Pagkatapos magpalabas ng kalatas ang unyon para tutulan ang pagsasapribado ng PGH Faculty Medical Arts Building (FMAB) noong ika-18 ng Hunyo 2009 ay may pahayag mula sa isang opisyal ng UP College of Medicine at consultant din ng ospital na: “Bakit ba kayo sa unyon ay tumututol pa sa posibleeng kikitain ng PGH mula sa FMAB? Saan nyo ba nais kumuha ng pondo ang ospital para ipandagdag sa kakapusan ng ibinibigay ng gobyerno?”
Samakatuwid, marami ang nasa Administrasyon ngayon ng mahal nating ospital na ang utak ay hindi na serbisyo kungdi ang kumita. Sa halip ang atupagin ay ipaglaban ang karapatan ng mamamayan sa abot-kayang serbisyong pangkalusugan at igiit ang kaukulang pondo mula sa gobyerno para dito; ang pinagka-abalahan ay ang pag-paplano at pagpapatupad kung papaano pa mahuthutan ang naghihirap nang Sambayanan.
Sa harap ng papalaking bilang ng nawawalan ng trabaho at mga pamilyang nagugutom at siyang bumubuo ng may halos nobenta porsiyento (90%) ng mga pasyente ng ospital ay may sikmura pa silang magpapatupad ng dagdag singil sa mga serbsiyong ibinibigay ng ospital.
Inuulit po natin, ang unyon ay hindi tumututol sa geographical private practice ng ating mga medical consultant, ang ayaw natin ay ang pagtatatayo pa ng mga pribadong pasilidad sa loob ng PGH para kumpetensiyahan ang mga serbisyong ibinibigay ng ospital tulad ng Pharmacy, Laboratory, Radiology, Diagnostic/endoscopic Examinations at iba pa. May mga karanasan na tayo kung saan nagsimula lamang sa paunti-unti partisipasyon ng pribadong mamumuhunan sa mga serbisyong ipinagkaloob ng ospital subalit sa kalaunan sa pamamagitan ng polisiyang ipinatupad ng PGH Administration mismo, pinatay na rin nito ang sariling serbisyo at buong-buo nang ipinaupaya sa pribado, tulad halimbawa ng mga Mechanical Ventilator/Respirator. Sa ngayon ay hindi na nagpopondo ang ospital sa pambili ng sariling respirator dahil nandidiyan naman daw ang mga private respirator leasing companies para magpa-upa (kahit sa charity) sa mga pasyenteng gagamit nito. Tipid na raw sa ”maintenance,” kumikita pa ang ospital mula sa porsiyento ng upa.
Kung atin pa ring matandaan noong dekada nubenta (’90s), may isang mataas na opisyal ng ospital ang may-ari din ng parmasya sa harap ng PGH kaya’t ang nangyari, madalas na walang gamot ang parmasya ng ospital, at ang lahat halos na wala sa parmasya ng PGH ay mabibili mo sa parmasya sa harapan ng ospital.
Ang tawag sa isyung ito ay malinaw na ”conflict of interest.” Tayo ay pumasok sa PGH para magbigay serbisyo sa mamamayan, hindi para pagkakakitaan kahit pa yaong mga kapos-palad nating mga kababayan.
Mula sa mga karanasang ito, maaring sa malapit na hinaharap, kung matuloy ang “private” FMAB, ang madalas na kulang sa gamot o reagent o, pagkasira ng mga gamit ay gawing dahilan ng mga utak negosyong nasa Administrasyon ng PGH upang tuluyan ng isara nito ang PGH Pharmacy, Laboratory, Radiology at iba pa at ipaubaya na lang sa mga private companies ang mga pangangailangan ng ospital sa mga nabanggit na pasilidad. - lantay at tahasan nang pribatisasyon at pagtalikod ng estado sa responsibilidad nitong ipagkaloob sa mamamayan ang abot-kayang serbisyong pangkalusugan.
Tutulan ang pribatisasyon sa PGH! Tutulan ang pagratipika ng Board of Regents sa Memorandum of Agreement sa pagitan ng PGH at Daniel Mercado Medical Center kaugnay sa FMAB.
Singilin ang gobyernong GMA sa responsibilidad nito sa Sambayanang Pilipino!
Ipaglaban ang karapatan ng mamamayan sa serbisyong pangkalusugan!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Pahayag ng Pagtutol sa Komersiyalisasyon sa PGH*
Sa pagpasok ng PGH sa leasing agreement sa Faculty Medical Arts Building (FMAB) (ang dating PGH Infirmary) sa Daniel Mercado Medical Center (DMMC) ay lumalabas na ang tunay na tunguhin sa modernization program ng kasalukuyang PGH Administration ay lantay na commercialization.
Ayon sa kasunduan, bukod sa pagpapa-upa sa mga PGH consultants para sa kanilang private clinics; papayagan din ang DMMC na mag-operate sa FMAB ng sariling ambulatory operating room, pharmacy, laboratory, radiology, iba pang mga diagnostic facilities, at mga kaakibat na pasilidad.
Ang ibig sabihin, lantaran ng magkakaroon ng mga pribadong pasilidad sa loob mismo ng PGH na eksklusibong magbibigay serbisyo sa mga pribadong pasyente o yaong may kakayanang magbayad. Isang esensiyang karakter ng microprivatization/co-location, kung saan habang minamantini na publiko pa rin ang isang institusyon subalit ang mga serbisyong ipinagkakaloob nito ay nasa pribadong kompanya na, o may kaalinsabayang pribadong serbisyo sa loob mismo ng institusyon upang direktang kinukumpetensiya at unti-unting pinapatay ang pampublikong serbisyo.
Samakatuwid, kung ito ay lumawak pa, isang araw ay magising na lang tayong ang lahat na ng serbisyo ng PGH ay pribado na - may bayad na kasing taas o higit pa sa pribadong ospital.
Ang microprivatization/co-location ay mapanlinlang na tipo ng polisiyang pribatisasyon ng pambansang pamahalaan sa dikta ng International Monetary Fund-World Bank (IMF-WB) para ibigay sa pribadong sektor at pagkakakitaan ang mga serbisyong bayan kasama na ang serbisyong pangkalusugan para masegurong makabayad sa mga kautangan nito. Ang mga serbisyong panlipunan tulad ng kalusugan ay pangunahing batayan ng pagkakaroon ng pamahalaan at sinisiguro ng ating Saligang Batas na dapat ipagkaloob ng estado. Subalit maging ito ay tinatalikuran na rin ng ating pamahalaan.
Ang All U.P. Workers Union ay naninindigan na ang PGH ay ospital ng bayan. Sa panahon ng pandaigdigang krisis pang-ekonomiya at pandaigdigang pananalanta ng Influenza A (H1N1), ngayon natin dapat pagyamanin pa ang mahusay na serbisyong pangkalusugan na de-kalidad, abot-kaya at laan sa mamamayan, at hindi ang kabaliktaran nito.
