Here are the downloadable .PDF files of the controversial memo and partylist campaign plan from the Office of External Affairs directly under Malacanang.
Read the documents:
OEA Memorandum
Party-list campaign plan
Read the pcij report here.
Related KABATAAN statements and articles here.
The Kabataan Partylist today called on government-sponsored partylist groups Agbiag, Babae Ka, LYPAD and Kalahi to give up their electoral bid out of delicadeza.
“These groups should at least have the decency to drop out of the partylist race and let genuine and independent partylist groups contend for representation in Congress,” Kabataan Partylist President Raymond Palatino said.
“If they still have some degree of self-respect left, they should no longer wait for a disqualification from the Commission on Elections to withdraw from the elections,” he added.
Palatino said this new development in the partylist elections should compel COMELEC to seriously look into the matter and seek the immediate disqualification of these pseudo-partylist organizations.
“If COMELEC is really serious in ensuring the credibility of the upcoming polls, it should immediately declare these OEA-initiated partylist groups ineligible.”
He said COMELEC’s failure to act on this matter is tantamount to being the Arroyo government’s unwilling accomplice in bastardizing the partylist elections.
“COMELEC has not yet recovered from the serious blows on credibility that it suffered from allegations of massive electoral fraud in the last elections. This new allegation of irregularities in the partylist elections could further erode the remaining confidence of the electorate on COMELEC and on the electoral system.”
Palatino added that COMELEC should also investigate other partylist groups that are being associated with Armed Forces of the Philippines and local political dynasties that are allied with the administration.
“Malacanang apparently is not the only one fielding or funding partylist groups in this elections. Local politicians or local warlords have also established bogus partylist organizations.”
Palatino added that some established political dynasties have already penetrated the partylist system by forming partylist groups in order to get more pork barrel funds for personal enrichment.
“Instead of empowering the poor, the partylist system is now being used by traditional politicians to extend their sphere of influence.”
He added that legitimate party-list groups are “virtually defenseless” against this blatant form of intrusion on the part of the government.
“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.”
The country’s leading youth partylist group today denounced the President’s Office for External Affairs for planning to subvert the partylist elections by directly organizing and financing at least five fake partylists.
“Young Filipinos have wanted a partylist representative as early as 2004 but the Hello Garci operations favoring Mrs. Arroyo and pro-Arroyo partylist groups cheated us of victory. Now the OEA wants nine to 12 seats by hook or by crook — the administration wants to have a repeat of Hello Garci to cheat genuine partylists and favor pro-Arroyo fakes,” said Kabataan Partylist nominee Enrico Almonguerra.
In a memorandum dated Oct. 2006, the OEA’s Asst. Sec. Marcelo T. Fariñas, head of the agency’s Special Concerns Group, proposed to President Arroyo full administration support for “partylist groups ascertained to be pro-administration and ensure the winning of nine to 12 seats in the House.” The amount of P5.5-million was requested to cover the period of Oct.-Dec. 2006 for five to eight pro-Arroyo partylists.
The OEA memorandum identified the pro-Arroyo partylists as follows: Babae Ka formed by OEA Director Nerissa Garcia, Lypad Partylist organized by Director Melvin Mitra, and Kalahi initiated by Director Poe Gratela. Others named in the document were the Alliance of Neo-Conservatives, Abono, Kasangga and Aging Pinoy.
“We call on all young voters to be vigilant, shun the fakes and support Kabataan Partylist,” said Almonguerra. “These fakes will only represent GMA, not the youth who want good government and legislation for education, employment and empowerment.”
“Lypad actually stands for Liars to the Youth, Paid Arroyo Defenders. We are sure the young voters will reject them,” said Almonguerra who said that the first nominee of Lypad went to a son of Team Unity senatorial candidate Jamalul Kiram III.
Kabataan first ran for partylist representation in 2004 but fell short by 30,000 votes to obtain the two percent requirement for one seat. The Hello Garci telephone conversations included the padding of votes for pro-Arroyo partylists.
“While genuine partylists labor everyday to mount a credible nationwide campaign to get elected fair and square, President Arroyo’s favored partylists are having a fun time wasting away public funds,” said Almonguerra.
Almonguerra said President Arroyo may be impeached if her administration is proven to have meddled in the partylist system.
“Mrs. Arroyo has a reverse Midas touch. She has sabotaged many institutions like the presidency, the military and police, and the Lower House. Now, she wants to touch the partylist system and turn it into shit,” said the youth leader. “We won’t allow that to happen.”
