In the Philippines, victims of rights violations face dead ends as they turn to the Office of the Ombudsman for justice and redress.
“It is my fervent prayer and wish that the highest court of this land will give due cognizance of my inviolable right as a Filipino and hold to account all those who have caused me untold trauma up to this day.”
There has been no update, no feedback, no nothing about their case.
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
While senators are preparing for their role as senator judges and the Lower House is in the process of completing its line up of prosecutors, Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares said the people’s participation is most crucial because the impeachment trial is not only a battle against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez and former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo but also against impunity and corruption.
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.
Finally the congressional move to oust Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez (for the second time since 2009) has regained momentum. With the new administration’s avowed war against corruption and its majority control of the House, the militant party-list representatives hope the impeachment game will be played fairly this time. Nonetheless, they don’t rule out delaying tactics by the Ombudsman and her backers in the House. By SATUR C. OCAMPO
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
“Land reform is a question of social justice. It is at the heart of the conflict in Luisita.” – Renato Reyes of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan.
Sidebar: A Mother’s Quest for Justice
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
Progressive groups have taken two tacks in their effort to remove Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez -- the filing of an impeachment complaint and urging President Benigno Aquino II to remove Gutierrez -- because, they said, Gutierrez is the biggest obstacle to the prosecution of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Sidebar: The Impeachment Complaint Against Ombudsman Gutierrez
BY BULATLAT The militant women's group GABRIELA earlier today filed charges of human rights violations, physical injuries, and abuse of authority against Manila Police District (MPD) Director Supt. Roberto Rosales at the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the...
A community of readers and supporters that help us sustain our operations through microdonations for as low as $1.