Hinahamon natin ang Administrasyong Alfiler, kung kayo ay totoo ayon sa inyong ibinabandila na magaling at talentado, paghusayin natin ang ating serbisyo sa bayan sa paraang hindi na pinapatindi ang panghuhuthot sa ating mga kababayan na hilahod na sa hirap. Huwag nating gawing dahilan na kesyo kulang ang pondo mula sa pambansang pamahalaan. Katunayan mahigit trilyong piso na ang pambansang budget at kung saan halos 90% nito ay napupunta lamang sa pambayad utang, pondong pandigma at terorismo ng estado at kurupsiyon. Huwag kayong tumulad sa inyong among nasa Malakanyang na sa harap ng malawakang akusasyon ng korupsiyon at paglabag sa karapatang pantao ay kapit-tuko sa pwesto at naglalatag pa ng mga mapanlinlang na mga pamamaraan tulad ng Senate-less Con-Ass upang manatili sa posisyon ng lagpas pa ng 2010.
Sa ating mga kapwa kawani, tayo ay pumasok sa PGH upang magsilbi sa sambayanan, huwag tayong pagagamit sa makasariling ambisyon ng mga namumuno sa atin. Tayo ay may sagradong papel upang labanan ang mga patakarang higit pang nagpapahirap sa Sambayanan. Ilantad at labanan ang komersiyalisasyon at pribatisasyon ng PGH. Ipaglaban ang karapatan ng Sambayanan sa batayang serbisyong pangkalusugan.
Mabuhay ang mga kawani ng PGH na taus puso at may pagmamalasakit na nagsisilbi sa ating mamamayan!
_______________
* Pahayag ng All U.P. Workers Union Manila kaugnay sa Signing Ceremonies ng Memorandum of Agreement sa pagitan ng UP-PGH at Daniel Mercado Medical Center (DMMC) ngayong ika-18 ng Hunyo 2009. Ayon sa kasunduan ang planong Faculty and Medical Arts Building (ang dating PGH Infirmary) ay pangangasiwaan ng DMMC sa loob ng dalawamput-limang (25) taon kapalit ng renta sa PGH.
Ayon sa kasunduan, bukod sa pagpapa-upa sa mga PGH consultants para sa kanilang private clinics; papayagan din ang DMMC na mag-operate sa FMAB ng sariling ambulatory operating room, pharmacy, laboratory, radiology, iba pang mga diagnostic facilities, at mga kaakibat na pasilidad.
Ang ibig sabihin, lantaran ng magkakaroon ng mga pribadong pasilidad sa loob mismo ng PGH na eksklusibong magbibigay serbisyo sa mga pribadong pasyente o yaong may kakayanang magbayad. Isang esensiyang karakter ng microprivatization/co-location, kung saan habang minamantini na publiko pa rin ang isang institusyon subalit ang mga serbisyong ipinagkakaloob nito ay nasa pribadong kompanya na, o may kaalinsabayang pribadong serbisyo sa loob mismo ng institusyon upang direktang kinukumpetensiya at unti-unting pinapatay ang pampublikong serbisyo.
Samakatuwid, kung ito ay lumawak pa, isang araw ay magising na lang tayong ang lahat na ng serbisyo ng PGH ay pribado na - may bayad na kasing taas o higit pa sa pribadong ospital.
Ang microprivatization/co-location ay mapanlinlang na tipo ng polisiyang pribatisasyon ng pambansang pamahalaan sa dikta ng International Monetary Fund-World Bank (IMF-WB) para ibigay sa pribadong sektor at pagkakakitaan ang mga serbisyong bayan kasama na ang serbisyong pangkalusugan para masegurong makabayad sa mga kautangan nito. Ang mga serbisyong panlipunan tulad ng kalusugan ay pangunahing batayan ng pagkakaroon ng pamahalaan at sinisiguro ng ating Saligang Batas na dapat ipagkaloob ng estado. Subalit maging ito ay tinatalikuran na rin ng ating pamahalaan.
Ang All U.P. Workers Union ay naninindigan na ang PGH ay ospital ng bayan. Sa panahon ng pandaigdigang krisis pang-ekonomiya at pandaigdigang pananalanta ng Influenza A (H1N1), ngayon natin dapat pagyamanin pa ang mahusay na serbisyong pangkalusugan na de-kalidad, abot-kaya at laan sa mamamayan, at hindi ang kabaliktaran nito.
Hinahamon natin ang Administrasyong Alfiler, kung kayo ay totoo ayon sa inyong ibinabandila na magaling at talentado, paghusayin natin ang ating serbisyo sa bayan sa paraang hindi na pinapatindi ang panghuhuthot sa ating mga kababayan na hilahod na sa hirap. Huwag nating gawing dahilan na kesyo kulang ang pondo mula sa pambansang pamahalaan. Katunayan mahigit trilyong piso na ang pambansang budget at kung saan halos 90% nito ay napupunta lamang sa pambayad utang, pondong pandigma at terorismo ng estado at kurupsiyon. Huwag kayong tumulad sa inyong among nasa Malakanyang na sa harap ng malawakang akusasyon ng korupsiyon at paglabag sa karapatang pantao ay kapit-tuko sa pwesto at naglalatag pa ng mga mapanlinlang na mga pamamaraan tulad ng Senate-less Con-Ass upang manatili sa posisyon ng lagpas pa ng 2010.
Sa ating mga kapwa kawani, tayo ay pumasok sa PGH upang magsilbi sa sambayanan, huwag tayong pagagamit sa makasariling ambisyon ng mga namumuno sa atin. Tayo ay may sagradong papel upang labanan ang mga patakarang higit pang nagpapahirap sa Sambayanan. Ilantad at labanan ang komersiyalisasyon at pribatisasyon ng PGH. Ipaglaban ang karapatan ng Sambayanan sa batayang serbisyong pangkalusugan.
Mabuhay ang mga kawani ng PGH na taus puso at may pagmamalasakit na nagsisilbi sa ating mamamayan!
_______________
* Pahayag ng All U.P. Workers Union Manila kaugnay sa Signing Ceremonies ng Memorandum of Agreement sa pagitan ng UP-PGH at Daniel Mercado Medical Center (DMMC) ngayong ika-18 ng Hunyo 2009. Ayon sa kasunduan ang planong Faculty and Medical Arts Building (ang dating PGH Infirmary) ay pangangasiwaan ng DMMC sa loob ng dalawamput-limang (25) taon kapalit ng renta sa PGH.
