December 10, 2008 Anti Charter Change, PRO CARPER and Electoral Reform Mobilization at Congress

Twenty-five years after Ninoy’s death, Philippine democracy once again is under serious threat. A just and lasting peace continues to be elusive, especially in Mindanao. Systemic corruption and abuse of power in the highest levels of government persists with impunity. The constitutional mandate for social justice through a more equitable distribution of wealth, particularly in the agrarian sector, is still unfulfilled. The continuing serious lack of transparency, accountability and integrity in government and the specter of self-serving charter change and even martial law are grave signs that the country confronts renewed authoritarianism.

But as in the dark days of the Marcos dictatorship when we faced repression, uncertainty and hopelessness, it was the courage, selflessness and faith of people like Ninoy Aquino and many other lesser known citizens responding to the call for political involvement, that generated a tide of resistance against dictatorship, clearing the way for democratization.  The times call for such heroic engagement and commitment.

Today as we continue our campaign for truth, accountability and reform, we support the authentic efforts to find a just and lasting peace in Mindanao, to address long-standing inequities of power and privilege, and to give voice to the marginalized among the lumad, Bangsa Moro and Christian communities. We call for genuine dialogue and consultation on the substance and implications of the draft GRP-MILF Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).  But we reject and will vigorously resist any attempt to use the sincere quest for peace to serve hidden selfish agenda, such as regime extension through charter change before the 2010 elections.  We believe a central reason why the draft MOA has generated so much suspicion and conflict is not only the lack of transparency and consultation in the negotiation process, but because it is being pushed by a government that has lost the people’s trust.

We will fight to defend democracy and the rule of law against its being undermined by violence and the failure to hold accountable those whose narrow and short-sighted interests have led to the weakening, even destruction of many of our political institutions.  We will oppose any attempt to cancel, postpone or change the nature of the 2010 elections or any effort to extend the term of officials who should step down by then. But we will also struggle to deepen Philippine democracy beyond its often formal and elitist character by working for reforms that will make the 2010 elections truly meaningful and empowering.  While electoral automation is a positive step forward, the integrity of the process needs to be safeguarded at various levels and phases – from voters’ registration and education, to campaign finance and electoral administration.  Moreover, we need to search zealously for and strengthen alternative politicians and parties who will be responsive to people’s real needs and aspirations.  We will monitor them and make them accountable for their promises.

But democracy will only become truly meaningful if the majority of our impoverished people have a real stake in its processes and outcomes.  This goal will only be achieved if we address the need for inclusive and sustainable development anchored in genuine asset reform and socioeconomic democracy. Thus we call for the reform and extension of CARP without the use of farmland as collateral.  We support the continuing organization and mobilization of basic sectors for full democratic participation.

August 21 symbolizes the ongoing task to defend and deepen democratic institutions threatened by self-serving interests.  In a moment of darkness, it also represents a time of hope — the awakening of social conscience and communal action to promote the common good.  It is from this reservoir of national memory and our capacity to transcend narrow concerns, that we can take personal and collective responsibility for bringing about peace, justice and genuine democracy.  With faith in God’s grace and saving power, we will find strength, inspiration and hope.

Itaguyod ang Katotohanan, Pananagutan at Tunay na Pagbabago!

BUSINA

Buong Bansa Sinisigaw: Tama Na! Itama Na!

21 August 2008

Lakbay-Kalampag Calatagan Farmers

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The March Of Our Sumilao Farmers

Statement Issued: July 24, 2008

The lack of transparency in the process of appointing the new Comelec Commissioners; the Non-passage of the much needed CARP Extension with Reform Bill; the Questionable appointment of Romulo Neri as the President and CEO of the Social Security System; the Blatant withholding of information on key government transactions and issues from the public. These are only some of the recent developments bearing heavily on our unceasing search for Truth, Accountability and Reform.

The actions of Malacanang with regard to these issues remain to be disturbingly familiar. The ills and malevolence in the government that we, as a people, have long been working to stop, continue to persist. Among them:

The lack of transparency in the process of appointing the new Comelec Commissioners

Election watchdogs that are part of the civil society Comelec search committee were left to wonder what procedures and rules were followed in the nomination process and where exactly the names of the two recently appointed Comelec commissioners came from. The utter lack of transparency in the process raises more doubts on the credibility of the poll body and the electoral process.

