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In his dreams — perhaps EDITORIAL 07/02/2011

Saturday, July 2, 2011

In his dreams — perhaps

EDITORIAL
Click to enlarge
07/02/2011
His greatest achievement, said Noynoy in his first anniversary report, is the way he has effected a change in the attitude of the Filipinos. Where before, people were apathetic, today, they are caring, a spiel which brought many to wonder from which planet Noynoy comes. But this is probably what he gets from listening only to Cabinet men who give him the fabricated “good news,” apart from the fact that Noynoy and his boys really have no solid achievement to speak of, which is why they resorted to something intangible and worse, unreal.

Filipinos are today more caring? More caring of what? Their government under their non-performing president? More caring about the simple things, such as following traffic rules? No longer having to bribe cops or Customs people because people are still with the same old attitude, and suffering even more under the Noynoy government..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110702com1.html

Corrupted power FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 07/02/2011

Corrupted power

FRONTLINE
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
07/02/2011
Noynoy touts the passage of the postponement of elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao as one of his achievements, saying that it is this bill, which grants him the power to appoint officers in charge to replace the elected incumbents, that will bring about reforms and change in the ARMM, among which would be the eradication of the cheating machine in that region, along with funds and projects to be spent for the benefit of the ARMM residents.

Why he even thinks it is an achievement to thwart democracy and usurp the right of the ARMM electorate to choose their leaders is beyond anyone’s ken.

Why Noynoy sees this as his achievement is wierd, as everyone knows that he got the law passed through the offer of a sweetener of some P30 million in additional pork barrel to each of the senators who voted for the ARMM bill, and a little less for the congressmen who voted for the passage of the measure. Yet Noynoy speaks of reform and change when his idea of reform is to bribe the members of Congress with additonal pork barrel and pass this of as an achievement of his daang matuwid..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110702com2.html

Youth groups launch campaign for release of political prisoners

Youth groups launch campaign for release of political prisoners

“My daughter is only one among hundreds victimized by state repression. They are languishing in jail without fair trial, and are charged with common and sometimes petty crimes.” – Concepcion Montajes
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
Bulatlat.com

Militant youth organizations launched its own campaign for the release of political prisoners with particular focus on those who belong to the sector of youth and students. They have sounded the alarm over the one year detention of 21-year old Maricon Montajes, Ronilo Baes, 19; and Romiel Cañete, 22 years old.
The Student Christian Movement of the Philippines (SCMP), Anakkbayan, the League of Filipino Students (LFS), KARATULA, College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), and the National Union of Students in the Philippines (NUSP) demand the dismissal of all charges against all political prisoners, saying they were not guilty of anything but of practicing their political beliefs.

In the pre-dawn hours of June 3, 2010, the 743rd Combat Squadron of the Philippine Air Force conducted a raid in Taysan, Batangas. The three youth were immediately arrested and charged with frustrated murder and homicide, illegal possession of firearms and violation of gun ban. Since then, they have been detained at the Batangas Provincial Jail.

Prior to her arrest, Montajes was a film major at the student of the University of the Philippines (UP) Baes hails from Batangas while Cañete is from Diliman, Quezon City.


Earlier in May this year, former UP Faculty Regent Prof. Judy Taguiwalo and Act Teacher’s Party List Rep. Antonio Tinio accompanied three members of the Ontario Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (OCHRP) to visit political detainees Maricon Montajes, Ronilo Baes, Romiel Cañete and the Talisay 3 in the Batangas Provincial Jail in Batangas City. (Photo courtesy of Task Force Freedom for Maricon / bulatlat.com)
With the full support of various human rights groups and student organizations, Montajes’ mother, Maria Concepcion or “Ching” has established Task Force Maricon to press for the release of her daughter and her companions. In a short speech she delivered to the 28th Buklod Atenista Leadership Summit last May at the Ateneo de Davao University, Mrs. Montajes said that she was determined to bring her daughter’s case to the attention of the respective peace panels of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and seek their intervention for Maricon’s immediate release.

Free Maricon Montajes
According to Mrs. Montajes, her daughter was only in Batangas because she was doing research in Southern Tagalog rural communities in her effort to learn more about Philippine society. She had, by then, taken on the role of an outreach worker and she reportedly wanted to introduce creative communication strategies in rural development work.

