If he were to have his way, Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran would like to be a member of the House Committee on National Defense. That way, he said, he can help start investigations into the Witness Protection Program, extra-judicial killings and forced disappearances. BY ALEXANDER MARTIN REMOLLINO Bulatlat Vol. VII, No. 25, July 29-Aug. 4,…
Month: July 2007
IOM Canadian Delegates Report Back Observations on May 2007 Philippine Elections
In a report back event in Montreal by Canadian delegates to the People’s International Observers’ Mission (IOM) to the Philippines they noted that it was almost impossible to have truly democratic elections in a country where the overwhelming majority live in crushing poverty while a small landowning elite enjoys incredible wealth and power. BY MALCOLM…
Migrant Groups Protest the State of the Nation
The state of the nation presented by Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in her address during the opening of the 14th Congress was totally different from what was described by militant organizations in the street outside Congress. They seem to be talking about two different countries. But the picture being presented by migrant groups in protest actions…
International Investments: Is Policy Pendulum Swinging Back?
Unlike the 1990s, nowadays the costs and benefits of foreign investments are being evaluated in a much more balanced manner now, keeping in mind not only economic factors but also social, political, and strategic factors. It is increasingly becoming clear that the benefits of foreign investment have been fewer than anticipated while the costs have…
More Filipinos Have Trouble Paying for Meds, Water, Power Bills
Filipinos are increasingly having trouble paying for their basic expenses, especially for medicines and medical treatment, and for their water and power bills, according to the results of the latest IBON survey. BY IBON FOUNDATION Posted by Bulatlat Vol. VII, No. 25, July 29-Aug. 4, 2007 Filipinos are increasingly having trouble paying for their basic…
AFP Holds Anti-Insurgency Forums in Universities
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,…
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…