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!