INFOWARS
Herman Tiu Laurel
4/7/2008
The rice crisis is only the tip of the iceberg. And while the milk crisis may not as huge as the rice shortage, it still impacts the most vulnerable in the family--children and babies. Milk prices have been on the rise and going beyond the reach of 71 percent (or 12.8-M) of Filipino families that consider themselves poor or very poor. In the years ahead, the peak of these two crises will come when water would have been dearer and scarcer than it is today. All these could have been avoided if the Marcos II programs (referring to the post-'76 Marcos who started to aim for self-reliance and industrialization) were not scuttled outright by the Edsa I regime of Cory Aquino and followed through by Ramos, Gloria and "civil society."
Yet another crisis, this time in the power sector, which has not only brought us the highest power cost in Asia, is pointing to rough times ahead. Worse, it signals our further enslavement as it is in the hands of foreign powers, like in the case of the Malampaya natural gas production facility, which newspapers report may have to shut down the next six months due to a "gas leak." Since it has been only five years since its inauguration, I find this hard to believe. Power rationing would be one consequence of such repairs. And, coming at this critical time when the Spratly's seismic survey issue between the U.S. and Britain versus China is heating up, my suspicious mind fears that the "gas leak" may just be a telegraphed warning to Gloria to carry out her promised cancellation of the Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking.
A review of Marcos II shows the country anticipated and prepared for these crises by: 1) achieving rice self-sufficiency by 1976, 2) launching water and power programs scheduled to be on stream by the early '80s such as major hydro-electric dams, the geothermal and Bataan Nuclear Power Plant projects (which could produce fresh water from the sea in its cooling system), 3) launching of oil exploration that led to Malampaya, and 4) a myriad of other initiatives from developing the textile to the domestic armaments industry, which would have kept us ahead of other Asean countries. However, the U.S. took a contrary view: a nation such as ours with a big population in a strategically-located archipelago, capable of controlling passage through the China Sea, is better kept weak and dependent; hence, its de-agro/industrialization.
Under such a scheme, Marcos had to go. So Edsa I also ushered in the myth that Cory Aquino brought "democracy" back after the "Marcos dictatorship." The fact is dictatorships--of the corporate kind--rule even the Western world. Only illusions of democracy prevail there, particularly in the U.S., as the real power is the permanent political-economic rulers who control the money and the bureaucracy. President Eisenhower got that in part when he warned of the "military-industrial complex" in his farewell in 1961. President Lincoln had a far broader view of the danger: ". corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign . until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed."
The global corporate powers don't want a self-reliant and independent Philippines. For them, it has to be kept under control; kept vulnerable for food, power, fuel, water and other basic necessities. The globalization logic fits perfectly: depend on other countries for cheap supplies, and dismantle the State as the corporations can do a better job. To further seal the deal, Edsa II then came to aggravate the corruption and crisis levels.
After twenty years of this mantra since Edsa I, the Filipino poor have multiplied. Despite all these facts, "people power" apologists and traditional politicians, academic, media people and columnists have not come out to debunk the prevailing system. That is the treason, and the price of perpetuating the lies is that this country never corrects it errors and is doomed to hunger, thirst and disease.
Philippine politics, media and academic discussions are a surfeit of bitching, quarreling and squabbling, grandstanding and positioning for the favors of the ruling factions and personalities. Edsa I and II apologists concentrate on the demonization of their enemies which detract us from the basic, vital, strategic and collective concerns of the nation. Their prized reward is attention of the U.S., British or E.U. embassies which may reward the national self-flagellation with a scholarship or grant, or the blessing for a politician to replace the puppet they have in Malacañang. They also crave the attention of surrogate corporate power in electricity, water, and media, which can give them funds, interviews or a free show in their massive radio and TV networks.
The result of the cacophony of demonization is the silence on the basic, long term physical and cultural infrastructure for national development and progress. This in turn has translated to neglect for anticipative expansion of power plants for cheap electricity, water projects for consumption and irrigation, mass nationwide transport systems and railways, independent surveying of our waters, research and development on food and other necessities, ad infinitum. This column, along with a few other writers like Alejandro Lichauco, tries to consistently give the long and comprehensive view to lead the readers and the nation into reflections beyond cantankerous argumentations. Thus, we challenge the Edsa I and II apologists, who still shun face-to-face debate, because the truth would expose their treason.
