THE NATIONAL
GUILDER
The Official Publication of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines June 2014
www.cegp.org
Hapless but never hopeless: Campus repression and the struggle for press freedom Gianna Francesca Catolico Ang Pahayagang Plaridel, De La Salle University-Manila
T
he continuous impunity with which violence against campus journalists is committed mars the arrogant claim of the Philippine government that the Philippine press remains among the “freest.” Aside from not being a loquacious topic in the late night news, campus press freedom is also not observed in all state universities and colleges (SUCs) and private higher education institutions (PHEIs). Removal of scholarship grant and from graduation honors list, expulsion from the college a student studied in and served, and suspension from school due to membership in a progressive organization that safeguards the welfare of the students – these are prevalent manifestations of the new manner of student torture and coercion. Nope, the infamous Presidential Decree 1081 of former President Ferdinand Marcos has not been revived. Instead, the Philippines is currently experiencing yellowsmeared “democracy” under the US-Aquino regime. Even the son of the most famous couple in the EDSA I Revolt expressed disinterest and obvious neglect on the cases of impunity, both in campuses and outside of them. Administrators and employees of different colleges and universities sneak into progressive and militant campus publications and attempt to eradicate progressive ideals and critical views. Astonishingly, the school administrators persist to shift the utmost blame on the students who relentlessly pay their skyrocketing tuition and miscellaneous fees. It is unjust to rob basic human rights from campus journalists and student leaders who are fulfilling their duty as vanguards of social equality, justice, and liberty. Turn to page 5
In this issue... News • NSPC 2014 assembles campus press in Davao... page 4 • WesternVisayas college pubs unite for Guild chapter revival... page 4 Feature • Filipino Language: Perpetually Inchoate... page 5 • The Pork King’s Timeline.. page 6 Commentary • Is the US-PH Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement a deal between two equals?... page 7
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITEE
2014-2016
MARC LINO ABILA National President The LPU Independent Sentinel Lyceum of the Philippines University-Manila
MESSAGE FROM THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT On behalf of the newly-installed National Executive Committee of College Editors Guild of the Philippines, warmest greetings to all the members of the campus press in the Philippines. As we tread through the new academic year, the Filipino youth and people are faced with various issues. The youth, in particular, has been continuously struggling for their right to accessible and quality education. Unabated commercialization of education, tuition and other fee increase, budget cuts in state universities and colleges, violations to student democratic rights, and violations to campus press freedom, are just few out of numerous issues we are encountering today. The ordinary folk have also been subjected to poverty and lack of social justice in the Philippine society. The intensifying crisis in education, skyrocketing prices of basic goods and services, low wages, unemployment, landlessness of our farmers, pork barrel scam and rampant corruption in the government, and Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III’s submission of our nation’s sovereignty to the government of the United States are just some of the manifestations of the malignant crisis of a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society. With these current sectoral and national issues, it is imperative for the members of the campus press to expose the issues of the Filipino people which are seldom given the highlight in the dominant media. And with our publications combined, the campus press has wider reach compared to those of the dominant printed media. The campus press should always be vigilant on the matters of public interest and be the vanguards of truth inside and outside the halls of our educational institutions. Our duty does not end in chronicling the events in our schools but we should also take up the lessons of the past that campus journalists have a significant role in arousing the youth and the masses and mobilizing them for genuine social change. We must uphold the patriotic and democratic principles and ideals of the Guild; write for what we believe that is true and just and wield our pens to serve the oppressed and underprivileged.
