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Bu-lat-lat (boo-lat-lat) verb: to search, probe, investigate, inquire; to unearth facts Volume 2, Number 50 January 26 - February 1, 2003 Quezon City, Philippines |
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Bu-lat-lat (boo-lat-lat) verb: to search, probe, investigate, inquire; to unearth facts Volume 2, Number 50 January 26 - February 1, 2003 Quezon City, Philippines |
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News
at a Glance
40
hurt in People Power 2 rally dispersal
Teddy
Casiño, secretary general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), said that the
Philippine National Police (PNP) tarnished the commemoration of People Power 2
by turning the historic highway into a battle zone. According to him, water cannons, truncheons and
shields were hurled against the protesters. Bayan Muna Partylist Rep. Liza Maza who was also hurt
during the rally, urged Congress to investigate the violence on Edsa, especially
the culpability of NCRPO Chief General Reynaldo Velasco and Police Chief Supt.
Rosendo Franco. Rep.
Satur Ocampo, also of Bayan Muna, said that the violent dispersal demonstrates
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's refusal to heed the people's demand for
reforms. *
* * 13
arrested in anti-war protest Thirteen
students were arrested for alleged obstruction of traffic during a protest
action near the U.S. embassy in Manila on the night of Jan. 22. About
60 members of Anakbayan (Sons and Daughters of the Nation) and the League of
Filipino Students (LFS) held a torch parade after attending an anti-Iraq war
concert organized by the Adamson
Chronicle, student publication of Adamson University. Those
arrested were held at the Western Police District (WPD) station along U.N.
Avenue for three hours. *
* * Farmers
challenge new agrarian chief
Farmer
leaders from Southern Tagalog and Bicol held a dialogue with newly installed
Agrarian Reform Secretary Roberto “Obet” Pagdanganan last Jan. 21. Eduardo
Gumanoy, chairp of the Katipunan ng mga Samahang Magbubukid ng Timog Katagalugan
(KASAMA-TK/KMP) challenged Pagdanganan to resolve the land disputes at the
soonest possible time. More
than 172,000 hectares of agricultural land in Southern Tagalog alone have been
converted to tourism, residential, industrial and commercial use. *
* * Plunder
Watch says GMA has no moral ground vs corruption
The
anti-corruption watchdog Plunder Watch belittled President Arroyo's
"anti-corruption movement," arguing that she has already lost the
moral high ground in the fight against graft and corruption. *
* * Saudi-based
OFWs spared monthly levy
Overseas
Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia almost had their wages cut by 10 percent. A
recent Saudi Gazette report says an
International Monetary Fund (IMF) proposal to impose a 10% levy on migrant
workers earning SR3,000 or P42,000 a month was rejected by 73 members of the
Shoura Council, Saudi Arabia’s parliament. Poe
Gratela, Migrante International secretary-general, branded the IMF proposal as
“bitter pills” that attack the livelihood of migrants and immigrants. *
* * Youth
protest against tuition hike, budget cut
About
800 students from several state universities and colleges (SUCs) and private
schools marched to Mendiola last Jan. 23 to protest huge cuts on the education
budget and the threat of another round of tuition increases. Raymond
Palatino, national president of the National Union of Students of the
Philippines (NUSP), said that the Macapagal-Arroyo administration has deprived
the youth of their right to education. Similar
actions were held simultaneously in Iloilo and Davao. Bulatlat.com We want to know what you think of this article.
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More
than 40 protesters were injured as members of the police and military forcibly
prevented militant groups from getting near the Edsa Shrine last Jan. 20, the
second anniversary of People Power 2.