The Davao Declaration: We must now transform our vision into reality

DAVAO DECLARATION: WE MUST NOW TRANSFORM OUR VISION INTO REALITY

5 December A.D. 2014/12 Safar A.H. 1436

HAVING FOLLOWED WITH ABIDING INTEREST THE VARIOUS ASSEMBLIES CONVENED EARLIER BY HE NATIONAL TRANSFORMATION COUNCIL, AND SHARING THE COUNCIL'S DECLARED VISION FOR OUR COUNTRY AND PEOPLE, WE, CITIZENS FORM VARIOUS PARTS OF MINDANAO AND OTHER REGIONS, MET IN DAVAO CITY THIS 5 DECEMBER A.D. 2014/12 SAFAR A.H. 1436 TO UNITE OUR EFFORTS WITH THOSE OF THE COUNCIL IN SEEKING TO TRANSFORM OUR LAND INTO A WELL-RUN, PEACEFUL, GOD-LOVING AND PROSPEROUS DEMOCRATIC NATION.

WE BELIEVE THAT REGIME AND SYSTEMS CHANGE, AS PROPOSED BY THE COUNCIL AND SUPPORTED FULLY BY THE PREVIOUS ASSEMBLIES, IS THE ONLY VALID COURSE OF ACTION FOR OUR COUNTRY AND PEOPLE, AND THAT WE MUST EXERT ALL EFFORTS TO ATTAIN THIS OBJECTIVE AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE TIME.

WE AFFIRM AND ADOPT AS OUR OWN THE DECLARATIONS ISSUED BY THE PREVIOUS ASSEMBLIES AND COMMIT OURSELVES TO UNDERTAKE SUCH LAWFUL ACTION AS IS NECESSARY AND DESIRABLE TO TRANSFORM THE MORAL, POLITICAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL ORDER OF THE NATION.

MULTIPLE PROBLEMS OF VARYING MAGNITUDE HAVE COMPELLED THE PREVIOUS ASSEMBLIES TO DEMAND THAT THE AQUINO ADMINISTRATION PROMPTLY ADDRESS EACH OF THESE PROBLEMS. BUT NO ACTION HAS BEEN FORTHCOMING. THE NATION REMAINS SADDLED WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS ON TOP OF AN UNCARING ADMINISTRATION WHOSE VERY EXISTENCE IS IN CONTINUED VIOLATION OF THE MORAL ORDER AND THE CONSTITUTION.

WE DEPLORE THE PRESIDENT'S CONTINUED STRANGLEHOLD UPON CONGRESS, IN VIOLATION OF THE SEPARATION OF POWERS AND THE DOCTRINE OF CHECKS AND BALANCES AMONG THE THREE CO-EQUAL AND COORDINATE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT AS GUARANTEED BY THE CONSTITUTION.

WE DEPLORE THE ONGOING EFFORT OF THE AQUINO ADMINISTRATION TO RAILROAD A P2.6 TRILLION 2015 BUDGET WHICH RESURRECTS ALL THE LUMP SUM DISCRETIONARY APPROPRIATIONS, WHICH THE SUPREME COURT UNANIMOUSLY DECLARED UNCONSTITUTIONAL WHEN IT VOIDED THE PORK BARREL SYSTEM, CONSISTING OF THE PRIORITY DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE FUND AND THE DISBURSEMENT ACCELERATION PROGRAM, AS WELL AS THE PROPOSED 2014 P23-BILLION SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET, REPORTEDLY TO FUND PROJECTS WHICH THE PRESIDENT HAD CREATED WITHOUT THE REQUIRED CONSENT OF CONGRESS, BUT WHICH LOST THEIR FUNDING WHEN THE HIGH COURT VOIDED THE DAP.

WE DEPLORE THE FAILURE, IF NOT DOWNRIGHT REFUSAL, OF THE AQUINO ADMINISTRATION TO COMPLY WITH THE SUPREME COURT'S EXPRESS DIRECTIVE TO PROSECUTE ALL THOSE INVOLVED IN THE UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND ILLEGAL MANIPULATION AND MISUSE OF THE DAP, INVOLVING AT LEAST TWO HUNDRED BILLION PESOS.

WE DEPLORE THE FAILURE OF THE AQUINO ADMINISTRATION TO PROMPTLY AND ADEQUATELY ADDRESS THE NATIONWIDE TRANSPORTATION CRISIS, THE ENERGY AND ELECTRIC POWER CRISIS, THE WATER AND FOOD SUPPLY CRISIS, THE PEACE AND ORDER CRISIS, THE UNEMPLOYMENT CRISIS, AND ABOVE ALL, THE NATIONAL GOVERNANCE CRISIS, WHICH BEGINS WITH PRESIDENT AQUINO'S VIRTUAL CONTROL OF THE THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING THE CONDUCT OF ALL ELECTIONS.