IAN HARVEY CLAROS Executive Vice President The Torch Publications Philippine Normal University CLAUDINE BUENAAGUA Vice President for Luzon Outcrop University of the Philippines-Baguio FRANEL MAE POLIQUIT Vice President for Visayas Tug-Ani University of the Philippines-Cebu ROCHAMAE BIHAG Vice President for Mindanao Mindanao Varsitarian Mindanao State University ATHENA GARDON National Secretary General Manila Collegian University of the Philippines-Manila JIAN CARLO GOMEZ National Deputy Secretary General KALasag University of the Philippines-Diliman College of Arts and Letters JOHN CARLO GASIC Deputy Secretary General for Luzon The Philippine Artisan Technological University of the Philippines-Manila LESLEY CARA DELOS SANTOS Deputy Secretary General for Visayas Today’s Carolinian University of San Carlos NUR JANNAH KAALIM Deputy Secretary General for Mindanao Himati University of the Philippines-Mindanao
NATIONAL SECRETARIAT CHRISTOPHER JOHN CHANCO The LaSallian, De La Salle University-Manila ANGELO KARL DOCEO The Pillar, University of Eastern Philippines MARY ROSE IGGIE ESPINOZA Arellano Standard, Arellano University ELIZABETH DANIELLE FODULLA Manila Collegian, University of the Philippines-Manila ROSE VALLE JASPE The Communicator, Polytechnic University of the Philippines-College of Communication MICHELLE LADO Cyber Isko, University of the Philippines-Open University JOAN UDARBE Manila Collegian, University of the Philippines-Manila
MARC LINO ABILA National President
College Editors Guild of the Philippines National Office Mailing Address: Room 305, National Press Club Bldg., Magallanes Drive, Intramuros, Manila 1002 Hotline No.: 0936-902-6236 Email: cegphils@gmail.com Facebook Page: /CEGPNationalOffice Twitter: @CEGPNational Website: www.cegp.com
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The Official Publication of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Marc Lino Abila
EDITORIAL CARTOONIST: Aaron Bonette
STAFF FOR THIS ISSUE: Gianna Catolico, Ian Harvey Claros, Athena Gardon, Ian Leoj Gumban, Nur Jannah Kaalim
COVER PHOTO AND LAYOUT: Marc Lino Abila
GUEST EDITORS: Trina Federis, Pher Pasion
For contributions and correspondence, you can reach us at cegp.newsdesk@gmail.com.
June 2014
EDITORIAL
3
Pinalubhang krisis sa edukasyon sa ilalim ni Aquino
S
a pagbubukas ng klase ngayong 2014, muling sinalubong ang mamamayan ng krisis na kinakaharap ng edukasyon. Mula sa pagtataas ng matrikula at iba pang bayarin, kakulangan ng guro, kawalan ng umento sa sahod ng mga guro at kawani, kakulangan ng silid-aralan at maging ng mga paaralan, at marami pa na naglalayo sa maraming kabataan na makatamasa ng kalidad at libreng edukasyon.
Hindi lamang ang mga nabanggit na ito ang tunay na krisis na kinakaharap ng sektor ng edukasyon. Ang mga ito lamang ang ibinubunga ng papatinding komersyalisasyon at pagpapalala ng kolonyal na katangian nito, at paglabag sa mga demokratikong karapatan ng mga mag-aaral. Pero imbes na tagunan ang problema, lalo namang pinasahol ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III ang krisis sa sistema ng edukasyon sa pagsusulong ng mga polisiya na hindi tumutugon sa tunay na kinakailangan ng Pilipinas para umunlad. Sa elementarya at sekondarya, patuloy na pinahihirapan ng K+12 ang mga magaaral, magulang, at guro sa mga kakulangan bunga ng pagmamadali at kakulangan ng pagpopondo ng pamahalaan sa pagbabago ng sistema ng edukasyon sa bansa. Sa ilalim ng K+12, karagdagang dalawang taon ang ilalagi ng mga mag-aaral sa hayskul na lalong nagpapahirap sa mga magulang na tumutustos sa pag-aaral ng kanilang mga anak. Dahil ito sa dikta ng mga dayuhang institusyon gaya ng International Monetary Fund at World Bank, itinutulak ang mamamayan sa pangangailangan ng ‘global market.’ Sa esensya, nangangahulugan lamang ang K+12 nang paglikha ng mga mamamayan na pagkukunan ng murang lakas-paggawa o cheap labor ng mga lokal at dayuhang negosyante na magdudulot ng mas mababang pasahod sa mga manggagawang Pilipino. Sa antas tersyaryo, patuloy ang iba’t ibang porma ng komersyalisasyon. Ang patuloy na pagkaltas ng subsidyo ng pamahalaan sa state universities and colleges (SUCs) ay nagbubunsod ng pagtaas sa mga bayarin. Nariyan din ang paggamit ng lupain ng SUCs sa mga negosyo upang punan ang kakulangan ng pondo. Sa esensya, pagpasok ito ng pribadong interes sa loob ng mga publikong pamantasan. Pasismo ang tugon naman sa mga magaaral na lumalaban gaya ng naranasan ng mga mag-aaral at lider estudyante ng Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology na hindi pinayagang magkapag-
enrol sa pagbubukas ng taon dahil sa paglaban sa ilegal na bayarin sa pamantasan. Nitong Hunyo, 287 mula sa 345 na pribadong kolehiyo at pamantasan ang inaprubahan ng Commission on Higher Education na magtaas ng bayarin sa kabila ng protesta ng kabataan. Umabot sa walong bahagdan ang tantos ng pagtaas ng matrikula sa buong bansa sa antas tersyaryo ngayong 2014. Sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas (UP) halimbawa, nireporma ang Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP), ngayo’y Socialized Tuition Scheme (STS), na sa ensensya’y pagtataas pa rin ng matrikula at walang kaukulang benepisyo para sa mga estudyante ng UP at pagpapalala lamang sa naunang panukalang STFAP. Ganito na rin ang pinaplano ng iba pang SUCs sa buong bansa na sundan ang ganitong hakbang ng UP para lamang matugunan ang kakulangan ng badyet na inilalaan ng pamahalaan. Isinusulong din ng UP, Ateneo, De La Salle University, University of Santo Tomas at maging ng Mindanao State UniversityIligan Institute of Technology ang academic calendar shift bilang tugon sa ASEAN Integration o gayahin ang academic calendar iba pang mga bansa. Ayon sa mga administrador ng mga nasabing pamantasan, ito ay para isabay ang pagbubukas ng klase sa ibang bansa at dumami ang mga banyagang mag-aaral sa Pilipinas.
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Imbis na tugunan ang karapatan ng kabataang Pilipino para sa dekalidad at abot-kayang edukasyon, inuuna pa ang pangangailangan ng mga dayuhan. Habang nakakapagtapos ang mga bansa gaya ng Indonesia, Korea, China, Japan, at iba pang bansa gamit ang kanilang sariling wika, pinatatanggal naman ang Wikang Filipino sa kurikulum para mas bigyang daan ang mga sabdyek na kakailanganin para maging ‘globally competitive’ ang mga Pilipino. At hangga’t hindi nakatuon ang edukasyong Pilipino para sa aspirasyon ng mga Pilipino, at patuloy ang pagyukod ni Aquino sa dikta ng Estados Unidos at pangangailangan ng iba pang bansa, hindi edukasyon kundi pagpapabansot at pagkontrol sa kaisipan ng mamamayan ang iluluwal nito. Ang mga hakbang ng pamahalaan ni Aquino ay patunay sa kanyang pagtataksil sa kabataang Pilipino. Ang pagtataguyod sa makabayan, siyentipiko at makamasang porma ng edukasyon at paglalaan ng sapat na pondo sa mga pampublikong paaralan ay wala sa kanyang programa. Gayunman, itinuro rin ng kasaysayan na ang pagtulak sa mga mag-aaral palayo sa mga pamantasan ay pagtulak para sa mga magaaral na lumaban. Dahil hindi lamang para sa karapatan sa edukasyon ang hangad na makamtam, kundi magkaroon ng edukasyon na tunay na magsisilbi sa kabataan at sa bayan.
