House Resolution 1020 by Bayan Muna, Gabriela and Anakpawis Partylist Reps Re: Balikatan in Bicol

Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City

FOURTEENTH CONGRESS

Second Regular Session

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 1020

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INTRODUCED by Reps. SATUR C. OCAMPO and TEODORO A. CASIÑO (Bayan Muna),

LIZA L. MAZA and LUZVIMINDA C. ILAGAN (Gabriela), and RAFAEL V. MARIANO (Anakpawis)

______________________________________________________________________

RESOLUTION
DIRECTING THE COMMITTEES ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND NATIONAL DEFENSE AND SECURITY TO JOINTLY OR SEPARATELY CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE IMPACT OF THE RP-US BALIKATAN JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES TO OUR NATION’S SOVEREIGNTY AND THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE IN THE BICOL REGION

WHEREAS, the Bicol region has the distinction of having the last Filipino General to surrender during the Philippine-American war – General Simeon A. Ola – who along with other patriots, fervently defended the region and the whole country against the American colonizers;

WHEREAS, a new type of invasion is happening in Bicol in the form of the RP-US Balikatan (Shoulder-to-Shoulder) exercises that will see thousands of US troops enter four provinces of the region from February 25 to April 30, 2009;

WHEREAS, Balikatan 2009 is to be the 25th annual event of its kind under the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) of 1951 and the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA). Both the US and Philippine national governments claim that this event shall comprise “humanitarian missions” in Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon and Masbate;

WHEREAS, the Balikatan exercises and the VFA violate our national sovereignty because they cause the prolonged presence of foreign troops on Philippine soil despite the absence of any basing treaty;

WHEREAS, the VFA, as crafted and implemented, does not specify or limit the number of US troops allowed entry into the Philippines or delineate the areas and activities in the country that the “visiting” troops can have access to for a particular time frame. The VFA allows US troops to enter military camps, civilian facilities and even areas of actual internal armed conflicts such as Sulu and Basilan provinces;

WHEREAS, the VFA does not specify or limit the duration of the stay of the “visiting” US forces. The agreement’s vagueness in this respect allows the continuing, even if rotational, presence of US troops in the Philippines;

WHEREAS, the VFA does not explicitly prohibit activities that violate our Constitution, such as direct combat involvement of US forces. The VFA allows the US to deploy an unlimited number of troops, for an unspecified duration, anywhere in country for a broad range of activities that may not be limited to “joint exercises;”

WHEREAS, since the “visiting” US troops are not required to present visas like other foreign visitors, there is really no way under the VFA for the public to know how long they actually stay, when they will leave and when they would return;

WHEREAS, the presence of US troops, even if on a rotational basis, has become permanent. For example the structures in Camp Navarro in Zamboanga have been ‘permanently occupied’ by US Special Forces, 365 days a year, for almost six years now;

WHEREAS, there are several “exercises” and activities between US and RP armed forces throughout the year, all of which are said to be approved by the Mutual Defense Board. However, there have been many conflicting statements from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other government officials on whether or not the current batch of US forces (both in civilian clothes and in combat fatigues) in the country are covered by any joint exercise;

WHEREAS, according to Major Ramon Zagala, AFP spokesperson for the annual Balikatan, about 6,000 US troops will join 2,500 Filipino soldiers in “humanitarian missions” and “civic actions” from April 16 to 28 with the main part of the exercises to take place at Filipino military bases north and south of Manila;

WHEREAS, Maj. Zagala also said that the US government would spend at least US$2 million on the exercises and would bring in a number of warships and aircraft, including F-16 fighter planes into the country. He also added that US military medics and engineers would also conduct clinics and build schools and other basic infrastructure in the Bicol region;

WHEREAS, the terms “humanitarian mission” and “civic action” have become the standard response of both the AFP and the US embassy every time US forces get involved in incidents that are not covered by the VFA, such as operating unmanned spy planes, or being part of AFP military convoys that engage in combat missions;

WHEREAS, the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) by US forces in Mindanao and now in Bicol have been reported in media. The Mindanao Examiner reported that a UAV crashed in Jolo, Sulu (February 2006); an unmanned spy plane reportedly crashed in Mount Tumatangis in Jolo (November 2005); and a Predator-type drone crashed in the sea off Zamboanga City (March 2002);