Youth partylist seeks Recom’s disqualification
Reference: Kabataan Partylist Caloocan City Chapter
Members of Kabataan Partylist in Caloocan City today picketed outside the residence of reelectionist Caloocan City Mayor Recom Echiverri to protest the detention and harassment of five of its members.
The youth complainants said they were subjected to verbal abuse, harassment and illegal detention and one of them even experienced physical attack from Mayor Echiverri himself.
The victim, who refused to give his name for security reasons, said they were just posting Kabataan campaign materials along Tirona St. in Bagong Barrio, Caloocan in the early hours of April 14 when several policemen apprehended them and forced them in a van.
The complainant said they were readily arrested by the police officers after being caught removing a poster of Echiverri that was covering a Kabataan streamer earlier placed in the area.
“Bumaba kaadad yung mga pulis at pilit kaming pinasakay sa van. Nung tumanggi kami, tinutukan nila kami ng .45 at baby armalite at sinabihang ‘matigas kayo, gusto n’yong palambutin naming kayo?’ (The policemen quickly alighted the vehicle and told us to enter the van. When we refused, they pointed a 45 caliber pistol and a baby armalite at us and said “matigas kayo, gusto n’yong palambutin naming kayo?”),” the complainant narrated.
Instead of bringing them to a precint, he said they were brought to the residence of Echiverri and were presented before the incumbent mayor.
“Pilit niya kaming pinapaamin na may pulitikong nasa likod numg ginawa naming pagbabaklas sa poster niya. Binatukan pa nga niya ako. (He was forcing us to admit that there was a politician behind all of these things. He even hit me in the head.”
He said the Echiverri’s interrogation lasted for an hour before he asked the policemen to imprison them.
They were only released around 9 o’clock in the morning when a parent of one of the apprehended youth appealed to Echiverri.
“Dapat yung insidente na ito ay magbukas sa mata ng mga taga-Caloocan sa klase ng mayor na mayroon tayo rito. Kung kaya niyang gawin ito sa mga kabataan, kayang-kaya rin niya itong gawin sa iba (This incident should be an eye-opener to the people of Caloocan of the kind of mayor we have right now. If he can do these things to ordinary youth, he certainly can do it to other people.)”
He said they are planning to file a formal complaint against Echiverri and seek his possible disqualification for his conduct.
“Ang mga taong katulad niya ay di na dapat mahalal muli. Di na kami papayag na magdusa na naman ang mga taga-Caloocan sa korupsyon at pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan sa susunod na tatlong taon sa ilalim ni Recom (People like him don’t deserve another term. We will not allow ourselves to suffer from corruption and abuse of power for the next three years under Recom).”
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=61223
Bayan Muna, youth party protest detention of two members
By Jolene Bulambot
Inquirer
Last updated 11:18pm (Mla time) 04/18/2007
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Bearing placards, 20 members of two party-list groups protested the alleged abduction and detention of their two members in front of the city courthouse.
The members of the Bayan Muna and the Kabataan party-list groups held a brief silent protest in front of the Marcelo Fernan Hall of Justice in uptown Cebu City to call the public’s attention to the detention of Beethoven Avila, 28, Cebu City South district coordinator of the
Avila said unidentified men also took him into a waiting van upon his arrival from Cagayan City at Pier 5 at 8 a.m. on April 12.
He said he was hit several times on the thighs and the body while being interrogated.
“Still blindfolded and handcuffed, they hit me on the chest, head and thigh as they wanted to force me to admit involvement with the revolutionary armed movement which I vehemently denied,” Avila said in his affidavit. He also named Naldoza as one of his interrogators.
Both Daño and Avila said they were brought to the Toledo City hall on April 13 and were later released to the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division (RIID) of the Police Regional Office in the evening.
Senior Superintendent Augusto Marquez, the RIID chief, said the military endorsed Daño and Avila to their unit after the two were arrested based on a warrant of arrest for murder charges.
Marquez, however, said both activists were later released after the Regional Trial Court in Toledo City remanded the murder case to the city prosecutor for re-investigation and temporarily set aside the arrest warrants.
However, Marquez refused to name the military unit that endorsed Daño and Avila to his office.
Bayan Muna Cebu secretary general Armand Perez said they would pursue the filing of criminal and administrative charges against some military officials for kidnapping and electioneering before the Ombudsman this week.
