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UP condemns harassment of students undergoing fieldwork in Pampanga

Sunday, January 29, 2012

UP condemns harassment of students undergoing fieldwork in Pampanga


“We will not let it happen just like that. Justice must be served.” – UP President Alfredo Pascual
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
Bulatlat.com
MANILA –Three community development students of the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman were in Porac, Pampanga to learn about the lives of the Aeta community. They did not expect they would be tagged as New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas for doing so.

Since December, Rafael Antonio Dulce, 25; Marie Gold Villar, 23; and another student who refused to be identified were at the Katutubo village or Tent City in Porac, Pampanga conducting field work as part of their academic requirement. The village is a relocation site where Aetas have lived after the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991.

On January 21, at around12:00 noon, the three students were trekking the mountains going to barangay Camias where they were invited by barangay officials to attend the town fiesta. On their way, a man in civilian clothes called out the group. The man, who introduced himself as Paul from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 3 office asked for Villar’s name and started interrogating her. Three more men in civilian clothes came towards them, said Dulce.

The men, said Dulce, kept on asking questions. Dulce then explained the objectives of their integration at the Katutubo village and that they were invited by barangay officials in Camias to visit their community. “Then their line of questioning became different and suddenly they were accusing us of being members of the NPA,” Dulce said during a press conference, Jan. 26.

Dulce texted their colleague who stayed at the Katutubo village, saying that they were being harassed. It was then that a man who introduced himself as Chris started pushing him and challenged him to a fistfight. “He started pushing me and threw out invectives at me. I almost fell because he was pushing me toward the ridge,” Dulce recalled..... MORE

SourceBulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/01/27/up-condemns-harassment-of-students-undergoing-fieldwork-in-pampanga/

Geopolitical stakes in Nigeria: Curious role of the IMF

Geopolitical stakes in Nigeria: Curious role of the IMF


As Nigeria spirals into instability, historian and economic researcher Frederick William Engdahl argues a recent government decision to lift subsidies on imported fuel in the oil-rich nation bears the mark of Washington Consensus shock therapy.

In the article below, Engdahl explains his view.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and its largest oil producer, is from all evidence being systematically thrown into chaos and a state of civil war. The recent surprise decision by the government of Goodluck Jonathan to abruptly lift subsidies on imported gasoline and other fuel has a far more sinister background than mere corruption, and the Washington-based International Monetary Fund (IMF) is playing a key role. China appears to be the likely loser along with Nigeria’s population..... MORE

SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/oil-subsidy-nigeria-imf-955/

Flash-grenades & tear-gas: 300 arrested at Occupy Oakland (PHOTOS, VIDEO)



 Flash-grenades & tear-gas: 300 arrested at Occupy Oakland (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

Police in Oakland, California, have used tear-gas and flash-grenades as a 2,000-strong Occupy Oakland march turned violent, with some protesters claiming that rubber bullets were also fired into the crowd. At least 300 people were arrested.

The demonstrators had attempted to take over vacant buildings to use as their headquarters, they also broke into City Hall and tried to occupy a YMCA. Police spokesman Jeff Thomason told media most of the arrests came around 8 pm local time. Police took many protesters into custody as they marched through the city's downtown area, with some entering a YMCA building..... MORE

SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/occupy-oakland-police-gas-971/

US toothless against Iran rock: Pentagon seeks new superbomb

US toothless against Iran rock: Pentagon seeks new superbomb


Having considered the toughness of the rock-hidden Iranian nuclear facilities, America’s Nutcracker military command has decided to save jaw and develop a new conventional superbomb, since the US still plans to do the job in Iran without nukes.

­Washington has once again reminded Tehran that it has the military capability to crack Iranian hard-target nuclear sites with conventional weapons, leaking to the Wall Street Journal plans to develop an even more effective bunker-buster bomb.

The American military is no longer in love with the most powerful non-nuclear weapon it possesses, the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), a 13,600-kilogram mammoth capable of penetrating deep underground facilities..... MORE

SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/american-super-conventional-bomb-951/

In the name of God, go! VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 01/29/2012

In the name of God, go!

VIEWPOINTS
Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz
01/29/2012
It was recently reported that on the first day of the now ongoing impeachment process, someone said with gusto and unction: “In the Name of God, go!”

It is not often that such an injunction is heard —especially in the secular sphere. God was invoked and His name was used. Even for this reason alone, it is but proper to consider the different significance and nuances of this admittedly sacred and solemn invocation made on the occasion of a basically political exercise. It can be readily noted that the cited supplication can be intended as a blessing, an insult or curse.

A sacred mission with the needed blessing — this is one of the ordinary and usual intentions behind the proclamation. The agenda is difficult and may even be dangerous. Hence, nobody less than God Himself is called upon to accompany the agent..... MORE
SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120129com6.html

Prioritized obsessions TABLETS OF STONE Larry Faraon, OP 01/29/2012

Prioritized obsessions

TABLETS OF STONE
Larry Faraon, OP
01/29/2012
\"Not a priority,” President Noynoy Aquino replied to the media when asked about the front page capture of Secretary Ronald Llamas buying in bulk some two thousand pesos worth of pirated DVD’s. In short, he is on track of being at odds with media, as if telling them, “You guys, don’t dictate my priorities.” But news media, being the Fourth Estate, have all the power to focus or fine tune the priorities of the government whether favorable or not to the sitting power.

However, the whole physique of Secretary Llamas may not block the “daang matuwid,” but his horns, wings and tails may hit some sensibilities as he heads through the narrow alleys.

