PU Feb 20151 - World Fair Trade Organization

A quarterly publication of Panay Council for People’s Development (PCPD), a consortium of Development NGOs in Panay
established in 1986 consisting of sectoral and multisectoral organizations particularly from environment, women,
peasants, health, fair trade, church, workers and urban poor.
Volume 6, No. 1
February 2015
The Cry for Justice Continues
A
s the year 2014 ended, the law
enforcement authorities in
Iloilo has not arrested any
suspect in the killing of Romeo
Capalla, which occurred on March
15, 2014 at Oton, Iloilo.
The Special Task Group
Capalla formed by the Iloilo
Provincial Police Office, after some
months of investigation filed
charges of murder against a
suspect, a member of the militarylinked armed group RPA-ABB
before
the
Iloilo
Provincial
Prosecutor’s Office but the latter
dismissed the charges for lack of
evidence. No action was done by
the police afterwards, leading to
doubts as to its decisiveness to
solve the crime and bring the
perpetrators before the court of law.
The culpability of the RPAABB was compounded with the
killing of Dionisio Garete, a
sugarcane farmer associated with
the local fair trade in Janiuay, Iloilo
on May 28, 2014. The ineptness of
the police authorities in solving the
killing and its helplessness against
the state-sponsored armed group
RPA-ABB were again brought to
the fore, and so were the terror and
trepidation especially among the
Local and international campaign for justice
1
Panay Update, February 2015
members of local fair trade organizations linked to Panay Fair Trade
Center (PFTC).
The companions of Romeo
Capalla in the fair trade movement,
joined by human rights advocates
and other concerned citizens
persevered in the struggle for
justice for Romeo Capalla and
Dionisio Garete. They launched a
series of activities to raise the call
for
justice.
For
the
local
organizations, there was an urgent
need to deter the rampage of the
RPA-ABB, who seemed to possess
a license to kill with impunity.
The burial of Romeo
Capalla in Leon town, Iloilo and that
of Dionisio Garete in Janiuay, Iloilo,
attended by thousands, became
strong statements against the
killings. Monthly mass protest
actions every 15th day of the month,
marking the date when Romeo
Capalla was gunned down, were
occasions in calling for justice.
The International FactFinding and Solidarity Mission held
in August 13-15, 2014 was a
highlight activities, bringing to the
provincial authorities the concern
not only of the local fair trade and
human rights advocates but that of
the international community. During
the IFFSM, a fitting tribute to
Romeo Capalla, a marker with his
sculpted figure, was unveiled.
The struggle for justice for
Romeo Capalla will continue as
long as the perpetrators are not
arrested and punished, and as long
as the killings continue with
impunity.#
Human Rights advocacy in Panay—alive despite
the dangers even under Mr. Aquino
F
or decades now, human
rights
advocates
in
Panay never miss to
commemorate the international human rights day.
Many of them also victims of
human rights violations of the
14 years of Martial Law of
Marcos which ended in 1986,
and five later administrations
including that of Corazon
Aquino who was brought to
power by a people’s uprising
in 1986.
This year, the event
was not only one of the
biggest gathering in recent
years, around ten thousand
for the three urban centers of
Iloilo City (Iloilo Province),
Roxas City (Capiz Province)
and Kalibo (Aklan Province)
but also emotional. In a span
of nine months, two fair
traders all from the island of
Panay –Romeo Capalla and
Dionisio
Garete-were
murdered and until now no
suspects were ap-prehended. Mr.
Romeo Capalla is the manager of
the PFTC while Dionisio Garete is
a farmer producer of sugar cane for
PFTC. Both were gunned down
separately in March and May
respectively last year by men
pinpointed by
colleagues and
families either as hired guns or
2 Panay Update, February 2015
members of RPA, a
paramilitary group officially
permitted
by
the
government
to
carry
firearms and conduct police
operations in selected
barangays. Both Romy and
Dionisio are well loved and
respected, not only by
family and friends but also
by
colleagues
and
development workers active in social move-ments.