The price paid for the distraction from the nation's strategic tasks is the fall from the second most prosperous nation in the '50s down to just a rung or two higher than Laos or Myanmar. The price is paid by the poor and middle class Filipinos whose living standards have fallen progressively over the past two decades, with the number of poor and very poor reaching unprecedented heights. In the face of increasing crises, only placebos or stop-gap measures are available because the wherewithal, as well as, the consciousness or will to engage in long-term rebuilding is a tabooed option. When one tries to provide for food security and even a semblance of political independence, like opposing sovereign guarantees, the wrath of the U.S., British and E.U. embassies will be faced, as President Estrada did.
When Filipino leaders protest the prevailing decay of Gloria's Western-friendly government, they go to prison, like the heroes of February 2006 military protesters General Lim, Col. Querubin and company. Stage a surprise electoral victory from prison, like Senator Trillanes, and a spectacular demonstration with patriotic civilian leaders who envision the self-reliant and independent Philippines, as in the Manila Peninsula stand-off, and the U.S. ambassador quickly makes an official statement against it just three hours later. Nonetheless, with Gloria's corruption and extra-judicial killings, the U.S. and Western embassies have the patience of Job. Then, the local corporate sector, like the Federation of Philippine Industries, follows suit with a full-page ad supporting Gloria to stay until 2010.
Edsa I and II apologists and politicians must remember: "Ask not for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee." By their treason and distractive demonization, causing neglect of strategic self-sufficiency discussions and programs, they bring about this society's and their own undoing. Saddam Hussein was a U.S. surrogate, but he was brutally sacrificed in the end. Better to fight along the way Zimbabwe's revolutionary war veterans with Mugabe are fighting despite the Western embargo. Independence is the only option for national survival and prosperity. The price of liberty is to struggle against colonization, the way the U.S. founding fathers did, as well as, China, India, Vietnam, Malaysia et al. The Philippine crises provide opportunities for enlightening the people on the imperative nationalist and patriotic alternative--leadership provided by Alejandro Lichauco, General Danilo Lim, Senator Trillanes and the Magdalo, and by President Estrada.
(Tune in to "Kape't Kamulatan, Kabansa" on 1098AM, Monday to Friday, 8:30 to 9:00 am)
Monday, March 7, 2011
Rise up vs. blood sucking taxation
INFOWARS
Herman Tiu Laurel
4/4/2008
One priority of the Cory Aquino government after taking power in 1986 was the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP) with the Value Added Tax and Excise Tax “reforms”. I remember as clear as daylight the debate I was engaged in on the issue against Big Business appointees to Cory’s government. “Boy Blue” del Rosario was one of the hatchet men pushing the CTRP, another was Bobby de Ocampo. Their argument was that government needed more revenues to cover the budgetary deficit, spend on pro-poor programs, that it would lead to the mythical balanced budget and that it would be the last tax increase ever needed. After two decades, two expansions of the VAT and the flip flops on the Excise Tax, we have found them to be all lies to perpetrate tax plunder on the nation.
Part of the CTRP debate was over the issue of progressive taxation during Marcos’ term, where the rich are made to pay more in income taxes. The contrary position held by the new Cory Aquino finance managers was the Value Added Tax, universally known to be a regressive tax where the poor pay exorbitantly more than the rich by way of taxes on goods and services. Since the Big Business hatchet men were in power with their yellow doll Cory Aquino, their tax plans ruled the day and we see the cumulative effects of two decades of VAT – the poor getting poorer and the rich getting richer. It takes a historical perspective to see these but, tragically very few try to collect these cumulative experiences to learn from it.
