Maria Clara in Revolution

Protest the Plan to Dispose of Fujimi Property by Aquino

2010-12-24T07:36:00.000-08:00

We are reposting our letter to the Senate on this plan of the Aquino son to dispose of the Fujimi Property.

An Open Letter to the Senate of the Philippines

Protect the Philippine Patrimony in Japan, Save the Philippine Properties from Arroyo's Greed and Corruption: Petition and Unity Statement of Concerned Filipinos in the Philippines, Japan, Etc.

President, Senate of the Philippines

Rm. 606 6th Flr., GSIS Bldg.,

Financial Center, Roxas Blvd.,

Pasay City

Dear Sir:

We, the members of the Filipino community and our Japanese supporters, are outraged by Noynoy Aquino's plan to get rid of the Fujimi Property, which is a 5,219 square-meter prime real-state located in a mixed residential and commercial district in Tokyo right next to the Imperial Palace and the famous Yasukuni Shrine, where coincidentally those who sacrificed their lives for their country in WWII are enshrined now being offered to two questionable bidders, named ARDEPRO CO. LTD. and TOWA-KISHISHOJI PATNERSHIP .

We understand that the move to subject the said Philippine property and patrimony in Japan for built-operate-transfer schemes come after the revelation by Engineer Rodolfo Noel Lozada, Jr. at the Philippine Senate Blue Ribbon hearing last 8 February 2008 on the overpriced Zhong Xing Telecommunication Equipment Company-National Broadband Network (ZTE-NBN) project, for which we understand that former Commission on Election Chairman Benjamin Abalos, Sr., allegedly hoped to gain a large amount of kickbacks amounting to 130 million US dollars in connivance with Jose Miguel Arroyo, the husband of Gloria M. Arroyo, who should be held responsible for all these scams.

We, therefore, view both the biddings for ZTE-NBN and the Fujimi property projects as having no clear public rationale, and like the former, the bidding for the Fujimi property has to be stopped.

In August 2003, the Arroyo administration discretely published an ad in the newspapers soliciting bids for the development of the remaining Philippine properties in Japan. This "stealth attack" was almost successful as it was not until October that the Filipino community got word of the new attempt.

The bidding schedule was particularly disturbing since it was timed so that awards could be made on the day prior to the moratorium on property dealings, six months before the elections - a blatant attempt that the Filipino community in Japan saw as a desperate effort to quickly raise funds for Arroyo’s election campaign.

In February 2004, despite motion filed by then Senate President Manuel Villar, to the great surprise of the Filipino community in Tokyo, articles suddenly appeared in the Philippine newspapers that the Arroyo government was already prepared to award 50-year leases for the Shibuya and two Kobe properties, in exchange for 948 million pesos (1.78 billion yen) under a "hybrid build-operate-transfer" scheme.

The Kudanshita, Fujimi property was excluded from the award that we surmise, in part, to pacify the ambassador who lives there, and who has been against the disposal of the properties.

The awards were to be given to two companies: Urban Corporation, a relatively young property developer based in Hiroshima; and a certain Berg Corporation, which is not listed anywhere in Japan. Thus, the granting such award to a non-Japanese or Filipino company has by virtue of the provisions of the Japan-Philippine Reparations Treaty a breach of the treaty and a violation of the terms and conditions of the said treaty that has restricted the granting of such award to any non-Filipino or non-Japanese individual, company and otherwise.

Moreover, there had been no announcement as required by the law regarding such information as to the names of the other bidders, prices submitted, and the details of the schemes to be undertaken. Even now, such information has not been disclosed to the public that the Filipino community in Japan cannot understand other than an aversion to transparency. Even senior level embassy officers in Tokyo have not informed of the details throughout the bidding process then and now.

Once again, in February 25, 2008, at the height of the nation-wide mass actions calling for Arroyo’s resignation due to corruption charges and the People Power anniversary, the news reported the call for the Fujimi property bidding. This time, the Philippine Ambassador, Domingo L. Siazon is even implicated in what the Filipino community deem to be another scam despite the fact that he has openly spoken against the disposal of the Fujimi property.

The news stated the Philippine ambassador might be “bent on favoring a close relative or friends of his wife’s clan in Japan.” This statement made by an official of the Department of Finance is posted at http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-02-25&sec=4&aid=50609.

Accordingly, we, the Filipinos in Japan and our Japanese supporters, oppose all forms of trampling on our own patrimonial rights. If the removal of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is necessarily for these patrimonies to remain in Philippine hands, so be it. Sobra na, tama na, kumilos na (Enough is enough, stop the immoral undertaking, let’s act now)!

We, therefore, are affixing our signatures to show our unity on the issue and solidarity with the millions of Filipinos calling for the preservation of the historical Fujimi property, and other Philippine patrimonies in Japan, especially the property at Nampeidai, Shibuya Ward in Tokyo that is now being contested in a Philippine court by a Japanese who claims he bought the said property from the Arroyo government sans a national referendum and therefore has the right to register the said property and dispose of it as his own. For this, we demand very strongly the resignation or ousting of Arroyo.

What is most nauseating is the information we have received from our fellow protesters to these squanderings of Philippine patrimonies, a trend in fact started by no less than the mother of the incumbent in 1986, as follows:

The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) filed a Motion for Reconsideration (MR) from the status quo ante order of the Supreme Court. The motion confirms our suspicion that the present administration is same dog as its predecessor.

