does not recognize the impeachment court and actually wanted to lord over it. His lead defense counsel Serafin Cuevas has also declared before the verdict was handed down that should Corona is convicted they would protest the verdict before the Supreme Court. 

Corona’s pending petition and the expressed plan of filing a new complaint before the Supreme Court are designed to hostage not only the Senate’s verdict but the principle of “check and balance”. Should they pursue this and should the SC act on it could lead to a constitutional crisis. 

The removal of Corona from the highest post in the Judiciary is now demanded by the people to proceed to major and fundamental reforms of the judicial system. 

The Aquino administration is urgently called for to fulfil its promise to bring to closure all the pending charges against GMA and her ilk. The more urgent ones include the human rights violations particularly the numerous extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances and cases of illegal arrest and detention; the fraudulent 2004 and 2007 elections; the ZTE deal, Fertilizer Scam, etc. 

“Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty” 

The ouster of Corona from a stolen post maybe the end of an episode but is also the beginning of a new chapter of more arduous struggle for truth, justice, freedom and democracy that would require heightened vigilance of the people. For the people, the most important lesson in the impeachment trial is vigilance and resoluteness for a just cause. 

The twenty senators who voted for Corona’s conviction may be commended but they may not claim victory for the people because they have to prove more as being their “representatives”. Although the senators may 

have acted and spoken in political grandstanding ways they have said a lot that have meaning to the people. 

But the people should not be misled by words of promises and place their hopes at the hands of leaders who do not genuinely represent their interests. Instead, the people should follow-through their other major and basic demands. That all public officials be accountable to the people by declaring the true state of their assets, liabilities and net worth is just one among the demands of the people to check graft and corruption. Public officials would all fail if they would be measured with the liabilities and promises they owe the people. 

One senator has expressed their other liabilities to the people: “impeaching poverty and hunger, unemployment, etc.” But he failed to air the need to repeal laws that are causing and exacerbating these symptoms of crisis. Among others the most urgent ones are Oil Deregulation Law, Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), Mining Act, the US-RP Visiting Forces Agreement. A Marcos legacy that is the Foreign Currency Deposit Act belong to this ranking. 

President Noynoy Aquino is particularly being called to prove that his Matuwid na Daan is meaningful to the people. Other than arresting GMA and Abalos and ousting Corona his campaign against graft and corruption must redound to real and concrete benefits of the people that would pave the way towards fundamental economic, political and social reforms. 

The people’s historical and continuing struggle for truth, justice and democracy will certainly proceed from this one episode. It is for the people to decide the next chapters not only through the coming elections but in pursuing their struggle relentlessly. 

##### 

CJ IMPEACHMENT TRIAL: UNVEILING OF HOW THE ELITE DISPENSES JUSTICE

The executive, legislative, and the judiciary are the major branches of elitist rule in the country. They operate within the framework of maintaining such rule over the Filipino people.

Existing factions of the ruling class hold elections as part of the “constitutional process” - how to share among themselves the reins and spoils of political power stamped with the people’s imprimatur. They also have the impeachment again as a “constitutional process” - how to “discipline” erring members of the ruling class and their representatives for abuse of  exercise of such power.

The zeal and fervor of the present regime in going after CJ Corona, ex-COMELEC Commissioner Abalos, and the former President Arroyo spring from the fact that these accused  have almost destroyed the workings of the three pillars of the government with the potent combination of electoral sabotage, corruption, abuse of power, and  impunity. Perceived enemies of the state were either jailed or killed.

The nine years regime of Arroyo made a mess out of the “legitimacy” of the elite as well as the operation of the whole system. Using his popularity, PNOY has to fix this so as to not to isolate further the government from the people. Thus, it came as no surprise that judicial reform is one of the main agenda of the US government for PNOY.

The so-called “wheelchair approach” of practically all the accused, cannot be solely blamed on them. With all callousness, all of them wanted to illicit pity from the people they have oppressed.  The kid-gloves handling of the present government makes it a current fixture on our political landscape.  They have the best hospital doctors and facilities.  It is their right because they are part if not representatives of the ruling class.  Their rights should always be respected.

In contrast, what about the 871 deaths of ordinary inmates since 2010 from cardiopulmonary arrest and pulmonary tuberculosis while behind bars? What about the inmates sleeping on floors and corridors because

the jails operate at an average of 400 percent over their designated capacity.  They have no rights because they are non-entities and simple numbers.

