Ang Bayan

Pahayagan ng Partido Komunista ng PilipinasPinapatnubayan ng Marxismo-Leninismo-MaoismoANG

English EditionVol.XLIV No. 4

February 21, 2013www.philippinerevolution.net

Editorial

It is the duty of the Party and the revolutionarymovement to expose the reactionary electionsas a bogus democratic process that forms part

of the mechanisms that maintain the exploitativeand oppressive system.

Reactionary elections in the Philippines are po-litical carnivals held every three years. Their mainfeatures are politician-clowns who pose as pro-moters of the people's interests. They divert thepeople's attention from their gravest socio-eco-nomic problems and offer them false promises ofreform under the ruling system.

We must thwart the US-Aquino regime's objec-tive of using the reactionary elections to consoli-date its political rule. In the face of Aquino's rap-idly dwindling "popularity," he wishes to utilize thecoming elections to create the impression that hestill enjoys the people's broad support. Aquino in-tends to use the elections as a platform topropagate the illusions of a "robusteconomy," the "right-eous path" and"good governance."

The Filipino peo-ple must show thatthe US-Aquino re-gime is no differ-ent from previ-ous regimes.Aquino hasmerely re-placed thecorruption

Tasks in addressing the reactionary 2013 elections

of the Arroyo clique with the corruption of his rel-atives and cronies. His regime is relentlessly re-pressive and brutal despite its "peace and devel-opment" rhetoric.

The people must oppose the continuing oilprice hikes and the impending power and waterrate increases. They must advance their massstruggles to fight for genuine land reform, demandwage hikes, resist demolitions, the privatization ofhealth services and the commercialization of edu-cation and other public services.

They must hold the Aquino regime accountablefor its servility to IMF-WB dictates, its implemen-tation of the policies of liberalization, privatiza-tion, deregulation and denationalization and fortaking measures that favor foreign big capitalistsand banks and cede the national patrimony.

We must take advantage of the period of reac-tionary elections to expand the united front in or-

der to isolate the ruling Aquino clique. Thereis currently no major reactionary opposi-

In this issue...

Military vents ire on civilians 3NPA punishesDel Monte,Dole 7CLOA distribution, a bigdeception 10

2 ANG BAYAN February 21, 2013

Ang Bayan is published fortnightly by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines

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Vol. XLIV No. 4 February 21, 2013

Contents

Editoryal: Tasks in address the reactionary elections 1US intervention in the elections 3 Military vents ire on civilians 4Harassment of NDFP consultants 5Another Capion killed 5Militarization in Albay 63 encirclement operations in Bicol 725 soldiers killed in Bukidnon 7NPA punishes Del Monte, Dole 8Plunder by Dolefil and Stanfilco 9CLOA distribution in Bondoc Peninsula 11One Billion Rising 12Semirara Mines closure demanded 12

ANG

tion party. The two main rivalparties, Team PNoy (a coalitionof the Liberal Party, NationalistPeople's Coalition and Naciona-lista Party) and the United Na-tionalist Alliance (a coalition ofPDP-Laban, Pwersa ng MasangPilipino and Laban ng Demokra-tikong Pilipino) are in close col-lusion in implementing the pro-grams of the US-Aquino regime.

But underneath this collabo-ration are deep-seated rivalriesfor positions in government.These rivalries will become moremarked and intense during theelections because of the con-tending factions' desire to placetheir closest allies in variousgovernment posts. The comingMay elections are likewise cru-cial in the preparations beingmade by the leading politicalcamps for the presidential elec-tions in 2016.

As the May elections near,the rivalries will become morepronounced not only on the na-tional level, but even more so onthe local level. This opens somany opportunities for the revo-lutionary forces to touch base

and expand and strengthen theunited front for the purpose ofisolating the ruling Aquino cliqueand advance the programs of therevolutionary movement.

Progressive and patrioticforces are intensely involved inthe coming 2013 elections. Formore than a decade now, pro-gressive parties have success-fully participated in reactionaryelections despite the lack of re-sources and the all-out fascistattacks of the military and anti-communist groups. A significantnumber of representatives havetaken their seats in the reac-tionary Congress, advocatingthe people's national and demo-cratic aspirations. They havebeen able to use their positionsin Congress to resist and pre-vent the enactment of anti-dem-ocratic and antipeople laws. Itis favorable to the people tohave representatives within thereactionary Congress who sup-plement their mass strugglesoutside of Congress.

The Party encourages pro-gressive and patriotic forces toparticipate in reactionary elec-

tions even if these are bogusand dominated by the power andresources of the major reaction-ary parties. The participation ofprogressive and patriotic par-ties in the coming elections willdefinitely be thoroughly op-posed by agents of the US andthe latter's men in the militaryand bureaucracy. As before,they face intimidation, violenceand fraud.