The Excise Tax debate was on the shift from ad valorem to specific tax. From a percentage tax on value that automatically adjusts to inflation, to a fixed amount tax which does not move with inflation. Lobbying for the excise tax system “reform” was Phillip Morris International (PMI) which wanted reclassification of locally made cigarettes to higher tax brackets and slap them with higher specific taxes reducing their price advantage. Foreign luxury priced cigarettes would rise faster in inflationary times because of higher initial prices. The cheering squad for the Phillip Morris lobby were University of Asia and Pacific economist Vic Abola, and Boy Blue del Rosario and Bobby de Ocampo on the government side.
After Cory Aquino handed power to Ramos using the Comelec to cheat against Danding Cojuangco and Miriam Santiago, Bobby de Ocampo took over the helms of the Department of Finance and the VAT continued to be a priority. The specific tax debate accelerated as FVR tried to demolish domestic tobacco manufacturers in behalf of the foreign tobacco companies. I organized the ATM, Anti-Tax Movement and picketed Congress. There was spontaneous support for the struggle against these new tax “reforms” which I denounced as “deformities”. Someone produced a car sticker which said “No to VAT”, and I still have it on my rear windshield to this day. Though faded after twelve years the message is still strong.
The VAT was expanded to cover more products and service, becoming the Expanded Value Added Tax or EVAT. With egging from the World Bank, the IMF and the Asian Development Bank, the finance department pushed for the EVAT using the same argument that they did in the earlier VAT debates – government needing revenues to cut deficit, for more pro-poor programs, to achieve a balanced budget by so-and-so year, and that it would be the last new taxes. Then Edsa Dos came and installed Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo gushing with promises and better life for Filipinos. The “international community” praised Edsa Dos and included their victim, Estrada, in the pantheon of the favorite “corrupt” icons along with Marcos and others and used it for station breaks of CNN.
Gloria Arroyo and her henchmen started posthaste to expand the EVAT, but to hide the “expansion” they called it the RVAT - increasing the tax from 10% to 12%. To this day, I can not remember what exactly that “R” stands for. The obfuscation suited their purpose of hiding the true intention of the new VAT. Ralph Recto championed the RVAT in the Senate, but the unusual keenness of the public surfaced when it perceiving the fraud Recto was foisting on them. They voted down Recto’s second bid for a senate seat despite his political lineage and huge campaign war. It was a resounding rejection of the RVAT. Vilma couldn’t save him, and we promise to raise the RVAT issue when Vilma runs with Noli in the 2010 elections.
A report made by several economics think tanks including the Freedom from Debt Coalition and the Ibon Foundation, reported that 70% of the RVAT go to international debt payment of the Philippines. Sixty percent of the country’s total national budget goes to debt repayment, and our taxes go to fill the national budget. Last week the World Bank through its chief economist for East Asia and the Pacific Region Vera Songws said: “RP needs to hike tax take, spend more on infrastructure to sustain growth”. Again there’s the obligatory or perfunctory reference to the poor, she said “the Philippines is in the middle of the 10 years of sustained growth needed to help the poor…Sustaining growth and making it more inclusive is now the challenge," World Bank Philippines country director Bert Hoffman added - all pure hypocrisy.
Pulse Asia survey last week reported that 71% or 12.8 million of Filipino families consider themselves poor or very poor. That’s the bitter fruit of twenty-one years of VAT and its expansion going to the payment of the foreign debt (plus domestic debt of Cory Aquino) of which principal has been fully paid five times over the past two decades. They’ve pulled these scams upon the lies of the global financial institutions and their local henchmen in the financial department and the academe. But despite the people knowing the evil of the VAT taxes and voting out Ralph Recto, the evil taxes have not been stopped. That is because defeating them in elections is not enough. The finance mafia have so many means to subvert the people’s will – including co-opting opposition politicians to bend to their will.
As we see in the media blitz of the World Bank last week, coordinated with finance chief Gary Teves who said he supported new taxes, the massive and hourly disinformation campaign of the tax fiends over controlled media is simply too dizzying for many people. Beyond the mind numbing media manipulation is the political, police and military forces used to cow any tax protestor the formation of a tax resistance movement. That is why we have to call for conscience block amongst our military compatriots to help the civilian leadership who’ve been in constant struggle against the exploitation and plunder, and slow genocide of the nation using hunger and poverty – social crises to destroy the nation and declare it a failed state for eventually direct foreign power or UN intervention and control.