The Non-passage of the much needed bill on the CARP Extension with Reforms

Despite the certification of the bill on CARP extension with reforms by no less than President Arroyo as urgent, the 14^th congress failed to pass a law that would give hope to the millions of rural poor to have their own land. There are still close to 2 million hectares of land yet to be distributed to farmers, but without a new law, the social justice provision of the constitution on agrarian reform will remain unfulfilled.

Questionable appointment of Romulo Neri as President and CEO of the Social Security System

In spite of grave doubts on the independence and moral courage of Romulo Neri, he was still appointed as president and CEO of the SSS. This new appointment causes real concern among SSS members that their lifesavings may become hostage to narrow political ends.

Refusal to disclose information on matters affecting public interest

Consistent with its track record on such issues as Hello Garci scandal, the fertilizer scam, North Rail deal, the ZTE-NBN issue, and other government transactions, the Arroyo government has privileged secrecy by invoking executive privilege rather than upholding the constitutional right of the people to information on matters of public interest.

The ZTE-NBN controversy and other issues may appear to have dissipated but the crux of our problem remains unaddressed. Under the Arroyo regime, serious questions about utter lack of transparency and accountability, systemic corruption, and blatant abuse of power, have remained unanswered and unresolved.

Genuine reforms and the kind of good governance that the Filipino people truly deserve are being sacrificed for the sake of self-serving gains and short-term political considerations. The imperative of social justice and the call for Truth, Accountability and long-term Reforms have become even more urgent.

In the light of these recent events, we call upon all Filipinos to join us in continuously seeking for the TRUTH, demanding public ACCOUNTABILITY and pushing for long-term REFORMS. Our inaction contributes to the whole problem and it only emboldens those who are making a mockery of our democracy, institutions and of our collective human dignity.

Upon careful reflection, we hereby reiterate our calls for the following:

1. Upholding the Truth:

a. Defend the truth amidst malicious attempts to muddle it

b. Provide support to whistleblowers by offering sanctuaries and financial support

c. Call on those with knowledge to speak up on corruption and abuse of power

d. Call on the government not to hide behind the “executive privilege” on matters that gravely affect public interests

e. Establish truth centers for awareness-building, reflection and formation toward socio-political engagement

2. Promoting Accountability:

a. Investigate and indict those culpable of serious crimes

b. Monitor closely proceedings underway at the Office of the Ombudsman

c. Push for the creation of an Independent counsel to investigate and prosecute wrong-doers

d. Facilitate coordinated action among concerned citizens, lawyers groups and conscienticized civil servants to build cases leading to the conviction of those who have violated the public trust

3. Working for Meaningful and Long-term Reform

a. Give the greater number of people, especially the poor, a real stake in democracy: push for the passage of the CARP Extension with Reforms Bill (CARPER) and the strict implementation of agrarian reform and other programs for inclusive and sustainable development

b. Reform the loan procurement, BOT and other development project approval systems to ensure transparency and accountability at different stages;

c. Promote freedom of information

d. Depoliticize, further professionalize, and strengthen the capacity of the Civil Service

e. Restore trust in the electoral process: revamp the Comelec; make the selection process transparent; appoint credible individuals;

f. Modernize elections; address warlordism and dynasties; promote party-building

g. Form real communities of faith-discernment and action for the common good towards building a political culture with a social conscience

Let us all join hands and be critically engaged while remaining to be prayerfully vigilant and discerning in taking on courses of action to redeem the highly degraded integrity of our nation and to effect change toward a genuine democracy in the country.

BENJAMIN TOLOSA, PH. D.
Co-Convenor,
Watch, Pray and Act Movement and
Buong Bansa Sinisigaw: Tama na! Itama na! (BUSINA)
Excerpts from Presentation: A Common Ground for Communal Action for Truth, Accountability and Reform

I. The Socio-economic and Political Crisis

Previously optimistic forecasts about economic growth and other macroeconomic indicators have been downgraded. The past few months have seen a surge in the prices of basic commodities, especially food and fuel, intensifying poverty and daily hardship. The demands for social justice and long-term reform have become more urgent. Even as the economy slows down, the danger is that the socio-economic and political crisis will not be seen as interconnected.

