By RONALYN V. OLEA
“It appears that the Arroyo policy of witch-hunting, arrest, criminalization of political offenses and/or the slapping of fabricated criminal charges to silence and put behind bars human rights defenders continues to be implemented under Aquino,” Angelina Ipong, Selda spokeswoman, said.
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
“We are like slaves! We are not being treated with respect and by ignoring our demands for a CNA the MMDA administration is stripping us of our dignity.” MMDA streetsweepers
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
“Aquino should prioritize the needs of the majority of the people and not the interest of the big corporations, foreign investors and the imperialist countries like the US.” – Piya Malayao spokesperson of Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (Kamp).
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
“Aquino promised change, but the conditions of women and our families have worsened. Just a little over a year into his presidency, Aquino’s ‘daang matuwid’ (straight path) has proven to be a ‘killer highway’ for many Filipinos,” Gabriela secretary-general Lana Linaban said.
By MARYA SALAMAT
Majority of those employed today in the Philippines are in vulnerable or part-time work, hampering many workers’ desire to demand for a living wage. Even those in full-time work are reportedly under pressure to comply with various flexible work arrangements.
By MARYA SALAMAT
“You go to a public hospital emergency room to have your wound cleaned, you have to first buy some cotton, wound antiseptic, and dressings, before you can be treated,” said Joel Bitanga, 40, an X-ray technician in San Lazaro Hospital.
Sidebar: Health workers blame Aquino’s PPPs for further crippling the Philippine Orthopedic Center
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
Migrante Middle East projects that under the Saudization Nitaqat scheme, some 30 percent of the 1.2M Filipinos in Saudi Arabia or around 360,000 OFWs would be affected.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
Human Rights Watch noted that while the public rhetoric of senior military officers has changed somewhat since Aquino took office, the change in language “has not yet been reflected in action.”
By MARYA SALAMAT
Comparing the local oil prices to that in other countries in the past years, Piston said the local pump prices have risen far more than the amount necessitated by price movements abroad and the peso-dollar exchange rate. The transport group continues to accuse the oil companies of overpricing oil products by “an average at least of P7.50 ($0.17) per liter.”
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
“Are stockholders subjected to exploitation and abuse? Are stockholders deliberately kept in the dark and excluded from all pertinent discussions regarding how a business is run?” — Lito Bais, president of United Luisita Workers Union (Ulwu)
By RONALYN V. OLEA
In her speech after the hearing, Mrs. Erlinda Cadapan called on President Benigno S. Aquino III, the commander in chief of the AFP, to pay attention to the cases of enforced disappearances. “These are serious crimes committed by the armed forces.”