Kabataan Partylist

The Kabataan Party today challenged first termers and members of the 14th Congress to offset its predecessor’s dismal performance by being a more productive and independent legislature.

The youth group issued the challenge as it led some 5,000 members of students groups and militant youth organizations in today’s State of the Nation address (SONA) demonstrations in Commonwealth Avenue near Batasang Pambansa.

“The challenge on the 14th Congress is to restore the public’s faith on the legislature and make Congress the repository of the people’s sovereign will once again. They should prove to us that they are worthy of the people’s vote and support,” Kabataan Party President Raymond Palatino said.

Palatino warned the members of the 14th Congress not to follow its predecessor which the group considers as “one of the worst Congresses the country ever had.”

“The 13th Congress operated like mindless accomplice to Arroyo’s whims, reducing itself to a band of political mongrels and lapdogs. Its failure to function as a legislative body and produce more human development laws only made life harder for Filipinos. Much of the pitiful condition that Filipinos are currently experiencing should be blamed on the past Congress’ doing or undoing,” he lamented.

“The poor performance of the 13th Congress only mirrors out the failure of the Arroyo government to live up to its promise of making Filipinos’ lives better,” Palatino pointed out.

He cited the study made by Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) which shows the dismal record of the 13th Congress in terms of the number and quality of bills and laws the legislature deliberated for the past three years.

At the House of Representatives, 6,115 bills were filed. Those pending in the committees reached 3,883. Bills approved after third reading were 787. In the Senate, 2,619 bills were filed while only 22 made it to the plenary after passing the 3rd reading. Of the bills approved by both Houses, only 88 were enacted into law. There are 64 pending bills waiting for President Gloria Arroyo’s signature.

Palatino particularly criticized the past Congress’ failure to pass pending bills which would institute much-needed reforms in the education sector. Among the shelved education bills are the proposed moratorium on tuition and other fee increases and amendments to the Education Act of 1982 which deregulated the tuition system.

“The legislature’s inability to act on these proposals did not just cost a setback on education reforms but it meant a lost opportunity for thousands of poor students to continue their education.”

Palatino also blamed the grossly inadequate allocation for education spending and Congress’ previous failures to enact a national budget for the decrepit condition and declining quality of education in the country’s public school system.

He said the tuition hike in the University of the Philippines is a poignant example of the implications of annual cutbacks in state schools’ budget and government thrust to completely handover the control of tertiary education to the private sector.

He however expressed hope that the incoming 14th Congress would veer away from the poor record of its predecessor.

Palatino said the big number of first termers particularly in the Lower House could mean more openness on its part to new and progressive ideas and proposals. There are 106 neophyte lawmakers in the new Lower House.

“But the only way this Congress can do that is by being more independent of Malacanang and by listening more to people’s clamor than to the president’s dictates. The current state of the nation warrants a gutsy Congress that has political will and can stand up to Arroyo.”

What legacy?
Worst education tragedies happened under GMA, youth groups say

The Kabataan Party and the National Union of Students of the Philippines today disproved government claim of making education its legacy, saying the past six years under the Arroyo administration witnessed education’s worst tragedies.

Kabataan Party President Raymond Palatino said the administration is trying desperately to paint a rosy picture of the education sector in time for the president’s State-of-the-Nation address (SONA).

“Arroyo’s claims are far-fetched. In fact, these are the exact opposite of reality. Education would be the last thing in this government’s mind.”

“Mrs. Arroyo must still be living in her self-induced fairy tale. Her stories are not only illusory; the president herself is a poor storyteller. Even a Grade 1 student would not believe her.”

Palatino said the dismal state of public education, the growing number of school dropouts and out-of-school youth, and the declining quality of education show the real state of education in the country. “Even government figures will tell the public otherwise.”

He said the disheartening stories of Julie Albior and Flores Biwang who were the topnotchers in last year’s National Achievement Test (NAT) are poignant examples of state abandonment of the youth and education. They failed to enter college in the University of the Philippines due to poverty.

“Albior and Biwang represent the millions of poor but intelligent students who are forced to skip schooling because of rising cost of education and decreasing family incomes.”

Palatino added that the 300-percent tuition hike in UP this year even made college education more elusive to ordinary Filipino youth.

“With more preventive fees being charged both in private institutions and state schools, more Albiors and Biwangs failed to enroll for this school year.”

Palatino put the blame on the Arroyo administration, saying current policies on education and government’s disregard allow private institutions to charge onerous and dubious fees on students and transform public schools to corporate entities.

“Since 2001, the government encouraged the reduction of subsidies for public universities. This forced schools either to accept fewer students or to raise fees,” he said.

“Parallel to annual cuts in state schools budgets, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) suspended the tuition cap leading to imposition of higher fees this school year,” he added.

For his part, NUSP Secretary General Alvin Peters said students are now gearing up for the mammoth rally on July 23 to take on the Arroyo government’s abandonment of education.

“Not even the weather or the possible suspension of classes can stop thousands of youth and students to go to the streets on Monday to present the real state of education and the nation.”

“The only legacy this government can boast of is Arroyo’s unparalleled dishonesty and corruption. No amount of lies and deception in this SONA however can make us believe otherwise. The people know better,” Peters concluded.

Gov’t meddling yields fewer marginalized groups in 14th Congress

The Kabataan Party called on lawmakers to amend the Party list law following the disappointing outcome of the 2007 elections that resulted to fewer marginalized groups clinching representation in the Lower House.

“The results of the elections only show how Malacanang was able to maximize the flaws of the party list law and the electoral system to disenfranchise parties in the very mechanism that was created to give representation to marginalized sectors,” Kabataan Party President Raymond Palatino said.

Palatino said the disenfranchisement of marginalized groups was aggravated further by the Commission on Elections’ decision to implement the Panganiban formula where only the number one party list will be given three seats.

Related post: Anti-Arroyo party lists could be Terror law’s first target

“The bastardization of the party list system warrants fundamental changes in the Party list law to protect it from being manipulated for political gains. The outcome of the elections should be an eye-opener to everyone how selfish political interests and ambitions have already penetrated it.”

He explained the entry of bogus partylist groups allegedly sponsored by Malacanang and local politicians and vote-padding favoring these groups had a big impact on the chances of Kabataan, Suara Bangsamoro and other sectoral parties of elderly, disabled and national minorities in meeting the two-percent threshold and clinching a seat in Congress. Militant party list groups and election watchdogs pegged the padded votes at 2 million.

“But what makes dagdag-bawas activities different in this party list race is that the padding of votes for certain groups were not actually intended to increase their chances to meet the threshold but merely to bloat the total number of party list votes,” he pointed out.