Working for the victory ofprogressive and patriotic forcesin the upcoming elections hasparticular significance in theface of the brewing consensusamong the ruling classes toamend the reactionary 1987constitution in order to castaside the national patrimonyand pave the way for the furtherliberalization of foreign invest-ments and trade.

The placement of patrioticforces within the reactionarygovernment can also be of use inthe all-out battle against thecontinuing entry of Americansoldiers in the Philippines andUS military intervention. Posi-tions within Congress can alsobe used to push for the abroga-tion of the oil deregulation lawand other policies that are oner-ous to the people.

The patriotic and progres-sive forces must also take ad-vantage of the election period togive equal attention to expand-ing their ranks and launchingmass education to expose therotten reactionary system.

Simultaneously, the Partyencourages the progressive andpatriotic forces to thoroughlyexpose the bogusness of the re-actionary elections and how be-reft it is of genuine democracy.

In the Philippines, genuinedemocracy is enjoyed by the Fil-ipino people only within the ter-ritories of the People's Demo-cratic Government where or-gans of political power are es-

3ANG BAYAN February 21, 2013

tablished on the basis of theirdemocratic organizations.

In areas under the jurisdictionof the People's Democratic Gov-ernment, a new political systemcoexists with the old rotten sys-tem of the ruling classes. In theseareas, the revolutionary forcesmay allow reactionary electionsand campaigns by candidates.

The people's governmentmust use its armed strength andpolitical authority to oblige thoseparticipating in the reactionaryelections to abide by the policieson the conduct of campaigns inorder to ensure that the people'srights will not be trampled onand the masses' interests will beprotected. As candidates ap-proach revolutionary authoritiesto seek permission, let us takethis opportunity to strengthenour unities with them on otherpolicies and programs of the peo-ple's government.

Even as we address the reac-tionary elections, the Partymust continue holding fast to itstasks in the people's war. Wemust expand and strengthen theParty, the New People's Armyand the revolutionary mass or-ganizations. The NPA must con-tinue to seize the initiative andintensify the armed struggle. ~

US intervention in Philippine elections

USimperialism constantly monitors, and intervenes in, elec-tions in the Philippines. It is crucial to the US to use elec-

tions as a means of stabilizing the ruling system and resolving con-flicts among rival factions of the ruling class.

Since 1972, such conflicts have culminated in clashes outside ofthe electoral framework. All elections called by Marcos under mar-tial law were slammed as zarzuelas meant to justify fascist dicta-torial rule. Even after Marcos' downfall, reactionary electionsfailed to peacefully resolve political rivalries.

In 1986 and 2001, rival factions out of power, including theirallied officers within the military and police rode on the wave of thepowerful democratic mass movement and uprising against the iso-lated ruling regime.

The intensity of conflicts among rival factions of the rulingclass mirrors the depth of crisis of the ruling system. Bringingthese rivalries outside of the electoral contest shakes the rulingpolitical system and benefits the democratic mass movement.

Thus, since the beginning of the 2000s, the US has made thor-oughgoing efforts to build a consensus among the ruling classes forelections. Part of the effort was pushing for "automated elections"to create the illusion of fraud-free polls. The US funded variousprograms to restore the credibility of elections.

The US played a big role in Aquino's election in 2010. Days be-fore the actual election, the US directly showed its partiality to-wards Aquino by having him featured on Time magazine. Thisserved as a signal to the other candidates to withdraw from thefight. The day after the election, the US immediately declared thatthe elections were "clean" and congratulated Aquino on his victo-ry even if the Comelec had not yet released the official results. Thismove silenced anyone who had plans of complaining or questioningthe automated count despite much evidence of anomalies. ~

Military vents ire on civilians

The AFP vented its ire on civilians after the failure of its militaryoperations against the New People's Army (NPA). The latestcases involved two extrajudicial killings in Albay on February

11 and 12.

In AAlbay. Fascist troops ofthe 2nd IB abducted and killedfarmer Dalmasio dela Puenta Jr.on the morning of February 12 inSitio Divisoria, Barangay Tob-gon, Oas town. Hours beforethis, the military shot to deathRomero Octavo, a 36-year oldfarmer from Pioduran town.

Dela Punta was taken fromhis house at around 9 a.m. Afterbringing him to the villagechief's house, he was killed bythe military near the center ofBarangay Tobgon shortly after10 a.m. The 2nd IB was then inthe company of troops fromForce 5 of the PNP RegionalPublic Safety Battalion.

