news at a glance
What are U.S. soldiers doing in Panay?
The
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) last week said that unknown to local
officials at least five U.S. soldiers from the U.S. Pacific Command slipped into
Hamindan, Capiz last March 3.
The five soldiers, led by a Col. David Crude, arrived at Camp Macario Peralta in
Hamindan, Capiz and were expected to stay in the area until March 7 for a series
of "combat survival" training with Filipino soldiers.
The spokesperson of the 3rd ID, a Captain Soliesta, said the U.S. soldiers were
just performing "routine services" and that their presence in Panay
had nothing to do with the U.S.-Philippine Balikatan war exercises.
Teodoro Casiño, Bayan secretary general, asked the Oversight Committee of the
Visiting Forces Agreement and the House committee on defense to investigate the
presence of the American soldiers in Panay.
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SM
workers file notice of strike
After
six months of negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement, the
Sandigan ng Manggagawa sa Shoemart (SMS) union last week filed a notice of
strike against retail store giant Shoemart for “unfair labor practice and
bargaining in bad faith.”
The
SM management has stuck to its position of giving only a P13 wage increase for
the workers. SM’s thousands of workers are demanding a P65-increase in daily
minimum wage.
SM
is owned by Henry Sy, the 348th
among the world’s billionaires with a net worth US$1.2 billion or Php64.8
billion.
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HK
Pinays hit GMA ban on new contract deals
As
the Filipino domestic workers (FDH) in Hong Kong face HK$400 wage cut, President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo recently announced the temporary suspension of the
processing of contracts of all FDH bound for Hong Kong.
The
president’s decision was made despite admission by Labor Secretary Patricia
Sto. Tomas and Senate President Franklin Drilon of the Philippine government’s
inability to provide jobs for Filipinos in the country.
Connie
Bragas-Regalado, Asian Migrants Coordinating Body (AMCB) spokesperson, said that
they expected the Macapagal-Arroyo administration to step up its
lobbying efforts to reverse the decision of the Hongkong government.
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Indigenous
people, environmentalists demand
scrapping of Mining Act
Marking
the eight anniversary of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, more than 200
indigenous peoples and environmental
advocates stormed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
office in Quezon City March 5.
"Eight
years have gone by since the passing of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and
this law has not only failed to revitalize the ailing local mining industry but
also led to mass lay-off of thousands of mine workers and militarization of
mining-affected communities,” said Clemente Baustista Jr., policy advocacy
adviser of Kalikasan-People’s Network for Environment.
The
Philippine Mining Act of 1995 empowers mining TNCs to own 100 percent ownership
of mineral resources. The law gives 50 years of access and control over 81,000
hectares of concession area aside from economic privileges such as a 10-year tax
holiday, capital tax exemption and a 100 percent repatriation of profit and
capital.
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Gabriela
calls for release of woman political prisoner and newborn
Gabriela,
an alliance of militant women’s organizations, has demanded the release of a
woman political prisoner and her newborn on humanitarian grounds.
Zenaida
Llesis, an alleged New People’s Army member, was arrested in Bukidnon last
August while three months pregnant.
Llesis
was detained at the Bukidnon Detention and Rehabilitation Center (BDRC) before
she gave birth despite a court order to transfer her to the Bukidnon Provincial
Hospital (BPH) where her condition could be monitored. Because of this she
suffered complications while giving birth at the hospital where she was rushed
by military authorities at the last minute.
There
are 12 women and 15 children political detainees in different parts of the
country today.
Bulatlat.com
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