Kabataan Partylist

Slams AFP ‘summons’ to 2nd nominee, parent

Kabataan Party-list, the sole youth party-list participating in the May polls, today expressed unwavering support for Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo following the latter’s forceful transfer of detention from the Manila Police District this morning.

Raymond Palatino, national president and Kabataan Party-list’s First Nominee, described Ocampo as an “inspiration to youth and students for his courage to face political hurdles and stand for his principles despite and amid blatant political persecution.”

“In the eyes of youth and students, it is very clearly the government via its coercive machinery the PNP and AFP that is causing unnecessary alarm and terror this election period. We see a distinguished and honorable Ka Satur being bodily carried out of the MPD and the first thing that comes to mind is, ‘Who’s next?’ If they can do this kind of thing to no less than a duly-elected government official, what is in store for common folks, especially youth and students who remain very critical of this government?,” Palatino said. (more…)

Youth commemorates death anniversary of slain student leader

Youth and students led by the League of Filipino Students and KABATAAN Partylist will be holding a noise barrage and candle lighting ceremony on Monday to commemorate the first death anniversary of Cris Hugo.

A National Council member of the LFS, Cris was gunned down by an unidentified assailant while walking home with his professor in Albay last March 19, 2006. His death was a precedent to more youth victims of extrajudicial-killings in the Bicol region namely Rei Mon “Ambo” Guran and Farly Alcantara II, both from the LFS.

Even the parents of nominees of progressive party-list groups are not spared of the harassment directed against them. Last March 13, the father of Kabataan Party’s second nominee and National Capital Region (NCR) chairperson Enrico Almonguerra received a letter from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) summoning him and Enrico to the Civic Military Operations (CMO) headquarters in Fort Bonifacio on March 22. This is not the first time that the youth party-list group’s nominees experienced harassment from the military.

BY ZOFIA LEAL
Bulatlat
http://www.bulatlat.com/news/7-7/7-7-party.htm

Even the parents of nominees of progressive party-list groups are not spared of the harassment directed against them.

Last March 13, the father of Kabataan Party’s second nominee and National Capital Region (NCR) chairperson Enrico Almonguerra received a letter from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) summoning him and Enrico to the Civic Military Operations (CMO) headquarters in Fort Bonifacio on March 22. (more…)

Joblessness awaits Batch 2007

The Kabataan Partylist today disproved government claims of an increase in employment rate, saying it’s nothing but a media stunt intended to conceal the anticipated rise in the unemployment rate this month with the entry of new graduates in the workforce.

Contrary to government claims, Kabataan Partylist President and 1st nominee Raymond Palatino said only a few of the more than 400,000 students who will graduate this month and on April will land a job within the next two years.

“Only four of every 10 graduates will land a job within the year of their graduation. Many of those able to get a job will be in call centers or work abroad,” he added. (more…)

‘Idol ka namin, Satur,’ says youth partylist
March 16, 2007

The Kabataan Partylist today joined other partylist groups and progressive organizations in expressing support for Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo.

Holding banners and placards with the slogan “Satur, idolo ng kabataan!” (Satur, idol of the youth!), members of Kabataan Partylist stormed the Manila Police District headquarters in United Nations Avenue, Manila to convey the youth’s support for Ocampo and likewise condemn the Arroyo government’s systematic political persecution being instigated against progressive partylists organizations.

“The more they persecute Satur Ocampo and other patriots, the more we want to be like them,” Kabataan Partylist President and 1st nominee Raymond Palatino said. (more…)

Youth party-list holds caravan vs troop deployment, electioneering
March 16, 2007

The Kabataan Partylist today led other youth and student groups and residents in ‘militarized’ zones in a caravan against military harassment, deployment and campaigning.

The caravan which started in Payatas went first to the Commission on Human Rights in Diliman, Quezon City before proceeding to the Commission on Elections in Manila.

“We are appealing to the Commission on Human Rights and the Commission on Elections to decisively act to stop these harassments and demand the Arroyo government and the AFP to pullout all troops deployed in Metro Manila communities,” Kabataan Partylist President and 1 st nominee Raymond Palatino said. (more…)

The Kabataan Partylist today advised the Arroyo government to thin twice before reviving the proposal to impose tax on texting, saying such move will only ensure electoral defeat for the administration ticket.

“They are giving the electorate more reasons to hate them. A new tax is the last thing an unpopular party needs this elections,” Kabataan Partylist President and 1st nominee Raymond Palatino pointed out. (more…)

AFP sending letters to parents of Kabataan Partylist members, student activists

The Kabataan Partylist today expressed fear and condemnation over recent reports that the Armed Forces of the Philippines has been sending out letters to parents and guardians of its members and coordinators.

Kabataan Partylist President and 1st nominee Raymond Palatino said the letter, dated March 13, 2007, came from the headquarters of the Civic Military Operations Batallion of the Philippine Army and was signed by a certain Colonel Ricardo R. Visaya who heads the said division.