Panaynons even the police
believed that the murders
were due to the political
advocacies of Romy and
Dionisio.
The chilling reality
of the two murders hit hard
on the Ilonggos, reminding
them that the very first
extra-judicial killing (EJK)
under Mr. BS Aquino, took
place in Panay Island in
July 2010, in the province
of Aklan when Fernando
Baldomero, a local government
official and an activist was shot
while preparing to send his son to
school. Until now, the real culprit
remain at large because family and
friends believed that the killer is
tasked by those in power.
Since Aquino’s term in
2010, around 221 extra-judicial
killings were recorded. Most of the
victims were farmers and activists.
Almost all did not receive any
justice.
As in the case of Romeo
Capalla, the government’s response to demands of investigations
were that of indifference. The Intl
FFM conducted in August 2014 to
give a push to the investigation of
the murders of Romeo and Dionisio
uncovered the truth that the
involved LGUs are not doing
anything. Either their hands are tied
or they are not interested enough to
pursue the investigation of the
killings.
Human rights activists long
involved in the defense of human
rights point out that pattern of
systematic HRVs occur not
because
of
ignorance
and
negligence on the part of state
forces but rather, in the course of
counterinsurgency operations in
the country. Lines are blurred
among state forces who the enemy
of the state are because the people
they are supposed to serve and
protect are also the very ones
opposing the policies of the state.
One year after the strongest typhoon to hit land, Panaynons
struggles to rise from the devastation and asks Aquino’s
government--Where are the rehab funds?
L
ast year 2013,November 8,
typhoon Haiyan with winds
reaching 250 kilometers per
hour swept away thousands of
homes,
infrastructure
and
livelihood of more than 2million
people
in northern Panay, or
around fifty percent of the island’s
population. Hours earlier, Haiyan
passed by the eastern province of
Leyte with storm surges and winds
that left many coastal barangays
flat and a death toll of more than ten
thousand people.
Back to the present—for
twelve months since December 8,
various loose but very extensive
network of survivors of typhoon
Haiyan from the provinces of Iloilo,
Capiz and Aklan have been
religiously marking every eighth of
each month with symbolical
concerted actions-- some picket of
around one hundred but people
turned in their thousands, a
dialogue with the local government
units of just some leaders but
hundreds of people insisted to be
presented too. In July 2013, when
Aquino delivered his state of the
nation boasting of the more than
6% economic growth demon-
strations were twice
bigger
than
the
previous years in
Panay island.
All
these
grumblings from the
grounds point to one
question—where are
the rehab funds?
Aquino’s P170 billion
comprehensive rehabilitation program was
approved only last
Oct 2013-nearly a
year
after
the
disaster. Since the 1st
half of 2013, the
govern-ment
has
flaunted its Pph10-30
thousand scheme for
assistance to partially
and totally damaged
homes but until now,
only funds from NGOs
and other international
humanitarian organizations have reached
the people.
The
latest
news—only
those
earning below P15,
000 a month and with
lots in allowed zones
3
Panay Update, February 2015
can receive the as-sistance.
Families with destroyed homes in
the new declared “no dwell zone”
areas—practically majority of the
victims – cannot access the grant
unless they relocate to “safer”
zones, which the local government
units have to define yet. More
news-- many victims complain that
political alignment—example those
against the ruling Liberal Party of
President Aquino-- are least
prioritized.
Meanwhile, parallel efforts
from the different NGOs and the
victims themselves with aid from
international humanitarian agencies sprouted. Mustering strength
in cooperation, a bridge in Isla Moto
Aklan was rebuilt likewise in
Cuartero, Capiz. School buildings
were repaired in Buruanga, Aklan.
