By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO Bulatlat.com MANILA – Urban poor group Kadamay said the arrest of their seven members last Feb. 4 was illegal. “The action of the MPD (Manila Police District) is tantamount to illegal arrests and abuse of authority,” Gloria Arellano, Kadamay national national chairperson, said. Members of Kadamay were about to hold…
Tags: oplan bayanihan
‘Inclusive growth’ is impossible if there is no genuine democracy
By BENJIE OLIVEROS Bulatlat.com Pres. Benigno Aquino III has been so pleased with himself recently. Before the National Economic Development Authority released the country’s growth statistics for last year, President Aquino had already announced that it is something to be proud of, reportedly hovering around 6.6 percent. However, the hype of the Aquino government over…
Revved-up counterinsurgency
By Satur C. Ocampo At Ground Level | The Philippine Star “I am now in a position to influence the implementation of (Oplan) Bayanihan as chief of staff because I now become its operational commander. Unlike when I was the CGPA (commanding general of the Philippine Army), I had a limited role as the force…
Rights groups foresee escalation of violations under new military chief
By RONALYN V. OLEA
The appointment of Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista as the new chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines is not unexpected, said human rights lawyers, because it followed the promotion and appointment of other military officials who were linked to rights violations.
Unfulfilled promises, terrorizing communities in the name of ‘peace and development’
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO and ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
Two years have passed and yet President Aquino’s promise of rendering justice is far from being a reality. Worse, impunity still reigns as rights violations pile up as the government orders the massive deployment of troops not only to run after the NPA but also to protect the operations and profits of big foreign and local corporations.
On Human Rights Day, rights groups slam Aquino government for violations
Farmers march against militarization, terror in their communities
Typhoon Pablo and large-scale mining wreak havoc in Mindanao – progressive group
Rape, cases of violence against women on the rise – Gabriela
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
Even worse, said Gabriela, is the alarming increase in rape cases involving state security forces.
Sidebar: Women’s rights advocates question PHL’s gender equality performance
Soldiers threaten, torture two civilians in Ilocos Sur
By JOAN GARCIA Bulatlat.com VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur – Last July, the 81st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (IBPA) arrived at the provinces of Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte. They replaced the 3rd IBPA that was encamped at 5 barangays in the two provinces. This August, the Peace and Development Teams of the 81st…
Rights groups say Aquino following Marcos’s footsteps
Rights groups say Aquino following Marcos’s footsteps (Photo courtesy of Karapatan)
Kin of missing call on Aquino to stop enforced disappearances
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“Nothing has changed. In two years of the Aquino administration, there are already 11 victims of enforced disappearances.”
Related post: Bulatlat Live: International Day of the Disappeared
Central Luzon farmers group decry AFP harassment against CL-based journalist
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO Bulatlat.com MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is again going after a journalist who is merely doing his job. This is the charge of the regional farmers’ group Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luson (Amgl, Farmers’ Alliance in Central Luzon) as it condemned the recent acts…
Lumad family blames soldiers for ‘killing’ village police
By JOHN RIZLE L. SALIGUMBA
At the wake of Totong Mabinsi, six soldiers came. “They talked to me, and one of them admitted that they killed Totong by mistake,” Manuel, the victim’s brother, said.