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“The role of development workers is to help address the needs of the poor and marginalized sectors of our society, especially those living in rural areas since they are largely unable to access government services.”
As Migrante summed it up, the widespread consequences of Duterte’s labor export policies and contractualization laws have generated more Mary Janes: women obliged to work abroad only to be baselessly accused of crimes punishable by death; or maybe, more Nanay Celia’s who have lost faith in a government tolerating such injustices.
Three years later, after the bittersweet circus of Mary Jane’s case, she remains in jail in Indonesia, unsure of the final verdict in a crime she insists she didn’t commit.
Bago mag-ulat sa SONA si Pang. Duterte sa Lunes, isa-isahin muna natin ang mga pangakong binitiwan niya sa mga nakaraang SONA.
“This is the Duterte regime’s version of peace – terrorizing communities and strengthening military rule over civilians.”
The Philippines was among the top 10 countries across the globe to be worst for workers, according to the Global Rights Index for 2018 released last June 8 by the International Trade Union Confederation. In a scale of 1 to 5, the Philippines is a 5 with “no guarantee of rights due to the breakdown of law.
“Workers are no longer hoping for a favorable action from the government to respect their dignity.”
“We tried to talk to the inspectors because we were the complainants but the management, the security, prevented us from going near them.”
"The SC decision lacks any sense of social justice."
In his strongest statement condemning Duterte’s repeated cancellation of formal talks yet, Sison said the Filipino people, especially the oppressed and exploited, cannot expect any benefit from negotiating with Duterte’s government, adding the president has broken so many promises related to the peace process.
"The Duterte government is horribly violating national and international laws of protecting civilians, especially children and schools, from military attacks.”
Human rights group Karapatan deems the suspension of peace talks as “another indication of the Duterte regime’s disinterest in pursuing and committing to reforms that benefit the Filipino people and in meeting its obligations to release political prisoners.”
“Our spirits have been weakened as our own people are verbally and physically brutalized.”
“BI seems very determined…but we are also determined to keep on appealing.”
Nineteen workers and a senior high school member of the League of Filipino Students were arrested and brought to Meycauayan Police Station.
To them, it is no longer just about wages –- it is a bigger fight they need to win to regain their dignity as workers after their rights have been trampled upon for so long.
While the drug-related killings have overshadowed enforced disappearances, there are reports of the rise of the number of EJK victims who were first abducted and disappeared before their bodies were found.
Part of groundwork for tyranny? The Church has historically played a role in the people’s struggle against tyranny and dictatorship.
“The Filipino people’s dignity and sovereignty could not be bought with cigarettes and noodles.”
“The stand down agreement creates a favorable atmosphere for the resumption of the formal peace negotiations and the interim peace agreement to be signed in Oslo, hopefully on June 28."
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