CJ Corona’s performance last Tuesday, May 22, 2012 was without equal.  He was allowed to make an opening statement for three hours without questions coming from the prosecution and the senator-judges. He was never censured for his harsh and gutter-like language.  As one reporter said, he had conducted a press conference inside the session of the impeachment court. His walkout has rendered the impeachment court speechless.  Senators who had the nasty habit of battering lesser mortals in the witness stand have suddenly become inflicted with acute sore throats that no voice managed to come out from their mouths.  Enrile’s order of closing the gates of the Senate saved the day for them.  CJ Corona was forced to come back in the session hall.  Sulking in a wheelchair, the chief magistrate of the land looked like a disheveled god with a shattered ego.

CJ Corona’s apology last Friday, May 25, 2012 on his attempted walkout was unanimously accepted because of health reason. As a Senate that stuffed the public consciousness with materiality and relevance of facts and the pursuit of truth, it softly challenged CJ Corona’s premeditated walk-out. This was in sharp contrast with the Senate censuring of Atty. Aguirre that clasped his hands to his ears to signify his protest over Santiago’s berating tirades against the prosecution.  The attempted walkout was an affront against the whole Senate yet it was simply erased because of hypoglycemia or low blood sugar.

What a zarzuela! Among the ruling class, an illness can be a passport for condoning misdemeanors much less crime.

CJ Corona has run the whole judiciary as his personal fiefdom (read Integrity of the judicial system) – insulating Gloria Arroyo as his main patron from further cases, interpreting the law for their own interests and using the court to grab properties from his wife’s relatives.  The rule of law even of the ‘burgis’ was undermined.

Recognizing the fact that impeachment is also a political process, CJ Corona tried to sway public opinion in his favor. Through his loyal stooge, Midas Marquez mobilized the whole judiciary to rally behind their embattled chief magistrate.  Rallies and masses inside the Supreme Court premises were  held and court holidays were declared so that court personnel can join these  mobilizations whose sole purpose is to  accentuate CJ Corona’s  innocence”.

Court personnel forgot their real boss, the sovereign people. How CJ Corona has inflicted the whole judicial system with his character and mindset is truly a remarkable feat for any bureaucrat.  Even the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) has proven to be one CJ Corona’s avid supporter.

These court holidays only serve to further deter the already exceedingly slow wheels of justice. We know for a fact that the backlog of court cases exceeds 600,000. This does not include those who have been incarcerated yet no charges have been filed against them.  CJ Corona has turned the judicial machinery into his fans club rather than a swift dispenser of justice. Never mind, ordinary inmates come from the ranks of the masses.

The impeachment trial is about to wrap up its task and will render its verdict hopefully this week. Let us wait how the ruling class will put their imprimatur on this “constitutional process”.      ####

KILUSAN PARA SA PAMBANSANG DEMOKRASYA         May 28, 2012

Ibalik ang tiunay nga esensya sa “People Power”

Youth for Nationalism and Democracy

Pebrero 25, 1986

Mukabat ug tulo ka milyon nga mga Pilipino ang midagsa sa EDSA arun ipaduso ang protesta sa mala-diktador ug corrupt nga pamaagi sa panggrobyerno ni Marcos ug sa gayud, midaug ang inila ug bantug nga pag-alsa sa EDSA, ug mipuli ang bag-ong rehimen sa mga Aquino.

Natapos ang pag-alsa sa EDSA pinaagi sa hiniusang singgit ug kusog sa mga katawhang Pilipino, ug natapos usab ang pila ka tuig nga pagpanamastamas sa mga katungod sa mga nagkadaiya ug tanang sektor sa katawhan sukad madiklara ang “Martial Law”.

Kung atung sutaon, nagalangkub ba ug naga-representa sa kinatibuk-ang katawhang Pilipino ang maong pag-alsa? Sigun, duha lamang ka porsyento sa kinatibuk-ang populasyon sa Pilipinas ang misalmot sa maong kalihukan.

Naangkon na ba sa Pilipinas ang tiunay nga DEMOKRASYA human sa maong “EDSA People Power” niadtong Pebrero 25, 1986??

