NEWS AT A GLANCE

GMA, Reyes told to step down

A Moro-Christian alliance has joined several groups including some members of Congress for the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her defense secretary, former Armed Forces chief Angelo Reyes.

The call by the Moro-Christian People’s Alliance (MCPA) for the president’s resignation on July 28 came on the heels of the July 27 failed mutiny and over what it said were her administration’s crimes against the Moro-Christian communities in southern Philippines.

Amirah Lidasan, MCPA secretary general, said that the recent military uprising is proof of the Macapagal-Arroyo government's "bloodied hands in the worsening strife in Mindanao and the deaths of many innocent Moro civilians."

MCPA also issued its own "true state of the Bangsamoro People under the Macapagal-Arroyo regime.”

MCPA cited the Armed Forces’ siege of Lanao which killed 60 and displaced 25,200; the state of lawlessness in Davao where 200 Muslim men were suspected as Al-Qaeda terrorists; military offensives in Pikit, North Cotabato that forced the evuation of 400,000 villagers and caused the death of 61 children; the Basilan crackdown which displaced 79,000 and arrested 200; state of lawlessness in Basilan which resulted in the evacuation of 70 families and destruction of 53 houses.

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Survey says 52% women won’t vote for GMA in 2004

Majority of women in Metro Manila believe that they will not vote for President Macapagal-Arroyo if she runs for the presidency in the May 2004 elections, a recent survey conducted by the Center for Women’s Resources (CWR) revealed.

The survey, held July 3-10, asked 1,435 registered women voters if they would vote for Macapgal-Arroyo if she decides to run for president in 2004. Fifty-two percent of the respondents said “no” and expressed dissatisfaction over her performance as president.

“The respondents said that President Arroyo did not make any significant difference with her predecessors. They said that poverty worsened and their lives are still miserable - less job opportunities, high prices of commodities, and less food on the table,” CWR executive director Gert Ranjo-Libang said in a press statement last week.

The survey also showed that 22 percent of the respondents will just decide on whom to vote during the election period and their decision will depend on who will be the incumbent president’s opponents.  Only 17 percent declared that they would vote for her.  Six percent did not give any comment.

The respondents, who included professionals, salaried and own-account workers, housewives and students were chosen randomly from 30 barangays of the major cities in the National Capital Region with highest registered female voters, namely Quezon City, Manila, Pasig, Caloocan, and Valenzuela.  

CWR said their survey has a margin of error of + or – 3 percent and a confidence level of 97 percent.   

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Martial Law victims demand justice, 
immediate indemnification

Victims of martial law human rights violations led by the Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at para sa Amnestiya (SELDA) marched to Mendiola 10:30 a.m., July 25 to call for indemnification and justice.

The march was held days after the Supreme Court in a decision ruled that the $658 million held in escrow by the Philippine National Bank is ill-gotten and forfeited in favor of government. A Swiss bank had earlier held the funds’ release subject to a court ruling and that part of it should go to victims of martial law during the 1970s-1980s.

Marie Hilao-Enriquez, SELDA secretary general, asked Malacañang to certify as urgent two Congress bills that seek the immediate indemnification of some 10,000 martial law victims. 

“Before anyone else, it is the martial law human rights violations victims who have the right to claim this, as they are the very first ones who worked for the recovery of the ill-gotten wealth, as well as for justice to be achieved once and for all.” Enriquez said.

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Filipinos in Canada back Nestle workers

Filipinos in Canada expressed their support for the struggle of Filipino workers in Nestle Philippines and called for an international boycott of the company’s products.

In an open letter addressed to Salvador Pigem, chief executive officer and president of Nestle Philippines, overseas Filipino workers, women, and youth and students in Canada condemned the violent treatment of Nestle workers in Cabuyao, Laguna.

The workers have been on strike since January 2001.

“We believe that these violent actions are unjustifiable, especially as these workers were rightfully exercising their democratic right to struggle for the legitimate and just demands for better working conditions and decent wages,” the letter read. 

The groups also urged the Nestle management to adhere to the Supreme Court’s decisions and go back to the negotiating table with its workers.

Among those who signed the letter were the B.C. Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines, Filipino Nurses Support Group, Philippine Women Centre of B.C., SIKLAB (Overseas Filipino workers organization) and Ugnayan ng Kabataang Pilipino sa Canada (Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance).

Bulatlat.com

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