Reopen Luisita massacre case, Ombudsman urged
“To reopen the case is but to afford due process to the complainants.”
BACK STORY | The Hacienda Luisita massacre: How it happened
Reopen Luisita massacre case, Ombudsman urged
Ronalyn V. Olea or Len to her colleagues loves to brew coffee strong enough to keep everyone in the newsroom awake. She’s a vegan and a bike commuter, braving the chaos of the road to get to meetings and errands.
Ronalyn V. Olea or Len to her colleagues loves to brew coffee strong enough to keep everyone in the newsroom awake. She’s a vegan and a bike commuter, braving the chaos of the road to get to meetings and errands.
Life after escaping death
Life after escaping death
Rodelio “Dondon” Lanuza may have escaped death in Saudia Arabia, but ten months later, he continues to grapple with the challenges of life in the Philippines.
Lawyers, kin of Ampatuan massacre victims fear conspiracy in the offing
Lawyers, kin of Ampatuan massacre victims fear conspiracy in the offing
“Our criminal justice system will be measured by how we faired [in this case], and if we don’t get the conviction of those guilty simply because of the mis-appreciation of the facts of the case, perhaps mismanagement of the prosecution of the case, or underestimating the defense, we have to answer not only to the families of the 58 massacre victims but to the Filipino people.”
Protests bare ‘real state of the nation’
Protests bare ‘real state of the nation’
People's organizations in Manila, Bicol region, Bacolod City and Davao City hold protest actions during President Benigno Aquino III's State of the Nation Address (SONA), July 28. Photos by Dee Ayroso | Fred Dabu | Anne Ednalyn Dela Cruz | Loi Manalansan | Ronalyn...
Sectors see all lies and doom in Aquino’s SONA
Sectors see all lies and doom in Aquino’s SONA
“Aquino needs only to look at his own backyard, at the farmers of Hacienda Luisita, to know that things have not changed.” – Renato Reyes, Bayan
Related story | ‘Aquino poised to institutionalize DAP’ -- groups
‘Aquino poised to institutionalize DAP’ — groups
‘Aquino poised to institutionalize DAP’ — groups
“The president is overtly asking Congress to legislate his version of the DAP story, in effect urging the Legislature to join forces with the Executive Branch in defying the third branch of government.” – Kabataan Partylist Rep. Terry Ridon
Huge chunk of DAP did not benefit the poor – think-tank
Huge chunk of DAP did not benefit the poor – think-tank
“In qualitative terms, the DAP as a whole did not meet stimulus standards of immediately and significantly creating jobs, raising incomes, and stimulating local economic activity.”
‘Permanent contractuals’ in government increasing
‘Permanent contractuals’ in government increasing
“The term is an oxymoron but it is what best describes the situation of many government employees.” – Ferdinand Gaite, Courage
DAR admits using DAP to pay Cojuangco-Aquinos, other landlords
DAR admits using DAP to pay Cojuangco-Aquinos, other landlords
The DAR said that from 2011 to June 2014, Landbank disbursed P4.052 billion ($92.94 million) representing the cash portion of landowners compensation to more than 4,000 landowners whose lands were distributed to farmer-beneficiaries of the agrarian reform program. Of this amount, P471.50 million ($10.48 million) was paid to Hacienda Luisita. Incorporated (HLI).
Church leaders, sectors push for resumption of peace talks
Church leaders, sectors push for resumption of peace talks
“The price of war has been incalculable…Listen to the anguish of men and women.”
Luisita farmers deprived of food, income
Luisita farmers deprived of food, income
On the average, a hectare of land yields 100 cavans of rice. The 53 hectares of land destroyed could have produced 5,300 cavans of rice per harvest season or 10,600 cavans for one year. A cavan is equivalent to 50 kilos.
More crops destroyed in Luisita to pave way for sugar plantation
More crops destroyed in Luisita to pave way for sugar plantation
In the past months, more than a hundred hectares of land in the villages of Balete and Cutcut were bulldozed and reclaimed by security guards of the Cojuangco-Aquinos.
Farmers march to Malacanang
Farmers march to Malacanang
Marking the death of what they call as "bogus" agrarian reform program, farmers from all over Luzon march from the Department of Agrarian Reform to the foot of Mendiola, a few meters away from Malacanang palace, June 30. Photos and Editing by Ronalyn V. Olea Music:...
Agrarian reform personnel involved in destruction of crops in Luisita
Agrarian reform personnel involved in destruction of crops in Luisita
“They destroyed everything. After felling our banana trees, they even got the fruits. They did the same with our squash. They did not spare our palay seeds, 12 cavans of it, which we were supposed to plant this July 15.”
Farmers hit proposed extension of agrarian reform law, call for Aquino’s ouster
Farmers hit proposed extension of agrarian reform law, call for Aquino’s ouster
“CARPer is not just a gigantic historical failure but a man-made catastrophe to the farming sector of the region that deserves no legislated ‘resuscitation’ or revival but a natural death and an unmarked grave.”
Farmers march for genuine agrarian reform, not CARPer
Farmers march for genuine agrarian reform, not CARPer
Sixty-year old Alexander Viernes’s blood pressure shot up by noon of June 26 while they were in Pulilan, Bulacan, after beginning their march from Aurora province the day before. He rested for an hour and resumed walking. “This is for all the farmers who yearn for genuine agrarian reform,” he said.
Life story of urban poor leader gets nod of film critics
Life story of urban poor leader gets nod of film critics
“This award is for everybody who partook in the process—from the generous and hardworking people from the creative community, to the oppressed urban poor whose continuing fight fuels Carmen Deunida’s fire. I am only a very small part of a big picture and I am proud...
Defense witnesses in abduction case of 2 UP students no show again
Defense witnesses in abduction case of 2 UP students no show again
After the prosecution presented several eyewitnesses in the abduction of Karen and Sherlyn, the defense was given several opportunities to present their own witnesses. Not one has been presented since.
How many years more? | Torture survivors urge Ombudsman to act on raps against military
How many years more? | Torture survivors urge Ombudsman to act on raps against military
“The cases, filed as early as 2008, have been gathering dust in the records of the Ombudsman, which has shown nary a hint of interest or resolve in investigating criminal and ethical violations by top military brass down the line.”
Andrea Rosal asks court to cite jail authorities in contempt
Andrea Rosal asks court to cite jail authorities in contempt
“They must answer for the treacherous and duplicitous manner in which they ferreted her [Rosal] out of the hospital while still recuperating from difficult labor and traumatic experience.”
BE A BULATLAT PATRON
A community of readers and supporters that help us sustain our operations through microdonations for as low as $1.