ADVERTISEMENT
“All we want is justice. Some of us have died already, yet there is still no justice. Until when are we going to wait?”
“The old PCOS machines, numbering 81,896, will now be useless scraps of metal. By approving the new lease deal, COMELEC just wasted P10 billion ($217 million) worth of taxpayers’ money, excluding costs for storage and maintenance.” - Kabataan Rep. Terry Ridon said.
“As the affected indigenous peoples community, the exercise of our right to self-determination through the free, prior and informed consent process has been systematically and insidiously curtailed.”
Bayan Muna lawmakers asked the Supreme Court to stop this virtual “transfer of power to a private entity,” or transfer of power to decide on matters that are within the purview of MWSS, as the government regulating agency, to the concessionaires or to a private arbitration/appeals panel, the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce.
“Regulation of pesticides in the Philippines is a joke. The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) is basically controlled by the pesticide industry and their state sponsors and backers, particularly the United States and European countries.”
“The treatment of the BBL is one such example that shows there are no serious efforts to achieve peace in the country today.” – Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares
The attendant “novel” issues they also raised include the urgent need to stop Finance Secretary Cezar Purisima and President Benigno Aquino III from paying out of the national coffers any amount to Maynilad and Manila Water for alleged damage claims against the Sovereign Guarantee.
A labor NGO urged Cenapro Chemicals owner Mr. Amado Go to respect workers’ rights as befits a Christian most especially a Papal awardee.
“Damming of rivers, changing their use or diverting their flow also means desecrating indigenous peoples’ ancestral lands and the loss of indigenous knowledge and culture.”
“We must put an end to this policy of poison and plunder, and must make sure that politicians who will continue this mining policy regime are no longer allowed to remain in power.”
“It is difficult enough to be a rights defender. But it is more difficult when one is a woman.”
Some “Iskolar ng Bayan” have turned to sleeping in the streets, in protest, and out of options for a place to stay.
“We refuse to give up the struggle, and they try to kill us. We give up, they will still kill us. So, it’s better to carry on the struggle.” – Datu Guibang Apoga of Talaingod, Davao del Norte
“What we lost is not just the resources, but what our country could have done to industrialize and provide jobs.”
“The amendment not only maintains the status quo, but an outright deprivation of what remains of the wealth in our lands, which have been raped by outsiders.”
People’s scientists and communities are using science to make mining companies and governments accountable.
The Comelec’s two options -- refurbishing PCOS and leasing or buying OMRs -- are both cornered by foreign vendor Smartmatic. But the Filipino IT sector have alternatives.
“We are two different entities that looked into the same picture and drew the same conclusions.”
“There are numerous and sharp increases in the proposed budget for items which are clearly geared for electioneering and pork.”
“This is a very bad sign for the peace talks.”
A community of readers and supporters that help us sustain our operations through microdonations for as low as $1.