BAYAN Demands Justice for Murdered Filipino Labor Leaders; No to US Support for Killer Regime

by Amee Chew
November 4, 2005

In the period of 48 hours after October 25, several Philippine labor leaders were murdered on political grounds. BAYAN USA, a network of Fil-Am organizations and the US chapter of the Philippine national alliance BAYAN, has condemned the killings and demands that Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Philippine Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief, and her notorious "butcher-for-hire," Brigadier General Jovito Palparan, are pulled from power and brought to justice. Furthermore, BAYAN USA demands that the US government withdraw total military and financial support for the expansion of state terrorism in the Philippines.

The Bush administration has spent over $80 Billion tax dollars since 2001 to fund Arroyo's war expansion and an "undeclared martial law" in the Philippines. Thousands of US troops continue to be sent for "war exercises" with Philippine troops.

"The Filipino people's blood is all over Gloria's hands, while her pockets bulge with US tax dollars allowing her to kill ... more and more voices of opposition and dissent, under the false name of anti-terror," stated Berna Ellorin, Information officer for BAYAN USA. BAYAN points to over 150 political murders.

Recently, Filipino union leader Ricardo Ramos of the Central Azucarera de Tarlac Labor Union (CATLU), BAYAN-Pampanga leader Francisco Rivera, BAYAN allies Dr. Angel David, Vonjohn Maniniti, and Anakpawis Leader Federico De Leon were killed. Ramos, 45, died from a single shot in the head inflicted by a sniper who murdered him from behind while he and members of the union were guarding plots where they had planted crops in Hacienda Luisita. Rivera, David, and Maniniti, all in their 50's, were sprayed with bullets while jogging in Angeles City. De Leon, 53 and leader of worker group PISTON in Bulacan, was also shot dead in Malolos City.

BAYAN USA is calling for increased agitation across the US from Filipinos and human rights advocates to demand Arroyo's ouster and justice for the killings. The alliance plans to push for a congressional inquiry into US military aid allocations to the Philippines and human rights violations. Following the gang rape of a 22-year-old Filipina woman by at least six US marines in Olongapo City on November 1, BAYAN USA is renewing calls for complete withdrawal of US troops and military aid from the Philippines.

BAYAN USA is an alliance of progressive Filipino groups in the U.S. representing organizations of students, scholars, women, workers, and youth. As the only international chapter of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN-Philippines), BAYAN USA serves as an information bureau for the national democratic movement of the Philippines and as a campaign center for anti-imperialist Filipinos in the U.S. Members of BAYAN USA include: ANAKBAYAN (Los Angeles & Seattle), Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (Oakland, Bay Area), Habi-Arts (Los Angeles), New York Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (NY), League of Filipino Students (San Francisco), Pilipinos Organizing Workers for Empowerment and Respect (Los Angeles), and Critical Filipino and Filipino Studies Collective.