WHEREAS, various media reports have said that “the US military has a fleet of various unmanned spy planes, from palm-size remote-controlled aircraft to bigger and sophisticated high-altitude, long-range, remotely piloted vehicles designed for long-endurance photographic reconnaissance and electronic surveillance missions, and as attack aircrafts;”

WHEREAS, the AFP has defended presence of US spy planes. Maj. Gamal Hayudini, a spokesperson for the AFP Southern Command, told the Zamboanga Journal that “there is nothing to fear about the US drones. It is being used to survey areas where humanitarian activities will be jointly undertaken by US and Philippine troops.” This does not answer who controls the surveillance equipment, grants authority for its use and who are the targets of spying;

WHEREAS, the use of these UAVs are not limited to surveillance activities. They can also be used as lethal offensive weapons, such as the cases of US forces in Pakistan, Iraq and Afghanistan;

WHEREAS, on January 29, 2009 around 6:30pm, a US UAV drone crashed between the towns of Esperanza and Pio V. Corpuz in Masbate province;

WHEREAS, sometime in January 2009, a US naval officer visited several hospitals in Albay province, asking health care personnel if they had orthopedic facilities. This also shows that US are preparing to do “war games” and possibly participate in direct combat operations with the AFP;

WHEREAS, “humanitarian missions” and “civic actions” are part of the “communications strategy” being employed by the US armed forces to justify their continued presence in the country as stated in the Strategic Communication document of the US Pacific Command (PACOM) Pacific Joint Training Strategy. Such activities are undertaken “to educate elected officials, opinion leaders and the public on the importance of military training; build public trust and support of training activities; portray the cost of readiness and potential impact of not being ready…and highlight the military as good stewards of the environment;”

WHEREAS, humanitarian missions are not the main activities of US Special Forces in previous joint exercises in Central Luzon, Mindanao and Panay. It will not be different in the exercises to be launched in Bicol. They are merely part of a “communications strategy” that is subsumed to strategic US military thrusts. In the US Pacific Command Joint Training Strategy 2007, the umbrella plan for activities such as the Balikatan, it stated that “the overarching goal of the Pacific Joint Training Strategy is to ensure U.S. forces are ready to respond promptly and effectively to any and all contingencies that may confront our nation;”

WHEREAS, it has been ten years since the VFA came into effect. Under this agreement, especially from 2002 to the present, various illegal and criminal activities involving American troops have placed the general safety of the local people into question;

WHEREAS, there is a pressing need to look into the current tack of the AFP interpreting foreign policy and the application of relevant treaties and agreements with regard to the Balikatan exercises;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, that the Committees on Foreign Relations and National Defense and Security, jointly or separately, conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the impact of Balikatan exercises to our nation’s sovereignty and the safety of the people in the Bicol region.

Adopted,

SATUR C. OCAMPO TEODORO A. CASIÑO LIZA L. MAZA

Bayan Muna Party List Bayan Muna Party List Gabriela Womens Party

LUZVIMINDA C. ILAGAN RAFAEL V. MARIANO

Gabriela Womens Party Anakpawis Party List

"JUNK VFA, OUST GMA" – Manila-based Bikolanos Demanded

A number of Bikol and Bikolano allies vehemently opposed the impending RP-US Military Exercises set to be done in Region V this April.

Commemorating the 23rd anniversary of EDSA Uprising on February 25, 1986, the ORAGON attempted to march to the US Embassy in Roxas Boulevard, along with Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) and other national democratic sectoral organizations, to echo the Bikolano sentiment against the BALIKATAN Exercises.

They said that although it is disguised as a “humanitarian mission,” in reality, it is a mischievous collaboration to allow intervention with the political and military affairs in the region, and in turn, explore and exploit its economic riches.

ORAGON believes that Balikatan must be stopped not only in Bicol but in the whole country as well, by junking the lopsided Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) that gives way for the Balikatan’s continuous discharge. They are threatened that Balikatan would destroy further, their already impoverished homeland that was Bicol. The “war games” they would launch will demolish the sanctity they have always wished to go home for, as evidenced by what has happened in Mindanao, portions of Central and Northern Luzon, and other Balikatan devastated Philippine territories.

