By MARYA SALAMAT
In a presidential forum on human rights, Noynoy Aquino, amid hemming and hawing and qualifiers, said he favors a pre-Marcos-like Anti-Subversion Law. He said he is not averse to curtailing rights in the name of national security, although, he hoped “we will not have a situation that will necessitate that.”
Month: March 2010
Torture and Interrogation of 43 Health Workers Continue: Docs
By MARYA SALAMAT
Volunteer medical doctors for the “Free the 43 Health Workers” movement decried the military’s refusal to let them examine the detained health workers. They repeatedly requested, with the lawyers and family members, the camp authorities to let them see the detainees but they were rebuffed nine times.
Dr. Merry Mia-Clamor: A Caring Mother, Doctor for the Poor
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
If he can transform himself into his favorite cartoon hero Ben10, Diego Gabriel will save his mother Dr. Merry Mia-Clamor from the “villains” who detained her in Camp Capinpin.
Community Broadcasters Worldwide Condemn Impunity in the Philippines
By RAYMUND VILLANUEVA
More than 300 community broadcasters from 21 countries unanimously approved a resolution condemning the culture of impunity in the Philippines during the conclusion of the recent regional conference of the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC)-Asia Pacific in Bangalore, India.
Tribal Folk Oppose Laiban Dam Project, Slams ‘Connivance’ Between MWSS, San Miguel
By LYN V. RAMO
Katribu accused the MWSS and San Miguel of drumbeating a “water crisis” to justify the dam construction. “It misleads the public into thinking that the solution to the water crisis is to build a large dam. In doing so, it places indigenous peoples in a vulnerable position,” the group said.?
2010 Bets Told: Act on Poor’s Needs, Demands
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
The demands of the urban poor communities included employment, housing projects and other pro-poor programs, which Kadamay pasted on a tarpaulin bearing photos of Philippine presidents since Marcos. All them, the group said, have failed to deliver on the demands of the urban poor.
Reynaldo Macabenta: A Loving Father, Devoted Co-Worker
By RONALYN V. OLEA
Mikaela Marie turned three years old last February 5. Her father, Reynaldo Macabenta, was on a health training that day but he promised her that he would come home the following day for her birthday celebration. She waited. He never came.
Community Health Worker in Negros Survives Slay Attempt
A community health worker in Negros Occidental was wounded when fired upon by unidentified motorcycle-riding men in Barangay Manlacahoc, Sipalay City on Feb. 23. The attack on Ronaldo Capitania came on the heels of the arrest of the 43 health workers in Morong, Rizal, on Feb. 6.
Benjie Oliveros | A Sinister Plan to Sneak Back to Power
I could not remember any precedent in history where there is such a mad rush for positions in Congress by officials, relatives, and close allies of an outgoing administration.