“The House of Representatives’ approval of the proposed 2018 budget shows that it is complicit in the executive branch’s design to strengthen its kill, kill, kill program and build up the Duterte regime’s war chest against the Filipino people. The proposed budget includes P313 billion for Duterte’s implementation of counter-insurgency program Oplan Kapayapaan and its bloody war on drugs. Both programs are designed to inflict further State terror and violence on the poor, while public funding for social programs on housing, education, and health services have been cut or are practically rendered non-existent,” said Cristina Palabay, Karapatan Secretary General, as the HoR approved on third and final reading the proposed P3.767 trillion national budget for 2018 on Sept. 26.
Karapatan said this includes the P3.4 billion that have been allocated for paramilitary groups, that have been responsible for the killings of Lumad and peasants, under the direct command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
“Oplan Kapayapaan is meant to promote and possibly expand martial law,” Palabay stated. (karapatan)
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