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In light of the COA report, Bulatlat is revisiting the ridiculous spending of the Duterte administration when it should be pouring its attention to defeating this pandemic.
Filipino farmer groups have called on the Duterte administration to stop targeting their ranks as they are being rounded up and forced to “surrender” as alleged members of the New People’s Army.
Lahat ng apat na kinapanayam ni David—sina Ka Omar, Ka Lorna, Rogelio, at Ka Roland—ay pawang mga namatayan ng mga mahal sa buhay dahil sa militarisasyon. Sila mismo ang nagsaad na ito ang pangunahing dahilan ng kanilang pagsapi sa kilusan. Pansinin kung paano ito tinunggali ni David nang sabihin niyang naiipit lamang sa magkabilang panig ang sitio, na parang tinangay lamang sila ng agos at walang sariling pagpapasya. Ibinababa lamang sa personal na tunggalian at paghihiganti ang usapin ng tunggalian sa uri at hustisyang panlipunan.
Karapatan-Caraga said that Julieta Gomez and Niezel Velasco are both engaged humanitarian work over the years. In fact, the group said that “officers and personnel of some of government agencies in the region know them personally as they have coordinated activities particularly with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and local government units in the Surigao and Agusan provinces and several municipalities.”
“Release your incontrovertible evidence in public.”
The lectionary reading for this Sunday presents us the different complimentary facets of the persons of the Holy Trinity.
“They told me we wouldn’t be released unless we admit to being rebels.” -- Lumad teacher
Ironically, cases against red-tagged individuals are being dismissed by government courts for lack of probable cause or because of insufficient evidence. Motions to quash search warrants were also granted by the courts, declaring whatever so-called evidence the police have acquired during the search as inadmissible.
In its second manifestation, the group stressed that the SC should revisit the CA ruling as their leaders and members continue to experience judicial harassment, threats, and red-tagging by military and police authorities, including those perpetrated by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) spokesperson and Southern Luzon Command chief Antonio Parlade Jr.
Little did the NTF-ELCAC spokesperson know that her challenge to Non would backfire quicker than her red-tagging spurts on social media. The task force immediately became the center of scrutiny, as its P19.1-billion programmed allocation in the 2021 budget starkly contrasts the image of hungry Filipinos lining up at community pantries.
The long queue to get food is proof of the government’s short-sightedness in dealing with the pandemic. The death of a senior citizen while lining up in a community pantry is an indictment of the government’s failure in many aspects.
Alicia Lucena’s phone was then confiscated, denying her the opportunity to contact a paralegal or a lawyer. Bangayan said Lucena’s father arrived at the village hall, accompanied by a staff from the government’s Inter-Agency Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.
“The recklessness in making such inaccurate and inconsistent public pronouncements causes not only damage to the reputation of those identified, but also weakens the credibility of the government in safeguarding the security of the State. To earn the trust and confidence of the people, they must prove the legitimacy of their means used in gathering information and the credibility of their evidence.”
“So while we are debunking red-tagging and all the baseless allegations being hurled against progressive lawmakers, we were able to come up with a pandemic response bill, the pandemic paid leave bill, and even the law on solo parents was signed.” -- Gabriela Women's Party Rep. Arlene Brosas
“Civilians must be treated humanely in all circumstances. They must be protected against all forms of violence and degrading treatment including murder and torture.”
“Teachers have been clamoring for the grant and release of benefits and salary increases for months, but all we get is a slow and tight-lipped response in return. But when it comes to red-tagging, the DepEd managed to issue a memo?”
Judge Monique Quisumbing-Ignacio of Branch 209, in a 10-page decision dated Feb. 5, declared that the search warrant used to enter Salem's Mandaluyong home is null and void, rendering the firearms and explosives purportedly found in their possession as inadmissible evidence before the court.
“Complainants have been targeted for their critical and independent reporting on issues affecting the marginalized and oppressed sectors. They are being persecuted for publishing progressive and alternative views on matters affecting the Filipino people — progressive ideas that are anathema to the current tyrannical regime.”
Church leaders expressed alarm and concern at the deteriorating prospects for peace as shown by the Rodrigo Duterte government’s demonization of human rights.
“Rights are not won through silence, through fence sitting and inaction. Rights are won and claimed through difficult, arduous, beautiful, creative and vibrant struggle.”
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