NDF-Bicol spokespersonGregorio "Ka Greg" Bañaressaid the soldiers vented theiranger on Dela Puenta after afailed siege on an NPA squadthat day in Barangay Tobgon.Four soldiers were seriouslywounded in the gunbattle afterbeing hit by a command-deto-nated explosive. The militaryclaimed that Dela Punta was anNPA casualty.

In Barangay Sukip, Piodu-ran, a ten-man troop from the2nd IB seized Octavo while hewas at a dance on February 11,at around 1 a.m. The soldiers

wore ski masks and were armed with rifles. Someof them were aboard motorcycles. After bringinghim out of the dance floor, Octavo was beaten upand killed.

The military quickly washed its hands of anyresponsibility for Octavo's death, but 2nd IB chiefLt. Col. Andrew Costela insisted that he was anNPA guerrilla.

In BBukidnon. Four Lumad civilians were ille-gally arrested and six houses were burned downby 8th IB troops in Salumayag and Kasilaan sub-villages in Barangay Halapitan, San Fernandotown on February 2 and 4. These acts of violencewere perpetrated by the soldiers after NPA Redfighters thwarted the onslaught of military andparamilitary forces in the area.

The military illegally arrested Totot and SayapoMaganyo and another Lumad under Datu Mantuli-san on February 2. After planting firearms on theirpersons, 8th IB officials branded the victims as Redfighters who had surrendered to the military.

Soldiers arbitrarily arrested Balangas Angla-ngit of Sitio Salumayag on February 4. Anglangitwas then stripping abaca with his two sons aged12 and 16 years near the river in Sitio Kala-Kala.The military trained their guns at the two chil-dren, but they managed to run while the fascistswere tying up their father. The children likewisewitnessed the 8th IB troops torching six housesby the riverside.

On February 7, Balangas' relatives and neigh-bors went to the police station in San Fernandotown to look for him, but the policemen said Ba-

langas could not be taken out of his jail cell. Hehas not been surfaced to date.

Meanwhile, military forces hamletted Saluma-yag and Kasilaan where more than a hundredMatigsalog Lumad reside. They were barred fromleaving their communities to tend to their farmsand look for food. This has worsened hungeramong the residents who were already sufferingfrom lack of food.

Lt. Froilan Viamos, 8th IB spokesperson,haughtily admitted that they were indeed pre-venting the residents from going to their farms.He added contemptuously that the residents havehad to make do with the little assistance providedby the San Fernando local government.

In AAbra. Four peasants, all residents of Baran-gay Kayapa, Lagangilang were arrested and de-tained from January 30 to February 2 after a fire-fight between the 41st IB and a unit under the Pro-copio Tauro Front under the NPA-Abra, in SitioManipit, Kayapa on the morning of January 30.

At least two soldiers were brought to hospitalafter the gunbattle. There were no casualties onthe NPA side, but radio news reports claimed thatthe NPA suffered four casualties.

The military captured Anacleto "Killito" Tu-gade, Ceferino "Boying" Poclani (a barangaycouncilor), Jemmy "Esmie" Bageng and Bonifacio"Pasio" Bagang. They left the village as a group tolook for honey.

The four farmers were released after four days.Before their release, they were warned by the mili-tary not to tell anyone about their ordeal. ~


Harassment of NDFP consultants, staff assailed

The continuation of the peace negotiations be-tween the Government of the Philippines and

the National Democratic Front of the Philippines(NDFP) is now in jeopardy after incidents of har-assment against the latter's consultants andstaff.

On the night of February 9, Rose Tumbagahon,a member of the NDFP Nominated Section of theJoint Secretariat (JS) was held up while she wasaboard a passenger jeep along Commonwealth Av-enue, Quezon City. The assailants aimed a gun ather and seized her papers and bag containing herkeys to the JS office, her cellphone and USB flashdrives. Tumbagahon was clearly the target, be-cause none of the other passengers was robbed.

On the same night, NDFP consultant Rey ClaroCasambre came home to find his residence ran-sacked. His door lock had been broken and his lap-

top computers and an old USB flash drive taken.Casambre was also robbed of some cash.

Months before this, NDFP Legal Consultant At-ty. Rachel Pastores' house was broken into in Sep-tember 2012. Taken were her laptop computer andUSB flash drives. Pastores was then at the burial ofAtty. Romeo Capulong, NDFP Chief Legal Counsel.

The NDFP considers these incidents as AFP in-telligence operations especially since most of theitems taken were USB flash drives which are inex-pensive, but may contain information sought bythe military.

As members of the NDFP Negotiating Panel,both Pastores and Casambre are covered by theJoint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guaran-tees (JASIG). Tumbagahon, on the other hand,bears a Document of Identification as a member ofthe NDFP-Nominated Section of the JS. ~


Three months after the 27th IB massacred anti-mining activist Juvy Capion and two of her

children in Davao del Sur, her brother-in-law KitariCapion was likewise killed by operating troops ofthe 27th and 39th IB on January 29.

