By BENJIE OLIVEROS Bulatlat perspective After an optimistic end to the fourth round of peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), things appeared to have soured once again. Even if the GRP-NDFP peace talks have got nothing to do with the…
By BENJIE OLIVEROS Bulatlat perspective People were half expecting it, and we have always shouted “Never Again!” in response to these threats. And now, President Duterte has made good his threat of declaring martial law in Mindanao and hinted that he is willing to declare it nationwide. Since August 2016, or a little more than…
By BENJIE OLIVEROS Bulatlat perspective A major online daily reported that mere days after the rejection of former Environment Secretary Gina Lopez by the Commission on Appointments of Congress, a mining firm cut thousands of trees, both young and centuries-old, at Brookes Point, Palawan. And it was done in a protected area of Mount Mantalingajan,…
By BENJIE OLIVEROS Bulatlat perspective It has been 10 months since the Aquino administration stepped down and the Duterte Cabinet took over the reins of government and still, the Filipino people are suffering from the effects of the anomalies of the past. This is best exemplified by the problems people confront at the Department of…
By BENJIE OLIVEROS Bulatlat perspective One thing truthful about US Pres. Donald Trump is that he does what he says. There has been no divide between his rhetoric and actions. His anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim rhetoric was concretized in his executive orders such as the authorization of the US-Mexico border wall, and the controversial ban on the…
By BENJIE OLIVEROS Bulatlat perspective The negotiating panels of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) have achieved a major breakthrough in forging an agreement for an interim joint ceasefire. While the agreement on the ceasefire does not represent the meat of the talks,…
By BENJIE OLIVEROS Bulatlat perspective In a move worthy of praise from environmental activists all over the world, El Salvador became the first country in the world to pass a law banning metal mining. Indeed as Lina Pohl, the environment minister of the smallest Central American country, declared: “It’s a historic day in El Salvador.…
By BENJIE OLIVEROS Bulatlat perspective The election of Rodrigo Roa Duterte as president of the country has been met with much hope. After all, his campaign slogan was “Change is coming.” The Filipino people hoped that the new administration would be the opposite of its predecessor the Aquino administration, which had been deemed as elitist,…
By BENJIE OLIVEROS Bulatlat perspective The very first impeachment complaint has been filed against Pres. Rodrigo Duterte today Thursday March 16, 2016, a little more than seven months after the new administration took over the reins of government. Of course the Duterte administration’s officials and allies were dismissive about it calling it “stupid.” Solicitor Jose…
By BENJIE OLIVEROS Bulatlat perspective Expectedly, the confirmation of Environment Sec. Regina Lopez is encountering rough sailing before the powerful Commission on Appointments. The Chamber of Mines has submitted a formal letter of opposition to the confirmation of her appointment. It would not be surprising if the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce (JFC) in the…
This is about the most fundamental human right: the right to life.