If our nation is to survive, the blood sucking taxes must end. Te people have shown their enlightenment by defeating the representatives of the financial vampires in the 2007 election, but it is not enough. The vampires keep coming back, confusing the people with their recycled of lies and employing local zombies like Gloria Arroyo and Gary Teves to impose acquiesce to suicidal taxation. The military reformists and idealist should also see the predatory taxation as the culprit in the decimation of the Armed Forces material capabilities. It’s time for a national tax revolt, in cadence with the food and other revolts.
(Tune in to “Kape’t Kamulatan, Kabansa” 1098AM, 8:30-9am, Mon. to Fri.)
Herman Tiu Laurel
4/4/2008
One priority of the Cory Aquino government after taking power in 1986 was the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP) with the Value Added Tax and Excise Tax “reforms”. I remember as clear as daylight the debate I was engaged in on the issue against Big Business appointees to Cory’s government. “Boy Blue” del Rosario was one of the hatchet men pushing the CTRP, another was Bobby de Ocampo. Their argument was that government needed more revenues to cover the budgetary deficit, spend on pro-poor programs, that it would lead to the mythical balanced budget and that it would be the last tax increase ever needed. After two decades, two expansions of the VAT and the flip flops on the Excise Tax, we have found them to be all lies to perpetrate tax plunder on the nation.
Part of the CTRP debate was over the issue of progressive taxation during Marcos’ term, where the rich are made to pay more in income taxes. The contrary position held by the new Cory Aquino finance managers was the Value Added Tax, universally known to be a regressive tax where the poor pay exorbitantly more than the rich by way of taxes on goods and services. Since the Big Business hatchet men were in power with their yellow doll Cory Aquino, their tax plans ruled the day and we see the cumulative effects of two decades of VAT – the poor getting poorer and the rich getting richer. It takes a historical perspective to see these but, tragically very few try to collect these cumulative experiences to learn from it.
The Excise Tax debate was on the shift from ad valorem to specific tax. From a percentage tax on value that automatically adjusts to inflation, to a fixed amount tax which does not move with inflation. Lobbying for the excise tax system “reform” was Phillip Morris International (PMI) which wanted reclassification of locally made cigarettes to higher tax brackets and slap them with higher specific taxes reducing their price advantage. Foreign luxury priced cigarettes would rise faster in inflationary times because of higher initial prices. The cheering squad for the Phillip Morris lobby were University of Asia and Pacific economist Vic Abola, and Boy Blue del Rosario and Bobby de Ocampo on the government side.
After Cory Aquino handed power to Ramos using the Comelec to cheat against Danding Cojuangco and Miriam Santiago, Bobby de Ocampo took over the helms of the Department of Finance and the VAT continued to be a priority. The specific tax debate accelerated as FVR tried to demolish domestic tobacco manufacturers in behalf of the foreign tobacco companies. I organized the ATM, Anti-Tax Movement and picketed Congress. There was spontaneous support for the struggle against these new tax “reforms” which I denounced as “deformities”. Someone produced a car sticker which said “No to VAT”, and I still have it on my rear windshield to this day. Though faded after twelve years the message is still strong.
The VAT was expanded to cover more products and service, becoming the Expanded Value Added Tax or EVAT. With egging from the World Bank, the IMF and the Asian Development Bank, the finance department pushed for the EVAT using the same argument that they did in the earlier VAT debates – government needing revenues to cut deficit, for more pro-poor programs, to achieve a balanced budget by so-and-so year, and that it would be the last new taxes. Then Edsa Dos came and installed Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo gushing with promises and better life for Filipinos. The “international community” praised Edsa Dos and included their victim, Estrada, in the pantheon of the favorite “corrupt” icons along with Marcos and others and used it for station breaks of CNN.
Gloria Arroyo and her henchmen started posthaste to expand the EVAT, but to hide the “expansion” they called it the RVAT - increasing the tax from 10% to 12%. To this day, I can not remember what exactly that “R” stands for. The obfuscation suited their purpose of hiding the true intention of the new VAT. Ralph Recto championed the RVAT in the Senate, but the unusual keenness of the public surfaced when it perceiving the fraud Recto was foisting on them. They voted down Recto’s second bid for a senate seat despite his political lineage and huge campaign war. It was a resounding rejection of the RVAT. Vilma couldn’t save him, and we promise to raise the RVAT issue when Vilma runs with Noli in the 2010 elections.