AS MINDANAOANS, WE SPECIFICALLY LAMENT THE ADMINISTRATION'S HALF-BAKED EFFORTS TO PASS A BANGSAMORO BASIC LAW WITHOUT SUFFICIENT CONSULTATIONS WITH ALL THE AFFECTED PARTIES IN MINDANAO AND BEYOND, WHICH IS INDISPENSABLE IN CREATING THE CONSENSUS THAT WILL ULTIMATELY SUPPORT THE LAW'S MOST AMBITIOUS PROVISIONS. THIS IS MOST UNFAIR AND UNJUST TO ALL MUSLIM FILIPINOS AND ALL OTHER FILIPINOS, WHO LOOK FORWARD TO LONG LASTING PEACE AND PROSPERITY THROUGH A MEANINGFUL, AUTONOMOUS STRUCTURE.

AS MINDANOANS, WE DEPLORE THE FAILURE OF THE AQUINO ADMINISTRATION TO HELP THE LOWLY COCONUT FARMERS ACQUIRE WHAT IS DUE THEM, BY PASSIVELY STANDING B WHILE A GROUP OF ELITIST POLITICIANS AND THEIR CRONIES TRIES TO TORPEDO AN AGREEMENT THAT WOULD FINALLY GIVE THE FARMERS THE RIGHT TO USE THEIR OWN FUNDS COMING FROM THE COCONUT LEVY.

THIS LIST OF GRIEVANCES IS MERELY ILLUSTRATIVE, RATHER THAN EXHAUSTIVE, BUT WHEREAS EACH OF THESE PROBLEMS NEEDS AND DESERVES A SPECIFIC SOLUTION FROM THE GOVERNMENT, WE HAVE COME TO BELIEVE THAT NO SOLUTIONS IS POSSIBLE WHILE THE AQUINO GOVERNMENT IS IN OFFICE. THE SOLUTION WILL COME ONLY UPON THE REMOVAL OF THE AQUINO GOVERNMENT, AND ITS REPLACEMENT BY A MORE RESPONSIBLE AND CARING GOVERNMENT.

FOR THIS REASON, WE UNANIMOUSLY DECLARE THAT THE TIME TO COMPEL PRESIDENT BENIGNO SIMEON AQUINO STEP DOWN IS NOW, THAT THAT AT THE END OF THIS DAVAO ASSEMBLY, THE NATIONAL TRANSFORMATION COUNCIL SHOULD EMBARK UPON A NATIONWIDE MOBILIZATION EFFORT IN ORDER TO TRANSFORM IT VISION INTO REALITY.

DONE IN THE CITY OF DAVAO, 5 DECEMBER A.D. 2014 / 12 SAFAR A.H. 1436.

The Pampanga Declaration: Step Up the Campaign for Regime and Systems Change

THE CENTRAL LUZON DECLARATION

STEP UP THE CAMPAIGN FOR REGIME AND SYSTEMS CHANGE, MAKE CENTRAL LUZON JUETENG-FREE AND TURN THE FORMER US BASES (CLARK AND SUBIC) INTO AN INTERNATIONAL LOGISTIC HUB FOR TRANSPORT, TRADE, TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT.

3 DECEMBER A.D. 2014/10 SAFAR. A.H. 1436

DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE NATION'S WORSENING MORAL, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC CRISIS, AND THE GOVERNMENT'S UTTER FAILURE TO RESPOND TO IT, WE WHO REPRESENT THE BROAD POPULATION OF CENTRAL LUZON, TOGETHER WITH FRIENDS FROM VARIOUS PART OF THE COUNTRY, GATHERED AT ANGELES CITY THIS 3 DECEMBER A.D. 2014/10 SAFAR A.H. 1436/ TO AIR OUR MOST URGENT GRIEVANCES AND GRAVEST CONCERNS TO THE NATIONAL TRANSFORMATION COUNCIL, AND TO PROCLAIM OUR UNQUALIFIED SUPPORT FOR THE COUNCIL'S CALL FOR IMMEDIATE REGIME AND SYSTEMS CHANGE.

GUIDED BY THE OBJECTIVE MORAL LAW AND THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT, WE HEREBY AFFIRM AND ADOPT AS OUR OWN THE MAJOR POINTS EMBODIES IN THE LIPA DECLARATION OF 27 AUGUST A.D. 2014/2 DHU AL-QA'DA A.H. 1435, THE CEBU DECLARATION OF 1 OCTOBER A.D. 2014/7 DHU AL-HIJRAH A.H. 1435, AND THE BUTUAN DECLARATION OF 11 NOVEMBER A.D. 2014/18 MUHARRAM A.H. 1435.

WITH THE LIPA ASSEMBLY, WE SIMULTANEOUSLY DECLARE THAT PRESIDENT BENIGNO SIMEON AQUINO 3RD HAS LOST HIS MORAL RIGHT TO LEAD THE NATION, AND HAS BECOME A DANGER TO THE PHILIPPINE DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN STATE AND TO THE PEACE, FREEDOM, SECURITY AND MORAL AND SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE.