In its MR, OSG claims that 'As things stand, the latest BAC-Japan resolution on the matter is dated February 17, 2010 and that no one pre-qualfied from among those who expressed interest to participate in the negotiated development and long -term lease of Fujimi property.'"

We are counting on the Senate President to help and act on the petition of the Filipino people to stop the bidding and all transactions of the Arroyo administration to dispose the Philippine properties in Japan.

Protect the Philippine Patrimony in Japan!

Save the Philippine Fujimi Property Away from Greed and Corruption!

CONCERNED FILIPINOS IN JAPAN AND ALL OVER THE WORLD

Filipinos in Japan Protest Midnight Bidding of Philippine patrimonies

2009-11-08T17:35:00.000-08:00

Angered by the attempt to bid another Philippine patrimony in Japan again without a national referendum as provided by the Supreme Court ruling of 1991, members of the Filipino community representing various sectors of overseas Filipinos in Japan, barricaded the Philippine ambassador's residence on Sunday, November 8 for two hours from 4 pm.

The crowd swelled before the group dispersed and shouted slogans such as "NO TO BOT OF THE FUJIMI PROPERTY," and "FUJIMI PROERTY BIDDERS BEWARE: FILIPINOS CAN SUE YOU IN COURT TOGETHER WITH THE MALACANANG DC!"

The group now calls those undertaking these bids as "Malacanang DC" after a group of young Filipino robbers and thieves in Japan who call their gangs, "DC823," etc. DC is short for "Dorobo Clan" or clan of robbers and thieves.

The protest emphasized Gloria M. Arroyo's and company's evident lack of any sense of history with even Japanese nationals themselves urging the Filipinos to protest against the plan to destroy the ambassador's residence that is considered now a cultural and historical heritage.

The building was in fact built in the 30's after the great Tokyo earthquake of 1923 that flattened the city, and historical houses like that of a former Baron who was close to the Imperial Family and lived in the premises of the Imperial Palace.

The house was rebuilt in 1935 with the same foundations of the old mini-castle of Baron Yasuda, the ancestor of John Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, who has expressed her opposition to any plan to destroy her ancestral home to the Philippine president when she first tried to use the proceeds of the planned BOT of the property in 2004 reportedly for her election campaign then.

In 1944, when Laurel escaped with the Japanese Imperial Army after collaborating with the invaders, he bought the property from the Yasudas, who owned other properties in other parts of Japan. The property was sequestered by the US occupation forces when Laurel was tried for treason and given to the Philippine government when the US granted the Philippines its independence.

Since then, the property has been used as residence of Philippine ambassadors to Japan, who have been the envy of other Asian ambassadors who do not have such exotic facility as their countries are not as fortunate as to have 5 properties given through Japanese war reparations that are even located in various parts of Tokyo and Kobe.

The first attempt to get rid of the Philippine patrimonies that a group calling themselves "SAVE PHILIPPINE PATRIMONIES IN JAPAN" was in 1989 when the Aquino government tried to sell all the properties in Japan allegedly for Philippine economic recovery and then for better implementation of land reform that the Filipinos in the Philippines and Japan found ridiculous because the properties were located overseas. It was then that the group was established and connected with equally concerned lawmakers who worked with them for the passage of the special Supreme Court ruling barring any attempt to bid, sell, etc. the patrimonies in Japan and elsewhere without the consent of ALL Filipinos through a national referendum.

To the members of the Filipino community in Japan, these devious plans of any administration to dispose of patrimonies in Japan should be condemned and considered illegal. To stop these attempts by sitting presidents, the group now plans to sue the Philippine government in both Japanese and Philippine courts.

The Fujimi property that is now being bided by the Arroyo government is located right next to the famous Yasukuni Shrine, where Japan's WWII heroes are enshrined. The Philippine property is part of the patrimonies in Japan that the Filipinos should protect and save as symbols of Filipino valor, honor and dignity.

We ask not just Filipinos in Japan but also Filipinos in the Philippines and all parts of the world where there are concentration of Filipino workers, et al to join us in our crusade.

STOP THE STEALING OF PHILIPPINE PATRIMONIES IN JAPAN!!!

SAVE PHILIPPINE PATRIMONIES IN JAPAN FROM ARROYO'S GREED AND CORRUPTION

2008-03-13T19:18:00.000-07:00

An Open Letter to the Senate of the Philippines

Protect the Philippine Patrimony in Japan, Save the Philippine Properties from Arroyo's Greed and Corruption: Petition and Unity Statement of Concerned Filipinos in Japan

Honorable Manuel Villar

President, Senate of the Philippines

Rm. 606 6th Flr., GSIS Bldg.,

Financial Center, Roxas Blvd.,

Pasay City

Dear Sir:

We, the members of the Filipino community and our Japanese supporters, are outraged by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s renewed bidding call for the “development” of the Fujimi property, which is one of the five (5) properties acquired by the Philippines in Japan through World War II reparations of Japan to the Philippines. The others are located in other posh districts in Tokyo and Kobe.

The Fujimi is a 5,219 square-meter prime real-state located in a mixed residential and commercial district in Tokyo right next to the Imperial Palace and the famous Yasukuni Shrine, where coincidentally those who sacrificed their lives for their country in WWII are enshrined.

