This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. V, No. 37, October 23-29, 2005
Bayan Muna office in Tarlac
burned At least 10 armed men, some
of them in military uniform, arrived at the bungalow which housed the Bayan Muna
office in Sitio Buno, Barangay (village) Matatalaib in Tarlac City at around 1
a.m., and set it on fire, witnesses said. The incident happened five
days after the killing of Bayan Muna provincial coordinator Florante Collantes,
54, who was shot in Camiling, Tarlac. Bayan Muna has accused an Army general of
masterminding the killings and harassment against activists. Bulatlat
* ** Budget proponent an
illegitimate president – Beltran Anakpawis Party-list Rep.
Crispin Beltran called for a stop to the budget appropriation hearings, saying
that Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the main proponent of the 2006 Budget proposal,
“is an illegitimate president.” Beltran said that the bulk
of higher budget allocations will only go to automatic debt payments and the
military. He added that Congress “is being forced to hurry deliberations on a
budget proposal by an administration whose legitimacy is highly
questionable, and whose fate still remains in limbo.” Beltran said that the
president was using the budget hearings to “consolidate the ranks of her
remaining supporters and to project an atmosphere of normalcy.” He added that
the hearings did not have a quorum because most congressmen have gone back to
their districts during the break until session resumes on Nov. 7. Bulatlat © 2005 Bulatlat
■
Alipato Publications Permission is granted to reprint or redistribute this article, provided its author/s and Bulatlat are properly credited and notified.
NEWS AT
A GLANCE
The front portion of the office of the Bayan Muna Party-list in Tarlac City (125
kms. north of Manila) was damaged as suspected military men tried to burn the
office on Oct. 18.