ANGPahayagan ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas

Pinapatnubayan ng Marxismo-Leninismo-Maoismo

Vol . LI No. 6

March 21, 2020

www.cpp.ph

EDITORIAL

More than 40,000 police per-sonnel and soldiers have been de-ployed to implement the lockdownin and around the National CapitalRegion. This aims to confine peoplein their homes and subject trans-portation and all aspects of sociallife to police and military control.Checkpoints were mounted to in-timidate people and prevent themfrom going to their workplaces. Thelockdown has practically shut downcommerce and local production.Millions cannot work and earn a liv-ing and supplies are limited.

Duterte’s lockdown could resultin widespread shortage and hunger.His makes empty promises to feedand dole out cash to to those af-fected. The fund supposedly to begiven as aid to workers is extremelytoo low. Even local goverments ad-mit that they do not have the ca-pacity to feed those affected by thelockdown beyond several days.

Amid the Covid-19 epidemic,measures to strengthen publichealth infrastructures should havebeen made. Instead, Duterte im-

Resist Duterte's anti-poorand anti-democraticLuzon lockdown

Duterte’s order to lockdown Luzon against the spread of the Coron-avirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) is anti-poor and anti-democratic. Ithas resulted in widespread chaos, and extreme hardship and incon-

venience to workers and ordinary people. Duterte has further enraged thepeople for imposing the restrictive and repressive lockdown.

"Resist...," continued on page 2

NPA frustrates

FMOs in ST

THE NEW PEOPLE'S Army (NPA)launched successive militaryactions against troopers of theArmed Forces of the Philippinesconducting focused militaryoperations (FMO) in SouthernTagalog this past week.

On March 15, an NPA unitattacked 18th Special ForcesCompany (SFC) troopers oper-ating in Barangay Iraan, Rizal,Palawan. Five soldiers were killedwhile many others were woundedin a three-minute encounter. Theoffensive was a response to thereign of terror of 40 18th SFCtroopers in the area.

On the next day, the NPA-Quezon harassed operatingtroopers of the 85th IB operat-ing in Barangay San VicenteKanluran, Catanauan. Two sol-diers were killed while manyothers were wounded.

March 21 , 2020 ANG BAYAN2

"Resist...," continued on page 3

posed martial law under the guiseof a lockdown in NCR and Luzon bythe AFP and PNP. Duterte’s lock-down violate the people's most ba-sic civil rights including the right totravel and assembly. People are re-stricted from leaving their homeswithout passes or beyond curfew.Violators are threatened with ar-rest and imprisonment.

Military officials, not doctors ornurses, are in the frontline ofDuterte’s solution. Instead ofputting up much needed testingcenters in barangays, checkpointswere mounted everywhere. Fundsare squandered on military and po-lice vehicles and other equipment,while public hospitals and healthworkers lack much needed facilitiesand equipment to admit, test andtreat patients possibly infected byCovid-19.

The lockdown imposition ex-poses Duterte’s ill-preparedness toconfront Covid-19 and other epi-demics. Prior to the lockdown,Duterte underestimated the Covid-19 threat for two months. He did

not implement measures to stop thespread of the virus in the country.In fact, he allowed the entry ofthousands of Chinese tourists andPOGO workers from January toFebruary, even amid the quickspread of Covid-19 in China andrestrictions imposed by many coun-tries on Chinese tourists.

Duterte's fascist lockdown con-ceals how he slashed the budget ofthe Department of health by ₱16.6billion. He cut the budget for theEpidemiology and Surveillance Pro-gram, which focuses on the pre-vention and control of highly con-tagious diseases such as Covid-19,by half from ₱262.9 million in 2019to ₱115.5 million. He instead in-creased the budget of the militaryand police, and for its corruption-ridden "intelligence" fund.

Because of lack of preparationand genuine care for the welfareand livelihood of the toiling masses,Duterte imposed the lockdownthrough coercion, using military andpolice forces. Duterte ignores theplight of millions of people who needto travel in order to work or find

Contents

Editorial: Resist Duterte's anti-poor andanti-democratic "Luzon lockdown" 1

NPA frustrates FMO in ST 1

Luzon lockdown, a bane to the masses 3

People demand medical solution 4

Millions to lose jobs due to Covid-19 4

Nexperia workers to be compensated 4

NPA geared to Covid-19 response 5

Cause of new pandemics 6

Love of a mother Red fighter 7

Women's day protest 8

TUP students vs. repression 9

Julius Giron, 2 other massacred 7

Cancer-cause herbicide 8

employment, go to their destina-tion, and others. This relefctsDuterte's militaristic narrow-mind-edness. He think that he can silenceall people through his armed mili-tary and police forces.

