Karapatan: Hold Marcos & Duterte accountable! Impeach Sara Duterte Now!
KARAPATAN rallied support for the People’s Protest Against Poverty, Corruption and Impunity on January 31st at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila saying that its call for accountability has gained added significance, with three pending impeachment complaints filed against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte at the House of Representatives, a disbarment case against former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte pending at the Supreme Court and an ongoing investigation at the International Criminal Court on the extrajudicial killings and crimes against humanity in Duterte’s drug war.
Organized by the Taumbayan Ayaw sa Magnanakaw at Abusado Network Alliance (TAMA NA), the mass gathering aims to demand urgent action from the Marcos Jr. regime in exacting accountability from the Dutertes — with respect to the elder Duterte, for violations of the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA) and for conduct unbecoming a lawyer, and an ICC probe; and with respect to Sara Duterte, for misuse of hundreds of millions of pesos worth of government funds. TAMA NA also organized protests in Cebu City, Bacolod City, Iloilo and Naga City.
“Instead of leading the charge, however, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been reining in moves to impeach Sara Duterte,” said Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay. “Also, he has not officially endorsed cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC) to have Rodrigo Duterte arrested and prosecuted for tens of thousands of drug war-related killings,” she added.
“Although he is hellbent on monopolizing power and all its perks,” said Palabay, “Marcos Jr. is heeding his imperialist master’s admonitions not to cause instability in the ruling system.”
“Marcos Jr. not only refuses to act, his government is repeating the same human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law that characterized his predecessor’s regime,” stressed Palabay.
“In the face of Marcos Jr.’s dilly-dallying, the Duterte disbarment case is being pushed as an initiative from victims of Duterte’s brutal drug war and counter-insurgency drive,” she added.
“The people will be speaking with one voice today to make Marcos Jr. heed their demands for justice not just for the lives cut short under Duterte’s watch and for the monies squandered by Sara Duterte that could have funded urgently needed social services,” said Palabay. “They also seek action on the burning issues of soaring prices, low wages, widespread poverty and massive corruption in high places.”
“Marcos Jr. must not turn a deaf ear to the people’s clamor,” Palabay concluded.
Manifesto of Unity: Filipinos overseas call for a Family Living Wage in the Philippines
Groups of overseas Filipinos launched a worldwide campaign in support of a family living wage for private and public sector workers in the Philippines at an online press conference led by Migrante International on Wednesday.
Filipino migrants from the USA, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific expressed their support for a significant minimum wage hike on the basis of rising costs of basic goods and to address the growing number of Filipinos looking for work abroad rather than in their home country. The groups support calls of local workers for a Php 1,200 daily minimum wage in the private sector and a Php 33,000 monthly salary for public sector employees.
Migrante International echoed sentiments that basic goods costs are too high to be sustained by local workers’ wages and OFW remittances alike.
“Hindi sumasapat ang kasalukuyang sahod na kinikita ng ating mga manggagawang Pilipino para mabuhay ng disente ang kanilang pamilya,” said Josie Pingkihan, Deputy Secretary General of Migrante International.
Militant trade union center Kilusang Mayo Uno is among the groups leading the call for Php 1,200 a family living wage for workers.
“Ang manggagawa ay baon sa utang, malnourished at hindi nakakapag-aral ang aming anak dahil napakababa ang aming sahod…sinalubong pa tayo ng pagtaas ng presyo ng kuryente, tubig, SSS, at krudo,” said Jerome Adonis, Kilusang Mayo Uno Secretary General and Makabayan senatoriable. “Hindi hugot sa hangin ang Php 1,200 family living wage. Iyan ang kinakailangan para mabuhay ang isang pamilyang Pilipino sa harap ng pagtaas ng mga presyo ng bilihin.”
At the press conference, groups of overseas Filipinos released their manifesto of unity for a family living wage in the Philippines. Over 156 organizations of OFWs and overseas Filipinos from five global regions signed the manifesto as of the press conference.
“Our families should not have to constantly rely on the remittances born from our working two, to three, or even more jobs under exploitative and dangerous conditions. And as workers in our host countries, we will continue to stand in solidarity with our fellow workers in their just calls for a living wage,” stated migrant groups in their manifesto.
The manifesto concluded by calling on President Marcos Jr. to address low wages, working conditions, landlessness, and harassment and attacks faced by poor workers and farmers all over the country.
End the basis of human trafficking abroad by raising wages in the Philippines
Among the organizations who raised support for a Philippine minimum wage hike is the Hong Kong-based Filipino Migrant Workers Union. The migrants union asserts that a family living wage in the Philippines will help families through current economic hardships.