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NEWS
4
June 2014
NSPC 2014 assembles campus press in Davao Southern Mindanao News Bureau
The College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) gathered around 200 campus journalists from across the country for the 74th National Student Press Convention (NSPC) and 37th Biennial Student Press Congress held last May 19-23 at the Regional Major Seminary in Davao City. With the theme “Dasig Manunuwat: Uniting Campus Journalists for Genuine Press Freedom and Social Change,” the five-day convention kicked off with fora and workshops on journalism, socio-political issues, and arts and literature. “This yearly gathering of campus journalists from different colleges and universities in the Philippines is a good venue to hone their skills in journalism and to update their knowledge on various issues affecting the youth and the Philippine society,” said Marc Lino Abila, recently-elected CEGP National President and 74th NSPC Organizing Committee Head. “The Guild continues to hold high its principles by gathering and attracting more student publications in joining its advocacy of genuine press freedom and social change.” Former Kabataan Partylist Representative Raymond “Mong” Palatino, who was among the roster of well-known guest speakers in the convention, also addressed the role of the campus press in revealing and criticizing deterrent policies to the people, stressing that it is highly crucial to the realization of genuine social change. He said campus journalists play a big role in shaping the minds of the youth and effecting development. Aside from fora and workshops, the National Student Press Congress, the highest policymaking body of CEGP, also convened and the new set of officers of the National Executive Committee was elected. CEGP also recognized outstanding student publications in the 15th Gawad Ernesto Rodriguez Jr. during NSPC’s Cultural Night. Among the publications awarded were Philippine Collegian of University of the Philippines-Diliman, Ang Sulo of Philippine Normal University, Aklas of Philippine Normal University, and Outcrop of University of the Philippines-Baguio.
15th Gawad Ernesto Rodriguez Jr.* Tabloid 1st Place: Philippine Collegian, University of the Philippines-Diliman 2nd Place: Manila Collegian, Outcrop, University of the Philippines-Manila 3rd Place: Outcrop, University of the Philippines-Baguio Special Citation: The Weekly Dawn, University of the East Magazine 1st Place: Ang Sulo, Philippine Normal University 2nd Place: Atenews, Ateneo de Davao Univresity 3rd Place: Today’s Carolinian, University of San Carlos Special Citation: The Pioneer, Palawan State University Kawayan Communicator, Isabela State University-Cauayan Literary Folio 1st Place: Aklas, Philippine Normal University 2nd Place: Ang Paglalakbay, Palawan State University 3rd Place: Banaag Diwa, Ateneo de Davao Univresity Special Citation: The Work, Tarlac State University The Collegiate Immaculate, University of the Immaculate Conception Alternative Form 1st Place: Outcrop, University of the Philippines-Baguio 2nd Place: Manila Collegian, Outcrop, University of the Philippines-Manila 3rd Place: The DMMAxim, DMMA College of Southern Philippines *No entries for the Broadsheet and Website .
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Guilders from different tertiary student publications from Mindanao pose for a group photo with the National Office after the NSPC 2014 Cultural and Awards Night. Photo by Jason Occidental
Western Visayas college pubs unite for Guild chapter revival Western Visayas News Bureau With the goal to reach out to its members throughout the country, college publications from different schools in Western Visayas convened in an Island Conference (ICON) to revitalize the presence of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) in the region last March 8-9 at the IICT Building, West Visayas State University in Iloilo City. Five student publications all over Panay participated in this conference to undergo orientation about CEGP including its advocacies and projects and to discuss issues in the Philippine society that needs special attention and coverage from the campus media. CEGP National President Marc Lino Abila, then CEGP National Secretary-General, initiated the activities of the ICON including the formation the regional chapter, and the election of its officers. The chapter will administer college publications and oversee the affairs of CEGP in the islands of Panay and Guimaras. Ian Leoj Gumban from Forum-Dimensions of West Visayas State University was elected Chairperson while Blessed Bea Plondaya
from Central Echo of Central Philippine University was elected the Vice-Chairperson. Meanwhile, Ma. Regine Quiatchon from The Scroll of Colegio de San Jose was appointed as Secretary-General and Leticia Blacaflor from The Accounts of University of the Philippines Visayas College of Management as Deputy Secretary-General. The founding of this chapter coincides with the plans to reconnect with the 30 member publications found in the region and to form additional provincial chapters to complement that of Aklan for the further expansion of CEGP. Western Visayas played a great part in the Guild’s history and advocacy in promoting campus press freedom by being the hometown of Antonio Tagamolila, who fearlessly led CEGP in the propagation of its patriotic and democratic ideals through radical articles, whose martyrdom in the same place continues to play a part in inspiring campus journalists in their fight for freedom against repression. Other publications present were The Golden Harvest of West Visayas State University-Calinog Campus and The Forum of Northwestern Visayan Colleges.