We understand that the move to subject the said Philippine property and patrimony in Japan for built-operate-transfer schemes come after the revelation by Engineer Rodolfo Noel Lozada, Jr. at the Philippine Senate Blue Ribbon hearing last 8 February 2008 on the overpriced Zhong Xing Telecommunication Equipment Company-National Broadband Network (ZTE-NBN) project, for which we understand that former Commission on Election Chairman Benjamin Abalos, Sr., allegedly hoped to gain a large amount of kickbacks amounting to 130 million US dollars in connivance with Jose Miguel Arroyo, the husband of Gloria M. Arroyo, who should be held responsible for all these scams.

We, therefore, view both the biddings for ZTE-NBN and the Fujimi property projects as having no clear public rationale, and like the former, the bidding for the Fujimi property has to be stopped.

In August 2003, the Arroyo administration discretely published an ad in the newspapers soliciting bids for the development of the remaining Philippine properties in Japan. This "stealth attack" was almost successful as it was not until October that the Filipino community got word of the new attempt.

The bidding schedule was particularly disturbing since it was timed so that awards could be made on the day prior to the moratorium on property dealings, six months before the elections - a blatant attempt that the Filipino community in Japan saw as a desperate effort to quickly raise funds for Arroyo’s election campaign. Towards the end of November, we were informed that you, Senator Manuel Villar, issued a statement that the Senate should be informed that the bidding was stopped and not pushed through.

However, in February 2004, to the great surprise of the Filipino community in Tokyo, articles suddenly appeared in the Philippine newspapers that the Arroyo government was already prepared to award 50-year leases for the Shibuya and two Kobe properties, in exchange for 948 million pesos (1.78 billion yen) under a "hybrid build-operate-transfer" scheme.

The Kudanshita, Fujimi property was excluded from the award that we surmise, in part, to pacify the ambassador who lives there, and who has been against the disposal of the properties.

The awards were to be given to two companies: Urban Corporation, a relatively young property developer based in Hiroshima; and a certain Berg Corporation, which is not listed anywhere in Japan. Thus, the granting such award to a non-Japanese or Filipino company has by virtue of the provisions of the Japan-Philippine Reparations Treaty a breach of the treaty and a violation of the terms and conditions of the said treaty that has restricted the granting of such award to any non-Filipino or non-Japanese individual, company and otherwise.

Moreover, there had been no announcement as required by the law regarding such information as to the names of the other bidders, prices submitted, and the details of the schemes to be undertaken. Even now, such information has not been disclosed to the public that the Filipino community in Japan cannot understand other than an aversion to transparency. Even senior level embassy officers in Tokyo have not informed of the details throughout the bidding process then and now.

Once again, in February 25, 2008, at the height of the nation-wide mass actions calling for Arroyo’s resignation due to corruption charges and the People Power anniversary, the news reported the call for the Fujimi property bidding. This time, the Philippine Ambassador, Domingo L. Siazon is even implicated in what the Filipino community deem to be another scam despite the fact that he has openly spoken against the disposal of the Fujimi property.

The news stated the Philippine ambassador might be “bent on favoring a close relative or friends of his wife’s clan in Japan.” This statement made by an official of the Department of Finance is posted at http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-02-25&sec=4&aid=50609.

Accordingly, we, the Filipinos in Japan and our Japanese supporters, oppose all forms of trampling on our own patrimonial rights. If the removal of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is necessarily for these patrimonies to remain in Philippine hands, so be it. Sobra na, tama na, kumilos na (Enough is enough, stop the immoral undertaking, let’s act now)!

We, therefore, are affixing our signatures to show our unity on the issue and solidarity with the millions of Filipinos calling for the preservation of the historical Fujimi property, and other Philippine patrimonies in Japan, especially the property at Nampeidai, Shibuya Ward in Tokyo that is now being contested in a Philippine court by a Japanese who claims he bought the said property from the Arroyo government sans a national referendum and therefore has the right to register the said property and dispose of it as his own. For this, we demand very strongly the resignation or ousting of Arroyo.

Protect the Philippine Patrimony in Japan!

Save the Philippine Fujimi Property Away from Greed and Corruption!

Oust Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo NOW!

Cc: Members of the Philippine Senate

Philippine Embassy, Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo, Japan

March 30, 2008

Yuko Takei

Spokesperson

Crusade for the Protection of Philippine Patrimonies in Japan

Agalyn Nagase

National Chairperson

Kalipunan ng mga Filipino na Nagkakaisa (KAFIN)

Cesar V. Santoyo

Mission Director

Center for Japanese-Filipino Families (CJFF)

Cora Kasuga

National Chairperson

Filipina Circle for Advancement and Progress (FICAP)

Roland Tolentino

Professor, University of the Philippines Film Institute

Visiting Researcher, Center for Southeast Asian Studies,

Kyoto University

Jocelyn Hasumi

Leader, Saitama Chapter

The Philippine Women’s League of Japan

Virgie Ishihara

Executive Director

Filipino Migrants Center (FMC)

Epifania M. Kyo

Association of Filipino Wives of Japanese

Chiba, Japan

Margie Ieda

Chairperson

Filipina Circle for Advancement and Progress (FICAP-Nagoya)

Francis YU

Architect

Tokyo, Japan

TULOY ANG LABAN, WALANG URUNGAN!

