Campaign for Santiago's ICJ omination starts

Campaign for Santiago's ICJ nomination starts

By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

A year before its elections, the Philippine Embassy in the Netherlands has started an intense campaign for the candidacy of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago as a judge in the International Court of Justice.

The ICJ, also known as the World Court, is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations and is based in the Peace Palace in the Hague, Netherlands. It rules on legal disputes submitted by states and also gives advisory opinions on legal questions from duly-authorized international agencies.

The ICJ is comprised of 15 judges who serve nine-year terms. They are elected by the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council from a list submitted by the national groups in the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

Asia is entitled to a seat in the ICJ when Jordan’s term expires in 2009.

President Arroyo announced Santiago's nomination to the ICJ during her speech at the opening ceremony of the 40th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Ministerial Meeting in Manila last month.

Ambassador Romeo Arguelles said starting the campaign a year before the actual elections would greatly benefit the campaign for Santiago's inclusion in the World Tribunal.

He said the bulk of the foreign affairs department’s campaign for Santiago will be in New York, where the voting will take place at the UN headquarters.

The UN General Assembly will vote for a candidate and the Security Council will also hold a separate vote, all in New York, Arguelles explained.

At the moment, the ambassador’s hands are full, making personal visits to different Dutch ministries, legal institutions and embassies.

"Our role is to make representations with the host government. Of course to see to it that the qualification of the candidate is known in the host country, we have to talk to the leaders of the country. We need to talk to the officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You have to talk to the chief members of the Parliament and even including the bar associations, the legal luminaries of the country in order to project the qualification of our country," Arguelles said in an exclusive interview.

Arguelles said Santiago will not a be "hard sell" because of her brilliant qualifications.

"She is an expert on international law, on public and private international law. She is a scholar. She has written numerous books on international law. She has a doctorate in Science Of Law from the University of Michigan. She was a fellow at Oxford University and Cambridge University and these I think are the qualities that are needed in the court."

Arguelles added that Santiago has been highly endorsed in the Philippines.
"There are many Filipinos who are experts in international law but the permanent national group in the Philippines chose to nominate her because before you can be nominated, there has to be a group that will nominate you and she was strongly endorsed by the Chief Justice of the Philippines, the Philippine Bar Association, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, the Association of Law Deans, Association of Law Professors and Association of Women Lawyers," he said.

"I think if everybody worked together and really campaign on the basis of her qualification, on the basis of her expertise in international law, she will have a chance," Arguelles said.

Arguelles said Santiago will run for the position of judge as a representative of the Philippines and not in her personal capacity.

He added that the last time that a Filipino was nominated for the ICJ was during the term of President Diosdado Macapagal, Mrs. Arroyo's father.

"You know, the last time we had a chance in the ICJ was a long, long time ago when Judge Bengzon was a judge. That was more than forty years ago and we have never had another one from the Philippines," he said.

Chief Justice Cesar Bengzon was the first and only Filipino elected to the ICJ and served from 1967 to 1976.

Arguelles said Santiago may have a fighting chance but only if all of the country's foreign missions will campaign vigorously for the Philippines. He added that Santiago’s victory will be significant because the Hague is the legal capital of the world.

"What it would mean is this is a very prestigious position. It will show to the world that we have people with these qualifications who are qualified to work in the world’s highest judicial body and it gives recognition of the expertise of Filipinos in international law. So it is prestigious for the country and for the candidate as well." Arguelles said.

SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=89605

Investing in the Philippines: A negative experience to some OFWs

Investing in the Philippines: A negative experience to some OFWs

By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Netherlands are discouraged from investing in the Philippines because of the bad experiences suffered by some OFWs here, reported ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau.

To help overcome the negative attitudes of these Filipinos towards doing business in their home country, the Philippine Embassy hosted an informal forum in The Hague, presided by five representatives of the Philippine Consortium on Migration and Development or PhilComDev.

Estrella Dizon-Anonuevo of Atikha, Jonas George Soriano and Salvador Umengan of Ploughshares Inc., Lurina Gargarita of Philippine Social Enterprise Network and Julyn Ambito of IDEALS represented PhilComDev, which is a coalition of more than thirty non-profit organizations in the Philippines formed to lure remittances for social-enterprise initiatives.