Be a CEGP Volunteer-Secretariat! The National Office is looking for committee members for: Campaign Organizing Alliance Research and Publication Education Basic Masses Integration
The National Guilder is looking for: Writers Layout and Graphic Artist Cartoonist Photojournalist Open to all staff members of student publications.
For details, contact us at 0936-902-6236 or go to cegp.org/vol-sec
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June 2014
FEATURE
5
Filipino Language: Perpetually Inchoate* Ian Harvey Claros The Torch Publications, Philippine Normal University
I
t was 113 years ago when the Thomasites set foot in the Philippines; bearing the ideals that the Anglo-American tongue must be the prime language in their newlyacquired conquest. It was the first massive affront to Filipino. Up to date, the plot against the Filipino language has never ended. In fact, it has transformed into a more complex and vicious form – pushing its way into the country’s curriculum. After three years, K+12 have successfully implanted its haphazard effects – from inadequate school facilities to unprepared learning materials. Evidently, the AquinoLusitro gang was in mad rush to pursue the curricular implementation. But amid rush is a pyrrhic and impractical scheme that bolsters colonial puppetry. It is a scheme that converts the country into a seedbed of semi-skilled workers. Ergo, K+12 has come to package the Filipinos as cheap brand of Illustration by Bangs Colona labor – prepared to serve the world. Currently, K+12 is breeding predicaments not only in the academe but also to the entire populace. Now, it has given birth to Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) Memorandum Order No. 20, series of 2013 (CMO 20) which purges the bedrock of our national unity and identity – the Filipino language. The memorandum abolishes commensurate college general education subjects for Komunikasyon at Pananaliksik sa Wika at Kulturang Filipino, Pagbasa at Pagsusuri ng Iba’t Ibang Teksto Tungo sa Pananaliksik, and Pagsulat sa Iba’t Ibang Larangan. The abolition of the Filipino, as a tertiary subject, shall cause unemployment and underemployment to some 10,000 full-time and 20,000 part-time Filipino teachers. If in case this happens, it would be the largest labor recession in history. But the real score goes beyond the loss of jobs: it is the gradual death of Filipino, the helpless regression of our culture, and the total submission to foreign powers that deem worthy of national rage.
It is never enough that Filipino is present as a medium of daily communication. Filipino should be able to cover medicine, mathematics and other disciplines. It should reach an intellectualized level. It should be broad enough that science and politics are spoken in our native language. Even the teaching of English considers the use of Filipino to usher a secured language acquisition. Thus, without Filipino, English is but a crippled language. And the assurance of Filipino as an independent body of scholarship is the key toward attaining a mature language that embodies the nation. In our day, Filipino is still young - easily tossed by many changes in the mass media. Indeed, the Filipino language is perpetually made inchoate by vicious foreign powers. It is prevented to blossom as a language that cradles innovation of the most progressive concepts and a medium of unity that facilitates independence from today’s flawed freedom. Even a dreadful reality is that significant figures in the country cling to this proposal. To induce alienation in the people and their own language may be the greatest treachery one could commit against his nation. This wide-scale modus operandi against Filipino is one of the many bruises of the American rape of the Philippines. CMO 20 is an overt manifestation of US’ grip to movements of the BS Aquino government. It attests that the country is still servile to their dominion and that no leader of this nation has been interested to overthrow the imperial parasite. If there should be someone to be ousted, abolished, and overthrown, it is not our native language. It is the backward system of the society and its reactionary perpetrators. It has been asked why Filipino has to be defended in English. Answer: Filipino has to be defended with the same weapon its enemies are trying to destroy it with. (Parale, 1970) *The title is derived from Miguel Bernad SJ’s essay, Philippine Literature: Perpetually Inchoate