2008-03-02T18:44:00.000-08:00

For Gloria the Evil Bitch, "RESIGNATION" is not the right word to use. Lozada says she should be "OUSTED" by force even if it means sacrificing some lives, hers, her husband and their minions maybe. TAMA NA! SOBRA NA! PATALSIKIN NA! OUST GLORIA NOW!

I wish to thank Kabayan for the image above. It's swell. It's the ugliest picture so far of the Midget yet. TY muna!

JOIN NOW! OUST GLORIA M. ARROYO!

2008-02-28T18:12:00.000-08:00

This midget should be jailed in fact for various crimes committed against the people of the Republic of the Philippines. Everybody knows she did not win the election in 2004.

There are evidences to prove this, but unfortunately, the criminal has managed to put people of her caliber to head agencies most responsible for putting criminals like her to jail like the inutile Raul Gonzales, the unconfirmed Secretary of InJustice, Mercedes Gutierrez, the girlfriend of the husband, who throws his weight around culling officials to peddle his bogus projects for ODA from China, Japan, and all those countries willing to help Filipinos get on their feet, and the generals, who connived with the Comelec junkies in the 2004 and 2007 vote-rigging and handpicked by the crook to lead the police and the military.

Now is the time for Filipinos to demand putting this criminal and her accomplices, especially the conniving husband, to prison. When they are able to do so, then, they can definitely start anew!

Tama Na! Sobra Na! Patalsikin Na, Now Na!

STOP COVETING PHILIPPINE PATRIMONIES IN JAPAN

2008-02-25T16:18:00.000-08:00

Statement of Unity of Concerned Filipinos in Japan

Protect the Philippine Patrimony in Japan!

Save the Philippine Fujimi Property from Greed and Corruption:

We are outraged by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration attempt for a renewed bidding call for the so-called “development” of the Fujimi property, a part of the World War II reparations that Japan paid the Philippines for war damages. The Fujimi is a 5,219 square meters prime property located in a mixed residential and commercial district in Tokyo.

The unwanted call to subject the Philippine treasure and patrimony in the country for built-operate-transfer scheme comes in a time after the revelation by Engineer Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr. at the Philippine Senate Blue Ribbon hearings last 8 February 2008 on the overpriced Zhong Xing Telecommunication Equipment Company-National Broadband Network (ZTE-NBN) project. We are dismayed by the revelations that former Commission on Election Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr., with the alleged involvement of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, ordered the inclusion in the proposed project a large amount of kickbacks, amounting to as much as 130 million US dollars (or more than 5.2 billion pesos).

In the same vein, both the ZTE-NBN project bidding and the Fujimi property bidding have no clear public rationale in the first place and like the former have to be stopped. All are part of so many public properties, natural resources, government agencies, overseas Filipino workers and others being sacrificed for the greed of the few.

In August 2003, the Arroyo government discretely published an ad in the newspapers soliciting bids for the development of the remaining properties. This "stealth attack" was hugely successful as it was not until October that the Filipino community here got word of the new attempt. The bidding schedule was particularly disturbing since it was timed so that awards could be made by the day prior to the moratorium on property dealings which kicks in 6 months before the elections - a blatant attempt that we in Japan see as a desperate effort to quickly raise funds for the election campaign. Towards the end of November, no less than Sen. Manuel Villar issued a statement that he had been informed that the bidding was not pushing through.

In February 2004, to the great surprise of people in Tokyo, articles suddenly start appearing in the Philippine newspapers that the Arroyo government was prepared to award 50-year leases for the Shibuya and two Kobe properties in exchange for 948 million pesos (1.78 billion yen) under a "hybrid build-operate-transfer" scheme.

The Kudanshita, Fujimi property was excluded from the award - we surmise in part to pacify the ambassador, who lives there, who had been against the disposal of the properties. The awards are to be given to two companies: Urban Corporation, a relatively young property developer based in Hiroshima; and a certain Berg Corporation, which is not listed anywhere in Japan. Information on the other bidders, prices submitted, and the details of the schemes to be undertaken were not announced, for reasons we cannot understand other than an aversion to transparency. Even senior level embassy officers in Tokyo were ignorant of the details throughout the bidding process.

Once again, in February 25, 2008, in the height of the nationwide action calling for Arroyo’s resignation due to corruption charges and Peoples Power anniversary, the news reports the resumption of Fujimi property bidding. This time, the Philippine Ambassador, Domingo L. Siazon who openly speaks against Fujimi property disposal is painted in the dark. As the news says, the Philippine ambassador might be “bent on favoring a close relative or friends of his wife’s clan in Japan.” A statement made by an official of the Department of Finance.

Sobra na, tama na, kumilos na (Enough, stop this, let’s act now)! We the Filipinos in Japan stands to oppose all the forms of removing away from us our own patrimonial rights. Therefore, we are affixing our signatures to show our unity and in joining the millions of Filipinos calling for the resignation or ousting of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. It is only through her removal in the office that the Philippine patrimony in Japan and the Fujimi property will rest securely.

Protect the Philippine Patrimony in Japan!

Save the Philippine Fujimi Property Away from Greed and Corruption!

Oust Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo NOW!

GLORIA RESIGN!

2008-02-24T08:26:00.001-08:00

WE JOIN ALL FILIPINOS AT HOME AND ABROAD IN DEMANDING FOR THE RESIGNATION OF GLORIA M. ARROYO RIGHT NOW!