Pinoys from the different organizations in Holland gathered at the Embassy to hear what PhilComDev had to offer in terms of investing their hard-earned euros in the Philippines.

Chito Garcia, a Pinoy who has been living in Amsterdam for thirty years now is still reeling from a traumatic experience when he started a corn business in the Philippines in 2001.

“I started the central buying of corn in Batangas but sad to say, the system in the Philippines is really disappointing. Unfortunately there are traders who I can’t compete with because they are millionaires who monopolize the buying of corn so I got rid of that cooperative. I really hate that system in the Philippines, I’m sorry to say,” he said.

Soriano told Garcia not to give up and to have faith because it is an essential virtue in a start-up enterprise.

“Normally ‘yung faith (is faith). I don’t know of any entrepreneur that hit it big kaagad agad (immediately). What I advice is maybe to go back and see where are the kinks in it. Because the trading system has been there for 100 years, but a lot of people had beaten the trading system,” Soriano said.

Soriano advised that corn is now a hot commodity in the Philippines since the US stopped selling corn to the world market because it is now being used for bio-fuel. The opportunity for corn buying and production then has surged in the Philippines due to the daily needs of hogs and chicken raising.

From the latest information that Soriano received, there is a necessity for 60 tons of corn a week and a shortage in the Philippines of one million tons per year.

A member of the Philippine Seafarers Assistance Program, Felix Pulmano, also went through hardship when his group invested in a rice business in the Philippines.

“We also have a business in 2001. And then in 2003 together with our group, we engaged in rice. And then we have difficulty as what Chito [Garcia] have said. But what we did was we danced with the music. And then I think what we learned from that is we asked some business people to be with us so we can learn,” Pulmano said.

Pulmano thinks that an OFW is walking a tightrope when doing business in the Philippines that it is still wiser to invest in an enterprise that is already established.

“I think we should look first for a kind of migrant enterprise that is booming. Of course I have some social responsibility. So first I think go first for which is profitable,“ he said.

Dizon-Anonuevo says that if one isn’t profitable, then there is nothing to share and such is basic.

“I think that’s the beauty of the social enterprise. Because what we have now in the consortium are already social enterprises. Mga pag-aari na ng (It’s already owned by the) cooperatives. Marami nang nagbebenefit sa kanila (Many have benefited). And they are products that benefit the environment because they are organic like organic rice, muscovado, lemon grass, essential oils, these are the kind of social enterprises that we are encouraging to be set up and upscaled in the Philippines,” she said.

Tess de Man-Solibio, from Stichting Bayanihan which is a foundation helping Filipino women in the Netherlands, asked how much money goes to the Philippines from the OFWs and why many in the Philippines remain poor.

Dizon-Anonuevo answered that sixteen billion dollars were remitted by OFWs last year yet the Philippines remains poor because a big portion of it is used on consumption thereby failing to create capital or wealth.

Remittance studies have shown that most of the money received by families of OFWs are used for day-to-day expenses, such as food, utilities, and other household expenses.

“In fact sa mga communities where we are working, nag-interview kami ng 1,000 families kung magkano ang nireremit at saka kung enough yung nireremit. Yung 5,000 pesos sabi nya hindi enough, yung 20,000 pesos sabi nya hindi enough, yung 60,000 pesos sabi nya hindi enough, yung 100,000 pesos ang nireremit monthly sinasabi din hindi enough. So ano yung enough. Kase ang nakikita namin, habang tumataas ang binibigay tumataas din ang standard of living. Tumataas din ang kanilang gusto (In fact in the communities where we are working, we interviewed 1,000 families how much they remit and if the amount they remit is enough. They said 5,000 pesos is not enough, 20,000 pesos is not enough, 60,000 pesos is not enough, 100,000 pesos that is remitted monthly is not enough. So what is wnough. From what we see when what we provide increases so dies the standard of living. Their needs also increase),” she added.

After the non-stop queries, only one Pinoy declared that his questions were not fully answered.

“It’s the first time they come that’s why I’m trying to pose some basic questions. It is in relation to mobilization of the economic initiative of migrants, mobilization of their savings. I asked what exactly is the PhilComDev advocacy and vision of development. It is a valid question,” said Nonoi Hacbang of the Commission on Filipino Migrant Workers.


