By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
The abduction and imprisonment of Myrna Cruz-Abraham, an activist in Cagayan Valley, shattered her family but also made her children stronger. It is prisoners of conscience like her that present a challenge to President Aquino to be true to his promise of justice and respect for human rights.
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
Women’s group Gabriela has put forward ten demands ranging from the promotion of national sovereignty through the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement, to the release of women and all political prisoners, to providing social services and immediate relief to the people.
By RONALYN V. OLEA Bulatlat.com MANILA — After more than two years in prison, political detainee Randy Felix Malayao was acquitted of murder charges filed against him for the killing of former Cagayan governor and congressman Col. Rodolfo Aguinaldo. The Regional Trial Court Branch 03 also found Randy not guilty of murdering Aguinaldo’s bodyguard, Joey…
Members of Gabriela trooped to the residence of president elect Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to demand freedom of women and all political prisoners. According to Gabriela, 61 of the 344 political prisoners under the Arroyo regime are women.
By CAROL PAGADUAN-ARAULLO Streetwise/Business World Posted by Bulatlat.com Soon-to-be Philippine President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III asks for understanding that he is no “superman” and should be given at least three years to make good on his campaign promises. Some of those promises will soon come up against the reality that nothing short of a systems…
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
Of the 284 political prisoners in the Philippines, 257 were arrested and detained under the present regime’s Oplan Bantay Laya. In a statement, Selda said the militarist approach of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has scuttled the peace talks between the government and the Moro secessionist groups in Mindanao and the New People’s Army.
The Left’s engagement with Cory had been both pleasant and acrimonious at certain stages. While they linked arms with her on a number of causes, there were also issues on which leftists found themselves at odds with the late president.
“How can we claim to be under a democracy when a political prisoner continues to languish in jail even as all the trumped-up charges filed against her have already been dismissed?”
Detained peasant activist Randall Echanis and his colleagues from the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP or Peasant Movement of the Philippines), Pamalakaya, the Amihan Peasant Women’s Association, Anakpawis Party-list, and the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines have been fasting the whole day to protest the latter’s continuing imprisonment. Echanis, deputy secretary general for external affairs…
A doctor said their continued imprisonment could worsen the medical conditions of six political prisoners detained at the Provincial Jail of Oriental Mindoro in Calapan City. The doctor also said their medical conditions disprove the allegations hurled against them. BY RONALYN V. OLEA HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH Bulatlat A doctor said imprisonment could worsen medical conditions…
A New York City-based women’s group of Filipino-Americans condemned what it calls unfounded charges against 72 activists in Southern Tagalog. Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE), a member of GABRIELA, said the “recent spate of state repression and violations of civil liberties is a continuation of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s deteriorating administration and governance.” BY BULATLAT…