“Gagaan din para sa amin kung tataas ang ang sahod ng aming mga kaanak at pamilya. Magiging katuwang namin sana sila at hindi na lamang sa aming remittances nakaasa,” said Sherry Siganay, Secretary General of the Filipino Migrant Workers Union.
OFWs in the Middle East, still enraged in the wake of the killing of Dafne Nacalaban, called for a Philippine wage hike as a lasting solution to the worsening cases of abuse of overseas Filipinos.
“Mula noong 2007 pa, marami kaming mga migranteng manggagawa dito na nakakatanggap lang ng maliit na pasahod. Hindi ito makakatustos sa pang-araw-araw na bilihin,” said Ryan Morales of Migrante UAE. “Hindi tumataas ang sahod dito…kaya mahigpit kaming nakikiisa sa mga manggagawang Pilipino para itaas ang sahod sa Pilipinas.”
Filipinos in Europe also stressed the need for a family living wage in the Philippines to combat worsening OFW abuses in Eastern Europe that followed large-scale recruitment of Filipinos into the continent.
“Nakakaloko si Mr. Marcos noong sinabi niyang may malaking labor market na naghihintay sa Europa para sa mga Pilipino. Walang pakundangan niyang ibenenta ang lakas-paggawa ng ating mga kababayan,” said June Mark Yañez of the Filipino Ecumenical Diaspora in Europe. “Mabilis ang pag-recruit ng mga manggagawang Pilipino patungo sa Eastern Europe. Kasabay ng pagtaas na ito ay ang mga kaso ng pag-abuso, paglabag sa kontrata, at pananamantala sa mga migranteng Pilipino.”
Canada-based overseas Filipinos claim that the local economic crisis in the Philippines breeds an environment for the rampant human trafficking of Filipino workers.
“Sinasamantala ng mga labour trafficker at illegal recruiter ang mga kahinaang ito sa ekonomiya sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng mga mapanlinlang na pangako ng disenteng trabaho, na kadalasang humahantong sa mapagsamantalang kondisyon sa paggawa o trafficking,” said Chris Sorio of Migrante Canada.
“Ang isang Family living wage ay makakabawas sa pinansiyal na desperasyon na nagtutulak sa mga manggagawa na tumanggap ng mga mapagsamantalang kontrata at magtiis sa mapang alipin na kalagayan sa paggawaan,” continued Sorio.
Amid threats of mass deportation under the second Trump government, Migrante USA called for wage hikes and jobs at home to support thousands of vulnerable and undocumented Filipinos.
“Mayroong halos 387,000 hanggang 1 milyong undocumented Pilipino sa US. Karamihan ay naging bulnerable sa abuso at pagsasamantala ng kanilang amo,” said Lester Ramos, human trafficking survivor and member of Migrante USA. “Kaya narinig ko ang pahayag [ng Ambassador ng Pilipinas sa US na si] Jose Romualdez na ang mga walang papeles ay dapat mag-self-deport nang hindi nag-aalok ng tulong o mga garantisadong trabaho kapag bumalik sila sa Pilipinas, nadismaya talaga ako.”
“Walang sinuman sa atin ang dapat makaranas ng ganoong kahirapan kabilang ang pamumuhay sa takot na maging undocumented kung mayroon tayong living wages sa Pilipinas para suportahan ang ating mga pamilya,” continued Ramos.
Migrante International concluded the press conference by calling on overseas Filipinos to support the upcoming nationwide protests against poverty, corruption, and a lack of accountability in the Philippine government on January 31 to begin realizing migrants’ calls to raise wages and lower the costs of basic goods in the Philippines.##
MIGRANTS FIGHT BACK! Filipino Migrants Fight Back Against US Imperialism under Trump
Migrante International stands with migrants and oppressed peoples around the world who must all confront the second presidency of Donald Trump. The resurgence of Trump’s fascist agenda is a serious threat to our peoples already struggling under worsening economic and political conditions. In the United States, Trump plans on waging large-scale racist crackdowns and attacks on migrants regardless of status. The rights of workers, women, the LGBTQ+, and oppressed peoples in the US are under grave peril. The incoming US government will be as unashamed as the current Biden administration in funding and arming the Zionist occupation in Palestine. In a vain attempt to cement declining American hegemony, the returning war criminal and fascist Trump will continue to carry out US militarist plans to breed more tension, crises, and wars in more countries around the world, including the Philippines.