“Things are already also happening here. For example, the seafarers here, the initiative on savings mobilization is being put and invested in Mindanao and then locally they are tied up creating a new local economy and at the same time it’s there, giving also some employment. And there are many initiatives going on which should be considered,” Hacbang told ABS-CBN Europe.

Despite that and with the forum lasting three hours than the scheduled two hours, PhilComDev succeeded in generating interest from the Pinoys and regaining their trust.PhilComDev did not only give a positive insight on how the OFWs can channel their earnings to worthy investment and business ventures in the Philippines, but also provided a platform to discuss migration and development issues.

“Most of them have a lot of negative experiences in managing business and we think that it is only in coming together that the different players in the Philippines and also the migrants abroad, if we can really put our acts together, that is the key because we can redirect the resources to sustainable development in the Philippines so that if we develop our communities then we break the chain of migration,” Dizon-Anonuevo said.

“I think their response is very encouraging. They said they have learned a lot, heard a lot of new things that are not usually discussed in a forum held here at the embassy. Maybe it’s because we are addressing issues that are close to their hearts like issue of the problem of children left behind and also how does the family, the husband cope with the separation, the social problem being brought about by migration. But also more importantly, we are giving them hope that there are a lot initiatives, good initiatives that are happening in the Philippines that are not known because sometimes the good news don’t get in the papers,” she added.

Consul Adrian Cruz thanked the participants and assured the Pinoys that the Embassy will continue in its effort to link up the Filipino community with Philippine-based social enterprises.

“We hope that activities of this kind could still be done by the Embassy and we encourage Filipino communities here in the Netherlands to also make priority, issues of migration and development because it doesn’t only affect themselves but their families as well,” Cruz said.


Soriano is optimistic that the Filipinos will continue to make a difference in the world.

“I think we have proven that the Filipinos are there to do something for themselves and for their communities and we can be both entrepreneurs for the Philippines and even for the world. I hope that this is the start of something big,” he said.

Indeed the continued investment of overseas workers and how it will have a significant impact in the Philippines will be something to look forward to just as how the OFW remains a miracle that doesn’t cease to perform wonders on the country’s economy and on the lives of Filipino families.

SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryID=88597

Filipino Nurses in The Hague sponsor Bantay Bata 163 Fund Raiser

Filipino nurses in The Hague sponsor Bantay Bata 163 fund raiser

By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

Despite misunderstandings among its members, a group of Filipino nurses in The Hague managed to pull through a hit concert featuring local Pinay talents for the benefit of Bantay Bata 163, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau reported.

The Nightingales was founded last year by Randy Locquiao, who thought of turning a simple “barkada gimmick” into an enterprising initiative for his nurse friends by organizing community parties featuring local Pinay singers.

After a jam-packed concert last year featuring Venus, Tina and Toks, three talents based in the Hague, Locquiao thought of organizing as his next project, a party for a cause which will benefit the ABS-CBN Foundation’s Bantay Bata 163.

“It’s really my dream to put up a project where it will be a benefit concert. I chose Bantay Bata to be the beneficiary. I have a soft heart for children. When I see less-fortunate children especially in the Philippines, I feel for them and I really want to help in my own little way so we decided to put up this project,” Locquiao said.

Bantay Bata 163 is a child welfare program of ABS-CBN Foundation that not only rescues and rehabilitates sick and abused children, but also provides shelter, therapy and quality home care for rescued children until they can be reunited with their families or referred to proper child-caring agencies.

Indeed, when Locquiao went to the Philippines in April, his first stop was at the Bantay Bata 163 office where he requested for permission to hold the fund-raiser in the Netherlands.

Through the assistance of BB163’s Jenny Lee-Villanueva, his request was granted and true to his words, he planned and coordinated the execution of the event, making his simple dream a big reality.

Despite some disagreements before the event, Locquaio thanked everybody for their selfless contribution to the cause.

He singled Michel Taal, a half-Pinoy half-Dutch who gave all his time to the organization of the event being the all-in-one handy man, driver, photographer.

“You can’t explain the feeling. It’s very overwhelming. It’s very fulfilling. I just hope that a lot of people will take initiative to give their share as well,” Locquiao said.

