“If our justice system will continue to serve as a tool of repression that has made environmentalists into an ‘endangered species,’ then it leaves us no other recourse but to seek justice in higher venues of struggle.”
A year after typhoon Pablo wrecked forests and farms, government is sugar-coating reports of recovery and reforestation, while logging and mining operations remain rampant in the area. — Defend (Panalipdan)
Typhoon Pablo survivors here are opposing the entry of a mining firm owned by the uncle of Pres. Benigno Aquino,III.
“My taxes are sent (here) for military aid. Money should build roads, should be given to health care, decent things for the people, not military aid,” says Ron Gochez of Union del Barro, Los Angeles.
“Siguro nasa 20 percent pa tayo (ng recovery), malaki pa masyado (ang hahabulin) lalo na sa agriculture.” — Compostela Valley Governor Arturo Uy
Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay assailed the military’s action as it “shows the government’s desperation to cover up the situation of the victims of typhoon Pablo– the neglect of the victims’ needs, the corruption in its relief and rehabilitation efforts, and worst, the harassment of people who exposed these, leading to the killing of Cristina Jose, the leader of the Pablo victims’ organization.”
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
‘The DSWD is accountable not only for its shameful act of ineptitude but also for its gross violation of the international code of conduct on disaster response which says that relief operations must not be discriminatory.’
This, after the Department of Social Welfare and Development-XI refused to release the 10,000 sacks of rice committed by Sec. Corazon ‘Dinky’ Soliman even after the leaders had presented and submitted their distribution plan on Thursday, February 7.
Letter to the Editor January 17, 2013 The more than 5,000 protesters in a previous 12-hour barricade in Montevista, Compostela Valley last January 15 were not there for fame. They wanted to live. The Philippine Army’s spokesperson Major Jake Obligado easily discredited the people’s action saying it was just mere propaganda; that it was led…
As Pablo already claimed the lives of 990 individuals and damaged over PHP 21 billion in agriculture and infrastructure in the Davao region alone, Panalipdan said it is not enough to just give relief goods and help for the rebuilding of lives of affected people in Southern Mindanao. “We must also demand for justice and…
In this video, members of progressive organizations provide relief goods and medicines to Lumad communities in Surigao del Sur affected by typhoon Pablo.