Hapless but never hopeless... from page 1 A courageous battle against development fees and campus chaos One of the heart-wrenching cases the College Editors Guild of the Philippines-Metro Manila (CEGP-Metro Manila) is handling was the unlawful expulsion of 35 students from the Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (EARIST). This was because students from EARIST demanded that their administration refund the illegally collected Php1,500 development fee and this sprung the 5,000 student massive walk-out last November 2013. One of the unfortunate victims of EARIST President Eduardo Caillo’s tactic was EARIST Technozette (ET) Editor in-chief Hannah Marie Pelayo and James Pilipina, third year electronics engineering student and Vice Chairperson of Katipunan ng mga Mag-aaral at Organisasyon (KAMAO). Last June 9, the blacklisted EARIST students, together with CEGP-Metro Manila conducted a hunger strike against campus repression. EARIST students also cited the indolence of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) regarding their pleas to allow the blacklisted students to enroll this coming academic year. The protest actions of the students were hailed victorious after the EARIST administration permitted the 35 blacklisted students to enroll and the fund of ET was released.
Bulldogs do bark for students’ rights The National University (NU) terminated the scholarships of two prominent and exemplary students due to their advocacies on halting the 3.5 to 10 percent increase in tuition and miscellaneous fees. One of them was James Bryan Deang, a fourth year Education major, former Editor-in-chief of NU’s campus publication, The National, and current president of the NU Supreme Student Council (NUSSC). Jose Mari Callueng, a fourth year Hotel and Restaurant Management major, current Editor-in-chief of The National and former Vice President for Internal Affairs of the NUSSC, was also ill-fated with his scholarship. They are two students practicing their right of expression and speech, as stipulated in the Philippine Constitution and United Nations Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), were removed as beneficiaries of SM Foundation. But the suffering did not stop there as Callueng’s grades were manipulated and strict qualifications were imposed at the NUSSC. Likewise, the NU administration warned Deang and Callueng that if they would not “behave,” the scholarships of other students will be in grave peril and the administration would refuse to recognize the new NUSSC officers. Today, Deang
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works as a call center agent to support his educational expenses now his scholarship was diminished in the hands of vengeful administrators. Ladies and gentlemen, this is not how students should be treated in their colleges and universities. The quandary of students in colleges and universities No fight is left defeated; no campaign is left unfinished and unsuccessful. CEGPMetro Manila firmly stands on the side of the oppressed. Uniting forces with students and other sectors across the metro, CEGP-Metro Manila will fight for democratic rights and rebel against campus repression. While the Philippine mass media broadcast controversial and sensual news to invite public scrutiny and opinion, the fundamental role of campus publications is to challenge existing conservative beliefs and divulge anomalies and issues inside the college or university. The academic institution is congruent to a miniature Philippines, where the administration is the sadistic national government, student bodies represent the stakeholders in the society, and the campus publication is the robust bridge that connects the state and the students, informs and mobilizes the students.
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FEATURE
6
June 2014
July 12, 2013 - The P10-billion pork barrel scam exposed by whistleblower Benhur Luy with businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles named as mastermind. 23 congressmen and five senators were also implicated in the multi-billion scam.
June 25, 2014 - Youth Act Now! files plunder raps against Agriculture Secretary Proseso Alcala.
The Pork King’s Timeline
August 14, 2013 - Makati Regional Trial Court issued an arrest warrant for Napoles based on serious illegal detention charges filed by Benhur Luy.
August 23, 2013 - In an attempt to calm the masses three days before the Million People March, Pres. Noynoy Aquino announced the abolition of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
June 20, 2014 - Sandiganbayan issued warrant of arrest for Sen. Bong Revilla.