A report made by several economics think tanks including the Freedom from Debt Coalition and the Ibon Foundation, reported that 70% of the RVAT go to international debt payment of the Philippines. Sixty percent of the country’s total national budget goes to debt repayment, and our taxes go to fill the national budget. Last week the World Bank through its chief economist for East Asia and the Pacific Region Vera Songws said: “RP needs to hike tax take, spend more on infrastructure to sustain growth”. Again there’s the obligatory or perfunctory reference to the poor, she said “the Philippines is in the middle of the 10 years of sustained growth needed to help the poor…Sustaining growth and making it more inclusive is now the challenge," World Bank Philippines country director Bert Hoffman added - all pure hypocrisy.
Pulse Asia survey last week reported that 71% or 12.8 million of Filipino families consider themselves poor or very poor. That’s the bitter fruit of twenty-one years of VAT and its expansion going to the payment of the foreign debt (plus domestic debt of Cory Aquino) of which principal has been fully paid five times over the past two decades. They’ve pulled these scams upon the lies of the global financial institutions and their local henchmen in the financial department and the academe. But despite the people knowing the evil of the VAT taxes and voting out Ralph Recto, the evil taxes have not been stopped. That is because defeating them in elections is not enough. The finance mafia have so many means to subvert the people’s will – including co-opting opposition politicians to bend to their will.
As we see in the media blitz of the World Bank last week, coordinated with finance chief Gary Teves who said he supported new taxes, the massive and hourly disinformation campaign of the tax fiends over controlled media is simply too dizzying for many people. Beyond the mind numbing media manipulation is the political, police and military forces used to cow any tax protestor the formation of a tax resistance movement. That is why we have to call for conscience block amongst our military compatriots to help the civilian leadership who’ve been in constant struggle against the exploitation and plunder, and slow genocide of the nation using hunger and poverty – social crises to destroy the nation and declare it a failed state for eventually direct foreign power or UN intervention and control.
If our nation is to survive, the blood sucking taxes must end. Te people have shown their enlightenment by defeating the representatives of the financial vampires in the 2007 election, but it is not enough. The vampires keep coming back, confusing the people with their recycled of lies and employing local zombies like Gloria Arroyo and Gary Teves to impose acquiesce to suicidal taxation. The military reformists and idealist should also see the predatory taxation as the culprit in the decimation of the Armed Forces material capabilities. It’s time for a national tax revolt, in cadence with the food and other revolts.
(Tune in to “Kape’t Kamulatan, Kabansa” 1098AM, 8:30-9am, Mon. to Fri.)
What must be done
INFOWARS
Herman Tiu Laurel
3/31/2008
Every weekend, I summarize the vital news and discussions I treat on the air in my Monday to Friday morning program over DWAD, 1098AM. I also try to record significant texts I receive from listeners along the way. All of them put together are too many for my short regular column that comes out on Mondays and Fridays, but highlighting the key issues gives a gist of where this country is and what must be done to move forward. But after looking at the same issues through the years, one doesn't only conclude unambiguously that the country is running around in circles; worse, it is in a downward spiral. Thankfully, though, one still gets to identify ways to end this vicious cycle of precipitous decline.
Yesterday morning I received this text: "It was former Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban and Davide who conspired and brought down Erap. Now he is complaining about.Gloria controlling the Supreme Court. Read Inquirer today March 30. It was they who changed the destiny of our country. Karma sa Pinoy ang ginawa nila," which was then followed by a lengthy call for Juan de la Cruz to rise up now for the sake of the nation's children. Over seven years, I and many other Filipinos have raged over the crappy "constructive resignation" decision penned by Panganiban and passed by the Davide Supreme Court. It was arbitrary and without constitutional basis no doubt, yet they did it to satisfy Edsa II. Today, there's no difference in what they did and what the majority in the Puno court has done on the "executive privilege" issue.