Con-Ass” and the People’s Wrath
PUBLISHED ON June 16, 2009 AT 5:33 PM
By CAROL PAGADUAN-ARAULLO
Streetwise / Business World
Posted by Bulatlat
The anti-Charter change (Chacha) and anti-Arroyo forces had barely a week to mount the muscle-flexing protest action yesterday in Ayala Avenue, Makati City and in major urban centers nationwide. They achieved a big measure of success by gathering thousands in Makati and hundreds if not thousands more in various cities and big towns nationwide. They displayed broad participation by the organizations of the basic sectors among the working people, the civic, professional and artist groups, the Catholic religious congregations and some bishops, the protestant churches, the opposition leaders and parties, and government officials and military/police officers critical of the Arroyo regime.
Earlier mini-protests erupted in various parts of Metro Manila and “viral” protest spread as well in the virtual world of the internet giving a foretaste of what could lie ahead for the Arroyo clique as it schemes, manipulates and buys its ways to staying in power beyond 2010, the Constitutionally-mandated end of GMA’s term in office.
There is no denying that a vast majority of the people have had enough of Mrs.Arroyo and her ilk. The crimes of her regime just keep mounting despite the many times that she has been caught red-handed. She has willfully ignored calls for accountability by the people, by the political opposition, religious and business leaders and even by the international community appalled at rampant human rights violations.
Shamelessly, Mrs. Arroyo has clung to power; she has refused to resign. She has used emergency rule and various other draconian measures including extrajudicial killings, militarization of rural and urban poor communities, illegal arrest and detention and the filing of trumped-up criminal charges against her perceived enemies, to prevent her ouster through popular uprising.
Mrs. Arroyo and her clique have come up against Constitutional term limits that makes her stepping down from power a given. She could appoint a loyal and pliant presidential candidate for the national elections in 2010 and utilize all the dirty tricks in the books (and some she has invented) to make that candidate “win” in order to buy political insurance for herself and her cohorts. The same way she preempted every impeachment move by buying off the “honorable” members of the HOR; the way she squelched every investigation into anomalies of her administration by appointing a subservient Ombudsman; and the way she stopped every attempt to pry open inquiry into the most scandalous of corrupt government deals by her hold on the Supreme Court, majority of whom are her appointees.
But obviously that isn’t enough to ensure protection from being haled to court once she loses her presidential immunity. Similarly, she cannot predict where the political winds may blow once out of power; political debts can be easily forgotten or overtaken by the pressing concerns of the new administration whose own interests may no longer coincide with that of Mrs. Arroyo.
This is the real reason for the desperate, despicable and brazenly unconstitutional move called “Con-Ass”, recently railroaded by Mrs. Arroyo’s allies in the House of Representatives (HOR), by the mere expedient of a majority vote on House Resolution 1109 sponsored by no less than Speaker Prospero Nograles. H.R. 1109 empowers Congress to convene as a constituent assembly in order to revise the Philippine Constitution by two thirds of all congressmen and senators voting jointly. And since the more than 200 members of the Lower House vastly outnumber the 24 members of the Senate, this bogus Constituent Assembly can be convened and make revisions in the Charter even without a single senator participating.
The illegal and fake Constituent Assembly, packed by Arroyo allies whose compliance to her marching orders are ensured by millions-worth of incentives, will undertake the shift to a parliamentary system from the current presidential system. In this way, Mrs. Arroyo can run as a representative in her congressional district and manipulate her way into becoming prime minister later on by simply buying off the majority of members of parliament.
Time and so many legal impediments seem to make this scenario untenable. Still, all the moves of Mrs. Arroyo and her allies constitute an undeniable trail of deception, lies, maneuvers, buy-offs and quid-pro-quos that point the way to this as the major ploy of the Arroyo clique.
Despite Mrs. Arroyo’s posturing that the merger of the two political parties loyal to her, the Lakas-CMD and Kampi, is proof positive that the 2010 presidential elections are pushing through as scheduled, the truth is such a merger party is precisely what Mrs. Arroyo will use to bamboozle the opposition once she moves to get the prime minister position in a new Parliament.
For someone supposedly so focused on the business of running the country, Mrs. Arroyo has noticeably gone on frequent sorties into her hometown and adjoining towns, part of the Congressional district in Pampanga where she will likely run for congressperson. Now why should a former president of the country be interested in running for the lowly post of a congressperson if this isn’t the stepping stone to the most powerful post in a parliamentary form of government?
Will the fear of the people’s wrath give pause to Mrs. Arroyo and her evil cabal of plotters? At this point it is clear that this hardly is the case. The Arroyo clique has taken an important lesson from the Marcos Dictatorship on what are crucial to achieve their Machiavellian designs. First is to secure the backing of the United States government (it will give the “democratic” imprimatur to the recycled Arroyo regime via Con-Ass and shift to parliamentary system). Then ensure the loyalty of the military and police generals; the blessings of enough voices among the church hierarchy and big business community; and the chorus of servile “ayes” from so-called parliamentarians and local government officials fattened by pork barrel and other perks.
The Arroyo clique is betting that the elite classes who rule this country and the lone Super Power, the US of A, can be enticed to see things its way; that is, the Arroyo clique’s narrow interests as key to protecting and upholding their own immediate and strategic interests. For example, apart from changing the Charter in order to make possible Mrs. Arroyo’s continuing hold on the reigns of power in this country, Mrs. Arroyo uses as bait constitutional amendments that will allow foreign investors to acquire ownership and control over all natural resources and economic enterprises to the extent of 100 per cent and to sell out the economic sovereignty and national patrimony of the Filipino people.
US and other foreign military forces are to be allowed unrestricted stay and operations in the Philippines not just by means of the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) but by Constitutional fiat. Many of the constitutional provisions against the basing of foreign military forces and nuclear, chemical, biological and other weapons of mass destruction on Philippine soil are under threat of being excised from the basic law of the land. The Arroyo regime also wants to remove the constitutional restraints on martial law, emergency rule and violations of human rights. It seeks to undermine formal guarantees of civil and political liberties in the bill of rights achieved in the wake of the people’s victory over the US- backed Marcos dictatorship.
One lesson that the Arroyo clique has obviously failed to learn is that the inevitable ending for dictators and would-be dictators in this country and elsewhere in the world is the dust-bin of history. The people’s wrath and courageous, persistent mass struggles will definitely see to that. (Bulatlat.com)
By CAROL PAGADUAN-ARAULLO
Streetwise / Business World
Posted by Bulatlat
The anti-Charter change (Chacha) and anti-Arroyo forces had barely a week to mount the muscle-flexing protest action yesterday in Ayala Avenue, Makati City and in major urban centers nationwide. They achieved a big measure of success by gathering thousands in Makati and hundreds if not thousands more in various cities and big towns nationwide. They displayed broad participation by the organizations of the basic sectors among the working people, the civic, professional and artist groups, the Catholic religious congregations and some bishops, the protestant churches, the opposition leaders and parties, and government officials and military/police officers critical of the Arroyo regime.
Earlier mini-protests erupted in various parts of Metro Manila and “viral” protest spread as well in the virtual world of the internet giving a foretaste of what could lie ahead for the Arroyo clique as it schemes, manipulates and buys its ways to staying in power beyond 2010, the Constitutionally-mandated end of GMA’s term in office.