“This explains the huge increase in the threshold compared to the figures in 2004 elections. It made things more difficult for legitimate political and sectoral parties to win representation.” COMELEC initially pegged the two-percent threshold at 340,000 votes, up by almost 100,000 votes from the 254,000 threshold in the 2004 elections.

He added that the victory of some party list groups such as Abono and the sudden increase in the number of votes of YACAP (You Against Corruption and Poverty) and alleged government party lists in Mindanao, particularly after the contentious Maguindanao canvassing casts doubts over the credibility of the recent party list polls and COMELEC itself.

“What’s problematic about these results is most of these alleged government parties don’t have a clear constituency or base in these areas but they were able to corner in votes as big as 100,000 in just one province, edging out even Muslim and Mindanao-based party list groups. Abono, on the other hand, was able to get two-thirds of its votes in La Union and Pangasinan alone.” Abono allegedly was supported by the Ortega clan in La Union and Speaker Jose de Venecia.

“The discrepancies in the total number of votes cast and the number of registered voters in several areas in Mindanao and the unusual huge turnout for party list should be enough proof that irregularities did occur in these provinces last elections. Unfortunately, the COMELEC only turned a blind eye on these evidences.”

Palatino, however, expressed fears that moves to amend the Party list law might experience the same cold treatment in Congress.

“It would be more difficult to push for changes in the Party list law now after politicians have already seen how the party list system can be used to expand their influence and clinch more seats in the Lower House.”

Tayo, Kabataan
Raymond V. Palatino
Kabataan Party President

Speech delivered during the thanksgiving assembly of Kabataan Partylist, June 19, 2007, C.M. Recto Hall, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Manila. Also posted in http://www.mongpalatino.motime.com/

Maalab na pagbati sa lahat, mga kasama sa Kabataan Partylist, mga kaibigang organisasyon at sa lahat ng mga nagtiwala at patuloy na nagtitiwala sa kakayanan ng kabataang Pilipino. Sa lahat ng naninindigan para sa pagbabago, sa inyong lahat na kinikilala bilang pag-asa ng ating bayan, magandang hapon po at mabuhay kayo.

Ginugunita natin sa araw na ito ang anibersaryo ng kapanganakan ng ating pambansang bayani, si Dr. Jose Rizal. Ipinagdiriwang din natin ang ikaanim na anibersaryo ng pagkakatatag ng Kabataan Partylist. Noong 2001, ilang indibidwal lamang ang nagtipon at nagkaisa na buuin ang isang partido pulitikal ng mga kabataan na tuwirang lalahok sa pambansang eleksiyon. Ngayon, nais kong ibalita sa inyo na malayo, malawak at masaklaw na ang inaabot ng ating partido. Libu-libong kabataan ang miyembro natin mula Luzon hanggang Mindanao. Ang ating partido ang pinakamalakas na grupo ng mga kabataan sa kasalukuyan.

Ang araw na ito ay tinakda natin para magpasalamat sa lahat ng mga tumulong at sumuporta sa Kabataan Partylist noong nakaraang halalan. Tayo ay nagtitipon para balikan ang ating mga nagawa nitong taon, tukuyin ang ating mga tagumpay at magkaisa para sa mga hamong ating tutupdin sa mga susunod na araw.

Natutuwa akong makita muli ang ating mga organisador, mga lider mula sa iba’t ibang paaralan at mga masisipag na miyembro ng Kabataan Partylist.

Kapiling natin sa araw na ito ang mga tagapagtatag na organisasyon ng ating partido….

Ngayon naman po, hinihiling ko ang ilang sandaling katahimikan para sa mga kabataang martir na biktima ng terorismo ng estado.

Bigyan natin ng pagpupugay ang mga kabataang martir, tayo po ay pumalakpak at ipakita’t iparinig natin ang ating patuloy na paglaban para sa katarungan, katotohanan at karapatan.

Resulta ng halalan

Ayon sa datos ng Comelec, apat na COCs na lamang ang di nabibilang. Ang nakuhang boto ng Kabataan ay umabot sa 225,062 o 1.51 bahagdan ng boto para sa partylist. Ibig sabihin, hindi makakaupo sa Kongreso ang Kabataan Partylist.

Para sa marami, at maaaring para din sa iba sa inyo, ito ay nangangahulugan ng pagkabigo ng kabataan. Ito ay tumpak. Pero hindi dapat ganito kapayak ang ating husga sa ating nakamit noong nakaraang eleksiyon. Huwag natin ipagkamali na ang mga numerong ito ang susuma ng ginawa nating makabuluhang ambag sa lipunan. Hindi kayang maliitin ng mga numerong ito ang matagumpay na mensahe na pinaabot ng Kabataan Partylist sa buong bansa.

Malikhaing pangangampanya

Huwag nating kalimutan ang tatlong buwang pangangampanya ng kabataan. Marumi, marahas at mabangis ang halalan pero pinatunayan natin na pwedeng mangampanya nang hindi sasandig sa guns, goons, gold, garci and gloria. Kinatangian ng pagiging malikhain, tapat, malinis, makabuluhan at disente ang kampanyang nilunsad ng Kabataan Partylist.

Si Isko, ang ating maskot ay patok na patok sa masa. Pinagkaguluhan sa mga esluwelahan at komunidad si Isko. Mas sikat pa nga siya kaysa sa amin na mga nominado.

Ang ating makulay na Kabataan Bus ay nalibot ang kalakhan ng Luzon, lalo na dito sa Metro Manila. Ito ay tinampok din sa isang TV show sa Singapore. Kahit laging nasisira, at kailangang itulak para umandar, at palaging nawawalan ng gas dahil wala tayong pera, sinuyod ng Kabataan Bus ang napakaraming lugar para itanghal ang mensahe ng kabataang Pilipino para sa pagbabago.

Sa ating mga road trip at motorcade, nagtulung-tulong ang mga kabataan para mailarga ang pangangampanya sa mga komunidad. Gumamit tayo ng jeep, tricycle, pedicab, motorsiklo at mga hiniram na mini-truck.

Nagsagawa tayo ng mga masasayang konsiyerto na dinaluhan ng maraming kabataan. Tumugtog ang mga miyembro natin pati mga kaibigang lokal na banda. May sumayaw, kumanta, tumula at mayroon ding nagwala. Nagfashion show tayo para higit na patunayan ang ating malikhaing diwa.

Tinipon natin ang mga kabataan. Nagforum sa mga eskuwelahan, Nagkonsultahang kabataan sa mga komunidad. Nag house to house, org to org, bus to bus, mall to mall, bar to bar, market to market. Higit sa lahat, nakipamuhay tayo sa masa.

Gumawa tayo ng mga awitin at jingle. Bawat rehiyon ay may kanya-kanyang pinasikat na slogan at jingle. Kahit ang mga kababayan nating Fim-Am ay lumikha ng awitin para sa Kabataan Partylist. Pwede na nga tayo maglunsad ng sarili nating album sa dami ng mga magagandang kantang ating nalikha dahil sa eleksiyon.