May 12, 2014 - A sworn affidavit by Napoles which contains names of officials and individuals that she transacted with regarding PDAF was released. The list was called as the ‘Napolist.’
- Kabataan Partylist exposed the P1.3-trillion Presidential Pork Barrel. Through a thorough study of the 2014 National Budget, it was uncovered that several items in the national budget are under the discretion of the chief executive.
November 19, 2013 – The Supreme Court declared PDAF unconstitutional.
August 26, 2013 - Hundreds of thousands of people converged in Luneta for an antipork barrel rally dubbed as the ‘Million People March.’
Photo courtesy of UJP UP-Diliman
October 30, 2013 - In a nationally-televised speech, Pres. Aquino defended DAP and his Presidential Pork Barrel.
August 28, 2013 - A P10-million bounty for the arrest of Napoles was announced by the President. At past nine in the evening, the Palace announced that Napoles surrendered to the President himself.
September 19, 2013 - Thousands of youth and students converged again in Luneta for rock and rage concert which called for the abolition of the pork barrel system and accountability of the public officials involved in the scam.
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June 23, 2014 – A warrant of arrest for Sen. Jinggoy Estrada was issued by the Sandiganbayan.
September 25, 2013 - the use of P1.52 billion of the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) fund as bribe for senator-judges in the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Corona was exposed by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada during his privilege speech.
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October 4, 2013 - Thousands of people gathered at Ayala Ave. in Makati City for another anti-corruption rally.
June 2014
COMMENTARY
7
Is the US-PH Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement a deal between two equals?
Photo courtesy of Metro Manila Today
Benjie Oliveros Bulatlat Perspective Malacañang finally released a copy of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement it signed with the US government. It is a 10-page agreement that gives the US Armed Forces free, blanket access to all “Agreed locations” to undertake: “training, transit, support and related activities; refueling of aircraft; bunkering of vessels; temporary maintenance of vehicles, vessels and aircraft; temporary accommodation of personnel; communications; prepositioning of equipment, supplies and materiel; deploying forces and materiel; and such other activities as the Parties may agree.” The Philippine government would also facilitate “temporary transit and access” of US Armed Forces to public land and facilities. The Aquino government agreed to give the US Armed Forces “operational control” over these “Agreed locations.” The US Armed Forces also have full control over access, use, and disposition of “defense equipment, supplies, and materiel” that they preposition in the “Agreed locations.” While there is a provision in the agreement that states that the prepositioned materiel “shall not include nuclear weapons,” US forces will have “unimpeded access” to these “Agreed locations for all matters relating to the prepositioning and storage of defense equipment, supplies and materiel including delivery, management, inspection, use, maintenance and removal of such equipment, supplies, and materiel.“ (The highlighting was made by the author) While there is a provision that the Philippine Designated Authority “shall have access to the entire area of the Agreed locations, this access is subject to “operational safety and security requirements.” And United States forces are “authorized to exercise all rights and authorities within Agreed locations that are necessary for their operational control or defense, including taking appropriate measures to protect United States forces and United States contractors.” They are merely obliged to “coordinate” such measures with the Philippine government. The US is also authorized to set up and operate its own telecommunication systems with free use of a radio spectrum. In sum, what did the US and the Philippines get out of this agreement? For the US: 1. The US Armed Forces got unimpeded access, operational and security control over several, without limits, “Agreed locations” all over the country. In these locations, they could do everything that they do in a military base including training and accommodation of personnel; bunkering, refueling, repair and maintenance of vessels and aircraft; setting up and operating communications and radar systems; and storing arms, ammunition, military equipment, supplies and other materiel. 2. The US Armed Forces will use these “Agreed