There is no denying that a vast majority of the people have had enough of Mrs.Arroyo and her ilk. The crimes of her regime just keep mounting despite the many times that she has been caught red-handed. She has willfully ignored calls for accountability by the people, by the political opposition, religious and business leaders and even by the international community appalled at rampant human rights violations.
Shamelessly, Mrs. Arroyo has clung to power; she has refused to resign. She has used emergency rule and various other draconian measures including extrajudicial killings, militarization of rural and urban poor communities, illegal arrest and detention and the filing of trumped-up criminal charges against her perceived enemies, to prevent her ouster through popular uprising.
Mrs. Arroyo and her clique have come up against Constitutional term limits that makes her stepping down from power a given. She could appoint a loyal and pliant presidential candidate for the national elections in 2010 and utilize all the dirty tricks in the books (and some she has invented) to make that candidate “win” in order to buy political insurance for herself and her cohorts. The same way she preempted every impeachment move by buying off the “honorable” members of the HOR; the way she squelched every investigation into anomalies of her administration by appointing a subservient Ombudsman; and the way she stopped every attempt to pry open inquiry into the most scandalous of corrupt government deals by her hold on the Supreme Court, majority of whom are her appointees.
But obviously that isn’t enough to ensure protection from being haled to court once she loses her presidential immunity. Similarly, she cannot predict where the political winds may blow once out of power; political debts can be easily forgotten or overtaken by the pressing concerns of the new administration whose own interests may no longer coincide with that of Mrs. Arroyo.
This is the real reason for the desperate, despicable and brazenly unconstitutional move called “Con-Ass”, recently railroaded by Mrs. Arroyo’s allies in the House of Representatives (HOR), by the mere expedient of a majority vote on House Resolution 1109 sponsored by no less than Speaker Prospero Nograles. H.R. 1109 empowers Congress to convene as a constituent assembly in order to revise the Philippine Constitution by two thirds of all congressmen and senators voting jointly. And since the more than 200 members of the Lower House vastly outnumber the 24 members of the Senate, this bogus Constituent Assembly can be convened and make revisions in the Charter even without a single senator participating.
The illegal and fake Constituent Assembly, packed by Arroyo allies whose compliance to her marching orders are ensured by millions-worth of incentives, will undertake the shift to a parliamentary system from the current presidential system. In this way, Mrs. Arroyo can run as a representative in her congressional district and manipulate her way into becoming prime minister later on by simply buying off the majority of members of parliament.
Time and so many legal impediments seem to make this scenario untenable. Still, all the moves of Mrs. Arroyo and her allies constitute an undeniable trail of deception, lies, maneuvers, buy-offs and quid-pro-quos that point the way to this as the major ploy of the Arroyo clique.
Despite Mrs. Arroyo’s posturing that the merger of the two political parties loyal to her, the Lakas-CMD and Kampi, is proof positive that the 2010 presidential elections are pushing through as scheduled, the truth is such a merger party is precisely what Mrs. Arroyo will use to bamboozle the opposition once she moves to get the prime minister position in a new Parliament.
For someone supposedly so focused on the business of running the country, Mrs. Arroyo has noticeably gone on frequent sorties into her hometown and adjoining towns, part of the Congressional district in Pampanga where she will likely run for congressperson. Now why should a former president of the country be interested in running for the lowly post of a congressperson if this isn’t the stepping stone to the most powerful post in a parliamentary form of government?
Will the fear of the people’s wrath give pause to Mrs. Arroyo and her evil cabal of plotters? At this point it is clear that this hardly is the case. The Arroyo clique has taken an important lesson from the Marcos Dictatorship on what are crucial to achieve their Machiavellian designs. First is to secure the backing of the United States government (it will give the “democratic” imprimatur to the recycled Arroyo regime via Con-Ass and shift to parliamentary system). Then ensure the loyalty of the military and police generals; the blessings of enough voices among the church hierarchy and big business community; and the chorus of servile “ayes” from so-called parliamentarians and local government officials fattened by pork barrel and other perks.
The Arroyo clique is betting that the elite classes who rule this country and the lone Super Power, the US of A, can be enticed to see things its way; that is, the Arroyo clique’s narrow interests as key to protecting and upholding their own immediate and strategic interests. For example, apart from changing the Charter in order to make possible Mrs. Arroyo’s continuing hold on the reigns of power in this country, Mrs. Arroyo uses as bait constitutional amendments that will allow foreign investors to acquire ownership and control over all natural resources and economic enterprises to the extent of 100 per cent and to sell out the economic sovereignty and national patrimony of the Filipino people.
US and other foreign military forces are to be allowed unrestricted stay and operations in the Philippines not just by means of the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) but by Constitutional fiat. Many of the constitutional provisions against the basing of foreign military forces and nuclear, chemical, biological and other weapons of mass destruction on Philippine soil are under threat of being excised from the basic law of the land. The Arroyo regime also wants to remove the constitutional restraints on martial law, emergency rule and violations of human rights. It seeks to undermine formal guarantees of civil and political liberties in the bill of rights achieved in the wake of the people’s victory over the US- backed Marcos dictatorship.
One lesson that the Arroyo clique has obviously failed to learn is that the inevitable ending for dictators and would-be dictators in this country and elsewhere in the world is the dust-bin of history. The people’s wrath and courageous, persistent mass struggles will definitely see to that. (Bulatlat.com)
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Nurses Decry Lower Salaries in New Law
Health workers say DoH 'insensitive' to salary law
By Anna Valmero
INQUIRER.net
Posted date: June 03, 2009
MANILA, Philippines— Public health workers on Wednesday staged a rally outside the office of the health secretary slamming the Department of Health’s silence on the approval of the Salary Standardization Law (SSL) in Congress earlier this week.
Emma Manuel, national president of the Alliance of Health Workers Inc., said members of her organization are disappointed with the passage of the salary standardization scheme which disregards the Nursing Act of 2002 and threatens their benefits under the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers.
The new law is “worse than the A/H1N1 virus, instantly killing the Nursing Act provision on Salary Grade 15 for nurses and putting the benefits of public health workers in jeopardy,” Manuel said.
Under the new law, new nurses are at Salary Grade 11 getting a monthly salary of P12,000. The law provides for P6,000 worth of increases spread over four years.
But under another law, the Nursing Act or Republic Act 9173, which was enacted seven years ago but still not implemented until now, new nurses should be at Salary Grade 15, getting a monthly salary of P25,000.
“In the last seven years, the government deprived the Filipino nurses of their right to Salary Grade 15,” said Manuel.
Teresita Barcelo, national president of the Philippine Nurses Association Inc., said the signing of SSL into law killed the Nursing Law and “denied Filipino nurses of their right to humane salaries.”
“We help take care of life but we are deprived of our rights. We are fighting for our legitimate right—the implementation of RA 9173,” she said in Filipino.
