Monthly Archives: October 2007
Disgraced president Joseph Estrada has been pardoned by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. To many Filipinos, Arroyo’s move was not a surprise. But to journalist Carlos Conde, it reminded him, for some reason, of May 2001, when Estrada supporters stormed Mendiola, hoping to lay siege on Malacanang. He filed his report on that siege, “Entering the war zone: I saw nothing but rage”, for the now defunct CyberDyaryo, an online newsmagazine.
The Arroyo administration was not satisfied with the apology today by the Philippine Daily Inquirer over the erroneous story that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was present when those “cash gifts” were given out. In a statement today, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye castigated the paper for “sowing disinformation.” The apology notwithstanding, he said, the damage had been done.
Where are the investigative reports that in 2001 led to Joseph Estradas impeachment, and eventually to his ouster? Where are the reports that in 2005 and early 2006 shook the Arroyo regime by exposing the Hello Garci tapes, their source, and the individuals involved in the perversion of the 2004 elections? The answer is mostly nowhere. The investigative reports that could have shed light on the NBN scandal, for example, are still to be written.
The most pernicious and the most grievous of political sexism is that which disallows women the right to effect historical signification, which has led, through 7,000 years, to the loss of womens history and social amnesia regarding women’s ability to effect social change.
(Utrecht, 18 October) Citing a dozen policy measures made by the Manila government to sabotage and stall peace negotiations since…
How Green Is My iPhone? Apple’s Steve Jobs failed to deliver on his promise, Greenpeace says.
In a report released today, Greenpeace Philippines disclosed that tests made by the group on the iPhone determined that the popular device contains hazardous chemicals and materials. “Apple could have demonstrated that it is a true industry leader with a green iPhone. Unfortunately, Apple missed that call and the public is left with an Apple that is no greener than what was promised by Steve Jobs in May, said Beau Baconguis, Greenpeace Southeast Asia toxics campaigner.
Mobile PhonesPhilip Alston, the UN’s special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings, submitted his report on the Philippines to the UN General Assembly today. In his report, Alston points to one key factor in the series of extrajudicial killings of activists: Many in the Government have concluded that numerous civil society organizations are fronts for the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed group, the New Peoples Army. One response has been counter-insurgency operations that result in the extrajudicial execution of leftist activists. In some areas, the leaders of leftist organizations are systematically hunted down by interrogating and torturing those who may know their whereabouts, and they are often killed following a campaign of individual vilification designed to instill fear into the community. Download or read the report (PDF) here.