By MARYA SALAMAT
The mass resignation of PAL pilots, the notice of strike filed by the cabin crew union, the struggle of ground employees against mass termination and contractualization — all of these are interrelated. “It all stems from Lucio Tan’s moves to increase his profits even more by intensifying the exploitation of all his employees in the aviation industry.”
Related story: As Though 11-Year CBA Suspension Not Enough, PAL Employees Face Layoffs, Contractualization
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“It is inhumane for the court to order a nursing mother to go back to prison with her newborn child. We could only imagine [Carina’s] turmoil as none could be more horrid for a mother than the thought of her child being put in peril,” said Joms Salvador, deputy secretary-general of Gabriela.
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
The KMP promises to continue the struggle for the rights and welfare of Filipino peasants. “We would continue fighting for a genuine agrarian reform program with the main goal of free land distribution,” said Rep. Rafael Mariano.
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
President Aquino’s electoral platform, inaugural speech and State of the Nation Address (SONA) contain no clear environmental agenda and position on major issues such as mining, climate change and the garbage problem, said Clemente Bautista of Kalikasan.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
After the attempt on his brother-in-law’s life, peasant leader Dario Tomada fled to Luzon and took on different jobs to support his family back in Leyte. Five years later, he was arrested by soldiers for 15 counts of murder that allegedly took place in 1984 — when he was still peacefully tilling a small piece of land and was not involved in any organization.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“Nearly six months since the Morong 43 were arrested and the wheels of justice have been grinding slow on our detained colleagues. For these innocent health workers, being held each day more in detention is a continuing torture and a serious injustice.”
By ARNOLD PADILLA
Aquino’s promotion of PPPs and privatization in his SONA has further reinforced the view that his administration is incapable of introducing new policies that will reverse the old pro-business, pro-market neoliberal policies of the past administrations, including the Arroyo administration.
By BULATLAT STAFF
No mention of land reform, no promise of any wage hike, no hint that the budget for education and basic social services will be increased, no reference to the reality that debt servicing eats into the national budget more than the corruption at the MWSS or Napocor or NFA, and no acknowledgment of the fact that the cease-fire precondition for the resumption of the peace talks with the Communists is the same precondition that bogged down previous negotiations.
Related Items • Sidebar: Ordinary Filipinos to Noynoy: We Expect Jobs, Decent Income, Housing • Bulatlat’s live coverage page of the Sona • Twitter updates • Photos • Webcasts: Reaction by Ibon Foundation | Human rights under Aquino | Condition of workers | Peasant Situation | Sovereignty issues facing Noynoy • Livestreaming of “People’s SONA“
By MARYA SALAMAT
Special Report As the Philippine military continues to wage Oplan Bantay Laya, its so-called “dirty war” against communists as well as activists, peasants and workers, more and more innocent children are not only being caught in the crossfire but have become targets as well of human-rights violations.
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
Because the Arroyo administration left the country in a crisis of unparalleled proportions, progressive groups presented an agenda, which they deem as necessary for the nation’s survival.
By MARYA SALAMAT
“It is a challenge to the Aquino administration to address the housing question holistically, beyond the low-cost housing projects peddled as the flagship program of the government,” GWP Rep. Emmi de Jesus says.