Barcelo said nurses in the Philippines are overworked, with a nurse to patient ratio of one is to 50. She said this situation makes it hard for nurses here to perform their health duties and to sustain their families’ financial needs.
Manuel also lamented the silence of the Department of Health in the issue. She said it smacks of “utmost insensitivity to the plight of nurses and health workers. While health workers tirelessly lobbied in the House and Senate, the DoH washed its hands, literally and figuratively.”
Ernie Espinosa, president of National Center for Mental Health Workers Association, agreed. “Neither the DoH secretary nor any director from the department joined us in our fight for our salaries and rights. We are health workers who serve the people and the government,” he said.
Health Assistant Secretary Luna Fernandez told the group that the DoH will be open for dialog with the health workers.
By Anna Valmero
INQUIRER.net
Posted date: June 03, 2009
MANILA, Philippines— Public health workers on Wednesday staged a rally outside the office of the health secretary slamming the Department of Health’s silence on the approval of the Salary Standardization Law (SSL) in Congress earlier this week.
Emma Manuel, national president of the Alliance of Health Workers Inc., said members of her organization are disappointed with the passage of the salary standardization scheme which disregards the Nursing Act of 2002 and threatens their benefits under the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers.
The new law is “worse than the A/H1N1 virus, instantly killing the Nursing Act provision on Salary Grade 15 for nurses and putting the benefits of public health workers in jeopardy,” Manuel said.
Under the new law, new nurses are at Salary Grade 11 getting a monthly salary of P12,000. The law provides for P6,000 worth of increases spread over four years.
But under another law, the Nursing Act or Republic Act 9173, which was enacted seven years ago but still not implemented until now, new nurses should be at Salary Grade 15, getting a monthly salary of P25,000.
“In the last seven years, the government deprived the Filipino nurses of their right to Salary Grade 15,” said Manuel.
Teresita Barcelo, national president of the Philippine Nurses Association Inc., said the signing of SSL into law killed the Nursing Law and “denied Filipino nurses of their right to humane salaries.”
“We help take care of life but we are deprived of our rights. We are fighting for our legitimate right—the implementation of RA 9173,” she said in Filipino.
Barcelo said nurses in the Philippines are overworked, with a nurse to patient ratio of one is to 50. She said this situation makes it hard for nurses here to perform their health duties and to sustain their families’ financial needs.
Manuel also lamented the silence of the Department of Health in the issue. She said it smacks of “utmost insensitivity to the plight of nurses and health workers. While health workers tirelessly lobbied in the House and Senate, the DoH washed its hands, literally and figuratively.”
Ernie Espinosa, president of National Center for Mental Health Workers Association, agreed. “Neither the DoH secretary nor any director from the department joined us in our fight for our salaries and rights. We are health workers who serve the people and the government,” he said.
Health Assistant Secretary Luna Fernandez told the group that the DoH will be open for dialog with the health workers.
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Health Workers Brave Storm to Mark National Health Workers’ Day with Protest
By CHARMAINE P. LIRIO AND GLAIZA MAY G. MUZONES
Bulatlat - http://www.bulatlat.com
MANILA — Heavy rains on Thursday May 7 did not stop health workers from celebrating the National Day for Health Workers with a protest on the wet and almost flooded streets of Morayta.
With their umbrellas and white coats, public health workers protested for salary and benefits increase in their sector. They also condemned the privatization of public hospitals and the dire state of health services in the country.
“We nurses, doctors, and other health workers who have chosen to stay in the country amidst crisis, poverty, sickness and corruption decry the willful neglect and disregard of the Arroyo government of the health workers and Filipino peoples’ plight,” the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) said in a statement.
Led by AHW, the alliance of public health workers’ organizations, the protesters held a motorcade from the Lung Center of the Philippines and intended to have their program in Mendiola when they were blocked by the police.
Against privatization, corporatization
The health workers also expressed opposition to the government’s plan to privatize health services through House Bill (HB) 3287.
“Instead of ensuring the right to people’s health, the Department of Health revenue enhancement programs are giving heyday to private entities while making poor patients pay for every piece of cotton used,” AHW said.
HB 3287 was filed by by Rep. Roque Ablan, Jr. as part of Arroyo’s emergency resiliency package early this year. The bill seeks to corporatize public hospitals in the country.
Aside from this, some public hospitals now have Revenue Enhancement Programs (REP).
According to Remi Ysmael, President of Tondo Medical Center Employees Association, their hospital implements REP by requiring patients to pay for services that were previously offered for free.
Salary increase?
Dr. Geneve Rivera, Secretary General of the Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD), said the government is deceiving public health workers through Joint Resolution 24.
”Tumaas ang ating sahod, binawasan naman ang ating benepisyo at papalittin pa nito ang mga matatanggap na kakarampot ng ating mga manggagawang pangkalusugan sa mga pribado at pampublikong ospital,” she said. (”Our salaries increased but our benefits were reduced, this will further lessen the already meager income of our health workers in public and private hospitals.”)
Joint Resolution No. 24 legalizes the abolition of economic and non-economic benefits gained through the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers or Republic Act 7305 of 1999.
RA 7305 includes in its provision the benefits and incentives of health workers such as subsistence allowance, hazard pay, and one-grade increase for compulsory retirees.
Under the HJR 24, Salary Grades 1 to 9 employees will receive a 30.1 percent increase in wage, which will be divided in four years as compared with the 100-142 percent increase of those in higher positions.
According to the health groups, even if this increase in wage would be implemented now, they will remain below the poverty line because of the reduction in their benefits and the inadequate raise. Also, with the current global economic crisis, the increase is negligible.
Leni Nolasco of the Philippine Nurses Association, meanwhile, said the provisions under the Nursing Act of 2002 are not recognized by hospitals until now.
Nursing Act of 2002 emphasizes the expansion of the nurses’ role to include comprehensive specialty programs, establishes a minimum pay for nurses working in the government and abroad, and expands the Board of Nursing membership.
“Hindi naman nila talaga tinutugunan yung mga pangangailangan ng mga nurses. Karamihan sa mga nurses, naghahanap na lang sila ng trabaho sa labas ng bansa, imbis na nagsisilbi sila sa ating kapwa mamamayan, sila ay natutulak upang pumunta sa ibang bansa”, she said. (The government does not really address the needs of our nurses. Most of our nurses look for jobs outside the country instead of serving their own countrymen; they are forced to go out of the country.)
Celebration
Alongside the celebration of the National Health Workers’ Day, AHW celebrated its 25th year anniversary.
A program was held at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) where Senator Loren Legarda, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, said the country invests less than one percent of its GDP on health while the United Nations investment benchmark should be five percent.
“There is hardly money for basic health care, for the maintenance and operations of public health centers and hospitals,” Legarda said.