The toiling masses are outrageat Duterte's lockdown. Althoughportrayed as a measure to counterCovid-19, the Filipino people clearlysees that what this brings to themis a heavy burden. To absence ofmeasures to improve health facili-ties proves that Duterte is not fac-ing the Covid-19 threat seriously.

The Filipino people must de-mand an end to Duterte's anti-poorand anti-democratic lockdown inNCR, Luzon at and other parts ofthe country. Just as how othercountries have responded, theCovid-19 threat can be dealt withwithout having to curtail the peo-ple's basic rights to mobility, workand assembly. Doctors, nurses andhealth workers must be at theforefront of this endeavor and notsoldiers and police forces.

It is only just for the Filipinopeople to assert the immediate re-alignment of funds squandered onthe procurement of helicopters,fighter jets, bombs and other warmatériel, and the budget allocatedfor so-called "intelligence" and debtservicing, to health. Public hospitalsand other facilities must be imme-diately equipped to cope withCovid-19 cases, as well as publichealth facilities at the barangaylevel to be able to conduct masstesting. They must push for the freedistribution of face masks, alcoholand other hygiene kits, as well asadequate access to electricity andclean water, especially in poorcommunities. They must demand forsanitation services, garbage collec-tion and disinfection of publicplaces. They must assert that thebudget of universities and otheragencies conducting scientific re-search to discover ways to test andproduce medicines for Covid-19 beincreased, and the local production

"Resist...," from page 1

Vol LI No. 6 | March 20, 2019

ANG

instagram.com/prwcnewsroom

@prwc_info

cppinformationbureau@gmail.com

Ang Bayan is publ ished fortnightly by the Central Committee

of the Communist Party of the Phi l ippines

Ang Ang Bayan is publ ished

in Pi l ipino, Bisaya, I loko,

Hi l igaynon, Waray and Engl ish.

Ang Bayan welcomes

contributions in the form

of articles and news items.

Readers are encouraged

to send feedback and

recommendations

for improving our newspaper.

ANG BAYAN March 21 , 2020 3

Luzon lockdown,a bane to the toiling masses

Workers and odd jobbers bear the heavy brunt of the month-long lock-down imposed by Rodrigo Duterte across Luzon on March 17. He pro-

hibited all modes of public transportation and obliged workers to "stay athome," a measure that denied them their right to earn a living without provid-ing sufficient compensation.

This restriction primarily affectsdrivers and operators, and workersas majority of them rely on publictransport. This has immediately af-fected about three million workerswho are employed in Metro Manilabut live in nearby provinces.

Health workers who are obligedto go to work are most affected bythis restriction as no public utilityvehicles are available to ferry themto hospital and clinics. Even resi-dents could not go to the market tobuy basic necessities. Local govern-ment officials already admitted thatthey do not have sufficient resourcesand vehicles to address the needs oftheir respective constituents, espe-cially those who have special needssuch as the sick and elderly.

Due to the restrictions, manyworkers lose their daily incomes andlayoffs are imminent. Manyare already complaining thatthey could no longer feedtheir families, especially thatmost of them mainly rely onmeager daily wages.

Band-aid measuresTo defuse the people's anger,

the regime plans to implementvarious band-aid measures in-cluding the distribution of mini-mal financial aid and creation oflimited and temporary jobs.

The regime is bragging about itsCovid-19 Adjustment Measures Prog-ram (CAMP) which will purportedlyallocate a ₱1.3-billion aid to regularworkers who could not work due tothe lockdown. Each worker will pur-portedly be given ₱5,000 each (or₱161 per day) as compensation.

The amount is extremely low andinsufficient to make ends meet for af-

fected families in Luzon. If the overallbudget were to be divided to theamount of the monthly aid, it wouldappear that only a maximum of260,000 workers would be able to ac-cess the fund. The projected number ofbeneficiaries is less than one percentof the total 26 million workers in Lu-zon, and less than five percent of 5.8million in Metro Manila.

On top of being meager, theamount of aid per worker also fallsshort by 73% of the estimated ₱597-budgetary requirement needed tosastisfy the nutritional needs of afamily. This estimate is based on thestate's own nutritional standards inMay 2019. The aforesaid amount ishigher today due to inflation.

