A National Internal Security Program (NISP) briefing paper dated May 5, 2006, a copy of which was obtained by Bulatlat from reliable sources, bared a systematic campaign by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) directed against partylist groups tagged by the government as “communist front organizations.” BY DABET CASTAÑEDA Bulatlat A National Internal Security…
Category: Other Stories
Bulatlat and Compatriots’ Voices from Afar
Based on the data periodically provided by our web counters, the greater bulk of visits to Bulatlat are from countries or areas with high concentrations of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and overseas Filipinos (OFs): the U.S., Canada, Hong Kong, South Korea, and the Middle East. OFWs and OFs thus form an important segment of our…
Health Groups Decry ‘Patronage Politics’
The P294-million remaining budget of the Department of Health (DoH) for the last quarter of 2006 will be of great use, but unfortunately not to the health department and its services. Despite the intractable logistical matters and the great need for resources that have been festering our public healthcare system, the Department of Budget and…
Local Media’s Economic Woes
Although the press is looked up to as the Fourth Estate and serves as a powerful instrument in advancing social justice, its members are victims of the exploitation that the press discusses and exposes daily. By Karl G. Ombion and Ryan Lachica Bulatlat Building Unity Second of two parts The Department of Labor and Employment…
Local Media’s Economic Woes
Although the press is looked up to as the Fourth Estate and serves as a powerful instrument in advancing social justice, its members are victims of the exploitation that the press discusses and exposes daily. By Karl G. Ombion and Ryan Lachica Bulatlat From Media’s Grassroots First of two parts BACOLOD CITY – Although the…
ASEAN Convention on Counter Terrorism
Member Countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – Brunei Darussalam, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Republic of Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Union of Myanmar, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore, the Kingdom of Thailand, and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, hereinafter referred to as…
ASEAN Anti-Terror Pact Seen to Curtail Rights on Regional Scale
The Convention on Counter-Terrorism is being paraded about as one of the achievements of the 12th ASEAN Summit, held Jan. 12-15 in Cebu. The Arroyo government presents it as a big leap for Southeast Asia in what is described as a “global war” on terrorism. However, it is feared that the pact could only cause…
Hegemony or Cooperation: Major Contradictions in East Asia Today*
Developing vibrant trade and investment ties with countries in Southeast Asia would open prospects for China to use this new economic relationship particularly with the U.S.’ military allies as a means of scaling down their security commitments with the U.S. that include the military encirclement of China. BY BOBBY TUAZON Bulatlat The Cold War period,…
Neri Colmenares On Torture, a Human Rights Code and Movie Acting
Bayan Muna’s third nominee for the May 2007 congressional elections, lawyer Neri Colmenares, talks about how he was tortured at 18, his dream of putting into law an overdue Human Rights Code, and his early dreams of making it to the movies. BY DABET CASTANEDA Bulatlat Is the Philippines ready for a Human Rights Code?…
Purges, Personalities and Other Myths
Because this innovative approach of new politics has apparently gained popularity, it is loathed by the likes of Gonzalez precisely because it can disenfranchise the powers-that-be by raising the political consciousness of the people. Bereft of visions and programs that address the people’s democratic interests, they trivialize the elections through manipulation, disinformation and the spreading…
Monico M. Atienza: A Life Worth Fighting For
His friends and relatives described Monico Atienza’s stubborn will to live, in the face of a most life-threatening debilitation, as very characteristic of the man. This kind of courage, they say – together with the man’s extraordinary conviction and abilities – enabled him to live the kind of life he has chosen, unmindful of the…