Although it was not over capacity as the first concert, the hall was full and surprisingly, a lot of Dutch people attended the concert.

The attendees were particularly moved at the presentation of two contrasting slides, one showing the poor children in the Philippines against the other showing the happy children of Pinoy parents who are living abroad.

The slides became a sort of eye-opener to the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) that night. They realized that they are fortunate enough to be living abroad and that their children are healthy and happy.

Halfway through the concert, a message from Bantay Bata Program Director Tina Monzon-Palma was read and BB163 envelopes were handed to guests who want to donate cash.

The response was overwhelming, specifically from the Dutch.

A middle-aged Dutch who didn’t want to be identified said that he came with his father not only to enjoy the party but also to help the needy children in the Philippines.

Having been in the Philippines three years ago, he still vividly remembers the needy children he saw there and appreciates the efforts of the Nightingales for holding the first Bantay Bata 163 event in The Hague because the children need it.

The event generated over 1,000 euros or 63,000 pesos in cash for Bantay Bata 163 and that was just from financial contributions.

Other Pinoys extended their support in kind and one can’t put a price tag on the time and services they have volunteered to help minimize the Nightingales’ overhead costs.

Singer Venus tirelessly performed her best and belted numerous requested songs all night without any talent fee.

One Filipina was very proud for her son’s offering his Dangerous Combination Youth group to perform a break dance at the concert.

“Nung nabalitaan namin na para sa Bantay Bata, kinausap ko yung anak ko kung gusto niyang mag-offer ng dance. Nung sinabi ko na ang goal is Bantay Banta, tinanong niya kung ano yung Bantay Bata. Sabi ko matutulungan mo yung mga me sakit na bata, poor children. Sabi niya o sige, so niyaya niya yung mga dance group niya para magsayaw so nagsayaw sila ng walang bayad (When we heard it’s for Bantay Bata, I talked to my son if he would like to dance. When I said the goal is for Bantay Bata, he asled what Bantay Bata is for. I told him he would help sik children, poor children. He said okay and he invited his dance group to perform and they did without payment),” Sonia Vicente said.

Vicente said that when she first went to the Philippines as a Balikbayan with her son Erwin, he was shocked to see an eight-year-old girl asking for alms while they were boarding a cab.

He didn’t understand why the girl was doing it because one rarely sees such form of begging nor child beggars in the Netherlands.

Street beggars here usually provide some form of musical entertainment like singing or playing an instrument such as a guitar or accordion in crowded places like downtown or train stations.

People are free to drop coins in their hats if they feel like it and it is very occasional to find someone approaching you directly for a coin.

The phenomenon of street children in the Philippines will certainly never be understood by so many Europeans but such an issue will always be close to their hearts.

SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryID=86716

Joma Sison’s Legal Status in Limbo

Joma Sison’s legal status in limbo

By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

Jose Maria "Joma" Sison, the founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has revealed that his legal status in the Netherlands is in a state of limbo since the inclusion of his name on the European Union's list of terrorists.

Sison went into exile in the Netherlands in 1987. Two decades later, he is back to square one in seeking asylum as a political refugee.

In an exclusive interview, Sison showed his digital "W-Document" card, which is an identification used for asylum seekers in the Netherlands.

The card, however, already expired in October 2005.

Despite the card's expiration, Sison told ABS-CBN that he still continues about with his daily activities without fear of deportation.

Under a new law that came into effect on Jan. 1, 2005, all Dutch citizens and people residing in the Netherlands aged 14 and above must carry a valid ID document at all times or face the risk of being deported.

Rejected asylum seekers are obliged to leave the Netherlands. Those granted refugee status are given a residence permit.

Sison said his legal status does not fall into any type.

He is neither a legal resident of the Netherlands nor is he a political refugee since he is a still a holder of a W-Document.

He is also not an asylum seeker because he has yet to exhaust all legal remedies.

The Dutch government also cannot force him out of the country.

“They made a hair-splitting decision. I’m a recognized refugee but I am not allowed legal admission to the Netherlands. To make a distinction, no legal admission but de facto I’m here,” Sison said.

At present, Sison’s legal status seems to have been frozen with his assets because the granting of a valid residency permit is pegged to the withdrawal of his name on the terror list.

