Suara condemns rape of USM student; demands justice

The Suara Bangsamoro (Voice of the Bangsamoro) here denounce the recent case of sexual violence in Kabacan town of North Cotabato where the alleged perpetrator belongs to an influential family in Datu Montawal, Maguindanao.

According to board mates, 'Angeline' (not her real name), a 17-year old Human Ecology and Food Sciences student in the University of Southern Mindanao (USM), was abducted at their boarding house around 6 in the evening of February 25 by a certain Bianca Montawal Paglas and two male companions.

At 11:00 P.M., Angeline came back with bloodstains on her body which prompted her friends to call the latter's father.

In her affidavit, Angeline narrated that she was brought to Pareng Bong's Lodging House and there, she was raped by Datu Andy Montawal.

Angeline's father along with board mates went immediately to the nearest police station and filed complaint against Montawal and his alleged accomplices.

Bai Ali Indayla, national secretary-general of Suara Bangsamoro, said that they have received reports of numerous rape cases and harassments inside the USM campus but 'only now, a victim courageously speaks out and file a legal case against the well-known perpetrator.'

Together with Indayla's group, various organizations including Gabriela Women’s Party, North Cotabato 1st District Representative Emmylou Santos-Mendoza, lawyers and other individuals have already expressed support to Angeline and her family to get justice and bring the perpetrators to cell.

On March 5, a candle-lighting for justice was held in USM spearheaded by the College of Human Ecology and Food Sciences (CHEFS) local student government and was supported by Kabacan Mayor George Tan and councilors, CHEFS Dean Aleha Plasa Salik, USM Director of Students Affairs Nicolas Turnos, University Student Government (USG) president Junmar Bañas, CHEFS governor Ralph Ryan Rafael and faculty and staff of all Colleges and Institutes of the University.

On March 6, around 7,000 USM students, faculty and staff and concern individuals wore black t-shirts and red wristbands and joined the USG-led indignation march-rally to lobby with the local government unit of Kabacan and calling Regional Trial Court Fiscal Samuel Fajardo to expedite Angeline's case to immediately put the perpetrators to jail.

The group also demands for the closure of Pareng Bong's Lodging House where Angeline was allegedly raped and for police visibility in the entire USM premise for the safety of the students.

Suara Bangsamoro challenges the USM administration, who has not released a condemnation statement since the incident was exposed, to speak out and seek justice for Angeline and other rape victims.

"We dare the administration of USM to stand for justice especially for their student. Angeline’s courage as well as the witnesses is commendable. We appreciated so much the bravery of Angeline's family to cope their daughter's ordeal and took legal action to search justice and prosecute the perpetrators. We appeal to all victims of sexual violence to speak out and fight. Silence will tolerate the horrible and devilish act of these perpetrators," Indayla said.

Suara Bangsamoro strongly condemns all form of violence against women and children and pledge continuous support until justice for Angeline and all victims of sexual abuses will be served. #

Moro group slams US officials’ visit in ARMM; fears Balikatan anew

COTABATO CITY – The Suara Bangsamoro (Voice of the Bangsamoro) here staged a picket rally in front of the Office of the Regional Governor (ORG) compound following the visit of two (2) officials from United States Embassy on March 04 in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Bai Ali Indayla, the group’s national secretary-general, said that her group learned that US envoy to the Philippines Kristie Kenny will be sending officials to talk to members of Regional Legislative Assembly of the autonomous region (RLA-ARRM) on its opposition stance on Balikatan.

“The RLA’s position contradicts with that of the Governor of ARMM. We really appreciate the courageous move of RLA to defy Balikatan for the benefit of its constituents. But, we smell something fishy with this visit. We fear another round of Balikatan is systematically taking place,” Indayla said.

Indayla stressed that ‘the Arroyo administration permitted the US government to take pleasure in using the territory and taking advantage of rich resources of Philippine soil while the Filipino people especially the Bangsamoro suffer from violations of human rights committed by American soldiers.’

Further, the group reaffirms call for the complete withdrawal of US Special Operations Forces in the country ‘like what Filipinos did in 1991.’

Indayla challenges the ARMM assembly not to be deceived by the sugar-coated tongue of US officials who were well-trained in psychological warfare.

“We hope that RLA will stay firm on its position. The Bangsamoro people need officials that could survive fighting for the right to self determination, ancestral domain and national sovereignty,” Indayla emphasized.

Chants such as ‘Unahin ang Bayan, Huwag ang Dayuhan’ (Country first, not the foreigners) and ‘US Imperialist, No. 1 Terrorist’ rock the ORG compound while the group continuously calls all Bangsamoro people to persist in battling for the country's independence and strong resistance to US intervention.

Stand for Truth and Justice!

Nuns belong to Oblates of Notre Dame in Cotabato City join the Candlelighting cum Interfaith Prayer Rally on February 29 calling for truth and justice amid ZTE-NBN scandal.

Suara, JIL, civil society groups hold interfaith prayer rally for truth and justice

COTABATO CITY – The Suara Bangsamoro, Jesus Is Lord Movement (JIL) and other Moro and civil society groups stage an interfaith prayer cum candle lighting rally for truth and justice on Friday evening.

The groups that also compose of Notre Dame Center for Catechesis (NDCC), Mindanao Interfaith for Human Rights Advocacy (MIHRA), Solidarity Network for Justice and Peace (SNJP) and Concern Students for Justice and Peace (CSJP), convene at City Plaza at 4:00 to 7:00 PM, as part of the people’s unyielding quest for truth, justice, accountability and meaningful reforms in governance amid the deteriorating political crisis prodded by the $329-million ZTE-NBN scam.