In its decisiveness to air Manila-based Bikolanos’ sentiments, ORAGON even attempted to march through police formations protecting their US Embassy bosses. This peaceable attempt was faced by truncheons and beating of rallyists by police subservients, resulting to multiple injuries and damages among organized demonstrators.

Thus, they said, such instance only justified that Balikatan to be stopped and VFA to be junked would have to be fore worded by ousting the US puppet Gloria Macapagal Arroyo regime.

Organisadong Bikolanos para sa Nasyunalismo, Ayaw sa Balikatan (ORAGON) dispersed themselves, seeing sustained resistance and more actions including a signature campaign to junk VFA, in the near future.

Bicolano oragons flex muscles, gears up for anti-VFA, anti-Balikatan battle

The communities, the schools, and the offices of Metro Manila jolt as Bicolano nationalists, as well as their non-Bicolano allies, assemble and accumulate forces to rendezvous with Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) for tomorrow's anti-Visiting Forces Agreement mobilizations.

ORAGON (Organisadong Bikolano Para Sa Nasyunalismo), a formation of Metro Manila-based Bicolanos, has on its part all the more firmed up its spirits in championing fellow kababayans' strong opposition to the conduct of Balikatan in the Bicol region. Thousands of Bicolanos are now on the 3^rd day of a region-wide caravan in protest of the Visiting Forces Agreement and the holding of RP-US Balikatan in Bicol. Despite attempts by state forces at sabotaging the caravan, the region-wide protest is expected to triumphantly conclude in Legazpi City, Albay on February 25. The regional alliance BANBalikatan (Bicolano Alliance for Nationalism Against Balikatan) spearheads the battle against the joint military exercises deceivingly pronounced by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as purely “humanitarian missions”.

ORAGON contends that the Balikatan war exercises, apart from being an explicit encroachment on Philippine sovereignty, likewise amounts to intensified militarization of the Bicol provinces. In fact, baby Rafaela Polvorido, a 1-year old girl from Barangay Balanac of Ligao, Albay has already been tragically killed when soldiers from the 901^st Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army fired grenade launchers during a clearing operation. The operation has also left 9 members of the baby’s family and relatives wounded by shrapnels, and their homes burned. It was found out that Balanac’s neighboring Barangay Paulba shall be a site for Balikatan, hence the military clearing operations.

And with such, Metro Manila-based Bicolanos are revolted that more tragedies brought by Balikatan may befall their families and friends back home. ORAGON opposes the RP-US Balikatan in Bicol, as much as it objects to joint military exercises on any part of the country, having comprehended the nature and misfortunes effected by the RP-US Balikatan.

And likewise for ORAGON, apprehensions on Balikatan’s adversities shall finally be appeased only when the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement, which allows for deadly military exercises, be junked by the government. But overly repulsing is Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s subservience to imperialist dictates as she abandons Philippine integrity to demand custody of convicted rapist US Marine Daniel Smith.

So thus shall be ORAGON’s battlecry: Bicolano Nationalists, Defy Balikatan! Junk VFA! Oust GMA!

The Bicol word “oragon” may mean strong, brave, resolute, resilient. Tomorrow, any or all of these attributes shall typify ORAGON as they march towards their fight against VFA and Balikatan.

Bicolana - Gabriela Albay Chapter Condemns AFP and Balikatan for the Tragedy in Ligao, Albay

Kinalulungkot at ikinagagalit ng Bicolana Gabriela-Albay ang kalunos-lunos na sinapit ng pamilya Polvorido sa kamay ng 901st IB ng Philippine Army.

Ang patuloy na clearing operations ng militar sa Balanac, Ligao, Albay; na malapit sa Brgy Paulba na siyang pagdarausan ng Humanitarian mission umano ng Balikatan 2009, ang siyang nagbunsod ng kamatayan ng sanggol na si Rafaela Polvorido (isang taon,apat na buwang gulang) at pagkasugat ng ina nitong si Jocelyn (30 taong gulang) at mga kapatid na sina Ina (limang taong gulang) at Daisy (apat taong gulang) nitong Miyerkules, Pebrero 18, 2009.