“There are many ways in which government troops can repress dissenting ideas of those who are only seeking to learn about the realities in our society. My daughter is only one among hundreds victimized by state repression . They are languishing in jail without fair trial, and are charged with common and sometimes petty crimes,” she said..... MORE

SourceBulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/06/24/youth-groups-launch-campaign-for-release-of-political-prisoners-including-up-student-maricon-montajes/

Moro groups slam postponement of ARMM elections

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Rights groups criticize Aquino gov’t for continuing violations, failure to act on calls for justice

Rights groups criticize Aquino gov’t for continuing violations, failure to act on calls for justice

 
“The Aquino administration has been contented in being a passive spectator, leaving the victims, relatives, human rights defenders and their lawyers on their own.” – National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers
By RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat.com

MANILA – Raymond Manalo is fulfilling a promise he made to Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan, University of the Philippines students, who remain missing to this day. Despite threats to his life, he is relentlessly searching for the two UP students and pursuing justice for all victims of human rights violations.
Raymond and his brother Reynaldo were forcibly taken by soldiers on February 14, 2006 in San Ildelfonso, Bulacan. The brothers were transferred from one safehouse/military camp to another and met other victims of abductions, including Karen and Sherlyn.

“At Camp Tecson, I first saw Sherlyn chained to the barracks. Two days after, Karen and Tay Manuel were also brought to the camp,” Raymond said, referring to Manuel Merino, a farmer who was abducted along with the two UP students on June 26, 2006 in Hagonoy, Bulacan. “We lived like slaves, the two women were always ordered to massage the soldiers and paramilitary,” he said in a forum June 29.

In Limay, Bataan, Raymond said he saw how the soldiers raped the two women and burned Merino alive. He himself was subjected to extreme physical torture – his hands and feet were chained; he was administered the water cure or waterboarding, in the parlance of the US military; he suffered burns from a flaming tin can; he was repeatedly kicked, and hit with the butt of rifles. The scars on his face and on his body are a testimony to those hellish 18 months of his detention.

The Manalo brothers managed to escape. And despite the threats, Raymond managed to overcome his own fears to keep his word– that he would help in finding Karen and Sherlyn and that he would not tire in seeking justice for victims like him. “We promised to each other that if any one of us would survive, he or she would testify about what we went through,” Raymond said.

Raymond filed criminal and administrative charges against retired Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr. and other military officials he was able to identify. Raymond’s testimony, corroborated by other witnesses, helped the mothers of Karen and Sherlyn to file criminal charges against Palparan et.al.

Raymond Manalo joins the Run Against Torture marking the fifth year of the disappearance of Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan .(Photo by Ronalyn V. Olea / bulatlat.com)
At one point during his captivity, Palparan talked to Raymond. “He introduced himself to me, asked me if I knew him and if I am afraid of him. I told him I only see him on television. He told me he would spare my life if I would cooperate with them,” Raymond said.
The Manalo brothers, Karen, Sherlyn and Merino are among the thousands of victims of human rights violations under the Arroyo regime. According to Karapatan, there are 1,206 victims of extrajudicial killings, 206 victims of enforced disappearances, more than 2,000 victims of illegal arrest and almost 40,000 victims of hamletting.

Perpetrators of these human rights violations remain untouched. For the nth time, Palparan and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) denied custody of Karen and Sherlyn following a recent order by the Supreme Court to release the two..... MORE

SourceBulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/07/01/rights-groups-criticize-aquino-govt-for-continuing-violations-not-acting-on-calls-for-justice/

Gawad Bayani ng Kalikasan seeks environment heroes from grassroots

Gawad Bayani ng Kalikasan seeks environment heroes from grassroots

Published on June 24, 2011
“The GBK wishes to emphasize the sacrifices and contributions of the Filipino people and grassroots organizations in protecting our environment.”
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
Bulatlat.com
MANILA — Usually, it is the “established” or “big people” in society who receive awards and accolades, noted Lisa Ito-Tapang, coordinator of Research, Education & Advocacy program of the non-government organization Center for Environmental Concerns (CEC). In fact, a few scions of tycoons in the Philippines, not to mention some corporations with foundations or CSR (corporate social responsibility) projects for the environment, have garnered such awards and recognition in the past.

But in 2008, the CEC initiated the Gawad Bayani ng Kalikasan (GBK) awards to recognize efforts and initiatives by individuals, groups and communities to protect the environment at the grassroots level.

Cordillera People’s Alliance recipient of 2009 Gawad Bayani ng Kalikasan. (Photo courtesy of CEC / bulatlat.com)
“The GBK intentionally seeks out stories of heroism by the common folk who would otherwise have gone unrecognized–farmers, workers, indigenous peoples, teachers, NGO workers, community leaders, and youth, for example. It also seeks to emphasize the value of collective unity and struggle in protecting the environment and people’s rights by recognizing the contributions of grassroots organizations,” said Ito-Tapang.

Not only that, in recognizing individuals or communities and groups who spearheaded or helped lead significant struggles for the environment, this award also honors, at the same time, the protection of people’s basic rights. According to Tapang, GBK is an initiative to “acknowledge and recognize exemplary individuals and organizations who have become a part of the people’s movement in defending the environment, and thus our lives and our human rights.”

“The GBK wishes to emphasize the sacrifices and contributions of the Filipino people and grassroots organizations in protecting our environment,” Tapang said.