Kitari is the younger brother of Daguil Capion,Juvy's husband. Daguil and Kitari are both knownto be leaders of "Red pangayaw," an armed move-ment launched by the B'laan tribe against the de-structive and violent operations of Xstrata-Sagit-tarius Mining Corporation on their ancestral land.

Kitari was hit in the back when soldiers rainedbullets on his house. He was brought to a hospitalin South Cotabato but he died from loss of blood.

Some 150 residents of Barangay Kimlawis, Kib-

lawan, Davao del Sut were forced to flee on Febru-ary 1 after Kitari was killed.

Minority groups and human rights advocatesstrongly condemned Kitari's murder and the en-suing harassment of B'laan communities. Theycalled for the immediate withdrawal from theircommunities of Task Force KITACOM (Kiblawan,Tampakan, Columbio, Malungon). The Task Force,which is composed of the 27th and 39th IB as wellas CAFGU elements was formed to provide pro-tection to the foreign-owned Xstrata-Sagittariuscompany.

The elements of the 27th IB responsible for themassacre of the Capion family last October havenot been charged to date. ~

Another Capion killed in Davao del Sur

Intense militarization in Albay

The widespread and intense militarization of Albay is one of themain forms of Oplan Bayanihan (OPB) in Bicol. The military'smain objective is to crush the revolutionary movement in the

province. The AFP boastfully claims that it is already at the consoli-dation stage in its effort to neutralize the revolutionary movement inthe area. Nonetheless, these claims are belied by sustained resist-ance in the affected communities and the continuing operations ofthe New People's Army not only in Albay, but in the entire region.

especially in the second district.The military reached its peakdeployment in 2005, when3,000 soldiers and CAFGU ele-ments were poured into theprovince. In 2008, there wereeight clusters of widespreadSOT operations. The enemyconcentration eased up a bitonly in 2009, when soldiers de-ployed in Albay provided securi-ty to the Balikatan joint militaryexercises. After the Balikatan,RSOT operations resumed in thesecond district.

From June 2011 up to thepresent, operations of Peaceand Development Teams (PDT,the new name for the RSOT)have been concentrated in 11barrios of Guinobatan. The op-erations have also spilled overto two other barrios plus twovillages in Jovellar town. TheAFP has likewise set up detach-ments outside five Guinobatanvillages (Ongo, Cabaluaon, Bat-bat, Bololo and Sinungtan).

Outside of the areas coveredby the PDT, the AFP has been

Since 2002, Albay has beenone of the most militarized are-as in the region. Operations of

Reengineered Special Opera-tions Teams (RSOT) have beenconducted in quick succession,


implementing blockhouse warfare in a cluster ofbarangays. Blockhouse tactics involve the con-struction of several Philippine Army and CAFGUdetachments close to each other. These forcesguard the Southern Luzon International Airportbeing constructed, as well as other main eco-tourism projects and subdivision lands.

The 2nd IB has incurred a long list of humanrights violations in the villages of Guinobatanwhere its PDT operations have been conducted.Among the most heinous crimes of the 2nd IB isthe murder of Ely Oguis, a councilor of BarangayCabaluaon, Guinobatan who was beheaded andwhose ears were lopped off. The military had ear-lier killed Dante Osma, a civilian from BarangaySinungtan, Guinobatan. In Ligao City, CAFGU el-ements shot to death civilian Sara Jane Yuson inBarangay Oma-Oma on January 2.

Destroying tthe ppeople's ggainsPsywar and terrorism are being systemati-

cally conducted in communities to deceive thepeople and instill fear among them. This in-volves, among others, branding peasants asNPA supporters to justify the military's wide-spread violations of their rights.

One of the most highlighted tactics of the PDTsis the use of programs of the civilian bureaucracy

to hoodwink the people and wreak havoc on theirunity. In one example, the military connived withthe Department of Agrarian Reform in implement-ing the bogus Comprehensive Agrarian ReformProgram Extension with Reforms or CARPER. Thesoldiers claimed to be distributing land through anew survey and by giving out pieces of paper, evenas they evicted farmers from the hacienda landsthey have long been tilling. The military was in factsabotaging the gains achieved by the farmers indecades of antifeudal struggle.

Continuing rresistanceThe Albay peasants' unity is founded on their

brilliant history of agrarian struggle. Since the1980s, the peasants have collectively struggledfor their right to till the vast estates. Amid themilitary's repressiveness and terrorism, the peas-ants have been exerting efforts to defend theirgains. They are aware that genuine land reformcannot be achieved under CARPER, and definitelynot under OPB.

