“Maybe they are lazy. Tell them they are lazy. They should pay their loans. I will demand their payment or else I will drive them away, no matter who they are,” Vice President Noli de Castro replied when asked why poor Filipinos cannot pay their rent on time.
By ALEXANDER MARTIN REMOLLINO
Far from a counter-insurgency operation, the massive militarization and dislocation of communities in Surigao del Sur and the Caraga region had more to do with protecting business interests, primarily mining and energy investments. Although there is nothing particularly new in all this, the Arroyo regime had actually taken the extra step to ensure that the military would act as veritable security guards of these companies.
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By ALEXANDER MARTIN REMOLLINO
On the 37th anniversary of the declaration of martial law, activists and victims of the brutality of military rule drew parallels between the Marcos dictatorship and the Arroyo regime. “The bad dream known as martial law has become an absolute nightmare under Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo!” one of them said. View slideshow
Muslims in Mindanao Mark End of Ramadan
Martial Law in the Philippines: 37 Years Later
By RONALYN V. OLEA
The murder earlier this month of a Catholic priest, Father Cecilio Lucero, has enraged leaders of the Catholic Church. “I can not stomach what Malacañang is doing,” said recently retired Lingayen Archbishop Oscar Cruz of the extrajudicial killings in the Philippines. “It seems they do not fear God.”
By ALDWIN QUITASOL Northern Dispatch Posted by Bulatlat.com BAGUIO CITY — The 17th of this month marks one year since James Balao, Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) founding member was abducted by suspected military agents. The Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA), Balao’s family and friends called for mabtad and reiterated their demand for government to stop…
Banca Boys
By LYN V. RAMO Northern Dispatch Posted by Bulatlat.com BAGUIO CITY — Workers and employees of the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company (LCMC) cannot avail of short-term benefits from the Social Security System (SSS) due to the company’s unpaid premiums since 2004. According to Luis Olais, SSS assistant vice president for northern Luzon, Lepanto has an…
By WENDY ATUBAN Northern Dispatch Posted by Bulatlat.com BAGUIO CITY — A newly forged alliance of indigenous students of the University of the Philippines system threw its support to the Katribu party list. Katribu aims to represent the issues and concerns of the indigenous people in the Philippines. The UP Dalikan, an alliance of indigenous…