PHILIPPINE COMMUNISTS DEMAND GMA RESIGNATION

The National Democratic Front – Mindanao has joined the Filipino people in their collective actions to put an end to what it called as “the illegitimate, utterly corrupt and fascist US-Arroyo regime. “

“Never has the rottenness of bureaucrat-capitalism been more apparent as under the Arroyo presidency. From her “I will not run” public pronouncement, the most corrupt Philippine president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cheated her way to retain her hold on power in Malacañang as exposed by the infamous “Hello-Garci” scandal. She used government agencies and resources such as PAGCOR and the PHILHEALTH cards to fund her candidacy in 2004,” NFD-Mindanao spokesman Jorge ”Ka Oris” Madlos said as mounting calls for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo spread throughout the land.

 In a statement furnished to the Davao City media, Madlos spelled out Arroyo’s sins: 

“She has worsened bribery in government transactions exemplified by the recent exposés on the NBN-ZTE deal. She has treated the nation’s coffers as her own, controlling loans and projects like the President Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard (PDMB), NAIA 3/PIATCo (Philippine International Air Terminals Corporation), Fertilizer Fund scam and NBN-ZTE to garner million dollar bribes. No president since Marcos has been as shameless in lining its pockets and flaunting their frivolous whims as evidenced by the Jose Pidal account; their hidden real estate wealth in San Francisco, USA; Mikey’s million dollar horses and FG Mike’s expensive Las Vegas Suite to watch Manny Pacquiao’s fight. Brazen in their greediness and dynastic power brokering, it has dipped its hands in illegal gambling with Mikey and Iggy Arroyo receiving “jueteng” money within the halls of congress.”

Adds Madlos: This colossal greed has polarized the Arroyos and their lapdogs from the ruling clique, pushing aside erstwhile staunch allies like ex-speaker de Venecia, favoring “controllable” and highest bribe-giving businessmen and multinational companies.

“Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo depends heavily on the military and financial support of the US , rabidly supporting its anti-people imperialist policies in exchange for continued US patronage for her continued hold on power. GMA is bent on amending the constitution to accommodate US economic interests and revive US military basing in the Philippines . She unabashedly justified the US war of aggression under the guise of “war on terrorism”, “Balikatan” Training Exercises and “Humanitarian Missions”. Today, 6,000 to 8,000 American troops are engaged in direct combat operations, committing human rights violations against the Bangsamoro people in Mindanao ” he said. 

Madlos also said that Arroyo has adopted the US ’s terrorist policy rampantly practiced in Iraq , physically annihilating all – even unarmed, political opposition. Under the US-Arroyo regime, 887 political activists and media practitioners have been summarily executed, 185 became victims of enforced disappearances and countless families have been displaced by massive military operations under Oplan Bantay Laya I and II, launched to clear the way for unrestricted mining, agri-business, and logging by multinational companies.

“This illegitimate, corrupt and brutal US-GMA regime must not be allowed to remain in power for even a moment longer,” he said.

“Gloria’s ouster will not totally eliminate the exploitation and oppression inherent in a semi-colonial and semi-feudal system. But the unified actions of the people is victory in itself as it shows that the broadest mass of people galvanized by a common objective can once again topple an utterly corrupt and despotic regime. By her ouster, the countless Filipinos whose rights have been violated, who have been mired in utter hopelessness and poverty, will be given a measure of justice and respite, albeit temporarily,” Madlos adds. 

In his final statement, Madlos said: “The National Democratic Front in Mindanao calls on the people of Mindanao and the whole country to forge collective actions to end Gloria’s reign of greed, tyranny and puppetry to US imperialism as it seeks to unite with those who are calling for transparency in governance, an end to graft and corruption and senseless killings.

We call on the religious hierarchy and clergy to heed the call of the people. We urge them to support the people’s efforts to put an end to their sufferings under this regime.

We call on the patriotic men and women in the AFP-PNP-CAFGU to side with the masses and withdraw their support from the illegitimate Commander in Chief Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her AFP Chief of Staff, Gen. Esperon, whose extension in office is anchored mainly to protect her regime and to further fleece the AFP fund from those who, by economic circumstance, are forced to fight an unjust war.

We call on the New People’s Army in Mindanao to step up tactical offensives against legitimate targets among the armed agents of the fascist state. Intensified NPA tactical offensives weaken evermore the principal instrument of state repression, contributing to the effort of the broad united front to remove the Arroyos from Malacañang through widespread, sustained and massive political protest actions nationwide. “