Faculty, Students Protest Fee Increases in UP Medicine

Students and faculty of the University of the Philippines-Manila have protested the approved increases in tuition and other fees of incoming students of the College of Medicine.

On April 27, the UP Board of Regents (BOR) approved the increase from the current P11, 000 ($212.44 at $1:P51.78) to P20, 000 ($386.25) per semester. Of the nine BOR members, only two, UP Faculty Regent Roland Simbulan and Student Regent Raffy Jones Sanchez, voted against the increase.

Simbulan sent the following text message to fellow UP professors: “I voted against the CM TF increase proposal with the student regent but we were outvoted 7-2. Why should UP students be exempted from CHED Resolution freezing tuition and fees increases this academic year? We thought majority of UP students still come from low income families. Are UP student immune from impact of inflation due to oil and EVAT increases which CHED Resolution used to freeze tuition and fees in all SUCs?”

UP Manila students, led by the UP Manila Student Council and the UP College of Medicine Student Council, underscored that “the increase makes a mockery of the mission of the College of Medicine, which is ‘towards quality medical education directed to the underserved.’”

The students and faculty members argue the approval came in spite of a Commission on Higher Education resolution freezing tuition and other fees in state universities and colleges for AY 2006-2007 because of the economic crisis.

UP organizations, such as the unions of workers, faculty, and the student councils of UP constituent units, viewed the BOR approval of the tuition and fee increases of the UP College of Medicine as “the opening salvo of the Roman administration’s campaign to increase undergraduate tuition fees.” Under UP president Dr. Emerlinda R. Roman’s 2005-2011 Plan, with the theme of “UP as an Efficient University,” Plan No. 8 calls for a “review of the existing tuition policy and structure in undergraduate programs.” Bulatlat

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Rights group starts legal offensive vs. violators

The human rights alliance Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights) filed April 27 criminal and administrative complaints on behalf of victims of brutality allegedly committed by policemen during rallies in the City of Manila, signaling the start of the legal offensive of human rights groups against rights violators in the Philippine National Police (PNP).

"We warn notorious violators of civil liberties that we will defend those rights in both the court of public opinion and in legal courts," said Karapatan secretary-general Marie Hilao-Enriquez.

Charges of violation of provisions of the Batas Pambansa Blg. 880 and Republic Act No. 7438 or the Rights of Arrested and Detained Persons were pressed at the Office of the Ombudsman against PNP officials Gen. Arturo Lomibao, Gen. Vidal Querol, Gen. Pedro Bulaong, Supt. Bernard Diaz, P/Insp. John Guiagui and other John Does who can be identified by means of the pictures and video footages that were submitted as evidence.

Acts of lasciviousness, maltreatment and grave threats to persons under detention were also filed against members of the police force who would be identifiable as they were caught on tape.

Counsel Alfonso Cinco IV of Karapatan said that the evidences they gathered “can pin down PNP elements” for the non-wearing of IDs, carrying of firearms within 100 meters of the demonstration and the violent dispersals of peaceful assemblies injured countless citizens.

Enriquez said they have listed at least 75 notorious human rights violators nationwide and their chapters are preparing charges against them. Bulatlat

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Partylist accuses Oplan Bantay Laya responsible for deaths of 2 Bicol members

Two members of Bayan Muna Party-list (People First Party-list) in the Bicol Region, Jimmy Mirafuente and Jayson Delen, were killed on April 27 by unidentified men.

Mirafuente, Bayan Muna member in Daraga Albay and a local peasant leader, was shot dead by five unidentified men at 9 a.m. while tending his farm.

Forty-five minutes later, Delen, Bayan Muna-Camarines Norte secretary general, died while on board a tricycle after sustaining five gun shot wounds from two unidentified men on a motorcycle.

"Inaakusahan namin ang gobyernong Macapagal-Arroyo bilang responsable sa pampulitikang asasinasyon at walang habas na tumutugis sa kasapi ng Bayan Muna at iba pang mga myembro ng progresibong organisasyon,”(We are accusing the Macapagal-Arroyo government as responsible for the political assassinations and persecution of members of Bayan Muna and other progressive organizations.) said Robert S.de Castro, Bayan Muna deputy secretary general. Ang militar, sa ilalim ng Oplan Bantay Laya, ang mga ahente na pinakawalan ni GMA upang paslangin ang mga aktibista na kasapi ng progresibong organisasyon at partido.” (The military, under Oplan Bantay Laya, are agents unleashed by GMA to kill activist members of progressive organizations and parties.)

De Castro said that “under the Oplan Bantay Laya, every Armed Forces of the Philippines command is encouraged to designate a separate and special military group to serve as liquidation squad, usually from the military intelligence group (MIG)." He added that these special groups were allegedly given three months to do target research or intelligence surveillance of sectoral organization, that should allegedly result to identified targets of every MIG.

Mirafuente and Delen were the 562nd and 563rd progressive leader and activist killed since the Macapagal-Arroyo administration.

Karapatan records showed 60 activists have been killed this year alone. Bulatlat

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Labor leader wounded in ambush

Labor leader Gerardo Cristobal was seriously wounded in an ambush April 28 by armed men who were later identified as operatives of police intelligence in Imus, Cavite.

Cristobal and his companion Juliet Tayoto were riding on a car passing a crowded street in Barangay Anabu, Coastal in Imus when another car occupied by three armed men wearing bonnets blocked their way.  One, who was later identified as Senior Police Officer 1 (SPO1) Romeo Lara, immediately came out approaching Cristobal and his companion and started shooting at close range.

Cristobal exchanged fire with SPO1 Lara and his companion, Larry Reyes, a member of the Civilian Security Unit (CSU) in Imus, Cavite. SPO1 Lara was also wounded during the incident. SPO1 Lara was hit on the head and shoulder while Cristobal was wounded at the stomach, hip and hand.

Cristobal has been carrying a licensed firearm due to persistent threats to his life from the police and private armies of Gov. Ireneo "Ayong" Maliksi of Cavite, when the shooting took place.
  
At the time of incident, Cristobal had just left from his house and was on his way to the factory of EMI Yasaki in Imus. The workers are set to hold a huge protest action at the Provincial Capitol at 9 a.m. to denounce “continued intervention” by Maliksi in the intra-union dispute in EMI-Yazaki. The plan, however, was called off following the shooting  of Cristobal.

"The attempted killing is the final effort of Governor Maliksi's administration after years of demonizing labor activists to silence the militant labor movement. Cristobal is one of the most ardent critics of Governor Maliksi's No Union, No Strike Policy (NUNS) in Cavite," said Emmanuel Asuncion, spokesperson of the Solidarity of Cavite Workers (SCW).

"This frustrated attempt on the life of Cristobal only unmasked government forces as the real culprits behind the series of killings of militant activists in the country. This incident confirms consistent
allegations that bonnet-wearing gunmen responsible in activists’ killings are mercenaries of the Arroyo government," Asuncion added.

This is yet another attempt made on Cristobal's life. In January 2005, he escaped an attempt after the police in Imus, Cavite, accused him of killing Cris Abad, a former union secretary. Bulatlat

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