Kasalukuyang nagkakaroon noon ng session ang mga opisyal ng baranggay Balanac nang may marinig na putok, dito biglang nagtakbuhan ang mga baranggay officials. Nang mataranta din ang mga militar, walang awa nilang pinuntirya ang bahay ni Eufemia Polvorido.
Sinunog ng mga militar sa pamamagitan ng pagbomba ang bahay na ito na kasalukuyang kinaroroonan ng mag-anak ni Jocelyn, habang niraratrat din ng militar ang mga nagtatakbuhang sibilyan. Namatay ang sanggol na si Rafaela matapos itong magtamo ng malaking sugat sa ulo dulot ng shrapnel ng bombang tumupok sa bahay.

Sa kasalukuyan, nakatira ang pamilya Polvorido sa baranggay hall. Hanggang ngayon, may trauma pa rin sa nangyari ang mga batang sina Jullus at Nene Polvorido, na kasabay ni Eufemia nang bombahin ang kanilang bahay.

Matinding pinsala at takot ang dinulot ng operasyong militar sa Barangay Balanac. Walang pasok angBalanac Elementary School nang dinatnan ng Fact Finding Mission team ang lugar. Natakot ang mga guro at estudyante sa pangyayari. Patuloy pa rin ang ginagawang operasyon ng mga militar sa mga baranggay sa Albay para sa preparasyon sa Balikatan.

Kapansin-pansin din ang presensya ng napakaraming myembro ng Philippine army na nasa mga kostal na baranggay ng Legazpi, Sto. Domingo, Tiwi, Tabaco at Bacacay, Albay. Nagsasagawa din ng mga pulong-pulong ang Philippine Army sa mga kostal na baranggay at nagpapaliwanag kaugnay sa Balikatan.

Sa mga ginagawang panimulang clearing operations pa lamang ng militar, ang mga simpleng mamamayan ay nawawalan na ng kabuhayan, bahay at buhay upang bigyang daan ang Balikatan 2009. Ibig ding sabihin nito, higit pa ang daranasin ng mga mamamayan sa pagsimula ng Balikatan.

Nagiging malinaw dito ang paggamit sa humanitarian missions na ginagamit ng mga militar ay panabing lamang nila sa kanilang military operations. Panunuhol lamang ito upang matanggap ang presensya ng mga Kano sa mga kumunidad na paglulunsaran ng Balikatan.

Dahil sa mga maliwanag na dahilan, ang Bicolana Gabriela Albay ay naniniwala na walang magandang maidudulot ang Balikatan 2009 at ang patuloy na militarisasyon sa kanayunan.

BAN Balikatan Unity Statement

We, the Bikolano Alliance for Nationalism against Balikatan (BAN BALIKATAN) composed of Sorsogon United Movement Against Balikatan (SUMABA KA), Alyansa ng Mamamayang Albayano Laban sa Balikatan (ALMAALAB), Ugnayan ng Mamamayan Laban sa Balikatan - Camarines Sur Alliance, Youth Stop Balikatan, together with various people’s organization raise ourselves as one voice in strongly opposing the RP-US Balikatan in Bikol.

We believe that our right to self-determination and national sovereignty charts the course of our destiny as a people, a region and a country. We cannot allow this right to be trampled upon by continuous US intervention through the Balikatan Exercises in the region under the guise of “humanitarian missions.”

We believe that the long history of American intervention and control in our country and in the region brought about our backward economy and dependence. This dependence and control was put into various unilateral treaties signed between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States granting parity rights, economic and political rights favorable to American interests. They are the same interests that prompt the conduct of of the 25th Balikatan exercises in Bikol.

We believe that the constitutional mandate of the termination of the RP-US Military Bases in 1991 has not been fully respected. The safeguard of American interests in the South East Asia and Pacific rim was ensured through the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the Balikatan Exercises that was based on the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) and the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA).

We vehemently abhor the disrespect for the constitutional provisions barring nuclear weapons in our country, and we demand for the accountability of damages caused by the toxic wastes brought by the Americans to our country.

We likewise put in question the provisions in the VFA, exempting American soldiers from criminal jurisdiction in the Philippine courts. We believe that such provisions are anti-people and disregard our dignity as a people.

We likewise believe that the Mutual Defense Treaty all the more put our country under threat of being a battleground of war between the US and its rival powers as proven during the second world war.