The regime also allocated ₱180million for its Tulong Pangkabuhayansa Displaced/Underprivileged Wor-

kers (TUPAD) program which willsupposedly provide temporaryemployment to informal sector

workers as health workers. Thebudget is extremely low asthere are already millions ofinformal sector workers inMetro Manila alone. The budget

is only sufficient to provide em-poyment to not more than 16,000workers.

The regime also plans to borrowmillions of peso from from foreign

financial institutions to fund its in-creasing spending in its effort tocontain the spread of Covid-19 in thecountry. On March 13, the AsianDevelopment Bank approved theregime's application for a $3-millionloan (₱150 milion at an exchangerate of $1=P50). The regime alsosubmitted an application to tap intothe World Bank's $12-billion fund for

of such medicines be supported.Workers must demand foremergency aid and free distri-bution of food. They must asserttheir right to assembly, even ifsome appropriate precautionsneed to be implemented to pre-vent the spread of the disease,to express the people's collec-tive plight.

Simultaneously, the peoplemust collectively take action toconduct necessary measures toprevent the spread of Covid-19.They must establish local healthcommittees and collectivelylaunch sanitation, cleaning andpersonal hygiene measures, andprovide aid to health workers,among others. They must con-tinuously strive to defend thedemocratic rights and welfareof the people during the lock-down.

In revolutionary territories,mass organizations and healthcommittees of organs of politi-cal power must be mobilized toconduct information campaignson Covid-19, and implementmeasures to prevent the spreadof the virus in their communi-ties. They must give special at-tention to the elderly who aremost vulnerable to Covid-19.Promote the use of herbalmedicines which can be used tofight the symptoms of Covid-19.

NPA units must work closelywith local health committees inbarrios. They must mobilize Redfighters to help in raising theawareness of the people aboutthe disease and on what has tobe collectively done by the peo-ple to face this. The NPA mustcontinue to defend the people,especially amid the threat ofusing Covid-19 to impose fascistmilitary rule, intimidate thepeople and suppress theirrights.

The collective action of thepeople is key to addressing thecurrent health crisis and notDuterte's fascist lockdown.

"Resist...," from page 2

"Luzon...," continued on page 4

March 21 , 2020 ANG BAYAN4

third world countries affected bythe pandemic. These two insti-tutions are notorious for ex-ploiting disasters to accumulateprofit by imposing usurious in-terest rates.

Artificial shortageThe lockdown, which is es-

sentially a widescale socioeco-nomic blockade, immediatelycreated an artificial shortagewhich further pushed up theprices of basic commodities.

Its impact is felt in MetroManila as cargo trucks that deliverproduce, such as vegetables, fromprovinces are stuck at check-points. This continues to happendespite Duterte's declaration thatfarmers and cargo truck driversthat deliver their products to ur-ban centers are exempted fromthe lockdown. As a result, marketprices of vegetables in MetroManila have doubled.

People demand medical, not military solution

Amid the restiveness and hardship brought about by Duterte’s lockdown,national-democratic organizations made a clear call for action to ad-

dress the people’s needs in countering the threat of the Covid-19 epidemic.The list of urgent demands is also a criticism of Duterte’s militarist solutionto the crisis and a call to uphold the people’s welfare.

Their immediate demands in-clude immediate free mass testing,provision of disinfectants, adequatesupply of clean water and others.They also called for a massive infor-mation campaign about Covid-19across the country.

There should be continuous andmassive disinfection of communi-ties, especially of the urban poor.They demanded the free distribu-tion of food, vitamins and othermedicines.

Demolition and eviction of theurban poor communities should bebanned, according to the Kalipunanng Damayang Mahihirap (Kada-may). The group criticized the de-molition in Pasay City onMarch 12, on the day thelockdown was imposed inthe National Capital Re-gion. Around 300 familieswere evicted from the NewEra Compound in Barangay 137,Zone 15, Protacio.

Workers and governmentemployees must be given theirwages and benefits in full. Theymust guard against masslayoffs, especially amongthe ranks of contractualgovernment workers, under thepretext of a health crisis. They

should be compensated during thelockdown. Likewise, a clear plan thatwill ensure the welfare of migrantFilipinos should be put in place.

According to the Alliance ofHealth Workers, personal protec-tive equipment for doctors, nursesand health workers in the frontlineagainst Covid-19 must be ensured.They should be compensated withappropriate hazard pay.

