news at a glance

Ex-pastor killed

Jose Buendia, a former Born Again-pastor-turned tricycle driver in Barangay Matawi, Dingalan, Aurora, a province northeast of Manila, died of gunshot wounds – a victim of indiscriminate firing by soldiers outside Buendia’s house on Nov. 19.

The human rights group Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights) reported that the soldiers were from the 71^st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army led by Maj. Damaso Calaian, and a certain Capt. De Vera and a Lt. Careza.

The report said Buendia’s face was shattered when high-powered guns hit him when he came out of the house to “plead for their lives.” His wife, Josie, and six children, however, managed to stay unharmed inside their house.

Buendia was accused of keeping New People’s Army (NPA) members. No NPA guerilla was however found inside his house.

* * *

Grief and terror during Ramadan

In celebration of Eid-al Fitr on Nov. 26, the newly-formed Suara Bangsamoro Party called on peoples of different faiths and races to unite against the “transgression in sovereign nations and the crimes against the free peoples of the world.”

The Muslim party said in a statement it is the “unjust and inhumane wars” that brought the atmosphere of grief and terror among Muslim people during this Ramadan, just like what happened during their Eidl Adha celebration in February when the military bombings in Pikit resulted in civilian casualties, mainly Moros.

The statement said that Muslims victimized by military operations in Mindanao suffer in evacuation centers where they are “deprived of the vital means for survival,” such as food and shelter. Others accused of being members of the Muslim bandit group Abu Sayyaf have already been penalized without trial, the statement also said.

It added that the same situation is being experienced in Iraq and Afghanistan after United States attacked the two countries.

Despite these, Muslim Filipinos are “more than ever resolute in moving forward the struggles of the Moslem people for self-determination and peace based on justice,” the statement said.

* * *

End to crackdown

The Migrante Sectoral Party (MSP) called last Nov. 21 for an end to the crackdown of undocumented migrant workers in South Korea, which involves at least 17, 000 Filipinos, and urged the Philippine government to act on the issue.

John Monterona, MSP spokesperson, said that the Philippine government “has become a party to the enactment of a law that will impose stricter penalties and worsen migrant workers’ conditions in the workplaces.”

The government supported the Employment Permit System or Korean 6967 that co-exists with the Industrial Trainee System which “prevents migrants from becoming permanent workers with adequate wages and benefits,” MSP said in a statement.

According to MSP Korea chapter, “Filipinos in particular toil under inhuman conditions in the workplaces” which include long working hours, verbal and physical abuse, and low wages.

Bulatlat.com

Back to top

We want to know what you think of this article.