Sison said that he finds the terrorist tag odd because he can travel to and from the Netherlands without a problem.

In fact, his latest trip abroad was on July 11 when he went to Luxembourg for the rendering of the EU Court of First Instance judgment.

“Mabuti pa paliwanag ko 'no. Mabuti makita mo ang kalokohan. Eh kung terorista ako eh bakit ako pinapasakay sa eroplano (It’s better that I explain it. It’s better so you can see the absurdity. If I’m a terrorist why am I allowed to travel on a plane)?""Tuwing mag-uusap sa Oslo [in Norway], eh binibigyan ako ng Laissez-Passer, 'yun eh temporary passport for a trip back and forth (When there are talks in Oslo [in Norway] I’m provided a Laissez-Passer, that’s a temporary passport for a trip back and forth). And I’m also granted a visa so I can return to the Netherlands,” Sison added.S

ison said the Laissez-Passer, which is a limited passport, was even issued to him by the Dutch Foreign Ministry.

He said it is ironic that a "terrorist" like him holds a Laissez-Passer passport.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesman Rob Dekker, meanwhile, declined to comment on Sison’s legal status in the Netherlands.

“I understand that Mr. Sison, he said a lot of things himself in the media and that’s of course his prerogative but we don’t comment on individual cases,” Dekker said.

Sison insisted that up to now, there is neither evidence nor proof that he is a terrorist.

He complained that there is still no criminal investigation on the charges of terrorism against him despite his volunteering for it.

“If there is any specific crime of terrorism for which they wish to hold me responsible, they better call me for a criminal investigation. The absence of a criminal investigation is underscored by the fact that my lawyer actually volunteered. I can appear for investigation anytime,” Sison said.

SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=86726

Pinoys in Utrecht hold 'People's SONA'

Pinoys in Utrecht hold 'People's SONA'

By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

A group of Filipinos in The Netherlands held a demonstration in front of the city hall of Utrecht to criticize Philippine President Gloria Arroyo's and her State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Quezon City on Monday.

Led by Luis Jalandoni, chairman of the National Democratic Front, the demonstrators chanted, “Gloria Arroyo, pekeng pangulo, pekeng pangulo, Gloria Arroyo” (Gloria Arroyo, fake president) to the surprised of passersby at Ouden Gracht (Old Canal) in the heart of the city’s shopping area.

“Nakita mo naman. Ngayon nakita ko 'yung video. Sa mga video clips binu-boo, nilalait ang gobyerno ni [President] Macapagal-Arroyo dahil nakikita naman ng tao na wala itong nagagawang kabutihan para sa ating mga mamamayang Pilipino (I saw the video. In the video clips, Arroyo was being booed, her government is being berated because the people see it's not doing anything for the welfare of the people)," said Migrante International's Grace Punongbayan.

She added that based on the video, the people are fed up with the Arroyo presidency because it is a fake one.

The demonstration, which the rallyists called "The People's SONA" was a strong expression of their disgust with Arroyo administration and the cases of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines, the implementation of the anti-terror law and the hunger experienced by the majority of Filipinos.

“Gusto kong mapakita na hindi ko tanggap ang SONA ng pekeng presidente. Hindi niya tinutulungan ang mamamayang Pilipino. (On this day of the SONA, I would like to show that I don’t accept the fake president’s SONA. She’s not helping the Filipino people)," said Connie Ledesma, spokeswoman of the Malayang Kilusan ng Kababaihan.

Jalandoni, Ledesma and the others who gathered said they braved the bad weather to show Europeans that the situation in the Philippines has not improved and that Mrs. Arroyo's speech is just a way of masking the flaws of the government.

SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/

http://beta.abs-cbnnews.com/National/National_Stories/tabid/59/news/1865/Default.aspx

Joma Sison Attacks Anti-Terror Law

Joma Sison attacks Anti-Terror Law

By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Maria Sison berated President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the Human Security Act of 2007 which he calls overbearing and oppressive, reported ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau.

Sison said the Anti-Terror Law is dangerous because its enforcers will enjoy limitless freedom to search the private life of an individual.