Organizations issued the list ofdemands amid the regime’s slowand inutile response to the healthcrisis. They pointed out that thereare other proper and compassion-ate ways to respond to the crisis.This has been proven in other

countries that did not imposefascist lockdowns, and insteadheeded measures recom-

mended by health workersand international healthorganizations.

For instance, Vietnmanand South Korea conductedmass testing of patients,gave comprehensive supportand aid to their peoples and

ensured free medical care forall. In these countries, they as-sembled teams of health ex-

perts to supervise the response tothe crisis.

Millions of workers to lose

jobs due to Covid-19

IN THE WORST case scenario,approximately 25 million workersacross the world will lose theirjobs due to Covid-19. The esti-mate was based on a research ofthe International Labor Orga-nization (ILO) on the global eco-nomic impact of the pandemic.

The ILO compared the cur-rent health crisis to the globalfinancial crisis in 2008-2009which resulted in 22 million joblosses. The number of unem-ployed is also expected to in-crease. The Covid-19 pandemicis not only a global health crisis,but is also a major economic andemployment crisis.

Approximately $3.4-trillionworth of workers' income could belost by the end of the year due tothe said job losses. This will resultin decreased consumption ofgoods and services, and the sub-sequent global economic decline.

Nexperia workers win demand for compensation

NEXPERIA PHILIPPINES INC., workers will receive their full salary for March17-30 despite the suspension of operations in the company due to theregime's lockdown. This came after their union demanded that workers becompensated.

The union is currently demanding that workers be compensated untilApril 12, the period covered by the lockdown. It will also file a petition for anadditional ₱5,000-financial assistance per worker at Department of Laborand Employment.

According to the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, at least 703 enter-prises have temporarily suspended their operations due to the lockdown. Thisaffects 86,549 workers. in Cavite alone.

"Luzon...," from page 3

March 21 , 2020 ANG BAYAN5

NPA geared to Covid-19 responseeven without ceasefire

Even before the Duterte regime declared a ceasefire, the Communist Partyof the Philippines (CPP) had already issued directives to all revolutionary

forces to carry out a mass campaign to encourage collective action to respondcomprehensively and extensively to the threat of a Covid-19 outbreak. Duterteissued the GRP's unilateral ceasefire declaration in the evening of March 18 andwill lapse on April 15. The CPP and National Democratic Front of the Philippinesnegotiating panel questioned the real intent of Duterte's ceasefire declaration.

Prof. Jose Ma. Sison, senior con-sultant of the NDFP to the peace ne-gotiations said that, Duterte's decla-ration is premature, if not insincereand fake. Additionally, it was issuedafter the regime imposed a totallockdown in Luzon to cover-up its in-efficiencies in addressing the threatof the Covid-19 pandemic.

With or without a ceasefire,NPA Red fighters have already beendirected to step up efforts to rendersocial, economic, medical and publichealth services to the people. Theyare working closely with local healthcommittees in barrios and commu-nities.

Whether Duterte’s ceasefire or-der will supercede previous orders tomount all-out war to crush the NPAremains to be seen, said the CPP.Meanwhile, it advised all NPA unitsto remain on alert against AFP at-tacks and immediately report currentcombat operations within their re-spective areas. The CPP will issue aceasefire declaration when there issufficient basis for it.

According to recent reports, theAFP and PNP are conducting intensecombat, surveillance and psywaroperations in Abra, Mt. Province,Quezon, Mindoro, Masbate, Sorso-gon, Camarines Sur, Capiz, Samar,Negros, Bukidnon, South Cotabato,Zamboanga and other provinces.

On March 18, the local NPAcommand reported that the 61st IBdeployed an additional 15 regularand CAFGU troops at its detach-ment in Barangay Katipunan, Tapaz.The soldiers claimed that the rein-forcement will remain in the area

until April 15 to purportedly containthe spread of Covid-19.

On March 19, the 31st IB con-ducted combat operations in severalbarangays of Barcelona and Bulusanin Sorsogon under the guise of“Community Support Program.”Soldiers continue to conduct recon-naissance operations and compelbarangay watchmen to serve asguides and “human shields.”

Combat operations are also be-ing conducted by the 403rd Brigadein Bukidnon. In particular, the NPAreported the presence of operating8th IB and 1st Special Forces Bat-talion troopers in Barangay Busdi,Malaybalay City, and Mt. Kitanglad,respectively.

