National budget for 2003:
A budget for waging war against the people

Basahin ang artikulong ito sa Pilipino

The Macapagal-Arroyo regime's budget for 2003 is focused on further strengthening the military machinery to the detriment of social services. The Macapagal-Arroyo regime has raised the budget allocation for the AFP by P4 billion. This is exclusive of the P5 billion earmarked for the AFP Modernization Plan.

Department of National Defense. Increased by P4.7 billion, for a total of P65.135 billion.

Philippine Military Academy. Received an additional P30.2 million (meanwhile, the state colleges and universities budget was slashed by P143.9 million and the Philippine Science High School and Science Education Institute budgets, by P28.3 million).

Intelligence fund. Received an additional P14.2 million, for a total of P1.2 billion. Six-hundred fifty million pesos (P650 million) or more than half, has been allocated to the Office of the President.

PNP. Increased by P2.3 billion, including P2.1 billion earmarked for pay increases of policemen and P300 million for recruiting 9,000 new policemen, firemen and jailguards.

On the other hand, the following suffered budget cuts: housing (P307.5 million), agriculture and agrarian reform (P424.1 million), health services (P502.2 million) and social insurance, welfare and employment (P184.7 million).

November 2002
English Edition

	Editorial: Thwart plans to restore direct military rule in the country!
	Frustrate Oplan Gordian Knot!
	The antiguerrilla war of the AFP and PNP
	Abduction and forced disappearances growing
	National budget for 2003: A budget for waging war against the people
	Abduction of children to force parents' surrender
	Armed struggle reaps victories nationwide
	Why will the antiguerrilla war fail?
	Victories in Pampanga hailed
	Reports from Correspondents: Medical and fact-finding mission in Cagayan, a success; AFP's CIVAC spurned
	Reports from Correspondents: Liberalization of vegetable and rice imports detrimental to farmers
	Reports from Correspondents: Campaign vs. hunger gains momentum in Panay
	Reports from Correspondents: Reduce transport fees for string beans, Bulacan farmers cry
	Macapagal-Arroyo: Enemy of government employees
	The scandalous corruption of the Arroyos
	William Hinton, Joan Hinton and Erwin "Sid" Engst: A tribute to true proletarian internationalists and anti-imperialists
	News
	Errata in the AB October 2002 English edition