Bu-lat-lat (boo-lat-lat) verb: to search, probe, investigate, inquire; to unearth facts Volume 3, Number 35 October 5 - 11, 2003 Quezon City, Philippines |
NEWS
AT A GLANCE P4-B
contract with U.S. telecom giant seen as special gift for Bush visit Militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (New
Patriotic Alliance) last week questioned the P4-billion contract with giant
telecommunications provider Lucent Technologies for the modernization of the
Armed Forces of the Philippines. A CNN report in July 1999 cited then Texas Governor
George W. Bush as a stockholder of Lucent Technologies. Lucent was also a big
campaign contributor to Bush’s presidential bid and Bush’s Republican party.
In a statement, Bayan spokesperson Renato M. Reyes,
Jr. said, “It appears that the government is all set to hand over a juicy P4
billion ($90.9 million) contract to a major Bush ally and contributor.
“The timing could not have been more perfect. The Arroyo administration
is going out of its way to please Bush Junior and to make his visit to the
Philippines as profitable as possible.” Lucent Technologies has been listed by Fortune 500
magazine as the 76th most profitable corporation in the world in 2002. *
* * Consumer
group asks: Who’s paying Meralco’s multi-million refund ads?
Fearing
that consumers could be made to shoulder the multi-million advertising blitz of
Manila Electric Company, a consumer advocacy group has asked the Energy
Regulatory Commission (ERC) to compel the private utility firm to open its books
for scrutiny. Meralco
has gone on an advertising offensive to inform the public of the on-going refund
which emanated from some P30-billion overcharges since 1998. The
National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reforms (Nasecore) said that
while it does not question the advertising campaign itself, Meralco should prove
that it has not charged the cost to consumers. Nasecore
president Pete Ilagan asked, “We
want to know who is paying this tri-media campaign?
Is it paid by Meralco stockholders or just conveniently passed-on to
consumers like almost all expenses of Meralco.” The
consumer group also emphasized that Meralco should explain as well how it
computed the refund of the consumers. Ilagan
also said, “Meralco’s massive tri-media campaign creates an impression that
Meralco is making the refund out of the goodness of its heart.”
“The media campaign is inaccurate by omission in that it fails to make reference to the Supreme Court decision on the refund,” he said. *
* * Another
Bayan Muna regional officer abducted in Cebu
Cebu City – Another
Bayan Muna (People First) regional officer was abducted along Osmeña Blvd.,
this city, Sept. 26 at around 7 p.m. by suspected agents of Philippine National
Police (PNP). Mario Auxillo was on his
way home from a meeting of the Bayan Muna Chapter in Sitio (village) Riverside,
Inawayan, Cebu when a heavily-tinted, dark green L-300 van with no license
plate, suddenly pulled over. Armed plainclothesmen believed to be members of the
Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division (RIID) jumped out of the van
and hauled Auxillo inside. The victim was allegedly
only given a few pieces of bread for food the day after his abduction and was
subsequently released that evening. *
* * Probe
on Marcellana-Gumanoy murder delayed; The
justice department’s preliminary investigation on the killings of Southern
Luzon leader-activists Eden Marcellana and Eddie Gumanoy has been postponed
thrice. Marcellana
and Gumanoy were abducted and killed on April 22 in Bansud, Mindoro Oriental (a
province in an island in southern Luzon) by suspected agents of the 204th
Brigade of the Philippine Army. M/Sgt.
Donald Caigas, one of the alleged abductors, failed to present a
counter-affidavit to the sworn statements of witnesses. Caigas’ lawyer Hobard
Cocadiz asked for another extension. Orly
Marcellana, widower of Eden, said, “Wala silang konsiderasyon sa naiwang
pamilya, asawa at mga anak.” (They
have no consideration for the families)” Talagang ipinapakita lamang nito
ang kung anong klaseng tao ang mga sundalong ito lalo na ang
kanilang komander na si Palparan.”
(This only shows what kind of people these soldiers are, especially
their commander [Col. Jovito] Palparan) Irein
Cuasay, spokesperson of human rights group Karapatan-Southern Tagalog, condemned
the recent appointment of Palparan as deputy commander of the 2nd Infantry
Division. Palparan
was transferred to Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal (a province south of Manila).
His promotion to brigadier general was deferred due to massive people’s
protest. In a separate statement, Rev. Armando Perez, chairperson of Karapatan-Rizal, said that Palparan’s appointment only shows how President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo supports the ‘systematic repression of human rights.’ *
* * Filipinos
in Europe call for GMA’s ouster Filipino
migrants in Europe recently called for the ouster of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In
a statement, Filipino organizations MigranteEurope, Bayan International, UMANGAT
and LAMPADA denounced Macapagal-Arroyo’s “public relations campaign and
junket trip” around Europe. While
Ms. Macapagal-Arroyo spends taxpayers’ money in her tour, her government has
no funds for Filipino migrants in need, the statement said. The
groups further said Filipino migrants are being made as milking cows by the
foreign affairs department and Philippine embassies abroad.
They
also criticized Macapagal-Arroyo’s “massive corruption and state-sponsored
terrorism.” The groups said that if they do not succeed in overthrowing the Macapagal-Arroyo presidency before 2004, they would frustrate Macapagal-Arroyo’s reelection. Bulatlat.comWe want to know what you think of this article.
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