In the face of intensified militarization, thepeople of Albay have launched a series of anti-militarization struggles.

The NPA simultaneously perseveres to defendthe people and punish the AFP for its viciousnesstowards the masses. ~

NPA thwarts 3 encirclement operations in Bicol

Red fighters in Bicol have overcome threemilitary attacks, killing three soldiers and

wounding at least four others. There were nocasualties on the side of the Red fighters, saidNational Democratic Front-Bicol spokespersonGregorio "Ka Greg" Bañares.

In Oas town, Albay, an NPA squad thwartedan attempt by a platoon of the butcher 2nd IBand Force 5 of the Regional Public Safety Bat-talion to encircle it in Sitio Divisoria, BarangayTubgon on February 12. The military troopswere paralyzed after being hit by a command-detonated explosive. Four AFP soldiers werewounded.

In Labo town, Camarines Norte, a 25-manplatoon of the 49th IB tried to encircle a pla-toon under the NPA Armando Catapia Commandthat was temporarily encamped at Sitio Palale,

Barangay Exciban on February 10. Two soldierswere killed and several were wounded.

In Ligao City, Albay, a team of Red fightersunder the Santos Binamera Command beat tothe draw a squad under the 2nd IB that was outto encircle them in Sitio Cogon, Barangay Tapazon February 8. A soldier was killed in this fire-fight.

Meanwhile, an NPA squad ambushed a squadunder the 42nd IB in Sitio Colacog, BarangayCabadisan, Ragay, Camarines Sur on January29, killing a CAFGU element and wounding twosoldiers.

In Masbate, a soldier was killed in a snipingoperation by the NPA Jose Rapsing Commandagainst troops of the 9th IB and PNP RegionalPublic Safety Battalion in Barangay Cantorna,Monreal in Ticao island on January 26. ~


25 8th IB troops killed in Bukidnon

Twenty-five soldiers were killed and several others wounded,including two junior officers after five successive gunbattlesbetween Red fighters of the New People's Army (NPA) and the

Philippine Army 8th IB in Barangay Halapitan, San Fernando, Bukid-non from January 19 to February 2.

A Red fighter valiantly sacri-ficed his life and another guer-rilla was wounded in these fire-fights, according to a statementfrom the NPA South CentralBukidnon-Sub-Regional Com-mand (SCB-SRC).

Following is an account ofthese gunbattles. These fire-fights prove the Red fighters'superior knowledge of the localterrain.

January 119. An NPA recon-naissance team encounters pa-trolling troops of the 8th IB ataround 9 a.m. in Sitio Kasilaan.A soldier is killed and two otherswounded, while a people's guer-rilla is wounded.

January 222. An NPA unit us-es a command-detonated explo-sive (CDX) against a 24-manplatoon under the 8th IB alongthe border of Sitio Salumayagand Sitio Kasilaan in the samebarangay. Seven soldiers arekilled on the spot while an unde-

termined number are wounded.February 11. An NPA squad

figures in a skirmish with a pla-toon of soldiers in Sitio Saluma-yag. Three soldiers are killedand several others wounded.The NPA squad, on the otherhand, is able to make a safe re-treat.

In a separate incident, aplatoon under the 8th IB ispractically wiped out after theNPA detonates a CDX in SitioSalumayag. Eight dead soldiersare seen being loaded on adumptruck and ten are wound-ed.

In retaliation, the militarybombards the area 11 timeswith artillery fire. The 8thIB also sends in rein-forcements.

February 22.Twenty-five soldiersnewly brought in asreinforcements aremet with gunfire by

the NPA. The firefight, whichtakes place at around 10 a.m.,results in the death of six sol-diers. A Red fighter is killed.After the gunbattle, the militaryunleashes ten rounds of artil-lery fire.

To cover up the series oflosses by the reactionarytroops, the AFP spins lies aboutmultiple NPA deaths, includingthose of "Commanders Alab,Jigger and Raya."