Gipatuo ang kabag-ang Pilipino nga tiunay na nga nakab-ot ang kagawasan pinaagi sa mga porma ug pagpanglingla nga sukwahi sa atong mga nakita ug nasinati. Nagpadayon lang gihapun ang langyaw nga kontrol ug pagpangolonya sa Pilipinas (ang gahum nga nagpaluyo ug nagkupot sa ekonomiya, politikal ug kultural nga aspeto ug gawi sa mga Pilipino). Ang mga adunahang pipila nag padayon sa pag-uswag ug ang mga kabus nagpadayon sa pagkunhod sukad sa maong makasaysayanung panghitabu. Kini tungod kay kontrolado sa Imperyalistang US ang atong pang-gobyerno ug ang kinatibuk-ang kalihukan niini sa mga pamaaging hilum arun dili kini maghatag kanato ug rason arun makigbisug sa tiunay nga KABAG-UHAN ug KAGAWASAN.

Atong mamatikdan nga ulahi na kaayo ang Pilipinas sa kinatibuk-ang dagan sa kalibutan , nga kung sumahun, kompleto man unta ang Pilipinas sa tanang matang sa mga minerales ug rekurso nga gikinahanglan sa usa ka nasud para sa pagpapa-industriyalisa.

Usa ka kongkretong magpamatuod nga ang ekonomiya sa Pilipinas gipagsilbi sa langyaw ug pagawas sa nasud, mao ang padayon nga pag-export sa atong mga local nga produkto, ug kusog pamuo ug sa bisan kinsa mang anaa sa katungdanan sa atong gobyerno aduna gayud kalambigitan sa Imperyalistang US, nga nagpasabot lamang nga gipanghinguptan ug kontrolado lang gihapon ang Pilipinas sa mga langyaw'ng Imperyalista (gipagsilbi ngadto kanila ang atong ekonomiya ug kontrolado ang politika ug kultura).

“People Power is more than just Ousting a Worst, Apathetic, ELITE President. It is Calling and Educating the People for UNITY to Change the Essence of the Current and General Societal System, Not just the Mere Form and Regime. Let us become more Vigilant in the Need of a Genuine National Democracy.”

IBALIK ANG GAHUM NGADTO SA KATAWHAN!!!

PAGKABAYANINHON SA PILIPINO, IPAHINGUSOG!!

TIUNAY NGA REBOLUSYON SDA KATAWHAN,

IPADAYUN UG PAKIGBISUGAN HANGTOD SA KADAUGAN!!!

“Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say we are dreamers, but we are not the only one. We hope someday you will join us, and the world will be as one and equal.”

Ang kalaksot sa sistema, Undangon Na!

Legue of Urban Poor in Action (LUPA-Cebu)

Abril 2012

Sumala sa gipahamtang sa nagkalain-laing sirkumstansya, hilabi na sa ekonomikanhong kahimtang, naa na sa ika duhang guhit ang Pilipinas sa kalisod og kagutom. Sakit og subo man nga pamalandungon ta apan ang kamatuoran: LAKSOT NA KAAYO ANG KONDISYON SA KINABUHI SA MGA KABOS SA LAKSOT OG DUNOT NA KAAYO NGA SISTEMA! Apan si kinsa man ang angay nga basulon niini? Ang katawhan ba nga maoy tumang naninkamot og kamang? Sila nga maoy grabe kaayu nga naapektuhan sa tumang kalisod? Sila nga maoy nalapukan, makasugakod lang sa pang adlaw adlaw nga kalisod sa pangita? Sila nga maoy hinuypan sa ilang mga katungod, masalbar lang ang interes sa hut-ong mapahimuslanon? Budlay na kaayo nga pamalandungon nga kung kinsa pa ang napahimuslan, siya pa ang mugawas nga saypan!

Pipila na ba ka higayon hain tataw kaayo ang kawalay klaro nga suporta sa mga naa sa pangagamhanan ngadto sa mga uyamot! Ang karon nga administrasyong nanaad og kabag-uhan, duplikado ra gihapon sa mga miaging nagdumala nga walay laing tinguha kundili panalipdan ang ilang kaugalingong interes ubos sa sulsul sa tinuod nila nga BOSS! Kinsa mana nga boss? Ang giingon ba nila nga katawhan, nga walay laing naangkon og nadawat kundili kahagip-ot sa kinabuhi tungod sa dili makatarunganong pagpanag-iya!

Ang batakang serbisyo para sa masa,hain naman? Dili ba anam-anam nang gitangtang sa gobyerno ilang responsibilidad ngadto sa katawhan-nga hain subay ra pud kini sa nauso nga Globalisasyon nga walay laing boot pasabot kundi ang mas pagpauyamot sa mga kabos og pagpabilin sa pedestal sa mga hakog.

