By MARYA SALAMAT
Contractual women workers do not receive maternity benefits; they receive lower wages and suffer heavy workloads; they have no job security nor union rights. – KMU
By INA ALLECO SILVERIO
“The government remains blind to everything except the money that it gets from the mining firms – but this money is tainted with our blood; and no amount of money can ever compensate for the loss of our slain tribal leaders who fought for our rights to our own lands.”
By MARYA SALAMAT
Labor Undersecretary Lourdes Transmonte said the DOLE cannot file a case against Keppel even if its investigation showed that it is liable for the accident.
Related Story: Govt policies blamed for ‘accidents waiting to happen’ in workplaces
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“It is very clear that the priest’s murder was pre-meditated as there was already a threat on his life by the Bagani paramilitary group under the jurisdiction of the 73rd IB, eight years ago due to his love for the Lumads, particularly in organizing them to have their voice heard…” — Rural Missionaries of the Philippines
By RAYMUND B. VILLANUEVA
Wearing new uniforms printed with Rosal’s stylized photograph, an honor squad executed a “silent gun salute” at about noon of October 15.
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
“In Bukidnon, TNCs conspire with the traditional landlords in grabbing vast tracks of land, and in evading agrarian reform programs.” – Danilo Menente, Kasama-Bukidnon
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“Branding political prisoners as criminals and heaping upon them common crime charges conveniently hide the political nature of their acts; allow the government to shamelessly declare them as common criminals not motivated by a higher goal, thereby violating these prisoners’ rights even more.” – Angie Ipong, Selda secretary general
By MARYA SALAMAT
The House of Representatives approved a P200m ($4.6m) addition to the DOH budget and P400m ($9.2m) for government-owned and controlled corporation hospitals, as a result of the intense campaign of progressive health groups for a higher health budget.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
Jurgette Honculada, a member of the GPH panel, said, “For peace talks to go back on track, the CPP-NPA-NDFP should disavow armed struggle.”
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
“It is very alarming that the Aquino government opts to collude with mining firms and multinationals in implementing a military solution in order to continue operations and pursue profits at the expense of our communities.” – Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Luz Ilagan
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
“Aquino is of no help to poor people like us even if he has the authority over all government agencies in the country, like a father to his family. So far, he has done nothing but to make sure he looks good before the eyes of the public ”