Widespread human rights vio-lations also continue unabated.State forces arrested Lumad leaderGloria Tumalon in Lianga, Surigaodel Sur on March 20 and civilianCamilo Bucoy in Zamboanga Sibugayon March 19.

Prior to the GRP's issuance of aunilateral ceasefire declaration,AFP and PNP elements went on akilling spree and perpetrated manycases of abuses.

On March 16, they killed MarlonMaldos in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.Maldos was the artistic director ofthe Bol-Anong Artista nga may Di-wang Dagohoy (Bansiwag). Maldosdirected performances that depictthe struggle of poor peasants. Be-fore the killing, he was repeatedlysubjected to Red-tagging by 47th IBelements.

In Lanao del Sur, elements ofthe 4th ID, 2nd Mechanized In-

fantry Brigade arrested TeresitaNaul, a member of Karapatan-Northern Mindanao, on March 15 ather house in the town of Lala. Shewas slapped with trumped upcharges of kidnapping, illegal de-tention and arson.

Meanwhile, on February 27,eight T'bolis were detained by 27thIB elements in Lake Sebu, SouthCotabato, and were coerced to ad-mit that they are NPA members.Bayan-Socsksargen reported thatmilitary operations continue un-abated in Blaan and T'boli. Lumadminorities are harassed and theirhomes are ransacked. Their ances-tral lands have long been targetedby San Miguel Corporation for itscarbon mining project.

In Davao de Oro, administra-tors of the Community TechnicalCollege of Southeastern Mindanao,a Lumad school in Maco, reportedthat the military summoned theirstudents' parents and forced themto make their children leave theschool.

In Cagayan Valley, the 17th IBhave been occupying the communi-ties at Sitio Lagom, Barangay Lipa-tan since February. The military putup checkpoints along major roads inthe communities. They also imposeda curfew and obliged residents toask for permission from the militaryfor all their businesses. Residentsreported that they are banned fromgoing to their farms and the marketunless permitted by the military. Afarmer was also held at gunpointwhile while gathering corn formilling. Even pregnant women andthe elderly who are bound to gettheir pension are barred by soldiers.

"NPA...," continued on page 6

ANG BAYAN March 21 , 2020 6

"NPA...," from page 5

Residents complained thatthey were already preparing forharvest but were prohibited bythe military. They were roundedup by soldiers, and werethreatened and accused ofbeing NPA supporters. Theywere interrogated and coercedto "surrender their guns" andadmit to being "NPA fighter."The 17th IB also occupied thehouses, chapel, and elementaryschool in the area. Around thisperiod, soldiers illegally ar-rested Fransing Solancho andanother elderly person who hasdifficulty seeing and walking.

Capitalist farming, deforestationcause new pandemics

Frequent outbreaks of diseases caused by the coronavirus and otherzoonotic diseases are linked to capitalist landgrabbing, massive defor-

estation and mass food production of big agribusiness corporations. Underthe neoliberal regime, these companies cause massive environmental degra-dation which inadversely affect humans and animals.

According to biology and envi-ronmental experts, epidemics andpandemics should not be treated asperiodic or isolated from eachother. Extensive studies prove thatcapitalist food production, meat inparticular, cause the transmissionof infectious diseases from animalsto humans. Forest destruction, onthe other hand, result in the releaseof wild animals' pathogens previ-ously isolated in forests. Thesepathogens are transmitted to do-mesticated animals and eventuallyto humans.

Among the epidemics that brokeout in the last two decdes are vari-ous types of flus which originatedfrom swines and birds. There arealso pathogens from wild animalssuch as the deadly coronavirusstrains of SARS-Cov and MERS-Cov.

The strain of swine flu trans-mitted to humans originated fromgiant piggeries, dubbed as factoryfarms. In these farms, pigs areplaced in confined spaces, subsis-tent on long-term use of antibioticsthat weakens resistance, and bredto meet high global meat demand.The crowded condition is perfect tothe emergence, mix and rapidtransmission of microbes. Diseasesare transferred from one factoryfarm to another due to the practiceof selling live hogs and a fast trans-portation system.

An example of a pandemiccaused by capitalist production isthe swine flu or (H1N1)pdm09 out-break in 2009. The pandemicstarted in a swine megafactory ofUS company Smithfield in Mexico.The company is notorious for vio-lating environment regulations and

disregarding the health of residentsin nearby communities. The com-pany dumped swine wastes in largetracts of land near their factory inLa Gloria. Aroung 60% of the resi-dents here caught the flu, whichrapidly spread from Mexico to theUS. From April 2009 to April 2010,61 million were infected, 274,000hospitalized and 12,500 died in theUS due to (H1N1)pdm09. This flustrain persists in the US up to thepresent.