As for the rice crisis, IRRI president Robert Zeigler weighed in with his better-informed view that the Filipino farmer is already producing one of the higher yields per hectare in the region, but he says there's just not enough arable, fertile land as in the Indo-Chinese peninsula that is blessed by the Mekong River. True, but he seems to have omitted a very important fact-that water impounding with mini-hydros would irrigate uplands and give way to more arable land. Former Agriculture secretary, Arsenio Balicasan, correctly said that increasing productivity through irrigation infrastructure, research and development, and solving the problem of high energy cost are what should be prioritized. Marcos had tackled these problems and programmed the solutions, but Edsa I and Edsa II "civil society" kept throwing the baby out with the bath water.
When I point my finger at Edsa II, I include most particular print communicators like Billy Esposo of the Philippine Star (owned by Gloria hatchetman Belmonte) and Antonio Abaya of Standard (owned by Enrique Razon who, according to Neri, is the ZTE funds handler). These representatives of "civil society" views are at the forefront of the unrelenting campaign to confuse the nation and the youth about historical truths, especially in the cases of Marcos and Erap Estrada, who both had timely, appropriate and necessary programs to serve the welfare of the people. In the latter's case, they should now concede the Kangaroo nature of the Teresita de Castro Sandigan court by the circumstances of her Supreme Court promotion and her current pro-Gloria voting record.
Let me digress a bit on the "conviction" of Estrada, which the Edsa II media uses spitefully despite the blatantly malicious intent of the Sandiganbayan. When I read international press reports mentioning Anwar Ibrahim's conviction, they qualified it by adding "politically motivated" before the word "conviction." The Inquirer and anti-Erap writers, in contrast, do not give this fair play to Estrada, which is a very grave injustice and exposes them as black propagandists. The ploy is obvious: keep repeating the "conviction" and the pejorative description, "convicted criminal," to make them stick despite the clearly political nature of the seven-year-process led by three Gloria-appointed Sandiganbayan judges, of which two, de Castro and now, Diosdado (named after Gloria's father) Peralta, have gotten their payback with promotions.
Surely, the best way to overcome black propaganda is to stick to historical facts; and the rice crisis and forthcoming milk supply crisis will prove that Marcos and Estrada were leaders on the right track. A continuing reiteration of the cause of the deteriorating food crisis traceable to the embrace of globalization, privatization and deregulation by the "people power trio" Cory Aquino, FVR and Gloria Arroyo (add the massive corruption of the last two), and their dismantling of programs to ensure irrigation infrastructure and fairly priced fuel and electricity, is the best way to put these icons of Edsa I and II in their proper, unflattering light. In fact, the latest news adds more evidence to this: March 28, "ADB: Power, infra costs cripple RP," citing higher than neighboring countries' electricity, toll and other transport charges.
On the same day, the Japan External Trade Organization was reported to have said that of all Asean countries where its country's firms operate, expansion plans in the Philippines was lowest at 1.2% compared to 11.3% in Thailand, 8.4% in Vietnam, 3.5% in Indonesia and 2.7% in Malaysia. The reason cited for the "bearish" expansion plans is similar to what the ADB cited: power and other high costs, but it added the appreciation of the peso as another problem. As in decades past, the Philippines continues to slide down in the priorities for investment from other countries while the economy continues its deterioration, and the impact on the people can be seen in developments like in this week's news: "RP 8th TB producer in the world, say doctors"--not television but tuberculosis, the disease of poverty.
Another very important news item that received scant attention, compared to front page grabs of Pacquiao's latest bout, is retired Supreme Court Justice Jose Melo's oath-taking as the new Comelec Commissioner. Chairman Melo is better known for his cover up of Gloria Arroyo's role in the so-called, "extra-judicial killings" of hundreds of anti-Gloria and Leftist dissenters. Melo was credibly accused by Senator Lacson as a "counsel" for Abalos during the ZTE Senate hearings because he sat behind Abalos, a seat which is normally reserved for the witness' counsel. Melo denied it but I don't know if anyone believed him. I don't. Like all of Gloria's appointments, Melo will be at the Comelec to do Gloria's bidding--cover up and manipulate. His appointment to the Comelec demolishes any hope for clean elections in 2010.
