“Mr. Aquino must clearly distinguish who are the aggrieved parties in this case before throwing insensitive remarks against the pilots,” Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano said.

(At left, Philippine Airline workers during a recent picket. They’ve been complaining about contractualization for years now. Bulatlat.com photo by Marya Salamat)

An alliance of Filipino migrant workers in the Middle East called on President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III to immediately revoke a memorandum requiring overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) compulsory membership to PAG-IBIG.

MANILA — In the light of the release of former Marine Col. Ariel Querubin, the Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Para sa Amnestiya (Selda), the organization of former political detainees, urged anew the Aquino administration to release of the 402 political prisoners still languishing in jails nationwide.
Querubin is one of the military officers arrested four years ago …

Members of organizations under the Water for the People Network trooped to the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage Systems (MWSS) today to urge the agency to immediately address the current water crisis in Metro Manila.

“Noynoy did not mention anything about land reform and social justice during his inauguration on June 30. This coming SONA, the President has no option but to tell his government land reform policy, call a spade a spade and get ready for intensified agrarian unrest if he fails to institute corrective measures on agrarian injustice in this country,” said the 15 hunger striking Yulo farmers identified with the Kalipunan ng Samahang Magbubukid ng Timog Katagalugan (Kasama-TK).

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and applicants have been complaining of the rise in the cost of passport fees following the issuance of the new e-passports by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to comply with international standards.

MANILA — A proposed legislation aiming to remove the crime of libel from the Revised Penal Code was recently filed again.
Bayan Muna representatives Teddy Casiño and Neri Colmenares have re-filed House Bill 1009 repealing provisions on libel in the RPC. The two legislators said the existing libel statutes are inconsistent with the Constitution and are a hindrance …

MANILA — The Philippines Against Child Trafficking (PACT) and ECPAT Philippines express their commitment to protect the marginalized sector from falling into the trade of human organs, kidneys in particular.
Both organizations still view with alarm the statements made by the new Health Secretary Enrique Ona on issues relating to organ transplantation. In his interview with ABS-CBN News …

There will be no end to the extrajudicial killings of activists unless Pres. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III drives the decisive blow against impunity. He must act now before another life is taken.

(Photo courtesy of arkibongbayan.org)