To my beloved countrymen,

Six years ago today 300 young officers and men of the AFP went to Oakwood Makati to air their grievances against a corrupt leadership who advocates state terrorism as a national policy. Armed only with the desire for change and a vision for a better country they tried to sound the alarm of patriotism to wake up the Filipinos enslaved in poverty by this corrupt system and corrupt leaders. Unfortunately their call was a voice in the wilderness. They got incarcerated, persecuted, and ridiculed.

At present we are neck deep in shit because of our subservience and non-action.GMA and her cohorts have drained the country of its resources and bastardized every institution in our society for the past eight years. History have absolved these young patriots. They were vindicated by recent events which validates their message at Oakwood. Let us not forget the spirit of Oakwood and continue the fight for a better country. It’s about time that we all stand up, reclaim what is ours and assert our sovereign will…

Mabuhay ang mga Bayani ng Oakwood!

Magdalo para sa Pagbabago…

Bagong Katipunero

July 27, 2009

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Magdalo Group Message to the Filipino People

Oakwood Makati
July 27,2003

We are members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Today we stand before our people to declare our withdrawal of support from the chain of command of the AFP and the government of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. We are not doing this because we want power or we want to destabilize our country. We are doing this because of the following major crimes of the government against our people:

First, the GMA government, through the AFP leadership and Secretary Angelo Reyes, has been selling bullets and arms from the government arsenal to the MILF, Abu Sayyaf and the NPA. These bullets, which kill our soldiers, actually came from the very government that we fighting to defend. This is why there is a war for over 30 years now, and still our enemies have not run out of bullets. As evidence, all the bullets that were recovered from the enemy had the markings that they came from the DND arsenal. A number of soldiers have died, and even more are going to die in a war that they do not plan to end. Furthermore, hundreds of thousands of civilians have been caught helpless in the crossfire. They do not want the war to end so that it will continue to be a milking cow of greedy and treacherous officials in the AFP and in the government. We have experienced the true situation of our soldiers. We have shared hardships and sacrifices in the face of an armed conflict, but the support we need against the jaws of death have been pocketed by a few leaders looking out only for their selfish interests. We believe that we cannot attain genuine peace while the corrupt and greedy are leading the AFP and the PNP. And without peace, the Philippines cannot prosper.

Second, the GMA government through the special operations teams of Sec. Reyes and Gen. Corpus, is responsible for the Davao City bombings. They did this to finally tag the MILF as terrorist, to serve as basis for asking from the anti-terrorist fund of the USA before GMA’s visit. Civilian lives were sacrificed in exchange for the military hardware that GMA begged from the USA.

Third, we have uncovered GMA’s plan to declare martial law this coming August so that her clique can perpetuate themselves in power beyond 2004. They will do this through a series of bombings in Metro Manila, which they would blame on different groups. The escape of Fathur Al-Ghozi was the start of this operation. Fellow Filipinos, the real terrorists are inside our government. But we will not allow this to happen. We will not allow this dastardly plan of government to continue. We have sworn to protect the state and our people. We will not turn our back on this vow.

They will invoke the Constitution to confront us. But we all know that they violated the Constitution where they installed GMA through people power. We tolerated their stay in power because they promised to clean up the government and lift up the Filipino masses from poverty. But over two-and-a- half years have passed since the GMA government was swept into power, and corruption among officials in government continues. The masses continue to sink deeper into poverty. And there is the added burden of worsening peace and order situation in our country. Our people are now withdrawing what they have given to the administration of GMA. With them, we demand the resignation of our leaders in the present regime.It is no different from past administrations. This is a regime that thinks of nothing but holding on to power, to enrich themselves, and to coddle rich and influential personalities.

For these reasons, we are willing to sacrifice our lives today, to pursue a program that is not tainted with politicking, and which we believe is the only hope for our nation to recover and progress. This is the National Recovery Program (NRP). If we analyze it, this is the only program, and no other, that provides solutions to the principal problems of our country.
To our people and our fellow soldiers, let us unite behind the NRP and remain vigilant to ensure its realization.

We have taken this stand now, not only to air the grievances of the members of the AFP but to lend our voice to the grievances of the Filipino people. To all our fellow members of the AFP and the Filipino people, if you judge that what we are fighting for is wrong, we stand here before you and you can take our lives. But if you judge that we are right, we ask you to take a stand and support our struggle. All of these are for a better future and for the good of the coming generations.