Every week, when I sum up the news and developments, it becomes clearer and clearer that there is no hope for the country to break free from the vicious downward cycle of institutional decay, economic collapse, press perversion and increasing poverty--unless there is radical clean up and restructuring. Unfortunately, the leaders that have shown the vision, daring and courage to spark the radical change have temporarily been immobilized in detention. General Danilo Lim, Senator Trillanes IV and the Magdalo group are still in Camp Crame, while Colonel Querubin and the February 26 group are at the Isafp languishing in "bartolinas." In balance, though, the electoral opposition leader, President Estrada, is making more progress, continuing his political education sorties all over the country.
The advocates for the progressive idea of a "transformational transition" council, including the Laban ng Masa, the November 29 Movement and other mass-based groups are consolidating for the next major mass action with the opposition coalition on April 5, to coincide with Gloria's birthday bash and are calling for an early end to her malevolent regime. But, as the text from "Kabansang Ferdie" suggests, the rally should address issues vital to the people: "Korapsyon at Kahirapan" (Corruption and Poverty), as well as, against the 12% RVAT and high power and other public utilities costs. Meanwhile, the consciences of our AFP reformists outside prison bars should continue to be stoked.
(Tune in to "Kape't Kamulatan, Kabansa" on 1098AM, Monday to Friday, 8:30 to 9:00am)
Herman Tiu Laurel
3/31/2008
Every weekend, I summarize the vital news and discussions I treat on the air in my Monday to Friday morning program over DWAD, 1098AM. I also try to record significant texts I receive from listeners along the way. All of them put together are too many for my short regular column that comes out on Mondays and Fridays, but highlighting the key issues gives a gist of where this country is and what must be done to move forward. But after looking at the same issues through the years, one doesn't only conclude unambiguously that the country is running around in circles; worse, it is in a downward spiral. Thankfully, though, one still gets to identify ways to end this vicious cycle of precipitous decline.
Yesterday morning I received this text: "It was former Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban and Davide who conspired and brought down Erap. Now he is complaining about.Gloria controlling the Supreme Court. Read Inquirer today March 30. It was they who changed the destiny of our country. Karma sa Pinoy ang ginawa nila," which was then followed by a lengthy call for Juan de la Cruz to rise up now for the sake of the nation's children. Over seven years, I and many other Filipinos have raged over the crappy "constructive resignation" decision penned by Panganiban and passed by the Davide Supreme Court. It was arbitrary and without constitutional basis no doubt, yet they did it to satisfy Edsa II. Today, there's no difference in what they did and what the majority in the Puno court has done on the "executive privilege" issue.
As for the rice crisis, IRRI president Robert Zeigler weighed in with his better-informed view that the Filipino farmer is already producing one of the higher yields per hectare in the region, but he says there's just not enough arable, fertile land as in the Indo-Chinese peninsula that is blessed by the Mekong River. True, but he seems to have omitted a very important fact-that water impounding with mini-hydros would irrigate uplands and give way to more arable land. Former Agriculture secretary, Arsenio Balicasan, correctly said that increasing productivity through irrigation infrastructure, research and development, and solving the problem of high energy cost are what should be prioritized. Marcos had tackled these problems and programmed the solutions, but Edsa I and Edsa II "civil society" kept throwing the baby out with the bath water.
When I point my finger at Edsa II, I include most particular print communicators like Billy Esposo of the Philippine Star (owned by Gloria hatchetman Belmonte) and Antonio Abaya of Standard (owned by Enrique Razon who, according to Neri, is the ZTE funds handler). These representatives of "civil society" views are at the forefront of the unrelenting campaign to confuse the nation and the youth about historical truths, especially in the cases of Marcos and Erap Estrada, who both had timely, appropriate and necessary programs to serve the welfare of the people. In the latter's case, they should now concede the Kangaroo nature of the Teresita de Castro Sandigan court by the circumstances of her Supreme Court promotion and her current pro-Gloria voting record.