The claims are denied by theSCB-SRC. In a statement, theSCB-SRC declares that "This se-ries of tactical offensives arebut the opening salvo this yearfor the further intensification ofpeople's war." ~

NPA metes punishment on Del Monte and Dole

The New People's Army Mt. Kitanglad Command of the NorthCentral Mindanao Region meted punishment on the Del Monteand Dole-Stanfilco companies through coordinated and simul-

taneous raids at around 6 p.m. of February 19.The NPA attacked the motor pool and administration building at

Del Monte Philippines' Camp Phillips in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon andthe Del Monte satellite camp in Villavista, Sumilao, Bukidnon; andwas able to seize weapons from armed guards of Dole-Stanfilco's LaFortuna Plantation in La Fortuna, Impasug-ong, Bukidnon. Accordingto initial reports from the NPA field operations command, nine bigpieces of machinery, two warehouses and an office at the satellitecamp in Villavista were destroyed. The NPA confiscated 19 firearms

of various caliber, aside fromseveral computers. Some of theseized firearms came from ele-ments of the PNP in Manolo For-tich town who were blocked byRed fighters while they were onthe way to Camp Phillips. A se-curity guard was killed and twoothers were wounded when theyresisted. The guards were allunder the Kadre Security Agen-cy, which is owned by Pastor Al-


cover, one of Gen. Jovito Palparan's minions.The simultaneous and coordinated military op-

eration constitutes direct action by the revolution-ary movement to punish these big agribusinesscompanies that have been exploiting and oppress-ing the workers, peasants and Lumad and destroy-ing the environment. After the series of strong ty-phoons that devastated so many victims, the cul-pability of agribusiness, mining and logging compa-nies and their environmentally destructive opera-tions have repeatedly come to the fore.

The flash floods at the Cagayan River broughton by typhoon Sendong in December 2011 thatclaimed thousands of lives and caused billions ofpesos worth of damage to property clearly showthe extent of the current destruction of the envi-ronment in the region. The formerly lush forests ofthe Kitanglad and Kalatungan mountain rangeswhere the headwaters of the Cagayan River origi-nate are gradually being denuded. At the foot ofthese mountains are found the pineapple and ba-nana plantations of the imperialist Dole and DelMonte companies. During heavy downpours, tonsof soil contaminated with toxic chemicals arewashed towards the Cagayan River.

The environmental destruction wrought bypineapple plantations is comparable to that causedby mining, since the natural terrain is levelled us-ing heavy machinery to prepare the land for plant-ing. For every hectare planted to pineapple, 100tons of soil is eroded annually.

In the past decade, these agribusiness compa-nies have been competing with each other in seizingagricultural land, which is the main source of liveli-hood of the vast majority of the population. DelMonte, Dole and Sumifru have been the most ag-gressive in seizing peasants' lands planted to foodcrops, replacing the latter with fruit crops for ex-port.

Del Monte has been operating in the region forclose to a century. Up to the 1990s, it had 45,617hectares planted to pineapple. The figure excludesother areas that are undeclared or nominallyowned by other landlords and contract growers. Itcontinues to purchase or lease land not only inBukidnon, but in the towns of eastern Misamis Ori-ental, where it has so far accumulated 57,172 hec-tares.

These vasts tracts of land that have beenconverted to plantations used to be tilled bypeasants and Lumad who were evicted from theirhomes and deprived of their livelihood. They arepowerless in the face of the company's armedguards, and more so in legal court battles.Stripped of their land, they have been forced to

cultivate slopes along the plantations' peripheries.There have been documented cases of gastro-in-testinal epidemics among these families due totheir consumption of food crops planted at theplantation's periphery that have been contaminat-ed by chemicals used by Del Monte.

In 2010, Del Monte was 82nd among the Philip-pines' top 1,000 corporations, with an income of`16.67 billion. While the Campos family whichowns the company rakes in billions upon billions ofpesos, the company's workers remain poor becauseof low wages and lack of benefits. They are alwaysin danger of being terminated whenever they airtheir grievances, and are forced to suffer the com-pany guards' suppression of their rights.

Dole, on the other hand, began investing inBukidnon in the past decade. It now operates a16,698.7-hectare plantation, 2,034 hectares ofwhich are planted to pineapple and 16,644 hec-tares of which are planted to banana. In 2010, itwas 39th on the list of the Philippines' top 1,000corporations, with an income of `26.97 billion. Itexploits and oppresses its workers who receivemeasly wages and like Del Monte's workers, laborunder conditions that are hazardous to theirhealth and are treated unjustly by management.They now have added fears of suddenly losing theirjobs after Dole's purchase last year by the ItuchoCorporation.

The NPA renewed its demand for these compa-nies to put a stop to their environmentally destruc-tive operations, landgrabbing and their exploita-tive and oppressive practices. They must immedi-ately stop the expansion of their plantations. TheNPA likewise warned contractors to seriously thinkfirst of the security of their businesses before theyclose deals with multinational agribusinesses likeDel Monte and Dole. ~

ManoloFortich

Impasug-ong

Sumilao

ANG BAYAN February 21, 2013

Plunder by Dolefil and Stanfilco

The avarice of foreign agribusiness companies has worsened thepoverty and vulnerability of millions of poor peasants, workersand Lumad in Mindanao to calamities like typhoon Pablo. One of

these foreign companies is Dole Philippines, Inc. (Dolefil).

zations were banned and re-placed with yellow unions underthe Trade Union Congress of thePhilippines (TUCP) which thecompany was able to use tomaintain the workers' docility inthe face of the very low wagesthey were receiving.

