BY TRINA FEDERIS Bulatlat.com GUESS? clothing sold locally is actually sewed here in the Philippines. And while it is put up for sale at exorbitant prices, the workers just earn a pittance for their hard work. GUESS? clothing sold locally is actually sewed here in the Philippines. And while it is put up for sale…
Category: Human Rights
Rights Lawyers Decry Continuous Political Killings
BY AUBREY MAKILAN Bulatlat.com Despite President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s moves to abolish the death penalty, human rights lawyers noted that extrajudicial and political killings continue contradicting the image of “kindness and compassion” she wants to portray. Arroyo’s position vs. the death penalty, they said, is but a “desperate effort to save her presidency.” Extrajudicial killings Lawyers…
Gov’t to Stop Illegal Quarry Operations in Luisita
BY Abner Bolos GLNS/ Bulatlat.com Posted 6:39 p.m., Apr. 27, 2006 City of San Fernando—After almost a year of protest, workers in Hacienda Luisita have succeeded in pushing the government to declare as illegal quarrying operations for the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway Project [SCTEP] inside the hacienda. Officials of the Department of Agrarian Reform [DAR], Department of…
Ex-VP, Ex-Senator, Law Dean Join Counsel for Subic Rape Victim
BY ALEXANDER MARTIN REMOLLINO Bulatlat.com Posted 7:06 p.m., Apr. 27, 2006 A former vice president, a former senator, and a law dean have joined the team working as private counsels for the complainant in the Subic rape case. Former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr., former Sen. Rene Saguisag, and Lyceum of the Philippines College of…
Bayan Muna warns of misuse of 2006 budget for Cha-cha
Bayan Muna-Southern Mindanao Region expressed fears that the P1.06-trillion 2006 budget, now in the Senate for approval, will be used by Malacañang allegedly for the charter change drive. Bayan Muna-SMR spokesperson Jeppie Ramada criticized what he described as the “state’s propensity to consume the national budget for its personal gains.” He also recalled Election Commissioner…
Tirso Cruz: 14th Luisita Martyr
BY ABNER BOLOS Gitnang Luson News Service Posted by Bulatlat.com As the 14th martyr of the Hacienda Luisita struggle was buried, the issues connected to his death continue to hound the strife-torn hacienda. Concepcion, Tarlac – The mourners marched under the scorching sun passing lush corn and vegetable plots and the giant expressway project that…
Transfer Ka Bel to a Hospital outside Camp Crame, Doctors Recommend to Court
BY LISA C. ITO Bulatlat.com While the Department of Justice (DOJ) seems to be hell-bent on keeping 73-year old Crispin Beltran detained at a Camp Crame hospital, doctors and psychiatrists are recommending his transfer to a hospital with adequate facilities. This, they say, is the only way to significantly lessen his chances of having a…
Anti-Terror Bill May Improperly Extradite Joma Sison, Others
BY DABET CASTAÑEDA Bulatlat.com The Anti-Terrorism Bill, as passed by the House of Representatives on third reading, may be “used politically to erroneously charge with terrorism and improperly extradite” the known leaders of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) based in The Netherlands. The bill also demonizes national liberation movements which, a human…
Abducted Youth Leader under NOLCOM Custody
BY ABNER BOLOS Gitnang Luson News Service Posted 10:00 p.m., Apr. 9, 2006 TARLAC CITY — Ronald Intal, the youth leader in Hacienda Luisita who was abducted allegedly by government troops and has been missing since April 3 may be alive and in the custody of the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM). Gonzalo Intal, 79, father…
International Groups Denounce Deportation of Bangladeshi Peasant Leader
By Gerry Albert Corpuz Bulatlat.com Can a foreigner be barred for entering the Philippines because of his or her previous participation in a protest action here? The answer is yes, going by the experience of a Bangladeshi peasant leader who was deported last March 30 even if his travel papers were in order. Three international…
Hooded ‘Witness’ a Military Asset, Says Rights Group
BY DENNIS ESPADA Bulatlat.com When Jaime Fuentes, a witness of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the rebellion charges against six representatives and six other officials of progressive party-lists, removed his disguise, he was immediately recognized by volunteers of Karapatan-ST (Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights-Southern Tagalog) as a military asset who harassed them…