Maihap pa ba sa atong mga tudlo ang gidaghanon sa pagpanggun-ob nga gibuhat ngadto sa mga puluy-anan sa mga kabos tang mga kaigsoonan tungod og alang sa mga daw nanag-iya sa maong mga yuta? Sa mga panghitabong sama niini, wala na ba gayoy katungod nga mubabag pa kita sa demolisyon og musugot nalang ba kita nga gub-on ang atong kinabuhi?Maayo pa diay ang mga langyaw, adunay luna sud sa nasud ta! Ang mga mulopyo intawn, yanu-yanuhon lang og palayas sa panahon nga naa nay muangkon sa yutang tinamnan nila sa ilang mga pinobreng pangandoy!

Gihulagway na ang pagkupot sa mga elitistang hakog sa 90% nga bahandi sa Pilipinas-nga unta para sa 99% nga masa og dili para nila ra nga 1%ra man unta sila sa kinatibuk-ang populasyon sa nasod. Apan sa paglakat sa mga adlaw, buwan, mga katuigan, misamot ka timawa ang mga kabus!

Tanang panaliton niusbaw na ang mga presyo- pletehan, pagkaon, tambal., og bisan ang kantidad nga kinahanglanon sama sa edukasyon, ospitalisasyon og uban pa misaka na! Pero lilion ta ang presyo sa suhulan, misaka ba? Mas nigrabe paman gali ang dili makiangayaong kondisyon sa atong mga igsoong mamumuo tungod sa pagsagop og pagligalisa sa Kontraktwalisasyon sud sa atong nasud!

Walay benepisyo walay seguridad sa trabaho og mas sikbit sa pagpanamastamas- asa naman ang higayon ta nga mabuhi sama sa usa ka tawo? Kung in-ana nga way saka sa suhulan apan padayon sa pagsaka sa presyo sa mga panaliton hain naman ang higayon ta nga makapaeskwela sa mga anak, makapatambal sa mga nagmasakit,makapakaon og makapabisti sa mga pobre tang kaigsoonan?

Dili pagpakahilom ang tubag sa matag hait nga tunok nga mitusok sa dali mapukan tang kinabuhi og pagkatawo! Dili usa lang ka tawo ang muusab sa hagip-ot tang naabtan! Dili pagpakarun-ingnon nga saad ang muhunong sa kalisod tang nahiaguman- kun dili PAGBAROG, PAGLIHOK, PAGPAKIGBISOG!

Daghan tang napahimuslan

Gamay ra sila, di angay kahadlokan!

Tinabangay, mag-inunungay

Abton ta ang kinabuhing tinuoray!

The people must independently assert and fight for their sovereign will

(Democracy and sovereignty belong only to the people)

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) is already in detention. More cases are still being filed against her. Former COMELEC chairman Benjamin Abalos is now also in jail. The impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona is in process.

The haste by which the resolution for the impeachment of Corona was prepared and signed by 188 members of the House of Representatives has raised some questions and concern especially among the legal ranks and within both houses of Congress.

Though it manifests how far Malacañan has gained in influencing, perhaps compelling the lower house, would soon be put to test in the trial of Corona before the Senate, constituted as the impeachment court. But even before this opens in January 2012 the move to impeach Corona is already generating a storm of debates and protests especially from the judicial and legal ranks.

Corona is putting up a fight. Though he is submitting himself before the impeachment court he is not taking leave from his post. He has raised the call of “depending democracy and the Supreme Court” (explained, the “integrity and independence” of the judiciary) against what he alleges as a creeping Aquino dictatorship. For this, even as it is perverted, has won support from among judges and the IBP.

Like what his patroness and client GMA did before, Corona refuses to leave his seat now. By raising the issue of “integrity and independence” of the judiciary, Corona is making his fight look honourable and worthy of support to gain moral ascendancy. By this packaging he is hiding and trying to overcome the stigma of being the greatest defender of GMA.

But even before the situation could further worsen, the resolution of the cases and charges against GMA and her cohorts, including Corona himself, is already sidelined.

Unless and until they move, the majority of the Filipino people, who are the real victims of the crimes committed by GMA and her ilk, are again bound to suffer more in the fracas between the executive and legislative branches on one hand and the judiciary on the other.

