Joma Sison assails Aquino administration

MANILA, Philippines – In time for the 44th founding anniversary of the communist New People’s Army, self-exiled Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria ‘Joma’ Sison attacked the Aquino administration for its economic policies that do not benefit the poor.

On Friday, March 29, Sison said in a video that President Benigno Aquino III has espoused economic policies and plans that do not benefit the “masses.” Watch the video here from KODAO Productions (Europe) on Vimeo.

Charges

He said Aquino and the “US regime” tried to deceive Filipinos about supposed economic growth, and attacked the government on the following issues:

1. Aquino is pro-mining. Sison said the mining industy takes resources out of the country and gives them to foreign countries instead.

Aquino signed Executive Order 79 in 2012 which aims to improve the revenue-generating scheme in favor of the government. The EO however specified that no new mining contracts would be signed “until a legislation rationalizing existing revenue sharing schemes and mechanisms shall have taken effect.”

Aquino also approved the implementing rules and regulations of EO 79 in October 2012.  

The IRR’s provisions cover the term of the mining contract, areas where mining activities could not take place, and stress the primacy of national over local laws.

2. Aquino’s bid to boost tourism paves the way for the rise of casinos.

Aquino opened the Solaire Resorts and Casino on March 16, a US$1.2-billion property located in Entertainment City, which sits on reclaimed land on Manila Bay. It is one of the 4 gaming venues to operate there. 

Solaire is controlled by Enrique Razon-led Bloomberry Resorts Corp. 

Sison said the focus on this industry has caused the government to neglect the agricultural and manufacturing sectors. 

3. Aquino’s much-lauded gains in the stock market have led to a “stock market bubble.”

The stock index breached the 6,700-mark in February and was ranked the 3rd best-performing in the world by the World Federation Exchanges.

Sison said this has resulted in a stock market bubble, however, which means stock prices have risen and contracted. 

“May bubble na sa stock market — pumutok na (The stock market bubble has burst),” he said. 

There have been no reports from the business sector that this has happened, however. 

Sison also hit Aquino’s “Oplan Bayanihan,” which is a counter-insurgency program. He said this program showed that Aquino is not sincere in pursuing peace talks with the NPA.

Sison’s message came as the NPA also attacked government forces in Butuan on the latter’s 44th founding anniversary. – Rappler.com