Salungguhit

Shield of War

alex — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 09:17:57 -0400

The government’s rhetoric on “pursuing peace” in Mindanao notwithstanding, the Arroyo administration cannot be expected to push for a real end to renewed hostilities in Mindanao which erupted in the wake of the aborted signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF

The Cha-Cha Shield

benjie — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 08:00:19 -0400

Continuously beleaguered by a flurry of issues against her government - plunder, human rights violations, corruption, and extrajudicial killings - Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is again resorting to her favorite shield - Charter change. The public can once again expect “cash gifts” to pour out to congressmen and local officials once the renewed Charter change drive is given the go-signal.

Cloak of Secrecy, Act of Treachery

alex — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 07:56:38 -0400

The negotiations on the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MoA-AD) between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has rightly raised suspicions on the government’s sincerity in forging peace in Mindanao.

Subsidizing Themselves

benjie — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 02:44:50 -0400

The Arroyo administration has been justifying its refusal to scrap the value-added tax (VAT), arguing that it is the source of subsidies for the poor who are bearing the brunt of the economic crisis. These subsidies (mostly one-time), however, are a mere pittance when compared to the billions of pesos that the government is able to collect from the VAT every year.

State of the People

benjie — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 07:20:18 -0400

Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo may well be expected to give this year a State of the Nation Address (SoNA) that is merely an extended version of her “Ramdam ang Kaunlaran” (Progress is Felt) slogan.

Bleeding the People Dry

benjie — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 10:13:43 -0400

The value-added tax (VAT) on oil is contributing to the already unbearable burden foisted by the unabated spikes in prices of petroleum products, which are the result of profiteering by oil companies as well as speculation in the futures market. Lifting the VAT on oil would at least provide considerable immediate relief from the effects of oil price spikes.

Courting the Graces of Bagmen

alex — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 08:54:47 -0400

Demands for the scrapping of the value-added tax (VAT) are growing as an increasing number of people are weighed down by the effects of what is thus far an unprecedented economic crisis. But the Arroyo administration has so far refused to heed this demand, instead offering token measures like the P500 one-time subsidy for lifeline power consumers.

Cuffing the Press

alex — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:26:54 -0400

Makati Regional Trial Court judge Reynaldo Laigo may or may not know it but his decision dismissing the class suit filed by journalists against the police has grave implications on the freedom of the press.

Adding Insult to Injury

benjie — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 07:44:23 -0400

Juan de la Cruz, the Filipino Everyman, is now awash in a sea of crises – from political crisis to crises in the prices of rice and other prime commodities to poverty. This sorry state of affairs is aggravated by recent developments – a kidnapping in Sulu, and a storm that resulted in a shipping tragedy.

Taking more than What it Gives

alex — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 07:56:46 -0400

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has recently approved a bill seeking to exempt minimum wage earners from paying income tax and increase personal exemptions for other workers and employees. The new law is supposed to provides relief for millions of ordinary Filipinos reeling from the present economic crisis.