FILIPINOS ARE FED UP OF HER LIES AND DECEIT. SHE HAS TO STEP DOWN AND ACCEPT ALL LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR ALL THE CRIMES COMMITTED BY HER, HER HUSBAND AND THEIR ASSOCIATES AGAINST THE COUNTRY AND PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES.

WE ALSO REFUSE THE SERVICES OF HER PARTNER IN CRIME, NOLI DE CASTRO, HER VICE PRESIDENT AS WE BELIEVE THAT HE IS A BENEFICIARY OF THE RAMPANT CHEATING DONE DURING THE ELECTION IN 2004 THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN WON BY HER OPPONENT, THE MORE POPULAR RONALD ALLAN POE, A.K.A. FERNANDO POE JR., IF NOT FOR THE 1 MILLION VOTES REPORTEDLY STOLEN BY THE INFAMOUS VOTE-RIGGER, VIRGILIO GARCILLANO, ON HER ORDER AND INSTRUCTION.

FILIPINOS DEMAND THAT GLORIA M. ARROYO BE ARRESTED, PROSECUTED AND JAILED FOR HER CRIMES TOGETHER WITH ALL HER ACCOMPLICES!

WE REQUEST FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS TO REFUSE PROVIDING HELP AND ASSISTANCE TO THIS CRIMINAL AND HER MINIONS.

CONCERNED FILIPINOS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS IN JAPAN

Call for the Resignation of Gloria M. Arroyo

2008-02-14T10:09:00.000-08:00

TAMA NA! SOBRA NA! KILOS NA! GLORIA M. ARROYO RESIGN!

WE CALL ON ALL FILIPINOS TO JOIN THE RALLY TODAY TO DEMAND FOR THE RESIGNATION OF GLORIA M. ARROYO AND COMPANY. WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO JOIN THE NUMEROUS GROUPS NOW FILING LEGAL CASES AGAINST THIS OPPRESSIVE GOVERNMENT THAT MEMBERS OF VARIOUS BAR ASSOCIATIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES ARE WILLING TO PURSUE IN COURT VERSUS GLORIA M. ARROYO, MIKE PIDAL ARROYO, ET AL!

HUWAG MATAKOT SA MGA KURAKOT! TIME TO DEMAND FOR THEIR RESIGNATION, ARREST AND CONVICTION!

FROM THE CONCERNED FILIPINOS OF JAPAN

Invitation to AI Launching of Campaign Against Political Killings in the Philippines

2006-08-17T04:22:00.000-07:00

ニノイ・アキノ（元フィリピン上院議員）氏没後23年：　アロヨ政権下での政治
的殺害犠牲者に重ね合わせた追悼集会への案内

「フィリピン人は、そのために死ぬ価値のある人びとである（フィリピン人のた
めなら死んでもよい）」というとても有名な文句を言ったのは、1983年8月21日
に銃殺されたベニグノ・“ニノイ”・アキノ氏です。ニノイは、独裁に反対した
ために政治的殺害犠牲者となった最も著名な人物です。彼の死から3年経って、
ピープル・パワーの盛り上がりにより、マルコス大統領（当時）の独裁体制が崩
壊し、フィリピンに民主的体制が生れました。

それから20年以上を経た今日、民主的社会の建設によりフィリピン人が得てきた
ものは、そのほとんどが現在の強権的なアロヨ政権の下で失われようとしていま
す。現時点までに、同政権下で殺害されたジャーナリスト、法律家、教会関係
者、活動家、人権擁護家は717人にものぼります。去る7月31日だけをとっても、
1日で3人が政治的殺害の犠牲者となりました。こうした殺害には同じパターンが
見られます。覆面をした暗殺者がオートバイに乗って、アロヨ政権に反対してい
る標的に近づき、強力な銃で殺害するというものです。こうした殺害は全国各地
で組織的に行われていることから、大規模な資金と機構を持つ政府のような組織
が背後に存在するのではないかとの疑いがあります。

フィリピンは今や、アジアの「キリング・フィールド」として知られるようにな
る一方、フィリピン国民は以前にも増して飢餓と貧困に苦しんでいます。アロヨ
政権はこうした困窮者に対して有効な措置を講ずるというよりは、外国からの援
助を得てダム、道路、橋梁などの建設を約束するだけです。ガソリンなどの物価
は日々値上がりしており、日本をはじめとする外国で働いているフィリピン人が
母国で暮らす家族の生活苦を助けなければなりません。

あらゆる生命は尊いものです。耕すための土地、食糧、人並みの仕事といった基
本的人権を保障するものを是非とも必要としている人びとから、生命を奪うこと
はできません。また、人権擁護家や貧困層のために働いている人びとは保護され
こそすれ、殺されるようなことがあってはなりません。しかし大規模にわたる殺
害は止んでおらず、フィリピン国軍最高司令官であるグロリア・マカパガル・ア
ロヨ大統領は未だきちんと対処していません。

フィリピン人は、母国に暮らそうと、外国に暮らそうと、フィリピン人のために
命懸けで尽くすところがあります。ここ日本でも、現今の課題に直面して、日本
各地のフィリピン人団体が横断的に集まり、「フィリピンの政治的殺害を止め真
の平和を求める有志連合」を結成しました。

