With the impending 36 percent hike in electricity rates, AGHAM, an organization of scientists and technologists, called anew for the scrapping of the EPIRA or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, and the VAT on electricity. BY BULATLAT The AGHAM (Science and Technology for the People), an organization of scientists and technologists, has called anew…
Month: October 2008
Interfaith Mission Deplores All-out War, Humanitarian Crisis in N. Cotabato, Maguindanao
Even as the Arroyo government publicly declares it is for peace in Mindanao, a National Interfaith Humanitarian Mission conducted in North Cotabato and Maguindanao from Oct. 22-24, 2008 concluded that: “The military offensives in North Cotabato and Maguindanao are carried out under the pretext of pursuit operations against Kato and his group, but these in reality fall within the context of an all-out war.” Even evacuation centers are not spared from the military offensives, the mission said, resulting in the deterioration of the situation reaching the proportion of a “humanitarian crisis”.
Costly, Incomplete Irrigation Projects Being Paid for by Gov’t, Farmers at Losing End
Delays in government irrigation projects, and unresolved inquiries and cases of corruption pertaining to these are costing taxpayers millions since 2002. But in the end, it is the small farmers bear the brunt of corruption, said IBON Foundation Research Head Jose Enrique Africa.
Arroyo’s Labor Export Policy and the GFMD Promote Trafficking of Filipino Women –Women’s Party
BY BULATLAT A women’s party list group scored the Arroyo government and the Global Forum for Migration and Development (GFMD) for the intensified trafficking of Filipino women and children. To show their disgust for the Arroyo government and the GFMD, the Gabriela Women’s Party held a protest parade this morning at the Department of Foreign…
Colleagues Say Missing Activist Alive
BY CYE REYES Northern Dispatch BAGUIO CITY—The Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) received information from a ‘reliable and credible’ source saying that missing activist James Balao is alive and is being detained by state security forces. According to Beverly Longid, CPA chairperson, the information they received Thursday came from an informant who is among the ranks…
Labor Lawyer Arrested by State Agents
BY BULATLAT The chief legal counsel of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU-May First Movement) was arrested yesterday around 1 p.m. by state agents. Atty. Remigio Saladero Jr. was arrested in his residence in Antipolo City by combined police and military elements led by the Antipolo Police and Military Intelligence Group 4A of the Intelligence Services…
‘Stop being part of Palace’s grand cover-up,’ Joc-joc told
BY BULATLAT A party-list representative and peasant leader urged former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-joc” Bolante, the alleged mastermind of the P728-million fertilizer scam, to tell all. The United States authorities reportedly ordered the deportation of Bolante. Anakpawis party-list Representative Rafael Mariano, also chair of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, challenged Bolante to stop being part…
Solon Slams New Power Rate Hike
BY BULATLAT A party-list representative assailed the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) and the Arroyo government’s Energy Regulatory Commission for the new round of power rate hikes. Anakpawis party-list Representative Rafael Mariano described the move as ‘power tripping and the height of callousness’ in the face of the worsening economic turmoil. The ERC approved the new…
DOJ Hit for Opposing Medical Request of Political Detainee
BY BULATLAT The Department of Justice opposed the medical request of political detainee Randall Echanis, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP-Philippine Peasant Movement) said. Echanis is the KMP deputy secretary general for external affairs. He was arrested in April this year for trumped-up charges of murder. He is now detained at the Manila City Jail.…
UN Envoy to Attend Counter Assembly to GMFD
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights of Migrants will attend the International Assembly of Migrants and Refugees (IAMR), a counterpart assembly to the Global Forum and Development (GMFD). Migrants’ groups will take the opportunity to bring to the attention of the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights of Migrants cases of migrants including…
Coming to Light
Coming to Light The day breaks elegantly upon a spot in Limay, Bataan that used to be part of a military camp. With such light cast upon it, this piece of land hardly looks like the suspected burial site for Manuel Merino, the farmer who was abducted in 2006 in Bulacan together with UP students Karen Empeño and Sh erlyn Cadapan. This scene however could also be taken to symbolize the event in which so many horrors are now being exposed to the light of day. (Photo by Raymund Villanueva/Bulatlat.com)