NEWS AT A GLANCE

CPP hits Arroyo for scuttling peace talks

The spokesperson of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) branded as "ludicrous" Malacañang's allegation that the New People’s Army is involved in the drug trade. According to the CPP, it is the “newest concoction” to scuttle the peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

"Can't Arroyo and her spin doctors think of a better and less incredulous reason not to talk peace with the NDF?" asked Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal in a statement last week. "Arroyo is talking nonsense."

Government chief negotiatior Silvestre Bello III said peace talks are stalled while they look into President Arroyo's allegation that the NPA has links with illegal drugs.

In a DZXL radio interview, Bello accepted CPP’s denial that the NPA is involved in illegal drugs.  Rosal said, however, that Bello did not want to admit publicly that his president is lying.

Rosal pointed out that even the president’s people at the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency have clarified that they have no conclusion that the NPA is linked to illegal drugs.

"Maybe Arroyo also wants the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency to come in with more aid,” Rosal said. He related how the U.S. used the supposed drug links of the revolutionary FARC as pretext to provide more aid and engage in military intervention in Colombia.

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Gabriela welcomes CBCP actions on sex scandals

The militant women’s group Gabriela welcomed the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines’ (CBCP) apology for the “actual or alleged sexual misconduct” involving the clergy.

“We laud the Church’s humble acceptance of the existence of this problem as a very judicious practice of the virtue of humility,” said Emmie de Jesus, Gabriela deputy secretary general, last week.

The group said the approval, in principle, of guidelines in handling “sexual misconduct” by the clergy is a significant move made by the Church to address the numerous cases brought before the church for investigation both here in the country and abroad.  

The group commended the creation of a special board that will evaluate the cases brought before the Church for investigation. Gabriela also proposed that women be adequately represented in the board to ensure that women’s welfare is considered.

Bayan Muna Rep. and Gabriela Secretary General Liza Maza said that the draft policy compelling priests who father a child to give financial support to the child and the mother “shows sensitivity toward the plight of women who are forced by circumstance to raise children on their own.”

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Tadian folk oppose corporate mining

Tadian, Mt. Province—The Tadian Movement Against Nepotism, Injustice, Transgression, and Oppression (TAMA NA ITO) last week revealed the “overwhelming rejection” by the Tadian people of the mining applications of Diamond Drilling Corporation of the Philippines (DDCP) in this town.

The DDCP is a subsidiary of the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company (LCMC).

The information drive launched from March to May found that the Tadian people are against the Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) that the DDCP is applying for.

Fernando Mangili of APIT TAKO (Alliance of Peasants in the Cordillera Homeland) and Lakay Panday of Mankayan Against Lepanto Expansion (MALEX) described corporate mining operations as a violation of the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA).

Lawyer Tomas Bayogan said,“Tama na ang nangyayari sa Benguet at ibang lugar,” (What has happened in Benguet and other mining areas is enough). “We owe it to the next generation if we allow it now despite glaring experiences, which our brothers from Benguet learned from, the hard and very expensive way.” 

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Militants belittle GMA’s 2004 plans

Party list group Bayan Muna described the recent luncheon meeting of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo with Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin as a “further sign” that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will run in the 2004 elections.

In a statement, Robert de Castro, Bayan Muna deputy secretary general, maintained, "Soliciting the influence of the Catholic leadership only confirms that Malacañang is desperately trying to fill the apparent void in public support for Arroyo's candidacy.”

De Castro said that contrary to the First Gentleman's perception, President Arroyo does not stand a chance of winning in 2004. “We expect the President's survey ratings to again plummet in the coming months since her popularity is not grounded on any sound economic reforms or significant changes in the Filipino people's condition.”

Meanwhile, the Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR) charged Malacañang of  “gross political manipulation, moral deception and shameless betrayal of public trust.”

Rev. Fr. Allan Jose Arcebuche, PCPR spokesperson said, “Rather than endorse GMA for president, the Church should publicly withdraw support to GMA for being brutally anti-poor, morally corrupt and shamelessly subservient to US economic, military and geo-political interests.”

He added, “To be a Church of the Poor, it is an important moral duty to denounce the violent dehumanization of Filipinos who continue to suffer the violence of worsening poverty, demolitions, increasing cost of prime commodities and services, joblessness and other economic hardships under GMA.”  Bulatlat.com

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