この連合は、アジアでキリスト教徒が多数を占めるフィリピンにおいて、正義と
民主主義に基づく平和を回復するために努力することを呼びかけています。そし
て、政治的殺害を止めさせ、アジアのキリング・フィールドという汚名を払拭
し、また、団結と相互の努力によってフィリピン人の矜持を取り戻すことを求め
ています。こうした矜持は、フィリピン人移住者としての権利と福祉を実現する
ために団結し協同するならば、得られるでしょう。
「フィリピンの政治的殺害を止め真の平和を求める有志連合」は、2006年8月20
日１時30分～4時まで最初の会合／フォーラムを開きます。平和を愛する日本人
の方々を含めた皆さん、万障をお繰り合わせの上、是非ご参集ください。場所は
次の通りです。Rinshi 21Kumin Shkaijo, 1-4-1 Koyomadai, Shinagawa-ku,
Tokyo (Tel 03 5704 4021)

「フィリピンの政治的殺害を止め真の平和を求める有志連合」特別委員会のメン
バーより、心から感謝を申し上げます。

Respectfully yours,

Virgie Ishihara, Coalition Chairperson and Filipina Circle for
Advancement and Progress (FICAP) Nagoya Chapter President.
Yuko Takei, Coalition Vice-Chairperson and spokesperson of Philippine
Women's League (PWL)
Vida Teresita Beltran, Coalition Chairperson and Kalipunan ng mga
Filipinong Nagkakaisa (FICAP) Saitama Chairperson
Agalyn Nagase, Coaliton Chairperson and the National Convenor of KAFIN
Cora Kasuga, Coalition Membership Committee and FICAP National
Chairperson
Cesar V. Santoyo, Coalition Education and Campaign Committee,
Coordinator, Center for Japanese-Filipino Families.

Office Address:
Coalition of Enlightened Filipinos in Japan
702 Kikyo Heights Nishigotanda,
2-26-3 Nishigotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141,
Tel. 03 3491 2408 Fax 03 3783 1033
Email: pinoy.koalisyon@gmail.com

Justice for Filipino-Canadian killed by Canadian Police

2006-06-29T21:15:00.000-07:00

From the Coalition of Concerned Filipino Organizations in Japan. Please sign if you support this initiative:

Mga kapatid,

Humihingi ng tulong ang mga taga Canada for solidarity support sa Filipino-Canadian na pinatay ng police sa Canada and below is the draft statement. The below listed names ay mga confirmed pipol against the political killings of fake president Arroyo that is proposed to be formed as Filipino coalitions in Japan. If you agree on the statement with your names with it just let it be. Otherwise, please let me know so it could not be mentioned.

There is also a proposal for all of us to meet on July 23 sa Maryknol center yotsuya at 3pm para natin pag-usapan ang proposed formation ng Filipino Coalition in Japan to Stop the aid to the fake, repressive, corrupt etc government of Arroyo. Please let us know the confirmation of your attendance.

Hopeful na may isang pinoy lawyer na tutulong sa atin to clear about the human rights conditions in the Philippines and on impeachment case na isinalang ngayon sa kongreso. Will let you know later if we able to confirm the pinoy lawyer availability.

Labs ko kayong lahat.

cesar

Message of Solidarity by the Filipino Community in Japan

to the Family of Jeffrey Reodica and the Justice for Jeffrey Coalition

July 30, 2006

The Filipino Community in Japan wishes the family of Jeffrey Reodica and all those involved in the Justice for Jeffrey Coalition in Canada the success in its continuing efforts to let the truth out and let justice prevail. The case of Jeffrey is a very important component of the struggle against police violence and racism in Canada.

We have been monitoring the results of the coroner’s inquest for the past days. As more information is revealed, the results of the original investigation two years ago by the Special Investigations Unit (S.I.U.) become really suspect. It is truly mind-boggling to witness how the S.I.U would have exonerated these police officers while many of the witnesses have clearly testified that Jeffrey did not posses any threat to them and that contrary to procedure, these suspect police in plainclothes did not even identify themselves.

After two years of being denied justice, we may have the opportunity to finally let the truth out. In this regard, we are with you in pursuing the Coroner’s Inquest in the hope that it will aid the struggle for justice for Jeffrey and all those who have been victimized by police brutality and systemic racism.

As well, we are enraged by the fact that the Philippine Consulate has not seriously come to the aid of this case since Day One. The inutility of the Philippine government to protect its constituents overseas is definitely an additional injustice. We are one with you in demanding their immediate action to support the campaign or else face the ire not only of the Filipino community in Canada but also here in Japan.

Rest assured that we will continue to keep an eye on the developments of the justice campaign for Jeffrey because we believe that this is not only a case for our compatriots in Canada but is also a telling fact of the conditions of overseas Filipinos and immigrants in other countries, even here in Japan. Racism, state repression, police brutality, exploitation and violation of human rights and workers’ rights are universally experienced in varying forms and degrees by migrants and immigrants of various nationalities.

Your struggle is also our struggle. Let us continue to seek justice wherever we may be!

