"They already crossed the limit of their freedom."
"They already crossed the limit of their freedom."
The Catholic Church is not only sympathetic to the CPP/NPA. It is also the main funder. It carries a formidable weapon, for aside from being exempted from paying taxes, it has become their vocation to slander the government. They already crossed the limit of their freedom. Beyond the issue of tax exemption, it has become their vocation to castigate the government for human rights violation, interfere in our electoral exercise to ensure an “honest” election, demand a share in government revenue to subsidize their educational institutions, prescribing school curriculum and textbooks, and worse even sought to revise and tamper our history like erecting monuments, naming streets and towns in honor of saints and persons considered by many as traitors.
Today, Catholic-front NGO does have become the most convenient highway to funnel and launder funds to various front organizations like the CIA. The role of NGO is classic to the application of “AC-DC.” The Church enjoys tax exemption from its businesses, while freely supporting the CPP, NDF and NPA. It is the only organization that does not contribute a centavo to the government. Yet, the Church receives funding from various foreign operated NGOs and even from the CIA. It is through their operated colleges and universities that money from the oligarchs and the CIA freely mixes but under its effective control.
The collapse of the Soviet bloc and the increased influence of neoliberalism virtually erased the delineation that separates the communists from the so-called “lovers of freedom and democracy.” The neoliberals initiated this by forming their so-called color revolution funded by private philanthropist like George Soros and Pierre Omidyar. As substitute, the CIA created the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). It was an eye-catching organization to entice “Support for Freedom around the World.”
In the Philippines, the so-called restoration of freedom saw the popping out of various NGOs. NED openly collaborated with the government to “motivate” people from the various sectors of civil society. NED programs impart the basic philosophy that working people could best served under a system of free enterprise, class cooperation, collective bargaining, minimal government intervention in the economy and opposition to socialism. Among the leading NGOs are:
The Center for Media Freedom & Responsibility, Inc. (CMFRI). Its objective is “to advance press freedom and promote responsible journalism in the Philippines.” The officers are: Melinda Quintos de Jesus, Executive Director; Prof. Luis V. Teodoro, Deputy Director; and the members of the Board of Trustees are: Maria Isabel G. Ongpin; Tina Monzon Palma; Vergel O. Santos; Carlos H. Conde; and Lorna Kalaw-Tirol. Leaders of the press community and CSOs in the Philippines who served in the Board previously include: Dr. Jose Abueva, Dr. Lydia Balatbat-Echauz, Fr. Joaquin Bernas, S.J., Mr. Santiago Dumlao Jr., Atty. Fulgencio Factoran Jr., and Paulynn Paredes Sicam. In 2011, CMFRI received a grant of $79,000 and $76,000 in 2012 from NED.
The International Center for Innovation, Transformation and Excellence in Governance (INCITEGov) Inc. INCITEGov Inc. Its main task is “to empower and mobilize an informed public and a community of reformers dedicated to advancing sustainable, democratic reforms through the practice of linking democratic politics, good governance, and development outcomes.” Its founding trustees are: Florencio “Butch” Abad; Emilia “Emy” Boncodin (deceased); Teresita “Ging” Quintos-Deles; Victoria “Vicky” Garchitorena; Jose Luis “Chito” Gascon; Alberto “Bert” Lina; Imelda “Mely” Nicolas; Guillermo “Willie” Parayno, Jr.; Cesar Purisima; Juan “Johnny” Santos; Corazon “Dinky” Juliano-Soliman and Rene Villa. Its Executive officers are: Maxine Tanya Hamada, Paola Deles, Johanna Delos Reyes, Janice Almine, May Ann Chu, Cecilia Oleza, Dion Lorenz Romano, and, Josielyn Linga. In 2012, INCITEGov received a grant of $90,000 and $100,000 in 2011 from NED.