Napakaraming tsapter natin ang nagdisenyo ng mga T-shirt, button pins, mural at poster.

Gumawa ng mga video teaser ang mga taga suporta ng Kabataan Partylist at ito ay nilagay sa internet. Salamat sa Sipat para sa mga video ad natin. Namalas ng buong mundo ang angking kakayanan at pagkamalikhain ng kabataang Pilipino. Ginamit natin ang internet upang makatipid at maabot ang mas maraming kabataan. Kapuri-puri ang ating cybercampaign. Naging paksa tayo sa you tube, friendster, multiply, mga blog, e-forum, chat. Pinakita natin kung paano mamamaksima at magiging epektibo ang pangangampanya sa pamamagitan ng internet. Nagpakalat tayo ng mga ringtone, wallpaper at text brigade gamit ang ating mga cellphone.

Kahanga-hanga ang sipag, diskarte at determinasyon ng ating mga kampanyador. Kung ang mga pulitiko ay nagbabayad para may magdikit ng kanilang mga poster, tayo wala. Bukod sa wala tayong pambayad, ang mga miyembro natin ay kikilos, at sila nga ay kumilos kahit walang bayad. Limitado ang ating mga poster, kulang ang mga streamer at tarpaulin. Buti na lamang maparaan ang ating mga miyembro. Sinuyod ang mga matataong lugar, nagdikit ng mga campaign material sa mga stratehikong gusali.

Dahil kulang ang poster at leaflet, naghanap tayo ng ibang materyales. Gumamit ng sako, lumang tarpaulin, katya, dyaryo, uling, kalendaryo. Wala tayong stiker pero hindi tayo naubusan ng mga pin na gawa ng ating mga miyembro.

Kapos ang ating pondo. Kulang na kulang ang rekurso. Wala tayong mga sasakyan. Sa isang banda, ito ay totoong problema at nakalimita sa ating kampanya. Naputulan ang pambansang opisina ng telepono, tubig at madalas kakaunti ang pagkain ng ating mga miyembro. Mas marami sana tayong lugar na maaabot, mas maraming poster na madidikit, mas maraming brochure na maipamimigay kung sapat ang ating pera. Kaso tayo ay totoong marginalized partylist kaya isang naging pabigat sa kampanya ang kawalan ng pinansiya.

Gayunman, hindi ito naging hadlang para makapaglunsad tayo ng pambansang kampanya. Oo, tayo ay mahirap lamang, pero mayaman tayo sa talino, galing, sipag at giting. Binawi natin ang kawalan ng pondo sa pagsandig sa pagiging bibo at malikhain ng mga kabataan. Lumabas ang angking talento ng ating mga miyembro para makapagkampanya. Wala tayong binatong kendi o kalendaryo sa mga tao; programa, prinsipyo at pag-asa ang ating binahagi sa masa. Hindi ba’t ito’y tagumpay ng Kabataan Partylist?

Pambansang pangangampanya

Malakas ang ating organisasyon. Pinanday ng pakikibaka ang ating makinarya. Napatunayan natin sa eleksiyon na kaya nating maglunsad ng isang disenteng pambansang kampanya. Naging maayos ang koordinasyon sa mga tsapter sa buong bansa. Mayroon tayong miyembro sa bawat probinsiya, malalaking eskuwelahan at kahit sa mga malalayong sulok ng kanayunan.

Sa Metro Manila, aabot ng 40,000 ang ating miyembrong narekluta nitong nakaraang tatlong buwan. Karamihan ng mga bagong miyembro ay hindi lalagpas ng 20 anyos. Sa katunayan, marami tayong kasapi na hindi pa tumutuntong sa labingwalong taong gulang. Kami na ni Lengua ang pinakamatanda sa Kabataan Partylist. Gusto kong bigyan ito ng diin. Mahigit nobenta ang bilang ng mga grupong lumahok sa sistemang partylist. Natatangi ang Kabataan Partylist dahil ito ang nag-iisang partido na binuo ng mga kabataan, pinamumunuan ng mga kabataan at para sa interes ng kabataan.

Masisigla at punung-puno ng ideyalismo ang ating mga miyembro. Ito ang ating pangunahing lakas at sandigan para sa mga susunod na laban. Oo, kakambal ng kasigasigan ng kabataan ay mga kahinaang sinisisi sa mga bata. Mapusok, laging nahuhuli, kakaunting inisyatiba, sabog na pagkilos, kawalan ng karanasan. Pero tayo ay mga bata at nasa atin ang panahon para ituwid ang mga natukoy na mali. Tayo ay tatanda nang mas matalino at mas handang humarap sa mga pagsubok na hahadlang sa ating daan. Ang mga miyembro natin ay maagang pinanday sa labanang elektoral. Maaga nating natutunan ang mga pasikot-sikot ng sistemang pulitikal sa bansa. Sa hinaharap, hindi lamang magiging madali, kundi magiging eksperto pa ang ating mga miyembro kung paano magpatakbo ng isang organisasyon na lumalahok sa isang pambansang eleksiyon.

Nagawa nating itambol sa buong bansa ang mensahe ng pagbabago at makatwirang hangad ng kabataan para sa mas magandang kinabukasan. Naging bukambibig ng maraming grupo na kailangang makialam, magtanong, mangahas, sumuway at makisangkot ang kabataan. Nakuha natin ang suporta ng maraming kabataan, mayaman man o mahirap, may pinag-aralam man o wala. Sumuporta ang maraming miyembro ng SK at mga batang pulitiko. Kahit ang mga artista ay inendorso ang kabataan. Sa maikling panahon, nagawa nating ipaalam sa madla na may grupo ng mga makabayang kabataan na nais ang makabuluhang pagbabago sa lipunan.

Habang ang iba ay nagkakasya na lamang sa pagmamaliit sa inisyatiba ng kabataan, tayo ay kumilos at naghain ng kongkretong alternatibo sa publiko. Patuloy na hinahanap ang papel ng kabataan sa lipunan, pero ang Kabataan Partylist may pinatunayan ng makabuluhang rekord ng pakikisangkot sa usaping pampulitika sa bansa.

Ipinagmamalaki natin na tayo ay nahahanay sa mga progresibong partylist tulad ng Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Suara Bangsamoro at Gabriela. Ang tagumpay nila ay tagumpay din ng Kabataan Partylist. Tumaas ang tiwala ng publiko sa atin dahil kasama natin sa lansangan at pana-panahon sa pangangampanya ang mga grupong ito. Pareho nating pinaglalaban ang karapatang pantao. Pareho nating sinisigaw na itigil ang panunupil sa mga progresibong grupo sa lipunan.