Filipino migrants across the globe and their families back home face immense challenges under a second Trump presidency in the US. Cases of labor exploitation, illegal recruitment, and human trafficking of Filipino migrants in the US continue to pile up with no sign of justice nor protections from the US and Philippine governments. We continue to call for the release of Ligaya Jensen, Dhenmark Francisco, and Jovi Esperanza, Filipinos wrongfully detained by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). With the backdrop of US economic stagnation, Trump and his anti-migrant agenda will make the lives of our community very difficult if we do not fight back together.
Among the first to congratulate and kowtow to Trump upon his electoral victory was none other than Philippine President Marcos Jr. In touting his continued puppetry as an “unshakeable alliance”, Marcos Jr. is signaling to the Filipino people that he has every intention to maintain America’s vice grip over our people. It does not matter to Marcos that OFWs are under threat of widespread crackdown and deportation. In compliance with US dictates that our country keeps exporting cheap Filipino labor for their profits, Marcos will continue to prioritize US interests over the people’s welfare so that America will keep him in power.
It is to the advantage of Trump that Marcos keeps the Philippine economy entangled with the US. Through America’s unequal economic, trade, and debt policies, millions of Filipinos are kept poor and unemployed. The imperialist Trump government will continue to coerce us to look for more stable livelihoods in countries like the US while scapegoating and attacking our communities for their economic decline. US domination strips Filipino migrants of dignities in every step of their sick cycle of forced migration.
Rather than protect our migrants, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Romualdez “advised” up to 309,000 undocumented Filipinos to deport themselves back to the homeland before American state forces get to them. In this respect, the Philippine government is cracking down on vulnerable OFWs on behalf of Trump and ICE. How can us migrants trust claims by the Philippine government that it is “ready to assist undocumented Filipinos” in the US? Through their consulates in the US, the same government is shutting OFW stakeholders out of any and all meetings on undocumented Filipinos. Now that overseas worker deployment is at 7,500 Filipinos per day, the Philippine government is doubling down on its mass export of cheap labor instead of providing us badly needed protections. Instead of calling for self-deportations, the Philippine government should provide all forms of social services to overseas Filipinos regardless of their documentation status.
Back home, a second Donald Trump presidency also spells worsening US militarism in the Philippines. In violation of our national sovereignty, the Philippines is once again rife with US military sites, war games, troop deployments, and heavy weapons placements. As he has done in his first term, the returning war criminal Trump will continue ramping up the presence and aggressive posturing of American military forces. We cannot stand idly as the US drags our homeland into their warmongering with China. Filipino migrants want to come home to a country that is truly independent and in peace, not a nation in ruins. We call on the Philippine government to end its American subservience and end the unequal treaties that give America license to turn our country into a battleground. Marcos must put an end to EDCA, VFA, and the so-called Mutual Defense Treaty.
In defiance of serious dangers from an openly anti-migrant and fascist US government, Migrante International and its member organizations in the US and around the world vow to keep waging brave struggles in defense of our fellow migrant workers and our homeland. We must dare to wage campaigns to unite our communities against US imperialism under Trump. Let us build deeper unities with exploited Filipinos at home and around the world towards our genuine alternative to migrant exploitation and neglect, racist crackdowns, and US domination. Together and towards our liberation, we can make Trump and his puppet Marcos pay for their oppression of our people.
Stop crackdowns on migrants!
No to EDCA! US troops, out now!
Imperyalismo, ibagsak!
BAYAN MUNA HK CONDEMNS COMELEC FOR VOTER DISENFRANCHISEMENT, PROTEST AT PCG
Bayan Muna HK firmly condemns the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) for its negligence in fulfilling the urgent need for comprehensive voter education. The partylist asserts that the Online Voting System (OVS) constitutes the worst form of disenfranchisement seen in this election cycle, as it poses significant barriers that could prevent many eligible voters from exercising their right to vote.
During a picket protest held at the Philippine Consulate General (PCG) on January 19, Bayan Muna HK expressed their outrage with COMELEC. Bayan Muna HK convenor Lai Besana stated, “”It is unacceptable that many voters are at risk of losing their right to vote due to a cumbersome process burdened by excessive requirements. We will not stand by while the 2025 election is jeopardized by this deliberate disenfranchisement.” She added that COMELEC’s blatant disregard for the importance of Filipino migrants’ votes appears to benefit political figures like Marcos and other traditional politicians who exert control over the commission.
Besana emphasized that the OVS requires voters to verify their email addresses and undergo a preparatory registration process for identification and biometric capture. Only by completing these steps can voters be assured that they can cast their votes. Furthermore, voters facing issues during the voting process must travel to the consulate to cast their votes, a situation reminiscent of the previous Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) experience, which involved long queues and significant delays.
“The OVS imposes burdensome requirements that could prevent people from voting. This process will discourage voters, especially those who can only participate on weekends,” Besana warned.