Another is the Legal Network for Truthful Elections Inc. or LENTE. Its avowed purpose is “to protect the credibility of the electoral process. To realize that objective, it encouraged the support of citizens’ participation in promoting free and fair elections in the Philippines. The Co-Convenors are Atty. Jose Vicente B. Salazar, National President of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, and Atty. Carlos P. Medina, Jr., Chief Legal Counsel of One Voice and Executive Director of the Ateneo Human Rights Center. In 2013, it received a grant of $47,000 from NED.
For the media is the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ). Its task is “to strengthen the media’s ability to analyze and report on the culture of impunity, focusing on the interrelated issues of governance, money politics, media killings, political clans, and development. The Board of Editors are: David Celdran, Chairman; Howie G. Severino, Vice Chairman, Malou Mangahas, Secretary/Executive Director; Dominick NA Danao, Treasurer; members: Sheila S. Coronel (Founding Executive Director) and Cecile C.A. Balgos. In 2013, PCIJ received a grant of $50,000 from NED.
Another is Rappler, headed by Maria Ressa who is now facing charges for tax evasion. This is a media organization intended to cater to internet users. Rappler is being funded by Pierre Omidyar, and to escape liability for violating the nationality principle of ownership in mass media, Omidyar abruptly donated $1.5 million in a last ditch attempt to evade prosecution of Ressa. The same can be said of Vera Files headed by Ellen Tordesillas. This news agency is operating mainly through the internet. Like Rappler is also funded by NED.
The Ateneo School of Government. Its objective is “to encourage political engagement among the Filipino youth in civic life. The members of the board of directors are: Victor S. Claravall; Grace Camacho-De Jesus; Joyce Christine A. Castillo; Ma. Lourdes Flores-Mercado; Julia Cristina A. Morata; Roderick R. Torres; Richard Ryan Caluya; Ronald Allan L. Cruz; Rhett Francis M. Mallen; Philipp M. Gotico; Eduard Edwynn D. Capacio; Maria Asumcion P. Fider; and. Joseph Andrew C. Serafica. In 2011, it received a grant of $56,209 from NED.
The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE). Its objective is “to promote the understanding and implementation of corporate governance among publicly-listed and non-public firms in the Philippines.” In 2011, CIPI scored and ranked firms from the various sectors based on their compliance with corporate governance standards. For that it received a grant $147,164 from NED.
Foreign-funded NGOs, aside from what many believe as a CIA-controlled electronic counting machine called Smartmatic, openly operate to intervene in our electoral system to manipulate the result. They put in place “poll surveys” to condition the minds of the people of candidates likely to win. Even if they did not participate in the commission of fraud, nonetheless they are guilty of deception for falsely conditioning the minds of the people that their projected candidates are likely to win.
Survey outfits such as the Social Weather Stations (SWS) and Pulse Asia are designed to subtly influence the voters. One can easily deduce this by their platform of government, policy pronouncement, and stand which are often amenable to US policies dubbed as pro status quo, and avoidance of controversial issues.
During election there are various civic organizations that work side by side with the Comelec to assist in the preparation, holding, counting and relying of results. Such organization was originally headed by the Movement for Free Election (Namfrel). For the fact that Namfrel was discredited as a CIA-front, various groups lead by the Church-based Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting PPCRV, LENTE, Teachers Dignity Coalition and PPSTA were soon created to replace Namfrel. LENTE is also funded by NED while the PPCRV has been linked to the commission of electoral fraud that saw Leni Robredo fantastically overtaking by almost 2 million the votes of Bongbong Marcos by daybreak.
Foreign media have also infiltrated our local news organizations. What is disturbing is they have put up their own TV stations and have linked to local stations to rebroadcast foreign news. The concern of many is they broadcast news and commentaries often critical to the government. For one, CNN and to some local radio stations such as DZFE and DZRJ to broadcast hourly news from the Voice of America and BBC. They need only pay a station to drum up the support and endorsement of the local listeners on a particular issue.
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