ADVERTISEMENT
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
"A perfunctory look at the state of the Philippine environment is already indicative of the truth." – Kalikasan Party
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
“If the government really wants real peace and is for human rights, as they continue to announce, it must release all political prisoners and stop political persecution against its perceived enemies.” – Marie Hilao-Enriquez, Karapatan
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“They [members of the international community] know that the Philippine government has not lived up to its commitment to completely eliminate extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and torture.” – Fr. Jonash Joyohoy of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) and co-head of delegation of the Philippine UPR Watch
By MARYA SALAMAT
When the collective bargaining negotiations reached an impasse on the issue of wage increases, the management isolated the union president, withheld union dues, and initiated punitive action against the workers who attended the recent May 1 rally.
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
“It is expected that the Aquino regime will hail the Corona conviction as the ‘crowning glory’ of its so-called daang matuwid (righteous path) crusade. We take exception to this for the simple reason that outside the impeachment, the Aquino government has not done much in terms of political and economic reforms, respect for human rights and the cause of justice.” – Bayan
Sidebar: Progressive solons sign waiver, challenges Aquino, gov’t officials to ‘walk the talk’ on corruption
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
“At times, I just want to leave this case in God’s hands. But every time I think of how these people are helping me, especially the party-list groups, I know I have to fight. I am his mother.” – Glenda Leonor, mother of Arnel who was killed during a violent demolition.
Sidebar: Urban, rural poor gather to demand for social justice
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
“The Aquino government has yet to present a convincing program to remedy the existing shortages in the education sector. How can basic education qualitatively function amid these dire shortages?” – Rep. Raymond Palatino
Other stories: Two years is an added burden – parents
Rushed trainings, lack of materials mar implementation of K to 12
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
“Some are very afraid to leave their houses and go to their farms. Residents sleep under their beds. Many community leaders were forced to leave because of the soldiers of the 28th and 67th IB who harass household members and subject them to interrogation.”
By MARYA SALAMAT
The management of Cobankiat reneged on its agreement with the union to reinstate the workers it terminated.
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
The prospect for a peace agreement between the Government of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines becomes dimmer as President Aquino accuses the NDFP of issuing ‘impossible demands’ and the NDFP accusing Aquino of laying the groundwork for scuttling the talks.
By MARYA SALAMAT
“Organizing into a union is one of the rights of employees including those in the media and entertainment.” – Michael Rogas, union president of RMN
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“He could not look at me straight in the eye… He obviously evaded me.” – Mrs. Edita Burgos
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
The Armed Forces of the Philippines claims that it has not committed a single human rights violation during the year, but human rights and people’s organizations, as well as victims and their relatives in Southern Tagalog say it is even getting worse.
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
All they want is to own the land that they have been tilling for generations but hacienderos (big landlords) have hired an armed group, which signed a peace pact with the government, to attack them.
Sidebar: The peace pact with the RPA–ABB
In Negros Occidental, children suffer worst blows of rights violations
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“The whole world knows of the failure of the Aquino government to bring to justice human rights violators like Gen. Jovito Palparan and of the horrendous, less than one percent conviction rate of perpetrators of political killings on top of the snail-paced justice system.” – Fr. Rex RB. Reyes, NCCP
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
Residents said their communities were targeted to clear them in preparation for large-scale mining operations by Oz Metal Corporation and Monkayo Consolidated Mining Corporation (MCMC).
By MARYA SALAMAT
Relying on US as treaty “partner” has not helped the Philippines to develop its own military capability; it is also not expected to be of help in engaging China militarily.
Sidebar: Opposition mounts as US increases military aid, sends nuclear submarine to Subic
By PATRICIA LOURDES VIRAY
Of the 40.3 million workers who are part of the labor force in the Philippines, 19 million are wage or salary earners, only 1.7 million of whom are union members.
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
“The Aquino government should initiate an immediate review of all international agreements on diplomatic immunity to make sure that cases such as this will never happen again.” Rep. Emmi de Jesus, Gabriela Women’s Party
By MARYA SALAMAT
The workers’ union had to conduct a strike before the management recognized their union and took back the workers who were summarily dismissed.
A community of readers and supporters that help us sustain our operations through microdonations for as low as $1.