Even without martial law, the Macapagal-Arroyo government has arrested and detained hundreds of activists. Worse, most political prisoners have been slapped with trumped-up criminal charges. BY RONALYN V. OLEA HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH Bulatlat Human rights group Karapatan’s (Alliance for the Advancement of Human Rights) records show that there are 218 political prisoners in the country…
Day: September 21, 2008
Militarization Plagues Children of Negros Town
In a four-day humanitarian mission in barangays (villages) in Guihulngan, Negros Oriental, children displayed anxiety and worries. Psychologists believe militarization spurs the children’s behavior. BY TERENCE KRISHNA V. LOPEZ HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH Contributed to Bulatlat Children of farmers in Guihulngan, Negros Oriental displayed worries and anxieties due to the current atmosphere in their communities. Children…
PUP Lopez Students Charged with Rebellion
Five students of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) branch in Lopez, Quezon have been slapped with rebellion charges. The Philippine Army’s 76th Infantry Battalion tags them as “infiltrators” from the New People’s Army (NPA) who are deployed in schools “to recruit rebels.” The students say that the accusation is but “a story fabricated…
Another Activist Missing
BY THE NORTHERN DISPATCH BAGUIO CITY — Another activist has been reported missing by his family. James Balao, a member of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA), was reported missing since Sept. 17. In a statement, the CPA said the family was expecting Balao’s arrival that day but he never came. “The family was informed that…
Downward Trajectory
Family Trip
That a motorcycle can carry this many people at once is hard to imagine, but this family seems to have succeeded in pulling it off. Thus far they seem to be having a smooth ride and children are evidently exhilarated at getting to ride with their parents, even as their position calls for extra cautiousness. (Photo by Raymund Villanueva)
US Troops Are Here to Stay, Concealed in Bases Within AFP Camps
Since losing a number of its major overseas bases in the 1990s, the US has had to make shifts in its basing strategy. It now increasingly relies on what its Department of Defense calls “Cooperative Security Locations” (CSLs), and there is now less emphasis on “Main Operating Bases” (MOBs). The US has a number of…
A Day in the Life of a Jeepney Driver
Jeepney drivers work long days and endure a lot of difficulties in their struggle to eke out a daily living. At the end of the day, however, their earnings are far from enough to afford basic necessities. BY ALEXANDER MARTIN REMOLLINO Bulatlat Sa maghapon Ang buhay ay pamamasada Tinitiis Usok at init ng makina At…
Constitutional Issues to Determine Alignments in Senate Vote on the JPEPA
While the treaty’s sponsors, Senators Miriam Santiago and Mar Roxas, still have a lot to explain to their colleagues about the economic implications of the JPEPA – not to mention the still unresolved issues of toxic waste dumping and dubious gains for Filipino nurses and health workers – it seems that the issue of constitutionality…
Bill Pushes for Gov’t Use of Free Software
A bill mandating the government to use free/open source software (FOSS) has been filed at the House of Representatives. Bayan Muna Representative Teddy Casiño said the use of FOSS will help the government save from its spending on computer software and licenses. BY BULATLAT Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño, principal author of House Bill No.…
Salary Standardization Law 3: For Whose Benefit?
The Confederation for the Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (Courage) says that the proposed salary adjustment by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is totally unfair for the 1.4 million employees who toil for almost 12 hours everyday despite the low salary. BY NOEL SALES BARCELONA Bulatlat During the Sept. 3 National…