CPP: Maco landslides a result of destructive imperialist mining

More than 100 people, mostly mining workers, were killed last February 6 in a landslide disaster in a mining community in Maco, Davao de Oro (formerly Compostela Valley). This incident is the latest in a number of similar tragedies in the province which is one of the country’s biggest mining centers. The landslide occurred in Barangay Masara which is part of the area of mining operations of the Apex Mining Company, a company owned by Marcos crony Enrique Razon, one of the biggest bourgeois compradors and among the top billionaires, according to a statement by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

Read more: CPP: Maco landslides a result of destructive imperialist mining

Groundswell of opposition mount vs Charter Change

The Philippines’ opposition movement gathered by the thousands across cities on 25 February to protest against Marcos Jr’s plans to amend the Constitution, using the 38th anniversary celebrations of the people’s uprising that ousted his father in 1986 to rally support.

Read more: Groundswell of opposition mount vs Charter Change

Greens senator protest Marcos appearance in Australian Parliament

Greens Australian Senator Janet Rice raised a placard with the slogan “Stop human rights abuses” while Marcos Jr was speaking in front of the Australian members of parliament last 29 February. At the same time, Filipino and Australian groups staged a protest rally outside the chamber.

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CPP Founding Chairperson Jose Maria Sison’s 85th Birthday celebrated

The 85th birthday of the late Jose Ma. “Joma” Sison, Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Founding Chairperson, was celebrated by the revolutionary movement, allies and local and international friends last 8 February. Ka “Joma” passed away last December 16, 2022 in Utrecht, The Netherlands.

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Filipino workers to mobilize vs Cha-Cha, for wage increase

National labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno launched a nationally coordinated action on 16 February carrying the banner call “Wage Increase, not Charter Change,” and asserted that wages can and must be raised significantly without need to amend the Constitution. The group stated that Marcos’ Cha-cha would, in fact, lead to further depression of wages contrary to government promises of economic development.

Read more: Filipino workers to mobilize vs Cha-Cha, for wage increase

UN experts recommend dissolution of ‘outdated’ NTF-ELCAC

Two Special Rapporteurs of the United Nations (UN)  recommend the dissolution of the National Task Force to Eliminate Local Armed Communist Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) for the harm it has caused to the rights of the Filipino people, reports Ang Bayan, on 7 February, 2023.

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Chacha to worsen land dispossession and poverty, rights groups say

Amid the circulating advertisements to change the constitution, several groups argue that it would worsen poverty in the country. On 15 January 2024, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said that the Charter Change (Chacha) initiative would expose the country’s alienable and disposable lands to 100% foreign ownership.

Read more: Chacha to worsen land dispossession and poverty, rights groups say