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Jory Porquia

STOP THE ATTACKS ALLIANCE, RELAUNCHED AND STRENGTHENED

ILOILO CITY – Stop the Killings, Stop the Attacks, Defend People’s Rights Panay Alliance, a broad alliance of different sectors and organizations, was relaunched last December 1. The activity was attended by church people, human rights defenders, lawyers, workers, women’s groups, urban poor, youth sector, peasant groups, development workers, and so on.

The STA was relaunched and strengthened as a response to the rampant and ceaseless human rights violations under the Duterte administration, and to defend the lives and rights of the people.

The said activity was also attended by representatives from the Commission on Human Rights or CHR Region 6.

Victims of human rights violations and their relatives also attended and gave their testimonies and experiences. The urban poor sector shared that amid COVID-19 pandemic, they are experiencing militarization, same is true with the Indigenous Peoples or Tumandoks from the province of Capiz. Also part of the activity is the calling for justice for the killing of leader activists such as Jory Porquia, John Farochilin, Harold Tablazon, Zara Alvarez, as well as the Antique 7 martyrs.

According to Tsinkai Porquia, the daughter of Jory Porquia, seven months have passed since the killing of her father, yet no justice has been served. She added that we need to unite, not only to call for justice, but to call to stop the baseless killings of the state against its critics.

In a message sent by Senator Leila De Lima, who is still inside the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, these gatherings only prove that there are still people who show concern for the welfare of others despite what are currently happening – pandemic crisis, disasters, and ceaseless killings. She added that condemns and is one with the call to stop the ceaseless killings in the islands of Negros and Panay.

Defend democracy, resist tyranny, and stop the attacks! These are the calls of the alliance./PT

by December 7, 2020no comment

MGA PROGRESIBO NGA GRUPO, GIN-ATUBANG ANG MGA ALEGASYON SA ILA SA SENATE HEARING TUHOY SA RED-TAGGING

SYUDAD SANG ILOILO – Gin-atubang sang mga progresibo nga grupo ang mga opisyal sang militar kag katapo sang National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict ukon NTF-ELCAC kag ila mga witnesses sa ikaduha nga session sang senate hearing tuhoy sa issue sag red-tagging sang mga personalidad kag organisasyon nga ginahimo sang militar.

Gintambungan sang Makabayan Bloc ang nasambit nga senate hearing sa pagpanguna nanday Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate kag Kabataan Partylist Representative Sarah Elago. Nagtambong man sanday anay Bayan Muna Representative Atty. Neri Colmenares kag Teddy Casino. Yara man ang mga representante sang Karapatan, Gabrilea, mga himata sang ginpamatay sa idalum sang rehimen ni Duterte kag subong man si Sr. Mary John Mananzan.

Sa pihak naman nga kampo amo sanday National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. kag pila ka mga opisyal sang NTF-ELCAC nga nagpanginwala nga may kahilabtanan sila sa red-tagging.

Nagpa-andam si Casino nga ang red-tagging nga gina-ubra sang mga militar kag kapulisan ang embukada sang mas malala nga crackdown batuk sa mga kritiko sang gobyerno gamit ang Anti-Terror Law.

Dugang pa ni Casino, ang ini nga mga asud-asud nga propaganda sa red-tagging ang may tinutuyo nga buyukon ang opinion publiko batuk sa mga progresibo bilang preparasyon sa pagdesignar ukon pagproscribe sa ila bilang mga terrorista sa ngalan sang Anti-Terror Law kag ang lubos na nga pagtukod ni Duterte sang iya tiraniko nga paghari paagi sa pagkriminalisa sang nagapamatuk sa iya indi maayo nga pagdumala.

Gin-athag naman ni Casino nga indi sila kabahin sang underground nga kahublagan. Suno kay Casino, wala sila sang ginahimo nga illegal. Ginhangkat niya liwat ang NTF-ELCAC nga kung may ara sila sang pamatuod dapat nagderetso sila sa korte.

Apang wala man sang plano ang NTF-ELCAC nga dal-on ini sa korte suno kay Casino bangud nakahibalo ang mga militar nga indi sila mangin madinalag-on basi mismo sa panugdaon sang ila star witness nga indi makatindog ang ila akusasyon sa korte gani ginagamit nila ang senado para iduso ang trial by publicity batok sa mga progresibo nga grupo.

Para naman ipakita nga wala sila sang ginahimo nga malain, ginpresentar sang mga progresibo nga grupo kag Makabayan Bloc ang ila nga mga kontribusyon kag hinimuan agud magduso sang kaayuhan sa katilingban.