Also present in the event were members of the All UP Workers Union, Council for Health and Development, Health Students’ Action, and unions and employees association from the Lung Center of the Philippines, Center for Mental Health, Heart Center, San Lazaro Hospital, and other city and provincial hospitals.
Former President Corazon Aquino proclaimed May 7 as National Health Workers’ Day in 1987 as recognition for the contribution of health workers in the country. (Bulatlat.com)
Bulatlat - http://www.bulatlat.com
MANILA — Heavy rains on Thursday May 7 did not stop health workers from celebrating the National Day for Health Workers with a protest on the wet and almost flooded streets of Morayta.
With their umbrellas and white coats, public health workers protested for salary and benefits increase in their sector. They also condemned the privatization of public hospitals and the dire state of health services in the country.
“We nurses, doctors, and other health workers who have chosen to stay in the country amidst crisis, poverty, sickness and corruption decry the willful neglect and disregard of the Arroyo government of the health workers and Filipino peoples’ plight,” the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) said in a statement.
Led by AHW, the alliance of public health workers’ organizations, the protesters held a motorcade from the Lung Center of the Philippines and intended to have their program in Mendiola when they were blocked by the police.
Against privatization, corporatization
The health workers also expressed opposition to the government’s plan to privatize health services through House Bill (HB) 3287.
“Instead of ensuring the right to people’s health, the Department of Health revenue enhancement programs are giving heyday to private entities while making poor patients pay for every piece of cotton used,” AHW said.
HB 3287 was filed by by Rep. Roque Ablan, Jr. as part of Arroyo’s emergency resiliency package early this year. The bill seeks to corporatize public hospitals in the country.
Aside from this, some public hospitals now have Revenue Enhancement Programs (REP).
According to Remi Ysmael, President of Tondo Medical Center Employees Association, their hospital implements REP by requiring patients to pay for services that were previously offered for free.
Salary increase?
Dr. Geneve Rivera, Secretary General of the Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD), said the government is deceiving public health workers through Joint Resolution 24.
”Tumaas ang ating sahod, binawasan naman ang ating benepisyo at papalittin pa nito ang mga matatanggap na kakarampot ng ating mga manggagawang pangkalusugan sa mga pribado at pampublikong ospital,” she said. (”Our salaries increased but our benefits were reduced, this will further lessen the already meager income of our health workers in public and private hospitals.”)
Joint Resolution No. 24 legalizes the abolition of economic and non-economic benefits gained through the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers or Republic Act 7305 of 1999.
RA 7305 includes in its provision the benefits and incentives of health workers such as subsistence allowance, hazard pay, and one-grade increase for compulsory retirees.
Under the HJR 24, Salary Grades 1 to 9 employees will receive a 30.1 percent increase in wage, which will be divided in four years as compared with the 100-142 percent increase of those in higher positions.
According to the health groups, even if this increase in wage would be implemented now, they will remain below the poverty line because of the reduction in their benefits and the inadequate raise. Also, with the current global economic crisis, the increase is negligible.
Leni Nolasco of the Philippine Nurses Association, meanwhile, said the provisions under the Nursing Act of 2002 are not recognized by hospitals until now.
Nursing Act of 2002 emphasizes the expansion of the nurses’ role to include comprehensive specialty programs, establishes a minimum pay for nurses working in the government and abroad, and expands the Board of Nursing membership.
“Hindi naman nila talaga tinutugunan yung mga pangangailangan ng mga nurses. Karamihan sa mga nurses, naghahanap na lang sila ng trabaho sa labas ng bansa, imbis na nagsisilbi sila sa ating kapwa mamamayan, sila ay natutulak upang pumunta sa ibang bansa”, she said. (The government does not really address the needs of our nurses. Most of our nurses look for jobs outside the country instead of serving their own countrymen; they are forced to go out of the country.)
Celebration
Alongside the celebration of the National Health Workers’ Day, AHW celebrated its 25th year anniversary.
A program was held at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) where Senator Loren Legarda, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, said the country invests less than one percent of its GDP on health while the United Nations investment benchmark should be five percent.
“There is hardly money for basic health care, for the maintenance and operations of public health centers and hospitals,” Legarda said.
Also present in the event were members of the All UP Workers Union, Council for Health and Development, Health Students’ Action, and unions and employees association from the Lung Center of the Philippines, Center for Mental Health, Heart Center, San Lazaro Hospital, and other city and provincial hospitals.
Former President Corazon Aquino proclaimed May 7 as National Health Workers’ Day in 1987 as recognition for the contribution of health workers in the country. (Bulatlat.com)
Saturday, May 02, 2009
Historic High Joblessness Should Be Addressed Beyond Token Measures
Press Statement / 1 May 2009
IBON Foundation
Tel. (632) 9277060 to 62
Fax (632) 9292496
The situation of Filipino workers is seen to be at its worst today due to
record high joblessness and widespread lay-offs amid the global crisis,
and more radical reforms are needed beyond token government measures.
The average real employment rate of over 11% from 2001 up to the first
quarter of 2009 is the worst in Philippine history and is seen to even
worsen due to the crisis. Workers in the manufacturing sector are
apparently the hardest hit, as the Philippine exports industry is more
vulnerable due to its dependence on the US markets. Job losses seem most
severe in this sector, which reduced 122,000 jobs from 2008 on top of the
137,000 manufacturing jobs already from the year before.
The severe jobs crisis in the country cannot be addressed squarely by the
so-called Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program
(CLEEP) of the Arroyo administration, which does not veer away from
government’s approach in generating jobs. Part of the emergency package is
still providing assistance of re-deployment to affected overseas Filipino
workers (OFWs) and additional trainings for skills upgrading and
retooling. Moreover, even if the program does create the projected 800,000
jobs this year, it still cannot absorb the more than 900,000 new labor
force entrants, on top of the roughly 11,600 permanently retrenched and
38,800 temporarily laid off workers plus the 12,000 displaced OFWs since
October 2008 when the global crisis imploded.
While government’s response is grossly inadequate, IBON moreover decries
the efforts of government and big businesses to pass the burden of
adjusting to the crisis on workers through wage and benefit cuts and
layoffs. Under the administration’ s Economic Resiliency Plan (ERP), the
Department of Labor is insidiously pushing for flexible work schemes like
rotated force leaves and shortened work shifts supposedly as a response to
the global crisis.
In the face of inadequate solutions to address the crisis, the labor
sector and the economy urgently need aggressive reforms and programs.
Measures that would yield immediate benefits include increasing public
spending for social services, removing the VAT on oil products, freeing
public resources by discontinuing debt payments, among others.
Government should also be in the forefront of defending Filipinos’ jobs,
which should involve implementing programs that will stop flexibility
schemes and other work measures that threaten job security. Filipino
producers should also be given a wide range of government support,
including greater and cheaper access to financing, technology, raw
materials and infrastructure. The domestic market can be oriented towards
giving greater opportunities for Filipino industries even as foreign
markets are actively sought. The government can also improve its
procedures, tax benefits and other incentives for Filipino businesses.
