By RONALYN V. OLEA
“Undermining [of previous agreements] is the strongest evidence that the Aquino regime has no desire or intention to engage in serious peace negotiations to address the roots of the armed conflict.” — NDFP peace panel chairman Luis Jalandoni
Category: Top Stories
YEARENDER: Economic Lessons from 2011 for 2012
By SONNY AFRICA
The Philippines can’t rely on the world economy and old globalization policies to drive economic growth and development.
Mothers of the disappeared call for people’s manhunt vs Palparan
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“We call on the Filipino people to help us prosecute Palparan for the crimes he did to our children and to other victims of enforced disappearances.” – Mrs. Concepcion Empeño, mother of missing UP student Karen.
Groups hit Aquino gov’t’s wrong priorities for disaster wrought by Typhoon Sendong
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
In his veto message on the 2011 national budget, President Aquino said the P5 billion calamity fund should be mainly used by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) for “actual calamities”and not for “preparation of relocation sites/facilities, and training personnel engaged in direct disaster.”
Palparan’s flee attempt indicates guilt – mothers of 2 missing UP students
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“He [Palparan] should be imprisoned immediately, along with GMA, Abalos, all of them who are shameless. They all should spend Christmas in jail.” – Mrs. Concepcion Empeño
Connie Bragas-Regalado: A migrants rights advocate, an activist, a mother
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
Being a social worker, an activist, a mother forced by circumstance to work as a domestic helper overseas, and an organizer shaped Connie Bragas-Regalado into being an effective advocate and leader for migrants’ rights.
Mothers of missing UP students call for immediate arrest of Palparan et.al
By RONALYN V. OLEA
In a resolution released Dec. 15, a Department of Justice (DOJ) panel found probable cause to file charges against retired Major General Jovito Palparan and his men for the abduction of UP students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño, and farmer Manuel Merino.
Peasant, fisherfolk groups renew call for pull-out from the WTO
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
In the 17 years that the Philippines has been a member of the World Trade Organization, from being a net importer of rice, it became a net exporter as production fell considerably and land grabbing became rampant. Now, even vegetables are being heavily imported and soon imported fish products would flood the country, all in the name of the WTO.
Farmer adds to growing list of extrajudicial killings under Aquino administration
By RONALYN V. OLEA
Glendyhl Malabanan, Karapatan-ST secretary general, said farmer Guillermo Castillo is the 65th victim of extrajudicial killings under the Aquino administration.
Poverty worsens despite conditional cash transfer program
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL and JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
“This flagship program of Aquino is just a palliative measure. People don’t need dole-outs. What they really need is a permanent job.” – Gloria Arellano, president of Kadamay