Some fishing boats were replaced
in Northern Iloilo sturdier than
those show-cased by the government. Women and children were
not only treated to psychosocial
therapy sessions but also encouraged to be empowered. Unrelenting expose of the halfhearted
and ano-malous oil spill clean-up in
Estancia,
Iloilo
forced
the
government to pay some attention
.Homes and livelihood were
replaced in Roxas City and Kalibo,
in Indigenuos Peoples (IPs)
communities, other far-flung villages at the foot of the Madia-as
Range and where the people chose
to take matters in their own hands.
The efforts covered a quarter of a
million people. Big achievements
and breaking grounds indeed.
Last week exactly the day
before New Year, typhoon Seniang,
a slow moving and less powerful
typhoon but with heavy rains,
submerged the main rice producing
towns
of
Capiz
from
the
overflowing Panay River. Aklan
River flooded Kalibo and other
neighboring towns in nearly five
feet of water. The government has
no funds even just for emergency
food.
With rehab funds to be
released in no definite time, and
emergency funds lacking, the so
called Filipino’s high resiliency
quotient may be nearing a breaking
point. But then, with an alternative
already in the way promoted by
social movements, Haiyan unmasked the government’s incapacity while providing the people
the opportunity to discover their
strength.#
2014--- Panaynons continue to rise up
from the devastation of Haiyan and other disastrous
policies
I
f there is one thing so satisfying in
Panay last year, it is not that a 6lane-highway in Iloilo City is now
under construction, nor that Roxas
City (Capiz) has malls sprouting
even in its remotest area, nor that
an international airport is underway
in Caticlan (Aklan), but that a
greater segment of the population
are being critical and have seen the
wisdom in organizing themselves,
taking charge, struggling and
working for demands that the
Aquino government choose to set
aside or implement with the
intention of media mileage rather
than substance.
Yes, the impact of a 21storey building in the almost flat
urban terrain in Iloilo City may well
represent the illusion of development — 6.8% yearly according
to the economics of the
Aquino
government but
in spite of the
pervasive
growth hype,
around 68%
of the Filipinos do not
want another
term
for
Aquino.
It
is
not surprising
because under Mr. Aquino, more
than half of the Filipino families are
experiencing hunger, and more
than a quarter of the labor force are
unemployed. Extra-judicial killings
(EJK) under Mrs. Arroyo have not
been decisively confronted, but in
4 Panay Update, February 2015
fact, Mr. Aquino added 221 EJKs in
his term. Even the campaign
against corruption were perceived
by the people as uneven—3
senators from the opposition are in
jail but no ally of the president was
incarcerated
even
countless
incidents were raised. Lawmakers
from the grassroots pointed out that
more than half of the Php2.6 trillion
2015 budget of the Philippine
government may be well classified
as pork—because of its lump sum
nature with sole discretion from Mr.
Aquino for allocation even when
the Supreme Court already
declared such type of budgeting as
constitutional.
The million people march in
august 2013 which unexpectedly
gathered nearly half a million
rallyists in metro Manila, morphed
into multi forms of protests—from
street actions, to lobby, to legal
suits and after a year—in August
2014—the people’s initiative to
abolish pork (a signature base
[PIAP] approached of 12% of the
electorate to amend the constitution) was launched participated
in by almost all sectors of Philippine
society. Most active were members
of the religious and cause oriented
groups including partylists from the
grassroots.
Panaynons were one of the
most active in campaigning for
PIAP especially those from Haiyan
ravaged areas because pro pork
lawmakers are using Haiyan as an
excuse and disasters for lump sum
allocations in the national budget.
The people’s movement to
demand for rehab funds continue to
gain grounds. Since
December 8 last
2013, more than 30
rallies
and
demonstrations
ranging from a few
hundreds up to
around
fifteen
thousand
were
launched from all
the provinces in the
island. After twelve
months, number of
protesters continue
to double and triple
particularly in areas devastated by
Haiyan.
Countless petitions and dialogues were also conducted to
present the victims’ basic demand
for assistance particularly for rebuilding their houses and livelihood.
Until now, government res-ponses
are all promises and the most that
the victims got were emergency
food packs way back in December
2013.