Danny Vergara, resident pastor of JIL-Cotabato City, said that the interfaith prayer assembly is a dignified gathering of groups, sectors and individuals who are resolute to grasp the genuine truth of the overpriced ZTE-NBN deal and make all those involved, including Ms. Gloria Arroyo, accountable for their abuses and callousness.

Suara Bangsamoro’s national secretary-general, Bai Ali Indayla remarked that the movement calling for Arroyo’s resignation or ouster keeps mounting and intensifying as the political crisis drags on stressing that ‘Arroyo has a lot to answer including the all-out war policies against the Bangsamoro people, organized extra-judicial killings, Hello Garci scandal, electoral fraud and numerous cases of multi-billion peso graft and corruption involving her family and cronies.’

“The pathetic statement of CBCP could not give GMA some relief. Cries of people from all walks of life are intense. She has escaped judgment in the past, but people now decisively say, ‘Enough of Corruption, Enough of GMA!’ Indayla said.

The groups concluded the activity with the singing of ‘Bayan Ko’ that marks the almost every struggle of Filipino people since American and Japanese colonialism to the 1986 ‘People Power’ revolt that toppled the Marcos dictatorship.

Further, the groups emphasized to continue staging series of activities including street education, sinehang bayan (film viewing) and concert for truth to edify the people on the present political quagmire until the downfall of Arroyo’s regime. #

Moro group commemorates EDSA 1, calls for GMA’s ouster

COTABATO CITY – The Suara Bangsamoro (Voice of the Bangsamoro) organization here will commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the EDSA 1 People Power uprising that toppled the Marcos dictatorship on Monday, February 25.

The group will participate in the nationally-coordinated protest lead by Bagong Alyansa Makabayan amid fresh allegations of corruption and calls for ouster facing the Arroyo administration.

Bai Ali Indayla, the group’s national secretary-general, said that the NBN-ZTE scandal is just one of the numerous anomalies scourging President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s administration. Most recent is the massacre of eight innocent civilians in Maimbung, Sulu ‘where as commander-in-chief, she was held responsible.’

“GMA has no heart for the Bangsamoro people. In the guise of chasing after Abu Sayyaf elements, the Moro people are often times the victims. Among cases of killings, not even one was resolved,” Indayla exclaimed.

The group said that their action on Monday will be a build-up towards a bigger mobilization to a “new brand of people power” that was announced by Catholic bishops last Tuesday (February 19).

“Now is the time for the Moro people to be united in kicking out a corrupt and callous president. Under GMA’s tenure, the rate of poor Moro families has continue to increase as well as cases of rights violations and extra-judicial killings,” Indayla stressed.

According to Ibon Foundation, an independent research institute, seven out of 10 Filipinos are poor and jobless. Pulse Asia, on the other hand, reported GMA as the most corrupt president in the Philippine history.

Moreover, Indayla also lambasted the “unity walk” of GMA with her dummies as “a hysterical effort to project an untouchable façade in coping the enraged Filipino people.”

“Their effort shows that their days are counted as the day passes by. Their number continues to decrease every day. Whatever their efforts are, the Filipino people are certain in saying ‘Enough of GMA!’ The Bangsamoro people could no longer endure this corrupt, fascist and illegitimate government,” Indayla ended.

Youth groups heighten call for GMA’s ouster

COTABATO CITY – Youth groups here intensify calls for the ouster of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo amidst anomalies and scandals plaguing the present regime, vehemently stress, “Enough of Corruption, Oust Gloria Now.”

The Alyansa ng Kabataan Laban sa Panghihimasok ng Amerikanong Sundalo (AKLAS) enumerates Hello Garci, National Broadband Network project with China ’s ZTE Corporation deal scam and Balikatan 2008 as major reasons among others to overthrow GMA from her post.

Yousri Usop, spokesperson of AKLAS, is heated over the deepening intervention of United States in the affairs of the Philippines ; most recent are the conduct of Balikatan 2008 all over Central Mindanao and the cover-up of Malacañang on the corruption of ZTE-NBN deal in Senate.

“GMA administration has no political will to set restrictions on the intervention of US despite the unified stand of the people and sound sentiments regarding human rights violations committed especially to Bangsamoro people. Added to this is the limbo investigation on ZTE-NBN deal in the Senate and Department of Justice (DOJ),” Usop detailed.

Liga ng Kabataang Moro spokesperson, Michael Dumamba, also an AKLAS convenor said that the recent anomalies in the ZTE-NBN deal has again proves that GMA and her cohorts has no moral ascendancy to lead the country.

“Aside from enriching themselves with public funds with immunity, GMA is continuously covering the truth to the people. The $130 million-“kickback” (or P5.2 billion in current exchange rate) from the $329-million NBN-ZTE project could have been paid for additional textbooks, classrooms, school seats and new teachers. This government is so inutile to protect our welfare and preserve our country’s patrimony and sovereignty,” Dumamba said.

The AKLAS, comprise of fraternities, student councils, student publications and youth mass organizations, will be conducting series of symposia, fora and film showings in different schools and communities all over Greater Cotabato to intensify the calls for GMA’s ouster.

“We will broaden our ranks to further heighten our call for GMA to step down. We will start in an all-youth leaders’ forum on the 23^rd of February and will participate in a picket-rally lead by GMA Step Down Movement on the 25^th. We will untiringly conduct education and protest actions until GMA will collapse from power,” Usop concluded.