LGBT community, stand up and join the fight against corruption and social injustice!

Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgenders or LGBT community is indeed one of the most deprived sectors in our society. According to Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)  Coalition Report on the situations of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) persons in the Philippines for the 13th Session of the UN Universal Periodic review  for the Philippines . The economic status of LGBT persons are continually deprived or challenged because they cannot find and secure employment. LGBT persons are not assessed by companies based on skills, work experience and competence but instead are judged because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.

LGBT are also victims of political repression. Disqualification cases were filed against Partylist representing LGBT communities on the grounds of immorality, citing verses from bible and Koran. A clear violation of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights , Article 25, saying that  “Every citizen shall have the right and the opportunity, without any of the distinctions mentioned in article 2 and without unreasonable restrictions: (a) To take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives; (b) To vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot, guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the electors; (c) To have access, on general terms of equality, to public service in his country.”

 With all the economic, political and cultural discrimination under this patriarchal society where ‘macho’ culture reigns, there is no doubt that LGBT sector, like other sectors is highly motivated to join progressive groups and be part of the struggle for national democracy.

Today, the country is facing a tough fight against corruption perpetrated by politicians from dominant political parties like UNA and Liberal having selfish political and economic interests.  LGBT community could mobilize hundreds of thousands of people against bureaucrat capitalism, where the government is just maximized by the ruling elite to maintain economic superiority.               

Also, LGBT community should take part in pushing and supporting the people’s initiative proposed by former chief justice Renato Puno to abolish discretionary funds (PDAF, DAP) under the legislative and executive branch of government.

The people’s initiative is a strong statement of people’s distrust, including the LGBTs, in the Aquino administration. Their only hope is to wage a people power, spark the mass movement and strengthen their unity against the ruling system.

This is a perfect time for all LGBTs to prove their worth and be part of change. Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgenders must win the heart of the people through joining the people’s struggle for land, work, life, equality and transparency in government.

Only in our collective action we can achieve our demand for gender emancipation!

We all have a responsibility to impart our time, talent and skills in building a peaceful, corrupt-free and better society, whether you’re straight or not.

             

Intensify the call to abolish pork, support the people’s initiative!

The proposal of former Chief Justice Renato Puno for a people’s initiative to abolish both the PDAF and Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), as well as investigate self-serving politicians, is a clear statement that the people are no longer relying on the promises of this administration to abolish the pork barrel system.

Progressive groups such as Kilusang Mayo Uno and Youth Act Now! and progressive partylists under the Makabayan bloc, immediately supported the proposal vowing to do what it takes to make it a success. “It is clear now that Aquino and his administration won’t abolish pork and will not bring change… We can only rely on collective action and people power to make sure the rotten, corrupt system is ended,”  said Vencer Crisostmo, Youth Act Now! Convenor and Anakbayan National Chairperson.

"A people’s initiative presupposes (that) the Legislative and the Executive branches of government are unwilling to enact and implement laws that will prevent the misuse of public funds. We believe there are sufficient avenues for legislative reform and that Congress is prepared to enact laws to institutionalize these reforms," Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a regular press briefing in Malacanang.

It is true that the people presume that branches of government are unwilling to abolish the system for the fact that lawmakers and the president itself is benefiting from this system. This administration cannot deny the fact that more and more people are now waking from the illusion of the "straight path," and they are resorting to collective action and people power to change this system.

Coloma also reiterated that the government shares the public's view on the need to put a stop to the abuse of PDAF use, but this is contradicted by the fact that high-ranking political allies of this administration, namely Senate President Franklin Drilon and Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., are inconsistent with their stand on the issue. Even the President isn't straightforward himself.

Regarding the people's initiative, the statements of Malacanang regarding this are inconsistent. In an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer last October 21, Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said that the administration supports proposed legislation that aims to strengthen institutions mandated to safeguard public funds. This contradicted the abovementioned statement of Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. last October 29.

Presidential apologizers are now in a tight spot, playing with words to deter the mass movement against corruption. But the people are intelligent enough to push the people’s initiative despite the fact that this regime will do anything to campaign against this noble cause.

With the machinery and resources of the government to save their self-serving interest, there is no doubt this will be a hard time for Filipinos who have a burning will to change this rotting system of governance. But we must not lose hope for this is also a time for the mettle of the Filipino people to be tested. To paraphrase Jose Maria Sison, only through militant struggle will the best in us emerge.