Pila sa mga layi nga napasar nga principal ginduso sang Makabayan amo ang Universal Free Higher Education Act, Free Irrigation Services Act of 2018, Reorganizing and Strengthening the Public Attorney’s Office Act, Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, Free Public Wi-Fi Law, National Student’s Day, Expanded maternity leave law, Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act, Filipino Sign Language Act kag madamo pa.

Nag-apelar si Casino sa publiko kag sa senado nga untaton na kag imbestigahan ang madata nga kaso sang red-tagging bangud nga madamo na ini sang ginkuha nga kabuhi kaangay nanday Randal Echanis, Zara Alvarez, Jory Porquia, Atty. Ben Ramos kag madamo pa./PT

by November 30, 2020no comment

REDTAGGING SA MGA ESKWELAHAN, GINKUNDENA SANG MGA PROGRESIBO

SYUDAD SANG ILOILO – Ginkundena sang Kabataan Partylist – Panay ang panibag-o nga redtagging sang militar sa mga eskwelahan sa Iloilo.

Sa pahayag sang Philippine Army, ila daw ginamonitor ang mga estudyante sa mga eskwelahan nga ginsambit ni “Ka Eric” ukon mas kilala nga Jeffrey Celiz kung sa diin may mga progresibo nga grupo nga may kaangtanan sa CPP-NPA-NDF.

Ginpahayag sang grupo nga ang pag redtag sa ila mga miembro kag mga estudyante ang naga butang sa katalagman sang ila seguridad bangod antes ginpatay sanday Jory Porquia kag Zara Alvarez, sila ang ginredtag kag gin monitor man sang mga ahente sang estado.

Dugang sang grupo nga ang pagredtag sa mga kritikal mga organisasyon sang estudyante ang nagahatag sang lisensya sa pag atake sa sini nga mga organisasyon, ila mga lider kag mga miembro. Ginahatagan man sini sang ligwa agud ma-militarisa ang mga eskwelahan kung sa diin may ara sang mga organisasyon nga kritikal sa gobyerno. Ini magaresulta sa pag-ipit sa mga organisasyon kag pagbusal sa mga kritiko nga athag nga bayolasyon sa duna nga kinamatarung sang mga estudyante sa pagpalayag kag organisasyon.

Luyag man sang grupo nga ipahanumdom sa militar nga ang pagmonitor nila sa mga eskwelahan ang naga bayolar sang layi nga RA 7610 kung sa diin gina kabig ang mga eskwelahan nga mga zones of peace kag gina dumilian ang presensya sang mga armado nga hubon.

Ginpakamalaut man sang Kabataan Partylist ang redtagging nga natabo sa NSTP program sang West Visayas State University – Pototan Campus kung diin gin redtag nila ang MAKABAYAN Bloc nga mga “legal fronts” kuno sang CPP-NPA-NDF.

Dugang sang grupo nga ang Makabayan Bloc, kung diin kabahin diri ang Kabataan Partylist, ang nagapakigbato sang kinamatarong sang pumuluyo para sa edukasyon, mga basehan nga serbisyo sosyal, trabaho kag insakto nga sweldo, kag matuod nga repormang agraryo. Dugang sang grupo nga ang pagdepensa kag pakigbato sang kinamatarong sang pumuluyo ang indi krimen.

Santo sa Section 18, numero 1, sang Article 3 Bill of Rights sang 1987 Constitution, indi dapat mapreso ang isa ka tawo bangud lang sang iya political nga pagpati kag handum nga mangin hilway sa pagpamigos kag pagpanghimulos ang sosyodad kag may pag-alalangay. Gani nanawagan ang Kabataan Partylist kag iban pa nga mga progresibo nga organisasyon sang mga pamatan-on nga untaton ang redtagging kag indi pagpahanugotan nga gamiton ang mga buluthoan nga avenue sa pag redtag, kundi sa pag hulma sang mga kritikal nga paminsaron.

Ginhangkat man sang grupo nga imbes i-monitor sang Philippine Army ang mga buluthoan, mas maayo kung didto sila ma monitor sa West Philippine Sea nga padayon gina atake sang mga dumuluong nga pungsod./PT

by November 18, 2020no comment

ILONG-ILONGANONS PROTESTED AGAINST THE ANTI-TERROR LAW

ILOILO CITY – Progressive groups led by Bayan-Panay have again protested to register their resistance against the RA 11479 also known as Anti-Terror Act of 2020.

According to Bryan Bosque, Deputy Spokesperson of Bayan-Panay, Duterte is using the Anti-Terror Law to silence his critics who are exposing his corrupt administration.

Bosque added that the Anti-Terror Law will be a tool for Duterte to legitimize his crackdown against activists who are fighting for their rights guaranteed by the constitution.

He said that even without the said law, the widespread human rights violations such as torture, arrests by fabricated cases, ang state-sponsored killings, remain unresolved.

