The MTRCB, in a patently idiotic move, banned several human rights films from public viewing. The reason given was that the films were one-sided and undermined people’s confidence in government.
Ironically, the decision came when the nation was commemorating the 35th anniversary of Martial Law.
Here’s a link to some of the films. Judge for yourself if the MTRCB was correct in its censorship of these progressive works.
By the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan
What is the National Broadband Network deal and why is it at the center of controversy?
The NBN deal is a $329.5 million contract between the Philippines and the Zhong Xing Telecommunications Equipment Limited (ZTE) to set up a broadband network for the Philippine government. To finance the project, the Philippine government will have to secure a loan from China, payable with interest.
The main issue with the NBN deal is that it is overpriced mainly because of the bribes and payoffs for certain government officials considered close to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The whole contract was rigged to favor ZTE, in clear violation of Philippine laws.
The overpricing will eventually be shouldered by the Filipino people as it is the government who will pay the loan from China. This is the main reason why the deal is deemed grossly disadvantageous to the people.
The allegation of overpricing was revealed by Joey de Venecia III, head of the losing bidder Amsterdam Holdings Inc. Among other things, de Venecia said that Comelec Chair Benjamin Abalos offered him $10 million to back off from the NBN deal. Abalos, de Venecia alleged, was the broker of the NBN deal and was set to receive $130 million as commission from ZTE.
Nueva Ecija representative Carlos Padilla also claimed that Abalos brokered the deal in exchange for favors from ZTE.
How is the Arroyo administration involved in the controversial deal?
The First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and other key Arroyo officials are in one way or another involved in the negotiations of the contract.
Comelec Chair Benjamin Abalos – He is believed to be the principal broker of the deal. He is said to be “golf buddies” with some ZTE officials. He allegedly actively lobbied for the approval of the contract in exchange from money and alleged sexual favors. There are allegations that he received $130 million (P58.5 Billion) from ZTE, the equivalent of the overpricing of the contract in the first contract. The amount would be used to bribe other Philippine government officials and individuals (including the young de Venecia).
Joey de Venecia also recalled how he was present when Abalos talked to ZTE officials regarding the supposed commission. Abalos admitted making four trips to China.
In the past, Abalos has been implicated in numerous controversies including the “Hello Garci Scandal” and the overpriced Mega Pacific deal that purchased P1.3 billion worth of counting machines.
First Gentleman Mike Arroyo – As relayed by de Venecia III, Mike Arroyo influenced the outcome of the NBN deal when he asked the AHI head to “back off” from the deal. This allegedly happened during a “reconciliatory” meeting held sometime mid-March between Abalos, DOTC secretary Leandro Mendoza, Mike Arroyo and four other men.
DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza – He signed the NBN deal last April in China, witnessed by President Arroyo herself. It was under his watch when the supposed contract was “lost”, “stolen” then later on “reconstituted”.
Former NEDA Secretary Romulo Neri- At the start of the negotiations for the contract, Neri allegedly questioned the NBN deal. He was reportedly offered P200 million allegedly by Abalos to endorse the deal to the China Export-Import Bank. Reports say he declined the offer but was asked by the President to approve the deal just the same. Neri was later transferred to the Commission on Higher Education.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo – While Joey de Venecia did not categorically implicate Mrs. Arroyo in the NBN scam, there are several facts which cannot be denied. Mrs. Arroyo has known of the NBN deal for quite some time now, even citing her vision for the NBN in her 2006 State of the Nation Address. She signed the contract in China even if it went against the guidelines she herself laid down for the Philippine government. She also made several sins of omission by not investigating the alleged “theft” of the contract and for not investigating the officials believed to be involved in the anomalous contract. Recently, Arroyo has asked her cabinet officials to appear before a Senate inquiry to explain the NBN contract.
What should be done with the NBN contract and the officials involved?
The NBN deal with ZTE should be junked because it is patently corrupt and disadvantageous to the public. The officials of the Arroyo administration must be held accountable for their involvement in this tainted deal. Abalos, Mendoza et al should immediately resign from their posts.
As this is another one in the many allegations of corruption and misrule leveled against the Arroyo regime, it becomes necessary for Arroyo herself to step down. It is the only moral and logical thing to do in the face of relentless accusation of illegitimacy, fraud, plunder and human rights abuses.
Relevant sites include:
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/61035/ZTE-controversy-timeline
http://www.inquirer.net/specialreports/nbndeal/
http://www.pcij.org/blog/?p=1958
http://studentstrike.blogspot.com/
We had a great time last Saturday playing at the Backdoor Blues Cafe’, a place whose name is derived from its uhm… location and structure. It’s entrance is at the back of the building, literally at the parking lot behind these joints in Maginhawa St. at Teachers Village. We arrived early, taking the tricycle from Bayan office.
We we’re the “guest performers” as seen from smaller fonts used in our names….hehe. The main act that night was Jook Jam, a trio or quartet (depending on which set they’re playing) with a lead, rhythm and one slide guitar and one guy on the blues harp. They were tight. Magaling.
We did covers and an original. We started off with Rickie Lee Jones’ “Horses” and moved on to Dusty Springfield’s “Son of a Preacher Man”. We also did covers of Chuck E’s in Love (RLJ), as well as “Patay na ang Kabayo” from Tambisan sa Sining and “VFA Blues” from our Alay Sining days (might as well put in some good ‘prop’ in while performing.) Sarah did the classic Janis Joplin “Mercedes Benz”. We also did Dire Straight’s Romeo and Juliet, and KT Tunstall’s “Stoppin’ the Love”, Fiona Apple’s “Paper Bag”, Jewel’s “Who will save your soul” and we closed with Edie Brickel’s “Good Times, Bad Times.”
