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No to increasing rights repression!
No to another Martial Law!

By Alliance of Concrned Teachers-Metro Baguio

September 20, 2005

On the 33rd anniversary of the proclamation of Martial Law, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers – Metro Baguio denounces the increasing civil and political rights repression in the country including in the education sector with the vilification of militant organizations such as ACT.

It can be recalled that during the 2004 elections when many doubted whether GMA, even as incumbent president, would win the presidential race, a film show entitled “Knowing Thy Enemy” was circulated in schools, government agencies and in different remote communities in the country. The film talked of the problems of the country and rooted these problems out in the works of groups which were critical of the government’s programs and policies. It tagged these legitimate groups as terrorists and even as evil groups. It also lumped them together with armed groups. These taggings have made these organizations open targets of the government’s anti-terrorist program.

Among the groups featured in the film is the Alliance of Concerned Teachers. ACT is a national umbrella organization of militant, progressive nationalist teachers’ organizations united on efforts to assert the economic and democratic rights of teachers. Founded in 1982, it has not only addressed the issues of teachers but also of education and other multisectoral issues affecting our people. In most of these issues, the organization has had to make strong positions on the policies and programs of government that undermine the rights and welfare of our teachers and our people. So that, even before the 2004 elections, it is among the progressive groups that have already said “Enough of Gloria” because of the low priority she has consistently given to teachers and the education sector.

With the protest of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and other church institutions which were also included among these groups, the film was revised and again is being circulated in the urban centers.

Sometime July and September this year, ACT – Metro Baguio got reports that in at least three (3) high schools in the area, namely the Baguio City National High School (BCNHS) main, the Pines City National High School (PCNHS) main and the Alejo Pacalso Memorial High School, the tape has been shown to almost all students and to some teachers under the guise of Drug Abuse Prevention Program. This was through the initiatives of an organization called the Soldiers of Christ which is said to be under the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The showing of the film to our students has not only demonized our organization but also the militant teachers among our ranks and is propagating a wrong lesson that to fight for one’s rights and welfare and to fight for what is right and just are wrong.

It is also suspicious that the showing of the film is still pursued during another critical political period where GMA’s presidency is being highly questioned.

In this context therefore, we view the vilification of progressive organizations such as ACT as a way of quelling our continuing struggle for our just demands as oppressed sectors and as a people.

Before this challenge, we shall not be cowed. We shall pursue with our objectives. It is our task not only to our co-teachers and our students but also to our people with whom we must work in our common task of bringing about a truly just and democratic Philippines. #

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