Food, Freedom, Jobs, Justice

By BENJIE OLIVEROS Bulatlat perspective Perhaps, nobody had so eloquently, yet so simply, summed up the road to peace than the late Senator Jose W. Diokno when, as head of the negotiating panel of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) in the peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines…

Human rights and politics

By BENJIE OLIVEROS Bulatlat perspective When, six days ago, President Duterte offered to host a world summit on human rights, people were aghast. It’s not as if the Duterte administration is the prime mover of respect for human rights considering the more than 7, 000 extrajudicial killings in the government’s war against illegal drugs. Two…

A lot and yet, not much

By BENJIE OLIVEROS Bulatlat perspective During the first sixteen months of the Duterte administration, a lot has happened. The battle for the once bustling Islamic City of Marawi that lasted five long months, beginning May 23, 1017 and ended the last week of October, reduced the city to ruins. Buildings, properties, and businesses were destroyed;…

On destabilization plots and the declaration of a Revolutionary government

By BENJIE OLIVEROS Bulatlat perspective A week ago, President Duterte threatened to declare a revolutionary government purportedly to counter destabilization moves by the Reds (communists), the Yellows (Liberal Party), the elite, and the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Once he declares a revolutionary government, he threatened to arrest those who he accuses of destabilizing his…

Desperate measures

By BENJIE OLIVEROS Bulatlat perspective The Social Weather Station released the results of its un-commissioned survey, covering the period September 23 to 27, showing that the satisfaction and trust ratings of President Duterte dropped significantly. His satisfaction rating was 48 percent, an 18 percent drop from June, and his trust ratings dropped 14 percent to…

Of violence, cover up, and connections| Will justice be attained for the death of Atio Castillo?

By BENJIE OLIVEROS Bulatlat perspective The death due to hazing of 22-year-old Horacio “Atio” Castillo III shocked the public once more. Castillo died while undergoing hazing by his ‘brothers’ from the Aegis Juris fraternity of the University of Sto. Tomas law school. The public discussion that Castillo’s death generated is comparable to that of Leonardo…

Photo slideshow: From Mendiola to Luneta, the deafening call: Never again!

In Manila, some 30,000 people gathered on Sept. 21 in a protest spearheaded by the Movement Against Related stories: Big, broad #LunetaRally delivers a resounding ‘Never again to Martial Law’ http://bit.ly/2xVQ6c3 In Mendiola, progressives vow to thwart Duterte’s attempts to return to dictatorship http://bit.ly/2fFvFpc In Davao, other cities, thousands rage against ‘tyranny’ http://bit.ly/2hmQnhb Follow us:…

Will Duterte declare Martial Law like Marcos?

By BENJIE OLIVEROS Bulatlat perspective Talks about President Duterte declaring martial law this week became louder and sounded more urgent five days ago when the AFP (Agence France-Presse) came out with an article with the title “Philippines’ Duterte may declare martial law: defense chief.” This triggered alarm bells and the AFP article was posted by…