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Aside from the much-criticized fat bonuses at a time when the funds’ sustainability was supposedly in danger, thus requiring a hike in members' contributions, it turned out that the SSS executives have each been receiving $1,859 per month just for attending two board meetings, and its CEO flies abroad every two months, first-class.
“The existence of fake NGOs in the DA’s list, the ineptitude of the DA against rice cartels, Alcala being the lapdog of landlords and agrochemical corporations, and his continuing plunder of agricultural funds have spelled his own demise.” – Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas
The tax holiday is estimated to benefit the more than 700,000 BPO workers, who, BIEN said in previous campaigns, are working hard to the point of contracting illnesses for lack of sleep, toilet breaks and oftentimes failing to eat their "lunch" (midnight meal).
The Philippines has reached its own version of an impasse. On one side are the Filipino people demanding for the abolition of pork barrel and discretionary funds, including that of President Aquino’s, and on the other side is the Aquino administration, which has been adamantly defending the pork barrel fund. . .
“May our Congressmen, Senators and President together with the departments under them voluntarily uphold the principles of transparency, justice and accountability before the Sacred Constitution of the Nation, the Bars of Genuine Justice and before God and His People.” – Fr. Ben Alforque
Each paper that was raffled not only contained the name of the farmworker beneficiary but also the corresponding lot allocation that has already been pre-determined. Farmworker-beneficiaries were never asked to pick random lot allocations from the tambiolo.
“One hundred ten years of operations of Benguet Corporation, 77 years of Lepanto Mining Corporation and 57 years of Philex Mining Corporation did not bring development to the people of Cordillera.” – Beverly Longid, Katribu Partylist
The KMU cited the Commission on Audit’s 2012 report which states that “Slow processing and payment of death, disability and retirement claims did not meet the commitment of SSS of providing prompt, convenient and meaningful social protection service to the members and their beneficiaries.”
“US troops have a history of environmental crimes in the Philippines that have remained unaddressed with impunity.” – Dr. Giovanni Tapang, Agham
“While our farmers and farm workers suffer from poverty, agricultural transnational corporations increased their profits three times.” – Ibon Foundation
Same, same bad pork: ‘Chop-chop’ contracts, duplicate projects, etc.
“It is difficult to teach especially when there are distractions…The burden to make learning more exciting and interesting is on us, but how can we do it if the government does not even provide for our basic needs?” – Alliance of Concerned Teachers
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“Large scale migration is a symptom of underdevelopment in the sending country. The structural causes of underdevelopment driving migration and exposing migrants to vulnerable situations must be addressed.” – Migrante International
This anachronistic, malicious accusation and insinuation of a military officer, a public affairs spokesman at that, reminds us of Cold war-era politics and martial law, 41 years ago, when anyone critical of the Marcos dictatorship was branded as a communist, leftist and subversive, and therefore was subjected to arrest, detention, torture, and worse, enforced disappearance or extrajudicial killing.
The first activity of the newly-formed alliance of church people against the pork barrel is the simultaneous ringing of bells in churches on October 11 at 1 p.m.
"Businesses donate to candidates not because they believe in him or her but because they see it as an investment for their business. It is part of the patronage politics." – lawyer Rona Ann Caritos of the Legal Network for Truthful Elections
"Kim Gargar was caught in a crossfire between the 67th Infantry Battalion of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the New Peoples Army while undertaking research in connection with rehabilitation efforts in Cateel town, which was severely affected by Typhoon Pablo in 2012." – Agham
Related story: Stop branding media outfits as state enemies, media group tells military
“What is happening in our country today is that the feelings of the people are already kindled. Once the wind of truth blows, it will ignite the fire.” – Jun Lozada, NBN-ZTE scam whistleblower
A 17-year-old told Human Rights Watch that Philippine soldiers beat him up to force him to admit he was a rebel fighter. He said he eventually lied and said he was with the MNLF so that the beatings would stop.
“Justice begins when we speak, release and acknowledge the truth in solidarity and community. One Billion Rising for Justice is an invitation to break free from confinement, obligation, shame, guilt, grief, pain, humiliation, rage and bondage. It is a call to bring on revolutionary justice.”
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