"Yung pang-aapi pwedeng mag-umpisa sa surveillance. Uungkatin, pakikialaman lahat ng private na affairs mo. Tapos ungkatin yung iyong bank accounts. Masilipan ka ng konti, pakikialaman ka na. Puwede ka pang kikilan ng mga intelligence people, intelligence units (Oppression can start with surveillance. All your private affairs will be interfered with. Then your bank accounts will be looked into. A small mistake can cause you’re life to be interfered in. And intelligence people, intelligence units can even extort from you)," Sison said.

He told ABS-CBN’s Balitang Europe that the consequences, based on his experience, are inhumane.

"So and then i-poproscribe ka. Organization, political party or individual. I-poproscribe, blacklist, tulad ng sa akin. Me consequences yan tulad ng sanctions, freezing of bank accounts. And then ganito, three days without warrant of arrest na ikulong ka, pwede ka nang pilipitin para kunan ka ng dahilan na naman para ilagay ka na indefinitely sa kulungan (You will be proscribed - organization, political party or individual. You will be blacklisted just as what happened to me. And then you may be detained for three days without an warrant of arrest, and they can put intense pressude to obtain any reason to detain you indefinitely)," Sison said.

He has blamed the Arroyo government for branding him as a terrorist and claims that this government initiated the request to US President George Bush’s administration to put him on the blacklist, or on the list of Foreign Terror Organization (FTO).

He asserts that there is no crime of terrorism in the Philippines and that the revolutionaries are only charged with rebellion, and since terrorism is not bailable, the Anti-Terror Law will result in a chain of oppressive acts.

He finds the law far worse than the Republic Act (RA) 1700 or Anti-Subversion Law which outlawed the Communist Party of the Philippines, which he founded. RA 1700 has been repealed.

"Ang mangingibabaw eh mga militar lalo na yung nasa intelligence. Itong si Gloria, pasinto-sinto ng militar. Biro mo yung prosecutor na umasikaso sa military officers na nag-whistle blow, na nag-reveal nung kinalaman ng militar sa abduction ni Jonas Burgos, pina-pull out. Siya pala ang nag-utos eh (The military will be on top, especially those in intelligence [units]. Gloria is being drawn by the military. Imagine the prosecutor investigating military officers who blew the whistle, who revealed their knowledge on the abduction of Jonas Burgos, [the prosecutor] was pulled out. She was the one who ordered [the pull out])," Sison said.

He holds Mrs. Arroyo, on the principle of command responsibility, responsible for all the cruelties that are happening in the Philippines.

Sison warns that his latest victory against the Council of the European Union will provide courage to those who fear that they will suffer the same fate as him.

"Ang judgment na to eh malaking sandata para lumaban sa mga patuloy na umaapi sa akin. Hindi ko pinapalagay na tagumpay ko itong mag-isa kungdi tagumpay ng sambayanan, partikular sa mga tao na nangangamba na mapatawan ng ganitong pang-aapi (This judgment is a potent weapon to fight those who oppress me. I don’t consider it as my victory alone but the people’s victory especially to the people who fear they may suffer the same oppression)," he said.

Sison:Arroyo not interested in GRP-NDF talks

Separately, Sison issued Friday a press statement enumerating four clear signals that the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) under Mrs. Arroyo is not really interested in resuming the formal peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) Panel.

In a statement, Sison said that firstly, the extrajudicial killings, abductions, torture, forced displacement of millions of people and other human rights violations by the GRP military, police and death squads continue unabated.

He said that the Arroyo regime remains cold to the findings and recommendations by the United Nations special rapporteurs, human-rights organizations, churches and the Supreme Court-initiated summit and instead has implemented the Anti-Terrorism Act which is aimed at killing the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations.

Secondly, the GRP, through cabinet members Eduardo Ermita and Norberto Gonzales and Armed Forces’ Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon has demanded the NDFP to yield to a three-year ceasefire which only diverts attention from the urgent necessity of addressing the roots of the armed conflict through social, economic and political reforms.

Thirdly, Sison points out that the GRP continuously insinuates that it is being compelled by the NDFP to demand to the US and other foreign governments to remove the CPP, the NPA and Sison from the terrorist blacklist.

All that the NDFP demands is for the GRP and NDFP to make a joint statement against the "terrorist" listing, stated Sison.