Government’s elite-biased and free-market oriented policies, which have
kept the Philippine economy backward, should be also be drastically
reformed. At the minimum, there should be an overhaul of reckless trade
and investment liberalization policies that have worked against local
industries and the welfare of Filipino workers. (end)
IBON Foundation
Tel. (632) 9277060 to 62
Fax (632) 9292496
The situation of Filipino workers is seen to be at its worst today due to
record high joblessness and widespread lay-offs amid the global crisis,
and more radical reforms are needed beyond token government measures.
The average real employment rate of over 11% from 2001 up to the first
quarter of 2009 is the worst in Philippine history and is seen to even
worsen due to the crisis. Workers in the manufacturing sector are
apparently the hardest hit, as the Philippine exports industry is more
vulnerable due to its dependence on the US markets. Job losses seem most
severe in this sector, which reduced 122,000 jobs from 2008 on top of the
137,000 manufacturing jobs already from the year before.
The severe jobs crisis in the country cannot be addressed squarely by the
so-called Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program
(CLEEP) of the Arroyo administration, which does not veer away from
government’s approach in generating jobs. Part of the emergency package is
still providing assistance of re-deployment to affected overseas Filipino
workers (OFWs) and additional trainings for skills upgrading and
retooling. Moreover, even if the program does create the projected 800,000
jobs this year, it still cannot absorb the more than 900,000 new labor
force entrants, on top of the roughly 11,600 permanently retrenched and
38,800 temporarily laid off workers plus the 12,000 displaced OFWs since
October 2008 when the global crisis imploded.
While government’s response is grossly inadequate, IBON moreover decries
the efforts of government and big businesses to pass the burden of
adjusting to the crisis on workers through wage and benefit cuts and
layoffs. Under the administration’ s Economic Resiliency Plan (ERP), the
Department of Labor is insidiously pushing for flexible work schemes like
rotated force leaves and shortened work shifts supposedly as a response to
the global crisis.
In the face of inadequate solutions to address the crisis, the labor
sector and the economy urgently need aggressive reforms and programs.
Measures that would yield immediate benefits include increasing public
spending for social services, removing the VAT on oil products, freeing
public resources by discontinuing debt payments, among others.
Government should also be in the forefront of defending Filipinos’ jobs,
which should involve implementing programs that will stop flexibility
schemes and other work measures that threaten job security. Filipino
producers should also be given a wide range of government support,
including greater and cheaper access to financing, technology, raw
materials and infrastructure. The domestic market can be oriented towards
giving greater opportunities for Filipino industries even as foreign
markets are actively sought. The government can also improve its
procedures, tax benefits and other incentives for Filipino businesses.
Government’s elite-biased and free-market oriented policies, which have
kept the Philippine economy backward, should be also be drastically
reformed. At the minimum, there should be an overhaul of reckless trade
and investment liberalization policies that have worked against local
industries and the welfare of Filipino workers. (end)
Friday, May 01, 2009
Lozada - More Than An Accidental Hero
Streetwise
By Carol Pagaduan-Araullo
Engineer Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada is an accidental hero but a hero nonetheless to a people starved for real-life, modern-day heroes. As star witness in the Senate probe on the highly anomalous, $329 NBN-ZTE broadband deal, he exposed the shenanigans of then Comelec Commissioner Abalos, First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, all the way up to de facto President Gloria Arroyo, in inking the contract with a Chinese government-owed corporation to the detriment of public interest. He also exposed the use of government forces to kidnap him and hold him against his will while presidential operators alternately threatened and attempted to bribe him to keep his mouth shut.
Jun Lozada is a hero for (1) deciding to tell the truth and not be a party to a massive cover-up; (2) being steadfast and not caving in to enticements and pressures for him to recant; (3) and for fighting back against political persecution, his own and indirectly, that of others targeted by the Arroyo regime.
In particular, he has taken his cause against the corrupt GMA regime one step further in this latest episode of the continuing saga - Lozada and the Filipino people vs Malacañang - by his refusal to file bail in the perjury case filed against him by Mr. Mike Defensor. Instead he has chosen to go to jail to assert legally and politically that there are absolutely no grounds for his arrest. Rather, he is a victim of Malacanang’s political vendetta and its desperate attempts to deodorize the stink of the NBN-ZTE and other corrupt deals.
Too bad for Malacanang, Mr. Lozada’s story was much more believable; his body language, more spontaneous and sincere; and the dramatic circumstances surrounding his decision to testify in the Senate and state the truth as he knew it, not only added to his credibility but was so gripping, the usually boring Senate investigations became material for prime time TV.
Overwhelming public opinion at the time was that Mr. Lozada told the truth while FG’s and Mrs. Arroyo’s cohorts like Mr. Abalos, and her lapdogs like Mr. Defensor, lied through their teeth. What with the Arroyo regime’s moves to keep then NEDA Secretary Romulo Neri from giving damaging testimony by invoking “executive privilege”, the Arroyo regime’s legal acrobatics was exposed as its way to maintain a humongous lie and get off the hook, the way it did with the “Hello Garci” election fraud scandal and later, the Jocjoc Bolante fertilizer scam.
At first blush, it would appear that Mr. Lozada is trying to be some kind of martyr, if not trying to get public sympathy as an underdog. But what he has done is embark on a determined campaign for justice: first, in the court of public opinion; and secondly, but no less importantly, in the judge’s court.
By refusing to post bail, he has squarely taken on the gross injustice of the court’s finding of probable cause (that he had lied in his sworn testimony) and its issuance of a warrant for his arrest. Had he immediately filed bail to avoid detention, it would have meant accepting the court’s findings and submitting himself to it. The news would have merited a small spot in the inside pages of the newspapers and thereafter been consigned to oblivion. Malacañang would have won Round 1 of the fight.
Mr. Defensor stated in a press conference - while Mr. Lozada was being arrested and just before he flew off on a vacation to the USA with his entire family in tow - that he had sought relief from the courts because he wanted to preserve the honor of his name. Of course, no one really believes the guy considering he has allowed himself to be used repeatedly by his Great Patroness, Mrs. Arroyo, for all sorts of missions impossible, doing political damage control. He only ended up with egg on his face and his name and reputation damaged further each time.
Mr. Lozada has repeatedly stated that this is not just about him and the seemingly peevish Mr. Defensor. He had initially thought of resuming a normal life, going back home with his family and putting up some kind of business so that he would no longer have to depend on the sanctuary program of the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines. Then this reversal of the court ruling that he had not perjured himself and the order for his arrest.
He could have chosen to go down quietly, i.e. not fight this latest legal setback and just hope that his tormentors get tired of playing games with him and for things to blow over. Like other whistleblowers before him who picked up the pieces of their life after courageously testifying in the Senate or in court and then finding themselves hung out high and dry with no legal and physical protection against the powerful people they dared expose.