Isyu ng kabataan

Sa maraming eskuwelahan, nanguna ang Kabataan Partylist sa mga pre-election survey. Hindi ito nakapagtataka dahil tuluy-tuloy ang pagbabandila ng Kabataan Partylist sa mga isyung malapit sa puso ng mga estudyante. Pangunahin sa adyeda ng Kabataan ang reporma sa sektor ng edukasyon. Tinukoy natin ang pagbagsak ng badyet para sa mga pampublikong paaralan at komersyalisasyon ng edukasyon bilang pangunahing salik sa pagbulusok ng kalidad ng karunungan sa bansa.

Sa ating mga asembliya, pinaliwanag natin sa publiko na manalo o matalo sa halalan ay isusulong natin ang ating plataporma. Lalabanan natin ang pagtaas ng matrikula. Ikakampanya natin ang mas mataas na pondo para sa edukasyon at iba pang serbisyong panlipunan. Ihahapag natin ang pagkilala at proteksiyon sa karapatan ng mga estudyante.

Nitong nakaraang tatlong buwan, nakalap natin ang iba’t ibang suliranin ng mga kabataan. Pinakinggan natin ang daing ng mga kabataan para sa ganap na pagbabago sa bansa. Bulok na edukasyon, kawalan ng trabaho, korupsiyon sa pamahalaan, pagkasira ng kalikasan, iba’t ibang tipo ng diskriminasyon at humihinang pag-asa na bubuti pa ang kalagayan sa bansa. Mababa o halos wala ng natitirang tiwala ang maraming kabataan sa namumuno sa pamahalaan. Marami ang namumuhi sa pulitika kaya ayaw nilang makialam sa nangyayari sa lipunan. Bagamat hindi natin sila sinisisi, isa pa rin itong nakakalungkot na trahedya.

Karahasan at pandaraya

Bago pa man nagsimula ang kampanya ay todo bigay na ang pananabotahe ng militar sa mga progresibong partylist. Kabilang ang ating partido sa mga malisyosong inakusahan ng militar bilang legal front diumano ng Communist Party. Ibig sabihin, naging lehitimong target na ang ating mga miyembro ng mga sundalong may panatikong galit sa mga tumutuligsa sa pamahalaan.

Umikot ng paaralan ang mga sundalo upang magpakalat ng kasinungalingan at takutin ang mga estudyante na huwag sumali sa ating organisasyon. Ngayon balak nilang magtayo ng mga opisina sa loob mismo ng mga kampus.

Nagtayo ng munting barracks ang mga sundalo sa maraming barangay sa Metro Manila. Community service daw ang pakay pero hinuhuli ang mga aktibista. Tinatakot ang mga magulang ng ating mga miyembro. Sinisiraan ang mga progresibong partylist.

Takot ang Estado, takot ang militar sa popularidad ng mga grupong kontra-Arroyo. Ginawa nila ang lahat upang mabigo ang ating kandidatura. Naging kasangkapan ang militar upang dayain ang resulta ng halalan at gipitin ang mga lumalaban. Wala silang kinikilalang batas o paggalang man lang sa ating mga karapatan. Dalawa sa ating pollwatcher sa Camarines Norte ang walang awang dinukot at pinaslang ng mga sundalo. Ang krimen na ito ay dapat maitala bilang malinaw na halimbawa ng terorismo ng estado. Paano makukumbinsi ang maraming kabataan na lumahok sa halalan kung baril at bala ang isusukli ng pamahalaan?

Ang isa pang manipulasyon ng pamahalaan upang biguin ang mga progresibong partylist ay ang pagpapatakbo ng mga bogus na partylist. Maraming grupo ang binuo at pinondohan ng pamahalaan, na galing sa buwis na binabayad natin, upang guluhin ang halalang partylist. Kahit ang ilan sa kanila ay walang intensiyong manalo, lumalabas na ang kanilang naging papel ay lituhin ang botante at pataasin ang minimum na boto na kailangan para manalo ang isang partylist.

Kapansin-pansin din ang pagsulpot ng mga partylist na sinusuportahan ng mga tradisyunal na pulitiko, warlord at malalaking negosyante. Kahit ang mga may-ari ng mga eskuwelahan at iba’t ibang grupong relihiyoso ay nagtayo ng mga partylist. Sa 2010, inaasahan na dadami pa ang mga bogus na partylist na susuportahan ng mga political dynasty. Tuluyan ng mabibigo ang dakilang layunin ng partylist na bigyang tinig ang maliliit na grupo sa lipunan.

Malawak ang makinarya ng pandaraya ng pamahalaan. Marami tayong naitalang kaso ng dagdag-bawas at dagdag-dagdag. May mga natipon tayong mga dokumento sa ilang mga munisipyo na siyang naging batayan ng ating pagsasampa ng kaso sa maraming opisyal ng Comelec. Dahil sa pagiging sopistikado ng dayaan, mahirap ng matukoy kung anong mga dokumento ang totoo o pawang dinoktor lamang. Paano kaya sa mga lugar na wala tayong pollwatcher? Paano kung ang dayaan ay nangyari sa presinto pa lamang?

Itutuloy at babantayan natin ang mga kasong sinampa natin. Dapat mag-iwan ito ng aral sa sinumang yuyurak sa halalan bilang isang demokratikong proseso. Sa totoo lang, lubhang nakakagalit ang pandarayang nasaksihan natin. Kayod marino ang estilo ng ating pangangampanya samantalang may mga pekeng partylist na umaasa lamang sa panunuhol ng mga opisyal ng Comelec. Hirap na hirap tayong magpasulpot ng pondo pero may mga partylist pala na kumukuha ng pinansiya sa Malakanyang. Masigasig ang ating pagpapaliwanag sa publiko ng ating programa pero may mga partylist pala na tuwirang nakasalalay sa makinarya ng mga political dynasty.

Taas noo

Sa kabila ng pandaraya at karahasan, nakakuha pa rin ang Kabataan Partylist ng disenteng boto. Sa katunayan, nasa top 20 ang ating grupo mula sa mahigit nobentang partylist na lumahok sa halalan. Hindi nakakahiya ang botong nabilang sa atin. Haharap tayo sa publiko nang walang kahihiyan dahil patas at tapat tayong lumaban. Hindi natin binastos ang demokrasya. Bawat boto na nakuha natin ay isang botong malinis na kinampanya ng bawat isa sa atin. May mga natanggap tayong alok upang pataasin ang ating boto sa ilegal na paraan. Ito’y hindi natin tinanggap. Hindi totoo na lahat ng kandidato ay nandaraya. Ibahin ninyo ang Kabataan Partylist.