The GBK award is given every two years. This year, the search is on once more for environmental heroes and heroines who would be awarded the Gawad Bayani ng Kalikasan (GBK) 2011.This endeavor is being undertaken through the cooperative efforts of the GBK Awards Committee, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Foundation for the Philippine Environment, Agham-Advocates of Science and Technology for the People, Haribon Foundation, Ecowaste Coalition, Panalipdan Mindanao and Central Visayas Fisherfolk Development Center Inc. and the CEC, which serves as the secretariat and lead organization..... MORE

SourceBulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/06/24/wanted-heroes-for-the-environment-and-for-the-people-i-gawad-bayani-ng-kalikasan-2011/

Balay-Samar crack shows anew By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan 07/02/2011

Balay-Samar crack shows anew

By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan 07/02/2011

President Aquino and his aides always deny that factions exist in his administration, but the cracks always show up, almost everytime, the latest of which was the musical concert-cum-first year in the presidency report of Aquino, where the Balay faction, said to be headed by current Department of Transportation and Communications Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas, was clearly absent from the rites.

Whether it was a snub from the Balay group or whether this group was not invited has not been clarified satisfactorily by either group.

The Balay group is called such because this was the site of the Roxas “Balay Puti” election campaign group of Roxas and Aquino, while the Samar group is so named due to street where the campaign headquarters of the group supporting Aquino and Vice President Jojo Binay was working for the candidacies of both..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110702hed1.html

Davao City mayor loses temper, punches sheriff 07/02/2011

Davao City mayor loses temper, punches sheriff

07/02/2011
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte lost her self-control and hit a court sheriff amid a violent demolition of informal settlements yesterday morning in Barangay Soliman, Agdao District.

The mayor was fuming mad upon learning that Abe Andres initiated the demolition around 10 a.m. despite her earlier agreement with the sheriff that he would wait for her so she could supervise the tearing down operation to avoid any untoward incident.

Duterte said under those circumstances, the residents affected by the demolition order would only listen to her more than the court officer..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110702hed3.html

Death toll in Davao flash floods reaches 29 By Mario J. Mallari 07/02/2011

Death toll in Davao flash floods reaches 29

By Mario J. Mallari 07/02/2011

Two more victims of the flashfloods that hit Davao City were added to the death toll, bringing to 29 the total number of deaths while two more persons remained missing, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) said yesterday.

Reports from the NDRRMC said that the bodies of four-year-old Cherry Saturos and nine-year-old Kent Angelo Tano were recovered last Thursday afternoon. They were among those initially reported missing.
Remained missing were three-months-old Mark Louie Falomar and Zaldy Supe, 34..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110702nat3.html

Estafa, theft raps sought vs Zambales mining firm execs By Benjamin B. Pulta 07/02/2011

Estafa, theft raps sought vs Zambales mining firm execs

By Benjamin B. Pulta 07/02/2011

Estafa and large-scale theft of minerals have been recommended by the Philippine National Police (PNP) against officials of a mining firm as well as local officials accused of stealing minerals and ore from a chromium mining site in Zambales province.

In a memorandum, the PNP in Zambales recommended the indictment of the board of directors of the Companhia Minera Tubajon Inc. (CMTI) which the police said was used as a dummy corporation to undertake mining operations in Coto Mines of the province.

Aside from the CMTI corporate officers, also recommended for violating Republic Act 7942 otherwise known as the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 were Zambales former Gov. Amor Deloso, Zambales Provincial Mining and Regulatory Board (PMRB) Secretariat Wilson Biag and Bureau of Customs Special Deputy Port Collector Reynaldo Nicanor..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110702nat2.html

Noy’s ‘political shock and awe’ strategy failed – militant group 07/02/2011

Noy’s ‘political shock and awe’ strategy failed – militant group

07/02/2011
The militant peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) yesterday described President Aquino’s “Ulat sa Bayan” as another “political shock and awe” strategy, saying the President’s speech still lacked a clear direction and program for the poor.

“Sorry, Mr. President, your political shock and awe strategy failed. We’re not at all shocked and we’re not awed. You only reiterated what we already knew. That Arroyo is a plunderer and a tyrant,” KMP secretary-general Danilo Ramos said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110702met3.html

Navotas gov’t assures 1,000 public school teachers of additional income 07/02/2011

Navotas gov’t assures 1,000 public school teachers of additional income

07/02/2011
The Navotas City government has assured over 1,000 public school teachers of additional income after it forged an agreement with a giant telecommunications company, Mayor John Rey Tiangco said yesterday.

He told members of the Camanava Press the memorandum of agreement (MoA) he entered into with the Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) and the Smart Communications will pave the way for the availability of job opportunities that will cater mainly for teachers from the public elementary and high schools in the city.

The MoA, according to the mayor, was actually inked during the celebration of the 4th year cityhood anniversary of Navotas recently.

Tiangco led the city officials in signing the agreement with top officials from the two telecommunication companies at the City Hall Complex..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110702met4.html

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