Signed by leaders of Filipino communities in Japan

Cesar V. Santoyo

Executive Director, Center for Japanese-Filipino Families

Yuko Takei

Chairperson, Philippine Women's League of Japan

Rossana Tapiru

Tokyo Chapter Chairperson, Migrante Sectoral Party

Agalyn Nagase

National Chairperson, Kalipunan ng mga Filipinong Nagkakaisa (KAFIN)

Chiquette Tanisaki

Coordinator, Philippine Center at Maryknoll

Anita Sazaki

President, Christian Association of Traditional Lay Evangelization

Teresita Vida Beltran

Saitama Chapter Chairperson, Kalipunan ng mga Filipinong Nagkakaisa (KAFIN)

Jocelyn Hasumi

Saitama Chapter President, Philippine Women's League

Alison Opaon

Yokohama Chapter President, Kalipunan ng mga Filipinong Nagkakaisa (KAFIN)

Cora Kasuga

Chairperson, Filipina Circle for Advancement and Progress

Virgie Ishihara

Executive Director, Filipino Migrants Center in Nagoya (FMC)

Nestor Puno

Teacher, Ecumenical Learning Center for Children (Nagoya)

Neddie Codog

Missionary, Urawa Catholic Open House International Center

Noemi Oba

President, Philippine Society in Japan

Lori Ligon

Chairperson, Campaign for the Confirmation of Nationality of Japanese-Filipino Children

Focus on the Process of Smuggling Filipina to Korea

2006-06-21T23:37:00.000-07:00

This is an article that appeared in a website of an NGO monitoring the trafficking of Filipino women, et al around the world.

Last year, Japan passed a new Immigration Law that bans Filipinos from coming to Japan as hostesses for bars and clubs in Japan to stop the decades issue of deployment of the so-called "Japayukis" from the Philippines.

In response, the Philippine government delegated two or more Philippine Congressmen to talk with Japanese Immigration officials to grant Filipinos a waiver. They were turned down.

Still 1,000 Filipino women or more were smuggled to Japan even after the new Immigration Law was enforced, while the rest were sent to neighboring Korea, where they are apparently deployed to bars and clubs around US bases mainly.

Meanwhile, my fellow crusaders for the protection of Philippine interests in Japan are making sure that the Arroyo government will not be able to send anymore wannabe Filipino prostitutes to Japan. We keep our banner afloat: STOP THE JAPAYUKI!

******

Focus on the Process of Smuggling of Filipinas to Korea

Officials from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration report that they estimate Filipinas in the entertainment industry in Korea to be around 1,000, while those prostituted around the U.S. military bases to number 600. The officials attest that the women recruited are very young and indeed, mostly from Central Luzon, specifically the Pinatubo area. They are recruited through friends, and promised a job as entertainer or lured by prospects of marrying American GIs. The women are not asked of a placement fee and some are trained in Binan, Laguna. The POEA listed the names of suspected local recruiters as Leila Villaflor and a certain Boy Banag. They are reportedly in connivance with Mr. An S. H. of the Korean Special Tourist Association. Mr. An is said to be residing in Metro Manila and works with Mr. Kim Kyong-Su, a Provincial Councilor of Kyonky province. Mr. Kim was recently reported in Han Kyo Reh as being investigated by the Yong-San District Police for "importing 1,093 foreign women, from the Philippines and Russia, to work as entertainers near the U.S. military camp." He is being charged together with 2 other accomplices for illegal recruitment and forging of documents. He allegedly regularly receives commission from 234 club owners in the area.

The women are transported to the airports of either Subic or Cebu and flown to Bangkok as tourists since Thailand do not require visas. There, entertainment visas are secured by Mr. An for the women to go to Korea, supported by an invitation letter from Mr. Kim and false employment contracts. Subsequently, they are easily flown to Seoul.

There are also instances when the women go through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, before entering which the women are instructed on what to say in case any immigration officer would question them. In fact, some airport officers watched them closely and facilitated their departure, according to the women. This was confirmed by another official, who stated that immigration officials receive at least $25,000 for every worker from the traffickers.

Upon coming to the clubs, women are made to undress on the third day, and perform sexual acts such as tabletop dancing and blowjob. They are paid $600 but only $300 go to the woman. Still, they are not given the money until after two months. The unbearable exploitation led two women to escape and report their conditions to officials. The Episcopal Commision for Migrants and Itinerant People of the Korean Catholic Bishops Conference reported that seven Filipinas ran to them for problems of contract violation, illegal taxation and prostitution. Not long afterwards, 15 other Filipina entertainers went to the Yong-san District Police to seek for assistance.

Addressing the Issue

Efforts of women's organizations in Korea that are working on the issue of prostitution have focused on Korean women, but recently brought attention to foreign women, including Filipinas. Since information from Filipinas around the bases is difficult to gather, the research that KCWU has started will break grounds towards informing the public on the reality of their sexual exploitation. The research investigates the process of entry of the women, their profile, situation in prostitution, and the harms to the women.

Such research work could be helped by CATW-Asia Pacific by investigating returnees from Korea. CATW has evolved a computer documentation system that records human rights violations to women. This technology could be shared with women's groups directly working with the victims. Such system would capture the details of events of violations, profile of the victims including the impact of the violations to them, the interventions applied, and other details. Findings generated from such documentation would tremendously assist advocacy work on the issue, may it be legal, support or policy advocacy. In terms of support to the women, the strategies for assistance could be sharpened when the harms and impact of the violations are recorded accordingly. Prosecution of the perpetrators, policy proposals and other actions will also be helped by such method of documentation, which could systematize the evidences as well as serve as basis of analyses of patterns in the violations.

