Gov’t failure to honor agreement to free NDFP consultants may stall talks

By RONALYN V. OLEA
“They’re [GPH] so enthusiastic about the schedule but they are the ones putting stumbling blocks.” - NDFP
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By RONALYN V. OLEA
“They’re [GPH] so enthusiastic about the schedule but they are the ones putting stumbling blocks.” - NDFP

A snake effigy of the Estradas -- Ex-President Joseph Estrada, Congressman JV Ejercito and Mayor Guia Gomez -- was burned by residents of Brgy. Corazon De Jesus in San Juan City, as a sign of their anger at the Estrada family for ordering the demolition. (Photos by GREGORIO B. DANTES JR. and JANESS ANN J. ELLAO / Bulatlat.com)

By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
“There are too many people in the Palace; there is the executive secretary and the Presidential Management Staff (PMS). The chief of staff position is a bit problematic because they have to define the authority of the position." Satur Ocampo
Sidebar: Roxas appointment signals continuation of failed globalization policies

A photo exhibit on the Ampatuan massacre on November 23, 2009, that claimed the lives of 58 individuals, including 32 journalists, has been mounted at the North Wing lobby of the Batasan complex. It is organized by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines and the Philippine Center for Photojournalism (PCJ), in coordination with the office of Deputy House Speaker Erin Tañada. (Text and photos by RONALYN V. OLEA / Bulatlat.com)

By RONALYN V. OLEA
“Civilians continued to be killed as the military’s counter-insurgency plan failed to differentiate between civilians and members of the NPA [New People’s Army]. In some cases, the police or the military claimed that the deaths occurred during ‘legitimate encounters.’” Amnesty International.

By RONALYN V. OLEA
The National Democratic Front of the Philippines refers to the negotiations for a Comprehensive Agreement of Social and Economic Reforms as “the meat” of the peace talks as it aims to address the root causes of the armed conflict.
Sidebar: Government too slow in releasing political prisoners – NDFP consultant

Workers' conditions worsen under Aquino

MANILA -- Employees of the National Housing Authority (NHA) are against plans of the Benigno Aquino government to privatize housing services and to create a Department of Housing and Urban Development. NHA employees and urban poor organizations under the Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) have been fighting against moves to privatize public housing and legislative proposals on the same since the year 2000 and since the 9th Congress. (Text by Ina Alleco R. Silverio; Photos courtesy of Consolidated Union of Employees (CUE-NHA) / bulatlat.com)

By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL and INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
“It sends the message that it is okay to steal the people’s money for as long as you admit your crime when caught and just return a small amount from what you stole.” – Pagbabago
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
"Like its predecessors, the Aquino government is abandoning its responsibility to provide social services to its poor constituents ... By partnering with the private sector in building public housing, it can be expected that the government will confine its function to that of an enabler which is limited to policy formulation and program monitoring."

By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
"The thieves who raided the nation's coffers cannot be allowed to escape punishment. President Aquino should take a cue from actions such as this filing of criminal charges against Gutierrez and put meat into his words that he is an enemy of the corrupt.” – lawyers' group

MANILA -- The National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL) filed a manifestation at the Commission of Human Rights (CHR) on Tuesday regarding its recent resolution absolving the military from its liability on the enforced disappearance and arbitrary detention of Filipino-American activist Melissa Roxas and her two other companions Juanito Carabeo and John Edward Jandoc. (Photos by Tudla Productions / bulatlat.com)

By RONALYN V. OLEA
“We will never again allow the travesty of Philippine sovereignty. The Filipino people and Philippine Senate booted out the US bases in 1991 as one of the last vestiges of our colonial relations with America,” said Satur Ocampo, president of Makabayan coalition.

By RONALYN V. OLEA
“As we pause from daily routine in this period of spiritual contemplation and renewal, we ask once again that you draw strength from our advocacy to end the impunity that has punished the Filipino people for so long,” media groups told President Benigno S. Aquino III in an open letter.
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