Ironically as socio-economic issues have become more pressing, the call for truth, accountability and reform. Questions about the abuse of power and systemic corruption in the Arroyo regime have remained unanswered. Good governance and long-term reform continue to be sacrificed for short-term political considerations. Instead of being a spur to address critical questions of politics, governance and development, urgent socio-economic issues may be used to foster political disengagement.

But the corruption of political processes and the undermining of democratic institutions are linked with the socio-economic crisis.

The challenge is to empower our communities to act together in concrete ways within a framework that connects social and political change.

II. A Call to Communal Discernment and Action
From the CBCP Pastoral Letter, 27 January 2008

“This is the basic fault in our country’s political culture that the Church in its preaching of Christ’s Gospel of social justice and charity has been bringing to our attention all these years…

The persistence of that deep-seated fault pushes us to conclude in sorrow that we as a people are still devoid of a real social conscience.”

“This is what we need — conversion, real conversion… for all of us to deliberately, consciously develop that social conscience that we say we sorely lack and to begin subordinating our private interests to the common good. This conversion is for all of us: laity, religious, priests and bishops…”

“…But we have to go about it not only as individuals, but just as importantly, as whole communities. We have to face a common problem and map out deliberately and communally how to go about the work of self-reform.”

What options should be pursued to redress abuse of power and gross injustices while strengthening our democratic institutions?

How do we build consensus on common actions that are effective, doable and responsible?

How do we foster social consciousness and engaged citizenship?

How do we begin to address the deep-seated cultural dimensions of the crisis?

III. Core Values and Principles

1) Uphold the truth
2) Exact Accountability
3) Pursue Meaningful Reforms
4) Build and strengthen democratic institutions
5) Promote responsible and engaged citizensh ip
6) Champion active nonviolence and protect human rights
7) Prioritize the poor
8 )Engage and involve the youth

IV. The Challenge of Communal Action: Truth, Accountability and Reform

Upholding the Truth

_Sustain a climate of vigilance over corruption and abuse of power;

_ Challenge the Supreme Court to reverse its ruling on executive

_ Support efforts to institutionalize government transparency and public access to information and to strengthen the system of checks and balances
_ Establish truth centers for awareness-building, reflection and formation toward sociopolitical organizing and engagement.

Promoting Accountability

_ Work to expose, investigate and indict those who abuse and misuse public authority and resources.

_ Identify ways to establish and strengthen institutional venues and mechanisms that are credible and capable of investigating and prosecuting wrong-doers.

_ Facilitate coordinated action among concerned citizens, lawyers groups and conscienticized civil servants and politicians to build cases leading to the conviction of those who have violated the public trust.

Working for Meaningful Reform
_ Work for government transparency in all its transactions
_ Push for electoral reforms and protect the integrity of the electoral process.

_ Search for worthy candidates, parties and platforms for 2010

_ Give more people, especially the poor, a real stake in democracy.

_ Depoliticize, further professionalize, and strengthen the capacity of the Civil Service

V. Providing Options, a Framework and Network for Communal Action

BUSINA! calls attention to danger, to expose wrongdoing, to express disgust, to be vigilant and to act.

1) A Call to concrete forms of action that can be coordinated among different groups all over the country.

2) A Framework for communal action that links Truth, Accountability and Reform.

3) A Network forging multiple partnerships among individuals and groups working to defend and deepen democratic institutions.

VI. Renewing Culture and Generating Hope

A Crisis of Hopelessness: Distrust, Disempowerment and Disengagement

Truth-telling (Pambansang Pagdagok sa Dibdib): our personal and communal accountability for poverty, corruption and violence in our society; our complicity in a political culture that lacks a social conscience; “democracies without citizenship.”

The Challenge of Engaged Citizenship
Kampanya: Katotohanan, Pananagutan, Panalangin sa Pagbabagong-puso