Lastly, Sison pointed that the GRP is demanding through Rep. Antonio Cuenco that he return to the Philippines in order to head the negotiations of the NDFP with the GRP in Manila.

Such a demand, Sison stated, is calculated to destroy the longstanding agreement to hold the peace negotiations in a foreign neutral venue and other agreements as embodied in The Hague Joint Declaration and the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees.

SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryID=85319

http://beta.abs-cbnnews.com/National/National_Stories/tabid/59/news/1501/Default.aspx

Joma Wants Lost Benefits From Dutch Govt

Joma wants lost benefits from Dutch govt

By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

Jose Maria “Joma” Sison, Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman, plans to reclaim an estimated 29,000 euros or P1.8 million before interest, in lost social-security benefits from the Dutch government after the European Court of Justice overturned a decision by EU governments to freeze his assets.

In an exclusive interview, Sison told ABS-CBN’s Balitang Europe that he will exhaust all possibilities that have opened since the European Court of First Instance ordered the Council of the European Union to defreeze his assets and funds in a judgment on July 11.

Sison is also petitioning that his name be taken off the list of terrorists. "We have a letter of demand to the [EU] Council to remove (my name from) the blacklist in accordance with the letter and spirit of the July 11, 2007 of the European Court of First Instance,” Sison said.

Sison remains to be tagged as a terrorist for his involvement with the Communist Party of the Philippines, named as among the terrorist groups. “Nakakahiya na yan (It’s already a shame). More than four years na ako na (I have been) blacklisted and a lot of people are already accusing the council of persecuting me. They better put up or shut up,” he added.

Sison said that as a result of his blacklisting, the Dutch government stopped paying his monthly social-security benefits which include a living allowance of 201 euros, a reduced old-age pension of 130 euros and undetermined premiums for health and liability insurances paid for directly by the state.

A spokesman for the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rob Dekker, confirms that Sison has stopped receiving the social-security benefits as a result of being on the terror list and said that the judgment has no impact on this issue.“He is still on the list. So there is no direct consequences. He is still on the terror list. So his social security benefits still remain frozen.” Dekker said.

Sison’s housing allowance was also terminated. But his wife, Julie, who has a residence permit in the Netherlands, was able to retain it under the housing law.“That’s why I’m living with my wife. She says I’d better be good or else she will kick me out," Sison said. " I have no right to stay in her house except having me as a guest.

Social security in the Netherlands is classified into two types namely: social-welfare benefits and social-insurance benefits. In addition, there are other arrangements that provide financial assistance such as the housing subsidy or education grant.

Because the judgment left the issue of social-security benefits to the member country, Sison met with his lawyers Tuesday to discuss the next steps which will include a demand that the Dutch government repay him in lump sum the amount equivalent to at least 58 months in lost social benefits.

The NDF and Sison's lawyer, Dundar Gurses, estimated that Sison has lost about 500 euros a month in social security benefits. Sison said his lawyers plan to get actuarial experts from another law firm who will do the monetary calculations.

The self-exiled former communist leader claims that he has no other assets except for the frozen bank account containing less than 2,000 euros which he maintains jointly with his wife.“Most of those, I saved for my dental treatment,” Sison complained.

Sison is living off the monthly financial help from his friends and supporters.“Practically, I’m under house arrest. I (just) seem to be everywhere because I go to parties, which don’t happen often anyway. (But) the number of your appearances is multiplied by the number of people who see you on one occasion. It’s very rare I go beyond two outings where I will spend say more than 30 euros because I don’t have money. So I stay home most of the time,” Sison said.

Sison is ecstatic over the judgment in his favor. “This is just initial victory. But this is big enough because I had nothing. I had no weapon against the legal system. Now I have a weapon within the system,” he said.

Sison said that his lawyers are anticipating further battles, specifically because the Court’s scheduling calendar gives the Council two months to file a Notice of Appeal from the delivery of the judgment.

The Netherlands is still reviewing the judgment.“Regarding the appeal we’re still studying the judgment of the court and we’re still deciding whether we will appeal or not. But I have to underline that in this case it is not the Netherlands who should appeal. It’s either the Council or Mr. Sison. So if the Council does it or if the Netherlands decide they should appeal, then we will have to do it through the Council,” Dekker said.

SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM

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