Militants want mid-term polls

Militant fisherfolks called on the Cebuano voters to frustrate the administration of President Gloria Arroyo by replicating the anti-Bush mid-term election in the United States.

Panaghugpong sa Gagmay'ng Mananagat sa Sugbo expressed exasperation against the present administration and the allies of Arroyo for pushing for Charter Change despite strong opposition from the people.

"We need to deny GMA of her allies in the congress because they have wreaked enough havoc to our lives through sheer tyranny of numbers. We need to transform our sentiments through a decisive vote this coming election," the group said in a statement.

Victor Lapaz, chairman of PAMANA-Sugbo, said that Arroyo's minions in the congress have effectively blocked the people's action in seeking the truth and accountability by blocking impeachment complaints, inquiries on scams, plunder, and the opportunist Charter Change.

"The pro-GMA dominated Congress, is a rubber stamp. They are responsible why the workers did not receive any wage increase at all, and why Philippines has virtually became a toxic dumping ground through JPEPA, and why our fishing grounds are rapidly being intruded by foreign monopoly fishing vessels," Lapaz said.

He added that a meaningful change can only be viable through a "no GMA scenario" and the best way to do this is to get back at Congress during the next year's election.

"We know how sly the incumbent pro-GMA's are, we know that they still have the Comelec, PNP, AFP at their disposal, but we have the people's movement and the moral ground on our side, and the strong aspiration to change our sorry politico-economic situation"

PAMANA said that in the most recent SWS survey Arroyo got a negative rating in the Visayas, breaking the myth that the region is "Arroyo country".

"We need to rise above the occasion, GMA should suffer the way her boss suffered in the US for being a rabid anti-people illegitimate regime," the militant fisherfolks group said. - Wenna A. Berondo