By MARIETA BASTE-HERNANI and MARILOU AGUIRRE-TUBURAN
“Father Pops told us, Jesus Christ sacrificed his life for the people. What about us humans? Can’t we sacrifice our lives for our fellowmen and women, too?”
Sidebar: Musings in the first hours following Fr. Pops murder?
Press Release October 27, 2011 Five years ago, on October 26, my parents, Federico and Nelly Intise were abducted by armed men believed to be government operatives in General Santos City. Five years had passed now, I still worry, with dim hopes on their whereabouts, or if they’re still alive. This is my recollection while…
By MARYA SALAMAT
The GPH talks whether with the MILF or with the NDFP remain bogged down until today, mired as these are in the GPH’s efforts to “box it in its counter-insurgency program called Oplan Bayanihan.” – Satur Ocampo of Makabayan
Sidebar: A saga of all-out euphemisms vs peace, the Moro and the ordinary people
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO Bulatlat.com MANILA – Gabriela Women’s Partylist representative Luzviminda Ilagan recently visited New People’s Army (NPA) hor de combat Vanessa Delos Reyes who is currently detained in the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC). The lawmaker pressed for Delos Reyes’ immediate release on humanitarian grounds. Hors de combat is a French term…
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“It is very clear that the priest’s murder was pre-meditated as there was already a threat on his life by the Bagani paramilitary group under the jurisdiction of the 73rd IB, eight years ago due to his love for the Lumads, particularly in organizing them to have their voice heard…” — Rural Missionaries of the Philippines
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“Branding political prisoners as criminals and heaping upon them common crime charges conveniently hide the political nature of their acts; allow the government to shamelessly declare them as common criminals not motivated by a higher goal, thereby violating these prisoners’ rights even more.” – Angie Ipong, Selda secretary general
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
“It is very alarming that the Aquino government opts to collude with mining firms and multinationals in implementing a military solution in order to continue operations and pursue profits at the expense of our communities.” – Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Luz Ilagan
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“Are technical matters more important than the life of a person?” – Mrs. Edita Burgos said after the Court of Appeals denied the request to show the photograph of a female soldier linked to the abduction of her son Jonas.
By RONALYN V. OLEA Bulatlat.com MANILA – Two activists based in Iloilo City were harassed by suspected state agents, human rights group Karapatan reported. In separate incidents, Ma. Geobelyn Lopez-Beraye, 37 and Diogene Primalion, 39 were both warned by suspected state agents of being charged with criminal offenses and/or forcibly disappeared. On August 15, Primalion,…
By ALMA B. SINUMLAG Northern Dispatch Posted by Bulatlat.com BAGUIO CITY – A revolutionary group condemned the massive military operations in the tri-boundary of Mt. Province, Ilocos Sur and Abra, claiming these have resulted to the illegal arrest and detention of civilians. In an e-mailed statement, the Cordillera Peoples Democratic Front (CPDF), said soldiers “have…
By ARTHUR L. ALLAD-IW Northern Dispatch Posted by Bulatlat.com STA. LUCIA, Ilocos Sur – One farmer here pleads for President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to render justice on the death of his son in the hands of alleged state agents a year ago. Rizalino Valdez said that it would be one year on October 7…