CATW, with its network of Philippine women's groups, could drum up an information campaign, based on this case documentation, about the exploitation of Filipinas in Korea. The campaign shall also direct attention to the culpability of the U.S. military bases in the perpetration of the sexual abuse of women, as well as local authorities.
CATW shall take part in the networking efforts of women's groups and support groups for migrant workers in Korea, as well as with Philippine officials to set up a system of referral to assist the Filipinas escaping prostitution. This network will also be vital in the prosecution of the recruiters, establishments' officers and other accomplices in the trafficking of Filipinas, both in Korea, as well as in the Philippines.

In the regional and international levels, CATW will hold an inter-regional dialogue in Russia in March 2000, to discuss the trafficking of E. European women to countries in Asia and to explore legal strategies in combating the problem. Such action is reinforced by our findings that aside from the Filipinas, Russian women account for the most number of foreign women exploited around the U.S. bases in Korea. -Preventive work, including education among women in vulnerable situations and setting up of monitoring mechanisms, are being undertaken by CATW in the Philippines. We shall be happy to exchange with you on other strategies for prevention in both ends.

Man Arrested for Illegal Net Bank

2006-06-21T23:20:00.000-07:00

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Man arrested for illegal Net bank

A 37-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of operating an Internet banking business without a license, police said Wednesday.

No Kum Sok, 37, a resident of Arakawa Ward, Tokyo, helped three South Korean women send a total of 557,000 yen to South Korea using the Internet in April and May.

No, who runs a shop selling South Korean goods, admitted to the allegation, saying, "I did it by myself because the business does not require anyone to act as a money trafficker."

Police suspect No was involved in about 1,400 illegal transactions worth 520 million yen since last March.
The Japan Times
(C) All rights reserved

*****
This story reminds me of the OFW Bank being conducted likewise via the Internet. I don't recommend it to my Filipino friends working overseas because it is illegal in principle despite the nobility of the intention of those running it.

A friend of mine in fact tried banking with it, but got disillusioned when his wife could not withdraw money from it, and so, he decided he wanted to withdraw his money sleeping in that bank for 2 or 3 years. When he did, the value of the dollar had gone down and the money returned to him was far less than what he paid for remitting the money to the said bank.

In short, he was hoodwinked, with his money getting undervalued and with no interest gained during the time his money was there. He wanted to sue the operators of the said bank but he thought it would be another loss of funds, so he gave up.

Now, Arroyo says she wants the OFW Bank to be a government entity! Patay!

Iraq Pull Out Announced

2006-06-21T15:30:00.000-07:00

From the Daily Yomiuri:

Iraq pullout announced / Koizumi cites new govt, regional security transfer as reasons

The Yomiuri Shimbun

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi announced Tuesday that Ground Self-Defense Force troops dispatched to Iraq would withdraw from the nation, ending their mission to help reconstruction efforts there that started in January 2004.

The GSDF unit based in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah is to soon start withdrawing from Iraq to Kuwait, a process sources said would be completed by the end of July.

The personnel then will return home in August or later.

At a press conference, Koizumi said the decision on the withdrawal had been made after taking into account such factors as the launch of the new Iraqi government and the planned transfer of security duties from British-led coalition forces to the Iraqi authorities in Muthanna Province, in which Samawah is located.

"After consultations with the United States, as well as Britain and Australia, it has been judged that the GSDF's humanitarian aid and reconstruction activities produced results," he added.

He also issued a statement, saying, "The nation intends to have the results of the aid mission take root [in Iraq] and to establish long-term partnerships with Iraq in various areas."

Regarding Air Self-Defense Force personnel, who are engaged in transport services to Iraq, the statement said their duties would be expanded.

Earlier in the day, Koizumi held a meeting with New Komeito leader Takenori Kanzaki and told him that ASDF transport services would be expanded to those for U.N. employees. Koizumi also met with Japanese Communist Party leader Kazuo Shii and Social Democratic Party leader Mizuho Fukushima to inform them of the pullout decision.

The Security Council of Japan, a key government national security issues panel, then met to formalize the decision. Defense Agency Director General Fukushiro Nukaga then issued an order for the GSDF's 10th unit for the Iraqi mission based in Samawah to withdraw.

The Defense Agency is expected to dispatch an additional unit of 100 troops specializing in supply and transport services to help the withdrawal. The 10th unit, divided into three groups, is to gradually move to Kuwait over a period of about 30 to 35 days.

After conducting checks on vehicles as well as arms and ammunition, the personnel will be brought home either by ASDF carriers or on chartered airliners.

The ASDF personnel, who are based in Kuwait and engaged in transporting materials for the U.S.-led coalition occupation forces in Iraq, will continue their operations there.

Complying with a U.N. request, destinations for ASDF transport services, which are currently limited to Basra and Tallil in southern Iraq, will be expanded to include Baghdad and Irbil.
(Jun. 21, 2006)

*****

Personally, I am against the deployment of Japanese Self Defense Forces to Iraq, and Japan's involvement in this crazy war of Bush. Even when this is not in response to public clamor for the withdrawal of Japanese troops from Iraq, at least, they are coming home at last.

Prime Minister Koizumi cannot leave the Japanese troops there hanging upon his departure from office and the next Premier not being as enthusiastic to put Japan in danger by defying the provision of the pacifist Japanese Constitution limiting Japan's defense capability to protection and defense of Japan from attack from the outside that is inevitable with US military build-up in Japan.

The North Korean missile threat is a blessing in disguise as a matter of fact.