By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
The prospect for a peace agreement between the Government of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines becomes dimmer as President Aquino accuses the NDFP of issuing ‘impossible demands’ and the NDFP accusing Aquino of laying the groundwork for scuttling the talks.

By MARYA SALAMAT
“Organizing into a union is one of the rights of employees including those in the media and entertainment.” – Michael Rogas, union president of RMN

By RONALYN V. OLEA
“He could not look at me straight in the eye… He obviously evaded me.” – Mrs. Edita Burgos

By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
The Armed Forces of the Philippines claims that it has not committed a single human rights violation during the year, but human rights and people’s organizations, as well as victims and their relatives in Southern Tagalog say it is even getting worse.

By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
All they want is to own the land that they have been tilling for generations but hacienderos (big landlords) have hired an armed group, which signed a peace pact with the government, to attack them.

Sidebar: The peace pact with the RPA–ABB

In Negros Occidental, children suffer worst blows of rights violations

By RONALYN V. OLEA
“The whole world knows of the failure of the Aquino government to bring to justice human rights violators like Gen. Jovito Palparan and of the horrendous, less than one percent conviction rate of perpetrators of political killings on top of the snail-paced justice system.” – Fr. Rex RB. Reyes, NCCP

Sidebar: The Philippines and the Universal Periodic Review

Rights groups to file complaint vs Aquino administration

By MARYA SALAMAT
Relying on US as treaty “partner” has not helped the Philippines to develop its own military capability; it is also not expected to be of help in engaging China militarily.

Sidebar: Opposition mounts as US increases military aid, sends nuclear submarine to Subic

By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
Residents said their communities were targeted to clear them in preparation for large-scale mining operations by Oz Metal Corporation and Monkayo Consolidated Mining Corporation (MCMC).

By PATRICIA LOURDES VIRAY
Of the 40.3 million workers who are part of the labor force in the Philippines, 19 million are wage or salary earners, only 1.7 million of whom are union members.

MUST-READS
KMP warns vs loopholes in SC decision on Luisita distribution

By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
“There’s no room for complacency at this point in our fight – we have to push for actual and immediate land distribution.” – Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura

By JOAN GARCIA
Defend Ilocos, a broad network opposed to mining, filed for a Writ of Kalikasan before the Supreme Court to put a stop to magnetite mining in the Ilocos region saying that previous mining operations have already caused massive beach erosion and flooding.

Other Story: Mining in Region 1: An Overview