Related stories:
Soldiers grab party-list staff (Sun Star Cebu)
Legitimate arrest, says police: Militant leaders claim abduction (The Freeman Cebu)
Probe on alleged abduction of 2 militant leaders urged (The Freeman Cebu)
Party-list groups ready harassment charges vs. military (The Freeman Cebu)
Garci General will taint credibility of May polls
Giving street protests a new twist, members of Kabataan Partylist together with hip-hop groups transformed campaign slogans and speeches into rap music to convey the youth’s demand for the immediate dismissal of Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Hermogenes Esperon.
Wearing “bling-blings” that spell out their demands and holding placards written in graffiti style, Kabataan Partylist said the dismissal of General Esperon, who figured prominently in the Hello Garci scandal in the 2004 elections, is necessary in ensuring a clean and honest elections.
Kabataan Partylist president and first nominee Raymond Palatino said rap music has always been a music of protest which was also used during the anti-slavery movement and civil rights movement in the United States.
“Rap music shows both the youth’s creativity and innovativeness in using words and at the same time serves as an effective medium in conveying the youth’s clamor for honest and orderly elections,” Palatino explained.
Various student and youth leaders also delivered their speeches using rap to further explain General Esperon’s role in the massive electoral fraud in the last elections and his possible involvement in new efforts to rig the results of the upcoming polls.
Singing “Esperon, operator sa halalan, utak pa sa dayaan,” the group said Gen. Esperon was one of the four generals mentioned in the Hello Garci tapes which suggest their possible involvement in the alleged manipulation of election results.
Two stanzas in Kabataan’s main rap jingle spoke of the general’s role in the implementation of the Oplan Bantay Laya 2 which led to the deployment of military troops and alleged electioneering of military personnel.
“Now Bantay Laya binaba, mil. deployment sa Maynila, nananakot naninira, sa ayaw magpakatuta.”
“Harassment, abduction, killing, militarization, kahit labag sa Constitution, Army aktibo sa election.”
“It is for these reasons that we deem it improper and highly suspect that Gen. Esperon remain at the leash of the AFP during this electoral period.”
“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.”
A Genuine Call from Youth and Students for Clean and Honest 2007 Elections
Dismiss Esperon!
Garci General will taint credibility of May polls
Kabataan Party-list, the sole youth party-list participating in the May polls, calls on the government to immediately dismiss and relieve Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon from office.
For as long as Gen. Esperon remains the front man and main operator of the AFP, the youth and the public cannot hope for a truly clean and honest 2007 elections.
It is not a secret how Gen. Esperon has managed to get himself implicated in numerous cases of electoral fraud, repression, violence and corruption.
To this date, his involvement in the Hello Garci scandal remains unresolved.
Gen. Esperon was one of the four generals mentioned in the Hello Garci tapes which suggest their possible involvement in the alleged manipulation of election results. His appointment as AFP Chief of Staff led many to believe that he was chosen for his “instrumental role” in ushering Pres. Gloria Arroyo to victory in the 2004 elections.
In fact, when Gen. Esperon who served as the AFP deputy chief of staff for operations and deputy commander of Task Force HOPE (Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Elections) in the May 2004 elections was promoted as Philippine Army Chief in 2005, critics attested that he was being ‘rewarded for services rendered.’
Consequently, these caused a controversial delay in his appointment as AFP Chief of Staff. The Commission on Appointments’ defense panel deferred Gen. Esperon’s promotion to the rank of leiutenant general. The CA said that the AFP had to “clear” Gen. Esperon first of his involvement in the Hello Garci scandal.
The fact-finding report which was kept from the public for six months cleared Gen. Esperon of the accusations but speculations and apprehensions remain as to his real involvement in the controversy. As a matter of fact, his being implicated in the Hello Garci scandal remains a big factor in the deep plunge of his trust ratings in the latest surveys.
Gen. Esperon is also the main author and operator of Oplan Bantay Laya 2, the government and military’s counter-insurgency plan.
Oplan Bantay Laya 2 is the main reason behind the unexplained and illegal deployment of military troops in schools and communities. Despite protests from students, residents, opposition candidates, progressive party-lists and concerned citizens, Gen. Esperon remains steadfast in justifying the presence of army troops in urban areas. He had even blatantly stated that the deployment is part and parcel of Oplan Bantay Laya 2 despite its clear violation of the Memorandum of Agreement between the Commission on Elections and AFP prohibiting any military involvement in the electoral process.
Gen. Esperon has also proven time and again his loyalty lies not for the Filipino public but for those responsible for his appointment.
He is one of the administration’s staunchest defenders in the issues of political repression and extra-judicial killings – both with the military as prime suspects and perpetrators.
It is for these reasons that we, youth, students and concerned young citizens, deem it improper and highly suspect that Gen. Esperon remain at the leash of the AFP during this electoral period.
