Justin Umali would like you to think that he is not the corniest person in the room. A full-time activist from Southern Tagalog, he writes stories highlighting local and sectoral issues and community struggles. His hobbies include sending drafts at 2 a.m. and drinking too much coffee.
Justin Umali would like you to think that he is not the corniest person in the room. A full-time activist from Southern Tagalog, he writes stories highlighting local and sectoral issues and community struggles. His hobbies include sending drafts at 2 a.m. and drinking too much coffee.
“The so-called ‘Strengthened Strategic Partnership’ is not about mutual security, but about tightening a US-led military net aimed at ensnaring China in an inter-imperialist conflict."
“The military’s actions aim to undermine the rights of marginalized sectors, including farmers and women, and silence those advocating for change."
Bayan Muna ST has called Banjawan’s disappearance an “attack on progressive organizations and party-lists” and part of a worsening trend of attacks under the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. administration.
“Standing up to assert our national sovereignty is necessary when foreign interests create artificial islands in our territory, destroy our marine habitat to create a military base on our shoals, and deny our fishermen of their livelihood.”
“It's time UST truly invests in its people,” USTFU President Emerito Gonzales said.
“We are staging this strike so that our legitimate demands will be met. We are only looking for fair wages and benefits. Instead, [Nexperia] management has given us notices of termination.”
“During that time, I was a daughter. Now, I'm a mother. However, the truth is, there is still no justice for the 13 martyrs. There is still no genuine land reform up to now. We continue to march to the streets to urge a department to implement genuine land reform,” Miriam Villanueva said in Filipino.
“Is this where the people’s budget goes?” asked KPL Rizal Chairperson Edz Pascual. “Instead of addressing the youth’s problems such as high tuition fees, inadequate facilities, teachers, and a lack of budget for education, [schools] are prioritizing partnerships with the 80th IBPA, who wastes our money in spreading misinformation, threats, and intimidation.”
Tartaria residents and supporters defended their community but were met with violence, with Jarton guards forcibly entering the outpost erected by locals and burning it down.
Coca-Cola Cebu is set to retrench the workers following the termination of their contract with manpower agency Exeltech Manpower and Services Incorporated. However, the Center for Trade Union and Human Rights noted that the retrenchment actually comes following an order from the Department of Labor and Employment to regularize the workers, calling the move a “naked display of corporate greed."
Under the 2025 National Expenditure Program, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development’s budget was cut down from a proposed P4.22 million to P3.55 million. The DHSUD, accordingly, announced that it was lowering its target of building low-cost housing units from 4 million by 2028 to 3.2 million. Kadamay, however, asserts that this target is too low to accommodate the current housing backlog, which the group estimates to reach “as high as 12 million” by 2028.
At least ten security guards posted for duty along the Central Luzon Link Expressway spent last Christmas with no wages.
“Ayroso has long been the target [of management] because of his willingness to fight for their Collective Bargaining Agreement, Occupational Safety and Health inspections, and other workers’ rights,” Kilusang Mayo Uno said in its statement.
“Although Tatay Pepe was able to identify that the remains in Dimatulac Funeral Homes were his daughter’s, both the Roxas police and 4th IBPA are making things hard on him for no discernible reason,” human rights watchdog Karapatan Southern Tagalog said in a statement. “They are miring Tatay Pepe through documents and bureaucracy, despite the law clearly stating what considerations and rights should be given to indigenous people.”
Ronilo Villanueva is a coconut farmer who was found by elements of the 85th Infantry Battalion while out processing copra. Tanggol Quezon said Villanueva was shot on the knee and stomach before he was arrested on unknown charges. Another farmer named Genero was also arrested, according to eyewitness accounts.
“Instead of addressing the just and reasonable demands of the workers, their response is union busting,” NAFLU-KMU said in a statement. “Their goal is to force the workers to accept the very low offer of a P17-wage increase, which is not enough to support a decent living amid rising prices of goods and services.”
“Time and again, we’ve proven that the union is the strongest weapon and shield that we have against exploitation.”
“The police and military are subjecting Ritual’s family to harassment and psychological torture. They are forcing an undue process and adding unusual requirements to prove their identities as kin."
Rosenda Lemita and Liezel Asuncion filed a case at the United Nations Human Rights Committee against the murder of their loved ones. The decision to file a case was not made lightly – it took three years of delays and disappointment from the justice system to push them to seek an international avenue.
The Bloody Sunday massacre refers to the series of police and military operations in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and Rizal provinces on March 7, 2021 that left nine activists killed and seven more arrested. Defend ST said that despite the DOJ's investigation under Administrative Order 35, cases filed against the perpetrators "were either junked or dismissed."
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