We expose the true character of the Arroyo government as a great protector of American interests and violator of human rights. The government’s war on terrorism justified under Oplan Bantay Laya I and II is supportive of the US global war against terrorism which have cause enormous violations of human rights ranging from threat, displacement of communities, abuse of women and children and extrajudicial killings which remain unresolved until today. The Bikol region has not been spared from the crimes and violations. While the Arroyo government and the Armed Forces of the Philippines prides itself as the protector of the people it, at the same time prides itself as a virtual partner of US in the war on terror.The accountability of the Arroyo government remains bleak and as elusive as its promise of economic development amidst the global crisis.

We doubt the sincerity and true intent of the “humanitarian missions” under Balikatan 2009 which will involve around 6,000 US troops and 2,500 Filipino soldiers. We see this as a front to their war exercises and intent to spy on the vast expanse of Bikol’s resources.

We therefore enjoin all patriotic Bikolanos and Filipinos to heed the call of exposing and opposing the Balikatan in Bikol. Let us join ranks in protecting our fellow Bikolanos, and our land Bikol.

We likewise call on individuals and organizations to support and participate in the multi-sectoral and multi-cultural campaigns and activities of the Bikolano Alliance for Nationalism against Balikatan.

Let us collectively work for true peace and justice taking the prime interests of the majority of our people who are poor and exploited!

Let us strongly uphold our dignity as a people, and as a country!

Let us strongly uphold our right to self-determination and national sovereignty!

STOP BALIKATAN in Bikol!
PULL OUT all US troops in the Philippines. NOW!
SCRAP the Mutual Defense Treaty and the Visiting Forces Agreement!

SUMABA KA launched Provincial Formation on February 4

February 4, 2009
News Release
SUMABA KA! (Speak Out!)

The delegates to the first assembly of SUMABA KA have successfully launched its provincial formation today. Elected as officers are: Reynaldo Mendoza, Chairman; Eduardo Ferreras, Vice-Chairman; Pilar Gabito, General Secretary; Genoveva Capsa, Deputy GenSec. Appointed as Treasurer and Auditor are Maria Luisa Hababag and Karapatan, respectively. Three spokespersons were elected during the Convenors Meeting of January 17. They are Reverend Lemuel Igdanes, Provincial Spokesperson; Brother Lito Bonifacio, Spokesperson for the Ist District of Sorsogon; and Mr. Eduardo Ferreras, Spokesperson for the 2nd District of Sorsogon.

Thirty three (33) delegates attended the launching activity. They came from the various sectors and institutions that matter in the Sorsogon body politic, namely, the Church, academe, government employees, legal and other professions, basic sectors (peasants, fisherfolks, women, youth and students) and patriotic individuals and organizations. They will represent the people of Sorsogon in the latter’s struggle to free Sorsogon from the uninvited, unwanted and sinister presence of US troops in the province under the RP-US Balikatan war exercises.

The assembly affirmed and reiterated the views and stand of the convenors of SUMABA KA in the Convenors Meeting of January 17, to wit:

Balikatan violates Philippine sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity;

The Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), under which the Balikatan operates, subsumes the authority of the local government officials of Sorsogon;

Balikatan will gravely disrupt the economic activities of the people in the areas where it will be held, thus, jeopardizing the livelihood of the people, especially the farmers and fisherfolks, in these areas;

Balikatan will expose the people of Sorsogon to more serious human rights violations and exacerbate the very fragile peace and order situation in the province;

Balikatan will contribute to the significant growth of prostitution and its consequences, like sexually-transmitted diseases (STD’s), fatherless children and broken homes;

Balikatan will abet the proliferation of drugs, and drug abuse, and the crimes attendant to it; and,

It will promote moral decay and social decadence in the province.

The so-called “humanitarian missions” that will be conducted by the US troops can never hide the true color and essence of Balikatan which are military intervention and external aggression. Military intervention and wars of aggression are the hallmarks of US global policy in the 21st century as exemplified by the experiences of the people of Basilan and Sulu, and the peoples of Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Humanitarian Missions” is merely one of the three components of the Balikatan war exercises, with the other two being Combat Operations and Intelligence Operations.

Mga Sorsoganon, Magkasararo asin SUMABA KA kontra sa Balikatan!

BAN BALIKATAN in Bicol!

BIKOLANO URAGON! BALIKATAN PALAYASON!

NO TO RP-US BALIKATAN WAR EXERCISES!

NO TO US MILITARY INTERVENTION AND WAR OF AGGRESSION!