The overwhelming majority of the Filipino people are long denied of their sovereignty. They are alienated from and are the real victims under this political system. In their long experience with the three main branches of rule, it is the judicial branch and the police that are farthest and harshest to them. It is not alien to many how difficult and costly it is to gain justice through the courts. It is public knowledge how many poor prisoners, including political prisoners, are languishing in jail. They are either innocent of the charges against them or have aged in prison without trial.

It is common knowledge that in our country, “justice” is sold and bought, at the highest bid. Interpretation of laws and the constitution is changeable favouring who has more power of money and position. A criminal can escape conviction by mere technicality of the law and judicial processes. This is true not only in the experience of the masses of the people but also of less favoured members of the elite.

It is thus common for the people to appeal their situation directly to their elected officials from local executives, congressmen, senators and to the president. Though narrow and distorted, this is the concept and practice of democracy in the Philippines. Nevertheless, this is also the condition that perpetuates political patronage.

The “democracy” that Corona is harping about must be his “freedom” and “independence” in denying justice to the people who are the real victims of the crimes and abuses of the GMA regime.

The people should make Corona go! But as they do this they remind PNoy, their principal patron or perhaps their principal servant as they are his “boss”, to pursue the resolution of the cases involving GMA and her ilk expediently but thoroughly.

The people’s independent action to make Corona go is not tantamount to taking the side of PNoy. It is PNoy and all officials mandated by the people who must consistently take the side of the people (his/their “boss”). It is justice for the people that GMA and her ilk pay for their crimes.

People’s vigilance is a must and necessity. They are reminded by experience that conflicts within and among rulers are often settled through compromises but often at the great expense of the people; like when GMA was saved from ouster by Fidel Ramos and Jose de Venecia.

It should be the rulers who must take the side of the people and uphold their interest. The people must independently assert their sovereign will and liberate themselves from self-serving rulers who are also subservient to foreign interests.

Democracy and sovereignty belong only to the people. These cannot be claimed by any Corona nor any PNoy or any other elected official.

Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (KPD)

Disyembre 18, 2011

Do you know my name?
Did you know where I live?
Are you a god of all gods to answer all my anxiety, fears and unhopeful questions?
Can you do me a favor?

I am just a woman that the society dictates
What will and shall I do
Can you solve this societal equation?
I beg you please!
Am I too soft-hearted to accept how the society see me?

Can you feel the struggle I have in this cruel world?
Or are you just another man without integrity which I feared of,
Are you playing also the role that the society dictate to you
I wish you are also a victim.

Can I ask you again a question?
Why are you all men so braggart of you strength?

This is just the misogyny of a woman who is pissed and breaking the chain to this yolk of slavery

Am I just the only one treated tyrannically
I wish I am not
Because my enemy is the society....

Anonymous

PNoy’s Way: Same Old Road to Crisis

While PNoy harps on his already worn-out and empty slogans and charges the ills of the nation to the wrongdoings of the past regime, his 1-year achievement report to the people he calls his “boss”, remains far below minimum expectations.

The masses of the people cannot make out “tuwid na daan” and “kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap”. It is grinding poverty that is very real. Even as the people’s expectations on PNoy were high at the start, they were just awaiting for changes beyond “walang wang-wang, walang counter-flow”. They were expecting that the PNoy administration would start addressing the causes of poverty, beyond corruption.

But what steadily revealed in the past year was: the path being pursued by the second Aquino regime is along the same neo-liberal direction that was followed by past administrations. The difference, Noynoy’s presidency is out to prove itself that it is pursuing this path in a manner that is opposite the self-serving and self-aggrandizing ways of the Macapagal-Arroyo criminal syndicate.

The illegitimacy, massive corruption, abuses and the blatant scheme of the GMA regime to stay in power roused the people to action and rendered grave costs to the socio-political system that caters to the interests of local and foreign elite. It is therefore the task of the PNoy administration to save this system from impending implosion but in a way that the government would regain the people’s trust.

The PNoy administration is turning out to be more faithful to the conditions set by the IMF-WB and other foreign creditors and investors than to its “covenant” with the people.

The anti-corruption and anti-tax evasion drives and the fiscal policies being pursued by the Aquino administration have gained recognition from international credit analysts. Being rewarded with credit rating upgrade is the greatest achievement of the PNoy administration! Now, its aiming for an investment rating upgrade.

But as the government is drawing savings and earnings from its anti-corruption drive and improved revenue collection, it is spending less on social services.

This is in accordance with conditions set by foreign creditors and investors, specifically the guideline for the Philippine government to lower the budget deficit to within 3% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). So as not to default on its debt payments!