“If COMELEC is truly committed to ensuring that we vote, they must prioritize informing voters about how the online voting system works,” asserted Besana. “We should not have to wait for issues to arise before action is taken.” Concerns have been raised regarding transparency in the voting process, particularly the absence of receipts confirming the candidate’s voters have selected—previously provided in earlier elections.
Adding to the concerns, Bayan Muna HK has noted that when citizens raise grievances, the government’s response often involves intimidation rather than solutions. Recent cases against progressive leaders and candidates highlight the intensified political harassment faced by those advocating for the people’s issues, especially as elections draw near.
“In light of these alarming developments, we must unite to demand that COMELEC address our legitimate concerns for a smoother voting process,” concluded Lai Besana.
KARAPATAN: REPEAL TERROR LAWS, DISMISS TRUMPED UP CHARGES VS DISSENTERS, DEV’T WORKERS
Human rights alliance KARAPATAN deplored the Marcos Jr. administration’s increased political persecution of activists, dissenters and development workers through policies reportedly required by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global body that purportedly sets international standards to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing. The FATF is slated to have a meeting with Philippine government officials on January 20 to 21, 2025 in Manila.
“Marcos Jr. uses the FATF’s prescriptions to justify the crackdown on political dissent as well as development and humanitarian work through the domestic terrorist financing and anti-terrorism laws. His administration’s wanton and arbitrary freezing of bank accounts of non-governmental and faith-based organizations, as well as filing of criminal charges against development and church workers, are among the factors that belie his claims of a better human rights situation under his watch,” said KARAPATAN secretary general Cristina Palabay.
Marcos’ Project Exit Grey List sets quotas for cases filed using Republic Act No. 10168 or the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression law as proof of its commitment to the FATF standards, in its bid to be removed from the task force’s grey list. Since the enactment of Republic Act No. 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, there has been an uptick in the number of victims of the two terror laws, especially among church institutions and development NGOs. KARAPATAN documented at least 112 victims of the terror laws.
The warrants of arrests issued against development workers of the Paghida-et sa Kauswagan Development Group (PDG) in Negros and the trumped-up cases filed against United Methodist Church pastors in Zamboanga Sibugay are the most recent incidents that KARAPATAN has monitored and documented.
Meanwhile, NGOs such as the Leyte Center for Development (LCDe), Community Empowerment Resource Network (CERNET), and the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines, along with people’s organizations Cordillera People’s Alliance and Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women, continue to challenge the freezing of their bank accounts and the criminal cases filed against their members and leaders.
“The FATF’s role in determining such standards and recommendations should likewise be questioned, especially since the said body is a creation of the G7, a bloc of imperialists led by the United States, that weaponizes political and economic policies in their wars of aggression against independent states and national liberation movements,” Palabay said.
KARAPATAN reiterated its call for the repeal of the terror laws and the dismissal of the trumped-up charges using the said laws against dissenters and development workers.###
PROTESTS GREET SECOND TRUMP PRESIDENCY
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan joins the American people and anti-imperialist forces in denouncing the second Donald Trump presidency for being the biggest threat to world peace, justice, and democracy.
Protests during Trump’s inauguration reflect global outrage against the genocidal legacy of Joe Biden and the continuation of the fascist and imperialist agenda under the new administration.
Trump’s presidency will generate stronger resistance amid the intensifying rivalry of global superpowers. Like Biden, Trump seeks to preserve and expand US hegemony by containing rivals like Russia and China. This will lead to more troop deployments in the Asia-Pacific and the building of US military outposts in countries like the Philippines. Trump is expected to reward corrupt allies like Ferdinand Marcos Jr in exchange of allowing the US to conduct provocative military drills, store weapons of mass destruction, and install bases across the country. Since 2022, Marcos Jr has maliciously collaborated with his American patrons to advance the geopolitical agenda of US imperialism.
Bayan is strongly opposed to US military expansionism and the active role of US forces in escalating conflict and war-mongering in the region. We call for the immediate expulsion of US troops and the removal of all US military facilities, and the cancellation of onerous military agreements with foreign powers. We should not allow unhinged fascists and war criminals like Trump to use the Philippines as a staging ground to unleash war hysteria and conflict in this part of the world. Trump’s ascendancy is a reminder about the importance of pursuing an independent foreign policy in asserting our national interest.
We enjoin all Filipinos to show solidarity with Americans resisting the anti-labor, anti-migrant, and anti-poor policies of the outgoing and incoming US government. We call for more localized protests against all US bases in the Philippines, and the rejection of US-led military exercises and operations across the country.
(Photo from Kodao Productions)