Let me digress a bit on the "conviction" of Estrada, which the Edsa II media uses spitefully despite the blatantly malicious intent of the Sandiganbayan. When I read international press reports mentioning Anwar Ibrahim's conviction, they qualified it by adding "politically motivated" before the word "conviction." The Inquirer and anti-Erap writers, in contrast, do not give this fair play to Estrada, which is a very grave injustice and exposes them as black propagandists. The ploy is obvious: keep repeating the "conviction" and the pejorative description, "convicted criminal," to make them stick despite the clearly political nature of the seven-year-process led by three Gloria-appointed Sandiganbayan judges, of which two, de Castro and now, Diosdado (named after Gloria's father) Peralta, have gotten their payback with promotions.
Surely, the best way to overcome black propaganda is to stick to historical facts; and the rice crisis and forthcoming milk supply crisis will prove that Marcos and Estrada were leaders on the right track. A continuing reiteration of the cause of the deteriorating food crisis traceable to the embrace of globalization, privatization and deregulation by the "people power trio" Cory Aquino, FVR and Gloria Arroyo (add the massive corruption of the last two), and their dismantling of programs to ensure irrigation infrastructure and fairly priced fuel and electricity, is the best way to put these icons of Edsa I and II in their proper, unflattering light. In fact, the latest news adds more evidence to this: March 28, "ADB: Power, infra costs cripple RP," citing higher than neighboring countries' electricity, toll and other transport charges.
On the same day, the Japan External Trade Organization was reported to have said that of all Asean countries where its country's firms operate, expansion plans in the Philippines was lowest at 1.2% compared to 11.3% in Thailand, 8.4% in Vietnam, 3.5% in Indonesia and 2.7% in Malaysia. The reason cited for the "bearish" expansion plans is similar to what the ADB cited: power and other high costs, but it added the appreciation of the peso as another problem. As in decades past, the Philippines continues to slide down in the priorities for investment from other countries while the economy continues its deterioration, and the impact on the people can be seen in developments like in this week's news: "RP 8th TB producer in the world, say doctors"--not television but tuberculosis, the disease of poverty.
Another very important news item that received scant attention, compared to front page grabs of Pacquiao's latest bout, is retired Supreme Court Justice Jose Melo's oath-taking as the new Comelec Commissioner. Chairman Melo is better known for his cover up of Gloria Arroyo's role in the so-called, "extra-judicial killings" of hundreds of anti-Gloria and Leftist dissenters. Melo was credibly accused by Senator Lacson as a "counsel" for Abalos during the ZTE Senate hearings because he sat behind Abalos, a seat which is normally reserved for the witness' counsel. Melo denied it but I don't know if anyone believed him. I don't. Like all of Gloria's appointments, Melo will be at the Comelec to do Gloria's bidding--cover up and manipulate. His appointment to the Comelec demolishes any hope for clean elections in 2010.
Every week, when I sum up the news and developments, it becomes clearer and clearer that there is no hope for the country to break free from the vicious downward cycle of institutional decay, economic collapse, press perversion and increasing poverty--unless there is radical clean up and restructuring. Unfortunately, the leaders that have shown the vision, daring and courage to spark the radical change have temporarily been immobilized in detention. General Danilo Lim, Senator Trillanes IV and the Magdalo group are still in Camp Crame, while Colonel Querubin and the February 26 group are at the Isafp languishing in "bartolinas." In balance, though, the electoral opposition leader, President Estrada, is making more progress, continuing his political education sorties all over the country.
The advocates for the progressive idea of a "transformational transition" council, including the Laban ng Masa, the November 29 Movement and other mass-based groups are consolidating for the next major mass action with the opposition coalition on April 5, to coincide with Gloria's birthday bash and are calling for an early end to her malevolent regime. But, as the text from "Kabansang Ferdie" suggests, the rally should address issues vital to the people: "Korapsyon at Kahirapan" (Corruption and Poverty), as well as, against the 12% RVAT and high power and other public utilities costs. Meanwhile, the consciences of our AFP reformists outside prison bars should continue to be stoked.
(Tune in to "Kape't Kamulatan, Kabansa" on 1098AM, Monday to Friday, 8:30 to 9:00am)
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