Militants who helped sweep Joseph Estrada out of power and install Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo into the presidency marched toward Edsa Shrine to mark the third anniversary of People Power 2 Jan. 20. Blocked by contingents of police, they rallied in front of Camp Aguinaldo to decry the growing fascism and militarization under the present administration. By…
Category: Politics & Governance
2004 Budget Based on Flawed Speculation
A review of the macroeconomic assumptions prepared by the Department of Budget of Management (DBM) shows that there are glaring contradictions in government projections. By DANILO ARAÑA ARAO Bulatlat.com According to news reports, the Senate took only five days to approve the national budget for 2004. A senator says that its swift passage “would ensure…
Youth Nominees Vow To Bring Street Militancy To Congress
This early, the 2004 national elections have given rise to unconventional and non-traditional political figures through the party-list system. Progressive groups are in fact supporting six party list groups: Bayan Muna (People First) which topped the 2001 party-list elections, and the newly formed Anakpawis (Toiling Masses), Gabriela Women’s Party, Anak ng Bayan (Youth Party), Migrante…
‘Walk of Shame’ in Cagayan de Oro Assailed
Davao is not the only city in southern Philippines that has earned notoriety for the summary execution of suspected criminals many of them minors. Fast catching up is Cagayan de Oro City which recently paraded for public view a group of crime suspects – three of them minors. By Grace Cantal-Albasin Bulatlat.com Minadano Bureau CAGAYAN…
Negros in Cojuangco’s Grips
The Negros vote is one of the most coveted votes for candidates aspiring for president and other national posts. To do that however one must first kiss the hand of the country’s acknowledged powerbroker, Eduardo Cojuangco, Jr. whom many say considers Negros Island his own kingdom. By Karl G. Ombion Bulatlat.com/Cobra-ans BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental…
Youth Party Calls for Tuition Hike Freeze, Sole sectoral youth party unveils legislative agenda
Sixty years since Wenceslao Vinzons’ Young Philippines was founded, a new sectoral party has risen to represent the country’s youth in Congress. Anak ng Bayan, the only youth sectoral party accredited by the Comelec, vows to push its electoral agenda on education, campus press freedom, employment and other youth concerns. By EMILY VITAL Bulatlat.com This…
Electoral Firsts: Militant political parties vie for more House seats
For the militant cause-oriented movement, 2004 is not just an election year; it is also a year of “firsts” related to its entry into the electoral struggle. It will be fielding up to 20 nominees from Bayan Muna and five other new Party-list groups for House seats. By Alexander Martin Remollino Bulatlat.com For the militant…
Politics of the Masses: Mendiola Massacre survivor, labor leader and urban poor luminary lead new party-list electoral bid in May 2004
Scores of presidentiables and senatoriables attended recently the convention of the new sectoral party for the basic masses, Anakpawis, vowing to support their legislative cause. Their appearance only confirmed that Anakpawis, which boasts of 250,000 organized members nationwide not only has a vote power but also showed that the time has come for the poor…
Face to Face: The Progressive Party-list Groups Through Their Nominees
This early, the 2004 national elections have given rise to unconventional and non-traditional political figures through the party-list system. Progressive groups are in fact supporting six party list groups: Bayan Muna (People First) which topped the 2001 party-list elections, and the newly formed Anakpawis (Toiling Masses), Gabriela Women’s Party, Anak ng Bayan (Youth Party), Migrante…
The Bayan Muna experience: How the Left Fared in Congress
“Politics of change.” This was the platform that the militant group Bayan Muna carried in its successful campaign for seats in the House of Representatives. Three years after and with only a few weeks of sessions left, only two of the bills it actively supported got passed the labyrinth of intertwining personal and political interests…
NDF’s Jalandoni Speaks on ‘Kampanyang Ahos’
A few weeks ago, the Philippine Daily Inquirer ran a three-part series on “Kampanyang Ahos” which, according to the underground Left, the government and its media connections have used to discredit the National Democratic Front of the Philippines. PDI’s own reporter, Juan Escandor, Jr. did a follow-up on the series, this time getting the side…