When Marcos was over-thrown, the yellow unions werereplaced by genuine ones underthe Kilusang Mayo Uno.

In February 2011, the man-agement was able to manipulatethe union certification electionand replace the Asosasyon saMamumuo sa Dolefil alang saKalingkawasan ug Demokrasyasa Nasud (Amado Kadena-NA-FLU-KMU) with the Labor-Em-ployees Association of Dolefil,Polomolok Hourlies, a union un-der its control. This was the cul-mination of years of maneuvers,relentless harassment and sup-pression perpetrated by Dolefilto weaken the militant union.Militarization was also intensi-fied in the area.

In spite of all this, the Dolefilworkers have been supportingtheir genuine and militant unionand have been exposing Dole'santiworker and fascist characterin forums within and outside thecountry. They continue to resistthe grave violations of their unionrights, their right to job securityand other economic rights. Theyremain steadfast despite the fas-cist suppression perpetrated bytheir company in connivance withthe reactionary state. ~

Dolefil, the local subsidiaryof Dole Foods Company, Inc.,began on a 500-hectare pineap-ple plantation in Polomolok,South Cotabato in 1963. It nowhas 35,433 hectares of planta-tions directly under its manage-ment (21,433 hectares plantedto pineapple and 14,000 hec-tares planted to banana). DoleFoods is a corporation owned byone of the biggest pineappleplantation, canning and packag-ing complexes.

Dolefil and its sister companyStanfilco currently have planta-tions in the provinces of SouthCotabato, North Cotabato, Sa-rangani, Davao del Norte, Bukid-non and Compostela Valley andin General Santos City. Dolefilproduces more pineapple than allof Dole's subsidiaries in the US,Costa Rica, Ecuador and Hondu-ras combined. Its products in-clude canned pineapple, fruit jui-ces, fresh fruit, cutflowers, ba-nana and asparagus that are ex-ported to several countries.

Conditions oof llaborers aand ffarmworkers

Dolefil has been able to con-tinuously expand its plantationsthrough the help of successivereactionary regimes. Under Co-razon Aquino's regime, it usedCARP to maintain the status quoin its plantations through thecorporatization scheme.

Dolefil used this scheme tomaintain in its possession andcontrol of lands planted to pine-apple. In addition, managementused this scheme to implementthe systematic and widespread

termination of regular workers.Dolefil began the practice of la-bor flexibilization as early as1986. From a regular workforceof 8,000, it now has only 5,000.By 2001, the majority of itsworkers (14,200 or 79%) werecontractual.

Dolefil was able to slowly re-duce the number of its regularworkers by invoking variouspretexts. It implemented theVoluntary Separation Programto retire other regular workers.In 2002, Dole-Stanfilco beganbuying banana from subcon-tractors and local growers in or-der to close down its own plantsand sell them to new manage-ment. Stanfilco has been prom-ising the soon to be terminatedworkers that they would be paidand has been goading them toset up cooperatives and re-ap-ply with the company as con-tractuals. Through this scheme,Stanfilco has been able to avoidpaying the necessary benefits.It is also an attempt to bust theunions of militant workers.

Unionism aand sstruggleDole's workers have been

launching protest actions sincethe late 1960s against the com-pany's attempts tosabotage their un-ions. But since mostof the workers' ac-tions were sponta-neous and unor-ganized, they werenot sustained. Un-der martial law,militant unionsand mass organi-

9

sang Lakas ng Magbubukid saQuezon (PIGLAS) has con-demned the bogus program. TheCLOA distribution is likewiseelection-related since a numberof relatives of Agriculture Sec-retary Proceso Alcala are run-ning for governor, congressmanand mayor in Quezon province.They need a zarzuela like this tocorner the farmers' votes.

Akbayan has been mobilizingthe Kilusang Magbubukid ngBondoc Peninsula (KMBP), a bo-gus peasant organization it putup, to hoodwink the farmers.The KMBP has been recruitingits members from the CAFGUand joining military operationsto harass farmers opposed toCARPER. Sincelast year,more than


eight military battalions havebeen deployed to the BondocPeninsula to wreak havoc on thepeasants' livelihood. The farm-ers have been forced to evacu-ate because of the brutality ofthese military operations.