To the media institutions whose role is to present the truth about the situation and the grievances of the Filipino people, we hope for fairness and ask that you will not allow yourselves to be used by those who want to protect their vested interests. Let the real cry of our people be heard! Do not allow it to be stifled.

Together, we can help our Motherland rise again… Let us begin now.

Long live the Filipino people!

Armed Forces of the Philippines

By Ellen Tordesillas

May 31, 2009

Manloloko talaga itong si Gloria Arroyo.

May nagsabi sa amin na ayun sa isang kongresista na nandun sa Manila Hotel noong Huwebes sa pormal na pagsanib ng Lakas at Kampi, tinawag raw sila ni Arroyo sa isang kwarto at sinabihan na kailangan mapasa na ang House Resolution 1109 para sa Constituent Assembly na hindi kailangan ang Senado para mapalitan ang Constitution.

Ipinangako raw ni Arroyo na bibigyan siya ng tig-P20 milyon sa bawat kongresista na boboto para maipasa ang HR 1109.

Kailangan ni Arroyo ang boto ng three-fourths ng House of Representatives. Mga 200 na kongresista yun. Kung bibigay siya ng tig-P20 milyon para sa 200 na boto, aabot yun sa P4 na bilyon.

Kayang-kaya, maraming pera sa kaban ng bayan. Perang buwis ng taumbayan. Pera galing sa pawis at dugo ng mga OFW.

Dito makikita natin na sagad sa buto talaga ang pagka-manloloko ni Arroyo. Sa kanyang talumpati, pinaglandakan niya na may eleksyon sa 2010.

Ito ang sinabi niya: “Cynics and detractors love to paint grim scenarios about a cancellation of the 2010 elections. Let this merger of LAKAS and KAMPI be tangible proof of the Administration’s readiness, nay determination, to help ensure that the elections do push through.”

Ito ang translation: “Sa mga mahilig manira, palagi nilang nilalarawan na ang pagkansela ng 2010 na eleksyon. Hayaan niyong itong pagkaka-isa ng Lakas at Kampi ay magiging malakas na ebidensya ng kahandaan nitong administrasyon na matuloy ang eleksyon.”

Paano naman maging ebidensya ang pagkakaisa ng mga manloloko na hindi na matuloy ang kanilang panloloko? Kung may pinatunayan ang okasyun noong Huwebes, iyun ay garapal talaga sila.

Hindi sinabi ni Arroyo na ang eleksyon na gaganapin sa 2010 ay sa ilalim ng bagong Constitution na ang sistema ng pamahalaan ay parliamentary system at siya ay tatakbo bilang kinatawan ng Pampanga. Kapag miyembro na siya ng Parliament, hihirangin na siya na Prime Minister.

Garapal talaga kasi karamihan sa mga kongresista na pumalakpak kay Arroyo sa kanyang talumpati ay siya rin ang pumirma para mapunta na sa plenary ang HR 1109.

Pinipilit talaga nilang itinutulak kasi gahol na sila sa oras. Alam nilang may kukwestyon niyan sa Supreme Court kaya kailangan makapagdesisyon na ang mataas na hukuman sa loob ng buwan ng Hunyo. Karamihan na ng miyembro ng Supreme Court ay hawak ni Arroyo kaya kampante silang makukuha nila ang boto kahit labag sa batas ang kanilang ginagawa.

Hindi problema ang paggawa ng bagong Constitution na gusto ni Arroyo. Gawa na yan. Sa Septiembre magkaroon na ng referendum. Walang problema sa local governments. Nabusog na niya ang karamihan sa mga mayor at gubernador.

Kapag na-aprubahan na ang bagong Constitution, magkakaroon na nga ng eleksyon sa 2010 para sa miyembro ng parliament. Yan ang sinasabi ni Arroyo na eleksyon.

Manloloko talaga, ano.

PerryScope
By Perry Diaz

“The President will support those who will continue her vision and those who have a proven track record in being the leader regardless of who he or she maybe as this point in time,” announced Press Secretary Cerge Remonde. He also said that “Malacañang may look at the possibility of adopting Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio as its standard bearer in the 2010 presidential elections.” The question that comes to mind is: If “vision” and “leadership” is what President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo were looking for in a presidential candidate, what is her vision and what kind of a leader is she?

