News at a Glance

Migrante ex-chair now pro-Gloria

Migrante International last Friday took issue with its former chairperson Poe Gratela, who has joined the camp of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and said that the latter works for the interests of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Maita Santiago, secretary general of Migrante International, said that Macapagal-Arroyo since she took office “has proved numerous times that for her, the grief and sacrifices of migrants are nothing but photo-opportunities. And clearly, she won’t hesitate to use other political opportunists like Gratela in her bid to be elected – even if it means confusing OFWs and the people.

“It’s the height of hypocrisy for Poe to proclaim that Gloria works for the interests of OFWs and their relatives,” Santiago said. “It would have been closer to the truth if he just got down and licked her boots.”

Gratela is one of the founding members of Migrante Internatioanl and until his resignation from the organization last November was a strong critic of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration.

“For him to now change his tune completely only shows that like his current master, Gloria – Poe’s a trapo (traditional politician) who’s quick to sacrifice what’s best for the OFWs and the people in exchange for his personal gain.

“Poe submitted his resignation to us last November citing economic difficulties,” Santiago further revealed. “Perhaps now that he’s all praises for Gloria, his financial problems are addressed.”

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AFP unrest reveals deep crisis – Ka Roger

Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) spokesperson Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal last week said that the Jan. 27 open declaration of protest by AFP junior officers representing “Kawal Pilipino,” a newly-formed group within the AFP, “is only the latest symptom of the deep-seated disenchantment and fissures that point to the utter rottenness and hopelessly losing course of the AFP and the present government.”

“All this depicts how the rotten and reactionary AFP is cracking up and bound for defeat, and how desperate and terminally ill are the present ruling state and socio-economic and political system that its rotten and shattering army is serving.

Rosal called on restive soldiers to join the revolutionary ranks, forge alliances with the New People’s Army and the revolutionary movement or work clandestinely for the revolutionary movement while remaining in the AFP.

The CPP spokesperson further revealed that soldiers have been constantly approaching the revolutionary movement to express grievances against the government and the military establishment, with an increasing number deserting their units and going over to the NPA with their arms.

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Rape cases up, death penalty no deterrent – Gabriela party

Former Bayan Muna Rep. Liza Maza, currently president of the Gabriela Women’s Party (GWP), last week opposed government’s implementation of the death penalty.

Citing statistics from the Philippine National Police, Maza said that the restoration of the death penalty in 1994 has not served to deter heinous crimes. “Based on Philippine National Police statistics,”she said, “in 1994 six women and children were being raped daily. In 1998, this estimate went up to eight. Last year, it was estimated that 12 women and children were being raped daily.

“It means that in the past nine years, there has been a 100 percent increase in the incidence of rape.”

Maza also argued that under the present justice system the death penalty brings more injustices against the poor. “We believe that implementing the capital punishment of death at a point when the justice system is easily manipulated to serve the interests of the moneyed and the influential, could result in further injustice,” she said.

GWP cites the case of Mary Joy Gimeno, a nine-year-old girl who was raped and later found dead in a sack dumped at a creek in Naic, Cavite three years ago. The suspect, a tricycle driver, has maintained he has no knowledge of the crime.

Meanwhile, neighbors said the driver, who is now detained at the Cavite provincial jail, is a fall guy and that Mary Joy was abducted and presented as a gift to an influential politician in Naic. With no witnesses, the case remains stalled.

Bulatlat.com

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