Archive for April, 2008

Impunity Inhibits Journalism in the Philippines

By JOEL SIMON and SHEILA CORONEL | Committee to Protect Journalists | The nearly perfect record of impunity in the Philippines has had a devastating impact on the free flow of information and has inhibited coverage of human rights and corruption issues in the communities affected by violence.

4/30/08 11:06 AM   Full Story
Smuggled Peking Ducks Pose Avian Flu Threat to Philippines

Malacanang warned today against possible outbreak of the deadly Avian Flu if exotic fowl meat from other Asian countries continued flooding the local market due to corruption in the Bureau of Customs.

4/29/08 03:17 PM   Full Story
Deported OFWs Urge Replacement of Philippine Officials in Saudi

The OFWs said that instead of helping them, them Filipino officials in Saudi Arabia caused them problems and hardship.

4/28/08 10:44 AM   Full Story
Danilo Arao: Gov’t Data Prove Necessity of Substantial Wage Hike

One only needs to look at government data to see the basis for a substantial wage hike, and one only needs to do simple mathematical computations to prove the anti-poor character of the proposed 10-percent wage hike for government employees.

BY DANILO ARAÑA ARAO
Unlike in the past, the Macapagal-Arroyo administration and a segment of the business [...]

4/28/08 10:41 AM   Full Story
Benjie Oliveros: Play of Words Does Not Make the Rice Crisis Go Away

The Arroyo government is again playing with words, as if it would make the rice crisis (which has now reached the level of a food crisis) go away. It claims there is no rice crisis but admits to a rice price crisis. There may be no real shortage yet but sharp increases in the price [...]

4/28/08 10:38 AM   Full Story
UN Rights Body Tells Philippines to ‘Completely Eliminate’ Torture

Among the recommendations put forth at the UNHRC’s review of human rights in the Philippines is the intensification of efforts to investigate, prosecute and punish the perpetrators of extrajudicial killings.

4/28/08 10:37 AM   Full Story
Activists Swim 10km to Oppose JPEPA, Challenge Senators to Reject Pact

Activists from the NO DEAL! Movement today swam a distance of around 10 kilometers as part of continuing efforts to convince the Senate to reject the flawed Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA). “This is a challenge to our senators to say a ‘categorical no’ to Japan instead of a ‘conditional yes’ as proposed by Senator [...]

4/28/08 10:29 AM   Full Story
Brian Gorrell Should Expect a Nasty Counter-Attack from DJ Montano’s Camp

A curious thing is happening over at Brian Gorrell’s. Gorrell, as you should know by now, put up his wildly popular blog to collect money that he claims the “social climber” DJ Montano stole from him. For weeks since he put it up last month, Gorrell posted exposés after exposés on Montano, the so-called Gucci [...]

4/28/08 10:11 AM   Full Story
Davao Mayor Slams “God’s Antiquated Policy” on Population

“God’s policy is antiquated and it cannot help the people who are reeling from poverty,” Duterte said during his weekly television program in Davao City. “We should study the situation of our country. There are families who have 10 or 12 children but their parents cannot feed them because they don’t have jobs.”

4/27/08 11:24 PM   Full Story
Map Shows US Military Presence All Over Philippines

Click on image to enlarge.

This map illustrates the different ways and forms by which the United States has established its military basing in the Philippines. It shows the locations of the increasing number of military exercises the US has been holding year-round in venues throughout the country from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi since 2001. It [...]

4/27/08 11:06 PM   Full Story
‘Like Misuari, Trillanes Should Be Freed on Bail’

Senator Pimentel said the grant of bail to Trillanes will enable him to perform his duties as elected senator of the republic. Majority of senators had signed a resolution last year urging the courts to allow Trillanes to attend Senate sessions and hearings while his case is being tried.

4/27/08 10:56 PM   Full Story
Presidential Form of Gov’t to be Retained Under Federalism Proposal

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Nene” Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) today clarified that the presidential form of government will be retained under the proposal to federalize the country contained in a joint congressional resolution he has filed and supported by 11 other senators.
Pimentel said what the federal system seeks to replace is the existing unitary system [...]

4/27/08 10:54 PM   Full Story
Magkaisa Junk JPEPA Coalition to Senate: Reject Conditional Concurrence, Reject JPEPA

27 April 2008, Quezon City, Philippines – Sectors from the urban poor, farmers, nurses, fisherfolk, labor and the environment today gathered at a press conference, calling on the members of the Senate to reject the conditional concurrence resolution that Senator Miriam Santiago unveiled during her privilege speech at the Senate re-opening early last week.
The Magkaisa [...]

4/27/08 10:53 PM   Full Story
‘Threat’ Against Lawyers Denounced

House Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Satur C. Ocampo today denounced the Arroyo government’s renewed overt surveillance with apparent intent to harass and intimidate the human rights lawyers defending him and fellow party-list representatives in Congress in three murder charges filed against them on April 18 in Nueva Ecija Regional Trial Courts.
“We condemn [...]

4/27/08 10:52 PM   Full Story
Arroyo Urged to Drop Harassment Suit Vs Bishop

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Nene” Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) today urged President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to drop her government’s libel case against Archbishop Oscar Cruz of the Archdiocese of Lingayen and Dagupan to spare her from criticisms that she continues to pursue a policy of vindictiveness against her critics.
Instead of getting back at her critics through [...]

4/27/08 10:48 PM   Full Story