By IPS-Inter Press Service

Military authorities today raided the house of Lean Alejandro, Secretary-General of the left-leaning Bagong Alyansa Ng Bayan (Bayan-New Patriotic Alliance).

Subpoenas to appear in court under charges of illegal assembly have been issued against Alejandro and at least seven other leaders of the Coalition Against Oil Price Increases (CAOPI).

The coalition was formed to protest against the decision taken last month by the Corazon Aquino administration to raise oil prices.

Bayan official Etta Rosales said today there was no reason to arrest either Alejandro or the others because they were not doing anything illegal. “We just want the (oil) prices down,” she noted.

Those issued with subpoenas include Crispin Beltran, president of the militant Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU or “May First Movement”), Benedictine Sister Mary John Mananzan, chairperson of the Citizens Alliance for Consumer Protection, and Medrardo Roda, president of a Transport Alliance.

Rosales said today’s events indicate that Honasan’s agenda is being implemented by the government.

She was referring to Col. Gregorio Honasan who, since leading a the failed coup attempt Aug. 28, has been issuing statements urging more aggressive action against the left and greater benefits for the military.

President Aquino and Congress have since then promised increased military budgets.

In a statement issued yesterday, the KMU insisted that government promises to increase the military budget and threats to declare a state of national emergency would not guarantee stability or serve to block another coup attempt.

The KMU said the government, and its church and big business partners, do not understand that the stability they seek will not materialize while workers and other citizens are hungry.

The KMU statement pointed to the harassment and imprisonment of members of groups fighting for social welfare, and the continuing control of the nation’s wealth by foreign business, local big business and landlords.

Observers say the attempts to arrest Alejandro, and the police charges against protest leaders of illegal assembly, confirm reports that a dragnet is being prepared against left-leaning organizations.

One week after the coup attempt, reports here said intelligence sources in the Philippine police force had confirmed that arrest lists were being drafted containing names of labor, church and media personalities identified with the protest movement.

Military sources, who refused to be identified, said yesterday there would be a crackdown on four organizations — Bayan, KMU, the Partido Ng Bayan (PNB-People’s Party), which fielded candidates in the congressional polls earlier this year, and the League of Filipino Students.

All four organizations have been branded as covers for the underground National Democratic Front (NDF).

Armed Forces Spokesman Col. Honesto Isleta recently told a church group that protest actions for lower prices and higher wages, which had previously been considered within the context of democratic rights, are now viewed as a basic element of the NDF’s armed struggle.

Meanwhile, sources here say moves are under way to mount a more effective campaign against the NDF and its armed contingent, the New People’s Army (NPA).

Immediately after the coup attempt, the NDF called on guerrillas to launch an offensive against the divided military, and since then the NPA has stepped up its offensives.

Col. Isleta said that between Aug. 28 and Sept. 13, there were 76 skirmishes between government troops and guerrillas, 64 of which were initiated by the NPA.

Last week in the wake of a Cabinet re-shuffle, Aquino convened the Council of State for the first time. The council is a consultative body organized to respond to emergencies.

Newspaper columnist Petronilo Daroy, who was a political prisoner under former President Ferdinando Marcos, says the council actually represents the concept of a junta government, with the duly-elected executive as mere figurehead.

The council is made up by the Senate president, the speaker of the House of Representatives, the secretary of defense, the armed forces chief of staff, and the president as chairman. Other members are expected to be appointed.

However, many here do not believe martial law will be declared. As local banker Mariano Miranda says, “martial law is bad for Cory’s (Corazon Aquino’s) image.”