A transport strike took place
in April 2014 in Capiz complimented by pickets in other parts of
the island as part of the nationwide
coordinated protest against the
planned implementation of Department of Transportation and Communications order imposing penalties for traffic violations to as much
as one million pesos. Critics point
out that such
exactions are too
heavy-handed especially for Haiyan devastated
areas and need
congressional approval.
The farmers are continually
restive
because
even
without
Haiyan
and other typhoons,
agriculture in the island
5
Panay Update, February 2015
had reached a plateau. With
Haiyan, the island has to import rice
from one which experts rice to other
provinces in the country. In 2008,
Frank brought a Php8 billion damage on agriculture in the island.
The promised bail out did
not come during Arroyo’s term and
farmers are also skeptical with the
promised rehabilitation fund for
Haiyan under Mr. Aquino. In fact,
the farmers are more indebted
under Mr. Aquino and impending
full liberalization of agriculture in
2016 may be more harmful than
that of Haiyan.
Demand for moratorium in
debt payment so that more funds
can be allocated to social services
such as for education to repair
classrooms fell on deaf ears even
as students and their teachers
requested that more subsidy is
needed to prevent tuition hikes
since higher educational institutions registered drastic drops in
enrolment especially in areas
affected by Haiyan.
Come New Year, the people
are hopeful that the long denied
funds can at last be given to them.
Meanwhile, the survivors continue
to organize and develop income
generating projects, determined to
rise up not only from the
devastation but also to make a leap
to a better society.#
Panay IPs say no to mega dam construction
ALINOG, Iloilo, Philippines –
At least three upland
barangays
of
Calinog,
where the Php11.2 billion Jalaur
mega dam is to be built, say no to
dam
construction
in
their
consensus building from December
last year up to last week of January
this year.
The three villages are
Garangan, Masaroy, and Agcalaga
(GMA), all in the town of Calinog in
Iloilo Province.
The 2 villages of Garangan
and Masaroy did not agree on the
dam construction due to low
compensation cost to farmers’
destroyed crops and livelihood
sources.
In another village, Agcalaga, some community members
passed a resolution of non-consent
during the consensus building, a
part of the 2nd Free, Prior and
Informed Process (FPIC 2) being
conducted
by
the
National
Commission on Indigenous People
(NCIP).
The FPIC 2 process for the
dam construction was conducted
by the NCIP from November 16-30
last year. The consensus that
followed two weeks after lasted
several weeks until last month.
“The project will kill us. It will
take away our ancestral lands, the
basis of our life,” said Berna Castor,
one of the signatory whose more
than 10-hectare ancestral land will
be totally submerged in water once
the dam is constructed.
“Until now, even during the
FPIC 2 process, the proponent did
not discuss comprehensively the
issue of submersion and dislocation of our sources of livelihood
and homes. The detailed relocation
plan is merely a presentation of the
relocation site and it is not feasible
for everyone to stay there given
C
that the area will be submerged
also,” Castor added.
The Jalaur mega dam, a
project being implemented by the
National Irrigation Administration
(NIA), is perceived to provide
electricity, potable water and
irrigation water supply.
But TUMANDUK Organization, composed of indigenous
peoples from Tapaz and Jamindan
of Capiz Province and Calinog and
Lambunao of Iloilo Province, has
long been opposing the project
since 2011.
“We have nothing to gain
from this project, but only the
destruction of our lives, and
livelihood, and the continued land
grabbing
scheme
of
the
government from us,” the group’s
chairperson Marevic Aguirre said.
“The project will displace
17,000 IPs both upland and
lowland. Ancestral burial grounds,
coffee and banana plantations, the
rivers and forest, will be all lost from
us,” she continued.
A hundred per cent (100%)
“yes” from all community members
6
Panay Update, February 2015
is needed to get the consensus of
the community before construction
starts.
Mega dam construction
according to local officials will take
place end of February or early
March.—Posted on February 1, 2015
by Panay Today.