Bilang nominee

Bago ako tumungo sa huling bahagi ng aking talumpati, nais kong magpasalamat sa tiwalang pinagkaloob ninyo upang ako ay maging isa sa mga nominado ng Kabataan Partylist. Nagkaroon ako ng bibihirang pagkakataon na maging kinatawan ng isang grupo ng mga makabayan at ideyalistang kabataan. Isang karangalan ang maging tagapagsalita ninyong lahat. Buong puso kong binahagi sa ating mga kababayan kung ano ang ating munting minimithi para sa ating lipunan. Marami akong nakilala at nakasalamuha. Marami akong masasayang kuwento. Marami din akong nakakatuwang kuwento. Lagi kong babalik-babalikan ang yugtong ito ng aking buhay kung saan minsan akong naging lider ng Kabataan Partylist.

Nalibot ko ang Pilipinas at nasaksihan ko ang kagandahan ng ating mga tanawain, natatanging likas-yaman at kabutihan ng maraming Pilipino. Mayaman ang ating lupain, malaki ang potensiyal para umunlad, pero tayo ay naghihirap. Nalungkot ako sa aking paglalakbay dahil nakita ko ang mukha ng kahirapan. Sa bawat lugar na pinuntahan ko ay may namamalimos sa akin. Sinanay ang marami nating mga kababayan na umasa sa mumong pinagkakaloob ng mga pulitiko. Ganyan kalala ang kahirapan, kahit partylist nominee na walang pera, hinihingian ng limos.

May dahilan kung bakit hindi mawala ang kahirapan. Bulok kasi ang ating pulitika. Maraming pulitikong pulpol. Pero higit na marami ang matalinong magnanakaw. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit nasusuka ang marami nating kababayan sa mga tradisyunal na pulitiko.

Aral at hamon

Mga kasama, ano ang natutunan natin sa nagdaang eleksiyon? Ano ang hamon para sa ating lahat?

Tinuruan tayo ng eleksiyong ito kung gaano kadumi, karahas at kabulok ang sistema ng pulitika ng ating bansa. Ito ba ang pinagmamalaki nilang uri ng demokrasya? Nagpapatayan ang mga kandidato. Sinusunog ang mga guro. Nandaraya ang nasa kapangyarihan. Mayayaman ang nagwawagi. Nakikialam ang sundalo. Sinusupil ang mga progresibo.

Pinapatunayan ng eleksiyong ito na hindi sasapat ang pagboto upang magkaroon ng pagbabago. Kailangan ng tuluy-tuloy na kolektibong aksiyon. Kailangan ng mapangahas na sama-samang pagkilos. Tama, kailangan pa rin ang rebolusyon. Rebolusyon ng mga ideya. Rebolusyon ng mga gawi. Rebolusyon ng mga puso. At oo, yung rebolusyong iniisip ninyo na hindi ko pwedeng bigkasin.

Kung mayroon tayong nareklutang 40,000 kasapian dito sa Metro Manila, doblehin natin, triplehan natin ang ating mga tsapter. Isulong ang konsolidasyon ng mga balangay. Palakasin pa ang kakayanan ng Kabataan Partylist na umabot pa sa mas maraming paaralan at komunidad.

Patuloy na itaguyod ang interes ng kabataan at mamamayang Pilipino. Nagtaas ng matrikula sa mga pampublikong pamantasan. Kulang-kulang pa rin ang pasilidad sa mga eskuwehan. Kumakamal ng limpak-limpak na tubo ang mga kapitalista-edukador. Ang presyo ng langis ay di na maabot ng mga motorista. Ginigiba ang bahay ng mga mahihirap. Ilang linggo na lamang at ipapatupad na ang anti-terrorism law.

Kung ako ay pulitiko, ang sasabihin ko sa inyo ay maghanda para sa halalang 2010. Pero hindi tayo grupo ng mga tradiyunal na pulitiko. Bakit kailangang hintayin pa ang 2010 samantalang napakaraming usapin na kailangan ng kagyat na aksiyon. Sabi ni Recto: Honey, I’m home. Sabi ni Loi: Erap, here I come. Ang sasabihin ko ngayon: Mga kasama, hinihintay tayo ng masa. Lubusin natin ang lakas ng kabataan sa pamamagitan ng pagsanib ng ating lakas sa pwersa ng ibang nakakaraming sektor sa lipunan tulad ng manggagawa’t magsasaka.

Ang araw na ito ay hindi lamang araw ng pasasalamat kundi isang pagmamarka din ng ating kahandaan na patuloy na kumilos para sa pagbabago. Kung tuloy ang laban, tiyak na tuloy na mabubuhay ang kabuluhan ng Kabataan Partylist.

Ang aking huling punto: tayo ay mga kabataang hindi lamang nangarap ng matiwasay na buhay, maaliwalas na komunidad at mapayapang kinabukasan. Tayo ay mga kabataang nangarap, nagtanong, sumuway, nakialam, nakisangkot at kumilos upang matupad ang ating mga minimithi.

Mabuhay ang Kabataan Partylist! Magandang hapon po sa inyong lahat.

The Kabataan Party blamed the flawed tuition system for the worsening problems in tertiary education, saying two decades of tuition deregulation have only resulted to high school fees and a pitiful quality of education.

“The Philippine tuition system has miserably failed and the Commission on Higher Education’s decade of monumental blunder of feigning helplessness towards skyrocketing school fees is largely to be blamed,” Kabataan Party President Raymond Palatino said.

Palatino said it is time for incoming lawmakers and the Philippine government to learn what other countries are doing in order to balance the need to infuse resources in schools and the right of students to affordable college education.

“We need a new tuition regulation mechanism that would have sweeping and radical results in democratizing access to higher education.”

A study made by Kabataan Party and the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) on the rising cost of tertiary education showed that in just five years, from academic year 2000-2001 to the present, the national average tuition rate has increased by roughly 65 percent. The National Capital Region (NCR) average rate, on the other hand, went up by almost 60 percent.

Based on the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) records on tuition increases, tuition was steadily increasing by an average of almost 12 percent for the last five years.

Palatino blamed the Education Act of 1982 for the staggering tuition hikes in the last two decades. “By giving them a free hand in determining tuition rate, the Education Act effectively bestowed private school owners limitless powers,” he said.

Batas Pambansa No. 232, otherwise known as the Education Act of 1982, laid down the guidelines and regulations governing the collection and application of tuition and other fees by all educational institutions. In particular, Section 42 gave private schools a free hand in determining tuition rates thus allowing private schools to increase the fee every school year.

The deregulated environment set by the Act ensured the wholesale commodification of a fast-expanding private tertiary education, Palatino said.

“This was also the reason behind the unexpected collapse of pre-need education firms like the College Assurance Plan (CAP),” Palatino said. “The pre-need education industry’s downfall merely highlights how the cost of education, particularly in the tertiary level, has dramatically increased after the deregulation of tuition.”