The CLOA cancelled and re-voked by the government cover-ing hundreds of thousands ofhectares in Hacienda Looc inNasugbu, Batangas and Hacien-da Araneta in Tungkong Mang-ga, San Jose del Monte, Bulacanare proof that the government isnot serious in distributing thesevast tracts of land to the farm-ers. In Nueva Ecija, the DAR hasbeen foreclosing all lands cov-ered by CARPER under variouspretexts. According to theAlyansa ng Magbubukid sa Git-nang Luson (AMGL), productivericefields are being expropriat-ed for the construction of theCentral Luzon Expressway(CLEx). The construction ofCLEx Phase 1 from Tarlac City toCabanatuan City will result inthe eviction of farmers from thetowns of Zaragosa, Aliaga andQuezon, Nueva Ecija.

In 2004, the DAR also can-celled more than 2,000 Emanci-pation Patents (EP) covering380,000 hectares. In 2007, upto 5,049 EP and 103,092 CLOAcovering 204,579 hectares werecancelled. ~

CLOA distribution in BondocPeninsula is a big deception

The Aquino government's distribution of Certificates of LandOwnership Award (CLOA) to 952 farmers in Bondoc Peninsulain January is a big deception. It was staged merely to showcase

the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms(CARPER) which has long been pushed by the counterrevolutionaryAkbayan party. The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and theCommission on Human Rights distributed the CLOA covering 489 hec-tares in the towns of San Narciso, Buenavista and San Andres in Que-zon province.

The CLOA is a certificatethat grants peasants the rightto till land that they have longbeen farming. It is not a titleand can be revoked by the reac-tionary government whenever itpleases. Under the US-Aquinoregime's bogus land reform pro-gram, beneficiaries are requiredto pay `235,000 per hectare for30 years. In many cases, theCLOA has been used to legalizethe reconcentration of landownership in the hands of land-lords because many farmers areunable to pay the amortization.Once they default on their pay-ments, their CLOA are cancelledand confiscated.

The Katipunan ng SamahangMagbubukid sa Timog Katagalu-gan (KASAMA-TK) and its mem-ber-organization the Pinagkai-


Environmental groups demand closureof Antique mine

The Kalikasan-People's Network for the Environment (PNE) de-manded the closure of the Semirara Mining Corporation (SMC) on

the island barangay of Semirara in Caluya town, Antique where 13miners were buried in a landslide on February 13. Only five bodieshave so far been recovered.

Kalikasan-PNE said thatSMC's permit to operate mustbe cancelled because its open-pit coal mining operations areamong the most hazardous andpollution-causing practices. Theenvironmentalist group also saidthat Semirara Mining Corpora-

tion must be held accountablefor the deaths of its miners andthe destruction of the island'senvironment since the late1980s.

Kalikasan-PNE likewise be-lied SMC's claims that its clo-sure would lead to a power cri-

Women launch "One Billion Rising"

Thousands of women and their advocatesdanced in the streets on February 14 in soli-

darity with "One Billion Rising," a campaign callingfor a stop to violence against women and children.

Women's groups in schools, factories, commu-nities and even famous actresses like Monique Wil-son and Angel Aquino joined the activity.

Wilson said that the Philippines, along withAustralia and New Zealand were among the firstcountries to participate in the One Billion RisingGlobal Campaign. The Philippines did so beforeother countries and enjoyed the sup-port of local governments, business-men, non-government organizationsand many sectors.

"One Billion Rising" was alsocoordinatedly launched in otherareas of the country and otherparts of the globe. For its part, GA-BRIELA, Gabriela Women's Partyand the New Voice Company launched aflash mob dance on February 8 in Manila andalong Tomas Morato Avenue, Quezon City onFebruary 14. This was followed by 19 other cit-ies and towns like Baguio, Naga, Legazpi, Iloilo,Kalibo, Bacolod, Dumaguete, Cebu and Davao. Menand children likewise joined in these activities.

GABRIELA said one in three women falls vic-tim to violence every minute worldwide. In thePhilippines, more than 30 cases of violence

against women are documented daily. Most ofthese cases involve rape, human trafficking,beatings and discrimination. GABRIELA addedthat women are also victims of worsening unem-ployment, hunger, demolition and militarizationin the country.

"One Billion Rising" also stated that beyond theissues involving women, US violations of the coun-try's sovereignty, continuing poverty and injusticeand rising prices of commodities and services mustalso be resisted. ~

sis in Luzon. Only a small per-centage of coal is supplied bySemirara since most of thecountry's coal supply is import-ed. Luzon also has an oversup-ply of power.

SMC is the country's biggestcoal mining company. It beganits operations in the 1970s andcurrently covers 5,000 hectares.

About 90% of its coal is usedin the production of cement andin the generation of electricity.It also mines silica and lime-stone in the western part of theisland. It is currently managedby DMCI Holdings, Inc. which isowned by a former crony of thelate dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Ang Bayan

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