The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) launched a series of “educational” forums in universities, starting with the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) and Philippine Women’s University (PWU) late last month as part of its intensified counter-insurgency campaign. By Jan Merck A. Maguddayao Philippine Collegian Posted by Bulatlat Vol. VII, No. 23, July 15-21,…
Day: July 21, 2007
The Human Rights Summit: Will It Put a Stop to the Killings?
Even though it was hailed by various sectors in society as historic and unprecedented, human rights advocates doubted if the human rights summit initiated by the Supreme Court would be enough to curb the festering problems of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. BY DABET CASTAÑEDA Bulatlat HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH Vol. VII, No. 24, July 22-28,…
Ex-VP, Nat’l Artist among Signatories of Anti-HSA Petition
A petition filed last week before the Supreme Court to have the Human Security Act of 2007 (HSA), also known as the Anti-Terrorism Law, declared as unconstitutional has among its signatories former Vice President Teofisto Guingona, Jr. and National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera. BY EMILY VITAL HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH Bulatlat Vol VII, No. 24,…
An Act of Terror
This is a terrible time in our country, and we must cleanse the nation of the brutal and destructive actions by its own security forces and law enforcement agencies. For can they, invoking our protection and “human security,” play god in their dirty war and violate the very Constitution and Bill of Rights which they…
Juan Ponce Enrile: Martial Law Architect, HSA Sponsor
Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, the principal sponsor of the controversial Human Security Act, has a long history of making political and legal moves running counter to civil liberties and other democratic rights, and even of direct association with the forces of authoritarianism. BY ALEXANDER MARTIN REMOLLINO Bulatlat Vol. VII, No. 24, July 22-28, 2007 The…
Beyond Barred Life: An Interview with Donato Continente
It felt a little strange seeing Donato Continente for the first time. He was completely the opposite of the Ka Donat I had in mind- tall, grim-and-determined-looking and fierce. Donato Continente, arguably the most popular political detainee of recent times is in fact, calm, gentle-looking and definitely not a stereotype of an ex- detainee. BY…
The Person at the Other End of the Line
A call center agent is someone who earns as much as P20, 000 ($446) a month by simply parroting spiels and buffering irate calls. S/he assumes a certain lifestyle to conform with the social strata call center agents occupy. But there is a downside to this seemingly high paying job. A call center agent is…
`Atienza Does Not Belong at DENR’ – Environment Groups
Environment groups protested the appointment of former Manila mayor Lito Atienza as secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), listing his litany of sins of commission and omission against the environment. BY ACE ALEGRE Contributed to Bulatlat Vol 7, No. 24, July 22-28, 2007 BAGUIO CITY (246 kms from Manila) – A…
Peasant Leaders Named in 2003 Ilocos Raid Jailed
They voluntary submitted themselves to the local court in the hope of clearing their names. However, instead of being cleared in a September 2003 raid and burning of an Ilocos Sur police station, they were thrown behind bars. BY ROD TAJON Northern Dispatch Posted by Bulatlat Vol. VII, No. 24, July 22-28, 2007 CANDON CITY,…
Alert Up for Chinese Products Sold in Davao
Health authorities in Davao are intensifying their monitoring of Chinese food products, particularly those being sold along Magsaysay Avenue (Uyanguren), following the decision by the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) to pull out candies and biscuits imported from China. BY TYRONE A. VELEZ Davao Today Posted by Bulatlat Vol. VII, No. 24, July 22-28,…
Are the Fundamentals of the Economy Strong?
Are the Fundamentals of the Economy Strong? Economics is purportedly the strong point of Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s administration. She has declared that the country is well on its way of achieving “First World” status in the next one to two decades; and the government issued economic statistics to prove her point. But a deeper analysis…