From 1990-1995 just before the Asian financial bubble burst in 1997, tuition jumped to 275 percent. For the last 15 years since 1990, tuition has swelled by almost 700 percent.

Kabataan projects that if the average tuition rate increase of 12 percent continues for the next five years, the national average per unit would reach P590.20 by 2010. By then tuition would have increased by as high as 1,257.41 percent since 1990.

“Clearly, the relentless hikes in tuition and other fees have earned for private school owners millions of profits over the last two decades,” Palatino says. “This largely explains why some business tycoons like Lucio Tan and the Yuchengcos are now venturing into tertiary education.”

Most of these schools have consistently landed among the country’s top 1,000 corporations since 1996. By the end of 2003, nine schools were included in this list. Their combined profits amounted to P1.13 billion.

Private schools frequently listed among the top corporations in the country in terms of profit are the Centro Escolar University (CEU), MIT, Far Eastern University (FEU), UE, Philippine Maritime Institute (PMI), Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP), AMA Computer University and STI College.

Palatino urged lawmakers to repeal the Education Act of 1982. “Our lawmakers must immediately act to stop these tuition and miscellaneous fee increases and put a moratorium on the proposed new round of hikes for the next school year. Unless the government starts to flex its muscles on these increases, we will be seeing a higher drop-out rate and bigger number of out-of-school youth in the next five years.”

Even CHED admits that “unless BP 232 (Education Act of 1982) is repealed or amended, the most viable course for all concerned is to take a close look at where the increases are going.”

“Unless the government reverses its present education policies and its thrust to hand over tertiary education to private sector and until it flexes its muscles to stop the incessant hikes in tuition and other fees, it will certainly bury the confidence, hopes and great faith of the Filipino youth and the nation for a brighter future ahead,” Palatino warned.

The Kabataan Party today called on newly proclaimed Senators to translate their electoral agenda and promises into practice by making the immediate resolution of the current ‘tuition hike crisis’ their top priority in the 14th Congress.

“This will be the best opportunity for them to prove to us that they are really for the youth and they participated in this elections to defend and uphold the interest of young Filipinos, particularly for education,” Kabataan Party President Raymond Palatino said
Palatino said the next Congress should prioritize pending bills that seek to institute much needed reforms in the education sector.

Among the bills awaiting approval are the proposed moratorium on tuition and other fee increases and amendments to the Education Act of 1982 which placed private tertiary education in a deregulated environment.

“It’s high time that Congress starts to flex its muscles on unabated increases in tuition and other fees. Government’s tuition deregulation policy has resulted to skyrocketing tuition and miscellaneous fee hikes and caused the ranks of dropouts and out-of-school youth to swell for the past decade. ”

Palatino particularly emphasized the need to resolve the controversy created by the anomalous suspension of CHED Memorandum Order No. 14 or the guidelines for tuition and other fee increase applications and its subsequent amendments last February.

“We call on the lawmakers to investigate CHED and its officials for committing grave abuse of discretion and violating its own standard operating procedures when it hastily suspended the tuition cap amid ongoing tuition consultations. ”

CHED Chairman Carlito Puno issued the memorandum suspending the tuition cap last February 20 days before the conclusion of regular tuition hike consultations in private colleges and universities.

Kabataan and NUSP earlier accused CHED of conspiring with the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) to lift the tuition cap to allow private school owners to increase tuition beyond the inflation rate.

Palatino also urged the elected Senators to investigate schools which are charging dubious and excessive fees to students.

In 2003 alone, nine schools landed among the top 1,000 corporations in the country with a combined profit of P1.23 billion, he said, citing data from the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“How was it possible for big private schools to rake in millions in profit while CHED’s guidelines only provide a 10 percent return of investment for imposed fee increases? School owners have certainly made a lucrative business out of tertiary education and CHED appears to be a willing accomplice.”

Meanwhile, Palatino said the next Congress should also conduct a comprehensive review of existing education policies similar to the Education Commission of 1992.

“The recurring problems hounding the education sector should prompt lawmakers and education officials to assess the effectiveness and viability of existing policies and formulate new policies that are responsive to the needs of students, the academe and the local economy in general.”

The Kabataan Party and the National Union of Students of the Philippines urged lawmakers to maximize the remaining days of the 13th Congress by passing pending bills that seek to institute much needed reforms in the education sector.

Among the bills awaiting approval are the proposed moratorium on tuition and other fee increases and amendments to the Education Act of 1982 which placed private tertiary education in a deregulated environment, Kabataan Party President Raymond Palatino said.

“It’s high time that Congress starts to flex its muscles on unabated increases in tuition and other fees. Government’s tuition deregulation policy has resulted to skyrocketing tuition and miscellaneous fee hikes and caused the ranks of dropouts and out-of-school youth to swell for the past decade. ”

Palatino particularly emphasized the need to resolve the controversy created by the anomalous suspension of CHED Memorandum Order No. 14 or the guidelines for tuition and other fee increase applications and its subsequent amendments last February.

“We call on the lawmakers to investigate CHED and its officials for committing grave abuse of discretion and violating its own standard operating procedures when it hastily suspended the tuition cap amid ongoing tuition consultations.”

CHED Chairman Carlito Puno issued the memorandum suspending the tuition cap last February 20 days before the conclusion of regular tuition hike consultations in private colleges and universities.

Kabataan and NUSP earlier accused CHED of conspiring with the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) to lift the tuition cap to allow private school owners to increase tuition beyond the inflation rate.

Palatino also urged lawmakers to investigate schools that are charging dubious and excessive fees to students.

In 2003 alone, nine schools landed among the top 1,000 corporations in the country with a combined profit of P1.23 billion, he said, citing data from the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“How was it possible for big private schools to rake in millions in profit while CHED’s guidelines only provide a 10 percent return of investment for imposed fee increases? School owners have certainly made a lucrative business out of tertiary education and CHED appears to be a willing accomplice.”

Meanwhile, Palatino said the next Congress should conduct a comprehensive review of existing education policies similar to the Education Commission of 1992.

“The recurring problems hounding the education sector should prompt lawmakers and education officials to assess the effectiveness and viability of existing policies and formulate new policies that are responsive to the needs of students, the academe and the local economy in general.”

Legitimate sectoral parties will be the main casualties of vote-padding in this partylist elections.

This was the reaction of Kabataan Partylist President Raymond Palatino over allegations of vote-padding by suspected administration front partylist groups by over 2 million votes, saying that the plan is intended to frustrate the bid of anti-Arroyo sectoral parties to win representation in Congress.

“We noticed that many of the reported cases of vote-padding which occurred mostly in Mindanao involved alleged government-initiated partylists that so far have been lagging behind in the canvassing.”

“But what makes dagdag-bawas activities different in this elections particularly for the partylist race is that the padding of votes for certain partylists are not actually intended to increase the chances of these groups to meet the threshold but merely to bloat the total number of partylist votes,” Palatino pointed out.

