NEWS AT A GLANCE

Solon proposes 20% of development fund for schools

Bayan Muna Partylist Rep. Liza Largoza Maza filed a resolution last week urging members of the Congress to allot 20 percent of their Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) for the construction of classrooms nationwide.

“If each member of the Lower House were to allot at least 20 percent of their PDAF or P14 million out of the P70 million PDAF allotted for each solon, 8,000 to 8,500 classrooms or around 20 percent of the 40,000 total classroom shortage nationwide would be built,” Maza said. “Each solon would be supporting the construction of at least 35-40 classrooms."

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) estimates the cost of each standard size classroom with comfort room at P350,000 to  P400,000 each. 

The Bayan Muna legislator also said that state funds that can be secured from corruption, debt payment and militarization can be channeled to the construction of classrooms. “Then millions of our students would be studying in an environment much better than what they have today," she said.

The lady solon, together with members of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, visited Batasan Hills National High School and Commonwealth Elementary School in Quezon City last week. In talks with the principals, teachers and students, Maza expressed alarm as she saw students holding their classes along corridors, stairways, and gymnasium or cramped in makeshift classrooms.

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SM workers, supporters decry harassment

Another case of sexual harassment will be filed by women workers and sympathizers against a hired security man of Shoemart who acted vulgarly and offensively during a protest action at SM North EDSA branch, Quezon City last June 13.

Security guards blocking the workers were just inches away from the protesters  when a certain F.T. Aliño from Lambdan Security Agency, started doing a “pumping act,” Perla Casipit, vice president for internal affairs of Sandigan ng mga Manggagawa sa Shoemart said in a press statement.

”When we reprimanded how vulgar he was, he even dared us and said ‘kung gusto ninyo, tingnan ninyo (If you want, you may look on).  We are planning to file a complaint against him in court,” Casipit also said.

SM guards and management, backed by the Quezon City police, blocked the entrance to the mall preventing SM workers and about 300 supporters from entering the premises.  Sinag de Jesus, a union sympathizer, was seized, punched and dragged by the guards.  After three members of Gabriela intervened, a SWAT officer took the injured De Jesus to the Quezon City General Hospital.

SM workers have been on strike since March 25 to protest unfair labor practices by the management. 

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MILF: Gov’t resorting to dirty tactics again

Chairman Salamat Hashim of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) last week denied writing the letter read during the June 13 rites marking the conversion of barangay (village) Inugug, Pikit, North Cotabato into a peace zone. He also denied ordering MILF freedom fighters to withdraw from four towns in Maguindanao province and one in North Cotabato province.

At the same time, Mohagher Iqbal, MILF chief information officer, said, “We are not dealing with the government or any of its leaders or agencies directly. We deal with them through the Malaysian government, and therefore, what in heaven’s sake that we could ever write that letter, which is not only self-defeating but also insulting to man as rational being.”

Iqbal also revealed it was not the first time that a letter was forged or fabricated to defile the MILF. On May 22, Tabang Mindanaw also claimed to have received one from Muhammad Ameen, who strongly denied having written the letter. Ameen is a senior official in the office of Hashim. 

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Mother of Kananga Massacre victim appeals for justice

The mother of one of the 13-year old victim of the Kananga Massacre appealed for justice in a public forum held June 13 at the Balay Kalinaw in the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.

Estrella Corpin, mother of Rey, pleaded, “Sana po ay tulungan ninyong mabigyan ng hustisya siyam na biktima ng 19th IB!” (Please help us in seeking justice for the nine victims of 19th Infantry Batallion).

Estrella, also the secretary of peasant group Alyansa ng Mang-uuma at Mamumuo, related how his son, a member of Anakbayan, left for San Isidro, a nearby town, on April 15 to get some plants.

“Alam kasi ni Cocoy (Rey’s nickname) na mahilig ako sa halaman. At ang pag-aalaga ng mga halaman ay dagdag din sa aming pangkabuhayan” (Cocoy knew I like plants and selling plants is also a source of our livelihood). 

“April 16 nabalitaan ko ang nangyari na may siyam na namatay. Itinanong ko kaagad kung  nasaan ang bata. Hindi daw sigurado kung kasama si Cocoy. Halos maubusan ako ng lakas noong sinabi na kasama nga si Cocoy” (On April 16, I heard about the nine victims of massacre.  I immediately asked where my son was.  They said they were not sure if Cocoy was one of the victimes.  I almost lost all my strength when I knew Cocoy was killed.)

Estrella said Cocoy promised her a pot for orchids as a gift.  She saw it near her son’s body.

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Militant lady solon to U.S. State Dep’t: “Curbing sex trafficking calls for the exit of your troops”

Bayan Muna Rep. Liza Maza assailed the U.S. State Department for “arrogating for itself the authority to ascertain the Philippines’ capability in addressing the problem of trafficking in the country.”

Maza said, "The U.S. State Department should look into how the U.S. government, its policies and its agreements with the Philippine government exacerbate the situation of sex trafficking in the country. The U.S. government holds part of the blame for the worsening plight of women and children in the country."

Maza, one of the authors of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and secretary general of the women's group GABRIELA said, "U.S. troops deployed for military operations and war exercises in the country are known patrons of nightclubs and bars fronting as prostitution joints in infamous areas such as Fields Avenue in Pampanga, and areas in Subic and Olongapo. There have also been reports of women and even minors being allowed to enter U.S. military bases. Will the Arroyo government then allow U.S. troops to escape responsibility for their crimes against women?"

Previous reports show that as many as 220 U.S. servicemen flock to Fields Avenue in one night at the height of US-RP military exercises in Central Luzon last year. Women's groups in Zamboanga, another site of U.S.-RP military exercises in southern Philippines last year reported that the city already has about 1,700 prostituted women and children.

Maza also said that the deal forged by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo with the U.S. government giving U.S. troops in the Philippines immunity from lawsuit under the International Criminal Court Treaty will allow U.S. forces to operate and conduct themselves in the country without restraint.

“What will happen when U.S. troops engage in and avail of the services of prostituted women? Will the newly signed Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law therefore not apply to the thousands of U.S. troops that the U.S. intends to deploy permanently in the country?" asked Maza.

Maza said that under Section 10 of the newly-signed Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law, foreign nationals found to be engaged in the trafficking of persons and/or availing of the services of trafficked women and children for pornography or prostitution will be deported only after the corresponding sentence has been served. Members of military institutions face stiffer penalties.  

Bulatlat.com

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