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By RONALYN V. OLEA
The families of journalists Dennis Cuesta, Maricel Vigo, Juan Pala, Fernando Lintuan, and William Yap Yu said that the Philippine government violated the right to life of their loved ones under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The Philippines is a signatory to the ICCPR. They filed the complaint on March 4.
The violence and brutality of Gaddafi's rule, and the absence of progress during the 41 years he’s been in power, are making the case for the rebels. His erstwhile friends in Europe would gladly turn against him -- but not before they’ve seen to it that someone pliable, and preferably less daffy, could take his place, the better to assure the West continuing access to Libyan oil. (By Luis V. Teodoro / bulatlat.com)
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
A certification from the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court showed that “no criminal/civil case had been filed” against former agriculture secretary Cito Lorenzo and former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante, in connection with the P728-million fertilizer fund scam. “Clearly, Gutierrez did not lift a finger to take action against the officials tagged in the fertilizer fund scam,” Danilo Ramos of farmers’ group KMP said.
It seems that the Aquino government would rather let the Filipino people suffer than lean on oil companies to "moderate their greed." It is more scared of facing the wrath of the IMF-WB than the Filipino people. Perhaps, it is banking on its popularity and relying on its apologists-allies who are already in government but still stake their claim to being part of civil society. (By Benjie Oliveros / bulatlat.com)
100th International Women's Day
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
Manila preschool teachers are all in favor of the nationalization of the kindergarten program, but they are vehemently against the Department of education’s plans to hire new teachers on a contractual basis.
Sidebar: ‘Yes’ to Universal Kindergarten, ‘No’ to Contractualization of Kinder Teachers – ACT Teachers
By RAYMUND VILLANUEVA
“We started this as a political issue, wanting to prove that there were thousands of victims during Martial Law. Now, they are turning the compensation issue into an economic one, and the lawyers have full control.” – Judy Taguiwalo, UP professor and martial law victim.
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
The youth group Anakbayan is not holding its breath that the new administration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will do wonders to the country’s human rights situation. In the meantime, the group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and Karapatan want the new military leadership to deal with the extrajudicial killings of activists.
By D. L. MONDELO
For Beth, it was a long, long journey to Oslo, literally and figuratively. The road to peace, she says however, is even longer, more difficult to traverse and full of potholes.
The 25th anniversary of the 1986 Edsa popular uprising again stirred feelings of pride and frustration among Filipinos. The pride stems from our having successfully carried out the first “people power” that ousted a dictatorship through peaceful mass action. The frustration boils out of the unfulfilled promises of post-dictatorship reforms. (By Satur C. Ocampo / bulatlat.com)
Recently, there were two positive developments in the Filipino people’s quest for justice: the victims of the Marcos dictatorship finally got what is due them and the impeachment case against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez is finally being heard. (By Benjie Oliveros / bulatlat.com)
The "war on terror" policy pursued by the past Macapagal-Arroyo administration should be declared as good as dead and should be abandoned by the incumbent President. That policy was based hook, line, and sinker on former U.S. President George W. Bush, Jr.'s neo-conservative theory linking Iraq to the 9/11 bombings. Now, an Iraqi defector who was the primary source of so-called intelligence reports that were used to make a case for Bush's Operation Iraqi Freedom has confessed that he made the whole story up. (By Center for People Empowerment in Governance / bulatlat.com)
The lolas (grandmothers) of Lila Filipina, an organization of former “comfort women,” stormed the Japanese Embassy in Manila on Wednesday to demand justice from the government of Japan for the crimes they committed during World War II. The lolas proceeded to Don Chino Bridge near Malacañang gate and brought with them a letter addressed to President Benigno S. Aquino III, asking why he failed to fulfill his promise of obtaining any measure of justice for them. (Photos courtesy of Gabriela / bulatlat.com)
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
An essential aspect of the bill is the reorientation of the country's mining industry based on the principles of social justice, respect for people’s rights and welfare, environmental conservation, defense of national sovereignty and patrimony, national industrialization, and agricultural modernization.
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
Data from the Gabriela Women’s Party show that there is one death every two hours due to complications during pregnancy. Eleven women are dying everyday. Gabriela's landmark bill can provide much needed relief to poverty-stricken women and their families by ensuring full access to health services.
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raymond Palatino said there is an urgent need to control tuition and other fee increases and to promote the practice of democratic participation in the decision-making process.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
Out of the 9,539 original complainants in a class action suit filed against the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos, only 7,526 victims would receive compensation. "Are they telling us that we are not genuine victims? Where is justice for us?" said martial-law victim Carlos Bolito, 60, after learning he was not included in the list of claimants.
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
Migrante International criticized the Aquino administration's crisis management -- from the repatriation of OFWs to simply responding to the calls via their hotline numbers -- as slow and inept. The group challenged the government to provide more than just livelihood assistance in dealing with jobless OFWs who would be flocking the country in the coming days.
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