"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.