Capitalist companies undertakelargescale and accelerated swineproduction to produce the highestvolume of meat with minimum pro-duction costs. Smithfield’smegafactory in Mexico produce halfa million hogs every year. The com-pany supplies almost a quarter ofthe US’ demand. It also exportsprocessed meat to Europe.

Coronaviruses and otherviruses from wild animals, on theother hand, are caused by unim-peded destruction of forests by bigcorporations to make way for theirmining, logging and commercialplantation operations. This upsetthe ecological balance, limit wildanimals' source of food and weakentheir bodies and resistance to thepathogens they carry. They even-tually excrete the said pathogenswhich are then transmitted to otheranimals, and eventually to humans.Companies clear even core forestareas, which release entrappedpathogens.

These are transmitted rapidlyamong humans who have no anti-bodies against the said pathogens.

An example of this is the re-peated outbreak of the Ebola virus

disease which has been linked towidespread clearing of forests inUganda, Congo and Guinea inAfrica. In Borneo, massive defor-estation to pave way for oil palmplantations has resulted in a higherincidence of dengue and malaria.Deforestation of Peru’s Amazon hasresulted in an increase of malariacases, from 600 to 120,000, innearby communities. The defor-estation paved the way for the con-struction of roads and operation ofcattle ranches in the area. An ex-tensive study in 2017 revealed thatthe deforestation of Amazon islinked to the increase of malariacases in 67 countries.

In general, more than half ofnew contagious diseases are causedby deforestation and largescalefarming of agribusiness corpora-tions. These corporations competeagainst each other in grabbing landsfrom peasants and national minori-ties in backward countries to expandtheir food production and increasetheir profits. This has harmed notonly the populace of the said coun-tries, but all peoples affected by newdiseases and epidemics.

Nexperia workers win demand for compensation

NEXPERIA PHILIPPINES INC., workers will receive their full salary for March17-30 despite the suspension of operations in the company due to theregime's lockdown. This came after their union demanded that workers becompensated.

The union is currently demanding that workers be compensated untilApril 12, the period covered by the lockdown. It will also file a petition for anadditional ₱5,000-financial assistance per worker at Department of Laborand Employment.

According to the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, at least 703 enter-prises have temporarily suspended their operations due to the lockdown. Thisaffects 86,549 workers. in Cavite alone.

ANG BAYAN March 21 , 2020 7

"NPA...," from page 5

Ka Lori: The love of a mother Red fighter

Women Red fighters, especially mothers, are an inspire their fellowwomen to fight and liberate themselves. Ka Lori is one of them. She is

a mother and a Red fighter in a unit of the New People's Army in Bicol.

TUP students protest against repression

WEARING BLACK SHIRTS, 300 students of theTechnological University of the Philippines protestedon March 4 to oppose the implementation of re-pressive university policies. The mobilization wasspearheaded by the TUP University StudentGovernment.

Students criticized the university administrationfor repressing organizations and student activities.They complained about the lack of facilities andlambasted the administration from barring studentsfrom using available facilities, unequal distributionof equipment, and for cancelling students' field tripwhich they already paid for.

Despite the pain of having toleave her children behind, she de-cided to join the people's army in2018 at the age of 47. Most of herchildren are already grown-ups, al-though her youngest is just sevenyears old. They respected her deci-sion to serve as a full-time memberof the people's army. This was notnew to them as their mother used toparticipate in community ac-tivities as a member of alocal Party branch.Her aspiration fora caring societyfor her childrenand grandchil-dren inspiredher to participate in the armedstruggle.

"I saw that we can trust this(the Party). This is the governmentof the poor," she said.

Ka Lori hailed from the peasantclass. She and her family made aliving primarily from processing co-conuts into copra. On average, shewould earn P150 a day from un-husking coconut one thousand co-conuts. Her wage is only half ofwhat male copra farmworkers earn.The amount was way too low tofeed her family and pay for otherbasic needs.