WITH THE SAME ASSEMBLY, WE UNEQUIVOCALLY CALL ON PRESIDENT AQUINO TO IMMEDIATELY RELINQUISH HIS POSITION, AND ON THE NATIONAL TRANSFORMATION COUNCIL TO ASSUME THE URGENT AND NECESSARY TASK OF RESTORING OUR DAMAGED POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS BEFORE WE BEGIN TO CONSIDER ELECTING A NEW GOVERNMENT UNDER NORMAL POLITICAL CONDITIONS.

WITH THE CEBU ASSEMBLY, WE LIKEWISE CALL ON THE NATIONAL TRANSFORMATION COUNCIL TO PURSUE ALL NECESSARY AND LAWFUL MEANS TO COMPEL PRESIDENT AQUINO TO STEP DOWN AT THE SOONEST POSSIBLE TIME AND TO IMMEDIATELY ORGANIZE AN ALTERNATIVE GOVERNMENT COMPOSED OF MEN AND WOMEN OF INTEGRITY AND PROVEN WORTH.

WE CALL FOR THE IMMEDIATE FILING OF CRIMINAL CASES AGAINST ALL THE OFFICIALS INVOLVED IN THE MISUSE OF THE PORK BARREL SYSTEM, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PRIORITY DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE FUND AND DISBURSEMENT ACCELERATION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO THE DIRECTIVE CONTAINED IN THE SUPREME COURT RULING DECLARING THE PDAF AND THE DAP UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

WE CALL FOR THE IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT OF THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS AS A CONDITIO SINE QUA NON FOR THE HOLDING OF ANY FUTURE ELECTION, THE FORMAL PROSECUTION BEFORE THE SANDIGANBAYAN OF ALL THE COMELECT OFFICIALS CHARGED WITH THE RIGGING THE 2010 AND 2013 ELECTIONS, AND ALL INCUMBENT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WHO "OVERSPENT" IN THE LAST ELECTIONS.

WITH THE BUTUAN ASSEMBLY, WE CALL FOR MORE EXTENSIVE CONSULTATIONS ON THE PROPOSED BANGSAMORO BASIC LAW, NOW PENDING IN CONGRESS, AND FOR SPEEDING UP THE PROPOSED FEDERALIZATION AGENDA FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY TO ENHANCE THE MOST EQUITABLE, SIMULTANEOUS EMPOWERMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF ALL THE REGIONS.

WE LIKEWISE CALL ON THE CONCERNED GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO FIND AN IMMEDIATE SOLUTION TO THE ELECTRIC POWER CRISIS IN THE COUNTRY INSTEAD OF MANIPULATING THE SITUATION TO JUSTIFY THE PROPOSAL TO GRANT EMERGENCY POWERS TO THE PRESIDENT, WHICH WILL SIMPLY ADD NEW BURDENS TO OUR PEOPLE, WHILE ALLOWING MONOPOLIST GROUPS TO RETAIN CONTROL OF POWER DISTRIBUTION EVERYWHERE, ESPECIALLY IN MINDANAO.

WE DENOUNCE THE UNCONTROLLED RESURGENCE OF JUETENG IN PAMPANGA AND ITS NEIGHBORING PROVINCES, WHICH CORRUPTS THE POLITICAL SYSTEM AND PROMOTES POLITICAL DYNASTIES IN THE REGION, THE SHARP DETERIORATION OF PEACE AND ORDER AND THE LOCAL POLITICAL CULTURE BECAUSE OF THIS DEVELOPMENT, AND THE CONTINUED WASTED POTENTIAL OF CLARK, SUBIC AND THE PACIFIC COAST AS A DEVELOPMENT HUB IN CENTRAL LUZON.

WE THEREFORE CALL ON THE NATIONAL TRANSFORMATION COUNCIL TO HELP EXPOSE THE SURGE OF JUETENG-RELATED CORRUPTION AND DISMANTLE THE CRIMINAL SYNDICATE AND POLITICAL MACHINERY CREATED BY SUCH CORRUPTION, AND WITH THE SUPPORT OF POWERFUL NATIONAL POLITICIANS.

FINALLY, WE CALL ON THE COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF CLARK, SUBIC AND THE PACIFIC COAST AS AN INTERNATIONAL HUB FOR TRANSPORTATION, TOURISM AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS BE GIVEN TOP PRIORITY BY THE NEXT GOVERNMENT, GIVING FULL VALUE TO THE PLANS AND PROGRAMS EMANATING FROM THE GROUND.

DONE IN ANGELES CITY, PROVINCE OF PAMPANGA THIS 3 DECEMBER A.D. 2014/10 SAFAR A.H. 1436.

Bangsamoro Law triggered resurgence of moves for federal government, say advocates

Bangsamoro Law triggered resurgence of moves for federal government, say advocates