“Since the partylist turnout is directly proportional to the threshold, any increase in the total number of partylist votes will add to the total number of votes needed to meet the two-percent threshold,” he explained.

“This will certainly have a bigger impact on the chances of Kabataan and other sectoral parties of elderly, disabled and minorities in meeting the two-percent threshold and clinching a seat in Congress.”

“Meeting the two-percent threshold is already difficult since there are 93 parties contending and voters only get to choose one partylist group. The lack of resources and the low level of partylist awarness also make it harder for most partylist groups to conduct and maintain a national campaign.”

Palatino said these factors explain why only a handful won representation in the last three partylist elections.

In 2004, twenty-four representatives belonging to 16 partylist groups were proclaimed. It was a modest increase from the 12 parties (20 representatives) that were proclaimed in 2001 and 10 groups (14 representatives) who won representation in the first partylist elections in 1998.

“The number of partylist representatives in the last Congress did not even reach half of the 52 reserved seats for partylist representatives.”

He added that the entry of bogus partylist groups that were allegedly sponsored by Malacanang and local politicians only made it more difficult for legitimate political and sectoral parties to win representation.

“Legitimate parties are at a clear disadvantage. These bogus partylist groups enjoy abundant resources, not to mention the backing of the administration’s fraud machinery. The playing field is obviously tilted in favor of those who have connection with the incumbent government.”

“So while Kabataan’s votes increased significantly compared to its performance in 2004, the irregular increase in the threshold could possibly foil its bid to place the first youth sectoral representative in Congress.”

Kabataan, formely known as Anak ng Bayan, was the sole youth partylist that participated in 2004 elections. However, the partylist fell prey to massive vote shaving. A significant number of its votes were anomalously counted in favor of another partylist group. It was just 35,000 votes short of clinching one seat in the Lower House.

Palatino said legitimate partylist groups are “virtually defenseless” against this blatant form of government intrusion and manipulation.

“Instead of empowering the poor, the partylist system is now being used by traditional politicians to extend their sphere of influence.”

“This is not just a “bastardization” of the partylist system. It’s a clear case of injustice and disenfranchisement and an insult to those whose interests and voices remain unrepresented in Congress.”

“In the process, genuine partylist groups are the ones being “marginalized” in a system supposedly created to give representation to marginalized segments of our society.”

Meanwhile, Palatino said they are studying and contemplating on filing disqualification cases against these alleged government-initiated partylist groups.

Kabataan Party-list, the leading youth party-list participating these elections, today decried the ‘very dirty and disappointing course of the 2007 elections’.

Kabataan said that the recently concluded voting process and the ongoing counting and canvassing of votes are ‘cause for youth disillusionment in the Philippine electoral process’.

“We negate statements by the administration, the Comelec and the AFP that the 2007 elections is generally peaceful. Nothing can be farther from the truth,” said Raymond Palatino, national president and nominee of Kabataan Party-list.

“We are not too naïve to have hoped that these elections may be different from the past ones. But we also do not have to be political analysts or election experts to perceive that the 2007 elections is not what the administration, the Comelec or the AFP paint it to be.”

Palatino cited the continuing culture of impunity marring every election, these elections no exemption with more than 100 election-related killings.

He also said that the Comelec appears to be turning a blind eye to numerous cases of electoral fraud and violence being reported in various media outfits and poll watch institutions. “These are not isolated cases but the reality of perhaps the most dirty electoral process in the country and what we have are Comelec and administration officials patting each others’ backs for a so-called job well done.

Palatino added that youth voters have also expressed disappointment over the lack of transparency and the ‘marginalization of party-lists’ in the ongoing media and NAMFREL quick counts.

“We demand that media counts and especially NAMFREL give due attention and import to party-list election results. We are placing much faith in party-lists that truly represent marginalized sectors like the youth. The lack of transparency in the party-list elections contribute greatly to the administration’s ploy to downplay and destroy the very objective of the party-list system,” Palatino said.

Kabataan party-list said that it is also conducting its own quick-count in coordination with Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Anakpawis and Suara Bangsamoro. Results of the quick count will be divulged to the media later this week ‘to counter NAMFREL’s apparent malicious trending in the party-list election results.’ ###

Members of Kabataan Partylist, students of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and local residents camped out in front of the baranggay hall of Teresa in Sta. Mesa that has been occupied by soldiers for several months now in anticipation of the imminent of pullout of military troops in Metro Manila.

Kabataan Partylist President and First Nominee Raymond Palatino however said the order for troop pullout is not enough to dispel doubts over the military’s non-partisanship in this elections and dispel fears of massive electoral fraud.

“Military troops may have already been pulled out from Metro Manila communities before the elections but we still have the main fraud operator at the helm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” Palatino pointed out.

Palatino accused AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon of masterminding the new plot to rig the results of the 2007 midterm elections dubbed as Oplan Mercury Rising.

He said massive electoral fraud has already begun to take place less than a week before election day with no less than the infamous “Garci general” serving as its main operator.

“History is repeating itself. The same personalities who figured prominently in the massive vote rigging in 2004 rigging are also the ones being accused of electioneering in this elections.”

“Unfortunately, it will be easier for election operators in the military to manipulate the outcome of this elections with Gen. Esperon at the helm of AFP,” he added.

Palatino said Gen. Esperon’s continued stay in power will continue to cast doubts over the neutrality of the military and the credibility and integrity of the upcoming polls.

“For as long as Gen. Esperon remains the front man and the main operator of the AFP, the youth and the public cannot hope for a truly clean and honest 2007 elections.”

Meanwhile, Palatino called on patriotic junior officers and rank and file soldiers to come out and speak up against military electioneering.

“We call on our fellow youth and patriotic officers to defend democracy and the integrity of the upcoming elections. Let us not allow these election operators at the chain of command to use the military establishment to manipulate the outcome of this elections.”

Junior officers urged to speak up vs military electioneering

The Kabataan Partylist today said massive electoral fraud has already begun to take place less than a week before election day with no less than the AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon serving as its main operator.

The youth partylist accused of the Garci general of masterminding the new plot to rig the results of the 2007 midterm elections dubbed as Oplan Mercury Rising which was recently disclosed by an election watchdog.

“History is repeating itself. The same personalities who figured prominently in the massive vote rigging in 2004 rigging are also the ones being accused of electioneering in this elections,” Kabataan Partylist President and First Nominee Raymond Palatino said.

“Unfortunately, it will be easier for election operators in the military to manipulate the outcome of this elections with Gen. Esperon at the helm of AFP,” he added.

Palatino said Gen. Esperon’s continued stay in power will continue to cast doubts over the neutrality of the military and the credibility and integrity of the upcoming polls.