Mendiola Massacre: 28 Years of Mother to Son Injustices to Farmers
LOILO CITY – Farmers and
activists march today from St.
Clements Church to Iloilo Provincial Capitol to commemorate the
28th anniversary of Mendiola Massacre, demand justice to all victims
of extra-judicial killings and fascism
and call for the implementation of
genuine agrarian reform program.
“It has been twenty eight
years since the Mendiola Massacre, but justice is still elusive, the
killing of farmers continues and the
call for genuine agrarian reform has
been unheard.” said Jessica
Emperwa,
spokesperson
of
PAMANGGAS.
On January 22, 1987, an
estimated 10,000 – 15,000 farmers
and their supporters marched to
Mendiola Bridge to demand then
President Cory Aquino to implement genuine agrarian reform
when state forces opened fire to the
protesters. Immediately 13 people
were dead and 39 were wounded.
“Since the tragic event,
farmers
are
still
landless,
landgrabbing is prevalent and the
repression and killings of farmers
continue. Farmers are hoping for
land since Cory was put into power,
now that her son became the
president, farmers’ hopes remain a
dream.”, added Jessica Emperwa.
I
PAMANGGAS cited the
failure of government’s land reform
program, from Comprehensive
Agrarian Reform Program (CARP),
Cory’s land reform program, to
CARP-er
(Extension
with
Reforms), implemented during
Noynoy, in distributing lands to the
farmers.
According
to
IBON
Foundation, 3 of 4 farmers can’t
pay for their land, 9 of 10 supposed
farmer’s beneficiaries don’t own
land tilled. “CARP to CARP-er
never fulfilled its promise of
distributing lands to the farmers.
Many farmers are still landless and
landgrabbing of landlords and
multinational
companies
is
prevalent”, said Emperwa.
The group said that in
Panay, the government is the
biggest landgrabber of all such as
in the cases of Tumandok (Indigenous People) of Tapaz and
Jamindan and farmers in Bungsuan, Dumarao, Capiz wherein
their land is being claimed by the
3rd Infantry Division of Philippine
Army as its army reservation area
and the Philippine National Police
as its training camp.
According
to
Bagong
Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN),
66 percent of lands distributed
under Aquino are government
lands and not those controlled by
powerful landlords.
“The Aquino government
has been inutile to the plight of
farmers and implementation of
genuine ag-rarian reform program.
The government of Aquino is not
sincere in implementing genuine
agrarian reform. It never intends to
break the monopoly of land of big
landlords in the country because he
himself is a landlord”, added
Jessica Emperwa. The group
states as an example the Hacienda
7
Panay Update, February 2015
Luisita which is owned by the family
of Noynoy Aquino. Hacienda
Luisita is not yet distributed to the
farmers even with the Supreme
Court ruling and the family of
Noynoy being paid through
Disbursement
Acceleration
Program (DAP), which was
declared unconstitutional.
The group also assailed the
government’s response on calls of
farmers for genuine land reform.
“While we farmers are calling for
genuine
land
reform,
the
government’s response is the
deployment of government troops
to our community. Our community
is being militarized. We are being
threatened and some of us were
filed with trumped up charges”,
added Emperwa referring to 32
indigenous farmers of Nayawan,
Tapaz, Capiz. These 32 farmers
were filed with trumped up charges
by the government.
The group blames the
government’s Oplan Bayanihan as
the main reason why this atrocities
to farmers were created. The group
also lambasted the government for
its inaction and slow response on
killings of farmers and farmer
leaders. In Panay, cases of farmer
leaders such as Nilo Arado, Romy
Capalla and Dionisio Garete were
hardly moving on with zero
conviction.
According to the human
rights’ group Karapatan, there are a
total of 98 peasants killed under the
Aquino government from July
2010– December 2013.
“We call for the ouster of the
haciendero Noynoy Aquino whose
policies have never benefitted the
farmers.
We
call
for
the
implementation of genuine agrarian
reform program. We demand
justice for all victims of extrajudicial killings”, said Emperwa. #