Bagong Alyansang Makabayan

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan
Name	Bagong Alyansang Makabayan
Native name	Bagong Alyansang Makabayan
Formation	1985
Location	Philippines
Type	Coalition

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan is a Philippine nationalist coalition formed in 1985 that mobilized progressive organizations, labor unions, student groups, indigenous peoples' organizations, peasant associations, and church-based networks during the 1986 People Power movement. It participated in mass actions that intersected with campaigns led by figures associated with Benigno Aquino Jr., Corazon Aquino, Cory Aquino, Ferdinand Marcos, and the 1986 Philippine presidential election. The alliance engaged with a broad array of social movements linked to Kilusan ng Mamamayan, Bayan Muna, Gabriela, and international solidarity networks including contacts in Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, International Labour Organization, and United Nations forums.

History

Formed ahead of the People Power Revolution, the coalition drew activists from groups that had earlier opposed the martial law regime of Ferdinand Marcos and organized alongside veteran campaigners connected to Benigno Aquino Jr. and post‑Aquino administrations. In the late 1980s and 1990s it confronted administrations such as those of Fidel V. Ramos, Joseph Estrada, and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo through protests echoing campaigns against the Anti-Subversion Act, Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, and policies linked to institutions like the Asian Development Bank and World Bank. During the Arroyo years the alliance coordinated with coalitions mobilizing against alleged corruption scandals including those involving Fertilizer Fund, ZTE Broadband deal, and calls for impeachment. Into the 2000s and 2010s it staged demonstrations during the tenures of Benigno Aquino III and Rodrigo Duterte, addressing issues tied to Visayas, Mindanao, and contested legislation such as the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 and debates over the Bangsamoro Organic Law.

Organization and Structure

The coalition functions as a federation of sectoral organizations, uniting groups in labor movements such as Kilusang Mayo Uno, peasant federations like Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, women's organizations including Gabriela, student groups connected to League of Filipino Students, indigenous organizations linked to the Cordillera People's Alliance, and church-based formations with ties to Task Force Detainees of the Philippines and National Council of Churches in the Philippines. Its secretariat and coordinating bodies have collaborated with regional chapters across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, often convening alongside allies from Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, and Sandugo. Organizational interactions have involved negotiations with NGOs such as Philippine Legal Aid, engagement with trade union internationals tied to International Trade Union Confederation, and partnerships with academic networks in universities like University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, and De La Salle University.

Ideology and Political Positions

The alliance espouses nationalist, progressive, and leftist positions, aligning with movements influenced by the historic Philippine Revolution, anti‑colonial struggles against Spanish colonization of the Philippines and United States occupation of the Philippines, and contemporary critiques of neoliberalism embodied by Structural Adjustment Programs promoted by the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. It has supported land reform initiatives tied to the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, campaigned for workers' rights resonant with demands from Kilusang Mayo Uno and Federation of Free Workers, advocated for indigenous rights connected to the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act of 1997, and opposed foreign military agreements such as the Visiting Forces Agreement and EDCA. The group has also taken positions on peace processes involving National Democratic Front of the Philippines, Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and the Communist Party of the Philippines-related insurgency debates.

Key Campaigns and Activities

Notable campaigns include mass mobilizations during the People Power Revolution, protests against the administrations of Ferdinand Marcos, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and Rodrigo Duterte, advocacy around labor disputes such as those involving Philippine Airlines and Seafood industry workers, solidarity actions during disasters in regions like Bohol and Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), and participation in nationwide strikes organized with Kilusang Mayo Uno and other labor federations. The coalition organized rallies demanding accountability in scandals linked to Fertilizer Fund, called for investigations into the Maguindanao Massacre, supported victims in cases associated with Duterte administration policies, and staged campaigns against extractive projects tied to corporations with concessions in Palawan and Mindanao. It has participated in international days of action with groups such as International Coalition for Human Rights and engaged in human rights documentation with Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.

Controversies and Legal Issues

The alliance has been accused by various Philippine administrations of having links to underground organizations including alleged ties to elements of the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People's Army, leading to surveillance, legal charges, and proscription efforts referenced in debates over the Anti‑Terrorism Act of 2020 and past legislation like the Anti-Subversion Act. Leaders and allied organizers have faced arrests in operations by units associated with the Philippine National Police, Philippine Army, and incidents involving the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency. The coalition and its affiliates have contested libel suits and closure attempts, mounting legal defenses through institutions like the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines and appealing to international bodies including the United Nations Human Rights Council and International Labour Organization.

Alliances and Coalitions

Throughout its existence the coalition has formed tactical alliances with party-list groups such as Bayan Muna, Gabriela, and Anakpawis; regional movements including the Cordillera People's Alliance and Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya; international solidarity partners such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch; and labor internationals like the International Trade Union Confederation and Asian Peoples' Movement on Debt and Development. It has also coordinated with church and faith-based networks including the Catholic Church in the Philippines and ecumenical bodies like the National Council of Churches in the Philippines on human rights and disaster relief initiatives, and engaged in dialogue with peace process actors such as the Government of the Philippines negotiators and representatives from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Category:Political advocacy groups in the Philippines