Struggling to make ends meet,she had to peddle vegetables andfish in nearby barrios. Loan pay-ments are then deducted from heralready meager income. She raisedher children practically by herself asshe and the father of her childrenfell out. Five of her children worked

in Manila although they werenot of age yet. Ka Lori had

been beset with worry andanxiety because of

this.Upon joining

the people'sarmy, sheserved as asupply officer

and was tasked to manage thekitchen. As a Red fighter for twoyears, she also performed manyother tasks including the facilitationof educational discussions andmeetings. She also consciously givesmoral support to her comrades inthe unit.

Ka Lori inspired her children tojoin the NPA as well. Months aftershe joined, her son Ka Tom fol-lowed. Ka Tom previously worked inManila as a contractual construc-tion worker. On the next year, herson Ka Ali also joined the armedmovement. Ka Ali previously worked

at a piggery in Pampanga. As afamily, they are striving to struggleto overcome feudal family prac-tices.

Ka Lori treats her children ascomrades and respects their deci-sions. Although worried, she sup-ports her children in performingvarious tasks assigned to them.These include military, training andmass work in distant areas.

More than family, they treateach other as comrades and part-ners in strengthening the people'sarmy. The two are not exempt fromtheir mother's criticism and viceversa. "Turn away from your oldways, gradually remold and followthe people army's policies," she al-ways reminds her children. Theycare for each other in the same waythey support other Red fighters.They call on their other familymembers to also join the NPA.

There are times when Ka Loriworry about her younger children.Although pining for them, sheknows that they are taken cared ofby Party members in their barrio.

The local Party branch sup-ports her family and provides themwith some financial aid to helpthem survive. The NPA unit whereshe belongs also prepares and fa-cilitates her contact and visit toher family. "My endeavors are foryou... for your future," Ka Loritells her children.

International Women's Day commemoration

GABRIELA SPEARHEADED A protest action on March 8 incommemoration of the International Working Women'sDay. Thousands of women and supporters converged atthe Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila and marched to Mendi-ola. During the rally, the group questioned Duterte's sin-cerity in abbrogating the Visiting Forces Agreement asmilitary exercises by US and Philippine military continuein the country.

Similar protests were mounted in Laguna, Rizal, Bi-col, Bacolod City, Iloilo, Roxas City and General Santoson the same day. Earlier, on March 4, members of theSabokahan Unity of Lumad Women protested at theFreedom Park in Roxas Avenue, Davao City.

ANG BAYAN March 21 , 2020 8

Residents complained thatthey were already preparing forharvest but were prohibited bythe military. They were roundedup by soldiers, and werethreatened and accused ofbeing NPA supporters. Theywere interrogated and coercedto "surrender their guns" andadmit to being "NPA fighter."The 17th IB also occupied thehouses, chapel, and elementaryschool in the area. Around thisperiod, soldiers illegally ar-rested Fransing Solancho andanother elderly person who hasdifficulty seeing and walking.

Farmers demand stop to use

of cancer-causing herbicide

RECENTLY, CAPIZ FARMERS demanded a stop to the use ofRound Up Ready herbicide as they were able to prove that thesoil and groundwater in their cornfields, and even the bodiesof residents are already contaminated with glyphosate.

This was based on a research conducted by scientists inBarangay Guinbialan, Maayon, Capiz where the said herbicideand GM Corn produced by Monsanto have been used for tenyears.

Samples of soil, groundwater, old and newly harvested corn,and the urine of three residents, all tested positive ofglyphosate contamination. Glyphosate is a chemical that causescancer. Farmers from the aforementioned barangay said that 16residents have contracted cancer since they started plantinghybrid corn. Many have also contracted kidney complications.

Glyphosate is a chemical component of herbicides such asRound Up and 70 other products that are used in palay, corn,sugarcane, oil palm, banana, pineapple and rubber planta-tions.

CPP leader Julius Giron, 2 others

massacred in Baguio City

JOINT ELEMENTS OF the military and policemassacred Julius Giron (Ka Nars), his doctorMa. Lourdes Dineros Tangco, and their aideArvie Alarcon Reyes on March 13 at 3 a.m. inBarangay Queen of Peace, Baguio City.

Claims made by the military and police thatthey were about to serve an arrest warrant andthat the three "fought back" are outright lies.Ka Nars, 70, was suffering from the infirmitiesof old age and was under medical treatment.

Ka Nars was one of the stalwarts of theParty’s Central Committee, its Political Bureauand Executive Committee. He played a key rolein reconstituting the Party’s leadership andconducting the Party’s 2nd Congress in 2016.His is an exemplar of selfless service to thepeople. The entire revolutionary movementgrieves his death.