The local police already filed a murder case against a military officer for killing a church worker. Up to now, however, the accused officer is nowhere to be found. BY ARTHUR L. ALLAD-IW Northern Dispatch Reposted by Bulatlat BAGUIO CITY — Human rights advocates challenged the Northern Luzon Command of the Armed Forces of the…

Progressive artists hope to raise the consciousness of people through their socially relevant works. BY KARL G. OMBION AND ROMMEL PIDO Bulatlat SAGAY City – Led by multi-awarded Negrense artist Nune Lucio Alvarado, Pintor Kulapol and Taliambong, community-based organizations of indigenous artists opened this week their month-long art exhibits at their Bunga Art Gallery, Pabrika…

The Bacolod police are using militant groups as a convenient excuse to get more funding from the government, even to the point of making them fair game to assassins by labeling them “enemies of the state.” By Karl G. Ombion and Ryan Lachica Bulatlat BACOLOD City – Progressive organizations and members of the Sangguniang Panglunsod…

It is bad enough that Samar farmers suffered from various forms of human rights violation in 2006. Given the military’s all-out campaign against the perceived enemies of the state, they are bracing for the worst this year. BY THE LEYTE CENTER FOR DEVELOPMENT, INC. Reposted by Bulatlat Massive evacuations. Two thousand and six was undeniably…

Barely two weeks into 2007 and the office of Migrante International is already swamped with requests for assistance from detained overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and complaints of government inaction on these cases. BY AUBREY MAKILAN Bulatlat Barely two weeks into 2007 and the office of Migrante International is already swamped with requests for assistance from…

It was sad to greet the New Year with the passing away of an old friend, a preacher and a long-time comrade in the struggle for human rights. Rev. Pastor Alfredo Sueno Faurillo succumbed to a fifth and final cardiac arrest on Dec. 31 at the Capitol Medical Center in Quezon City. But he left…

The health sector was not spared from the crisis that envelops the country. Health as a fundamental requisite for development is continuously being neglected by a government keen only in seeking profit. Health workers continue to suffer from the lack in government budget resulting from the flawed privatization and market-driven policies of the Arroyo government,…

Five out of ten Filipinos die without receiving medical attention. Ten mothers die daily because of pregnancy and childbirth-related cases. And yet the Arroyo government spends a mere P0.33 ($0.006 at an exchange rate of $1=P49) per day for the health of every Filipino. It is even implementing programs that are not meant to make…

Defending a legislated wage increase is not just merely a result of one’s bleeding heart for the impoverished but has compelling empirical data that are interpreted in a way that seriously considers the rights and welfare of workers. BY DANILO ARAÑA ARAO Bulatlat Those who are against a legislated wage increase – government officials, employers…

Photo by Ace Alegre Bulatlat Gambling appears to be part of life for many people in the Philippines, a country where life has for the most part been harsh enough to make not a few turn to luck and chance for hope. In some areas people are “initiated” into various games of chance early on…