By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
A certification from the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court showed that “no criminal/civil case had been filed” against former agriculture secretary Cito Lorenzo and former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante, in connection with the P728-million fertilizer fund scam. “Clearly, Gutierrez did not lift a finger to take action against the officials tagged in the fertilizer fund scam,” Danilo Ramos of farmers’ group KMP said.
It seems that the Aquino government would rather let the Filipino people suffer than lean on oil companies to “moderate their greed.” It is more scared of facing the wrath of the IMF-WB than the Filipino people. Perhaps, it is banking on its popularity and relying on its apologists-allies who are already in government but still stake their claim to being part of civil society. (By Benjie Oliveros / bulatlat.com)
Profiteering Again!
Environmental activists, indigenous peoples’ leaders and human-rights advocates today lighted green lanterns to pay tribute to the 39 environmental defenders and martyrs who were victims of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. The activity, held in Bulwagang Nicanor Delos Santos in Quezon City, coincided with the commemoration of the 2nd year since the brutal killing of anti-mining and environmental activist Eliezer “Boy” Billanes in Koronadal City on March 9, 2009. (Photos courtesy of Kalikasan-PNE / bulatlat.com)
100th International Women’s Day
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
“You cannot put a price tag on lives. What the families want is justice for their relatives and guarantees that what happened in the Eton construction site would not happen again. We cannot just let Eton Properties and its contractors and subcontractors escape blame and accountability as families continue to mourn. ” – Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research (EILER)
By RONALYN V. OLEA
They were sexually harassed; they had no union; their pay never went above the minimum wage; and their 13th month pay was cut in half. When they formed a union, the management tried to undermine it. But everything turned out for the better when the workers, who are predominantly women, collectively staged protest actions from noise barrage, to work slowdown and finally a strike.