The credit rating upgrade achievement and the investment rating upgrade being worked-out by the Noynoy presidency are added assurances for creditors and financial speculators to do business in the Philippines. Indeed the net inflow of non-productive, non-job creating portfolio investments have significantly increased by 245% from $647 million in the first half of 2010 to $2.36B in the first half of 2011. Also, the total debt (domestic and foreign) of the government has ballooned to P4.712 trillion in April 2011. This is everything for the financial speculators and nothing for the Filipino people except a heavier debt burden and denial of social services!

The prices of oil and oil products keep on rising effecting increases in prices of basic needs: water, electricity and other utilities and services and cost of production. But nothing has been done by the government within its mandate, not even cushioning the impact of inflation. Immediately it could have suspended or reduced EVAT as suggested by some legislators. This could have been followed with the scrapping of Oil Deregulation Law and EPIRA and checking monopoly pricing by oil and energy cartels. Instead the Aquino administration extended EPIRA for another 10 years.

The PNoy administration boasts of expanding coverage of the conditional cash transfer (CCT) or the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to two million - its centerpiece pro-poor program.

But the fact being muddled is: the 4Ps is the continuation of the “dole-out” program started under GMA. The funds being used are loans from WB and ADB. It is also not being admitted that the CCT is not immune from corruption and is a convenient way for politicians to build and sustain political patronage. The conditions that have to be met by the “beneficiaries” further promote mendicancy and non-productivity. In fact, reports say that some who have availed of the 4Ps are not poor!

PNoy is consistently betraying the trust of his “boss”, by deviating from his campaign promises. He is making it safe and secure for big land-owners by distancing from the case involving his family’s large estate, the Hacienda Luisita rather than pursue agrarian reform that favours the landless peasantry.

He favours the interests of both local and foreign big capitalists and turns away from the workers’ pleas and demands against contractualization of employment and for just and living wages, job security and safe working conditions. The workers’ cases in PAL and Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction-Philippines (HHIC-Philippines) represent the continuing failure of government to give justice to workers’ rights to job security, safe working conditions, self-organization, living wage and other benefits. Demolitions of urban poor communities sans relocation continue despite pleas to continue the short-lived moratorium.

The human rights record of the Aquino administration is also dismal. While not as worse as the previous GMA regime, it remains inconsistent with the pronouncements by PNoy, and echoed by the AFP and PNP of “respecting human rights”.

The killings, enforced disappearances and arrests and detention of activists and journalists in different lines of advocacy—from political to environmental causes-- continue. This is a continuing insult and injustice because not one among those accused of perpetrating the extra-judicial killings (EJKs) and enforced disappearances from 2001-2010 is yet brought to justice. The most notorious of them, Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan is scot free even as he is charged in the case of two missing students from UP. And of course GMA, who honored Palparan as a “defender of democracy”, is free and a congresswoman even!

The promised closure of cases involving GMA, her family and their accomplices in government, police and military is far from being realized. The process which has been blocked in the past regime remains impeded still. And among the big impediments is the indecisiveness and sluggishness of the PNoy presidency. For instance, the cases of human rights violations, election fraud and the other cases of betrayal of public trust are grave historical injustices to the Filipino people. Should the PNoy presidency fail to act decisively, it could be overtaken by the outrage of the people, his boss.

The PNoy presidency has confirmed once again that the Philippines is not sovereign. It is a US neo-colony and the Philippine government is a stooge of this declining but very aggressive superpower.

Several times did PNoy and Malacañang deviate from the ASEAN principle of peace, freedom and neutrality over the issue of the islets of Spratlys. Several times did PNoy do sabre-rattling even as his daringness was clearly being propped-up by non categorical statement of the US State Department that USA would back the Philippines should China invade the islets.

It’s like the little boy inviting trouble while his big brother stands behind. This is scary for the little boy in this case is the president of over 90 million people.

Finally, it is expected that PNoy would include in his second SONA the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2011-2016, which is said to be based on his “Social Contract with the Filipino People”. The PDP was launched last month but it would need certain legislations so it could be pursued. Nevertheless, PDP 2011-2016 is a rehashed and broadened version of the Millennium Development Goals of the UNDP for the Philippines.

The masses of the Filipino people have suffered long. They have been longing for liberation from the social ills. They elected a government that promised to be the alternative. Should they be failed again, the people would not cease from justly taking upon themselves the pursuit of liberation.