The unchecked rule of political warlords like the Ampatuans, army and police units like those controlled by President Arroyo’s mistahs, and warmongers in government like General Hermogenes Esperon and National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, make up a culture of tolerance for killings and contempt for the rule of law. Thus, this culture of impunity traces itself right back at the doorstep of Malacañang.
Category: On the Fringes
'Dukot' premiere set in UP
Dukot (Desaparecidos), a film about the worsening human-rights situation in the Philippines, will have its premiere showing on November 17, 2009, at the UP Film Institute, University of the Philippines-Diliman.
Mrs. Burgos talks about Jonas on BBC
Mrs. Edita Burgos, mother of abducted peasant organizer Jonas Burgos, left for the United Kingdom last week to attend a forum organized by Campaign for Human Rights in the Philippines-United Kingdom (CHRP-UK), Amnesty International-UK and the British trade union group Unison, which aims to highlight the problem of enforced disappearances in the Philippines.
Reyes, Nograles, Mikey on oil price hike: All bark, no bite
Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes, House Speaker Prospero Nograles and Congressman Mikey Arroyo seemed to have their roles down pat by now. When the big three oil companies raised oil prices yet again this Oct. 20, despite the disaster-wracked times and despite charges of persistent overpricing thrown their way, these three government officials just continued their role – speak like they want to change the situation but allow the oil companies to have their own profitable way in the end.
Philippines improves ranking in Press Freedom Index
Reporters Without Borders today released its Press Freedom Index for 2009. In it, the Philippines ranks 122, compared to last year’s 139. This suggests that press freedom in the Philippines has improved, regardless of the many killings, attacks and intimidation being faced by Filipino journalists. But over the years, the country’s rankings in the index indicate a worsening of press freedom.
Dams and how communities deal with them
Dams, among others, are packaged as part of development that people have to live with. But, as can be gleaned from Bulatlat’s stories on the subject, dams have proven to be a bane to the public.
A murder and an abduction in Northern Samar
Ruth Gecaro, barangay treasurer of Somoroy, Lope de Vega, in Northern Samar, was supposed to provide witnesses to a fact-finding team on the murder of Father Cecilio Lucero, the parish priest of Catubig, Northern Samar. Two days before the fact-finding team arrived in Samar, Gecaro was abducted by men believed to be soldiers. She remains missing.
Gender in disaster management
Women and men are differently affected by natural disasters. For example, women are especially vulnerable to poor nutrition, vitamin and iron deficiency—especially anemia, which can be fatal in pregnancy.
Welcome to Bulatlat's group blog
Welcome to “On the Fringes,” the group blog of the staff of Bulatlat.com.
Here, the staff of one of Philippines’s most credible alternative online publications will blog about people’s issues that are rarely tackled in the mainstream press. This blog will complement Bulatlat’s reporting, featuring posts and stories that cannot be found in the main site.
We hope this blog would encourage dialogue between the staff and our readers.
Enjoy your visit.
Benjie Oliveros
Managing editor