For pics and a review of the mini-gig check out
http://tonyo.blogspot.com/2007/09/sarah-and-nato-perform-at-backdoor.html
Here’s a very interesting and funny article on the 50-cent – Kanye West album releases set on September 11, 2007. The two have been on some kind of rivalry most likely intended to boost album sales. 50 cent has threatened to retire from making solo albums if West outsells him. The article uses an “election primer format” which would guide voters or in this case record-buyers, in which to choose. What is also interesting are the political angles attributed to both hip-hop artists. West is remembered for his remarks in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina that “George Bush doesn’t care about black people”. This comment was opposed by 50 cent in subsequent interviews.
http://www.laweekly.com/music/music/decision-2007-kanye-west-vs-50-cent/17157/
Here’s the Bayan statement on the Erap verdict posted on the website www.bayan.ph
The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan, New Patriotic Alliance), one of the complainants in the plunder case against former President Joseph Estrada, accepts the decision of the Sandiganbayan convicting the former president of the crime of plunder.
The verdict offers a small measure of justice and is acceptable insofar as it points out the wrongdoings of the former president.
Let the Estrada verdict serve as a stern warning against the current occupants of Malacañang who may end up with the same fate because their crimes are far, far worse than the ones Estrada was convicted of.
The significance of the Estrada verdict would be greatly diminished if the same standards of justice do not apply to the officials of the Arroyo government. The president and her close associates have been accused of systematic corruption on a far bigger scale than Estrada. We hope that the Estrada verdict will set a legal precedent that may be useful if ever Arroyo is prosecuted in similar cases of plunder, corruption and perjury.
The crisis hounding the Arroyo presidency will not simply go away with the fact that Estrada was convicted by the Sandiganbayan. The paranoia and insecurity exhibited by the Arroyo regime before the promulgation of the verdict stems from a deep political crisis that is the result of the Arroyo regime’s lack of legitimacy and gross corruption. This crisis will continue since the people want Arroyo to be held accountable as well.
A lot of stuff has been said about Filipino revolutionary, writer, poet and intellectual Jose Ma. Sison. There has been quite a number of disparaging remarks hurled against Joma and the movement he belongs to.
In the interest of fairness and accuracy, it is important to clarify some misconceptions about Joma.
1. JOMA IS LIVING THE LIFE IN THE NETHERLANDS – Heck no! The guy is a refugee and has been living simply, for the last two decades. He is poor based on European standards. What’s worse is that his bank account has been unjustly frozen by the Dutch government on the false allegations that he is a terrorist. Joma can’t even receive honorarium when he is invited to give lectures in Dutch universities. It’s not true that he is living comfortably in the Netherlands while his comrades are dying in the Philippines. A radio commentator once said that Joma’s apartment is luxurious and overlooks a lake or a pool. To those familiar with the Sison residence, that body of water being referred to as a a lake or a pool is actually a canal. The Sison apartment is small, modest by any standards. It is not by any stretch of the imagination a “mansion” as some quarters have claimed. None of these people claiming Joma’s luxurious lifestyle have actually any first hand knowledge of the dire living conditions faced by refugees in the Netherlands. The allegations of lavish living are simply unfair and unsubstantiated by facts.
2. JOMA SHOULD FACE TRIAL TO CLEAR HIS NAME- “Try him.” This was the battle cry of a prominent broadsheet. Says the paper, this is a chance for Joma to put to rest the allegations of incitement to murder. If militants want Gloria Arroyo to stand trial in an impeachment court, why can’t they ask the same with Joma? Well, there’s just one thing problematic with this assertion. Unlike Gloria Arroyo, the charges against Joma are not supported by hard evidence and are based on recycled allegations that have already been dismissed by the Supreme Court. To try Joma on the basis of these false allegations which the highest Philippine court has already discredited is tantamount to political persecution. That would not be serving interest of justice. That would be serving the interests of the fascists in the Philippine government.
3. JOMA SHOULD JUST GO HOME TO THE PHILIPPINES- More than anyone, it is Joma who wishes he could go home. Siya ang nangungulila sa sariling bayan. But there are stumbling blocks to his return. The Philippine government canceled his passport in the late 80’s. That’s what made him seek asylum in Europe. Furthermore, Joma is faced with serious threats to his life in the Philippines especially under the murderous Arroyo government which has been responsible for extrajudicial killings and abductions of activists. Lastly, Joma plays a vital role in the peace process and his being in the Netherlands facilitates that role. Previous regimes have not made it possible for Joma to return. There might have been an opportunity for him to come back had the peace process progressed in 1997-98 but this was not the case.
4. THE ARA MINA INCIDENT – Well this is indeed a cheap shot. Joma was invited to a party of Filipino migrants. Joma usually integrates with the Pinoy migrant community based in Holland so going to this affair wasn’t extraordinary. Ara Mina was there. Joma danced. Big deal! It was a Christmas Party. This is not like the drunken debauchery at the ISAFP Christmas Party last year reported by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Most of the intrigues sown against Joma are meant to confuse the public and to drive a wedge between the exiled leader and the progressive movement. Those insisting that Joma is living the life while his comrades are dying in the Philippines are thinking that this would cause demoralization among activists while demonizing Sision in the eyes of the public.
None of these allegations have dwelt on more substantial issues like human rights, the peace process and political persecution. Perhaps the accusers are simply afraid of going into the issues that matter. Perhaps they’re simply afraid of the truth.
This is a shameless plug, but what da heck.
http://backdoorbluescafe.blogspot.com/2007/09/jook-jam-night-backdoor-on-sept-15.html