locations” without paying any rent. They would pay for water, electricity, and other public utilities at the same rate that the Philippine government pays for. And the US Armed Forces would pay only for its “pro-rata share.” 3. The US could now set up and maintain communication systems all over the country with free use of its radio spectrum. 4. The US was able to get free depots to store arms, ammunition, military equipment, supplies and materiel that it would use in its wars and military operations in the region. 5. The US got the Philippine government to agree that any dispute arising from the agreement would not be brought up before any national or international court or tribunal, or any third party for settlement. It is also worth noting that when the negotiations for the said agreement was announced, it was mentioned that the purpose was to pave the way for the “increased rotational presence” of US troops, war vessels and aircraft. In the said agreement, there is no mention of any limitation on the number, frequency, length of stay of troops, war vessels, and aircraft. This means that the operating agreement to cover these would be the Visiting Forces Agreement; the only limitation set by the VFA is that it should be “temporary.” On the other hand, the Philippines got: 6. Access to Agreed locations subject to the operational and security requirements and measures of US forces; 7. An “assurance” that no nuclear weapons will be stored in the country, which the US repeatedly gives to the Philippine government even as nuclearpowered, and most probably armed, submarines, aircraft carriers, and warships regularly dock in the country’s ports; 8. A provision that the US shall “strive” to use Philippine supplier of goods, products and services “to the greatest extent practicable in accordance with the laws and regulations of the United States;” 9. A confirmation of “intent” to “respect relevant Philippine environmental, health, and safety laws, regulations and standards in the execution of its policies;” 10. An “assurance” that US forces will not “intentionally release any hazardous materials or hazardous waste owned by it and, if a spill occurs, shall expeditiously take action in order to contain and address environmental contamination resulting from the spill.” 11. A vague reference on probable US support to the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Quoting from Article II of the Mutual Defense Treaty, the agreement read: “the Parties separately and jointly by self-help and mutual aid will maintain and develop their individual and collective capacity to resist armed attack,” and within the context of the VFA. This includes: a. Supporting the Parties’ shared goal of improving interoperability of the Parties’ forces, and for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (“AFP”) addressing capabilities gaps, promoting long-term
THE NATIONAL GUILDER
modernization, and helping maintain and develop additional maritime security maritime domain awareness, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capabilities. So will the AFP modernization be part of separate or joint efforts, self-help or mutual aid? Appearing like an afterthought, the agreement also provides for prepositioning of humanitarian assistance, disaster relief equipment, supplies, and materiel. (It is revealing that the agreement uses the term materiel to pertain to materials to be used for disaster relief since materiel refers to military materials and equipment.) The Aquino government has also been pointing to the intensifying territorial dispute with China over conflicting claims to Scarborough Shoal and Spratly Islands to justify the need for an enhanced defense cooperation agreement with the US. While US President Barack Obama “reaffirmed” the commitment of the US to the Mutual Defense Treaty of 1951, he did not state categorically that the US will come to the aid of the Philippines if the latter’s territorial dispute with China escalates into armed clashes. Compare the statements of US President Obama in the Philippines and Japan. “…our commitment to defend the Philippines is ironclad. And the United States will keep that commitment ’cause allies do not stand alone.” When US President Obama was asked directly if the Mutual Defense Treaty would apply in the event that the country’s territorial conflict with China escalates into an armed conflict, he repeated his earlier statement that: “There is enormous trade; enormous business that is done between the United States and China; a whole range of issues on the international stage in which cooperation between the US and China are balanced.” “So our goal is not to counter China. Our goal is not to contain China” but “ to make sure that international rules and norms are respected, and that includes in the area of maritime disputes.” Compare the above with what US President Obama said in Japan: “Our commitment to Japan’s security is absolute and article five [of the security treaty] covers all territories under Japan’s administration, including the Senkaku islands.” “We don’t take a position on final sovereignty on the Senkakus but historically they’ve been administered by Japan and should not be subject to change unilaterally.” US President Obama even used the Japanese term for the potentially oil-rich islands, which are located at the East China Sea, instead of the Chinese name for it, Diaoyu Islands. Thus, considering what the US would be doing in the “Agreed locations,” what they got looks like military bases, sounds like military bases, smells like military bases, the only difference now, compared with the former US-RP Military Bases Agreement, is that it is for FREE. *First published on April 30, 2014 in Bulatlat.com
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