The group also condemns the baseless red-tagging of the military through senate hearings joined by fake witnesses.

According to Bosque, the senate hearing held, where Jeffrey Celiz and the military freely red-tagged legal organizations, is a huge violation of the due process.

According to Bayan, if their allegations are true, why didn’t they present this in court? The time they’ve wasted for such non-sense hearing could have been used to help the victims of typhoon Rolly.

Bayan is calling on the people to strongly fight the Anti-Terror Law so they would not have to sacrifice their lives like Jory Porquia and Zara Alvarez, who were victims of widespread red-tagging by the state forces before they were killed.

Bayan added, the 37 petitions against the Anti-Terror Law only show the resistance of the people against the repressive law that should be junked by the Supreme Court./PT

by November 9, 2020no comment

THREE CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST 42 ACTIVISTS DISMISSED, SIMPLE DISOBEDIENCE FILED IN COURT

[UPDATED]

ILOILO CITY – The Office of the City Prosecutor dismissed three cases filed by the police against the Iloilo 42 or the 42 activists calling for justice in the murder of Bayan Muna leader Jory Porquia. The group was supposed to hold a caravan on May 1 to light a candle in the place where Porquia was killed on April 30.

In the order issued by Prosecutor Caryl Kate Fabella-Genova, the three cases filed by the police were found to be baseless. The three cases dismissed were for violation of BP 880 or the Public Assembly Act, violation of RA 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act, and violation of RA 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.

However, the criminal case for simple disobedience was elevated to court. This has been a staple case filed in court against activists on the ground that they allegedly do not follow the orders of persons in authority or their agents, like the police.

It can be noted that similar cases were filed against activists back in June and September 2015, and both were dismissed by the court after proceedings that lasted for two years.

Iloilo 42 welcomed the Prosecutor’s decision and believe that the case of simple disobedience can also be dismissed./PT

by October 21, 20201 comment

JORY PORQUIA COMMUNITY KITCHEN, LAUNCHED TO REMEMBER AND CONTINUE THE STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE

ILOILO CITY

“To continue what you have started!” – this was the living promise of the comrades and friends of activist, Jory Porquia, brutally slayed last April 30 at Sto. Niño Norte, Arevalo, Iloilo City.

Even as they marked the 30th day of his murder, his comrades and loved ones continue to demand justice. Thirty days have passed and yet there was no investigation launched, none of his murderers brought into justice.

To honor his lifetime of activism and to continue his legacy of serving the people, the Jory Porquia Community Kitchen was launched yesterday in several urban poor communities all over Metro Iloilo.

The communities which Porquia served as an organiser and leader of Bayan Muna have continued to raise funds for the kitchen communities, and are the ones organizing the feeding programs which serve hot meals to children of the communities./PT

by May 31, 2020no comment

SHOOT THEM DEAD

Shoot Them Dead

by

Early Sol A. Gadong

(For Jory Porquia)

Nine gunshots roared
In the break of dawn
To silence a man
Who heeded the call

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Of guts that roared
In hunger. The sun
First sees the pool
Of red by the sea,

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Whose waves came
Crashing and thrashing
Making viral tantrums
Like a toddler.

Brrrt Brrrt Brrrt

When will they ever
Learn that bullets can
Not quarantine the voices
Of the raging people?

Bang!

Rest in power, mighty
Fighter. Mountain tears
Will flow in rivers
You’ve protected so.

Bang!

Rest in power, mighty
Fighter. You have led
The way for us to find
That power lives in us.

Bang!

 

_____________________________________________

* Prof. Early Sol A. Gadong, a faculty member of UP Visayas High School Department, is a Palanca awardee and president of All UP Academic Employees Union-Iloilo Chapter.

by April 30, 2020no comment

SHOOT THEM DEAD

Shoot Them Dead

by

Early Sol A. Gadong

(For Jory Porquia)

Nine gunshots roared
In the break of dawn
To silence a man
Who heeded the call

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Of guts that roared
In hunger. The sun
First sees the pool
Of red by the sea,

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Whose waves came
Crashing and thrashing
Making viral tantrums
Like a toddler.

Brrrt Brrrt Brrrt

When will they ever
Learn that bullets can
Not quarantine the voices
Of the raging people?

Bang!

Rest in power, mighty
Fighter. Mountain tears
Will flow in rivers
You’ve protected so.

Bang!

Rest in power, mighty
Fighter. You have led
The way for us to find
That power lives in us.

Bang!

 

_____________________________________________

* Prof. Early Sol A. Gadong, a faculty member of UP Visayas High School Department, is a Palanca awardee and president of All UP Academic Employees Union-Iloilo Chapter.

by April 30, 2020no comment