For instance his moral ascendancy as a government official especially enjoying the prerogative of being within “whispering distance” to the president is a serious question not only for himself but also for the whole of the presidential circle. Currently, the secretary is nowhere in sight or missing — of course, with P 2000 worth of DVD’s equivalent to around 600 DVD’s, he still must be stuck in front of his home theater watching. Besides, there is the issue of the seemingly unstoppable violation of the anti-piracy law, which the Optical Media Board is inefficiently implementing..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120129com7.html

US won’t return bases, but lauds RP offer forincreased military presence 01/29/2012

US won’t return bases, but lauds RP offer forincreased military presence

01/29/2012
WASHINGTON — The United States has welcomed the Philippines’ offer to allow more US troops on its territory, saying it would boost US power in Asia, and assured it was not seeking to re-establish bases in the former colony.

The Philippines the other day said it planned to hold more joint exercises and to let more American troops rotate through the Southeast Asian country which is embroiled in increasingly tense territorial disputes with China.

“We would welcome discussions with the Philippines along those lines, but there’s no aspiration for bases in Southeast Asia,” Adm..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120129hed3.html

Puerto Princesa river officially among new 7 natural wonders 01/29/2012

Puerto Princesa river officially among new 7 natural wonders

01/29/2012
The Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) yesterday was confirmed as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

“When your very own President Aquino came out in support of the PPUR Campaign, I knew that this country was taking the New7 Wonders of Nature seriously. Fans of PPUR all over the world responded to his call for action by voting in record numbers and today’s confirmation is the well-earned reward for this extraordinary display of enthusiasm,” Bernard Weber, founder and president of New7Wonders (N7WN), in a statement, said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120129hed6.html

Police eye Dominguez carjack group in witness’ killing 01/29/2012

Police eye Dominguez carjack group in witness’ killing

01/29/2012
The local police are now digging deeper into the possible involvement of the notorious Dominguez carjacking group in the killing of a lady witness in Bulacan on Thursday shortly after she attended a court hearing.

Cristina Rojas, a gas station owner and businesswoman who testified before the court against brothers Raymond and Roger Dominguez said to be the leaders of the Dominguez cartheft syndicate operating in Bulacan province and nearby towns and cities, was shot inside a passenger jeepney by one of the passengers along MacArthur Highway in Malolos Bulacan on Thursday, the report said.

The report said her assailant followed her even when she boarded the jeep, and shot her before getting off from the jeepney. The suspect alighted and boarded of a waiting motorcycle..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120129nat3.html

Albay Cagsawa Festival kicks off February 01/29/2012

Albay Cagsawa Festival kicks off February

01/29/2012
DARAGA, Albay — Passion builds up as Albay’s newest and most historic tourism attraction, the Cagsawa Festival, kicks off here in February this year. The festival is expected to further rev up the spirited tourism drive of the province.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said the Provincial Capitol here and the Municipal Government of Daraga, led by Mayor Gerry Jaucian, have forged the partnership that gave birth to the Cagsawa Festival, which was immediately elevated to the category of Albay’s two other important provincial festivals; Magayon and Karangahan.

The month-long Cagsawa Festival kicks off at the historic and world famous Cagsawa Ruins Park, marked by the remains of a church belfry amid a tumble of bricks that define the layout of an Spanish era settlement. Only the top of the belfry remains above ground after the church and the settlement were buried by the violent Mayon Volcano eruption in 1814..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120129nat4.html

Batangas City warden dismissed By Gina Peralta-Elorde 01/29/2012

Batangas City warden dismissed

By Gina Peralta-Elorde 01/29/2012

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) sacked the jail warden of Batangas City jail from his post for alleged scam for pocketing millions of pesos from the daily food allowance for the inmates.

Sacked from his post was Chief Insp. Deogracias del Castillo. He was replaced by Senior Insp. Emmanuel Banawag as Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of Batangas City jail.

According to report, the P50 budget for food allowance per day for each prisoner amounting to P7,800 which covers the 1,600 inmates at the Batangas City jail only P1, 400 is received by the prisoners and the rest of the amount is pocketed by Del Castillo..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120129nat1.html

TIP pays tribute to teachers everywhere in ‘Teacher Teacher’ M E T R O F I L E 01/29/2012

TIP pays tribute to teachers everywhere in ‘Teacher Teacher’

M E T R O F I L E

01/29/2012
Everyone who has sat in class and known the answer to a teacher’s question has eagerly raised his hand and with much aplomb exclaimed, “Teacher, Teacher” -- desirous of being called to earn points in class. This seemingly innocent phrase has become the title of a book which celebrates how teachers everywhere empower their students with the knowledge that they share. The Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP) launched a commemorative publication that resonates this empowerment on Jan. 21, 2012 at the Anniversary Hall of the TIP Quezon City Campus along Aurora Boulevard in Quezon City. The book, aptly entitled Teacher Teacher: A Tribute to Teachers Everywhere, is not only a literary homage to the noble profession of teaching, it is also TIP’s way of honoring the teachers who have molded generations of young minds into becoming better individuals..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120129met6.html

Exemption of QC elderly from color coding pushed By Arlie O. Calalo 01/29/2012

Exemption of QC elderly from color coding pushed

By Arlie O. Calalo 01/29/2012
A Quezon City councilor is seeking the support of his colleagues at the Sangguniang Panlunsod for the immediate passage of his proposed measure aimed at exempting the city’s senior citizens from the number coding scheme being implemented by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

According to Councilor Marvin Rillo, his proposed ordinance is in line with the city’s continuing effort to expand the delivery of basic services to its elderly residents in recognition of the vital role they play in the task of nation-building.

He said his office will coordinate with the MMDA and also with the QC Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS), which provides auxiliary services in traffic management in the city, to facilitate the grant of the exemption..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120129met1.html

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