Book Review by 2008 U.P. Centennial Professor Roland G. Simbulan of “Oplan Bantay Laya”

U.P. Centennial Professor Roland G. Simbulan has reviewed “Oplan Bantay Laya,” a book published by Ibon Foundation that in his own words, “explores the deadly tools of our death squad democracy. The ingredients and elements of a classic Third World country are there : A selfish, pro-Western oligarchy that has almost complete control and influence over state power and institutions. Weak and compromised government institutions that cannot render real justice to the weak, and where we see institutionalized impunity to human rights, corruption and abuse of power. Lack of basic social services or even decent social security net. An economic and political system that basically preserves the power and dominance of the local elite and their foreign corporate counterparts in tapping the natural and human resources of a rich country with a predominantly poor majority.”

To read the entire book review by Professor Simbulan, please click on this link: http://iboninternational.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=106

Professor Roland G. Simbulan is the 2008 Centennial Professorial Chair of the University of the Philippines. He is a professor of development studies and political economy at University of the Philippines, Manila. He specializes in Philippine-U.S. relations, political economy and development studies. He was Faculty Regent of the UP Board of Regents from 2006 to 2007 and served as Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development from 2002 to 2005. He is also a former senior consultant for the Philippine Senate. He is a senior fellow at the Center for People’s Empowerment in Governance or CENPEG. As the national chairperson of the Nuclear Free Philippines Coalition, he has been a leading figure in the struggle against U.S. American Military intervention and nuclear facilities (http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Roland_Simbulan).