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By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
Making a mockery of the party-list system, which is supposed to provide space for marginalized and under-represented sectors in the formulation of laws, are party-list groups that are represented not by the marginalized but those who seek a seat in Congress to reinforce the Arroyo clique and those who are motivated by self-serving ends.
By MARYA SALAMAT
The first ever automated elections in the country is making people wary because the Comelec's preparations are perceived to be hurried, its credibility has been put into question ever since the 2004 elections, and more importantly, Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo seems to be maneuvering to keep itself in power.
By D. L. MONDELO
Will there be a failure of elections? What can the people expect after the May 2010 elections? Will a just and lasting peace be finally achieved? These are just some of the questions that Bulatlat tackled in an interview with Jose Maria Sison.
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
Pagbabago! and Ibon Foundation dare the Filipino people to be more critical in choosing their candidates. High on their "people's criteria" are concrete steps by the presidential candidate to stamp out corruption and to promote human rights and stop abuses.
By RONALYN OLEA and MARYA SALAMAT
It is not enough for the candidate to claim representation of the marginalized because representation is easy to claim and to feign, Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza said in the petition they filed against Mikey Arroyo's so-called partylist group. The partylist organization or party must factually and truly represent the marginalized and underrepresented constituencies mentioned in the Constitution, they said.
As more candidates contest local positions, the more violent local elections become. While personality politics shows the triviality of national elections, warlord politics reveals the violent character of local elections. And no amount of vague calls and covenants for peaceful and fair elections would put a stop to these.
New Bridge, Old Problems
Kabataan Rep. Mong Palatino will discuss with Bulatlat.com his party's education agenda, in a live webcast interview on March 24, Wednesday, at 2 p.m.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
Five of the Morong 43 who admitted to being rebels were tortured, their families harassed, according to relatives. The children of one of the detainees have allegedly disappeared, according to their grandmother.
By RONALYN OLEA
Two grenades were thrown at a house of a Bayan Muna member in Lezo, Aklan. Meanwhile, soldiers from the Philippine Army are openly campaigning against progressive party-list groups in South Cotabato.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“In her desire to appoint a new chief justice, President Arroyo will be transgressing several laws and the Constitution and will also be breaking a long tradition already in place in our judicial system, and will also be encroaching upon the powers and the independence of the Judiciary,” the NUPL said.
By MARYA SALAMAT
Critics of the new ID system say "this multimillion project will be another campaign kitty for the Arroyo administration and also an avenue to skirt the unconstitutionality of the National ID System which was already rejected by the Supreme Court during the Ramos regime."
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
OFWs and domestic helpers are still going through the same nightmare that Flor Contemplacion suffered. Many rot in jail. Several have been sentenced to death. Thousands suffer abuse from their employers and neglected by their government. To these OFWs, the Arroyo regime is "chief executioner of the rights and welfare of OFWs."
The worst thing that could happen with the expected low participation in the party-list elections is that it would create an opportunity for the Arroyo government to pad votes for Malacañang-sponsored party-list groups.
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
Hundreds of students at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines walked out of their classes today to denounce a proposal to increase the school's tuition by as much as 2,000 percent. The students, nearly a thousand of them, threw armchairs, tables and papers down to the ground floor and set these on fire.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
and ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
The AFP said the commission should first get clearance from the courts before the AFP could produce the detainees. CHR chairwoman Leila de Lima retorted: "Please do not restrict our authority to determine the truth."
By RONALYN V. OLEA and JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
Elements of the military have been roaming around urban centers in Metro Manila, Southern Tagalog and Mindanao with the objective of not only of driving these groups from the communities but campaigning against their candidates.
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