Let’s look at her “vision.” She declared a couple of years ago that she wanted the Philippines to be a “first world” country in 20 years — an “Enchanted Kingdom.” She promised to eradicate poverty, stamp out corruption, and put an end to the communist insurgency and Islamic rebellion.

Since then, the Philippines has become the most corrupt country in Asia and Gloria the most corrupt president in the country’s history. Instead of progressing and moving forward, the country is retrogressing and moving backward. All the gains she proclaimed a few years ago are vanishing. The rich are becoming richer and the poor are becoming poorer. The country is going upside down… fast.

If there is one element that can be attributed to Gloria’s failure, it’s her lack of leadership. She had the opportunity to make a difference when she was catapulted by “people power” to the presidency in 2001. But instead of uplifting the people from the ravages of poverty and leading them to the promised “Enchanted Kingdom” in the First World, she led them on the road to eternal perdition in the World of the Damned.

And now that the end of her presidency is near, she is looking for a way to stay in power any which way she can. Indeed, there are several ways that she could hold on to power. However, they’re risky to undertake. She has to line up all the ducks in perfect formation. If one duck goes out of formation, the rest will be quacking their way out in all directions.

Recently, former Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. revealed that he was approached by Gloria’s son, Congressman Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo, and Congressman Martin Romualdez with an “indecent proposal.” De Venecia said that the two tried to solicit his support for Charter change (Cha-cha) in exchange for the Speakership. He told the media, “I turned down the request for me to help because they are not telling the Filipino people the truth.” He believes that the real reason for Cha-cha is to extend Gloria’s term.

At this time, the proponents of Cha-cha in the House of Representatives have about 180 supporters, about 17 shy of the 197 votes needed to convene a Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass). However, even if they would get the votes in the House, a strong resistance from the Senate was expected. In that event, the Supreme Court would have to step in to resolve the issue which many people believe would be favorable to Gloria.

But time is running out for Gloria to pursue Cha-cha. She might tinker with the idea of declaring martial law and then nudge Congress to amend the constitution to change the form of government to parliamentary system. Wasn’t that what Marcos did when he declared martial law in 1972?

Should Gloria decide to go ahead with martial law, she needs the support of the military. However, Gen. Alexander Yano, the current Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, is perceived as a “straight shooter” and the epitome of professional soldier. Many political insiders believe that he would not support martial law. And without the support of the military top brass, Gloria has to look at other ways to stay in power.

If Gloria fails to extend her term of office, then she might take the role of “kingmaker” by using all her political resources and personal wealth to underwrite the campaign of her handpicked candidate or “manok.” With the new president indebted to her, she could wield enormous political — and economic — power working behind the scenes. It would be business as usual.

Lately, the person who is emerging as Gloria’s possible choice for president is Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, a young and bright politician with the right credentials: a bar topnotch, a former Congressman, a member of a rich and powerful clan, and the heir apparent to his uncle Danding Cojuangco’s Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC). But it is for his credentials that would make Gloria wary of Teodoro. While Cojuangco is currently in the best of terms with Gloria and her husband Mike, that could easily change. Didn’t someone once say, “There are no permanent friends and no permanent enemies, only permanent self-interest”?

The question is: Can Gloria control Teodoro should he become president? My take is that Teodoro would not allow himself to be the “manok” of Gloria. More than likely, he would run as the standard bearer of NPC, not under Gloria’s KAMPI-Lakas coalition. The reason is: Gloria’s endorsement is tantamount to a “kiss of death.” With Gloria’s unpopularity with the people, the candidate she handpicks would most likely lose unless she would use the “tools” at her disposal like what she allegedly used during the 2004 presidential election. With the brand-new Comelec automated election system to be implemented in the 2010 elections, who knows what “glitches” the system would have that could change the election results.

It is not then surprising when Gloria’s spin doctors put out the “welcome” mat for Panlilio’s possible entry into the presidential derby. Why not? After all, Panlilio is Gloria’s province mate or “kabalen.” However, Panlilio immediately nipped it in the bud. The last thing he wanted to happen is to create the impression that he shares Gloria’s “vision” and “leadership style.”

In a recent media statement, Panlilio said that if and when elected president of the Philippines in 2010, he “will not declare the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos a hero and will see to it that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is prosecuted for corruption.” With that, Panlilio had distanced himself from getting smacked with Gloria’s “kiss of death.”