“No less than the father of our second nominee and Metro Manila Chairperson Enrico Almonguerra received a letter from the AFP summoning him and our nominee to appear at the Civic Military Operations headquarters in Fort Bonifacio on March 22 because of the younger Almonguerra’s membership and participation in ‘leftist’ organizations and activities,” Palatino said in a press conference in Quezon City today. (more…)

Sa Pamunuan ng Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas
AFP Commanding Chief Pangulong Gloria-Macapagal- Arroyo

Panawagan para sa Agarang Pag-alis ng Militar sa mga Eskwelahan at Komunidad Ngayong Panahon ng Eleksyon

Kami ay mga kabataan, estudyante at mamamayan mula sa iba’t ibang dako at rehiyon sa bansa.

Kami ay pawang nagkakaisa para sa pagtataguyod ng isang malinis, mapayapa at tahimik na halalan ngayong Mayo 2007. (more…)

Kabataan Party-list, the sole youth party participating in the May polls, today launched its one-million signature drive for a military-free May polls.

The signature campaign will be distributed nationwide. It is addressed to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as its Commanding Chief calling for the immediate pull-out of military troops in schools, universities and urban and rural communities. (more…)

Kabataan Partylist President Raymond Palatino was quoted by the Inquirer in this editorial.

EDITORIAL
Inquirer
Last updated 00:03am (Mla time) 03/13/2007
http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/editorial/view_article.php?article_id=54396

The Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration and its military arm appear determined to cripple the leftist party-list groups to prevent them from winning in the coming elections. That is the immediate objective. The long-range objective, it seems, is to make the leftist party-groups so powerless that they cannot mount any significant opposition to the administration.

This tactic emerged early during the first Arroyo administration. From the time Ms Arroyo assumed the presidency in January 2001, 834 militants have been killed, victims of extrajudicial killing. That is by the militants’ own count. The Inquirer count places the total at 274. But whichever is the correct count, the killings are unacceptable in a civilized society that values human life and under an administration that has abolished judicial or court-imposed executions. Many of the victims in extrajudicial killings were members of leftist party-list groups, like Bayan Muna, Gabriela and Anakpawis. (more…)

Kabataan partylist was featured in this article….

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=69685

BY MA. ALETA O. NIEVA
abs-cbsNEWS.com

The Internet has made it possible for millions of Filipinos to stay connected online with loved ones working or living abroad, former classmates and friends and even meet thousands more that may be impossible to accomplish in a lifetime. (more…)

‘Blaze won’t affect election preparations’
By Erwin Oliva
Agence France-Presse, INQUIRER.net
Last updated 04:40pm (Mla time) 03/11/2007

MANILA, Philippines — A major fire broke out at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) headquarters in historic Intramuros, Manila, early Sunday morning, barely two months before national elections. (more…)

excerpts from Mong’s Losing the Student Vote

During the past weeks, the military visited some campuses in Metro Manila to educate (read: indoctrinate) students of its anti-insurgency campaign. Soldiers warned students not to join progressive youth organizations which were described as ‘communist fronts’. They accused these groups of being ‘anti-family, anti-God, anti-society and anti-government’. Few students will dare to stand up and question the false claims of the military. How could there be an open and candid discussion of ideas if armed soldiers are roaming the campus?

These ‘peacekeeping missions’ of the military are unnecessary, illegal and dangerous. These create a chilling effect in campuses. The military aims to frighten students who are contemplating of joining groups which are critical of government policies. Students will remember how armed soldiers visited the campus and identified the groups which are ‘enemies of the state’.

We cannot ignore the message the military wants to convey: Members of progressive youth organizations are already legitimate targets of the military since they are ‘communist fronts’. Is this the reason why leftist youth leaders are harassed, abducted and killed in different parts of the country?

School officials should explain why they allowed armed soldiers to enter the campus and intimidate the students. The Commission on Higher Education should not endorse the lecture series sponsored by the military.

These are not ordinary times. The military is accused of abetting human rights violations. Both the Melo Commission and Alston Report identified the culpability of the military in the high number of extrajudicial killings in the country. Instead of instituting measures to restore public trust, the military continues to be insensitive and arrogant by deploying soldiers in depressed communities and campuses.

Our message to the military hierarchy is simple: Send your soldiers to the barracks now! Use the Lenten Season as an occasion to reflect on the sufferings you have inflicted on our people.

NOTE:
These pictures were taken last March 5, 2007 in the Philippine Normal University (PNU) main campus in Manila. Photos courtesy of Rene of Manila Times.

Related post: Youth Partylist to COMELEC: Probe military election campaigning, deployment in schools

Abangan ang pagdating ng Kabataan Roadtrip sa inyong mga lugar!

Mga kuha habang pinipintahan ng mga miyembro ng Kabataan Partylist ang bus na magsisilbing mobile/rolling campaign center ng ating partido.

Maraming salamat kina Papi Reggie, Lire, Sarah, Joe at Dianne.