BY ABNER BOLOS Bulatlat.com The strike may have been lifted last December 8, 2005, but the struggle of the farm workers of Hacienda Luisita, Inc. (HLI) is far from over. Among the unresolved issues are coverage of land distribution and number of agrarian reform beneficiaries. Farm workers in Hacienda Luisita asked the Department of Agrarian…
Ronalyn V. Olea
On the 19th year of the Mendiola Massacre Peasants’ Blood Compact Signals 100 Days of Protest vs GMA, Chacha
On January 22, 1987 at the historic Mendiola Bridge, soldiers drew first blood as they opened fire on demonstrators calling on the government to implement genuine agrarian reform. Since this resulted in 13 demonstrators being killed, this came to be known as the Mendiola Massacre which has been commemorated ever since. In remembering what happened…
Lawyers on Subic rape case: `Without Warrant, Trial of Four US Soldiers Cannot Proceed’
With the failure to serve the warrant of arrest to the four U.S. Marines accused of raping a Filipino woman, just where is the Subic Rape Case heading? Lawyers said that it is going nowhere and as early as now, justice for the rape survivor is being denied. BY DABET CASTAÑEDA Bulatlat.com The Subic Rape…
Erap Comeback, Anyone? Does Joseph Estrada have what it takes to regain his so-called lost presidency?
Five years have passed since Joseph Estrada was ousted as President. But for those who continue to support him, Estrada is merely on a leave of absence and he will assume his duties as President anytime soon. BY AUBREY SC MAKILAN Bulatlat.com Joseph Estrada, popularly known by his nickname Erap, is said to be perceived…
Officers’ Jailbreaks Show Deep Division in AFP
What now looks like an emerging series of escapes from jail by leaders of the Magdalo group, which tried to stage an armed uprising at the Oakwood Hotel in Makati City on July 27, 2003, is not just a matter of lapses in security. More than that, it shows a deep division within the Armed…
Everyone’s a Suspect
The Anti-Terrorism Bill, which the Macapagal-Arroyo administration is pushing for with support from the U.S., has been criticized by several sectors – including media groups – for containing a definition of “terrorism” so broad it may include even legal protest actions in its list of “terroristic” acts. It turns out we could expect a bill…
Luisita Farm Brigades Till Land as They Await Distribution
As lawyers haggle over the legality of the revocation of the stock distribution option in Hacienda Luisita, the farm workers continue to reap benefits from tilling the land and earn money from the on-going sugar cane harvest. By Abner Bolos Bulatlat.com As lawyers haggle over the legality of the revocation of the stock distribution option…
E-VAT on Electricity: Short-circuiting the People’s Interest
At an average of 70 centavos per kwh and a total sale of about 24 billion kwh, electricity users in the Meralco franchise area will be contributing to the government a total of P17 billion every year. The government collects additional billions from the more than 120 electric utilities and electric coops in the country.…
NPA Grew Beyond ‘Critical Mass’ in 2005 Dramatic increase in tactical offensives
Rebel spokesman Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal claims the New People’s Army (NPA) now has an equivalent of 27 battalions or roughly around 13, 500 regular fighters. These exclude members of barrio militia units or what Rosal describes as “peasants by day, NPA fighters by night.” BY ALEXANDER MARTIN REMOLLINO Bulatlat.com A few weeks ago, Malacañang…
On a Temporary Downturn?
While President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo may claim the economic problems did not begin with her administration, she cannot escape the fact that she is presiding over an economy that is not on a mere temporary downturn, as government claims, but in an ever worsening state. By Benjie Oliveros Bulatlat.com Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Augusto Santos announced Dec.…
Another Murderous Year for Philippine Media 12 killed, harassments continue
Even as media killings remain unsolved and harassments continue, 13 more Filipino journalists were killed in 2005 and several instances of harassment and intimidation were recorded. BY JHONG DELA CRUZ Bulatlat.com As 2005 drew to a close, Filipino journalists agreed the Macapagal-Arroyo administration failed to protect them with 12 journalists killed and several cases of…