By Tonyo Cruz

Whereas, we as a people value justice, fairness,  and independence and they bind us as Filipinos wherever we come from, wherever we may be, and whichever language we speak;

Whereas, we pay homage to our heroes and martyrs who made the supreme sacrifice in order to build a new country that is independent from foreign powers, and thus free to determine our own fate as a nation;

Whereas, we aspire for a future where farmers, workers, the middle class, local entrepreneurs, national minorities, LGBTs, and overseas Filipino workers who together comprise the overwhelming majority would install a government that would be truly democratic in both form and substance;

Whereas, President Duterte continues his war on drugs that kills innocents, gives our land and seas to China; rules as a US like all past presidents; sides with the oligarchy and their traditional politicians; cavorts with the Marcoses, Arroyos, Estradas, and other politicians; fails and reneges on his promises of reform; demonizes critics of his misrule, cancels peace talks and instead declares war on the Communists; destroys Marawi under the pretext of fighting a couple of dozen foes, and threatens to impose martial law nationwide.

Whereas, we heard repeatedly from President Duterte himself that he would resign if he fails to deliver his promises;

Whereas, we owe it to next generations of Filipinos to turn over to them a country that’s better than now or before; and

Whereas, we view the new year of 2018 as a fresh start full of opportunities for genuine change.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by us as citizens and as a people that in 2018 we shall:

1. Denounce and thwart any attempt to impose a fascist dictatorship whether through a “revolutionary government” or a “federal system.”
2. Demand a stop to the killings and end to Duterte’s “war on drugs”; demand that every murder be investigated; demand that death squads be abolished, and for their masterminds and members prosecuted and punished.
3. Expose and oppose the impeachment complaints filed by Duterte front organizations and front men against the chief justice and ombudsman for what they really are — attacks on institutions of accountability.
4. Demand the full prosecution of the Marcoses, and the full seizure of all their ill-gotten wealth.
5. Demand a stop to to pork barrel, which has been used to shower favors on lawmakers and local officials.
6. Support farmers in their struggle for genuine land reform — a long-overdue measure of social justice, and a weapon to weaken the undemocratic power monopoly of big landlords and big hacienderos in the provinces.
7. Advocate a national industrialization program through the development of Filipino light, medium, and heavy industries capable of turning our raw materials into finished goods, of employing millions, and of building a prosperous economy;
8. Advocate a stop to the policies of Endo, regional wage board, and unsafe workplace conditions; Demand new policies of job security, national minimum wage rate, and workplace safety.
9. Expose and oppose all tax cuts, tax rebates, and tax holidays given to the oligarchy and the elite — which they don’t need and which are passed on as new and higher taxes on the middle class and the poor.
10. Advocate better public transportation and better telecommunications; denounce the private sector monopoly that keeps transportation and telecommunications in an awful state. condemn the President for acting like a padrino to manufacturers and Big Bank financiers of e-jeepneys and to China Telecom.
11. Demand the state takeover of the MRT and LRT and the rescinding of all unfair and onerous contracts with private consortia; demand transparency and public oversight on all Build Build Build contracts that could be as onerous and unfair, if not even worse.
12. Demand that health care be made an actual universal right; seek to expand and improve public hospitals capable to catering to millions of citizens and of employing doctors and nurses; support Filipino pharmaceutical industrialists and medical researchers.
13. Advocate steps to mitigate effects of climate change, including like a moratorium on Big Mining and Big Logging operations, the continuous modernization of PAGASA and the hiring of more climate scientists in regular plantilla positions; the adoption of UP NOAH by all LGUs and national agencies; and the construction of separate, safe and adequate evacuation centers.
14. Support the resumption of formal peace negotiations between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines — to address the root causes of the conflict; demand an end to Duterte’s war on the Communists.
15. Demand the firing and prosecution of corrupt police and military generals who are masterminds of extrajudicial killings, school occupations, school bombings, torture, abductions, wrongful arrest and detention, wrongful tagging of citizens either as addicts, pushers, or Communists, and corrupt contracts on arms and other military and police supplies.
16. Support artists who make and offer works that are

progressive and enlightening and that inspire patriotism; and journalists who bravely report the truth to the people, who speak truth to power, and who give a voice to the marginalized.

17. Challenge the misinformation and hate campaigns of DDS and Malacanang through our own campaigns based on truth and on actual issues.
18. Build alliances and coalitions against tyranny and dictatorship that would unite people from whatever color, age, class, creed, language, and sex.

Follow me on Twitter @tonyocruz