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Equally troublesome is the media tendency to speculate on Reyes’ state of mind, his reasons for his apparent suicide, and even who’s to blame for it (as the weekend approached, the Senate was turning into the villain responsible). While nothing much can be gained from it, the cost of this mindlessness is to bury under tons of verbal garbage the need to get to the bottom of the corruption metastasizing in an institution that claims national security as its exclusive mandate. By LUIS V. TEODORO / bulatlat.com
Today, Feb. 7, Bulatlat marks its 10th anniversary. While we have every reason to celebrate this occasion, it is important to point out that the conditions that we set out to chronicle a decade ago that were, in fact, our raison d'être -- economic backwardness, human-rights abuses, landlessness, political persecution, corruption, to name a few -- still persist. That said, here's to the next 10 years -- and beyond!
Read managing editor Benjie Oliveros's piece on the 10 years of Bulatlat
Media workers of an independent audio-visual group decried the harassment by the local police during the violent demolition of an urban-poor community in San Juan, Metro Manila.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
A group of human-rights lawyers has vowed to take what it called a "legal offensive" to curb impunity and advance the cause of human rights in the Philippines.
Sidebar: Photo Contest Highlights Fight Vs. Impunity in Philippines
As part of its campaign against impunity, a group of human-rights lawyers held a photo contest titled “Shoot!” with the theme “Capturing the Struggle for Justice of Human Rights Victims.”
Pinaglabanan Folk Fight for Their Homes
By RONALYN V. OLEA
and INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
NUJP challenges President Aquino to make good on his pledge to solve the killings of journalists while others say authorities should go beyond the robbery angle that the police initially announced, considering that Dr. Gerry Ortega was also an environmental activist.
Related Stories: Killed for Anti-Mining Stand? Palawan’s ‘Doc Gerry’ Was Friend of Environment and the Poor | Palawan Environmentalist and Broadcaster Shot Dead
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
Ortega is a known radio broadcaster and a pro-environment advocate. He has worked with various environmental groups and associations on pro-environment and community-based projects. He gained local popularity as a wildlife veterinarian and became known as "Doc Gerry."
By RAYMUND B. VILLANUEVA
Something happened during the National Interfaith Mission for Peace and Justice visit to the massacre site in Barangay Salman, Ampatuan, Maguindanao, last January 23 that leaves a bad taste in the mouth. As an “embedded” Bulatlat correspondent in the mission from Cotabato City, I, along with my Kodao and Pinoy Weekly colleagues, had no inkling that something was wrong when we started out that day.
DAVAO CITY -- Members of the Radio Mindanao Network Davao Employees Union (RDEU) protested outside the Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) station at the corner of Bonifacio and Anda streets on January 4 to air their grievances against continued workplace repression, citing the network management’s tactics of preventing the upcoming certification election and the possible sacking of another employee who is sympathetic to the union. (Photos courtesy of NUJP-Davao Chapter / bulatlat.com)
Ampatuan Massacre, A Year After
By RONALYN V. OLEA
In a speech at the seventh Congress of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), labor lawyer Nitz Mahinay said there is impunity not only in the killing of journalists but also in the violation of their rights to self-organization and job security.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“The case of the Ampatuan massacre is not just a matter of prosecuting individuals. It also requires the neutralization of the whole machinery of violence and brutality that is fueled by power, political influence and wealth.” Justice Secretary Leila de Lima
Family Undaunted in Search for 58th Ampatuan Victim
AMPATUAN, Maguindanao -- Marking the first year since the massacre of 58 people in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao, thousands troop to Sitio Masalay, Barangay Salman, to pay tribute and demand justice for the victims. The families of the victims offered flowers, candles and prayers and demand for the speedy resolution of the case. The families were joined by various human-rights and media groups led by Alliance Against Impunity in Mindanao, InPeace Mindanao, Union of Peoples' Lawyers in Mindanao, National Union of Peoples' Lawyers and National Union of Journalists of the Philippines.
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