Instead Mr. Lozada has chosen passive resistance: to go to jail yet still do battle albeit within the confines of the judicial processes that have been shown highly stacked against him.
His move has taken Malacañang by surprise and is likely causing Mrs. Arroyo and her political advisers sleepless nights. It has landed in print and broadcast media headlines. And it has the potential to capture people’s imaginations and get them on their feet, raging against the injustice of this regime and its manipulation of the flawed judicial system.
But on the part of those who support him - the truth seekers, the social and political activists and those who are just plain fed up with the exploitative and oppressive system - resistance must be active.
Jun Lozada deserves our support. His recent actions are showing him to be an essentially upright and courageous man with an intense sense of patriotism and an unflagging confidence his fellow Filipinos will see the truth and embrace it. His fight is also our fight. And it can be the occasion to further the struggle against systemic corruption and elite politics that is almost universally abhorred except by those who gain from it and wish to maintain the status quo.
Jun Lozada is a leading member of Pagbabago! People’s Movement for Change, a new movement that gathers concerned citizens desirous of a more meaningful change in our society; not just a change of leadership in government but a decisive break from the poverty-ridden, unjust and corrupt social system that grew worse even after two EDSA uprisings. His active participation in Pagbabago! shows he has gone a long, long way from being an accidental hero.
Would it not be an irony of the most triumphant kind if this latest attempt to silence Jun Lozada, to break his will and to isolate him, should in fact turn into an outpouring of support for him and a denunciation of this lying, plundering, and murderous regime?
Let it be so.#
By Carol Pagaduan-Araullo
Engineer Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada is an accidental hero but a hero nonetheless to a people starved for real-life, modern-day heroes. As star witness in the Senate probe on the highly anomalous, $329 NBN-ZTE broadband deal, he exposed the shenanigans of then Comelec Commissioner Abalos, First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, all the way up to de facto President Gloria Arroyo, in inking the contract with a Chinese government-owed corporation to the detriment of public interest. He also exposed the use of government forces to kidnap him and hold him against his will while presidential operators alternately threatened and attempted to bribe him to keep his mouth shut.
Jun Lozada is a hero for (1) deciding to tell the truth and not be a party to a massive cover-up; (2) being steadfast and not caving in to enticements and pressures for him to recant; (3) and for fighting back against political persecution, his own and indirectly, that of others targeted by the Arroyo regime.
In particular, he has taken his cause against the corrupt GMA regime one step further in this latest episode of the continuing saga - Lozada and the Filipino people vs Malacañang - by his refusal to file bail in the perjury case filed against him by Mr. Mike Defensor. Instead he has chosen to go to jail to assert legally and politically that there are absolutely no grounds for his arrest. Rather, he is a victim of Malacanang’s political vendetta and its desperate attempts to deodorize the stink of the NBN-ZTE and other corrupt deals.
Too bad for Malacanang, Mr. Lozada’s story was much more believable; his body language, more spontaneous and sincere; and the dramatic circumstances surrounding his decision to testify in the Senate and state the truth as he knew it, not only added to his credibility but was so gripping, the usually boring Senate investigations became material for prime time TV.
Overwhelming public opinion at the time was that Mr. Lozada told the truth while FG’s and Mrs. Arroyo’s cohorts like Mr. Abalos, and her lapdogs like Mr. Defensor, lied through their teeth. What with the Arroyo regime’s moves to keep then NEDA Secretary Romulo Neri from giving damaging testimony by invoking “executive privilege”, the Arroyo regime’s legal acrobatics was exposed as its way to maintain a humongous lie and get off the hook, the way it did with the “Hello Garci” election fraud scandal and later, the Jocjoc Bolante fertilizer scam.
At first blush, it would appear that Mr. Lozada is trying to be some kind of martyr, if not trying to get public sympathy as an underdog. But what he has done is embark on a determined campaign for justice: first, in the court of public opinion; and secondly, but no less importantly, in the judge’s court.
By refusing to post bail, he has squarely taken on the gross injustice of the court’s finding of probable cause (that he had lied in his sworn testimony) and its issuance of a warrant for his arrest. Had he immediately filed bail to avoid detention, it would have meant accepting the court’s findings and submitting himself to it. The news would have merited a small spot in the inside pages of the newspapers and thereafter been consigned to oblivion. Malacañang would have won Round 1 of the fight.
Mr. Defensor stated in a press conference - while Mr. Lozada was being arrested and just before he flew off on a vacation to the USA with his entire family in tow - that he had sought relief from the courts because he wanted to preserve the honor of his name. Of course, no one really believes the guy considering he has allowed himself to be used repeatedly by his Great Patroness, Mrs. Arroyo, for all sorts of missions impossible, doing political damage control. He only ended up with egg on his face and his name and reputation damaged further each time.
Mr. Lozada has repeatedly stated that this is not just about him and the seemingly peevish Mr. Defensor. He had initially thought of resuming a normal life, going back home with his family and putting up some kind of business so that he would no longer have to depend on the sanctuary program of the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines. Then this reversal of the court ruling that he had not perjured himself and the order for his arrest.
He could have chosen to go down quietly, i.e. not fight this latest legal setback and just hope that his tormentors get tired of playing games with him and for things to blow over. Like other whistleblowers before him who picked up the pieces of their life after courageously testifying in the Senate or in court and then finding themselves hung out high and dry with no legal and physical protection against the powerful people they dared expose.
Instead Mr. Lozada has chosen passive resistance: to go to jail yet still do battle albeit within the confines of the judicial processes that have been shown highly stacked against him.
His move has taken Malacañang by surprise and is likely causing Mrs. Arroyo and her political advisers sleepless nights. It has landed in print and broadcast media headlines. And it has the potential to capture people’s imaginations and get them on their feet, raging against the injustice of this regime and its manipulation of the flawed judicial system.
But on the part of those who support him - the truth seekers, the social and political activists and those who are just plain fed up with the exploitative and oppressive system - resistance must be active.
Jun Lozada deserves our support. His recent actions are showing him to be an essentially upright and courageous man with an intense sense of patriotism and an unflagging confidence his fellow Filipinos will see the truth and embrace it. His fight is also our fight. And it can be the occasion to further the struggle against systemic corruption and elite politics that is almost universally abhorred except by those who gain from it and wish to maintain the status quo.
Jun Lozada is a leading member of Pagbabago! People’s Movement for Change, a new movement that gathers concerned citizens desirous of a more meaningful change in our society; not just a change of leadership in government but a decisive break from the poverty-ridden, unjust and corrupt social system that grew worse even after two EDSA uprisings. His active participation in Pagbabago! shows he has gone a long, long way from being an accidental hero.
Would it not be an irony of the most triumphant kind if this latest attempt to silence Jun Lozada, to break his will and to isolate him, should in fact turn into an outpouring of support for him and a denunciation of this lying, plundering, and murderous regime?
Let it be so.#
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