“For as long as Gen. Esperon remains the front man and the main operator of the AFP, the youth and the public cannot hope for a truly clean and honest 2007 elections.”

Meanwhile, Palatino called on patriotic junior officers and rank and file soldiers to come out and speak up against military electioneering.

“We call on our fellow youth and patriotic officers to defend democracy and the integrity of the upcoming elections. Let us not allow these election operators at the chain of command to use the military establishment to manipulate the outcome of this elections.”

Slams illegal arrest, detention of organizer in Ormoc

Kabataan party-list, the leading youth party-list participating in the elections, is set to hold an Espana-wide noise barrage later this afternoon for clean and honest elections.

The activity dubbed, “Kalampagin ang Espana: Tie A Blue Ribbon against electoral fraud and for youth representation in Congress” will commence at exactly 5:00 in the afternoon in various points along Espana in Manila.

Kabataan members and supporters from Welcome Rotonda, Blumentritt, Sampaloc, Lacson, UST, Miguelin, Riles, Algeciras and Trabajo Market will all converge along Espana with their noise-makers to register the youth party-list’s clamor for clean and honest elections.

“With barely a week before Election Day and killings and political repression still rampant, the youth and the people are given no reason to believe that massive electoral fraud and violence are at bay. We call on all concerned and democracy-loving citizens to join our crusade against electoral fraud and violence. Let us all fight for our stake for a promising future for the youth,” said Raymond Palatino, national president and nominee.

Palatino cited the most recent cases of political repression namely Makati Rep. Jejomar Binay’s ‘midnight suspension’ and the harassment against Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casino and his companions in a motorcade in Ormoc yesterday as omens of more rampant suppression of the political opposition ahead.

One of Casino’s companions, Rolando ‘Jun-Jun’ Cabato, 21 years old, and a Kabataan organizer in Ormoc, was illegally abducted by elements of the AFP’s 19th IB. He remains missing to date.

He also criticized the government’s lack of political will to put a stop to electoral-related violence which escalated these past weeks. More than 100 have already fallen victim to electoral-related violence.

“We cannot hope to have fraud-free and peaceful elections for as long as the military remains at the cudgels of supposed ‘peace and order’ operations for the elections. The government cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the fact that in some, in fact most, cases of repression and violence, the military is involved,” said Palatino.

Palatino announced that the youth party-list will commence with a ‘Three-Day Countdown’ for clean and honest elections from May 10-12. The countdown will kick-off with a massive ‘cyber-countdown’ of young Filipino bloggers who are also supporters of Kabataan.

On May 11, Kabataan party-list will stage a nationally-coordinated noise barrage. The countdown will end with a vigil in front of the Commission on Elections on May 12. ###.

Troop deployment will aggravate, not curb, poll violence

Kabataan Party-list, the only youth party-list participating in the May polls, today stressed that more army checkpoints and troop deployments will not curb but aggravate poll-related violence.

The youth party-list delivered this statement following President Gloria Arroyo’s order for troops to ‘assist’ the Philippine National Police to stop poll violence.

“We are finding it very hard to grasp Pres. Arroyo’s logic. We think that DOJ Sec. Gonzales may be rubbing on her; it is twisted and downright insensitive. How can she say that the military’s more active role in the elections will curb violence when illegal troop deployment has been tainting the credibility of the election process at the onset?”, said Raymond Palatino, national president and nominee.

“This is what happens when we have an administration which unthingkingly applies militarist measures to every conceived national problem,” said Palatino.

Palatino added that it is the job of the Commission on Elections and the Philippine National Police to ensure that no blood be shed this election period.

“The implementation of the ‘gun-ban’, for instance, need not be used as justification by the administration to employ army intervention in the elections. It is a job for the Comelec and unarmed PNP to strictly implement. But these past few weeks, we have been hearing of gun-related poll violence in the news and what has the Comelec done? Nothing.,” said Palatino.

“We are also very uncomfortable with the knowledge that AFP-manned checkpoints will be put up in so-called election hot spots. We have not forgotten the AFP’s involvement in the Hello Garci scandal. The way we see it, AFP intervention will not only aggravate poll violence but will also provide a condition for massive electoral fraud,” Palatino said. ###

PHOTOS AND TEXT BY KATHERINE P. TOLARBA AND GLOREI ALLELU N. LINDIO
Bulatlat

Wearing self-made clothes that portray different issues during elections, Kabataan Party-List members ramped on stage along Araneta Avenue, Tatalon, Quezon City.

The April 24 fashion show featured different election-related issues that hound the May 2007 elections and the youth’s tasks to ensure clean and honest elections.

“It is a colorful, creative, entertaining youthful kind of campaigning at the same time educational,” said Raymond Palatino, the youth party-list group’s first nominee.

Kabataan Party-List is the only accredited progressive youth party-list group participating in the 2007 elections.

With its new brand of politics — politics of hope, struggle and change — Kabataan Party-List seeks to usher in new blood into Philippine politics, away from the kind of leadership that the traditional politicians and dynasties have for the government.

“We need a change,” Palatino said. “The nation needs young, vibrant and innovative minds that will restore integrity and morality in governance and lead the nation to genuine progress and social change.”

The Kabataan Party-List fashion show portrayed the political repression in the country. Bulatlat

Against troop deployment, electoral fraud; For youth representation in Congress

Kabataan Party-list, the leading and only youth party-list participating these elections, today called on its constituents and the public to ‘Tie a blue ribbon’ against troop deployment and electoral fraud; and for youth representation in Congress.

The youth party-list made the announcement in its weekly ‘noise barrage for clean and honest 2007 elections’ held in Philcoa, Quezon City later this afternoon.

“We are gratified by the fact that our efforts did not lead to naught. The present awareness and vigilance of the youth and public against AFP meddling and efforts by the executive branch to destroy the electoral process, particularly the party-list system, are results of our never-ending information campaign against electoral fraud and violence,” said Raymond Palatino, National President and Nominee of Kabataan Party-list.

“With only over two weeks before the elections, we are in the homestretch and it has come to a point where we are appealing to voters to really, truly look throw in their weight into the campaign against electoral fraud and violence. May 14 is not the finish line. We still have a long way ahead in ensuring a truly clean and honest 2007 elections,” Palatino said.

Kabataan Party-list also announced that it will embark on a “15-day Road Trip” starting today, April 27, for a broader, more massive campaign against electoral fraud and for youth representation in Congress.

Nominees and supporters of the youth party-list are set to tie blue ribbons along posts and establishment in Timog, Tomas Morato and Malate later tonight.

“If the AFP and PNP is launching their own so-called PR blitz, Kabataan Party-list will have its own information-dissemination campaign to unleash. Who will be more credible? Let the youth and the public decide.”

“Let’s paint the town blue,” Palatino said. ###