He is comfortable around journalists, who are, in turn, easily fascinated by him. By Germelina Lacorte DAVAO CITY — Just by looking at how media people swarm City Hall every time he is around, he is probably the city’s most covered mayor. He attracts journalists without even trying, says Jon Joaquin, editor of the local…

As a result of the 80% hike in toll fees at the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), Benguet truckers and traders warned that they may soon be forced to increase their prices to cope with the increased delivery costs. BY Kim Quitasol Northern Dispatch BAGUIO CITY— Benguet traders delivering fruits and vegetables to Metro Manila decreased…

To those who fear him, Duterte is “the punisher,” as Time magazine described him three years ago. To those who respect him, he is the man who keeps the peace. To his political adversaries, he plays dirty. To others whose lives he touched through his generosity, he has a heart of gold. To keen political…

Using his unmatched political savvy, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has kept the City Council under his thumb. By Germelina Lacorte DAVAO CITY – A few months ago, war erupted at the City Council. It was between a large group of people identified with Mayor Rodrigo Duterte against a smaller group of people identified with Mayor Rodrigo…

While most people rared to go back to work last Nov. 6 after a long vacation, farm workers of Hacienda Serafica who have long been suffering from unjust working conditions have decided to stop working and hold a picket. According to them, they intend to stay until their demands are met. By Johann Hein B.…

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye’s statement last week calling on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s opponents and critics to refrain from making a political issue out of the Subic rape case misses the whole point — that the rape of a Filipina by visiting U.S. troops cannot be anything but a political issue. BY ALEXANDER MARTIN REMOLLINO Press…

Philippine Laws Prohibit Their Transfer Abroad By Atty. Neri Javier Colmenares COUNSELS FOR THE DEFENSE OF LIBERTIES (CODAL) Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be committing a culpable violation of the 1987 Constitution if she allows the United States to continue exercising absolute custody over the six US Marines accused of rape and transfer the accused to…

Journalists and artists have recently issued statements denouncing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s call for media to “focus on winners, not losers.” BY ALEXANDER MARTIN REMOLLINO Journalists denounced President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s strongly-worded speech at the Nov. 10 conference of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP, Association of Broadcasters in the Philippines) in Baguio City. In…

The legislated P125 wage increase is “long overdue” and, if approved, will only serve as “an immediate economic relief” for workers in this time of increasing oil prices and the value-added tax, said Anakpawis Party-list Rep. Rafael Mariano in his Nov. 4 statement. He said the wage increase will not pacify the people calling for…