We reiterate that for as long as Gen. Esperon remains AFP Chief of Staff, the youth and the general public cannot be assuaged of misgivings about massive electoral fraud and violence these coming May polls.
We call on the government to refrain from tainting the electoral process by immediately dismissing Gen. Esperon as AFP Chief of Staff.
Along with this is that demand for the immediate pull out of military troops from schools and communities.
We also call on all democracy and peace-loving youth and citizens to unite with us in this noble campaign for a fraud-free and non-violent May 2007 elections.
“Apparently, Malacanang is not the only one fielding or funding partylist groups in this elections. Local politicians or local warlords have also established bogus partylist organizations.”
Kabataan Partylist President and First Nominee Raymond Palatino said some established political dynasties have already penetrated the partylist system by forming partylist groups in order to get more pork barrel funds for personal enrichment.
“Instead of empowering the poor, the partylist system is now being used by traditional politicians to extend their sphere of influence.”
Palatino, who just came from campaign sorties in Ilocandia, identified the Ortega clan in La Union as one of these dynasties whom he said is behind the Abono Partylist which claims to represent a marginalized sector of our society.
“We received reports from our members and students in La Union that this dynasty ordered all incumbent officials and candidates, from provincial to barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officers to endorse and campaign for Abono Partylist.”
“We also got complaints from our chapters in La Union that officials affiliated with the Ortega clan are preventing other partylist groups including Kabataan from campaigning in their districts,” he added.
“There is nothing wrong with partylist groups soliciting the support of local politicians. But it is unfair and illegal for local politicians to establish a partylist group, proclaim that it is a group of disempowered Filipinos and use massive resources to ensure its victory. It is unjust for local politicians to bar other partylist groups from campaigning just to please the local kingpin of the province. This is not how the partylist system works. This is not how to strengthen our democracy.”
“There are 93 partylist groups participating in the 2007 elections. How many of these groups are truly representative of the underprivileged sectors of our society? While we contend with very little resources, some groups find it easy to mount an expensive campaign since they are shameless dummies of traditional politicians.”
“We are gathering more evidences and strongly considering filing a petition for the Commission on Elections to look into the matter,” he said, adding that Kabataan Partylist and a group of student volunteers are already conducting an extensive research on partylist groups that are being funded or that were formed by political dynasties in different parts of the country.
Meanwhile, Palatino reiterated the call for COMELEC to publicize the list of partylist nominees. He added that Kabataan Partylist will be pushing for the amendment of the partylist law after elections to prevent unscrupulous politicians from bastardizing the partylist system.
“We urge the Commission on Elections to be more discerning in recognizing partylist groups. We support the proposal to publish the list of nominees of partylist candidates. We will not be surprised if scions of political dynasties are among the nominees of some partylist groups.”
“We hope the people will not be coerced into voting dummy partylist groups of traditional politicians. We hope they will realize the evil machinations of local politicians in forming these groups.”
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view_article.php?article_id=59136
By Jeffrey M. Tupas
Inquirer
Last updated 03:12am (Mla time) 04/08/2007
WHAT could be more convincing than seeing Angel Locsin, Dennis Trillo and other movie and rock stars come together to urge the youth to be over-audacious and brassy in confronting society’s ills today? (more…)
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=71570
Hundreds of toga-wearing supporters held a “graduation march” Tuesday in front of the Commission on Elections main office in Intramuros, Manila to support the filing of candidacies of nominees of the Kabataan party-list group. (more…)
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 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…)
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…)
Raymond Palatino, national president and 1st nominee
March 1, 2007
visit his blog
I met with political science students last Thursday and I shared some of our legislative proposals. Here is an excerpt of my speech…. (more…)
Raymond Palatino, Kabataan Partylist president and 1st nominee
I’ve been trying to write this article for many weeks but I could only think of reasons why the youth should not vote. I could always imagine young voters questioning the worthiness of participating in the elections. Why vote if ‘Garcis’ of this world will count the ballots? Why encourage my family and friends to be active in politics if election campaigning is doomed to be violent? Why support a candidate if he/she will turn out to be a monster in the future anyway?
These are valid questions. These are legitimate apprehensions. These may be reasons why many young people refuse to be involved in the elections. I also have these misgivings about the coming elections.
Ditching a dirty political exercise is justifiable. It is also an easy decision to make. But I need not surrender to cynicism everyday.
If elections is filthy, let’s make it less filthy. If elections is dominated by the elite, let’s make the elite listen to our problems. If elections is a popularity contest, let’s demand a concrete platform from all candidates. (more…)